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him.
He was unapologetic. "If you'd seen the way our ancestors mucked up this
planet, you'd understand it."
Gelmann eyed him a moment longer, then turned her attention back to the
ellipse. "Now, see here! We're not going to let you intimidate us."
"I have no desire to try and intimidate you," the ellipse replied.
"What are you?" Shimoda's hairless eyebrows clenched. "Are you a living being
like us, or a creature of artifice like our robot? Are you some kind of
spirit?"
The Blueness paused before replying. "All of the aforementioned apply.
Extensive definition to your satisfaction would take much time. I can tell you
that what I am mostly at present is confused."
This partial confession of vulnerability enhanced Gel-mann's growing
confidence. "We're a little confused ourselves, you should pardon the
comparison. We didn't know there was anything else down here besides us." She
spread her arms wide. "This whole place is just fantastic."
"Yes, it is, isn't it?" The blue ellipse spoke with unmistakable pride.
"Do you have a name, something we can use to identify you with?" asked
Shimoda.
"I am searching the references I have for you," the ellipse replied. "You may
refer to me as the 'Autothor.'"
"Autothor." Shimoda considered. "Does that mean 'authority,' or 'automatic
authority'? Or 'automatic author'?"
"Don't worry about it. There is already active sufficient confusion to
confound communication. Let's not make things any worse."
"I'm for that," said Hawkins fervently. "Are you responsible for all this?
Did you build it, or do you just, uh, live here?"
"I exist here." The ellipse's deliberate pauses between replies were growing
shorter. "This is my& home. I am not responsible for its construction. That
was the work of the Drex."
"The Drex." Follingston-Heath pursed his lips.
"Yes." The ellipse pulsed softly. "Surely you know and are of the Drex?
Otherwise you could not be here."
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"Quid pro quo." Gelmann smiled. "Naturally." Hawkins and Iranaputra eyed her
doubtfully but dared not contradict her aloud.
"Yet you do not have the appearance of Drex. Still, what is the significance
of mere physical dimensions?"
"Beats the hell out of me." Hawkins jerked a thumb in Shimoda's direction.
"Why don't you ask him?"
"I feel strongly that this may not be the time to be making jokes, Wai," said
Shimoda tensely.
"Sure it is. Anytime's the time to be making jokes."
"Since you recognize our intelligence and Drex-likeness, how about opening
the door so we can wander around outside for a bit? There's a good old thing."
Follingston-Heath smiled broadly, his regenerated upper teeth
indistinguishable from the original lower.
"Oh, I couldn't possibly do that." The ellipse retreated slightly. "External
integrity must be maintained for the duration of the hiatus."
"Hiatus." Shimoda's hands rested on his protruding belly.
"Would that by any chance refer to the period which has elapsed since the
last time you talked to someone hinting of Drexness?"
"Obviously. Integrity has been maintained since that lime."
"The poop it has." Gelmann tried to shush him but Hawkins turned and gestured
in the direction of the now sealed portal. "We just came in through there."
"Impossible." The Autothor was emphatic in its disagreement. "No access from
outside is allowed when internal integrity is being maintained."
"For an intelligent device, or whatever you are, you're obstinate as hell,"
Hawkins shot back.
"I am not obstinate. Flexibility is in my nature; otherwise I would be unable
to properly carry out my functions."
"Then if you're so flexible," said Follingston-Heath, "why can't you open the
door and let us out?"
"There is only one doorway here, and it leads inward, not out."
"There was a passageway.There ." Hawkins jabbed a hand angrily in the
direction of their arrival.
"Ah. I see what the problem is. Definitions. You must be referring to the
emergency relief tube. It does not matter. Integrity has been maintained."
"So you have said." Iranaputra was getting frustrated. How could they get the
thing to reopen an entrance it refused to admit existed?
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