“Goes with commanding shuttle missions. Watch that crevice.” He lengthened his stride as he stepped over the crack in the surface.
CHAPTER 9
See? No exaggerated outpourings of misplaced emotion, no standing about aimlessly, no collapsing into fetal positions. They have already set themselves to problem solving.”
“Simplistic and basal reactions, hardly indicative of advanced cognition.” The other presence was dubious. “Common survival traits. Any ignorant animal would react similarly.”
“What needs to be seen,” declared a third of their number, “is how they proceed, if it is done with forethought and planning or simply haphazardly. If the latter, then they will rapidly descend into panic.”
“I concur.” The first presence was more hopeful than its companions, but it was also realistic. After all, precedence was hardly encouraging. “Let us at least monitor them without condemnation. Is there anything else to do?”
“A diversion.” The others who had gathered and remained chorused simultaneously. “A diversion.”
“One wing-beat.” The disdainful disappeared in a swirl of departing disenchantment. They knew that time was not on their side.
By the following morning the three travelers had made several important discoveries, the most welcome of which was fresh water. Collected in hollows eroded from the rocks, it had the appearance, smell, and taste of pooled rainfall. No one mentioned the possible presence of inimical microorganisms. Thirst will conquer prudence every time.
In any event, no one became ill as a result of drinking deeply. Whether they were simply lucky, whether local protozoans had no liking for the human gut or because Brink thoughtfully filtered each cupfull through the cotton mesh of his undershirt they could not say. Irregardless, it was clear that from now on, water would not be a problem. The pools were many, and several were deep.
In addition, Robbins pointed out, industrial pollution was not a factor.
Low was more concerned about dissolved minerals than microscopic bugs. “If there are any toxic salts in the water, signs should appear by tonight.”
A playful Robbins tried to splash him. “C’mon, Commander, lighten up! It tastes good and it looks good. Besides, there are better things to die of than thirst. Honestly, you worry about everything. The water, the rocks, the air, whether the ground’s going to open up under your feet. How’d a pessimist like you get into the space program, anyway?”
He replied softly. “That’s one reason I did. It’s my nature to question everything. For example, while we’ve been drinking, I’ve been wondering if any of this vegetation might be edible.”
Unlike the water, the trees, bushes and lichens didn’t look very inviting. “I’m no bovine,” Robbins pointed out. “Just got the one stomach to work with. Let’s try to find something softer than twigs.”
“Hey, I’m no vegetarian myself.” Low was leaning over to inspect a fist-sized hole in the cliff face. If it was occupied, the owner was disinclined to receive visitors. Wariness suggested predation. Low hoped they wouldn’t find any holes too much larger. Bear-sized, for example.
It was wonderful to learn that life existed beyond Earth. It would be less wonderful to discover that it, too, was home to participants in the game of predator and prey.
He kicked aside an orange-tinged log that would have been priceless on Earth. The collecting of specimens would have to wait until their immediate continued survival was assured. At least if the climate turned cold, there was no want of firewood.
Besides the native rock, they passed ruined walls of strange plastic-metal, collapsed arches of some unidentifiable ceramic material, and another ship that resembled theirs only superficially. It was clearly a vessel of some kind, though whether older or newer than the unasteroid they had no way of telling. Its gaping interior proved dark and uninviting. There was no sign of occupants, living or otherwise. Only a musty smell that might have had organic origins, or might simply indicate great age. Low wasn’t encouraged.
Brink had given up his study of the geology and vegetation in favor of scrutinizing the profusion of ruins. Certainly any hope of finding a way home lay within alien walls and not with the indigenous flora and fauna.
“Since we are now embarked on what might better be described as an archaeological dig,” he ventured unexpectedly, “perhaps it would be best if I were to take charge.”
More amused than bemused, Low stopped and pondered a moment. “There’s only three of us. What kind of charge did you have in mind? Just for the record, we’re engaged in survival, not a scientific expedition. Want to bet which one of us has more experience in that area?”
“Under different circumstances I would take that bet, Commander. I have led several expeditions to the south-central Sahara, to Mongolia and to the South Pacific. The latter resulted in all parties suffering through a situation not unlike the one that confronts us now. However,” he added with a conciliatory smile, “the number of moons that shone down on that unhappy group was only one.”
“None of that has any bearing on our present situation. We’re dealing with alien conditions, and an alien world. If nothing else, I’ll wager that I’ve read more science fiction than you. That’s as valid a preparation for dealing with our present situation as anything else.”
“Excuse me a minute?” Turning, they saw an impatient and obviously irritated Robbins gazing back at them. “If you men don’t mind, I was wondering if I had a say in this, or if I’m just supposed to tag along the traditional ten paces behind, then plow the fields, shuck the corn and do the cooking?”
Low was taken aback. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
Again she interrupted. “Of course not. It’s been my experience that men don’t. Which doesn’t prevent them from doing so.”
At a loss how to proceed, he assured her that her vote counted for as much as either his or Brink’s. “Maybe you’d like to take charge?”
“I didn’t say that. Though I’m not short on survival experience, I can’t match stories with either of you. All I’m saying is that I know how to get by in a tight spot and I think that my input should count for something.”
Both men exchanged a glance, then looked back at her. “So input,” Low proposed crisply.
“I will. I think Commander Low should remain in charge. Technically we’re still on a NASA mission. Even if it’s been”—she hesitated—”somewhat extended and modified in scope. On the other hand, if we start prowling inside alien ruins in search of metal ignition plates or anything similar, then I think we should defer to you, Ludger.”
The scientist nodded once. If the small personal defeat troubled him, he didn’t show it.
Low was gracious in turn. “Look, Ludger, I don’t think of anybody as being ‘in charge’ here. We’re all in the same boat and we’re too small a group to worry about formalities. If anyone comes up with any good ideas, they need to broach them. We’ll analyze and decide together.”
“Naturally. Well, if nothing else, I can at least name this place.”
“Me, I’d just call it ‘Island,'” Robbins quipped.
“I’ve no objection to that.” Low’s response caused her to eye him quizzically. Any hidden meanings in his acquiescence remained hidden.
“I am sorry, but I must disagree. So lofty a discovery deserves grander nomenclature. “I would prefer to call it Cocytus.”
Robbins frowned. “Is that a Germanic name?”
The scientist smiled slightly. “Not exactly. In Dante’s Inferno, Cocytus was the name of the Ninth Circle of Hell. Intimidating it may sound, but it was also the way back to the outer world.”
“Charming. Oh well, if you insist. I suppose it carries a greater cache than ‘Island.'” To her credit Robbins didn’t sulk.
“Not a particularly hellish place,” Low demurred. “You said you’ve been to the Sahara and the Gobi. Except for better communications, I’d rank both worse than this. Cocytus it is, then.” He resumed his climb, and the others followed, Brink discoursing on the nature of the ruined walls and half-buried structures between which they were passing.
“See how they argue and debate.” The presence that made the observation drifted high above the trio as they left the asteroid transport behind and made their way toward the center of the island. “High above” was only a relative spatial designation. “Elsewhere proximate” would have been a more accurate description.
“To what end?” declared another. “They amble about. Perhaps not aimlessly, but with no real end in mind. They have solved nothing, done nothing. They stare and do not see. They listen and do not hear.”
“Their senses are circumscribed.” The first refused to be discouraged.
“See how they walk? So narrow and thin. It would seem they would unbalance and fall over. They have only the slim upper limbs to balance with. No tail, no wings, no cape, nothing. Yet they stride along, clumsy but erect. Their sense of balance must be well tuned.”