Li-Jared was talking, his voice reverberating oddly as he peered up. "I think I see a boundary layer up there—"
The Karellian was talking to Napoleon, the monkey-legged robot from Triton, who was now stretched up and leaning back at an odd angle, pointing his sensory-array overhead. Copernicus, likewise, was whipping his array back and forth, scanning everywhere. "Readings are ambiguous," Napoleon answered with a rasp. "But I believe you are right. There appears to be an air-water interface above us. However, I am unable to obtain spectrographic analysis."
"Nappy," said Bandicut, "can you tell if there's a pressure differential between us and them? Because if there is—"
"Uncertain, Captain." The robot clicked quietly a few times, then said, "I am detecting changes in the membrane layer surrounding us."
Bandicut glanced at his friends in alarm. "Do you mean the bubble's membrane?"
"Hrrrrl, we must be prepared for emergency evacuation," Ik muttered, glancing around—wondering, no doubt, what any of them could possibly do, if the bubble failed. Could they bolt straight up, into that habitat? Not likely, if high-pressure water came crushing in.
"Napoleon, is the bubble getting ready to break?" Bandicut demanded.
"Uncertain," said the robot.
Bandicut glanced around anxiously. There were now seven or eight shadowy figures gathered around the bubble. By turns, they pressed their faces to the bubble membrane, peering in, their huge eyes like orbs of darkness. What were they waiting for? Were they hungry for alien blood, or just curious?
"No evidence of hostility yet," Ik said.
Li-Jared bonged suspiciously.
Antares stirred. "Actually, I do sense . . ." She hesitated for a moment, then swung her maned head around to gaze at her companions. "I do sense hostility—uuhhhl, suspicion. I am not certain we are going to be welcomed."
"Well," Ik said, "it's likely we were sent here in order to meet these people, or people like them. Some provision must have been made for us to be able to interact with them."
Bandicut stared at him. "Nice of whoever sent us to share that information with us. What are we supposed to do, punch our way out and swim for it? Bye-bye, Napoleon and Copernicus. You two can't survive immersion at these pressures, can you?"
"Doubtful, Captain," said Copernicus.
Bwang. "Aren't there any damn controls on this damn thing?"
"I do not know," said Antares. "But I sense your distress, Li-Jared. Please—we have come so far, and after defeating the boojum. Let us trust that there is a way. Please."
The electric-blue band across Li-Jared's eyes pulsed.
Ik spoke suddenly. "I believe we are pressurizing."
Bandicut listened, and heard a soft but growing sigh. He soon felt the pressure on his ears and sinuses. Pinching his nostrils, he blew gently to equalize. "Where's it coming from?"
Li-Jared was swaying in obvious discomfort. "It's coming from everywhere—through the bubble membrane."
Bandicut held up a hand to the wall of the bubble. It was true; there was a breeze of incoming air from the entire inner surface of the bubble. Pressure was building rapidly on his ears now. He pinched his nostrils again, blowing. "I hope it knows the right gas mixture to use," he muttered.
/// The stones say the renormalization
can handle it, if you're careful—and lucky. ///
If I'm careful—?
"Uulullululu!" A cry of pain from Antares interrupted the thought. She was crouching, holding her head in her hands.
Bandicut knelt beside her. "Antares? Is it the pressure?"
"Y-y-y-y-y-y—"
/Charlie! Can our stones talk to her stones? See if they can help?/
/// How would I—hang on. ///
Ik was on Antares' other side, touching her arm, speaking softly. Every few seconds, his own face tightened, and he touched his forehead, then relaxed.
/// Ask her if it's better now. ///
"Antares? Is it easing? Can you equalize pressure?"
Her eyes closed and opened again. "Y-yes. Whatever it— was—my stones have—" She sighed. "Thank you, Bandie John Bandicut. And Ik."
"Hrrm," Ik said. He was already looking up, working on the next problem. The incoming air was starting to taper off. If the pressure was now equalized with the outside, was the bubble about to sprout a door?
Bandicut recalled an old joke about a screen door on a submarine, and shuddered. But what he saw was an opening on the bottom of the habitat above them, dilating like the pupil of an eye. The bubble jostled slightly, pressing against the bottom of the habitat. A soft glow was beginning to form around him, and around each of the others. On an impulse, he touched Copernicus, then Napoleon. A glow formed around each of them, too. "I think," he said, "we're being encouraged to leave the ship. Who's first?"
"Hrah," said Ik.
"Oh hell," said Li-Jared, hopping experimentally up and down. "I'm probably the only one who can get up there." His eyes were like golden, upright almonds, with a slash of electric blue across the centers. "Everyone ready?"
Without waiting for an answer, he sprang up and reached through the top of the star-spanner bubble, and caught his hands on the lip of the habitat opening. "Ock," he said. "I think it's going to let me through." The glow from his hands was radiating outward through the bubble membrane. He levered himself up, headfirst, into the opening in the bottom of the habitat. A moment later, he disappeared through the bubble membrane, and was surrounded by several shadowy figures, who pulled him out of sight.
"Li-Jared? Are you all right?" Ik called.
At first there was no answer. Then Li-Jared's head became visible again, above the bubble membrane, which was otherwise undisturbed. If he spoke, his voice was inaudible.
"Hrrm." Ik hefted something in his hand. His rope. He tossed the coil upward, holding one end. The other end flickered through the top of the bubble and disappeared. The sea creatures drew back, startled. A moment later, Li-Jared reappeared holding the rope and apparently making it fast to something above. Ik turned to the others. "Would anyone like to go next?"
Bandicut squinted. "Do you think we should take the robots?"
"If they stay here, what will they do?" Ik asked.
Good question, Bandicut thought. They might be in less danger above. Who knew what was going to happen to this bubble? Would it finally pop, and that would be the end of it? Were they going to live out their (possibly short) lives at the bottom of this alien sea? "All right, let's take them," he said. "Why don't I go last, and help them up?"
Ik's eyes sparkled. "Lady Antares, would you care to wait while I investigate with Li-Jared?"
Antares made a hissy laughing sound. Bandicut did not think that it represented amusement. "Be my guest, if you want to go next," she said. "But don't think I won't be right behind."
Ik made a soft clicking sound, which was amusement. He tugged on the rope, then simply held on as it contracted upward, lifting him through the top of the bubble and out of sight. The rope reappeared, followed by his head, upside down. "Come on up," he said, then disappeared again.
Antares glanced at Bandicut. "You will follow, with them?" she asked, indicating the robots.
"We'll be on your heels."
"Safe passage, Lady Antares," said Copernicus. "We'll rejoin you as soon as possible."
Antares dipped her head, and began to climb the rope.
"Just hang on," Bandicut said. "Let the rope do the work."
She glided up and through the bubble membrane.
Bandicut wrapped the rope across Copernicus's back and gave it a tug. The rope contracted and pulled him up out of sight. For a minute or two, nothing happened; the rope did not reappear. Then it did—with Copernicus still attached. He settled back onto the floor of the bubble. "It would seem, Captain," he reported, "that they do not wish me present at this time. I would guess that the same applies to Napoleon."
"Why not?" Bandicut said sharply.
"Unknown, Captain."
; Bandicut thought a moment. "All right, you stay here. And watch my backpack, okay? But if anything happens, I want you to give a yell—a loud one. Napoleon, you think you could jump up through that opening if you had to?"
Napoleon flexed his knees slightly. "I think so."
"Okay. I hope you'll be all right here." Bandicut touched a hand to each robot. Then he grabbed the rope and rose, spiraling slowly.
Chapter 3
First Contact
BANDICUT FELT A collar of water swirling around him—not quite touching him, because of the protective field of the translator-stone. Then his head popped out of the water, and he found himself floating in a circular basin in an air-filled chamber. Ik reached out to help him climb onto the dry floor. He gasped, as water rolled off the forcefield in rivulets; then he felt the forcefield disappear as he stood, chilly but dry, to one side of the entryway.
He blinked, looking around. To his surprise, he had not stepped out of a well, with sides, as he would have expected in an underwater habitat, but rather out of a round grey patch in the middle of a smooth floor. Aside from the floor, the chamber appeared spheroidal, flattened a bit in the vertical dimension, and glowing faintly from the walls. The air was moist and cool, and it bore the tang of salt and seaweed, and it was perfectly breathable—except that he was quite suddenly holding his breath. He and his friends were surrounded by half a dozen crouching black sea monsters—not quite as large as he was, but with oversized eyes in their glistening, vaguely newtlike heads. Some of their hands and feet seemed webbed, and others didn't. They all wore simple harnesses, with knives and other tools attached. Bandicut tried not to stare. He extended an open palm. "Uh—hello," he croaked.
A murmur rippled through the assembly of sea creatures, and they seemed to draw closer together.
Bandicut pulled his hand back. Ik muttered, just audibly, "They may have taken that gesture as a threat."
"They're definitely afraid of us," murmured Antares. "That's why they sent Copernicus back. I think they were afraid he was a weapon."
Bandicut grunted. /Now what?/ he wondered.
/// Go slow, ///
suggested Charlie.
/That much I knew./
The sea creatures were hissing among themselves now, and one of them suddenly moved forward, past Bandicut, and jumped into the entryway. The creature sank through the floor and vanished into the water. The others stared at the visitors, without speaking.
Bandicut wondered if they had just sent someone to get a leader. He raised his eyes to look at the chamber walls, glowing faintly; they looked to be made of some flexible material, plasticlike and yet organic—like some tough, translucent seaweed. Or a material inspired by seaweed. "You guys get the feeling this place is made of plant material?" he murmured. "It almost seems alive."
"Hrrm," Ik said softly. "I had a similar impression." As he spoke, the sea creatures stirred, and Ik raised his hands to what looked like a prayerful position, palms together with fingers spread, pointing upward. "We come from a far place," he said slowly. "We mean you no harm. We would like to speak with you." He gradually turned as he spoke, facing first one creature then the next. It was clear they did not understand a word, but he obviously hoped that his voice-stones would translate.
They might have been trying. Something was happening, because the sea creatures were starting to become agitated. Ik drew himself up taut, then spread his hands, trying to calm the sea people. "Ik, wait—that's not—" Antares began.
It was too late. Whatever Ik and the stones were trying to do, it was backfiring. The creatures moved in sudden concert. Bandicut felt a quick, strong grip on his shoulder, pulling him back onto a kind of bench seat. Before he could even focus on the webbed hand that was gripping him, he felt loops of rope drop around his chest and cinch tight, pinning his arms to his sides. "Uh—" he grunted, and strained futilely at the bonds.
Each of his companions was caught, as well, and bound with what looked like long, tough strands of an undersea vine. Behind Ik, one of the glistening creatures made a reedy squawking sound, which was answered by the others. A chuckling sound rose in Antares' throat, and it was not a sound of pleasure. Li-Jared was twanging ominously.
Ik, on the other hand, was silent—and nearly motionless. He appeared to be testing the vines for strength. Bandicut wondered what he was thinking. Ik had probably the calmest disposition of anyone in the company, and if Ik got upset you knew it was time for action.
But the best course of action right now was undoubtedly to remain calm.
/// Agreed.
What else can you do, anyway? ///
/I don't know, but if the translator-stones have any ideas, I would appreciate hearing them./ Bandicut blinked sweat from his eyes. Strange to be sweating in this chilly air. He studied his captors, and found them studying him. /I seem to remember those stones putting on a pretty good display of power once, when I needed it./ It seemed a long time ago, but wasn't really, since he had fled Triton and Neptune—and ultimately the solar system—in a stolen spacecraft. The black stone in his left wrist had used holograms or forcefields or some goddamn thing to make him look like a terrifying alien, terrifying enough to scare the captain of Neptune Explorer off her ship. He wondered if they might want to do something like that now.
/// Where would you go, if you got away? ///
asked the quarx.
/// What would you do? ///
Bandicut was silent a moment. /Yeah,/ he said.
One of the sea creatures was circling behind the members of the company now, examining each one of them. Bandicut took a good look at the creature in return. It was more humanoid than he had realized at first. Its oversized eyes and the general newtlike appearance of its head had distracted him from the rest of its body. But it had a mouth about where he might have expected, and it had nostrils, plus an array of what looked like gills on its neck. It was obvious that the things were amphibious. This bothered him, for reasons he couldn't identify. Did he have some deep-seated aversion to frogs? Or was it the quarx's response, leaking through into his own emotions? Charlie-One had had quite a xenophobic streak . . .
/// And you're so damn perfect—? ///
Before Bandicut could respond, there was a ripple in the center of the floor, and the head of another of the sea beings popped up out of the water. The creature climbed with quick grace into the chamber, and spoke with short mutters and hisses to the others of its kind, while inspecting the captives. It wore a somewhat more elaborate-looking harness than the others.
A leader? Bandicut wondered. He exchanged cautious glances with his friends. Ik was calm, but Ik was always calm. Li-Jared, on the other hand, was barely able to contain his frustration and rage. The new arrival seemed to sense that; its gaze lingered a little longer on the Karellian. Antares' eyes flickered, watching Li-Jared, then meeting Bandicut's gaze. She made a small gesture with her closed right hand, which he did not know how to interpret.
The apparent leader saw the gesture, as well. He raised a half-webbed hand, and pointed at Antares, then Li-Jared. "Squee-awwww!" he called, in a shrill bark. Three of the other creatures responded at once, and moved to separate Antares and Li-Jared from their friends.
"Wait!" Bandicut protested. "We didn't mean anything. What are you doing?"
"Skaaawwwww!" cried the creature.
Bandicut felt a sudden backward jerk as the creature behind him yanked on the rope. He had to fight for a moment to keep his balance on the bench. The creature behind him made a warbling sound, probably of anger. Had they interpreted Antares' gesture as a threatening move?
"John Bandicut, I recommend silence, for the moment," Ik said. "Until we can—"
Ik's words were cut off by a yank on the rope binding him.
Bandicut scowled, but did not move, as Li-Jared and Antares were pushed toward the exit spot. Through the translucent floor of the habitat, he could see the faint shadow of the star-spanner bubble being moved to one side. He tensed, thinking about Napo
leon and Copernicus.
Bwong. "What are these devils doing?" muttered Li-Jared. He was bending as far forward as the sea creature holding him would allow, peering down through the exit spot.
To Bandicut, what it looked like they were doing was preparing to push Li-Jared and Antares out of the habitat. He flashed on images of terrorists summarily killing hostages, and he strained involuntarily at the ropes. /If they start to push them out of the habitat, I want those stones ready to move fast. Can they make me look intimidating again?/
/// I have no idea.
Hey, wait a minute—look. ///
Bandicut squinted. Another shadow was moving into place under the habitat. There was a low rumble, a thump, and a soft hiss. The floor at the exit point turned to a shadowy circle, and then seemed to open—to reveal nothing much but shadow.
"Skeeekawww." The leader of the sea creatures spoke, and gestured sharply. Li-Jared was shoved forward; he stepped awkwardly, and as he was about to fall, grabbed the edge of the hole and lowered himself indignantly into the well. Antares was pushed after him. One of the sea creatures quickly followed.
"Li-Jared! Antares!" Bandicut shouted, heedless of the ropes cutting into his shoulders. "Are you all right?"
He heard some muffled cursing—and realized that he had heard no splash of water. Then the Karellian's voice twanged, "There's air here. Not much light. Seems to be some kind of submarine."
Antares called, "We are unhar—"
And the opening vanished, cutting off the sound of her voice. The floor was solid again, with only a grey patch where the opening had been.
"Hey!" Bandicut protested to the sea creatures. "Why can't you let us talk to them?"
"Akka whadeddekka." The leader spoke sharply, and Ik and Bandicut were pulled apart from each other, none too gently.
Bandicut glared at the leader. He felt a vibration under his feet, and looked down to see the shadow of the vessel holding Li-Jared and Antares drop away from the habitat, glide forward, and disappear. He looked back up at Ik, feeling his own mouth tighten with anger. Anger and determination. But what was he determined to do? His friends were gone, and he was trapped at the bottom of an alien sea.
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