A TRACE OF MEMORY KEITH LAUMER TOR A TOM DOHERTY ASSOCIATES BOOK This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. A TRACE OF MEMORY Copyright 1963 by Keith Laumer All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form. A short version of this novel appeared serially in _Amazing_, July-August-September, 1962. Copyright 1962 by Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. A TOR Book Published by Tom Doherty Associates, 8-10 West 36 Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 Cover art by Bob Layzell First TOR printing: November 1984 ISBN: O-812-54373-4 CAN. ED.: O-812-54374-2 Printed in the United States of America [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] * * * * * "Let's get out of here fast," I said. "We've probably set off an alarm already." As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk. Pearly light sprang up on a square panel. Foster and I stared at it. "What do you make of it?" he said. "I'm no expert on stone-age relics," I said. "But if that's not a radar screen, I'll eat it." I sat down in the single chair before the dusty control console, and watched a red blip creep across the screen. "That blip is either a mighty slow airplane--or it's at one hell of an altitude." I sat upright, eyes on the screen. "Look at this, Foster," I snapped. A pattern of dots flashed across the screen, faded, flashed again.... "I don't like that thing blinking at us," I said. "It makes me feel conspicuous." I looked at the big red button beside the screen. "Maybe if I pushed that...." Without waiting to think it over, I jabbed at it. "I'm not sure you should have done that," Foster said. "There _is_ room for doubt," I said in a strained voice. "It looks like I've launched a bomb from the ship overhead." A TRACE OF MEMORY Look for these other TOR books by Keith Laumer: THE BREAKING EARTH THE GLORY GAME THE INFINITE CAGE KNIGHT OF DELUSIONS THE MONITORS THE HOUSE IN NOVEMBER AND THE OTHER SKY ONCE THERE WAS A GIANT PLANET RUN WORLDS OF THE IMPERIUM A TRACE OF MEMORY PROLOGUE He awoke and lay for a moment looking up at a low ceiling, dimly visible in a faint red glow, feeling the hard mat under his back. He turned his head, saw a wall and a panel on which a red indicator light glared.