Short Stories by Isaac Asimov

Author:Isaac Asimov [Asimov, Isaac]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-05-22T00:26:47.663000+00:00

"Even so, the clearing is gone. From the air, the only way you could tell there had once been a settlement in that spot was that the new growth had a slightly different color and and, well, texture, than the surrounding forests."

He pointed at a particular photograph. "This is just a slag heap. Maybe it was machinery once. I think those are burial mounds."

Novee said, "Any actual remains? Bones?"

Fawkes shook his head.

Novee said, "The last survivors didn't bury themselves, did they?"

Fawkes said, "Animals, I suppose." He walked away, his back to the group. "It was raining when I poked my way through. It went splat, splat on the flat leaves above me and the ground was soggy and spongy underneath. It was dark, gloomy-There was a cold wind. The pictures I took didn't get it across. I felt as though there were a thousand ghosts, waiting-"

The mood was contagious.

Cimon said, savagely, "Stop that!"

In the background, Mark Annuncio's pointed nose fairly quivered with the intensity of his curiosity. He turned to Sheffield, who was at his side, and whispered, "Ghosts? No authentic case of seeing-"

Sheffield touched Mark's thin shoulder lightly. "Only a way of speaking, Mark. But don't feel badly, that he doesn't mean it literally. You're watching the birth of a superstition, and that's something, isn't it?"

A semi-sullen Captain Follenbee sought out Cimon the evening after Fawkes' second return, and said in his harumphy way, "Never do, Dr. Cimon. My men are unsettled. Very unsettled."

The port-shields were open. Lagrange I was six hours gone, and Lagrange II's ruddy light, deepened to crimson in setting,

flushed the captain's face and tinged his short gray hair with red.

Cimon, whose attitude toward the crew in general and the captain in particular was one of controlled impatience, said, "What is the trouble, captain?"

"Been here two weeks, Earth-time. Still no one leaves without suits. Always irradiate before you come back. Anything wrong with the air?"

"Not as far as we know."

"Why not breathe it then?"

"Captain, that's for me to decide."

The flush on the captain's face became a real one. He said, "My papers say I don't have to stay if ship's safety is endangered. A frightened and mutinous crew is something I don't want."

"Can't you handle your own men?"

"Within reason."

"Well, what really bothers them? This is a new planet and we're being cautious. Can't they understand that?"

"Two weeks and still cautious. They think we're hiding something. And we are. You know that. Besides, surface leave is necessary. Crew's got to have it. Even if it's just on a bare rock a mile across. Gets them out of the ship. Away from the routine. Can't deny them that."

"Give me till tomorrow," said Cimon, contemptuously.

THE scientists gathered in the observatory the next day. Cimon said, "Vernadsky tells me the data on air is still negative, and Rodriguez has discovered no airborne pathogenic organism of any type."

There was a general air of dubiety over the last statement. Novee said, "The settlement died of disease. I'll swear to that."

"Maybe so," said Rodriguez at once, "but can you explain how? It's impossible.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.