The Black Alarm FEATURE NOVEL OF TOMORROW By George O. Smith Steve Hagen was determined to live his own life, and he chose the dangerous career of the Guardians. But was he as free as he imagined himself to be? There's a subtle difference between rational and irrational hatred. The latter leads directly to fanaticism--and one definition of a fanatic is "a person who redoubles his efforts after having forgotten his aim". [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Science Fiction Quarterly November 1951. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] 1 Twenty years as private secretary to William Wrightwood had prepared Miss Peters to meet any contretemps except the angry, purposeful arrival of Steve Hagen, who strode through her outer office with no more than a nod at her, and opened the door to Wrightwood's private office. "Is this another of your tricks--" roared Steve, cutting off his voice by shutting the door behind him abruptly. Miss Peters had a quiet nervous breakdown, for Hagen was William Wrightwood's stepson, who had renounced his rechristening not long after reaching adulthood. She began to plan an explanation--which would not hold water since Wrightwood was the kind of executive who gives orders not to be disturbed and demands that they be observed. Not even the angry arrival of his estranged stepson was excuse for not having an appointment. She wondered what was going on, and slyly opened the key of the desk phone. "You're as devious as a scenic railway and you know it." "Walter, my boy--" "My name is Steve Hagen and you know it!" "If you persist; but to me you will always be my son." "I wouldn't have you for a father as a gift," roared Steve. "Now tell me how you wrangled this." "I didn't wrangle anything. Just what makes you think--?" "This is just too damned trite for accident." "I've not had any finger in the pie of your little interstellar fire-department, son." "No? Then explain why and how a rookie out of training school gets an appointment to District One Control Base?" "You were an honor student, were you not?" "Not that high. Base One is staffed with men of experience, not raw trainees." "Never?" "Not in twenty years, at least. And the last rookie that did it came from school to Base One because he was Marshall Craig's son." "You should be gratified." "I'm mad as hell. I want no interference nor help from you--or the likes of you." "That's not a nice thing to say about a foster father." "Do I owe you allegiance because I was taken into your clutches at the age of three?" demanded Hagen angrily. "Your mother--"