The Secret of Spring (17 page)

"Perhaps. But Master Zygote wants that secret kept a secret."

"Zygote. He killed my father. He'll get nothing from me,"
Spring
spat.

"I fear you've little choice in the matter. Better get used to the idea, my girl. After all, he will soon be your first love," Elton laughed.

"
That bag
of bones touch me? I'd rather die. Why, I would as soon sleep with you-Eloise," she said with loathing. The remark was meant as the ultimate put down, but caused a surprising reaction.

The Ki stood pondering, a strange look coming over "her" face. "Would you really?" said the Ki thoughtfully. "Now, what an interesting notion."

"What?" Spring said with disgust. What kind of game was the Ki playing with her now?

"Yes, indeed," said the Ki, warming to the possibilities. "Why should Zygote be the one to gain all the riches and power? Why not-me? Haven't I always done his dirty work? Where is my compensation?" The Ki smiled meanly to itself, lost in thought.

"You can't,"
Spring
exclaimed in horror.

Herb began to catch his drift and was appalled. "You can't," he repeated. "You're a-a woman."

"At the moment. But we
Kis
are adaptable. I just need a little time to change into someone more comfortable.
Trog
!" he called out impatiently. "Where did he go?"

"Here," called the goon, emerging from another room. "Have message from Master."

"Give me that," Elton said, snatching it from the goon. His face registered annoyance and fear. The message was definitely not to his liking. "
Trog
, bring the girl in to me when I call."

"Girl? Which girl?" the creature asked dumbly.

"Look at the arms, man. Bring the one with the white on her arms. That's easy to remember, isn't it?"

Trog
looked at the girls' arms. "Easy," he answered.

Elton exited into the other room adjoining them.
Trog
returned to his packing crate and sat down to wait. The troubled captives huddled at the far corner of the small cell. Lily looked from Herb to
Spring
, from Spring back to Herb.

"All right," she said, "Who wants to go first?"

Herb didn't want to, but knew he could no longer avoid an explanation. He began by revealing his connection to
Spring
, how they had become pen pals before she came to their planet to work on her school thesis. He finished with the account of how the strange, dangerous aliens began chasing her and how they plotted the ill-fated rescue.

Spring in turn, had to explain that was what Herb had believed since it was what she had told him, but that she had never been married to Elton. That the Ki had been searching for her ever since her father's death, so she had sought to hide on P#23 until devising a plan to bring Zygote to justice for his crimes. She assured Lily that there was nothing between her and Herb but friendship and that he had behaved as a perfect gentleman throughout their time together.

Lily had remained silent through the alternate explanations, and listened compassionately at the events surrounding
Spring's
father's death, and how the evil magician, Zygote, wanted the secret that would pass to him when Spring lost her virginity. At last she spoke.

"There's only one solution," she said.

"One? I can't think of any," said an amazed Herb.

"As I see it," continued Lily, "the most important thing for us to do now is prevent anyone from, uh, molesting
Spring
."

"Yes," agreed Herb emphatically, "No one must touch her."

Lily looked at him sharply, but said nothing.

"I don't see how we can stop them,"
Spring
said, despondently. "That disgusting weasel is determined to have the secret. It's in there now, preparing."

"It is terrible for you," Lily said, "but it will affect all of us in the long run. If what you say of these men is true, I do not think they will confine their greed to one planet. What could such men do with unlimited power?"

"She's right, Herb. Both Elton and Zygote are power hungry. They won't stop at anything less than ruling the universe."

"The secret you possess? It is that powerful?" Herb said in awe.

"In evil hands, yes, I think it could be,"
Spring
said. "Don't forget that Zygote is no ordinary man, but a magician. With those additional powers there would be no stopping him."

"This
Zygote,
is he truly that evil?" asked Lily.

"Yes. He killed my father. He's heartless. Old. A conniver. A thief and a murderer. Does that answer your question?"

"I am sorry. Of course you would hate him. I only wanted to understand what we were up against. This Elton?"

"Two peas in a pod," Herb said. The idea of these aliens wanting to place their nasty hands on
Spring
was more than he could tolerate. "We have to stop them."

He shook the bars of the cage in futile anger. The goon reached out and shoved him backward. He went flying and slammed against the window behind them. It also had bars.

Lily reached into her pocket and took out a small object. It resembled an eye shadow case, but
Spring
recognized it as the makeup kit used by the green-skinned women of the planet. Lily edged behind Herb and passed it across to
Spring
.

"Repair the smears on your arms," she whispered.

"What for?" asked
Spring
. It hardly mattered what she looked like now. The disguise had failed.

"Just do it," Lily hissed.

Spring did it, but she was still perplexed. In a few moments, she was as green as Lily again. She returned the case and Lily opened another section, smearing her own arms with some white cream. Suddenly,
Spring
understood.

"No. You can't,"
Spring
whispered.

"I must. I wanted to have a union with Herb and raise our family more than anything else, but I don't know if that will be possible. They won't let us go. I know that now."

"But you can't fool Elton. He'll know you're not me. If not before, then-afterward."

"But we have to try. We need time. Don't forget Cling Ling. He probably went for the Patrol. They may be surrounding this greenhouse right now," Lily said hopefully.

"That's right," Herb said. He had been listening to the confusing conversation about makeup. He never realized what a good mind Lily had before. Perhaps because he had never given her a chance. No wonder she had become so passive. She thought that was what he wanted from a wife. They had both made so many mistakes!

"The Patrol? I doubt that,"
Spring
said. "Remember Herb, you told me the story of how the offworlders were never punished for murdering your children. Elton has immunity. More than likely the Patrol would be only too glad to help Elton claim his wayward 'wife' and vacate the planet. They would hasten the process just to get rid of undesirable elements as soon as possible."

Herb realized she was probably correct, but he had difficulty in thinking of
Spring
as undesirable.

Herb sighed. "Yes, I suppose the Patrol would be no help after all. But Cling Ling may realize that. I know he wouldn't desert us now."

"Then I must buy that time. I must make Elton believe I am
Spring
," Lily said firmly.

Herb couldn't believe his ears. Lily was actually volunteering to bed with Elton in place of
Spring
? In all the years he had known her, she would never let him near her that way. A strong social conscience was one thing, but surely there were limits.

"Lily, you can't actually-" he began.

"Try to understand, Herb. I wanted the first time to be with you, naturally. I see now how foolish I have been, denying our pleasure until it's too late. If we get out of this, I will understand if you no longer wish union with me. I will be-soiled."

"Don't say that. Cling Ling will help us before that happens," Herb exclaimed, hoping it would be true.

"
Trosh
," Elton's slurred voice called from beyond the door. "Bring
Sping
, uh,
Spern
, ah, bring the girl in."

"Too late,"
sighed
Lily.

"Wait. He's sloshed," exclaimed
Spring
.

"What?" asked
Herb.

"Drunk. Maybe he was looking for some manhood in the bottle."

"Oh, you mean he drank distilled water?" Herb asked.

"Yes, and too much of it from the sound of him. This could be a lucky break for us. Maybe Lily can fool him, after all."

Trog
had moved to the cage and was looking over the two girls to see which was which. Lily stepped forward to keep him from examining them too closely and discovering the deception.

"I'm ready," she said to
Trog
, exiting before him.
Trog
slammed the door shut again, and Lily was ushered off to the room where Elton awaited her.

Meanwhile,
Spring
was pacing up and down in the cage, consumed with guilt. The notion that Lily should submit to that evil little twerp was more than she could bear. They could hear loud voices issuing from behind the door, mainly Elton's. Why was he shouting? Poor Lily, she must be terrified. If only they could understand what they were yelling, but the walls were too thick.

Herb had retreated to the cell window, overlooking an alley. He assumed it was an alley; they were on a split-level at the back of the building, but the window was so caked with dirt, it was impossible to see.

Then, as he watched, some of the dirt began to flake away from the outside glass. A small circle appeared and the pointed tip of a leaf. It was Cling Ling! At last!

His vine pointed to the guard, then beckoned to the window as he made a striking gesture with his leaf. Herb understood.

Moving slowly so as not to attract attention, Herb leaned against
Spring
and whispered for her to stand away from the window. She didn't know what he had in mind, but at that point, any kind of plan was welcome. She obeyed without hesitation and watched to see what would happen next. With a sudden motion, Herb beat his fists against the bars of the window, the vibration causing the glass to break and fall down to the street below.

As expected, the goon unlocked the door and rushed to silence Herb. As he entered, Herb grabbed for his huge, hairy arm, pulling him toward the window. Caught by surprise, the guard fell back exactly as Herb hoped he would.

Cling Ling was waiting. Quick as a flash, his strong vines shot out and flew through the bars to wrap around the guard's thick neck. They tightened and jerked.
Trog
groaned and fell in a slump to the floor of the cage. He did not get up.

Spring gasped at the sudden altercation. "Is he dead?" she whispered.

"No, merely out," answered the
Vinese
. He had used a paralyzing grip that worked on the nerves in the neck region. "It should keep him out of our foliage for now, however."

Herb and
Spring
dashed from the cage and slammed the door, locking the lummox inside. That would slow him down if he came to. Then
Spring
ran to the front and opened the door so Cling Ling could enter. He rolled along behind as they stormed the door where Elton had taken Lily. It was not even locked.

The room was totally dark. Spring fumbled for a switch and soon the room was flooded with a bright light. The three stood staring at the scene on the broken down old sofa. Only Elton lay sprawled out, clutching an empty bottle in his hand. He looked up with swimming vision at
Spring
and sputtered in confusion.

"You? You're gone. Zygote sent the
Freesher
," he babbled.

"Freezer, you mean?" asked
Spring
.

"He thinks you are Lily," Herb said.

"You are Lily. Spring is gone. She's on ice," he giggled foolishly.

"You vile excuse for a man. You've raped her," yelled Herb, reaching for him.

"Rape?" snorted Elton. "Did you hear any screams?"

"Only yours," admitted Herb, "But I know she didn't want to be with you, so it was still rape even if she submitted." He tried to yank Elton to his feet, but the Ki fell down again; the drink had taken its toll.

"Stop," pleaded the Ki. "It wasn't that way. I tried to change before Zygote's men came for her, but there wasn't enough time."

"The message
Trog
gave him. They were coming to make the pickup!" Spring said.

"
Yessh
. I tried. I tried. But it takes time to change sex. I took this stimulant to help accelerate the process, but too late. They came before it was completed."

Herb let go of Elton's hair and allowed him to fall back on the sofa again. "Are you saying you never touched her? Why should I believe you? You'd say anything to save your miserable skin."

"
Ish
true. That
privilish
has been saved for Master Zygote after
aaall
." The sentence trailed away as Elton passed out cold. He had overdone the stimulant. Herb tried to shake him awake but it was no use.