3001 The Final Odyssey

chapter 38 Pre-emptive Strike
It was strange to be back in the Hotel Grannymede after all these years - strangest of all, because it seemed completely unchanged, despite everything that had happened. Poole was still greeted by the familiar image of Bowman as he walked into the suite named after him: and, as he expected, Bowman/Halman was waiting, looking slightly less substantial than the ancient hologram.

Before they could even exchange greetings, there was an interruption that Poole would have welcomed - at any other time than this. The room vidphone gave its urgent trio of rising notes - also unchanged since his last visit -and an old friend appeared on the screen.

'Frank!' cried Theodore Khan, 'why didn't you tell me you were coming! When can we meet? Why no video - someone with you? And who were all those official-looking types who landed at the same time -'

'Please Ted! Yes, I'm sorry - but believe me, I've got very good reasons - I'll explain later. And I do have someone with me - call you back just as soon as I can. Good-bye!'

As he belatedly gave the 'Do Not Disturb' order, Poole said apologetically: 'Sorry about that - you know who it was, of course.'

'Yes - Dr Khan. He often tried to get in touch with me.'

'But you never answered. May I ask why?' Though there were far more important matters to worry about, Poole could not resist putting the question.

'Ours was the only channel I wished to keep open. Also, I was often away. Sometimes for years.'

That was surprising - yet it should not have been. Poole knew well enough that Halman had been reported in many places, in many times. Yet - 'away for years'? He might have visited quite a few star systems - perhaps that was how he knew about Nova Scorpio, only forty light-years distant. But he could never have gone all the way to the Node; there and back would have been a nine-hundred-year journey.

'How lucky that you were here when we needed you!' It was very unusual for Halman to hesitate before replying. There was much longer than the unavoidable three-second time-lag before he said slowly 'Are you sure that it was luck?'

'What do you mean?'

'I do not wish to talk about it, but twice I have - glimpsed - powers - entities - far superior to the Monoliths, and perhaps even their makers. We may both have less freedom than we imagine.'

That was indeed a chilling thought; Poole needed a deliberate effort of will to put it aside and concentrate on the immediate problem.

'Let us hope we have enough free-will to do what is necessary. Perhaps this is a foolish question. Does the Monolith know that we are meeting? Could it be - suspicious?'

'It is not capable of such an emotion. It has numerous fault-protection devices, some of which I understand. But that is all.'

'Could it be overhearing us now?'

'I do not believe so.'

I wish that I could be sure it was such a naive and simple-minded super-genius, thought Poole as he unlocked his briefcase and took out the sealed box containing the tablet. In this low gravity its weight was almost negligible; it was impossible to believe that it might hold the destiny of Mankind.

'There was no way we could be certain of getting a secure circuit to you, so we couldn't go into details. This tablet contains programs which we hope will prevent the Monolith from carrying out any orders which threaten Mankind. There are twenty of the most devastating viruses ever designed on this, most of which have no known antidote; in some cases, it is believed that none is possible. There are five copies of each. We would like you to release them when - and if - you think it is necessary. Dave - Hal - no one has ever been given such a responsibility. But we have no other choice.'

Once again, the reply seemed to take longer than the three-second round trip from Europa.

'If we do this, all the Monolith's functions may cease. We are uncertain what will happen to us then.'

'We have considered that, of course. But by this lime, you must surely have many facilities at your command -some of them probably beyond our understanding. I am also sending you a petabyte memory tablet. Ten to the fifteenth bytes is more than sufficient to hold all the memories and experiences of many lifetimes. This will give you one escape route: I suspect you have others.'

'Correct. We will decide which to use at the appropriate time.'

Poole relaxed - as far as was possible in this extraordinary situation. Halman was willing to co-operate: he still had sufficient links with his origins.

'Now, we have to get this tablet to you - physically. Its contents are too dangerous to risk sending over any radio or optical channel. I know you possess long-range control of matter: did you not once detonate an orbiting bomb? Could you transport it to Europa? Alternatively, we could send it in an auto-courier, to any point you specify.'

'That would be best: I will collect it in Tsienville. Here are the co-ordinates...

Poole was still slumped in his chair when the Bowman Suite monitor admitted the head of the delegation that had accompanied him from Earth. Whether Colonel Jones was a genuine Colonel - or even if his name was Jones - were minor mysteries which Poole was not really interested in solving; it was sufficient that he was a superb organizer and had handled the mechanics of Operation Damocles with quiet efficiency.

'Well, Frank - it's on its way. Will be landing in one hour, ten minutes. I assume that Halman can take it from there, but I don't understand how he can actually handle - is that the right word? - these tablets.'

'I wondered about that, until someone on the Europa Committee explained it. There's a well-known - though not to me! - theorem stating that any computer can emulate any other computer. So I'm sure that Halman knows exactly what he's doing. He would never have agreed otherwise.'

'I hope you're right,' replied the Colonel. 'If not - well, I don't know what alternative we have.'

There was a gloomy pause, until Poole did his best to relieve the tension.

'By the way, have you heard the local rumour about our visit?'

'Which particular one?'

'That we're a special commission sent here to investigate crime and corruption in this raw frontier township. The Mayor and the Sheriff are supposed to be running scared.'

'How I envy them,' said 'Colonel Jones'. 'Sometimes it's quite a relief to have something trivial to worry about.'