Arthur Clarke - Rama Revealed

“What is this all about?” Nicole asked, puzzled by his sudden show of emotion.

Richard’s eyes had a faraway look. “During the last week,” he said excitedly, “a wild and crazy plan has been developing in my brain. I have known from the outset that it was dangerous, and probably insane, but like all my projects it has taken hold of me. Twice I have even gotten out of our bed in the middle of the night to work on the details. I have wanted to tell you about it before now, but I needed to convince myself that it was indeed possible.”

“I have no idea at all what you are talking about,” Nicole said impatiently.

“The children,” Richard said with a flourish. “I have a plan for them to escape, to join us here in New York. I have even begun to reprogram Joan and Eleanor.”

Nicole stared at her husband, her emotions struggling with her reason. He started to explain his escape plan. “Wait a minute, Richard,” Nicole interrupted after several seconds. “There’s an important question we must answer first. What makes you think the children would even want to escape? They are not under indictment in New Eden, or in prison. Granted, Nakamura is a tyrant and life in the colony is difficult and depressing, but as far as I know, the children are as free as any of the other citizens. And if they were to try to join us and fail, their lives would be in danger. Besides, our existence here, although fine for us, would hardly be considered a paradise for them.”

“I know… I know,” Richard replied, “and perhaps I have been carried away by my desire to see them. But what do we risk by sending Joan and Eleanor to talk to them? Patrick and Ellie are adults and can make up their own minds.”

“And what about Benjy and Katie?” Nicole asked.

A frown creased Richard’s face. “Obviously Benjy could not come by himself, so his participation depends on whether or not any of the others decide to help him. As for Katie, she is so unstable and unpredictable… she might conceivably even decide to tell Nakamura. I think we have no choice except to leave her out.”

“A parent never gives up hope,” Nicole said softly, as much to herself as to Richard. “By the way,” she added, “does your scheme also include Max and Eponine? They are virtually members of the family.”

“Max is realty the perfect choice to coordinate the escape from inside the colony,” Richard said, growing excited again. “He did a fantastic job hiding you and then getting you to Lake Shakespeare without being detected. Patrick and Ellie will need someone mature and levelheaded to guide them through all the details. In my plan, Joan and Eleanor approach Max first. Not only is he already familiar with the robots, but also he will give his honest assessment as to whether or not the plan can work. If he tells us through the robots that the whole idea is preposterous, then we’ll drop it.”

Nicole tried to imagine the joy she would feel at the moment of embracing any of her children again. It was impossible. “All right, Richard,” she said, finally smiling. “I admit that I’m interested. Let’s talk about it. But we must promise ourselves that we won’t do anything unless we are certain that we are not going to endanger the children.”

Max Puckett and Ellie Turner excused themselves from Eponine, Robert, and little Nicole shortly after dinner and walked outside at Max’s farmhouse in New Eden. As soon as they were out of earshot, Max began telling Ellie about his recent visits from the little robots. Ellie could not believe what she was hearing. “Surely you’re mistaken,” she said in a loud voice to Max. “They can’t be suggesting that we just leave—”

Max put a finger to his lips as they walked the final few meters to the barn. “You can talk to them yourself,” he said in a whisper. “But according to these little characters, there is plenty of room for all of us in that lair you lived in the first few years after you were born.”

It was dark inside the barn. Before Max switched on the light, Ellie had already glimpsed the tiny glowing robots beside her on one of the windowsills. “Hello again, Ellie,” said little Joan, still dressed in her armor. “Your mother and father are both fine and send their greetings.”

“We have come to see you tonight,” the robot Eleanor added, “because Max thought it was necessary for you to hear for yourself what we have to say. Richard and Nicole are inviting you and your friends to join them in your old lair in New York, where your parents are living a Spartan but peaceful existence.”

“Everything about your lair,” Joan now said, “is the same as it was when you were a small child. Food, clothing, and other objects are still supplied by the Ramans after requests are made by using the keyboard in the White Room. Unlimited supplies of fresh water are available at the cistern near the bottom of the entry staircase.”

Ellie listened, fascinated, while Joan reminded her of the living conditions under the island city on the southern side of the second habitat. Ellie tried to recall the lair from her memory, but the picture that came to her mind was surprisingly vague. What she could remember clearly from that period of her life were the last few days in Rama, including the spectacular rings of color emanating from the Big Horn and drifting slowly toward the north of the giant cylinder. But her memory of the inside of the lair was foggy. Why can’t I remember at least the nursery more clearly? she wondered. Because too much has happened since? And made deeper impressions in my memory?

A montage of images from her early childhood streamed through Ellie’s mental vision. Some of the pictures were indeed from Rama, but far more of them were from the family apartment at the Node. The indelible features of the Eagle, a godlike figure to the child Ellie, seemed to preside over the montage.

Eleanor of Aquitaine had asked Ellie something, but the young woman had not been paying attention. “I’m sorry, Eleanor,” Ellie said, “please repeat your question. I’m afraid I was temporarily lost in my childhood.”

“Your mother asked about Benjy. Is he still in the ward out in Avalon?”

“Yes,” Ellie replied. “And doing as well as can be expected. His best friend in the whole world is now Nai Watanabe. When the war ended, she volunteered to work

with those who had been assigned, for one reason or another, to the Avalon Ward. She spends time with Benjy almost every day and has helped him immensely. Her twins Kepler and Galileo love to play with him-Benjy is essentially just a big child himself-although Galileo is sometimes unkind and causes Nai considerable heartache.”

“As I told you,” Max said, turning the conversation back to their primary business, “Nicole and Richard have left it up to our discretion to decide who should be involved if we do attempt a mass exodus. Will Benjy follow directions?”

“I think so,” Ellie said. “As long as he trusts the person giving them. But there is no way we could tell him about the escape ahead of time. We couldn’t possibly expect him not to say something about it. Secrecy and guile are not part of Benjy’s personality. He will be overjoyed, but—”

“Mr. Puckett,” Joan of Arc interrupted, “what should I tell Richard and Nicole?”

“Shit, Joanie,” Max replied, “have a little patience.. Better still, come back again in a week, after Ellie, Eponine, and I have had more time to talk this thing through, and I’ll give you a tentative answer. And tell Richard I find the whole damn thing intriguing, even if it is certifiably insane.”

Max placed the two robots on the floor of the barn and they scampered away. When Max and Ellie were back outside in the fresh air, Max pulled a cigarette out of his pocket. “I assume that it doesn’t offend you too much if I smoke out here?” he said with a grin.