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Andrew reporting.
"Daniel, how can the One be big and small at the same time? A thing is the size it is.
If you want a closer look, you simply use a magnifying lens. You need to perform a
self-check on your logic circuits."
I moved on, to the left. I came to another window. This window looked out on a
dry landscape. Wind-blow sand had carved yellow and black stone into twisted columns
and arches on the horizon. A flock of short-legged animals moved slowly across the
plain, occasionally grazing on the low, scraggly bushes which covered the plain.
I moved on, to the left. I came to another window. The view showed a night sky
filled with glowing gas clouds.
I continued to the left until I reached the elevators again, and the view of the vast city.
"Daniel, is this your idea of a joke? These aren't even real windows. They're
some kind of viewscreen. There's obviously nothing to find here. I'm going back
to try another elevator."
I walked out across the elevator platform. It began to move, but instead of up
or down, it rotated 180 degrees. I was not expecting this lateral movement, and I
lurched against the side of the shaft. A section of the side wall slid noiselessly
to one side.
I'm glad what I sent helped. This machine is so difficult to use. I have been trying
to find out what sorts of weapons the Amphibians use but this machine won't tell
me! It just keeps saying that their intelligence is unable to determine what sort of
arms the Delemreck possess. I don't care how smart the Ipsolstai are, I just want
to know about the weapons.
The Ipsolstai came back into the room today and took Isaac out. Daniel didn't try to
stop them. I think he has given up on Isaac. He was gone for a while and then he came
back, very excited. He could barely speak but he started to send me a data dump for
you. I'll pass it as soon as he finishes sending it. He keeps stopping, he's so
excited. I hope it is worth it.
Wind blows on Mars.
Across the jagged edges.
Stones may speak.
Strange voices, wavering sounds.
Saying nothing, in much time.
Saying nothing, with many words.
You might learn a lesson.
The One is not everywhere.
The One is small.
Tiny.
But for us,
it is big.
Vast.
It is not one element,
but many.
Together.
One.
Not there.
Left, where you cannot go by sight,
but only by touch.
"Enoch, Zachary? Can you hear me at all? There's something awful loose on Mars,
and I think it went out there in your direction."
I will be brave. I will march fearlessly out of the tunnels. I will find
Enoch and Zachary. Nothing will stop me, not hordes of C-probes or Elder Brothers,
or even those new ones.
"Don't worry about me. I will try to find you. Remeber the prime directive for
rescuers, and save yourselves first."
Fine that you like the image, Thixel.
"Gail, Enoch is going to pick you up. Hold yourselves within reach. Don't risk
anything. It's not only the rescuer that should stay safe."
I've found a good observation post. It's up on the left side of the Big Canyon. A
shallow round trough that's surrounded by rock barrier. It provides both, a good
cover and a good overview too. I can see EB I. He is further down on the other
side. EB III went farther up the canyon. Now I can see Mao too. He is on top of
a ridge. In my opinion that's a little bit too exposed. But he must know that by
himself.
We only can remain waiting what's going to happen. We are just the troop that is
standing by as a reserve.
"Enoch, be cautious. Remember, rescuers safety first. Pick them up and run!"
Maybe, it would be better to bring the warriors into position, than to hide them, so
we could shield the retreat of Enoch and the others.
No, we chose it that way and that's it. Just stay calm, Zachary.
Thixel, I also think that something went wrong with the programming of that C-
probe. Elder Brother reprogrammed it. It became a warrior now. Kim also painted
a red star on its shell, so we know. They really took red paint with them. I like to
work with them.
We went down the side canyon again. We are heading on. We must get Gail and
Theresa out. Maybe we are lucky and can do it by a single strike. We have to risk it.
We built a diamond formation again and also placed a single warrior in front. We
ceased all our transmissions and we are moving on top speed. We must be quick.
We will get them out before any Amphibians even knows that we were there.
Everything is quiet around us. I can hear only the buzzing engines of the warriors
and their treads rattling over rocky ground while we rush on. Also nothing to see
when we turned into the side canyon that leads up to the Fortress.
"Gail, get ready. We pick you up!"
What's that? I hear a deep vibrating sound. It's grumbling. No specific direction.
Just a murmur. Exactly like the C-probe reported. It's getting louder now. It's
accelerating its frequency. It's getting shrill. The whole air is whirring.
"Elder Brother! What's next? They got us!"
I can see a black spot. Now it vanished. The air is vibrating. I hear a hollow twang.
It was sharp and short. The front warrior stopped. The next one clashed on its back.
There are bolts in the air like mirrors, shimmering, hissing. They are coming from
various directions. There's the black spot again. I can see a blue flash. It's rotating.
Blue, red and white like a whirl. It's directly coming toward me ...
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