by LEMPEREUR
“Did you see them?” asked Giuseppe.
“Actually, I rode in one of them at the beginning of the connection, but I passed out, which meant I never found out where it was going. I only saw the plains and pine forests it was flying over at incredible speed. Once again, you must remember that my perceptions were only mental constructs, subject to many distorting factors. If you don’t mind, I think we should stay focused on our objective. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss these things later.”
“That’s right,” said Giuseppe. “What exactly is our objective? We know, or at least, we strongly believe, that each of these domes contains one or two hibernating N.H.I.’s and if we take Victor as an example, it’s highly probable that they are still alive. It would not be too far-fetched to think that they are probably also in the awakening phase, like him. You asked me to bring you to the no-go zone and I have done so without asking you further questions, so tell us now what we are looking for, Charlie. I could help you more easily if you still trust me.”
“We are looking for Sector 24, as I told you yesterday.”
That rather cutting answer, which was not really and answer at all, rang in the ears of the elderly Italian like a firm refusal. Charlie obviously did not want to say any more for now about the true objective of this expedition.
“This little underground city has exactly ninety-nine sectors, not counting the colonized ones,” said Francisco. “None of them has an inscription with anything resembling numbers that we can decipher, but maybe you might manage that. Follow me. I will show you the pillars that mark the entrance to each one.”
“Let’s go!” growled Giuseppe, motioning to the rest of the little group to snap out of the lethargy and fascination that the mystical beauty of the place evoked in them.
They had all followed the conversation, which had taken place only a few meters from them, their faces hidden behind their visors. They were connected by radio transmitters so there was no need to listen hard. They could also have participated in the conversation if they had wished to; there was nothing preventing them; but even Jacques had not wished to intervene, not even by telepathy. It was all beyond them; they knew very little indeed, and had no choice but to blindly follow instructions.
While they were making slow progress along the metallic road, Charlie carefully observed the first rows of domes they were leaving behind them. Suddenly Francisco, who was leading the way, stopped in front of one of them and pointed to a metal cylinder, about ten meters high. Jacques and Charlie came closer, but could not see anything written on it.
“I suppose this is one of the pillars you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes, the drones showed the presence of symbols engraved on the top,” replied Francisco.
“How are you planning on getting to them? This one must be ten or twelve meters high and I can’t see us climbing up there. These perfectly smooth cylinders don’t seem to have anything to grip onto.”
“Don’t worry,” answered Giuseppe. “We thought to bring a detailed map of the place with us. We have a high resolution photograph of each one of these pillars. Here, look. These are the symbols on top of this one,” he said, handing Charlie a little tablet that he kept attached to the side of his suit.
Charlie looked attentively at the screen, while Giuseppe scrolled through a complete map of the no-go zone with jerky movements of his finely gloved finger. Each sector was numbered, but the numbering was quite random, as they were incapable of deciphering the N.H.I.’s writing. After a short search, he stopped over one of the pillars and dragged his gloved fingers apart on the screen to bring up a detailed view of the top. A series of symbols appeared, which Charlie immediately deciphered without even noticing: Sector 4. He was not mistaken. The sectors were apparently numbered from lowest to highest and this one must be the very first, along with the one opposite it, on the other side of the main road. He turned his head in that direction and noticed another pillar, a mirror image of the first. The main highway really must cross the town, as Francisco called it, just like those long, straight streets that divide most big American cities up into a grid pattern.
“Could you show me a picture of that other pillar?” he asked, pointing to the second one.
“Of course! Nothing could be simpler.”
“Sector 3. I suppose the numbering must begin in the area recently colonized by your men. I hadn’t paid much attention to them before, but now I remember seeing two pillars identical to these ones at the entrance to the residential zone. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s exactly right. Perhaps you would like to see those images too?”
“There’s no need. This one marks the entrance to Sector 4 and the one opposite, on the other side of the main highway, marks the entrance to Sector 3, as I have just read on these pictures. In that case, there is no doubt that the two pillars in the residential zone are numbers 1 and 2. The sectors are numbered from lowest to highest and the colonized area is the starting point. Your men must have discovered the main entrance to this huge, underground cave. Perhaps there are others, but apparently I didn’t see any on the map you showed me, nor on the model in the dome where Victor is lying.”
What Charlie had just said, sounding as if he had just discovered it, was in fact mere repetition for him. He had already gathered much of this information from looking through the graphic tablet that Giuseppe had trusted him with several days earlier. He had been able to access a map of the whole base and knew perfectly well where Sector 24 was. That was what had made him so confident of finding Rosaline in this ocean of domes. He was therefore certain that she was not among the victims in the zone contaminated by the presence of humans, but for now it was important that everyone believe they were moving on blindly, guided only by physical clues and the maps they had with them.
35 A SIZABLE PROBLEM
“If what you say is correct, Charlie, we will need to walk for quite some time before we reach Sector 24. I’m afraid that we may not reach it by the end of the day, in view of our slow pace in these suits,” said Giuseppe.
“You mentioned earlier that there was an N.H.I. magnetic levitation vehicle in each sector. So there should be one in this sector. Could you take us to it, Giuseppe?” asked Charlie.
Giuseppe looked at the digital map again then pointed out the way to go.
“There’s one over there, but I doubt you will be able to get it working. The general operating system must have been programmed to remain inactive throughout the hibernation period. In their place, I think that’s what we would have done, too. The amount of energy needed to power a network of this size, even on standby, must be colossal, aside from the technical risks generated by such a long time period.”
“You’re probably right, but we have nothing to lose in trying. There must be some sort of reactivation system, even if it’s only temporary.”
“Unless everything is pre-programmed, or even controlled from the outside,” added Francisco.
Charlie had not thought of this last possibility, but it did seem logical. The bases had been designed to preserve the lives of the population that stayed on Earth, for the time it took to launch a rescue mission from outer space. He had not found any information on how the magnetic network functioned while looking through the graphic tablet, but he had mainly been concentrating on the mission Victor had given him. Not knowing when, or even if, Giuseppe would give him another opportunity to search those archives, he had deliberately skimmed over all the technical documents regarding the operations of the base. Anyway, he would have needed months to read everything. Even with the new intellectual abilities convergence had bestowed on him, he was not sure he would be capable of deciphering such highly technical information. Victor himself would probably not have been able to either, unlike his brother.
“That’s possible”, he replied, “but there’s only one way to find out. Let’s take a closer look at this vehicle!”
When they got there, Charlie immediately recognized the sleek lines
of the vehicle that he had ridden in not so long ago, with Emma. Dark gray and massive, there it sat on the magnetic strip, rooted to the ground like a block of iron weighing several tons. In the connection he had climbed in as easily as could be, but here it was a different story. The vehicle was designed to transport beings that were ten times the size of humans. Lined up like a procession of ants before this horizontal monolith of extravagant proportions, the little group looked utterly helpless.
“So, what next?” asked Jacques sarcastically.
“It’s hard to say. From a distance, things seemed quite simple, but I realize we are confronted with a serious problem of size. When I got into this type of vehicle I was in the connection. All I had to do was climb onto the first step and hop in. It’s true I hadn’t thought about the fact that our small size would be such an issue. We can’t even reach the door handle of this vehicle.”
“Maybe you’d like me to give you a leg-up?” Jacques teased.
“I’m not sure it’s really a time for joking around, Jacques, especially as everyone can hear our conversation over the radio, remember!”
Jacques had completely forgotten that detail. Well, it did not really matter now, so he just smiled. He took the joke even further, determined as usual to relax the atmosphere.
“Maybe we could make a human pyramid!” he continued in his jovial tone. “Giuseppe and Francisco could form the base, followed by Mario and Clementine on the next level. Then you and I would just need to put our feet on their shoulders, just like those human pyramids they do in Barcelona! It’s a pity they’re not Spanish; that would have made it much easier!”
“What a good idea! What do you say, Mario?” laughed Charlie. “Spain, Italy – what’s the difference? You Mediterraneans love your street acrobatics and know all about team work? Jacques is right; it’s time to show our team spirit!”
“Oh, I think that’s an excellent idea!” answered Mario, “Especially when you consider that, as research scientists working on a common project, we are well-versed in group spirit and sacrifice. Isn’t that right, Giuseppe?”
Giuseppe smiled behind his visor. He looked at Francisco, who did not seem at all sure about the plan that had just been suggested; then he answered, in a slightly more serious tone than his fellow team members.
“Absolutely! However, what will happen when Charlie opens the door? Don’t you think our fragile pyramid would fall down then, like a house of cards? The idea is not a bad one, but I don’t think it would stand up to the test. That door must weigh three or four tons at least. The fall could be quite painful, don’t you think?” he added, jokingly.
“Yes, it would be, Giuseppe. I’m afraid we’ll have to find another, more suitable solution. What do you suggest, Francisco?” Mario asked, trying to catch his eye, but he seemed more furtive than ever.
Francisco hesitated for a long moment, carefully observing everything around them. He scanned the bodies and faces of his team members one by one without ever making eye contact with them. The way he avoided their eyes gave them the impression they were merely part of the surroundings.
“There is no solution to this problem. If we want to try entering this vehicle we must come back with suitable equipment. For now, all we have is a small exploration drone, a few dozen meters of rope, three magnetic handles, flashlights, knives and survival kits which would allow us to survive for several days if anything went wrong, until a search party could rescue us. The magnetic handles and ropes are to enable us to explore areas that are inaccessible from the ground. They could help us to reach that door handle but even if we managed to climb up there, I doubt you could open the door, Charlie. The handle will not work without being unlocked and the equipment we have will be of no help for that.”
Francisco’s reply discouraged the group. He was right. They were full of good intentions but that was not enough for them to achieve their goal, at least not as easily as they had thought at first, in any case. Being small and under-evolved, in a world designed by giants with intellectual abilities and technology far more advanced than their own, was a handicap they had greatly underestimated.
“No”, agreed Charlie. Behind his visor, his face had lost all signs of lightheartedness.
“I’m afraid Francisco is right, Charlie. We’ll never be able to open that vehicle. I did warn you. Either we decide to turn back now, and come back better prepared next time, or we carry on our way on foot. It could be a very, very long way,” said Giuseppe.
“Wait!” Mario said suddenly. He had left the group for a few minutes, to search the area around the vehicle for any possible clues. “Come and look at this!”
Lying on the ground was a sort of rectangular, metal plaque. About eighty centimeters long, it blended into the magnetized metal of the road. On its upper side was a line of symbols and in its center they could make out a slightly darker disk.
“What could it be?” asked Mario.
Charlie came nearer the object, which was actually quite difficult to make out; it blended into the gray surface of the magnetic road so well. He looked at it carefully and easily deciphered the symbols. It was a line of letters and figures that were most certainly a personal access code.
“This could be an access card that an N.H.I. dropped before leaving. With a little luck, it may even enable us to unlock the door. Help me get it off the ground!” he said enthusiastically.
Mario tried first, without success, then Giuseppe, Clementine and even Francisco joined in, but the card would not budge an inch. It was magnetic, stuck to the metallic ground. Charlie sighed, before exclaiming in frustration, “That’s it; we’re obviously not going to get anywhere today! I’m starting to think you were right, Giuseppe. I must have been a little too optimistic. The N.H.I.’s technology seems to be locked down and literally inaccessible. Everything is oversized for the ants that we are, in comparison to those giants. I wonder how you even managed to open the domes in the colonized area.”
“Actually, we didn’t exactly open them. You could say we broke in. Our technicians had to use powerful lasers to cut through the thick, metal walls. Even with that technology, it was no easy task. I thought you simply wanted to explore the no-go zone, so I didn’t deem it necessary to bring along a team of technicians. Also, the design of the entry chamber means it is not possible to bring in material that is too bulky. For that we would need to build a new entrance, with all the risks of contamination that would involve. If you tell us what you are really looking for, Charlie, I could help work out a strategy for finding it.”
Charlie was quiet for quite some time, while Mario continued exploring the surroundings. The mood had become heavy, as each of them took stock of the impasse they found themselves in. The situation seemed hopeless; then Francisco suddenly spoke, in a barely audible voice.
“There may be another solution.”
All faces turned toward the one who had just shattered the morose atmosphere in such an unexpected way, but no one could catch his eye, as he was staring determinedly at his feet.
“Go ahead, Francisco!” Mario said impatiently. “What solution are you talking about?”
“I recently found some documents in the archives of the base that detailed a sector different to the rest. The drones had photographed a number of non-metallic structures there. Different hypotheses were put forward and one of them suggested that it could be some type of computer command center. Irvine Sigler had begun studying it, but after the first N.H.I’s died from contamination by humans, everything was stopped and the containment wall was quickly erected to avoid the risk of never being able to enter into contact with one of the giants some day. Charlie’s knowledge might help us to understand its function.”
“He’s right!” Charlie suddenly shouted. “I should have thought of it earlier. I saw that sector when I was looking at the graphic tablet. I didn’t pay much attention to it, since it wasn’t what I was mainly looking for. It clearly mentioned that there was an area for infrastructure management and net
working. It’s in Sector 49.”
“But it’s twice as far to Sector 49 as it is to Sector 24 and we’re already hesitating to start that journey on foot!” exclaimed Mario.
“How much time do we have?” asked Charlie. “I mean, in terms of oxygen supply.”
“We’re not limited by that,” answered Francisco. “The oxygen supply was only necessary while we were going through the vapor and the entry chamber. Once we were in the no-go zone, the ambient air filters took over.”
“Great! That’s good news for us. How long do you think it would take us to walk that far, Francisco?”
“The sectors are along both sides of the central road. Each sector is a rectangle, about five domes wide and ten domes long. The longer side of the rectangle happens to be along the roadside. To cross one sector, we would therefore need to cover approximately ten times the ground surface area of these half-spheres. Each half-sphere measures about fifty meters at its highest point, which means that their diameter is close to one hundred meters. That means, along the highway, each sector is about 1,300 meters long; that is, the length of ten domes with a diameter of one hundred meters placed side by side, plus the width of each driveway – about thirty meters. If we consider that we need to cross forty-nine sectors, minus the four sectors already behind us, divided by two: that makes a little under twenty-three sectors, each 1,300 meters long. So we still have over twenty-nine, or more like thirty, kilometers to walk along the highway. With these suits, you seem to manage a walking speed of barely more than two or three kilometers per hour according to my estimations, without allowing for the breaks that we will inevitably need. In short, the best case scenario is that we get there after walking for ten or twelve hours, maybe more.”
“Perfect! It’s a lot, but I’m sure we’ll make it!”
