[Clement Hal] Clement, Hal - Iceworld

8/20/2019 [Clement Hal] Clement, Hal - Iceworld

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Iceworld by Hal Clement

Scanned by BW-SciFi

A LANCER BOOK

ICEWORLD

Coyri!"t # $%&' by Hal ClementICEWORLD ori!inally aeared In AS(O)NDIN* SCIENCE FIC(IONa+ a t"ree-art +erial coyri!"ted by Street and Smit" ,blication+.Inc/

All ri!"t+ re+er0ed,rinted in t"e )/S/A/

LANCER BOOKS. INC/ 1 $&23 BROADWA4 NEW 4ORK. N/4/ $33'2

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Sallman Ken "ad ne0er been really +re o5 t"e wi+dom "e "ad +"own inaccedin! to Rade6+ re7e+t/ He wa+ no oliceman and 8new it/ He "ad noarticlar li8in! 5or "y+ical dan!er/ He "ad alway+ belie0ed. o5 cor+e. t"at"e cold +tand "i+ +"are o5 di+com5ort. bt t"e 0iew "e wa+ now !ettin!t"ro!" t"e Karella's ort wa+ ma8in! "im dobt e0en t"at/

Rade "ad been 5air eno!". "e "ad to admit/ ("e narcotic+ c"ie5 "ad told"im. aarently. e0eryt"in! "e "im+el5 8new9 eno!" +o t"at Ken. "ad "e +ed"i+ ima!ination +55iciently. mi!"t e0en "a0e 5ore+een +omet"in! li8e this.

:("ere "a+ ne0er been mc" o5 it.: Rade "ad +aid/ :We don6t e0en 8now w"at t"e eddler+ call it;it6+ treme

re5ri!eration9 w"en e>o+ed to normal condition+ it brea8+ down in a 5ew+econd+/ I belie0e t"at t"e acti0e rincile i+ actally one o5 t"e brea8down


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rodct+. bt no one "ad obtained a +amle to ro0e it/::Bt w"ere do I come in= I5 yo don6t "a0e any o5 it I can6t analy?e it 5or

yo/ I robably coldn6t anyway;I6m a +c"ool teac"er. not a ro5e++ionalc"emi+t/ W"at el+e can I do=:

:It6+ beca+e yo6re a teac"er;a +ort o5 ect t"e+eeole to t"in8/ ("at6+ w"y we too8 +c" e>treme recation+ in arran!in!t"i+ inter0iew/:

:Bt yo6ll "a0e to blici?e me +ome way. or they wold ne0er 8now Ie>i+ted. eit"er.: Ken ointed ot/

:("at can be done;in 5act. "a+ already +tarted/ I tr+t yo6ll 5or!i0e + 5ort"at9 bt t"e ected been "ired by an e>tremely +"ort-+o8en indi0idal. w"oclaimed to rere+ent a tradin! concern/ ("e nder+tandin! "ad been t"at "i+8nowled!e wa+ to be laced at t"e di+o+al o5 "i+ emloyer+/ ,er"a+ t"ey

wold +imly +tic8 "im in a lab wit" t"e otline or a rodction roblem. andtell "im to +ol0e it/ In t"at ca+e. "e wold be ot o5 a aminin! incomin! re5ri!eration aarat+/ He did not 8now. "owe0er.t"at it came 5rom ot+ide t"e Sarrian lanetary +y+tem/ (wenty-two day+ wa+a lon!


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own e>en+e. and oen+ relation+ wit" t"e in"abitant+. t"at "e "a+ a moralri!"t to ro5it 5rom t"e 5act/ ("at. blntly. i+ or +itation/:

Ken6+ "eart +an8/ It be!an to loo8 a+ t"o!" "e "ad +tmbled on t"e 0ery+ort o5 etty 0iolation "e "ad 5eared. and wa+ not !oin! to be 0ery +e5l toRade/

:("ere i+ certainly +ome cet t"at it +eem+ to be o5 0e!etable natre;bt t"atdoe+n6t bot"er me/ I "ad a 5riend in t"e er5me b+ine++ once. and t"e way

"e tried to 8ee +ecret+ in elementary c"emi+try wa+ a +candal/ I6m certainly willin! to try;bt I warn yo I6m not t"e *ala>y6+ be+t c"emi+t by a lon! +"ot.and I60e bro!"t no aarat+ wit" me. +ince I didn6t 8now w"at yo wantedme to do/ Ha0e yo anyt"in! "ere in t"e +"i=:

:Not in t"e +"i/ We di+co0ered t"i+ lace arond twenty year+ a!o. and"a0e bilt a 5airly com5ortable ba+e on t"e innermo+t lanet o5 t"i+ +y+tem/ It8ee+ t"e +ame "emi+"ere 5acin! t"e +n all t"e time. and we60e been able toconcentrate eno!" +nli!"t in a +mall 0alley to ma8e t"e temeratre 7ite

bearable/ ("ere6+ a 5airly re+ectable laboratory and +"o t"ere. wit" a 0ery!ood mec"anic named Fet" Allmer9 and i5 yo 5ind yor+el5 in need o5+omet"in! we don6t "a0e. we can robably a55ord to !et it 5or yo/ How doe+

t"at +ond=::@ery !ood indeed/ I6ll ta8e yor


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:I wa+ +re yo wold/ 4o can !i0e order+ 5or anyt"in! yo need. +tartin!now/ 4o may +e t"i+ +"i a+ yo lea+e. +bactly 8now. t"o!" we "a0e a retty !ood!e++/ I6ll tell yo t"e w"ole +tory at t"e +ame time t"at yo loo8 o0er t"e ot"ermaterial/ I+ t"ere anyt"in! yo6d care to do be5ore we lea0e t"e 0icinity o5 t"elanet and !o o0er to One=:

:Lea0e t"e 0icinity= I t"o!"t yo +aid t"at world wa+ not t"e one in7e+tion/: Ken wa0ed a tentacle at t"e cratered cre+cent/

:("at one i+n6t;t"at6+ a +atellite o5 ("ree. t"e one we6re intere+ted in/: A c"ill came bac8 to Ken6+ +8in/ ("e +atellite "ad been 5ri!"tenin!9 t"e

lanet it+el5 cold be little i5 any warmer +ince it m+t be abot t"e +amedi+tance 5rom t"e +n/ An atmo+"ere wold "el a little. o5 cor+e9 bt +till;

cold eno!" to 5ree?e ota++im. and lead. and tin He "ad not !i0en realt"o!"t to t"at/ Hi+ ima!ination wa+ !ood; er"a+ a little too !ood9 and it

be!an coni+t nder +c" "ideo+ condition+. and 5ailed comletely/aybe La< Drai wa+ wron! abot t"e temeratre9 a5ter all. "e "adn6t beensure. It wa+


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"ndred and ei!"ty de!ree+ be5ore ,lanet ("ree it+el5 "n! in t"e aarentcenter o5 t"e ort/ ("ey m+t be 5loatin! directly between lanet and +atellite.Ken t"o!"t/ Not wi+e i5 t"e in"abitant+ "ad tele+coe+/

Since t"e +n wa+ now be"ind t"em. t"e di+c o5 t"e !reat world wa+ 5llyillminated/ )nli8e t"e bare moon. a 5??ine++ o5 otline +"owed t"at it

o++e++ed an e>ten+i0e atmo+"ere. t"o!" Ken cold not ima!ine w"at !a+e+mi!"t be re+ent/ In +ite o5 t"e de5initely reddi+" +nli!"t. mo+t o5 t"e+r5ace "ad a decided ble tint/ Detail+ were imo++ible to ma8e ot9 t"eatmo+"ere wa+ e>tremely "a?y/ ("ere were de5inite atc"e+ o5 w"ite. and!reen. and brown. bt t"ere wa+ no way o5 tellin! w"at any o5 t"emrere+ented/

And yet. 5o!!y a+ it wa+. t"ere wa+ +omet"in! abot t"e +i!"t o5 t"e world w"ic" ca+ed t"e +"i0er to care++ t"e +cienti+t6+ +8in once more/ ,er"a+ it wa+ t"e t"in!+ "e "ad been told. and t"e t"in!+ "e "ad dedced 5rom t"eaearance o5 t"e +n9 er"a+ it wa+ not"in! obected to 5ly to Sandoint wit" a 5riend and meet

t"e 5amily t"ere/It wa+. all in all. a "ilario+ !ro9 and t"e arent+ in t"e 5ront +eat "ad

only moderate +cce++ in maintainin! order/ Howe0er. t"e nort"bond"i!"way 5rom Coer d6Alene i+ a !ood one. and t"e di+trbance in t"e rear wa+ne0er really dan!ero+/ ("e rincial interrtion occrred w"en t"e ri!"trear tire o5 t"e +tation wa!on went 5lat near Cocolalla/ o"n Win! wa+ a little+low in +toin! t"e "ea0ily loaded 0e"icle. and Ro!er !ot t"e 5ir+t w"i55 o5 t"e+l5ro+ odor o5 brnin! rbber/ He wa+ to became mc" more 5amiliar wit"+l5r drin! t"e cor+e o5 t"e +mmer/

("e c"ildren were a little 7ieter a5ter t"at;t"e e>re++ion on t"eir 5at"er6+5ace +!!e+ted t"at "i+ atience mi!"t not "a0e mc" 5art"er to !o9 bt t"e


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Win! rc"a+ed a new tire in Sandoint/ ("en t"ey roceeded to t"e +mallairort at t"e ed!e o5 t"e town. and t"e noi+e increa+ed a!ain a+ t"e

yon!+ter+ ca!"t +i!"t o5 t"eir olde+t brot"er +tandin! be+ide a Cb on t"e!ra++ ar8in! area/

He wa+ tall. and rat"er +lim. wit" dar8 "air and eye+ and a narrow 5ace li8e

"i+ 5at"er6+/ Ro!er. w"o "ad !rown con+iderably +ince t"e la+t Setember.di+co0ered to "i+ c"a!rin t"at Donald +till o0ertoed "im by "al5 a "ead9 bt"e did not let t"e annoyance le++en t"e e>berance o5 "i+ !reetin!/ Don +"oo8"and+ wit" "i+ 5at"er and Ro!er. 8i++ed "i+ mot"er and +i+ter+. and +wn! +i>-

year-old Billy to "i+ +"older/ No. t"e 5li!"t 5rom i++ola "ad not beene0ent5l/ 4e+. "i+ 5inal !rade+ "ad been !ood. i5 not ot+tandin!/ No. "e "ad nol!!a!e e>cet t"e little "andba! be+ide "im;a Cb "a+ +"ar loadlimitation+/ ("ey mi!"t a+ well contine t"eir ected/ I don6t mind "one+t ro+-ectin!;it lend+ rotecti0e coloration/ It6+ t"e one+ w"o e>ect to bene5it 5romor 6+tri8e6 t"at bot"er me/ 4o boy+ will "a0e to +cot a+ +al;t"o!" I may

want Don wit" me t"i+ time/ I5 yo60e really !otten +omet"in! ot o5 5re+"manc"emi+try. Son. yo may be able to "el +ol0e a roblem or two/ I5 "e doe+ !o

wit" me. Ro!er. yo6ll "a0e a bi!!er re+on+ibility t"an +al/: ("e boynodded. eye+ +"inin!/

He "ad only !radally come to reali?e t"e tremendo+ di55erence betweent"e way "i+ 5amily and t"o+e o5 "i+ +c"oolmate+ +ent t"eir +mmer+/ At 5ir+t.t"e tale+ o5 tri+ to ranc"e+. +ea+"ore+. and montain+ "ad aro+ed "i+ en0y9

t"en "e "ad be!n to boa+t o5 "i+ own montain tri+/ W"en "e 5inallyreali?ed t"e atmo+"ere o5 +ecrecy t"at +rronded certain a+ect+ o5 t"o+etri+. "i+ ride "ad e>ceeded "i+ ower+ o5 re+traint;ntil "e "ad reali?edt"at "i+ +c"oolmate+ +imly didn6t belie0e t"at "i+ 5at"er "ad a :+ecret mine int"e montain+/: ,i7e "ad +ilenced "i+ boa+t+ 5or a w"ile and by t"e time "e"ad de0eloed a con0incin! ar!ment "e "ad reali?ed t"at +ilence mi!"t be

better 5or all concerned/("at "ad been t"e +rin! w"en "e wa+ ten year+ old/ Hi+ 5at"er "ad

+ome"ow "eard abot t"e w"ole +tory. and +eemed lea+ed 5or +ome rea+on9t"at +mmer "e "ad e>tended to Ro!er t"e re+on+ibility w"ic" Don "ad beencarryin! alone. o5 +cotin! t"e territory arond t"eir +mmer "ome be5oreand drin! r/ Win!6+ tri+ into t"e montain+/ ("e 5ind. t"eir 5at"er "ad told"im. wa+ "i+ own +ecret9 and 5or rea+on+ "e wold e>lain later it m+t be


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8et t"at way/("at +mmer and t"e two 5ollowin! "e "ad contined to ma8e "i+ tri+

alone9 now it loo8ed a+ t"o!" t"ere mi!"t be a c"an!e/ Don. Ro!er 8new. "ad been told a little loration lo+i0e e55ect/ Ro!eralmo+t le5t "i+ +addle. bt be5ore "e +cceeded in e>re++in! "im+el5 a t"o!"t+trc8 "im/ A5ter all. w"y coldn6t t"e !irl+ "el= He cold +"ow t"em w"at "eand Don "ad done in t"e a+t. and t"ey mi!"t 0ery well "a0e idea+ o5 t"eir


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own/ Ro!er6+ ma+cline ride did not blind "im to t"e 5act t"at !irl+ in!eneral. and "i+ +i+ter+ in articlar. did "a0e brain+/ Edie and ar!e cold

bot" ride. neit"er wa+ a5raid o5 t"e wood+. and all t"in!+ con+idered woldrobably ma8e e>tremely +e5l a++i+tant+/ Edit" wa+ +o near to "i+ own a!et"at "e cold not di+mi++ "er a+ too yon! 5or t"e wor8. and e0en t"e ei!"t-

year-old "ad at lea+t +en+e eno!" to 8ee 7iet w"en +ilence wa+ needed andobey order+ w"en ar!ment wold be in mc" +maller room+. one +er0in! a+ bedroom 5oreac" o5 t"e c"ildren and t"e remainin! one 5illed wit" t"e 0ario+ odd article+o5 5rnitre and bric-a-brac w"ic" are at to 5ind t"eir way into a +are roomo0er a eriod o5 year+/

("e Win!+ di+monted by t"e orc" w"ic" ran alon! t"e 5ront o5 t"edwellin!. and romtly di+er+ed to t"eir 0ario+ dtie+/ r+/ Win! and t"e

!irl+ nloc8ed t"e 5ront door and di+aeared in+ide/ Billy be!an n+crewin!and remo0in! t"e +"tter+ on t"e more acce++ible window+;t"o+e alon! t"eorc". and t"e 5ir+t-5loor one+ on t"e "ill +ide o5 t"e dwellin!/ r/ Win! andDonald be!an nloadin! t"e ac8 animal+. w"ile Ro!er too8 t"e ot"er "or+e+down to t"e +table. n+addled. and 5ed t"em/

By +n+et. t"e "o+e "ad a++med an in"abited air/ E0eryone "ad eaten.di+"e+ "ad been wa+"ed. Billy and ar


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+tone 5irelace/ Donald. Ro!er and Edit" +rawled on r!+ between9 Ro!er"ad t 5ew day+ retty well5illed/: ("e two yon!+ter+ !rimaced bt obeyed9 Don and "i+ arent+remained/ ("ey tal8ed +erio+ly in low tone+ 5ar into t"e ni!"t/ ("e 5or

yon!er c"ildren "ad been a+lee 5or +e0eral "or+ w"en Donald 5inallyclimbed t"e +tair+ to "i+ room. bt t"e 5act did not le++en "i+ cation/ He "adno de+ire to +end t"e re+t o5 t"e ni!"t dc8in! Ro!er6+ 7e+tion+ abot w"at

"ad !one on down+tair+/In +ite o5 t"e rat"er +treno+ day tended in all direction+ e>cet t"e We+t/ ("eele0ation on w"ic" t"ey were located wa+ not "i!" eno!" to ermit t"em to


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+ee 0ery 5ar9 bt bit+ o5 ,end6 Oreille were 0i+ible to t"e +ot"we+t and t"eea+ily reco!ni?ed ti o5 Snow+"oe ,ea8 ro+e between ea+t and +ot"/ Strictly+ea8in!. t"ere wa+ no de5inite timber line9 bt mo+t o5 t"e ea8+ mana!ed tot"r+t bare roc8 t"ro!" t"e +oil 5or at lea+t a 5ew "ndred 5eet/ ("e lower+loe+ were co0ered wit" 5ore+t. rincially t"e Do!la+ 5ir w"ic" i+ +o

re0alent in t"e ,aci5ic Nort"we+t/ One or two relati0ely clear area+. relic+ o55ore+t 5ire+ o5 t"e la+t 5ew year+. were 0i+ible 5rom t"e c"ildren6+ oint o5

0anta!e/("ere were a nmber o5 oint+ 0i+ible wit"in t"e di+tance +eci5ied by r/

Win! w"ic" loo8ed a+ t"o!" t"ey mi!"t +er0e a+ re5erence +tation+. andre+ently Ro!er too8 ot t"e coma++ and be!an ta8in! bearin!+ on a+ manyo5 t"e+e a+ "e cold/ Edit" wa+ already ma8in! a 5ree-"and +8etc" ma o5 t"eir+rrondin!+. and t"e bearin!+ were entered on t"i+/ Di+tance+ wold comelater9 Ro!er 8new neit"er "i+ own altitde nor t"o+e o5 t"e oint+ "e wa+mea+rin!. and cold not "a0e +ed t"e in5ormation "ad "e o++e++ed it/ He8new no tri!onometry and "ad no mean+ o5 mea+rin! an!le+ o5 dere++ion/

Detail+ be!an to crowd t"e ro!" c"art e0en be5ore t"ey le5t t"e "illto9 andre+ently t"e two were comletely ab+orbed in t"eir ta+8/ r+/ Win! wa+ notarticlarly +rri+ed w"en t"ey came in late 5or dinner/

3

("e +tation on ,lanet One wa+ a decidedly rimiti0e in+tallation. t"o!" a!ood deal o5 en!ineerin! "ad ob0io+ly been needed to ma8e it "abitable atall/ It wa+ located in t"e bottom o5 a dee 0alley near t"e center o5 t"e lanet6++nward "emi+"ere. w"ere t"e temeratre wa+ normally arond 5or"ndred de!ree+ Centi!rade/ ("i+ wold +till "a0e been cold eno!" to li7e5y

t"e +l5r w"ic" 5ormed t"e rincial con+titent o5 t"e atmo+"ere Ken6+eole needed9 bt t"e additional "ndred de!ree+ "ad been obtained byterracin! t"e 0alley wall+. cttin! t"e 5ace+ o5 t"e terrace+ to t"e aroriate+loe. and latin! t"em wit" iron/ ("e dar8-colored metal dome o5 t"e +tation

wa+. in e55ect. at t"e 5oc+ o5 a !i!antic conca0e mirror9 and between t"ean!lar +i?e o5 +n and t"e actal +i?e o5 t"e dome. +olar libration ne0ermo0ed t"e 5oc+ to a +erio+ e>tent/

("e inter+tellar 5lyer +ettled onto a +moot" +"eet o5 bare roc8 be+ide t"edome/ ("ere were no cradlin! 5acilitie+. and Ken "ad to don 0acm armor tolea0e t"e 0e++el/ Se0eral ot"er +ace-+ited 5i!re+ !at"ered in t"e airloc8 wit""im. and "e ++ected t"at mo+t i5 not all o5 t"e +"i6+ crew were :!oin!

a+"ore: at t"e +ame time t"o!". o5 cor+e. t"ey mi!"t not be crew9 oneoerator cold

"andle a 0e++el o5 t"e Karella's cla++/ He wondered w"et"er or not t"i+ wa+con+idered +a5e ractice on a 5orei!n lanet9 bt a care5l loo8 arond a+ "e

wal8ed t"e +"ort di+tance 5rom +"i to dome re0ealed no de5en+i0e armament.and +!!e+ted t"at t"o+e mannin! t"e +tation "ad no an>iety abot attac8/ I5.a+ "ad been +!!e+ted. t"e o+t "ad been "ere 5or twenty year+. t"ey robably+"old 8now/

("e interior o5 t"e dome wa+ com5ortable eno!". t"o!" Ken6+ condctormade con+tant aolo!y 5or t"e lac8 o5 5acilitie+/ ("ey "ad a meal 5or w"ic" noaolo!y wa+ re7ired. and Ken wa+ +"own ri0ate 7arter+ at lea+t a+ !ood a+

were ro0ided by t"e a0era!e Sarrian "otel/ La< Drai too8 "im on a brie5 toro5 t"e +tation. and made clear t"e 5acilitie+ w"ic" t"e +cienti+t cold +e in "i+


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a++i!ned c"emicalroce++in! lant anyw"ere arond9 bt i5 t"e dr! were a natral rodct.

t"ere mi!"t not "a0e to be/ He cold name more t"an one +c" +b+tance t"at wa+ "orribly e55ecti0e in t"e 5orm in w"ic" it wa+ 5ond in natre;a 0e!etablerodct +ome rimiti0e tribe+ on "i+ own world +till +ed to oi+on t"eirarrow+. 5or e>amle/

("e :tradin!: e7iment. "owe0er. ro0ed more romi+in!. a+ mi!"t "a0e been 5ore+een by anyone w"o "ad con+idered t"e lanet wit" w"ic" t"etradin! wa+ done/ ("ere were many remote-control toredoe+. eac" di0idedinto two main +ection+/ One o5 t"e+e contained t"e dri0in! and controlmac"inery and wa+ e7ied wit" temeratre control aarat+ de+i!ned to8ee it near normal9 t"e ot"er wa+ mo+tly +tora!e +ace and re5ri!erationmac"inery/ Neit"er +ection wa+ articlarly well in+lated. eit"er 5rom t"e

ot"er or t"e +rrondin! medim/ Ken e>amined one o5 t"e mac"ine+mintely 5or +ome time. and t"en be!an a+8in! 7e+tion+/

:I don6t +ee any 0i+ion tran+mitter9 "ow do yo +ee to control t"e t"in! ont"e lanet6+ +r5ace=:

:("ere i+ none.: a tec"nician w"o "ad been a++i+tin! Drai in t"e e>o+itionrelied/ :("ey all ori!inally "ad t"em. o5 cor+e. bt none "a+ +r0i0ed t"etri to ("ree yet/ We too8 t"em ot. 5inally;it wa+ too e>en+i0e/ ("e oticalaarat+ "a+ to be e>o+ed to t"e lanet6+ condition+ at lea+t artly. w"ic"mean+ we m+t eit"er rn t"e w"ole mac"ine at t"at temeratre or "a0e aterri5ic temeratre di55erence between t"e otical and electrical element+/ We"a0e not been able to de0i+e a +y+tem t"at wold +tand eit"er +itation;

+omet"in! !oe+ comletely "aywire in t"e electrical art nder t"o+e 5ree?in!condition+. or el+e t"e otical +ection +"atter+ between t"e "ot and cold+ection+/:

:Bt "ow do yo +ee to control=::We don6t/ ("ere i+ a re5lection altimeter in+talled. and a "omin!

tran+mitter t"at wa+ +et lon! a!o on t"e lanet/ We +imly +end t"etoredo down. land it. and let t"e nati0e+ come to it/:

:And yo "a0e ne0er bro!"t any "y+ical +amle+ 5rom t"e +r5ace o5 t"elanet=:

:We can6t +ee to ic8 anyt"in!/ ("e toredo doe+n6t +tay airti!"t at t"attemeratre. +o we ne0er !et a +i!ni5icant amont o5 t"e atmo+"ere bac89

and not"in! +eem+ to +tic8 to t"e oter "ll/ aybe it land+ on a +olid metal orroc8 +r5ace;we woldn6t 8now/:

:Srely yo could ma8e t"e t"in! "old air. e0en below t"e 5ree?in! oint o5+l5r=:

:4e+. I !e++ +o/ It6+ ne0er +eemed to be wort" t"e troble/ I5 yo want a+amle. it wold be ea+ier to +end a +maller container down. anyway;yo can

wor8 wit" it better a5terward+/: A t"o!"t +ddenly +trc8 Ken/:How abot t"e +t55 yo !et 5rom t"e nati0e+= Doe+n6t t"at !i0e any cle=

Cold I wor8 wit" +ome o5 it=: La< Drai ct in at t"i+ oint/:4o +aid yo were not a +eciali+t/ We "a0e tried to !et t"e +t55 analy?ed

by eole w"o were. wit"ot +cce++/ A5ter all. i5 it were o++ible to +ynt"e+i?et"e material. do yo t"in8 we6d be !oin! to all t"i+ troble to trade 5or it=


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("at6+ w"y we want yo to !et t"e lanetary condition+ 5or +;w"en yo60edone t"at. we6ll 5i!re ot a mean+ o5 !ettin! +eed+ 5rom t"e nati0e+ and !row-in! or own/:

:I +ee.: Ken relied/ ("e +tatement wa+ certainly rea+onable eno!". anddid not nece++arily imly anyt"in! abot t"e natre o5 t"e material t"ey were

di+c++in!/It did not re5te anyt"in!. eit"er/Ken t"o!"t t"at one o0er 5or a time. lettin! "i+ eye+ wander o0er t"e

e>o+ed mac"inery a+ "e did +o/ He "ad a 5ew more 7e+tion+ in mind. bt "e wanted to dod!e anyt"in! t"at mi!"t be interreted a+ n"ealt"y crio+ity. i5t"e+e eole actally were dr!-rnner+/

:W"at do t"e+e nati0e+ !et 5rom yo 5or t"i+ rodct=: "e a+8ed 5inally/ :I+it a man5actred article t"ey can6t ma8e. or a +b+tance t"ey don6t "a0e= Int"e latter ca+e. I mi!"t be able to draw +ome concl+ion+ abot t"e lanet/:Drai +ent a rile down "i+ tentacle+. in a !e+tre e7i0alent to a "man+"r!/

:It6+ material;"ea0y metal+ t"at don6t +l5ide ea+ily/ We60e been !i0in!t"em latinm-!ro n!!et+ mo+t o5 t"e time;t"ey6re ea+ie+t to come by9t"ere6+ an otcroin! o5 t"e +t55 only a +"ort di+tance 5rom t"i+ +tation. andit6+ ea+y to +end a man ot to bla+t o55 a 5ew iece+/ I don6t 8now w"at t"ey +et"em 5or;5or all I 8now t"ey may wor+"i t"e toredo. and +e t"e n!!et+ a+rie+t+6 in+i!nia/ I can6t +ay t"at I care. a+ lon! a+ t"ey 8ee 5illin! t"eir end o5t"e bar!ain/: Ken made t"e !e+tre o5 a!reement. and +o8e o5 +omet"in!

w"ic" "ad ca!"t "i+ attention drin! t"e la+t +eec"/:W"at in t"e *ala>y i+ a lod+ea8er and micro"one doin! in t"at t"in!=

Srely t"ey don6t wor8 at t"e temeratre+ yo mentioned;and yo can6t be+ea8in! to t"e+e nati0e+:

("e tec"nician an+wered t"e 5ir+t 7e+tion/:It wor8+. all ri!"t/ It6+ a cry+tal ot5it wit"ot 0acm tbe+. and +"old

wor8 in li7id "ydro!en/:Drai +lemented t"e ot"er an+wer/ :We don6t e>actly tal8 to t"em. bt

t"ey can aarently "ear and rodce +ond+ more or le++ +imilar to t"o+e o5or +eec"/:

:Bt "ow cold yo e0er "a0e wor8ed ot a common lan!a!e. or e0en acode. wit"ot 0i+al contact= aybe. nle++ yo t"in8 it6+ none o5 my b+ine++and will not be any "el in w"at i+. yo6d better !i0e me t"e w"ole +tory 5romt"e be!innin!/:

:aybe I "ad.: La< Drai +aid +lowly. drain! "i+ liant 5orm o0er a

con0enient rac8/ :I "a0e already mentioned t"at contact wa+ made +ometwenty year+ a!o; or year+. t"at i+9 it wold be nearer t"irty 5or t"e nati0e+o5 ,lanet ("ree/

:("e Karella wa+ +imly cri+in!. wit"ot any articlar ob


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wa+ ne0er +re e0en w"et"er t"ey "ad reac"ed t"e +r5ace/ He "ad +ome 5airen!ineer+ and lenty o5 toredoe+. t"o!". and 8et ma8in! c"an!e+ and+endin! t"e re+lt+ down/ It 5inally became e0ident t"at mo+t o5 t"em werereac"in! t"e +r5ace; and !oin! ot o5 action t"e in+tant t"ey did +o/ Some-t"in! wa+ eit"er +ma+"in! t"em mec"anically or layin! t"e dece wit" t"eir

electrical comonent+/:) to t"en. t"e attemt+ "ad all been to ma8e t"e landin!+ on one o5 t"e

relati0ely +moot". bli+" area+9 t"ey +eemed t"e lea+t comlicated/ Howe0er.+omeone !ot t"e idea t"at t"i+ +teady lo++ o5 mac"ine+ cold not be de toc"ance9 +omew"ere t"ere wa+ intelli!ent inter0ention/ (o te+t t"e idea. atoredo wa+ +ent down wit" e0ery +ort o5 detectin! and rotectin! de0ice t"atcold be +t55ed aboard;incldin! a +il0er me+" o0er t"e entire +r5ace.connected to t"e !enerator+ and caable o5 bloc8in! any ot+ide 5re7ency

w"ic" mi!"t be emloyed to inter5ere wit" control/ A con+tantly c"an!in!control 5re7ency wa+ +ed 5rom or end/ It "ad atomatic "eat control;I tell

yo. it "ad everything. Not"in! natral and darned little t"at wa+ arti5icial

+"old "a0e been able to inter5ere wit" t"at mac"ine9 bt it went ot li8e t"eot"er+. imm w"ic" cold be attained wit" t"at e7iment/ ("e ro!ram wa+5ollowed. e>cet t"at t"e bo++ wa+ !ettin! imatient and arran!ed to ma8e t"e+te- eac" 7arter rotation in+tead o5 t"e +!!e+ted time/ Some "mori+t


15/113

recorded a oem on t"e tae. and we +tarted broadca+tin!/:("e 5ir+t re+lt wa+ a comlete ce++ation o5 t"e +ond+ we "ad tentati0ely

a++ociated wit" li5e 5orm+/ ,re+mably t"ey were +mall animal+. and were+cared away by t"e noi+e/ ("e wind. i5 t"at6+ w"at it wa+. contined a+ e>-ected/ ("e 5ir+t time we increa+ed t"e noi+e. a5ter a 7arter rotation o5 t"e

lanet. we be!an to !et a 5aint ec"o/ ("at +!!e+ted t"at t"e +ond wa+ at lea+tnot bein! m55led 0ery clo+e to t"e +ea8er. and i5 any intelli!ent bein!+ came

wit"in a con+iderable radi+ t"ey wold "ear it/:(o ma8e a lon! +tory +"ort. we !ot a re+on+e a5ter t"e 5ort" increa+e o5

ower/ We t"o!"t it wa+ a di+torted ec"o at 5ir+t. bt it !ot loder w"ile orower remained con+tant. and 5inally we cold tell t"at t"e +ond+ weredi55erent/ ("ey 5ormed a tremendo+ly comle> noi+e attern. and e0ery oneo5 + w"o "eard t"em wa+ +re 5rom t"e be!innin! t"at t"ey rere+entedintelli!ent +eec"/

:E0entally we be!an to "ear more 5oot+te-+ond+ between t"e br+t+ o5alien lan!a!e. and we ct o55 or own broadca+t/ It became e0ident t"at t"e

creatre wa+ clo+e eno!" to detect t"e toredo by ot"er mean+ t"an "earin!.5or t"e 5oot+te+ contined to aroac"/ At 5ir+t t"ey were interrted e0ery5ew +econd+ by a lod call9 bt re+ently t"e t"in! m+t "a0e actally reac"edt"e mac"ine. 5or t"e +ond+ +!!e+ted t"at it wa+ wal8in! arond at a nearlycon+tant di+tance. and t"e call+ were relaced by mc" le++ ower5l btlon!er and more comle> +eec"-noi+e+/ ,robably t"e creatre+ can +ee mc"a+ we do. t"o!" t"e li!"t i+ +o mc" wea8er on t"at lanet/

:,re+ently t"e "otocell in+ide t"e car!o comartment indicated t"at+omet"in! "ad ct o55 mc" o5 t"e li!"t One o5 t"e oerator+ mo0ed to clo+et"e door. and t"e bo++ 8noc8ed "im clean ot o5 t"e control room/ He too8 t"etoredo control+ "im+el5. and be!an attemtin! to imitate t"e 0oice +ond+ o5

t"e creatre we coldn6t +ee/ ("at rodced re+lt+. all ri!"t I5 noi+e mean+anyt"in!. t"e nati0e !ot wildly e>cited 5or a minte or two9 t"en "e bc8leddown to rodcin! aarently a+ wide a 0ariety o5 +ond+ a+ "i+ 0ocalaarat+ wold ermit/ Certainly we coldn6t imitate t"em all/

:("at la+ted 5or +ome time. wit" nobody ma8in! any real ro!re++/ Nobody"ad any way o5 tellin! w"at any o5 t"e ot"er 5ellow6+ noi+e+ meant. o5 cor+e/ It

be!an to loo8 a+ t"o!" we6d !one a+ 5ar a+ we cold. in learnin! abot t"elanet. and t"at t"e 8nowled!e wa+ not !oin! to do anyone any !ood/

:("en +omeone remembered t"e old +wa-bo>e+/ I don6t 8now w"et"er yo60e "eard o5 t"em9 t"ey were +ed. I !e++. be5ore or race e0er le5t t"e"ome lanet. w"en eole w"o didn6t +ea8 eac" ot"er6+ lan!a!e wanted to

trade/ ("ey are +imly two tray+. "in!ed to!et"er. eac" di0ided into a nmbero5 +mall comartment+/ One +ide i+ emty. w"ile t"e comartment+ o5 t"eot"er are 5illed wit" 0ario+ article+ t"at are 5or +ale/ A !la++ lid co0er+ eac" o5t"e 5ll comartment+. and cannot be remo0ed ntil +omet"in! "a+ beenlaced in t"e corre+ondin! comartment o5 t"e ot"er tray/ It ta8e+ a retty+tid +a0a!e not to !et t"e idea in 5airly +"ort order/

:We didn6t "a0e any +c" !ad!et. o5 cor+e. bt it wa+ not di55iclt to ri!one / ("e troble wa+ t"at we cold not tell w"at "ad been t in t"e emtytray ntil t"e bo> came bac8 to +/ Since we were more intere+ted in tal8in!t"an tradin!. t"at didn6t matter too mc" at t"e time/ We +ent t"e bo> down inanot"er toredo. "omin! it on t"e location +i!nal o5 t"e 5ir+t and "oin! t"e5lat-land eole woldn6t detect it. oened t"e t"in! . and waited/

:("e nati0e romtly in0e+ti!ated9 "e wa+ aarently intelli!ent eno!" to


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t crio+ity a"ead o5 5ear. e0en t"o!" "e m+t "a0e +een t"e +econd toredoin 5li!"t/ He be"a0ed e>actly a+ e>ected wit" t"e bo>. t"o!" o5 cor+e wecoldn6t watc" "im;"e t +omet"in! in e0ery comartment o5 t"e emty+ection. and re+mably cleaned ot t"e ot"er9 bt "e t mo+t o5 t"e +t55

bac8/ One o5 t"e t"in!+ "e !a0e + ro0ed +e5l;t"e +t55 we +till trade 5or;

+o we +ent t"e bo> bac8 wit" only t"e comartment corre+ondin! to t"e one"e "ad t t"at +t55 in 5ll/ He !ot t"e idea. and we60e been on 5ine term+ e0er+ince/:

:Bt abot t"e lan!a!e=::Well. we 8now "i+ word+ 5or 6ye+6 and 6no.6 "i+ name+ 5or a 5ew metal+. and

"i+ name 5or t"e +t55 "e +ell+ +/ I can !i0e yo eit"er a tae o5 "i+ronnciation or a written record. i5 yo want to tal8 to "im/:

:("an8+ a lot/ ("at ma8e+ t"e w"ole +itation a !ood deal clearer/ I ta8e it yo "a0e "ad no more troble 5rom t"e+e 5latlander+=:

:None/ We "a0e care5lly a0oided contactin! any ot"er art o5 t"e lanet/ A+ I +aid. or intere+t+ are now commercial rat"er t"an +cienti5ic/ Still. i5 yo

want to +end down mac"ine+ on yor own. I +o+e we +"oldn6t inter5ere wit" yo/ ,lea+e be care5l. t"o!"9 we6d "ate to "a0e contact ct o55 be5ore we were in a o+ition to do or own rodcin!/:

Ken !a0e t"e e7i0alent o5 a !rin/ :I notice yo are +till care5lly re5rainin!5rom tellin! me w"at t"e +t55 i+/ Well. I won6t btt in/ ("at6+ none o5 my

b+ine++. and I don6t +ee "ow 8nowin! it cold "el me ot/ Ri!"t now. I!e++. it wold be be+t 5or yo to !i0e me all t"e "y+ical data yo "a0e on t"elanet/ ("en I can ma8e a !e++ at it+ atmo+"ere. and +end a toredo down

wit" e7iment to con5irm or deny t"e !e++/ ("at will be ea+ier t"an tryin! to brin! bac8 +amle+ 5or analy+i+. I ima!ine/: Drai lled "im+el5 to!et"er 5romt"e rac8 on w"ic" "e wa+ +rawled. and !a0e t"e e7i0alent o5 an a55irmati0e

nod/ :I6m not +ayin! yo +"oldn6t 8now w"at we !et 5rom t"e lanet.: "e +aid/:Bt I +"all mo+t certainly ma8e a "ammoc8 5rom t"e +8in o5 t"e 5ir+t membero5 t"i+ or!ani?ation w"o let+ yo 5ind ot: ("e tec"nician. w"o "ad beenli+tenin! in t"e bac8!rond. trned bac8 to t"e mec"ani+m o5 anot"ertoredo. and +o8e 5or t"e 5ir+t time wit"ot loo8in! /

:("at won6t be di55iclt9 t"ere6+ little to tell/ ("e lanet i+ abot t"ree-tent"+lar!er t"an or+ in diameter. ma8in! it+ 0olme rat"er o0er twice a+ !reat a+t"at o5 Sarr/ It+ ma++ i+ al+o o0er twice or+. t"o!" it+ a0era!e den+ity i+ a+"ade le++/ Sr5ace !ra0ity i+ one and a 7arter Sarr normal/ eantemeratre i+ a little below t"e 5ree?in! oint o5 ota++im/ Atmo+"ericre++re ncertain. como+ition n8nown/ ,eriod o5 rotation. one oint ei!"t

5or Sarr day+/::I +ee/ 4o cold dlicate temeratre readily eno!" on t"i+ lanet. by

c"oo+in! a oint 5ar eno!" arond toward t"e dar8 +ide9 and i5 nece++ary.t"ere woldn6t be too mc" troble in rerodcin! t"e eriodicity o5 ni!"t andday/ 4or roblem i+ atmo+"ere/ I6ll +end +ome time t"in8in! ot way+ andmean+ o5 !ettin! t"at. t"en/: Sallman Ken mo0ed +lowly away in t"e directiono5 "i+ a++i!ned 7arter+/ Hi+ t"o!"t+ were not e>cl+i0ely occied wit" t"eroblem o5 atmo+"ere analy+i+9 "e wa+ t"in8in! more o5 a my+terio+ racein"abitin! t"e 5lat. blea8 lain+ o5 ,lanet ("ree and t"e o++ibility o5 cttin!o55 trade wit" t"e lanet;alway+. o5 cor+e. a++min! t"at it+ my+terio+rodct wa+ w"at "e 5eared/

He wa+ al+o wonderin! i5 "e "ad o0erdone "i+ di+claimer o5 intere+t in t"elanet6+ c"ie5 e>ort/


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4

A circle o5 t"ree-mile radi+ "a+ an area o5 +li!"tly o0er twenty-ei!"t +7aremile+. or ro!"ly ei!"teen t"o+and acre+/ It 5ollow+ t"at t"e ma reared by

Ro!er and Edit" Win! wa+ not a+ detailed a+ it mi!"t "a0e been/ On t"e ot"er"and. a+ t"eir 5at"er wa+ 5orced to admit. a tree-co0ered montain +ide doe+not o55er too many detail+ to t on a ma9 and t"e e55ort t"e c"ildren trnedin did +"ow e0ery cree8 and trail o5 w"ic" r/ Win! "ad 8nowled!e/ Still moreto t"e oint. it +"owed clearly t"at t"ey "ad actally tra0elled o0er t"e area in7e+tion/ ("i+ wa+ t"e de5ect in t"e !irl6+ e>erience w"ic" "e "ad wantedcorrected be5ore +"e wa+ relea+ed 5rom t"e :+tic8-to-t"e-trail: rle/

He loo8ed re+ently 5rom t"e tattered noteboo8/ ("e 5amily wa+!at"ered arond t"e 5irelace a!ain. and t"e two carto!ra"er+ wereen+conced on eit"er arm o5 "i+ c"air/ Don wa+ on t"e 5loor between t"e +eat+

wit" Billy draed acro++ "i+ nec89 ar


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+o ye+terday. and yo +aid it t"e 5ir+t ni!"t/::O"= And "ow did yo "ear w"at I +aid t"at ni!"t= A+ I recall. t"e matter

wa+ not di+c++ed ntil a5ter yo were in bed/ W"at I +aid t"en !oe+;yo can!o wit" eit"er Ro!er or Edie on t"eir wal8+. bt yo +till ob+er0e t"e limit+

w"en yo6re by yor+el5/ Billie. yo too ("ere6ll be lenty o5 lon! tri+ 5or all

o5 yo. wit"ot yor "a0in! to !o o55 on yor own. and t"ere6+ alway+ beenlenty to 8ee yo occied arond "ere/ I60e been romi+in! 5or 5i0e or +i>

year+ to !et a load o5 cement "ere i5 yo 5ol8+ wold !et eno!" loo+e roc8to!et"er to ma8e a dam ot "ere;I6d li8e a +wimmin! ool my+el5/ Dondoe+n6t t"in8 we need cement 5or it. bt t"at6+ +omet"in! "e6ll "a0e to ro0e/I6ll be !lad i5 "e can do wit"ot it. o5 cor+e/: He leaned bac8 and +tretc"ed "i+le!+/ Billy romtly tran+5erred "i+ erc" 5rom Don6+ +"older+ to "i+ 5at"er6++"in+. and t "i+ own oar into t"e con0er+ation/ He wanted one o5 t"e tri+

be5ore "i+ 5at"er went ro+ectin!. and e>re++ed "im+el5 at con+iderablelen!t" on t"e +bt wee8/ ("ey le5t a+ +oon a5ter

brea85a+t a+ t"e animal+ cold be readied/ Edie and t"e yon!er c"ildren wento55 on t"eir own9 a+ +oon a+ e0eryone wa+ away 5rom t"e "o+e r/ Win! andDon dre++ed t"em+el0e+ in "i8in! clot"e+ and "eaded ea+t/ Ro!er wold "a0e!i0en mc" to +ee t"em !o/

("e trail+ were !ood. and 5or a cole o5 "or+ t"e two made 0ery+ati+5actory ro!re++/ For t"e mo+t art t"ey 5ollowed t"e cree8+. bt once ortwice t"e older man led t"e way o0er oen +r+ o5 roc8 w"ic" in0ol0edcon+iderable climbin!/

:("i+ i+ abot t"e 7ic8e+t way to t"e tran+mitter. Don.: "e +aid at oneoint/ :It6+ a lot clo+er to t"e "o+e t"an e0en yor mot"er reali?e+;t"o!"!oodne++ 8now+ I woldn6t "ide it 5rom "er i5 +"e cared to come on one o5t"e+e "i8e+/ On t"e re!lar tri+. I 5ollow a 0ery rondabot at" I wor8ed ot

year+ a!o w"en I wa+ really a5raid o5 bein! 5ollowed/ ("at wa+


19/113

5ir+t World War. lon! be5ore I6d e0en met yor mot"er/ ("ere were a nmbero5 eole arond t"i+ art o5 t"e contry t"en w"o wold c"eer5lly "a0eto++ed me o55 a "illto 5or a 5raction o5 t"e 0ale I bro!"t bac8 5rom t"e 5ir+ttri/ I tell yo. I did +ome retty +erio+ t"in8in! on t"e way in 5rom t"at tri/

4o6ll +ee w"y 0ery +"ortly/:

Don made no immediate an+wer to t"i+/ Hi+ attention +eemed to be 5llyta8en wit" ne!otiatin! t"e +loe o5 loo+e roc8 t"ey were tra0er+in! at t"emoment/ It wa+ a +ection ractically imo++ible to cro++ wit"ot lea0in!rominent trace+. and "e "ad been a little ??led at "i+ 5at"er6+ !oin! t"i+

way ntil "e reali?ed t"at t"e idea wa+ robably to ermit a c"ec8 on anytrailer+ a+ t"ey retrned/ Once acro++ t"e treac"ero+ +t55 and an!lin! bac8down t"e +loe. "e 5inally +o8e/

:4o +aid a w"ile bac8. Dad. t"at we were t"e rea+on+ yo didn6t ma8eblic t"i+ +orce o5 metal/ It +eem+ to me t"at e0en t"at +"oldn6t "a0ecarried wei!"t w"ile t"e war wa+ on;it mi!"t "a0e been better to let t"e!o0ernment de0elo t"e 5ind and +e it/ I don6t mean t"at I don6t areciate

!ettin! a colle!e edcation. bt;well;: "e a+ed a little ncom5ortably/:4o "a0e a oint. +on. and t"at wa+ anot"er matter 5or t"o!"t w"en t"e

war +tarted. wit" yo in "i!" +c"ool and Billy tended 5or +ome di+tance abo0e t"em. bt t"eolder man +eemed to "a0e no de+ire to !et to t"e to o5 t"e "ill/

In+tead. "e trned a!ain. mo0in! 7ic8ly acro++ t"e bare roc8 a+ t"o!" aat" were lainly mar8ed be5ore "im9 and in a 5ew +te+ reac"ed t"e ed!e o5 a+"allow decli0ity w"ic" aeared to "a0e acted a+ a catc" ba+in 5or roc8+

w"ic" "ad rolled 5rom 5art"er t"e "ill/ Windin! "i+ way amon! t"e+e. wit"Donald clo+e at "i+ "eel+. "e 5inally +toed and mo0ed to one +ide. ermittin!"i+ +on to +ee w"at lay be5ore t"em/

It wa+ an almo+t 5eatrele++ +trctre o5 metal. ro!"ly cbical in +"aeand a little le++ t"an a yard on eac" ed!e/ ("ere wa+ a +mall oenin! on one+ide. containin! a +in!le ro


20/113

interior wa+ meant to be +o acce++ible/::Bt w"ere did it come 5rom= W"o made it= How did yo !et "old o5 it=::("at6+ a rat"er lon! +tory. and "aened. a+ I +aid. be5ore yo were born/:I wa+ citin! amined it a+ t"oro!"ly a+ Icold. and 5ond a 5ew di+creancie+ in t"e toredo t"eory/

:In t"e 5ir+t lace. it "ad neit"er roeller+ nor any tye o5 +teerin! 5in/ It wa+ abot twenty 5eet lon! and t"ree in diameter. w"ic" wa+ rea+onable 5or atoredo a+ 5ar a+ I 8new. bt t"e only brea8 in t"e +r5ace wa+ a +ection o5 t"e+ide. near w"at I +o+ed to be t"e 5ront. w"ic" wa+ oen rat"er li8e a bomb

bay/ I loo8ed in. t"o!" I didn6t ta8e a c"ance on +tic8in! an arm or my "eadin+ide. and +aw a c"amber t"at occied mo+t o5 t"e interior o5 t"e no+e+ection/ It wa+ emty. e>cet 5or a noticeable +mell o5 brnin! +l5r/

:I nearly "ad a "eart attac8 w"en t"e t"in! be!an tal8in! a!ain. t"i+ time ina mc" lower tone;at any rate I


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o5 ble +mo8e w"ic" I t"o!"t at 5ir+t m+t "a0e to do wit" dri0in! roc8et+/Howe0er. it ro0ed to be lea8in! arond t"e ed!e+ o5 a door +imilar to t"at int"e 5ir+t toredo. and t"en a bi! clod o5 it 55ed ot a+ t"e door oened/ ("atmade me a little catio+. w"ic" wa+ in+ide. wit" t"ecomartment+ o5 one +ide 5ll o5 / I "ad t"o!"t o5 +endin! t"em a ri5le cartrid!e to indicate we "ad amec"anical ind+try. bt remembered t"e temeratre at w"ic" t"e t"in! "adarri0ed and decided a!ain+t it/

:It too8 two or t"ree "or+ 5or t"e toredo to ma8e it+ rond tri/ I "ad +et my tent and ronded +ome 5irewood and water by t"e time it came bac8.and I 5ond ot my !e++ wa+ ri!"t/ ("i+ time t"ey "ad t anot"er latinmn!!et in one comartment. lea0in! t"e ot"er+ emty9 and I wa+ able toremember w"at I "ad t in t"e corre+ondin! +ace on t"e re0io+ 0i+it/

:("at abot tell+ t"e +tory/: r/ Win! !rinned at "i+ +on/ :I60e been+wain! ci!arette+ 5or latinm and indim n!!et+ 5or abot t"irty year+now;and yo can +ee w"y I wanted yo to +tdy +ome a+tronomy: Don

w"i+tled !ently/:I !e++ I do. at t"at/ Bt yo "a0en6t e>lained t"i+.: "e indicated t"e metal

cbe on w"ic" "i+ 5at"er wa+ +ittin!/:("at came down a little later. !raled to a toredo. and t"e ori!inal one

too8 o55 immediately a5terward+/ I "a0e alway+ +o+ed t"ey +e it to 5ind


22/113

t"i+ +ot a!ain/ We60e +ort o5 5allen into a +c"edle o0er t"e year+/ I6m ne0er"ere in t"e winter any more. and t"ey +eem to reali?e t"at9 bt 5rom two tot"ree day+ a5ter I +na t"i+ +witc" o55 and on a 5ew time+. li8e t"i+.: "edemon+trated. :t"e e>c"e7er !et+ a +"ot in t"e arm/:

Don 5rowned t"o!"t5lly. and wa+ +ilent 5or a time/

:I +till don6t +ee w"y yo 8ee it a +ecret.: "e +aid at la+t/ :I5 t"e a55air i+really interlanetary. it6+ tremendo+ly imortant/:

:("at6+ tre. o5 cor+e/ Howe0er. i5 t"e+e eole wanted contact wit"man8ind in !eneral. t"ey cold certainly e+tabli+" it wit"ot any di55iclty/ It"a+ alway+ +eemed to me t"at t"eir maintainin! contact in t"i+ 5a+"ion wa+e0idence t"at t"ey did not want t"eir re+ence !enerally 8nown9 +o t"at i5e>ert+ be!an ta8in! t"eir tran+mitter aart. 5or e>amle. or +endin!literatre and mac"inery ot to t"em in an e55ort to +"ow or +tate o5ci0ili?ation. t"ey wold +imly lea0e/:

:("at +eem+ a little 5ar-5etc"ed/::,er"a+9 bt can yo o55er a better +!!e+tion w"y t"ey don6t land one o5

t"e+e t"in!+ in a city= ("ey6re ayin! tremendo+ rice+ 5or darned +mall7antitie+ o5 tobacco;and a corner dr! +tore cold +toc8 t"em 5or year+ att"eir rate o5 con+mtion/

:Don6t !et me wron!. +on9 I certainly areciate t"e imortance o5 all t"i+.and want 0ery mc" to 5ind ot all I can abot t"e+e t"in!+ and t"eirmac"ine+9 bt I want t"e in0e+ti!atin! done by eole w"om I can tr+t to becare5l not to +et t"e ale cart/ I wi+" t"e w"ole 5amily were +e0en or ei!"t

year+ older9 we6d "a0e a !ood re+earc" team ri!"t "ere/ For t"e moment.t"o!". yo and I;rincially yo;are !oin! to "a0e to do t"e in0e+ti!atin!.

w"ile Ro! and Edie do t"e +cotin!/ I e>ect t"ey6ll +nea8 o0er to watc" +. o5cor+e9 Ro!er6+ crio+ity i+ +tartin! to 8ee "im awa8e ni!"t+. and "e "a+ t"e

ma8in!+ o5 a man o5 action/ I6m wonderin! w"et"er we don6t 5ind "i+ trac8+ orEdie6+ on t"e way bac8;"e mi!"t "a0e er+aded "er to !o to town 5or "im/("ere6+ not"in! more to be done "ere. nle++ yo want to loo8 t"i+commnicator o0er more clo+ely9 we mi!"t a+ well "ead bac8. and 5ind ot"ow enterri+in! t"e yon!er !eneration i+/:

:("ere6+ no "rry. Dad/ I6d li8e to loo8 t"i+ t"in! o0er 5or a w"ile/ It "a++ome o5 t"e earmar8+ o5 a +"ort wa0e tran+mitter. bt t"ere are a lot o5 t"in!+I6d li8e to !et +trai!"t/:

:e. too/ I60e learned a !ood deal abot radio+ in t"e la+t twenty year+. btit6+ a bit beyond me/ O5 cor+e. I60e ne0er dared ta8e o55 more t"an t"e oterca+in!9 t"ere are art+ too deely +towed to be 0i+ible. w"ic" mi!"t be "i!"ly

in5ormati0e i5 we cold +ee t"em/::E>actly w"at I wa+ t"in8in!/ ("ere +"old be +ome way to loo8 into it;we

o!"t to di! one o5 t"o+e denti+t6+ mirror+/::4o don6t catc" me +tic8in! anyt"in! made o5 metal into a !ad!et t"at

almo+t certainly +e+ a+tronomical 0olta!e+/::Well;I +o+e not/ We cold trn it o55 5ir+t. i5 we were +re w"ic"

o+ition o5 t"at +witc" were o55/ We don6t really 8now w"et"er yo6re callin!t"em wit" a +"ort tran+mi++ion w"en yo mo0e it. or w"et"er yo6re brea8in!a contino+ one/ I5 t"ey +e it 5or "omin!. it wold be t"e latter9 bt we can6t

be +re/::E0en i5 we were. trnin! it o55 woldn6t be eno!"/ Conden+er+ can "old a

na+ty bite 5or a lon! time/:Don admitted t"e


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t"ro!" t"e oenin!+ le5t by t"e remo0al o5 t"e late+/:o+t o5 t"e in+ide +eem+ to be bloc8+ o5 ba8elite anyway.: "e +aid at la+t/ :I

+o+e t"ey "a0e e0eryt"in! +ealed in 5or ermanence/ I wonder "ow t"eye>ect to +er0ice it= I !e++ yo6re ri!"t;we may a+ well !o "ome ntil t"etoredo come+/: He +ln! t"e ac8 t"at "ad contained t"eir lnc";or rat"er.

t"e +andwic"e+ t"ey "ad eaten in rote;o0er "i+ +"older. and +trai!"tened/ Hi+ 5at"er nodded in a!reement. and t"ey be!an to retrace t"eir +te+down t"e "ill+ide/

Don wa+ wraed in t"o!"t. and "i+ 5at"er 5orbore to interrt/ He 8new"ow "e "ad reacted to t"e e0ent+ "e "ad ected/ I5"e "ad t"o!"t o5 5indin! a +b+titte and 5ollowin! "i+ 5at"er. not"in! "adcome o5 it/ r/ Win! wa+ not +re w"et"er "e o!"t to be lea+ed ordi+aointed/

5

La< Drai 5ond "i+ "ired +c"oolteac"er be+ide one o5 t"e toredoe+.c"ec8in! o55 it+ content+ wit" loo+ o5 one tentacle/ ("e mec"anic wa+

li+tenin! a+ "e named o55 t"e item+/:a!ne+im cell9 titanim cell9 +odim;o". "ello. Drai/ Anyt"in! !oin!

on=::Hard to +ay/ 4o are +ettin! a re+earc" roected in t"e 5ree +tate/ ("e +ame i+ tre o5 c"lorine; w"ic" may be li7id;and o>y!en/ On t"e ot"er "and. "ydro!en +eem+ 0eryli8ely. alon! wit" "ydro!en +l5ide and ot"er 0olatile comond+ o5 bot" t"o+eelement+/ Nitro!en +"old be re+ent. and t"e inert !a+e+;t"o!" I don6t8now "ow I can te+t 5or t"o+e/

:I60e bilt little cell+ containin! 0ario+ material+. alon! wit" bilt-in"eater+9 and I6m !oin! to warm t"em one at a time a5ter landin! t"i+toredo and oenin! it to t"e atmo+"ere/ ("en I6ll brin! it bac8 and +ee w"att"e air did to my +amle+/ I "a0e ma!ne+im and titanim. w"ic" +"olddetect t"e nitro!en. and +odim. and a cole o5 +l5ide+ w"ic" +"old beredced i5 t"ere6+ mc" "ydro!en. and +o on/ ("e reort may not be comlete.


24/113

bt we +"old learn +omet"in!/::So I +"old +ay. 5rom w"at little I 8now abot it Were yo lannin! to +end

t"e toredo ot ri!"t away=::4e+9 e0eryt"in! +eem+ to be ready. nle++ t"ere are comlication+ 5rom

yor deartment/:

:Not"in! mc"/ We were en+i0e/ I learned t"at w"en I "ad t"e Karella coated/ I wonder "ow we6ll!et arond it i5 t"ey learn to ic8 in5ra-red= ("e tor+ are eno!" "ottert"an t"e lanet to +"ow li8e no0ae. w"en we "aen to +tart t"em 5rom t"e

+"i


25/113

controller into t"e main ot+ide beam circit;two mlti"a+e +i!nal+ cold be "andled a+ ea+ily a+ one on t"e beam. and bot" toredoe+ wold be clo+eeno!" to!et"er +o t"at one beam wold +55ice/ ("e mec"anic6+ in5ormation

wa+ intere+tin!9 it "ad ne0er occrred to "im t"at ot"er+ mi!"t "a0e receded"im on t"i+


26/113

troble+. "e re5lected re5lly. wa+ "i+ tendency to !et intere+ted in two rob-lem+ at once/ In one way. t"at mi!"t be !ood. o5 cor+e9 t"e !enineab+ortion in t"e roblem o5 ,lanet ("ree wa+ t"e be+t o++ible !ard a!ain+t++icion o5 "i+ ot"er tra drain on it+ ower/For +ome minte+ Ken contined to wait. one eye ro0in! o0er t"e dial+ and

t"e ot"er !lancin! ca+ally abot t"e !reat room9 bt 5inally "e decided t"at


27/113

Allmer "ad ic8ed a !ood time to !o o55 dty/ He did not 5eel tired "im+el5. bt!radally "e became con0inced t"at t"ere m+t be +omet"in! a little morecon+trcti0e to do/ He ++ected t"at. e0en i5 t"ere were to be any dr!+arond t"e +tation. t"ey wold not "a0e arri0ed yet. +o t"ere wa+ no +ema8in! a +earc" 5or t"em9 bt rearation+ mi!"t be made to +ee re++ed t"e t"o!"t/

Ken wa+ ba+in! "i+ +o+ition on "i+ memory o5 "ow Drai "ad re5rained

5rom namin! t"e +b+tance obtained 5rom t"e lanet9 and. determined to 5indat lea+t one +mall bric8 o5 data to add to "i+ edi5ice o5 in5ormation. t"e in-

0e+ti!ator "eaded t"e +iral ram toward t"e ob+er0atory at t"e +tation6+"i!"e+t le0el/ No one attemted to +to "im on t"e way. t"o!" "e met acole o5 wor8er+ w"o 5lied tentacle+ in ca+al reco!nition/ ("e door o5 t"eob+er0atory wa+ not loc8ed. a+ a trial +" +"owed. and "e entered. +till

wit"ot oo+ition/ He wa+ braced 5or a romt re7e+t to deart. and wa+ alittle +rri+ed w"en not"in! at all wa+ +aid/ A moment later. w"en "i+ eye+"ad become acc+tomed to t"e dimne++ o5 t"e bi! room. "e reali?ed to "i+c"a!rin t"at no one wa+ t"ere/

:No b+ine++ +ecret+ loo+e +o 5ar.: "e mttered/

He wa+ abot to retrn t"e way "e "ad come. w"en it occrred to "im t"at"e mi!"t a+ well ma8e +re o5 t"at 5act/ ("ere were not many lace+ w"ereaer wor8 o5 any +ort cold be 8et. at lea+t at 5ir+t !lance9 and t"e+e "eraidly co0ered/ ("ey were mo+tly cabinet+ bilt nder in+trment anel+.and +eemed to contain not"in! bt table+ o5 t"e motion+ o5 t"e lanet+ o5 t"i++y+tem/ ("e+e +eemed rat"er 0alele++9 t"eir mo+t robable +e wold be inna0i!ation. and Ken cold not ima!ine anyone6+ wantin! to na0i!ate anyw"erein t"i+ +y+tem e>cet to t"e world o5 Ice/ ("ey cold al+o be +ed to direct t"ein+trment+. i5 anyone wanted to loo8 at t"e lanet+ in 7e+tion9 bt t"at+eemed e0en le++ "el5l/

)nder t"e beam +ettin! control+ wa+ a +mall drawer w"ic" al+o contained

two +et+ o5 nmber+;a!ain. +atial coordinate+9 bt t"i+ time Ken 5ro?e toattention a+ "e reali?ed t"at one +et at lea+t did not re5er to lanet+;t"ey con-tained no cyclic term/ ("e +et wa+ +"ort. con+i+tin! o5 +i> !ro+ o5 nmber+containin! 5rom +i> to ten di!it+ eac"9 bt "e recognized t"em/ ("e 5ir+tidenti5ied by +ectrm a beacon +tar9 t"e ne>t t"ree were direction co+ine+.!i0in! t"e t"ree-dimen+ional bearin! to anot"er +n9 t"e 5i5t" !a0e a di+tance/Normally "e mi!"t not "a0e reco!ni?ed or remembered t"e len!t"y 5i!re+9

bt t"o+e were t"e coordinate+ o5 t"e bla?in! A-cla++ +n w"ic" warmed Sarr."i+ "ome lanet/ ("e 5inal nmber wa+ anot"er ran!e9 and beyond 7e+tion itrere+ented t"e di+tance 5rom t"e re+ent oint o5 ob+er0ation to t"e li+ted+tar/ Ken 8new eno!" o5 t"e +tandard na0i!ational notation+ to be +re o5t"at/

("e ot"er +et o5 nmber+. t"en. m+t !i0e t"e direction o5 t"e +ame +n


28/113

relati0e to +ome local +et o5 coordinate+9 and not only wa+ "e i!norant o5 t"ecoordinate+. bt t"e nmber+ were too lon! to remember/ (o coy t"em wold

be +icide. i5 anyt"in! more t"an commercial +ecrecy were in0ol0ed/ For lon!minte+ Sallman Ken +tood 5ro?en in t"o!"t9 t"en. abrtly. "e +lied t"e+"eet bac8 into t"e drawer. clo+ed t"e latter. and a+ 7ic8ly a+ wa+ comatible

wit" cation le5t t"e ob+er0atory/ Since t"e in5ormation wa+ t"ere. it woldnot do 5or anyone to !et t"e idea "e "ad been t"ere 5or any !reat len!t" o5time/ It wold be better i5 no one 8new "e "ad been t"ere at all. bt "e "ad

been +een on t"e way t"e ram/ He roceeded to !et bac8 to "i+ own7arter+ and a++me an attitde o5 reo+e. t"o!" "i+ mind +till raced5rio+ly/

He 8new "i+ di+tance 5rom "ome/ E0idently t"e twenty-two day+ o5 t"e cet a rely arbitrary 5ormla w"ic" wold be"arder to memori?e t"an t"e direction it+el5/

O5 cor+e. t"e beacon li+ted in t"e +tellar coordinate+ wa+ robably 0i+ible5rom "ere9 bt cold "e reco!ni?e it wit" any certainty wit"ot in+trment+=("e in+trment+ were a0ailable. o5 cor+e. bt it mi!"t not be wi+e to beca!"t +in! t"em/ No. orientation wa+ de5initely t"e la+t on t"e

+tren!t" o5 it/

6

Nearly t"ree o5 Sarr6+ t"irteen-"or day+ a++ed ne0ent5lly be5ore t"erelay +tation circlin! Eart" ic8ed t"e aroac"in! toredoe+/ A+ Fet"

Allmer "ad redicted;and La< Drai "ad con5irmed. a5ter c"ec8in! wit" "i+table+;t"e +i!nal+ 5rom t"e lanted "omin! nit were comin! 5rom t"e dar8+ide o5 t"e lanet/ Drai "oned down 5rom t"e ob+er0atory to t"e +"o. w"ereKen and Allmer were en!a!ed in deceleratin! t"eir mi++ile/

:4o may a+ well dro +trai!"t down a+ +oon a+ yo +win! arond to t"e

dar8 +ide.: "e +aid/ :4o will ic8 t"e beacon i5 yo +iral in. 8eein! between 5orty and 5i5ty-5i0e de!ree+ abo0e t"e lane o5 t"e lanet6+ orbit.mea+red 5rom t"e lanet6+ center/ ("e beam can be ic8ed by yortoredo more t"an 5orty diameter+ ot. +o yo can6t o++ibly mi++ it/ 4o6d

better ride t"e beam down atomatically ntil yo6re into atmo+"ere. t"en !omanal and mo0e o55 a cole o5 mile+ i5 yo lan to !o all t"e way to t"e!rond/ I5 t"e nati0e+ are camin! near t"e beam tran+mitter. it wold be aity to toc" o55 yor c"emical+ ri!"t in t"eir mid+t/:

:(re eno!".: Ken relied/ :Fet" i+ +win!in! arond into t"e +"adow now.+till abot 5i0e diameter+ ot/ I wi+" t"ere were a 0i+ion tran+mitter in t"atmac"ine/ Some time I6m !oin! down clo+e eno!" to +e a tele+coe. nle+++omeone bild+ a (@ t"at will +tand winter weat"er/:

:4o6ll !et wor+e t"an 5ro+tbite.: Drai re+onded +incerely/ :("e time yo


29/113

were really loo8in! at t"at world. yo didn6t +eem 7ite +o an>io+ to !et clo+eto it/:

:I "adn6t !otten crio+ t"en.: re+onded Ken/("e con0er+ation la+ed 5or a w"ile. a+ Fet" Allmer +lowly +n t"e

0ernier+ controllin! t"e direction o5 t"r+t 5rom t"e toredo6+ dri0er+/ ("e

mac"ine wa+. a+ Ken "ad +aid. cttin! arond into t"e +"adow o5 t"e bi!lanet. +till wit" a relati0e +eed o5 +e0eral mile+ er +econd to o0ercome/

Allmer wa+ na0i!atin! wit" t"e aid o5 a re+on+e-timer and directional loo int"e relay +tation. w"o+e readin!+ were bein! rerodced on "i+ own board9 t"etoredo wa+ +till too 5ar 5rom Eart" 5or it+ re5lection altimeter to be e55ecti0e/For +ome minte+ Ken watc"ed +ilently. interretin! a+ be+t "e cold t"emotion+ o5 t"e 5lic8erin! needle+ and de5t tentacle+/ A !rnt o5 +ati+5action5rom t"e oerator 5inally told "im more clearly t"an t"e in+trment+ t"at t"e

beam "ad been reac"ed9 a +na8y/ arm romtly twi+ted one o5 t"e 0ernier+ a+5ar a+ it wold !o/

:I don6t +ee w"y t"ey coldn6t ower t"e+e t"in!+ 5or decent acceleration.:

Fet"6+ 0oice came in an ndertone/ :How mc" do yo want to bet t"at wedon6t rn all t"e way t"ro!" t"e beam be5ore I can matc" t"e lanet6+rotation= Wit" nine-tent"+ o5 t"eir +ace 5ree 5or dri0er+ and accmlator+.

yo6d t"in8 t"ey cold ile +eed e0en wit"ot o0erdri0e/ ("e+e c"ea;:"i+ 0oice trailed o55 a!ain/ Ken made no rely. not bein! +re w"et"er one wa+e>ected/ Anyway. Allmer wa+ too bri!"t 5or "i+ tterance+ to be +ontaneo+.and any an+wer +"old be care5lly con+idered rely 5rom moti0e+ o5cation/

Aarently t"e mec"anic "ad been ndly e++imi+tic9 5or in a matter o5minte+ "e "ad +cceeded in 5i!"tin! t"e toredo into a 0ertical de+cent/ E0enKen wa+ able to read t"i+ 5rom t"e indicator+9 and be5ore lon! t"e re5lection

altimeter be!an to re!i+ter/ ("i+ de0ice wa+ e55ecti0e at a di+tance e7al toSarr6+ diameter;a tri5le o0er +i> t"o+and mile+;and Ken +ettled "im+el5

be+ide t"e oerator a+ +oon a+ "e noted it+ reaction/ ("ere wa+ not 5ar to !o/Hi+ own articlar ban8 o5 in+trment+. in+talled on a ma8e+"i5t anel o5

t"eir own by Allmer. were +till idle/ ("e re++re+ indicated ?ero. and t"etemeratre+ were low;e0en t"e +odim "ad 5ro?en. aarently/ ("ere "ad

been little c"an!e 5or many "or+;aarently t"e w"ole ro


30/113

all/ In addition. "e wa+ rea+onably +re t"at t"ere wold be 5ree nitro!en int"e atmo+"ere9 and at lea+t one o5 t"e te+t+ o!"t to wor8/

At 5i0e mile+ abo0e t"e !rond. t"e little 5rnace wa+ !lowin! w"ite "ot.


31/113

r+tlin!+ "ad become adible in t"e la+t 5ew +econd+. and now t"e+e were+lemented by loder +nain!+ and crac8lin!+/ De+cent cea+ed 5or amoment/ Aarently an ob+tacle +55icient to re5lect radar wa0e+ and ta8e t"emac"ine6+ wei!"t "ad been encontered9 bt w"en a little downward dri0e

wa+ alied. t"e crac8lin! ro!re++ contined 5or +ome di+tance/ Finally.

"owe0er. it cea+ed;noi+e and motion ali8e;e0en w"en Allmer dobled and7adrled t"e ower 5or +e0eral +econd+/ He oened "i+ dri0e +witc"e+ andtrned to Ken wit" a !e+tre e7i0alent to a +"r!/

:We +eem to be down. t"o!" I can6t !arantee it6+ !rond a+ we 8now it/ It+eem+ to be a+ low a+ we can !et. t"o!"/ ("ere6+ t"e door +witc". in ca+e yodidn6t 8now/ 4o6re on yor own. nle++ yo don6t mind my "an!in! arond to

watc"/ I +o+e t"e bo++ will be "ere +oon. too9 "e +"old "a0e "i+ mac"inein an orbit by t"i+ time/:

:Sre;+tic8 arond/ I6ll be !lad to "a0e yo/ aybe we6ll "a0e to mo0e t"et"in! arond. 5or all I can tell at t"e moment/: He "ad oened t"e door a+ "e+o8e. and watc"ed wit" intere+t a+ t"e re++re !a!e +naed to a 0ale

abot two t"ird+ o5 Sarr normal/ At t"e +ame in+tant. t"e temeratre dial o5t"e +till "ot titanim 5rnace be!an to ri+e +ontaneo+ly;aarently t"e!reater atmo+"eric den+ity wa+ more t"an able to o55+et t"e +li!"t amont o5coolin! t"at "ad ta8en lace9 t"e metal wa+ actally brnin!/ Ken "a+tily +"tt"e door/

("e temeratre contined to ri+e a +"ort di+tance. w"ile t"e li!"t inten+ity in t"e car!o comartment o5 t"e toredo "eld at a 0ale t"at wold "a0e beeninten+e e0en to eye+ acc+tomed to Sarr6+ 5er0ent +n/ ("e mo+t intere+tin!in5ormation. "owe0er. came 5rom t"e re++re !a!e9 and it wa+ on t"i+ t"atKen 8et "i+ attention !led/

For er"a+ twenty +econd+ t"e reaction contined nabated9 t"en it be!an

to die ot. and in ten more t"e temeratre be!an once more to dro/ ("erea+on wa+ e0ident9 re++re "ad droed to le++ t"an two ercent o5 it+5ormer 0ale/ ("ere wa+ literally not"in! le5t to carry on t"e reaction/

Ken emitted t"e boomin! drone 5rom "i+ +ond-dia"ra!m t"at wa+ t"eSarrian e7i0alent o5 a w"i+tle o5 +rri+e/

:I 8new molten titanim wold react to comletion in or atmo+"ere. btI didn6t t"in8 it wold o++ibly do it "ere/ I !e++ I wa+ wron!;I wa+ rat"ere>ectin! a mi>tre o5 comond+. w"o+e "eat+ o5 5ormation wold re0entany +c" reaction/ Still. I +o+e at t"i+ lanet6+ temeratre. t"ey woldn6t"a0e to be 0ery +table 5rom or oint o5 0iew / / /: "i+ 0oice trailed o55/

:ean+ not"in! to me. bt it certainly brned.: Fet"

Allmer remar8ed/ :How abot yor ot"er +amle+= Are yo !oin! to rnt"em o55 ri!"t away. or wait 5or t"in!+ to cool down a!ain to lanet-normal=:

Anot"er dial ca!"t Ken6+ eye be5ore "e cold an+wer/:Hey;w"o lit t"e +odim=: "e a+8ed. "eedle++ o5 Allmer6+ 7ery/ :It6+

coolin! now. bt it m+t "a0e been brnin!. too. 5or a w"ile w"en t"ere wa+air/:

:Let more in and +ee/: ("e to!!le +naed o0er. and t"ere wa+ a di+tinctoin! +ond a+ air r+"ed into t"e rear-0acm/ ("e +odim contined tocool/

:aybe a +ar8 5rom t"e titanim ot li!"ted it /: Wit"ot an+werin!.Ken clo+ed t"e door once more and be!an to warm t"e +odim container/

Aarently Fet"6+ +!!e+tion wa+ not too 5ar 5rom t"e mar89 0ery littleadditional "eat wa+ needed to i!nite t"e metal/ ("i+ time t"e reaction +toed


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a5ter re++re "ad droed abot a +i>t"/ ("en t"e door wa+ oened a!ain.and anot"er toc" o5 arti5icial "ead ca+ed t"e reaction to re+me/ ("i+ time itcontined. re+mably. ntil t"e +odim wa+ con+med/

:I want eno!" material to wor8 on w"en we !et it bac8.: Ken e>lained/:I6m not t"e *ala>y6+ be+t analytical c"emi+t/:

("e crcible o5 carbon d+t !a0e decidedly ecliar re+lt+/ Somethingcertainly "aened. 5or t"e material not only maintained bt e0en increa+edit+ temeratre 5or +ome time a5ter t"e "eatin! crrent wa+ ct o559 bt t"ere

wa+ no e0idence eit"er o5 con+mtion or rodction o5 !a+ in t"e clo+edc"amber/ Bot" Ken and Fet" were +li!"tly +tartled/ ("e 5ormer. in re+on+e tot"e mec"anic6+ 7i??ical e>re++ion. admitted t"e 5act wa+ robably +i!ni5icant

bt cold o55er no e>lanation/Samle+ o5 iron. tin. lead. and !old 5ollowed in de cor+e/ None o5 t"e+e

+eemed !reatly a55ected by t"e ecliar atmo+"ere at any temeratre. wit"t"e o++ible e>cetion o5 t"e iron9 t"ere t"e re++re dro wa+ too +mall to becertain. +ince in eac" o5 t"e+e ca+e+ t"e "eatin! "ad ca+ed an increa+e in

re++re w"ic" "ad to be allowed 5or/ a!ne+im be"a0ed remar8ably li8e+odim. e>cet t"at it brned e0en more bri!"tly t"an t"e titanim/

Here a!ain Ken decided to 5ini+" o55 t"e metal by reli!"tin! it wit" t"e dooroen9 and "ere t"e te+tin! ro!ram recei0ed a +dden interrtion/

Bot" Sarrian+ were er5ectly aware t"at wit" t"e door oen a beam o5 li!"tm+t be +tabbin! ot into t"e dar8ne++/ Bot" "ad cea+ed to worry abot t"e5act9 it "ad been e7ally tre. t"o!" er"a+ t"e radiance wa+ 5ainter. wit"t"e bla?in! +odim and almo+t a+ mc" +o w"en t"e +"eer "eat o5 t"e +amle+o5 iron and !old "ad been e>o+ed/ ("ey "ad comletely cea+ed to worryabot bein! +een9 a 5ll "or "ad already a++ed +ince t"ey "ad landed t"etoredo. owin! to t"e coolin! eriod+ nece++ary between te+t+. and t"ere "ad

been no +i!n t"at any attention "ad been attracted/ Ken +"old "a0e remembered t"e di55iclty t"at "ad been encontered in reac"in! t"e !rond/

("e o++ibility wa+ bro!"t bac8 to t"eir attention wit" t"e reli!"tin! o5 t"ema!ne+im +amle/ A+ t"e "otocell reorted t"e ree+tabli+"ment o5comb+tion. a +"rill +ond erted 5rom t"e +ea8er abo0e t"e control boardand ec"oed t"ro!" t"e +"i/ Neit"er "ad to be told w"at it wa+9 bot" "ad"eard t"e recordin!+ o5 t"e 0oice o5 t"e ("ird ,lanet nati0e w"o "ad 5ond t"eori!inal toredo/

For an in+tant bot" remained 5ro?en on t"eir rac8+. e>lorin! mentally t"eo++ibilitie+ o5 t"e +itation/ Fet" made a tentati0e !e+tre toward t"e ower+witc"e+. only to be c"ec8ed by an imerio+ +na o5 Ken6+ tentacle+/

:Wait I+ or +ea8er on=: ("e word+ were w"i+ered/:4e+/: Fet" lled a micro"one down to c"e+t le0el and retreated a +te/

He wanted no art in w"at Ken +eemed abot to do/ Sallman "im+el5."owe0er. "ad once more become comletely ab+orbed in t"e my+tery o5 t"e

World o5 Ice. to t"e e>cl+ion o5 all ot"er matter+9 "e +aw no rea+on 5or lea0in!t"e +ite w"ere "i+ acti0itie+ "ad been di+co0ered/ It did not e0en occr to "imnot to an+wer t"e nati0e w"o aeared to "a0e made t"e di+co0ery/ Wit" "i++ea8in! dia"ra!m clo+e to t"e micro"one. "e emlated t"e :bo++: o5 +omany year+ be5ore. and tried to imitate t"e +ond+ comin! 5rom t"e +ea8er/

("e re+lt wa+ tter +ilence/ At 5ir+t neit"er li+tener worried9 t"e nati0e wold natrally be +rri+ed/

*radally. "owe0er. an e>re++ion o5 mild an>iety be!an to aear on Ken6+5eatre+. w"ile an :I-told-yo-+o: air became mani5e+t abot Fet"/


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:4o60e +cared "im away.: t"e latter 5inally +aid/ :I5 "i+ tribe +tamede+ wit" "im. Drai won6t be 0ery "ay abot it/:

A 5aint crac8lin! w"ic" "ad receded t"e alien6+ call. and w"ic" "i+concentration o5 c"emical roblem+ "ad re0ented reac"in! Ken6+ con+cio+mind. +ddenly ballooned into recollection. and "e +natc"ed at t"e +traw/

:Bt we "eard "im comin!;t"e +ame +ort o5 noi+e t"e toredo madelandin!;and we "a0en6t "eard "im lea0e/ He m+t +till be waitin!/:

:Heard "im comin!= O";t"at= How do yo 8now t"at6+ w"at it wa+=Neit"er o5 + wa+ ayin! any attention/:

:W"at el+e cold it "a0e been=: ("i+ wa+ a decidedly n5air 7e+tion. to w"ic" Fet" attemted no direct an+wer/ He +imly contered wit" anot"er/

:W"at6+ "e waitin! 5or. t"en=: Fate wa+ n8ind to "im9 Ken wa+ +ared t"enece++ity o5 an+werin!/ ("e "man 0oice came a!ain. le++ +"rill t"i+ time9"i+tory +eemed to be reeatin! it+el5/ Ken li+tened intently9 Fet" +eemed to"a0e 5or!otten "i+ intention o5 di++ociatin! "im+el5 5rom t"e roceedin!+ and

wa+ crowded a+ clo+e a+ t"e detecti0e to t"e +ea8er/ ("e 0oice went on. in

+"ort br+t+ w"ic" re7ired little ima!ination to interret a+ 7e+tion+/ Not a word wa+ nder+tandable. t"o!" bot" t"o!"t t"ey reco!ni?ed t"e "man:no: on +e0eral occa+ion+/ Certainly t"e creatre did not tter any o5 t"ename+ t"at t"e Sarrian+ "ad come to a++ociate wit" trade item+;Fet". w"o8new t"em all. wa+ writin! t"em on a +cra o5 aer/ Ken 5inally !rewimatient. too8 t"e li+t 5rom t"e mec"anic. and be!an to rononce t"em a+

well a+ "e cold. a+in! a5ter eac"/:Indim;Flatinm;*old;O+mim;::*old: t"e n+een +ea8er ct in/:*old: re+onded Ken intelli!ently. into t"e micro"one. and :w"ic" one

i+ t"at=: in a "a+ty a+ide to Fet"/ ("e mec"anic told "im. al+o in a w"i+er/

:("ere6+ a +amle in t"e toredo/ We can6t trade it o55;I want to analy?e it 5ortrace+ o5 corro+ion/ Anyway it wa+ melted a little w"ile a!o. and "e6ll ne0er !etit ot o5 t"e crcible/ W"at6+ t"e name 5or t"e +t55 yo !et 5rom t"em=:

:(o5acco/: Fet" an+wered wit"ot t"in8in!;bt "e +tarted t"in8in!immediately a5terward/ He remembered Drai6+ romi+e o5 t"e 5ate o5 anyone

w"o !a0e Ken in5ormation abot :t"e +t55: obtained 5rom Eart". and 8newrat"er better t"en Sallman clamation/ ("et"ermometer dial 5or t"e !old +amle "ad cea+ed to re!i+ter/

:("e bla+ted +a0a!e i+ +tealin! my +amle: "e "owled. and +naed o0ert"e +witc" clo+in! t"e car!o door/ ("e +witc" mo0ed. bt t"e door aarentlydidn6t;at lea+t. it 5ailed to indicate :loc8ed/: ("ere wa+ no way o5 tellin!

w"et"er or not it "ad +toed at +ome artly-clo+ed o+ition/("e nati0e wa+ +till


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("i+ time it wor8ed/ ("e Sarrian+ wondered w"et"er t"e relati0ely 5eeblemotor w"ic" clo+ed t"e ortal "ad been able to ca+e any in


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+ince I6ll be watc"in! t"e trail t"ey ta8e. it6ll be e0en better t"an t"e re!laratrol/ Don6t yo t"in8=: Edie loo8ed a little dbio+ a+ +"e latc"ed t"e dooro5 t"e 5eed bin/

:4o6ll robably !et away wit" it. bt I bet yo6ll "a0e to tal8 5a+t.: wa+ "er 0erdict a+ t"ey "eaded 5or t"e "o+e/

(wenty-5or "or+ later Ro!er wa+ wonderin! w"et"er any e>c+e+ wold be needed at all/ ("in!+ "ad not !one accordin! to "i+ +weein!ly +imle5oreca+t/

In t"e 5ir+t lace. "e "ad not "ad time to c"ec8 any trail "i+ 5at"er and Donmi!"t "a0e le5t9 5or t"e two +tarted ot at daybrea8 t"e ne>t mornin!/ ("ey didnot 5ollow t"e re0io+ day6+ rote. bt t"e one r/ Win! "ad alway+ ta8en in

year+ a+t;t"e admittedly ?i!?a! at" +eci5ically de+i!ned to ermit "i++cot+ to ta8e +"ort ct+ to warn "im. in t"e e0ent t"at anyone 5ollowed/ Ro!erand Edit" were !i0en +tation+ w"ic" were to be watc"ed 5or one "or a5ter t"etwo men "ad a++ed9 eac" wa+ t"en to intercet t"e trail and ma8e a reort.

w"et"er or not anyone "ad been +een/ Ro!er loo8ed ++icio+ly at "i+ +i+ter

5or an in+tant w"en t"o+e order+ were recei0ed. bt decided +"e wold ne0er"a0e told "i+ lan+/ Hi+ 5at"er wa+ +imly one


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belie0e/ A+ a matter o5 5act. "e "ad cro++ed t"e trail "e wa+ +o dili!ently+ee8in! 5or time+ +ince lea0in! t"e "o+e/ Hi+ re+ent location wa+ at t"e 5ooto5 t"e "ill bearin! t"e oen +loe w"ic" t"e :miner+: "ad cro++ed t"e day

be5ore. and wit"in a mile o5 t"e Sarrian "omin! +tation/ ("e cor+e "e nowtoo8 "ill wold "a0e led "im wit"in a 5ew rod+ o5 t"e tran+mitter/

Howe0er. "e didn6t !et t"at 5ar/ Donald "ad been er5ectly correct inconcldin! t"at no one cold cro++ t"at +loe o5 loo+e roc8 wit"ot lea0in!trace+/ Ro!er 5ailed to reco!ni?e t"e mar8+ le5t by t"e two on t"e way ot. bt"e did 5ind w"ere "i+ brot"er "ad 5orced "i+ way t"ro!" an n+ally t"ic8atc" o5 br+" at t"e to o5 t"e +cree on t"e way bac8/ It wa+ carele++ne++ ont"e older boy6+ art. o5 cor+e9 "i+ attention at t"e time "ad been mainly ta8en wit" t"e +earc" 5or trac8+ le5t by t"e o++ible 5ollower+. and "e "ad aid noattention to t"o+e "e "im+el5 wa+ lea0in!/ W"ile t"e bro8en b+"e+ !a0e Ro!erno cle to t"e tra0eller6+ identity. t"ey indicated "i+ direction 0ery clearly9 andt"e boy romtly trned we+tward/ Had "e +toed to t"in8. it wold "a0e oc-crred to "im t"at a trail in t"i+ direction "ardly t "ill t"e boy went/ It wa+ dar8er now nder t"e tree+.5or t"e +n wa+ already concealed by t"e ea8 a"ead o5 "im9 and re+ently "e

be!an to wonder w"et"er "e were really on t"e ri!"t trail/ He +toed. loo8in!

abot. and +aw 5ir+t to one +ide and t"en t"e ot"er mar8+ o5 t"e +ort "e "ad been 5ollowin!/ He cold not. "e 5ond. con0ince "im+el5 t"at t"o+e a"ead o5"im were t"e ri!"t one+/

He tried to !o on. t"en "e+itated a!ain/ ("en "e be!an to bac8trac8;andreac"ed t"e broo8 many yard+ 5rom t"e +ot at w"ic" "e "ad


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arond to t"e ot"er +ide w"ere it wa+ li!"ter. and re+med "i+ +earc"/ A5terall. t"e men "ad been "eadin! we+tward/

He "ad cro++ed anot"er 0alley;t"i+ time it+ central watercor+e wa+ dry.and t"ere wa+ no +i!n o5 anyone6+


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anic-+tric8en/ He e0en made a lea away 5rom t"e direction o5 t"e radiance.and wa+ bro!"t to "i+ +en+e+ by t"e +"oc8 o5 5allin! o0er t"e tree trn8 be+ide

w"ic" "e "ad been +leein!/Comin! to "i+ 5eet more +lowly. "e reali?ed t"at t"e li!"t wa+ not t"e

5lic8erin!. rddy !low o5 wood 5lame+. t"at t"ere wa+ none o5 t"e crac8lin!

roar "e "ad "eard de+cribed more t"an once. and t"at t"ere wa+ no +mell o5+mo8e/ He "ad ne0er +een ma!ne+im brn. bt t"e mere 5act t"at t"i+ wa+not an ordinary 5ore+t 5ire allowed "i+ crio+ity to come once more into t"e5ore!rond/

("e li!"t wa+ +55icient to ermit "im to clear t"e little +tream wit"otdi55iclty. and in a matter o5 +econd+ "e "ad cra+"ed t"ro!" t"e nderbr+"to it+ +orce. callin! a+ "e went. :Hello W"o6+ t"at= W"at6+ t"at li!"t=:

("e boomin! !rmble o5 Sallman Ken6+ an+wer +tartled "im ot o5 "i+ wit+/("e drmli8e +ea8in! dia"ra!m on t"e Sarrian tor+o can be made to imitatemo+t "man +eec" +ond+. bt t"ere i+ a di+tortion t"at i+ readily aarentto any "man ear9 and t"e attemt to imitate "i+ word+ in t"o+e weird tone+

+ent ric8lin! c"ill+ down t"e boy6+ +ine/ ("e 5act t"at "e could reco!ni?e "i+own word+ in t"e boomin! tterance made it. i5 anyt"in!. rat"er wor+e/

He +toed two yard+ 5rom t"e toredo. wonderin!/ ("e ble-w"ite !lare5rom t"e rectan!lar oenin! "ad died away abrtly a+ "e aroac"ed. and"ad been relaced by a 5adin! yellow-w"ite !low a+ t"e crcible w"ic" "adcontained t"e ma!ne+im +lowly cooled/ He cold


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t"e toredo/ A5ter toc"in! t"e crcible. "e did not e0en loo8 5or t"em. t"o!"t"ey were t"e only rea+on "e did not +cceed in !ettin! t"e container ot/ He"ad time 5or one !ood t! be5ore t"e 5act t"at t"e metal "ad only recently beenmelted made it+el5 5elt/

Ro!er. "i+ 5ace almo+t in+ide t"e comartment. yelled e0en more w"ole-

"eartedly t"en "e "ad be5ore. relea+ed t"e crcible. deli0ered a 5rio+ 8ic8 ont"e "ll o5 t"e toredo. and danced abot. "oldin! "i+ +corc"ed "and and"rlin! ab+e at t"e n+een bein!+ w"o "ad been re+on+ible 5or t"e inity o5 +eec"/ Ro!er wold not.o5 cor+e. "a0e analy?ed t"em in o+tlation/:O". don6t let me interrt/ *o ri!"t a"ead. Ken;yo "a0e a roblem on

yor "and+. I +ee/ *et it ot o5 t"e way. and we6ll tac8le t"e ot"er a5terward+/("ere6ll be no interrtion+ t"en/:

Rat"er ??led. 5or "e "ad comletely 5or!otten Drai6+ t"reat. Ken trned


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bac8 to "i+ micro"one and re+med t"e aarently endle++ c"ant/ W"ile "edid not nder+tand t"e word+ wit" w"ic" Ro!er 5inally interrted. t"e t"in!"ad !one on lon! eno!" +o t"at "e +"ared t"e boy6+ imatience to +omee>tent/ Al+o. t"e clan8 a+ Ro!er 8ic8ed t"e toredo wa+ at lea+t +!!e+ti0e/

It wa+ Drai w"o dro0e t"e rocited and more t"an robably an!ry/ ("at blow on t"e "ll o5t"e toredo;

Drai6+ tentacle w"ied a+t Sallman Ken at t"e t"o!"t. and t"e mainower and dri0e director +witc"e+ clo+ed a+ one/ ("e in0e+ti!ator +wi0elledarond on t"e control rac8. and eyed "i+ emloyer crio+ly/

:4o +eem almo+t a+ e>cited a+ t"e nati0e/ W"at6+ t"e matter=: La< drew adee breat". and 5inally !ot "i+ 0oice nder control/ He wa+ cet drin! t"eir daytime/ I wonder i5 t"e 5latlander+ "ad

anyt"in! to do wit" it= I can6t ima!ine w"at or "ow. t"o!"/ Did yo 5ini+" yor te+t+=:

:Eno!". I !e++/ We6ll "a0e to brin! t"e toredo bac8 "ere. +o I can 5indot i+t+ 5ree in t"e atmo+"ere= I +"old t"in8 it

wold be too acti0e. e0en at t"at temeratre/ O5 cor+e. I +o+e t"e +ame wold be tre o5 anyt"in! w"ic" wold +ort comb+tion. +o we6ll +imly"a0e to wait ntil t"e +amle+ are bac8/ 4o 8now. I6m almo+t at t"e oint

w"ere I6d be willin! to ri+8 a landin! t"ere. to see w"at t"e lace i+ li8e/: Drai+"r!!ed e>re++i0ely/

:I5 yo and Fet" can 5i!re ot a way o5 doin! it. I won6t +to yo/ We mi!"te0en +ee or way to o55erin! a bon+/ Well. it6ll be nearly t"ree day+ be5ore

yor +t55 i+ bac8 "ere. and t"ere won6t be mc" to do in t"e meantime/ Fet" will ct it in on t"e beam w"en it6+ 5ar eno!" 5rom ("ree/:


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Ken too8 t"i+ a+ a "int to lea0e. and dri5ted aimle++ly ot into t"e corridor+/He "ad +ome t"in8in! o5 "i+ own to do/ A+ Drai "ad +aid. not"in! cold bedone abot ,lanet ("ree ntil t"e retrn o5 t"e toredo. and "e "ad no e>c+e5or not con+iderin! Rade6+ roblem 5or a w"ile/

("e rodct wa+ called :to5acco/: ("at. at lea+t. wa+ in5ormation/ Rade "ad

"ad no name 5or t"e narcotic "e +o!"t. +o t"e in5ormation wa+ o57e+tionable 0ale +o 5ar/

("i+ lanetary +y+tem wa+ relati0ely clo+e to Sarr/ Anot"er 5act/ ("erecation+ ta8en by Drai and "i+ eole to conceal t"at 5act mi!"t or mi!"tnot be con+idered rea+onable 5or a near-le!al commercial enterri+e. bt werecertainly natral 5or anyt"in! a+ blatantly criminal a+ dr!-rnnin!/

,lanet ("ree wa+ cold;to t it 5eebly;and t"e dr! in 7e+tion cold not+tand normal temeratre+/ ("at wa+ a lin8 o5 rat"er ncertain +tren!t".rein5orced +li!"tly by Drai6+ tacit admi++ion t"at :to5acco: wa+ a 0e!etablerodct/

("in8 a+ "e wold. "e cold recall no ot"er in5ormation w"ic" cold be o5

t"e +li!"te+t +e to Rade/ Ken wa+ mildly annoyed at t"e narcotic+ c"ie5anyway 5or in0ol0in! "im in +c" a matter. and wa+ certainly more willin!t"an a ro5e++ional oliceman wold "a0e been to !o bac8 to t"e relya+tronomical and ecolo!ical roblem t"at wa+ 5acin! "im/

How abot "i+ e+8y ,lanet ("ree= Certainly it wa+ in"abited;a 5anta+ticeno!" 5act in it+el5/ Certainly it wa+ not well 8nown9 no 0i+ion tran+mitterand no manned +"i "ad e0er !otten t"ro!" it+ atmo+"ere/ ("at +eemed alittle 7eer. now t"at Ken con+idered t"e matter a!ain/ *ranted t"e 5ear5lcold. and t"e 5act t"at an atmo+"ere wold condct "eat away a+ +ace coldnot. "e +till 5ond it "ard to belie0e t"at a cometent en!ineer cold notde+i!n aarat+ caable o5 t"e de+cent/ Fet" wa+ +o+ed to be a mec"anic

rat"er t"an an en!ineer. o5 cor+e9 bt +till it +eemed 0ery mc" a+ t"o!" t"eor!ani?ation were +in!larly lac8in! in +cienti5ic re+orce/ ("e 0ery 5act t"atKen "im+el5 "ad been "ired made t"at 5act e0en more e0ident/

,er"a+ "e wa+ not +o 5ar 5rom Rade6+ roblem a5ter all/ Certainly anyre!lar inter+tellar tradin! or!ani?ation cold and alway+ did "a0e it+ ownecolo!ical +ta55;no +c" concern cold la+t wit"ot one. con+iderin! t"erat"er weird +itation+ at to ari+e w"en. 5or e>amle. metal-ric" Sarr traded

wit" t"e am"ibio+ c"emi+try wi?ard+ o5 Re"a!"/ 4et "e. Sallman Ken. a!eneral +cience dabbler. wa+ all t"at La< Drai cold !et It wa+ not +tran!e9 it

wa+ nbelie0able/ He wondered "ow Drai "ad made t"e 5act +eem rea+onablee0en 5or a moment/

Well. i5 "e 5ond ot not"in! t"ey wold robably not bot"er "im/ He coldand wold in0e+ti!ate ,lanet ("ree a+ comletely a+ "e cold. !o "ome. andtrn "i+ in5ormation o0er to Rade;let t"e narcotic+ man do w"at "e wanted

wit" it/ ,lanet ("ree wa+ more intere+tin!/How to land on t"e bla+ted lanet= He cold +ee 8eein! lar!e +"i+ ot o5

it+ atmo+"ere. a5ter t"e troble wit" t"e nati0e+ o5 t"e 5lat. bli+" area+/ Still.toredoe+ "ad been rnnin! t"e !antlet wit"ot lo++ 5or twenty year+. andt"e only detectable 5latlander acti0ity "ad been radar beam+ in t"e la+t two ort"ree/ ("o+e were ea+ily 5ooled by 7arter wa0e coatin!+. a+ Drai "ad +aid/ No.t"e only real ob


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o5 t"e metal m+t be !reater t"an t"at o5 t"e lanet6+ atmo+"ere. and mi!"tma8e t"e di55erence/ E0en i5 it did not. t"e armor cold be !i0en e>tra "eat-in! coil+ or in+lation or bot"/ W"y "ad t"i+ ne0er been tried= He wold "a0eto a+8 Fet" or La< Drai/

("en. !rantin! 5or t"e moment t"at a landin! cold not be made e0en t"i+

way. w"y wa+ tele0i+ion imo++ible= Ken re5+ed to belie0e t"at t"e t"in !la++o5 a tele0i+ion tbe cold not be cooled down +55iciently to matc" t"e world6+condition+ wit"ot +"atterin!. e0en i5 t"e electrical art+ "ad to be 8et "ot/Srely t"e di55erence cold be no !reater t"an in t"e ancient incande+cent

blb+He wold "a0e to t bot" t"e+e oint+ to Fet"/ He wa+ "eadin!

ro+e5lly bac8 toward t"e +"o wit" t"i+ lan in mind. w"en "eencontered Drai. w"o !reeted "im a+ t"o!" t"ere "ad been no ++icio+t"o!"t+ in "i+ own brain t"at day/

:Fet" "a+ ct yo in to t"e main beam. and no ilotin! will be needed 5ornearly t"ree day+.: "e +aid/ :4o loo8ed a+ t"o!" yo were !oin! bac8 to yor

control+/::I wanted to tal8 to Fet" a!ain/ I60e been t"in8in! o0er t"e matter o5 armor

and aarat+ wit"+tandin! ,lanet ("ree6+ condition+. and it +eem+ to me+omet"in! cold be done/: He went on to !i0e a cen+ored 0er+ion o5 "i+ recentt"o!"t+ to "i+ emloyer/

:I don6t 8now.: t"e latter +aid w"en "e "ad 5ini+"ed/ :4o6ll "a0e to tal8 toFet". a+ yo lanned/ We60e tried it. +ince "e lainin! t"i+ la+t remar8. Drai di+aeared down t"e corridor/ Ken did not

wonder at t"e word+;"e "ad already come to re!ard Fet" a+ a tacitrner+onality/

("e mec"anic did not aear to be b+y/ He wa+ +till draed in t"e rac8 in5ront o5 t"e toredo control+. and +eemed to be t"in8in!/ He ro+e a+ Kenentered t"e room. bt +aid not"in!. merely !i0in! t"e e7i0alent o5 a nod o5!reetin!/ Not noticin! anyt"in! n+al in "i+ manner. Ken be!animmediately to +ill 5ort" "i+ idea+/ He wa+ allowed to 5ini+" wit"otinterrtion/

:4or oint+ all +ond !ood.: t"e mec"anic admitted w"en "e "ad "eardt"em. :and I certainly can6t brin! any t"eory a!ain+t t"em/ I can merely ointot t"at t"e tbe+ do brea8/ I5 yo want to +end down a +it o5 armor 5ll o5t"ermometer+ and re++re !a!e+. t"at6+ all ri!"t wit" me. bt I tr+t yo6llardon a e++imi+tic attitde/ I +ed a lot o5 !ood (@ e7iment in t"at


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atmo+"ere/::Well. I admit yor +erior ractical 8nowled!e.: relied Ken. :bt I do

t"in8 it6+ wort" tryin!/::I5 t"e in+trment+ read all ri!"t. w"o !oe+ down in t"e armor t"e ne>t

time= ("e t"o!"t ma8e+ my 8nee-


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armor. wit" an e>re++ion on "i+ 5ace w"ic" indicated "e wa+ t"ro!" tal8in!5or t"e time bein!/ Ken 5ond "im+el5 nable to !et anyt"in! de5inite 5rom t"emec"anic6+ an+wer/

He didn6t t"in8 abot it 0ery "ard anyway. 5or t"e ot"er roblem ro0ed toointere+tin!/ Fet" wa+ certainly a !ood mec"anic9 a+ !ood a+ +ome rated

en!ineer+ Ken "ad 8nown/ He "ad oened t"e armor comletely and remo0edall t"e +er0ice late+. and +tarted t"e tremitie+. wold tell eno!"/ Can yo +etelemeterin! in+trment+. or will we "a0e to wait ntil t"i+ toredo !et+ bac8.

too=::I6m a5raid we6ll "a0e to wait/ ("e in+trment+ t"em+el0e+ wold be ea+y

eno!" to in+tall. bt t"e 0oice tran+mitter in t"e armor coldn6t "andle t"eirme++a!e+/ I can t a mltile recorder in t"e body. connect t"e in+trment+to t"at. and arran!e +o yo can trn it on and o55 by remote control;I6ll+imly tie it in to one o5 t"e +it control+/ I +o+e yo6ll want to be able tomanilate t"e +it "eater+. a+ well=:

:4e+/ I5 it ta8e+ anyw"ere near 5ll ower to maintain li0eable temeratre. we o!"t to 8now it/ I +o+e e>tra "eater+ cold be in+talled. i5 nece++ary=:

:I e>ect +o/: For t"e 5ir+t time. Fet" wore an e>re++ion aro>imatin! a!rin/ :I cold robably mont bla+t 5rnace+ on t"e 5eet/ I6m not +o +re yo

cold wal8 arond wit" t"em/::E0en i5 I can6t I can at lea+t +ee/::I5 yo don6t "a0e t"e +ame troble wit" yor 0i+or t"at I did wit" (@ tbe+/

E0en 7art? "a+ it+ limitation+/::I +till t"in8 it can ta8e it/ Anyway. it won6t co+t us anyt"in! to 5ind ot/

Let6+ !o a"ead and mont t"o+e in+trment+;I6m rat"er crio+ to +ee w"ic"o5 + i+ ri!"t/ I+ t"i+ recorder all ri!"t=: He too8 5rom a cabinet a mintemac"ine w"o+e mo+t rominent 5eatre wa+ t"e doble reel o5 +en+iti?ed tae.and "eld it a+ "e +o8e/ Fet" !lanced at it/

:Only one record/ *et an L-G/ 4o can reco!ni?e it by t"e reel;it+ tae i+abot 5i0e time+ a+ wide/ I6m +in! t"e +in!le barometer yo +!!e+ted. and

t"ermometer+ in "ead. trn8. one 5oot. and one +lee0e a+ 5ar ot a+ I canmont it/ ("at lea0e+ a 5ree band on t"e tae t"at yo can +e 5or anyt"in! yo

want/: ("e mec"anic wa+ wor8in! a+ "e +o8e. clamin! tiny in+trment+5rom a well-+toc8ed +ly cabinet into t"e lace+ "e "ad mentioned/ For amoment Ken wondered w"et"er t"e e>i+tence o5 t"i+ more t"an ade7atein+trment +toc8 did not in0alidate "i+ ar!ment abot t"e lac8 o5 +cienti5ic5acilitie+9 t"en "e reco!ni?ed t"at all t"e de0ice+ were er5ectly +tandarden!ineerin! in+trment+. and rere+ented not"in! bt a re+ectable 5inancialotlay/ Anyone cold by and almo+t anyone cold +e t"em/

In +ite o5 Fet"6+ e0ident +8ill. t"e


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t"e lanet by now/ I wonder i5 Drai "a+ made "i+ landin! yet=::@ery robably.: Fet" relied. one eye 5ollowin! Ken6+ !a?e toward t"e

cloc8/ :He i+ more t"an li8ely to be bac8 in +ace a!ain;"e doe+n6t wa+temc" time a+ a rle/:

:In t"at ca+e. wold I be li8ely to be +8inned 5or droin! in to t"e

ob+er0atory=: Fet" !a?ed at "im narrowly 5or lon! eno!" to let Ken re!rett"e 7e+tion/

:I robably wold be i5 Drai 5ond ot I6d encora!ed yo.: wa+ t"e an+wer/:I t"in8 it wold be better i5 yo +tayed "ere/ ("ere6+ lenty 5or + to do/: Hero+e and retrned to "i+ labor+. alt"o!" t"e re+t eriod "ad +carcely +tarted/Ken. reali?in! "e did not intend to +ay any more. ertcontrol/ He wold "a0e onced on it at once. bt wa+ re+trained by a warnin!cry 5rom t"e mec"anic/

:Hold on It6+ not a+ cold a+ it wa+ ot on ,lanet ("ree. bt yo6ll +till 5ree?eto it/ Loo8: A tentacle wa0ed toward t"e !leamin! "ll. on w"ic" dro+ o5li7id +l5r were conden+in!. rnnin! to!et"er and tric8lin! to t"e 5loor.

w"ere t"ey romtly boiled away a!ain/ :Let t"at +to. 5ir+t/:Ken +toed obediently. 5eelin! t"e icy dra5t or abot "i+ 5eet. and

bac8ed +lowly away/ ("e air t"at reac"ed "im wa+ bearable. bt t"e "ll o5 t"etoredo m+t be cold eno!" to 5ree?e ?inc. i5 it "ad reac"ed radiati0ee7ilibrim 5or t"i+ di+tance 5rom t"e +n/

Lon! minte+ a++ed be5ore t"e metal wa+ warmed t"ro!" and t"e dri o5li7id +l5r cea+ed/ Only t"en did Fet" oen t"e car!o door. w"ereon t"eroce++ wa+ reeated/ ("i+ time t"e +traw-colored li7id made a ool on t"e5loor o5 t"e car!o comartment. 5loodin! arond t"e crcible+ and ma8in!Ken wonder +erio+ly abot t"e rity o5 "i+ +amle+/ He trned on all t"e"eater+ at low +tren!t" to !et rid o5 t"e +t55 a+ 5a+t a+ o++ible/ Since t"ere

wa+ a +erio+ c"ance o5 5rt"er reaction wit" t"e air i5 a "i!" temeratre were attained. "e oened t"e +witc"e+ a!ain t"e moment t"e "i++in! and bbblin! o5 boilin! air cea+ed9 and at la+t "e wa+ 5ree to e>amine "i+ re+lt+/ A+ Ro!er Win! cold "a0e told "im. t"ey were 7ite a +i!"t

!

Some o5 t"e little ot+ were 5ll9 mo+t o5 t"e+e aeared to be nc"an!ed/Ot"er+. "owe0er. were not/ ("e content+ o5 mo+t o5 t"e+e were ea+y to 5ind.

bt Ken cold +ee t"at t"ey were !oin! to be "ard to identi5y/ A w"ite owder wa+ literally o0er e0eryt"in!. a+ Ro!er "ad already +een/

("e yellow 5lec8+ o5 +odim ero>ide were trnin! !rayi+" a+ t"eydecomo+ed in t"e "eat/ ("e !old crcible "ad been lled 5rom it+ ba+e. bt


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wa+ ot"erwi+e nc"an!ed9 t"e iron "ad trned blac89 +odim. ma!ne+im andtitanim "ad di+aeared. t"o!" t"e re+ide in eac" crcible !a0e romi+et"at +ome o5 t"e +cattered d+t cold be identi5ied/ ("ere wa+ +till carbon int"e container de0oted to t"at +b+tance. bt mc" le++ o5 it t"an t"ere "ad

been/

All t"e+e t"in!+. "owe0er. intere+tin! and imortant a+ t"ey mi!"t be. only"eld t"e attention o5 Fet" and Ken 5or a moment9 5or ed on t"e mar8/

("ere wa+ not"in! e>actly weird or terri5yin! abot it9 bt "e wa+ tterlynable to 8ee "i+ mind 5rom t"e 5a+cinatin! roblem o5 w"at "ad made it/ (oa creatre w"ic" "ad ne0er +een anyt"in! e0en remotely li8e a "man bein!. a"and rint i+ at to re+ent di55icltie+ in interretation/ For all "e cold tell.

t"e creatre mi!"t "a0e been +tandin!. +ittin!. or leanin! on t"e +ot. or+rawled ot in t"e manner t"e Sarrian+ +b+titted 5or t"e +econd o5 t"o+ec"oice+/ ("ere wa+ +imly no tellin!9 t"e nati0e mi!"t be t"e +i?e o5 a Sarrian5oot. ma8in! t"e mar8 wit" "i+ body;or "e mi!"t "a0e been too bi! to !etmore t"an a +in!le aenda!e into t"e comartment/ Fet" +"oo8 "i+ "ead toclear it;e0en "e be!an to reali?e t"at "i+ t"o!"t+ were be!innin! to !o incircle+/ He went to loo8 5or a camera/

Sallman Ken br+t into t"e ob+er0atory wit"ot warnin!. bt !a0e Drai noc"ance to e>lode/ He wa+ br+tin! "im+el5 wit" t"e new+ o5 t"e di+co0ery;alittle too mc". in 5act. +ince "e 8et t"e tal8 all t"e way bac8 to t"e +"o/By t"e time t"ey !ot t"ere. t"e actal +i!"t o5 t"e rint wa+ +omet"in! o5 an

anticlima> to Drai/ He e>re++ed olite intere+t. bt little more/ (o "im. o5cor+e. t"e "y+ical aearance o5 Eart"6+ nati0e+ meant not"in! w"ate0er/Hi+ attention went to anot"er a+ect o5 t"e comartment/

:W"at6+ all t"at w"ite +t55=::I don6t 8now yet.: Ken admitted/ :("e toredo ert analy+t9 bt comond+ 5ormed by comb+tion were+eldom e>tremely comle>. and "e 5elt t"at "e cold !et a retty !ood idea o5t"e natre o5 t"e+e/ A5ter all. "e 8new t"e metal+ in0ol0ed;t"ere cold be nometallic !a+e+ e>cet "ydro!en in ,lanet ("ree6+ atmo+"ere/ E0en mercry

wold be a li7id. and no ot"er metal "ad a really "i!" 0aor re++re e0en atSarrian temeratre/ Wit" t"i+ idea 5irmly in mind li8e a !idin! +tar. Ken +et

blit"ely to wor8/(o a c"emi+t. t"e wor8 or a de+crition o5 it wold be intere+tin!/ (o

anyone el+e. it wold be a borin!ly reetitio+ rotine o5 "eatin! and coolin!.c"ec8in! 5or boilin! oint+ and meltin! oint+. 5ractionatin! and 5ilterin!/ Ken


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wold "a0e been 7ic8er "ad "e +tarted wit" no reconcei0ed notion+9 bt5inally e0en "e wa+ con0inced/ Once con0inced. "e wondered w"y "e "ad not+een it be5ore/

Fet" Allmer "ad retrned lon! +ince. and "oto!ra"ed t"e "and rint5rom "al5 a do?en an!le+/ Now. +eein! t"at Ken "ad +toed wor8in!. "e

ro+ed "im+el5 5rom t"e rac8 on w"ic" "e "ad 5ond reo+e and aroac"edt"e wor8 benc"/

:Ha0e yo !ot it. or are yo +tmed=: "e 7eried/:I "a0e it. I !e++/ I +"old "a0e !e++ed lon! a!o/ It6+ o>y!en/::W"at6+ +o ob0io+ abot t"at= Or. 5or t"at matter. w"y +"oldn6t it be=::(o t"e latter 7e+tion. no rea+on/ I +imly reide+ and t"e ot"er brea8in! t"em down/ Now t"at I t"in8 o5 it. I belie0et"ere are +ome micro-or!ani+m+ on Sarr t"at +e o>y!en in+tead o5 +l5r/:

:I+ it re o>y!en=::No;only abot a 5i5t" or le++/ 4o remember "ow 7ic8ly t"e +odim and

ma!ne+im went ot. and w"at t"e re++re dro wa+ wit" t"em/::No. I don6t. and I can6t +ay t"at it mean+ mc" to me anyway. bt I6ll ta8e

yor word 5or it/ W"at el+e i+ t"ere in t"e atmo+"ere= ("e titanim too8abot all o5 it. I do remember/:

:Ri!"t/ It6+ eit"er nitro!en or +ome o5 it+ o>ide+;I can6t tell w"ic" wit"ot better controlled +amle+ 5or 7antity mea+rement/ ("e only titanimcomond+ I cold 5ind in t"at me++ were o>ide+ and nitride+. t"o!"/ ("ecarbon o>idi?ed. I !e++;t"e rea+on t"ere wa+ no re++re c"an!e e>cet t"atde to "eat wa+ t"at t"e rincial o>ide o5 carbon "a+ two atom+ o5 o>y!en.and t"ere is t"ere5ore no 0olme c"an!e/ I +"old "a0e t"o!"t o5 t"at. too/:

:I6ll "a0e to ta8e yor word 5or t"at. too. I !e++/ All we "a0e to do. t"en. i+coo8 a 5or-to-one mi>tre o5 nitro!en and o>y!en and 5ill t"e ca0e+ t"e

bo++ mentioned to abot two-t"ird+ normal re++re wit" it=:

:("at may be a little o0er+imli5ied. bt it +"old be clo+e eno!" to t"ereal t"in! to let t"i+ to5acco +t55 !row ;i5 yo can !et +ecimen+ "ere ali0e. to+tart t"in!+ o55/ It wold be a !ood idea to !et +ome +oil. too;I don6t +o+et"at owderin! t"e local roc8 wold "el mc"/ I may add in a++in! t"at Ire5+e e0en to attemt analy?in! t"at +oil/ 4o6ll "a0e to !et eno!" to +e/:Fet" +tared/

:Bt t"at6+ ridiclo+ We need ton+. 5or a decent-+i?ed lantation:Sallman Ken +"r!!ed/

:I 8now it/ I tell yo clearly t"at it will be ea+ier to !et t"o+e ton+ t"an to !etan accrate +oil analy+i+ ot o5 me/ I +imly don6t 8now eno!" abot it. and Idobt i5 Sarr6+ be+t c"emi+t cold "a?ard a rediction abot t"e c"emical+li8ely to be re+ent in t"e +olid +tate on t"at lanet/ At t"at temeratre. I6ll

bet or!anic comond+ cold e>i+t wit"ot eit"er 5lorine or +ilicon/:


48/113

:I t"in8 we6d better !et Drai bac8 "ere to li+ten to t"at/ I6m +re "e wa+lannin! to "a0e yo +ynt"e+i?e bot" atmo+"ere and +oil. +o t"at we cold +et t"e lantation entirely on or own/:

:,er"a+ yo6d better/ I told "im my limitation+ at t"e be!innin!9 i5 "e +tille>ect+ t"at. "e "a+ no idea w"ate0er o5 t"e natre o5 t"e roblem/: Fet" le5t.

loo8in! worried. t"o!" Ken wa+ nable to nder+tand w"at articlar di5-5erence it made to t"e mec"anic/ Later "e wa+ to 5ind ot/

("e worried e>re++ion wa+ +till more e0ident w"en Fet" retrned/:He6+ b+y now/ He +ay+ "e6ll tal8 it o0er wit" yo a5ter t"at +it come+

bac8. +o t"at any alternati0e+ can be con+idered. too/ He want+ me to ta8e yoot to t"e ca0e+ +o yo can +ee 5or yor+el5 w"at "e "a+ in mind 5or ma8in!t"em +able/:

:How do we !et t"ere= ("ey m+t be +ome di+tance 5rom "ere/::Ordon Lee will ta8e + arond in t"e +"i/ It6+ abot two t"o+and mile+/

Let6+ !et into or +it+/:Ken "eroically +wallowed t"e iml+e to a+8 w"y t"e w"ole +bi+tence/ Al+o. Sarr "a+ weat"er. and ercry doe+ not/ A+ t"e +"i li5ted 5rom t"e

0alley. Ken wa+ able to areciate t"e di55erence/ ercry6+ terrain i+ r!!ed.towerin! and "ar+"/ ("e ea8+. 5alt+ and meteor +car+ are n+o5tened by t"e

blrrin! "and o5 ero+ion/ S"adow+ are dar8 w"ere t"ey e>i+t at all. relie0edonly by li!"t re5lected 5rom nearby +olid obi+ted at all9 t"e +econd are ab+ent 5or lac8 o5t"e li0in! or!ani+m+ t"at mi!"t "a0e rodced t"em/ Sallman Ken. watc"in!

t"e +r5ace o0er w"ic" t"ey +ed. be!an to t"in8 a little more "i!"ly e0en o5Eart"/

A 0e++el caable o5 e>ceedin! t"e +eed o5 li!"t by a 5actor o5 +e0eralt"o+and ma8e+ +"ort wor8 o5 a tri o5 two t"o+and mile+. e0en w"en t"e+eed i+ 8et down to a 0ale t"at will ermit manal control/ ("e +r5ace wa+a little dar8er w"ere t"ey landed. wit" t"e +n near t"e "ori?on in+tead o5directly o0er"ead and t"e +"adow+ corre+ondin!ly lon!er/ It loo8ed and wa+colder/ Howe0er. t"e 0acm and t"e oor condctin! 7alitie+ o5 t"e roc8made it o++ible e0en "ere to 0entre ot in ordinary +ace +it+. and wit"in a5ew moment+ Ken. Fet" and t"e ilot were a5oot !lidin! +wi5tly toward a cli55+ome 5orty 5eet in "ei!"t/

("e roc8 +r5ace wa+ +eamed and crac8ed. li8e nearly all ercriantoo!ra"y/ Into one o5 t"e wider crac8+ Lee n"e+itatin!ly led t"e way/ It did


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not lead directly away 5rom t"e +n. and t"e arty 5ond it+el5 almo+t at oncein tter dar8ne++/ Wit" one accord t"ey +witc"ed on t"eir ortable lam+ androceeded/ ("e a++a!e wa+ rat"er narrow at 5ir+t. and ro!" eno!" on bot"5loor and wall+ to be dan!ero+ to +ace +it+/ ("i+ contined

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[Clement Hal] Clement, Hal - Iceworld