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We are still trapped here. We are not breaking anything, I promise. We're being very good
probes, which makes me wonder why we are being kept here. How long does it take to move us?
We went lightyears in a matter of seconds and we can't go wherever it is they want us in days?
What is this?
Isaac is tired of learning new things from us, I think he wants to go somewhere else. Daniel has
been telling him stories for the last few hours. I hope Isaac knows what he is talking about,
Andrew and I don't.
We have been talking about what we should do next. We wonder if there isn't some way we
could bargain with the Ipsolstai.
I did it, Grand Zero. I ignited the cartridges. They detonated both at the same time and
the communication tower blew up in a glorious blaze of fire. The rope braces went
off like arrows. Everything happened like in slow motion but with an enormous force.
The whole tower toppled. It went right toward me. I crouched behind the barrels. I
knew if I got hit, I was gone. It missed me by only a few meters. It crashed into the big
hall over the gallery and broke apart. There isn't much left. The dishes are all broken
and the top of the antenna tipped into the melting vat.
Mission completed, Grand Zero. Let's get away. Where is Zachary? Does he know that
we will rush back to the tram? An alarm went off. Which way to go? Are the C-probes
still milling out there or should I try to escape through the tunnels? I will take the
tunnels. The tipping wagons are blocked by the wreckage of the communication
tower. They provide good cover. I will crawl along between their wheels and the tunnel wall.
I made it. I'm in the tunnel again. I hope Zachary will find his way out, too. What if he
can't get out? I must tell him about the tunnel. I know that it's too dangerous and maybe
stupid too, but I will try. What else can I do?
"Zachary, if the C-probes aren't milling, for cover, there is an escape tunnel at the
left side in back of the hall. FOLLOW THE RAILS!"
Evacuate, get ready to evacuate! I suppose the drones will have to be used for
cargo transport. I have been working hard to plan how to load them so that nothing
essential will get left behind. Even the miners will have to take a small load.
I don't know where we're going to go, but I will do my part to be ready.
If I put large, flat articles on first and secure them with rope and cable, that will
make a flat space to balance other cargo. I hope there will be enough cable to lash
everything down so it won't fall off when they start moving. The last thing to
load will be the necklaces Theresa made from the crystals. Theresa can help,
and we can hang them from any convenient projection on the drones. I am
looking forward to seeing how the crystals will flash and sparkle in the sun when
they start to roll. Theresa and I might even wear some ourselves. Yes, I think
that's a good idea.
Oh! I just noticed that the pings have stopped.
"Enoch! Zachary! Are you all right?"
That's a good plan to blow up their Comm center. Enoch will make it. I'm sure about
that, and I will hurry out of here as fast as I can. I've seen enough. No reason to stay
any longer. Grand Zero, these feet are metallic.
I'm at the edge of my safe zone, Orpheus. I'm ready to dash out, when the mess starts.
Next meeting point Big Tram, roger. Tell Enoch that I got that. Talk to Gail about
the entrance of the Fortress. That's important. Then finding out how to operate the
weapon system. Which weapon system? I haven't seen any at the Big Tram. Then the
Amphibians are coming.
What? Flee and fly. We must flee and fly. That's why Daniel always said that we
must flee and fly. We can't stand against them. Not against the Amphibians. We must
get out of the Ipsolstai area immediately!
I hear an explosion. That's Enoch. An alarm went on. The feet are rushing off. I dash
out. Now or never. I hurry down a line of machines. No one to see. I can hear, Enoch.
No, I can't see the C-probes. What? There is a tunnel? Yes, I know. The tipping wagons.
I follow the rails. There are many. They lead between the machines. I rush along them.
There is a probe in front of me. Not half my size. No arms. I will run over it. I want to
get out. Now!
A big robot arm came from the side. I ran directly into it. I was totally dioriented. I
turn around. There is another probe. I start to run against that one. Another robot arm
gets in front of me. I hardly can stop.
I'm trapped. The robot arms start to pick after me. I dash under a machine. The probes
get closer. The robot arm gropes under the machine. I try to evade. There is another
arm now. It's got my leg and just drags me out. Help, they lift me up.
"No! No, don't throw me into that press!"
They dropped me on the floor. The two probes are still around. One in front, one
behind me. I give up. I'm holding my hands up and bend my knees, as I did when I met
the Ipsolstai the first time. The probes are looking at me. Then they turned around and
vanished between the machines.
I moved a little. The robot arms reacted immediately. I'm trapped. No hope.
Take care of Gail and Theresa, Enoch. Move them out of the area into safety.
Don't waste time on me.
Andrew reporting.
I am working hard. An Ipsolstai came in and indicated that he wanted me to
perform a task. Since you instructed us to be good cooperative guests, Orpheus,
I accepted the assignment.
He brought out a flat board with hundreds small pieces of various
shapes. They are multi-colored, but only on one side. He showed me that
two of them will fit together. The colors form a pattern which continues over
both pieces.
I have worked out a program to compare the edges and the pattern. That is
very simple. The difficult part is picking up the pieces. They are too small for
my hands to manipulate easily. I wonder if I can find some sort of tool to use.
The annoying thing is that the Ipsolstai is watching me intently. He holds a device
of unknown function which flashes recurring digital patterns. It is extremely
distracting.
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