Part 26 (1/2)
”Yes. He was very interested in the Library.” He smiled at the memory. ”Of course, everyone is. But Michael insisted on taking us out to celebrate. Me and half the staff.”
”To celebrate what?”
”I never really understood that part of it. The completion of a journey, I believe. It was something like that.”
”Can you give us a general idea when he was here?”
”Oh, it's been two or three years. At least. I'm not sure.”
”Do you think any of your colleagues might remember?”
”Come upstairs with me, and we'll ask.”
n.o.bODY knew definitely. Two years ago last summer, I think, said one of the staff. No, another insisted, it was shortly after my brother died, four years ago this fall. In the end, they could not narrow it down enough to be of any use. knew definitely. Two years ago last summer, I think, said one of the staff. No, another insisted, it was shortly after my brother died, four years ago this fall. In the end, they could not narrow it down enough to be of any use.
Aristarchus expressed his regrets. Then asked a question of his own. ”Ajax did not understand why you had checked out several books, returned them promptly, and apparently planned to check out the entire works of Sophocles. During the course of the afternoon.”
”We were doing research,” said Dave.
”So I understand. Nevertheless, in perhaps an excess of caution, he notified his supervisor. The supervisor saw something odd. And he notified me.”
”Odd? In what way?”
Shel thought he already knew.
”Gentlemen, I saw something I cannot explain. Rather like your, uh, photos.”
Dave played it straight. ”And what might that be, sir?”
”You have a metal object of some sort.”
”I beg your pardon?”
”It produces light. I wonder if you would be so kind as to show it to me.”
Dave translated for Shel. Shel nodded. ”Show him.”
Dave produced the gooseberry. ”You probably saw a reflection,” he said.
”Perhaps. May I ask what it is? And what you and your a.s.sociate were doing with our books?”
The tone did not sound threatening. Merely curious. ”We've done no harm,” said Dave.
”I did not mean to suggest you had. I would simply like to know who you are. And what has been happening.”
”My name is Davidius. This is Shelborne. We are visiting scholars.”
”I know what you have said. There is no need to repeat it.” He held out his hand for the gooseberry. ”May I see it, please?”
Dave gave it to him. ”Be careful with it,” he said.
Aristarchus examined it. Ran his fingers along the sides. ”It's very smooth. Is this actually metal?”
”Plastic.” Dave used the English word. He didn't know a Greek equivalent.
”What is 'plastic'?”
”It's-” He cleared his throat. ”It's hard to explain. It's like metal. But more pliable.”
”I see.” He found the lid. Opened it. The screen lit up, and the red power lamp came on. Aristarchus almost dropped it. But he hung on. Icons appeared, one by one. Then the voice, volume turned to a whisper, in English: ”Ready to go, big guy.” ”Ready to go, big guy.”
It might as well have been a cannon blast.
Aristarchus flipped the gooseberry into the air. Dave, who was ready, caught it on the fly.
”It speaks,” said Aristarchus. His voice had gone up an octave.
”There's an explanation,” said Dave.
Aristarchus stared at it. ”I'm sure there is.”
Dave looked to Shel, and Shel studied the ceiling.
”The supervisor,” said Aristarchus, ”thinks you are messengers from the G.o.ds. I am almost persuaded he is correct. What language is it speaking?”
”It's English.”
”I'm not familiar with it. But I suppose that is of no consequence. How How does it speak? Who lives within?” does it speak? Who lives within?”
”I can explain.”
”Please do.”
”No one is inside. It is advanced technology.”
”Really? You can produce light in a piece of metal? Plastic? Whatever you call it?”
”Yes.”
”And this thing speaks speaks?”
”Yes.”
”What did it say?”
”It said it was ready to operate.”
”And when it operates, precisely what does it do?”