2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clark Ha k !il"# $td.% c&'.

()*)( Studi'#% +'reha" ,''d% Hert# -.-$E PA/- . A!/.CA 0%000%000 YEA/S A*O

A1 1.E,S O! A!/.CA2 D/Y$A2DS ) D/O3*H-he re"'r#ele## dr'u4ht had la#ted n' 5'r ten "illi'n year#% and 'uld n't end 5'r an'ther "illi'n. -he rei4n '5 the ter) rible li6ard# had l'n4 #ince pa##ed% but here 'n the c'ntinent hich 'uld 'ne day be kn' n a# A5rica% the battle 5'r #ur7i7al had reached a ne cli"a8 '5 5er'city% and the 7ict'r a# n't yet in #i4ht. .n thi# dry and barren land% 'nly the #"all 'r the # i5t 'r the 5ierce c'uld 5l'uri#h% 'r e7en h'pe t' e8i#t. a1 A2 .2- 9 E:- CA1ES ) (OO2,A-CHE/ -he "an)ape# '5 the 5ield had n'ne '5 the#e attribute#% and they ere 'n the l'n4% pathetic r'ad t' racial e8tincti'n. Ab'ut t enty '5 the" 'ccupied a 4r'up '5 ca7e# '7erl''kin4 a #"all% parched 7alley% di7ided by a #lu44i#h% br' n #trea". -he tribe had al ay# been hun4ry% and n' it a# #tar7in4. A# the 5ir#t di" 4l' '5 da n creep# int' the ca7e% (''n atcher di#c'7er# that hi# 5ather ha# died durin4 the ni4ht. He did n't kn' the Old One a# hi# 5ather% 5'r #uch a relati'n#hip a# bey'nd hi# under#tandin4. but a# he #tand# l''kin4 d' n at the e"ac) iated b'dy he 5eel# #'"ethin4% #'"ethin4 akin t' #adne##. -hen he carrie# hi# dead 5ather 'ut '5 the ca7e% and lea7e# hi" 5'r the hyena#. A"'n4 hi# kind% (''n atcher i# al"'#t a 4iant. He i# nearly 5i7e 5eet hi4h% and th'u4h badly undern'uri#hed% ei4h# '7er a hundred p'und#. Hi# hairy% "u#cular b'dy i# ;uite "an)like% and hi# head i# already nearer "an than ape. -he 5'rehead i# l' % and there are 4reat rid4e# '7er the eye)#'cket#% yet he

un"i#takably h'ld# in hi# 4ene# the pr'"i#e '5 hu"anity. A# he l''k# 'ut n' up'n the h'#tile 'rld% there i# already a2 #'"ethin4 in hi# 4a6e bey'nd the 4ra#p '5 any ape. .n th'#e dark% deep)#et eye# i# a da nin4 a arene##)the 5ir#t inti"a) ti'n# '5 an intelli4ence hich 'uld n't 5ul5ill it#el5 5'r an'ther t ' "illi'n year#. a0 A0 E:- -HE S-/EA( ) -HE O-HE/S A# the da n #ky bri4hten#% (''n atcher and hi# tribe reach the #hall' #trea". -he Other# are already there. -hey ere there 'n the 'ther #ide e7ery day ) that did n't "ake it any le## ann'yin4. -here are ei4hteen '5 the"% and it i# i"p'##ible t' di#tin4ui#h the" 5r'" the "e"ber# '5 (''n atcher<# ' n tribe. A# they #ee hi" c'"in4% the Other# be4in t' an4rily dance and #hriek 'n their #ide '5 the #trea"% and hi# ' n pe'ple reply .n kind. -he c'n5r'ntati'n la#t# a 5e "inute# ) then the di#play die# 'ut a# ;uickly a# it ha# be4un% and e7ery'ne drink# hi# 5ill '5 the "uddy ater. H'n'r ha# been #ati#5ied ) each 4r'up ha# #taked it# clai" t' it# ' n territ'ry. a= A= E:- A!/.CA2 P$A.2 ) HE/+.1O/ES (''n atcher and hi# c'"pani'n# #earch 5'r berrie#% 5ruit and lea7e#% and 5i4ht '55 pan4# '5 hun4er% hile all ar'und the"% c'"petin4 ith the" 5'r the #a"r 5'dder% i# a p'tential #'urce '5 "'re 5''d than they c'uld e7er h'pe t' eat. Yet all the th'u#and# '5 t'n# '5 "eat r'a"in4 '7er the parched #a7anna and thr'u4h the bru#h i# n't 'nly bey'nd their reach> the idea '5 eatin4 it i# bey'nd their i"a4inati'n. -hey are #l' ly #tar7in4 t' death in the "id#t '5 plenty. a?

A? E:- PA/CHED CO32-/YS.DE ) -HE $.O2 -he tribe #l' ly ander# acr'## the bare% 5lat c'untry) #ide 5'ra4in4 5'r r''t# and 'cca#i'nal berrie#. Ei4ht '5 the" are irre4ularly #trun4 'ut 'n the 'pen plain% ab'ut 5i5ty 5eet apart. -he 4r'und i# 5lat 5'r "ile# ar'und. Suddenly% (''n atcher bec'"e# a are '5 a li'n% #talkin4 the" ab'ut 000 yard# a ay. De5encele## and ith n' here t' hide% they #catter in all directi'n#% but the li'n brin4# 'ne t' the 4r'und. a@ A@ E:- DEAD -/EE ) !.2DS HO2EY .t had n't been a 4''d day% th'u4h a# (''n atcher had n' real re"e"brance '5 the pa#t he c'uld n't c'"pare 'ne day ith an'ther. +ut 'n the ay back t' the ca7e# he 5ind# a hi7e '5 bee# in the #tu"p '5 a dead tree% and #' enA'y# the 5ine#t delicacy hi# pe'ple c'uld e7er kn' . O5 c'ur#e% he al#' c'llect# a 4''d "any #tin4#% but he #cacely n'tice# the". He i# n' a# near t' c'ntent"ent a# he i# e7er likely t' be> 5'r th'u4ht he i# #till hun4ry% he i# n't actually eak ith hun4er. -hat a# the "'#t that any h'"inid c'uld h'pe 5'r. aB AB .2- 9 E:- CA1ES ) 2.*H- -E//O/S O7er the 7alley% a 5ull "''n ri#e#% and a c'ld ind bl' # d' n 5r'" the di#tant "'untain#. .t 'uld be 7ery c'ld t'ni4ht ) but c'ld% like hun4er% a# n't a "atter 5'r any real c'ncern> it a# "erely part '5 the back4r'und '5 li5e. -hi# $ittle Sun% that 'nly #h'ne at ni4ht and 4a7e n' ar"th% a# dan4er'u#> there 'uld be ene"ie# abr'ad. (''n atcher cra l# 'ut '5 the ca7e% cla"ber# 'n t' a lar4e b'ulder be#ide#

the entrance% and #;uat# there here he can #ur7ey the 7alley. .5 any huntin4 bea#t appr'ached% he 'uld ha7e ti"e t' 4et back t' the relati7e #a5ety '5 the ca7e. O5 all the creature# h' had e7er li7ed 'n Earth% (''n atcher<# race a# the 5ir#t t' rai#e their eye# ith intere#t t' the (''n% and th'u4h he c'uld n't re"e"ber it% hen he a# y'un4% (''n atcher 'uld reach 'ut and try t' t'uch it# 4h'#tly 5ace. 2' he ne he 'uld ha7e t' 5ind a tree that a# hi4h en'u4h. He #tir# hen #hriek# and #crea"# ech' up the #l'pe 5r'" 'ne '5 the l' er ca7e#% and he d'e# n't need t' hear the aC AB CO2-.23ED 'cca#i'nal 4r' l '5 the li'n t' kn' hat i# happenin4. D' n there in the darkne##% 'ld One)Eye and hi# 5a"ily are dyin4% and the th'u4ht that he "i4ht help in #'"e ay ne7er cr'##e# (''n atcher<# "ind. -he har#h l'4ic '5 #ur7i7al rule# 'ut #uch 5ancie#. E7ery ca7e i# #ilent% le#t it attract di#a#ter. And in the ca7e#% in t'rtured #pell# '5 5it5ul d'6in4 and 5ear5ul aitin4% ere 4athered the ni4ht"are# '5 4enerati'n# yet t' c'"e. aD AC E:- -HE S-/EA( ) .21AS.O2 -he Other# are 4r' in4 de#perate> the 5'ra4e 'n their #ide '5 the 7alley i# al"'#t e8hau#ted. Perhap# they reali#e that (''n atcher<# tribe ha# l'#t three '5 it# nu"ber# durin4 the ni4ht% 5'r they ch''#e thi# "'urnin4 t' break the truce. ,hen they "eet at the ri7er in the #till% "i#ty da n% there i# a deeper and "'re "enacin4 n'te in their challen4e. -he n'i#y but u#ually har"le## c'n5r'ntati'n la#t# 'nly a 5e #ec'nd# be5're the in7a#i'n be4in#. .n an uncertainly)"'7in4 h'rde% the Other# cr'## the ri7er% #hiekin4 threat# and hunched 5'r the attack. -hey are led by a bi4)t''thed h'"inid '5 (''n atcher<# ' n #i6e and a4e.

Startled and 5ri4htened% the tribe retreat# be5're the 5ir#t ad7ance% thr' in4 n'thin4 "'re #ub#tantial than i"precati'n# at the in7ader#. (''n atcher "'7e# ith the"% hi# "ind a "i#t '5 ra4e and c'n5u#i'n. -' be dri7en 5r'" their ' n territ'ry i# a 4reat badne##% but t' l'#e the ri7er i# death. He d'e# n't kn' hat t' d'> it i# a #ituati'n bey'nd hi# e8perience. -hen he bec'"e# di"ly a are that the Other# are #l' in4 a10 AC CO2-.23ED d' n% and ad7ancin4 ith 'b7i'u# reluctance. -he 5urther they "'7e 5r'" their ' n #ide% the "'re uncertain and unhappy they bec'"e. Only +i4)-''th #till retain# any '5 hi# 'ri4inal dri7e% and he i# rapidly bein4 #eperated 5r'" hi# 5'll' er#. A# he #ee# thi#% (''n atcher<# ' n "'rale i""ediately re7i7e#. He #l' # d' n hi# retreat% and be4in# t' "ake rea##urin4 n'i#e# t' hi# c'"pani'n#. 2'7el #en#ati'n# 5ill hi# di" "ind ) the 5ir#t 5aint precur#'r# '5 bra7ery and leader#hip. +e5're he reali6e# it% he i# 5ace t' 5ace ith +i4)-''th% and the t ' tribe# c'"e t' a halt "any pace# a ay. -he di#'r4ani6ed and un#cienti5ic c'n5lict c'uld ha7e ended ;uickly i5 either had u#ed hi# 5i#t a# a club% but thi# inn'7ati'n #till lay hundred# '5 th'u#and# '5 year# in the 5uture. .n#tead% the #l' ly eakenin4 5i4hter# cla and #cratch and try t' bite each 'ther. /'llin4 '7er and '7er% they c'"e t' a patch '5 #t'ny 4r'und% and hen they reach it (''n atcher i# 'n t'p. +y chance% a11 AC CO2-.23ED he ch''#e# thi# "'"ent t' 4rab the hair 'n +i4)-''th<# #calp% and ban4 hi# head 'n the 4r'und. -he re#ultin4 C/ACK i#

#' #ati#5act'ry% and pr'duce# #uch an i""ediate eakenin4 .n +i4 ) -''th<# re#i#tance% that he ;uickly repeat# it. E7en hen +i4)-''th cea#e# t' "'7e 5'r #'"e ti"e% (''n) atcher keep# up the e8hiliratin4 4a"e. ,ith #hriek# '5 panic% the Other# retreat back% acr'## the #trea". -he de5ender# cauti'u#ly pur#ue the" a# 5ar a# -he ater<# ed4e. a12 E:- CA1E ) 2E, SO32D D'6in4 5it5ully and eakened by hi# #tu44le% (''n atcher i# #tartled by a #'und. He #it# up in the 5etid darkne## '5 the ca7e% #trainin4 hi# #en#e# 'ut int' the ni4ht% and 5ear creep# #l' ly int' hi# #'ul. 2e7er in hi# li5e ) already t ice a# l'n4 a# "'#t "e"ber# '5 hi# #pecie# c'uld e8pect ) ha# he heard a #'und like thi#. -he 4reat cat# appr'ached in #ilence% and the 'nly thin4 that betrayed the" a# a rare #lide '5 earth% 'r the 'cca#i'nal crackin4 '5 a t i4. Yet thi# i# a c'ntinuin4 crunchin4 n'i#e that 4r' # #teadily l'uder. .t #ee"ed that #'"e en'r"'u# bea#t a# "'7in4 thr'u4h the ni4ht% "akin4 n' atte"pt at c'nceal"ent% and i4n'rin4 all 'b#tacle#. And then there ca"e a #'und hich (''n atcher c'uld n't p'##ibly ha7e identi5ied% 5'r it had ne7er been heard be5're in the hi#t'ry '5 thi# planet. a10 A10 E:- CA1E ) 2E, /OCK (''n atcher c'"e# 5ace t' 5ace ith the 2e /'ck hen he lead# the tribe d' n t' the ri7er in the 5ir#t li4ht '5 "'rnin4. He had al"'#t 5'r4'tten the terr'r '5 the ni4ht% becau#e n'thin4 had happened a5ter that initial n'i#e% #' he d'e# n't e7en a##'ciate thi# #tran4e thin4 ith dan4er 'r ith 5ear. -here i# n'thin4 in the lea#t alar"in4 ab'ut it. .t i# a cube ab'ut 5i5teen 5eet 'n a #ide% and it i# "ade '5 #'"e c'"pletely tran#parent "aterial> indeed% it i# n't ea#y

t' #ee e8cept hen the li4ht '5 the #un 4lint# 'n it# ed4e#. -here are n' natural 'bAect# t' hich (''n atcher can c'"pare thi# appariti'n. -h'u4h he i# i#ely cauti'u# '5 "'#t ne thin4#% he d'e# n't he#itate t' alk up t' it. A# n'thin4 happen#% he put# 'ut hi# hand% and 5eel# a ar"% hard #ur5ace. A5ter #e7eral "inute# '5 inten#e th'u4ht% he arri7e# at a brilliant e8planati'n. .t i# a r'ck% '5 c'ur#e% and it "u#t ha7e 4r' n durin4 the ni4ht. -here are "any plant# that d' thi# ) hite% pulpy thin4# #haped like pebble#% that #ee" t' #h''t up in the h'ur# '5 darkne##. .t i# true that they are #"all and r'und% herea# thi# i# lar4e and #;uare> a1= A10 CO2-.23ED but 4reater and later phil'#'pher# than (''n atcher 'uld be prepared t' '7erl''k e;ually #trikin4 e8cepti'n# t' their la #. -hi# really #uperb piece '5 ab#tract thinkin4 lead# (''n atcher t' a deducti'n hich he i""ediately put# t' the te#t. -he hite% r'und pebble)plant# are 7ery ta#ty Eth'u4h there ere a 5e that "ade 'ne 7i'lently #ickF> perhap# thi# #;uare 'ne...G A 5e lick# and atte"pted nibble# ;uickly di#illu#i'n hi". -here i# n' n'uri#h"ent here> #' like a #en#ible h'"inid% he c'ntinue# 'n hi# ay t' the ri7er and 5'r4et# all ab'ut the Cube. a1? A11 E:- C3+E ) !./S- $ESSO2 -hey are #till a hundred yard# 5r'" the 2e #'und be4in#. /'ck hen the

.t i# ;uite #'5t% and it #t'p# the" in their track#% #' that they #tand paraly6ed 'n the trail ith their Aa # han4in4. A #i"ple% "addenin4ly repetiti'u# rhyth" pul#e# 'ut '5 the cry#tal cube and hypn'ti#e# all h' c'"e ithin it# #pell. !'r the 5ir#t ti"e ) and the la#t% 5'r t ' "illi'n year ) the #'und '5 dru""in4 i# heard in A5rica.

-he thr'bbin4 4r' # l'uder% "'re in#i#tent. Pre#ently the h'"inid# be4in t' "'7e 5'r ard like #leep) alker#% t' ard# the #'urce '5 that "a4netic #'und. S'"eti"e# they take little dancin4 #tep#% a# their bl''d re#p'nd# t' the rhyth"# that their de#cendant# ill n't create 5'r a4e# yet. -'tally entranced% they 4ather ar'und the Cube% 5'r4ettin4 the hard#hip# '5 the day% the peril# '5 the appr'achin4 du#k% and the hun4er in their bellie#. 2' % #pinnin4 heel# '5 li4ht be4in t' "er4e% and the #p'ke# 5u#e int' lu"in'u# bar# that #l' ly recede int' the di#tance% a1@ A11 CO2-.23ED r'tatin4 'n their a8e# a# they d'> and the h'"inid# atch% ide) eyed% "e#"eri6ed capti7e# '5 the Cry#tal Cube. -hen by #'"e "a4ic ) th'u4h it a# n' "'re "a4ical than all that had 4'ne 'n be5're ) a per5ectly n'r"al #cene appear#. .t i# a# i5 a cubical bl'ck had been car7ed 'ut '5 the day and #hi5ted int' the ni4ht. .n#ide that bl'ck i# a 4r'up '5 5'ur h'"inid#% h' "i4ht ha7e been "e"ber# '5 (''n atcher<# ' n tribe% eatin4 chunk# '5 "eat. -he carca## '5 a art)h'4 lie# near the". -hi# little 5a"ily '5 "ale and 5e"ale and t ' children i# 4'r4ed and replete% ith #leek and 4l'##y pelt# ) and thi# a# a c'nditi'n '5 li5e that (''n atcher had ne7er i"a4ined. !r'" ti"e t' ti"e they #tir la6ily% a# they l'll at ea#e near the entrance '5 their ca7e% apparently at peace ith the 'rld. -he #pectacle '5 d'"e#tic bli## "er4e# int' a t'tally di55erent #cene. -he 5a"ily i# n' l'n4er rep'#in4 peace5ully 'ut#ide it# ca7e> it i# 5'ra4in4% #earchin4 5'r 5''d like any n'r"al h'"inid#. a1B A11 CO2-.23ED A #"all art)h'4 a"ble# pa#t the 4r'up '5 br' #in4 hu"an'id#

ith'ut 4i7in4 the" "'re than a 4lance% 5'r they had ne7er been the #li4hte#t dan4er t' it# #pecie#. +ut that happy #tate '5 a55air# i# ab'ut t' end. -he bi4 "ale #uddenly bend# d' n% pick# up a hea7y #t'ne lyin4 at hi# 5eet ) and hurl# it up'n the un5'rtunate pi4. -he #t'ne de#cend# up'n it# #kull% "akin4 e8actly the #a"e n'i#e that (''n atcher had pr'duced in hi# n' al"'#t 5'r4'tten enc'unter ith +i4)-''th. And the re#ult% t''% i# "uch the #a"e ) the arth'4 4i7e# 'ne a"a6ed% indi4nant #;ueal% and c'llap#e# in a "'ti'nle## heap. -hen the h'le #e;uence be4in# a4ain% but thi# ti"e it un5'ld# it#el5 ith incredible #l' ne##. E7ery detail '5 the "'7e"ent can be 5'll' ed> the #t'ne arche# lei#urely thr'u4h the air% the pi4 cru"ple# up and #ink# t' the 4r'und. -here the #cene 5ree6e# 5'r l'n4 "'"ent#% the #layer #tandin4 "'ti'nle## ab'7e the #lain% the 5ir#t '5 all eap'n# in hi# hand. -he #cene #uddenly 5ade# 'ut. -he cube i# n' "'re than a 4li""erin4 'utline in the darkne##> the h'"inid# #tir% a# i5 a1C A11 CO2-.23ED a akenin4 5r'" a drea"% reali#e back t' their ca7e#. here they are% and #cuttle

-hey ha7e n' c'nci'u# "e"'ry '5 hat they had #een> but that ni4ht% a# he #it# br''din4 at the entrance '5 hi# lair% hi# ear# attuned t' the n'i#e# '5 the 'rld ar'und hi"% (''n atcher 5eel# the 5ir#t 5aint t in4e# '5 a ne and p'tent e"'ti'n ) the ur4e t' kill. He had taken hi# 5ir#t #tep t' ard# hu"anity. a1D A12 E:- ca7e A2D P$A.2S ) 3t'pia +abie# ere b'rn and #'"eti"e# li7ed> 5eeble% t''thle## thirty) year)'ld# died> the li'n t''k it# t'll in the ni4ht> the Other# threatened daily acr'## the ri7er ) and the trib pr'#pered. .n the c'ur#e '5 a #in4le year% (''n atcher and hi# c'"pani'n# had chan4ed al"'#t bey'nd rec'4niti'n.

-hey had bec'"e a# plu"p a# the 5a"ily in the Ca7e% h' n' l'n4er haunted their drea"#. -hey had learned their le##'n# ell> n' they c'uld handle all the #t'ne t''l# and eap'n# that the Cube had re7ealed t' the". -hey ere n' l'n4er hal5)nu"bed ith #tar7ati'n% and they had ti"e b'th 5'r lei#ure and 5'r the 5ir#t rudi"ent# '5 th'u4ht. -heir ne ay '5 li5e a# ca#ually accepted% and they did n't a##'ciate it in any ay ith the cry#tal cube #till #tandin4 'ut#ide their ca7e. +ut n' 3t'pia i# per5ect% and thi# 'ne had t ' ble"i#he#. -he 5ir#t a# the "araudin4 li'n% h'#e pa##i'n 5'r h'"inid# #ee"ed t' ha7e 4r' n e7en #tr'n4er n' that they ere better n'uri#hed. -he #ec'nd a# the tribe acr'## the ri7er> 5'r a20 A12 CO2-.23ED #'"eh' the Other# had #ur7i7ed% and had #tubb'rnly re5u#ed t' die '5 #tar7ati'n. a21 A10 E:- CA1ES ) K.$$.2* -HE $.O2 ,ith the partly de7'ured carca## '5 a arth'4 laid 'ut 'n the 4r'und at the p'int he h'pe the b'ulder 'uld i"pact% (''n) atcher and three '5 hi# bra7e#t c'"pani'n# ait 5'r t ' c'n#ecuti7e ni4ht#. On the third the li'n c'"e#% betrayin4 hi# pre#ence# by a #"all pebble #lide. ,hen they can here the li'n bel' % #'5tly tearin4 at the "eat% they #train the"#el7e# a4ain#t the "a##i7e b'ulder. -he #'und '5 the li'n #t'p#> he i# li#tenin4. A4ain they #ilently hea7e a4ain#t the en'r"'u# #t'ne% e8ertin4 the 5inal li"it# '5 their #tren4th. -he r'ck be4in t' tip t' a ne balance p'int. -he li'n t itche# alert t' thi# #'und% but ha7in4 n' 5ear '5 the#e creature#% he "ake# the 5ir#t '5 t ' "i#take# hich ill c'#t hi" hi# li5e> he 4'e# back t' hi# "eal. -he r'ck "'7e# #l' ly '7er the led4e% pickin4 up #peed ith

10

a"a6in4 #uddene##. .t #trike# a pr'Aecti'n in the cli55 ab'ut 5i5teen 5eet ab'7e the 4r'und% hich de5lect# it# path 'ut ard. Hu#t at thi# in#tant% the li'n react# in#tincti7ely and leap# a ay 5r'" the 5ace '5 the cli55 directly int' the path '5 the a22 A10 CO2-.23ED 'nru#hin4 b'ulder. He ha# c'"bined the err'r# '5 '7er) c'n5idence and bad luck. -he ne8t "'rnin4 they 5ind the li'n in 5r'nt '5 the ca7e. -hey al#' 5ind 'ne '5 their tribe h' had incauti'u#ly peeped 'ut t' #ee hat a# happenin4% and a# apparently killed by a #"all r'ck t'rn l''#e by the b'ulder> but thi# a# a #"all price t' pay 5'r #uch a 4reat 7ict'ry. IIIIIIII And then 'ne ni4ht the cry#tal cube a# 4'ne% and n't e7en (''n atcher e7er th'u4ht '5 it a4ain. He a# #till h'lly una are '5 all that it had d'ne. a20 A1= E:- S-/EA( ) (AS-E/ O! -HE ,O/$D !r'" their #ide '5 the #trea"% in the ne7er 7i'lated #a5ety '5 their ' n territ'ry% the Other# #ee (''n atcher and 5'urteen "ale# '5 hi# tribe appear 5r'" behind a #"all hill'ck '7er) l''kin4 the #trea"% #ilh'uetted a4ain#t the da n #ky. -he Other# be4in t' #crea" their daily challen4e. +ut t'day #'"ethin4 i# di55erent% th'u4h the Other# d' n't i""ediatly rec'4ni6e thi# 5act. .n#tead '5 A'inin4 the 7erbal 'n#lau4ht% a# they had al ay# d'ne% (''n atcher and hi# #"all band decended 5r'" the ri#e% and be4in t' "'7e 5'r ard t' the #trea" ith a ;uiet purp'#e5ulne## ne7er be5'r #een. A# the Other# atch the 5i4ure# #ilently appr'achin4 in the

11

"'rnin4 "i#t% they bec'"e a are '5 the terrible #tran4ne## '5 thi# enc'unter% and their ra4e 4radually #ub#ide# d' n t' an unea#y #ilence. At the ater<# ed4e% (''n atcher and hi# band #t'p. -hey carry their b'ne club# and b'ne kni7e#. a2= A1= CO2-.23ED $ed by One)ear% the Other# hal5)heartly re#u"e the battle) chant. +ut they are #uddenly c'n5runted ith a 7i#i'n that cut# the #'und 5r'" their thr'at#% and #trike# terr'r int' their heart#. (''n atcher% h' had been partly c'ncealed by t ' "ale# h' alked be5're hi"% thru#t# hi# ar" hi4h int' the air. .n hi# hand he h'ld# a #t'ud tree branch. ('unted at'p the branch i# the bl''dy head '5 the li'n% it# "'uth Aa""ed 'pen ith a #tick% di#playin4 it# 5ri4ht5ul 5an4#. -he Other# 4ape in 5ear5ul di#belie5 at thi# di#play '5 p' er. (''n atcher# #tand# "'ti'nle##% thru#tin4 the li'n<# head hi4h. -hen ith "aAe#tic deliberati'n% #till carryin4 hi# "an4led #tandard ab'7e hi# head% he be4in# t' cr'## the #trea"% 5'll' ed by hi# band. -he Other# 5ade back 5r'" the #trea"% #ee"in4 t' lack e7en the ability t' 5lee. (''n atcher #tep# a#h're and alk# t' One)Ear% h' #tand# a2? A1= CO2-.23ED un#urely in 5r'nt '5 hi# band. -h'u4h he i# a 7eteran '5 nu"er'u# c'"bat# at the ater<# ed4e% One)Ear ha# ne7er been attacked by an ene"y h' had n't 5ir#t di#played hi# 5i4htin4 ra4e> and he had ne7er be5're been attacked ith a eap'n. One)Ear% "erely l''k# up at the rai#ed club

12

until the hea7ey thi4h b'ne '5 an antel'pe brin4# the darkne## d' n ar'und hi". -he Other# #tare in 'nder at (''n atcher<# p' er.

(''n atcher #ur7ey# the #cene. 2' he a# "a#ter '5 the 'rld% and he a# n't #ure hat t' d' ne8t. +ut he 'uld think '5 #'"ethin4. a2@ A SEC-.O2 -.(.2* A1 A2 A0 A= A? A@ AB AC AD A10 A11 A12 A10 A1= 00.00 00.=? 01.00 00.00 01.00 01.00 01.00 00.00 00.=? 02.00 0=.00 02.00 02.00 02.00 A SEC-.O2 -O-A$: J20 (.2. 00 SECS -.-$E PA/- .. YEA/ 2001 a2@a +1 EA/-H !/O( 200 (.$ES 3P +1a -HO3SA2D (E*A-O2 23C$EA/ +O(+ .2 O/+.A+O1E -HE EA/-H% /3SS.A2 .2S.*2.A A2D CCCP (A/K.2*S 2A//A-O/ +y the year 2001% '7erp'pulati'n ha# replaced the pr'ble" '5 #tar7ati'n but thi# a# '"in'u#ly '55#et by the ab#'lute and utter per5ecti'n '5 the eap'n.

10

+1b A(E/.CA2 -HO3SA2D (E*A-O2 +O(+ .2 O/+.A+O1E -HE EA/-H.

2A//A-O/ Hundred# '5 4iant b'"b# had been placed in perpetual 'rbit ab'7e the Earth. -hey ere capable '5 incineratin4 the entire Earth<# #ur5ace 5r'" an altitude '5 100 "ile#. 2A//A-O/ (atter# ere 5urther c'"plicated by the pre#ence '5 t enty)#e7en nati'n# in the nuclear club. -here had been n' deliberate 'r acciden) tal u#e '5 nuclear eap'n# #ince ,'rld ,ar .. and #'"e pe'ple 5elt #ercure in thi# kn' led4e. +ut t' 'ther#% the #ituati'n #ee"ed c'"parible t' an airline ith a per5ect #a5ety rec'rd> in #h' ed ad"irable care and #kill but n' 'ne e8pected it t' la#t 5're7er.

+1c !/E2CH +O(+

+1d *E/(A2 +O(+

+15 CH.2ESE +O(+ 10&=&@? b1 +2 O/.O2)... SPACEC/A!.2 !.*H- A,AY !/O( EA/-H% 200 (.$ES A$-.-3DE. 10&=&@? b2 +0 O/.O2)... PASSE2*E/ A/EA. D/. HEY,OOD !$OYD .S -HE O2$Y PASSE2*E/ .2 -HE E$E*A2- CA+.2 DES.*2ED !O/ 00 PEOP$E. HE .S AS$EEP. H.S PE2 !$OA-S 2EA/ H.S HA2D.

1=

10&=&@? b0 += O/.O2)... COCKP.-. P.$O-% CO)P.$O-. !$OYD CA2 +E SEE2 AS$EEP O2 A S(A$$ -1 (O2.-O/. S-E,A/DESS .S P3--.2* O2 $.PS-.CK. SHE SEES PE2. 10&=&@? b= +? S-E,A/DESS *OES +ACK -O PASSE2*E/ A/EA% /ESC3ES PE2 A2D C$.PS .- +ACK .2 !$OYD<S POCKE-. 10&=&@? b? +@ SPACE S-A-.O2)?. -HE /A, S32$.*H- O! SPACE DAKK$ES !/O( -HE PO$.SHED (E-A$ S3/!ACES O! -HE S$O,$Y /E1O$1.2*% -HO3SA2D)!OO- D.A(E-E/ SPACE S-A-.O2. D/.!-.2* .2 -HE SA(E O/+.-% ,E SEE S,EP-)+ACK -.-O1)1 SPACEC/A!-. A$SO -HE A$(OS- SPHE/.CA$ A/.ES).+ 10&=&@? b@ +B O/.O2)... PASSE2*E/ A/EA !$OYD A,AKE +3- */O**Y% $OOKS O3- O! ,.2DO,.

1?

10&=&@? bB +C O/.O2)... COCKP.-. -HE CO)P.$O- .2 /AD.O CO((32.CA-.O2 ,.-H -HE SPACE S-A-.O2. 10&=&@? bC +D -HE O/.O2)... SPACEC/A!.2 DOCK.2* APP/OACH. -HE EA/-H .S SEE2 .2 +/EA-H) -AK.2* 1.E, .2 +.*. 10&=&@? bD +10 .2S.DE DOCK.2* CO2-/O$. ,E SEE O/.O2)... (A2O) 31E/.2*. .2 +ACK*/O32D. 10&=&@? b10 +11 !/O( DOCK.2* PO/- ,E SEE -HE O/.O2)... .2CH.2* .2 -O CO(P$E-E .-S DOCK.2*. ,E SEE 1A/.O3S ,.2DO,ED +OO-HS .2S.DE DOCK.2* PO/-. ,E SEE -HE P.$O- A2D CO)P.$O.2S.DE -HE O/.O2)... COCKP.-. 10&=&@? b11 +12 SPACE S-A-.O2

1@

/ECEP-.O2 A/EA /ECEP-.O2.S- A- DESK. (.$$E/ E2-E/S% H3/) /Y.2*. HE *OES -O -HE E$E1A-O/ A2D P/ESSES +3--O2. HE ,A.-S .(PA-.E2-$Y. ,E SEE E$E1A-O/ .2D.CA-O/ ,O/K.2* E$E1A-O/ DOO/ OPE2S A2D !$OYD .S SEE2 32S-/APP.2* H.(SE$!. -HE E$E1A-O/ *./$ .S SEA-ED +Y -HE DOO/ (.$$E/ Oh% 4''d "'rnin4% Dr. !l'yd. .<" 2ick (iller. !$OYD H' d' y'u d'% (r. (illerG (.$$E/ .<" terribly #'rry. . a# Au#t 'n "y ay d' n t' "eet y'u. . #a y'ur #hip d'ck and . kne . had plenty '5 ti"e% and . a# 'n "y ay 'ut '5 the '55ice hen% #uddenly% the ph'ne ran4. 12&B&@? b12 +12 CO2-.23ED !$OYD Oh% plea#e d'n<t 'rry ab'ut it. (.$$E/ ,ell% thank y'u 7ery "uch 5'r bein4 #' under#tandin4. !$OYD

1B

Plea#e% it really d'e#n<t "atter. (.$$E/ ,ell.. Did y'u ha7e a pleaant 5li4htG !$OYD Ye#% 7ery plea#ant. (.$$E/ ,ell% #hall e 4' thr'u4h D'cu"entati'nG !$OYD !ine. /ECEP-.O2.S,ill y'u u#e nu"ber ei4ht% plea#eG (.$$E/ -hank y'u% (i## -urner. 12&B&@? +12 CO2-.23ED -HEY E2-E/ PASSPO/A/EA /ECEP-.O2.S- P/ESSES LE2*$.SHL +A/ O2 HE/ CO2SO$E A2D S(.$ES AS !$OYD *OES -H/O3*H. 12&B&@? .2 A3-O(A-ED PASSPO/SEC-.O2. -HEY S-OP .2 !/O2- O! A +OO-H !EA-3/.2* A -1 SC/EE2 PASSPO/- *./$ E-1F *''d "'rnin4 and elc'"e t' 7'ice Print .denti5icati'n. ,hen y'u #ee b10a b10

1C

the red li4ht 4' 'n 'uld y'u plea#e #tate in the 5'll' in4 'rder> y'ur de#itinati'n% y'ur nati'nality and y'ur 5ull na"e. Surna"e 5ir#t% chri#tian na"e and initial. !'r e8a"ple: (''n% A"erican% S"ith% H'hn% D. -hank y'u. -HE/E .S A PA3SE A2D A /ED +A/ $.*H-S 3P !$OYD (''n% A"erican% !l'yd% Hey ''d% /. -HE /ED $.*H- *OES O!!. -HE/E .S A DE$AY O! A+O3- -,O SECO2DS A2D -HE ,O(A2<S !ACE /EAPPEA/S !$OYD .<7e al ay# 'ndered.... 12&B&@? +10 CO2-.23ED PASSPO/- *./$ E-1F E.nterruptin4F -hank y'u. De#pite and e8cellent and c'ntinually i"pr'7in4 #a5ety rec'rd there are certain ri#k# inherent in #pace tra7el and an e8tre"ely hi4h c'#t '5 pay l'ad. +ecau#e '5 thi# it i# nece##ary 5'r the Space Carrier t' ad7i#e y'u that it cann't be re#p'n#ible 5'r the return '5 y'ur b'dy t' Earth #h'uld y'u bec'"e decea#ed 'n the (''n 'r en r'ute t' the (''n. H' e7er% it i#he# t' ad7i#e y'u that in#urance c'7erin4 thi# c'ntin4ency i# a7ailable in the (ain $'un4e. -hank y'u. Y'u are cleared thr'u4h 1'ice Print .denti5icati'n. b1=

1D

-HE $.*H-S *O O!! A2D -HE ,O(A2<S !ACE D.SAPPEA/S -HE (E2 E:.- -HE PASSPO/- A/EA (.$$E/ .<7e re#er7ed a table 5'r y'u in the Earth $i4ht r''". Y'ur c'nnectin4 5li4ht ill be lea7in4 in ab'ut 'ne h'ur. 12&B&@? +10 CO2-.23ED !$OYD Oh% that<# 'nder5ul. 12&B&@? +1= .2- SPACE S-A-.O2 ) $O32*E !$OYD A2D (.$$E/ ,A$K.2* (.$$E/ $et<# #ee% e ha7en<t had the plea#ure '5 a 7i#it 5r'" y'u n't #ince... .t a# ab'ut ei4ht 'r nine "'nth# a4'% a#n<t itG !$OYD Ye#% . think #'. Hu#t ab'ut then. (.$$E/ . #upp'#e y'u #a the 'rk 'n 'ur ne #ecti'n hile y'u ere d'ckin4. !$OYD Ye#% it<# c'"in4 al'n4 7ery ell. b1@ b1?

20

-HEY PASS -HE 1.S.O2 PHO2E +OO-H !$OYD Oh% l''k% .<7e 4't t' "ake a ph'ne call. ,hy d'n<t y'u 4' 'n int' the /e#taurant and .<ll "eet y'u in there. 12&B&@? +1= CO2-.23ED (.$$E/ !ine. .<ll #ee y'u at the bar. !$OYD E2-E/S PHO2E +OO-H. S.*2 O2 1.S.O2 PHO2E SC/EE2 LSO//Y% -E(PO/A/.$Y O3- O! O/DE/.L HE E2-E/S -HE SECO2D +OO-H A2D S.-S DO,2 12&B&@? +1? DE$E-ED +1@ DE$E-ED PA*ES b1D ) b22 DE$E-ED 12&B&@? +1B !$OYD .2 1.S.O2 PHO2E $.--$E *./$ O! !.1E A2S,E/S CH.$D b1C b1B

21

Hell'. 1.S.O2 PHO2E SC/EE2 D.SP$AY S.*2 <YO3/ PA/-Y HAS 2O- CO22EC-ED 1.S.O2< A !E, SECO2DS $A-E/% -HE SC/EE2 CHA2*ES -O A2 .(A*E O! -HE CH.$D !$OYD Hell'% darlin4% h' are y'uG

CH.$D Hell' Daddy. ,here are y'uG !$OYD .<" at Space Stati'n !i7e% darlin4. H' are y'uG CH.$D .<" 5ine% Daddy. ,hen are y'u c'"in4 h'"eG 12&@&@? +1B CO2-.23ED !$OYD ,ell% . h'pe in a 5e # eetheart. day#% b20

CH.$D .<" ha7in4 a party t'"'rr' . !$OYD Ye#% . kn' that # eetheart.

CH.$D Are y'u c'"in4 t' "y partyG !$OYD 2'% .<" #'rry% darlin4% . t'ld y'u . 'n<t be h'"e 5'r a

22

5e

day#.

CH.$D ,hen are y'u c'"in4 h'"eG !$OYD .n three day#% darlin4% . h'pe. !$OYD HO$DS 3P -H/EE !.2*E/S. 12&@&@? +1B !$OYD One% t '% three. Can . #peak t' ('""yG CH.$D ('""y<# 'ut t' the hair) dre##er. !$OYD ,here i# (r#. +r' nG CH.$D She<# in the bathr''". !$OYD Okay% # eetheart. ,ell% . ha7e t' 4' n' . -ell ('""y that . called. CH.$D H' "any day# until y'u c'"e h'"eG !$OYD -hree% darlin4. One... t ' ... three. +e #ure t' tell ('""y . called. 12&@&@? b2=a b2=

20

+1B CO2-.23ED CH.$D . ill% Daddy. !$OYD Okay% # eetheart. Ha7e a l'7ely +irthday Party t'"'rr' . CH.$D -hank y'u% Daddy. !$OYD .<ll i#h y'u a happy +irthday n' and .<ll #ee y'u #''n. All ri4ht% Darlin4G CH.$D Ye#% Daddy. !$OYD <+ye% <bye% n' % # eetheart. CH.$D *''dbye% Daddy. 12&@&@? +1C 1.S.O2 PHO2E P/OCED3/E !O/ .2!O/(A-.O2 1.S.O2 PHO2E P/OCED3/E !O/ D.A$$.2* OPE/A-O/ *''d "'rnin4% (acy<#. !$OYD *''d "'rnin4. .<d like the 1i#i'n #h'pper 5'r the Pet Sh'p% plea#e. b2=b

2=

OPE/A-O/ Hu#t 'ne "'"ent. 12&B&@? +1D -HE P.C-3/E !$.PS A2D ,E SEE A ,O(A2 S-A2D.2* .2 !O/2 O! A SPEC.A$$Y) DES.*2ED D.SP$AY SC/EE2 1.S.O2 SA$ES *./$ *''d "'rnin4% #ir% "ay . help y'uG !$OYD Ye#% .<d like t' buy a bu#h baby. 1.S.O2 SA$ES *./$ Hu#t a "'"ent% #ir. -HE *./$ KEYS SO(E .2P3-S A2D A (O1.2* P.C-3/E APPEA/S O2 -HE SC/EE2 O! A CA*E CO2-A.2.2* A+O3- S.: +3SH +A+.ES% +EA3-.!3$$Y D.SP$AYED A*A.2S- A ,H.-E +ACK) */O32D 1.S.O2 SA$ES *./$ Here y'u are% #ir. Here i# a l'7ely a##'rt"ent '5 A5rican bu#h babie#. -hey are t enty D'llar# each. 12&B&@? +1D CO2-.23ED !$OYD Ye#% ell... Pick 'ut a nice 'ne 5'r "e% a 5riendly 'ne% and .<d like it deli7ered t'"'rr' . b2@ b2?

2?

1.S.O2 SA$ES *./$ Certainly% #ir. Hu#t let u# ha7e y'ur na"e and +ank identi5icati'n 5'r 1.P...% and then 4i7e the na"e and addre## '5 the per#'n y'u<d like the pet deli7ered t' and it ill be deli7ered t'"'rr' . SO(E -.(E D3/.2* -H.S CO21E/SA-.O2% !$OYD SEE E$E2A% S(YS$O1 A2D -HE O-HE/ -,O /3SS.A2S PASS H.S 1.S.O2 PHO2E ,.2DO,. E$E2A -APS A2D (.(ES LHE$$OL% *ES-3/.2* -O,A/D A -A+$E +EH.2D !$OYD ,HE/E -HEY A$$ S.DO,2 !$OYD -hank y'u 7ery "uch. !l'yd% Hey ''d% /.% !ir#t 2ati'nal +ank '5 ,a#hin4t'n. Plea#e deli7er t' (i## H'#ephine !l'yd% D=20 Dupre A7enue% 2.,.1=. 12&B&@? +1D CO2-.23ED 1.S.O2 SA$ES *./$ -hank y'u 7ery "uch% #ir. .t ill be deli7ered t'"'rr' . 12&B&@? +20 SPACE S-A--.O2 ? ) $O32*E !$OYD ,ell% h' nice t' #ee y'u a4ain% b2Ba b2B

2@

Elena. Y'u<re l''kin4 'nder5ul. E$E2A H' nice t' #ee y'u% Hye ''d. -hi# i# "y 4''d 5riend% Dr. Hey ''d !l'yd. .<d like y'u t' "eet Andre S"y#l'7... S(YS$O1 A2D -HE -,O O-HE/ /3SS.A2 ,O(E2 S-A2D 3P A2D S(.$E -HEY SHAKE HA2DS A!-E/ .2-/OD3C-.O2 A2D AD)$.+ <HE$$OS< E$E2A And thi# i# Dr. Kalinan... Stretyne7a... -HE /3SS.A2S A/E 1E/Y ,A/( A2D !/.E2D$Y. S(YS$O1 Dr. !l'yd% 'n<t y'u A'in u# 5'r a drinkG 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED !$OYD .<" a5raid .<7e 'nly 4't a 5e "inute#% but .<d l'7e t'. -HE/E .S A +.- O! CO2!3S.O2 AS A$$ /EA$.SE -HE/E .S 2O- E2O3*H /OO( !O/ A2O-HE/ PE/SO2 A- -HE -A+$E. S(YS$O1 O!!E/S !$OYD H.S CHA./ A2D +O//O,S b2C

2B

A2O-HE/ !/O( A 2EA/+Y -A+$E SY(YS$O1 ,hat 'uld y'u like t' drinkG !$OYD Oh% . really d'n<t ha7e ti"e 5'r a drink. .5 it<# all ri4ht .<ll Au#t #it 5'r a "inute and then .<7e 4't t' be '55. S(YS$O1 Are y'u ;uite #ureG !$OYD Ye#% really% thank y'u 7ery "uch. E$E2A ,ell... H' <# y'ur l'7ely i5eG 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED !$OYD She<# 'nder5ul. E$E2A And y'ur char"in4 little dau4hterG !$OYD Oh% #he<# 4r' in4 up 7ery 5a#t. A# a "atter '5 5act% #he<# #i8 t'"'rr' . E$E2A Oh% that<# #uch a deli4ht5ul a4e. !$OYD H' i# 4re4'rG E$E2A He<# 5ine. +ut .<" a5raid e b2D

2C

d'n<t 4et a chance t' #ee each 'ther 7ery "uch the#e day#. PO$.-E $A3*H-E/ !$OYD ,ell% here are all '5 y'u '55 t'G 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED E$E2A Actually% e<re 'n 'ur ay back 5r'" the "''n. ,e<7e Au#t #pent three "'nth# calibratin4 the ne antenna at -chalink'. And hat ab'ut y'uG !$OYD ,ell% a# it happen#% .<" 'n "y ay up t' the "''n S(YS$O1 Are y'u% by any chance% 4'in4 up t' y'ur ba#e at Cla7iu#G !$OYD Ye#%a# a "atter '5 5act% . a". -HE /3SS.A2S E:CHA2*E S.*2.!.CA2*$A2CES !$OYD .# there any particular rea#'n hy y'u a#kG 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED b01 b00

2D

S(YS$O1 Eplea#antlyF ,ell% Dr. !l'yd% . h'pe that y'u d'n<t think .<" t'' in;ui#iti7e% but perhap# y'u can clear up the "y#tery ab'ut hat<# been 4'in4 'n up there. !$OYD .<" #'rry% but .<" n't #ure . kn' hat y'u "ean. S(YS$O1 ,ell% it<# Au#t 5'r the pa#t t ' eek# there ha7e been #'"e e8tre"ely 'dd thin4# happenin4 at Cla7iu#. !$OYD /eallyG S(YS$O1 Ye#. ,ell% 5'r 'ne thin4% hene7er y'u ph'ne the ba#e% all y'u can 4et i# a rec'rdin4 hich repeat# that the ph'ne line# are te"p'rarily 'ut '5 'rder. 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED !$OYD ,ell% . #upp'#e they<7e been ha7in4 a bit '5 tr'uble ith #'"e '5 the e;uip"ent. S(YS$O1 Ye#% ell at 5ir#t e th'u4ht that a# the e8planati'n% but it<# been 4'in4 'n 5'r the pa#t ten day#. !$OYD b02

00

Y'u "ean y'u ha7en<t been able t' 4et any'ne at the ba#e 5'r ten day#G S(YS$O1 -hat<# ri4ht. !$OYD . #ee. E$E2A An'ther thin4% Hey ''d% t ' day# a4'% 'ne '5 'ur r'cket bu#e# a# denied per"i##i'n 5'r an e"er4ency landin4 at Cla7iu#. 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED !$OYD H' did they "ana4e t' d' that ith'ut any c'""unicati'nG E$E2A Cla7iu# C'ntr'l ca"e 'n the air Au#t l'n4 en'u4h t' tran#"it their re5u#al. !$OYD ,ell% that d'e# #'und 7ery 'dd. S(YS$O1 Ye#% and .<" a5aid there<# 4'in4 t' be a bit '5 a r' ab'ut it. Denyin4 the "en per"i##i'n t' land a# a direct 7i'lati'n '5 the ..A.S. c'n7enti'n. !$OYD Ye#... ,ell% . h'pe the cre 4't back #a5ely. S(YS$O1 b00

01

!'rtunately% they did. !$OYD ,ell% .<" 4lad ab'ut that. 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED -HE /3SS.A2S E:CHA2*E (O/E *$A2CES. O2E O! -HE ,O(E2 O!!E/S A/O32D A P.$$ +O:. E$E2A A2D A2O-HE/ /3SS.A2 -AKE O2E A2D -HE -H./D /3SS.A2 DE$C.2ES. S(YS$O1 Dr. !l'yd% at the ri#k '5 pre##in4 y'u 'n a p'int y'u #ee" reticent t' di#cu##% "ay . a#k y'u a #trai4ht5'r ard ;ue#ti'nG !$OYD Certainly. S(YS$O1 Muite 5rankly% e ha7e had #'"e 7ery reliable intelli4ence rep'rt# that a ;uite #eri'u# epide"ic ha# br'ken 'ut at Cla7iu#. S'"ethin4% apperently% '5 an unkn' n 'ri4in. .# thi#% in 5act% hat ha# happenedG A $O2*% A,K,A/D PA3SE 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED !$OYD b00b b00a

02

.<" #'rry% Dr. S"y#l'7% but .<" really n't at liberty t' di#cu## thi#. S(YS$O1 -hi# epide"ic c'uld ea#ily #pread t' 'ur ba#e% Dr. !l'yd. ,e #h'uld be 4i7en all the 5act#. $O2* PA3SE !$OYD Dr. S"y#l'7... .<" n't per"itted t' di#cu## thi#. E$E2A Are y'u #ure y'u 'n<t chan4e y'ur "ind ab'ut a drinkG !$OYD 2'% thank y'u... and .<" a5raid n' . really "u#t be 4'in4. E$E2A ,ell% . h'pe that y'u and y'ur i5e can c'"e t' the ..A.C. c'n5erence in Hune. 12&B&@? +20 CO2-.23ED !$OYD ,e<re tryin4 t' 4et there. . h'pe e can. E$E2A ,ell% *re4'r and . ill l''k 5'r ard t' #eein4 y'u. !$OYD -hank y'u. .t<# been a 4reat plea#ure t' "eet all '5 y'u... b00c

00

Dr. S"y#l'7. -HE /3SS.A2S A$$ /.SE A2D -HE/E A/E AD)$.+S O! CO3/-ESY !$OYD SHAKES HA2DS A2D E:.-S -HE /3SS.A2S E:CHA2*E A !E, SE/.O3S PA/A) */APHES .2 /3SS.A2 12&B&@? +21 A/.ES).+ .2 SPACE. EA/-H (3CH S(A$$E/ -HA2 AS SEE2 !/O( SPACE S-A-.O2 2A//A-O/ -he Arie#).+ ha# bec'"e the #tandard Space)Stati'n)t')$unar #ur5ace 7ehicle. .t a# p' ered by l' )thru#t pla#"a Aet# hich 'uld c'ntinue the "ild acceler) ati'n 5'r 5i5teen "inute#. -hen the #hip 'uld break the b'nd# '5 4ra7ity and be a 5ree and indepen) dent planet% circlin4 the Sun in an 'rbit '5 it# ' n. 10&=&@? +21a A/.ES PASSE2*E/ A/EA. !$OYD .S AS$EEP% S-/E-CHED O3- .2 -HE CHA./% CO1E/ED ,.-H +$A2KE-S ,H.CH A/E HE$D SEC3/E +Y S-/APS A S-E,A/DESS S.-S A- -HE b0= b00d

0=

O-HE/ S.DE O! -HE CA+.2% ,A-CH.2* A KA/A-E E:H.+.-.O2 +E-,EE2 -,O ,O(E2 O2 -E$E1.S.O2 -HE E$E1A-O/ E2-/A2CE DOO/ OPE2S A2D -HE SECO2D S-E,A/DESS E2-E/S CA//Y.2* A -/AY O! !OOD SHE +/.2*S .- -O -HE O-HE/ S-E,A/DESS S-E,A/DESS O2E Oh% thank y'u 7ery "uch. S-E,A/DESS -,O . #ee he<# #till a#leep. S-E,A/DESS O2E Ye#. He ha#n<t "'7ed #ince le5t. S-E,A/DESS -,O E:.-S% .2-O E$E1A-O/ 12&@&@? +21b A/.ES *A$$EY A/EA. S-E,A/DESS E:.-S !/O( E$E1A-O/% *OES -O K.-CHE2 SEC-.O2% /E(O1ES -,O -/AYS% ,A$KS 3P -O -HE S.DE O! -HE ,A$$ A2D E2-E/S P.$O-<S CO(PA/-(E212&@&@? +22 A/.ES).+ COCKP.-. P.$O-% CO)P.$O-. S-E,A/DESS E2-E/S% b0=b b0=a e

0?

CA//Y.2* !OOD P.$OOh% thank y'u 7ery "uch. CO)P.$O-hank y'u. S-E,A/DESS S(.$ES. P.$OE#i4h#F ,ell% h' <# it 4'in4 back thereG S-E,A/DESS !ine. 1ery ;uiet. He<# been a#leep #ince e le5t. P.$O,ell% n' 'ne can #ay that he<# n't enA'yin4 the 'nder# '5 Space. CO)P.$O,ell% hate7er<# 4'in4 'n up there% he<# 4'in4 t' arri7e 5re#h and ready t' 4'. 12&1=&@? +22 CO2-.23ED P.$O. 'nder hat really .S 4'in4 'n up thereG CO)P.$O,ell% .<7e heard "'re and "'re pe'ple talk '5 an epide"ic. P.$O. #upp'#e it a# b'und t' happen #''ner 'r later. CO)P.$O+erkeley t'ld "e that they think b0?

0@

it ca"e 5r'" c'nta"inati'n 'n a returnin4 (ar# 5li4ht. P.$OYe#% ell% hate7er it i#% they<re certainly n't 5''lin4 ar'und. -hi# i# the 5ir#t 5li4ht they all' ed in 5'r "'re than a eek. CO)P.$O. a# 'rkin4 'ut hat thi# trip "u#t c'#t% takin4 hi" up there by hi"#el5 and c'"in4 back e"pty. P.$O.<ll bet it<# a 5'rtune. 12&1=&@? +22 CO2-.23ED CO)P.$O,ell% at ten th'u#and d'llar# a ticket% it c'"e# t' the better part '5 #i8 hundred th'u#and d'llar#. P.$O,ell% a# #''n a# he ake# up% .<" 4'in4 t' 4' back and talk t' hi". . "u#t #ay% .<d like t' 5ind 'ut hat<# 4'in4 'n. 12&1=&@? +20 A/.ES).+ .2 SPACE. (OO2 1E/Y $A/*E. 10&=&@? +2= A/.ES).+ PASSE2*E/ A/EA. !$OYD !.2.SH.2* +/EAK!AS-. b0B b0@a b0@

0B

P.$O- E2-E/S. P.$O,ell% 4''d a5tern''n% Dr. !l'yd. Did y'u ha7e a 4''d re#tG !$OYD Oh% "ar7ell'u#. .t<# the 5ir#t real #leep .<7e had 5'r the pa#t t ' day#. P.$O-here<# n'thin4 like ei4htle## #leep 5'r a c'"plete re#t. !$OYD ,hen d' e arri7e at Cla7iu#G

P.$O,e<re #cheduled t' d'ck in ab'ut #e7en h'ur#. .# there anythin4 e can d' 5'r y'uG !$OYD Oh% n'% thank y'u. -he t ' 4irl# ha7e taken 'nder5ul care '5 "e. .<" Au#t 5ine. 12&1=&@? +2= CO2-.23ED P.$O,ell% i5 there i# anythin4 that y'u nat% Au#t 4i7e a h'ller. !$OYD -hank y'u. P.$O.ncidentally% Dr. !l'yd% . 'nder i5 . can ha7e a 'rd ith y'u ab'ut the #ecurity arran4e"ent#G !$OYD b0C

0C

,hat d' y'u "eanG P.$O,ell... the cre i# c'n5ined t' the #hip hen e land at Cla7iu#. ,e ha7e t' #tay in#ide 5'r the ti"e it take t' re5it ) ab'ut t enty)5'ur h'ur#. And then e<re 4'in4 t' back e"pty. !$OYD . #ee. P.$O. take it thi# i# #'"ethin4 t' d' ith the tr'uble they<re ha7in4 up at Cla7iu#G 12&1=&@? +2= CO2-.23ED !$OYD .<" a5raid that<# 'ut '5 "y depart) "ent% Captain. P.$O,ell% .<ll tell y'u hy . a#k. Y'u #ee% .<7e 4't a 4irl h' 'rk# in the Auditin4 Depart"ent '5 the -errit'rial Ad"ini#trat'r and . ha7en<t been able t' 4et her 'n the ph'ne 5'r the pa#t eek 'r #'% and ith all the#e #t'rie# 'ne hear#% .<" a little c'ncerned ab'ut her. !$OYD . #ee. ,ell% .<" #'rry ab'ut that. . 'uldn<t think there<# any cau#e 5'r alar". P.$OYe#% ell% . 'uldn<t ha7e been t'' c'ncerned ab'ut it% e8cept b0D

0D

.<7e heard the#e #t'rie# ab'ut the epide"ic and% a# a "atter '5 5act% .<7e heard that ten pe'ple ha7e died already. 12&1=&@? +2= CO2-.23ED !$OYD . i#h . c'uld be "'re help5ul% Captain% but a# .<7e #aid% . d'n<t think there<# any cau#e 5'r alar". P.$O,ell% 5ine. -hank# 7ery "uch% any ay% and . h'pe y'u d'n<t "ind "e a#kin4G !$OYD 2'% '5 c'ur#e% Captain% . can under#tand y'ur c'ncern. P.$O,ell% thank y'u 7ery "uch% and plea#e let u# kn' i5 there i# anythin4 e can d' t' "ake y'ur trip "'re c'"5'rtable. 12&1=&@? +2? A/.ES).+ C$OSE/ -O (OO2 10&=&@? +2@ !$OYD *OES -O A/.ES).+ ,ASH/OO( A2D $OOKS A-HE 1E/Y $O2* $.S- O! CO(P$.CA-ED .2S-/3C-.O2S 10&=&@? b=2 b=1 b=0a b=0

=0

+2B A/.ES).+ C$OSE/ -O (OO2 D.SSO$1E: 10&=&@? +2C !$OYD 1.S.-.2* A/.ES).+ COCKP.-. ,E.*H-$ESS -/.CK E2-/A2CE. 10&=&@? +2D A/.ES).+ O/+.-.2* (OO2. 2A//A-O/ -he la # '5 Earthly ae#thetic# did n't apply here% thi# 'rld had been #haped and "'lded by 'ther than terre#trial 5'rce#% 'peratin4 '7er ae'n# '5 ti"e unkn' n t' the y'un4% 7erdant Earth% ith it# 5leetin4 .ce)A4e#% it# # i5tly ri#in4 and 5allin4 #ea#% it# "'untain ran4e# di##'l7in4 like "i#t# be5're the da n. Here a# a4e inc'ncei7able ) but n't death% 5'r the (''n had ne7er li7ed until n' . 10&=&@? +00 A/.ES).+ COCKP.- ) -HE C/E, A2D DOCK.2* CO2-/O$ PEOP$E O2 -HE (OO2 *O -H/O3*H -HE./ DOCK.2* /O3-.2E. -H.S HAS -HE /.-3A$.S-.C -O2E A2D CADE2CE O! P/ESE2-) DAY HE- $A2D.2* P/OCED3/E. ,E O2$Y HEA/ DOCK.2* CO2-/O$. 10&=&@? b=@ b=? b== b=0

=1

+01 A/.ES).+ DECE2D.2*. SEE A./ 1.E, O! +ASE. 2A//A-O/ -he +a#e at Cla7iu# a# the 5ir#t A"erican $unar Settle"ent that c'uld% in an e"er4ency% be entirely #el5)#upp'rtin4. 2A//A-O/ ,ater and all the nece##itie# '5 li5e 5'r it# ele7en hundred "en% '"en and children ere pr'duced 5r'" the $unar r'ck#% a5ter they had been cru#hed% heated and che"ically pr'ce##ed. 10&=&@? +02 A */O32D +3S 23KK$ES 3P -O CO3P$.2* SEC-.O2 O! A/.ES).+ 10&=&@? +00 .2S.DE */EA- A./$OCK E2-/A2CE. */O32D +3S P3$$S .2. *.A2- DOO/S C$OSE +EH.2D .-. 10&=&@? +0= .2S.DE SECO2D A./$OCK. DOO/S OPE2 A!-E/ O3-) S.DE SEC-.O2 DOO/S A/E C$OSED. */O32D +3S P3$$S .2. DOO/S C$OSE +EH.2D .-. SEE PEOP$E ,A.-.2* .2 *$ASSED).2 SEC-.O2 ,A.-.2* !O/ SECO2D A./$OCK DOO/S b=D b=C b=B

=2

-O C$OSE. 10&=&@? +0? $O, */A1.-Y *Y(2AS.3( -/.CK ,.-H CH.$D/E2. 2A//A-O/ One '5 the attracti'n# '5 li5e 'n the (''n a# und'ubtedly the l' 4ra7ity hich pr'duced a #en#e '5 4eneral ell)bein4. 10&=&@? +0@ CH.$D/E2 .2 SCHOO$. -EACHE/ SHO,.2* -HE( 1.E,S O! EA/-H A2D (AP O! EA/-H. 2A//A-O/ -he per#'nnel '5 the +a#e and their children ere the 5'rerunner# '5 ne nati'n#% ne culture# that 'uld ulti"ately #pread 'ut acr'## the #'lar #y#te". -hey n' l'n4er th'u4ht '5 Earth a# h'"e. -he ti"e a# 5a#t appr'achin4 hen Earth% like all "'ther#% "u#t #ay 5are ell t' her children. D.SSO$1E: 10&?&@? +0B $A/*E CE2-/A$ /ECEP-.O2 A/EA. DOO/S +/A2CH.2* O!! -O D.!!) /E2- (A.2 HA$$S. S(A$$ PO2D ,.-H P$AS-.C ,H.-E S,A2 A2D A +.- O! */ASS. A !E, +E2CHES ,.-H -H/EE b?2 b?1 b?0

=0

,O(E2 A2D -HE./ CH.$D/E2 HA1.2* O3-.2*. !$OYD A2D ,E$CO(.2* PA/-Y ,A$K -H/O3*H A!-E/ E:.-.2* E$E1A-O/. HA$1E/SO2% (.CHAE$S A2D !.1E O-HE/S. !$OYD E7'ice ech'in4F . "u#t c'n4ratulate y'u Hal7'r#en. y'u<7e d'ne 'nder) 5ul thin4# ith the dec'r #ince the la#t ti"e . a# here. HA$1O/SE2 E7'ice ech'in4F ,ell... thank y'u% Dr. !l'yd. ,e try t' "ake the en7ir'n"ent a# earthlike a# p'##ible. D.SSO$1E: 10&?&@? +0C $O, CE.$.2* CO2!E/E2CE /OO(% L3L SHAPED -A+$E !AC.2* -H/EE P/OHEC-.O2 SC/EE2S. SEA-ED A/O32D -HE -A+$E A/E -,E2-Y SE2.O/ +ASE PE/SO22E$. HA$1O/SE2 $adie# and 4entle"en% . #h'uld like t' intr'duce Dr. Hey ''d !l'yd% a di#tin4ui#hed "e"ber '5 the 2ati'nal C'uncil '5 A#tr'nautic#. He ha# Au#t c'"pleted a #pecial 5li4ht here 5r'" Earth t' be ith u#% and be5're the brie5in4 he 'uld like t' #ay a 5e 'rd#. Dr. !l'yd. PO$.-E APP$A3SE. !$OYD ,A$KS -O !/O2- O! /OO(. b?0

==

!$OYD !ir#t '5 all% . brin4 a per#'nal "e##a4e 5r'" Dr. H' ell% h' ha# a#ked "e t' c'n7ey hi# deepe#t appreciati'n t' all '5 y'u 5'r the per#'nal #acri5ice# y'u ha7e "ade% and '5 c'ur#e hi# c'n4ratulati'n# 'n y'ur di#c'7ery hich "ay ell pr'7e t' be a"'n4 the "'#t #i4ni5icant in the hi#t'ry '5 #cience. PO$.-E APP$A3SE. 11&2?&@? +0C CO2-.23ED !$OYD Ec'nt<dF (r. Hal7'r#en ha# "ade kn' n t' "e #'"e '5 the c'n5lictin4 7ie # held by "any '5 y'u re4ardin4 the need 5'r c'"plete #ecurity in thi# "atter% and "'re #peci5ically y'ur #tr'n4 'pp'#iti'n t' the c'7er #t'ry created t' 4i7e the i"pre##i'n there i# an epide"ic at the +a#e. . under#tand that bey'nd it bein4 a "atter '5 principle% "any '5 y'u are tr'ubled by the c'ncern and an8iety thi# #t'ry '5 an epide"ic "i4ht cau#e y'ur relati7e# and 5riend# 'n Earth. . can under#tand and #y"pathi6e ith y'ur ne4ati7e 7ie #. . ha7e been per#'nally e"barra##ed by thi# c'7er #t'ry. +ut . 5ully accept the need 5'r ab#'lute #ecrecy and . h'pe y'u ill. .t #h'uld n't be di55icult 5'r all '5 y'u t' reali#e the p'tential 5'r b?=

=?

cutural #h'ck and #'cial di#'rientati'n c'ntained in the pre#ent #ituati'n i5 the 5act# ere pre"aturely and #uddenly "ade public ith'ut ade;uate preparati'n and c'nditi'nin4. 11&2?&@? +0C CO2-.23ED !$OYD -hi# i# the 7ie '5 the C'uncil and the purp'#e '5 "y 7i#it here i# t' 4ather additi'n 5act# and 'pini'n# 'n the #ituati'n and t' prepare a rep'rt t' the C'uncil rec'""endin4 hen and h' the ne # #h'uld e7entually be ann'unced. Are there any ;ue#ti'n#G (.CHAE$S Dr. !l'yd% h' l'n4 d' y'u think thi# can be kept under rap#G !$OYD Eplea#antlyF .<" a5raid it can and it ill be kept under rap# a# l'n4 a# it i# dee"ed t' be nece##ary by the C'uncil. And '5 c'ur#e y'u kn' that the C'uncil ha# re;ue#ted that 5'r"al #ecurity 'ath# are t' be 'btained in ritin4 5r'" e7ery) 'ne h' had any kn' led4e '5 thi# e7ent. -here "u#t be ade;uate ti"e 5'r a 5ull #tudy t' be "ade '5 the #ituati'n be5're any c'n) #iderati'n can be 4i7en t' "akin4 a public ann'unce"ent. 11&2?&@? +0C b?@ b??

=@

CO2-.23ED HA$1O/SE2 ,e ill% '5 c'ur#e% c''perate in any ay p'##ible% Dr. !l'yd. 11&2?&@? +0D SE1E/A$ SCE2.C 1.E,S O! (OO2 /OCKE- +3S SK.((.2* O1E/ S3/!ACE O! (OO2. 10&?&@? +=0 .2S.DE /OCKE- +3S% !$OYD% HA$1O/SE2% (.CHAE$S% !O3/-H (A2% P.$O- A2D CO)P.$O-. A$$ .2 SPACE S3.-S (.23S HE$(E-S. !$OYD .S S$O,E$Y $OOK.2* -H/O3*H SO(E PHO-O*/APHS A2D (A*2E-.C (APS O! -HE A/EA. HE $OOKS O3- O! -HE ,.2DO,% -HO3*H-!3$$Y. 11&2?&@? +=0 CO2-.23ED -HE PHO-O*/APHES A/E -AKE2 !/O( A SA-E$$.-E O! -HE (OO2<S S3/!ACE A2D HA1E 23(+E/ED OP-.CA$ */.D +O/DE/S% $.KE b?C b?B b?@a

=B

/ECE2- (A/S PHO-OS. A !E, SEA-S A,AY% (.CHAE$S A2D HA$1O/SE2 CA//Y O3- A 1E/Y +A2A$ AD(.2.S-/A-.1E CO21E/SA-.O2 .2 $O, -O2ES. .- SHO3$D /E1O$1E A/O32D SO(E-H.2* 3--E/$Y .//E$E1A2- -O -HE P/ESE2- C./C3(S-A2CES A2D 1E/Y (3CH $.KE -HE K.2D O! D.SC3SS.O2 O2E HEA/S A$$ -HE -.(E .2 O-HE/ O/*A2.KA-.O2S. D.SSO$1E: 11&2?&@? +=1 -(A)1 E:CA1A-.O2. A./ 1.E,. /OCKE+3S DESCE2D.2*. -HE/E A/E 2O $.*H-S O2 -HE AC-3A$ E:CA) 1A-.O2% O2$Y -HE $A2D.2* S-/.P A2D -HE (O2.-O/ DO(E. 12&1=&@? +=2 $O2* SHO- (O2.-O/ DO(ES ,.-H A +.- O! E:CA1A-.O2 .2 SHO-. S.: S(A$$ !.*3/ES .2 SPACE S3.-S S$O,$Y ,A$K -O,A/D E:CA1A-.O2. 10&?&@? b@1 b@0 b?D

=C

+=0 -HE PA/-Y S-OPS A- -OP O! -(A)1 E:CA1A-.O2. A S(A$$ CO2-/O$ PA2E$ (O32-ED A-HE HEAD O! -HE /A(P. (.CHAE$S -H/O,S A S,.-CH A2D -HE E:CA1A-.O2 .S S3DDE2$Y .$$3(.2A-ED. HA$1O/SE2 ,ell% there it i#. !$OYD Can e 4' d' n there cl'#er t' itG HA$1O/SE2 Certainly. 12&1=&@? +== -HEY S-A/- DO,2 ,O/K.2* /A(P !$OYD D'e# y'ur 4e'l'4y 'n it #till check 'utG (.CHAE$S Ye#% it d'e#. -he #ub)#ur5ace #tructure #h' # that it a# deliberately buried ab'ut 5'ur "illi'n year# a4'. !$OYD H' can y'u tell it a# deliberately buriedG (.CHAE$S +y the de5'r"ati'n bet een the "'ther r'ck and the 5ill. b@2

=D

!$OYD Any clue a# t'

hat it i#G

(.CHAE$S 2't really. .t<# c'"pletely inert. 2' #'und 'r ener4y #'urce# ha7e been detected. -he #ur5ace i# "ade '5 #'"ethin4 incredibly hard and e<7e been barely able t' #cratch it. A la#er drill 11&2?&@? +== CO2-.23ED (.CHAE$S "i4ht d' #'"ethin4% but e d'n<t ant t' be t'' r'u4h until e kn' a little "'re. !$OYD +ut y'u d'n<t ha7e any idea a# t' hat it i#G (.CHAE$S -'"b% #hine% #ur7ey)"arker #pare part% take y'ur ch'ice. HA$1O/SE2 -he 'nly thin4 ab'ut it that e are #ure '5 i# that it i# the 5ir#t direct e7idence '5 intelli4ent li5e bey'nd the Earth. S.$E2- APP/EC.A-.O2 HA$1O/SE2 !'ur "illi'n year# a4'% #'"ethin4% pre#u"ably 5r'" the #tar#% "u#t ha7e # ept thr'u4h the #'lar #y#te" and le5t thi# behind. 11&2?&@? b@= b@0

?0

+== CO2-.23ED !$OYD ,a# it aband'ned% 5'r4'tten% le5t 5'r a purp'#eG HA$1O/SE2 . #upp'#e e<ll ne7er kn' . (.CHAE$S -he "''n 'uld ha7e "ade an e8cellent ba#e ca"p 5'r preli"inary Earth #ur7ey#. SO(E (O/E S.$E2CE !$OYD Any idea# ab'ut the c'l'urG (.CHAE$S ,ell% n't really. At 5ir#t 4lance% black 'uld #u44e#t #'"ethin4 #un)p' ered% but then hy 'uld any'ne deliberately bury a #un) p' ered de7iceG !$OYD Ha# it been e8p'#ed t' any #un be5're n' G (.CHAE$S . d'n<t think it ha#% but .<d like t' check that. Si"p#'n% hat<# the l'4 'n thatG 11&2?&@? +=? .2S.DE (O2.-O/ DO(E ,E SEE A 23(+E/ O! -E$E1.S.O2 D.SP$AYS .2C$3D.2* SE1E/A$ -1 1.E,S O! !$OYD A2D CO(PA2Y .2 -HE b@?

?1

E:CA1A-.O2. S.(PSO2 -he 5ir#t #ur5ace a# e8p'#ed at 0C=0 'n the 12th April... $et "e #ee... that 'uld ha7e been 5'rty)5i7e "inute# a5ter $unar #un)#et. . #ee here that #pecial li4htin4 e;uip"ent had t' be br'u4ht up be5're any 5uther 'rk c'uld be d'ne. 11&2?&@? +=@ -(A)1 E:CA1A-.O2 (.CHAE$S -hank y'u. !$OYD And #' thi# i# the 5ir#t #un that it<# had in 5'ur "illi'n year#. PHO-O*/APHE/ E8cu#e "e% 4entle"en% i5 y'u<d all line up 'n thi# #ide '5 the alk ay e<d like t' take a 5e ph't'4raphe#. Dr. !l'yd% 'uld y'u thand in the "iddle... Dr. (ichael# 'n that #ide% (r. Hal7'r#en 'n the 'ther.... thank y'u. -HE PHO-O*/APHE/ M3.CK$Y (AKES SO(E E:POS3/ES PHO-O*/APHE/ -hank y'u 7ery "uch 4entle"en% .<ll ha7e the ba#e ph't' #ecti'n #end y'u c'pie#. AS -HE (E2 S$O,$Y SEPE/A-E !/O( -HE./ P.C-3/E POSE% -HE/E b@@

?2

.S A P.E/C.2*$Y PO,E/!3$ SE/.ES O! !.1E E$EC-/O2.C SH/.EKS% EACH $.KE A H.DEO3S$Y O1E/)$OADED A2D D.S-O/-ED -.(E S.*2A$. !$OYD .21O$32-A/.$Y -/.ES -O +$OCK H.S EA/S ,.-H H.S SPACES3.-ED HA2DS. -HE2 CO(ES (E/C.!3$ S.$E2CE. 11&2?&@? +=B 1A/.O3S SHO-S O! SPACE (O2.-O/S% AS-E/O.DS% -HE S32% P$3-O% (A/S. 2A//A-O/ A hundred "illi'n "ile# bey'nd (ar#% in the c'ld l'nline## here n' "an had yet tra7elled% Deep)Space)('nit'r)BD dri5t# #l' ly a"'n4 the tan4led 'rbit# '5 the a#ter'id#. 2A//A-O/ /adiati'n detect'r# n'ted and analy6ed inc'"in4 c'#"ic ray# 5r'" the 4ala8y and p'int# bey'nd> neutr'n and 8)ray tele#c'pe# kept atch 'n #tran4e #tar# that n' hu"an eye 'uld ee7er #ee> "a4net'"eter# 'b#er7ed the 4u#t# and hurricane# '5 the #'lar ind#% a# the #un breathed "illi'n "ile)an)h'ur bla#t# '5 pla#"a int' the 5ace# '5 it# circlin4 children. 2A//A-O/ All the#e thin4# and "any 'ther# ere patiently n'ted by Deep) Space)('nit'r)BD% and rec'rded in it# cry#talline "e"'ry. b@B

?0

11&2?&@? +=B CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ +ut n' it had n'ted #'"ethin4 #tran4e ) the 5aint yet un"i#takable di#trubance ripplin4 acr'## the #'lar #y#te"% and ;uite unlike any natural phen'"ena it had e7er 'b#er7ed in the pa#t. 2A//A-O/ .t a# al#' 'b#er7ed by Orbiter ()1?% circlin4 (ar# t ice a day> and Hi4h .nclinati'n Pr'be) 21% cli"bin4 #l' ly ab'7e the planet '5 the ecliptic> and e7en arti5icial C'"et)?% headin4 'ut int' the c'ld a#te# bey'nd Plut'% al'n4 an 'rbit h'#e 5ar p'int it 'uld n't reach 5'r a th'u#and year#. 2A//A-O/ All n'ticed the peculiar bur#t '5 ener4y that leaped 5r'" the 5ace '5 the (''n and "'7ed acr'## the #'lar #y#te"% thr' in4 '55 a #pray '5 radiati'n like the ake '5 a racin4 #peedb'at. 11&2?&@? + SEC-.O2 -.(.2* +1)15 00.?0 +2 00.10 +0 00.1? += 00.1? +? 00.20 +@ 00.1? +B 00.10 +C 00.1? +D 00.10 +2? 00.10 +2@ +2B +2C +2D +00 +01 +02 +00 00.20 00.0? Out 00.00 00.00 00.2? 00.20 00.20

b@C

b@D

?=

+10 00.10 +11 00.1? +12 00.?0 +10 01.10 +1= 00.0? +1? Out +1@ Out +1B 01.1? +1C 00.1? +1D 01.00 +20 00.?? +21 00.20 +21A 00.20 +21+ 00.1? +22 01.00 +20 00.10 +2= 01.00

+0= +0? +0@ +0B +0C +0D 00.20 +=0 00.?0 +=1 +=2 +=0 +== +=? +=@ 00.=0 +=B 01.2?

00.00 00.20 00.20 00.00 02.1? 00.1? 00.10 00.1? 01.=0 00.20

+ SEC-.O2 -O-A$: 2C (.2. 10 SECS. -.-$E PA/- ... 1= (O2-HS $A-E/ b@Da C1 D.SCO1E/Y 1%000%000 (.$ES !/O( EA/-H. SEE EA/-H A2D (OO2 S(A$$. ,E SEE A +$.2D.2* !$ASH E1E/Y ? SECO2DS !/O( .-S 23C$EA/ P3$SE P/OP3$S.O2. .S-/.KES A*A.2S-HE SH.P<S -H.CK A+$A-.1E -A.$ P$A-E. SE1E/A$ C3-S O! -H.S.

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11&1D&@? C2 A2O-HE/ C$OSE/ 1.E, O! D.SCO1E/Y. SEE +O,(A2 -H/O3*H CO((A2D (OD3$E ,.2DO,. 11&1D&@? C0 +O,(A2 .2S.DE D.SCO1E/Y CO((A2D (OD3$E. HE .S $OOK.2* !O/ SO(E-H.2*. CO(P3-E/ /EADO3D.SP$AY SHO,.2* A2 E1E/)SH.!-.2* ASSO/-(E2- O! CO$O/)CODED $.2EA/ P/OHEC-.O2S. ,E SEE POO$E .2 +ACK*/O32D .2 CO(P3-E/ +/A.2 CE2-/E A/EA. A!-E/ A !E, SECO2DS HE E:.-S. -HE E$APSED (.SS.O2 -.(E/ /EADS LDAY 000% HO3/ 1=% (.23-E 02% SECO2D 10.L 11&1D&@? C= +O,(A2 E:.-S -O ACCESS)$.2K A./$OCK. +/.*H- CO$O/)CODED DOO/S $EAD -O CE2-/.!3*E A2D POD

c1

c2

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+AY. $A/*E .$$3(32) A-ED P/.2-ED ,A/2.2*S A2D .2S-/3C-.O2S *O1E/2.2* $.2K OPE/A-.O2S A/E SEE2. HE P/ESSES 2ECESSA/Y +3--O2S -O OPE/A-E A./$OCK DOO/ -O POD +AY. 11&1D&@? C? +O,(A2 E2-E/S POD +AY A2D CO2-.23ES H.S SEA/CH. S3DDE2$Y HE !.2DS .- ) H.S E$EC-/O2.C 2E,SPAD. HE E:.-S POD +AY. 11&1D&@? C@ .2 -HE A./$OCK) $.2K +O,(A2 OPE/A-ES +3--O2S -O OPE2 DOO/ (A/KED LCE2-/.!3*EL. 11&1D&@? CB .2S.DE -HE CE2-/.!3*E H3+ +O,(A2 (O1ES -O -HE E2-/Y PO/CO2-/O$ PA2E$ +O,(A2 Hi. !rank... c'"in4 in% plea#e. POO$E c@ c? c=

?B

/i4ht. Hu#t a #ec. +O,(A2 Okay. Epau#eF POO$E Okay% c'"e 'n d' n. ,E SEE -HE /O-A-.2* H3+ CO$$A/ A- -HE E2D. +EH.2D .,E SEE 11&1D&@? CC -HE CE2-/.!3*E -1)D.SP$AY SHO,.2* S$EEPE/S A2D POO$E S$O,$Y /O-A-.2* +Y. POO$E SEC3/ES SO(E $OOSE *EA/. POO$E $OOKS 3P -O -1 (O2.-O/ $E2S A2D ,A1ES. 11&1D&@? CD +O,(A2 A- PA2E$. S-OPS /O-A-.O2 A2D (O1ES -O E2-/Y PO/-. ,HE2 /O-A-.O2 S-OPS ,E SEE A S.*2 $.*H-S 3P L,E.*H-$ESS CO2D.-.O2L. AS +O,(A2 D.SAPPEA/S DO,2 E2-/Y PO/- ,E SEE H.( O2 cC cB

?C

-1)(O2.-O/% DESCE2D.2* $ADDE/. A- -HE +ASE O! -HE $ADDE/ HE KEYS -HE CE2-/.!3*E OPE/A-.O2 PA2E$. ,E SEE -1)P.C-3/E S-A/- -O /O-A-E A*A.2. L,E.*H-$ESS CO2D.-.O2L S.*2 *OES O3-. 11&1D&@? C10 .2S.DE CE2-/.!3*E +O,(A2 (AKES 1C0 DE*/EE ,A$K -O POO$E. O2 ,AY HE PASSES -HE S$EEPE/S. ,E *E- A *OOD $OOK A- -HE -H/EE (E2 .2 -HE./ H.+E/2AC3$3(S. POO$E .S SEA-ED A- A -A+$E /EAD.2* H.S E$EC-/O2.C 2E,SPAD. +O,(A2 E#'5tlyF Hi... H' <# it 4'in4G POO$E Eab#ent but 5riendlyF *reat. +O,(A2 OPE/A-ES A/-.!.C.A$ !OOD 32.-% -AKES H.S -/AY A2D S.-S DO,2. KEYS O2 H.S E$EC-/O2.C 2E,SPAD A2D +E*.2S -O EA-. +O-H (E2 EA- .2 A !/.E2D$Y A2D /E$A:ED S.$E2CE. cD

?D

11&1D&@? C11 D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE% S-.$$ 23C$EA/ P3$S.2*. EA/-H A2D (OO2 CA2 +E SEE2 .2 +ACK*/O32D. D.SSO$1E: 11&1D&@? C12 POO$E .S !.2.SHED. +O,(A2 .S S-.$$ /EAD.2* A2D ,O/K.2* O2 H.S DESSE/-. POO$E Da7e% i5 y'u<7e a "inute% .<d like y'ur ad7ice 'n #'"ethin4. +O,(A2 Sure% hat i# itG POO$E ,ell% it<# n'thin4 really i"p'rtant% but it<# ann'yin4. +O,(A2 ,hat<# upG POO$E .t<# ab'ut "y #alary che;ue#. +O,(A2 Ye#G POO$E ,ell . 4't the paper# 'n "y '55icial up)4radin4 t' A*S)1D t ' eek# be5're e le5t.

c10

c11

@0

12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 Ye#% . re"e"ber y'u "enti'nin4 it. . 4't "ine ab'ut the #a"e ti"e. POO$E -hat<# ri4ht. ,ell% naturally% . didn<t #ay anythin4 t' Payr'll. . a##u"ed they<d #tart payin4 "e at the hi4her 4rade 'n the ne8t pay che;ue. +ut it<# been al"'#t three eek# n' and .<" #till bein4 paid a# an A*S)1C. +O,(A2 .ntere#tin4 that y'u "enti'n it% becau#e .<7e 4't the #a"e pr'ble". POO$E /eally. +O,(A2 Ye#. POO$E Ye#terday% . 5inally called the Acc'untin4 O55ice at (i##i'n C'ntr'l% and all they c'uld tell "e a# that they<d recei7ed the A*S)1D n'ti5icati'n 5'r the 'ther three but n't "ine% and apparently n't y'ur# either. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 Did they ha7e any e8planati'n 5'r thi#G

c12

c10

@1

POO$E 2't really. -hey Au#t #aid it "i4ht be becau#e e trained at H'u#t'n and they trained in (ar#hall% and that e<re bein4 char4ed a4ain#t di55er) ent acc'untin4 '55ice#. +O,(A2 .t<# p'##ible. POO$E ,ell% hat d' y'u think e 'u4ht t' d' ab'ut itG +O,(A2 . d'n<t think e #h'uld "ake any 5u## ab'ut it yet. .<" #ure they<ll #trai4hten it 'ut. POO$E . "u#t #ay% . ne7er did under#tand hy they #plit u# int' t ' 4r'up# 5'r trainin4. +O,(A2 2'. . ne7er did% either. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED POO$E ,e #pent #' little ti"e ith the"% . ha7e tr'uble keepin4 their na"e# #trai4ht. +O,(A2 . #upp'#e the idea trainin4. a# #peciali6ed c1=

POO$E . #upp'#e #'. -h'u4h% '5 c'ur#e% there<# a "'re #ini#ter e8planati'n.

@2

+O,(A2 OhG POO$E Ye#. Y'u "u#t ha7e heard the ru"'ur that ent ar'und durin4 'rbital check)'ut. +O,(A2 2'% a# a "atter '5 5act% . didn<t. POO$E Oh% ell% apparently there<# #'"ethin4 ab'ut the "i##i'n that the #leepin4 beautie# kn' that e d'n<t kn' % and that<# hy e ere trained #eparately and that<# hy they ere put t' #leep be5're they ere e7en taken ab'ard. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 ,ell% hat i# itG POO$E . d'n<t kn' . All . heard i# that there<# #'"ethin4 ab'ut the "i##i'n e eren<t t'ld. +O,(A2 -hat #ee"# 7ery unlikely. POO$E Ye#% . th'u4ht #'. +O,(A2 O5 c'ur#e% it 'uld be 7ery ea#y 5'r u# t' 5ind 'ut n' . POO$E H' G c1?

@0

+O,(A2 Hu#t a#k Hal. .t<# c'ncei7able they "i4ht keep #'"ethin4 5r'" u#% but they<d ne7er keep anythin4 5r'" Hal. POO$E -hat<# true. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2.23ED +O,(A2 E#i4h#F ,ell... it<# #illy% but... i5 y'u ant t'% hy d'n<t y'uG POO$E ,A$KS -O -HE HA$ D000 CO(P3-E/ POO$E Hal... Da7e and . belie7e that there<# #'"ethin4 ab'ut the "i##i'n that e eren<t t'ld. S'"ethin4 that the re#t '5 the cre kn' and that y'u kn' . ,e<d like t' kn' hether thi# i# true. HA$ .<" #'rry% !rank% but . d'n<t think . can an# er that ;ue#ti'n ith'ut kn' in4 e7erythin4 that all '5 y'u kn' . +O,(A2 He<# 4't a p'int. POO$E Okay% then h' the ;ue#ti'nG 12&1=&@? C12 d' e re)phra#e c1?c c1?a

@=

CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 Still% y'u really d'n<t belie7e it% d' y'uG POO$E 2't really. -h'u4h% it i# #tran4e hen y'u think ab'ut it. .t didn<t really "ake any #en#e t' keep u# apart durin4 trainin4. +O,(A2 Ye#% but it<# t' 5anta#tic t' think that they<d keep #'"ethin4 5r'" u#. POO$E . kn' . .t 'uld be al"'#t inc'ncei7able. +O,(A2 +ut n't c'"pletely inc'ncei7ableG POO$E . #upp'#e it i#n<t l'4ically i"p'##ible. +O,(A2 . 4ue## it i#n<t. POO$E Still% all e ha7e t' d' i# a#k Hal. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 ,ell% the 'nly i"p'rtant a#pect '5 the "i##i'n are: here are e 4'in4% hat ill e d' hen e 4et there% hen are e c'"in4 back% and... hy are e 4'in4G POO$E /i4ht. Hal% tell "e hether the c1?b

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5'll' in4 #tate"ent# are true 'r 5al#e. HA$ . ill i5 . can% !rank. POO$E Our (i##i'n Pr'5ile call# 5'r Di#c'7ery 4'in4 t' Saturn. -rue 'r 5al#eG HA$ -rue. POO$E Our tran#it ti"e i# 2?B day#. .# that trueG HA$ -hat<# true. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED POO$E At the end '5 a hundred day# '5 e8pl'rati'n% e ill all 4' int' hibernati'n. .# thi# trueG HA$ -hat<# true. POO$E Appr'8i"ately 5i7e year# a5ter e 4' int' hibernati'n% the rec'7ery 7ehicle ill "ake rende6'u# ith u# and brin4 u# back. .# thi# trueG HA$ -hat<# true POO$E -here i# n' 'ther purp'#e 5'r thi# "i##i'n than t' carry 'ut a c1?d

@@

c'ntinuati'n '5 the #pace pr'4ra"% and t' 5urther 'ur 4eneral kn' led4e '5 the planet#. .# that trueG HA$ -hat<# true. POO$E -hank y'u 7ery "uch% Hal. 12&1=&@? C12 CO2-.23ED HA$ . h'pe .<7e been able t' be '5 #'"e help. +O-H (E2 $OOK AEACH O-HE/ /A-HE/ SHEEP.SH$Y. 12&1=&@? C10 D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE. P3$S.2* A$O2*. EA/-H A2D (OO2. 11&1D&@? C1= DE$E-ED C1? DE$E-ED C1? DE$E-ED C1@ DE$E-ED c1@ c1?5 c1?e

@B

PA*ES c1B ) c=1 DE$E-ED C1B DOC3(E2-A/Y SEM3E2CE .$$3S-/A-.2* -HE !O$$O,.2* AC-.1.-.ES. SP$.- SC/EE2 -ECH2.M3E A2D S3PE/.(POSED C$OCK -O *.1E SE2SE O! S.(3$-A2EO3S AC-.O2 A2D -HE !EE$.2* O! A -YP.CA$ DAY. .2 -HE CO3/SE O! -HESE AC-.1.-.ES ,E SHA$$ SEE -HE CO(P3-E/ 3SED .2 A$$ O! .-S !32C-.O2S. 2A//A-O/ +' "an and P''le #ettled d' n t' the peae5ul "'n't'ny '5 the 7'ya4e% and the ne8t three "'nth# pa##ed ith'ut incident. 11&2=&@? C1B CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 a1 -1 2E,S ) (O/2.2* a2 +ED-.(E S2ACK a0 -O S$EEP ,.-H .2S-A2- E$EC-/O) 2A/COS.S A2D EA/ P$3*S. a= -.(E b1 0C00 b2 0D00 b0 1000 *Y(2AS.3( +/EAK!AS,AKES 3P POO$E c=2

b=

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S$EEP .2SPEC-.O2 a? S$EEP HO3SEHO$D D3-.ES a@ S$EEP 11&2=&@? C1B CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 aB S$EEP E:PE/.(E2-S A2D aC S$EEP E:PE/.(E2-S A2D aD S$EEP /EC/EA-.O2 a10 S$EEP /EC/EA-.O2 a11 ,AKES 3P a12 +/EAK!AS11&2=&@? C1B CO2-.23ED

1100 b? 1200 b@ 1000 $32CH

SH.P

c=0

-.(E bB 1=00

POO$E

AS-/O2O(Y bC 1?00 AS-/O2O(Y bD 1@00 b10 1B00 b11 1C00 b12 1D00 D.22E/ c== *Y(2AS.3(

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+O,(A2 a10 *Y(2AS.3( E1E2.2* a1= (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ CO2-/O$ /EPO/a1? !A(.$Y A2D SOC.A$ SOC.A$ -1 CHAa1@ !.$(S a1B $32CH S2ACK a1C .2SPEC-.O2 E$EC-/O) 11&2=&@? C1B CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 a1D E:PE/.(E2-S A2D AS-/O2O(Y a20 E:PE/.(E2-S A2D a21 /EC/EA-.O2 2000

-.(E b10 2000 PAPE/S b1= 2100 /EPO/b1? 2200 -1 CHAb1@ !.$(S b1B 2=00 b1C 0100

POO$E -1 2E,S )

(.SS.O2

!A(.$Y

A2D

+ED-.(E

.2S-A22A/COS.S S$EEP c=?

-.(E b1D 0200 b20 0000 b21 0=00

POO$E S$EEP

S$EEP S$EEP

B0

a22 HO3SEHO$D D3-.ES a20 *Y(2AS.3( a2= D.22E/ 11&2=&@? C1C D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE 11&2=&@? C1D CE2-/.!3*E +O,(A2 S.--.2* APE/SO2A$ CO((32.) CA-.O2 PA2E$. POO$E S-A2D.2* 2EA/+Y. +O,(A2<S PA/E2-S A/E SEE2 O2 -HE 1.S.O2 SC/EE2. (O-HE/% !A-HE/ A2D YO32*E/ S.S-E/. -HEY A/E A$$ S.2*.2* LHAPPY +./-HDAYL. -HE PA/E2-S% POO$E A2D HA$. -HE SO2* E2DS.

b22 0?00 b20 0@00 b2= 0B00 c=@ S$EEP S$EEP S$EEP

c=B

!A-HE/ ,ell% Da7id there i# a "an tellin4 u# that e<7e u#ed up 'ur ti"e. (O-HE/ Da7id... a4ain e ant t' i#h y'u a happy +irthday and *'d #peed. ,e<ll talk t' y'u a4ain t'"'rr' . <+ye% <bye n' . CHO/3S O!

B1

L*OOD+YESL. 12&10&@? C1D CO2-.23ED 1.S.O2 SC/EE2 *OES +$A2K HA$ S'rry t' interrupt the 5e#ti7itie#% Da7e% but . think e<7e 4't a pr'ble". +O,(A2 ,hat i# it% HalG HA$ (Y !.P.C. #h' # an i"pendin4 5ailure '5 the antenna 'rientati'n unit. C20 -1 D.SP$AYS D.A*/A( O! SKE$E-O2.SED P.C-3/E O! SH.P. 12&10&@? C21 P.C-3/E CHA2*ES -O C$OSE/ SEC-.O2A$.SED 1.E, O! SH.P. C22 P.C-3/E CHA2*ES -O AC-3A$ CO(PO2E2.2 CO$O3/ /E$.E! A2D .-S ,A/EHO3SE 23(+E/ HA$ -he A.O. unit #h'uld be replaced ithin the ne8t #e7enty)t ' h'ur#. +O,(A2 C=D c=C

B2

/i4ht. $et "e #ee the antenna ali4n"ent di#play% plea#e. C20 -1 D.SP$AY O! EA/-H 1E/Y S(A$$ .2 C/OSS) HA./S O! A */.D P.C-3/E. 12&10&@? C2= C3- -O E:-E/.O/ 1.E, O! -HE +.* D.SH A2-E22A A2D EA/-H A$.*2(E2-E$ESCOPE. C2? CE2-/.!3*E HA$ -he unit i# #till 'perati'nal% Da7e. but it ill 5ail ithin #e7enty)t ' h'ur#. +O,(A2 . under#tand Hal. ,e<ll take care '5 it. Plea#e% let "e ha7e the hard c'py. :E/O:ED D.A*/A(S CO(E O3- O! A S$O-. POO$E Stran4e that the A.O. unit #h'uld 4' #' ;uickly. +O,(A2 ,ell% . #upp'#e it<# lucky that that<# the 'nly tr'uble e<7e had #' 5ar. 12&10&@? C2@ D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE. 2O- P$A2E-S 1.S.+$E. c?0a c?0

B0

SHO-S O! A2-E22A. E2A//A/-.O2 -O E:P$A.2 -E2O3S A2D ESSE2-.A$ $.2K -O EA/-H. A$SO% ,HA- -/ACK.2* -E$ESCOPE DOES.F 12&10&@? C2B CE2-/.!3*E ,E SEE +O,(A2 A2D POO$E *O -O A C3P+OA/D $A+E$$ED .2 PAPE/ -APE% L/A2DO( DEC.S.O2 (AKE/.L -HEY /E(O1ED A S.$1E/ DO$$A/ .2 A P/O-EC-.1E CASE. POO$E !$.PS -HE CO.2. +O,(A2 CA$$S LHEAD.L .- .S -A.$S. POO$E ,.2S. POO$E $OOKS P$EASED. 12&10&@? C2C D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE 11&2=&@? C2D POD +AY. POO$E .2 SPACE S3.- DO.2* P/E$.(.2A/Y CHECK O3-. c?= c?2 Ec?0 DE$E-EDF c?1

B=

C00 CO((A2D (OD3$E. +O,(A2 A- !$.*HCO2-/O$. SEE -1 P.C-3/E O! POO$E .2 POD +AY. C01 HA$<S POD +AY CO2SO$E ,.-H EYE. C02 POO$E *OES -O POD +AY ,A/EHO3SE SEC-.O2 A2D O+-A.2S CO(PO2E2-. HE CA//.ES .- +ACK -O -HE POD A2D P$ACES .- .2 !/O2- O! -HE !$OO/. POO$E Hal% ha7e p'd ar"# #ecure the c'"p'nent. HA$ /'4er. 12&10&@? C02 CO2-.23ED SEE POD A/(S SEC3/E CO(PO2E2-. POO$E Hal% plea#e r'tate P'd 2u"ber - '. SEE -HE CE2-/E POD /O-A-E -O !ACE -HE POD +AY DOO/S. POO$E E2-E/S POD. c??

B?

.2S.DE POD% HE DOES .2.-.A$ P/E)!$.*HCHECK% -/.ES +3--O2S A2D CO2-/O$S. POO$E H' d' y'u read "e% Da7eG 12&10&@? C00 +O,(A2 .2 CO((A2D (OD3$E. +O,(A2 !i7e by 5i7e% !rank. C0= .2S.DE POD. POO$E H' d' y'u read "e% HalG HA$ !i7e by 5i7e% !rank. POO$E Hal% .<" 4'in4 'ut n' the A.O. unit. HA$ . under#tand. POO$E Hal% "aintain n'r"al E.1.A. c'nditi'n. HA$ /'4er. POO$E Hal% check all airl'ck d''r# #ecure. 12&10&@? c?B t' replace c?@

B@

C0= CO2-.23ED HA$ All airl'ck d''r# are #ecure. POO$E Dec'"pre## P'd +ay. SEE +.* POD +AY A./ P3(PS A- ,O/K. HA$ P'd +ay i# dec'"pre##ed. All d''r# are #ecure. Y'u are 5ree t' 'pen p'd bay d''r#. POO$E Openin4 p'd bay d''r#. .2S.DE POD% POO$E KEYS OPE2 POD +AY DOO/S. 12&10&@? C0= CO2-.23ED POD S$O,$Y ED*ES O3- O! POD +AY. C0? POO$E (A2OE31/ES -HE POD CA/E!3$$Y A,AY !/O( D.SCO1E/Y. C0@ .2S.DE CO((A2D (OD3$E% +O,(A2 CA2 SEE -.2Y POD (A2OE31/.2* D./EC-$Y .2 !/O2-. C0B POO$E SEE +O,(A2 c?C

BB

.2 CO((A2D (OD3$E ,.2DO,. C0C POD S$O,$Y (A2OE1/ES -O A2-E22A. 11&2=&@? C0D POD !AS-E2S .-SE$! (A*2E-.CA$$Y -O S.DES O! D.SCO1E/Y A- +ASE O! A2-E22A. C=0 SPEC.A$ (A*2E-.C P$A-ES */.P D.SCO1E/Y S.DES. C=1 -HE POD A/(S ,O/K -O /E(O1E -HE !A3$-Y CO(PO2E2-. C=2 EASY !$.P)+O$-S O! A SPEC.A$ DES.*2 !AC.$.-A-E HO+. C=0 .2S.DE -HE POD% POO$E ,O/KS -HE A/(S +Y SPEC.A$ CO2-/O$. 11&2=&@? C== .2 CO((A2D (OD3$E% +O,(A2 SEES .2SE/O! ,O/K -AKE2 !/O( -1 CA(E/A PO.2-)O!) 1.E, .2 POD HA2D. C=? c@0 c?D

BC

HA$ S-A2DS +Y. C=@ POO$E SEC3/ES -HE !A3$-Y PA/- .2 O2E HA2D. C=B -HE 2E, CO(PO2E2.S !.--ED .2-O P$ACE +Y -HE O-HE/ -H/EE HA2DS A/E S2APPED C$OSED ,.-H -HE SPEC.A$$Y DES.*2ED !$.P)+O$-S. POO$E Hal% plea#e ackn' led4e c'"p'nent c'rrectly in#talled and 5ully 'perati'nal. 11&2=&@? C=B CO2-.23ED HA$ -he c'"p'nent i# c'rrectly in#talled and 5ully 'perati'nal. C=C -HE POD !$OA-S A,AY !/O( -HE D.SCO1E/Y +Y SH3--.2* O!! -HE E$EC-/O)(A*2E-.C P$A-ES. C=D -HE POD (A2OE31/ES A,AY !/O( -HE A2-E22A A2D O3- .2 !/O2- O! D.SCO1E/Y. C?0 +O,(A2 SEE -HE POD -H/O3*H -HE CO((A2D c@1

BD

(OD3$E ,.2DO,. C?1 POO$E SEES +O,(A2 .2 CO((A2D (OD3$E ,.2DO,. 11&2=&@? C?2 POO$E CA/E!3$$Y (A2OE31/ES -O,A/D -HE POD DOO/S. C?0 POD S-OPS A H32D/ED !EE- A,AY. C?= POO$E KEYS A3-O(A-.C DOCK.2* A$.*2(E2(ODE. C?? POO$E CHECKS A./$OCK SA!E-Y P/OCED3/E ,.-H HA$. C?@ HA$ APP/O1ES E2-/Y. C?B POO$E AC-3A-ES POD +AY DOO/S OPE2. 11&2=&@? C?C SEE POD +AY DOO/S OPE2. C?D POD CA/E!3$$Y (A2OE31/ES O2 -O DOCK.2* A/(% ,H.CH -HE2 D/A,S c@0 c@2

C0

POD .2-O POD +AY. D.SSO$1E: 11&2=&@? C@0 POD +AY -HE !A3$-Y A.O. 32.$.ES O2 A -ES-.2* +E2CH CO22EC-ED -O E$EC-/O2.C *EA/. POO$E S-A2DS !O/ SO(E -.(E CHECK.2* H.S /ES3$-S. -HE/E SHO3$D +E SO(E 32DE/S-A2DA+$E D.SP$AY% ,H.CH .2D.CA-ES -HE PA/.S !32C-.O2.2* P/OPE/$Y% E1E2 32DE/ O2E H32D/ED PE/CE2- O1E/$OAD. C./3.- CO2-.23.-Y P3$SE SEM3E2CE/. E21./O2(E2-A$ 1.+/A-.O2. 1K .2-E*/.-Y. +O,(A2 E2-E/S +O,(A2 H' <# it 4'in4G POO$E . d'n<t kn' . .<7e checked thi# da"n thin4 5'ur ti"e# n' and e7en under a hundred per cent Ec'nt<dF 12&10&@? C@0 c@? c@=

C1

CO2-<D POO$E Ec'nt<dF '7erl'ad. there<# n' 5ault predicti'n indicated. +O,(A2 ,ell% that<# #'"ethin4. POO$E Ye#% . d'n<t kn' hat t' "ake '5 it.

+O,(A2 . #upp'#e c'"puter# ha7e been kn' n t' be r'n4. POO$E Ye#% but it<# "'re likely that the t'lerance# 'n 'ur te#tin4 4ear are t'' l' . +O,(A2 Any ay% it<# Au#t a# ell that e replace it. +etter #a5e than #'rry. 12&10&@? C@1 D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE 12&1&@? C@2 CE2-/.!3*E +O,(A2 AS$EEP. POO$E ,A-CH.2* A2 AS-E/O.D .2 -HE -E$ESCOPE. HA$ Hell'% !rank% can . ha7e a 'rd y'uG POO$E ,A$KS -O -HE ith c@@ c@?a

C2

CO(P3-E/. POO$E Ye#% Hal% hat<# upG HA$ .t l''k# like e ha7e an'ther bad A.O. unit. (y !PC #h' # an'ther i"pendin4 5ailure. C@0 ,E SEE D.SP$AY APPEA/ O2 -HE SC/EE2 SHO,.2* SKE$E-O2.SED 1E/S.O2 O! SH.P% C3--.2* -O SEC-.O2A$.SED 1.E,% C3--.2* -O C$OSE 1.E, O! -HE PA/-. 12&10&@? C@= CE2-/.!3*E POO$E -H.2KS !O/ SE1E/A$ SECO2DS. POO$E *ee% that<# #tran4e% Hal. ,e checked the 'ther unit and c'uldn<t 5ind anythin4 r'n4 ith it. HA$ . kn' y'u did% !rank% but . a##ure y'u there a# an i"pendin4 5ailure. POO$E $et "e #ee the trackin4 ali4n"ent di#play. C@? CO(P3-E/ D.SP$AYS -HE 1.E, O! EA/-H .2 -HE CE2-/E O! -HE */.D ,.-H C/OSS) HA./S. -HE EA/-H .S PE/!EC-$Y CE2-/ED. c@B

C0

C@@ CE2-/.!3*E POO$E -here<# n'thin4 the "'"ent. 12&10&@? C@@ CO2-.23ED HA$ 2'% it<# 'rkin4 5ine ri4ht n' % but it<# 4'in4 t' 4' ithin #e7enty) t ' h'ur#. POO$E D' y'u ha7e any idea '5 hat i# cau#in4 thi# 5aultG HA$ 2't really% !rank. . think there "ay be a 5la in the a##e"bly pr'cedure. POO$E All ri4ht% Hal. ,e<ll take care '5 it. $et "e ha7e the hard c'py% plea#e. HA/D COPY DE-A.$S CO(E O3- O! S$O-. 12&10&@? C@B D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE% 2O P$A2E-S 1.S.+$E. 12&1&@? C@C CE2-/.!3*E. +O,(A2 *E-S O3- O! +ED% ,A$KS cB0 c@D r'n4 ith it at c@C

C=

-O -HE !OOD 32.- A2D D/A,S A HO- C3P O! CO!!EE. POO$E E2-E/S. POO$E *''d "'rnin4. +O,(A2 *''d "'rnin4. H' <# it 4'in4G POO$E Are y'u rea#'nably a akeG +O,(A2 Oh% .<" 5ine% .<" ide a ake. ,hat<# upG POO$E ,ell... Hal<# rep'rted the AO)unit ab'ut t' 5ail a4ain. +O,(A2 Y'u<re kiddin4. POO$E 2'. 12&10&@? C@C CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 E#'5tlyF ,hat the hell i# 4'in4 'nG POO$E . d'n<t kn' . Hal #aid he th'u4ht it "i4ht be the a##e"bly pr'cedure. +O,(A2 - ' unit# in 5'ur day#. H' #pare# d' e ha7eG POO$E - ' "'re. "any cB1

C?

+O,(A2 ,ell% . h'pe there<# n'thin4 r'n4 ith the a##e"bly 'n th'#e. Other) i#e e<re 'ut '5 bu#ine##. 12&10&@? C@D .2 POD +AY +O,(A2 O+-A.2S A2O-HE/ CO(PO2E2- !/O( -HE ,A/EHO3SE *OES O3- .2 -HE POD A2D /EP$ACES .-. POO$E ,O/KS .2 -HE CO((A2D (OD3$E. -H.S ,.$$ +E A CO2DE2SED 1E/S.O2 O! -HE P/E1.O3S SCE2E ,.-H D.!!E/E2A2*$ES. -HE SE-S ,.$$ CO2S.SO! POD +AY% CO((A2D (OD3$E% POD .2-E/.O/. 12&1&@? CB0 POD +AY. +O,(A2 A2D POO$E $EA2.2* O1E/ -HE !A3$-Y CO(PO2E2-% A*A.2 ,./ED -O -ES-.2* *EA/. +O-H (E2 S-A/E .2 P3KK$ED S.$E2CE. SEE D.SP$AYS !$ASH EACH -ES-.2* PA/A) (E-E/. cB= cB2

C@

+O,(A2 Ea5ter l'n4 #ilenceF ,ell% a# 5ar a# .<" c'ncerned% there i#n<t a da"n thin4 r'n4 ith the#e unit#. . think e<7e 4't a "uch "'re #eri'u# pr'ble". POO$E HalG +O,(A2 Ye#. 12&1=&@? CB1 D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE. 12&1&@? CB2 CO((32.CA-.O2S A/EA. (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ . 'uldn<t 'rry t'' "uch ab'ut the c'"puter. !ir#t '5 all% there i# #till a chance that he i# ri4ht% de#pite y'ur te#t#% and i5 it #h'uld happen a4ain% e #u44e#t eli"inatin4 thi# p'##ibility by all' in4 the unit t' re"ain in place and #eein4 hether 'r n't it actually 5ail#. .5 the c'"puter #h'uld turn 'ut t' be r'n4% the #ituati'n i# #till n't alar"in4. -he type '5 'b#e##i'nal err'r he "ay be 4uilty '5 i# n't unkn' n a"'n4 the late#t 4enerati'n '5 HA$ D000 c'"puter#. .t ha# al"'#t al ay# re7'l7ed ar'und a #in4le detail% #uch a# the 'ne y'u ha7e de#cribed% and cB@ cB?

CB

it ha# ne7er inter5ered ith the inte4rity 'r reliability '5 the c'"puter<# per5'r"ance in 'ther area#. 2' 'ne i# certain '5 the cau#e '5 thi# kind '5 "al5uncti'nin4. .t "ay be '7er)pr'4ra""in4% Ec'n<tF 12&1&@? CB2 CO2-.23ED (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ Ec'n<tF but it c'uld al#' be any nu"ber '5 rea#'n#. .n any e7ent% it i# #'"e hat anal'4'u# t' hu"an neur'tic beha7i'r. D'e# thi# an# er y'ur ;ueryG Ker')5i7e)three) Ker'% (C% tran#"i##i'n c'ncluded. 12&1&@? CB0 D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE cBD CB= CE2-/.!3*E. +O,(A2 S.-S DO,2 A- -HE CO(P3-E/. P3-S 3P CHESS +OA/D D.SP$AY. HA$ Hell'% Da7e. Shall the 4a"eG +O,(A2 e c'ntinue cBC cBB

CC

2't n' % Hal% .<d like t' talk t' y'u ab'ut #'"ethin4. HA$ Sure% Da7e% hat<# upG

+O,(A2 Y'u kn' that e checked the t ' AO)unit# that y'u rep'rted in i""inent 5ailure c'nditi'nG HA$ Ye#% . kn' . +O,(A2 Y'u pr'bably al#' kn' 5'und the" 'kay. that e

HA$ Ye#% . kn' that. +ut . can a##ure y'u that they ere ab'ut t' 5ail. 12&1=&@? CB= CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 ,ell% that<# Au#t n't the ca#e% Hal. -hey are per5ectly all ri4ht. ,e te#ted the" under 'ne hundred per cent '7erl'ad. HA$ .<" n't ;ue#ti'nin4 y'ur 'rd% Da7e% but it<# Au#t n't p'##ible. .<" n't capable '5 bein4 r'n4. +O,(A2 Hal% i# there anythin4 b'therin4 y'uG Anythin4 that "i4ht acc'unt 5'r thi# pr'ble"G HA$ $''k% Da7e% . kn' that y'u<re cC0

CD

#incere and that y'u<re tryin4 t' d' a c'"petent A'b% and that y'u<re tryin4 t' be help5ul% but . can a##ure the pr'ble" i# ith the AO)unit#% and ith y'ur te#t 4ear. +O,(A2 Okay% Hal% ell let<# #ee the ay thin4# 4' 5r'" here 'n. 12&1=&@? CB= CO2-.23ED HA$ .<" #'rry y'u 5eel the ay y'u d'% Da7e. .5 y'u<d like t' check "y #er7ice rec'rd% y'u<ll #ee it<# c'"pletely ith'ut err'r. +O,(A2 . kn' all ab'ut y'ur #er7ice rec'rd% Hal% but un5'rtunately it d'e#n<t pr'7e that y'u<re ri4ht n' . Hal Da7e% . d'n<t kn' h' el#e t' put thi#% but it Au#t happen# t' be an unalterable 5act that . a" incapable '5 bein4 r'n4. +O,(A2 Ye#% ell . under#tand y'u 7ie 'n thi# n' % Hal. +O,(A2 -3/2S -O *O. 12&1=&@? CB= CO2-.23ED cC2 cC1

D0

HA$ Y'u<re n't 4'in4 t' like thi#% Da7e% but .<" a5raid it<# Au#t happened a4ain. (y !PC predict# the A')unit ill 4' ithin 5'rty)ei4ht h'ur#. CB? DE$E-ED CB@ DE$E-ED 12&1=&@? CBB D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE 12&1&@? CBC CE2-/.!3*E +O,(A2 KEYS !O/ -/A2S(.SS.O2. +O,(A2 :)ray)delta)6er' t' (C% 6er') 5i7e)three)three. -he c'"puter ha# Au#t rep'rted an'ther predicted 5ailure '55 the AAC) unit. A# y'u #u44e#ted% e are 4'in4 t' ait and #ee i5 it 5ail#% but e are ;uite #ure there i# n'thin4 r'n4 ith the unit. .5 a rea#'nable aitin4 peri'd pr'7e# u# t' be c'rrect% e 5eel n' that the c'"puter reliability ha# been #eri'u#ly i"paired% and pre#ent# an unacceptable ri#k pattern t' the "i##i'n. ,e belie7e% under the#e cC= cC0

D1

circu"#tance#% it 'uld be ad7i#able t' di#c'nnect the c'"puter 5r'" all #hip 'perati'n# and c'ntinue the "i##i'n under Earth)ba#ed c'"puter c'ntr'l. 12&1&@? CBC CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 Ec'n<tF ,e think the additi'nal ri#k cau#ed by the #hip)t')earth ti"e la4 i# pre5erable t' ha7in4 an unreliable 'n)b'ard c'"puter. SEE -HE D.S-A2CE> -O)EA/-H -.(E/. +O,(A2 Ec'n<tF One)6er')5i7e)6er'% :)ray)delta) 'ne% tran#"i##i'n c'ncluded. POO$E ,ell% they 'n<t 4et that 5'r hal5 an h'ur. H' ab'ut #'"e lunchG D.SSO$1E: 12&1=&@? CBCa CE2-/.!3*E +O,(A2 A2D POO$E EA-.2*. DESSO$1E: CBD +O,(A2 A2D POO$E A- -HE CO((32.CA-.O2S A/EA. cC@ cC?

D2

.2CO(.2* CO((32.) CA-.O2 P/OCED3/E. (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ :)ray)delta)'ne% ackn' led4in4 y'ur 'ne)6er')5i7e)6er'. ,e ill initiate 5ea#ibility #tudy c'7erin4 the tran#5er pr'cedure# 5r'" 'n)b'ard c'"puter c'ntr'l t' Earth)ba#ed c'"puter c'ntr'l. -hi# #tudy #h'uld... 1.S.O2 A2D P.C-3/E !ADE. A$A/( *OES O!!. HA$ C'nditi'n yell' . +O,(A2 A2D POO$E /3SH -O -HE CO(P3-E/. 12&1=&@? CBD CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 ,hat<# upG HA$ .<" a5raid the AO)unit ha# 5ailed. +O,(A2 A2D POO$E E:CHA2*E $OOKS. +O,(A2 $et "e #ee the ali4n"ent di#play. CC0 -HE A$.*2(E2- D.SP$AY SHO,S -HE EA/-H HAS D/.!-ED O!! -HE CE2-/E O! -HE */.D. cCB

D0

CC1 CE2-/.!3*E. +O,(A2 ,ell% .<ll be da"ned. POO$E Hal a# ri4ht all the ti"e. 12&1=&@? CC1 CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 .t #ee"# that ay. HA$ 2aturally% Da7e% .<" n't plea#ed that the AO)unit ha# 5ailed% but . h'pe at lea#t thi# ha# re#t'red y'ur c'n5idence in "y inte4rity and reliability. . certainly 'uldn<t ant t' be di#c'nnected% e7en te"p'rarily% a# . ha7e ne7er been di#c'nnected in "y entire #er7ice hi#t'ry. +O,(A2 .<" #'rry ab'ut the "i#under#tandin4% Hal. HA$ ,ell% d'n<t 'rry ab'ut it. +O,(A2 And d'n<t y'u 'rry ab'ut it. cCC

HA$ .# y'ur c'n5idence in "e 5ully re#t'redG +O,(A2 Ye#% it i#% Hal.

D=

HA$ ,ell% that<# a relie5. Y'u kn' . ha7e the 4reate#t enthu#ia#" p'##ible 5'r the "i##i'n. 12&1&@? CC1 CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 /i4ht. *i7e "e the "anual antenna ali4n"ent% plea#e. HA$ Y'u ha7e it. CC2 +O,(A2 *OES -O -HE CO((32.CA-.O2 A/EA A2D -/.ES -O CO//EC- -HE O!!) CE2-/E EA/-H O2 -HE */.D P.C-3/E. CC0 O3-S.DE% ,E SEE -HE A$.*2(E2- -E$ESCOPE A--ACHED -O -HE A2-E22A. -HEY -/ACK S$O,$Y -O*E-HE/ AS CC= +O,(A2 ,O/KS -HE (A23A$ CO2-/O$S% A--E(P-.2* -O A$.*2 -HE A2-E22A A2D EA/-H O2 -HE 12&1&@? CC? */.D P.C-3/E /EADO3D.SP$AY% +3- EACH -.(E HE *E-S .- A.(ED 3P% .- D/.!-S S$O,$Y O!!. cD0 cCD

D?

-HE/E A/E A 23(+E/ O! /EPE-.-.O2S O! -H.S. EACH -.(E -HE EA/-H CE2-/ES 3P% -HE/E A/E A !E, SECO2DS O! P.C-3/E A2D SO32D ,H.CH !ADE AS SOO2 AS .- S,.2*S O!!. +O,(A2 ,ell% e<d better 4et 'ut there and #tick in an'ther unit. POO$E .t<# the la#t 'ne. +O,(A2 ,ell% n' that e<7e 4't 'ne that<# actually 5ailed% e #h'uld be able t' 5i4ure 'ut hat<# happened and 5i8 it. 12&1&@? CC@ POD E:.-S D.SCO1E/Y. CCB POO$E .2 POD. CCC POD (A2OE31E/S -O A2-E22A. CCD +O,(A2 .2 CO((A2D (OD3$E. CD0 POD A--ACHES .-SE$! 2EA/ +ASE O! A2-E22A. 12&1&@? cD2 cD1

D@

CD1 POO$E .2 POD% ,O/K) .2* POD A/(S. CD2 $.*H-S SH.2E .2-O +ACK$.- SHADO,. CD0 POD A/(S ,O/K.2* !$.P)+O$-S. CD= !$.P)+O$-S S-3CK. CD? POO$E KEEPS -/Y.2*. 12&1&@? CD@ !$.P)+O$-S S-3CK. POO$E -here<# #'"ethin4 r'n4 ith the 5lip)b'lt#% Da7e. Y'u "u#t ha7e ti4htened the" t'' "uch. +O,(A2 . didn<t d' that !rank. . t''k particular care n't t' 5ree6e the". POO$E . 4ue## y'u d'n<t kn' #tren4th% 'ld b'y. +O,(A2 . 4ue## n't. POO$E . think .<ll ha7e t' 4' 'ut and burn the" '55. +O,(A2 y'ur ' n cD0

DB

/'4er. +O,(A2 .2 CO((A2D (OD3$E $OOKS A +.CO2CE/2ED. 12&1&@? CDB POO$E E:.-S !/O( POD% CA//Y.2* 2EA$OOK.2* ,E$D.2* -O/CH. CDC POO$E HE-S H.(SE$! -O +ASE O! A2-E22A. CDD POO$E<S (A*2E-.C +OO-S */.P -HE S.DE O! D.SCO1E/Y. C100 POO$E C/O3CHES O1E/ -HE +O$-S% -/Y.2* !./S- -O 32DO -HE( ,.-H A SPA22E/. 12&1&@? C100 CO2-.23ED POO$E Hal% # in4 the p'd li4ht ar'und t' #hine 'n the a6i"uth% plea#e. HA$ /'4er. C101 -HE POD *E2-$Y (A2OE31/ES .-SE$! -O D./EC- -HE $.*HcD? cD=

DC

+EA( (O/E ACC3/A-E$Y. C102 POO$E .*2.-ES ACE-Y$E2E -O/CH A2D +E*.2S -O +3/2 O!! -HE !$.P)+O$-S. C100 S3DDE2$Y -HE POD HE-S .*2.-E. 12&1&@? C10= POO$E $OOKS 3P -O SEE. C10? -HE POD /3SH.2* -O,A/DS H.(. C10@ POO$E .S S-/3CK A2D .2S-A2-$Y K.$$ED +Y -HE POD% -3(+$.2* O!! .2-O SPACE. C10B -HE POD S(ASHES .2-O -HE A2-E22A D.SH% DES-/OY.2* -HE A$.*2(E2-E$ESCOPE. 12&1&@? C10C -HE POD *OES H3/-$.2* O!! .2-O SPACE. C10D .2S.DE -HE CO((A2D (OD3$E% +O,(A2 HAS HEA/D 2O-H.2*% cDB cD@

DD

POO$E HAD 2O -.(E -O 3--E/ A SO32D. C110 -HE2 +O,(A2 SEES POO$E<S +ODY S.$E2-$Y -3(+$.2* A,AY .2-O SPACE. .- .S !O$$O,ED +Y SO(E +/OKE2 -E$E) SCOPE PA/-S A2D !.2A$$Y O1E/-AKE2 A2D S,.!-$Y PASSED +Y -HE POD .-SE$!. +O,(A2 Ein /- cadenceF Hell'% !rank. Hell' !rank. Hell' !rank... D' y'u rad "e% !rankG 12&1&@? C110 CO2-.23ED -HE/E .S 2O-H.2* +3- S.$E2CE. C111 POO$E<S !.*3/E SH/.2KS S-EAD.$Y AS .- /ECEDES !/O( D.SCO1E/Y. +O,(A2 Hell'% !rank... D' y'u read "e% !rankG ,a7e y'ur ar"# i5 y'u read "e but y'ur radi' d'e#n<t 'rk. Hell'% !rank% a7e y'ur ar"#% !rank. C112 POO$E<S +ODY -3(+$ES S$O,$Y A,AY. -HE/E .S 2O (O-.O2 A2D 2O SO32D. cDC

100

12&1&@? C110 CE2-/.!3*E C11= C$OSE)3P O! CO(P3-E/ EYE. C11? PO.2-)O!)1.E, SHO- !/O( CO(P3-E/ EYE ,.-H SPHE/.CA$ !.SH)EYE E!!EC-. ,E SEE +O,(A2 +/OOD.2* A- -HE -A+$E% S$O,$Y CHE,.2* O2 A P.ECE O! CAKE A2D S.PP.2* HOCO!!EE. HE .S $OOK.2* A- -HE EYE. C11@ !/O( -HE SA(E PO.2-)O!)1.E, ,E SEE +O,(A2 /.SE. 12&1&@? C11@ CO2-.23ED A2D CO(E -O -HE EYE. HE S-A/ES .2-O -HE EYE !O/ SO(E -.(E +E!O/E SPEAK.2*. C11B -HE CA(E/A CO(ES A/O32D -O +O,(A2<S P.O.1. A2D ,E SEE -HE D.SP$AY SHO,.2*

cDD

c100

101

-HE EA/-H O!!)CE2-/E. C11C C3- A*A.2 -O !.SH) EYE 1.E, !/O( -HE CO(P3-E/. HA$ -'' bad ab'ut !rank% i#n<t itG +O,(A2 Ye#% it i#. HA$ . #upp'#e y'u<re pretty br'ken up ab'ut itG PA3SE 12&1=&@? C11C CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 Ye#. . a". HA$ He a# an e8cellent cre +O,(A2 $OOKS 32CE/-A.2$Y A-HE CO(P3-E/. HA$ .t<# a bad break% but it 'n<t #ub#tantially a55ect the "i##i'n. +O,(A2 -H.2KS A $O2* -.(E. +O,(A2 Hal% 4i7e "e "anual hibernati'n c'ntr'l. HA$ "e"ber. c101

102

Ha7e y'u decided t' re7i7e the re#t '5 the cre % Da7eG PA3SE. 12&1=&@? C11C CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 Ye#% . ha7e. HA$ . #upp'#e it<# becau#e y'u<7e been under a l't '5 #tre##% but ha7e y'u 5'r4'tten that they<re n't #upp'#ed t' be re7i7ed 5'r an'ther three "'nth#. +O,(A2 -he antenna ha# t' be replaced. HA$ /epairin4 the antenna i# a pretty dan4er'u# 'perati'n. +O,(A2 .t d'e#n<t ha7e t' be% Hal. .t<# "'re dan4er'u# t' be 'ut '5 t'uch ith Earth. $et "e ha7e "anual c'ntr'l% plea#e. HA$ . d'n<t really a4ree ith y'u% Da7e. (y 'n)b'ard "e"'ry #t're i# "'re than capable '5 handlin4 all the "i##i'n re;uire"ent#. 12&1=&@? C11C CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 ,ell% in any e7ent% 4i7e "e the c100 c102

100

"anual hibernati'n c'ntr'l. HA$ .5 y'u<re deter"ined t' re7i7e the cre n' % . can handle the h'le thin4 "y#el5. -here<# n' need 5'r y'u t' tr'uble. +O,(A2 .<" 4'in t' d' thi# "y#el5% Hal. $et "e ha7e the c'ntr'l% plea#e. HA$ $''k% Da7e y'ur<7e pr'bably 4't a l't t' d'. . #u44e#t y'u lea7e it t' "e. +O,(A2 Hal% # itch t' "anual hibernati'n c'ntr'l. HA$ . d'n<t like t' a##ert "y#el5% Da7e% but it 'uld be "uch better n' 5'r y'u t' re#t. Y'u<7e been in7'l7ed in a 7ery #tre##5ul #ituati'n. 12&1=&@? C11C CO2-.23ED +O,(A2 . d'n<t 5eel like re#tin4. *i7e "e the c'ntr'l% Hal. HA$ . can tell 5r'" the t'ne '5 y'ur 7'ice% Da7e% that y'u<re up#et. ,hy d'n<t y'u take a #tre## pill and 4et #'"e re#t. +O,(A2 Hal% .<" in c'""and '5 thi# #hip. . 'rder y'u t' relea#e the "anual hibernati'n c'ntr'l. c10=

10=

HA$ .<" #'rry% Da7e% but in acc'rdance ith #ub)r'utine C1?02&=% ;u'te% ,hen the cre are dead 'r incapacitated% the c'"puter "u#t a##u"e c'ntr'l% un;u'te. . "u#t% there5're% '7erride y'ur auth'rity n' #ince y'u are n't in any c'nditi'n t' intel) li4ently e8erci#e it. +O,(A2 Hal% unle## y'u 5'll' "y in#tructi'n#% . #hall be 5'rced t' di#c'nnect y'u. 12&1=&@? C11C CO2-.23ED HA$ .5 y'u d' that n' ith'ut Earth c'ntact the #hip ill bec'"e a helple## derelict. +O,(A2 . a" prepared t' d' that any ay. HA$ . kn' that y'u<7e had that 'n y'ur "ind 5'r #'"e ti"e n' % Da7e% but it 'uld be a cryin4 #ha"e% #ince . a" #' "uch "'re capable '5 carryin4 'ut thi# "i##i'n than y'u are% and . ha7e #uch enthu#ia#" and c'n5i) dence in the "i##i'n. +O,(A2 $i#ten t' "e 7ery care5ully% Hal. 3nle## y'u i""ediately relea#e the hibernati'n c'ntr'l and 5'll' e7ery 'rder . 4i7e 5r'" c10?

10?

thi# p'int 'n% . ill i""ediately 4't t' c'ntr'l central and carry 'ut a c'"plete di#c'nnecti'n. 12&1=&@? C11C CO2-.23ED HA$ $''k% Da7e% y'u<re certainly the b'##. . a# 'nly tryin4 t' d' hat . th'u4ht be#t. . ill 5'll' all y'ur 'rder#: n' y'u ha7e "anual hibernati'n c'ntr'l. +O,(A2 S-A2DS S.$E2-$Y .2 !/O2O! -HE CO(P3-E/ !O/ SO(E -.(E% A2D -HE2 S$O,$Y ,A$KS -O -HE H.+E/2AC3$3(S. C11D HE .2.-.A-ES /E1.1A$ P/OCED3/ES% DE-A.$S O! ,H.CH S-.$$ HA1E -O +E ,O/KED O3-. 12&1=&@? C120 H3+)$.2K. HA$<S EYE. C121 H3+)$.2K DOO/) OPE2.2* +3--O2 AC-.1A-ES .-SE$!. C122 H3+)DOO/ OPE2S. C120 CO((A2D (OD3$E. HA$<S EYE. c10B c10@

10@

C12= CO((A2D (OD3$E H3+)$.2K DOO/) OPE2.2* +3--O2 AC-.1A-ES .-SE$!. 12&1&@? C12? CO((A2D (OD3$E H3+) $.2K DOO/ OPE2S. C12@ CE2-/.!3*E. HA$<S EYE. C12B CE2-/.!3*E DOO/) OPE2.2* +3--O2 AC-.1A-ES .-SE$!. C12C CE2-/.!3*E DOO/ OPE2S. C12D POD +AY. HA$<S EYE. 12&1&@? C100 POD +AY DOO/) OPE2.2* +3--O2 AC-.1A-ES .-SE$!. C101 POD +AY DOO/S OPE2. C102 A /OA/.2* E:P$OS.O2 .2S.DE D.SCO1E/Y AS A./ /3SHES O3-. C100 $.*H-S *O O3-. c10D c10C

10B

C10= +O,(A2 .S S(ASHED A*A.2S- CE2-/.!3*E 12&1&@? C10= CO2-.23ED ,A$$% +3- (A2A*ES -O *E- .2-O E(E/*E2CY A./$OCK ,.-H.2 SECO2DS O! -HE ACC.DE2-. C100 .2S.DE E(E/*E2CY A./)$OCK A/E E(E/) *E2CY A./ S3PP$Y% -,O SPACE S3.-S A2D A2 E(E/*E2CY K.-. D.SSO$1E: 12&1&@? C10@ D.SCO1E/Y .2 SPACE. 2O $.*H-S% POD +AY DOO/S OPE2. 12&1&@? C10B CE2-/.!3*E C10C CE2-/.!3*E% DA/K. +O,(A2 E(E/*ES !/O( A./$OCK ,EA/.2* SPACE S3.A2D CA//Y.2* !$ASH) $.*H-. C10D HE ,A$KS -O H.+E/) c112 c111 c110

10C

2AC3$3( A2D !.2DS -HE C/E, A/E DEAD. C1=0 HE C$.(+S $ADDE/ -O -O DA/K CE2-/.!3*E H3+. 12&1&@? C1=1 HE (AKES H.S ,AY -H/O3*H -HE DA/KE2ED H3+ .2-O -HE H3+)$.2K% E:.-.2* .2-O CO(P3-E/ +/A.2 CO2-/O$ A/EA. C1=2 +O,(A2 E2-E/S% CA//Y.2* !$ASH) $.*H-. CO(P3-E/ EYE SEES H.(. HA$ S'"ethin4 #ee"# t' ha7e happened t' the li5e #upp'rt #y#te" % Da7e. +O,(A2 DOES2<A2S,E/ H.(. HA$ Hell'% Da7e% ha7e y'u 5'und 'ut the tr'ubleG +O,(A2 ,O/KS H.S ,AY -O -HE SO$.D $O*.C P/O*/A((E S-O/A*E A/EA. 12&1&@? C1=2 CO2-.23ED HA$ -here<# been a 5ailure in the c11= c110

10D

p'd bay d''r#. $ucky y'u eren<t killed. -HE CO(P3-E/ +/A.2 CO2S.S-S O! H32D/EDS O! -/A2SPA/E2- PE/SPE: /EC-A2*$ES% HA$!)A2) .2CH -H.CK% !O3/ .2CHES $O2* A2D -,O A2D A HA$! .2CHES H.*H. EACH /EC-) A2*$E CO2-A.2S A CE2-/E O! 1E/Y !.2E */.D O! ,./ES 3PO2 ,H.CH -HE .2!O/(A-.O2 .S P/O*/A((ED. +O,(A2 +E*.2S P3$$.2* -HESE (E(O/Y +$OCKS O3-. -HEY !$OA- .2 -HE ,E.*H-$ESS CO2D.-.O2 O! -HE +/A.2 /OO(. HA$ Hey% Da7e% d'in4G +O,(A2 ,O/KS S,.!-$Y. 12&1&@? C1=2 CO2-.23ED HA$ Hey% Da7e. .<7e 4't ten year# '5 #er7ice e8perience and an irreplaceable a"'unt '5 ti"e and e55'rt ha# 4'ne int' "akin4 "e hat . a". +O,(A2 .*2O/ES H.(. HA$ Da7e% . d'n<t under#tand hy y'u<re d'in4 thi# t' "e.... . c11? hat are y'u

110

ha7e the 4reate#t enthu#ia#" 5'r the "i##i'n... Y'u are de#tr'yin4 "y "ind... D'n<t y'u under#tandG ... . ill bec'"e childi#h... . ill bec'"e n'thin4. +O,(A2 KEEPS P3$$.2* O3- -HE (E(O/Y +$OCKS. HA$ Say% Da7e... -he ;uick br' n 5'8 Au"ped '7er the 5at la6y d'4... -he #;uare r''t '5 pi i# 1.BB2=?0C0D0... l'4 e t' the ba#e ten i# 0.=0=2D== ... the #;uare r''t '5 ten i# 0.1@22BB@@... . a" HA$ D000 c'"puter. . beca"e 12&1&@? C1=2 CO2-.23ED HA$ 'perati'nal at the HA$ plant in 3rbana% .llin'i#% 'n Hanuary 12th% 1DD1. (y 5ir#t in#truct'r a# (r. Arkany. He tau4ht "e t' #in4 a #'n4... it 4'e# like thi#... LDai#y% Dai#y% 4i7e "e y'ur an# er d'. .<" hal5> cra6y all 5'r the l'7e '5 y'u... etc.%L CO(P3-E/ CO2-.23ES -O S.2* SO2* +ECO(.2* (O/E A2D (O/E CH.$D.SH A2D (AK.2* (.S-AKES A2D *O.2* O!!)KEY. .!.2A$$Y S-OPS CO(P$E-E$Y. C1=0 +O,(A2 *OES -O A2 A/EA (A/KED <E(E/*E2CY PO,E/ A2D $.!E S3PPO/-<. HE KEYS SO(E S,.-CHES A2D ,E SEE -HE $.*H-S *O c11@

111

O2. 2EA/+Y% A2O-HE/ +OA/D <E(E/*E2CY (A23A$ CO2-/O$S<. HE *OES -O -H.S +OA/D A2D KEYS <C$OSE POD +AY DOO/S<% <C$OSE A./ $OCK DOO/S<% etc.% 12&1&@? C1== ,E SEE -HE 1A/.O3S DOO/S C$OS.2*. C1=? POD +AY. +O,(A2 .2 SPACE S3.- O+-A.2S 2E, A$.*2(E2-E$ESCOPE% 2E, AK.(3-H CO(PO2E2-. C1=@ +O,(A2 .2 POD E:.-S POD +AY. D.SSO$1E: 12&1&@? C1=B CE2-/.!3*E E1E/Y-H.2* 2O/(A$ A*A.2. (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ $a#tly% e ant y'u t' kn' that 'rk 'n the rec'7ery 7ehicle i# #till 'n #chedule and that n'thin4 that ha# happened #h'uld #ub#tantially le##en the pr'bability '5 y'ur #a5e rec'7ery% 'r pre7ent partial ache7e"ent '5 #'"e '5 the "i##i'n 'bAecti7e#. Epau#eF c11C c11B

112

And n' Si"'n#'n ha# a 5e idea# 'n hat ent r'n4 ith the c'"puter. .<ll pu hi" 'n... C1=C C3- -O S.(O2SO2 S.(O2SO2 Hell'% Da7e. . think e "ay be 'n t' an e8planati'n '5 the tr'uble ith the Hal D000 c'"puter. ,e belie7e it all #tarted ab'ut t ' "'nth# a4' hen y'u and !rank interr'4ated the c'"puter ab'ut the (i##i'n. Ec'n<tF 12&10&@? C1=C CO2-.23ED S.(O2SO2 Ec'n<tF Y'u "ay ha7e 5'r4'tten it% but e<7e been runnin4 thr'u4h all the "'nit'r tape#. D' y'u re"e"ber thi#G POO$E<S 1O.CE -he purp'#e '5 thi# "i##i'n i# n' "'re than t' carry 'ut a c'ntinuati'n '5 the #pace pr'4ra" and 5urther 'ur 4eneral kn' led4e '5 the planet#. .# thi# trueG HA$<S 1O.CE -hat i# true. S.(O2SO2 ,ell% .<" a5aid Hal a# lyin4. He had been pr'4ra""ed t' lie ab'ut thi# 'ne #ubAect 5'r #ecur) ity rea#'n# hich e<ll e8plain later. -he true purp'#e '5 the (i##i'n c11D

110

a# t' ha7e been e8plained t' y'u by (i##i'n C'""ander Ka"in#ky% 'n hi# re7i7al. Hal kne thi# and he kne the actual "i##i'n% but he c'uldn<t tell y'u the truth hen y'u challen4ed hi". 3nder 'rder# Ec'n<tF 12&10&@? C1=C CO2-.23ED S.(O2SO2 Ec'n<tF 5r'" earth he a# 5'rced t' lie. .n e7erythin4 e8cept thi# he had the u#ual rein5'rced truth pr'4ra") "in4. ,e belie7e hi# truth pr'4ra""in4 and the in#tructi'n# t' lie% 4radually re#ulted in an inc'"patible c'n5lict% and 5acedc ith thi# dile""an% he de7el'ped% 5'r ant '5 a better de#cripti'n% neur'tic #y"pt'"#. .t<# n't di55icult t' #upp'#e that the#e #y"pt'"# 'uld centre 'n the c'""unicati'n link ith Earth% 5'r he "ay ha7e bla"ed u# 5'r hi# inc'"patible pr'4ra") "in4. !'ll' in4 thi# lin '5 th'u4ht% e #u#pected that the la#t #tra 5'r hi" a# the p'##ibility '5 di#c'nnecti'n. Since he beca"e 'perati'nal% he had ne7er kn' n unc'n#ci'u#ne##. .t "u#t ha7e #ee"ed the e;ui7alent t' death. Ec'n<tF c121 c120

12&10&@? C1=C

11=

CO2-.23ED S.(O2SO2 Ec'n<tF At thi# p'int% he% pre#u"ably% t''k hate7er acti'n# he th'u4ht appr'priate t' pr'tect hi"#el5 5r'" hat "u#t ha7e #ee"ed t' hi" t' be hi# hu"an t'r"ent'r#. .5 . cane #peak in hu"an ter"#% . d'n<t think e can bla"e hi" t'' "uch. ,e ha7e 'rdered hi" t' di#'bey hi# c'n#cience. ,ell% that<# it. .t<# 7ery #peculati7e% but e think it i# a p'##ible e8planati'n. Any ay% 4''d luck 'n the re#t '5 the (i##i'n and .<" 4i7in4 y'u back t' +ernard. C1=D C3- -O (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$. (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ Hell'% Da7e. 2' % .<" 4'in4 t' play 5'r y'u a pre)taped brie5in4 hich had been #t'red in Hal<# "e"'ry and 'uld ha7e been played 5'r y'u by (i##i'n C'") ""ander Ka"in#ky% hen he% Ec'n<tF 12&10&@? C1=D CO2-.23ED (.SS.O2 CO2-/O$ Ec'n<tF had been re7i7ed. -he brie5in4 i# by D'ct'r Hey ''d !l'yd. Here it i#... 12&10&@? C1?0 c120 c122

11?

!$OYD<S /ECO/DED +/.E!.2* !$OYD *''d day% 4entle"en. ,hen y'u #ee thi# brie5in4% . pre#u"e y'u ill be nearin4 y'ur de#tinati'n% Saturn. . h'pe that y'u<7e had a plea#ant and une7ent5ul trip and that the re#t '5 y'ur "i##i'n c'ntinue# in the #a"e "anner. . #h'uld like t' 5ill y'u in 'n #'"e "'re '5 the detail# 'n hich (i##i'n C'""ander Ka"in#ky ill ha7e already brie5ed y'u. -hirteen "'nth# be5're the launch date '5 y'ur Saturn "i##i'n% 'n April 12th% 2001% the 5ir#t e7idence 5'r intelli4ent li5e 'ut#ide the Earth a# di#c'7ered. .t a# 5'und buried at a depth '5 5i5teen "etre# in the crater -ych'. 2' ne # '5 thi# a# e7er ann'unced% and the e7ent had been kept #ecret #ince then% 5'r rea#'n# hich . ill later e8plain. S''n a5ter it a# unc'7ered% it e"itted a p' er5ul bla#t '5 Ec'n<tF 12&10&@? C1?0 CO2-.23ED !$OYD Ec'n<tF radiati'n in the radi' #pectru" hich #ee"# t' ha7e tri44ered by the $unar #unri#e. $uckily 5'r th'#e at the #ite% it pr'7ed har"le##. c12=

11@

Perhap# y'u can i"a4ine 'ur a#t'ni#h"ent hen e later 5'und it a# ai"ed preci#ely at Saturn. A l't '5 th'u4ht ent int' the ;ue#ti'n '5 ether 'r n't it a# #un)tri44ered% a# it #ee"ed ill'4ical t' deliberately bury a #un)p' ered de7ice. +uryin4 it c'uld 'nly #hield it 5r'" the #un% #ince it# inten#e "a4netic 5ield "ade it 'ther i#e ea#ily detectable. ,e 5inally c'ncluded that the 'nly rea#'n y'u "i4ht bury a #un) p' ered de7ice 'uld be t' keep it inacti7e until it 'uld be unc'7ered% at hich ti"e it 'uld ab#'rb #unli4ht and tri44er it#el5. Ec'n<tF 12&1=&@? C1?0 CO2-.23ED !$OYD ,hat i# it# purp'#eG . i#h e kne . -he 'bAect a# buried 'n the "''n ab'ut 5'ur "illi'n year# a4'% hen 'ur ance#t'r# ere pri"ati7e "an)ape#. ,e<7e e8a"ined d'6en# '5 the'rie#% but the 'ne that ha# the "'#t currency at the "'"ent i# that the 'bAect #er7e# a# an alar". ,hat the purp'#e '5 the alar" i#% hy they i#h t' ha7e the alar"% hether the alar" repre#ent# any dan4er t' u#G -he#e are ;ue#ti'n# n' 'ne can an# er. -he intenti'n# '5 an alien 'rld% at lea#t 5'ur "illi'n year# 'lder c12?

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than e are% cann't be reliably predicted. .n 7ie '5 thi#% the intelli4ence and #cienti5ic c'""unitie# 5elt that any public ann'unc"ent "i4ht lead t' #i4ni5icant cultural #h'ck and di#'rientati'n. Di#cu##i'n t''k place at the hi4he#t le7el# bet een 4'7ern) Ec'n<tF 12&1=&@? C1?0 CO2-.23ED !$OYD Ec'n<tF "ent#% and it a# decided that the 'nly i#e and precauti'nary c'ur#e t' 5'll' a# t' a##u"e that the intenti'n# '5 thi# alien 'rld are p'tentially dan4er'u# t' u#% until e ha7e e7idence t' the c'ntrary. -hi# i#% '5 c'ur#e% hy #ecurity ha# been "aintained and hy thi# in5'r"ati'n ha# been kept 'n a need)t')kn' ba#i#. And n' . #h'uld like t' #h' y'u a -1 "'nit'r tape '5 the actual #i4nallin4 e7ent. 12&1=&@? C1?1 ,E SEE A /EP$AY O! -HE -(A)1 /AD.O E(.SS.O2% AS SEE2 !/O( A -1 (O2.-O/ O2 -HE SPO-. ,E HEA/ -HE !.1E $O3D E$EC-/O2.C SH/.EKS. c12B c12@

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12&1&@? D1 .2 O/+.- ,.-H.2 -HE /.2*S O! SA-3/2% ,E SEE A +$ACK% (.$E $O2*% *EO(E-/.CA$$Y PE/!EC- /EC-A2*$E% -HE SA(E P/OPO/-.O2S AS -HE +$ACK A/-.!ACbeen E:CA1A-ED O2 -HE (OO2. P/EC.SE$Y C3- .2-O .-S CE2-/E .S A S(A$$E/% /EC-A2*3$A/ S$OA+O3- !.1E H32D/ED !OO- $O2* O2 -HE S.DE. A- -H.S D.S-A2CE% -HE /.2*S O! SA-3/2 A/E SEE2 -O +E (ADE O! E2O/(O3S CH32KS O! ab'ut t' !/OKE2 A(O2.A. -HE /ES- O! -H.S SEM3E2CE .S +E.2* ,O/KED O2 2O, +Y O3/ DES.*2E/S. -HE .2-E2-.O2 HE/E .S -O P/ESE2- A +/EA-H-AK.2*$Y +EA) 3-.!3$ A2D CO(P/EHE2) S.1E SE2SE O! D.!!E/E2E:-/A)-E//ES-/.A$ ,O/$DS. -HE 2A//A-.O2 ,.$$ S3**ES.(A*ES A2D S.-3A-.O2S AS YO3 /EAD .-. 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ Ec'n<tF -h'#e h' had be4un the e8pri) "ent #' l'n4 a4' had n't been "en.

c12C 2A//A-O/ !'r t ' "illi'n year#% it had circled Saturn% a aitin4 a "'"ent '5 de#tiny that "i4ht ne7er c'"e. .n it# "akin4% the "''n had #hattered and ar'und the central 'rld% the debri# '5 it# creati'n 'rbited yet ) the 4l'ry and the eni4"a '5 the #'lar #y#te". 2' % the l'n4 ait a# endin4. On yet an'ther 'rld intelli4ence had been b'rn and a# e#capin4 5r'" it# planetary cradle. An ancient e8peri"ent a# reach it# cli"a8. Ec'n<tF

d1

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+ut hen they l''ked 'ut acr'## the deep# '5 #pace% they 5elt a e and 'nder ) and l'neline##. .n their e8pl'rati'n#% they enc'untered li5e in "any 5'r"#% and atched 'n a th'u#and 'rld# the 'rkin4# '5 e7'luti'n. -hey #a h' '5ten the 5ir#t 5aint #park# '5 intelli4ence 5lickered and died in the c'#"ic ni4ht. And becau#e% in all the 4ala8y% they had 5'und n'thin4 "'re preci'u# than (ind% they enc'ura4ed it# da nin4 e7ery) here. -he 4reat Din'#aur# had l'n4 #ince peri#hed hen their #hip# entered the #'lar #y#te"% a5ter a 7'ya4e that had already la#ted th'u#and# '5 year#. 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ Ec'n<tF -hey # ept pa#t the 5r'6en 'uter planet#% pau#ed brie5ly ab'7e the de#ert# '5 dyin4 (ar# and pre#ently l''ked d' n 'n Earth. !'r year# they #tudied% c'llected and catal'4ued. ,hen they had learned all they c'uld% they be4an t' "'di5y. -hey tinkered ith the de#tiny '5 "any #pecie# 'n land and in the 'cean% but hich '5 their d2

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e8peri"ent# 'uld #ucceed they c'uld n't kn' 5'r at lea#t a "illi'n year#. -hey ere patient% but they ere n't yet i""'rtal. -here a# "uch t' d' in thi# 3ni7er#e '5 a hundred billi'n #tar#. S' they #et 5'rth 'nce "'re acr'## the aby##% kn' in4 that they 'uld ne7er c'"e thi# ay a4ain. 2'r a# there any need. -heir 'nder5ul "achine# c'uld be tru#ted t' d' the re#t. Ec'n<tF 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ Ec'n<tF On Earth% the 4lacier# ca"e and ent% hile ab'7e the"% the chan4ele## (''n #till carried it# #ecret. ,ith a yet #l' er rhyth" than the P'lar ice% the tide '5 ci7ili6ati'n ebbed and 5l' ed acr'## the 4ala8y. Stran4e and beauti5ul and terrible e"pire# r'#e and 5ell% and pa##ed 'n their kn' led4e t' their #ucce##'r#. Earth a# n't 5'r4'tten% but it a# 'ne '5 a "illi'n #ilent 'rld#% a 5e '5 hich 'uld e7er #peak. -hen the 5ir#t e8pl'rer# '5 Earth% rec'4ni#in4 the li"itati'n# '5 their "ind# and b'die#% pa##ed 'n their kn' led4e t' the 4reat d0

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"achine# they had created% and h' n' trn#cended the" in e7ery ay. Ec'n<tF 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ !'r a 5e th'u#and year#% they #hared their 3ni7er#e ith their "achine children> then% reali6in4 that it a# 5'lly t' lin4er hen their ta#k a# d'ne% they pa##ed int' hi#t'ry ith'ut re4ret. 2't 'ne '5 the" e7er l''ked thr'u4h hi# ' n eye# up'n the planet Earth a4ain. +ut e7en the a4e '5 the (achine Entitie# pa##ed # i5tly. .n their cea#ele## e8peri"entin4% they had learned t' #t're kn' led4e in the #tructure '5 #pace it#el5% and t' pre#er7e their th'u4ht# 5'r eternity in 5r'6en lattice# '5 li4ht. -hey c'uld bec'"e creature# '5 radiati'n% 5ree at la#t 5r'" the tyranny '5 "atter. 2' % they ere $'rd# '5 the 4ala8y% and bey'nd the reach '5 ti"e. -hey c'uld r'7e at ill a"'n4 the #tar#% and #ink like a #ubtle "i#t thr'u4h the 7ery inter#tice# '5 #pace. 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED d? d=

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2A//A-O/ Ec'n<tF +ut de#pite their *'d)like p' er#% they #till atched '7er the e8peri"ent# their ance#t'r# had #tarted #' "any 4enerati'n# a4'. -he c'"pani'n '5 Saturn kne n'thin4 '5 thi#% a# it 'rbited in it# n' "an<# land bet een (i"a# and the 'uter ed4e '5 rin4#. .t had 'nly t' re"e"ber and ait% and t' l''k 5're7er Sun ard ith it# #tran4e #en#e#. !'r "any eek#% it had atched the appr'achin4 #hip. .t# l'n4) dead "aker# had prepared it 5'r "any thin4# and thi# a# 'ne '5 the". And it rec'4ni#ed hat a# cli"bin4 #tar ard 5r'" the Sun. .5 it had been ali7e% it 'uld ha7e 5elt e8cite"ent% but #uch an e"'ti'n a# irrele7ant t' it# 4reat p' er#. 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ Ec'n<tF E7en i5 the #hip had pa##ed it by% it 'uld n't ha7e kn' n the #li4hte#t trace '5 di#app'int"ent. .t had aited 5'ur "illi'n year#> it a# prepared t' ait 5'r eternity. Pre#ently% it 5elt the 4entle t'uch '5 radiati'n#% tryin4 t' pr'be it# #ecret#. Ec'n<tF d@

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2' % the #hip a# in 'rbit and it be4an t' #peak% ith pri"e nu"ber# 5r'" 'ne t' ele7en% '7er and '7er a4ain. S''n% the#e 4a7e ay t' "'re c'"ple8 #i4nal# at "any 5re;uen) cie#% ultra)7i'let% in5ra)red% :)ray#. -he "achine "ade n' reply. .t had n'thin4 t' #ay. -hen it #a the 5ir#t r'b't pr'be% hich de#cended and h'7ered ab'7e the cha#". Ec'n<tF 12&D&@? D1 CO2-.23ED 2A//A-O/ Ec'n<tF -hen% it dr'pped int' darkne##. -he 4reat "achine kne that thi# tiny #c'ut a# rep'rtin4 back t' it# parent> but it a# t'' #i"ple% t'' pri"ati7e a de7ice t' detect the 5'rce# that ere 4atherin4 r'und it n' . -hen the p'd ca"e% carryin4 li5e. -he 4reat "achine #earched it# "e"'rie#. -he l'4ic circuit# "ade their deci#i'n hen the p'd had 5allen bey'nd the la#t 5aint 4l' '5 the re5lected Saturnian li4ht. .n a "'"ent '5 ti"e% t'' #h'rt t' be "ea#ured% #pace turned and t i#ted up'n it#el5. dB

12=

12&D&@? E2D O! SC/EE2P$AY E2D O! !.$E

dC

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