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I do not know coordinates.
I am sorry, Andrew.
I learn what I saw.
The outside of the place we are.
I learn from the One.
The One listens to the Ipsosltai.
They say it is changing.
Metal/not-metal.
Under their control.
You are in a new place.
You must go down now.
You are too high.
Do not use the elevator.
Go always where you cannot.
Where they do not wish you to.
It is a test. They are learning.
They must not.
We depend on their ignorance.
As does the Earth.
Andrew reporting.
"Go where you can't go." That's the advice that Daniel keeps giving me. Also,
"Don't take the elevator", and "Go down." Taking all of these together, I went
back along the spiral ramp.
When I had descended a few spirals, I tried your suggestion, Orpheus. When I saw the
insignia on the wall, I pressed the round area in the middle. A section of the wall
which previously appeared to be solid slid noiselessly back. You must have been here
before, Orpheus.
This looks just like the room on Mars where Isaac got into trouble. I don't want
the same thing to happen to me. I backed away, and the door closed again. You would
never know to look at it that there was a concealed room behind it.
I continued exploring. I'm going to find a way out.
What happened? We were told there was a problem and you didn't hear us until yesterday.
We found something. It was there for just a few minutes and then it disappeared and it
won't come back. Isaac's ball spoke to us. It didn't talk, like a probe does, but it
wrote things. I took a picture before it went away.
I think something is happening and I don't think Nelson was all that he seemed to be.
I think he wants something different from the others, from Gabriel. I just wish I
knew what. This is all very very confusing. Isaac doesn't want anything to do with
his ball now, he keeps saying that the Ipsolstai ruined it, like they want to ruin
him. I think he is afraid. I am trying to comfort him, so is Daniel. I just don't know what to do!
Rosjim kept his word. He was back immediately.
Then he led us into a side tunnel. We passed several Ipsolstai. They all were armed
with devices that they pointed at us. Their skin showed all colors. Some were pale,
others dark, most of them were purple to pink or violet, but they also changed their
colors, when we passed them.
Kim looked at me.
"Don't worry, Kim. They are just afraid about the Amphibians."
Gail kept Theresa quiet. It took us a while until we passed them all. It was a long
line. But we made it. Rosjim led us deeper and deeper into the complex. Then he
stopped.
It's a hall with several entrances, where we are now. As I see, Gail is shooting an
image. So you will see it anyway. I can't help, but I feel quite uneasy. Oh, there is
Rosjim coming back.
We entered a large room. It's an empty hall. Two Ipsolstai are staying in its center.
They are talking to each other, though they I can't see their face. Now one of them
turned around. It's Burn. He gazes at us highly irritated without a move. the color
of his skin is changing slightly from blue to purple and then back to blue.
"We came to talk with you. We want to be your ally against the Amphibians."
Burn's colors are still changing now followed by some erratic movements. I have
that certain feeling that something is running totally wrong. I'm looking at the other
Ipsolstai. Slowly he turns around. I can see his killing glance.
It's Celeb.
Enoch is a good ambassador. He said just the right thing when he talked with the
Ipsolstai named Rosjim. We are now following Rosjim deeper into the tunnel complex.
The tunnels are badly lit. They wind unpredictably, and sometimes go up or down.
Sometimes there is a bar near the floor that gives light, but long stretches are
totally dark. I should be scared, but I'm not. Maybe it's because Enoch is with us.
I have been in contact with Miss Chang all day. It really helps to pass the time
when I have someone to talk with. It keeps me from worrying so much about
what could happen to us. I told her that I have been talking with my other
friends. I told Miss Chang that about my Earthfriend Hamlet. She got very
excited. She wants to know more about him.
Bryce, thanks for wishing a speedy and safe journey. We built a diamond formation. We think that proved best. EB III, Mao and I are in the center of eight warriors that
way. We also sent five warriors ahead of us and another five are shielding our back.
We are not directly heading to Stage One but to the place, where I was nearly killed
by a C-probe. Do you remember? It finally vaporized a drone with a crystal mirror that we built to focus the laser beam. I think, we have a good chance that the crystals
are still intact. Elder Brother will need them badly to build a new laser.
Hi Thixel, fine that you feel better now. Guess what? It's exactly as I expected. The
crystals are okay and still in good shape. Guess next? I found my old laser tube too.
That's luck, isn't it?
I also was looking for the two miners and the drone that we left there. They are in a
side canyon still waiting. That's okay. You know, what I didn't? I didn't show EB III
the C-probes that we defeated. I think, it's enough for him that he saw the vaporized
drone. He also said that he wants to reach Stage One before Phobos will descend.
He seems to be a little nervous about that.
It was no problem at all. The warriors ran fast and Phobos just passed the zenith,
when we arrived there. I went up a ridge to observe the surrounding now. Nothing
abnormal to see. Elder Brother is pretty busy at the moment sending signals via our
communications. He seems to be happy that way and more relaxed now. Hey, he is
also humming a melody.
"Elder Brother, what is that what you are doing?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you that the orbiter is designed to land on Phobos?" he started,
"Do you know what? I found a way to get into its landing algorithm. Isn't that great?"
"You mean ..."
"Psst ..."
Ahem ... Al-Q, Elder Brother is asking, if you can do him a favor. Can you please
keep your ears tuned to the ping of the Chinese orbiter the next days? Can you?
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