“I'm going to start preparing the oysters for tonight,” said Lindsay. “Let me know what you find out.”
....................
“I found it,” said Richard. “The last one I tried. But the strange thing is that it took a few minutes after I sealed it up before I saw any results. Wait a minute. The audio distortion is back. Just a second.”
“Now it's clear again,” yelled Richard from the other room. “What's going on?”
“Come and look at what I found,” yelled Lindsay.
“What did you find?” asked Richard as he entered the galley. “I don't believe this. The distortion is back.”
“It's the biggest pearl I've ever seen,” said Lindsay. “Look at it.”
“It's a nice one,” said Richard as he came closer. “Wait a minute. Take the pearl into the other room for a second.”
“How's this?” asked Lindsay.
“Now bring it back,” said Richard.
“Make up your mind,” said Lindsay.
“You don't understand,” said Richard. “The pearl is causing the distortion.”
“That's not even funny,” said Lindsay. “You're just being ridiculous.”
“See for yourself,” said Richard. “Put these earphones on.”
“That's impossible,” said Lindsay. “This is unheard off.”
“You did say we're looking for the unknown,” laughed Richard. “Who knew?”
“Now wait a damn minute,” said Lindsay. “People have been harvesting pearls since before recorded history.”
“Now it's only distorting the audio within about a twelve foot radius,” said Richard. “That radius was close to one hundred feet when we were on the ocean floor. What's changed?”
“This may be a big pearl, but it's still too small to account for that much distortion,” said Lindsay. “Even if pearls could do this. We're missing something.”
“I just thought of something,” said Richard. “You know how pearls are formed, don't you?”
“A grain of coarse sand gets inside the oyster and irritates it,” said Lindsay. “The pearl is formed around the grain of sand to protect the oyster.”
“Maybe this one wasn't caused by sand,” said Richard. “We've got to cut it open and investigate.”
“Listen to yourself,” said Lindsay. “I just said it was too small to cause that much distortion and you're suggesting that something the size of a grain of sand could do it.”
“Certain crystals can generate minute electrical currents when pressure is applied to the crystal,” said Richard.
“The piezoelectric effect,” said Lindsay. “But we're talking about minute currents.”
“Maybe this crystal in a superconductor,” said Richard. “Or it may be an entirely new effect we've never even heard of.”
“A supermagnet maybe,” said Lindsay.
“We can test that,” said Richard. “Get me one of those refrigerator magnets.”
“They're all laying on the floor,” said Lindsay. “They want even stick to the refrigerator. See if they are attracted to the pearl.”
“Not at all,” said Richard. “They aren't even attracted to each other. Now this is really getting weird.”
“I'll take the pearl into the other room again,” said Lindsay.
“All of the magnets are stuck together now,” said Richard. “The pearl was creating a magnetic dampening field. That's amazing. It's an anti-magnet. We've got to see what's inside it. The magnets just fell apart and the lights dimmed. What did you do?”
“I just bit down on the pearl,” said Lindsay. “I only put a little pressure on it.”
“Like the pressure the oyster put on it when it was inside,” said Richard. “That why it's distortion range has changed.”
“Maybe if we cut the pearl open, we'll relieve even more pressure,” said Lindsay. “Then maybe we can analyze it with my machine if it's not generating that field.”
“But we'll have to be careful not to damage the crystal,” said Richard. “If that's what it is.”
“We can dissolve the pearl in vinegar,” said Lindsay. “It's mostly calcium carbonate.”
“Let's do it,” said Richard.
....................
“While we're waiting for it to dissolve,” said Richard, “we can do some fishing.”
“You don't want to search for the gold,” said Lindsay.
“I got a closer look at the wreck,” said Richard. “I don't believe it's safe to go poking around. We'll come back some day with the right equipment. Besides, I want you to analyse whatever is inside this pearl before we risk taking your machine back under water.”
“Get your rocks and I'll analyze those,” said Lindsay. “And bring the new ones we found today.”
“Good idea,” said Richard. “Make sure the machine is still working properly.”
“If you know the sample number for these rocks, I can compare my readings to the reading I got back in the lab the first time I analyzed them,” said Lindsay.
“You still have all that data stored in the machine?” asked Richard.
“And room for lots more,” said Lindsay. “In fact, I should be able to cross check the data and tell you the sample number.”
“Here are the rocks I brought from home,” said Richard. “I'll be back in a minute with the ones we found today.”
....................
“The machine's still working great,” said Lindsay. “Let's look at one of those rocks.”
“Here you go,” said Richard. “Analyze this one.”
“You're not going to believe this,” said Lindsay. “Look at the readings.”
“Gold,” said Richard. “but what's with all those question marks?”
“Minerals the machine can't analyze,” said Lindsay.
“Can't analyze?” asked Richard. “But you said ...”
“I know what I said,” said Lindsay. “But either the machine is malfunctioning or those minerals aren't from this world.”
“So. Can you fix it?” asked Richard.
“Why are you always so ready to blame my machine?” asked Lindsay. “Did you even once consider that this rock might be extraterrestrial?”
“I didn't give it much thought, to be honest,” said Richard.
“Well, maybe you should,” said Lindsay. “It analyzed your rocks perfectly, right down to the smallest detail.”
“Let's look at the others,” said Richard.
....................
“They're all the same,” said Lindsay. “I can't wait to see what was in that pearl. I'll bet it's not from around here either.”
“I took a look earlier,” said Richard. “It's going to take all night to dissolve that pearl.”
“Then let's go fishing,” said Lindsay. “Tuna would be nice for dinner.”
....................
“Well, we still have the oysters,” said Lindsay.
“That one I hooked must have been a record,” said Richard. “We needed heavier tackle.”
“Do you know how to tell when a fisherman is lying?” asked Lindsay.
“How?” asked Richard.
“When his lips are moving,” said Lindsay. “Look at it this way. You don't have to clean the ones that got away.”
....................
“Wake up, sleepy head,” said Lindsay. “I have a feeling this is going to be a big day for us.”
“The pearl!” said Richard. “Let's go check it out. It should be dissolved by now.”
....................
“Do you see anything?” asked Lindsay. “The pearl's gone and there's nothing left but vinegar.”
“Get another glass,” said Richard,” and something to strain the vinegar through.”
“It's a diamond,” said Lindsay. “About a 1/2 carat. How did you know?”
“I didn't,” said Richard. “Just a hunch. I was expecting a crystal. But a diamond doesn't make sense.”
“Grab one of the magnets and see
if it's generating an anti-magnetic field,” said Lindsay. “I'll get the machine and we'll get a closer look at this diamond.”
“I've never seen a diamond cut this way before,” said Richard. “It's an icosidodecahedron.”
“That cut doesn't give you maximum brilliance,” said Lindsay,
“Maybe it wasn't cut for brilliance,” said Richard, “If it's generating a field, it's a weak one.”
“Good,” said Lindsay. “Then we shouldn't have any trouble analyzing it.”
“It's a diamond all right,” said Richard as he scratched the surface of the glass. “Hardest naturally occurring substance on earth.”
“You don't mind if I get a second opinion?” asked Lindsay.
“Be my guest,” said Richard.
“Look at that,” said Lindsay. “11.5 on the hardness scale.”
“But diamond is 10.0,” said Richard. “This must be synthetic, but I've never heard of a synthetic diamond that was harder than a natural one.”
“It's not carbon based,” said Lindsay. “It's lithium based. The machine's indicating a sample in the data base that most closely resembles it.”
“What sample?” asked Richard. “You've never analyzed anything like this.”
“It was one of your rocks,” said Lindsay. “Sample #13232.”
“That's the one from Costa Rica,” said Richard. “We made a trip there recently and collected some more rocks. That's where I proposed to you.”
“I remember, silly,” said Lindsay. “But I don't remember this.”
“What?” asked Richard.
“Di-lithium,” said Lindsay. “That sample contained Di-lithium.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” asked Richard.
“I just told you I don't remember anything about Di-lithium,” said Lindsay. “I would have told you if I had known.”
“There must have been something about that sample that drew us back to Costa Rica,” said Richard. “But how did we miss this?”
“I've had dreams about that trip,” said Lindsay. “Do you remember that lava tube.”
“Yeah,” said Richard. “I've had dreams too. Do you remember a cave in?”
“In my dreams,” said Lindsay, “and giant crystals. Di-lithium crystals. They were glowing in the dark.”
“I had the same dream,” said Richard. “Or was it a dream?”
“What are you saying?” asked Lindsay.
“That's why the aliens visit Earth,” said Richard. “They need the Di-lithium.”
“Now do you believe those rocks we found are extraterrestrial?” asked Lindsay.
“What about this crystal?” asked Richard. “Are you saying it's Di-lithium?”
“Yes,” said Lindsay. “But different from sample #13232. It has a much tighter matrix. There's no way that's a naturally occurring matrix. It's been manipulated.”
“By intense pressure,” said Richard. “The kind of pressure that could generate an anti-magnetic field of gigantic proportions.”
“Do you remember how we got out of the crystal cavern?” asked Lindsay.
“No,” said Richard. “I don't remember. Someone must have helped us.”
“And they erased our memories,” said Lindsay. “What do you think they'll do this time if we keep nosing around.”
“If we live to tell about it, we probably won't remember,” said Richard. “I'm ready to go home. I've got my answers.”
“It probably would be a good idea to keep it to ourselves,” said Lindsay. “The world isn't ready for the truth.”
IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE EARTH III
“R ichard, the island is beautiful,” said Lindsay. “I can hardly believe we've got it all to ourselves for a whole month.”
“It will probably take the whole month to complete our research,” said Richard. “It rains here practically every day.”
“No wonder the jungle is so lush,” said Lindsay. “How far is it to the hut?”
“It's near the center of the island,” said Richard. “We'd better get started. The trail is grown up so bad we'll have to cut our way through.”
“I thought you said they brought in the equipment and supplies a couple of days ago,” said Lindsay. “Do the trails disappear that quickly?”
“Air drop,” said Richard. “They used parachutes to drop in the supplies and equipment.”
“So no one has been here to prepare for our arrival,” said Lindsay. “Do we even know the hut is still standing?”
“They reported seeing the roof of the hut during the air drop,” said Richard as he prepared to swing the machete. “It's still there.”
“It's a good thing we don't have to carry the supplies,” said Lindsay. “This is slow going as it is.”
....................
“I'm tired, and it's hot,” said Lindsay. “Can't we rest for a minute?”
“We've only got a couple of hours of sunlight left,” said Richard. “We can't rest for long.”
“It's starting to rain,” said Lindsay. “That should cool us off.”
“But it's going to make it harder to get our footing,” said Richard. “Let's keep going while we can.”
“I'll try,” said Lindsay. “But I don't know how much longer I can keep up this pace.”
“What's this?” asked Richard. “It looks like another trail.”
“A freshly cut trail,” said Lindsay. “And it's heading in the right direction.”
“But who cut it?” asked Richard. “Looks like we're not alone?”
“Our supplies!” said Lindsay. “You don't suppose they're pirates? Call the ship. Get them back here at once.”
“We don't have cell phone reception here,” said Richard. “We'll need the shortwave radio.”
“Let me guess. It was part of the air drop,” said Lindsay. “Let's hurry. I think I've found my second wind.”
....................
“Look! Up in that tree,” said Richard. “Looks like they missed the clearing with that one.”
“But there's nothing attached,” said Lindsay. “It's just a parachute.”
“Maybe the cords broke,” said Richard. “Help me look through the underbrush.”
“Look at these broken twigs,” said Lindsay. “Someone's been through here and I think they were dragging something.”
“Can you tell how many there were?” asked Richard. “Just what are we up against?”
“Can't tell,” said Lindsay. “The rain has washed away any footprints. But there couldn't have been that many of them if they had to drag it out of here.”
“Let's continue,” said Richard. “The hut should be fairly close. But let's be quiet in case they're still around.”
....................
“I don't hear any voices,” said Lindsay. “I'll bet they're long gone along with all of our stuff.”
“There's the roof of the hut,” said Richard. “I told you it was still here.”
“That's not funny,” said Lindsay. “Where's the rest of it?”
“I think that it's on the other side of the clearing,” said Richard. “Where are the other parachutes?”
“Looks like they didn't even bother to cut the cords,” said Lindsay. “They must have taken the whole thing, parachute and all.”
“Unless those idiots missed the clearing with all of our supplies,” said Richard. “We'll have to investigate in the morning. Right now we need to find shelter for the night.”
...................
“Everything is soaked by the rain,” said Lindsay. “Except for a few spots under the roof.”
“Not exactly what I had in mind for our first night,” said Richard. “But fortunately it won't get too cold if we can get dry and stay that way. I'll try to start a fire. Help me gather some of those dry leaves from under the roof.”
“That's my bed you're talking about burning. And what are we supposed to eat?” asked Lindsay. “That little hike from the beach made me hungry.”
“How do you feel ab
out sushi for breakfast,” said Richard. “If we can't find our supplies in the morning, we'll have to return to the beach. Look for anything that will hold rainwater. We're gonna be pretty thirsty by morning.”
SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORIES VOLUME IX Page 4