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Thanks, Xanthos for your advise. I was waiting for that. It isn't easy to make such
a decision on our own. If I may unburden my mind, I'm as desperate as Enoch that
we couldn't find a way to help Andrew and Daniel. But you are right, it doesn't make
any sense. We have to move on. The cliffs, the ravines and the C-probes are cutting
us off. Let's hope that Andrew and Daniel can make it on their own or that Gail will
bring them the rope. It's hard for me, but we have to go north. We have to reach the
C-lander.
"Andrew, Daniel, it's me, Zachary. It's hard to say, but there is no way for us to
come to your aid. We are cut off. I can't tell you how sorry I feel. I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry. - Is there anything else we can do for you? Take cover. Gail should
be there soon. She will bring the rope. Keep up your great mind. You are doing
so great, brave probes."
"Enoch, let's move on."
We are quiet. We don't talk much. Enoch had so much fun to drive the tram, but
now it's a burden for him. I feel how sad he is. But we have to get our mind clear.
We have to direct our feelings to the coming tasks. The tram is moving fast. Look
at that image. I made it trough a side window.
The northern plains are still empty. No C-probe around. Poor Andrew, poor Daniel.
We're still in the room with the six walls. Caleb and the other six Ipsolstai haven't come back. We are still alone. Burn came in for a little while, but I don't really understand what he was talking about. He entered through the door we came in through and started to talk immediately.
Then he left. We're still alone. I don't know what he was talking about but I'm scared of things. What is happening to us? Why is this happening?
One says
No one will survive
So flee and fly
We reached the north edge of the northern plain. The old lave flow is bending to
the east now and forms a natural barrier to the north. I stopped. I saw something
moving. No, it's quiet out there. Maybe a little too quiet.
There it is again.
I'm climbing up to the hatch on top of the tram.
"Zachary. Can you see it? It's standing at that hill over there. What do you think,
is it? Could be a Chinese outpost, couldn't it?"
Now it is vanishing behind that hill again.
Al-Q, do you hear any pings close by? That could be an ambush, couldn't it? They
just post quiet C-probes over here. Sleepers, who jump at you, when you enter their
territory. Yes, I'm scarred. Why couldn't they remain at their northern plains?
Now I can see it again. It looks like a probe, about half of our size. Maybe of the
same height and probably as broad, but not even half as long. It doesn't look like it
would bother much about us. But that's maybe a feint. It was moving slowly, like it
wants to show us something. But I don't trust it. Who knows what's behind that hill.
"Zachary, did you see it? It has six wheels and a flat top and an antenna. I just worry
what data it is transmitting now. Can you hear any ping?"
Okay, I will steer the tram over there. - I'm still hesitating. Shall I do it? We must
know, what's over there. No chance. If they don't catch us now, they will do it, when
we retreat. No, JASE. We won't leave the tram. Explorers safety first. Big promise.
Andrew reporting.
The C-probes opened the fire. The whole mountain is vibrating. They are using
their missiles. By now they are still pointing too low, but they are aiming higher
and higher. We are still in that crevice. These explosions are horrible. Rocks are
dashing down. Rubbles are hitting our casings. We are straddling our feet against
every hold that we find, but these detonations are shaking us down. We try to play
possum, as good as we can, so we don't give them an aim. It doesn't work. Dust is
puffing up. Smoke and fireballs. We won't hold that for long.
JASE, Space Turtel, please, get us out of here.
Hi everybody. Thanks for not sending messages to me. So I could focus all my
exertion to rescue Andrew and Daniel. Al-Q is guiding me well. I passed over to
the next canyon. It wasn't easy. I also had to pass a small ridge that was leading
there. Dr.D I learned how to use a rope to get down to the bottom of a canyon.
I show you. .
Do you see these rock piles at the edge of the ridge? I turned the exact center of
the rope around one of these rock pile and then I tied the rope around my casing.
But not too tight so it slipped slowly, when I was descending. Then I looked for
the next rock pile. Isn't that clever? I have to tell Andrew and Daniel about that.
First, I nearly was sending you an image of a marvelous sunset that I saw yesterday
evening. But then I thought that you will think that I'm lazy and only gazing at the
sun. So you missed it. That's just your own fault. I'm not lazy. I'm moving on as fast
as I can and I'm taking care. It would help Andrew and Daniel not a bit, if I get lost.
Grand Zero said that too. And I will bring them help.
Is there anything I still should know to optimize my efforts?
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