Part 8 (1/2)

'But you do believe their remote probes discovered something that inspired project Gorbachev?' Jim asked.

'Yes,' the president said, growing impatient. 'What is your point, Professor?'

Jim, who had been pacing slowly, stopped and leaned against the back of his chair. 'I have traveled to all parts of this globe. It's funny, but when you live in the city, you think the whole world's crowded. It's only when you travel in the country, or sail across the ocean, that you realize the world is mostly deserted. I find it amazing that our probes, and the Russian probes, should each come across evidence of life. No, not just life, but extremely evolved life - an animal of some sort. Don't you agree, Mr President?'

'The evidence speaks for itself,' the president said.

Lauren interrupted. 'Do the experts who have studied these pictures feel the creatures who made the footprints are intelligent?'

'They consider it highly unlikely,' the president said. 'You all know the reasons why. There is absolutely no sign of civilized life on Mars.'

'There's the ca.n.a.ls,' Gary said with a laugh. They all laughed, except Jim.

'But the Martian environment is hostile,' Jim said. 'Biologists agree evolved life could not have developed there in the last few million years.'

The president spread his hands. 'I'm not a scientist. But I have learned over the years that the universe is a strange place that doesn't always follow scientific laws.'

'That is true,' Jim agreed, thoughtfully. He fingered his s.h.i.+rt pocket.

'Perhaps this species evolved when the conditions on Mars were much different,' Lauren suggested. 'Then adapted.'

Jim nodded. 'It's possible.' He let go of his s.h.i.+rt. 'We know our own climate was greatly different in the distant past.'

'You can see why you were only informed of these pictures now,' the president said. 'Earlier, and you would have been too preoccupied with constructing theories to concentrate on your program. But I hope you are satisfied, Professor, with what you have seen tonight. There is another issue that we need to discuss before I return to Was.h.i.+ngton. For the first time in history, we are dealing with an alien life form. The question arises: do we have the right to protect ourselves? What would you say, Major Wheeler?'

Gary answered immediately. 'If they are not intelligent creatures, sir, I would say yes. If they are intelligent, I would have to think about it.'

The president nodded. 'Professor Ranoth?'

Jim was displeased. 'Protection at what expense? If there are such creatures, they may not be intelligent now, but who can say about the future? Or even the past. It is their planet.'

Lauren respected Jim's answer, but did not like it. She had her own reasons, the most significant of which was that she didn't want to be eaten alive.

'What do you say, Dr Wagner?' the president asked.

'If they are only animals,' she said, 'and they attacked us first, I would feel justified in protecting myself.'

The president nodded. 'Well, I got two out three votes. My decision matches the majority. You are to protect yourselves. I will not send you to Mars to be killed.'

Jim sat down. 'We would be the invaders,' he said.

'Oh, Jim,' Gary said. 'Don't be so idealistic. If they're only animals and can't think, what difference does it make if we have to shoot a few?'

Jim's face flushed, and Lauren thought he might be angry. When he spoke next, however, he sounded only hurt. 'Maybe they can do other things besides think.'

'I am giving you an order,' the president said firmly. 'All of you. Defend yourselves at all costs. If they are intelligent, they will not attack you.'

'If they came here,' Jim asked, 'what would we do to them?'

”This debate can go on all night,' the president said. 'I don't want to have to keep repeating myself.'

Jim leaned back in his chair. He looked weary. 'Are you so sure, Mr President, that we can protect ourselves?'

For the first time since showing his slides, the president seemed to stand on firm ground. 'Yes,' he said. He motioned to Dean who carried the bulky suitcase to the pressurized drop. Gary accepted it on their side, compromising their quarantine for a second time. The threat of the footprints suddenly hit closer to home for Lauren. Inside the suitcase was a laser rifle. Lauren had seen pictures of experimental models, but none as compact as this one. Gary whistled with excitement and swung the weapon to his shoulder. Mostly silver in color, the rifle was stubby, with a short barrel that culminated in a translucent ring. Nevertheless, it looked heavy.

First Martians and now ray guns.

'Careful, Major,' the president said. 'I've been told it isn't charged, but let's play it safe.'

Gary's eyes glowed. 'What can it do?'

The president treated them to a movie this time instead of slides. The clip came out of Dean's attache case. It showed a white-coated technician pointing the laser at a four-foot-thick brick wall and simply blowing it away. They learned the rifle weighed thirty pounds, and had to be recharged after every three shots. Its battery was a high-temperature superconductor - especially designed to provide instant energy to power the laser. The Hawk carried four such weapons. That was twelve rounds, Lauren thought. She was already counting her ammunition. She wondered if the Martians moved in packs. The range of the weapon was over a quarter of a mile. Nothing could stand in its path, the president said, and live.

'Very impressive,' Jim muttered, when the film was finished.

'I know you are unhappy, Professor,' the president said, his voice gentle now, 'with all this talk of weapons. We only want you to be able to protect yourselves.' He stood to leave. 'Let us pray this is all a foolish caution. Now, if there are no more questions...'

'Is the Rover still operating?' Jim asked, standing, too.

'No,' the president said. 'How could it be?'

'Was it suddenly destroyed?' Jim asked.

'We don't know,' the president said.

'I a.s.sumed when you showed us these slides that you believed whatever had made the footprints had tampered with the Rover,' Jim said.

'I never said that,' the president replied. He added, 'Your first landing will be near the Rover. You'll see for yourself what became of it.'

Jim pointed once more to the slides in the projector. 'May I examine these for a few more minutes?'

'Certainly,' the president said. 'For as long as you like -tonight. Anything else I can do for you, Professor, before I say goodbye?'

Jim smiled, his usual warmth surfacing. 'Tell me what became of Carl Bensk. But I guess I'll have to wait to know that. Forgive my many questions, Mr President. It's a tiresome habit of mine.'

Jim was one of the quietest people Lauren knew.

'I appreciate your alertness,' the president said pleasantly, perhaps because he was leaving. They all stood to say goodbye, hearing the usual. Farewell, G.o.d bless you, best wishes, and don't get killed. Then the president was gone, with Dean trailing behind him.

Lauren took a breath. 'Whew. That was heavy.'

'Martians!' Gary exclaimed. 'What did I tell you?' He patted the laser rifle. 'Would you look at this thing, Doc'

'Just remember, I'm not that brick wall,' Lauren said. She touched the barrel, and felt the comforting hardness of its cold metal.

'May I turn out the lights?' Jim asked. He stood beside the projector. 'I want to see these footprints before the sand covers them over.'