Resurgence

“And not only humans.” Graves’s skeletal face was somber, and his misty blue eyes stared at some distant vision. “The evidence was there, even before we left Miranda. We remarked on the condition of the bodies of the Marglotta, and of the Chism Polypheme. How had they died? They were apparently unharmed. But at the microscopic level, cells were ruptured everywhere throughout their bodies. As they would burst, were they instantly and completely frozen. A small group of Marglotta sought to fly far from danger, and to seek help. But by the time they left Marglot it was already too late. The Masters of Cold, or more likely some non-corporeal servant form, were already on board that ship. When it reached Miranda, those cold forms had vanished without trace. But you were right, Professor Lang, and I was wrong. Another force is present in the galaxy, a force as powerful as the Builders themselves. The Masters of Cold are not builders; they are indeed destroyers.”

He added to Nenda, “Now it is more than ever vital that we escape from here, and carry this news back to our own Orion Arm. Meanwhile, I will seek to determine the current location of the beetlebacks. They pose an increasing threat.”

Graves swept out, accompanied by Tally, Darya Lang, and Sinara Bellstock. Louis was left staring at just Hans Rebka.

“What’s he think we’re doing? Sittin’ on our butts laughin’ an’ scratchin’?”

“He’s an ethicist, Darya is a theorist, Tally is a calculator, and Sinara is a trainee. This thing is up to you and me, Nenda—or would you rather rely on the rest of them?”

“Don’t try to scare me. I’m scared enough already. Got ideas?”

“You say we can fly atmospheric. Suppose we do that, get as high and as fast as we can, and then turn on the Have-It-All’s space drive. Might that do it?”

“Thought of that a long time ago, an’ Kallik checked it out. We won’t make it to space unless our mass is way down.”

“You trust Kallik’s answer?”

“Hell, no. Anybody can be wrong, even Kallik. But Atvar H’sial and E.C. Tally came up with the same result. We can get off the ground, but not off the planet. The jury is still out on how well we’d do with the ship stripped to the bare bones.”

“Suppose you were to fly atmospheric to the top speed you can reach, then dump those engines and switch to orbital thrustors.”

“It’s easy to see it’s my ship you’re tearin’ to bits, an’ not yours. But I looked at that, too. You can’t dismantle and dump the atmospheric engines without a crew outside the ship. If you want to be unscrewin’ nuts and bolts an’ strippin’ off engines while you’re hangin’ on the outside at Mach Two, be my guest. I put your chances of stayin’ there more than twenty seconds at one in a million.”

“You thought of it already.”

“I did. But keep comin’ up with them ideas. I just said anyone can be wrong, an’ I’m sure in the group.”

“A tight spot.”

“Damn right.” Nenda studied Hans Rebka’s face. “You know the difference between you an’ me?”

“You’re a crook, and I’m not?”

“Don’t be a smartass. The big difference is, we both know we’re in deep trouble, an’ I hate it. But you get off on it. Come on, admit it.”

“I was raised for trouble, Nenda. I was born on Teufel.”

“Yeah, yeah. ‘What sins must a man commit,’ an’ all that stuff. I’ve heard it before, I don’t need to hear it again. Question is, what do we do now?”

“We finish the inventory of the Have-It-All. We strip out everything we can do without. Then we strip out some things we believe we can’t do without. Then we fly. And if we still have too much mass, I know a way to reduce it some more. You and I flip a coin, and the loser jumps overboard.”

“Sounds fair to me.”

“You have a two-headed coin, right?”

“How’d you guess.” Nenda walked over to the port and stared out at Marglot’s barren but beautiful landscape. “Fifty-five below. Think that Ben Blesh is somewhere out there?”

“If he is, he’d better be under cover. It’s blowing up another storm.”

“We better not stay too long on the surface ourselves, or we’ll be here forever.”

“I’ll offer you a better deal than the last one. If we’re too heavy when the time comes, I’ll go outside and take my chances with Ben Blesh. If we’re not too heavy and we do make it out alive, you’ll owe me one. We’ll go back together to the Phemus Circle and try to overthrow the government.”

“You crazy? You’ve got me confused with a guy who cares about other people. I’ll stick with the coin toss. Come on.” Nenda led the way from the room. “Let’s see what else may have to be chucked out of here, an’ break my sorrowin’ heart.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Iceworld again

One of Ben Blesh’s survival trainers had offered a warning: Be extra careful if you are ever forced to operate when sick or injured, because in such circumstances your senses provide a distorted view of reality. A familiar setting may seem to change beyond recognition.