Spinneret by Timothy Zahn

information. One unexpected plus was that no one’s life seemed to be in immediate danger; a series of quick tests on the plants and fish indicated that living tissue was not subject to the general metal loss, and Meredith was able to broadcast assurances that standing on furniture was unnecessary. The few people who went into hysterics anyway because they had touched the ground were bundled off to their local infirmaries, where they could be kept away from their already edgy neighbors while the doctors calmed them down. For while, Meredith had teams of soldiers searching for equipment that might be salvaged, but soon gave the effort up. Metal not directly in contact with Astra’s surface was untouched and apparently untouchable; for everything else, it was already far too late.
    As it seemed to be, in fact, for Astra as a whole. When the phenomenon finally ceased, it left behind a ruined colony.
    It was nearly sunset before the final list came through. Scanning the pages of close-spaced computer print, Meredith felt a numbness settle in over his mind. Tools, heavy equipment, assorted spare parts—nearly a half-million dollars’ worth, not counting transportation from Earth. Exhaling heavily, he looked up at the four senior officers grouped around his desk. “Suggestions, gentlemen?”
    Major Craig Barner laid aside his copy of the printout. “Speaking only for myself and the Crosse contingent, I think we can recover,” he said. “As long as it doesn’t happen again, we should be able to replace our losses. I see that plasticized undercoating on the boats seemed an effective counter; perhaps we can coat all our vehicles with it. Certainly we can learn not to leave smaller items lying on the ground; I taught my brother to do that when he was five.”
    â€œAnd the next time it happens, maybe it’ll just pull harder—maybe hard enough to pull the metals out of us.” Major Dunlop looked around the room. “Any idea how fast you’d die if that happened?”
    â€œSo you want to pull out?” Major Gregory asked. Meredith studied the other’s face carefully, wondering where he stood, Gregory never liked committing himself early to a course of action, but his town of Wright had suffered even more losses than Martello had.
    â€œPull out, hell,” Dunlop snorted. “I think we ought to teach those responsible a painful lesson.”
    â€œâ€˜Those responsible’?” Brown frowned. “Do I take it you’re blaming the Rooshrike?”
    â€œWho else? We weren’t even settled before they were down here snooping around and probably scattering micro-who-knows-whatsies all over the place.”
    â€œWhy would the Rooshrike do something like that?” Barner asked. “They’re getting paid to let us stay here.”
    â€œWho knows how their minds work?” Dunlop shrugged. “Maybe this is their version of hologames.”
    Barner snorted. “That’s absurd—”
    â€œRooshrike guilt or lack of it is not at issue,” Meredith said, interrupting what could have become a lively discussion. “Let’s leave the impotent sound and fury to the UN, all right? The only question here is whether or not we use the five days till the Aurora arrives to pack up the colony.” A beep from his terminal signaled incoming data. Turning to it, he scanned the report as it filled the screen. It was as bad as he’d expected. Tight-lipped, he pressed for hard copy and handed the single sheet to Barner. “Soil analysis report from Dr. Haversham,” he told the group quietly.
    Barner muttered something vulgar and passed the sheet on. “I never thought of that,” he admitted, looking at Meredith. “That changes things, doesn’t it?”
    Meredith nodded, waiting silently as the others read the report. Every bit of the metal enrichment they’d added so carefully to Astra’s fields had