Return to Dakistee (6 page)

"Then we have very little to go on."

"Yes. The force required to open the door might very well destroy the entire facility, so we have to find a non-violent way in. It will, therefore, be necessary to solve this puzzle. Let me add that everything we discuss regarding this issue is to be considered Most Secret. You're not to mention any of our findings to anyone."

"Do the archeologists know of the circles or the symbol?"

"Not as far as I know. I didn't tell them, and they never mentioned them to me. I suppose they spent all their time trying to open the door in a manner consistent with access to the other facility."

"And what is that?"

"A simple vocal command in ancient Dakistian, which is amazingly close to the current language equivalent in spoken Nordakian."

Carmoody simply nodded to convey understanding and returned her attention to the image on the cylinder. Jenetta took another holo-magazine cylinder from the table and also stared at the image, perhaps hoping for an epiphany of sorts.

After a time, Carmoody said, "These small lines around the circumference of the circles are interesting. I count thirty-eight. Could they be compass headings?"

"I suppose they could, but I doubt it. We use three hundred sixty degrees, but according to the computer files, the ancients here used a segmentation of five hundred degrees for direction. I ran the number thirty-eight as a search argument, but nothing that seemed relative was returned."

"Too bad. May I see the tunnel and door?"

"Of course. It's just across the way. I'll show you."

The Marines had erected a small canopy to shade them from the hot sun when they stood guard. The two on duty at the tunnel entrance braced to attention as the two officers approached and held it until Christa and Carmoody had passed. The tunnel was cooler than the outside temperature and continued to drop slightly as the ramp led downward.

"Wow," was Carmoody's reaction when she first laid eyes on the wall and door.

Christa smiled and said, "It does create awe in people when they first see it.

"It almost looks evil," Carmoody said.

"It's just a wall and door, but I understand what you mean. Of course, there may be some great evil inside. But we won't know until we get the door open."

"I don't see the marks," Carmoody said when they were just a meter away.

"You practically have to press your face against the door. I didn't know they were there until I inadvertently felt them. Here, this will help," Christa said as she retrieved the Chembrite panel she had used to highlight the marks from the side.

"Yes, I can see them now, barely," Carmoody said when her nose was just a couple of centimeters from the door. "I can understand why most people might miss them. It's entirely possible the archeologists have no idea they're there." As she ran her hand over the surface she said, "It's amazing you even felt them. I know they're there and can barely sense them."

"Information isn't of much use if you can't relate it to the problem at hand, and so far I haven't a clue about their importance. I could have a table moved down if you think it would be beneficial to work here instead of on the surface."

"No," Carmoody said. "Now that I've seen the door and have a better appreciation of the problem, I can work just as well on the surface."

Chapter Four

~ May 8
^th
, 2285 ~

Several days later they were no closer to a solution.

"This is frustrating," Christa said. "It's like what we went through when we were charged with dismantling the cloning equipment in the other lab but didn't want to simply pull the plug and possibly harm developing embryos."

"What if we ask the archeologists if they know anything?"

"I don't want them to know what we found. The Admiral wants to keep all civilians in the dark concerning the opening of facilities like this in case more are uncovered. We need to be the first ones in."

"I don't mean we should share our findings. I mean maybe we should show them the unidentified symbol and ask if it looks familiar."

"Hmm," Christa muttered as she thought, "you know, when Jenetta was working on her problem at the other lab, one of the archeologists gave her some information about symbols that were etched into the floor."

"Did it ultimately help her solve the problem?"

"No, but it gave her hope that she was making progress. I think we could use a little encouragement like that. Okay, I'll ask Dr. Vlashsku. He's always been anxious to help without expecting reciprocal favors."

* * *

"My Lady, you honor me by your presence," Doctor Vlashsku said when greeting Christa at the door to his shelter. "Please come in."

Christa replied with the customary Nordakian reply, "It is my honor to be welcomed here."

"How may I be of service, My Lady. You have only to ask and I will do it."

"You were helpful when I— I mean when my sister was trying to solve the riddle of the symbols engraved into the floor of the cloning facility. I'm hoping you might recognize a new symbol. I haven't been able to find any reference to it in any of my Dakistee files, including those sent to me from Expedition Headquarters on Anthius."

"Of course, My Lady. Do you have an image with you?"

"Yes," Christa said, producing a holo-tube. "Here it is." She had reversed the large symbol to show as black on a plain white background in an attempt to disassociate it from the door. The lower resolution of the holo-tube was perfectly adequate for displaying it.

Doctor Vlashsku activated the holo-tube and looked closely at the symbol for several minutes before asking, "Is this symbol connected with the problem of accessing the new chamber?"

"It might be. I'm trying to determine its origin to see if it might have a connection."

"Seeing this on a holo-tube has reminded me of something. We had our annual conference at the Brighton dig site last year. This symbol bears a strong resemblance to one I saw there."

"Brighton?"

"Yes, the site director had a cylinder, very much like a holo-tube cylinder, and this symbol was engraved on one end. It wasn't a holo-tube of course, but the jet-black cylinder was about the same size. The director had mounted it on a desktop display stand in her office. That's all I can think of right now. I'm most sorry I can't be of more help."

"On the contrary, Doctor. I think you've been of immense help."

* * *

"Please come in, Commander," the director of the dig site at Brighton said as she stepped aside to allow Christa and Carmoody into her office."

"Thank you, Dr. Manson. This is Lt. Grace Carmoody."

"Welcome, both of you. Would you care for a beverage?"

"Thank you," Christa said. "I'd like coffee if you have it."

"The same for me," Carmoody said.

"Marie," Ms. Manson said out the door to the office, "three coffees, please."

"Ladies, please have a seat and tell me how I may help you."

"Our visit here today stems from a conversation I had with Doctor Dakshiku Vlashsku at the Loudescott site," Christa said and then stopped as Dr. Manson's assistant brought in the coffees and placed them on the director's desk. When they had prepared their coffees, she continued. "I sought his help in identifying a unique symbol and he said he recognized it as being identical to one he observed on an artifact you have on your desk. From his description, it might be that one," Christa said, pointing to a display stand supporting a black cylinder about the size of a holo-tube cylinder.

"And what is your interest in the symbol?"

"I'm trying to determine if it has relevance to a problem reported by the archeological team at Loudescott."

"You're referring to the underground facility they recently discovered?"

The statement caught Christa off guard. She hesitated for just a moment before saying, "You're unexpectedly well informed, Doctor."

"Word of a major new discovery travels quickly. I know the team at Loudescott hasn't been able to open the facility and they contacted Space Command for help. Are you two all they sent?"

"So far. I can request additional help if we need it."

"And have you been able to gain access to the facility?"

"May I look at the cylinder while we talk?"

"Of course. Help yourself."

Christa leaned over and lifted the tube from the display stand. It appeared to be a solid, single-piece design. The symbol she was looking for was engraved on one end. The other end bore a letter from the ancient alphabet. There were no other markings. "It's remarkably pristine for something nineteen thousand, four hundred years old."

"It was sealed in a vacuum container. The container's exterior showed the effects of age, but the contents were as perfect as the day they were sealed inside."

"What else was in the container?"

"A timepiece, some letters addressed to the Regional Cultural Headquarters here, and a lengthy list of very prominent individuals."

"How do you know they were prominent?"

"There were titles associated with most, such as Minister, Doctor, Professor, etc."

"I see."

From the look and weight of the cylinder, Christa guessed was made of Dakinium.

"Yes, this is what I'm looking for. The symbol is identical to the one I'm trying to identify. Have you seen it anywhere else, Doctor?"

"No, I haven't. We've been able to identify most of the symbols we've encountered using one or the other of the reference books you and your
sisters
wrote."

Christa didn't miss the way Manson emphasized the word 'sisters' and wondered if she had a problem with clones.

"I wonder if I might borrow this for a short time?" Christa asked.

"Why?"

"I don't know, but I feel very strongly that it might help my research."

"I'm afraid I can't let you take it. It's the property of the Dakistee Archeological Expedition and can't be lent out without approval from the headquarters on Anthius."

"Then could you show me exactly where it was found on the dig site?"

"Why?"

"Call it— curiosity."

The look Manson gave Christa indicated she was suspicious of Christa's motives for wanting the information, but she turned on a wall monitor and used a laser pointer to identify the general area where the cylinder had been found.

"You're sure it wasn't more to the left— by say a kilometer?"

Manson eyes narrowed and she said, "I may be mistaken."

"Of course. It's impossible to remember where every object has been located."

"If you have no further questions," Dr. Manson said, standing up behind her desk, "I have another meeting."

"Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to see us today."

"You're welcome. Goodbye."

As Carmoody and Christa exited the building and walked towards the shuttle pad, Carmoody said, "You already knew where the cylinder was found?"

"No, but she said the vacuum canister contained letters written to the Regional Cultural Headquarters. I remembered where the RCH was located from looking at a map of the city that once stood here."

"Where did you get a map of the city?"

"The files we got from the computer in the other facility provided excellent maps of the entire planet. Once the Expedition Headquarters had that information, new dig sites were assigned at all the former locations of major cities and many sites were closed down if the area they were excavating had only been a forest or some other rural area. It was just pure chance that Dr. Peterson happened to select a site where the planet's capital city was located, but the maps have since helped him make decisions regarding where his people work within the city's limits."

"So what now?" Carmoody asked.

"Now we get the cylinder Dr. Manson has."

"But she said no. You're not going to steal it, are you?"

"Of course not. But before we even lift off, I'm going to send a request to the Expedition Headquarters on Anthius that the cylinder be delivered to me at Loudescott because I require it for a research project."

"You think they'll give it to you?"

"The Expedition Headquarters owes Space Command, and especially the Carver sisters, big time. They'll loan it to me."

* * *

"Lt. Uronson reporting to the base commander," the butter-bar Marine officer said after being invited into the shuttle and coming to attention.

"Stand easy, Lieutenant," Christa said.

"Yes, ma'am," he said as he relaxed. "I apologize for not being here to welcome you, ma'am, but I was ordered to report to battalion headquarters for a series of meetings regarding new security procedures being implemented on the planet."

"It's quite all right, Lieutenant. Sergeant Flegetti has done a splendid job in your absence. There are always two sentries on duty at the entrance to the new facility, which has been perfectly adequate. Now that you've returned, I want you to establish a proper camp like the one at Fort Carver. A perimeter trench with protective berm should be dug one hundred meters from the tunnel entrance. I realize you don't have the manpower for proper patrols, but I hope we'll soon have reinforcements. I expect this new underground facility will be every bit as important as the other."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Any questions, Lieutenant?"

"No ma'am. But I have to say that expectations of reinforcements may not be realistic. The Corps is spread really thin on this planet and everyone is requesting additional personnel."

"I'm afraid you might be right. We'll just have to see what kind of priority Space Command places on this outpost."

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's all, Lieutenant. Dismissed."

* * *

Three days later, Christa received a visitor at her shuttle. "Welcome, Dr. Manson. Won't you come in?"

Manson entered the shuttle and walked to the table Christa was using for a desk. As she placed a small case on the table, she said, "The Expedition Headquarters has ordered me to deliver the cylinder to you. It's on loan for as long as you need it. I need your thumbprint on the receipt."