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!"