“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.
Chapter 12. Deserted Streets
Mandelbrot and Wolruf ran straight up the beach. The sand was pale blue and packed hard all the way to the line where the ground cover began. There they climbed up the dip between two high, rounded, grassy dunes.
“Careful,” said Mandelbrot. ‘The Hunters will be on their way here already.”
Wolruf nodded.
They moved cautiously over the next rise and Mandelbrot found the edge of the urban area. The dunes were bordered by a curving boulevard. Ahead of them, a smaller street stretched away from them, lined with buildings on both sides.
“No one is ‘err,” said Wolruf.
The streets were deserted in all directions.
“We will be very easy to spot here,” said Mandelbrot. “I have no crowd to get lost in and you are now on the Hunters’ list.”
“Should move.”
Mandelbrot looked toward the mountains that loomed over them slightly to the left. “The valley itself is no farther than five kilometers, but the mountains begin much closer. The greatest danger to us is crossing the city to reach them.”
“Greatest danger to us iss waiting ‘err,” said Wolruf.
“Agreed. Let’s go.” Mandelbrot started across the boulevard, striding at a pace that was fast but dignified.
No robots were visible in either direction. On the first city block, they stayed near the edges of the buildings themselves and glanced inside any doorways or windows that offered a view. The city was functioning here without humanoid robots.
“Assembly points,” said Wolruf. “Robots ‘err have already lefft.” She glanced behind them, over her shoulder. “ ‘Unterss could come from any direction.”
“A tunnel stop would help us considerably,” said Mandelbrot. “If we stay on this street we will encounter one, if they were built with the same frequency in this area as in the area we are familiar with.” He paused to look inside a window. Inside, function robots were scuttling about on their duties.
“Maybe they didn’t build any ‘err at all,” said Wolruf as she trotted alongside to keep up.
“That is possible. If this portion of the city is built on sand, then tunneling is more difficult. However, these robots do not seem to factor difficulty into their considerations.”
“Therr,” Wolruf said emphatically, pointing ahead.
A humanoid robot was just disappearing from sight around a corner ahead of them.
Mandelbrot reached down to lift Wolruf, and began to run-not at full speed, but quickly enough to make up some ground.