"But if they needed ten per cent, if they were in trouble----"
"They are in trouble," said Jeriann. "It's a signal."
This was a version he could accept--if there weren't better
explanations. Swiftly Docchi made mental approximations. "At the rate
they're going they'll be here in half a day. They can't reach us with
their telescreen until they're nearly here. Shall we go inside and see
what's wrong with them?"
They looked at each other, and looked, until Anti answered. "What's a
few minutes?" she said. "We've plenty of time to pick up our people. We
can be gone before they get close."
Could they? That was what he didn't know. Taking an asteroid near the
surface of a planet had never been tried and there were no rules.
He'd have to feel it out as he went along, ready to turn away at the
first indication of overload. Docchi looked at Jeriann, who nodded
imperceptibly.
"I think we're in agreement," said Jordan, touching the dials.
General Judd was waiting for them. "There you are," he said
enigmatically. "I hoped you'd understand."
"I'm afraid we don't. You'll have to explain."
"Still the old flamethrower, I see," said the general brusquely.
"Mainly I wanted to make sure you didn't run when you saw us coming.
My psychologists assured me you'd be a sucker for anything that looked
like distress. I've got new respect for them." He chuckled.
"Now that we've been suckered, as you so kindly put it, please tell us
what you want."
"I'm coming to----" The general's face reddened and his eyes bulged
and he started coughing. The air wheezed stranglingly in and out of
his lungs until finally he was able to control the spasm. He grabbed
a tissue and wiped his face with it. "Designs are no good," he said.
"Ship, spacesuits, everything. Meant to hold pressure from the inside
and down there it's in the other direction--and it's really pressure.
Gets into everything. Not very much but it fries your lungs. Remember
that."
"We will. Get to the point, General."
The general looked at Docchi thoughtfully and seemed satisfied with
what he saw. "Don't be impatient. What I have to say is complicated and
you'll have to get the background. Are you interested?"
"I am," said Anti.
"Good," said the general, not waiting for the others to signify. "Well,
we landed. We went in on the gravity drive and possibly it was a
mistake but I don't see what else we could have done--rockets wouldn't
have held us. Anyway they had their instruments out and we think they
could tell what we were using."
"What were they like, the aliens?" asked Jeriann.
The general seemed to regard that as unimportant information. He
glanced appreciatively at Jeriann but ignored her question. "Funny
thing. They didn't ask us about our drive and, of course, we didn't
tell them. As nearly as we can tell they have something like it--about
in the stage of development ours was a few years ago. Theirs will take
them to Proxima because it's relatively close but it's no good beyond
that." The general thought about what he'd just said. "Well, their
drive wouldn't work at real interstellar distances--which is why they
haven't visited us--but unfortunately we must have given them a clue.
They know ours works and in no time they'll have it figured out."
"Sort of suspicious, aren't you?" said Anti.
"Lord, yes," said the general. "Do you know what land surface their
planet has, what a population it will support? Two planets against
three, but theirs are so much bigger. It balances off a little that
we have a better drive and our reproduction rate can be higher than
theirs."
"I take it you didn't tell them about Jupiter and Saturn?" said Jordan.
"No point bringing _that_ up," said the general, apprehensive at
the mere thought. "Oh they have things we want. Two very attractive
planets, and they're wizards at high pressure chemistry and
organics--you'd expect them to be--but the exchange was hardly worth
it." The general sat motionless, recalling the scenes on that strange
planet. "They _could_ be very dangerous. It was imperative that we
establish some sort of friendly contact. Naturally we told them about
you."
"Naturally," said Docchi dryly. "You were four light years from home
and you weren't dealing with uncivilized natives."
"Nothing derogatory, you understand," said the general hastily.
"I'm sure," said Docchi. "General, some time ago I asked what you
wanted. Much as we appreciate your friendly conversation--and the
friendliness is quite unexpected--unless you can tell us what you're
after in the next few minutes we'll have to conclude that your sole
objective is to hold us here while you get closer."
"Don't do anything rash," said the general, as concerned as Docchi had
ever seen him. "You see it was a stalemate. We were a little afraid
of them and they didn't trust us and both sides were noncommittal. We
didn't show each other a thing. But there had to be a solution."
"General, I warned you."
"Can't you see?" half-shouted the general, rising up. "I thought you
were smart. We're going home and we may as well unload our surplus
supplies. You'll need them. It will be about nine years before anyone
gets back." He shoved the chair aside and concentrated steadily on
Jeriann, the one normal human among them.
"This is what we decided," he said. "You get the planet for the next
fifteen or twenty years, longer if they approve. Meanwhile all trade
between us passes through you." He jammed his hands in his pockets.
"There. Do you accept?"
"Do we accept?" said Anti. "He asks us."
"I see you do," said the general with gloomy satisfaction. "It was
their suggestion. They want to study you at length to see what makes
humans behave. Naturally you'll be keeping _your_ eyes open." He
swallowed and conquered the incipient cough. "Now if you'll turn off
this beastly little gadget and let me have some privacy I'll talk to
you when we get there."
Jordan reached for the scanner but was not quite soon enough. The
general thought he was alone when he wasn't. "Those damned butterflies.
Trillions of them." His face twisted.
16
They went walking in the night. Stars were out but they didn't notice.
They had found a star to belong to and weren't looking for others.
"Which one?" said Jeriann, turning her head.
"I can't point. Anyway I don't know," said Docchi. "I can get it for
you on the scanner."
Jeriann laughed. "Never mind. I don't need to see their planet. They'll
come soon enough."
"Almost too soon. I keep wondering what they're actually like."
"Me, too," said Jeriann. "I don't even know how big they are. Sure, I
saw them on the screen for a short time, but it's not like meeting
them. Large butterflies is what I first thought, but the resemblance
fades as you continue looking. And, what is their size? There was
nothing familiar to judge them against."
"Wingspread is a better measure," said Docchi. "The general said eight
feet but I think he was overly impressed by the flat expanse of their
bodies." In a while he added thoughtfully: "But it was not their height
I was thinking of."
"I know," said Jeriann. She frowned. "Why did they choose us? They
could have had the general's expedition. Instead they asked for us.
Why?"
They went on in silence, past the acid tank. They looked in. It was
empty. Now they had better use for the chemicals. "How is this for a
reason?" said Jeriann as they strolled away.
"Still on the aliens?"
"Why not? We've got to learn how they think."
Docchi smiled and through the darkness she could see the faint
luminosity of his lips and where his eyes crinkled. "We do, but in the
absence of anything positive all I can apply is self-interest. And I
don't see how they benefit by having us."
"I do," said Jeriann. "It's because we're normal." She hurried on
before Docchi could protest. "Don't try to talk me down until I
explain. When they contacted us yesterday and said they'd be here in
about three weeks, on an official visit, did you notice which one was
prettiest?"
"I figured that much out myself," said Docchi. "At least in the
beginning we look very much alike to them, as they do to us. Appearance
doesn't count."
"True, but that was not my point. I haven't reached it. When you looked
at the--uh--butterfly that spoke to you in that high squeaky voice you
were wondering how he learned our language so well in such a short
time. You were thinking: are they all as smart? Can I trust him?"
"We've got to trust them," said Docchi grimly. "We're a long way from
support. And they did ask us to stay."
"But trust all of them, every individual butterfly, under any
circumstance? Or just some?"
"We're dealing with a government," said Docchi. "We aren't concerned
with individuals. There must be deviations in what they're like. Some
won't be trustworthy." He paused. "But of course a government is a
reflection of what its citizens are." He paused again, came to a dead
stop. "And so, for the aliens, we are average humans."
"That's what I meant," said Jeriann. "A _cross section_ of what
they'd find on Earth. But of course they can't go to Earth and see for
themselves--not yet. And so they had to make the best choice of what
was at hand."
They started walking again and Docchi leaned against her. "I think
you're right. The general's expedition, all specialists and experts,
including the military, who are specialists of another kind, was not a
representative group. The butterflies could study them forever but they
wouldn't get a true picture.
"But they had to know exactly what humans are like, what their
potentialities are, and how they live together. And so they took us."
"It seems strange," said Jeriann, sliding her arm around him. "Until
now I've never thought of us as normal. But even if the aliens
had refused both of us and asked for another group of colonists
they wouldn't have done as well. Colonists for a special planet
are specially selected--hardiest, strongest, most aggressive or
discontented--there would always be something to throw them off.
"But accidents cut across everything, age, intelligence, sex,
occupation. Name it and it's here. We're the only representative group
that ever left Earth or ever will."
"It's odd," agreed Docchi. "But it doesn't match what happens when
we meet our first aliens. It's nothing like anyone imagined. Here we
stand, face to face across the stars. There is no competition for
inhabitable planets since our definitions are mutually exclusive. But
we are afraid; neither side wants war. And so we go ahead cautiously,
looking for signs in the other that will reassure us."
"I don't know," said Jeriann. "We're being tested. Will we measure up?"
"We won't fail. In spite of what we may seem to some of our own people,
we're average men and women--and man hasn't stopped climbing upward
since that day somebody built the first fire."
Jeriann squeezed him and they slowed. In their wandering they had come
to gravity center. They looked at each other and decided to go in.
Jeriann opened the door and there was a light down the hall. They went
to it and looked in.
Jordan was in front of the scanner, scowling at it in fierce
concentration. "I hope those idiots got it down straight," he muttered
back at them.
"Don't be so concerned. You took it apart for them, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't mean I made them understand." He wiped his
forehead. "However, even if they don't know what it's all about,
somebody ought to be able to build another. It'll work if they use a
little sense."
Docchi smiled. "Don't discount what gravity experts know. After they
get through thinking over the ideas in those circuits they'll doll up
the scanner and before you know it they'll have a machine that can
reach us from Earth."
"That'll be the day," said Jordan. "Let's hope they don't. It's bad
enough they know we're here--but if they have to look at us too...." He
shook his head.
"You're wrong," said Anti, coming in and sitting down. "Won't be that
way at all." She bent and began rubbing her legs. "My poor feet. I've
been walking around for the longest time--full weight too."
"Why won't it?" said Jordan. "Remember what happened the last time we
got in touch with them."
"Not the same people," said Anti. "There were always some, like the
doctor, who didn't think we had to be beautiful to talk to us or be
near. We'll get more of that kind. They don't _have_ to call unless
they want to."
"And last time we weren't anybody, less than a thousand and not an
important person in the lot. Now we're representatives to the Centauri
system."
"Profit," said Jordan. "You think they won't be able to afford to show
their feelings. I wish I could agree. But even with the gravity drive
they can't carry much between here and Earth. In the next fifty years
the trade that goes out of here won't make one person rich."
"I disagree. Ideas don't weigh much and there'll be lots of those
flying back and forth. And was there ever anything more valuable?"
Anti smiled. "But there's more. _We_ won't be the same. Only yesterday
Cameron said he saw Nona looking worriedly at a book. It won't be long
before she gets the idea and wham--new books."
"She was never the one who had trouble. Anyway, she'll never speak."
"She doesn't have to as long as she can write--and get some idea of
what we're saying."
"Then she's all right and that will make the doctor happy." Jordan was
dubious. "But what of us--Docchi, Jeriann, me--the rest?"
Anti leaned back and slid off her sandals, wriggling her toes in
voluptuously and looking at them with wondering pleasure. "Me? I don't
plan to dance again, but in a year or so I'll get around. The doctor
expects Docchi to have arms in the next three or four years if the
principle he discovered with Maureen works out.
"And even you, Jordan, may be kicking again, though it will take
longer. Say four or five years for you."
"I'll kick," scoffed Jordan, but his disbelief wasn't as strong as it
had been.
"Sure you will," said Anti. "It may not be as quick as we expect.
Of course if we learn anything from interchange of science with the
aliens the time may be shortened. Cameron says they're bound to help us
advance, just as we'll aid them. He's cautious though, and doesn't want
to figure that in until it actually occurs."
"I'll believe it then," said Docchi. "But you didn't mention Jeriann.
Or do you consider her already normal?"
Anti frowned at her toes and slipped her feet into the sandals. "No,
I don't. She seems to be in nearly perfect health. But don't believe
everything you see."
"Darling," said Jeriann. "When did I have my last capsule? I don't have
any with me."
"An hour or so ago."
"Are you sure? My time sense keeps warning me."
"If you think we should let's go and get one."
"She knows," said Anti. "I heard the doctor telling her that her case
looked easy but wasn't. She'll be the last."
"Wait," called Docchi who scarcely heard what Anti was saying. He
hurried out into the hall after Jeriann. He was gone a few minutes,
and when he came back there was a handprint flaming and furious on his
face.
He looked at Anti dully. "I didn't say anything. I told her to wait and
I'd go with her."
"She can't help it," said Anti. "I thought it was time you knew."
"What is there to know?" he said bitterly. "She's upset because she
can't eat. Compared to some of us it's merely an inconvenience. I
resent her childishness."
"It was always there for you to see but you never looked close enough,"
sighed Anti. "How many times has she had to control herself."
"But I never said anything----"
"I know what you said," answered Anti. "When she had _her_ accident
it was a very hot day. She was a young girl and was busy playing and
didn't realize how badly she wanted it until she started for the
fountain. She was struck down before she reached it. Now--what was it
you told her?"
"A drink," he said, staring at Anti in dismay. "I told her----"
"Twenty years of thirst. But you knew there was nothing that is even
moist in her house. The shower spouts fine dry particles. And she had
no pictures that show lakes or rivers. Go find her."
Water. It was life because it came before life. There were creatures
that could exist quite comfortably without light. There were some that
died in the half strength of the sun, to whom the visible spectrum
and beyond was inimical. There were others that didn't need oxygen,
anerobic microorganisms which perished in the free atmosphere because
of the presence of a substance commonly considered necessary for living
things.
But there was nothing that could exist without water. Life on Earth
originated there and to it must always return. It was the cradle of
the first cell, and the mother too. There were minute cells that lived
motionless and free floating in water long before any living thing
learned to swim through its droplet universe. Before there were fins
or hands and feet, eyes to respond to light, and an orifice to eat and
shape fine noises with--there was water. And any living creature that
had a mouth from time to time might refresh its lips with the common
and precious fluid.
Except Jeriann.
The psychotechnicians knew they could condition her and so it had
been done. She could not drink, would not. She would resist if it
were forced upon her, struggle until her bones broke. But even the
psychotechnicians who had created the mental block hadn't completely
trusted it. And so a place had been built for her in which she would
not be reminded of water, the one thing she never got enough of.
Because the habit of life was strong and water meant survival. This was
not something she imagined. It was buried in the memory of the cells,
deeper than any mind, going back to the beginning. Twenty years of
never enough.
Docchi stumbled out. It was neither light nor dawn when he found her.
The side of the asteroid was turned away from the sun but though the
planet was rising brightly and filled much of the sky there were still
deep shadows within the dome. "I've been waiting for you," she said
quietly as he came near. Her face reflected the planet shine.
"Jeriann," he said.
"Look at it," she said.
"I see."
"But you're looking at me." She turned his head toward the planet.
"There. If you look closely you can see sunlight sparkling on the
ocean. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Someday you'll lie on the beach and let the waves wash over you."
"Someday," she said.
* * * * *