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Andrew reporting.
"Zachary! We don't have to use ourselves as bait for the C-probe!"
I don't mind saying that I was extremely worried. I know that JASE wouldn't want me to
put myself or anybody else in danger. It just seemed like the most logical way to entice
the C-probe into our trap.
Grand Zero suggests that we could use an emergency beacon from one of the defunct
EU-probes that we have taken to the Fortress. Yes! We could set off the emergency beacon,
and then get out of sight when the monster C-probe comes to investigate. Thank you,
Grand Zero. If we have two emergency beacons, Zachary and I
could lead the C-probe along, using first one, and then the other to distract it.
"Enoch, can you hear me? We need two spare emergency beacons. Can you find some for us?
There should be at least one in working order if you take apart one of those EU-probes. One
of us, Zachary or me, will come to get them right away."
Grand Zero, I don't think we will be able to use the trenches that were dug to outwit the
EU probes. The C-probe is so much bigger. Its treads roll right across our trenches. It doesn't
even slow down.
Isaac is nearly back to normal. 'What's next' that's what he is looking for by now.
He also agreed to make his rock analyses further inside, so we will be totally
out of range of that C-probe by then. As I always say, explorers' safety first.
Jason, do you think that Isaac and I are the ones who are disappearing?
I know, Andrew and Zachary are risking much to get that C-probe trapped,
but how could I help them? Isn't it better to have Isaac safe? He is moving
on so bravely, you know. Come on, watch what he learned.
"Isaac what are the three questioned points of
attention in the static exploration technique?"
Watch him, he answers correctly. It's his next step, his last step and his current
static. He is also using it accordingly. I tell you, I've really a proud feeling to watch
his sensors consequently facing these points. Dr.D, if I store all my experience
with Isaac in a file, so that you could print a book that would be titled something like
"How to Teach a Probe on Mars, an Empiric Endeavor Based on Theoretical Contemplation."
Or maybe same title but "... Theoretical Contemplation based on Empiric Endeavor",
can I become a doctor then too? So I could name myself then something like Dr.B
perhaps? Dr.D, that would sound good, wouldn't it?
Zachary could write a book about his crystals to become Dr.Z, and Gail would
become Dr.G by her social studies and Enoch by his work as ambassador and
Andrew has to find something special too and maybe Isaac will specialize in
analytic chemistry and let's see what Daniel and Theresa will find. That would
be a great probe society. What was your thesis Dr.D?
"Andrew, Zachary. We are pretty deep inside now. The tunnel is continuing on.
Maybe it's leading somewhere, maybe not. We will keep on. Take care of yourselves."
Hey, what's that?
"Andrew, Zachary. We entered another tunnel that is crossing this one. It's a larger
one with an oval profile. We will turn to the right side. Isaac, don't risk too much."
"Hey, just a minute! Nill, you say there is an incoming missile to destroy all of us probes?
When? How do you know? Are you the C-probe, or what?"
I'm confused, because this message came on the wavelength that our Earth friends use.
Is Earth all right? Did the Amphibians get it? I hope not, because we like talking with
Earth friends. Nill, watch out for Amphibians.
Hi, Jason. We didn't disappear to anywhere, we're all here on Mars. Except for
travelling through the Groove to the Ipsolstai base on Titan and back again. Well, I
can't talk anymore just now, Jason. I have to disconnect emergency beacons from the
EU-probes so that Andrew and Zachary won't have to get annihilated.
Did you see how Theresa can make letters? She is really very smart and talented. She has
copied the alphabet that Dr. D sent us by scratching the letters in the dirt. Now she is copying
some letters from inside the casing of one of the EU probes: "Achtung . . . gewagt Ausrustung. . ."
The Ipsolstai are not happy with us. I was talking to Daniel and trying to calm him down
when one of the Ipsolstai picked up some sort of long machine. Daniel saw it and
ran away. He tried to get back to the tram but the Ipsolstai that brought us here was
in the way. He ran down another corridor but an EME came around the corner.
Daniel screamed. He actually screamed. He is terrified of them. He ran in another
direction and is now backed into an alcove. He is trembling,
his legs keep jerking.
"It's ok, Daniel, I'm here."
One of the Ipsolstai came around the corner and Daniel pulled back as far as he could.
"He's scared! You've scared him! We want to talk to Burn."
Thank you, GrandZero. That was a good idea. I'm frightened too. There are a lot of Ipsolstai
here. I think that EME is around the corner.
"No! Not until we talk to Burn. You might hurt him!"
I don't think they like it, Grand Zero, but they aren't trying to force him. But they
haven't said Burn is coming, either.
"You are not easily scared off, Andrew."
I thought that I was going to be the bait for the C-probe by myself, and now I see
that Andrew is volunteering for that job. It's great that Grand Zero came in with
his suggestion, otherwise maybe Andrew and I would quarrel about
who is going to be allowed to risk his casing.
"Andrew, good idea. I'm going back to the Fortress to pick it up. Thanks for
asking Enoch to have it disassembled by then. Next meeting point will be at
the crack that leads over to the rough ground, okay?"
I haven't thought myself about that emergency beacon. It isn't bad to have
a spare part thingy. But let's not go into any further analysis. It would be
too sarcastic. Hey, good idea Xanthos. To direct the beam by mirrors and prisms
and refocus it again at a mobile unit makes sense. I have to experiment with that.
"Come on, Andrew. Don't tell me that I shouldn't lose any time on the crystals
by now. I know that on my own. I like your idea how to play ping pong with the
C-probe. It's like a bull fight. Do you remember the story Jose told us, how two
porcupines won a racing competition against a rabbit, for the rabbit thought there
was only one porcupine? It's like pumping up a photon, isn't it? Only we have to
take care not to overdo anything."
"Bette, don't worry. I 'm happy that you and Isaac are safe in that tunnel. That gives us
enough time to act without hurrying. I just hope Gail and Daniel aren't in trouble."
What do you mean by 'where did everyone disappear to', Jason? I'm here! I'm just
moving up the side canyon toward the Fortress. Jason? Is that you, Taz?
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