Transcriber’s note: This story was published in Astounding Science Fiction, June 1955. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. [p53] [p 53 ] THE GUARDIANSBY IRVING COX, JR. THE GUARDIANS It’s not always “The Truth shall set you free!” Sometimes it’s “Want of the Truth shall drive you to escape!” And that can be dangerous! And that can be dangerous! Illustrated by van Dongen [p54] Mryna Brill intended to ride the god-car above the rain mist. For a long time she had not believed in the taboos or the Earth-god. She no longer believed she lived on Earth. This paradise of green-floored forests and running brooks was something called Rythar. [p 54 ] Six years ago, when Mryna was fourteen, she first discovered the truth. She asked a question and the Earth-god ignored it. A simple question, really: What is above the rain mist? God could have told her. Every day he answered technical questions that were far more difficult. Instead, he repeated the familiar taboo about avoiding the Old Village because of the Sickness. And consequently Mryna, being female, went to the Old Village. There was nothing really unusual about that. All the kids went through the ruins from time to time. They had worked out a sort of charm that made it all right. They ran past the burned out shells of the old houses and
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