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r r
"They aren't floating," Pacifa pointed out. "In fact, they're shrinking."
"Naturally. The carbon dioxide is phasing through, while the nitrogen remains. You will observe a
bubble of gas trapped in the water of the other world, within the balloon."
"Yes, I see it," Don said, peering through the transparent material.
"Now we shall have to squeeze out the water, that corresponds to our nitrogen. Save only the bubble,
and keep the nozzle down, so the gas can't escape."
They did so, intrigued. They were actually witnessing the operation of their breathing fields.
"Now refill the balloon, so that more carbon dioxide can phase through."
Soon the trapped bubbles were larger.
"But what about the oxygen phasing through the other way?" Don asked. "Wouldn't it balance and
cancel the effect?"
"No," Eleph said patiently. "Only the transfer of gas from here to there, within the balloons, is
significant. For this limited purpose."
Don gave up trying to understand it all. It was hard enough just to keep blowing.
It was a long job. Only a portion of the exhaled breath was carbon dioxide, and only that portion they
actually breathed into the balloons could be used. Eleph had calculated that each person should be able
to fill a balloon to serviceable dimension in two hours, provided that all his carbon dioxide was utilized.
This proved to be impossible. The phasing through normally occurred throughout the volume of the
breathing spheres, and the rate was adequate for the need. The much smaller volume of the balloon
allowed only a portion of the field to operate. Thus it was several hours before the balloons swelled into
real instruments of flotation, though each person worked on three simultaneously.
In one way this was good, because they all got needed rest for their legs. But their food supply was
diminishing. This balloon device had to work, now, or they would not make it to the depot.
But finally the upward tug became strong, and they knew that success was incipient.
"Keep the lift under control," Caspar warned. "We don't want to float right to the top. When you're
rising too fast and you'll tend to accelerate, because the balloons will expand as pressure decreases
let a little gas out of one. When you reach the brink, get hold and ease yourself over onto ground." He
showed the way by making the first ascent.
It worked. Don was amazed at the hauling power of three medium balloons. He watched Caspar go up,
and then Melanie. He felt guilty for looking up under her skirt, but did so anyway. He had massaged
those legs; they were nice ones. But somehow this illicit peek was more evocative than the direct
handling had been.
When his turn came he puffed a last burst into his third one and waited while it diffused into full
strength. His front wheel came up, then his rear, and he was waterborne.
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r r
It seemed precarious, and he decided that he preferred the rope and pulley method. What if a swordfish
took a poke at his balloons? They were vulnerable now. Or a shark, taking an experimental bite.
But he had more immediate concerns. His rate of climb, slow at first, was now swift. The balloons were
ballooning alarmingly. One atmosphere less pressure for every thirty-three or thirty-four feet, and now
he was above the rim, but too far out.
Fortunately his problems had a common solution. Don angled the snout of one balloon and let out a jet.
This did not provide the propulsion he had hoped for; the bubbles rose toward the flexing surface of the
sea, now so near. But at last his ascent slowed, and he had to cut off the valve lest he commence a
descent that would speed up the same way.
The last bubble passed through his hand as he tied off the balloon. Then he breast-stroked his way across
to the ledge, tediously. He didn't have much leverage, because it was tike paddling in air, but he didn't
need much. He landed and deflated his balloons, hating to see that hard-won gas escape. But its job was
done.
Eleph, the last to start up, had arrived before Don, having managed his ascent better. The crevasse had
been navigated.
"Why didn't you tell us about this before we climbed down?" Pacifa demanded of Eleph. "We could
have floated down, or even straight across. Much less effort."
"Horizontal travel is hazardous, because of the time consumed," Eleph said. "A few seconds are
reasonably safe, but a few minutes multiply the opportunity for inquisitive sea creatures to come.
Descent is not recommended, because of its accelerative nature."
"Hard bump at the bottom," Caspar agreed. "Can't let out gas to stop it, going down."
Whatever the merits of the case, it had provided them with a needed change of pace. It was now too late
to complete the trip to the depot this day, but they proceeded with renewed vigor and optimism.
CHAPTER 8 CITY
Proxy 5-12-5-16-8: Attention.
Acknowledging.
Status?
The crevasse has been navigated in good order. Melding is proceeding. The next three challenges may
complete it.
These are natural or unnatural challenges?
Both. They are works of man, but of unusual nature. I routed the travel to include them. It is not safe to
interfere any further with their supplies; they have no remaining food, and will march onto land and give
up the mission if further denied.
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This seems like unity of purpose.
Yes. That is why I am optimistic. They could have turned back, but did not. This group is integrating,
and I think will become what we need.
We hope so. Two more worlds have been lost since we last communed.
This one we shall save, I think.
As they lay in the joint tent at night, Melanie remained uncommunicative, so Don entertained himself by
sketching Minoan symbols on his note pad, analyzing them for new meanings. The writing had been
largely deciphered, but some obscure aspects remained, and these were his special challenge. It occurred
to him that it was a similar case with Melanie; much of her was coming clear, especially when she spoke
so freely about her memories and impressions, but some of her was opaque. He had kissed her, perhaps
surprising himself more than her, and she was taking time to consider her reaction. The thing was, he
had done it while she was bald. His first shock at her state had faded, and increasingly he was becoming
aware of her other traits. There was a lot about her that he liked, both physical and mental. Maybe she
thought he was teasing her, but he wasn't; he was coming to terms with her. He knew that if he could
truly accept her bald, it would be all right if she wore her wig again. But he was not yet sure of his
deepest feeling about that. So he focused on symbols, as if their interpretation was also the key to
Melanie. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]