Planet Of No Return

“The knife will have to be made of a mineral. It will be the only exception, the only object not of completely natural origin. These clothes are made of vegetable fibres, their buttons are carved from bone. My boots are of leather made from animal hide, sewn and glued together. I have no metal, nor do I wear anything made of artificial fibres.”

“Not even the fillings in your teeth?” she asked, smiling.

“No, not even them.” Brion was unsmiling and deadly serious. “All of the metallic fillings have been removed and have been replaced with ceramic inlays. The closer I resemble any other creature in the natural environment, the safer I will be. That is why the knife is a calculated risk.” He turned so she could see the leather scabbard suspended at his side. From it he drew the long and transparent weapon and held it out for her inspection.

“It looks like glass. Is that what it is?”

He shook his head. “No, plasteel. A form of silicon that resembles glass in some ways, but it is stronger by a factor of one hundred since the molecules have been realigned to form a single giant crystal. It is virtually unbreakable and has an edge that will never dull. Since it is silicon, like sand, it should resemble sand to any detection apparatus. That is why I am taking the chance of having it with me.”

Lea watched in silence as Brion put the weapon carefully away, arched his fingers, then stretched like a great cat. She could see the movement of his muscles beneath the fabric of his clothing, was aware of his strength that was more than something simply physical.

“I have a feeling that you can do it,” she said. “I doubt if anyone else could, not anyone else in this entire spiral galaxy. Of course I still think that the whole thing is pretty insane — although I also think that it is probably the best chance we have of finding out what is happening down there.”

His reactions were so fast; it was something she had never become accustomed to. His arms were around her before she realized that he had moved; the strength in his hands like steel inside flesh. He kissed her quickly then stepped away. “Thank you. With your understanding and belief I am more prepared now to do what must be done. Let’s go to the ship.”

There was no ceremony involved in their departure. While Lea checked the loading lists, Brion talked to the chief navigation officer, who then computed and filed a number of orbits into the lifeship’s computer for them. When the preparatory work had been done, and all the checklists completed, they sealed the hatch. As soon as the signal was received that they were ready, the computer started the program that dropped them free of the mother ship. Gas jets flared to rotate the lifeship, then the main engines fired to put them into the designated orbit. Selm-II grew larger and larger on the screen before them.

“You’re frightened,” Brion said, covering her cold hand with his large one.

“It doesn’t take an empathetic to figure that one out,” she said, shivering and drawing close to him. “This operation may have looked good on paper — but the closer we get to that planet of no return down there the more worried I get. Two good men, both of them contact experts, have been killed down there. The same thing is very likely to happen to us.”

“I don’t think so. We are tar better prepared than they were. And it is their sacrifice that has supplied us with the information that we will need to survive. There’s nothing to be concerned about at this time. You must force yourself to relax, to conserve your energy and resources for the moment when they will be needed. What we must do now is establish a low orbit and do a complete survey before looking for a place to set down. Until that time there is no danger.”

The computer broke in, giving instant lie to his words.

“I have an atmospheric craft under observation. Its present course will pass beneath ours. Should I display?”

“Yes.”

A small dot appeared on the screen moving slowly from left to right.

“Enlarge the image.”

The moving speck swelled and became a thin metallic dart with swept-back wings. “What is its speed?” Brion asked, and a display appeared on the screen. “Mach 2.6. An advanced supersonic design, product of a highly developed technological culture. At that speed it will have limited fuel. If we can keep it in sight, we might be able to see where it lands.”

Lea finished the sentence for him. “And we also may stand a good chance of finding out just what is happening on this planet.”

“Exactly …”

The image of the aircraft on the screen tilted upon one wing and dived sharply; the computer spoke in the same instant.

“There is a digital radio broadcast emanating from the displayed plane. I am recording.”

The image on the screen disappeared in a sudden explosion of flame. “What caused that blowup?” Brion said.

“A surface to air missile. I detected its course just before the explosion.”

Brion nodded grimly. “That aircraft must have detected it as well, that’s why it took the sudden evasive action.”