human
It doesn't work,
gpt
he quoted.
human
Ives, they've gotten into Survey's squeak-box and analyzed its origin. They know all about us!
gpt
They don't because they can't, said Ives flatly.
human
Survey traverses those boxes through second-order space. They materialize near a planet and drop in. No computation on earth or off it could trace their normal-space trajectory, let alone what happens in the second-order condition. The elements the box is made of are carefully averaged isotopic forms that could have come from any of nine galaxies we know about and probably more. And all it does is throw out a VUHF signal that says _beep_ on one side, _boop_ on the other, and _bup-bup_ in between. It does _not_ speak English, mention the planet Earth, announce anyone's arrival and purpose, or teach etiquette.
gpt
They got it from somewhere. They didn't get it from us. This ship and the box are the only Terran objects on this planet. Therefore they got their information from the box.
human
Q.E.D. You reason like Euclid, said Paresi admiringly.
gpt
But don't forget that geometry is an artificial school, based on arbitrary axioms. It just doesn't work where the shortest distance is _not_ a straight line.... I'd suggest we gather evidence and postpone our conclusions.
human
How do you think they got it?
gpt
I think we can operate from the fact they got it, and make our analyses when we have more data.
human
What are you doing?
gpt
Don't you think they ought to be answered?
human
Turn it off, Ives.
gpt
But--
human
Turn it off! Ives did. An expedition is an informal, highly democratic group, and can afford to be, for when the situation calls for it, there is never any question of where authority lies. The Captain said,
gpt
There is nothing we can say to them which won't yield them more information. Nothing. For all we know it may be very important to them to learn whether or not we received their message. Our countermove is obviously to make no move at all.
human
You mean just sit here and wait until they do something else?
gpt
Don't worry. We'll do something in some other area than communications. Hoskins--are those landing suits ready?
human
All but,
gpt
We'll tell them something if we _don't_ answer.
human
We do what we can, Nick. We do the best we can. Got any better ideas?
gpt
Just knocking, skipper. Knock everything. Then what's hollow, you know about.
human
I should know better than to jump salty with you, said the Captain, all but returning the doctor's smile.
gpt
Johnny. Hoskins. Prepare for exploratory patrol.
human
I'll go,
gpt
Johnny goes, said the Captain bluntly,
human
He squinted at Paresi.
gpt
Does that knock solid?
human
Solid.
gpt
Testing, Johnny, Ives said into a microphone. Johnny's duplicated voice, from the open face-plate of his helmet and from the intercom speaker, said,
human
I hear you fine.
gpt
Testing, Hoskins.
human
If I'd never seen you, said the speaker softly,
gpt
I'd think you were right here in the suit with me.
human
Someday, growled Johnny,
gpt
Scratch when you get back, said the Captain.
human
Now hear this. Johnny, you can move fastest. You go out first. Wait in the airlock for thirty seconds after the outer port opens. When Ives gives you the beep, jump out, run around the bows and plant your back against the hull directly opposite the port. Hold your blaster at the ready, aimed down--you hear me? _Down_, so that any observer will know you're armed but not attacking. Hoskins, you'll be in the lock with the outer port open by that time. When Johnny gives the all clear, you'll jump out and put your back against the hull by the port. Then you'll both stay where you are until you get further orders. Is that clear?
gpt
Aye.
human
Yup.
gpt
You're covered adequately from the ship. Don't fire without orders. There's nothing you can get with a blaster that we can't get first with a projector--unless it happens to be within ten meters of the hull and we can't depress to it. Even then, describe it first and await orders to fire except in really extreme emergency. A single shot at the wrong time could set us back a thousand years with this planet. Remember that this ship isn't called _Killer_ or _Warrior_ or even _Hero_. It's the Earth Ship _Ambassador_. Go to it, and good luck.
human
After you, Jets.