Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Biological Human Observer

Pete Rousseau knew why he volunteered for this duty.He liked to play with binoculars since he was a child.He was born in the mountainous area of ​​Calolido. Before he was familiar with the moon and planets, he used to observe the nearby mountainous scenery of 30 kilometers with a self-made telescope. Now on the central axis of Rama, he observed a place far more magical than he had imagined in his childhood.The whole world unfolded within his field of vision--although small, rigid and unchanging, its 4,000 square kilometers of ground would be enough for a lifetime of exploration. Now life and its infinite possibilities come back to Rama.Cyborgs of those creatures are excellent imitators, if not living ones.I don't know who invented this word and it became common immediately.Rousseau was confident he had figured out some of their behavior.

The spider is a kind of mobile sensory element, which plays the role of seeing and touching, and monitors the entire interior of Rama.For a period of time there were hundreds of them moving at a high speed, but they almost ran away in less than two days, and now it is rare to see one. They gave way to a group of more striking fellows, and it took a lot of effort to name them.They are like the "window washers" of Bigfoot, and they seem to be specially designed to polish the six Rama artificial suns.Their gigantic shadows spanned the entire diameter of the world, sometimes causing momentary eclipses at the opposite end.

The crabs were like "scavengers," a group of such fellows who had been to Camp Alpha and cleared away the rubbish around them; and they would have cleared everything up if Newton and Mercer hadn't stood firm in front of them, and there had been a moment's tense confrontation between the two sides. moved away.Since then, the scavengers seem to understand which things are quasi-moving and clean them on schedule.That's a pretty good arrangement, showing a high degree of intelligence - the scavenger himself, or the controller hiding somewhere. Rama's method of disposing of waste is simple: throw it all into the sea, where it becomes a form that can be reused later.The whole process was so fast that the Resolve disappeared overnight, and the shark was probably not much different from the scavenger.

Rousseau was delighted every time he discovered a new type of biological man and took some wonderful pictures with his telephoto lens.Unfortunately, the most interesting species are all over there in Antarctica, doing some mysterious work around the big and small horns.Some resemble centipedes with sucker palms, which seem to examine large horns.On the lower peak, Rousseau found another stout guy somewhere between a hippopotamus and a bulldozer.There is also a giraffe with two necks, which acts like a moving crane. It can be imagined that Rama is like a ship that needs a major overhaul after a long voyage.The crew is hard at work, so when will the passengers show up?

It is not Rousseau's main duty to classify biological beings.His orders were to keep watch for two or three reconnaissance detachments, so that they would not be attacked by surprise.Every six hours, he was replaced by any idle colleague, but he often insisted on 12-hour shifts, so he knew the terrain of Rama better than anyone else. When Major Kechov entered through the Alpha airlock, Rousseau knew immediately that something unusual had happened. "Jerry—who's in charge on the ship?" "I'm here," said the mate coldly, lifting his helmet, "you don't think I leave the bridge on duty, do you?"

He took out a can from the pocket of his space suit, and the mark on it was "orange juice essence, can be washed 5 liters". "You are very good at this, and the captain is waiting!" The hub observation post often threw small items forgotten or urgently needed by colleagues to the Alpha Battalion 8,000 meters below.Rousseau took the jar, stood up, and threw it far away.Instead of throwing it straight at the Alpha Battalion, he threw it outward at a 30° deflection direction.It drifted past the first platform in almost no gravity. "Now," said Rousseau, "will you make a bet?"

"No," replied firmly, "you know the trick." "You're not quick enough. But I still have to tell you, it must have landed within three hundred meters of the tent." "It doesn't sound close." "You might as well try it yourself. Once I saw Joe throw it 2,000 meters away. Now we'll have to wait." Rousseau sat down by himself in the telescope seat. "Ten minutes to go. Ah, here comes the captain. I'm used to making out everybody from this angle. Now he's watching us." "To make you happy, I might as well tell you that this is because the captain forgot to bring his toothbrush." ​​After a pause, Rousseau finally said: "I hope you will bet that he only needs to walk 50 meters to pick it up. Now he is looking at it." .Mission accomplished."

"Thanks, Pete! Well done. Now you can go to bed." "Sleep! My shift is until 04:00." "I'm sorry. But you must have fallen asleep just now, or how could you dream of all this?" Space Mapping Headquarters, the captain of the spaceship dedicated to the endeavour. AAA dispatch.Just for you to see.The original is unrecorded. Spaceguard reports that a hypervelocity vehicle was launched from Mercury towards the Rama Node 10-12 days ago.If the track remains unchanged, it is expected to arrive at 15:00 on the 322nd.You will need to disengage before then.I will tell later.commander in chief

Newton read the telegram ten times and memorized the date and time by heart.His astronomical calendar indicated 315 days.That means there's only one week left. The cable sent chills not just for what it said but for what it revealed.The fact that the Mercurians secretly launched their vehicles violated the laws of space.The conclusion is obvious: the vehicle is the rocket. But for what?It is inconceivable, almost inconceivable, that they risked the disapproval of the world by jeopardizing Endeavor.Even if he has enough time to receive the warning from the Mercury man himself, in an emergency, he can leave in time by notifying him a few hours in advance, but he will only execute it after a fierce protest, and he must be directly ordered by the commander-in-chief. Order.

While he was thinking, he walked slowly towards the life support system and threw the telegram into the electrified water closet.A laser flash from the crack under the seat told him that the security measures were complete.How nice it would be, he thought, if all troubles and problems could be dealt with so quickly and cleanly! ----------------------------- Notes: