All pathetic.
Look at the others, Tasso said.
The next pictures, taken at a great distance, showed a towering wounded soldier sitting by the side of a path, his arm in a sling, the stump of one leg extended, a crude crutch on his lap. Then two wounded soldiers, both the same, standing side by side.
Thats Variety One. The Wounded Soldier. Klaus reached out and took the pictures. You see, the claws were designed to get to human beings. To find them. Each kind was better than the last. They got farther, closer, past most of our defenses, into our lines. But as long as they were merely machines, metal spheres with claws and horns, feelers, they could be picked off like any other object. They could be detected as lethal robots as soon as they were seen. Once we caught sight of them
Variety One subverted our whole north wing, Rudi said. It was a long time before anyone caught on. Then it was too late. They came in, wounded soldiers, knocking and begging to be let in. So we let them in. And as soon as they were in they took over. We were watching out for machines.
At that time it was thought there was only the one type, Klaus Epstein said. No one suspected there were other types. The pictures were flashed to us. When the runner was sent to you, we knew of just one type. Variety One. The big Wounded Soldier. We thought that was all.
Your line fell to
To Variety Three. David and his bear. That worked even better. Klaus smiled bitterly. Soldiers are suckers for children. We brought them in and tried to feed them. We found out the hard way what they were after. At least, those who were in the bunker.
The three of us were lucky, Rudi said. Klaus and I werewere visiting Tasso when it happened. This is her place. He waved a big hand around. This little cellar. We finished and climbed the ladder to start back. From the ridge we saw that they were all around the bunker. Fighting was still going on. David and his bear. Hundreds of them. Klaus took the pictures.
Klaus tied up the photographs again.
And its going on all along your line? Hendricks said.
Yes.
How about our lines? Without thinking, he touched the tab on his arm. Can they
Theyre not bothered by your radiation tabs. It makes no difference to them, Russian, American, Pole, German. Its all the same. Theyre doing what they were designed to do. Carrying out the original idea. They track down life, wherever they find it.
They go by warmth, Klaus said. That was the way you constructed them from the very start. Of course, those you designed were kept back by the radiation tabs you wear. Now theyve got around that. These new varieties are lead-lined.
Whats the other variety? Hendricks asked. The David type, the Wounded Soldierwhats the other?
We dont know. Klaus pointed up at the wall. On the wall were two metal plates, ragged at the edges. Hendricks got up and studied them. They were bent and dented.
The one on the left came off a Wounded Soldier, Rudi said. We got one of them. It was going along toward our old bunker. We got it from the ridge, the same way we got the David tagging you.
The plate was stamped: I-V. Hendricks touched the other plate. And this came from the David type?
Yes. The plate was stamped: III-V.
Klaus took a look at them, leaning over Hendrickss broad shoulder. You can see what were up against. Theres another type. Maybe it was abandoned. Maybe it didnt work. But there must be a Second Variety. Theres One and Three.
You were lucky, Rudi said. The David tagged you all the way here and never touched you. Probably thought youd get it into a bunker, somewhere.
One gets in and its all over, Klaus said. They move fast. One lets all the rest inside. Theyre inflexible. Machines with one purpose. They were built for only one thing. He rubbed sweat from his lip. We saw.
They were silent.
Let me have another cigarette, Yank, Tasso said. They are good. I almost forgot how they were.
IT WAS NIGHT. The sky was black. No stars were visible through the rolling clouds of ash. Klaus lifted the lid cautiously so that Hendricks could look out.
Rudi pointed into the darkness. Over that way are the bunkers. Where we used to be. Not over half a mile from us. It was just chance Klaus and I were not there when it happened. Weakness. Saved by our lusts.
All the rest must be dead, Klaus said in a low voice. It came quickly. This morning the Politburo reached their decision. They notified usforward command. Our runner was sent out at once. We saw him start toward the direction of your lines. We covered him until he was out of sight.
Alex Radrivsky. We both knew him. He disappeared about six oclock. The sun had just come up. About noon Klaus and I had an hour relief. We crept off, away from the bunkers. No one was watching. We came here. There used to be a town here, a few houses, a street. This cellar was part of a big farmhouse. We knew Tasso would be here, hiding down in her little place. We had come here before. Others from the bunkers came here. Today happened to be our turn.
So we were saved, Klaus said. Chance. It might have been others. Wewe finished, and then we came up to the surface and started back along the ridge. That was when we saw them, the Davids. We understood right away. We had seen the photos of the First Variety, the Wounded Soldier. Our Commissar distributed them to us with an explanation. If we had gone another step they would have seen us. As it was we had to blast two Davids before we got back. There were hundreds of them, all around. Like ants. We took pictures and slipped back here, bolting the lid tight.
Theyre not so much when you catch them alone. We moved faster than they did. But theyre inexorable. Not like living things. They came right at us. And we blasted them.
Major Hendricks rested against the edge of the lid, adjusting his eyes to the darkness. Is it safe to have the lid up at all?
If were careful. How else can you operate your transmitter?
Hendricks lifted the small belt transmitter slowly. He pressed it against his ear. The metal was cold and damp. He blew against the mike, raising up the short antenna. A faint hum sounded in his ear. Thats true, I suppose.
But he still hesitated.
Well pull you under if anything happens, Klaus said.
Thanks. Hendricks waited a moment, resting the transmitter against his shoulder. Interesting, isnt it?
What?
This, the new types. The new varieties of claws. Were completely at their mercy, arent we? By now theyve probably gotten into the UN lines, too. It makes me wonder if were not seeing the beginning of a new species. The new species. Evolution. The race to come after man.
Rudi grunted. There is no race after man.
No? Why not? Maybe were seeing it now, the end of human beings, the beginning of the new society.
Theyre not a race. Theyre mechanical killers. You made them to destroy. Thats all they can do. Theyre machines with a job.
So it seems now. But how about later on? After the war is over. Maybe, when there arent any humans to destroy, their real potentialities will begin to show.
You talk as if they were alive!
Arent they?
There was silence. Theyre machines, Rudi said. They look like people, but theyre machines.
Use your transmitter, Major, Klaus said. We cant stay up here forever.
Holding the transmitter tightly, Hendricks called the code of the command bunker. He waited, listening. No response. Only silence. He checked the leads carefully. Everything was in place.
Scott! he said into the mike. Can you hear me?
Silence. He raised the gain up full and tried again. Only static.
I dont get anything. They may hear me but they may not want to answer.
Tell them its an emergency.
Theyll think Im being forced to call. Under your direction. He tried again, outlining briefly what he had learned. But still the phone was silent, except for the faint static.
Radiation pools kill most transmission, Klaus said, after a while. Maybe thats it.
Hendricks shut the transmitter up. No use. No answer. Radiation pools? Maybe. Or they hear me, but wont answer. Frankly, thats what I would do, if a runner tried to call from the Soviet lines. They have no reason to believe such a story. They may hear everything I say
Or maybe its too late.
Hendricks nodded.
We better get the lid down, Rudi said nervously. We dont want to take unnecessary chances.
They climbed slowly back down the tunnel. Klaus bolted the lid carefully into place. They descended into the kitchen. The air was heavy and close around them.
Could they work that fast? Hendricks said. I left the bunker this noon. Ten hours ago. How could they move so quickly?
It doesnt take them long. Not after the first one gets in. It goes wild. You know what the little claws can do. Even one of these is beyond belief. Razors, each finger. Maniacal.
All right. Hendricks moved away impatiently. He stood with his back to them.
Whats the matter? Rudi said.
The Moon Base. God, if theyve gotten there
The Moon Base?
Hendricks turned around. They couldnt have got to the Moon Base. How would they get there? It isnt possible. I cant believe it.
What is this Moon Base? Weve heard rumors, but nothing definite. What is the actual situation? You seem concerned.
Were supplied from the Moon. The governments are there, under the lunar surface. All our people and industries. Thats what keeps us going. If they should find some way of getting off Terra, onto the Moon
It only takes one of them. Once the first one gets in it admits the others. Hundreds of them, all alike. You should have seen them. Identical. Like ants.
Perfect socialism, Tasso said. The ideal of the communist state. All citizens interchangeable.
Klaus grunted angrily. Thats enough. Well? What next?
Hendricks paced back and forth, around the small room. The air was full of smells of food and perspiration. The others watched him. Presently Tasso pushed through the curtain, into the other room. Im going to take a nap.
The curtain closed behind her. Rudi and Klaus sat down at the table, still watching Hendricks. Its up to you, Klaus said. We dont know your situation.
Hendricks nodded.
Its a problem. Rudi drank some coffee, filling his cup from a rusty pot. Were safe here for a while, but we cant stay here forever. Not enough food or supplies.
But if we go outside
If we go outside theyll get us. Or probably theyll get us. We couldnt go very far. How far is your command bunker, Major?
Three or four miles.
We might make it. The four of us. Four of us could watch all sides. They couldnt slip up behind us and start tagging us. We have three rifles, three blast rifles. Tasso can have my pistol. Rudi tapped his belt. In the Soviet army we didnt have shoes always, but we had guns. With all four of us armed one of us might get to your command bunker. Preferably you, Major.
What if theyre already there? Klaus said.
Rudi shrugged. Well, then we come back here.
Hendricks stopped pacing. What do you think the chances are theyre already in the American lines?
Hard to say. Fairly good. Theyre organized. They know exactly what theyre doing. Once they start they go like a horde of locusts. They have to keep moving, and fast. Its secrecy and speed they depend on. Surprise. They push their way in before anyone has any idea.
I see, Hendricks murmured.
From the other room Tasso stirred. Major?
Hendricks pushed the curtain back. What?
Tasso looked up at him lazily from the cot. Have you any more American cigarettes left?
Hendricks went into the room and sat down across from her, on a wood stool. He felt in his pockets. No. All gone.
Too bad.
What nationality are you? Hendricks asked her after a while.
Russian.
How did you get here?
Here?
This used to be France. This was part of Normandy. Did you come with the Soviet army?
Why?
Just curious. He studied her. She had taken off her coat, tossing it over the end of the cot. She was young, about twenty. Slim. Her long hair stretched out over the pillow. She was staring at him silently, her eyes dark and large.
Whats on your mind? Tasso said.
Nothing. How old are you?
Eighteen. She continued to watch him, unblinking, her arms behind her head. She had on Russian army pants and shirt. Gray-green. Thick leather belt with counter and cartridges. Medicine kit.
Youre in the Soviet army?
No.
Where did you get the uniform?
She shrugged. It was given to me, she told him.
Howhow old were you when you came here?
Sixteen.
That young?
Her eyes narrowed. What do you mean?
Hendricks rubbed his jaw. Your life would have been a lot different if there had been no war. Sixteen. You came here at sixteen. To live this way.
I had to survive.
Im not moralizing.
Your life would have been different, too, Tasso murmured. She reached down and unfastened one of her boots. She kicked the boot off, onto the floor. Major, do you want to go in the other room? Im sleepy.
Its going to be a problem, the four of us here. Its going to be hard to live in these quarters. Are there just the two rooms?
Yes.
How big was the cellar originally? Was it larger than this? Are there other rooms filled up with debris? We might be able to open one of them.
Perhaps. I really dont know. Tasso loosened her belt. She made herself comfortable on the cot, unbuttoning her shirt. Youre sure you have no more cigarettes?
I had only one pack.
Too bad. Maybe if we get back to your bunker we can find some. The other boot fell. Tasso reached up for the light cord. Good night.
Youre going to sleep?
Thats right.