Gaber's life-instrument beeped constantly now, and with no counter burr from the telltale they diverted again, this time to tag a large herd of tree-eaters.
Don't recall pics of monsters like that before, Kai told Gaber as they circled round the creatures, now partially visible through the sparse forest cover. I want to get a good look. Set the camera and the telltale, Gaber. I'm coming around. Hang on.
Kai turned the air sled, braking speed as he matched the forward motion of the lumbering beasts. Scorch it, but they're the biggest things I've seen yet!
Keep up, Gaber cried in nervous excitement for Kai was skimming very low. Those necks are powerful. The beasts had very long necks, mounted on massive shoulders which were supported by legs the size of tree stumps.
"Necks may be powerful but the brains aren't," said Kai." And their reaction time is double slow." The beasts were looking back towards the direction in which Kai had first approached them. Several had not even registered the alien's appearance at all but continued to strip trees as they passed." Gigantic herbivores, foraging even as they move. They must account for half a forest a day."
One of the long-necked creatures neatly bit off the crown of a cycad and continued its lumbering progress with huge fronds dripping from its not too capacious mouth. A smaller member of the herd obligingly took up one trailing frond and munched on that.
Heading towards the water? Kai asked, impressed as well as appalled by the dimensions of the animals. He heard the tagger spit.
There does seem to be a well-travelled lane through the vegetation. I tagged most of them. Gaber patted the muzzle of the tag gun.
Kai tilted the sled so he could observe the beasts. Ahead, and down a long incline, lay the shimmering waters of one of Berru's lakes. Kai took the transparency of the probe print and laid it over the replica of scale map which Gaber had been patiently drawing from the data of Kai's teams.
We should have the precipice on our right, Gaber. Adjust your face-mask to distance vision and see if you can spot it.
Gaber peered steadily across the distance. Cloudy, but you ought to change course by about five degrees.
They flew over terrain that gradually became more and more swamp-like until water replaced land entirely. At this point a definite shoreline appeared, rising first into small bluffs of well-weathered grey stone which gave way to sheer cliffs rising several hundred metres in an ancient transform fault. Kai ascended and the passage of the sled alarmed cliff dwellers into flight, bringing an exclamation of surprised delight from Gaber.
Why, they're golden! And furred!
Kai, remembering the vicious heads of the scavengers, veered hastily from their flight path.
They're following us, cried Gaber, unperturbed.
Kai glanced over his shoulder. As far as he knew, scavengers only attacked the dying or dead. Judiciously he applied more air speed. The sled could easily outdistance them.
They're still following us.
Kai shot a glance over his shoulder. No question of it, the golden avians were following but maintaining a discreet distance, and different levels. Even as Kai watched, the fliers changed positions, as if each wanted to see various aspects of the intruder. Again Kai loaded on more speed. So did the fliers, without apparently expending much effort.
I wonder how fast they do fly?
Are they dangerous, do you suppose? asked Gaber.
Possibly, but I'd say that this sled is too big for them to attack, singly or with the numbers they have behind us now. I must bring Varian to see them. And tell the Ryxi.
Why ever tell them? They couldn't fly in this heavy atmosphere.
No, but Vrl asked me about Ireta's aerial life. I'd hate to tell him there were only scavengers.
Oh, yes, quite. I agree. Merciful gods, look below to your left.
They were well over the water now, stained red by the mineral content of the rocks which bordered it and its watershed. Clearly visible was the plant strewn bottom which shelved off slightly into murky brownness and considerable depth, according to Kai's instrumentation. From out of that depth a great body torpedoed, responding to the shadow cast by the sled. Kai had a startled impression of a blunt head, grey-blue shining skin, and too many rows of sharp yellow-white teeth, needle sharp. He heard Gaber's startled cry of horror. Instinctively he slammed on the emergency drive. And corrected hurriedly as they sped uncomfortably close to the curving cliffs.
Looking back, Kai saw only the rippling circles of the monster's exit and entry on the surface, circles converging together over the twenty-five metres of its jump. He gulped and swallowed against a dryness in his throat. As if that attack had been a signal, more aquatic denizens leapt and dove, and other battles began under and on the surface of the water.
I think, Gaber's stammer was pronounced, that we started something.
Well, they can finish it, said Kai as he turned the blunt nose of the sled.
The golden fliers are still following us, Gaber said after a few moments. They're closing.
Kai spared a backward glance and saw the first rank of fliers moving steadily abreast of the sled, their heads turned towards himself and Gaber.
Go away, Gaber said, standing up and waving both arms towards the birds. Go away. Don't get too close. You'll get hurt!
Half-amused, half-concerned, Kai watched the creatures swing away from Gaber's flapping. They also maintained their forward speed and their inspection.
We're surrounded by them, Kai, and Gaber's tone took on a worried note.
If they were dangerous, they'd've had plenty of time to attack, I think. But let's just lose the escort. Sit down, Gaber, and hang on! Kai hit the jet accelerator again, and abruptly left the fliers in the heat haze as the sled flung forward. There couldn't have been any expression on the golden faces, but Kai had the distinct impression that they'd been astonished by the sudden speed.
He must ask Varian what degree of intelligence was possible in these apparently primitive life forms. The Ryxi were not the only winged species in the galaxy but very few avian species were highly intelligent. Capability seemed to have a direct ratio to the amount of time spend on the ground.
Whatever life form would dominate on this planet was thousands of years away from emerging. That didn't keep Kai from wishful thinking and speculation. It would be nice to see the Ryxi superceded.
Did you get some good tapes of them? Kai asked Gaber as he reduced speed to cruising. No use wasting more power than necessary.
"Oh yes, indeed I did," Gaber said, patting the recorder." You know, Kai, I think they showed considerable intelligence." He sounded astonished.
We'll get Varian to give an opinion. She's the expert. Kai turned the sled to the coordinates of the nearest echo-core. Varian might have some biological puzzles but he now had another geological one.
Despite what he'd said so nonchalantly to Gaber, the unexpected materialization of those cores unnerved him. Yes, this planet and the system had been in the computer bank, but surely there would have been some indication if it had been surveyed. A previous survey, however, would account for the lack of ore-deposit on these old mountains. The first party would have mined the shield area, and quite likely whatever other likely land mass, or seas, had been workable; land which had long since been rolled under in subsequent plate activity. Why, though, had there been no such notation in the computer banks?
To set them down, as on a totally unexplored planet, was unlike any previous knowledge Kai had of EEC. Gaber's theory of planting the expedition returned to haunt his thoughts. EV had waited for their all-safe-down and conveniently disappeared in search of that storm. But there were the youngsters, more of an afterthought as members of the expedition than planned personnel. Above all else was the urgent need of the transuranics. Between the kids and the energy, Kai was certain he could discount Gaber's gloomy presentiment.
Even with the ability to pinpoint the exact location of the faintly signalling core, it took Gaber and Kai some hard slogging through dense and dangerous sword plants and some heavy digging to pull it from its site.
Why, why, it looks like the ones we have, said Gaber in a surprise that was almost outraged.
No, said Kai, turning the device thoughtfully in his hand, the case is fatter, the crystal dimmer and it feels old.
How can a core feel old? Why the casing isn't so much as scratched, or dull!
Heft it yourself. It feels old, said Kai with a touch of impatience and he was somewhat amused to see Gaber hesitant1y examine the old core, and quickly hand it back.
The Theks manufacture them, don't they? the cartographer said, giving Kai a sideways look.
They have done but I think . . . Gaber, it won't wash.
But don't you see, Kai? The Theks know this planet has been surveyed. They're back for some reason of their own. You know how they like to watchdog a likely colony . . .
Gaber! Kai wanted to shake the older man, shake him out of his asinine and dangerous notion that the expedition had been planted. But, as he stared at the man's eager, intense face, Kai realized how pathetic the cartographer was. Gaber must surely know this would be his last mission and was vainly hoping to extend it. Gaber! Kai gave the man a little shake, smiling kindly. Now, I do appreciate your confiding your theory to me. You've done just as you should. And I appreciate the facts on which you base the notion but please don't go telling anyone else. I'd hate giving the heavy-worlders any excuse to ridicule one of my team.
Ridicule? Gaber was startled and indignant.
I'm afraid so, Gaber. The purpose of this expedition was too clearly set out in the original programme. This is just an ordinary energy-resource expedition, with a bit of xenobiology thrown in as practice for Varian, and to keep the heavy-worlders fit and the youngsters occupied while the EV chases that cosmic storm. Just to reassure you, though, I'll query EV about your theory in my next report. If, by any remote chance, you're correct, they'd tell us. Now we're down. In the meantime, I really do advise you to keep your notion between us, huh, Gaber? I value you as our cartographer too highly to want you mocked by the heavy-worlders.
Mocked?
"They do like their little jokes on us light gravs. I don't want them to have one on you. We've a laugh for them, all righton the Thekswith this," and Kai held up the core." Our rocky friends are not so infallible after all. Not that I blame them for forgetting all about this planet, considering how it smells."
The heavy-worlders would make me a joke? Gaber was having difficulty in accepting the possibility but Kai was certain he'd found the proper deterrent to keep the man from spreading that insidious rumour.
Under the present circumstances, yes, if you came out with that notion. As I mentioned, we have the youngsters with us. You don't really think the Third Officer of EV is planting her son?
No, no, she wouldn't do that. Gaber's expression changed from distressed to irritated. You're right. She'd've opposed it. Gaber straightened his shoulders. You've eased my mind, Kai. I hadn't really liked the idea of being planted: I've left research unfinished and I only accepted this assignment to try and get a fresh perspective on it . . .
Good man. Kai clapped the cartographer on the shoulder and turned him back towards the sled.
It occurred to Kai that he'd have all the arguments to press again once Gaber, and the others, learned that the EV had not picked up the secondary reports. He'd worry about that when the time came. Right now he had more to ponder in the ancient core in his hand. He didn't think they had any apparatus for dating the device in the shuttle. He couldn't remember if it had ever come up in discussion how long one of these cores could function. Portegin was the man to ask. And wouldn't he be amazed at what his malfunctioning screen was recording?
In fact, Portegin was already puzzling over the print-out when Kai and Gaber strode into the chart dome.
Kai, we've got some crazy echoes on the seismic . . . what's this?
One of those echoes.
Portegin, his lean face settling into lines of dismay, weighed the device in his hand, peered at it, turning it round and round, end for end before he looked with intense accusation at Kai.
Where'd you get this?
Approximately here, said Kai, pointing to the gap in the line of old echoes on the screen.
We haven't cored that area yet, boss.
I know.
But, boss, this is Thek manufacture. I'd swear it.
Margit, who'd been filling in her report, came over to the two men. She took the core from Portegin's unresisting hand.
It feels heavier. And this crystal looks almost dead. She regarded Kai for an explanation.
He shrugged. Gaber saw the echoes on the recorder, thought you'd mucked it up, Portegin . . . he grinned as the mechanic growled at the cartographer. But I decided we'd better check. This was what we found.
Margit made a guttural noise, deep in her throat, of disgust and irritation. You mean, we've spent hours doing what has been don ! You wit-heads could have saved us time and useless energy by rigging that screen right off.
According to our computer banks, this planet had never been surveyed, Kai said in a soothing drawl.
Well, it has been. Margit glowered at the screen. And you know, we've paralleled their line almost perfectly. Not bad for a first working expedition, is it, she added, talking herself into a better frame of mind. Hey, she said in a much louder, less happy tone of voice, no wonder we couldn't find anything worth the looking. It'd been got already. How far does the old survey coring go?
Stops at the edge of the shield, my dear girl, said Portegin, and now that we know from the old cores where the shield ends, we can start hitting some pay-dirt for a change. I don't think we've done too much duplicationexcept in the north and north-east.
Kai thanked the compassionate computer who had put those two on this team with him: they might complain a bit, but they'd already talked themselves into a positive frame over the duplicated effort.
"I feel a lot better now, knowing there was a good reason we couldn't find any pay-dirt at all!" Margit studied the screen and then pointed at several areas. There's nothing here, and here. Should be!"
Signals are very faint, Portegin said. Some may have just give up the ghost. If everything else there is worked out, is there any point in setting new cores, Kai?
None.
Aulia and Dimenon entered the cartography dome, closely followed by the other four geologists.
Guess what Kai and Gaber found? asked Margit. They found out why we couldn't find anything . . . yet!
Expressions of surprise and displeasure greeted this statement. So Kai and Gaber repeated their afternoon's activities and the relief that spread throughout the room was reassuring to the team leader. Everyone had a turn at examining the old device, comparing it with those they were setting, joking about ghosts and echoes.
We can set up secondary camps right on the edges of the shield, Triv was saying excitedly. Can we start tomorrow, Kai?
Surely, I'll reassign everyone to more profitable areas, hopefully. Let me work it out. And Bakkun, I'll be out with you tomorrow?
The meal gong sounded, reverberating under the force-screen so he dismissed them all, staying behind briefly to reschedule flights for the morrow. They would have to set up secondary camps, as Triv suggested, but Kai wasn't all that keen to dissipate their complement. Varian hadn't yet had a chance to catalogue the worst of the predators and, despite the personal force-screens, a team could be caught too far away for timely help to arrive. That predator he'd seen today wouldn't be stopped by a puny personal force-screen. He also couldn't hold the teams back from discovering deposits: they got credit bonuses based on the assays of their individual discoveries. That was one reason why the lack of finds so far had had a serious effect on their morale. He couldn't risk a further check to their spirits and ambitions. He also couldn't risk sending them out against predators like those he'd seen today. He must have a chat with Varian.
He emerged into an insect-noisy night. The force-screen, arcing over the encampment, was aglow with blue spits of light as nocturnal creatures tried to reach the tantalizing floodlights which illuminated the compound.
Had that other survey party, millenniums ago, camped here? Would another group, millenniums hence, return when his cores emitted shallow ghost blips on another screen?
Were they really planted? The disturbing thought bobbed to the surface of his reflections, much as the aquatic monsters had been triggered by the shadow of the sled over the water. He tried to push down the notion. Had one of the others been tipped off privily? Varian? No, as co-leader, she was the least likely to have been informed. Tanegli? And was that why he was so willing to search out edible fruits? No, Tanegli was a sound man, but not the sort to be given private instructions while the team leaders were keyed out.
Not quite reassured within his own mind, Kai decided that congenial company would disrupt the uneasy tenor of his thoughts and he strode more purposefully towards the largest dome and his meal.
CHAPTER THREE
Varian was diverted by Kai's reception of the fruit when it was served as the evening meal. Divisti and Lungie had collaborated and the table was spread with the fruit in its natural form, sliced into green juicy portions: fruit synthesized as a paste, reinforced with nutrients and vitamins; fruit added to the subsistence proteins; stewed fruit, dried fruit. Kai fastidiously tasted a minute piece of the fresh sliced, smiled, made polite noises and finished his meal with the paste. Then he complained of a metallic aftertaste.
That's the additives. There's no aftertaste with the fresh fruit, Varian told him suppressing a mixture of annoyance at his conservative tastes and amusement at his reaction. The ship-bred were wary of anything in its natural form.
Why cultivate a taste for something I can't indulge? Kai asked when she tried to get him to eat more of the fresh fruit.
Why not indulge yourself a little, while you have the chance? Besides, she added, once you have the taste, you can programme it into any synthesizer, and duplicate it on shipboard to your heart's content.
A point.
Varian had decided some time ago that it was just these little ship evolved differences that fascinated her about Kai. He wasn't physically that much different from the attractive young men she'd known on the various planets of her childhood and early specialist's training. If anything, Kai kept himself more physical fit in the EV's various humanoid sports facilities than his planet-based contemporaries. He'd a lean, wiry frame, slightly taller than average, taller than herself and she was not rated short on any normal Earth-type planet being 1.75 metres tall. More important to her in Kai than mere handsomeness which he had, was the strength in his face, the sparkle of humour in his brown eyes and the inner serenity that had commended him when they'd met in the EV's humanoid dining area. She'd quickly recognized the aura of Discipline about him and been overwhelmingly relieved that he was a Disciple, and amused that his having passed the Training mattered to her on such short acquaintance. She'd accepted Discipline not that long ago herself, however much it meant that she could continue to advance in FSP service. A leader had to have Discipline since it was the only personal defence against other humanoids permitted by FSP and EEC, and of inestimable value in emergency situations.
Varian had been quite willing to develop a relationship with Kai and had privately done a good bit of private crowing when she'd unexpectedly been tapped as a xenob on his geology expedition to Ireta
And what's this I hear? This planet's been raped before?
The shield land mass we're on has certainly been stripped? Kai replied, grinning a little at her blunt phrase. Portegin only got the seismic screen rigged last night. Gaber thought it was malfunctioning because we got echoes where we'd cored, and faint impulses where we hadn't. So I did a decco and found an old old core.
Varian had already heard many of the details. We were informed during our briefing on shipboard that the system had been in storage a long time.
"Well, there was no mention made of a previous geological survey.
True, and Varian looked at a vague middle distance thoughtfully as she drawled out the affirmative. There had been sort of a last minute rush to assemble this Iretan expedition, though the Theks and Ryxi had been scheduled for their respective planets for some months. My team was sure added in a hurry. After they got print-out of life forms from the probe scan.
With all due respects, co-leader, the inclusion of your team doesn't puzzle me as much as no mention of a previous coring.
I quite appreciate that. How old d'you think the cores are?
Too scorching old for my liking, Varian. The line end with the stable shield area!
Varian drew breath in a whistle. Kai, that would mean millions of years. Could even a Thek manufactured device last that long?
"Who knows?" C'mon, you can have a look at the device yourself. And I've some tapes to play for you that I think you'll like."
Those flying things Gaber was raving about?
Among others.
Sure you won't have one more piece of fresh fruit? She couldn't resist teasing him.
Kai gave her a fleetingly irritated look, then grinned. He had an engaging smile, she thought, and not for the first time. They'd seen a good deal of each other in the planning stages but far too little now they had to deal with their separate responsibilities.
I've had a sufficiency to eat, thank you, Varian.
And I'm a glutton, huh? But she snatched up one more slice from the platter. What are these avians like? I don't trust Gaber's observations.
They're golden furred and I'd hazard that they're intelligent. Curiosity occurs only with intelligence, doesn't it?
"Generally, yes. Intelligent fliers? Raking ramjets, this'll throw the Ryxi into loops." Varian crowed with delight." Where'd you encounter them?"
I went to see those coloured lakes of Berru's, and startled them out of the cliffs. By the way, the lakes harbour monsters every bit as big and dangerous as those swamp dwellers we saw this morning.
This planet goes in for big things . . .
"Big puzzles, too." They had entered the cartography dome now and Kai picked up the old core and handed it to her." Here's my latest."
Varian hefted it in the palm of one hand. She saw another core on the table. Is this one of yours?
Kai looked up from the tape cannisters he was sorting through and nodded.
Side by side, she could see the slight differences in circumference, length and weight.
Does this previous coring explain why you've had so little luck in finding any cores?
Yes. The shield land has been stripped. My gang was relieved to know there was a good reasonthis planet ought to be full of pay dirt. Now, however, we'll have to set up secondary camps in the new fold mountains . . .
Secondary camps? Kai, that isn't safe. Even if the worst you'd have to contend with is fang-face . . .
Fang-face?
"Well, That's what I call whatever chewed a piece off Mabel's
flank."
Mabel?
"Must you keep repeating me? I find it a lot easier to name 'em than keep calling "em "herbivore number one" or "predator with teeth A"."
I didn't know you'd seen the predator?
I haven't. I can postulate from his tooth marks . . .
Would this be fang-face? asked Kai as the tapes he and Gaber had made that afternoon began to appear on the viewing screen. He punched a hold on the one shot they'd had of the predator's head.
Varian let out a squeak as she got a good look at the toothy, snarling head, the angry little eyes upturned to the sled as the creature had flashed across the small clearing.
Yes, that could be the villain. Six metres in the shoulder, too. You couldn't set up secondary camps that would keep him out. He could flatten you even with a couple of force-screen belts on you. No, I wouldn't advise secondary camps until we find out how far these sweethearts range.
We could move the shuttle . . .
Not until Trizein has completed his current run of experiments. And why move? Are we low on power for travel?
No, but I was considering the commutation time. Cuts down effective time in the field.
True. Frankly, Kai, I'd prefer to scout an area before you set up a secondary camp. Even those herbivores like Mabel, useless as they are, could be dangerous stampeding from a fang-face. However, she added, seeing he was adamant, every animal in creation is afraid of something. I'll figure out what animals you'd have to contend with in an area and we can set up some safe-guards around say, one larger, suitably situated secondary camp and your field teams would be relatively safe . . .
You don't sound certain.
I'm not certain about anything on this crazy planet, Kai. And your discovery today only makes my uncertainty more . . . she grinned, certain!
He laughed.
She took one more long appraising look at the predator's rows of needle sharp teeth and then asked Kai to roll the tape." Sure glad you were aloft when you met that fellow. Gaber managed to tag him? That'll help estimate his territorial sway. Oh, I say, aren't they lovely!"
The golden fliers were on the screen, and while it might have been the juxtaposition to the preceding predator, they seemed so benign and graceful.
Oh, hold that frame, Kai, please! Varian gestured for him to go back on the tape until she had the frame of the creature, suspended in its flight, its crested head slightly turned towards the camera so that both golden-coloured eyes were visible.
Yes, I'd agree that it's intelligent. Is that a pouch under its beak for storing fish? And it's a glider, I think. Roll it, Kai, I want to see if that wing can rotate. Yes, see, there! As it veers away. Yes, yes. Much more advanced than that carrion eater this morning. Why is so much of our reaction dependant on the eye of a creature? She looked up at Kai whose grey eyes widened with surprise.
Eye?
Yes. The eyes of that little mammal today . . . I couldn't have left it behind, Kai, short of mutiny, once I'd seen the frightened lost confusion in its eyes. Much less the entreaty in Bannard's and Cleiti's. Those swamp horrors, they had tiny eyes, in comparison to their skull shape . . . wicked, beady, hungry eyes. Varian shuddered in recall. And that new predator's eyes . . . fang-face has a wicked appetite. Of course, it isn't a hard and fast rulethe Galormis were a hideous example of camouflaged intent . . .
You were on that expedition?
Varian made a face. Yes, I was a very junior member on the team at Aldebaran 4 when they were encountered. My first assignment out of xeno-veterinary college. They had soft eyes, mind you, which occasionally still haunted her sleep, mild-looking creatures too, softish, perfectly amenable until full darkthenwhammie!
Nocturnal feeders?
Bleeders! Sucked the blood and then chewed the flesh . . . like what's been feeding on Mabel . . . No, it couldn't be Galormis. Teeth are too big.
Why on earth call it Mabel?
Knew someone like her once, a walking appetite, hating the world around her, suspicious and constantly confused. Not much intelligence.
What would you name the avian?
I don't know, she said after regarding the furry face. It isn't easy until you've actually met the creature. But this species has intelligence and personality. I want to see more of them!
Thought you would. Although we couldn't tag them. They moved too fast. Kept up with the sled at cruising speed.
Very good. A yawn caught her unawares. All this fresh air, chasing wounded animals to doctor them what don't wish to be helped. She stroked his cheek and gave him a regretful smile of apology. I'm going to bed. And you ought to, too, co-leader. Sleep on our puzzles. Maybe sleep'll solve 'em.
Kai could have wished it had, but he woke the next morning feeling refreshed and the teams, when assembled, were in such good spirits that his rose, too.
I've discussed secondary camps with Varian. Until she has catalogued the habits of the predators, she can't guarantee our safety, said Kai, but she's going to set and search areas into which we can move, if we adhere to the safeguards she devises. Okay? Sorry, but you'll understand better if you've seen the marks on the herbivore's flank. He noticed by the grim expressions that everyone had looked at the creature.
Boss, what about the gaps in the old cores, here, here and here? asked Triv, pointing out the areas south-west and due south.