structure they
supported, but the wiring still attached to them is much too thin to carry power
to a hyperspace generator. In fact, I seriously doubt if these people had
either hyperdrive or artificial gravity, and the general level of technology
displayed is pretty elementary for a star-traveling race. Then there is the
apparent absence of an entry port. An airlock for this beastie would have to be
almost as long as the vessel itself.”
“There are a few star-traveling species who do not use them,” Conway said. “For
purely physiological reasons they do not indulge in extravehicular activity,
entering and leaving their ships only at time of departure and arrival.”
“Suppose,” Murchison said, “this vehicle is the being’s spacesuit.”
“A nice idea, ma’am, but no,” Fletcher said apologetically. “Apart from the four
viewports, whose angles of vision are severely limited because of their small
size and the space between the outer and inner hulls, there is no sensory input
of any kind known to me and, more important, no external manipulators. But
there must be some easy way of getting that beastie into and out of that thing,
whether it is a ship, a survival pod, or something else.”
There was a long silence, then Conway said, “I’m sorry, Captain. A few minutes
ago you were about to mention a third possibility when I interrupted you.”
“I was,” Fletcher said in the tone of one graciously receiving an apology. “But
you will understand, Doctor, that the theory is based on my initial visual
observation only and not, as yet, supported by accurate measurements.
Nevertheless, as I have already stated, this vessel is not a true cylinder but
appears to be curved slightly along its longitudinal axis.
“Now, an explosion or collision sufficiently violent to warp the cylinder out of
true,” he went on, slipping into his lecturing manner, “would buckle and open up
seams in the hull plating, and leave evidence of heat discoloration and
indentations from flying debris. There are no such indications. So if the
longitudinal axis of the vessel is, in fact, a very flat curve rather than a
straight line, then the curvature was deliberate, built in. This would explain
the lack of power and control linkages and an artificial gravity system because
they used—”
“Of course!” Conway broke in. “The hull beneath the flat
deck was outward facing and free of structural projections, which means that
they got their gravity the old-fashioned way by-”
“Will one of you,” Murchison said crossly, “kindly tell me what you are talking
about?”
“Certainly,” Conway said. “The Captain has convinced me that this structure is
not a ship or a lifeboat, but a section of a space station, an early Wheeltype
of very large diameter, which suffered a collision.”
“A space station away out here?” Murchison sounded incredulous. Then she began
to realize the implications and added feelingly, “In that case we could have an
awful lot of work ahead of us.”
“Maybe not, ma’am,” Fletcher said. “Admittedly there is a strong possibility of
finding many more space station segments, but the survivors may be very few.”
His tone became suddenly forceful. “Transferring that creature to our Casualty
Deck is out of the question. Instead I suggest we attach it to our hull, extend
Rhabwar’s hyperspace envelope accordingly, and whisk it back to Sector General
where their airlocks can easily handle a patient extraction problem of this
size. I am not the e-t medical specialist, of course, but I think we should do
this at once, leaving Tyrell to search for other survivors, and then return as
soon as possible for the others.” “No,” Conway said firmly.
“I don’t understand you, Doctor.” Behind his helmet visor Fletcher’s face had
gone red.
Conway ignored him for a moment while he addressed Murchison and Prilicla, who
had drifted closer in spite of the strong emotional radiation being generated in
the area. He said, “The survivor, so far as we are able to see, is linked to
what appears to be some kind of life-support system by three separate sets of
tubing. It is deeply unconscious but not physically distressed. There is also
the fact that its vessel contains a reservoir of power which is not presently