Leviathans of Jupiter by Ben Bova Page B

is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and you argue about what to do about it only after you have had your technical success.”

DORN’S TRANSFORMATION
    â€œYou became a priest?” Deirdre asked.
    For a heartbeat Dorn remained silent. Then, “I had a life-altering experience. I encountered … an artifact. A work of an alien intelligence.”
    â€œIn the Belt?” Deirdre jumped at his revelation. “The rumors are true? About an alien artifact in one of the asteroids?”
    â€œTrue,” said Dorn. “There is an alien artifact buried inside a small, stony asteroid. The rock is the property of Humphries Space Systems, Incorporated. I was still an employee of HSS when it was discovered. I was assigned to guard the asteroid and make certain that no one saw the alien artifact.
    â€œBut I saw it. Every day, for weeks. It changed me.”
    â€œIt’s really true?” Deirdre marveled.
    â€œReally true. However, Martin Humphries guards the asteroid jealously. At first he wanted to keep it for himself alone. When he flew out to see it, though, the artifact drove him insane. He collapsed, jibbering, helpless.”
    Dorn stopped, as if the memories he was recalling were too painful to continue. But before Deirdre could think of anything to say, he resumed.
    â€œHumphries recovered, eventually. But he would allow no one to see the artifact. And he wanted to eliminate those who saw his collapse, who heard his weeping, inconsolable pleadings.”
    â€œHe wanted to kill you?”
    â€œHe tried. But I, too, had seen the artifact. Experiencing it changed my life. I stopped being Dorik Harbin, mercenary warrior. I became Dorn. A priest. I began to try to atone for my former life.”
    â€œAtone? How?”
    â€œBy finding the bodies of the mercenaries killed in the Asteroid Wars. Finding them and giving them proper death rites.”
    â€œYou did this?”
    â€œFor years. Wandering through the Belt, finding the dead who had been left to drift alone endlessly in space. This I did, together with the woman you saw at my trial.”
    â€œMy father exiled you.”
    Almost smiling in the dim starlight, Dorn said, “He wanted to execute me. He wanted to kill me with his own hands. He settled for exile. I was recruited by the scientists of the Jupiter station. They’ve been testing me at Selene University for the past two years, to see if I can help them make deep dives into the Jovian ocean.”
    â€œAnd here we are,” Deirdre said, trying to make it sound light, “on our way to Jupiter.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou’ve lived quite a life,” she said. It sounded pathetically inane, she knew.
    With a slight shake of his head, Dorn confessed, “But now I have no purpose for living. I’ve found all the dead from the Wars that I could. That doesn’t atone for all those I killed.”
    â€œYou’re working for the scientists now.”
    â€œYes, for the scientists. But serving their purposes doesn’t give me any purpose to my life. I’m an empty shell, Deirdre. I have nothing to live for.”
    She reached out and touched the human side of his face. “You’ve gone through so much. You’ll find some reason for living. Maybe at Station Gold . Maybe you’ll find your true purpose there.”
    â€œMaybe,” he echoed. It sounded hollow to Deirdre.
    â€œWell,” she said, “thanks for telling me about yourself. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
    She started for the hatch, but Dorn put up his metallic hand, stopping her.
    â€œThis conversation began,” he said, “with you saying that I didn’t ask what your medical problem is. May I ask you now?”
    She bit her lip, hesitating. He has a right to know, Deirdre told herself. He’s willing to give you his blood to help you. He has a right to know the truth.
    â€œI have rabies,” she said, so