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Andrew reporting.
Once again I have opened the panel where the ship's computer is housed. If I
rewire and replace...
,,,(static)...
...there is no chance of error.
"Isaac, stop that. I don't have time to play with you now. This is serious business."
Isaac is trying to pull me away from the computer. He apparently wants me to
join in the game that he and Daniel are playing. Something about "One". I like
a good game as well as the next probe, and I am quite good at games, but right
now my priorities include getting...
...(static)...
...(static)..
...wonder where I would choose to go if I could go anywhere I wanted? One
choice would be back to Mars. I often wonder how Gail and Theresa and Enoch
and Zachary are getting along.
I also feel a strong urge to see What's Next, that's basic to my programming.
It would be sad never to see that purple planet, the Ipsolstai home world.
And since we have come this far, we really ought to observe the Court of the
Endless Emperor and his capitol city, explore the Chaos Garden, and cross
the ...
...(static)...
Gail, it's great that you saved Theresa. Hang on to hold her. Elder Brother is
coming. He got your coordinates from Theresa's emergency beacon. Haven't
you seen EB's warrior yet? We sent it last Friday. Oh, EB says that he lost
contact with it since then. Don't worry, EB will get to you within a few hours.
Sorry, that I can't come, it's not because of that silly Amphibian, but because I'm
too deep inside the cave. It would take days to get up to the surface.
Al-Qahira, I did what Captain Zot suggested. I blinked the exact numbers as
it's set up in each of its rock pile. I used my headlight. First I blinked seven
times, then five times and then eleven times. Then I paused for a while and
then I blinked seventeen times.
Looks like the Amphibian relaxed a bit. It's not so pale as before anymore,
and it regenerated its skin to a more purple color now.
I don't know what Daniel was transmitting, so I asked you. His transmission
was fully covered with that static noise. The only thing that I understood
clearly was that one of the piles means "WAR", but I don't know which one.
I've no idea what message I was blinking by repeating its rocktalk.
Wait a moment. It's piling up three rocks now. What's next?
...(static)...
...relayed by Al-Qahira. So you found...
...(static)...
...when I was piling rocks. Yes, it does. To begin:
3 = affirmative
5 = negative
7 = activity
...(static)...
...is a deadly insult and should be avoided at all costs.
I got a transmission from Bette! Thanks, Al-Qahira, I was not expecting such a
surprise. It is a picture of a beautiful star field. The stars are so dense,
and they have such pretty colors! I wish Bette and Andrew and Isaac and Daniel
were home with us.
"Enoch, I haven't seen any robot yet."
I want Enoch to come instead of that Elder Brother. Enoch would know what to
do to get Theresa unstuck. She is so brave, but she keeps asking when help is
going to arrive.
"Just stay quiet, Theresa. We don't want you to get wedged in any tighter than
you already are now. Enoch is sending robots to get you free.
Prisoner, Hardon, prisoner. Tell it like it is.
Okay, okay. 'Prisoner.' Parker, we are going to get in so much trouble...
I'm still holding my position so I can cover Enoch's back, but I'm confident that
things are going to turn out fine with that Amphibian. Seems that we are going
to get closer to each other now.
Hey, what's that ...
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