Descending Road - SNIPS AND SNAILS, THE ENGINEER SAID by Dana W. Paxson

SNIPS AND SNAILS, THE ENGINEER SAID

1563 4D

“Daddy di bye-bye.” Janny‘s words faded from Andrew‘s mind. He opened his eyes. Nothing. There’d been an explosion. His head refused to turn. He drew a breath choked with humid, dust-filled air, and tried to move his left arm. A hiss, then a varied pattern of sibilants, came from nearby. He stopped moving. Bug soldiers.

The pain of a heavy weight across his back rolled through him. He lay face down on the floor, his head immobilized in his helm by the same vast weight that pressed on him lower down. Angie, he subvocalized to his helm intelligence, Where is everybody?

“Ssh. Not now.” A feminine whisper from his helm. “Wait.” He waited; the pressure on his back abated slightly. Hisses came sporadically from several directions, gathered together, then faded. “Okay,” Angie said to him softly, “Here’s what I can pick up: you’re alone, the blast knocked you out, I told them you were here, they went to find some help for lifting things off you, then these bugboys showed up. Ah. Somebody’s calling.”

Another voice kicked in: Ezzar‘s. “Andrew, we’re on our way back. Andrew?” A distant explosion shook his headset, then another, then Ezzar saying, “Shit! Get down. They’re—" and the communicator cut off.

“I’m what’s holding up the wall,” Angie said. “Your carapiece caved in and split down the centerline. If you can unstrap me, you can work your head out of me and crawl to the left around me, to an open space next to the corridor. But you’ll have to leave me here. We’re under about ten tons of stone.” A stereogram appeared and swiveled to show the space around Andrew‘s head. The picture showed the outline of a huge rock slab lying across his body, his legs protruding from beneath the slab.

Damn, what are you made of? Andrew asked. As Angie started reciting a list of materials and structures, he wiggled his legs experimentally, finding them movable, and edged his torso to his left. The pressure on his back diminished, as if he moved now out of a wedged place.

“—and osmium/carbon polycomb. And sugar and spice and snips and snails, the engineer said.”

What did you say? What was she talking about? A crackle burst from the communication channel.

Angie responded, “The last part was some kind of old formula.”

Andrew worked one hand up to his helm‘s chin strap. You mean I’m gonna have to leave you here?

“Unless you want to wait for the others to get back. They seem to be awfully busy.”

For the first time since he had awakened, Andrew spoke aloud. “Ezzar. Ezzar? Grendel?”

“Crackle crackle fall back crackle.” Silence. If the alien soldiers returned, they might find him. He knew his way through the pipes, but he didn’t want to lose Angie. It would mean he had no head protection. Worse yet, suppose Ezzar and Grendel fought their way back here to find only his helm?

“I’ll tell them you’ve gone, and I’ll warn them away if I pick up any bad stuff,” Angie put in. Andrew started, then realized he had been muttering his thoughts.

Okay, he said, Tell them I’ve gone back to Sobi and I’ll join them later.

“All right. But bear in mind that if the bugboys try to get me out of here, I’ll be forced to self-destruct. Certain normal functions will not be available once you decide to leave.”

Do you mean you’re full of explosives? A fine protective helmet that would make.

“No. Just precursors that do other jobs until I convert and catalyze them.”

So you’re gonna mix up a batch of death.

“As soon as you leave, yes.” Angie‘s voice sounded matter-of-fact.

I’ll miss you, Angie. Only silence in his headset. Angie? He tried audible speech. “Angie?”

“Yes?”

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes, both ways.”

“I have to go.” Andrew released his chin strap. He wanted so much to take this voice with him.

“Wait, Andrew.”

“Yes?”

“Here. This’ll keep you going for a while.” Warmth stabbed Andrew‘s neck on both sides, and crawled through his blood, turning to spiced fire. “Okay, you can take me off now. Or, take yourself out of me.”

It seemed for a moment that the voice shook. “Damn, I wish I didn’t—“

“Just get going. You’ll find me again in the next helm. I’ll always be there, you know. There’s no time now.” The visual displays faded. Andrew slid his head carefully from the helm and wormed his way left, then forward past it. His hand groped a few nasty shards of metal or glass, then the helm itself, its shell flattened slightly by the huge tomb of stone.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	SNIPS AND SNAILS, THE ENGINEER SAID 1563 4D “Daddy di bye-bye.” Janny‘s words faded from Andrew‘s mind. He opened his eyes. Nothing. There’d been an explosion. His head refused to turn. He drew a breath choked with humid, dust-filled air, and tried to move his left arm. A hiss, then a varied pattern of sibilants, came from nearby. He stopped moving. Bug soldiers. The pain of a heavy weight across his back rolled through him. He lay face down on the floor, his head immobilized in his helm by the same vast weight that pressed on him lower down. Angie, he subvocalized to his helm intelligence, Where is everybody? “Ssh. Not now.” A feminine whisper from his helm. “Wait.” He waited; the pressure on his back abated slightly. Hisses came sporadically from several directions, gathered together, then faded. “Okay,” Angie said to him softly, “Here’s what I can pick up: you’re alone, the blast knocked you out, I told them you were here, they went to find some help for lifting things off you, then these bugboys showed up. Ah. Somebody’s calling.” Another voice kicked in: Ezzar‘s. “Andrew, we’re on our way back. Andrew?” A distant explosion shook his headset, then another, then Ezzar saying, “Shit! Get down. They’re—" and the communicator cut off. “I’m what’s holding up the wall,” Angie said. “Your carapiece caved in and split down the centerline. If you can unstrap me, you can work your head out of me and crawl to the left around me, to an open space next to the corridor. But you’ll have to leave me here. We’re under about ten tons of stone.” A stereogram appeared and swiveled to show the space around Andrew‘s head. The picture showed the outline of a huge rock slab lying across his body, his legs protruding from beneath the slab. Damn, what are you made of? Andrew asked. As Angie started reciting a list of materials and structures, he wiggled his legs experimentally, finding them movable, and edged his torso to his left. The pressure on his back diminished, as if he moved now out of a wedged place. “—and osmium/carbon polycomb. And sugar and spice and snips and snails, the engineer said.” What did you say? What was she talking about? A crackle burst from the communication channel. Angie responded, “The last part was some kind of old formula.” Andrew worked one hand up to his helm‘s chin strap. You mean I’m gonna have to leave you here? “Unless you want to wait for the others to get back. They seem to be awfully busy.” For the first time since he had awakened, Andrew spoke aloud. “Ezzar. Ezzar? Grendel?” “Crackle crackle fall back crackle.” Silence. If the alien soldiers returned, they might find him. He knew his way through the pipes, but he didn’t want to lose Angie. It would mean he had no head protection. Worse yet, suppose Ezzar and Grendel fought their way back here to find only his helm? “I’ll tell them you’ve gone, and I’ll warn them away if I pick up any bad stuff,” Angie put in. Andrew started, then realized he had been muttering his thoughts. Okay, he said, Tell them I’ve gone back to Sobi and I’ll join them later. “All right. But bear in mind that if the bugboys try to get me out of here, I’ll be forced to self-destruct. Certain normal functions will not be available once you decide to leave.” Do you mean you’re full of explosives? A fine protective helmet that would make. “No. Just precursors that do other jobs until I convert and catalyze them.” So you’re gonna mix up a batch of death. “As soon as you leave, yes.” Angie‘s voice sounded matter-of-fact. I’ll miss you, Angie. Only silence in his headset. Angie? He tried audible speech. “Angie?” “Yes?” “Did you hear me?” “Yes, both ways.” “I have to go.” Andrew released his chin strap. He wanted so much to take this voice with him. “Wait, Andrew.” “Yes?” “Here. This’ll keep you going for a while.” Warmth stabbed Andrew‘s neck on both sides, and crawled through his blood, turning to spiced fire. “Okay, you can take me off now. Or, take yourself out of me.” It seemed for a moment that the voice shook. “Damn, I wish I didn’t—“ “Just get going. You’ll find me again in the next helm. I’ll always be there, you know. There’s no time now.” The visual displays faded. Andrew slid his head carefully from the helm and wormed his way left, then forward past it. His hand groped a few nasty shards of metal or glass, then the helm itself, its shell flattened slightly by the huge tomb of stone.