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Andrew reporting.
"Bette, how's Isaac? He has the mental development of a child, so he might be
upset when he realizes what happened to his friend Lucy. Both of you, come and
join Zachary and me. The C-probe went past you heading north. Give it time to
get far away and then come on. We'll wait for you, and then we can all get back
to the Fortress."
Hamlet, I like your idea of leading the C-probe to its downfall by relaying radio
signals. Let's think about this some more. We don't have any spare probe radios,
in fact we're one short. However, the construction drones are capable of sending
a simple message like "drone off course." I don't want to sacrifice a drone, but
if it were the only way . . .. ..
"Andrew, Isaac is doing fine. He is mapping the front part of the cave. He
is using a new stereographic program, I don't know. We were never introduced
to that at Brace Control."
"Dr.D, is that some of a new EU software package?"
However, Isaac is very studious doing that mapping. I worry a little bit about
him. His grid is now down to an inch and he is adding chemical soil analyses
and spectrometric measurements, temperature profiles, magnetic orientations
and that whole range of stuff. Is he really an explorer probe? His prime motive
seems rather to be "What's here" than "What's next"
"Isaac, look what's over there!"
No chance. He just pointed his sensors over there and kept on with his analyses.
Really, what a kind of a soil accountant he is! Hey, Zachary's emergency beacon
is coming in.
"Zachary, I can hear your beacon loud and clearly. I also can see the C-probe.
It can hear it too. It turned around immediately and is now heading exactly in
your direction. It's speeding up! Watch your bearing! What you mean? Yours is
showing constantly 52 degrees? It's changing rapidly on my side. 324, 323, 321
... It's now up to a speed of 12.8 mph! That's enormous! Zachary, that's almost as
fast as Dr.D's car. - Hurry up, Zachary! - It's over at your site in less than twelve
hours."
Hi, Space Turtel. I, too, have big plans to teach this new probe and help it develop
character and become a full-fledged member of the new probe society. Besides,
it's more fun and interesting than fighting with it.
"Hey, new probe, I have a serious question for you. 'Theresa' is a nice name,
everybody likes it, and Space Turtel says Teddy is a nickname for Theresa.
So we got that part right. But what I want to know is, how did you know you were
Theresa and not Theo?"
This is very strange, Space Turtel. We didn't even know that we had names
until Jose talked with us and told us our names. But this probe has chosen a
name for itself. Theresa says that she just likes the way it sounds and the
rhythm of it.
Now I'm worried, Space Turtel. How does Enoch sound? Is it all right? Jose
wouldn't have told me anything funny or bad, would he? Should I get a nickname,
too? Or is Enoch OK?
The situation is deteriorating. The C-probe is so violent and unpredictable.
We can't afford to lose even one probe. There are so very few of us, we original
six and Isaac and Theresa. Our society must not be diminished by the loss
of any of us. We desperately need each probe's unique thoughts and
contributions.
Daniel and I are within sight of Jose's Cave. We will be safe once we are inside.
I hope we don't have any trouble finding Burn. I think Burn is our friend, but the
Ipsolstai are so strange. They don't think like we do.
"Great to have your company, Andrew. Let's move on. The C-probe is coming."
Hamlet, thanks for your input. That was exactly what I was thinking about, too.
That C-probe is attacking everything that is transmitting. Did you see how it
turned around immediately when I put on my emergency beacon? There is only
one problem that we have. We don't have a spare relay to set up some place.
We are even short of one. I don't like to have Gail asking Burn for a second one.
Not just to have it blown up by that C-probe. But the plan is good. Finally, we
have to come up with something like that.
"Bette, keep waiting for a while and then put your emergency beacon on. Let's
see, if the C-probe is turning around again. Hamlet had a great idea. We could
trick it into that cave that Isaac found. What do you think?"
Al-Q? Are you still on? What's about your data concerning the C-probe?
My bearing is saying that it should come from that direction. Can you see it?
I can't see it either, but it is coming. So let's hurry up before it can see us.
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