Perihelion

Chapter 11. In Orbit

“I have chosen to go into a low orbit,” said Mandelbrot. “This ship does. not carry large amounts of fuel for shuttle mode and it will be needed for landing here and also for Jeff’s eventual trip away from the planet. However, as long as we are off the surface of the planet, we are safe from the robots of Robot City.”

“That’s a relief,” said Derec. “Unless they’ve developed a space program we don’t know about.”

“The navigational sensorrs indicate no ssign of that,” said Wolruf. “Suggesst I take manual controls. Mandelbrot can reconnect ship computerr.”

“Agreed,” said Mandelbrot.

“The First Law won’t let them shoot us down or anything like that,” said Ariel. “But they can monitor us, can’t they? And have a welcoming committee anywhere we land?”

Mandelbrot now had a panel open by the controls and was studying the interior. “This craft is small and its shuttle mode offers high maneuverability. We should be able to land with an evasive pattern that will make our site unpredictable until the last few seconds.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” said Jeff. “This planet is never dull, is it?”

“No,” said Derec, “but it hasn’t always been this dangerous, either. One time we had to solve a human murder, and another time we had to solve the apparent murder of a robot. But it’s only recently that we’ve been anyone’s target.”

Jeff laughed. “Last time I was here, they took my brain out of my head and stuck it in a robot. That struck me as dangerous.”

Ariel laughed. Derec grinned in spite of the pain in his ribs when he started to laugh. Even Wolruf glanced back over her shoulder with an amused look.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” said Ariel. “And thanks again for coming back, even if it was under mistaken assumptions.”

Derec felt a twinge of jealousy but said nothing. Now that the crisis was over, his body was stiffening up rapidly again. He reclined in his seat and felt the adhesions snapping in his back.

“I believe this connection is now sufficient,” said Mandelbrot. “Jeff, will you test the VoiceCommand?”

“Hayashi-Smith Minneapolis ship computer,” said Jeff. “Please acknowledge.”

“STANDING BY,” said the computer.

“Can you assume flight duties?”

“AFFIRMATIVE.”

“Do so, maintaining status quo.”

“FLIGHT DUTY ASSUMED.”

“Also record the following voices into your VoiceCommand and prepare to follow any of them.” Jeff nodded to the others.

Each of them spoke in turn to the computer.

“What’s our next move?” Derec asked. “We’re safe for the moment, but we aren’t any closer to Dr. Avery, are we?”

“We know a little more about his aims for Robot City,” said Ariel. “Based on Professor Leong’s knowledge of him.”

“But we haven’t turned that into a clue to his location,” said Derec. “Mandelbrot, any ideas?”

“One, Derec,” said the robot. “Computer. Scan for any sign of large-scale crop growth or organic chemical stores.”

“SCANNING,” said the computer.

“Dr. Avery’s food source may not be in a quantity or storage facility that we can locate from here,” said Mandelbrot, with a humanlike shrug. “It is only a possibility.”

“Are carbon compounds used for anything else here?” Jeff asked, looking around at everyone. “Besides that hospital place I was in, or whatever you called it.”

“I’m not sure,” said Derec.

“We are safe in saying that the amounts are quite small,” said Mandelbrot. “In addition, the amount of food required for a single human is small, as well. Our best hope of finding a source in quantity is the chance that Dr. Avery may wish to extend his interest in culture to the art of cuisine.”

“Or at least, maybe he wants better food than those chemical processors give you,” said Ariel. “Fresh produce, maybe.”

“Hey! Speaking of which,” said Jeff, “what did we grab this ship for in the first place? Come on, let’s eat. Ariel, the compartment’s next to you.”

Jeff distributed rations to everyone but Mandelbrot, even locating some items Wolruf could tolerate.

“EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH LOCATED,” said the computer. “COMING ON SCREEN.”

“Close-up,” ordered Mandelbrot. “Identify if possible.”

Everyone watched the screen. A tiny dark spot rapidly grew into a green rectangle. That rectangle, a moment later, was clearly a quilt of many different shades of green. On extreme close-up, the shapes of the plants came clear.

“MANY CROPS ARE PRESENT. THEY INCLUDE CORN, SORGHUM, WHEAT, AND BEETS. AT FIRST SCAN, AURORAN STRAINS OF EARTH-NATIVE PLANTS PREDOMINATE. MANY CROPS ARE UNIDENTIFIABLE AT THIS HEIGHT AND ANGLE.”

“Maybe the robots bred some of them themselves;’ said Ariel. “Or they’re native here.”

“Pull back the view,” said Mandelbrot. “Show the surrounding geography.”

The view drew back to show the spine of a mountain range. It was geologically old, exhibiting the gentle edges and curves of long erosion. The range was fully forested but occasionally dotted with buildings. The agricultural park was nestled in a high-altitude valley within the mountain range itself.

“It’s not city,” said Jeff. “It’s the first place I’ve seen since coming back that isn’t all built up.”

“Us, too,” said Ariel.

“The robots are probably using the forests for lumber and the slopes for industrial power or something,” said Derec. “They don’t generally let anything go to waste. But those crops are all food. I think this is it. Mandelbrot?”

“The probability is extremely high that this is a human food source. We must investigate it. I remind everyone that Dr. Avery himself is not necessarily present. “

“It’s a start,” said Jeff. “Now what?”

“First we must find a place to land,” said Mandelbrot. ‘These mountains are unsuitable. Second, I suggest that Wolruf and I scout the location alone. Third, the safest place for the rest of you to wait is in the air.”

“Makes sense to me,” said Jeff. “You can use your comlink to reach us when necessary, and we can fly this thing ourselves again now.”

“Derec?” Ariel asked.

“Yeah, okay.” He shifted uncomfortably, angry that he couldn’t participate more. Still, this plan was simple enough.

“Computer,” said Mandelbrot. “Scan for landing sites as close to the crop field as possible.”

“CURRENTLY OUT OF VISUAL RANGE,” said the computer. “SCANNING WILL BEGIN WITH THE NEXT ORBITAL PASS.”

“We’ll need multiple sites,” said Mandelbrot. ‘The Hunters will undoubtedly secure the first one after we’ve used it.”

“Computer,” said Derec, with effort. “Don’t allow our orbital route to give away our interest in that area.”

“ACKNOWLEDGED.”

Derec collapsed again. He wasn’t sleepy, but he was worn out. The short period of excitement had revitalized him, but now he was paying the price.

Everyone seemed to be unwinding from their escape in the ship. Derec lay with his eyes closed and he heard someone switch out the light directly over him. The darkness on his lids was a relief.

No one spoke for some time. Then, quietly, he heard the computer again.

“NEAREST LANDING SITES TO AGRICULTURAL PARK COMING ON SCREEN AS FOLLOWS: FIVE WITHIN FIVE-KILOMETER RADIUS; TWO MORE WITHIN TEN KILOMETERS; THREE MORE WITHIN TWENTY KILOMETERS. “

“Are any of them in relatively uninhabited areas? Especially away from urban streets?” Mandelbrot asked.

“DISPLAYING THE FIVE CLOSEST SITES. THESE ARE THE ONLY SITES NOT USING CITY PAVEMENT.”

Derec forced his eyes open. He hated feeling left out.

“It’s an ocean,” said Jeff, in surprise.

“A stretch of beach,” said Ariel.

As they watched, five separate areas of beach on the screen were colored lightly by the computer.

“THESE SITES REPRESENT STRETCHES OF SAND LONG ENOUGH AND FIRM ENOUGH FOR A SAFE LANDING,” said the computer.

“For the purpose of evading the Hunters, this might as well be one landing site,” said Mandelbrot. “When they see the first, they will find the others.”

“We’ll have to take the chance,” said Derec. “We’ll drop off you and Wolruf as fast as we can and take off again. Then we’ll go back into orbit until we hear from you.”

“Or until your fuel level reaches minimum,” said Mandelbrot. “I will alert the computer to warn you when you must land.”

Derec closed his eyes again.

“All right,” said Jeff.

“Computer,” said Mandelbrot. “On the next orbit, take an evasive route down to the first of the landing sites. Avoid revealing our destination as long as you can.”

“ACKNOWLEDGED.”

Most of the next orbit was uneventful, but Derec found the evasive maneuvers extremely unpleasant. The ship descended, turned as sharply as it could, ascended again, turned again. Each change shifted his weight and pressed his aching muscles. None of the others seemed to notice.

The changes began to include speed as the ship worked its crooked way down toward the planet. Derec gripped the strap holding him in both hands and clenched his teeth against the pain shooting through his back. Finally the descent smoothed out and he realized they were about to land.

The ship landed on a surface that listed somewhat to the left and halted so suddenly that everyone was thrown forward against their restraining straps. The door opened automatically and the ladder extended. Mandelbrot and Wolruf were ready to go. Moments later, the door closed again and the ship waited briefly for them to get a safe distance from the ship.

“PREPARED FOR LIFT-OFF AS ORDERED,” said the computer. “PLEASE INSTRUCT.”

“Return to the same altitude we just left,” said Jeff. “Uh, use evasive pattern and take a different orbit when we get there.”

“ACKNOWLEDGED.”

The acceleration pressed Derec back against his seat again. He closed his eyes, resigned to the ride, and lay still.