Free Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert Page A

Hellstrom asked. “Anything?”
    â€œTwo jets very high more than an hour ago.”
    â€œAny indication of probes from the jets?”
    â€œNothing. They were commercial transports. Clean.”
    â€œDoes the intruder look as though he’s settled in for a long stay?”
    â€œHe has a knapsack and lunch. We think he’ll wait for nightfall before leaving. We’ve been hitting him with an occasional low-frequency burst to keep him jumpy.”
    â€œExcellent.” Hellstrom nodded to himself. “Keep up the subsonics. If he’s nervous, he’ll make mistakes. But don’t use too much; you could drive him off before dark.”
    â€œI understand,” Old Harvey said.
    â€œNow, as to that woman waiting by the vehicle out near our perimeter: what do you make of her?”
    â€œWe’re keeping her under close surveillance. The intruder came from her direction. We think they’re associated.” He cleared his throat, a loud and rasping sound which said something distinctabout his age. Hellstrom was made acutely aware that Old Harvey must be more than two hundred years old and that was very old for first colonists who’d not had the benefit of an entire lifetime under Hive regimen.
    â€œUndoubtedly they’re associated,” Hellstrom said.
    â€œCould they be innocent intruders?” Old Harvey asked.
    â€œDo you really entertain that idea?” Hellstrom asked.
    There was a long pause. “Not likely, but possible.”
    â€œI think they come from the same source as Porter,” Hellstrom said.
    â€œShould we have our people in the East look into the Blue Devil Fireworks Corporation?” Old Harvey asked.
    â€œNo. That might betray the extent of our influence. I think extreme caution is indicated—especially if this pair has come to find out what happened to Porter.”
    â€œPerhaps we acted too hastily with that one.”
    â€œI’ve had my own misgivings on that score,” Hellstrom admitted.
    â€œWhat is this agency that Porter represented?”
    Hellstrom reflected on this question. It contained his own unease. Porter had talked profusely at the end. It had been disgusting and had hastened his transit into the choppers and the vats. Yet, the necessities of that incident could have clouded its content. No member of the Hive would ever have behaved that way, not even an ordinary worker, although they could speak no language intelligible Outside. Porter had said the agency would get them. The agency was all-powerful. “We know about you now! We’ll get you!” Porter had been the first adult Outsider ever to see the inner workings of the Hive, and his hysterical revulsion at the ordinary things necessary for Hive life had shaken Hellstrom.
    I responded to his hysteria with a hysteria of my own, Hellstrom thought. I must never do that again.
    â€œWe will question this pair more carefully,” Hellstrom said. “Perhaps they can tell us about this agency.”
    â€œYou think it wise to capture them?” Old Harvey asked.
    â€œI think it necessary.”
    â€œPerhaps other responses should be considered first.”
    â€œWhat are you suggesting?” Hellstrom asked.
    â€œDiscreet inquiry by our people in the East, while we dissemble for these new intruders. Why should we not invite them in and let them watch our surface activities. They surely cannot prove we are responsible for the disappearance of their fellow.”
    â€œWe don’t know that for certain,” Hellstrom said.
    â€œSurely, their reaction would’ve been different if they knew we were responsible.”
    â€œThey know,” Hellstrom said. “They just don’t know how or why. No amount of dissembling now will put them off. They’ll keep worrying at us like ants at a carcass. We must dissemble, yes, but we must keep them off balance at the same time. I am keeping our people Outside informed, but my