Rama Revealed r-4

by Arthur C. Clarke

  Nicole was stupefied. Below her, a dozen or so octospiders on either side of the pool were hurriedly brushing into the water the eggs and fluid that had landed on the walkways. Another eight octos were pouring the unknown contents of huge containers into the pool. The water was now teeming with octospider blood, eggs, and the high-viscosity fluid that was ejected along with the eggs. In less than a minute the entire slurry in the pool moved under the arch to the right.

  The queen had not yet changed position. Once the pool below them was clear running water again, all lenses turned to watch the queen. Nicole was staggered by how much the octospider had already shrunk. She estimated that the queen must have lost half her body weight in the fraction of a second it took the egg mass and accompanying fluids to pour forth from her body. The queen was bleeding still, and two normal-sized octospiders had climbed up the wall to minister to her. At this point Dr. Blue tapped Nicole on the shoulder, indicating it was time to leave.

  Sitting by herself in one of the small rooms in the octospider hospital, Nicole played the egg rush scene over and over in her mind. She had not expected that the event would affect her so emotionally. Nicole had only half watched while Dr. Blue explained to her, after they had returned to the hospital, that the containers emptied into the slurry were full of tiny animals that would seek out and kill specific embryos. In that way the octospiders controlled, she said, the exact composition of the next generation, including the number of queens, repletes, midget morphs, and all the other variations.

  The mother in Nicole was struggling to understand what it would feel like to be an octospider queen during an egg rush. In some indefinable way, Nicole felt deeply connected to that mammoth creature that had crawled up onto the spikes. During the instant of the egg rush, Nicole’s loins had contracted, and she had recalled both the pain and the exhilaration of her own six births. What is there about the birth process, she wondered briefly, that unites all creatures who have ever experienced it?

  Nicole was overwhelmed by a desire to communicate with the queen octospider, to know what that other intelligent mother had been thinking and feeling just prior to and during the egg rush. Had the queen, amid the pain and wonder of the moment, felt an epiphanic serenity, a vision of her own offspring and their offspring continuing into the unforeseen future, the miraculous cycle of life? Had there been a deep and ineffable peace in the seconds just after the rush, a peace unlike any the creature had ever known at any time other than immediately after birth?

  Nicole knew that the imaginary conversation she was having with the queen could never take place. Again she closed her eyes, attempting to reconstruct the exact bursts of color she had seen on the queen’s body immediately before and after the event. Had those surges of color told the other octospiders what the queen was feeling? Were they somehow able, Nicole wondered, with their rich language of color, to communicate complex feelings like ecstasy better than humans, with their, limited language of words?

  There were no answers. Nicole realized that there were tasks waiting for her outside the room, in the octospider hospital, but she was not ready for her solitude to end. She did not want the strong emotions she was feeling to be diminished by the demands of everyday life.

  Nicole had also begun to experience a profound loneliness. She did not at first connect her loneliness directly to the egg rush. Nicole was, however, quite aware that she was having a strong desire to talk to a close friend, preferably Richard. She wanted to share with someone what she had seen and felt in the Queen’s Domain. In her isolation Nicole suddenly remembered a few lines from a relevant poem by Benita Garcia, She opened her portable computer and, after a short search, found the entire poem.

  In moments of deep doubt or intense pain,When I am overpowered by my life,I search around me everywhere I canFor kindred souls who know what I know not,For those who have the strength to mitigateWhat makes me tremble, weep, and often brood.They tell me that I cannot live my wayWhere all my feelings rule my conscious mind.I must control myself before the act,Or else accept what I have long endured,The brutal days of feeling lost and blind.There have been times, not many but a few,When someone has possessed the soothing balm,Providing surcease for my angst or pain.But age has taught me now one simple rule.Inside myself I must the screams contain,Whatever devils must be wrestled there.The lessons learned will not be lost again.We walk alone upon our final trip.No hand can help us on [hat day of death,It’s best we learn, while time is still our friend,To trust ourselves, and save our precious breath.Nicole read the words several times.

  Then, realizing that she was completely exhausted, she put her head down on the only table in the room and fell asleep.

  Dr. Blue tapped gently on Nicole’s shoulder with one of her tentacles. Nicole stirred and opened her eyes. “You’ve been asleep for almost two hours,” the octospider said. “They have been expecting you over at the administrative center.”

  “What’s going on?” Nicole asked, rubbing her eyes. “Why is anyone waiting for me?”

  “Nakamura has made a major speech in New Eden. The Chief Optimizer wants to discuss it with you.”

  Nicole jumped up quickly and then reached out to touch the desk. In a few seconds her dizziness was gone. “Thank you again, Dr. Blue, for everything,” she said. “I’ll be on my way in another minute.”

  7

  “I really don’t think Nikki should I be allowed to watch the speech,” Robert said. “It will certainly scare her.”

  “What Nakamura says will affect her life as much as it will ours,” Ellie replied. “If she wants to watch, I think we should let her. After all, Robert, she has lived with the octospiders.”

  “But she can’t possibly understand what any of this really means,” Robert argued. “She’s not even four years old yet.”

  The issue remained unresolved until a few minutes before the New Eden dictator was scheduled to appear on television. At that time Nikki approached her mother in the living room. “I’m not going to watch,” the little girl said with astonishing insight, “because I don’t want you and Daddy to fight.”

  One of the rooms in Nakamura’s palace had been converted into a television studio. It was from this ^studio that the tyrant usually addressed the citizens of New Eden. His last speech had been three months earlier, when he had announced that troops were going to be deployed in the Southern Hemicylinder to confront the “alien menace.” Although the government-controlled newspapers and television had regularly been featuring news items from the front, many of them fabricating the “intense resistance” being offered by the octospiders, this would be Nakamura’s first public comment on the progress and direction of the war in the south.

  For the address, Nakamura had ordered his tailors to make him a new shogun’s outfit, complete with ornamented sword and dagger. He was appearing in Japanese martial dress, he told his aides, to stress his role as the “lead warrior and protector” of the colonists. On the day of the broadcast Nakamura’s attendants helped him put on a pair of heavy, constraining girdles so that he would project the “powerful and menacing” look of the warrior.

  Mr. Nakamura spoke standing up, staring directly at the camera. His scowl never changed during his entire speech.

  “We have all sacrificed in recent months,” he began, “to support our valiant soldiers doing battle south of the Cylindrical Sea with a heinous and ruthless alien enemy. Our intelligence now informs us that these octospiders, who were described to you in detail by Dr. Robert Turner after his brave escape, are planning a major attack against New Eden in the very near future. At this critical moment in our history, we must redouble our resolve and stand united against the alien aggressor.

  “Our generals at the front have recommended that we penetrate beyond the barrier forest protecting most of the octospider domain and interdict their supplies and war materiel before they can launch their attack. Our engineers, working night and day for the survival of the colony, have made modifications to our helicopter fleet that wi
ll permit this interdiction to take place. We will strike in the near future. We will convince the aliens that they cannot attack us with impunity.

  “Meanwhile, our warriors have finished securing the entire area of Rama between the Cylindrical Sea and the barrier forest. During the fierce battles, we have destroyed many hundreds of the enemy, as well as water and power facilities. Our casualties have been modest, primarily because of our superb battle plans and the heroism of our troops. But we must not become overconfident. On the contrary, we have every reason to believe that we have not yet even engaged the elite Death Corps that Dr. Turner heard mentioned while he was being held captive. It is this Death Corps, we are certain, that will be in the alien vanguard if we do not move quickly to preclude an attack on New Eden. Remember, time is our enemy. We must strike now and totally demolish their war-making capability.

  “There is one other brief item I would like to report tonight. Recently the traitor Richard Wakefield and an octospider companion surrendered to our troops in the south. They say that they are representing the alien military command and have come forward to talk about peace. I suspect a trick here, a Trojan horse of some kind, but it is my duty as your leader to conduct a hearing into this matter in the next few days. Rest assured that I will not negotiate away our security. I will report the outcome of this hearing very soon after it is completed.”

  “But Robert,” Ellie said, “you know that much of what he is saying is a lie. There is no Death Corps, and the octospiders have not offered any resistance. How can you say nothing? How can you let him attribute statements to you that you never made?”

  “It’s all politics, Ellie,” Robert replied. “Everybody knows that. Nobody really believes…”

  “But that’s even worse. Don’t you see what is happening?”

  Robert started to leave the house. “Where are you going now?” Ellie asked.

  “Back to the hospital,” Robert replied. “I have rounds to make.”

  Ellie couldn’t believe it. She stood there for a few seconds, staring at her husband. Then she erupted. “That’s your response,” she shouted. “Business as usual. A lunatic announces a plan that will most likely result in all. of us being killed, and for you it’s business as usual… Robert, who are you? Don’t you care about anything?”

  Robert moved toward her angrily. “Don’t start again with that ‘holier than thou’ attitude,” he said. “You arc not always right, Ellie, and you do not know for certain that we’ll all be killed. Maybe Nakamura’s plan will work.”

  “You’re kidding yourself, Robert. You turn the other way and tell yourself that as long as your little world is not affected, maybe it’s okay. You’re wrong, Robert. Dead wrong. And if you won’t do anything about it, then I will.”

  “And what will you do?” Robert said, his voice rising. ‘Tell the world that your husband is a liar? Try to convince everyone that those slimy octospiders are peaceful? No one will believe you, Ellie. And I’ll tell you one more thing: The minute you open your mouth, you’ll be arrested and tried for treason. They’ll kill you, Ellie, just like they’re going to kill your father. Is that what you want? Never to see your daughter again?”

  Ellie recognized the mixture of pain and anger in Robert’s eyes. I don’t know him, flashed through her mind, followed by How can this be the same man who has spent thousands of hours caring for dying patients? It doesn’t make any sense.

  Ellie chose not to say anything more. “I’m going now,” Robert said at length. “I’ll be home around midnight.”

  She walked to the back of the house and opened Nikki’s door. Luckily the girl had slept through the argument. Ellie was deeply depressed when she returned to the living room. She wished more than ever that she had stayed in the Emerald City. But she hadn’t, so what was she going to do now? It would be so easy if I didn’t have Nikki to think about, Ellie said to herself. She shook her head slowly, back and forth, and finally allowed herself to shed the tears she had been restraining.

  “So how do I look?” Katie said, pirouetting in front of Franz.

  “Beautiful, ravishing,” he replied. “Better than I have ever seen you look.”

  She was wearing a simple black dress, custom-fitted to her thin body. The dress had a defining white stripe running down both sides. It was cut low in the front, highlighting her necklace of diamonds and gold, but was not so low that it would be considered improper.

  Katie glanced at her watch. “Good,” she said. “For once I’m early.” She crossed the room to the table and lit a cigarette.

  Franz’s uniform was newly pressed and his shoes perfectly shined. “Then I guess we have time,” he said, following Katie to the couch, “for my surprise.” He handed her a small velvet box.

  “What’s this?” Katie asked.

  “Open it,” Franz said.

  Inside was a diamond ring, a solitaire. “Katie,” Franz said awkwardly, “will you marry me?”

  Katie glanced at Franz and then looked away. She inhaled slowly on her cigarette and blew the smoke into the air above her. “I’m flattered, Franz,” she said, standing up and kissing him on the cheek, “I really am… but it just wouldn’t work.” She closed the box and handed him back the ring.

  “Why not?” Franz asked. “Don’t you love me?”

  “Yes, I do… I guess… if I’m capable of such an emotion. But Franz, we’ve been through this before. I’m just not the kind of woman you should marry.”

  “Why can’t you let me decide that, Katie?” Franz said. “How do you know what ‘kind of woman’ I need?”

  “Look, Franz,” Katie said, showing some agitation, “I’d rather not talk about this now. As I said, I’m very flattered… but I’m already nervous about this hearing for my father and you know I don’t deal well with too much shit at once.”

  “You’ll always have some reason for not wanting to talk about it,” Franz said angrily. “If you love me, I think I deserve more of an explanation. And now.”

  Katie’s eyes flashed. “You want an explanation now, Captain Bauer? All right, I’ll give you one. Follow me, if you please.” Katie led him into her dressing room. “Now stand there, Franz, and watch very closely.”

  Katie reached into her dresser. She pulled out a syringe and a piece of black tubing. She placed her right leg on the vanity stool and hiked her dress up above the bruises on her thigh. Franz instinctively turned his head away.

  “No,” Katie said, reaching out with one hand and turning his head back to face her. “You cannot look away, Franz. You must see me as I am.”

  She pulled down her panty hose and tied the tube in place. Katie glanced up to make certain Franz was still watching. There was pain in her eyes. “Don’t you see, Franz?” she said. “I cannot marry you because I’m already married… to this magic drug that never disappoints me. Don’t you understand? There’s no way that you could ever compete with kokomo.”

  Katie plunged the syringe into a vein and waited several seconds for the rush. “You might be fine for a few weeks, or even months,” Katie said now, speaking more rapidly, “but sooner or later you’d come up short. And I would replace you in my heart with old reliable again.”

  She wiped off the two drops of blood with a tissue and placed the syringe in the sink. Franz looked distraught. “Cheer up,” Katie said, patting him lightly on the cheek. “You haven’t lost your bed partner. I’ll still be here for whatever kinky things we can dream up together.”

  Franz turned away and placed the velvet box back in one of the pockets of his uniform. Katie walked over to the table and took one final drag from the cigarette that had been left burning in the ashtray. “Now, Captain Bauer,” Katie said, “We have a hearing to attend.”

  The hearing was held in the ballroom on the main floor of Nakamura’s palace. About sixty chairs had been set up in four rows along the walls for “special guests.” Nakamura himself, wearing the same Japanese costume in which he had appeared on television two days earlier, sat in a large, em
broidered chair above a raised platform at one end of the room. Two bodyguards, also in samurai dress, were beside him. The ballroom was completely decorated in a sixteenth century Japanese motif, adding to the image Nakamura was trying to create of himself as the all-powerful shogun of New Eden.

  Richard and Archie, who had only been told the hearing was going to occur four hours before they left the basement, were brought in by three policemen and instructed to sit on small pillows on the floor twenty meters in front of Nakamura. Katie noticed that her father looked tired and very old. She resisted an impulse to run out and talk to him.

  A functionary announced that the hearing was now under way and reminded all the spectators that they were to say nothing and interfere in no way with the proceedings. As soon as the announcement was completed, Nakamura stood up and swaggered down the two broad steps connecting his chair to the raised platform.

  “This hearing has been convened by the New Eden government,” he said gruffly, walking back and forth, “to determine if the alien enemy representative is prepared, on behalf of his species, to accept the unconditional surrender that we demand as a necessary prerequisite for ceasing the hostilities between us. If ex-citizen Wakefield, who is able to communicate with the alien, has been able to convince the alien of the wisdom of accepting our demands, including relinquishing all weapons of war and preparing for our occupation and administration of all alien lands, then we are prepared to be merciful. As a reward for his services in ending this terrible conflict, we would be willing to commute Mr. Wakefield’s execution sentence to life imprisonment.