by Dean, Warren
She counted twenty of the cubicles, which were arranged in a circle around a large metallic cube. It occurred to her that the cube was the first metallic object she had seen within the facility. It was approximately four or five metres square and seemed to be the source of the faint humming sound which permeated the building. Metal pipes protruded from its sides and extended over the top of each cubicle, each pipe ending in a flat disc which looked a lot like a large shower rose.
The users of the cubicles stood beneath the discs, moving and altering the patterns around them with intricate actions of their heads and fingers. Occasionally one of them would move out of or into a cubicle, simply stepping through one of its translucent walls. Apart from the hum of the central cube and an occasional burst of what sounded like high-pitched static, the whole operation was silent.
"That is our central information processor," said a voice alongside her. Qara started and turned to see Vi standing there. She seemed to have appointed herself Qara's personal guide. "It contains the data we brought with us to your planet and our researchers constantly feed new information into it. Our analysts draw the information they require for their studies into the three-dimensional interface modules where they can interact with it."
Oyugun, a painfully shy young man who was fascinated by all things technological, temporarily overcame his customary reticence. "How are the, er, people inside the modules able to access the information they are working with?" he asked hesitantly.
"I'm not an analyst, so I am not really qualified to explain the technicalities of the system," Vi replied. "I am sure Ko will explain it to your technicians when they arrive. As I understand it, the information is converted by the processor into electronic signals, which are fed into the modules through the overhead pylons. The signals intersect the light particles rising from the base, which causes the information to be represented three-dimensionally within the modules. Some of the information is represented sonically, which you probably hear as bursts of static. The analysts using the modules wear tiny laser emitting devices in their eyes and on their fingertips, which enable them to manipulate the information."
It was a lot to digest and Qara hoped that Tol was recording every word. Knowing him, he was probably already halfway through converting the material into an 'Insight' feature.
Oyugun looked suitably impressed by the Faerie Folk's computer system but, before he could ask for further details, Vi shepherded them towards the right-hand end of the domed room where Ko and the ambassador were waiting for everyone to assemble.
The others were settling into what resembled comfortable armchairs arranged in a large semi-circle facing the centre of the room. Qara sat in one of the chairs and felt it begin moulding itself to fit her figure. She leapt out of the chair with a yelp. Everyone else seemed delighted and Batu quickly discovered that if he wanted to sit back or lie down the chair automatically adjusted itself to the required angle. Sheepishly, she sat down again and kept as still as she could.
Ko, Vi and the ambassador took up position at the focal point of the semi-circle. Physician Ti had left the party as soon as it entered the facility. A pair of the Faerie Folk's nutritionists showed everyone how to order refreshments from a miniature interface module sitting on the arm of each chair. Among a list of mostly exotic beverages Qara found tea, coffee and water, and opted for the latter, suddenly realising that she was thirsty from the long walk through the forest.
In the meantime, Batu and Oyugun set up their equipment and, after a brief introduction by the president, the ambassador began his presentation.
"Welcome to our research facility," he said, raising his four-fingered green hands in an all encompassing gesture. "It is entirely contained within this building, which covers an area of approximately three hectares. We have had to clear an area of the forest in order to build it and for that we sincerely apologise." He inclined his head towards the curator. "There are one hundred and seventy-two of my people here, the majority of them analysts, researchers and other technicians. There are a dozen translators, two physicians and six nutritionists.
"Before I ask Analyst Ko to tell you what it is that we are working on here, I must explain the general purpose of our visit to your planet. First, I wish to assure you that we are not here to conquer, or to invade. We have travelled here in a single star ship which is presently in orbit around your Moon. You have not detected it because it has been kept cloaked, as has this facility. Our cloaking technology not only screens the cloaked object from observation, it also physically deflects anything which approaches it. This is the only defensive technology we have deployed. You will find no weapons within this facility, nor any military or security personnel of any kind. President Ganzorig's team will be invited to confirm this during their inspection.
"The reason we have kept our presence hidden until now is to give ourselves enough time to prepare evidence of what it is we have to offer you. We are not naive enough to believe that there will be no hostility towards us or suspicion of our motives. Now that our facility is up and running, we are in a position to make our proposal. We are here to trade with you. Knowing that our technology is superior to yours, you may wonder what it is that we want from you. In order to answer this question I must tell you of the predicament in which my race is mired."
He went on to describe in some detail the genetic crisis that Vi had told Qara of earlier. "Our genetic analysts have been working on the problem for a long time, but have been quite unable to solve it. The more research and testing we do the more anomalous results we seem to produce. At present, if natural forces are left to determine the gender of our young, one female is born to every eight males and each generation of females produces less young than the one before. We have the genetic technology to change the gender of unborn males, but have found that females born of this method are almost always infertile. Our understanding of the whole phenomenon is in so parlous a state that we are not even able to conclusively determine whether the infertility is the cause of our overall decline, or rather a function of it.
"It is one of the reasons we travel the universe seeking out young, innovative races such as yours. We hope that we shall discover some insight that we have lost, or perhaps never had. We have come to your planet to study the family system as your race has developed it. The family system is common to many of our client races, but most of them have imposed external controls over it in order to maximise the potential of individuals within the family. In our society the family system is regarded as an ancient anachronism. The accepted theory is that family ties should not be permitted to inhibit the development of the extraordinary personalities the civilisation needs to drive its overall progress. The talent and potential of our young is identified at an early age and each individual is placed within the most appropriate training facility. Our females are mated only with genetically suitable males in order to maximise their prospects of producing desirable offspring."
The rather uncharitable thought which popped into Qara's mind at this point was that Tol would have to scrap his planned 'Insight' feature and start working on a new one.
The ambassador continued his monologue. "Your society is unique in that it imposes no such controls over the family system. Males and females are free to choose their mates. Children who would be far more suited to one calling or occupation are allowed to randomly adopt another, often simply following in the footsteps of a parent. The result is that accidents of birth doom many potentially extraordinary individuals to mediocrity or failure. We have not found such an imperfect system anywhere else in the universe.
"And yet, the human race has progressed at an extraordinary rate in a very short space of time. Brilliant individuals have emerged regularly and in sufficient numbers to ensure that your technology has never stagnated for more than a few hundred of your years at a time. Our analysts have competing theories to explain this. One is that the human race produces an unusually high number of brilliant individuals and that no amount of chaotic select
ion can inhibit the development of sufficient numbers of them. The other is that it is this very aspect of natural selection which drives humanity's progress. Either way, we are here to request the opportunity to ascertain, through observation and study, whether your system of selection holds the key to our quandary.
"We do not ask this boon lightly, nor do we undervalue it. We have identified what we believe to be the most significant problem faced by your race and we offer to assist you to overcome it. Your population is exploding at a rate with which you cannot cope. Your planet is rapidly running out of natural resources and can no longer sustain its population. President Ganzorig has informed us that there are an estimated nine billion inhabitants of planet Earth, not counting its other species. Despite your best efforts, the numbers of most of these other species are dwindling towards extinction. Even your more developed nations face ruin once their resources are exhausted.
"The solution is to colonise other worlds so that your population can spread out and relieve Earth of its burden. However you have not yet developed a star drive and our analysis of the level of your technology is that, by the time you are in a position to do so, your planet will be in ruins and you will no longer have the resources to go into space."
The ambassador paused for breath, or perhaps for effect. Qara glanced at the rest of the group. The euphoric mood of earlier had cooled rapidly in the few minutes it had taken the ambassador to succinctly summarise the dire condition of planet Earth.
He was well aware of the effect of his words. "I am sorry to express it so starkly, but we believe we can offer you the knowledge you need to achieve a solution."
Without further ado he stepped back, and left the facility's head analyst to continue the interview. Ko was a slightly shorter, thinner individual than the ambassador and not as comfortable a speaker. Although he spoke in the same high-pitched tone as the other Faerie Folk, his manner was less assured and his sentences clipped. As far as Qara was concerned, he did not display the warm sincerity exuded by Vi.
"It is not possible to simply give you our star drive," he began brusquely. "Although there are some similarities, your technology is fundamentally incompatible with ours. What is required is for us to introduce you to the concepts you will need to develop your technology to the necessary level. Then we can assist you to design star ships and the systems you will need to operate them. We will teach you the basics of space navigation and, when the time comes, give you the co-ordinates of star systems which may be suitable for you to colonise.
"We are aware that you do not have a central planetary authority, so our offer is available to any of your nations who wish to participate in the programme. That is why we have brought such a large team of analysts and researchers with us. We estimate that about twenty to thirty of your nations are in a position to take up our offer, although we recommend that as many as possible join forces with each other. Our experience with other races tells us that it will take approximately six of your months for your most developed nations to successfully launch your first star ships.
"The fundamentals of star travel are simple. You have already discovered the existence of black holes, and your speculation about the existence and function of wormholes is well founded. We will teach you the mathematics to enable you to plot wormholes through space. Each wormhole must pass within a precisely measured distance of a black hole. The star drive opens the wormhole and taps the immense energy created by the acceleration of matter being drawn into the black hole. The energy is used to stabilise the wormhole and propel the star ship through it.
"It is too dangerous to open a wormhole within the atmosphere of a planet. A portion of the atmosphere is inevitably sucked into the wormhole when it opens, and this has been known to destabilise the wormhole to the extent that it ruptures. In the early days of space travel, a number of star ships were lost as a result of this effect. Also, the loss of even a small portion of a planet's atmosphere can have disastrous consequences for its ecology. Most races avoid this problem by building a space station. Your existing space stations are inadequate for the purpose, but you are fortunate; your Moon is ideally situated for use as a space station and is large enough to meet your needs."
Abruptly, Ko stopped speaking and there was silence while the members of his audience simply gaped at him, stunned by the enormity of his revelations. Tol now had enough material for a whole series of 'Insight' features, and the tour of the facility had not even begun yet.
The presentation wasn't finished and the ambassador stepped forward again. "We are mindful of the fact that a promise of helping you to achieve space travel in the future will not satisfy those among you who are doubtful of our intentions or perhaps even of our ability to carry out our promises. The star drive is only one of the things we have to offer. A more immediate difficulty faced by your population is the shortage of proper housing. Billions of humans are either homeless or reside in sub-standard structures. Many are without electricity for light and heat. The explosion of your population, and the rapid dwindling of your planet's resources, has caused the cost of building materials and electricity to soar to levels which make it impossible for your nations to construct proper living facilities for all of the planet's inhabitants."
He raised his hands in another all-encompassing gesture. "The answer to this crisis is around us. We did not bring any building materials with us. This facility is constructed of the most abundant resource on the face of your planet. It was completed in a fraction of the time it would have taken had we used any of your conventional building materials. Buildings constructed of this material can be produced quickly and cheaply and can withstand extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. The material also draws solar energy, stores it, and converts it into light and heat, which is distributed through the walls of the building."
Before he could continue, one of the president's aides leaned forward and whispered urgently into Ganzorig's ear. He stood up immediately. "I am sorry to interrupt you, ambassador, but I have just received word that squadrons of Chinese and Russian hover-copters have entered Mongolian airspace. I must leave for the city at once. I have already made some preparations in anticipation of such an eventuality and I shall do everything in my power to safeguard you and your people. Once the crisis has been dealt with I shall return and look forward to completing the tour of your facility."
"Do not worry about us, Mr President," responded the ambassador. "No-one will be able to discover our facility while it is cloaked."
The president and his companions hurried out of the facility and raced through the trees. They boarded the waiting 'copters, which rose into the clear blue sky. After a few moments the ancient forests of Tsetseegun Uul were silent and empty once more.
CHAPTER FOUR
David crossed Tremont Street and strolled across Boston Common towards the Frog Pond Cafe. His next patient interview was not until one o'clock and he could afford to spend an hour relaxing with a coffee in the warm autumn sun. He crossed the crowded common, picking his way between the mid-morning picnickers and idle MIT students competing for space on the neatly cut lawns. To the right, along the tree-lined Freedom Trail, a group of grubby looking individuals was conducting a peaceful, if noisy, protest. He watched as they pressed colourful leaflets into the hands of reluctant pedestrians hurrying or strolling along the walkway.
Ignoring the commotion, he activated his 'link and checked that his pulp-download of the Boston Morning Tribune had arrived. Most people were content to watch the news on their screens or 'specs, but he preferred reading it himself rather than having it hurled at him in the sensational tones affected by Personet news anchors. At the cafe he found a recently vacated table and selected his order from its touchscreen interface. He projected a holographic screen from his 'link, positioned the projection at a comfortable height above the table, and called up the front page of the Tribune.
As usual, the main headline featured the Faerie Folk. In the six weeks since their emergence from the steppes
of Mongolia they had dominated the media. The latest news was that their pilot building programme, near Bangkok in Thailand, was nearing completion. It was the culmination of a fascinating series of events, which began with ominous reports of Chinese and Russian hover-copter gunships criss-crossing Mongolia, searching for the Faerie Folk's facility. Both powers announced that they merely wanted to satisfy themselves that it contained no threats to world security.
No-one believed this, of course, and it was obvious that each wanted the Faerie Folk's technology for itself. It seemed inevitable that there would be conflict, either between Mongolia and the intruding powers, or between the intruders themselves. Sensibly, Mongolia did not launch a military response, although its government protested strongly at the presence of foreign forces within its borders.
Initially the rival 'copter squadrons searched the Bogdkhan National Park, occasionally putting troops on the ground to comb dense areas of forest, but they found nothing. Then, suspecting that the Mongolians had somehow misdirected them as to the location of their target, they extended their search over a much larger area.
For ten days the tension simmered and the world held its breath as it waited to see who would find the facility first, and what the response of the other would be. Nothing happened, however, because they were simply unable to find anything. The facility seemed to have vanished from the face of the Earth.
While the search was taking place, the intruding powers were deftly outmanoeuvred by the quick-witted young president of Mongolia. Before embarking on his initial visit to the facility, he had ordered his parliament to prepare a proclamation declaring it a foreign embassy. Upon his return, he ratified the proclamation which, under international law, gave it the status of an independent state. The chancellor of the Northern European government in Munich issued a statement guaranteeing its territorial integrity, and the rest of the world's major nations quickly followed suit.