E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 26 - The Coming Event.pdf - E. C. Tubb - margozap

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The Coming Event by

E.C. Tubb

CHAPTER ONE

Buried deep beneath the scarred surface of a lonely world the

cavern held the awesome grandeur of a legendary tomb— a

tremendous mausoleum buttressed by massive columns which

formed an adamantine protection for the soaring tiers of

featureless ovoids within their embrace, though it was even now

being despoiled by men and machines.

To Master Elge, Cyber Prime, the fabrication was the reverse

of a tomb, the ovoids far from being coffins, but the desecration

was real, and he watched as units were freed from their housings

and swung down into the arms of waiting cradles to be wheeled

silently away.

And each ovoid held a living, thinking brain.

This was the reward for which cybers dedicated their lives.

They worked until they grew physically inefficient then were

stripped of hampering flesh, their brains removed from their

skulls and placed in containers, sealed from harm while fed with

nutrients, at last hooked into series with others of their own kind

to form a part of the tremendous complex which was the heart

and power of the Cyclan.

But now Central Intelligence was threatened and with it the

security of the whole.

"Twelve dozen units," said Jarvet from where he stood at

Elge's side. "The entire section. As you instructed, Master."

And how many before them? Elge knew the exact number but

even one would have been too many. "Results?"

"As yet totally negative."

"Numbers tested?"

"Eighteen selected at random." That was more than enough

for a representative sample. The aide added, "I ordered a halt at

twenty for your decision."

The aide could anticipate what the decision would be, Elge

knew, but as his was the final responsibility his must be the

deciding voice.

He turned, tall, thin, the scarlet robe shielding the taut lines

of his body, maintained at optimum efficiency and carrying no

surplus fat. To Elge as to all cybers food was to be used as fuel,

eaten from necessity not pleasure. Training and an operation

performed at puberty on the cortex had rid them of the capacity

for emotion.

Jarvet fell into step behind him as Elge moved to a passage

where a moving way carried them to a laboratory in which

technicians worked over the freed ovoids. Many lay open to

reveal their contents and Elge looked dispassionately at the

convoluted brains rested beneath transparent covers amid their

attendant mechanisms. Components designed never to fail. And

they had not failed—the fault lay within the brains themselves.

But the fault was yet to be determined.

"Nothing, Master." Icelus gave his report. "No trace of any

foreign bacteria or virus. No radiation-scarring or isotopic

accumulation. No discernible tissue decay. No aggravated

pressure zones. The Homochon elements are enlarged but only

within anticipated parameters. No change in the cortex. Nothing

can be discerned in the physical condition which could account

for the aberration." He added, "The conclusions are as before."

At that time units had been sterilized with flame and reduced

to their component atoms for fear of contamination, and

examinations had been conducted in isolated areas by

technicians who still remained isolated on distant worlds. Entire

banks of machinery had been volatilized—Elge knew the details.

"Is there any traceable pattern?"

"No. The brains are old and that is the only thing we can be

sure of."

"Any correlations?"

"None." Icelus was definite. "The thing seems to strike at

random. These units are younger than the last yet older than the

ones before. There is no similarity as to location or apparent

vulnerability. These are from Bank 8 Tier 5. Those before came

from Bank 3 Tier 9."

Different caverns and different positions—diversifying the

units was an elementary precaution against total loss by

unforeseen damage. Yet even that had provided no defense. The

aberration must, somehow, be inherent. But what?

"Your orders, Master?" Icelus was waiting. "Shall I continue

with the examinations?"

How often must he go over the same ground? There was a

point beyond which any further effort would be worse than

useless—efficiency demanded the full utilization of each and

every facility and the technicians had other work.

Elge said, "Terminate."

"All, Master?"

"All." Every brain to be thrown into a furnace to be consumed

by fire, the components dissolved into basic elements, the

residue to be blasted deep into space. To Jarvet he said, "Order

an assembly. I will meet the Council in an hour."

They sat at a long table, the warm hue of their robes the only

touch of color in the bleakness of the chamber. Dekel was the

first to speak, as Elge had predicted, but the mental achievement

gave him little pleasure. The man was old, patterns established;

the merest tyro could have done as well.

"This matter concerns Central Intelligence?"

"Yes."

"You have fresh information?" Boule was swift in his attack.

"There is nothing to be gained by discussing what we already

have covered."

Like Dekel and the rest, he was old, but that was to be

expected—men did not achieve power without the passage of

time. But age was relative and small signs betrayed when the fine

edge had been crossed; the delicate balance between optimum

efficiency and the insidious decline toward senility. Signs

watched for by all as they all watched Elge. He with the highest

office must demonstrate his ability to hold it.

From where he sat Theme said, "From my study of recent

information I arrive at the conclusion that nothing new can be

learned of the degeneration of the units by further

examinations."

"Agreed. That is why I ordered a termination of all such

activity." Elge continued, "There is no need to detail the negative

findings. They are as before. Nor is there need to discuss

extrapolations of probable consequences should the aberrations

continue. The prediction of internal collapse based on an

exponential curve leads to near-certain disaster."

This seemed so obvious as to need no comment.

Alder said, "Why have we been summoned?"

"To review the situation. Later I shall want from each of you

detailed plans of optimum survival based on all possible

contingencies. Now I wish to cover the base problem. From a

summation of all findings relevant to the affected units it is

logical to accept the premise that there is no mechanical or

biological cause for the derangements. The brains involved failed

because of some inherent fault other than external cause.

Agreed?"

Boule demurred. "That need not necessarily be the case.

Because we cannot find a cause does not mean that one does not

exist."

"True, but all precautions have been taken as regards

shielding and monitoring." Elge was curt. "I submit the fault

could lie in the region of the psyche. To illustrate the point I have

arranged for a demonstration." A communicator stood on the

table before him. Activating the instrument he said, "Now."

Abruptly the room turned black.

It was the complete elimination of all light and for a moment

they felt as if blinded and buried deep in a tomb, shielded for

eons from the sun. Then, slowly, light came and with it an image.

It floated above the table; a three-dimensional hologram

depicting a male, nude, set with wires which sprouted from his

skull like the tendrils of some strange and oddly designed

creature. The eyes were closed, sunken beneath prominent

brows, the ears padded. Mouth and nose were covered by a mask

and the medium in which he floated was not air or space.

"Water warmed and maintained at his individual body heat."

The accompanying voice whispered through the chamber. "All

senses have been blocked or negated so as to deny the

intelligence any external stimuli. The electrodes on the skull relay

the encephalic readings of the cortex."

Another picture joined the first; a depiction of wavering lines

traced by delicate points. The wave pattern of the subject's

brain, which all could read.

"Total disorientation was achieved in a remarkably short

space of time," continued the voice. "Hallucinations followed

leading to a complete catatonic withdrawal. Note the zeta and

lunbda lines." A pause, then, "Three hours later." A flick and the

figure could be seen with knees drawn up to its chin, arms

E. C. Tubb - Dumarest 26 - The Coming Event.pdf

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