The day lengthened as light periods from the two suns overlapped, and then shortened again as Surio came around the tip of its orbit and began its long swing outward into another cold phase. The vegetation began advancing down the mountainsides, the creature’s limbs commenced reducing, and the whole sequence went slowly into reverse. “Do you think intelligence could ever emerge in a place like this?” Heller asked curiously.
“Who can say?” Danchekker replied. “A few days ago I would have said that what we have just witnessed was unthinkable.”
“It’s fantastic,” Heller murmured in awe.
“No, it’s reality,” Danchekker said. “Reality is far more fantastic than anything that unaided human imagination could ever devise. The mind could not, for example, visualize a new color, such as infrared or ultraviolet. It can only manipulate combinations of elements that it has already experienced. Everything that is truly new can only come from the Universe outside. And uncovering the truth that lies out there is, of course, the function of science.”
Heller looked at him suspiciously. “If I didn’t know you better, Pd think you were trying to start an argument,” she teased. “Let’s get back before this conversation goes any further and see if Vic’s called in yet.”
“I agree,” Danchekker said at once. “VISAR, back to McClusky, please.”
He got up from the recliner, moved out into the corridor of the perceptron, and waited for a moment until Heller emerged from one of the other cubicles. They exited through the antechamber, were conveyed down to ground level, and a few seconds later were walking along the side of the apron toward the mess hall.
“I’m not going to let you get away with that,” Heller began after a short silence. “I started out in law, which has a lot to do with uncovering the truth too, you know. And its methods are just as scientific. Just because you scientists need computers to do your work for you, that doesn’t give you a monopoly on logic.”
Danchekker thought for a moment. “Mmm . . . very well. If one is hampered by mathematical illiteracy, law does provide something of an alternative, I suppose,” he conceded loftily.
“Oh really? I would say it demands far more ingenuity. What’s more, it taxes the intellect in ways that scientists never have to bother about.”
“What an extraordinary statement! And how would that be, might I ask2”
“Nature is often complex, but never dishonest, Professor. How often have you had to contend with deliberate falsification of the evidence, or an opponent with as much vested interest in obscuring the truth as you have in revealing it?”
“Hmph! And when was the last time that you had to subject your hypotheses to the test of rigorous proof by experiment, eh? Answer me that,” Danchekker challenged.
“We do not enjoy the luxury of repeatable experiments,” Heller responded. “Not many criminals wifi oblige by recommitting their crimes under controlled laboratory conditions. So, you see, we have to keep our wits sharp enough to be right the first time.”
“Hmm, hmm, hmm. . .”
They had timed their return to McClusky well. Hunt called just as they entered the control room. “How quickly can you get back here?” Danchekker asked him. “Karen has had some remarkable
thoughts which after some reflection I find myself forced to agree with. We need to discuss them at the earliest opportunity.”
“Gregg and I are leaving right away,” Hunt told him. “We’ve just heard about John’s visit to the city. It puts a whole new light on everything. We need to talk to the board ASAP. Can you fix it?” It meant that Packard’s report of Pacey’s meeting with Sobroskin had arrived in Houston, and a meeting with Calazar and the Thuriens was urgently called for.
“I’ll see to it immediately,” Danchekker promised.
An hour later, while Hunt and Caldwell were still on their way and after Danchekker had made arrangements with Calazar, Jerol Packard called from Washington. “Hold everything,” he instructed. “Mary’s back. We’re putting her on a plane up to you right now. Whatever you think you already know, I guarantee it’s not half of it. She just blew our minds here. Don’t do anything until she’s talked to you.”