"We've picked up signals from Mars, sir," said Axel.
"Nonsense." There was a click. A moment later Spartan came in through
the bulkhead door. His eyes darted about suspiciously, as if expecting
some trick.
"It's sort of a carrier wave," said Axel as Spartan anchored himself on
the floor. "Seems to be a kind of radar--as if we're being watched." It
was obvious that Axel was awed by the new phenomenon.
"It's utterly ridiculous," said Spartan. "Radar would indicate
intelligent life. Mars is a dying world. The age of intelligent life
ended there long ago." There was still that wary look about him and his
lips curled into a sneer.
"Perhaps it's a different kind of intelligence," I suggested.
"What other kinds are there?" Spartan snorted. "Intelligence is knowing
what is true and what isn't. A thing can either be true or false.
There's not much difference between intelligences."
I'd learned you couldn't argue with Spartan, who refused to recognize
that truth is relative and that there are at least two sides to any
question; that, more often, there are an infinite number of points of
view, all true in a sense, none altogether false.
"Anyhow, we've got signals," I said meekly, seeing the utter futility
of arguing.
"Signals. Bah!" He was almost snarling now, unwilling to admit any
possibility which might interfere with his preconceived notions.
"Doc, there are millions of stars and even if only a fraction of
one per cent of them has conditions suitable to life, we might find
intelligent beings there."
"Granted. But Mars isn't a planet with the right conditions. Why,
you're even inferring that these Martians might be more intelligent
than we are. We on earth couldn't pick out an object the size of this
ship so far away from our planet. Let me check these signals--"
Spartan began twisting the dials controlling the directional antennae
at the front and rear of the craft. "Might be something else; different
from radar--"