Part 9 (2/2)
Mandelbrot gripped the wrist of the Hunter and gently held Jeff's captive arm, as well. ”Release him,” he ordered again. ”I will take him into custody.”
”You...are...not...fooling me,” said the Hunter. ”Step...away.”
Jeff could see that. The Hunter knew that Mandelbrot himself was a fugitive from the central computer, so his words were all suspect. However, the combination of his accusation and Jeff's play-acting was enough to raise a reasonable doubt in its mind, and the force of the First Law was so great that it was now hesitant to act.
”Mandelbrot, carry me,” he pleaded, in as anxious a voice as he could muster. ”He's hurt me.”
The Hunter was in trouble, but not fully convinced. Mandelbrot did manage to force its grip open, however, and remove Jeff's arm. Then he picked up Jeff around the waist, jumped off the slidewalk onto the stationary shoulder, and ran for his truck.
”Stop!” The Hunter moved to action the moment Jeff was free, though it was still not at full capacity.
Jeff was facing backward as Mandelbrot ran with him, and could see the Hunter gradually entering a slow run after them. The Hunter's instructions were still in effect.
”It's already sent out a call for other Hunters,” said Mandelbrot, still running. ”You will get an explanation at a safer time. For now, when I hoist you into the back of this vehicle, lie down and hang on. You will be safest that way.”
”Uh-okay-” Jeff complied as Mandelbrot jumped into the cab and drove off fast.
Derec was awakened from a deep sleep by the sound of the big door opening. Light hit his closed eyelids and he reluctantly opened them with a squint. So Mandelbrot was back. He took in a deep breath, hoping to wake up completely and find food being offered.
The vehicle entered the building and then Ariel was already closing the door again.
Mandelbrot turned in the cab and helped another figure in the back to his feet.
”Say!” Ariel cried excitedly. ”Is that...that's Jeff!”
Amazed, Derec forced himself up on one elbow. His back and shoulders ached painfully.
”Hi, gang,” said Jeff. He stood looking around at them all from the back of the truck. Then Mandelbrot lifted him down.
”Jeff,” said Derec. He grimaced as he sat up all the way. ”What the...what are you doing here?”
He gave an embarra.s.sed shrug. ”I came to get you. To rescue you from Robot City.”
Derec felt his jaw drop open.
Ariel clapped both hands over her mouth.
”Ooooo,” said Wolruf.
”Oh, no.” Derec rubbed his forehead, stifling an embarra.s.sed smile of his own.
”What is it?” Jeff asked, looking at them all one after another. ”What's wrong? Don't you want to leave any more?”
”Jeff.” Ariel went over to him and gave him a hug. ”You actually came back for us. That's wonderful. Please don't misunderstand. It really means a great deal. Thank you.”
Jeff hugged her back lightly, clearly uncomfortable. ”I don't get it. What's going on?”
”Jeff,” said Derec. ”We can get off the planet now if we want. In fact, we can travel pretty far-as far as Earth and back. We...I...have a different problem now.”
”You can travel now?”
”I'm afraid so,” said Derec.
Jeff looked at Ariel, who shrugged. Then he gave a short laugh, shaking his head. ”Mind if I sit down?” He collapsed on the floor where he was, not too far from Derec.
”I thought you were going to send someone else back,” said Derec. ”I had no idea you'd come yourself.”
”How did you find it?” Mandelbrot asked. ”If you remember, I had no navigational data to give you.”
”I had a computer cross-reference the Aurora-Nexus route with what little I knew. It worked.” Jeff ran a hand through his black hair, staring at the floor. ”I'm a little shocked. But I'm glad you haven't been stranded.”
”How did you get here?” Derec asked.
”I was picked up by a s.h.i.+p headed back to Aurora. Once I got back there, I put together the location where I was picked up, the length of time it took me to get there, and the nearest stars. A computer gave me the likely directions, but I had to try several before I got the right one.” He shrugged. ”The hard part was getting my father to spring for the rental of a s.h.i.+p. And now I have to tell him it was unnecessary.”
”Well....” Ariel started.
Jeff turned to look at her.
”We could still use some help;' she said. ”We have to find Dr. Avery before his robots get ahold of us.”
”Avery! Did you say Dr. Avery?” Jeff sat up straight.
”You've heard of him?” Ariel said, dropping down to sit next to him. ”Where?”
”Mandelbrot, Wolruf,” said Derec. ”Come closer and follow this. It may turn out to be important.”
”Well,” said Jeff. ”I tried to explain to my father what I needed the s.h.i.+p for and he reminded me that this weird guy named Avery once had some wild plans about a planet with a planned community sort of like this one.”
”Wait a minute! This was supposed to be a secret,” said Ariel. ”My mother funded it. How does your father know about it?”
”He doesn't, really. It's just that Dr. Avery gave away some hints when we met him.”
”Met him?” Derec and Ariel cried in unison.
”Look, I don't remember it very well-”
”We've all had a few memory problems,” Ariel said with annoyance. ”Come on, this is important to us.”
”When?” Derec demanded. ”Recently? Back on Aurora?”
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