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Fawkes said, ÓAnimals, I suppose.Ô He walked away, his back to the group. ÔIt was
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raining when I poked my way through. It went splat, splat on the flat leaves above me and the
ground was soggy and spongy underneath. It was dark, gloomy. There was a cold wind. The
pictures I took donÒt get it across. I felt as though there were a thousand ghosts, waiting×Ô
The mood was contagious.
Cimon said savagely, ÓStop that!Ô
In the background, Mark AnnuncioÒs pointed nose fairly quivered with the intensity of his
curiosity. He turned to Sheffield, who was at his side, and whispered, ÓGhosts? No
authentic case of seeing×Ô
Sheffield touched MarkÒs thin shoulder lightly. ÓOnly a way of speaking, Mark. But donÒt
feel badly that he doesnÒt mean it literally. YouÒre watching the birth of a superstition, and
thatÒs something, isnÒt it?Ô
FOURTEEN Contents - Prev/Next
A semi-sullen Captain Follenbee sought out Cimon the evening after FawkesÒ second
return and said in his harumphy way, ÔNever do, Dr. Cimon. My men are unsettled. Very
unsettled.Ô
The port shields were open. Lagrange I was six hours gone, and Lagrange IIÒs ruddy light,
deepened to crimson in setting, flushed the CaptainÒs face and tinged his short gray hair
with red.
Cimon, whose attitude toward the crew in general and the Captain in particular was one of
controlled impatience, said, ÓWhat is the trouble, Captain?Ô
ÓBeen here two weeks, Earth time. Still no one leaves without suits. Always irradiate
before you come back. Anything wrong with the air?Ô
ÓNot as far as we know.Ô
ÓWhy not breathe it then?Ô
ÓCaptain, thatÒs for me to decide.Ô
The flush on the CaptainÒs face became a real one. He said, ÓMy papers say I donÒt have
to stay if shipÒs safety is endangered. A frightened and mutinous crew is something I donÒt
wantÔ
ÓCanÒt you handle your own men?Ô
ÓWithin reason.Ô
ÓWell, what really bothers them? This is a new planet and weÒre being cautious. CanÒt
they understand that?Ô
ÓTwo weeks and still cautious. They think weÒre hiding something. And we are. You know
that. Besides, surface leave is necessary. CrewÒs got to have it. Even if itÒs just on a bare
rock a mile across. Gets them out of the ship. Away from the routine. CanÒt deny them
that.Ô
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ÓGive me till tomorrow,Ô said Cimon contemptuously.
FIFTEEN Contents - Prev/Next
The scientists gathered in the observatory the next day.
Cimon said, ÓVernadsky tells me the data on air is still negative, and Rodriguez has
discovered no air-borne pathogenic organism of any type.Ô
There was a general air of dubiety over the last statement.
Novee said, ÓThe settlement died of disease. IÒll swear to that.Ô
ÓMaybe so,Ô said Rodriguez at once, Ôbut can you explain how? ItÒs impossible. I tell you
that and I tell you. See here. Almost all Earth-type planets give birth to life and that life is
always protein in nature and always either cellular or virus in organization. But thatÒs all.
There the resemblance ends.
ÓYou laymen think itÒs all the same; Earth or any planet. Germs are germs and viruses are
viruses. I tell you you donÒt understand the infinite possibilities for variation in the protein
molecule. Even on Earth, every species has its own diseases. Some may spread over
several species but there isnÒt one single pathogenic life form of any type on Earth that can
attack all other species.
ÓYou think that a virus or a bacterium developing independently for a billion yeans on
another planet with different amino acids, different enzyme systems, a different scheme of
metabolism altogether is just going to happen to find Homo sapiens succulent like a lollipop.
I tell you it is childishness.Ô
Novee, his physicianÒs soul badly pierced at having been lumped under the phrase, ÓYou
laymen,Ô was not disposed to let it go that easily, ÔHomo sapiens brings its own germs
with it wherever it goes, Rod. WhoÒs to say the virus of the common cold didnÒt mutate
under some planetary influence into something that was suddenly deadly? Or influenza.
Things like have happened even on Earth. The 2755 para-meas×Ô [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]