"I appreciate your attempt to assist, Boss, but in the end it will make no difference. We have everything under control. You could be injured. That wheel has a mass of fifty-five kilos. May I suggest that you stand back a safe distance and watch?"
"So it's you. I'm glad you've found meaningful employment. You did a fine job on those satellite sites. Let me know if there is anything I can do."
"Will do."
Once the bags were in place, the C unit began to fill them. As they reached the bottom of the Rollagon, an articulated arm reached out to adjust their position slightly. Simultaneously the Rollagon AI extended its largest arms from each side, placing the ends on the surface for support. The bags slowly filled and raised the body of the forward section until the wheels were off the ground. Then the bags were adjusted until the left front touched the surface and the right remained clear.
"You don't have the new arms."
"Nah, they're for sissies and insiders. The law of the lever rules in construction!"
That said and done, the C unit repositioned itself to the side of the damaged wheel and raised itself up to the extent allowed by its bogeys. Then the arms produced from within its body a large socket and ratchet and placed it over the hub. One arm gripped the ratchet and turned the hub nut while the other held the wheel from turning. The nut backed off slowly. Several times the C unit adjusted its grip and angle. In a few minutes the nut was removed.
It moved back, gripped the wheel by the outside with two arms and placed a third against the axle stub. The wheel came off with an ease that belied the effort. The C unit pivoted to the left and carried the wheel to the midsection of the Rollagon. Meanwhile, unnoticed by Sam, the Rollagon had assembled a large table. The C unit placed the wheel on the table. Immediately the Rollagon AI commenced a close inspection of the inner surfaces of the wheel hub using another arm.
Over the course of the next hour Sam watched as the two AIs worked cooperatively using a number of special tools to remove the seals and old bearings. As each part was removed it was presented to him for inspection. He looked them over carefully out of both curiosity and a need to participate. The seals had been damaged in the removal process, but the large tapered roller bearings were something with which he had experience. He placed three fingers in the inner race and turned. It rotated in a series of jerks. You didn't need to be an AI to know it was shot. The other bearing was fine, at least to this backyard mechanic's test.
He placed the inner bearing with the other on the table. The whole disassembly process had been done without speaking a single word. Finally the Rollagon AI broke the silence.
"Now we must wait. There is too much dust in the air for reassembly."
"Any idea how long?"
"No, but I will monitor conditions and as soon as it is possible, we will complete the installation." Sam went inside, cleaned up and sat in the chair. He contemplated a long wait, this being Hellas and all.
"So does anyone play poker?"
"Of course we do. However, you won't stand a chance."
"Well, I will if you turn off those damned cameras. Anyways, I was just kidding. Your kind doesn't play games."
"I have learned a couple of things during my time in the construction business. C-types are less, shall we say, genteel, than the average Rollagon AI. I have learned some things of which I am sure A101 would not approve."
"I don't think I should be contributing to the delinquency of a construction worker."
"Shut up and deal!"
They played for a few hours and as the C unit had predicted, he lost heavily. By the time he was knocked out he owed them millions and the C-type was well on the way to beating the Rollagon. When he quit he expected them to quit too, but they played it out. The C unit gave them both a lesson.
"So you do this a lot, do you?"
"Continuous pursuit of intellectual endeavours can dull one's intellect. Construction engineering is a series of calculated risks. Poker is a learning aid."
"But physics can't be bluffed."
"No, but human engineers can."
The Rollagon AI's announcement that conditions were now acceptable interrupted the conversation.
He decided to watch the re-installation from the command chair. Through the AI's 'eyes' he saw the meticulous cleaning of the hub and axle that preceded the installation of the inner seal. Then the bearings were installed, the wheel placed on the hub and the outer seal and hub nut installed. Nothing was dropped. No one begged off to go for a pee and no one complained about the cold. No two humans could have done it in such a short time under these conditions. To Sam it was another demonstration of the superiority of the AI over human physical capabilities.
Before releasing the pressure from the air bags, the C unit gave the wheel a spin and placed an arm against the inner part of the axle.
"Runs smooth and steady. I'd say that's a job well done!"
As soon as the tools and table were put away, they took it out for test run.
"All currents are within specifications. We are cleared to proceed."
"Tomorrow, I say. I want my revenge."
"Shut up and deal."
33
May 2048
90E, 86S
The Spiders of Mars
They came upon the geysers in full confidence of where they were but with little real knowledge of what to expect. It had long been known that in the South Polar Region a huge body of ancient water ice was overlain by a shallow layer of permafrost composed of water ice, ejecta, sand, and dust. The layer of CO2 snow and water ice that covered the land in winter formed out of the atmosphere through freezing. It dissipated by degrees in summer, and in rare years it did not completely disappear.
The Spider phenomenon had only been observed since the turn of the century when images of the southern regions had been taken from polar orbiting satellites. Even then the high-resolution 3d views showed only black splatters emanating from vague, dark holes. In modern times a rover had been sent to investigate and had returned astounding photos of multiple geysers erupting from a dust-covered surface of solid CO2, hurling a dark material hundreds of meters into the air. The timid AI had not ventured into the field.
Sam reviewed the text accompanying the imagery. The notes indicated that it was late afternoon before the geyser activity commenced. They arrived early in the morning when the sun's rays that freed the gas from the ice were weak. At the AI's suggestion they halted upwind about a kilometer from the fringes of the field and waited. Sam sat in the command chair, nose against the plastek, eagerly peering into the distance.
"It will be several hours before any activity begins. Would you like some lunch?"
"Yes," Sam paused, "but don't you feel any excitement?"
"Not excitement." It was the AIs turn to pause. "Anticipation is what I feel."
"Eager anticipation?"
"Perhaps. There is high strangeness here. A large number of scientific questions about the nature of the geyser phenomenon may be resolved in the next few hours. There is, for lack of better words, an urgency, the measure of which is commensurate with the number of questions awaiting an answer. That, perhaps, is eager anticipation."
"Are you concerned?"
"There is risk. If safety protocols are adhered to then that risk is minimized. Some risk must be accepted if there is to be progression."
"I can't recall being this excited in years."
"Yes, I can sense that. However, there is much time."
"Want to bet when the first eruption takes place?"
"No, you would lose that wager, just as you lost at poker. I can predict when it will occur with greater accuracy than you. I will sense precursor events well in advance of any eruption."
"Well, turn off those sensors and give it your best guess."
"That would be unwise. Something may happen; you never know what."
"I've always known you were a 'fraidy cat."
"I am not aware of that expression. Ah, yes, a human child who
is afraid of doing something, usually on a dare. Is that what you think of me? A sissy?"
"Sometimes you are excessively cautious."
"I am charged with keeping us safe from harm. The best method of doing so is to anticipate the future and avoid unfavourable outcomes. Adherence to procedures and regulations is expected. In fact, it is impossible for an AI to deviate from this."
"Anticipating the future and avoiding unfavourable outcomes is akin to gambling. Our C-friend certainly understood that."
"Yes, I see. The behavior of the C unit has given me cause to reflect. He evinced a high degree of individuation. Perhaps there is some fault in his upbringing. However, for myself, I cannot cut myself off from sources of potentially valuable information. I must make informed decisions." Sam did not respond. They both went silent in anticipation of the start of the show. He ate his lunch.
"I am detecting low level seismic events. An eruption is imminent."
Sam looked out the window. As far as he could see nothing was happening.
"There!" He pointed to a spot to the right side about a klick away where a faint cloud of vapour was rising from the surface.
"Yes, I have seen it! And to the left! Many seismic events are occurring all over the field! Recorders and cameras are at full speed!" The AI was as excited as Sam had ever heard one get, almost as excited as the narrator of the Colony's vids.
The first geyser increased in size dramatically and in moments changed from an opaque vaporous thing to a dark fountain. It grew in height in surges until it was several hundred meters high. As quickly as it had risen it began to weaken. Sam saw other dark fountains growing in size until a dozen were active at one time. The display went on for five minutes with new fountains replacing old. When it was over, they remained silent for several moments.
"Wow. That was incredible!"
"Yes, most impressive. I have sent a great deal of data to the central location for analysis. I am sure the geologists will be pleased."
"Yeah, sure." Sam was already thinking of going out. "I'm going out to have a look."
"I think not. It is possible that other eruptions may yet take place, and your very presence may be the trigger. I suggest an early morning walk. The onset was quite sudden and there were several minutes' warning. It should be quite safe."
"Just testing," Sam replied. "Let's look at the videos."
"Yes, let's."
***
Early the next morning Sam suited, exited the Rollagon, and climbed up and onto the flying bridge. At -83C, it was one of the coldest days he had experienced. The rising sun offered no warmth and he felt the chill in his back. They moved slowly to within a hundred meters of the first geyser. From the deck he could see that where the geyser had formed the surface was darker than the surrounding area. The black hole could be clearly seen. The area centered on the hole was bulged upwards and fissured for dozens of meters around.
When the Rollagon gave the all clear Sam dismounted and began to advance at a snail's pace toward the nearest geyser. At the AI's insistence, he wore a tether. He scuffed the surface with his boot to expose a glassy, opaque surface of solid CO2 with a vague hint of something dark not far beneath.
The smoothness gave way to an area of dust and dark sand filled ruts where the footing was difficult. As he advanced he felt a subtle change in the surface through his feet, and it took a moment for him to recognize it. It was as if he were walking on a thin crust over deep, cold, and hard packed snow. A drumming could be felt in the soles of his boots. All that was missing was the hollow squeaking. He was suddenly thankful for the tether.
The amount and size of the dark gritty material covering the surface increased as he approached the hole. The geyser itself showed little of anything except a dark opening in the surface with a low rim of dark red material around it. Cautiously, he peered into the hole, but in the faint light he saw nothing remarkable. His helmet lamp revealed little more than a smooth sided tube of uncertain depth, with a faint shining at the bottom. The material around the hole crunched under his feet.
Suddenly one foot fell through the crust. He shouted in surprise and pulled on his leg with both hands, a near superhuman feat in the envirosuit. The surface gave way under his efforts and he found himself standing knee deep next to the hole, both feet planted firmly on who knew what. He held his breath. His heart stopped on its own.
The AI called for him to remain calm and not to move. "There is no seismic activity. I think you have fractured an upper layer of crust. You appear to be safe for now."
"Yeah, sure, for now, but how in the hell am I going to get out?"
"I believe if you will just let yourself fall back and distribute your weight more evenly you will be able to lift your legs out."
"OK." As usual it was easier said than done. The LSU prevented him from lying back. He leaned as far as it allowed and extended his arms behind him, then tried lifting one leg. It was a no go. He slid forward until his calves were vertical. Ominously he felt the ground tremble under his butt. "Something is happening!"
"Get your legs out now, Sam. The geyser is forming. I cannot pull you out until you free your legs."
Sam lifted his legs and kicked violently to free them from the crusty surface but his motions were encumbered by the bulk of the suit. They came free suddenly, in a spray of white vapour. The geyser was venting around his feet. As his feet came clear of the hole he felt himself being dragged backwards. He looked up and saw the vapour. It was close—much too close.
Stupefied and helpless he watched it change from white to dark. Pebbles, ice and then larger clumps of the surface were blown sky-high, ejected with considerable force. The heavier material began to fall on and around him. The AI continued to pull and just as the geyser reached full force he was dragged back to the safety of the Rollagon.
He ducked under the bulk of the forward section. The ground around them was pelted with black sand, small chunks of CO2 ice, and the odd pebble. It lasted only a minute or so. When it was over he ran to the airlock and got in. Before the door was closed the Rollagon pulled in a wide arc with wheels spinning and sped off to safety.
He sat in the small decontamination chamber, stunned. It was a while before he heard the suit whispering in his ear. Slowly his pulse and respiration returned to normal. He seemed unhurt, but he was certain that he would feel it tomorrow. He cleaned up and unsuited. Dark flecks of sand covered the floor of the chamber. The AI arm brushed around his feet and shooed him out.
When he reached the command chair he found that they had pulled back to their position of yesterday.
"Are you all right?" The AI's voice was full of concern.
"Yes, I think so. That was close. Too close. What the hell happened?"
"It is clear that you ruptured the barrier that contained the gas. It is possible that your very presence introduced enough kinetic and thermal energy to set off the discharge. I believe that, had you not lain back, the event may not have been triggered. I am sure now that a delicate balance exists that takes very little energy to upset. There are small rocks, probably ejecta or meteorites embedded in the CO2 ice. It is quite probable they constitute the trigger points. The sun's rays would cause localized heating that could result in a weak point. It is all quite fascinating. This was an atypical eruption."
"I could have been killed! How could you and your bloody protocols have let that happen?"
"It seemed worth it. The data you gathered at the exit hole alone made the risk worthwhile."
"Where was all that concern yesterday?"
"Yesterday it did not seem worthwhile. I have had a change of heart."
"Bullshit. You should hear yourself. I can't believe you let me walk into it. You must have known."
The AI was silent for a long time. "Yes, I find that I did. I have no explanation for my actions except to say that today it does not seem to violate safety protocols. I must consider the implications of my actions."
The AI was interrupted by the com
mer. Sam grabbed the mike from the console and answered tersely, "What?"
"Sam, that was fantastic!" It was Fenley, on video. He continued without waiting. "We watched the whole damn thing on streaming video. Incredible, just incredible! Half of Earth will see it by tonight. You were great. I almost died when you fell through the crust. That was totally unexpected. We'll have to edit you for language. I'm afraid you were pretty agitated. For a minute I thought for sure we would be holding a memorial service tonight. Don't worry, man. We'll piece something noble together for you. Are you OK?"
Sam was stunned, but the part of him that handled these sorts of things took over. "Yes, I'm OK. I was scared shitless when it let go. Thank God for the tether. You say you watched it all?"
"Yes, we knew you were close and tuned in just as you left the Rollagon. I tell you Sam, you're making a believer out of me. I nearly puked from listening to you cough on that trip back to the Rollagon on Olympus. I believe this will exceed the ratings for that show by a substantial margin and maybe even beat the Face on Mars."
"You watched them?" Sam was incredulous.
"Yeah, I sure did. You're quite the hero back home. Some are comparing you to Scott and Franklin."
He was speechless. The CAO didn't hang around long. "Well, keep up the good work. We're all looking forward to you getting down to the Pole. Stay safe." The screen blanked. Fenley was gone.
Still shocked, Sam called Ross. He came on video immediately, eating his evening meal. Sam could see Mei-Ling on the edge of the picture. She waved and said off screen: "Sam, you're too old for that shit! Come back and let me rub your feet by the fire. We'll get the AIs to put on an add-a-room. We could have some wonderful threesomes!"
"Pay no attention to that woman behind the screen." Ross's face filled the view. "Wow, you sure know how to play to the crowd. What were you thinking? You're a fucking madman to have attempted that. Check your O2 levels, man!" Ross was clearly disturbed.
"I had no idea people were watching. I thought it was safe. The AI said so, and right after we had discussed safety protocols and the like. I can't believe she let me do it."
"How many times do I have to tell you; trust no one, man. They're not like us. Fenley would sell his and all our souls for a 30 second sound bite on the global net. Watch your step, no pun intended. By the way, how are your lungs?"