Chapter Seventeen

It was an odd feeling to be constantly within the building. Not confining, for the door worked perfectly even for one person - provided he earned with him at least one item of recognizable metallic artificial construction. It was a peculiarly satisfying sensation to approach the great bulks, comm unit or gun extended m front of one, and have a million tons of impregnable metal slide gently aside to reveal a personalized pa.s.sageway a metre wide and thirty metres high.

It was better outside at night, but not much. In spite of the goggles the dust eventually worked its insistent way into eyes. And it was chilly.

Tse-Mallory and Truzenzuzex had been pouring over the Immense apparatus, prying behind those panels in the slate-grey wall which would open, ignoring those which would not. There was no point in forcing entry and risking break-age to the intricate device. Not when they could spend years on the unresisting portions. And they didn"t have years. So they continued to dig into the exposed guts on the Krang without disturbing a single wire from its proper place, treading with the utmost care lest they nudge some vital circuit from its proper alignment. While the scientists and Malaika laboured over the enigma of the machine, Atha and Flinx would sometimes take the crawler into the vast city. Wolf remained behind to help Malaika, and Sissiph to be near him. So Flinx had the crawler"s observation dome practically to himself.

He found it hard to believe that structures which even in ruin and under a centuries-old coat of dust could remain beantiful had been raised to house the most warlike race the galaxy had known. The thought cast an unshakable pail over the quiet ruins. Little in the way of decoration was visible on the sand blasted exteriors of the structures, but that didn"t necessarily mean much. Anything not integral to the actual support of the edifice would long since have been worn away. And they were cruising far above what had once been a main boulevard. The street itself was somewhere far below, buried under a millennia of shifting sand and soil. They recognized it as such only because of the absence of buildings.

Probably this city had been covered and un-covered at least a hundred times, each new cycle grinding away some portion of its original aspect. They had soon discovered that a mild electrostatic field came up regularly every evening and cleared the days" acc.u.mulation of dust and debris from the base of the Krang for the width of the yellow-white circle. But no such care was visible in the city. In the evenings, as the sun set, the sands turned blood-red and the hulks of h oil owed buildings sparkled like topaz and ruby in a setting of carnelian. The constant, unceasing wind spoiled the illusion of beauty, and its rise-and-fail moan seemed an echoing curse of all the vanished races ever subjugated by the Tar-Aiym.

And they didn"t even know what they had looked like.

Chapter Eighteen.

A week later they were all gathered in informal conference on the dais. A small, portable cook stove, powered by an aeternacell, had been set up nearby, giving the place an incongruously domesticated look.

Next, thought Flinx, they would be hanging out laundry. It had been found more convenient for the scientists to sleep and eat by their work, instead of making the daily hike to the crawler. They could have brought the cruiser right up to the base of the dais, but for all they knew the seals themselves might play some crucial part in the operation of the Krang. Besides, reducing parts of the place to rubble hardly seemed the proper way to go about resurrecting its secrets. It was just as we 11th at they hadn"t, because the sleepy machine would have noted the gesture as hostile and taken immediate and appropriate action.

The odours of frying bacon and eggs, and juquil for Truzenzuzex, added to the homey atmosphere. At the moment, Atha and Sissiph were managing the cooking for the scientists. This was proved a necessity after all the men had demonstrated a monumental inept.i.tude with the device, which did ninety per cent of the work itself. Knowing full well he could operate it better than any of them, Flinx had pleaded ignorance when offered the chance to try it. He had no desire to be tied down with the, job of cook, not when he could spend his time watching the two scientists dissect the amazing innards of the machine.

"This thing grows more incredible by the day." Tse-Mallory was talking now. "You know, we found walk way at each corner of the building, where the machine disappears into the walls."

I"d wondered where you two had disappeared to," said Malaika.

"They extend I don"t know bow far beneath us. To the centre of the planet for all I can tell, although I"d think that the heat would make that a prohibitive development even for the Tar-Aiym. Nor do we have any idea how far it extends on the horizontal level, either. To the ocean? Under it? We didn"t have an easy time of it down there, you know. There are steps and ladders and ramps, and none designed for human or thranx hands. But between the two of us, we managed. There must be mechanical lifts somewhere, but we couldn"t find them."

"We first went down three days ago ... apologies For worrying you. I suppose we should have mentioned where we were going, but we didn"t really know ourselves, and certainly didn"t expect to be gone as long as we were. The excitement of the moment overcame our time-sense.

"We went more or less straight down, pausing only twice, for three hours and sleep-time. These pipes, or whatever," he indicated the rainbow giants ranked above them, "are continuous below this flooring, and descend to levels we didn"t reach. Not even at the furthest, point of our journey. Most of the machinery was completely unfamiliar to us. And I daresay we two are as familiar with Tar-Aiym design as anyone in the Arm. But the majority of this stuff was way past us."

"Near the surface the machinery is practically solid. Further down it thins out to a sufficient degree to become recognizable as to its individual components. All of it looked brand-new. In many places the metal was warm, confirming what we"ve suspected all along. Power is being fed into it continually. And there must be a billion kilometres of wire down there.

"Still, we have no idea what it does. Captain. I am sorrier than you could ever be, but you can console yourself in the knowledge that whatever it is, it is far and away the biggest and best of its kind."

This last from a tired looking Truzcnzuzex. The phliosoph had been working at an incredible pace the past week, and his age was beginning to show. On the ship he had kept it well masked with his energy and youthful spirits.

"Couldn"t you discover anything about its function?" pleaded Malaga.

T se-Mallory sighed. He had been doing a lot of that, lately. "Not really. We both incline to the musical instrument theory, still. There are many arguments against it that bother us, though." He looked at Truzenzuzex, who nodded confirmation.

"Je?" Malaika prompted.

"For one thing, we can"t quite bring ourselves to believe that in a time of such stress a. race as war-oriented as the Tar-Aiym would devote so much effort and material to anything of a nonlethal nature.

The metal for that door, for example, must have been required for the construction of warships. Yet it was brought and used here. On the other hand, we know they were artistically inclined in a gruesome sort of way. Their tastes did run strongly to the martial. Possibly they felt the need of a project to stimulate patriotic fervour, and this was their way of doing it. It would also have possible psychological benefits we can"t begin to imagine. If that seems unlikely, consider the lack of evidence we have to go on.

I"m not ready to believe any of my explanations myself."

"And another thing. Did you happen to notice the unusual silvery-gold tinge to the atmosphere as we were coming down?"

"No ... yes!" said Malaika. I"ve seen it before on other planets, so I didn"t think it too out of the ordinary.

These ... then." werembili layers, if I remember aright ... seemed thicker than most. And better defined.

But I don"t view that as a cause for surprise. I"ve seen quadruple layers, too. And the unusual thickness of these layers, too. And the unusual thickness of these could easily be accounted for by the scouring effects of thesewachawi upepo , sorcerer"s winds,"

True," Tse-Mallory continued. "Wind glitter, I believe they call it. As you say, there could be natural explanations for the odd thickness of the layers. The reason I bring them up at all is because on one of the levels we reached we found what appeared to be at least a portion of a. great meteorological monitoring station. Among other things, several of the instruments appeared to be occupied solely with keeping information on those two levels in the atmosphere. We only had time for a fast look at it, as our prime concern was making speed downward. But the only reason we noticed is at all was because the metal was quite warm there, gave off a lot of heat, and seemed to be running at full power. That"s something we observed in only a very few other places. We now think that those layers, have something to do with the actual function of the Krang. What, I can"t imagine."

To be more specific," said Truzenzuzex, "this thing," and he pointed at the transparent dome and the lounge within, "takes on more and more the aspect of a centre control for the operation of the entire apparatus. I know it seems difficult to imagine this monstrosity being operated by a single being lying on that slab, but evidence seems to support it. I am sceptical, myself. There is not a switch, dial, or similar device anywhere near the thing. And yet its location alone, and isolation, seem to support its importance.

"Close examination of that helmet, or headdress, or what- ever it is, shows that it"s line with what might be some form of sensory pickups. If the machine is indeed still capable of more than partial activation, then theoretically mere proximity to those pickups ought to do it. Actual physical contact with the operator wouldn"t seem to be necessary. So the fact that the size and shape of our heads in no way corresponds to that of the Tai-Aiym ... in all probability ... shouldn"t hinder us."

"You"re thinking of trying it, then," said Malaika.

"We must."

"But suppose it"s geared to respond only to the electromagnetic patterns generated by a Tar-Aiym mind"?"

"We have no indication that "electromagnetic patterns" are even the type of whatever is necessary to activate the machine," retorted Tse-Mallory. "But if that does prove to be the case, then unless you can produce a live and cooperative Tar-Alym, I am very much afraid that we might as well pack and go home." He shrugged. "Tru and I feel we"ve more or less reached a dead end as far as mere circuit-tracing goes. We could continue to poke around in this pile of complexity for a thousand years - fascinating as that might be - and not come any closer to mating it work."

"Trying it ... couldn"t that be awfully dangerous?" asked Atha.

"It could very well be lethal, my dear. We decided that long ago. For instance, there might be a feedback which could ... for that very reason, and for several others, I shall try it first. If we have still failed to activate it and no obviously harmful results are forthcoming, I see no reason why everyone here should not have an opportunity to try the same."

"Not we" said Sissiph loudly.

"Now wait a minute!" began Malaika, ignoring her.

"Sorry, Captain." Truzenzuzex, now. "Starhe! Don"t bother, as you would say. Bran is correct. Our training may not exactly qualify us as operators of this thing, but our familiarity with the works of the Tar-Aiyrn and what little we know of their psychologies might help us cope with any unforeseen problems that could develop. Such designs might arise which would overwhelm a complete novice.

Sorry, but there is too much involved to permit you to make the initial attempt, at least. We are not on board ship. You are momentarily overruled, Captain."

"Je!" rumbled Malaga.

Tse-Mallory stepped to the entrance of the dome. "Let"s he on with it, then."

"You mean,sasaa kuume ?" asked Malaika.

Tse-Mallory paused. "I don"t see why not." He hesitated again at the entrance, looked back. I don"t expect much to happen, let alone anything dangerous. And it if does I wouldn"t expect this to he much protection, but for my own psychological comfort, everyone off the dais, please. It certainly ought to be safe enough in the seats, or lounges, or whatever they are. Obviously the Tar-Aiym used them when this thing was in operation, so they should be safe for us as well. Theoretically speaking."

"Sociologist, theoretical injury I don"t mind." Malaika smiled in what was intended to be a rea.s.suring manner and joined the others in moving off the raised area into the rows of "seats" below.

Truzenzuzex was the only other one to remain on the platform. Ostensibly he was there to observe, but both he and Tse-Mallory knew that if anything went wrong the insect"s aid would not likely be of much use. He took the proverbial and ritual deep breath and entered the dome.

The ceramic-plastic slab was now familiar from days of prolonged and minute inspections. He climbed up on to the smooth, cold surface and turned, facing out and slightly up. From inside the dome the roof of the monolith seemed almost visible. Possibly the transparent material had an actual slight magnifying effect. It did not seem significant.

The slab was much longer than was necessary to hold his lanky frame. It wasn"t heated, though. He found himself squirming uncomfortably on the hard, chilly surface and wishing it were abed. This was too much like the moulds in a cryogenic suspension lab. Do it quick, his mind told his body I Digging into the unyielding surface with his heels, he shoved hi in self upward. In one motion his head was fully within the helmet.

Flinx didn"t know" what to expect. Explosions, earthquake, a collapsing building, perhaps. In any case the results were disappointing, if safe.

The helmet took on a pale red tinge, shifting to yellow, and thence to a light green. Also, a slight humming sound become audible. Apparently it came from within the slab itself. That was all, No fireworks, not even a few simple flashes of Lightning.

Tsp-Mallory"s face within the dome was twisted, but it was obviously in concentration and not pain.

Oddly, his mind was unreachable to Flinx. If nothing e]se the dome blanketed the thoughts of whoever lay within.

Twenty minutes later he was out of the dome, shaking his head while the others crowded around.

"Je?" asked Malaika.

The sociologist looked irritable. "Je? Well, we proved one thing. If this machine is still capable of functioning as it was intended, that helmet is certainly the initiating point."

"I can"t believe that this entire insanity was built just tomake pretty coloured lights in a plastic headdress!"

"No, of course not." Tse-Maliory looked wistfully back at the slab and the once-again transparent helmet. It seems as though I was able to activate it. But only a very little. Apparently there"s a necessary something missing from my mind. Or maybe it merely takes a kind of training we know nothing about. I don"t know. I tried everything I could with my mind. Self-hypnosis. Yoga.The Banda exercises.Total objective concentration. An open subconscious. You saw the results. Or rather, the lack of them."

"Could you feel anything, anything at all?" asked Flinx.

"Umm. Yes, it was peculiar. Not painful or threatening. Just peculiar. Like something was trying to get inside my head. A tickling of the outside of the brain, barely noticeable. And when I tried to concentrate on it, it went away and hid. I must say I"m disappointed."

"Je" You think perhaps you"ve got a monopoly on it?" The merchant looked upset, as well he had a right to be. "What now?"

"Now I suggest the rest of the humans give it a try. I believe that I"ve amply demonstrated its harmlessness, if nothing else. Keeping it attuned to one type of mind might have a beneficial c.u.mulative effect."

One at a time the rest of them took a turn under the innocuous helmet. Excepting of course Sissiph, who refused even to go near it. Malaika managed to generate a strong yellow glow in the transparent material.

Flinx did as well (or as poorly, no one could say) as Tse-Mallory, only his colouring also possessed an uneven pulsing. As if to counter Tse-Mallory"s claim, he emerged from the domed chamber with a definite headache. Atha and Wolf could each manage a light red, almost rose colour. They had better luck when Truzenzuzex? at last made his attempt.

The second that ageing, iridescent head entered the zone of effectiveness, the soft colours immediately ran from pink up to a deep blue. Tse-MaHory had to remark on it to get everyone"s attention. Repeated failure had led to discouraging boredom. But no one was bored now. Even outside the dome the humming from the base of the slab was clearly audible. On one of the open panels of the great grey bulk of the machine, lights were beginning to glow faintly. The helmet bad by now turned a deep lavender.

"Look at the dome" Flinx pointed.

For several inches of its height the dome was glowing a solid and unwavering crimson. Every now and then the cottony light would creep upward a few millimetres, only to sink back and disappear into the floor.

An hour later Truzenzuzex staggered out of the dome. Tse-Mallory had to support the philosoph around the b-thorax, as the old insect"s legs proved too shaky to manage on their own. The philosoph was visibly tired. Together they lurched down to the first row of alien benches. Truzenzuzex"s visage did not Wrinkle as did a primate"s, but the usual healthy glow of his eyes was more subdued than before.

"You certanily labelled it correctly, brother," he finally gasped, "when you said there was something trying to get inside your head! I felt like a youth again, trying to break out of my chrysalis. Whew! I could tell it did no good, though."

"Not true," said Flinx. Mahilka nodded confirmation. "You had the dome itself glowing red - around the base, anyway."

"I did?" The whistling thranx laughter followed. I suppose that is an accomplishment of sorts. I could not detect it from the inside. I was concentrating rather deeply, and my optics weren"t the nerves I was working with. Does that mean perhaps we are on a proper track?" He turned to face Malaika. The tone was gradually returning to his muscles. "Captain, I retract my earlier statement. Give me another three or four weeks at this and I believe I"ll be able to tell you, one way or another, whether this thing can ever be operated by man or thranx. Or whether your investment has proved itself a loss."

Malaika looked resigned rather than frustrated. His own unsuccessful strivings with the Krang had produced a little patience, if no other results.

"Bado Juzi. "Yet the day before yesterday." An old saying in my family, gentlemen. You"ve done already much more that I had a right to hope. Take your time, gentlesirs, take your time."

Far below in the secret places of the planet the consciousness of the Krang stirred sluggishly, it considered more fully the impulses which had awakened the Prime Nexus with feeble, childish probings and pressures. Even in its semisomnolent state it was easonably certain (+prob., 90.97, -prob., 8.03, random factoring, 1.00) that there was an A-cla.s.s mind present above. One tully capable of arousing the Krang to the state ofNaisma , or total effectiveness. Apparently it had chosen not to reveal itself yet. The machine considered and allowed the sections of itself which controlled intelligence to lapse back to dormancy, ready.

When the mind was ready, the Krang would be.

After all, it had been built that way.

Chapter Nineteen.

As it developed, Truzenzuzex did not get his month. Nor his three weeks. They had been pouring over the accessible portions of the machine"s innards for only three days when Malaika"s comm signalled an extra-atmosphere incoming call. As a matter of safety his portable comm was hooked to the big transmitter in the crawler. Flinx was present when the signal came in, helping the two scientists with the more physical aspects of their work. Sissiph, Atha, and Wolf were back in the crawler, rearranging their supplies in its cavernous hold.

In order to facilitate their work, two cots (one modified) had been placed nest to the scientists"

portastove. The others still found U more comfortable to sleep within the familiar confines of the crawler, despite the attendant daily walk it engendered.

Both scientists paused in their work the moment they spotted the strange expression which had come over Malaika"s face. Flinx picked it up from the sudden confusion of the merchant"s thought. He had been watching them labour over strange markings and unfamiliar alien switching devices all morning. Nine tenths of what they were trying to do mechanically eluded him. He had been able to help them with the more delicate portions of their operations, having, as they put it, a certain "feel" for where things were located. And as always, their conversation on both the vocal and mental level had been fascinating.

Captain..." began Tse-Maliory.

We"re being called," the merchant replied. "Extra-atmospheric."

His thoughts reflected suspicion as much as disbelief. He flipped over the broadcast switch of the tiny comm unit.

Wolf, are you monitoring this?"

Yes, Captain," came the unmodulated reply from the distant crawler.

All right. Send an acknowledgement and put it over. Someone knows where we are. Not much use denying it." He turned to the others. We might be being monitored now, although I doubt it"s possible through these walls. But then, I also doubt we"re receiving a call from another star-ship, and that is the case,Haidhuru . Nothing matters. Leave your comms off and listen on mine, if you wish. No point in broadcasting how many units we have in operation. If they don"t know already."

It was the first time Flinx had seen the merchant so down-cast. Obviously the strain was taking a bigger toll of his resources than he cared to show. At any rate, all he said into the comm was, "Yes?"

The voice that responded was naturally high. But if the tone was slightly effeminate, the words were not.