Free The Man-Kzin Wars 01 by Larry Niven Page A

“ T he philologists can bestow official names later, or whoever is to be in charge of such things. Let us give you a précis of what we have learned to date. ”
    He consulted a notator in his hand. “ P rima," he recited. " Mean orbital radius, approximately 0. 4 A. U. Diameter, approximately 16,000 kilometers. Since it has no satellite, the mass is still uncertain, but irradiation is such that it cannot be icy. We presume the material is largely silicate, which-allowing for self compression gives a mass on the order of Earth's. No signs of air .
    “ S ecunda, orbiting at 0.7 A.U., resembles Prima, but is slightly larger and does have a thin atmosphere, comparable to Mars ” . It has a moon as well. Remarkably, the moon has a higher albedo than expected, a yellowish hue. The period tells us the mass, of course, which reinforces our guess about Prima .
    “ T ertia is almost exactly one A. U. out. It is a superterrestrial, mass of five Earths, as confirmed by four moons, also yellowish. A somewhat denser atmosphere than Secunda's; we have confirmed the presence of nitrogen and traces of oxygen. ”
    “ W hat?" broke from Saxtorph. “ Y ou mean it might have life?" Laurinda shivered a bit. “ T he water is forever frozen," she told him. “ C arbon dioxide must often freeze. We don't know how there can be any measurable amount of free oxygen. But there is. ”
    Tregennis cleared his throat. “ Q uarta," he said. “ A gas giant at 1.5 A. U., mass 230 Earths, as established by ten moons detected thus far. Surprisingly, no rings. Hydrogen and helium, presumably surrounding a vast ice shell which covers a silicate core with some iron. It seems to radiate weakly in the radio frequencies, indicating a magnetic field, though the radio background of the sun is such that at this distance we can't be sure. We plan a flyby on our way in. Quarta will be basic to understanding the dynamics of the system. It is its equivalent of Jupiter. ”
    “ O therwise we have only detected radio from Secunda," Laurinda related, "but it is unmistakable, cannot be of stellar origin. It is really curious intermittent, seemingly modulated, unless that is an artifact of our skimpy data." She smiled. “ H ow lovely if intelligent beings are transmitting. ”
    Markham stirred. He had put his chair behind the row of the rest. “ A re you serious?" he nearly shouted .
    Surprised looks went his way. “ O h, no," Laurinda said. “ J ust a daydream. We'll find out what is actually causing it when we get there." “ W ell, Quinta remains," Tregennis continued, "in several respects, the most amazing object of all. Mass 103 Earths-seven moons found-at 2.8 A.U. It does have a well-developed ring system. Hydrogen helium atmosphere, but with clear spectra of methane, ammonia, and ... water vapor. Water in huge quantities. Turbulence, and a measured temperature far above expectations. Something peculiar has happened .
    “ A re there any immediate questions? If not, Laurinda and Dorcas have prepared graphics – charts, diagrams, tables, pictures-which we would like to show. Please feel free to inquire, or to propose ideas. Don't be bashful. You are all intelligent people with a good understanding of basic science. Any of you may get an insight which we specialists have missed. ”
    Markham rose. “ E xcuse me," he said .
    “ H uh?" asked Saxtorph, amiably enough. “ Y ou want to go now when this is really getting interesting? ”
    “ I do not expect I can make a contribution." Markham hesitated. I am a little indisposed. Best I lie down for a while. Do not worry. I will soon be well. Carry on." He sketched a bow and departed .
    “ W hat do you know, he is human," Carita said .
    “ W e ought to be kinder to him than we have been, poor man," Laurinda murmured .
    “ H e hasn't given us much of a chance, has he?" replied Yoshii .
    “ S tow that," Saxtorph ordered. “ N o backbiting. ”
    “ Y es," added Dorcas, "let's proceed with the libretto.