Quiet Invasion(68)

Much of the answer to that question would depend on what was in those black tubes, which would tell them what kind of laser they were dealing with. The presence of the tube told them it was a gas laser, but what kind of gas laser?

When they knew what kind of laser it was, they could work out what it had been used for. And when they knew what it was for, they would know what these people were doing here, and when they knew what these people were doing here…the universe would open up wide.

He wanted to say this to Vee, but he didn’t. Something was wrong with her. She seemed closed off, and he couldn’t tell why.

Well, you can sort that out later. “Can you get the monochrometer out of my pack?”

“Right.” Vee stumped around behind him and he felt the small jostlings as she undid the catches on his pack and pulled out the equipment.

While Vee squatted next to the laser to position the boxy analyzer and pump down the suction cup at its base, Josh pulled their portable floodlight out of her pack and lined it up with the monochrometer on the other side of the tubes. When both devices were switched on, pure white light would shine through the tubes into the monochrometer, which would analyze the absorption patterns and report. Then they’d know what lay inside the opaque glass.

Vee jacked the monochrometer into her suit. “Okay. Go.”

Josh pressed the power-on switch and the light flashed on, so suddenly and intensely bright his faceplate dimmed. He imagined a faint humming as its beams passed through the tubes. Another shiver of fear and excitement went through him, brought by the awareness that he was doing something no one else had ever done before. Even Vee’s closed expression softened as she read off the monochrometer’s conclusions. “Okay, we’ve got hydrogen in there, a little neon, and”—she paused—“carbon dioxide.” She stared at the device. “It’s a CO2 laser, Josh.”

“Makes sense, doesn’t it?” Josh was aware he was grinning like an idiot. “Not only does CO2 make for a versatile, powerful laser, but our aliens have been making heavy use of local materials. If there’s one thing Venus has and to spare, it’s CO2.”

“Right.” Vee pulled the monochrometer jack out of her glove’s wrist, turned her back, and left.

Josh did not let his jaw drop. Veronica marched through Chamber Two and climbed back into the tunnel toward Chamber One.

“What was that?” came Troy’s voice.

I have no effing idea, thought Josh.

“Is there a problem?” Julia stood up from her crouch over the carved-out section of floor.

“No, no.” Josh waved them back. Both curious and confused, he crawled back through the tunnel to Chamber One. He got there just in time to see Vee climb the last rungs of the ladder and disappear over the side of the hatchway.

Josh opened their channel. “Vee? Vee? What are you doing?”

No answer. Josh flicked over to the channel for the scarab. “Adrian? This is Josh.”

“I hear you, Josh, what’s up?”

“How’s Dr. Hatch’s suit doing?”

“She’s green and go here. Something wrong?”

I have no effing idea. Josh stared at the ladder. He did not want to chase after her. If she wanted to be a temperamental artiste, that was her business. The laser was waiting for them both. If she didn’t care, fine.

Except that there were so many ways she could get herself killed out there.

Josh carefully closed down all his com channels except the one to the scarab. When he was sure no one could hear him but Adrian, he started swearing softly, and he climbed the ladder back to the surface.

As he emerged from the hatch, he saw Vee crouched about ten meters away, apparently staring at one patch of ground.

“Vee? What the hell are you doing?” Josh demanded as he started stumping toward her.

“More holes.” She pointed.

“Yes, I know. We found those. They should be tagged.” Two squares of four small holes drilled neatly into the earth on the right side of the hole the laser pointed through.

“Yes.” She stood up and started walking back toward him. Josh stopped in his tracks.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

Apparently, she didn’t. She said nothing as she passed him and climbed back down the ladder. Josh choked off another set of curses and returned to the hatch. While he watched, she lumbered down the rungs, walked to the center of the chamber, and laid down on her back, her faceplate pointing up at the ceiling.

Bewilderment warred with exasperation as Josh climbed down the ladder and stood over her. “Are you okay?”

“Fine, thank you.” Her voice was bland, almost bored, and her expression matched.