The Dig

  Low quickly stepped forward and put his eye to the slot. "I can't see the glow anymore. It's definitely gone somewhere."

  "You could say that." She put a hand on his shoulder and drew him back.

  Lights were coming on throughout the length and breadth of the mechanism. Pulsing just beneath the waxy, translucent surface, they formed circles and streaks of intense color. Some burned steadily, others blinked sequentially, while still others raced back and forth like fiery predators seeking electronic prey. Occasionally two of the latter would collide in a shower of controlled sparks.

  Low commented laconically. "I'd say that did something."

  "That's not all it did." Robbins had turned. "Have a look, Boston."

  Instrumentalities were coming to life throughout the chamber. It seemed as if every device in the spire had been activated by the insertion of the single crystal. Deep-throated hums and whirrings filled the air.

  "There!" she shouted, pointing. "Something's happening."

  Before their rapt gaze a vast section of wall slid slowly aside on hidden bearings. When it finally halted, they walked toward the new opening. It was no false projection. Standing in the portal, they could smell the sea and hear the slap of waves against unseen rocks below.

  Behind them, more and more machinery continued to come on line, throbbing with the muted power they had come to associate with Cocytan technology.

  Separated from the islet by a substantial stretch of ocean and directly in front of them lay the central island. It was easily recognizable as such from its size as well as from the familiar bulk of the asteroid-ship nestling in its rocky repository. Two of the other islets were also clearly visible, their gleaming spires stabbing at the sky. Beneath the one off to their left, Low mused, the Creator lay sleeping his final sleep, dreaming the slow dreams of the deceased and blissfully unaware of what was taking place close at hand. He had no more advice to give them, and they were once again truly on their own.

  Inquisitive as ever, Robbins commented on her observations. "What's supposed to happen next?" She looked back into the room. "Seems like an awful lot of power and paraphernalia just to open a window."

  Low considered the chamber. So many bright lights and indicators had come to life that he had to shield his eyes against the multihued glare.

  "Right now we're standing in a line between the big machine and the central island. I think it would be a good idea if we moved." He took her hand, and together they stepped aside.

  Less than a minute later a high, dominating whine filled the vaulted chamber and a beam of light ten feet in diameter erupted from the front of the combined mechanism. They dropped to the floor, overwhelmed by the unexpected radiance.

  "Don't look directly at it," Low warned her. "Cover your eyes and move away from it."

  Robbins had her eyes closed and had turned away from the source of the luminescence. Stars pinwheeled inside her eyelids. "If I cover my face, how the hell am I supposed to tell which way to crawl?"

  As soon as his outraged optics had recovered somewhat, Low opened his eyes and let them focus on the floor. When he had his vision back, he found he was able to look in the direction of the projector so long as he kept his glance averted from the beam itself.

  "Take it slow and it's not so bad." He took her arm and led her forward. "Let your vision readjust gradually."

  When they reached the portal that separated the interior of the spire from the transport station, they finally turned to survey their handiwork. The entire room was alive with light, every single piece of machinery regardless of size having been brought back to life. The incredible beam leaped through the observatorylike opening in the far wall to soar across the ocean.

  Floating high above the center of the main island was the resurrected Eye. It hung suspended in a Crosshatch of tremendous beams, one emanating from each of the five surrounding islets. Resembling an immense flat disk, it slowly rotated through a complete arc every minute or so.

  "Not bad for one small crystal," Robbins murmured.

  Low squinted at the stunning sight. "Looks more like a disk than an eye. Maybe the designation's more apocryphal then descriptive." He stepped back into the room, shielding his face against the brightness all around. "There's some kind of transparent film around it. Looks like a giant soap bubble. You can't really see it, but you can see the sunlight reflecting off the surface."

  "I wonder what happens next?" she mused.

  For once Low had nothing to say. Thoroughly engrossed in the sight, they stood and watched for some thirty minutes before the beam began to fade. No warning flicker preceded the diminution of intensity. The light simply dimmed until it vanished altogether. All five beams faded in concert. When they were no longer discernible, the disk ceased its methodical rotation and sank down into some hidden repository deep within the central mountains of the island.

  Then all was as it had been before Robbins had slipped the life crystal into the slot. Somewhere an indigenous flying creature cried out to the lowering sun. A hidden instrument whirred one last time and died. It was hushed within the room. Only the lofty cleft in the far side of the spire wall remained to indicate that anything had taken place within.

  They stood and listened to the distant harmony of the waves.

  "It didn't work," Low commented finally. "I mean, it worked; it just didn't do anything."

  "It just stopped." Robbins was scrutinizing the far reaches of the chamber, her eyes traveling from one now-silent instrument to the next. "We didn't touch anything and it stopped."

  "Probably designed to shut itself down when nothing happens," he decided, "or..."

  "Or what?" she prompted him.

  "This is a lot for one crystal to operate. Maybe it needs more power to bring it fully on-line."

  Her eyes widened as comprehension dawned. "Ludger."

  Low nodded. "Exactly. And he's gone crystal crackers again. Or maybe we'll be lucky and he's come around by now. I'm hoping that deep down he's too rational and too logical to go completely psychotic."

  "I'll talk to him." She exuded confidence as they headed for the transport sphere. "I've extracted coherent statements from men in combat and from politicians on the run. I think I can handle one addicted scientist."

  "You've never tried to persuade one of the living dead," Low reminded her.

  She smiled as they mounted the platform and entered the sphere. "Like I said, I've handled politicians on the run."

  Unseen, unfelt and unperceived, three billion anxious thought-forms accompanied them.

  They found Brink easily enough. As Low suspected, he had made his way back to the small storeroom where they had originally unearthed the hoard of crystals. When they arrived, they found him tinkering with the device he had claimed could reproduce them in quantity.

  "Any luck?" Low inquired as the two of them caught sight of the scientist.

  Brink glanced up briefly before returning to his work. He didn't seem surprised to see them.

  "I believe that I am making some progress. The overall layout of the machinery is straightforward, but I do not have the engineering skills, or rather the machinist's, to effect the necessary repairs."

  Gesturing for Robbins to remain behind, Low moved closer and peered into the depths of the device. Brink had achieved a small miracle in successfully opening the machine. Or perhaps, the Commander told himself, a concealed catch had simply responded to the scientist's touch.

  Exposed to the light, the appliance's innards were a mass of unfamiliar color and components. There was nothing resembling a simple cable, chip or circuit board.

  "I can't see where a drill or screwdriver would fit into this thing."

  "Of course not," agreed Brink condescendingly, "but there are places here and here"—he pointed to gaps in the alien sequence—"where I have been able to remove entire components." He indicated a pile of small globes and ellipses that had been placed off to one side. "I have tried activating the device without them as well as reins
erting them in various combinations. So far nothing has worked." He held up his stump. "It would go faster with two hands."

  Might as well be playing with toy blocks, Low thought to himself. He took another step forward.

  "Here, let me have a look."

  Kneeling, he made a show of inspecting the mechanism's interior, acting as if he knew exactly what he was doing. In reality, he was sizing up the other man. There were circles under the scientist's eyes, a combination of eyestrain, lack of sleep and proper nutrition. Possibly there were other side effects he wasn't seeing, a consequence of Brink's recent demise and revivification. Physical strength had never been the scientist's forte, but madmen were capable of extraordinary feats of resistance. Low knew he would have to move carefully.

  "We could try two of the globes here instead of one of the ellipses," he suggested.

  "Anything! Anything at all!" The eagerness in Brink's voice could not mask his desperation. Were the effects of the crystal that had brought him back to life finally beginning to wear off?

  Low picked up one of the globes and juggled it casually in his palm. "It's like this, Ludger. Maggie and I may have found a way to get some invaluable information. Maybe about returning home, maybe about surviving here. We don't know yet. We don't know because we haven't been able to fully activate the machinery in question."

  "That is too bad." Brink's response was a mixture of admiration and indifference. "Nothing can exceed the importance of learning all we can about the crystals, of course."

  "Oh, to be sure." Low exchanged a glance with Robbins. "In fact, this machinery we found seems to run on them."

  "I am not surprised. The crystals are allgegenvartig. They can do anything."

  "It seems that way, doesn't it? Why, you should see what we managed to accomplish using just one of them. There's no telling what we could achieve with a handful or more." He tapped the top of Brink's crystal-maker. "If we can get this thing up and running, we'll split the production with you."

  "That seems reasonable." Brink agreed readily.

  Robbins observed the byplay silently, wishing she could do something to help. Low appeared to be managing without her, though, and she kept quiet, waiting for the proper moment to intervene.

  "Let's see what we can do here, then." Feigning eagerness, Low knelt and began to fiddle with the mechanism's interior.

  A flash of light caused Robbins to jerk reflexively, and Low hastened to reassure her.

  "Relax. False alarm. That part didn't fit there, but I don't think it caused any damage. We'll try it in this cavity on the other side instead."

  Some time later he rose from the open device. "You know, everything's so sensibly laid out, I wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing did work." Bending forward, he ran a finger along a groove in the surface.

  Lights began to glow within. The last thing Robbins had expected was for Low to get it working. How it produced crystals that contained more energy than the device itself utilized she couldn't imagine. Obviously it drew upon unknown and unseen sources.

  The small bin attached to the back of the mechanism slowly began to fill with glowing, sheathed crystals. When it was full, the device stopped. Nothing Low could do, from removing the fresh product to trying different hand passes across the control surface to realigning the internal connections could induce it to start up again.

  Meanwhile Brink had gathered up the new hoard. Low confronted him.

  "Looks like that's the best we're going to be able to do, for a while at least. We'll take our share now, Ludger."

  "Really, Commander," replied the scientist even as he was edging toward the doorway, "you can't honestly expect me to turn them over to you to squander on some frivolous experiment? If this device has produced its limit, then that means there will be no more."

  Low moved to block the other man's path. "It doesn't matter what we want them for, Ludger. You agreed to the split."

  "I don't believe my statement has the force of law here, Commander." With the doorway blocked, Brink reversed direction and began working his way back through the stacked containers and piles of machinery.

  Low pursued, trying to avoid forcing the issue. Sooner or later the scientist had to run out of space. As the dangerous dance proceeded, he kept up a continuous soothing patter, trying to persuade the other man to see reason. Robbins chipped in with her own arguments, but despite her experience had no better luck in convincing the jittery scientist to act rationally.

  The storeroom terminated in a dropoff that overlooked another level below. Brink halted, teetering on the edge. There was no ladder, no elevator, no way to make the descent. Clutching crystals to his chest without pressing them inward, he glared back at his tormentor.

  Low halted. "Look, Ludger, we haven't got time for this. Maggie, watch the door. If he gets past me, try to slow him up."

  "Boston, are you sure that—?"

  "Just do it, okay?"

  She nodded and assumed what she hoped Brink would see as a determined stance.

  Crouching slightly, Low commenced a slow advance, one hand extended palm-up in front of him. "Come on, now, Ludger. Hand them over."

  "No." Brink's heels hung over emptiness.

  "We just want our half. You can smother yourself with the rest, for all I care." He was very close now, and still the scientist showed no sign of moving.

  When he had approached to within arm's length, Low reached for the glow of an overflowing pocket. As he did so, Brink convulsed and tried to dart past. Low grabbed, and the other man swung with surprising force. The Commander ducked and pulled, dragging both of them to the floor.

  Rabid, maniacal energy drove the scientist's swings, but he was wild and undisciplined. Brilliant as he was, he had no idea how to fight. It still required all of Low's strength to ward off the mad flurry of blows, so much so that he was unable to land a single solid punch of his own.

  He finally managed to roll clear, using his legs to kick free of the tumultuous embrace. Life crystals spilled from Brink's pockets, littering the floor with emerald magic.

  "No!" The scientist scrambled to his feet, staggered, and put his right foot down on emptiness. Robbins screamed as Brink went over backward, disappearing from view. Several seconds later they heard the heavy, sickening, inevitable thump.

  They rushed to the edge. Their companion's crumpled, bent body lay directly below the drop. Blood spread out beneath the twisted corpse to form a dark oval frame. In falling, Brink's head had struck the edge of a pyramidal projection. Not only was his neck broken, the skull had been shattered. Bits and pieces of brain and bone lay everywhere.

  "Didn't mean to do that," Low muttered tersely. "Didn't mean for that to happen."

  Robbins put a hand on his shoulder. "He would have thrown you over if he could."

  "I know, but that wasn't the real Ludger Brink I was fighting with. Hanging around all those crystals for so long did something to him. Altered his personality." He eyed the softly glowing shards warily. "We'd better watch out they don't start to act on us as well.

  "I don't think there's much chance of reviving him with a crystal. The important parts are in too many pieces." His eyes met hers. "It's done and there's nothing we can do about it. At least now maybe he's at peace." He indicated the scattered shards. "We might as well pick these up and use them the way we planned."

  CHAPTER 21

  The transport sphere returned them to the fifth islet. As before, a single life crystal reactivated the entire complex as well as raising the Eye above the mountains of the central island.

  Averting their eyes from the fantastic beam, they focused their attention on the unprepossessing slot in the side of the primary mechanism.

  "Ready?" Low held a second crystal above the opening.

  "Why not?" She smiled. "What's the worst thing that could happen?"

  "This whole island could blow sky-high and there'd be no one around to revive us."

  "If the whole island goes, then we'll end up in more pi
eces than poor Ludger. At least if that happens we won't have to worry any longer about finding food or returning home."

  Gazing back into the expressive, open face he had come to know so well, he debated whether or not to kiss her. Not the right moment, he decided. He chose not to consider the possibility that there might never be any more moments as he fed the next crystal into the waiting slot.

  Consequences manifested themselves immediately. The beam deepened in color and intensity as a subtle vibration passed through the floor. Lips compressed tightly, Low continued to feed life crystals into the mechanism at sixty-second intervals.

  Could the device be overloaded, he found himself wondering? From their position alongside the central mechanism they couldn't see the central island. He passed the remaining crystals to an attentive Robbins.

  "Keep dropping them in. I need to see what effect this is having on the nexus."

  "All right." She resumed fueling the machine as she watched him make his way to the gap in the wall.

  He kept his head low and his eyes three-quarters shut and averted as he passed beneath the beam. Considering its strength, he thought it remarkable that he felt no heat or vibration. What would happen if he stuck his hand into it? Would the Eye fall and shatter? Would it swerve and tremble? Or would his hand simply disintegrate like wheat straw in a furnace? He decided against performing the experiment.

  Robbins called out to him as she dropped another crystal into the slot. "See anything?"

  Standing in the opening beneath the beam, Low shouted back over his shoulder. "Everything looks the same to me! Maybe the bubble effect enveloping the lens is slightly more solid! It's hard to say. Might just be a disturbance in the atmosphere. You still loading crystals?"

  "Every minute," she yelled back. "Why don't we just dump them all in at once?"

  He turned to peer back into the chamber. "Maggie, I'm not sure that's such a good—"

  He never finished the sentence. The concussion was deafening. It blew him off his feet and out through the gap. He landed hard on the rocks outside, bruising his face and arms.