Descending Road - BACK TO THE RAW MATERIALS TANKS by Dana W. Paxson

BACK TO THE RAW MATERIALS TANKS

1563 4D

They fell through a black tube, spiraling to brake the descent, and landed abruptly in darkness, on a wet, strange-smelling, springy bed of oddly-soft tree branches, trunks, and thick vines. A heavy, medicinal smell clogged Andrew‘s nose. “Now for the tough part,” Jeddin gasped.

“The tough part?” Andrew asked.

“There used to be an andro working down here. We have to get his or her attention. There’s no door release on this side, unless Arlen‘s people have turned nice all of a sudden.”

“This side of what? Where are we?” Leil.

“Body disposal,” Jeddin said, “The ones that didn’t develop right.”

Not at all fresh, said Turiosten.

The odd plant-shapes under Andrew‘s feet registered now as cold arms and legs and fingers and lips. Something moved underfoot; Leil screamed.

“That should be about loud enough,” Jeddin said evenly. Leil screamed again.

Jeddin‘s shout came when Leil drew a breath. “Hey! Jeddin here!” He followed with two rending bursts of anjive. A moment later a light appeared some distance away. Andrew clutched Leil to him, and she stopped screaming.

A burst of anjive answered Jeddin.

Grunting with pain, Jeddin scrambled across the carpet of bodies to the opening; Andrew dragged Leil just behind him. They stepped out through a heavy steel hatch into a small room with an instrument panel on the left wall, a door facing them, and another instrument panel on the right. An andro woman, one eye missing, stood in her ArCorp coverall looking them over. She spoke in human tones. “So, Trick Man, you’ve learned how to scream too? They’re after you now, I just heard.”

“I’ll explain sometime,” he answered. He started for the door.

“Don’t you want to see yourselves die?” The woman reached out a long arm, pressed several buttons. The hatch closed, and a rumble began. “It’s recycle time. You’re being digested and sent back to the raw materials tanks now. Molecular disposal and rebuild.” She turned to Andrew and the shivering Leil. “All I heard was your screams, I don’t know you, you’re not here, and I want to be all alone when the guys arrive. Beat it.”

Jeddin peered out and beckoned them forward. “We’ll have to go down deep,” he said.

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


	BACK TO THE RAW MATERIALS TANKS 1563 4D They fell through a black tube, spiraling to brake the descent, and landed abruptly in darkness, on a wet, strange-smelling, springy bed of oddly-soft tree branches, trunks, and thick vines. A heavy, medicinal smell clogged Andrew‘s nose. “Now for the tough part,” Jeddin gasped. “The tough part?” Andrew asked. “There used to be an andro working down here. We have to get his or her attention. There’s no door release on this side, unless Arlen‘s people have turned nice all of a sudden.” “This side of what? Where are we?” Leil. “Body disposal,” Jeddin said, “The ones that didn’t develop right.” Not at all fresh, said Turiosten. The odd plant-shapes under Andrew‘s feet registered now as cold arms and legs and fingers and lips. Something moved underfoot; Leil screamed. “That should be about loud enough,” Jeddin said evenly. Leil screamed again. Jeddin‘s shout came when Leil drew a breath. “Hey! Jeddin here!” He followed with two rending bursts of anjive. A moment later a light appeared some distance away. Andrew clutched Leil to him, and she stopped screaming. A burst of anjive answered Jeddin. Grunting with pain, Jeddin scrambled across the carpet of bodies to the opening; Andrew dragged Leil just behind him. They stepped out through a heavy steel hatch into a small room with an instrument panel on the left wall, a door facing them, and another instrument panel on the right. An andro woman, one eye missing, stood in her ArCorp coverall looking them over. She spoke in human tones. “So, Trick Man, you’ve learned how to scream too? They’re after you now, I just heard.” “I’ll explain sometime,” he answered. He started for the door. “Don’t you want to see yourselves die?” The woman reached out a long arm, pressed several buttons. The hatch closed, and a rumble began. “It’s recycle time. You’re being digested and sent back to the raw materials tanks now. Molecular disposal and rebuild.” She turned to Andrew and the shivering Leil. “All I heard was your screams, I don’t know you, you’re not here, and I want to be all alone when the guys arrive. Beat it.” Jeddin peered out and beckoned them forward. “We’ll have to go down deep,” he said.