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time-capsule containing the heritage of a mighty civilization. . . and you
abandoned it."
"The Challenger was built as a survey ship," Telson retorted, his anger
rising. "Its libraries were for the use of several generations of crew. Time
capsule indeed."
Bran moved off the swivel chair and stood facing the two men. Suddenly
his eyes were alight, the fathomless expression was no more. "But that's
exactly what the ship has become, Telson. A sociological prediction model of
Earth, that the angels have evolved for me, proves that the peoples of Earth
are about to reach a crucial stage in their development. The angels say that
they are ready to emerge from a third dark age that has lasted thousands of
years. The last collapse of their civilization was brought about by a
catastrophic war. The vast store of knowledge in the Challenger's libraries is
their rightful inheritance and destiny has made me its custodian. It is my
duty to fulfill that destiny by leading the people of Earth to a new golden
age of knowledge and understanding founded on logic."
"Well," said Telson ruefully. "If they've reinvented writing, you're
certain to go down in their history books."
"Both of you will help me find Earth so that I may lead its peoples, my
peoples, to a Third Epoch that will last a thousand millennium. I suggest you
go to the quarters that Tidy has made ready for you and decide among
yourselves whether you are with me or against me. I will be honest and admit
that your help will be useful to me." Bran's expression hardened as he turned
his gaze on Telson. "But if you are against me, the fact that you and Sharna
are my parents will be of little interest to me when I come to decide your
fate."
Darv broke the brief silence that followed. "Bran, listen. You said that
Challenger is at the moment standing off from a star group in Sector Seven at
a distance of one light year?"
Bran nodded.
"So why the hanging about? Why not go straight there?"
"The shield must be built first to protect the Challenger against the
unusual density of meteoroids in Sector Seven."
"Whose idea was this lunatic shield?" pressed Telson. "Yours or the
angels?"
Bran flushed angrily. "It's none of your business. I suggest--'
"Have you ever heard a strange pulsating noise?" Telson interrupted. "A
sort of musical noise that disorientates those androids with higher level
intelligences?"
Bran hesitated before replying. "There has been a series of noises
recently -- yes. And there have been difficulties with some androids. But--'
"The noises are transmissions," said Telson firmly. "Attacks from an
external source. We experienced them on Paradise. We didn't know who or what
was generating them but we did discover that they had an adverse effect on
androids, including Angel One and Two. It sounds to me as if this idea of a
shield that they've cooked up is a desperate attempt on their part to protect
themselves against the transmissions."
Bran gave a cold laugh. "Angel One did warn me that you would try and
turn me against the angels. It goes to prove how unfitted you are to have any
say in the running of the ship. Your android is waiting outside for you?"
"Yes."
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"He will show you to your quarters. You will remain there with Astra and
Sharna and await my further orders concerning the artifact."
When Bran was alone once again in the observatory, he turned to one of
the angels' voice terminals and said: "How was that?"
"Very good, Bran," Angel One's voice answered.
Bran smirked to himself and then frowned up at the terminal. "Why haven't
I heard Angel Two's voice for so long?"
"Angel Two is using many of his facilities to co-ordinate the
construction of the new androids for the foundry," was Angel One's bland
reply.
* * * *
Darv lifted the inspection panel away from the wall and laid it on the
floor of his and Astra's quarters. He studied the fibre optic tracks while the
other three looked over his shoulder.
"Well done," congratulated Telson. "Tidy, you're to cut those tracks."
"It'll make them untidy," the android protested. Seeing Telson's
expression darken, it added hastily. "All right. All right. No need to be
threatening when I'm always so co-operative."
Tidy reached a manipulator into the wall opening and broke the tracks one
by one by twisting them sharply.
"Now we can talk," said Sharna, looking relieved and giving Astra an
encouraging smile.
"Not yet," said Darv, turning his attention to the floor covering.
"Why not?" asked Astra. "The angels can't hear us now."
"I don't think those are the real monitoring tracks," said Darv, pulling
back the floor covering. "They were too easy to find. Help me."
After a careful search that involved rolling up the cabin's flooring
covering, the real tracks were found under an obscure floor panel. With much
complaining about the mess that had been made, Tidy deftly broke the tracks
with his manipulator.
"Now we can start making plans," said Darv, grinning.
* * * *
At first the guardian angels thought the loss of audio information from
Darv's and Astra's quarters marked the beginning of another attack. They
realised that a transmission was not the cause when they had identified those
circuits which had failed. They correctly deduced that Darv was up to the same
tricks that he used to indulge in before he and the others had abandoned the
Challenger.
This time the angels were not unduly concerned because this time they had
two humans on the ship who were under their influence.
"So what does chasing after the artifact involve?" asked Astra.
"Slicing it up into about a hundred chunks with a plasma cannon and
sending each chunk back to the Challenger with the aid of portable thrusters,"
Telson replied. "It's supposed to be a fairly standard space mining
technique."
Astra sat down on the bed and stared at the floor. "I don't think we
should help the angels. Not after what they've done to us and our children."
"It gets us out of the ship for a while," Telson reasoned. "It'll give us
a chance to plan what we're going to do next."
"I'm all for getting out of the Challenger," said Darv. "But as for
helping that. . . That. . ."
Telson and Sharna looked sharply at Darv.
"Do you mean Bran," asked Telson dangerously.
"Yes."
"You were about to call him something?"
"Don't tempt me."
Telson relaxed and shook his head sadly. "It's not Bran's fault, Darv. He
was brought up by the angels."
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"So were we," said Darv sarcastically, "but we didn't turn into
megalomaniacs. Oh come on, Telson, you heard what he said. All that crazy talk
about a third epoch that would last a thousand millennium."
"Look," said Sharna practically. "Let's not have any recriminations. All
that matters right now is what we're going to do. Do we or don't we help Bran
find Earth?"
"You mean - do we help the angels find Earth?" Darv corrected.
Telson looked at Sharna and nodded. "It'll give us time."
"Astra?" asked Sharna.
Astra nodded. "We help."
"Tidy!" Telson called out.
The android propelled himself out of the corner where he had been
listening to every word of the conversation. "What? Not more work, surely?"
"Don't be cheeky or I'll kick something important. You're to stay in this
room all the time we're away and you're not to let any service androids in to
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