Free The Black Hole by Alan Dean Foster Page B

never for the full count, Dr. Kate." His external lights gradually returned to full strength, resumed pulsing in proper sequence. "Something of a shock. Oh, I don't mean the effects of the beams or their presence. It was the speed and efficiency with which they engaged us. And the accuracy of their aim. Only our weapons were damaged." His optics began sweeping the room.
    "There is at least one major-class mechanical or competent-class human mind functioning on board the Cygnus."
    "Maybe," she said, looking around nervously now and wishing she possessed the robot's methods of perception, "it's the Cygnus 's mind. Maybe that's what turned on the lights and sent out the connector for us."
    "I would consider that hypothesis, Dr. Kate, save for one obvious discrepancy."
    "I don't follow you."
    "From our initial circling of the Cygnus to this moment," Vincent observed, "our presence here has been treated with uncertainty. Something or someone is improvising our greeting, acting one step at a time. Machines never act so erratically, only in preplanned sequence. First we are ignored, then welcomed, then fired upon and disarmed, all without our greeter revealing himself. Very unmachinelike. So I am inclined to believe there is a non-mechanical mind functioning in control of or in conjunction with any mechanical consciousnesses that might be inhabiting this vessel."
    "The . . . non-mechanical mind. Have you learned enough to surmise whether it's human or not?"
    "Insufficient data thus far to proffer a reasoned opinion, Dr. Kate."
    Holland had his communicator out, was speaking into the tiny grid. "Charlie, this is Dan. Do you read?"
    "Loud and clear," came Pizer's response. "Something on the Cygnus together with the ship's bulk is screening out the majority of the noise around us. You sound like you're standing behind me."
    "I'm beginning to wish I were."
    Pizer's concern was immediate. "Trouble?"
    "Weapons destroyed by laser fire, but no injuries. The intent was clearly just to disarm us, not to injure."
    "I'll be there in—"
    "Hold your position."
    "But what about the—"
    "No!" Holland interrupted him more sharply this time. "I told you, we're okay. I don't want to tempt whoever's monitoring us into incapacitating the Palomino by a further display of arms. Maybe they're just nervous. Such a reception-area weapons system conforms with what we know about this ship. It may operate independently of other functions, to prevent possible belligerents from coming aboard armed."
    "All right. But watch yourselves." Pizer clicked off.
    Booth leaned over to whisper something to Durant. "So much for the friendship theory. I'd say describing the condition of whoever's got eyes on us as nervous is understating it some."
    "Holland's right, though," the scientist argued. "They could already have killed us, if that was their intent. Or simply denied us entry to the ship. They may want us aboard defenseless, but it's indisputable that they want us aboard."
    "Yeah, well, I can't say I care for their taste in hors d'oeuvres. Or for their manners." Booth was staring uncomfortably at the walls. The weapons which had just destroyed their own pistols were still hidden behind them. No doubt they were primed to fire at any time. He could imagine a half-dozen stubby, high-intensity generators aimed straight at his belly.
    A door slid aside at the far end of the reception room. They headed for it, striving to appear confident, succeeding only in looking tense.
    A high corridor stretched nearly a kilometer into the distance. It was impressively wide. Holland didn't try to conceal his reaction at the sight; he was awed once again. Intricate yet slim arches of metal supported the ceiling. The corridor was silent and bare, quite sterile-looking after the homey atmosphere of the reception chamber.
    This time he was expecting it when the door closed behind them, locking them in the corridor. There was still no reason to panic, though it did place one more barrier