Lord of the Flies-HOMEPAGE

My Home Town-HOMEPAGE

CHAPTERS

____________

The Christa Affair

Chapter Twenty-One

There was silence on the bridge of the \Klondike\ for the space of half a minute; astonishment at hearing the Keeper speak from the ship's intercom was written on the faces of every member of the crew. At last Rang spoke. "Keeper! We require assistance in understanding your world. Can you help us?"

"I can. You are the Supreme Authority of L'sa'ria. How may I serve you?"

"It is necessary that we move about freely within the city, without fear that we will activate devices that are harmful to us or encounter any more stimulation."

"Stimulation has been discontinued by your order. The People were unable to continue; stimulation is no longer necessary."

"Stimulation has been permanently discontinued?"

"That was your order. You are the Supreme Authority. Of what harmful devices do you speak?"

"Whatever that was that I activated within the dwelling."

"You speak of the pleasure stimulator?"

"The what?!" asked Karli incredulously. "I didn't find it at all pleasurable!"

"Define `pleasure stimulator'!" demanded Toko.

"The pleasure stimulator provides certain feelings of enjoyment to the People. My sensors showed that you activated the interior configuration of the dwelling you entered, also the pleasure stimulator. The activation was simultaneous, and the stimulator was activated at maximum strength. It was unpleasant?"

"That's an understatement!" spat Toko; Roi's comment was a bit less refined.

"Define `understatement'"

(.... "Starting to sound like the ship's computer!....") Karli recoiled visibly as she realized Jashi couldn't hear.

"Yes, Keeper, it was unpleasant," Rang answered the Keeper's question, ignoring Roi's brief exchange with Toko. "It threatened our continuance."

"If you find the effects of the pleasure stimulator unpleasant, why did you activate it?"

"It was done inadvertently, in a moment of carelessness induced by an imagined danger," replied Rang. "We were attempting to close the door."

"For what purpose?"

"We misunderstood when our companion warned of the danger to us from the Red Phase of the city; we thought other life-forms were present. We were attempting to protect ourselves from them."

"When I first spoke to you in the surface chamber, did I not inform you that there was no one in the city?"

"You did."

"Are you unaware that I cannot discourse a non-truth?"

"We were not aware, but there was no accusation of deception intended. Perhaps conditions had changed since your statement."

"If conditions had changed, I would have been aware of the alteration," responded the Keeper.

Rang saw an opportunity to clarify their position with the Keeper. "If you had been aware of a change that threatened us, would you have warned us?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"You did not request it."

"I request it! Can you follow our movements everywhere within the city?"

"Yes, if that is what you wish. Do you wish me to follow your movements on the surface and within your ship also?"

"Yes! No... Wait a minute!" He looked at the others in the group for advise. Toko and Karli shook their heads; Suu shrugged.

"Within the city and on the surface -- yes. Within the ship, monitoring will not be necessary if there is a way for us to contact you when assistance is required. Can you provide a way for us to contact you from this room?"

"I detect the presence of a primitive device with which I may be able to communicate. May I attempt contact?"

Toko bristled at the adjective used by the Keeper to describe the ship's computer; true, it was only a Burroughs-Interstellar Commander class, and not truly sentient, but it was far from primitive. "Will your contact be harmful to the device?" he asked.

"Would damage to the device be detrimental to your continuance?"

"Yes. The device is necessary to our continuance."

"Then it will not be harmed. You are the Supreme Authority of L'sa'ria. To harm the Supreme Authority is impermissible."

"Define Supreme Authority," demanded Rang, interrupting the exchange with Toko, who looked at him questioningly. Rang answered his unspoken question with the "wait a minute" sign.

"Supreme Authority is the highest power of our world. It was granted to you by your possession of the Sphere."

"Is Supreme Authority granted to me alone?"

"To you, and to anyone to whom you willingly transfer possession. As long as the Sphere is in your possession you are the Supreme Authority."

"Are my companions protected by the injunction against harm to the Supreme Authority?" Rang pressed the point; he wanted to know for sure where they stood.

"If you wish it," responded the Keeper.

"I wish it!"

"It is as you request. I have made contact with the device you refer to as 'ship's computer' and scanned your biological records; you are different from the People. Please accept my apologies for failing to warn you of the danger; there are many things here that may be harmful to your species. Do you wish me to neutralize them?"

"Yes, but not until necessary... And explain each to me before deactivation." It was Toko; understanding, Rang fell silent. The point of his concern had been clarified; if the Keeper told the truth, their power was virtually limitless.

"It shall be as you request. I detect that one of your companions is physically distressed... The one you call Captain-Jash-Jashi."

"That is correct. He was overcome by the pleasure stimulator," responded Toko.

"I have analyzed his condition. It can be corrected, but he must receive treatment immediately."

"Treatment? Where?" inquired Karli.

"Within the city. I will show you." A map of the city sprang to life on the display screen above the navigation console; an indicator winked to life to the right of center. "There. I find your device most useful," the Keeper added, sounding a bit like a child with a new toy.

"Thank you," responded Toko. "It suits our needs. Perhaps you could teach it new things?" The question was an afterthought.

"It cannot accept instruction at the slowest rate at which I am able to transmit. I will attempt to rectify the problem."

"No harm must come to the device," reminded Toko.

"To harm the Supreme Authority is impermissible. Will you bring your companion to the city for treatment?"

Rang countered with a question of his own. "Have you made arrangements to be contacted from this room?"

"Your device can contact me at any time."

"You will not be aware of our actions within the ship until we call you?"

"If that is your wish, Supreme Authority."

"You will be unable to hear our conversation?"

"If that is your wish, Supreme Authority."

"That is my wish! How soon must the Captain begin treatment?"

"Within three of your hours, if you wish him to continue. The damage is severe. Continuous treatment will be required for six of your days."

"Leave us now; I will call you when we have reached a decision."

After a few moments of silence, Rang stood and walked to the computer console. Several keyboard entries later he was satisfied; the Keeper could indeed be contacted by the ship's computer, but could not discern their activities within the ship. "He told the truth, guys; the computer confirms it. The Keeper's link with the computer is dormant. The original method of contact registered on the delta-four sensor trace, and has been withdrawn. I've set the computer to detect and warn of any change."

Rang returned to his place at the table. "It's your decision, Karli."

"Can we trust it? Him? Whatever?" she asked.

"What about the time element, Rang?" asked Lito. "We don't \have\ six days."

"I don't know, Karli," Rang responded, ignoring Lito's question and assertion, "but I don't think we have much choice in the matter. I checked Jashi's biostats while I was at the computer... His condition is deteriorating."

looked helplessly from Rang to Toko.

Toko addressed the ship's computer. "Computer on. Please contact the Keeper." He cut off Karli's protest with a gentle wave of his hand.

"It is done, Toko."

"I am here," echoed the Keeper. "I have solved the transmission speed problem. Do you wish me to begin teaching your device?"

Toko was surprised; the Keeper seemed to have anticipated him. "Can you teach our device your language, both written and spoken?"

"Do you wish it?"

"It is done. Do you wish me to instruct it in other matters pertaining to this world?"

"No! Not now." Toko was astounded at the speed with which it had been accomplished; had the Keeper modified the ship's computer rather than slowing the rate of transmission? "Our device can now translate between your language and ours?" he asked.

"Yes, but I do not understand the necessity. Do I speak your language badly?" It sounded positively plaintive.

"Keeper, you speak our language very well; I asked it for another purpose. Please leave us now."

"Very well, and thank you."

"Contact withdrawn," intoned the ship's computer. "We are not being scanned."

"What was that all about?" asked Mowii gruffly, speaking for the first time since the Keeper had made its presence known.

Toko ignored her; he addressed the computer. "Can you speak the language of the Keeper?"

"Yes," dutifully answered the machine.

"What is the word for starship?"

"There are several, the correct form is dependent on the usage of the vessel. The one approximating the \Klondike\ is known as..." An unpronounceable sound followed.

"What is the name of this planet in their language?"

Again the answer was unpronounceable. "\L'sa'ria\ is as closely as it can be pronounced by Humans."

"What is the word for 'falsehood'?" asked Toko.

There was a long moment of silence; at last the computer responded. "There is no word in the language of the Keeper for any kind of deception." The machine sounded perplexed. "I have searched three times. Is my data in error?"

"Possibly. Analyze for inconsistencies."

Thirty seconds, then, "No inconsistencies found. In-depth analysis will require four hours and ten minutes. Do you wish in-depth analysis?"

"No! Wait... Yes, but run it in the background and discontinue if it interferes with anything else. Report immediately if any found. Request any additional information you need from the Keeper," he added. Perhaps other data could be used to speed the analysis, or to locate a discrepancy.

The computer acknowledged and Toko returned his attention to the group at the table. "It's significant only if the Keeper is not deliberately deceiving us. Even then, if the language has been altered, it would have been very difficult not to leave evidence the computer can find."

"But we don't have that much time," protested Karli.

"I know," answered Toko. "But we can wait as long as possible, and then set the computer to warn us if it comes up with something after we go in." As he said it, he was thinking again of the speed with which the Keeper had programmed the computer with the language of this world. If the ships computer had been modified to accept faster data transfer, what else might the Keeper have done? If they were being deceived, could the machine be trusted at all?

"What about the six days?" persisted Lito.

"We can manage that, if we severely restrict power consumption and use eighty percent of our fuel safety margin. Shutting down all of the ship except essential systems and the control room and engineering section might reduce power demand to within the capacity of the FPG, even in this weak field. If we can shut down the fusion powerplant, I \know\ we'll be okay. I'll have to run it thru the computer to be sure."

"Sounds about the best we can do," said Rang. "Suu, Mowii, prepare Jashi for transport -- bubble stretcher on two lift units. Roi, you and Toko rig out that pressure tunnel. We're going back in."

The same five went back down, for the same reasons that had made them the logical selection for the earlier exploration; as Medical Officer, Suu joined the shore-party to monitor Jashi's condition. Only Mowii and Lito remained with the ship; Lito had the conn.

When they stepped out of the sub-terrainian chamber, they found themselves not at city-central, but in a large, domed foyer. When questioned, the Keeper informed them that was the nearest transport booth to their destination, and directed them to a door on the far side of the lavish lobby; beyond lay the central medical facility of the alien city.

*********

*********

Jashi's unconscious form floated a few inches above a bed on the far side of the room, encased in a soft green light that emanated from a strange-looking fixture hovering above; the rest of the group sat in chairs along the near wall. They had been assured by the Keeper that Jashi needed no other attention. Here, furniture and walls seemed to be real; if they were manipulated, they had been activated before the group's arrival. Toko addressed the Keeper, "Keeper, is the interior configuration of this place real?"

"Define 'real'," responded the Keeper.

"Substantive, tangible... As opposed to the interior of the dwelling in which we encountered difficultly with the pleasure stimulator."

"You did not find the things in that dwelling to be real?"

"...Yes..." Toko hesitated, not quite knowing how to get his point across; things in the dwelling had been all \too\ real. "But only after they were activated," he continued. "Does this place require activation?"

"All things here are the same. All things within the city are as you perceive them."

"Does the interior configuration of this place require activation?" Toko pressed his point.

"No," replied the Keeper. "It was activated once, that is all that is required. I sense that you are hungry. Do you wish nourishment?"

Toko was beginning to find the Keeper's penchant for suddenly changing the subject a bit disconcerting. "We brought food with us, Keeper, but concern for our companion has driven thoughts of hunger from our minds. Thank you," he added, wondering absently why he was being so polite to a machine.

"Perhaps liquid refreshment, then," suggested the Keeper. "I can provide anything listed in your ship's computer."

"Anything?!" Toko sat bolt upright in his chair; suddenly their automated host had his full attention. "Can you provide the liquid we call water?"

"Two molecules of hydrogen to one molecule of oxygen?"

"Yes."

"I can. Do you wish it?"

"Yes!" responded Toko enthusiastically.

The door to the room opened... \Something\ entered the room; all four were instantly on their feet, drawn weapons covering the strange-looking contraption. It was about 4 feet tall, and shaped like the top half of an hour-glass attached to an upside-down funnel; the rim of the funnel was suspended barely an inch above the floor. "Your refreshment, sir," it said as it stopped in front of Toko; a panel in the center of the top section slid open to reveal four transparent containers, two-thirds full of a clear liquid. "At what temperature do you prefer it?"

"Robowaiter," mumbled Toko, breathing a sigh of relief; they all holstered their weapons. He reached out and took one of the containers; it was cool to the touch. "This will be satisfactory," he answered, raising the strange glass to his lips -- like everything else in this place, the glass was a graceful pattern of irregular curves.

It was water all right -- pure two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen -- the most flavorless he had ever tasted. "Thank you," he said, stifling a grimace. "How much of this do you have?"

"The supply is unlimited. How much do you wish?"

Toko fought his rising exultation; unlimited in terms of refreshment might not be the same as when speaking in terms of several thousand cubic feet. "Keeper, are you aware that our ship extracts its fuel from this liquid?"

"I am. Do you require fuel?"

"Yes."

"For me to fill your tanks, you must bring your ship inside."

"Inside?!" gasped Karli. "Where?"

"There is a hanger-bay on this side of the city. The transport booth can take you directly there."

"Our scanners didn't show anything like that!" exclaimed Karli.

(.... "Fuel? A hanger? We can stay as long needed! ....") It was Lito, who had been monitoring the activities in the hospital via her contact with Roi.

(.... "Don't get overheated till we check this out....") Roi replied to his bondmate. "What about it, Toko?" he asked aloud.

"Has the computer completed the task assigned before we left the ship?"

There was a moment of silence. "Yes. Lito reports completion just moments ago. Results negative."

"As I expected," responded Toko. "If we are being deceived, the deception is so complete that our position is untenable anyway... Besides, if the intent was to harm us, there has been plenty of opportunity. I suspect the Keeper is capable of destroying the \Klondike\ where it now sits -- deception would be pointless. I vote we accept that the Keeper at face value; give it our full trust. It sure will make things a lot easier!"

The others nodded their agreement; a quick check with Lito aboard the \Klondike\ and the vote was unanimous, or almost so; having retired to her quarters, Mowii didn't participate. Thru Roi's telepathic link with Lito, Rang gave the order: "Up-ship, hover, and wait for instructions."

*********

With Rang's permission, and Toko in agreement, the Keeper took control of the \Klondike\ thru the ship's computer and autopilot. The ship skimmed low over the dome and drifted slowly east, riding its anti-gravs a scant hundred feet above the polished surface of the planet. Suddenly the area beneath the \Klondike\ dematerialized to reveal a brightly lighted hanger-bay large enough to accommodate at least five starships of the \Klondike's\ size; one moment ship's scanners showed solid unbroken ground below, the next moment it was gone, to be replaced by the sub-terrainian hanger.

The starship settled gently to the floor of the hanger; the roof overhead was again solid, and ship's outer hull sensors showed atmosphere. A door in the near wall of the room opened, and Rang and Toko strode briskly toward the ship; they were at city level, twenty thousand feet below the surface, though ship's scanners had showed the floor of the hanger to be only a little over eighteen hundred feet below them as the \Klondike\ began her descent.

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