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thread the pole under the knots so that it can be carried. They set off clumsily, boots sinking deep into the
soft surface, four supporting the pole and the dead beast, the erstwhile leader bringing up the rear,
carrying two of the guns. Their faces are averted from the direction of the driving snow, and for a
moment I think they will not see me.
But one looks up, and they stop. Sudden shock registers on their faces. Their eyes grow wide, and their
foreheads crease, with surprise, disbelief, and fear ... and something else. I think it must be guilt. I watch
the shock die away, and all that remains is the savage hunger and perhaps a hint, no more, of guilt.
The leader opens his mouth to speak to me.
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this is titan base calling harker lee. come in harker lee. acknowledge please. acknowledge, harker lee.
But no sound comes out.
As I pass by a rock-surrounded pool, which is replenished at every tide by gray salt water, I hear the
voices of the Medusae. I pause to listen, but I do not dare look over the rocks to taste the horror of their
snake-limbed features.
harker lee
 Sister, wail the two who guide the third (for she is blind, with eyes of black jet),  do not look into our
faces. Already they are frozen into terrible masks."
 Where are you
harker lee
? asks the blind one, and I can imagine her head turning as her black eyes wander in their futile quest.
 Sister, they implore,  turn not your head."
 I cannot see you, she complains in anguish.
acknowledge
 Sister, look out
harker lee
to sea!"
 I am
harker lee
lonely, says the blind one, and she weeps. As the sea waves beat around her crab-clawed feet, her
tears dissolve the jagged spurs of stone around the pool and envenom the sea.
this is titan base
and envenom the sea.
this is titan base
and envenom the sea....
calling
calling
calling
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Titan Nine
Where No Man Has Gone Before, Beyond the Split Infinitive
I said something, but it wasn't words.
There was silence. Shock silence. More silence than shock.
Then...
 Is that you? Harker, is that you? We hear you, Harker. This is titan base. We hear you, Harker."
My throat was dry. I felt as though I had a king-sized hangover. I could hear burbling from the speaker.
It was panic. Rushing about. Disbelief. Anguish.
 I heard him. I tell you I heard him. He didn't say anything, but I heard him. I heard him."
Silly bastard.
 Ta ... ke it ... ea ... sy, I said. It was difficult. I coughed.
 There! That's him. You heard him. Never mind me. Talk to him. Give it to me. Harker! Harker! We
hear you. Take it easy yourself, Harker. Just take it easy. You made it, Harker. You made it."
I didn't say anything. For the moment. I didn't have anything else to say. I waited. I could hear the action
still drifting wordlessly over the radio as people moved beyond the microphone at the other end. They
sounded right next door. Theywere right next door, there was hardly any lag. Where was I? I didn't like
to ask. What a line! I must be late. I'm too close. The ship must be almost home.
 Hello, Harker."
 Not so loud, I told him, almost before he started.
 Sorry, Harker. This is Fred Jacobson. Are you all right?"
 As well as can be expected."
I heard him exhale noisily.  Am I glad to hear your voice, he said.  Am I just glad?"
 Didn't you think I was coming?"
 Man, you been away a long time. You're late, do you realize that? You'revery late. You been out there
for days without a peep. You had us all very worried, you know that?"
 If I'd known about it I'd have been very worried myself, I told him.  I just now woke up with a head
like a furry teacup."
 You're days late, said Jacobson, repeating himself like a parrot.
 Yeah, I said, quietly.  Doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself? And I laughed. Weakly.
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 Take it easy, man, said Jacobson.  No rush. Take your time."
I found to my surprise that I could flex my fingers and wriggle a bit inside the clamps. I did, and it felt
terrible. Painful. I really was back. All the way. I was cold-sweating something terrible, and I felt as
though I'd left my legs behind.
 What's my pulse rate? I asked.
Pause.
 Sixty-nine, Harker. Your pulse is sixty-nine."
 Stop saying everything twice, I told him.  That's great. Sixty-nine. I'm almost healthy."
 You're okay, Jacobson confirmed, as if it were a miracle.  The important thing is how you feel."
 Ugly, I said.  Just a bit. How long do I have to stay in this thing?"
 Till touchdown."
 I knowthat . How long?"
 Two hours and eleven minutes."
 Two hours!"
 I told you you were late." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]