NanoSymbionts

by Joseph Philbrook

  “Thing is captain,” George continued with tears in his eyes. “As precious as this was to him, I'm positive he'd have told me to use as much of it as it took to keep us all properly fed. Seeing as how he felt like we were all the family he had left.”

  “In that case George,” the captain said in a suddenly hoarse voice. “I'd suggest you honor his wishes but use it sparingly. Carry on.”

  By morning they were running very low on firewood. Captain Rivermon called George and Linda inside.

  “I don't think we need to worry about the dogs for a while,” he said. “Now that it's daylight out there. All three of you are exhausted.”

  Yolonda had stood guard over him all night. She hadn't dared to fall asleep after Mathieu had dragged himself back out of the depths of the cave to complain about the stench of the cooking dog meat.

  “I on the other hand have had plenty of rest,” their captain continued. “So George, do you think there's enough wood left to keep the inner fireplace burning long enough to finish drying the jerky?”

  “Well thanks to Randy's nanotech seasoning, there's just about enough wood left for that alright Sir,” George began. “But...”

  The captain silenced him with a gesture.

  “Since I made Yolonda redress my hand in such a way that I can hold my pistol,” captain Rivermon resumed speaking. I'm able to stand watch for the next few cycles. I therefore order you three to get some sleep. I'll wake you in a couple of cycles. Meanwhile...”

  Wilber paused long enough for his eyes to locate Mathieu, who was sitting with his back against the wall. As he had been since before the captain awoke from his own sleep.

  “Mr. Naville!” Wilber said loud enough to get the man's attention. “You look like you've had some rest. That is to say that you do not appear physically exhausted. As you can see Mr. Naville, I'm still not in proper condition to be tossing wood on the fire and such. And everyone else is in desperate need of sleep. So I'm going to have to put you to work this morning. Please come outside with me, to gather up the remaining wood.”

  “What?” Mathieu responded. “Out there? I don't intend to become dog food. Besides, I heard you planning to get us all to eat that disgusting meat that Mr Agroman spent the night cooking. The only reason you want to keep a fire going is to finish preserving more of it. I for one won't be eating any of it. So why should I help you do that?”

  The captain held up his hand to stop George from advancing towards the man.

  “I did say you could question my orders,” Wilber continued. “However I am afraid that I'm going to have to insist. But before I do I'll answer your concerns as best as I can. Because of their extended shelf life the survival rations have to be reserved for when we really don't have anything else. You don't have to like dog meat. But you won't have a lot of choice about it. However, I realize that you've been under a bit of stress these past two days. So on this occasion I'm prepared to be ‘nice’. You may have noticed that there's still a small quantity of perishable food left in the remaining stores from the ship. You might not know that I consider that open package of dehydrated synthomeat to be somewhat perishable. So if you show me that your willing to pitch in by serving as my hands today, I'll tell George to let you have the remains of the synthomeat for tonight's supper.”

  Mathieu looked at him venomously for nearly a full subcyclet before he suddenly seemed to remember his promise.

  “Very well,” he said with obviously forced civility. “Your the captain.” Then he stood up to follow the captain outside.

  Mathieu wasn't happy with the situation. Here he was being used like a slave by that pompous jerk, who's incompetence had gotten his beloved Donelle killed. What was even worse was the way the captain was making a point of appearing reasonable. He didn't complain when Mathieu insisted on taking smaller armfuls of the firewood than the captain had suggested. This despite the fact that Mathieu was quite sure the captain had actually suggested a smaller armful than he would have expected from anyone else. It was like the captain was trying to be kind. Mathieu thought about it and realized that the captain was in a position to make his life considerably more difficult than it already was. He also reasoned that if the captain thought he was responding to kind treatment. He wasn't as likely to go out of his way to be unkind. This wasn't what he wanted to do however. It was a mistake on the captain's part if he thought that such ‘kindness’ might save him. Because Mathieu would feel obligated to prosecute the man for what he'd done. Even if his Donelle hadn't died.

  Mathieu figured that the captain probably even knew that. But then of course the captain wasn't expecting a rescue ship. After all he thought that, even if anyone bothered to look for them, they would have no way to know that they were on this planet. But he knew something that the captain didn't. So he would wait and play the captain's game.

  The captain thought Mathieu was being very cooperative today. Apart from his initial complaint and dragging his feet a little with the actual work involved, he had done everything asked of him. Under the captains guidance, he had brought in the last of last night's firewood. While at the same time, using some of it to keep the fireplace running. He had even endeavored to do so quietly so as not to wake the others prematurely.

  George slowly dragged himself back to wakefulness. He could have used more sleep. But he was glad the captain had kept his word about the two cycles. He could see by the firelight that Linda was having just as hard a time waking up. He hadn't been quite sure about that at first. Until her saw her shake her head and then resoundingly slap herself on each cheek a couple of times before standing up. Then he noticed the captain standing next to Yolonda. There was a look of indecision on his face.

  “Why not let her have another subcycle,” George spoke up. “While I fetch us a bit more wood and Linda finds us something to eat. After that, if you intend to discuss your plans for the next few days, I suspect she will want to be in on it.”

  The captain turned towards him and nodded. “So ordered,” was all he said.

  “I'm afraid that unless you want me to use some of the dehydrated vegetables sir,” Linda explained. “The best I can do is to warm up some, ah, meat.” Then she shuddered visibly. “Can we afford to use enough water to make a pot of stimbev captain?”

  The captain grimaced.

  “I could use some too,” He said. “But I'm afraid that since stimbev reduces the effective hydration value of the water, we shouldn't indulge ourselves until we find a reasonable water source.”

  Mathieu's look of disdain for the prospective meal had turned to one of intense interest at the mention of stimbev. Even the poor quality beverage that resulted from reconstituting some of the powder from the emergency rations sounded good. He suddenly wanted some in the worst way. So he decided to tell them something they didn't know yet. It wasn't after all, as if it was something they weren't going to find out fairly soon anyway.

  “There's plenty of water!” Mathieu blurted out.

  “What?” both Linda and her captain said in an unplanned chorus.

  “There is water,” Mathieu repeated. “I found it back there.” He gestured in the general direction of the other passage. “I found it while I... I was ‘exploring’ the other tunnel.”

  “That is good news Mr Naville,” captain Rivermon said. “If it tests safe enough for processing we shall have stimbev tomorrow morning.”

  “But it is good delicious fresh water,” Mathieu protested. “I was thirsty enough to drink some and I'm OK.”

  Two cyclets later the captain was considering Mathieu's bioscan data carefully.

  “You took a terrible risk Mr. Naville,” he said. “I can't quite be sure that you didn't ingest any pathogens. But I think that anything that hasn't manifested itself enough for me to detect. Should at least be within the tolerance factors of the distillation unit. So I'm going to authorize a full pot of stimbev. Which I estimate will use up the water pouches from 4 ration packs. Just be extra careful with the seals Linda. We want
to be able to refill them with fresh water”

  As it turned out, the Captain didn't have to wake Yolonda, the smell of the stimbev was enough. After everybody, except Mathieu, had eaten and they were all on their second cup of stimbev. The captain laid out his plans for them all.

  “OK first of all I think it's important that we keep someone watching the entrance to the cave at all times,” captain Rivermon said. “Until we have a better solution, that also means we need a fire just outside it all night long. I don't think we need to worry about the dogs very much during the daytime. But we can't be sure they wouldn't try to surprise us in the dark of the cave.” The captain paused for just a moment before continuing. “Which brings me to a point of interest, everything we have seen about this cave says it's a great shelter. And there's no trace of it being used as a den by any wild animal at any time. Which makes me wonder why not? I can't imagine what kept our four footed friends from having claimed the place.” He let that thought settle in for a moment. “We need to explore the rest of the cave and properly test that water supply that Mr. Naville discovered. At the same time we need to stock up on firewood and scan the area for edible plants. While keeping a vigilant watch in force at all times. So I think we are going to have to sleep in shifts. Which, of course, makes it difficult to get everything else done.”

  The captain paused long enough to drain his cup.

  “So since at the moment we are all well stimulated,” captain Rivermon waved his now empty cup for emphasis. “I suggest that one of you girls stay out here with Mr Agroman. Then while keeping an eye on each other and the cave entrance, scan some of the area's foliage while George here hauls in enough wood for tonight. Meanwhile I'd like the other lady to accompany myself and Mr Naville, while he shows us this water supply he discovered. Any objections?”

  “How familiar is Miss Heroner with our bioscanner captain?” George spoke up.

  “Not very,” Yolonda interjected. “I'm afraid it's been a while since I've used anything like it. Which didn't look much like that little thing you've been waving around Wilber.”

  “In that case Yolonda,” Wilber said. “I guess your with me. But before we go. I'd like you to check my bandages. My injuries are feeling a lot better and I'm wondering if I can carry one of the torches.”

  “Your almost there Wilber,” Yolonda said. “Your left hand looks fit enough to hold a torch if you like. But I think you need to keep that right arm in a sling for another day or two.”

  “In that case, I think you should carry this,” captain Rivermon replied. He held his pellet gun out to her handle first. “I don't think we're going to run into any need for it but I'll feel better if someone with two available hands is ready. Just in case.”

  “Well if it will make you feel better Wilber,” Yolonda said as she accepted the weapon, “Then I'll be happy to.”

  They had to watch their step as they traveled down the long slope of the passageway. The floor was as uneven as the walls. Though it was consistently tilted down towards the left hand wall. It's width remained fairly constant at about two arms but occasionally it narrowed a little to about one and a half arms. There were also a few spots where it widened out to nearly three arms. The ‘ceiling’ was less regular but there was only one place where it got closer than 3 arms to the floor. That was where a 3 arms width section was suddenly reduced to only one and a half arms wide and just 2 arms tall.

  It was also here that you could hear the first faint echo of running water ahead. The passageway soon opened back up to 3 arms wide and nearly 4 arms tall. Then they saw it. there was a wide crack in the right hand wall about an arm above the floor. It extended for about ten arms and through it flowed a steam of cold water. It cascaded down to the floor, at which point the floors angle of decline began getting progressively steeper. The water formed a small stream that ran down the left hand side of the rapidly descending passageway until it reached a pool of water that filled the passageway. Which continued to descend until the ceiling touched the waters surface.

  When they returned to the entrance they saw that George was working on a crude gate to the cave mouth. He had set a number of poles made from stout branches across most of the cave mouth, spaced half an arm apart. He then began weaving thinner green branches in and out around the poles. Thus reducing the spaces between the poles to narrow horizontal slits. George looked up from his handiwork.

  “Well now I can't guarantee the varments can't get through this basket wall I'm weaving sir,” he said. “By the time I'm done however, it'll at least slow them down. Plus I'm fairly sure that they won't be getting past it without making a bit of noise in the process. The door itself is going to be a bit more difficult but I'll get it done by nightfall sir.”

  “We've begun recharging the plasma cutter's power packs sir,” Linda spoke up. “We also used one of the smaller solar collectors to begin putting a charge on Yolonda's sonic weapon. Then we networked all the remaining collectors to begin charging the other depleted power packs. Including some that should be compatible with the distillation unit.”

  “My best estimate says they should all have nearly a full charge by sunset,” George added.

  Over the next several days, which were 10% shorter than a galactic standard overcycle, they settled into a routine. They also made a few significant discoveries. One was that according to their scanner, the pool at the end of the passageway with the miniature waterfall was connected to a fairly large underground water system. In which they detected the presence of fish, not all of which turned out to be blind. Which suggested that somewhere the underground water system must be connected to surface water. Another was that several of the native plant forms could be classified as edible. One or two of them were even somewhat palatable. There were also a few plants that the bioscanner said were quite toxic. In particular there were some large thorny bushes scattered among the more useful trees, which they had decided to avoid altogether. They also discovered that there were squirrels living in some of the tree's. All of this was good news, because it gave them hope of survival past the limits of the survival rations that they had salvaged from the wreckage.

  Better still, George was able to cobble together a somewhat dim light source using one of the smaller power packs and some spare indicator lights he'd happened to have in his pocket's when what was left of their life raft was tossed up onto the boulders. It would be useful when they needed to fetch water or perhaps to catch some fish from the stream at the back of the cave.

  “What I don't understand,” Yolonda was saying to Linda. “Is how we even had such a bounty of first class survival rations in the first place. Oh I'm not talking about how we salvaged what we could from the cargo pod we'd made into our life boat cabin, you understand. But rather how the pod itself happened to be half full of the stuff before we moved so much of it to the other pod to make enough elbow room. It doesn't quite make sense to me. I mean these are not the type of survival rations the Starskewer would have stocked the lifepods with. The shelf life isn't long enough. And while some of them are somewhat tasty, I'm fairly sure that Randy wouldn't have made a stash of dehydrated foodstock to supplement his kitchen supplies with.”

  “They must have been cargo bound for one of the ‘new colony’ worlds.” Linda said.

  “Except that I'm quite sure,” Yolonda continued. “That the freightliner's shipping requirements called for ‘whole pod’ deliveries. So how could we wind up with a partially full pod?”

  Linda thought for a few subcyclets.

  “I think I've got it,” Linda replied after a few subcyclet's thought. “Though I'm ashamed to say it means I screwed up. It was about 2 galactic standard years ago. We had a delivery for a new colony world that had just had a major political shake up. The new government wasn't willing to pay for the whole shipment. So we only released what they would pay for. The Captain insisted they get everything they did pay for. But not a bit more. So when the balance was no longer divisible by any of the remaining whole pods, he
said to release a partial pod of the survival rations.”

  “Well that makes sense I guess,” Yolonda reasoned. “But I wouldn't have thought Wilber would have violated company policy so lightly.”

  “He didn't!” Linda responded quickly. “I remember that he personally reimbursed the company ledger for the difference on the partial pod. Then he asked me to find some humanitarian cause that we could donate the rest to. Which is where I screwed up. We had an exceptionally busy stretch without any red ink to remind me. That I had failed to find a worthy cause for it.”

  “Well I wouldn't fret about that mistake much Linda,” Yolonda said with a smile. “If you hadn't have made that particular omission. It's not likely that we'd have much of a food reserve to fall back on now, is it?” As she said this, Yolonda spotted Wilber returning from a hunt. “Please excuse me Linda, I'd like to have a word with the captain.”

  With that she got up from where she had been helping Linda prepare some of the local vegetation for a stew she was about to make with some of remaining dog-jerky. Yolonda quickly walked over to where the captain was handing 4 large squirrel carcasses to George.

  “This should make for a nice change in tonight's stew,” the captain was telling George. “From that dog-jerky that we're all tired of having. I'd like you to finish dressing these out for me. Your better at extracting all the meat without damaging the pelt. And as good as these blanket ponchos are, I think were going to need all the fur coats we can make.”

  “I'm sure, George doesn't mind Wilber,” Yolonda interrupted before George could reply. “But while he's doing that, could I get you to take a walk with me? I really need some fresh air and I feel so much safer when your with me.”