Hellstrom's Hive (34 page)

“You sound like somebody with a few smarts, Gammel,” Janvert said. “I thank God for that. Just a minute.”

Hellstrom bent close to Janvert, spoke in a low voice.

Janvert said, “Hellstrom says you can come out here under
those terms and will be permitted to report back in person. It's my opinion that you can trust him.”

“That's good enough for me,” Gammel said. “Tell me exactly where I report at that farm.”

“Just come to the barn,” Janvert said. “That's where it all begins.”

As Janvert replaced the telephone in its cradle, Hellstrom turned away, wondering why he no longer felt tired. The Hive was going to get its
big block of time
. That seemed obvious. There were a few among the wild Outsiders who could be reasoned with—people such as this Janvert and the agent on the telephone. Such people would understand the implications of the Hive's new
stinger
. They would recognize the need for change. Things were going to change in this world, too. Hellstrom knew what his own course had to be. He would bargain with the Outsider government for conditions under which the Hive could continue its mimic existence unobserved by the wild masses. The secrecy could not last indefinitely, of course. The Hive itself would see to that. They were going to swarm before long and there was nothing the Outsiders could do to prevent that swarming. Swarm would follow swarm thereafter and the wild ones would be assimilated and pushed back into smaller and smaller portions of the planet they shared now with tomorrow's humans.

From Joseph Merrivale's report to the Agency board.
As you know, we are effectively blocked from any further active participation in this matter, a decision the shortsightedness of which we all recognize. We are consulted on the problem from time to time, however, and I can give you some idea of how things are proceeding in Washington.

My own private guess at the moment is that Hellstrom will be permitted to continue with his filthy cult, at least for the time being, and he may even be allowed to continue making his subversive films.

The seesaw of the official debate is polarized around the following two opposing viewpoints:

1. Blast them out and damn the consequences. This is a minority viewpoint which I share, but it is losing adherents.
   
2. Stall for time by making a secret agreement with Hellstrom, thereby keeping knowledge of the Hive from the public, while at the same time mounting a massive research program aimed at the destruction of what is coming to be called in official circles “the Hellstrom horror.”