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Some cool water helped, and I found an antacid that at least covered up the
heavy taste of blood. The little man seemed about the same. Too much to ask,
to have him bite his tongue.
I studied the control console. There was not much to it; a fairly standard
American idiotproof layout. I
never could understand people who would trust AI circuits so completely that
they didn't even install readouts and controls for the thousands of things
that would have to be done if you were actually put in charge of the ship.
Every year several people disappear into space. Most of them probably spend
their last days shouting at an unresponsive screen.
"Show me where we are," I asked the machine.
The screen split into two pictures, one a diagram of Earth with a circular
orbit around it, the other an image of the actual planet. "We are currently in
geosynchronous orbit over longitude thirty-nine degrees east, which is Kenya.
My basic algorithm precludes coming closer to Earth while stealth mechanisms
are in effect."
That explained the mirror finish outside. "Suppose I ask you to change that
part of your algorithm?"
"It violates international law to operate a stealthed vehicle any closer to
Earth."
"I didn't ask you about the law. Will you take me to Earth?"
"It violates international law to operate a stealthed vehicle inside
geosynchronous orbit."
"I understand that. Will you break the law for me?"
"I cannot."
Not surprising. "All right. Turn off the stealth and take us to Maui."
"I cannot deactivate stealth measures without proper authorization. " That
gave me a cold ripple; we could go around that track until we ran out of air.
I unhooked the microphone and thumbed it. "Mayday. Mayday." I doubted that
Briskin was sitting somewhere over Kenya, waiting for us. "I'm in a stealthed
ship, name unknown, in geosynchronous orbit above thirty-nine degrees east.
Please answer."
The console answered. "No communications are allowed while stealth conditions
are in operation. I
cannot deactivate stealth measures without proper authorization."
"What is proper authorization?"
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"Place thumb in identification square."
Of course. "Just a moment." I untied the man and pulled him over. Pressed his
thumb to the square. A
small STEALTH OFF message blinked on and disappeared.
I tied him back up and strapped him in. Strapping myself in, I paused to
think. Maybe I had better not go straight to Maui. Maybe I'd better not stay
here, either. You had to assume that when a spaceship suddenly appeared out of
nowhere, various authorities would notice.
How much power did Briskin actually have? Did everyone in authority accept his
version of what had gone on in Yugoslavia? Dallas and I had chewed on those
questions a few times, and I'd had forty more years to think them over. With
no new data, unfortunately, other than the fact of my kidnapping, although
that was not insignificant.
Wait. "Where were you programmed to land?"
"I was not programmed to land. I was only asked to wait in a parking orbit
above thirty-nine degrees east."
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"Are there any other spaceships in the vicinity?"
"Yes. A stretch Mercedes is closing on us at thirteen hundred meters per
second. Range four hundred eighty kilometers."
"Take us to Maui. As fast as possible."
"Very well. Sixty-second countdown "
"Take us now
!" I had been leaning forward into my straps with the tension. The sudden
acceleration was like a huge soft animal rolling over on me. I did manage not
to bite my tongue again
They would be waiting for me. What was I going to do?
DALLAS
The ship refused to come closer to Earth than geosynch, stealthed. I hadn't
asked the Barons about that, but it was no problem. I just plugged Eric in as
an override system; he was able to use the ship's knowledge but ignore
inconvenient legalities.
Assuming that the kidnapper if there was only one had come to Earth as fast as [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]