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This section covers the first attempts to deal with the watchers.
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Unseen Watchers
12/05/2093 Tuesday
When they awoke, Undepoldus had disappeared. George searched the
room to see if there were any signs of a hole that could have
been made by Undepoldus. After a long search Marita saw a hole
that was hardly visible under their bed. George had planned to
go to Regent's Park after meeting Kerstin but he decided to go
to Regent's Park before having breakfast. As he was about to leave,
Marita's processor announced: 'Undepoldus was absent from Regent's
Park for seven hours during the night. He has recently returned
to Undepoldus House.'
Marita said. "It seems that he knows where his duty lies
but does not want to spend his nights without company."
"I know that he liked being with us but I wonder how he knew
where to go and how he got here. This room is on the second floor.
How did he avoid all the underground workings between Regent's
Park and here? Did he use the passenger or goods moveways? Did
he burrow all the way here?
"I think that he is very intelligent but is trying to keep
his abilities a secret - even from us George. My processor knew
he was here last night but did not say anything until you were
about to leave. It almost seems like Undepoldus can communicate
with processors like mine and the one in Undepoldus House."
As they entered the dining room together, Read Admiral Chebychev
beckoned them to join him. As they sat down he said. "George
and Marita, may I congratulate you on your new partnership. I
am sorry that I had to delegate Ivan to inform you about the Council's
activities and Rear Admiral Li's visit to Lt. Cdr Tai."
George said. "Sir, with respect, I think that the Commander
represented you in a manner that could not be bettered. Both Marita
and I were very touched by his report and in the way he delivered
it."
"Thank you George for your kind words about the Commander.
I am pleased that the Council's action has met with your approval."
I now must refer to other things. I have received a message from
Admiral Chang about Undepoldus. It seems that he likes your company
a lot more than you thought. The security system at Undepoldus
House could not locate him at two this morning our time. The processor
records at Undepoldus House were checked and it was found that
Undepoldus had left before midnight. None of the security devices
had been actuated when he left so it was presumed that he had
made a hole for himself and burrowed his way out. It was decided
that since he had left on his own, he was in no great danger.
If he did not reappear before the time he was due to be on show
at Regent's Park, a search party would be organised. Then we discovered
that the processor in Marita's cabin reported that he was there
at 02:30. He had somehow found where to go like a homing pigeon.
The processor at Undepoldus House reported that he had returned
half an hour ago and was feeding on the rocks provided for him.
Have you any comment to make George?"
"When we discovered him early this morning we were both too
tired to report that he had found his way to be with us. We were
just happy that he showed that he liked to be with us and did
not like being left alone. He had disappeared again when we woke.
I was about to leave to check where he had gone before I had breakfast
but Marita's processor informed me that he was already back at
Regent's Park."
"Undepoldus is a very strange creature. Have you got any
idea of his intelligence George?"
"No sir. At times he seems to be less intelligent than a
worm and at other times he seems to be more intelligent than I
am. It may be that he is extremely intelligent but prefers to
play dumb unless the situation requires him to act intelligently."
"It is obvious that he can navigate very well. It was no
mean feat for him to find Marita's cabin on the first floor after
having to burrow from Undepoldus House."
"I don't think that he burrowed all the way sir. He seemed
anxious to have a shower when Marita and I showered just before
we settled down for the night. He may have used drains or sewers
or any one of the cable tunnels under the streets on his way here.
He may have felt dirty or thought that he smelled. His navigation
was excellent. He made his way into Marita's cabin in the most
inconspicuous place possible - under the middle of the giant bed."
Marita said. "I have a funny feeling about Undepoldus sir.
Although we, as Spacers, have done our best to protect him, if
all his actions are considered, it could be that he is trying
to protect George and myself among others. He helped a lot in
rescuing Admiral van Wijk and Mrs. Fisher."
The Rear Admiral said. "I will make a report to the Council
based on what you have said. I will suggest that no action is
taken other than that already planned. George, report directly
to me if you observe anything thath indicates the real intelligence
of Undepoldus."
"Certainly sir."
The Rear Admiral left George and Marita to finish their breakfasts.
"It gets curiouser and curiouser." said Marita. My
first lecture is not until 10:00 so I will come with you to Regents
Park. I want to try an experiment with Undepoldus."
"What sort of experiment?" asked George.
"Wait and see."
As George and Marita prepared to leave the Club, several Spacers
came up to them and offered their best wishes and congratulations
for their new partnership.
When they had taken their seats on the strip, a young woman
approached George. .
"You are the Undepoldus man , aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes, I am." answered George.
"Do you wear that collar to show that you look after Undepoldus?
Marita discreetly touch talked [Why are you being so open about
your job?]
George answered the woman. "It is a replica of Undepoldus
that I carry to show people what he looks like. Would you like
to hold it?" At the same time he touched [She is a policewoman.
This was planned to show the followers that I do not carry Undepoldus
with me.]
A few onlookers looked at the scene as George held out the replica
to the woman.
She said. "No. I just wanted to see it. It looks just like
I saw the real one on the vidcom. Thank you for showing it to
me."
George and Marita had to get up quickly to avoid passing their
stepping off place near Regent's Park.
George rearranged the replica Undepoldus as best he could without
a mirror. He took the chance to look around discreetly to see
if he could identify any followers. None were visible.
When they entered Undepoldus House they saw Undpoldus in his feeding
position in the display area. The park would not be open for some
time. George therefore presumed that Undepoldus was where he was
just because he was hungry.
He asked. "Marita what are you planning for your experiment?"
"In a few days, my double will be here. This time is the
first time I have been with you alone here in Undepoldus House.
Undepoldus knows me so he will not object if I pick him up. When
my double comes here with you in a few days time, I want to see
if Undepoldus reacts to her in any way that is different to the
way he reacts to me.
George shouted: "Marita, don't try to pick him up now!"
as Marita went over to the display area.
She stopped as she realised why George had shouted. Undepoldus
was busy digesting rock with his acids. The fizzing was quite
audible. The acids smeared all over his front end were less noticeable
but were there nonetheless.
Marita said. "Thanks George, I had forgotten how messy he
can be. I will have to wait until he is clean and dry again before
I try my experiment."
Undepoldus did not want to fit in with Marita's experiment. He
continued in his feeding position until it was time for Marita
to leave for the University.
After Marita had left, Undepoldus positioned his front end
under the cleaning spray and moved to his usual place in the display
area.
George made a note of his actions. He suspected that Undepoldus
had no wish to take part in any experiments but there was no way
of telling if this was so.
George searched the building for signs of the hole Undepoldus
had made. After an hour of fruitless searching he decided that
Undepoldus must have used an existing hole which wasn't very obvious.
Then, as he looked at Undepoldus in the display area he realised
that the logical route for Undepoldus was to go down the elevator
where the rocks came from below. If his feeding hopper was full,
the elevator track would stop under processor control. Then it
would be a simple matter for him to crawl over the rocks and go
down to the rock storage bay in the cellar. The next question
was, did he burrow out of the cellar or go along the transporter
tunnel. If he went along the transporter tunnel, he would end
up at the heavy freight moveway platform where the containers
of rock arrived. He would then be on the surface there but almost
invisible. The moveway platform was surrounded by trees and shrubs.
George asked the processor to describe the freight moveway system
that linked to the loading platform at the edge of Regent's Park.
The processor said:
'The freight moveway system has tunnels and tracks leading
everywhere where there are facilities for handling freight containers.
There is space under or beside the tracks for maintenance access.
Interchange stations in the network are places where containers
are transferred from one moveway to another. Processor controlled
transfer units can pluck a container from one moving track and
transfer it onto another at a different level within seconds.
Each container carries its own routing code transponder that is
interrogated as it approaches every interchange station. The
local processor activates a transfer unit to pluck a container
off the moveway track and place it on a holding platform if the
container is routed to change moveways. It is then transferred
to the holding platform of the other moveway. The container
is then transferred into the next available container space to
proceed on its way. The London freight moveways move at
30 kilometres an hour. Do you require a more detailed description?'
"No, thank you." said George.
George then thought of the journey that Undepoldus had made. He
would have had to know which interchange station to use and what
level he had to go to, to go in the right direction.
Undepoldus had to crawl. George estimated that Undepoldus could
crawl at 3 or 4 kilometres an hour. It had taken him around two
and a half hours to get from Undepoldus House to the Spacers Club.
It was possible that he had used the freight transport moveway
system to get to the Spacers Club loading bay. However, It was
also possible that he had taken a different route. George decided
against asking the processor for information about other tunnels
and pathways that Undepoldus could have used. The fact that one
feasible route existed was sufficient to explain how Undepoldus
could have travelled around five kilometres in two and a half
hours.
As Undepoldus had made the journey to and from the Spacers Club
once, It was likely that he would do so again.
George said to Undepoldus. "It was nice of you to come to
stay with us at the Spacers Club last night. I trust that you
will come to see us again tonight. If you do, you will be very
welcome."
Undepoldus made no sign that he had heard what George had said.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
When closing time arrived, George said to Undepoldus. "Please
let the processor know when you are leaving and where you are
going. If you can, please say when you expect to arrive at your
destination. We all want to be sure that you are safe and unharmed."
Undepoldus remained immobile.
On the journey back to the Spacers Club he took a vidbook with
him. Now and again he adjusted the position of the book to look
at the reflection in the screen to see if anyone was watching
him. If there were, he couldn't see them, even with this ruse.
He decided to get a small camera to link to the video book so
that he could watch for watchers unobtrusively.
When George arrived at the Spacers Club he was beginning to feel
that Superintendent Abdullah's warning had been exaggerated. If
he was being watched, the watchers were extremely discreet or
absent for most of the time. If there were watchers watching the
watchers, they were equally invisible. George felt that it would
be much better if he did not have the feeling of slight paranoia
as he went to and from Regent's Park.
As he arrived the Commander greeted him. He produced a small
packet that he gave to George.
He said. "George, this is a collection of pictures of those
who have been tracking you and Marita. The policewoman who spoke
to you today was very worried. She thought that they had planned
to kidnap you but changed their minds when they saw you and Marita
together. There are seven pictures in the packet. The people we
are worried about have tracked you and Marita from a distance.
They took it in turns to watch you so that you would not notice
any one person following you all the way between the Club and
Regent's Park. Today there were four of them together on the moveway.
They were sitting separately but the constable recognised them
all as those who had been following you at one time or another.
Superintendent Abdullah had arranged that one of his staff would
approach you when it was known that you were being watched so
that the watchers could be shown that you did not carry Undepoldus
with you."
"I did not realise that there were that many watching me
at once this morning. When the policewoman spoke to me I guessed
that one of the watchers was watching but not four of them. Was
it not possible that two of them were watching me and two were
watching Marita?
"The constable thought not. You are of average height and
you could easily be lost in a crowd. Marita could be tracked more
easily because she is so tall. Women as tall as her are very rare
so she is easily picked out. You can be easily identified a few
metres away but it would be very hard to spot you in a crowd at
fifty metres. The four watchers were all fairly close to you.
They could have all stepped off the moveway when you did, and
surrounded you within seconds. Whoever they are working for must
know how strong Marita is. They would not dare tangle with her
unless they could be sure that she was unable to defend herself.
Marita was effectively your bodyguard today."
"It was only by chance that Marita came with me today sir.
She was free early this morning and it is our first day as partners.
She wanted to give Undepoldus some sort of test before the park
opened. She could not do the test because Undepoldus was all wet
with his acids as he was feeding while she was there."
"I see that you are carrying a vidbook with you. Does it
conceal some sort of defence weapon?
"No sir. It was trying to use its screen as a mirror to see
if I could see who was watching me. I was thinking of adding a
small camera to it so that I could look around without appearing
to do so."
"That is a good idea George. Have a word with Lt. Singh.
Gurprit is a wizard with technology. He may be able to suggest
the best sort of camera to use."
"I will do that sir. Perhaps Marita would like one too."
"Even better. You have my authorisation to requisition anything
you need."
"Thank you sir."
When George arrived at Marita's cabin he was surprised and pleased
to see that a new sign had be put on the wall next to the door.
The old sign had read Lieutenant Commander Marita Andersson
M.O.S. The new sign read Lieutenant Commander Marita Andersson
M.O.S. and Chief Lieutenant Commander George McFigg PARTNERS.
George thought that it was strange that the Commander had not
mentioned his promotion. He thought it best to obtain confirmation
before having his tattoo updated.
Marita hugged and kissed him as he entered. "Well done George.
It was formally announced when our partnership was registered.
However, I must remind you that I still have more than twenty-two
years seniority over you so you must do what I say." She
laughed. George laughed too. He said. "Nothing has changed
since we became partners. Ever since you picked me up with one
hand I knew that you were the boss."
"I'm glad that you know your place - next to me".
George looked at the packet in his hand. "Has the Commander
spoken to you this evening?"
"No George. By your tone I presume that he has spoken to
you. What did he say?"
"He said that I could have been kidnapped this morning but
the would-be kidnappers held off because you were with me."
"How does he know that?"
"The woman police constable who spoke to me this morning
had seen four of the watchers on the moveway near to us. That
is why she took the chance to get me to show that I was carrying
a replica of Undepoldus. It had been arranged by Superintendent
Abdullah that someone would ask me about Undepoldus when I was
being watched."
"I originally thought that you offered to let her look at
the replica closely because you knew her. I didn't realise that
she was a policewoman until you touch talked. How do you know
that a kidnap attempt was planned?"
"The watchers have to stay relatively close to me because
I could get lost in a crowd. They usually work singly but there
were four of them together on the moveway today. They would only
have been together if they had planned a joint operation like
kidnapping me or Undepoldus. The Commander gave me this packet
of images to study so that I could operate accordingly if I saw
one of them following me."
I would like to study those images too. If I catch any of them
following me, I will ask him which arm he wants torn off first."
"The police do not want us to do anything that would arouse
their suspicions Marita. The police want to know who is organising
and paying them. They are being watched by the police and some
volunteer Spacers to see what they are up to. I tried to spot
anyone who was watching me this evening with the reflection in
the screen of a vidbook. I told the Commander that I thought that
it would be a good idea to have a camera attached to it so that
I could watch for watchers while I was apparently reading. He
suggested that I should see Gurprit and get one for you too."
"Lets go and see Gurprit together. I would rather have a
camera concealed in my handbag than carry a vidbook separately."
"Before we go Marita, would you please use you make-up to
alter my tattoo. I don't want the Commander or the Rear Admiral
to make a comment before I get the chance to have it done properly."
"I'll be glad to George." After applying the make-up
she said. "Be careful that you don't smudge it. You will
have to get it done properly tomorrow morning."
They found Gurprit in the dining room so they joined him at his
table.
When George had explained what was wanted, Gurprit said. "I
can do better than that George. I can fit you up with a vidbook
that contains a image recognition processor. The same goes for
your handbag Marita. With flexible optics I can arrange that the
camera can look all around you and warn you if a recognised face
is nearby. With the vidbook I can arrange that the direction and
distance of the person is shown on the screen and the book vibrates
to warn you that a follower has been recognised. The vibration
will also work when you are not looking at the book. The same
goes for your handbag Marita. If you feel your handbag vibrate,
you can open it and look inside for something as a lot of women
do all the time. Inside you will see a screen with a picture and
distance and direction indications. Will that suit you?"
Marita said. "That is just what we need Gurprit. Could you
also make it so that it checks if the same faces are near to us
day after day that are not the same as the seven that we know
about?"
"I could, but then you would begin to spot those who are
acting as your bodyguards and you might unconsciously draw attention
to them. We have all been briefed about the possible danger that
you are both in. I am not one of your Spacer bodyguards but I
know who most of them are. I have been told not to tell you who
they are if you should ask me. This is to protect their identity.
Your idea is a very good one though. It should not be too difficult
to implement. I will arrange that all the bodyguards get something
which will look for people who are often seen near you on the
moveway strips. They have their own ways of checking who is following
you on foot."
George said. "When you have done my vidbook and Marita's
handbag, would you please tell the Rear Admiral what you have
done for us and what you plan for our bodyguards. I am sure that
he would like to give Superintendent Abdullah a chance to use
something similar. The London police spotted the watchers first
with their street cameras. It would be nice if we could help them
do an even better job. I think that you would have to program
the processor not to spot any Spacer bodyguards if you do produce
a version for the London police."
"There would be no problem with that George. Now I think
of it, it would be fairly easy to program the processor not to
recognise our people. It would also be possible to extend your
idea but I will keep that for Chebby. He handles the protocol."
"Thank you Gurprit. I hope that we have not disturbed you
meal too much."
"Don't worry about that George. I like to help and I like
challenges. It will be better than being a bodyguard myself."
Gurprit left to organise the devices leaving George and Marita
alone at the table.
They were not alone for long. Charlie, the Commander's assistant
joined them.
"Mr. McFigg, the Undepoldus has made a lot of tunnels in
the Club. I don't know where they all lead to, but one of them
is between my office and the kitchen. I could suddenly smell cooking
this evening, about half an hour ago, and then found a hole behind
a filing cabinet. I know that it must have been made by the Undepoldus
because the ceramic flooring was burned black all around the hole."
"Did you see Undepoldus Charlie?"
"No sir, I didn't, but I know that it was him that did it."
"Have you seen any other holes that he has made Charlie?"
"Yes sir. There is a hole in your room under the bed and
another in the wall behind a cooker in the kitchen."
"Are there any pipes and tunnels big enough for Undepoldus
to use in the Club?"
"There are hundreds of them. The air conditioning pipes are
very large and empty apart from the air flow. The drainage system
goes to every private cabin and to all the communal hygiene facilities.
There are spaces between the floors and many of the walls where
the other services like electricity and vidcom are routed. The
Undepoldus could travel all round the Club without making any
new holes if he wanted to."
George said. "If I know Undepoldus, he was going exactly
where he wanted to go. He chose places where the holes would not
be noticed unless you were looking for them. He would only make
a hole if there was no other way to get into or out of a room.
He was evidently looking for something or somebody."
"Have you any idea what he would look for sir."
"I don't know Charlie. The only thing he has been known to
look at is a map. Is there a map in your office?"
"I have the plans for the entire building but they are all
in a filing cabinet."
Marita said. "I think we should try to think of anything
that could be either in your office or the kitchen."
Charlie asked. "In what way do you mean ma'am?"
"Well, it is possible that there will be a list of Spacers
who are or will be in the Club so that an estimate could be made
of the provisions needed. You might have a copy and the chef would
certainly want one."
"Do you think that he could understand that ma'am?"
"I don't know. I think that he has some sort of intelligence
but he doesn't want to reveal it. He never shows that he understands
what we say to him but he did help us to find Admiral van Wijk
and Mrs Fisher. He also helped to trap the kidnappers in his own
way. Since then he has not done much to show how intelligent he
is. Last night he found his way to our room from Regent's Park.
He homed in on us like a carrier pigeon. Otherwise we know nothing
about what he can do."
George said. "Why don't you ask your processor if it recorded
his visit? It might be able to show what Undepoldus did when he
arrived in your room."
"I never thought of that sir. I will let you know if I find
out anything."
Charlie left looking puzzled.
George and Marita were puzzled too but they knew that Undepoldus
had already returned to the Club to be with them for the night.
Marita said. George, I guess that it is just about a silly to
tell Undepoldus not to make holes as it is to tell a dog not to
urinate against lampposts."
"It is sillier Marita. Undepoldus has to make holes to live
and to move about. Dogs can use trees or fences when they want
to."
"I wish I knew what he was up to George. It was OK when you
carried him with you but now he is roaming around on his own."
"He seems to be able to look after himself. I guess that
we will have to wait to find out what he was doing."
When they returned to their cabin the found Undepoldus stretched
out on the settee. He changed his position so that there was room
for them to sit down on either side of him.
George said to him. "Now what have you been up to today my
friend?"
Undepoldus did not answer. He just stretched out to climb up George's
arm and settle himself on George's shoulders.
George found the it comforting that Undepoldus had taken up his
usual travelling position while he and Marita were sitting quietly
in their cabin. It was good to relax and take it easy for a few
minutes.
Marita had an idea. She asked the processor. " Processor,
please provide details of the route taken by Undepoldus between
Regent's Park and here this evening."
'Undepoldus left Undepoldus House at 17:33 today. He appeared briefly at the freight moveway platform at 18:03. He was then observed on the moveway strip at Eversholt Street at 18:21. He was not apparently noticed by the moveway passengers. He left the moveway in Woburn Place at 18:25. He then appeared in Mr. Potter's office at 18:55. He left Mr. Potter's office at 19:02. He arrived in the kitchen at 19:11. He left the kitchen at 19:16. He arrived here at 19:31. There is no information available about the movements of Undepoldus when he was not visible.'
Marita then asked. "What did Undepoldus do in Mr. Potter's office and in the kitchen?"
'Undepoldus climbed onto Mr. Potter's desk via a chair. He moved some papers around, then climbed off the desk and went to the kitchen. Undepoldus was out of view of the camera for most of the time he was in the kitchen. He was not noticed by the kitchen staff.'
George said. "Well, that tells us not very much Marita. But we do know a little bit more about his comings and goings."
Marita said. "The strange thing is, no people saw him,
or if they did, they didn't notice him. He seems to be very good
at not being seen when he does not want to be seen."
"He didn't hide himself from the cameras though Marita. Maybe
the cameras see him differently to people."
"Oh how I wish I could know what he will turn out like. I
keep wondering if he will suddenly change into something else
like a caterpillar turns into a chrysalis or a chrysalis turns
into a butterfly. Then again I think of the barren place he came
from and the way the ground collapsed where he lived. It was no
place for butterflies. It was a bit like Mars only warmer with
more gravity than here."
George said "I have been studying him as closely as possible
for weeks and all I can detect is a gradual increase in size.
He doesn't seem to be growing any new whiskers but the ones he
has just get bigger as his body gets bigger. They always look
the same as ever. Only the scale changes. I was half expecting
a change like a bird which starts with downy feathers and grows
flight feathers later. Some animals are born hairless and go on
to grow thick coats. Undepoldus shows no signs of change at all
except in size. There may be developments inside him but whatever
they are, it would be reasonable to imagine that they grow in
proportion to the rest of him."
"I know why it has been agreed that he won't be examined
by ultrasonics or x-rays but it would be interesting to know what
he is like inside. Wouldn't it George?"
"He must be quite different to nearly all the animals we
know about except for a few sea creatures. Nearly all animals
are based on a tube construction. Food enters at one end and indigestible
matter comes out of the other end. Undepoldus does not have a
tubular construction. In some ways he is like a starfish. Digestion
takes place on his brown patch. What he doesn't absorb is left
as slurry. He does not have an obvious way to get rid of decomposition
products that are generated within his body unless he gets rid
of them as gas or while he eats. I look at him nearly all day
long but the more I see of him the more puzzling he seems to be."
"At least he seems to know us and like us. He certainly likes
to be with you. He doesn't say much but his actions show that
he must care about us."
"I wonder whether he likes to be with me because he has been
imprinted like a baby goose or he likes my smell or he wants to
protect me. Of course, it could be that he is really intelligent
and enjoys hearing me talk to him."
The processor announced: 'Lt. Gurprit Singh wishes to be admitted.'
"Admit him. Gee-Mac 207" said George.
Gurprit entered with a vidbook and a handbag in his hands.
He said. "George and Marita, the processors inside the vidbook
and the handbag have been programmed to recognise the seven people
that we know about and to record the faces of the people who get
nearer to you than 15 metres when you are outside the club. You
will feel an alarm vibration if the same person comes within 15
metres of you on three or more different days during the time
you are travelling to or from work. To check that the devices
are working, drum twice with your fingers with either hand. The
vibration test will last three seconds.
After that, the test mode will be inoperative for one hour. If
no movement is detected for ten minutes, the detection devices
will be switched off to conserve power. The units will start operating
within two seconds of movement being detected. At the end of the
start-up period the units will vibrate for half a second to let
you know that the detection system has started working.
Have you any questions?"
George replied. "Gurprit, you are a marvel. Will the units
tell us who has been recognised?"
"Yes. The vidbook will indicate the known people as numbers
1 to 7 and any others as higher numbers. It will also show small
images of the person spotted from the front, side and rear views.
The view of the person highlighted will indicate the way he or
she is facing with respect to you. The bearing and distance will
also be shown with respect to the way you are facing. A further
feature is that it will recognise you. If it cannot see your face
within 20 to 40 centimetres, and looking straight at it, the recognition
information will not be shown. This will prevent anyone from finding
out what it does if it is taken from you."
Marita said. "Gurprit, you seem to have thought of everything.
Will my handbag work in the same way?"
"More or less Marita. "The screen will remain blank
until you put your hand into your handbag and the recogniser unit
sees your face looking into the handbag. The screen will go blank
within two seconds of you taking your hand out of your handbag
or when you start to close the bag. If you look into the bag now,
you will not be able to see where the screen is. It is covered
with the same lining material as the rest of the handbag. When
you put your hand in, the screen will be revealed. If you touch
the screen while you are looking into the bag, it will show 'Test
OK'. If you put your hand into the bag without looking into it
within five seconds, the processor will shut down for three hours.
As you can see, in a dim light, a light comes on to illuminate
the inside of the bag as is usual for ladies' handbags these days."
"What would happen if I forgot the bag and left it somewhere?"
"If no motion has been detected for more that twenty-four
hours or you have not used it when it has been outside the Spacers
Club for twenty-four hours, a homing beacon signal will be generated
in response to a coded search signal.. Both units are checked
every ten minutes by the Club''s processor system to check where
they are in the Club. If either unit is stolen, the beacons could
help us locate who has stolen it.
If someone demands that you hand over your handbag Marita, try
to pass it to the person with both hands without using the handle
or rotate it 180 degrees if you must use the handle. Either way
it will send out a distress signal for two seconds. That will
be long enough to locate your position. George, if you have to
hand over your vidbook, hold it by one corner and give it a squeeze
as you hand it over. Do the same if you are told to drop it or
throw it. If either of you are faced with a threatening situation,
the distress beacon can be actuated by rotating the handbag 180
degrees and back again quickly or squeezing the vidbook twice.
If you squeeze your vidbook more than twice, it will signal that
urgent assistance is needed The appropriate distress signal will
then operate for one minute."
"You seem to have thought of everything Gurprit." said
Marita
"I had some help and the emergency beacons were sitting in
my workshop just begging to be used. After that it was just a
matter of linking the motion sensors and the pressure sensors
to the processor circuit."
George said. "Thank you very much for your help Gurprit.
I am sure that both of us will feel more secure if we can spot
the watchers and what they are doing."
"I hope that they work as I have planned. In a couple of
days I would like them back to check the processor records. That
should only take a few minutes if they work correctly. I have
to go now to see the Rear Admiral."
After Gurprit left, George and Marita took the opportunity
to study the devices Gurprit had produced. Marita decided to transfer
the contents of her normal handbag into the new one. As she did
so she let out a cry of amazement. "George, it has a sort
of robot inside. It sorts the things for me as I put them in.
Coins go in one place, make-up in another and credit cards have
their own pocket. The handkerchief I put in would have covered
the screen but it is now in a side pocket."
George said. "Gurprit must be familiar with the way ladies
put things in their handbags. He has arranged things so that the
screen is never obscured when you want to look at it."
Marita asked. "Is your vidbook special too?"
"It is thinner than the one I used today. It is a bit lighter
too. It contains quite a lot of books of all types. I will just
try the dictionary section. Yes, it has a Swedish general dictionary
and a translating dictionary to and from Swedish."
'Flicka, girl'
"It talks too!"
"Let me see." said Marita. George gave it to her. "It
is a brilliant vidbook. It seems to cover everything. It even
has all Strindberg's plays in Swedish. Oh look! Undepoldus is
mentioned in the encyclopaedia section."
'Undepoldus. A worm-like creature brought back to Earth from
near Alpha Centauri by Spacer Marita Andersson (q.v.) inadvertently
among rock samples. The worm was discovered in the rock samples
by Peter Whitfield - a student'
"So you get a mention too Marita. This vidbook is certainly
good enough to keep me busy for a few years."
"I knew that I would be mentioned in the records of the Olympics
but I never thought that the reference section would be as up
to date as it is. It is not much longer than two months since
Undepoldus was found. Is that right George?"
"Today is the 70th day after his discovery Marita. From his
rate of growth he is around 192 days old. I don't know how old
he really is because he was travelling with you for ten years."
"That has always puzzled me George. How could he travel for
all that time without growing very much and then, when he got
to Earth started growing?"
"I can't be sure Marita. It is not uncommon for some animals
and plants to stay in a dormant stage for a long time and then
apparently return to life when conditions have suddenly changed.
Your rock samples were kept in the dark in a cold situation during
your journey back to Earth. Undepoldus was discovered quite a
long time after you got back."
"I know. It was terrible, the way it was reported in the
media. We went all that way for such a long time and only got
a few rock samples. It was a long time later when Undepoldus was
discovered. It could fit. The rock samples were distributed in
October last year. That nearly matches your estimate of when he
started growing."
"The samples at the University were kept in glass cases where
it was warm and there was a reasonable amount of light. I do know
that Undepoldus must have some energy input to grow and his whiskers
are a bit like light guides. That could be the explanation Marita."
PAUSE
The next section deals with George's
worries.
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