The Adventures of Deacon Coombs (51 page)

“In determining this calculation, I first realized that they would have to be not of the body, as you see in this equation.

“Jim, the next screen, please.” In these equations, a shocking truth was revealed. To counterbalance the effects of gravity and magnetism, the spirits moved about in orbitals to counter the forces from the planet. Evolution provided this, just as evolution has provided wonderous aspects in all species. Adapt to survive!” Toad beamed at the audience.

“In time, what evolved are such strong antigravity and antimagnetic fields that complete freedom of movement was achieved.”

Rodan was ecstatic. “That is what these last equations illustrate. Given the raw data that I had to examine, it was easy to deduce the required forces for freedom.

“Therefore, Medullans must exist as pure spirits to survive, and any time spent in the solid state, or in the real-world forces of planet Medulla, must be short-lived. The first question was, can the Medullans exist and travel in another dimension unknown to us? In summary, the answer is yes, for if the antifields are as great as I have calculated, then we have no known instrumentation to measure this energy form. Medullans as spirits abide by different laws of electron spin and magnetic moments—so different that we cannot detect or measure them in their state.”

Rodan politely requested questions from the audience. Eggu-Nitron asked, “Rodan, are spirits mass?”

“Good question. I agonized over this. Spirit is defined in our world as the feelings of a person as opposed to the body of a being. A spirit is also the soul of life, the energy, the vigor, the disposition of a person. Does all this have to be matter? I say to you that it does not have to be. Therefore, a spirit could be undetected because he has no mass or maybe has minimal mass.” There were no other queries.

“The second task is difficult. How do we find Urzel? I strongly recommend that you set a trap to lure him into. In this state of negligible mass and our inability to measure it, the search for Urzel Lok is next to impossible. So I think we must concentrate our discussion on laying a trap.

“Before I address the third problem, let me impart to you an extremely significant finding, which I hope some of you deduced from my previous comments. You look anxious, Landrew.”

“Yes. I was sitting here thinking that if what you say is true, that Medullans have these spirits to survive, to be free of the effects of planet Medulla to survive, then it makes no sense to give them corporeal bodies, in which cellular disruption is almost certain to occur.”

“Very good, Landrew. Oh my gooch, this is exactly what I deduced too. I spent last night agonizing over this, and I believe that I can state positively that corporeal bodies will be the first step in the extinction of this race. I repeat, the extinction of this race! They see the attainment of bodies as a gift; but the metabolic shock from the instantaneous field effects on the bodies will drive them to insanity, and then to extinction, unless… the Alliance relocates them to other planets where forces do not cause these disruptions.”

The group announced its dissent. Xudur affirmed, “They will not be allowed to live on Zentaur.”

Rodan waited for the outburst of commentary to end. Landrew signaled for him to continue. “Now let us talk about how to rid ourselves of this creature. That is your primary interest. I must strongly advise you that we are dealing with forces that are theoretical. I cannot, my goosh, stand here and swear that what I say to you is real. I cannot guarantee success, because these are untested mathematical models. Rather, based on the data that I have observed to date, I give you my honest opinion.”

Jim displayed some new graphs and numbers to support Rodan’s theories. “I have calculated the forces that exist inside the creature to combat the exertion he feels. That is, I have translated his metabolic rates into equations. This represents the least amount of energy to escape. Indeed, the atoms of the creature may contain a great deal more energy than this. But there is an interesting principle here.

“To avoid the effects of large gravity fields in space, ships fire bombs of supercompressed mass into space so that they might freely navigate through zones of known meteors, or bypass high-density nebulae. Upon release, the mass instantly provides a body around which they can orbit and then be shot-free. A second later, the mass is dissipated in a billion directions so that its gravity forces cannot cause a permanent unification. The gravitational effects are lost. It is sort of like something we have on Earth, an exploding firecracker, that explodes once into bits, and then each bit explodes into many other bits on a time delay as the bits rub against each other to create a second energy wave. It is during this fleeting second before the second burst that the ship rends itself free of the phenomenon.

“I believe that such a device, calibrated to the forces that hold Urzel together, could scatter his molecules in so many directions, and to such great distances, that the being will be no more, and the chance of gravitational pull to reunite him will become astronomical with a second burst. This method relies upon a key assumption that I have made the correct calculations for the critical energy required to disassemble a Medullan’s metabolic energy patterns—enough to blast a Medullan apart forever.

“My second choice is more precise. If this beast could be lured into a chamber where you could compress the molecules, quite simply, the spirit could be liquefied, and then the liquid solidified, and then the solid burned or disposed of in many ways. Or, as in prison, as long as the compression chamber could be maintained, the child would be in solid state and thus immobilized. This obviously would involve a place of safekeeping forever.”

Xudur criticized the option. “Total stupidity to keep this Medullan in a place of—what did you call it, Dr. Roadster
—safekeeping?”

Deacon pressed Rodan. “Couldn’t the spirit pass through the walls of the chamber before we had a chance to solidify it?”

“Lure the creature into the chamber and immobilize it quickly. Xudur, eventually the creature will die, but I don’t recommend opening up the chamber to verify it.”

“I veto this method,” said Xudur. “I have said before that the creature must die. Now! We cannot create, in good conscience, a catastrophic event for future generations.”

Landrew asked Rodan to continue. “Lastly, I have calculated that we have the know-how to construct a photon-neutrino bomb, which could blow the creature into irretrievable pieces. However, we would have to exert a significant force—so significant that we would have to capture him in a remote part of the galaxy, or capture him and then transport him to a remote part of our galaxy, before we perform this explosion. The aftermath would create a period of extreme radiation in the sector.”

“What do you calculate as the cleansing time?” Landrew asked.

“My guess is five hundred years, to be absolutely safe.”

“That option seems destructive and final. Can it be detonated remotely?”

“No. Unfortunately, it can’t be imploded by remote operations, Eggu-Nitron. It would require a team to transport and detonate the device. No survivors. On this star chart”—Jim beamed a view of the heavens—“here is a quadrant where life forms are few and the effects would be minimal. You would have to resettle the only occupants hurriedly if this is the choice.”

Dreveney asked, “Can you please summarize the risks of each of your options, Doctor Roadster?”

“Option one, the gravity bomb, is risky—very much so. The problem is that the bomb will have to be implanted at close range, and whoever implants it will be sacrificed, or we will have to make the arrangements for shielding at precisely the exact second. We would have only one chance to strike. The device is untested. The damage would be limited to maybe a five-mile radius. It would require sacrifice because it needs to be implanted, and the individual force field for shielding requires a split second to implement. Summary: the problem here is precision, and you need proximity to the being by a sacrificial lamb.

“Option two, the compression chamber, has moderate risks once the being is inside. But as we already admitted, my chooch, how do we get Urzel into such a chamber? Where does this chamber reside for safekeeping until he dies? How do we know when he dies, for no technology can penetrate the chamber? I believe Xudur made a valid point about passing a problem to future generations. However, we can solidify the creature once captured, again by untested technology.”

“Option three is the photon-neutrino bomb. This has the least amount of risk. I know that a weapon of this magnitude will be devastating wherever it is fired. It will destroy Urzel. It will destroy whatever is in its path for many miles; it will create a dead zone of radiation for a million miles for at least five hundred years. Summary: this is a destructive option, but you need only be in medium proximity to your target. The marksman will not survive.”

Xudur spoke. “His destruction is a reality. The creature must be exterminated. Or shall we ask Dithropolis how his family is today?”

“Enough, Xudur,” Landrew said to curtail her other comments. “The photon-neutrino bomb is an option that requires the discussion of this High Council. This will not be decided tonight. If we use it, it will render a portion of our alliance unlivable and unnavigable.”

Deacon rose. “I would speak with this Council now. We—that is, Schlegar, Chubby Eaves, Jim, Gem, Rodan, and I—shall journey to Medulla quickly. There we shall plead with the Medullans for information and assistance to end this matter expeditiously, and with minimal destruction to life and property. We will also interview the mother, Nedilli, whom I hope will cooperate. We must learn everything that we can about Urzel.

“I strongly recommend that the High Council defer any debate on the options that Doctor Roadster has proposed until we return from our fact-finding mission.”

Xudur glared at him. “What else do you recommend, Earthman?”

Deacon surprised her. “Landrew, I request that Xudur accompany us to Medulla. The services of a brave warrior are needed for our safety beyond the Owlers, and she can—with your permission—represent the High Council in discussions with Nedilli.”

Landrew looked at Xudur, who was glowing in her victory, and nodded. “Thank you,” Xudur said.

Raal asked of Rodan, “Isn’t there anything else you can tell the Council about finding Urzel Lok?”

“Well, I said already that this is a laborious task. I cannot provide help on this matter. However, Deacon expressed an idea to me earlier that seems as basic and logical as any.”

Deacon smiled at his audience. “I believe we have to utilize bait, and there are only two alternatives. The mother, Nedilli, can be offered to attract Urzel, or the sickly other half, the child of Asianda. In the interim, we must all pray that the child lives, for if Nedilli declines to assist us, then our only hope is the sickly child, Urzel of Asianda.

“Urzel Lok is not a god. He is obligated to convert followers to conquer us. But Urzel is a child. He feels for his dying half, or else he would not have risked venturing to Goharn’s place. He can be killed by the methods that Toad has outlined, but I fear we cannot accomplish this without the assistance of the Medullans. That is the other reason I have decided that Xudur should accompany the mission. Xudur and I will negotiate a deal with the Medullans for Nedilli’s assistance, with Xudur representing the interests of the High Council. We must depart at once, before Urzel uncovers our intent.”

Eggu-Nitron was complimentary. “On behalf of the High Council, may I thank you, Dr. Roadster, for your hurried but valuable analyses.”

The Council consented, signifying their trust in Deacon’s plan and Rodan’s efforts. It was their only plan for salvation. “We have not kept the news of the slaughter on Jabu from the populace,” Landrew said adamantly. “News spreads faster than I anticipated. I wish the delegation success, and you have my full support to act on behalf of the Alliance to execute the best course of action.”

Dreveney was despondent. “I wish you Godspeed, and you have my blessing. In conversation with my dear friend Dithropolis, he described to me the chaos and reign of terror on Jabu. I also wish to report that Quobit has arrived there safely and is with her family, whose desert area is in combat with the savages as a resistance pocket.”

Raal did not speak, but Deacon knew of her loyalty to the cause. Landrew solidified the group by saying, “Please keep me abreast of any developments; I in turn will inform you of any movements by Urzel.”

Deacon signaled for the others to depart. “We make a speedy exit. The only other issue that I have is to keep abreast of the state of health of the child in Ketapongo. I will leave a communications device with you, Lyanna. It is this device that I told Goharn Lok to contact if developments occur there—either another sobbing in the bushes or a deterioration of the child’s health. You must keep me informed.”

Landrew looked somber, Xudur stood with confidence, and Schlegar seemed apprehensive. Rodan acted excited as they left, discussing the upcoming journey with Chubby. Schlegar walked with Deacon, expressing his disappointment in Deacon’s opinion on the closure of research at Brebouillis.

“I understand your sorrow, Schlegar, but Landrew had to know the options for the future.”

Schlegar was despondent. “I heard Doctor Roadster, and we shall spend much time together reviewing his findings on this trip. I am anxious to learn from him.”