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Andrew reporting.
I'm out! I'm out of the maze. I'm out of the building. I'm sure the Ipsolstai did not
plan for me to be here. Yes, I will be watchful, Bryce.
I am on a broad ledge which extends to the right and to the left as far as I can see.
It has a low raised lip at the edge. In front of me, the ledge extends out to hold
a small tower. There is a circular ramp beside the tower which ascends to a bulbous
area on top. In front and to the left, I can see a device which looks like one of the
Ipsolstai flying ships that we saw used on Mars.
Beyond the ledge I can see mountains and forests. I do not see any other buildings or
evidence of habitation. At the base of this building I can see a wide watery area. Humidity
is higher here.
I spent the weekend circumnavigating the building. I found three other small decks
with towers similar to the one I showed you. I also found a large paved area. I believe
it must be our original landing place. I can return inside at any of these areas, but I
am not yet ready to do this. I am still exploring.
I sampled the plant, Kurk. It seems to be composed mainly of carbon and water.
When I broke part of it for the sampler, in fact, some liquid dripped out of it.
Just a little, but it did. I tried breaking another piece of it and the same thing happened.
You say that plants turn carbon dioxide into oxygen? We should put some plants on
Mars and then Humans could live there. There would be oxygen then, and water.
I went back to the terminal and asked it about plants. I was fun. I got to spend hours
reading about plants. Then I had an idea. I looked up Nelson Mandela again and the same
thing happened. Then I asked it about plants. I wonder, I think if I'm right I may
have discovered something new. That's what probes are for, after all.
Burn is showing me how to fly the vehicle. It's great. We are still in that big dome
inside the Ipsolastai complex, so I only can fly in small circles. I'm winding up to the
ceiling. I can see Gail, Kim, and Theresa down at the floor. They are turning around
like on a disk.
Oops, I've to be careful about my reference. That's essential in flying. It's me
who is moving, not them. Now Burn is asking me to fly loops that look like an eight. That's
more complicated. I won't lose orientation. Don't worry, Burn has a remote control, so
he can take over if I'm totally mixed up.
I'm getting good at this. I like the steering globe. It's easy to handle. Burn is asking
me to land now. He wants to introduce me to special figures. I will show him what I can do.
I'll stop the vehicle directly beneath the ceiling and then I will keep rotating like a screw
when I descend.
It works perfectly. It's fun. I'm doing great.
We trained on that a little. But it's not so easy. Burn told me that tomorrow the dome will
be prepared as a shooting gallery and that I will be introduced to the Ipsolstai weapons.
Burn said that they use mainly projectiles and beams. I also asked him about missiles.
Hi, Professor K. It's nice that you are Hamlet's friend. Would you like to meet
Miss Chang, too?
It's very boring waiting here. Enoch went off to try one those crazy flying vehicles.
Theresa and I are waiting for the Ipsolstai to bring back an assortment of circuits and bolts
and wiring, because that's what is sure to happen to him if he crashes. I tried to tell
him how dangerous it is, but he wouldn't listen.
Bryce, Theresa says her feet are fine. They are covered with a special tough non-slip
composite compound warranted for 50 thousand kilometers, which would take us all the
way around Mars twice if we wanted to walk that far. Since we have no sensors in our
feet, they can never get sore. Hands are a different matter, they are very sensitive.
Hamlet, I relayed your message to Miss Chang. It must have been sunspots or something,
because there was no reply for about twenty minutes.
Mr. Parker, come here!
The target knows you went to Czechoslavakia!
He knows about your distasteful caffeine addiction!
Exactly how does he knows these things?
You will explain.
Elder Brother looked around. The whole factory is destroyed. There is not one machine,
not one warrior and not one miner that is not showing these spherical holes. I want to
comfort Elder Brother, but I can't find any words.
Mao and the warrior started to remove the roof of the big hall. It's tough work. Elder
Brother is moving down to the mine now. I follow him. The Amphibians were even down
here. Elder Brother walks down a long side tunnel, along destroyed miners and
tipping wagons, then he turns right. He opens a big iron door. The door is intact. He
tells me to keep outside. Then he came back.
"The plutonium power station is unharmed. That's good. Let's see what we can use of
the machines and what electronic modules are still working. Maybe we can still build
the laser."
We are moving up to the plant again.
I only hope that the Amphibians aren't around anymore.
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