without noticing them out there.
After a moment Nerber dashed back to the
corner planting with Wilburps floating at waist-height close behind
him.
Chapter 10
Nerber sat on the ground in among the big
shrubs, out of breath and scared. Wilburps faced him, hovering a
foot off the ground. “As of now I abandon all plans to complete the
show's dumb challenges and focus my attentions on staying alive in
any case - and staying free if I can manage that too.
“I am open to receiving signals from the
producers but I will also monitor the earth signals now that I have
deciphered how to do that. The inhabitants will not surprise us
since they cannot stop their talk-talk with nothing of difference
to add about what they are planning and where any hunters are.
“Take note of word among them of any
captures, Wilburps. If several of the contestants made it safely to
the surface we are each a danger to all the others. Once the
inhabitants know for sure we are here they will not stop looking
until they find and destroy us all.”
“There is talk-talk among them about some
signals they detect but cannot understand and suspect could be
messages between invaders. To be plain, that would likely be us and
our comrades in orbit. Their leaders are trying to reassure the
little guys by suggesting this is how they will find and remove any
threat.”
“That does it. Send this, Wilburps. Attention
producers or the guys on Ormelex, this will be my last report
unless I get a clear response to tell me I am being heard, not just fritzerish garble. The inhabitants are trying to track
uninvited visitors to their planet to destroy them by following any
unusual signals so these transmissions have become a danger to me.
What was I thinking when I agreed to be part of this show? Brave,
but he now sees naïve, Nerber signs off - maybe forever.” He
gestured that that was the end of the message.
“Do you want to review and edit it?”
“Send it and then we will move. If it brings
their armed defenders down on this spot we do not want to be
here.”
“The message is sent. Their talk-talk says
vigilantes will be our biggest problem. The signs are that, as on
Ormelex, any official action will take days to get organized as the
different authorities squabble about who gets any credit or
blame.”
* * *
There was no sign of anyone home in this
house at the far end of the block from where they had been hiding.
Nerber and Wilburps stood in the backyard tool shed, the door ajar
to watch for anyone coming near.
“Too bad. Guessing the functions of the many
items in here would make a great show segment but I will not send
the report and the show format would not allow for that anyway.
Signals?”
“There are garbled bits but that may be
static rather than one of the preset coded warnings,” the zerpy
replied.
“There are preset coded warnings?” His tone
made it clear that this was news to him.
“The producers decided that sending some
important messages in the clear might make problems worse. For
instance, a certain garble means we have been detected but they
cannot rescue us at the moment.”
“Are you detecting that garble?”
“It is not quite correctly garbled so I
cannot be for certain sure. The alternative is that it might be a
trick signal sent by a competitor trying to spook you into giving
up the contest.”
“I did not think about that. Unless the
inhabitants are talking about captured intruders I will go with the
conclusion that we are cut off from contact and need to try to
avoid capture until things change.”
“A logical and prudent course of action or
inaction.”
“I dislike feeling abandoned by the producers
but I dislike the idea of being killed by the inhabitants even
more. Was I wrong to sign up as a challenge show contestant to get
a few moments of celebrity and glory followed by a life of leisure
supported by my winnings? Am I a bad guy for wanting to be the best
at an obscure worthless skill?”
After a moment Nerber dashed back to the
corner planting with Wilburps floating at waist-height close behind
him.
Chapter 10
Nerber sat on the ground in among the big
shrubs, out of breath and scared. Wilburps faced him, hovering a
foot off the ground. “As of now I abandon all plans to complete the
show's dumb challenges and focus my attentions on staying alive in
any case - and staying free if I can manage that too.
“I am open to receiving signals from the
producers but I will also monitor the earth signals now that I have
deciphered how to do that. The inhabitants will not surprise us
since they cannot stop their talk-talk with nothing of difference
to add about what they are planning and where any hunters are.
“Take note of word among them of any
captures, Wilburps. If several of the contestants made it safely to
the surface we are each a danger to all the others. Once the
inhabitants know for sure we are here they will not stop looking
until they find and destroy us all.”
“There is talk-talk among them about some
signals they detect but cannot understand and suspect could be
messages between invaders. To be plain, that would likely be us and
our comrades in orbit. Their leaders are trying to reassure the
little guys by suggesting this is how they will find and remove any
threat.”
“That does it. Send this, Wilburps. Attention
producers or the guys on Ormelex, this will be my last report
unless I get a clear response to tell me I am being heard, not just fritzerish garble. The inhabitants are trying to track
uninvited visitors to their planet to destroy them by following any
unusual signals so these transmissions have become a danger to me.
What was I thinking when I agreed to be part of this show? Brave,
but he now sees naïve, Nerber signs off - maybe forever.” He
gestured that that was the end of the message.
“Do you want to review and edit it?”
“Send it and then we will move. If it brings
their armed defenders down on this spot we do not want to be
here.”
“The message is sent. Their talk-talk says
vigilantes will be our biggest problem. The signs are that, as on
Ormelex, any official action will take days to get organized as the
different authorities squabble about who gets any credit or
blame.”
* * *
There was no sign of anyone home in this
house at the far end of the block from where they had been hiding.
Nerber and Wilburps stood in the backyard tool shed, the door ajar
to watch for anyone coming near.
“Too bad. Guessing the functions of the many
items in here would make a great show segment but I will not send
the report and the show format would not allow for that anyway.
Signals?”
“There are garbled bits but that may be
static rather than one of the preset coded warnings,” the zerpy
replied.
“There are preset coded warnings?” His tone
made it clear that this was news to him.
“The producers decided that sending some
important messages in the clear might make problems worse. For
instance, a certain garble means we have been detected but they
cannot rescue us at the moment.”
“Are you detecting that garble?”
“It is not quite correctly garbled so I
cannot be for certain sure. The alternative is that it might be a
trick signal sent by a competitor trying to spook you into giving
up the contest.”
“I did not think about that. Unless the
inhabitants are talking about captured intruders I will go with the
conclusion that we are cut off from contact and need to try to
avoid capture until things change.”
“A logical and prudent course of action or
inaction.”
“I dislike feeling abandoned by the producers
but I dislike the idea of being killed by the inhabitants even
more. Was I wrong to sign up as a challenge show contestant to get
a few moments of celebrity and glory followed by a life of leisure
supported by my winnings? Am I a bad guy for wanting to be the best
at an obscure worthless skill?”
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