Lucky Starr And The Big Sun Of Mercury ls-4

by Isaac Asimov

  Painfully he doubled his feet beneath him. Painfully he inched his body toward the shadow of the ridge, dragging the robot's weight with him. Again. Again. The process seemed to last forever and the universe shimmered about him.

  Again. Again.

  There seemed to be no strength or feeling in his legs, and the robot seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

  Even with Mercury's low gravity, the task seemed beyond his weakening strength, and it was sheer will that drove him on.

  His head entered the shadow first. Light blanked out. He waited, panting, and then, with an effort that seemed to crack his thigh muscles, he pushed himself along the ground once more and even once more.

  He was in the shadow. One of the robot's legs was still in the sun, blazing reflections in all directions. Lucky looked over his shoulder and noted that dizzily. Then, almost gratefully, he let go of consciousness.

  There were intervals later when sense perception crawled back.

  Then, much later, he lay quietly, conscious of a soft bed under him, trying to bring those intervals back to mind. There were fragmentary pictures in his memory of people aproaching, a vague impression of motion in a jet vehicle, of Bigman's voice, shrill and anxious. Then, a trifle more clearly, a physician's ministrations.

  After that, a blank again, followed by a sharp memory of Dr. Peverale's courtly voice asking him gentle questions. Lucky remembered answering in connected fashion, so the worst of his ordeal must have been over by then. He opened his eyes.

  Dr. Gardoma was looking at him.somberly, a hypodermic still in his hand. "How do you feel?" he asked.

  Lucky smiled. "How should I feel?"

  "Dead, I should think, after what you've gone through. But you have a remarkable constitution, so you'll live."

  Bigman, who had been hovering anxiously at the outskirts of Lucky's vision, entered it full now. "No thanks to Mindes for that. Why didn't that mud-brain go down and get Lucky out of there after he spotted the robot's leg? What was he waiting for? He was leaving Lucky to die?"

  Dr. Gardoma put away his hypodermic and washed his hands. With his back to Bigman, he said, "Scott Mindes was convinced Lucky was dead. His only thought was to stay away so that no one could accuse him of being the murderer. He knew he had tried to kill Lucky once before and that others would remember that."

  "How could he think that this time? The robot… "

  "Mindes isn't himself under pressure these days. He called for help; that was the best he could do."

  Lucky said, "Take it easy, Bigman. I was in no danger. I was sleeping it off in the shade, and I'm all right now. What about the robot, Gardoma? Was it salvaged?"

  "We've got it in the Dome. The brain is gone, though, quite impossible to study."

  "Too bad," said Lucky.

  The physician raised his voice. "All right, Bigman, come on. Let him sleep."

  "Hey… " began Bigman indignantly.

  Lucky at once added, "That's all right, Gardoma. As a matter of fact, I want to speak to him privately."

  Dr. Gardoma hesitated, then shrugged. "You need sleep, but I'll give you half an hour. Then he must go."

  "He'll go."

  As soon as they were alone, Bigman seized Lucky's shoulder and shook it violently. He said in a strangled kind of voice, "You stupid ape. If the heat hadn't got that robot in time-like in the sub-etherics… "

  Lucky smiled mirthlessly. "It wasn't coincidence, Bigman,' he said. "If I had waited for a sub-etheric ending, I'd be dead. I had to gimmick the robot."

  "How?"

  "Its brain case was highly polished. It reflected a large part of the sun's radiation. That meant the temperature of the positronic brain was high enough to ruin its sanity but not high enough to stop it completely. Fortunately, a good part of Mercurian soil about here is made up of a loose black substance. I managed to smear some on its head."

  "What did that do?"

  "Black absorbs heat, Bigman. It doesn't reflect it. The temperature of the robot's brain went up quickly and it died almost at once. It was close, though… Still, never mind that. What happened at this end while I was gone? Anything?"

  "Anything? Wow! You listen!" And as Bigman talked, Lucky did listen, with an expression that grew continually graver as the story unfolded.

  By the time it drew to a conclusion he was frowning angrily. "Why did you fight Urteil, anyway? That was foolish."

  "Lucky," said Bigman in outrage, "it was strategy!

  You always say I just bull right ahead and can't be trusted to do the shrewd thing. This was shrewd. I knew I could lick him at low gravity… "

  "It seems as though you almost didn't. Your ankle is taped."

  "I slipped. Accident. Besides, I did win. A deal was involved. He could do a lot of damage to the Council with his lies, but if I won he'd get off our backs."

  "Could you take his word for that?"

  "Well… " began Bigman, troubled.

  Lucky drove on. "You saved his life, you said. He must have known that, and yet that didn't persuade him to abandon his purpose. Did you think he was likely to do so as a result of a fist fight?"

  "Well… " said Bigman, again.

  "Especially if he lost and would therefore be raging at the humiliation of a public beating… I tell you what, Bigman. You did it because you wanted to beat him and get revenge for making fun of you. Your talk about making a deal was just an excuse to give you an opportunity for the beating. Isn't that right?"

  "Aw, Lucky! Sands of Mars… "

  "Well, am I wrong?''

  "I wanted to make the deal… "

  "But mainly you wanted to fight, and now look at the mess."

  Bigman's eyes dropped. "I'm sorry."

  Lucky relented at once. "Oh, Great Galaxy, Bigman, I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself, really. I misjudged that robot and nearly got myself killed because I wasn't thinking. I could see it was out of order and never tied it up with the effect of heat on its posi-tronic brain till it was nearly too late… Well, the past has a lesson for the future, but otherwise, let's forget it. The question is what to do about the Urteil situation."

  Bigman's spirits bounced back at once. "Anyway," he said, "the cobber is off our backs."

  "He is," said Lucky, "but what about Senator Swen-son?" "Hmm."

  "How do we explain things? The Council of Science is being investigated, and as a result of a fight instigated by someone close to the Council, someone who's almost a member, the investigator dies. That won't look good."

  "It was an accident. The pseudo-grav field-"

  "That won't help us. I'll have to talk to Peverale and… "

  Bigman reddened and said hastily, "He's just an old guy. He's not paying any attention to this."

  Lucky hitched himself to one elbow. "What do you mean, he's not paying any attention?"

  "He isn't," said Bigman vehemently. "He came in with Urteil lying dead on the ground and thought nothing of it. He said, 'Is he dead?' and that's all."

  "That's all?"

  "That's all. Then he asked about where you were and said Mindes had called and said a robot had killed you."

  Lucky's level glance held Bigman. "That's all?" "That was all," said Bigman uneasily. "What's happened since then? Come on, Bigman. You don't want me to talk to Peverale. Why not?"

  Bigman looked away.

  "Come on, Bigman."

  "Well, I'm being tried or something."

  "Tried!"

  "Peverale says it's murder and it'll raise a smell back on Earth. He says we've got to fix responsibility."

  "All right. When is the trial?"

  "Aw, Lucky, I didn't want to tell you. Dr. Gardoma said you weren't to be excited."

  "Don't act like a mother hen, Bigman. When is the trial?"

  "Tomorrow at two P.M., System Standard Time. But there's nothing to worry about, Lucky."

  Lucky said, "Call in Gardoma."

  "Why?"

  "Do as I say."

  Bigman stepped to the door, and
when he returned, Dr. Gardoma was with him.

  Lucky said, "There's no reason I can't get out of bed by two P.M. tomorrow, is there?"

  Dr. Gardoma hesitated. "I'd rather you took more time."

  "I don't care what you'd rather. It won't kill me, will it?"

  "It wouldn't kill you to get out of bed right now, Mr. Starr," said Dr. Gardoma, offended. "But it's not advisable."

  "All right, then. Now you tell Dr. Peverale that I'll be at the trial of Bigman. You know about that, I suppose?"

  "I do."

  "Everyone does except myself. Is that it?"

  "You were in no condition… "

  "You tell Dr. Peverale I'll be at that trial and it isn't to start without me."

  "I'll tell him," said Gardoma, "and you'd better go to sleep now. Come with me, Bigman."

  Bigman squealed. "Just one second." He stepped rapidly to the side of Lucky's bed and said, "Look, Lucky, don't get upset. I've got the whole situation under control."

  Lucky's eyebrows lifted.

  Bigman, almost bursting with self-importance, said, "I wanted to surprise you, darn it. I can prove I had nothing to do with Urteil breaking his neck. I've solved the case." He pounded his chest. "I have. Me! Bigman! I know who's responsible for everything."

  Lucky said, "Who?"

  But Bigman cried instantly, "No! I'm not saying. I want to show you I have more on my mind than fist fights. I'll run the show this time and you watch me, that's all. You'll find out at the trial."

  The little Martian wrinkled his face into a delighted grin, executed a small dance step, and followed Dr. Gardoma out of the room, wearing a look of gay triumph.

  15. The Trial

  Lucky strode into Dr. Peverale's office shortly before 2 P.M. the next day.

  The others had already gathered. Dr. Peverale, sitting behind an old and crowded desk, nodded pleasantly at him, and Lucky responded with a grave, "Good afternoon, sir."

  It was much like the evening of the banquet. Cook was there, of course, looking as always, nervous and, somehow, gaunt. He sat in a large armchair at Dr. Peverale's right, and Bigman's small body squirmed and was nearly lost in an equally large armchair at the left.

  Mindes was there, his thin face twisted glumly and his intertwining fingers separating occasionally to drum on his pants leg. Dr. Gardoma sat next to him, stolid, his heavy eyelids lifting to glance disapprovingly at Lucky as he entered. The department heads among the astronomers were there.

  In fact, the only man who had been present at the banquet but was absent now was Urteil.

  Dr. Peverale began at once in his gentle way, "We can start now. And first, a few words for Mr. Starr. I understand that Bigman described this proceeding to you as a trial. Please be assured that it is nothing of the sort. If there is to be a trial, and I hope not, it wil take place on Earth with qualified judges and legal counsel. What we are trying to do here is merely to assemble a report for transmission to the Council of Science."

  Dr. Peverale arranged some of the helter-skelter of objects on his desk and said, "Let me explain why a full report is necessary. In the first place, as a result of Mr. Starr's daring penetration of the Sun-side, the saboteur who has been upsetting Dr. Mindes's project has been stopped. It turned out to be a robot of Sirian manufacture, which is now no longer functional. Mr.Starr… "

  "Yes?" said Lucky.

  "The importance of the matter was such that I took the liberty of questioning you when you were first brought in and when your state was one of only half-consciousness."

  "I remember that," said Lucky, "quite well."

  "Would you confirm some of the answers now, for the record?"

  "I will."

  "In the first place, are there any other robots involved?"

  "The robot did not say, but I do not believe there were others."

  "However, it did not say specifically that it was the only robot on Mercury?"

  "It did not."

  "Then there might be many others."

  "I don't think so."

  "That's only your own opinion, though. The robot didn't say there were no others."

  "It did not"

  "Very well, then. How many Sirians were involved?"

  "The robot would not say. It had been instructed not to."

  "Did it locate the base of the Sirian invaders?"

  "It said nothing concerning that. It made no mention of Sirians at all."

  "But the robot was of Sirian manufacture, wasn't it?"

  "It admitted that."

  "Ah." Dr Peverale smiled humorlessly. "Then it is obvious, I think, that there are Sirians on Mercury and that they are active against us. The Council of Science must be made aware of this. There must be an organized search of Mercury and, if the Sirians evade us and leave the planet, there must at least be an increased awareness of the Sirian danger."

  Cook interposed uneasily. "There is also the question of the native Mercurian life-forms, Dr. Peverale.

  The Council will have to be informed of that, too."

  He turned to address the gathering at large. "One of the creatures was captured yesterday and… "

  The old astronomer interrupted with some annoyance. "Yes, Dr. Cook, the Council shall assuredly be informed. Nevertheless, the Sirian question is what must be kept foremost. Other matters must be sacrificed to the immediate danger. For instance, I suggest that Dr. Mindes abandon his project until Mercury be made safe for Earthmen."

  "Hold on, now," cried Mindes quickly. "There's a lot of money and time and effort invested here… "

  "I said, until Mercury was safe. I do not imply permanent abandonment of Project Light. And because it is necessary to put the Mercurian danger foremost, it is necessary to make sure that Urteil's protector, Senator Swenson, be prevented from setting up obstructions over side issues."

  Lucky said, "You mean you want to present the senator with a scapegoat in the form of Bigman, neatly ticketed and bound hand and foot. Then while he's worrying and clawing at Bigman, the chase for Sirians can proceed on Mercury without interference."

  The astronomer lifted his white eyebrows. "A scapegoat, Mr. Starr? We just want the facts."

  "Well, go ahead, then," said Bigman, moving restlessly in his chair. "You'll get the facts."

  "Good," said Dr. Peverale. "As the central figure, do you care to begin? Tell everything that occurred between you and Urteil in your own words. Tell it in your own words, but I would appreciate brevity. And remember, these proceedings are being recorded on sound microfilm."

  Bigman said, "Do you want me to take my oath?"

  Peverale shook his head. "This is not a formal trial."

  "Suit yourself." And with surprising dispassion, Bigman told the story. Beginning with Urteil's slurs on his height and continuing through the encounter in the mines, he ended with the duel. He left out only Urteil's threats of action against Lucky Starr and the Council.

  Dr. Gardoma followed, verifying what had occurred on the occasion of the first meeting between Urteil and Bigman and also describing, for the record, the scene at the banquet table. He went on to describe his treatment of Urteil after the return from the mines.

  He said, "He recovered quickly from the hypothermia. I didn't ask him for details, and he didn't offer any. However, he asked after Bigman, and, from his expression when I said Bigman was entirely well, I should judge that his dislike for Bigman was as great as ever. He didn't act as though Bigman had saved his life. Just the same, I must say that from my observation of the man I should say Urteil was not subject to attacks of gratitude."

  "That is only an opinion," interposed Dr. Peverale hastily, "and I recommend that we not confuse the record by such statements."

  Dr. Cook came next. He concentrated on the duel. He said, "Bigman insisted on the fight. That's all there was to that. It seemed to me that if I arranged one under low gravity as Bigman suggested, with witnesses, no harm would be done. We could intervene if things grew serious. I was afraid that, if I refused, a f
ight between them might result without witnesses and that there might be serious results. Of course, the results could scarcely be more serious than they have turned out to be, but I never anticipated that. I ought to have consulted you, Dr. Peverale, I admit that."

  Dr. Peverale nodded. "You certainly ought to have. But the fact is now that Bigman insisted on the duel and insisted on low gravity, didn't he?"

  "That's right."

  "And he assured you that he would kill Urteil under those conditions."

  "His exact words were that he would 'murder the cobber.' I think he was only speaking figuratively. I'm sure he didn't plan actual murder."

  Dr. Peverale turned to Bigman. "Have you any comments in that connection?"

  "Yes, I do. And sin'ce Dr. Cook is on the stand, I want to cross-examine."

  Dr. Peverale looked surprised. "This isn't a trial."

  "Listen," said Bigman heatedly. "Urteil's death was no accident. It was murder, and I want a chance to prove that."

  The silence that fell at that statement lasted a moment and no more. It was succeeded by a confused babbling.

  Bigman's voice rose to a piercing squeal. "I'm set to cross-examine Dr. Hanley Cook."

  Lucky Starr said coldly, "I suggest you allow Bigman to go through with this, Dr. Peverale."

  The old astronomer was the picture of confusion.

  "Really, I don't… Bigman can't… " He stammered himself into silence.

  Bigman said, "First, Dr. Cook, how did Urteil come to know the route Lucky and I were taking in the mines?"

  Cook reddened. "I didn't know he knew the route."

  "He didn't follow us directly. He took a parallel route as though he were intending to catch up and fall behind us well within the mines, after we had convinced ourselves that we were alone and unfollowed. To do that, he would have to be certain of the route we were planning to take. Now Lucky and I planned that route with you and with no one else. Lucky didn't tell Urteil and neither did I. Who did?"

  Cook looked wildly about as though for help. "I don't know."

  "Isn't it obvious you did?"

  ''No. Maybe he overheard."

  "He couldn't overhear marks on a map, Dr. Cook.

  … Let's pass on, now. I fought Urteil, and if gravity had stayed at Mercurian normal, he would still be alive. But it didn't stay there. It was suddenly hopped up to Earth-levels at just the moment where it helped to kill him. Who did that?"