Moving Mars (48 page)

What about coordinates, navigation? I asked.

We worked it out while waiting for further orders from Ti Sandra. Stephen and I made up a working hypothesis on the relative position tweaks, worked out the momentum and energy descriptor co-responses and scaling, specified final position and state, stimulated the tweaker to access descriptors for every particle in Phobos, considered as a complete system

Charles had to hook himself into the QL, Leander said.

Are you all right? I asked Charles.

Im fine, he said. They all did good work. Nobody knew everything except Stephen and myself, but everybody felt the urgency. They all knew it was important.

A lot of medals should be awarded, Leander said.

Not least to Charles. He guided the QL, Royce said.

Charles shook his head. I dont remember most of that. Itll come back in time. We had a pilot with us

One more medal, Leander said.

He had no idea what was going to happen. We told him without checking his security clearance.

Hes fine, Lieh said, seated outside the circle around the low table. We debriefed him separately.

Why did you link with the QL?

The interpreter wasnt getting across everything we needed. The QL began returning trivial results, nonsense strings. I think it was exploring the possibility of an alternate descriptor system. It found that more amusing than the real one. I steered it back to giving relevant results. The whole apparatus became coordinated then.

It hummed, Amy said, shivering suddenly. My God, it really hummed. I was afraid for them. I left the Mercury and they launched.

They all seemed a little in shock even now.

What did it feel like? I asked Charles.

As I said, I dont remember exactly. Wethe QL and Iwere communicating and I made my requests and it pulled answers out of its non-trivial syncline searches.

Answers?

Instructions, actually. To pass on to the tweaker. Without the QL, we might have been able to do the same thingwith about six months of high-level thinker programming. The QL cut the time down to a few hours. Within eight hours, we were secured to an old mining base in Stickney Crater on Phobos. Wed measured what we needed to measure, everything was still connected and coordinated. Ti Sandra told us to go. Shed been in an accident, and it took us days to establish communications with her again.

I had been left completely out of the loop, despite being in charge of the entire project. I didnt know whether I felt resentment, or relief, that Ti Sandra had shouldered all of this particular burden.

She was in pain, Charles said, as if reading my thoughts. I dont think she had time to tell you what was planned. When she first gave us the instructions, we didnt know we could do it. It was all very confused.

I understand. You went to Earth. What was it like?

The stars changed, Charles said. We felt something shift inside of usvery minor. Were still not sure what it wasgravitation, psychological response, we dont know.

Everything combined, probably, Leander said.

We looked through the shuttle ports, saw a sunrise limb, the sun much brighter and larger Earth. We scrambled to check our distance and orbital path. We were right on the money, effectively, but about a hundred kilometers behind the projected orbital insertion point.

Were still working on that, Leander said,

We listened but broadcast nothing. About fifteen minutes passed before someone sent us a signal. It was from a private analog radio operator in Mexico. He spoke to us in Spanish. He said, Hello, new moon. Where are you from?

We laughed. Charles smiled. Our pilot said, Dont ask. You wont believe us.

We started getting official signals a few minutes after that, Leander said. We had instructions from Ti Sandra what to say. We broadcast the same wordsover and over again.

We were waiting to be annihilated, Charles said. But that was pretty silly, I suppose. Some of the officials sounded terrified. Some behaved as if nothing at all had happened, the most routine diplomatic communications. We spoke to government negotiators and diplomats from the Eurocon, GEWA, GSHA, and half a dozen others. We told them all the same thing.

What was that?

Mars is under attack by unknown governments on the Earth. You have ten hours to pull back and remove the threat, or there will be a retaliatory response. Charless voice sounded hollow as he repeated the statement, burned into memory.

What response? What retaliation?

Ti Sandra told us to remotely convert the White House in Washington into mirror matter, Charles said. A symbolic gesture.

Silence around the room.

Could you have done that? I asked.

Charles nodded. Without very much precision. She did not tell us to have it evacuated first, but I was going to give some warning. A half hour or so.

I covered my mouth with my hand, suddenly nauseated. The sensation passed. I closed my eyes and dropped my hand slowly. You have all been exceptionally courageous, I said.

Yes, Maam, Charles said, with a flippant salute that jarred me. I looked up at him, shocked and puzzled. Charles leaned forward, eyes narrowed as if in pain.

We have followed our instructions. Weve done everything weve been told, at the expense almost of our souls. Weve understood the strategic necessity, and we believe enough to give ourselves to this cause, but, Casseia, I could not give a flying fuck about medals or patriotism now. I am scared to death of what is going to happen next. Weve had our fun, weve made a flying circus run with Phobos and given nightmares to children and adults all over Earth. Do you think its going to end there? Do you think we have any time left at all?

No, I said.

Good, Charles said, biting the word off and leaning back, his face red with emotion. God damned good. Because Im half convinced this is going to be the end of the human race. Impart some of your thinking to us, oh master of politics. We are children lost in the woods.

So am I, Charles, I said quietly. We all know whats going to happen now. Ti Sandra knows. They saw you move Phobos. They have the resources, in people and machines and laboratories, to duplicate your discoveries, given this clue. And as soon as they can do what we can do, its just a matter of time before somebody strikes somebody else.

Its too damned convenient, Leander said.

Charles agreed. They may discover things we dont know yet.

A strike can be fast, it can be total, I said, and it can guarantee survival in an otherwise dicey situation.

Survival for how long? Amy Vico-Persoff asked. How long until we divide right down to region against region, or us against Cailetet? GEWA against GSHA?

Lets not be so pessimistic, Charles said, holding up a hand. This is never going to be household kitchen-sink type science. There might be four or five places on Earth that have the resources and the theoreticians necessary to duplicate our work. Dont be fooled by the tweakers small size. Its as sophisticated a piece of equipment as any human being has ever made. Bit-player warfare isnt our real problem right now, and may never be.

But youre righttheyll do it, and soontwo weeks, a month, two months. We have to find a political solution very soon.

Politics, hell, Leander said. Look what politics has accomplished this far. We have to leave. He looked around the room guiltily, a child whod spoken a naughty word.

Evacuate Mars? Royce asked, face wreathed in puzzlement.

None of them had given this a lot of thought, I could tell except Charles and Leander. Brooding in their little ship, fastened to a peregrinating moon..

No, I said. Move it.

Jesus! Lieh cried, jumping from her chair. She left the room, shaking her head and swearing.

Nobody spoke for long seconds. Charles stared at me, then folded his hands together. We have no right to make these decisions ourselves, alone. Scientists and politicians have no such right.

There isnt the time or the means for a plebiscite. Earth has guaranteed that, I said. Our choices are very limited. Ti Sandra said the Solar System would become too dangerous. It would kill us.

The equipment in the chamber seemed innocent and even crude. How far have we come, Casseia? Charles asked.

Too far. A long time ago, I remember cursing you for the troubles you caused. Weve come a long way since.

I have never felt in control, Charles said. Royce and Vico-Persoff seemed content to let us talk for the moment. Dandy stood a few paces behind me, stiff as a statue. Charles and I were being given a wide space in which to make decisions, as much out of fear as respect.

Nobody has died yet, I said. I mean, we havent killed anybody. Earth has. Were still getting reportsbut there are entire stations cut off.

I know, Charles said.

We did not strike the first blow. We will not use this as a weapon.

Bullshit, Charles said, stinging me again. I had orders to cause damage if necessary. When you and Ti Sandra are worn out and thrown away, someone else will step in and desperation and fear will He swallowed and pulled his hands apart, rubbing them on his knees. Believe it. What weve made will kill people, lots of people.

We keep coming back to it, then, I said.

Youll talk with Ti Sandra, soon? Charles asked.

Yes. I dont think any of this will surprise her.

Lieh had returned, face flushed, expression sheepish, and stood beside Dandy. I got up, nodded to Charles, to Leander, to Royce and Vico-Persoff, thanked them for the tea, and left with my bodyguard and communications advisor.

I looked forward to a Spartan bunk and few amenities. Lieh used an electronic key to unlock the door to my room.

It was as Spartan as I could have wished, clean and new and empty. It smelled of starch and fresh bread.

If the President is awake and well enough, I need to talk with her now, I said.

Lieh seemed troubled. She looked away and shook her head. Dandy stepped into the room, arms hanging loose. Theres no good time for this, maam. Word just came a few minutes ago. Weve found your husband.

Hes at Cyane Sulci? I asked.

He was evacuated and taken to a small station at Jovis Tholus. He got there safely, I understand, but the station was a new one. Its architecture was dynamic, thinker controlled.

Why not just leave him at the lab in Cyane? I sat on the bed, expecting to hear of Ilyas adventures with security, with a troubled station, a technical comedy to relieve my sense of oppression.-

It wasnt a good move, Dandy admitted. He had difficulty keeping his composure. There were main quarters blowouts at Jovis. Theyve been digging and identifying the last few days. Five hundred dead, three hundred injured.

Hes dead, Casseia, Lieh said. Hes been found and hes dead. We werent going to tell you until we knew for sure.

There was no appropriate response, and I had no energy for melodrama. I seemed to be a hole into which things would fall; not a positive force, but a negative.

Would you like me to stay? Lieh asked. I lay back on the bed, staring up at the flat ceiling, the utilitarian blue cabinets.

Yes, please, I said.

Lieh touched Dandy on the arm and he left, closing the door behind. She sat on the bed and rested her back against the rear wall. My sister and her kids died at Newton, she said. Ninety casualties.

Im very sorry, I said.

I used to talk with her a lot before joining Point One, she said. Time gets away. This all seemed so important.

I know what you mean, I said.

I liked Ilya, she said. He seemed very kind and straight.

He was, I said. The dreamlike nature of the conversation told me how many layers of insulation Lhad wrapped around my emotions, expecting just this news, but refusing to acknowledge the possibilitywith the growing number of days, the certainty. Tell me about your sister.

I dont think Im ready to talk about them yet, Cassie.

I understand, I said.

The Sulci lab came through fine, she said. Dandy thinks we killed him.

Thats stupid, I said.

Hes taking it hard.

I have to talk with Ti Sandra.

I think you should wait a few minutes, Lieh said. Really.

If I do anything but work, Im going to go right over the edge, I said. Theres too much to do.

Lieh pressed down the placket of her gray suit and held her hand over mine. Please rest a while, she said.

No, I said.

She stood up from the bed, reached out with her long arm and long, beautiful fingers, and opened the rooms optical port. I handed her my slate and she attached it. A few strokes and verbal instructions, a series of code and security checks, and she was through to Point One at Many Hills. They completed the connection.

I spoke to Ti Sandra ten minutes later. I did not tell her about Ilya.

We talked about the situation, about my discussion with Charles. Still wrapped in surgical nano, eyes heavy-lidded, her lips twitched as she spoke in a harsh whisper: We agree, Stephen and you and I. But were not enough. There have to be consequences and we cant just go anywhere. So what kind of an idea is this? We need more experts. We need to think seriously.

The Olympians can get us started, I suggested. We should gather everybody in the next week or so; take the risk.

The Point One people can give them everything they need. Youre still acting President, Casseia. How are you, honey? Ti Sandra asked.

Not very well, I answered.

Were a mess, all of us. We need a change of scenery. Right?

Right, I said.

You bring the experts from around Mars. Everyone who can help. Keep in touch. Ill try to stay awake, Casseia.

I touched her face on the slate and said good-bye. Lieh waited expectantly, standing in the corner of the small room.

Why are we going to do this? she asked.

I lay back on the bed. You tell me, I said.

Because if we dont, a lot of people are going to get killed, she said. But how many people will be killed if we move?

We need to find out, I said. Through the insulation, through the fog of growing reaction, my enhancement began working the problem of removing a mass the size of Mars abruptly from the vicinity of the sun, putting it elsewhere.