Leviathans of Jupiter (24 page)

“Maybe the ship scared them off?”

Yeager gave him a sour look. “My baby might look big to you, Andy, but to those damned whales it's just a little minnow. She didn't scare them.”

Frowning with puzzlement, Corvus muttered, “Maybe something else did, then.”

*   *   *

Faraday
Central computer: Query core memory
re
attacks on submersible vessels by predators.

Core memory: Attacks by predators not unusual. Two earlier submersible vessels lost, presumably due to predator attacks.

Mission objectives priority: 1. Self-preservation. 2. Observation of leviathans. 3. Report accumulated data on schedule. 4. Report new phenomena immediately. 5. Observation of predators.

Mission protocol program: WARNING. Approaching depth limit of mission profile.

Systems check: All systems functioning within design parameters.

Central computer: Do not exceed depth limit of 1000 kilometers.

Logic tree: Prime directive of self-preservation can be achieved by maintaining sufficient distance from predators to forestall their attacks.

Central computer: Follow predators while maintaining existing distance from them.

Logic tree: Why do predators attack inanimate vessels? Possibility one: Predators do not have enough intelligence to recognize inanimate objects from potential edible prey. Possibility two: Predators behaving analogously to predators of Earth by staking out hunting territory and resisting encroachment by others.

Question: Are predator attacks simple reflex action or territorial behavior? Not enough data to decide.

Subsidiary question: If behavior is territorial, how do predators distinguish particular locations? Are there characteristics of the ocean environment undetected by ship's sensors but clearly discernable to predators?

Central computer: Insufficient data to derive meaningful solution. Continue following predators; maintain existing distance; do not exceed depth limit.

Safety subprogram: WARNING. Increasing depth causing rising internal temperatures.

Query: Are rising internal temperatures causing system malfunctions?

Safety subprogram: All systems operating within nominal limits.

Central computer: Continue existing course.

Sensor report: Predator pack has divided into two segments. One is continuing on course. The other has reversed course and is heading toward this vessel.

OBSERVATION DECK

Deirdre felt her breath catch in her throat.

She had agreed to meet Mrs. Westfall in the observation deck of station
Gold,
a special section of the second wheel with a long window of glassteel looking out into space. The deck was empty and dark when Deirdre entered; like the observation blister aboard
Australia,
once she closed the hatch she seemed to be hanging in the middle of infinity, swarms of stars gleaming all about her, solemn and unblinking, stars of all colors blazing their light across the universe.

Deirdre took an unsteady step across the glassteel floor. It was like walking on the face of the deep. And then, as the station slowly rotated, massive Jupiter rose majestically into view. The planet loomed huge, immense, its varicolored clouds churning and whirling before Deirdre's staring eyes. It filled her vision, engulfed her senses like a true god, encompassing everything. Deirdre felt herself trembling. Jupiter, king of the gods, mightiest of all the planets of the solar system.

She reached out her hand as the incredible swirling beauty of the planet slid unhurriedly before her amazed eyes. Her fingertips touched the cold solidity of the glassteel window. For long minutes she stood there, transfixed, watching the giant planet's roiling, eddying clouds. Close enough to touch, she thought. Almost close enough to touch.

Then the station's rotation swung Jupiter out of her view. She watched the curve of the planet's limb, brilliant against the blackness of space, slowly swing out of sight. How pale the stars seemed! How distant and cold.

The hatch opened and the floor lights glowed faintly. Deirdre could see Katherine Westfall's slim figure reflected in the window, outlined within the frame of the hatchway.

Reluctantly she turned to face Mrs. Westfall. The woman was only shoulder high to Deirdre, but her form-fitting metallic jumpsuit once again made Deirdre feel shabby in her everyday gray coveralls. Once the hatch closed and the lights dimmed again, she heard Westfall's breath puff out of her.

“Goodness!” Westfall gasped.

Deirdre smiled knowingly. “It's like being in outer space,” she said, extending a hand to Westfall.

Quickly recovering, Westfall disdained Deirdre's hand as she stepped up beside her. “It is rather spectacular, isn't it?”

“The universe,” Deirdre murmured.

“All those stars. Clouds of them. Oceans of them.”

“Yes.”

“Can you identify them?”

“Some,” Deirdre said. “That bright blue one is Sirius, I think. And over there, the yellowish one, that's probably Canopus.”

Westfall said, “When we were children we always tried to find ‘Beetlejuice'.”

“You grew up in Australia?”

“The Outback. I thought we saw plenty of stars back there, but this … this is rather much, isn't it?”

“Rather,” Deirdre agreed.

“Now then,” Westfall said, her tone turning businesslike, “what have you found out?”

Knowing that Dr. Archer would tell her about
Faraday
's first data capsule within a few hours, Deirdre reported, “The vessel sent its first data capsule on schedule.”

“Data capsule,” Westfall repeated, uncertainly.

“The vessel is down so deep in the ocean that it can't transmit messages by radio or laser, so it's programmed to send capsules up into orbit.”

“Ah! I see. And the capsules contain information about what the ship has been doing.”

“Exactly. The first capsule came out of the clouds and established an equatorial orbit late yesterday.”

“And what information did it carry?”

Deirdre shrugged slightly. “All the ship's systems are performing as designed.
Faraday
's down at the depth where the leviathans are usually found.”

“And?”

“No leviathans yet. None of the creatures have been detected.”

“None? Not one?”

“Not one.”

“What do the scientists have to say about that?”

Hearing the impatience in her voice, Deirdre thought, She'd never be able to be a scientist; she wants results too soon.

“Well?” Westfall demanded.

“They're sort of surprised. The vessel was sent to a region where there's always been leviathans swimming and feeding. But right now there's nothing.”

“How can that be?”

“That's what they're trying to figure out. The vessel's following a stream of organics, the stuff the leviathans feed on. Sooner or later they'll find some of the creatures, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless the creatures have gone so deep the vessel can't follow them.”

Even in the starlit dimness Deirdre could see unalloyed anger twisting Westfall's usually composed features.

“They're hiding something!” she snapped.

“No, that's what the data capsule showed,” said Deirdre.

“Either they're hiding vital information from you or you're hiding it from me. Either way, I want to know everything they've found. Everything! Do you understand me?”

“But that
is
everything!” Deirdre said.

“I don't believe you. I don't believe any of you! You're hiding the truth from me and—”

Westfall stopped in mid-sentence. Deirdre saw a reddish glow starting to light her face. Turning, she saw that Jupiter was sliding into view once again.

Westfall stood open-mouthed, staring.

“My god,” she whispered. “My god.”

Deirdre fought down the urge to snicker at Westfall's sudden awe.

“It's overpowering, isn't it?” she whispered, extending her hand toward Westfall once more.

“Overwhelming,” Westfall said, in a little girl's frightened voice. “As if it's going to fall down on us, crush us…”

She turned and bolted for the hatch, fumbled with the keypad lock, and pushed out into the passageway as soon as the hatch clicked open.

Deirdre went after her. Westfall was standing pressed against the passageway bulkhead, eyes closed, breathing hard.

“Are you all right?” Deirdre asked.

With an obvious shuddering effort, Westfall pulled herself together. She took in a deep breath, opened her steel gray eyes, ran smoothing hands along the thighs of her metallic jumpsuit.

“I'm fine,” she said calmly. “I was merely … surprised. I've never seen Jupiter like that before. It seemed … so close … so … so immense.”

Deirdre nodded. “It's a powerful experience.”

Straightening her spine, Westfall said, “Be that as it may, I expect you to find out what the scientists are hiding.”

“But they're not—”

“They are,” Westfall snapped. “And if you value your life you will find what it is and report it immediately to me. Immediately!”

With that, Westfall turned and strode up the passageway, leaving Deirdre standing there, stunned and frightened.

ATTACK

Faraday
watched as the group of predators split precisely in two. Half of the sharklike beasts continued on the course that the pack had been following; the other half was speeding directly toward
Faraday.

Calculating their speed as they approached,
Faraday
's central computer estimated that it could outrun the predators, if necessary. The beasts were big, several of them slightly longer than
Faraday
's own diameter. The programming's primary directive of self-preservation flared to the top of the computer's priorities, replacing the directive to find and observe the leviathans. The human analog program pulled up another aphorism: “Those who fight and run away live to fight another day.”

Faraday
awaited the predators' attack.

The beasts swarmed all around
Faraday,
completely englobing the vessel as they swam sleekly in slowly tightening circles.
Faraday
made no effort to evade them; the vessel merely maintained its course heading and speed.

Closer and closer the predators glided.
Faraday
's sensors studied them intently while the central computer ordered a fresh data capsule be prepared for launching.

Each of the predators had a row of glistening circular objects running the length of its body.
Faraday
assumed they were visual sensors. Checking its own auditory receivers, the central computer realized that the predators were sending out sound waves, possibly using them as sonar to measure
Faraday
's size and distance.

Suddenly one of the beasts darted in toward
Faraday
on a collision course. It pulled up at the last instant and merely brushed against the vessel's metal hull.
Faraday
's sensors measured the force of the impact; internal monitors reported that no damage had been inflicted.

Another of the creatures bolted in and banged harder against the hull. Then a third, harder still. Internal monitors registered the jolt. Central computer's decision tree showed that if the impacts increased in strength it would be necessary to initiate defensive maneuvers.

A human brain, awash with emotions, would have felt fear, and perhaps curiosity. Why were these predators banging into the vessel? What was their objective? It must be clear to them that the vessel is not edible: It can't be prey. Why were they attacking?

Faraday
's central processor, though, merely recorded the attack so that the data capsule could send off the information once it was launched.

From several rungs down the priority directives came the conclusion that the other half of the predators, those that had continued on their original course, must still be tracking the leviathans. But that was of secondary interest now. Self-preservation was most important. That, and getting all this new data out on a capsule so that the human directors could benefit from it.

Another predator slammed into
Faraday,
hard enough to throw four internal pressure monitors off-line for 3.0025 seconds. Puzzling behavior. Checking the decision tree again, central computer found that it was time to test the theory that the predators were behaving territorially.

Faraday
activated its secondary propulsion system, leaping upward on a jet of superheated steam. The predators bolted out of the vessel's way and
Faraday
left them far behind, milling about, emitting sound waves on at least four different frequencies. They avoided the plume of steam that the vessel spurted out, sensors reported.

Faraday
checked the data capsule, making certain that all these observations were filed in its memory core, then released the capsule.

At the extreme range of its sensors,
Faraday
saw that the predators who had attacked it had now re-formed into a group and were heading in the same direction as they had been before they broke off to attack. Their speed was much higher than before. If a computer could be surprised,
Faraday
's central processor would have whistled with astonishment.

CONTROL CENTER

Linda Vishnevskaya twitched with surprise. She sat at her console in the control center, alone except for the forlorn figure of Max Yeager, dozing in one of the visitor's chairs up by the curving bulkhead. The rest of her crew were not needed; no data capsule from
Faraday
was expected for another twelve hours. She could have left the center completely unattended; if anything happened the comm system would automatically alert her.