ï»¿The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Defenders, by Philip K. DickThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away orre-use it underthe terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.orgTitle: The DefendersAuthor: Philip K. DickIllustrator: Ed EmshwillerRelease Date: May 12, 2009 [EBook#28767]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEFENDERS ***Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.netTheDefendersBy PHILIP K. DICKIllustrated by EMSH    _No weapon has ever been frightful enough to put a stop to    war--perhaps because we never before had any that thought for    themselves!_[Illustration]Taylor satback in his chair reading the morning newspaper. The warmkitchen and the smell of coffee blended with the comfort of not havingto go to work. This was his Rest Period, the first for a long time, andhe was glad of it. Hefolded the second section back, sighing withcontentment."What is it?" Mary said, from the stove."They pasted Moscow again last night." Taylor nodded his head inapproval. "Gave it a real pounding. One of those R-Hbombs. It's abouttime."He nodded again, feeling the full comfort of the kitchen, the presenceof his plump, attractive wife, the breakfast dishes and coffee. This wasrelaxation. And the war news was good, good andsatisfying. He couldfeel a justifiable glow at the news, a sense of pride and personalaccomplishment. After all, he was an integral part of the war program,not just another factory worker lugging a cart of scrap, butatechnician, one of those who designed and planned the nerve-trunk of thewar."It says they have the new subs almost perfected. Wait until they get_those_ going." He smacked his lips with anticipation. "When theystartshelling from underwater, the Soviets are sure going to be surprised.""They're doing a wonderful job," Mary agreed vaguely. "Do you know whatwe saw today? Our team is getting a leady to show to theschoolchildren. I saw the leady, but only for a moment. It's good for thechildren to see what their contributions are going for, don't youthink?"She looked around at him."A leady," Taylor murmured. He put thenewspaper slowly down. "Well,make sure it's decontaminated properly. We don't want to take anychances.""Oh, they always bathe them when they're brought down from the surface,"Mary said. "They wouldn't think ofletting them down without the bath.Would they?" She hesitated, thinking back. "Don, you know, it makes meremember--"He nodded. "I know."       *       *       *       *       *He knew what she was thinking. Once in thevery first weeks of the war,before everyone had been evacuated from the surface, they had seen ahospital train discharging the wounded, people who had been showeredwith sleet. He remembered the way they hadlooked, the expression ontheir faces, or as much of their faces as was left. It had not been apleasant sight.There had been a lot of that at first, in the early days before thetransfer to undersurface was complete. Therehad been a lot, and ithadn't been very difficult to come across it.Taylor looked up at his wife. She was thinking too much about it, thelast few months. They all were."Forget it," he said. "It's all in the past. There isn'tanybody upthere now but the leadys, and they don't mind.""But just the same, I hope they're careful when they let one of themdown here. If one were still hot--"He laughed, pushing himself away from the table."Forget it. This is awonderful moment; I'll be home for the next two shifts. Nothing to dobut sit around and take things easy. Maybe we can take in a show. Okay?""A show? Do we have to? I don't like to look at all thedestruction, theruins. Sometimes I see some place I remember, like San Francisco. Theyshowed a shot of San Francisco, the bridge broken and fallen in thewater, and I got upset. I don't like to watch.""But don't youwant to know what's going on? No human beings are gettinghurt, you know.""But it's so awful!" Her face was set and strained. "Please, no, Don."Don Taylor picked up his newspaper sullenly. "All right, but thereisn't ahell of a lot else to do. And don't forget, _their_ cities aregetting it even worse."She nodded. Taylor turned the rough, thin sheets of newspaper. His goodmood had soured on him. Why did she have to fret all the time?They werepretty well off, as things went. You couldn't expect to have everythingperfect, living undersurface, with an artificial sun and artificialfood. Naturally it was a strain, not seeing the sky or being able to goanyplace or see anything other than metal walls, great roaringfactories, the plant-yards, barracks. But it was better than being onsurface. And some day it would end and they could return. Nobody_wanted_ to live thisway, but it was necessary.He turned the page angrily and the poor paper ripped. Damn it, the paperwas getting worse quality all the time, bad print, yellow tint--Well, they needed everything for the war program. Heought to know that.Wasn't he one of the planners?He excused himself and went into the other room. The bed was stillunmade. They had better get it in shape before the seventh hourinspection. There was a one unitfine--The vidphone rang. He halted. Who would it be? He went over and clickedit on."Taylor?" the face said, forming into place. It was an old face, grayand grim. "This is Moss. I'm sorry to bother you during Rest Period,butthis thing has come up." He rattled papers. "I want you to hurry overhere."Taylor stiffened. "What is it? There's no chance it could wait?" Thecalm gray eyes were studying him, expressionless, unjudging. "If youwantme to come down to the lab," Taylor grumbled, "I suppose I can.I'll get my uniform--""No. Come as you are. And not to the lab. Meet me at second stage assoon as possible. It'll take you about a half hour, using thefast carup. I'll see you there."The picture broke and Moss disappeared.       *       *       *       *       *"What was it?" Mary said, at the door."Moss. He wants me for something.""I knew this would happen.""Well, youdidn't want to do anything, anyhow. What does it matter?" Hisvoice was bitter. "It's all the same, every day. I'll bring you backsomething. I'm going up to second stage. Maybe I'll be close enough tothe surfaceto--""Don't! Don't bring me anything! Not from the surface!""All right, I won't. But of all the irrational nonsense--"She watched him put on his boots without answering.       *       *       *       *       *Moss nodded andTaylor fell in step with him, as the older man strodealong. A series of loads were going up to the surface, blind carsclanking like ore-trucks up the ramp, disappearing through the stagetrap above them. Taylor watchedthe cars, heavy with tubular machineryof some sort, weapons new to him. Workers were everywhere, in the darkgray uniforms of the labor corps, loading, lifting, shouting back andforth. The stage was deafening withnoise."We'll go up a way," Moss said, "where we can talk. This is no place togive you details."They took an escalator up. The commercial lift fell behind them, andwith it most of the crashing and booming. Soon theyemerged on anobservation platform, suspended on the side of the Tube, the vast tunnelleading to the surface, not more than half a mile above them now."My God!" Taylor said, looking down the Tube involuntarily. "It'sa longway down."Moss laughed. "Don't look."They opened a door and entered an office. Behind the desk, an officerwas sitting, an officer of Internal Security. He looked up."I'll be right with you, Moss." He gazed atTaylor studying him. "You'rea little ahead of time.""This is Commander Franks," Moss said to Taylor. "He was the first tomake the discovery. I was notified last night." He tapped a parcel hecarried. "I was let in becauseof this."Franks frowned at him and stood up. "We're going up to first stage. Wecan discuss it there.""First stage?" Taylor repeated nervously. The three of them went down aside passage to a small lift. "I've never beenup there. Is it allright? It's not radioactive, is it?""You're like everyone else," Franks said. "Old women afraid of burglars.No radiation leaks down to first stage. There's lead and rock, and whatcomes down the Tube isbathed.""What's the nature of the problem?" Taylor asked. "I'd like to knowsomething about it.""In a moment."They entered the lift and ascended. When they stepped out, they were ina hall of soldiers, weapons anduniforms everywhere. Taylor blinked insurprise. So this was first stage, the closest undersurface level to thetop! After this stage there was only rock, lead and rock, and the greattubes leading up like the burrows ofearthworms. Lead and rock, andabove that, where the tubes opened, the great expanse that no livingbeing had seen for eight years, the vast, endless ruin that had oncebeen Man's home, the place where he had lived,eight years ago.Now the surface was a lethal desert of slag and rolling clouds. Endlessclouds drifted back and forth, blotting out the red Sun. Occasionallysomething metallic stirred, moving through the remains of acity,threading its way across the tortured terrain of the countryside. Aleady, a surface robot, immune to radiation, constructed with feverishhaste in the last months before the cold war became literally hot.Leadys,crawling along the ground, moving over the oceans or through theskies in slender, blackened craft, creatures that could exist where no_life_ could remain, metal and plastic figures that waged a war Man hadconceived,but which he could not fight himself. Human beings hadinvented war, invented and manufactured the weapons, even invented theplayers, the fighters, the actors of the war. But they themselves couldnot venture forth,could not wage it themselves. In all the world--inRussia, in Europe, America, Africa--no living human being remained. Theywere under the surface, in the deep shelters that had been carefullyplanned and built, even asthe first bombs began to fall.It was a brilliant idea and the only idea that could have worked. Upabove, on the ruined, blasted surface of what had once been a livingplanet, the leady crawled and scurried, and foughtMan's war. Andundersurface, in the depths of the planet, human beings toiled endlesslyto produce the weapons to continue the fight, month by month, year byyear.       *       *       *       *       *"First stage," Taylorsaid. A strange ache went through him. "Almost tothe surface.""But not quite," Moss said.Franks led them through the soldiers, over to one side, near the lip ofthe Tube."In a few minutes, a lift will bring somethingdown to us from thesurface," he explained. "You see, Taylor, every once in a while Securityexamines and interrogates a surface leady, one that has been above for atime, to find out certain things. A vidcall is sent upand contact ismade with a field headquarters. We need this direct interview; we can'tdepend on vidscreen contact alone. The leadys are doing a good job, butwe want to make certain that everything is going the way wewant it."Franks faced Taylor and Moss and continued: "The lift will bring down aleady from the surface, one of the A-class leadys. There's anexamination chamber in the next room, with a lead wall in the center, sotheinterviewing officers won't be exposed to radiation. We find thiseasier than bathing the leady. It is going right back up; it has a jobto get back to."Two days ago, an A-class leady was brought down and interrogated.Iconducted the session myself. We were interested in a new weapon theSoviets have been using, an automatic mine that pursues anything thatmoves. Military had sent instructions up that the mine be observedandreported in detail."This A-class leady was brought down with information. We learned a fewfacts from it, obtained the usual roll of film and reports, and thensent it back up. It was going out of the chamber, back tothe lift, whena curious thing happened. At the time, I thought--"Franks broke off. A red light was flashing."That down lift is coming." He nodded to some soldiers. "Let's enter thechamber. The leady will be along in amoment.""An A-class leady," Taylor said. "I've seen them on the showscreens,making their reports.""It's quite an experience," Moss said. "They're almost human."       *       *       *       *       *They entered thechamber and seated themselves behind the lead wall.After a time, a signal was flashed, and Franks made a motion with hishands.The door beyond the wall opened. Taylor peered through his view slot. Hesaw somethingadvancing slowly, a slender metallic figure moving on atread, its arm grips at rest by its sides. The figure halted and scannedthe lead wall. It stood, waiting."We are interested in learning something," Franks said."Before Iquestion you, do you have anything to report on surface conditions?""No. The war continues." The leady's voice was automatic and toneless."We are a little short of fast pursuit craft, the single-seat type.Wecould use also some--""That has all been noted. What I want to ask you is this. Our contactwith you has been through vidscreen only. We must rely on indirectevidence, since none of us goes above. We can onlyinfer what is goingon. We never see anything ourselves. We have to take it all secondhand.Some top leaders are beginning to think there's too much room forerror.""Error?" the leady asked. "In what way? Our reportsare checkedcarefully before they're sent down. We maintain constant contact withyou; everything of value is reported. Any new weapons which the enemy isseen to employ--""I realize that," Franks grunted behind hispeep slot. "But perhaps weshould see it all for ourselves. Is it possible that there might be alarge enough radiation-free area for a human party to ascend to thesurface? If a few of us were to come up in lead-lined suits,would we beable to survive long enough to observe conditions and watch things?"The machine hesitated before answering. "I doubt it. You can check airsamples, of course, and decide for yourselves. But in the eightyearssince you left, things have continually worsened. You cannot have anyreal idea of conditions up there. It has become difficult for any movingobject to survive for long. There are many kinds of projectilessensitive tomovement. The new mine not only reacts to motion, butcontinues to pursue the object indefinitely, until it finally reachesit. And the radiation is everywhere.""I see." Franks turned to Moss, his eyes narrowed oddly."Well, that waswhat I wanted to know. You may go."The machine moved back toward its exit. It paused. "Each month theamount of lethal particles in the atmosphere increases. The tempo of thewar is gradually--""Iunderstand." Franks rose. He held out his hand and Moss passed himthe package. "One thing before you leave. I want you to examine a newtype of metal shield material. I'll pass you a sample with the tong."Franks putthe package in the toothed grip and revolved the tong so thathe held the other end. The package swung down to the leady, which tookit. They watched it unwrap the package and take the metal plate in itshands. Theleady turned the metal over and over.Suddenly it became rigid."All right," Franks said.He put his shoulder against the wall and a section slid aside. Taylorgasped--Franks and Moss were hurrying up to the leady!"GoodGod!" Taylor said. "But it's radioactive!"       *       *       *       *       *The leady stood unmoving, still holding the metal. Soldiers appeared inthe chamber. They surrounded the leady and ran a counter acrossitcarefully."Okay, sir," one of them said to Franks. "It's as cold as a long winterevening.""Good. I was sure, but I didn't want to take any chances.""You see," Moss said to Taylor, "this leady isn't hot at all. Yet itcamedirectly from the surface, without even being bathed.""But what does it mean?" Taylor asked blankly."It may be an accident," Franks said. "There's always the possibilitythat a given object might escape being exposedabove. But this is thesecond time it's happened that we know of. There may be others.""The second time?""The previous interview was when we noticed it. The leady was not hot.It was cold, too, like this one."Moss tookback the metal plate from the leady's hands. He pressed thesurface carefully and returned it to the stiff, unprotesting fingers."We shorted it out with this, so we could get close enough for athorough check. It'll comeback on in a second now. We had better getbehind the wall again."They walked back and the lead wall swung closed behind them. Thesoldiers left the chamber."Two periods from now," Franks said softly, "an initialinvestigatingparty will be ready to go surface-side. We're going up the Tube insuits, up to the top--the first human party to leave undersurface ineight years.""It may mean nothing," Moss said, "but I doubt it.Something's going on,something strange. The leady told us no life could exist above withoutbeing roasted. The story doesn't fit."Taylor nodded. He stared through the peep slot at the immobile metalfigure. Already theleady was beginning to stir. It was bent in severalplaces, dented and twisted, and its finish was blackened and charred. Itwas a leady that had been up there a long time; it had seen war anddestruction, ruin so vast thatno human being could imagine the extent.It had crawled and slunk in a world of radiation and death, a worldwhere no life could exist.And Taylor had touched it!"You're going with us," Franks said suddenly. "I want youalong. I thinkthe three of us will go."       *       *       *       *       *Mary faced him with a sick and frightened expression. "I know it. You'regoing to the surface. Aren't you?"She followed him into the kitchen. Taylor satdown, looking away fromher."It's a classified project," he evaded. "I can't tell you anything aboutit.""You don't have to tell me. I know. I knew it the moment you came in.There was something on your face, something Ihaven't seen there for along, long time. It was an old look."She came toward him. "But how can they send you to the surface?" Shetook his face in her shaking hands, making him look at her. There was astrange hungerin her eyes. "Nobody can live up there. Look, look atthis!"She grabbed up a newspaper and held it in front of him."Look at this photograph. America, Europe, Asia, Africa--nothing butruins. We've seen it every day onthe showscreens. All destroyed,poisoned. And they're sending you up. Why? No living thing can get by upthere, not even a weed, or grass. They've wrecked the surface, haven'tthey? _Haven't they?_"Taylor stood up."It's an order. I know nothing about it. I was told toreport to join a scout party. That's all I know."He stood for a long time, staring ahead. Slowly, he reached for thenewspaper and held it up to the light."It looks real,"he murmured. "Ruins, deadness, slag. It's convincing.All the reports, photographs, films, even air samples. Yet we haven'tseen it for ourselves, not after the first months ...""What are you talking about?""Nothing." Heput the paper down. "I'm leaving early after the nextSleep Period. Let's turn in."Mary turned away, her face hard and harsh. "Do what you want. We mightjust as well all go up and get killed at once, instead of dyingslowlydown here, like vermin in the ground."He had not realized how resentful she was. Were they all like that? Howabout the workers toiling in the factories, day and night, endlessly?The pale, stooped men andwomen, plodding back and forth to work,blinking in the colorless light, eating synthetics--"You shouldn't be so bitter," he said.Mary smiled a little. "I'm bitter because I know you'll never comeback." She turned away."I'll never see you again, once you go upthere."He was shocked. "What? How can you say a thing like that?"She did not answer.       *       *       *       *       *He awakened with the public newscaster screeching in hisears, shoutingoutside the building."Special news bulletin! Surface forces report enormous Soviet attackwith new weapons! Retreat of key groups! All work units report tofactories at once!"Taylor blinked, rubbing hiseyes. He jumped out of bed and hurried tothe vidphone. A moment later he was put through to Moss."Listen," he said. "What about this new attack? Is the project off?" Hecould see Moss's desk, covered with reportsand papers."No," Moss said. "We're going right ahead. Get over here at once.""But--""Don't argue with me." Moss held up a handful of surface bulletins,crumpling them savagely. "This is a fake. Come on!" He brokeoff.Taylor dressed furiously, his mind in a daze.Half an hour later, he leaped from a fast car and hurried up the stairsinto the Synthetics Building. The corridors were full of men and womenrushing in every direction. Heentered Moss's office."There you are," Moss said, getting up immediately. "Franks is waitingfor us at the outgoing station."They went in a Security Car, the siren screaming. Workers scattered outof their way."Whatabout the attack?" Taylor asked.Moss braced his shoulders. "We're certain that we've forced their hand.We've brought the issue to a head."They pulled up at the station link of the Tube and leaped out. A momentlater