human
West, how many of these kids did you have here?
gpt
About fifty, the craggy man answered.
human
I don't know how many are left nor can I guess how many will choose to stay alive if they are conquered before their training is completed.
gpt
And no weapons?
human
None.
gpt
What about my gun that was taken from me while I slept?
human
What good would one gun do now?
gpt
None, I guess, Zen said, helplessly.
human
But as they try to run me down, I'd like to have it in my hands. I'd at least take a few of them with me before they got me.
gpt
We will survive,
human
They didn't,
gpt
If I had time I would try to explain to you that survival does not lie in the body and can never be achieved there.
human
I have no time for metaphysics. For purposes of defense, I'm taking command. He felt foolish as he spoke. What resources were his to command, what troops, what weapons? He knew the answer as the thought crossed his mind. If he only had the remnants of the broken column moving down the mountains after its disastrous encounter with Cuso's blooper. An idea came into his mind. Perhaps he could have these troops.
gpt
Where's my pack?
human
It went with your gun into the deep hole, West said.
gpt
The deep hole is a fault the old miners uncovered here. It's miles deep.
human
Damn! Kurt Zen said. The depression in him was as deep as the fault in the mountain.
gpt
Isn't there any place where we can hide?
human
Many places, West said.
gpt
This whole mountain is a honeycomb of tunnels and shafts. We have explored fifteen separate levels and there are others which lie below the present water line.