Roger Zelazny - The Keys to December

8/12/2019 Roger Zelazny - The Keys to December

1/18

Roger Zelazny. The Keys to December

BORN OF MAN and woman, n accordance w th !at"orm #$ re%& rements,!oldworld !lass 'mod " ed (er Alyonal), *.+ -, .M./. o(t on, 0arry Dar1 wasnot s& ted "or e2 stence anywhere n the &n 3erse wh ch had g&aranteed h m a

n che. Th s was e ther a bless ng or a c&rse, de(end ng on how yo& loo1ed att. 4o loo1 at t howe3er yo& wo&ld, here s the story5

/t s l 1ely that h s (arents co&ld ha3e a""orded the tem(erat&recontrol &n t, b&t not m&ch more than that. '0arry re%& red atem(erat&re o" at least 67 !. to be com"ortable.) /t s &nl 1ely that h s (arents co&ld ha3e (ro3 ded "or the a r

(ress&re control and gas m 2t&re e%& (ment re%& red to ma nta n h s l "e. Noth ng co&ld be done n the way o" *.+ - gra3 s m&lat on, so da lymed cat on and (hys othera(y were re%& red. /t s &nl 1ely that h s (arentsco&ld ha3e (ro3 ded "or th s. The m&ch mal gned o(t on too1 care o" h m, howe3er. /t sa"e g&arded h shealth. /t (ro3 ded "or h s ed&cat on. /t ass&red h s econom c wel"are and

(hys cal well be ng. /t m ght be arg&ed that 0arry Dar1 wo&ld not ha3e been a homeless!oldworld !at"orm 'mod " ed (er Alyonal) had t not been "or eneral M n ng,/ncor(orated, wh ch had held the o(t on. B&t then t m&st be borne n m ndthat no one co&ld ha3e "oreseen the no3a wh ch destroyed Alyonal. 8hen h s (arents had (resented themsel3es at the 9&bl c :ealth 9lanned9arenthood !enter and re%&ested ad3 ce and med cat on (end ng o""s(r ng,they had been n"ormed as to the a3a lable worlds and the body"ormre%& rements "or them. They had selected Alyonal, wh ch had recently been

(&rchased by eneral M n ng "or (&r(oses o" m neral e2(lo tat on. 8 sely,they had elected the o(t on; that s to say, they had s gned a contract on

behal" o" the r ant c (ated o""s(r ng, who wo&ld be em nently %&al " ed tonhab t that world, agree ng that he wo&ld wor1 as an em(loyee o" eneralM n ng &nt l he ach e3ed h s ma


2/18

/n any gro&( o" o3er twenty e ght tho&sand " 3e h&ndred s 2ty, there are bo&nd to be a "ew talented nd 3 d&als. 0arry was one o" them. :e had a1nac1 "or ma1 ng money. Most o" h s eneral M n ng (ens on chec1 wasn3ested n well chosen stoc1s o" a s(ec&lat 3e nat&re. '/n "act, a"ter at me he came to own cons derable stoc1 n eneral M n ng.)

8hen the man "rom the alact c ! 3 l > bert es ?n on had come aro&nd,e2(ress ng concern o3er the (re b rth contracts n3ol3ed n the o(t on ande2(la n ng that the Alyonal !at"orms wo&ld ma1e a good test case 'es(ec allys nce 0arry=s (arents l 3ed w th n


3/18

costs o" the mach nery and trans(ort.... 8hen the " g&res arr 3ed 0arrywe(t cy tears. One h&ndred mach nes, ca(able o" alter ng the en3 ronment o" a world, (l&s twenty e ght tho&sand coldslee( b&n1ers, (l&s trans(ortat oncosts "or the mach nery and h s (eo(le, (l&s...Too h gh :e d d a ra( dcalc&lat on.

:e s(o1e nto the s(eech t&be5 ...F "teen add t onal years s too long to wa t, 9&ssycat. :a3e them" g&re the t me s(an " we were to (&rchase only twenty 8orldchange &n ts.>o3e and 1 sses, 0arry. D&r ng the days wh ch "ollowed, he stal1ed abo3e h s chamber, erect at" rst, then on all "o&rs as h s mood dee(ened. A((ro2 mately three tho&sand years, came the re(ly. May yo&r coat bee3er sh ny 4anza. >et=s (&t t to a 3ote, reeneyes, he sa d.

E& c1, a world n *77 words or less 9 ct&re th s... One land mass, really, conta n ng three blac1 and brac1 sh loo1 ngseas; gray (la ns and yellow (la ns and s1 es the color o" dry sand; shallow"orests w th trees l 1e m&shrooms wh ch ha3e been swabbed w th od ne; nomo&nta ns,


4/18

/t s b tter, 4anza. #es, b&t only "or a t me ...To ha3e each other and o&r own world, and st ll to go "orth l 1ed 3ers at the bottom o" the sea. To ha3e to crawl when yo& want to lea(... /t s only "or a short t me, 0arry, as the sense w ll rec1on t.

B&t t s really three tho&sand years An ce age w ll come to (ass aswe doze. O&r "ormer worlds w ll change so that we wo&ld not 1now them werewe to go bac1 "or a 3 s t and none w ll remember &s. s t what O&r "ormer cells >et the rest o" the worlds go by >et &s

be "orgotten n the lands o" o&r b rth 8e are a (eo(le a(art and we ha3e"o&nd o&r home. 8hat else matters Tr&e.../t w ll be b&t a "ew years, and we shall stand o&r to&rs o" wa1e"&lness and watch ng together. 8hen s the " rst Two and a hal" cent&r es "rom now three months o" wa1e"&lness. 8hat w ll t be l 1e then / don=t 1now. >ess warm... Then let &s ret&rn and slee(. Tomorrow w ll be a better day. #es. Oh 4ee the green b rd /t dr "ts l 1e a dream...

8hen they awa1ened that " rst t me, they stayed w th n the 8orldchangenstallat on at the (lace called Deadland. The world was alreadycolder and the edges o" the s1y were t nted w th ( n1. The metalwalls o" the great nstallat on were blac1 and r med w th "rost. Theatmos(here was st ll lethal and the tem(erat&re "ar too h gh. Theyrema ned w th n the r s(ec al chambers "or most o" the t me, 3ent&r ngo&ts de ma nly to ma1e necessary tests and to ns(ect the str&ct&re o" the r home. Deadland...Roc1s and sand. No trees, no mar1s o" l "e at all. The t me o" terr ble w nds was st ll &(on the land, as the world "o&ght

bac1 aga nst the " elds o" the mach nes. At n ght, great clo&ds o" realestate smoothed and sc&l(ted the stands o" stone, and when the w ndsde(arted the desert wo&ld sh mmer as " "resh (a nted and the stones wo&ldstand l 1e "lames w th n the morn ng and ts s ng ng. A"ter the s&n came &(nto the s1y and h&ng there "or a t me, the w nds wo&ld beg n aga n and ad&n colored "og wo&ld c&rta n the day. 8hen the morn ng w nds de(arted,

0arry and 4anza wo&ld stare o&t across the Deadland thro&gh the east w ndowo" the nstallat on, "or that was the r "a3or te the one on the th rd"loor where the stone that loo1ed l 1e a gnarly Norm"orm wa3ed to them, andthey wo&ld l e &(on the green co&ch they had mo3ed &( "rom the " rst "loor,and wo&ld somet mes ma1e lo3e as they l stened "or the w nds to r se aga n,or 4anza wo&ld s ng and 0arry wo&ld wr te n the log or read bac1 thro&ght, the scr bbl ngs o" "r ends and &n1nowns thro&gh the cent&r es, and theywo&ld (&rr o"ten b&t ne3er la&gh, beca&se they d d not 1now how. One morn ng, as they watched, they saw one o" the b (ed creat&res o" the od ne "orests mo3 ng across the land. /t "ell se3eral t mes, ( c1edtsel" &(, "ell once more, lay st ll.

8hat s t do ng th s "ar "rom ts home as1ed 4anza. Dy ng, sa d 0arry. >et=s go o&ts de.


5/18

They crossed a catwal1, descended to the " rst "loor, donned the r (rotect 3e s& ts and de(arted the nstallat on. The creat&re had r sen to ts "eet and was stagger ng once aga n. /twas co3ered w th a redd sh down, had dar1 eyes and a long, w de nose, lac1eda tr&e "orehead. /t had "o&r br e" d g ts, clawed, &(on each hand and "oot.

8hen t saw them emerge "rom the 8orldchange &n t, t sto((ed andstared at them. Then t "ell. They mo3ed to ts s de and st&d ed t where t lay. /t cont n&ed to stare at them, ts dar1 eyes w de, as t lay theresh 3er ng. /t w ll d e " we lea3e t here, sa d 4anza. ...And t w ll d e " we ta1e t ns de, sa d 0arry. /t ra sed a "orel mb toward them, let t "all aga n. /ts eyes narrowed,then closed. 0arry reached o&t and to&ched t w th the toe o" h s boot. There was nores(onse. /t=s dead, he sa d. 8hat w ll we do >ea3e t here. The sands w ll co3er t. They ret&rned to the nstallat on, and 0arry entered the e3ent n thelog. D&r ng the r last month o" d&ty, 4anza as1ed h m, 8 ll e3eryth ng d ehere b&t &s The green b rds and the b g eaters o" "lesh The "&nny l ttletrees and the ha ry cater( llar / ho(e not, sa d 0arry. /=3e been read ng bac1 thro&gh the

b olog sts= notes. / th n1 l "e m ght ada(t. Once t gets a start anywhere,t=ll do anyth ng t can to 1ee( go ng. /t=s (robably better "or thecreat&res o" th s (lanet we co&ld a""ord only twenty 8orldchangers That waythey ha3e three m llenn a to grow more ha r and learn to breathe o&r a r anddr n1 o&r water. 8 th a h&ndred &n ts we m ght ha3e w (ed them o&t and hadto m(ort coldworld creat&res or breed them. Th s way, the ones who l 3ehere m ght be able to ma1e t. /t=s "&nny, she sa d, b&t the tho&ght "e w ll ma1e t. / wonder....

8o&ld yo& (re"er to slee( &nt l t=s all o3er No; / want to be by yo&r s de, always.


6/18

Then yo& m&st reconc le yo&rsel" to the "act that someth ng s alwaysh&rt by any change. /" yo& do th s, yo& w ll not be h&rt yo&rsel". Then they l stened "or the w nds to r se. Three days later, n the st ll o" s&ndown, between the w nds o" day andthe w nds o" n ght, she called h m to the w ndow. :e cl mbed to the th rd

"loor and mo3ed to her s de. :er breasts were rose n the s&ndown l ght andthe (laces beneath them s l3er and dar1. The "&r o" her sho&lders andha&nches was l 1e an a&ra o" smo1e. :er "ace was e2(ress onless and her w de, green eyes were not t&rned toward h m. :e loo1ed o&t. The " rst b g "la1es were "all ng, bl&e, thro&gh the ( n1 l ght. Theydr "ted (ast the stone and gnarly Norm"orm; some st&c1 n the th c1 %&artzw ndow(ane; they "ell &(on the desert and lay there l 1e blossoms o" cyan de; they sw rled as more o" them came down and were ca&ght by the " rst"a nt (&""s o" the terr ble w nds. Dar1 clo&ds had m&stered o3erhead and"rom them, now, great cables and nets o" bl&e descended. Now the "la1es"lashed (ast the w ndow l 1e b&tter"l es, and the o&tl ne o" Deadland"l c1ered on and o"". The ( n1 3an shed and there was only bl&e, bl&e anddar1en ng bl&e, as the " rst great s gh o" e3en ng came nto the r ears andthe b llows s&ddenly mo3ed s dew se rather than downwards, becom ng nd goas they raced by.

The mach ne s ne3er s lent, 0arry wrote. 4omet mes / "ancy / canhear 3o ces n ts constant h&mm ng, ts occas onal growl ng, ts crac1leso" (ower. / am alone here at the Deadland stat on. F 3e cent&r es ha3e

(assed s nce o&r arr 3al. / tho&ght t better to let 4anza slee( o&t th sto&r o" d&ty, lest the (ros(ect be too blea1. '/t s.) 4he w ll do&btless beangry. As / lay hal" awa1e th s morn ng, / tho&ght / heard my (arents=3o ces n the ne2t room. No words. 0&st the so&nds o" the r 3o ces as / &sedto hear them o3er my old ntercom. They m&st be dead by now, des( te allger atr cs. / wonder " they tho&ght o" me m&ch a"ter / le"t / co&ldn=te3en sha1e my "ather=s hand w tho&t the ga&ntlet, or 1 ss my mother goodbye./t s strange, the "eel ng, to be th s alone, w th only the throb o" themach nery abo&t me as t rearranges the molec&les o" the atmos(here,re"r gerates the world, here n the m ddle o" the bl&e (lace. Deadland.Th s, des( te the "act that / grew &( n a steel ca3e. / call the other n neteen stat ons e3ery a"ternoon. / am a"ra d / am becom ng someth ng o" a

n& sance. / won=t call them tomorrow, or (erha(s the ne2t day. / went o&ts de w tho&t my re"r g (ac1 th s morn ng, "or a "ew moments./t s st ll deadly hot. / g&l(ed a mo&th"&l o" a r and cho1ed. O&r day sst ll "ar o"". B&t / can not ce the d ""erence "rom the last t me / tr edt, two and a hal" h&ndred years ago. / wonder what t w ll be l 1e when weha3e " n shed And /, an econom st 8hat w ll my "&nct on be n o&r newAlyonal 8hate3er, so long as 4anza s ha((y.... The 8orldchanger st&tters and groans. All the land s bl&e "or so "ar as / can see. The stones st ll stand, b&t the r sha(es are changed "rom whatthey were. The s1y s ent rely ( n1 now, and t becomes almost maroon n themorn ng and the e3en ng. / g&ess t=s really a w ne color, b&t /=3e ne3er

seen w ne, so / can=t say "or certa n. The trees ha3e not d ed. They=3egrown hard er. The r bar1s are th c1er, the r lea3es dar1er and larger. They


7/18

grow m&ch taller now, /=3e been told. There are no trees n Deadland. The cater( llars st ll l 3e. They seem m&ch larger, / &nderstand, b&tt s act&ally beca&se they ha3e become wooll er than they &sed to be. /tseems that most o" the an mals ha3e hea3 er (elts these days. 4omea((arently ha3e ta1en to h bernat ng. A strange th ng5 4tat on 4e3en

re(orted that they had tho&ght the b (eds were grow ng hea3 er coats. Thereseem to be %& te a "ew o" them n that area, and they o"ten see them o"" nthe d stance. They loo1ed to be shagg er. !loser obser3at on, howe3er,re3ealed that some o" them were e ther carry ng or were wra((ed n the s1 nso" dead an mals !o&ld t be that they are more ntell gent than we ha3eg 3en them cred t "or Th s hardly seems (oss ble, s nce they were tested%& te thoro&ghly by the B o Team be"ore we set the mach nes n o(erat on.#es, t s 3ery strange. The w nds are st ll se3ere. Occas onally, they dar1en the s1y w thash. There has been cons derable 3&lcan sm so&thwest o" here. 4tat on Fo&r was relocated beca&se o" th s. / hear 4anza s ng ng now, w th n the so&ndso" the mach ne. / w ll let her be awa1ened the ne2t t me. Th ngs sho&ld bemore settled by then. No, that s not tr&e. /t s sel" shness. / want her here bes de me. / "eel as " / were the only l 3 ng th ng n the wholeworld. The 3o ces on the rad o are ghosts. The cloc1 t c1s lo&dly and thes lences between the t c1s are " lled w th the h&mm ng o" the mach ne, wh chs a 1 nd o" s lence, too, beca&se t s constant. 4omet mes / th n1 t snot there; / l sten "or t, / stra n my ears, and / do not 1now whether there s a h&mm ng or not. / chec1 the nd cators then, and they ass&re methat the mach ne s "&nct on ng. Or (erha(s there s someth ng wrong w ththe nd cators. B&t they seem to be all r ght. No. /t s me. And the bl&e o" Deadland s a 1 nd o" 3 s&al s lence. /n the morn ng e3en the roc1s areco3ered w th bl&e "rost. /s t bea&t "&l or &gly There s no res(onsew th n me. /t s a (art o" the great s lence, that=s all. 9erha(s / shall

become a myst c. 9erha(s / shall de3elo( occ&lt (owers or ach e3e someth ng br ght and l berat ng as / s t here at the center o" the great s lence.9erha(s / shall see 3 s ons. Already / hear 3o ces. Are there ghosts nDeadland No, there was ne3er anyth ng here to be ghosted. -2ce(t (erha(s"or the l ttle b (ed. 8hy d d t cross Deadland, / wonder 8hy d d t head"or the center o" destr&ct on rather than away, as ts "ellows d d / shallne3er 1now. ?nless (erha(s / ha3e a 3 s on. / th n1 t s t me to s& t &(and ta1e a wal1. The (olar ceca(s are hea3 er. The glac at on has beg&n.

4oon, soon th ngs w ll be better. 4oon the s lence w ll end, / ho(e. /wonder, tho&gh, whether s lence s not the tr&e state o" a""a rs n the&n 3erse, o&r l ttle no ses ser3 ng only to accent&ate t, l 1e a s(ec1 o"

blac1 on a " eld o" bl&e. -3eryth ng was once s lence and w ll be soaga n s now, (erha(s. 8 ll / e3er hear real so&nds, or only so&nds o&t o" the s lence 4anza s s ng ng aga n. / w sh / co&ld wa1e her &( now, to wal1 w th me, o&t there. /t s beg nn ng to snow.

0arry awa1ened aga n on the e3e o" the m llenn &m. 4anza sm led and too1 h s hand n hers and sto1ed t, as he e2(la nedwhy he had let her slee(, as he a(olog zed.

O" co&rse /=m not angry, she sa d, cons der ng / d d the same th ngto yo& last cycle.


8/18

0arry stared &( at her and "elt the &nderstand ng beg n. /=ll not do t aga n, she sa d, and / 1now yo& co&ldn=t. Thealoneness s almost &nbearable. #es, he re(l ed. They warmed &s both al 3e last t me. / came aro&nd " rst and told them

to (&t yo& bac1 to slee(. / was angry then, when / "o&nd o&t what yo& haddone. B&t / got o3er t %& c1ly, so o"ten d d / w sh yo& were there. 8e w ll stay together, sa d 0arry. #es, always. They too1 a "l er "rom the ca3ern o" slee( to the 8orldchangenstallat on at Deadland, where they rel e3ed the other attendants and mo3edthe new co&ch &( to the th rd "loor. The a r o" Deadland, wh le s&ltry, co&ld now be breathed "or short

(er ods o" t me, tho&gh a headache n3ar ably "ollowed s&ch e2(er ments. Theheat was st ll o((ress 3e. The roc1, once l 1e an old Norm"orm wa3 ng, hadlost ts d st nct 3e o&tl ne. The w nds were no longer so se3ere. On the "o&rth day, they "o&nd some an mal trac1s wh ch seemed to belongto one o" the larger (redators. Th s cheered 4anza, b&t another, later occ&rrence (rod&ced only (&zzlement. One morn ng they went "orth to wal1 n Deadland. >ess than a h&ndred (aces "rom the nstallat on, they came &(on threeo" the g ant cater( llars, dead. They were st "", as tho&gh dr ed o&t rather than "rozen, and they were s&rro&nded by rows o" mar1 ngs w th n the snow.The "oot(r nts wh ch led to the scene and away "rom t were ro&gh o" o&tl ne, obsc&re. 8hat does t mean she as1ed. / don=t 1now, b&t / th n1 we had better (hotogra(h th s, sa d 0arry. They d d. 8hen 0arry s(o1e to 4tat on -le3en that a"ternoon, he learnedthat s m lar occ&rrences had occas onally been noted by attendants o" other nstallat ons. These were not too "re%&ent, howe3er. / don=t &nderstand, sa d 4anza. / don=t want to, sa d 0arry. /t d d not ha((en aga n d&r ng the r to&r o" d&ty. 0arry entered tnto the log and wrote a re(ort. Then they abandoned themsel3es tolo3ema1 ng, mon tor ng, and occas onally n ghts o" dr&n1enness. Two h&ndredyears (re3 o&sly, a b ochem st had de3oted h s to&r o" d&ty to e2(er ment ngw th com(o&nds wh ch wo&ld (rod&ce the same react ons n !at"orms as the

legendary wh s1ey d d n Norm"orms. :e had been s&ccess"&l, had s(ent "o&r wee1s on a colossal b nge, neglected h s d&ty and been rel e3ed o" t, wasthen ret red to h s coldb&n1 "or the balance o" the 8a t. : s bas callys m(le "orm&la had c rc&lated, howe3er, and 0arry and 4anza "o&nd awell stoc1ed bar n the storeroom and a hand wr tten man&al e2(la n ng ts&se and a 3ar ety o" dr n1s wh ch m ght be com(o&nded. The a&thor o" thedoc&ment had e2(ressed the ho(e that each to&r o" attendance m ght res&lt nthe d sco3ery o" a new m 2t&re, so that when he ret&rned "or h s ne2t cyclethe man&al wo&ld ha3e grown to a s ze (ro(ort onate to h s des re. 0arry and4anza wor1ed at t consc ent o&sly, and sat s" ed the re%&est w th a4now"lower 9&nch wh ch warmed the r bell es and made the r (&rr ng t&rn nto

g ggles, so that they d sco3ered la&ghter also. They celebrated them llenn &m w th an ent re bowl o" t, and 4anza ns sted on call ng all the


9/18

other nstallat ons and g 3 ng them the "orm&la, r ght then, on thegra3eyard watch, so that e3eryone co&ld share n the r 3 ng the way we=3e been l 3 ng, / g&ess. >ea3 ng l ttle ( eces o" o&rsel3es n d ""erent cent&r es. 0&st a "ew months ago, as my memory wor1s,th s (lace was a desert. Now t=s an ce " eld. !hasms o(en and close.!anyons a((ear and d sa((ear. R 3ers dry &( and new ones s(r ng "orth.-3eryth ng seems so 3ery trans tory. Th ngs loo1 sol d, b&t /=m gett nga"ra d to to&ch th ngs now. They m ght go away. They m ght t&rn nto smo1e,and my hand w ll 1ee( on reach ng thro&gh the smo1e andto&ch someth ng... od, maybe. Or worse yet, maybe not. No one really 1nowswhat t w ll be l 1e here when we=3e " n shed. 8e=re tra3el ng toward an&n1nown land and t=s too late to go bac1. 8e=re mo3 ng thro&gh a dream,head ng toward an dea...4omet mes / m ss my cell...and all the l ttlemach nes that too1 care o" me there. Maybe G/G can=t ada(t. Maybe /=ml 1e the green b rd... No, 4anza. #o&=re not. 8e=re real. No matter what ha((ens o&t there,

GweG w ll last. -3eryth ng s chang ng beca&se we want t to change.8e=re stronger than the world, and we=ll s%&eeze t and (a nt t and (o1eholes n t &nt l we=3e made t e2actly the way we want t. Then we=ll ta1et and co3er t w th c t es and ch ldren. #o& want to see od o loo1 n

the m rror. od has (o nted ears and green eyes. :e s co3ered w th so"tgray "&r. 8hen :e ra ses : s hand there s webb ng between : s " ngers. /t s good that yo& are strong, 0arry. >et=s get o&t the (ower sled and go "or a r de. All r ght. ?( and down, that day, they dro3e thro&gh Deadland, where the dar1 stones stood l 1e clo&ds n another s1y.

/t was twel3e and a hal" h&ndred years. Now they co&ld breathe w tho&t res( rators, "or a short t me. Now they co&ld bear the tem(erat&re, "or a short t me.

Now all the green b rds were dead. Now a strange and tro&bl ng th ng began.


10/18

The b (eds came by n ght, made mar1 ngs on the snow, le"t dead an malsn the m dst o" them. Th s ha((ened now w th m&ch more "re%&ency than t hadn the (ast. They came long d stances to do t, many o" them w th "&r wh chwas not the r own &(on the r sho&lders. 0arry searched thro&gh the h story " les "or all the re(orts on the

creat&res. Th s one s(ea1s o" l ghts n the "orest, he sa d. 4tat on 4e3en. 8hat... F re, he sa d. 8hat " they=3e d sco3ered " re Then they=re not really beasts B&t they were They wear cloth ng now. They ma1e some sort o" sacr " ce to o&r mach nes. They=re not beasts any longer. :ow co&ld t ha3e ha((ened :ow do yo& th n1 G8eG d d t. 9erha(s they wo&ld ha3e rema nedst&( d an mals " we had not come along and "orced them to get smart norder to go on l 3 ng. 8e=3e accelerated the r e3ol&t on. They had to ada(tor d e, and they ada(ted. D=yo& th n1 t wo&ld ha3e ha((ened " we hadn=t come along he as1ed. Maybe some day. Maybe not, too. 0arry mo3ed to the w ndow, stared o&t across Deadland. / ha3e to " nd o&t, he sa d. /" they are ntell gent, " theyare h&man, l 1e &s, he sa d, then la&ghed, then we m&st cons der the r ways. 8hat do yo& (ro(ose >ocate some o" the creat&res. 4ee whether we can comm&n cate w ththem. :asn=t t been tr ed #es. 8hat were the res&lts M 2ed. 4ome cla m they ha3e cons derable &nderstand ng. Others (lacethem "ar below the threshold where h&man ty beg ns. 8e may be do ng a terr ble th ng, she sa d. !reat ng men, thendestroy ng them. Once, when / was "eel ng low, yo& told me that we were thegods o" th s world, that o&rs was the (ower to sha(e and to brea1. O&rs

G sG the (ower to sha(e and brea1, b&t / don=t "eel es(ec allyd 3 ne. 8hat can we do They ha3e come th s "ar, b&t do yo& th n1 they can

bear the change that w ll ta1e &s the rest o" the way 8hat " they are l 1ethe green b rds 8hat " they=3e ada(ted as "ast and as "ar as they can andt s not s&"" c ent 8hat wo&ld a god do 8hate3er he w shed, sa d 0arry. That day, they cr& sed o3er Deadland n the "l er, b&t the only s gnso" l "e they saw were each other. They cont n&ed to search n the days that"ollowed, b&t they d d not meet w th s&ccess. ?nder the (&r(le o" morn ng, howe3er, two wee1s later, t ha((ened. They=3e been here, sa d 4anza. 0arry mo3ed to the "ront o" the nstallat on and stared o&t. The snow was bro1en n se3eral (laces, nscr bed w th the l nes he had

seen be"ore, abo&t the "orm o" a small, dead beast. They can=t ha3e gone 3ery "ar, he sa d.


11/18

No. 8e=ll search n the sled. Now o3er the snow and o&t, across the land called Dead they went, 4anzadr 3 ng and 0arry (eer ng at the l nes o" "ootmar1s n the bl&e. They cr& sed thro&gh the occ&rr ng morn ng, h nt ng o" " re and 3 olet,

and the w nd went (ast them l 1e a r 3er, and all abo&t them there cameso&nds l 1e the crac1 ng o" ce, the trembl ng o" t n, the sna(( ng o" steelstrands. The bl&e"rosted stones stood l 1e "rozen m&s c, and the long shadowo" the r sled, blac1 as n1, raced on ahead o" them. A shower o" ha lstonesdr&mm ng &(on the roo" o" the r 3eh cle l 1e a s&dden 3 s tat on o" demondancers, as s&ddenly was gone. Deadland slo(ed downward, slanted &( aga n. 0arry (laced h s hand &(on 4anza=s sho&lder. Ahead 4he nodded, began to bra1e the sled. They had t at bay. They were &s ng cl&bs and long (oles wh ch loo1ed to ha3e " re hardened

(o nts. They threw stones. They threw ( eces o" ce. Then they bac1ed away and t 1 lled them as they went. The !at"orms had called t a bear beca&se t was b g and shaggy andco&ld r se &( onto ts h nd legs... Th s one was abo&t three and a hal" meters n length, was co3ered w th

bl& sh "&r and had a th n, ha rless sno&t l 1e the b&s ness end o" a (a r o" (l ers. F 3e o" the l ttle creat&res lay st ll n the snow. -ach t me that tsw&ng a (aw and connected, another one "ell. 0arry remo3ed the ( stol "rom ts com(artment and chec1ed the charge. !r& se by slowly, he told her. /=m go ng to try to b&rn t abo&t thehead. : s " rst shot m ssed, scor ng the bo&lder at ts bac1. : s seconds nged the "&r o" ts nec1. :e lea(t down "rom the sled then, as they cameabreast o" the beast, th&mbed the (ower control &( to ma2 m&m, and " red theent re charge nto ts breast, (o nt blan1. The bear st ""ened, swayed, "ell, a ga( ng wo&nd &(on t, "ront to

bac1. 0arry t&rned and regarded the l ttle creat&res. They stared &( at h m. :ello, he sa d. My name s 0arry. / d&b thee Red"orms :e was 1noc1ed "rom h s "eet by a blow "rom beh nd.

:e rolled across the snow, l ghts danc ng be"ore h s eyes, h s le"t armand sho&lder a" re w th (a n. A second bear had emerged "rom the "orest o" stone. :e drew h s long h&nt ng 1n "e w th h s r ght hand and cl mbed bac1 toh s "eet. As the creat&re l&nged, he mo3ed w th the cats(eed o" h s 1 nd,thr&st ng &(ward, b&ry ng h s 1n "e to the h lt n ts throat. A sh&dder ran thro&gh t, b&t " c&""ed h m and he "ell once aga n, the

blade torn "rom h s gras(. The Red"orms threw more stones, r&shed toward t w th the r (o ntedst c1s.

Then there was a th&d and a cr&nch ng so&nd, and t rose &( nto thea r and came down on to( o" h m.


12/18

:e awa1ened. :e lay on h s bac1, h&rt ng, and e3eryth ng he loo1ed at seemed to be

(&ls ng, as " abo&t to e2(lode. :ow m&ch t me had (assed, he d d not 1now. - ther he or the bear had been mo3ed.

The l ttle creat&res cro&ched, wa t ng. 4ome watched the bear. 4ome watched h m. 4ome watched the bro1en sled... The bro1en sled... :e str&ggled to h s "eet. The Red"orms drew bac1. :e crossed to the sled and loo1ed ns de. :e 1new she was dead when he saw the angle o" her nec1. B&t he d d allthe th ngs a (erson does to be s&re, anyway, be"ore he wo&ld let h msel"

bel e3e t. 4he had del 3ered the deathblow, crash ng the sled nto the creat&re,

brea1 ng ts bac1. /t had bro1en the sled. :ersel", also. :e leaned aga nst the wrec1age, com(osed h s " rst (rayer, then remo3edher body. The Red"orms watched. :e l "ted her n h s arms and began wal1 ng, bac1 toward thenstallat on, across Deadland. The Red"orms cont n&ed to watch as he went, e2ce(t "or the one w th thestrangely h gh brow r dge, who st&d ed nstead the 1n "e that (rotr&ded "romthe shaggy and steam ng throat o" the beast.

0arry as1ed the awa1ened e2ec&t 3es o" December5 8hat sho&ld we do 4he s the " rst o" o&r race to d e on th s world, sa d #an T&rl,ce 9res dent.

There s no trad t on, sa d 4elda Ke n, 4ecretary. 4hall weestabl sh one / don=t 1now, sa d 0arry. / don=t 1now what s r ght to do. B&r al or cremat on seem to be the ma n cho ces. 8h ch wo&ld yo&

(re"er / don=t No, not the gro&nd. 3e her bac1 to me. 3e me a large"l er.../=ll b&rn her. Then let &s constr&ct a cha(el.

No. /t s a th ng / m&st do n my own way. /=d rather do t alone. As yo& w sh. Draw what e%& (ment yo& w ll need, and be abo&t t. 9lease send someone else to 1ee( the Deadland nstallat on. / w sh toslee( aga n when / ha3e " n shed th s th ng &nt l the ne2t cycle. ery well, 0arry. 8e are sorry. #es we are. 0arry nodded, gest&red, t&rned, de(arted. Th&s are the hea3 er l nes o" l "e somet mes drawn.

At the so&theastern edge o" Deadland there was a bl&e mo&nta n. /tstood to sl ghtly o3er three tho&sand meters n he ght. 8hen a((roached "rom

the northwest, t ga3e the a((earance o" be ng a "rozen wa3e n a sea too3ast to mag ne. 9&r(le clo&ds rent themsel3es &(on ts (ea1. No l 3 ng


13/18

th ng was to be "o&nd on ts slo(es. /t had no name, sa3e that wh ch 0arryDar1 ga3e t. :e anchored the "l er. :e carr ed her body to the h ghest (o nt to wh ch a body m ght becarr ed.

:e (laced her there, dressed n her " nest garments, a w de scar" conceal ng the angle o" her nec1, a dar1 3e l co3er ng her em(t ed "eat&res. :e was abo&t to try a (rayer when the ha l began to "all. > 1e thrownroc1s, the ch&n1s o" bl&e ce came down &(on h m, &(on her. od damn yo& he cr ed and he raced bac1 to the "l er. :e cl mbed nto the a r, c rcled. :er garments were "la(( ng n the w nd. The ha l was a bl&e, beadedc&rta n that se(arated them "rom all b&t these " nal caresses5 " re a"low"rom ce to ce, "rom clay a"low mmortally thro&gh g&ns. :e s%&eezed the tr gger and a doorway nto the s&n o(ened n the s deo" the mo&nta n that had been nameless. 4he 3an shed w th n t, and hew dened the doorway &nt l he had lowered the mo&nta n. Then he cl mbed &(ward nto the clo&d, attac1 ng the storm &nt l h sg&ns were em(ty. :e c rcled then abo3e the molten mesa, there at the so&theastern edgeo" Deadland. :e c rcled abo3e the " rst (yre th s world had seen. Then he de(arted, to slee( "or a season n s lence the slee( o" ce andstone, to nher t the Alyonal. There s no dream ng n that slee(.

F "teen cent&r es. Almost hal" the 8a t. Two h&ndred words or less....9 ct&re ...N neteen m ghty r 3ers "low ng, b&t the blac1 seas r ((l ng 3 oletnow. ...No shallow od ne colored "orests. M ghty shag bar1ed barrel treesnstead, orange and l me and blac1 and tall across the land. ... reat ranges o" mo&nta ns n the (lace o" h lls brown, yellow,wh te, la3ender. Blac1 cor1screws o" smo1e &nw nd ng "rom smolder ng cones. ...Flowers, whose roots e2(lore the so l twenty meters beneath the r m&stard (etals, &n"olded am dst the bl&e "rost and the stones. ...Bl nd b&rrowers b&rrow ng dee(er; o""al eat ng m&r1 beasts nowshow ng "orm dable nc sors and great rows o" r dged molars; g ant

cater( llars grow ng smaller b&t loo1 ng larger beca&se o" ncreas ng coats. ...The conto&rs o" 3alleys st ll l 1e the torsos o" women, "low ng androll ng, or (erha(s l 1e nstr&ments o" m&s c. ... one m&ch w ndblasted stone, b&t e3er the "rost. ...4o&nds n the morn ng as always, harsh, br ttle, metall c. They were s&re that they were hal"way to hea3en. 9 ct&re that.

The Deadland log told h m as m&ch as he really needed to 1now. B&t he read bac1 thro&gh the old re(orts, too. Then he m 2ed h msel" a dr n1 and stared o&t the th rd "loor w ndow.

...8 ll d e, he sa d, then " n shed h s dr n1, o&t" tted h msel", andabandoned h s (ost.


14/18

/t was three days be"ore he "o&nd a cam(. :e landed the "l er at a d stance and a((roached on "oot. :e was "ar tothe so&th o" Deadland, where the a r was warmer and ca&sed h m to "eelconstantly short o" breath. They were wear ng an mal s1 ns s1 ns wh ch had been c&t "or a better

" t and greater (rotect on, s1 ns wh ch were t ed abo&t them. :e co&nteds 2teen lean to arrangements and three cam(" res. :e "l nched as he regardedthe " res, b&t he cont n&ed to ad3ance. 8hen they saw h m, all the r l ttle no ses sto((ed, a br e" cry went&(, and there was s lence. :e entered the cam(. The creat&res stood &nmo3 ng abo&t h m. :e heard some b&stl ng w th nthe large lean to at the end o" the clear ng. :e wal1ed abo&t the cam(. A slab o" dr ed meat h&ng "rom the center o" a tr (od o" (oles. 4e3eral long s(ears stood be"ore each dwell ng (lace. :e ad3anced andst&d ed one. A stone wh ch had been "la1ed nto a lea" sha(ed s(earhead wasa"" 2ed to ts end. There was the o&tl ne o" a cat car3ed &(on a bloc1 o" wood... :e heard a "oot"all and t&rned. One o" the Red"orms mo3ed slowly toward h m. /t a((eared older than theothers. /ts sho&lders slo(ed; as t o(ened ts mo&th to ma1e a ser es o"

(o(( ng no ses, he saw that some o" ts teeth were m ss ng; ts ha r wasgr zzled and th n. /t bore someth ng n ts hands, b&t 0arry=s attent on wasdrawn to the hands themsel3es. -ach hand bore an o((os ng d g t. :e loo1ed abo&t h m %& c1ly, st&dy ng the hands o" the others. All o" them seemed to ha3e th&mbs. :e st&d ed the r a((earance more closely. They now had "oreheads. :e ret&rned h s attent on to the old Red"orm. /t (laced someth ng at h s "eet, and then t bac1ed away "rom h m. :e loo1ed down. A ch&n1 o" dr ed meat and a ( ece o" "r& t lay &(on a broad lea". :e ( c1ed &( the meat, closed h s eyes, b t o"" a ( ece, chewed andswallowed. :e wra((ed the rest n the lea" and (laced t n the s de (oc1eto" h s (ac1. :e e2tended h s hand and the Red"orm drew bac1.

:e lowered h s hand, &nrolled the blan1et he had carr ed w th h m ands(read t &(on the gro&nd. :e seated h msel", (o nted to the Red"orm, thennd cated a (os t on across "rom h m at the other end o" the blan1et. The creat&re hes tated, then ad3anced and seated tsel". 8e are go ng to learn to tal1 w th one another, he sa d slowly. Thenhe (laced h s hand &(on h s breast and sa d, 0arry.

0arry stood be"ore the reawa1ened e2ec&t 3es o" December. They are ntell gent, he told them. /t=s all n my re(ort. 4o as1ed #an T&rl. / don=t th n1 they w ll be able to ada(t. They ha3e come 3ery "ar,

3ery ra( dly. B&t / don=t th n1 they can go m&ch "&rther. / don=t th n1 theycan ma1e t all the way.


15/18

Are yo& a b olog st, an ecolog st, a chem st No. Then on what do yo& base yo&r o( n on / obser3ed them at close range "or s 2 wee1s. Then t=s only a "eel ng yo& ha3e...

#o& 1now there are no e2(erts on a th ng l 1e th s. /t=s ne3er ha((ened be"ore. rant ng the r ntell gence grant ng e3en that what yo& ha3e sa dconcern ng the r ada(tab l ty s correct what do yo& s&ggest we do abo&tt 4low down the change. 3e them a better chance. /" they can=t ma1e tthe rest o" the way, then sto( short o" o&r goal. /t=s already l 3able here.8e can ada(t the rest o" the way. 4low t down :ow m&ch 4&((os ng we too1 another se3en or e ght tho&sand years /m(oss ble -nt rely Too m&ch 8hy Beca&se e3eryone stands a three month watch e3ery two h&ndred " "tyyears. That=s one year o" (ersonal t me "or e3ery tho&sand. #o&=re as1 ng"or too m&ch o" e3eryone=s t me. B&t the l "e o" an ent re race may be at sta1e #o& do not 1now that "or certa n. No, / don=t. B&t do yo& "eel t s someth ng to ta1e a chance w th Do yo& want to (&t t to an e2ec&t 3e 3ote No / can see that /=ll lose. / want to (&t t be"ore the ent remembersh (. /m(oss ble. They=re all aslee(. Then wa1e them &(. That wo&ld be %& te a (ro


16/18

we come nto o&r -den. /=m go ng now, bac1 to Deadland, to " n sh my to&r o" d&ty. #o& don=t ha3e to. /n "act, t m ght be better " yo& slee( the wholeth ng o&t... No. /" t=s go ng to be th s way, the g& lt w ll be m ne also. / want

to watch, to share t "&lly. 4o be t, sa d T&rl.

Two wee1s later, when /nstallat on N neteen tr ed to ra se the Deadland4tat on on the rad o, there was no res(onse. A"ter a t me, a "l er was d s(atched. The Deadland 4tat on was a sha(eless l&m( o" melted metal. 0arry Dar1 was nowhere to be "o&nd. >ater than a"ternoon, /nstallat on - ght went dead. A "l er was mmed ately d s(atched. /nstallat on - ght no longer e2 sted. /ts attendants were "o&nd se3eralm les away, wal1 ng. They told how 0arry Dar1 had "orced them "rom thestat on at g&n(o nt. Then he had b&rnt t to the gro&nd, w th the" re cannons mo&nted &(on h s "l er. At abo&t the t me they were tell ng th s story, /nstallat on 4 2 becames lent. The order went o&t5 MA/NTA/N !ONT/N?O?4 RAD/O !ONTA!T 8/T: T8OOT:-R 4TAT/O/N4 AT A>> T/M-4. The other order went o&t5 O ARM-D AT A>> T/M-4. TAK- AN# /4/TOR 9R/4ON-R.

0arry wa ted. At the bottom o" a chasm, (ar1ed beneath a shel" o" roc1,0arry wa ted. An o(ened bottle stood &(on the control board o" h s "l er.

Ne2t to t was a small case o" wh te metal. 0arry too1 a long, last dr n1 "rom the bottle as he wa ted "or the

broadcast he 1new wo&ld come. 8hen t d d, he stretched o&t on the seat and too1 a na(. 8hen he awa1ened, the l ght o" day was wan ng. The broadcast was st ll go ng on... ...0arry. They w ll be awa1ened and a re"erend&m w ll be held. !ome

bac1 to the ma n ca3ern. Th s s #an T&rl. 9lease do not destroy any more

nstallat ons. Th s act on s not necessary. 8e agree w th yo&r (ro(osalthat a 3ote be held. 9lease contact &s mmed ately. 8e are wa t ng "or yo&r re(ly, 0arry... :e tossed the em(ty bottle thro&gh the w ndow and ra sed the "l er o&to" the (&r(le shadow nto the a r and &(.

8hen he descended &(on the land ng stage w th n the ma n ca3ern, o" co&rsethey were wa t ng "or h m. A dozen r "les were tra ned &(on h m as heste((ed down "rom the "l er. Remo3e yo&r wea(ons, 0arry, came the 3o ce o" #an T&rl. /=m not wear ng any wea(ons, sa d 0arry. Ne ther s my "l er, he

added; and th s was tr&e, "or the " re cannons no longer rested w th n the r mo&nt ngs.


17/18

#an T&rl a((roached, loo1ed &( at h m. Then yo& may ste( down. Than1 yo&, b&t / l 1e t r ght where / am. #o& are a (r soner. 8hat do yo& ntend to do w th me

9&t yo& bac1 to slee( &nt l the end o" the 8a t. !ome down here No. And don=t try shoot ng or &s ng a st&n charge or gas, e ther. /" yo& do, we=re all o" &s dead the second t h ts. 8hat do yo& mean as1ed T&rl, gest&r ng gently to the r "lemen. My "l er, sa d 0arry, s a bomb, and /=m hold ng the "&se n myr ght hand. :e ra sed the wh te metal bo2. 4o long as / 1ee( the le3er onthe s de o" th s bo2 de(ressed, we l 3e. /" my gr ( rela2es, e3en "or annstant, the e2(los on wh ch ens&es w ll do&btless destroy th s ent reca3ern. / th n1 yo&=re bl&"" ng. #o& 1now how yo& can " nd o&t "or certa n. #o&=ll d e too, 0arry. At the moment, / don=t really care. Don=t try b&rn ng my hand o"",e ther, to destroy the "&se, he ca&t oned, beca&se t doesn=t reallymatter. -3en " yo& sho&ld s&cceed, t w ll cost yo& at least twonstallat ons. 8hy s that 8hat do yo& th n1 / d d w th the " re cannons / ta&ght the Red"ormshow to &se them. At the moment, these wea(ons are manned by Red"orms anda med at two nstallat ons. /" / do not (ersonally 3 s t my g&nners by dawn,they w ll o(en " re. A"ter destroy ng the r ob


18/18

Documents

Roger Zelazny - The Keys to December