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taped and transmitted repeatedly for as long as was thought necessary, and
safe, to do so. The transmission process released harmful radiation, which
could not be effectively shielded if the signal was prolonged, especially
where lightly built scoutships were concerned. The result was that a terse,
highly compressed signal riddled with stellar interference was sent to be
pieced together, hopefully in its entirety, from fifty or more identical but
individually unreadable messages.
Position-report signals were brief and therefore safe, and the power drain was
relatively light, even for a scoutship.
But the Tenelphi had not sent a position report. Instead, it had transmitted a
repeated message to the effect that it had detected and later closed with a
large derelict that was falling rapidly into the system s sun, with impact
estimated in just under eight days. Since none of the system s planets was
within the life-spectrum-unless the life concerned was one of the exotic
varieties that might be capable of flourishing on semi-molten rock under a
small, intensely hot and aging sun-the assumption had been made that the
vessel s entry into the system was accidental rather than the result of a
planned mission. There was evidence of residual power remaining in the
derelict, and of several pockets of atmosphere of various densities, but no
sign of life.
The Tenelphi s intention was to board it and investigate.
In spite of the poor signal quality, there could be no doubt of the pleasure
felt by the Tenelphi s communications officer at this lucky break in the
otherwise deadly monotony of a routine mapping assignment.
Possibly they became too excited to remember to include a position report,
O Mara s voice continued,  or they knew that the timing of the signal, by
checking it against their flight plans, would tell us where they were in
general terms. But that was the only coherent message received. Three days
later there was another signal, not taped but repeated, each time in slightly
different form, by the sender speaking into a microphone. It said that there
had been a serious collision, the ship was losing pressure and the crew was
incapacitated. There was also some sort of warning. In my professional opinion
the voice was distorted by more than the intervening subspace radio
interference, but you can decide that for yourselves. Then, two hours later, a
distress beacon was released.
 I have included a copy of the second signal, which may help you. The
Chief Psychologist s voice added dryly,  Or help confuse you...
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Unlike the first signal, the second was virtually unreadable. It was like
listening to a mighty storm through which a voice, badly distorted to begin
with, was trying to make itself heard in a whisper. They listened intently to
the words while trying even harder to ignore the rattling explosions of
interstellar static accompanying them, so much so that Naydrad s fur rippled
tensely with the strain and Prilicla, who was reacting to everyone else s
feelings as well as to the noise, gave up its attempt to hover and settled,
trembling, on the table.
..... idea if th~s... getting out or.. , crew incap. . . collision with
derelict and.. . can t do. . . distress beac. . . work it inside... manually.
.
. but can t assume. , . stupidity of specialization when.. . if signal is
getting out.., warning in case.., in collision.., internal pressure dropping.
.
. can t do anything about that, either. . . how to operate beacon from
inside,, . release it manually from. . . al warning in case,,, lets too stiff
to. . .
confused and not much time, , . only chance is. . . sin chest. . . derelict is
close, , . extra suit tanks, . . my specialty.. . ship Tenelphi in collision
with.. . crew incapable of any ... pressure dropping..
The voice went on for several minutes, but the words were lost in a prolonged
burst of static. Shortly afterwards the tape ended. There were a few minutes
of beautiful silence, during which Naydrad s fur settled down and
Prilicla flew up to the ceiling.
 It seems to me that the gist of this message, Conway said thoughtfully,  is
that the sender was unsure that the signal was being transmitted, possibly
because he was not the communications officer and knew nothing about the
equipment he was using, or maybe because he thought the subspace radio antenna
had been damaged in the collision, which had, apparently, knocked out the rest
of the crew. He did not seem to be able to help them, pressure was dropping,
and again due to structural damage, he was unable to release the distress
beacon from inside the ship. He would have to have set its timer and pushed it
away from the ship with his hands. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]