Crystal Line

by Anne McCaffrey

  "Ah, Crystal Singer Ree, I appreciate your alacrity. These are Klera and Rudney Saplinson-Trill. Klera, Rudney, this is the other member of the original Guild survey team." He gestured for Killashandra to be seated.

  She noticed that there were snacks on the table beside her and blessed him for such thoughtfulness. He had even managed drinkers for the suited Saplinson-Trills. But he hadn't managed to indicate why they were braving the dangers of Ballybran.

  "I'm not sure if you can recall the planet we visited some years back . . ." Lars began.

  "Twenty-four years, five months and two weeks to be precise," Rudney Saplinson-Trill said with the quick humorless smile of someone to whom accuracy is more important than courtesy. The tinny and nasal quality the helmet speakers gave his voice increased the impudence of that unnecessary correction.

  "Yes, the one with the opalescence which we investigated for the late Guild Master," Lars continued. "It was posited at the time that Heptite Guild members, protected by their symbiont, would be safe from the infection which had killed the original exploratory team exposed to the opalescence—"

  "Fluid metal, Guild Master," Rudney said, "is a more accurate term for the material—FM for short."

  "We called it Jewel Junk," Killashandra said, mimicking him. He didn't notice, but Klera did.

  "Yes, we did, didn't we?" Lars said, clearing his throat. "For lack of a more accurate designation," he added, nodding toward Rudney. "You will remember that we actually made two trips there, the second one after our visit to Nihal Three. On the second one we fed some trash to several of the Jewel Junk aka FM."

  Killashandra wanted to giggle at Lars, but mastered the urge.

  "Actually, nine of the now twenty FM manifestations," Rudney said.

  "Yes. As I was saying . . ." Lars's nostrils flared, a sign of rare impatience in him, and he gave Rudney a quelling glance. "We also tried to establish communications with the, ah FM opalescence." When the scientist seemed about to correct him yet again he said more firmly, "Or has the opalescence abated?" Lars fixed the scientist with a cold glare, then looked back to Killashandra, rattling his strong fingers on the table in a complex roll.

  What appeared to be a nervous habit in him, plus the use of the words "opalescence", "Nihal Three" and "the infection" began to stir memories for Killa.

  "We established a form of communication with it," she said. "Have you managed to enlarge on that beginning?" Why else would they be risking their lives visiting Ballybran?

  "We are pure research scientists," Rudney said stiffly. "We are attempting to establish the parameters of an extremely complex life-form."

  "Then you agree that the Junk is sentient?"

  Rudney made a gesture, discounting her assumption. "We are only beginning to analyze its substance."

  "Wasn't it impervious to diagnostic instrumentation?" Killa asked Lars.

  "Ours is considerably more sensitive," Rudney continued inexorably, "and therefore we have made progress where the usual sort of instrumentation was inadequate to the purpose."

  "So," Killa said, crossing her arms over her chest and focusing her entire attention on him. She had found this to disconcert the unwary. "What is it?"

  "We have not yet finished our initial survey," Rudney admitted.

  "After twenty-four years, five months and two weeks?"

  "With such an unusual material, one does not rush to conclusions," Rudney informed her.

  "Did it ever digest the Ballybran crystal we gave it?" Killa was very pleased with herself for that recollection.

  "Ah, no," Rudney replied, and cleared his throat, causing an awful rasping sound to be broadcast. The nonabsorption seemed to worry him.

  "In fact," Klera said, plunging in, "all nine FM units prominently display the crystal shards in the center of the reservoir. That's what we call the central node. Though 'node' is not exactly accurate either."

  "Would blob do?" Killa found scholarly precision tedious.

  "Fluid metal is the proper description of its composition and, even, of its function," Klera said, her round face solemn.

  "But have you established any level of communication with my Jewel Junk?"

  "Yyyeesss, and nn-no," Klera said, momentarily flustered. "Our xenolinguist had hundreds of hours of recording but . . ." She sagged with a weary sigh.

  "No mutual lexicon," Killa said, adding her own sigh.

  "The individual FMs, however," Klera said, brightening, " seem to be communicating on some level. Though whether or not it's through use of the crystal shards, we haven't been able to ascertain." She shot a worried look at Rudney.

  "Just the nine, or the other Junks you've discovered?" Killa asked, wondering if that was the problem.

  "We can't be positive that they don't have another means of interacting. But we have established that the crystals send bursts of piezoelectric current," Klera said.

  "Though we have been unable to determine the exact reason for the activity," Rudney said, smoothly taking over the explanations. "All the twenty FM deposits show irrefutable evidence of a thermoelectric effect, generating a voltage flow which, we have posited, is due to the extremes of temperature through which the planet goes. There is a recognizable tide, as it were, in the fluctuations of the thermoelectric effect that can be timed to the onset of deviations in the planet's rotation around its primary."

  "Naturally, we established a control group of three," he went on, settling himself in his chair for a long lecture. "Caves Three, Nine and Fifteen remain as we found them on our arrival, complete with their central nub of crystal. We've divided the others into three groups according to size, giving each group a special diet: organic wastes, which seem to have little effect on growth; inorganic wastes, which demonstrably increase the size exponentially to the amount offered; and a mixture, half and half, to the third group which seems to thrive the best."

  "We've done hours of recordings," Klera managed to slip in while Rudney took a deep breath, "which I do maintain are not merely thermoelectric statics. Fizal, our linguist, is certain that the various rhythms are conversations of some sort."

  "That's not as immediate or as interesting as the history we have postulated about the primary 478-S-2937 and the planet's relationship to it," Rudney went on. "Star 478-S has been through many stages, and our investigations point to the probability that the planet, Opal, was formed from ejecta of the various stages of the star's development."

  "Now, Rudney," Klera said firmly, "you know that Sarianus's theory is equally viable." She turned to Lars. "Our astrophysicist is of the opinion that the star was a huge new star, formed near the remnants of others."

  "That has yet to be proved, Klera. That theory does not explain—"

  "The flares, Rudney," Klera said, and the pair ignored the others in the room to continue what was obviously a long-standing argument. "The solar flares affect the planet. We've noted the exceptional activity of the 'static' messages shortly before and after solar flares."

  "Klera, you cannot seriously believe that FM is controlling the flares?"

  "I do, Rudney, and there is much evidence to support this." She looked at Killa as if requesting her support. "I believe that the FM has developed intelligence—a bizarre form, to be sure." She pointedly ignored Rudney's crackling snort. "Its vision and sensory systems would be electric and magnetic fields, ions and electrons. Its pain would be changes in the strengths of those fields and their threat to its existence when the solar flares are especially violent. Until recently—well, recently in solar terms—it has been the sun which has manipulated the planet's environment, and therefore it tries to control the sun by emanations of its own thermoelectric fields, making sunspots come and go as needed. Our geologist has noted that the planet has had more than its share of magnetic pole changes, many earthquakes, and some major readjustments in consequence of the polarities. You might say it's attempting to avoid 'pain'. But it follows that the FM is intelligent, because it is attempting to adjust its environment. Only in
telligence seeks to do this. I also think," she added, shooting a repressive glance at Rudney, who kept opening his mouth to interrupt, "it is capable of reproducing itself by asexual fission in order to increase its ability to control the sun. We have monitored a steady growth in all FM units . . ."

  "How many levels do they go now?" Killashandra asked, suddenly remembering that part of their investigation.

  "FMs with crystal nubs receiving the mixed diet have descended nineteen levels," Klera said, as pleased with such growth as a doting mother. "Those without crystal do not make significant progress and . . ." She faltered, glancing nervously at Rudney.

  "Food plus crystal means growth?" Killashandra asked.

  " And intelligence," Klera said emphatically. "The FMs with crystal nubs exhibit more thermoelectric activity than those deprived of crystal. Who knows what progress could be made in measuring FM intelligence if they were all equal in opportunity? Or if they had undamaged crystal!"

  That sentence came out in a rush—and the purpose of their visit became clear to Killashandra.

  "We've tried," Rudney said, his tone nearly apologetic, "to obtain a modest budget from the Solar Investigative Society to cover the cost of small pieces of undamaged Ballybran crystal . . ." He trailed off lamely and raised his hands in appeal.

  She glanced at Lars's bland expression, not sure if she was amused or annoyed with him. When he was trying to put the Guild on a more solid commercial basis, how could he entertain what was clearly an appeal for a donation of crystal for these scientific types on a project that had nothing to do with the Guild? It seemed to her that Lars was seriously contemplating this request. Why else had he invited her to the conference?

  As the silence lengthened, Rudney turned redder inside his protective suit; Klera just kept running her finger up and down the seam of her sleeve.

  "I gather that no more deaths have resulted from contact with the opalescence?" Killa asked.

  "Of course not," Saplinson-Trill said, flicking away that consideration with his fingers as he resumed his professional manner. "We follow a strict regiment of decontam and weekly med checks. We are extremely careful not to touch the FM with anything but the instruments kept in the cave for that purpose which have been made of a special alloy that FM does not melt."

  "The lapses certainly haven't proved fatal," Klera added candidly.

  Rudney smothered an oath as he glared at her.

  "What lapses?" Killa asked, covering her delight with a bland, inquiring expression.

  "Nothing fatal, or even producing physical discomfort," Klera said quickly.

  "What sort of lapse? Memory loss?" Killa remembered that both she and Lars had spent long moments admiring the brilliant, shifting coruscation in the caves. Like a very sophisticated fractal, it had been beautiful to watch, almost mesmeric.

  "What Klera refers to," Rudney told them, the rasping edge to his voice communicating clearly his wish that she had not spoken, "are periods when the FM displays the most thermoelectric activity. Several of our team members experienced what, ah, I suppose, could be termed time lapses . . ."

  "The Jewel Junk's shifting patterns had a certain hypnotic rhythm to them when we were there, didn't they, Guild Master?" Favoring Lars with a quick glance, Killashandra began to perceive another reason why he had wanted her in on this meeting.

  "Yes, they did," he agreed amiably. "While the Guild does not make a practice of assisting outside research in crystal applications, it just happens that there are some useful shapes and colors available from apprentice cuttings that could be released to you. They are now unflawed crystal, having been retuned, but not of the size, color or warrantable stability of pitch to be offered for commercial sale."

  Utter relief flooded Rudney's face. Klera, after giving a squeak of delighted surprise, covered her mouth as if afraid she might say something wrong and compromise the offer.

  "However, the Guild requires that a singer install the crystal," Lars said, "and right now, the Guild needs all experienced singers in the Range. We can't spare one for the time it would take to make the trip."

  "But, Guild Master, we've the services of a B-and-B ship," Rudney surprised both singers by saying. "That's the only way we, as leaders of the FM Project, could justify our absence."

  "A brain and brawn ship with a Singularity Drive?" Lars asked, expecting a negative response.

  "Yes, indeed, Guild Master," Rudney said. "Archaeological and Exploratory are exceedingly interested in the FM Project and put a ship at our disposal for this important mission. The BB-1066."

  "How very convenient," Killa said, twitching an eyebrow at Lars. "I'd be tempted to take the assignment if only to see Brendan and Boira again."

  "You are, C.S. Ree, one of my most experienced singers," Lars began repressively, and Killa wondered why he was glaring at her. Surely he was merely priming the pump to haggle a good fee for her services. As he had the right to do. The Guild had a reputation to maintain—especially right now.

  "I am due some relief time away from Ballybran," she said.

  To her surprise, Lars frowned. "This really isn't the time for you to be away from the Ranges, C.S. Ree."

  He spoke so firmly that she was uncertain how to proceed now in this interview. She was also peeved at him, for she really could use some time off-planet. And who else had previous experience with the Jewel Junk? As Guild Master, he really couldn't leave Ballybran but she could. Muhlah!

  "In that case, I shall plan to return to my duties tomorrow," she said stiffly and, bowing courteously to the scientists, marched out of the office.

  "Well?" she asked Lars as he entered their quarters much later that evening.

  "Well, what?" he said, scrubbing at his hair with irritation and fatigue.

  "Did you give them crystal?"

  "You heard me. FM, indeed," he muttered. She had ordered Yarran beer and some light snacks, which she served him. "Thanks!" He sighed with gratitude as he tipped the recliner back.

  "So, how much did you get?"

  "Hummm?" he mumbled over a long pull of the beer.

  "How much for a singer to install the crystals, and whom have you chosen? Because I insist on going."

  "Sunny, I need you here . . ." he began.

  "You can do without me for the eight-ten days it'll take by way of the B-and-B. And frankly, I could use the break."

  "Not when you're cutting crystal every time you go out."

  "Aren't Tiagana, Borton and Jaygrin?"

  "Of course, but—"

  "And anyone else you can talk into this direct-line approach to cutting, I'm sure," she said. "I thought that was why you had me sit in."

  "I had you sit in to see how much you could remember," he said. He gave her a quick grin. "You did better than I expected."

  "I did, did I? Well, thank you, Guild Master."

  "Donalla says a lot of memory is association. The more—"

  "And thank you not for discussing me with Donalla!" Killa wasn't certain why that made her so mad, but it did. "I'm not inactive yet, by a long twig, Lars Dahl. And I don't need hypnosis to remember!"

  "You proved that conclusively today," he said in the mild tone he used whenever he wished to defuse her anger.

  "Now stop manipulating me, will you?"

  "I'm not, Sunny." There was a genuine note of surprise in his voice. In one lithe movement, he slipped from the recliner to her chair and embraced her. She kept herself rigid, refusing to relax and let him think he had cajoled her into a better humor.

  "I also had to get someone else in the office or I'd've kicked Rudney out," he went on. "Wasn't he the pompous ass!"

  Killa did relax a bit then, glowering and still suspicious. "Asshole, you mean. Though she wasn't as bad. Why would she put up with him?"

  "Why do you put up with me?" And Lars flashed a smile at her.

  "Then why did you give them the crystal?"

  "Ah yes." Nudging his hip against her to make her give him some room, he slid his arm about h
er. "Well, I received an urgent burst requesting assistance from Archaeological and Exploratory. Seems our Jewel Junk is exceedingly important."

  "Then why do they entrust it to a dork like Saplinson-Trill?"

  "Because, despite his manner, he's tops in his field."

  "Which is?"

  "Planetary mechanics. His is not the first group to try to solve the mystery of our opalescent junk, but he's had far more demonstrable success than any other. And Ballybran crystal is very important to the success of the next phase of their investigations. Or so A and E seems to think."

  "Why didn't A and E pay for the crystal?"

  "Too many slices out of their budget already."

  "Then who's paying for a singer to install 'em?"

  Lars cleared his throat. "The Guild was asked to absorb the cost."

  She hauled herself about to face him, scowling. He pinched her lips shut.

  "Oh, don't worry," he said. "The Guild got concessions I've been trying to wangle for the last three years."

  "Such as?"

  "Permission to publicize the employment opportunities of the Guild . . ."

  "What?" That was an exceptional concession.

  Lars grinned smugly. " And the Guild is being allowed to actively recruit specialists on nineteen human planets."

  "That must be a first!"

  "In living memory."

  "So, they've finally realized how important Ballybran crystal is."

  "I'd say that's a fair comment." He stretched languorously beside her, arching his back, before he cocked his free arm to cushion his head. "A good day all totaled."

  "Who's the new dork at the desk?" she asked after a moment.

  "Oh." The frown returned. "Him. Well, he's a spare pair of hands, and he'll be more useful when he becomes accustomed to the filing codes."

  "I'd hazard the guess," she said after a long pause, "that you also can't afford to annoy the Council and A and E by sending an incompetent singer to set those crystals."