Shroud of Doom

by William Manchee

  Chapter 9

  Nanomites

   

  On their way home to Liehn, Threebeard mentioned there was still another life-form on Tarizon that no one had communicated with, the Nanomites.

  “Who are the Nanomites?" Nic asked.

  "They are a microscopic life-form that usually live inside solid objects.”

  “So, what do they do?”

  “We don’t know exactly, but they build magnificent cities that are very strong and durable.”

  “Really? But how can something so small build anything significant?”

  “One molecule at time, I guess. We don’t know much about them. Scientist believe they live in swarms. Each swarm has millions of nanomites who somehow work together. They think each swarm is controlled by a swarmmaster who controls all of the individual nanomites."

  "Hmm. That's fascinating. . . . How does the swarmmaster communicate with them?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s probably similar to the way our human brain controls the cells of our body, except nanomites don’t have to be connected. They only have to be in the swarm field to be under the control of the swarmmaster. This gives them the ability to avoid barriers and slip through cracks and voids in the objects they are penetrating.”

  “So, what is it about them that interests you?” Nic asked.

  “Some people believe they are a sentient life-form?”

  “Really? Why?”

  “Because they build such incredible structures in their desert homelands. It just doesn’t seem possible for them to build the kind of things they do without someone quite intelligent guiding them.”

  “How did you find out about them?”

  “While I was surfing the TGN I intercepted a report from Berne Baldrige to the Commerce Secretary. Baldrige is a scientist for Central Authority who has studied the Nanomites for many cycles. The government has been looking for alternative methods of construction due to the labor shortage. Baldrige’s latest report suggested it might be possible to enlist the Nanomites to do some inexpensive construction for them.”

  “Of course, any way to make coin,” Nic said.

  "Exactly. Although most people don’t consider the Nanomites to be an intelligent life-form, Baldrige believes the Nanomites have to be highly intelligent because of their building and engineering skills. He also was sure they had some means of rapid communication because to build these structures took considerable coordinated effort.

  “I wonder if communication with them is possible?” Nic mused.

  "I don’t know, but that’s what he wants us to find out. If they communicate like the Rhutz, then making contact would be possible.”

  “So, you’ve talked to him?”

  “Yes. He wants my help in establishing communications with them.”

  “How many nanomites are there?”

  “In his report Baldrige estimated there were about five million swarms in each of the nanomite cities he studied. They need a dry environment to build. Moisture slows them down and makes it impossible for them to work efficiently. They also need a chemical called bacuum that is naturally produced in the deserts where they live.”

  “That’s mind boggling,” Nic said. “To think that millions of little nanomites can work in a coordinated fashion on a construction project.”

  "I know. It’s amazing.”

  “So, how are you going to find the time for this?”

  Threebeard laughed. “I doubt I could, so I thought it might be a nice project for your sister. She was upset when I took you to visit with the rhutz and didn’t bring her along.”

  “Good idea. I prefer making friends with something I can see. Trying to talk to a microscopic life-form is a bit hard to grasp.”

  “Yes. It is, but if we can do it, think of the possibilities.”

  “So, how will you proceed?”

  “I think your sister and I are going to be taking a little trip to the Ural Desert. Baldrige mentioned a city he’d found about midway between Guhl and Urunes.”

  “Well, Artis will be excited.”

  “Yes, while I’m busy with her you can get started lining up people to act as liaisons between the rhutz and the humans.”

  “That will be fun. I can’t wait to start.”

  When they got back to the Mighty Jolly they found it rocking as usual with its loud music, dancing, gambling and rowdy customers. Ever since the Seafolken women had been introduced into the taverns business had been booming. Rigella saw them come in and went over to greet Threebeard.

  “You’re back. How did it go?”

  “Excellent. We talked to both Shadow and Starlight and they agreed to work with us on a project to open communications between the two life-forms.”

  “That’s amazing. I can’t believe it’s possible.”

  “Oh, that’s nothing. Wait until father tells you about his next project?”

  “What’s that?” Rigella asked warily.

  “Where’s Artis? I’ll tell you both at the same time.”

  Artis was in the corner of the tavern talking to a group of young men. She came over immediately when Nic summoned her. Threebeard filled her in on their successful trip and then asked her if she wanted to work on a project for him.

  “Yes, of course. It’s about time you gave me something to do more challenging than clearing tables.”

  “You have heard me talk about the Nanomites before, right?”

  “Un huh.”

  “How would you like to go search for them in the Ural Desert?”

  Artis swallowed hard. “The Ural Desert— like where they have lizard snakes and scorpions?”

  Threebeard smiled. “Yes. That’s the place.”

  Artis rolled her eyes. “I prefer the city, actually.”

  “Well, you were mad when I didn’t take you to see the Rhutz. I’m just trying to give you an opportunity. Besides, I’ll be needing your telepathic skills.”

  Artis’ eyes widened. She had inherited strong telepathic abilities but rarely had occasion to use them. “So you think we can establish a link with them like you did with the rhutz?”

  “Yes, but it will be much more difficult. Shadow and Starlight had already learned Tari and linking to them was simple. The Nanomites are another story. Their language, if they even have one, will not be easy to learn. We’ll probably only be able to see a few visual images and work from there. It will take a lot of hard work and discipline to make it happen. Obviously, I don’t have much time to devote to it, so I thought you might want to take on the project. If you are successful it could be very important to Tarizon’s future.”

  Artis was astonished that her brother would give her such an important task. She didn’t know if she could do it, if it were even possible, but she could hardly turn it down. “When do we leave?” she asked excitedly.

  “In a week or two. I’ll get you the Baldrige study to read in the meantime. That will give you some time to think about the project and then we’ll make the trip.”

  Artis ran off to tell Murl about her new assignment and Nic wandered over to the where the Seafolken dancers were performing before a large crowd of mesmerized men. They were so beautiful and let off an aroma that he couldn’t resist. If Threebeard hadn’t made them promise not to seduce any of the staff, he’d have long ago given his soul to them.

   

   

  Three weeks later, after Threebeard had checked on all his taverns and other business interest and felt they were running smoothly, Artis and he took off for the Ural Desert. Figuring it would take some time to make contact, he’d set aside ten days to help Artis set up her laboratory and then leave her there until they were successful or decided it was a hopeless task.

  The desert was not a hospitable place for humans, so they had to bring plenty of food and water and a camocube shelter in which to do their research. Camocubes were portable structures easily put together like tents but much stronger and more durable. Not knowing the area Threebeard hired a local guide
, Faruk, and brought their cook, Poldra with them. Giant also came along to provide protection as the Ural Desert was infested with many venomous, spiders, snakes and lizards.

  They traveled in three ATVs through the Liehn River Tube to Guhl. Tubes were super highways enclosed within a gigantic cylinder so they would be protected from the weather and the contaminated environment. The Liehn River Tube had been built during the 7th World War when the atmosphere was so toxic that people couldn’t live outside of protective shelters. The atmosphere had since cleared but tubes were still popular because without weather, cross traffic or pedestrians to worry about you could travel at maximum speed without worry.

  They stayed overnight in Guhl at the Mighty Jolly and then left at the crack of dawn for the Ural Desert. There were only two paved roads through the desert, one from Guhl to Urunes and another from Rizi to Urunes. They had chosen the Guhl route because it came closest to where some of the nanomite structures had been spotted. The structures themselves, of course, were many kylods off the highway and nowhere near any human habitation.

  The Ural Desert lay east of the Doral Mountains. Since all weather patterns on Tarizon went from West to East almost all of the moisture that rolled in from the Dark Sea was spent as it was lifted over the high Doral Mountain peaks. The highest mountain was Mt. Survius towering to 14,737 feet and being located fifty kylods northwest of Guhl. Although general rain was rare, isolated thunderstorms did occur and usually caused flash flooding because of the sparse foliage and sandy terrain.

  Threebeard loved the Ural Desert. He found it inspiring to see life struggle defiantly to survive under such hostile conditions. It reminded him of the human struggle on Tarizon during the world wars when the planet nearly became uninhabitable. The desert had a unique and powerful beauty with its rocky hills, ragged cliffs, exotic plants, and sandy washes spattered with scrub brush and an occasional desert flower.

  When they turned off the main road in the direction of the nanomite formations Artis felt a wave of apprehension come over her. She’d never been to the desert and although it was beautiful, it was a bit scary as well, particularly since they were traveling off-road.

  “So, aren’t you afraid we’ll get stuck in all this sand?” Artis asked.

  “Possibly, but since we have three vehicles we should be okay. If one of us gets stuck the other two should be able to pull the other one out.”

  “How do we navigate out here without a map?” she asked.

  “I’ve hacked into the TGA’s G.P.S. system. I’ll show you how it works when we get to our location. You’ll be able to do as much traveling as you like without fear of getting lost, however, I doubt you’ll have to do much traveling as the Nanomites are pretty sedimentary from what I’ve read about them.”

  “So, how are we going to do this?” Artis asked. “I’ve thought a lot about making contact with them, but I don’t have any idea how to start.”

  “I know. It’s going to be a lot of trial and error. Obviously the human and nanomite minds are going to be very different, but they both must radiate some sort of energy waves from their minds. The trick is going to be how to make those energy waves meaningful to each other. It’s going to be more difficult than it was between rhutz and humans because nanomites may not see things the way humans do.”

  “Then how could it even be possible?” Artis asked.

  “Well, they must have some sort of sight, otherwise how could they build these huge structures.”

  Artis pondered this wondering if she had made a mistake taking on such a seemingly futile venture. “What if the Nanomites don’t want to make contact with us?”

  Threebeard shrugged. “They may not in which case we won’t be able to make contact with them.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t contact them,” Artis said worriedly. “It might be a mistake introducing them to the human population. You know how some people try to exploit others.”

  Threebeard looked at her thoughtfully. “You’re right, of course. It could backfire on us. But just because we make contact with them doesn’t mean we have to tell anyone about it. We’ll let them decide if they want to meet others.”

  “Of course, but how could they make a rational decision having had no previous experience with humans? They might think all humans were like us.”

  “That’s a good point, but everyone faces that dilemma when they meet someone. If they decide to meet with others we’ll be there to guide them and give them the benefit of our experience.”

  Artis didn’t press the issue as she didn’t want to disappoint her brother particularly after he’d finally given her something important to do. They plodded on for kyloons over the rocky terrain until they came to a gorgeous red rock canyon. It was a bit scary as giant red boulders were so precariously perched on the canyon walls that it seemed a slight breeze could send them plummeting down upon them.

  At the end of the canyon a wide valley emerged, its floor made of hard white rock and gravel. After they’d traveled about a kyloon into the valley strange imposing objects appeared in the distance.

  Artis blinked not believing what she was seeing. Out here in the middle of nowhere there appeared to be a city—a magnificent crystal city complete with skyscrapers, domed buildings, and some sort of interconnecting highways that almost looked like veins in the human body. She looked over at Threebeard who was smiling.

  “Now, you understand why I think the Nanomites are a sentient life-form. Only an intelligent being could build something so magnificent.”

  As they got closer to the city the sky suddenly darkened. They looked up and saw that a storm was quickly brewing.

  “Skutz! We better look for cover. If we get caught out in the open in a flash flood our ATVs will be carried away and we’ll all end up being drowned.”

  “Where can we go?”

  Threebeard looked around. He spotted a pile of large boulders in the distance. “Let’s park behind those boulders. They don’t look like they’ll be going anywhere. Fasten your seat restraints.”

  They altered their course and headed for the boulders. Just as they reached them the skies opened up and the rain came down in a torrent. Within a few loons water began rushing past them through the valley like it was a river bottom. At first it was just a foot or two but soon the water was up to the tops of the wheels. Artis looked apprehensively at her brother.

  “Don’t worry. The boulders will divide the water and keep the current from sweeping us away. We should be okay. Deploy the anchors.”

  Giant nodded and pushed a sequence of commands into the ATV’s computer. The ATV vibrated as anchor holes were drilled into the ground beneath them. When their vibration stopped the ATV rocked as anchors were secured in place. The water continued to rise until it was up to their windows but the boulders didn’t budge and the anchors seemed to be holding them. Then there was a thunderous crash in the distance. Threebeard looked toward the sound nervously.

  “Okay, hang on and pray to Sandee!” Threebeard exclaimed as a huge wall of water came crashing over the boulders. Although the ATV’s were heavy they were watertight and quite buoyant. If dropped into water they’d float by design so the occupants wouldn’t drown. So when the wave hit them the tremendous lift ripped the anchors out of the ground and threw the ATVs into the surging flood waters. Giant gave Threebeard a horrified look.”

  “What should I do?” he asked worriedly.

  “Nothing. We’ll just have to ride it out. These ATV’s are tough. Hopeful, they’ll hold together.”

  Just as Threebeard said that their ATV hit a boulder and bounced away violently. “Ah!” Artis screamed.

  They watched though their front windshield as they bobbed up and down in the flood, sometimes riding on top of the waters and other times being be totally submerge. But just as suddenly as it had hit them, the wave dissipated and left them upright ten kylods away.

  “Is it over?” Artis asked hopefully.

   “Yes,” Threebeard replied. “I’m glad I bo
ught the top of the line ATV’s. They saved our lives.”

  “Yes, I can’t believe they weren’t shredded to pieces when we hit those boulders.”

  “They have a limbidium shell like they use on the shuttles that go to Earth. It’s nearly indestructible.”

  “Thank God and Sandee,” Artis said.

  After the three ATV’s regrouped they drove back to the nanomite city. Remarkably the flash flood hadn’t seemed to damage the nanomite structures in the least. Artis was shocked at this. “How can they build such strong structures.”

  “I don’t know. You need to ask them that when you make contact.”

  That night they set up camp on a ridge overlooking the crystal city. They wanted to make sure if there was another flash flood that they wouldn’t be in the waters’ path this time. The next morning while Giant and the others were putting the laboratory together Threebeard and Artis began to inspect the city.

  They climbed back down into the valley and entered the city from the west. The light from the rising sun flowed through the white crystal structures and seemed to power it up. Threebeard counted about seventy-five distinct structures of varying height from twelve feet to fifty feet in height. Artis ran her hand over the surface of one of the edifices and marveled at how smooth and hard it was. They continued on, searching for an entry of some sort but finally decided it was a solid structure. That made sense since nanomites were a microscopic life-form and had no need for individual rooms or compartments.

  “Do you think each nanomite has its own room?” Artis asked.

  Threebeard laughed. “I doubt it. I think each swarm probably has a room or space to occupy while they are not working.”

  “I wonder how many swarms are in this city?”

  “Millions, I’m sure,” Threebeard replied.

  “Do you think they know we’re here?”

  “I don’t know. It depends on how they perceive the world. If they have sight then they know we are here. If they don’t I’m sure they can feel our presence.”

  “If they feel or presence, do you think they will feel threatened?”

  “I’m sure they will be on their guard. That is why we must not do anything threatening?”

  “What would be threatening to a nanomite?” Artis asked.

  Threebeard shrugged. “Well, don’t carry a pick ax with you when you’re examining the city.”

   “Artis nodded.”

  After they’d traversed the entire circumference of the city and found no doors or streets through it, they went back to their camp. Their crew had been working hard while they were gone and had erected a nice camocube structure which included a lab, kitchen, lounge, bedrooms and restroom facilities.

  “So, now what?” Artis asked.

  “Now we have to come up with a technique to teach the Nanomites Tari.”

  “How do we do that?”

  “Well what I’m hoping will work is to conjure up images in your head and then, in your mind, describe them with the appropriate words in Tari. That way the Nanomites, if they are linked in, will see an image and then relate to the spoken word referring to the image.”

  “Assuming we see things the same way they do,” Artis noted.

  “Right,” Threebeard agreed. “But, I suspect they do otherwise they wouldn’t be able to survive in our world.”

  “So, each day I’ll plan a lesson and then deliver it to them and hope they are listening.”

  “Exactly.”

  “So, how will I know if they are listening?”

  “I’m hoping they’ll talk back to you and you’ll sense their presence. It will probably be something very faint but quite exotic, so you’ll know it when you hear it.”

  “So, when do we start?” Artis asked.

  Before Threebeard could answer there was a scream and the sound of crashing tin cans. They got up and rushed outside to see Giant fighting off three large lizard snakes and two scorpions who were trying desperately to get at their water supply. When Threebeard saw the melee he tossed the snakes and spiders away with his invisible hand. Unfortunately, this didn’t deter them. Each time he tossed them away they came crawling back. Finally, he began inflicted a little pain on them when he tossed them away and eventually they gave up. When they were gone Giant relaxed and nodded at Threebeard gratefully.

  “You’ll have to seal the food and water in an airtight cooler so they can’t be smelled by the local wildlife. Food and water are precious commodities out here.”

  Artis looked at Threebeard skeptically. “What if they decide we might taste good?” she asked.

  Threebeard laughed. “No. They’re more afraid of you than you are of them. Just keep your distance and they won’t bother you. The medical kit has antivenom if you need it.”

  Later that afternoon Threebeard and Artis began their attempts to link with the Nanomites. They started with simple images and words and gradually made them more complex each day. Without feedback it was a difficult process, but they stuck with their plan hoping they would feel the presence of the hives at some point. Unfortunately, by the time Threebeard had to leave, they had no indication if their plan was working. Nevertheless, Artis stayed on as they had agreed it might take several phases or even a full cycle to teach the Nanomites enough Tari to communicate.

   

   

  The Speaker for the nanomite city asked for silence. The swarmmasters wanted to watch and listen to the humans who were circling their desert city. Sentinels had warned them of the presence of humans. This was not unusual as humans and other beasts often sniffed around their city trying to gain entrance, but rarely did anyone try very hard. The buildings nanomites built were solid crystal and as hard as any metal found on Tarizon. They had to be in order to protect the fragile nanomites from wind, water, and weaponry.

  Frustrated humans often took shots at the cities exterior to see if their weaponry would pierce it. Of course the destruction of any of the structures would mean the death of millions of nanomites. The desert winds could be powerful too and a lesser structure might easily be ripped apart. But water was the biggest threat to nanomites as its presence destroyed their ability to move freely and quickly and deprived them of oxygen and nutrients that they needed to live.

  The swarmmasters could see a cloudy image of the two humans walking slowly around the perimeter of the city. Their sentinel swarms providing the view moved through the city keeping their receptors focused on the two intruders. The swarmmasters weren’t usually concerned by the presence of visitors but there was something odd about these two humans. Not only could they see them but they could feel their presence. The feeling was strange and didn’t mean anything to them, but they knew these weren’t ordinary humans and that bothered them.

  “Make sure our visitors leave the area,” The speaker said.

    The Sentinel swarmmasters were surprised by this order as leaving the protection of the city was rare and quite dangerous. Nanomites could easily travel through any solid object, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was their frail physique. If they encountered water, a strong gust of wind while they were traveling through loose soil, or if an animal or human inadvertently stepped on them, millions of nanomites would die. But the sentinel swarmmaster didn’t hesitate despite his surprise. Commands from the Speaker had to be obeyed instantaneously without question. In fact, nanomites didn’t know how to disobey such orders. Obedience was ingrained in the very fabric of their being.

  The Sentinel Swarm followed Threebeard and Artis just below the surface of the ground as they slowly walked up the hill to their camp. The swarmmasters watched their progress warily. The Swarmmasters wondered what had caused them to make this visit and whether their intentions were hostile. The Nanomites were no threat to the humans but they had observed humans act cruelly to animals and other life-forms for no apparent reason. They knew that some humans seemed to enjoy killing and destroying things just to prove they could do it.

  When Threebeard and Artis reach
ed their camp, the Speaker gasped. “The humans have set up a camp!”

  “Yes. That appears to be the case,” the Sentinel swarmmaster confirmed.

  “Why do you suppose that is?”

  “I assume they are going to stay a while and study our city.”

  “Do you sense their thoughts?” the Speaker asked.

  “Yes, I am feeling faint signals. I can’t get any meaning from them, but they definitely are communicating without vibrations.”

  Nanomites had no ears but they could feel vibrations from human speech. They knew this was how the human’s communicated so the realization that Threebeard and Artis were communicating differently confused them.

  “I’m sending out more sentinel swarms to help you. We have to keep a close eye on these humans until we know what they are up to. I’m go on with my daily tasks. Alert me if anything unusual happens.”

  “Yes, Speaker.”

  The First Sentinel Swarmmaster watched the humans from the perimeter of their camp. When a second and third sentinel swarm arrived they spread out to cover all the entrances while the first Sentinel Swarmmaster took his swarm inside the camp to take a closer look at what was going on. He noted that there were three more humans at the camp who appeared to be servants. He felt vibrations from them but no discernible thoughts. The other oddity was the lack of equipment. In the past when visitors came and set up camp they brought with them all sorts of equipment which they spent an inordinate amount of time watching closely. But there were only a few pieces of equipment with these visitors. He decided to report this to his master.

  “Speaker.”

  “Yes,” the Speaker replied.

  “There are a total of five visitors in the camp. The other three appear to be servants with no detectible mental transmissions. Also, these humans have very little equipment—only a VC and a few global communicators.”

  Nanomite swarmmasters had observed many humans over the cycles and knew they almost always carried video and global communicators. They knew this equipment was used to communicate with other humans which they thought odd as nanomites didn’t need mechanical devices for communications.

  “Thank you for the update. Keep us informed.”

  “Yes, Speaker.”

  The sentinel swarms maintained their vigil during the night and were relieved as soon as the sun rose the next morning. The Sentinel Swarmmaster took over command of the human surveillance and noted little activity with the exception of an increase in mental images and static coming from the two odd looking humans which they now identified as Intruder 1 and Intruder 2.

  “Speaker, Sentinel reporting.”

  “Yes. Give me your report.”

  “Both Intruder 1 and Intruder 2 are emitting mental images and unintelligible noise.”

  “Really?”

  “Are they communicating with each other?”

  “It doesn’t appear so. It seems they are trying to communicate with us since they are here next to our city.”

  “So, what kind of images are they showing us?”

  “Common things. Pictures of people doing different things, common objects like rocks or trees. Each image is followed by a distinct bit of noise.”

  “So, what do you make of it?” the Speaker asked.

  “The only conclusion I can draw is that they are trying to teach us their language so we can communicate.”

  “That would be my conclusion as well. I wonder if we should try to learn their language or ignore them.”

  “A good question, Speaker. One that I am not qualified to answer.”

  “Of course. We’ll consider this gesture. In the meantime, just ignore them.”

  “Yes, Speaker.”

  The Speaker immediately directed his thoughts to all the swarmmasters who inhabited the crystal city. Within a few tiks a serious debate erupted between the thousands of swarmmaster

  Humans are evil....We should avoid any contact with them. We’ve never talked with the humans before and we shouldn’t start now....They may have something important to tell us. We can’t hide from the rest of the world forever....Why not?...Perhaps we could help each other out and make the lives of all nanomites better....Contact with the humans will lead to the extinction of all nanomites....They want something from us and after they get it we won’t hear from them for another hundred cycles....Many humans are good....The humans almost destroyed Tarizon in the last world war....That is why we need to communicate with them, to try to keep that from happening again.

  When the debate was over the consensus was that communication was in the best interest of the nanomites. The humans had tremendous power over their lives and if there was a way for the nanomites to help prevent future wars or other intrusions into the nanomite worlds those avenues should be explored.

  The next day when Threebeard and Artis began sending out images and descriptions in Tari hundreds of nanomite scholars were listening. They carefully noted each image and the corresponding noise that was associated with each image. After a few kyloons they slowly began to recognize distinct noises and associate them with mental images. It was a tedious process but these humans and nanomites were highly intelligent and greatly motivated, so it was just a matter of time before meaningful progress would be made.