Arthur Clarke: Rama Revealed

Ellie had been overjoyed that her father was still alive. It had been almost impossible for her to keep the news a secret, even though she was well aware of the political significance of her information. When, almost two weeks later, Ellie had been again confronted in Avalon by the little robots, she had been ready with a torrent of questions. However, on that occasion Joan and Eleanor had been programmed to discuss another subject-a possible forthcoming attempt to break Nicole out of prison. The robots told Ellie during this second meeting that Richard acknowledged such an escape would be a dangerous endeavor. “We would never attempt it,” the robot Joan said, “unless your mother’s execution were absolutely certain. But if we are not prepared ahead of time, there can be no possibility of a last-minute escape.”

“What can I do to help?” Ellie had asked.

Joan and Eleanor had handed her a sheet of paper, on which there was a list of items including food, water, and clothing. Ellie had trembled when she recognized her father’s handwriting.

“Cache these things at the following location,” the robot Eleanor had said, handing Ellie a map. “No later than ten days from now.” A moment later another colonist had come into sight and the two robots had vanished.

Enclosed inside the map had been a short note from her father. “Dearest Ellie,” it had said, “I apologize for the brevity. I am safe and healthy, but deeply concerned about your mother. Please, please gather up these items and take them to the indicated spot in the Central Plain. If you cannot accomplish the task by yourself, please limit your support to a single person. And make certain that whoever you pick is as loyal and dedicated to Nicole as we are. I love you.”

Ellie had quickly determined that she would need help. But whom should she select as an accomplice? Her husband Robert was a bad choice for two reasons. First, he had already shown that his dedication to his patients and the New Eden hospital was a higher priority in his mind than taking a political stand. Second, anyone caught helping Nicole escape would certainly be executed. If Ellie were to involve Robert in the escape plan, then their daughter Nicole might be left without both her parents.

What about Nai Watanabe? There was no question about her loyalty, but Nai was a single parent with twin four-year-old sons. It was not fair to ask her to take the chancy. That left Eponine as the only reasonable choice. Any worries that Ellie might have had about her afflicted friend had been quickly dispelled. “Of course I’ll help you,” Eponine had replied immediately. “I have nothing to lose. According to your husband, this RV-41 is going to kill me in another year or two anyway.”

Eponine and Ellie had clandestinely gathered the required items, one at a time, over a period of a week. They had wrapped them securely in a small sheet that was hidden in the comer of Eponine’s normally cluttered room in Avalon. On the appointed day, Ellie had signed out of New Eden and walked across to Avalon, ostensibly to “monitor carefully” a full twelve hours of Eponine’s biometry data. Actually, explaining to Robert why she wanted to spend the night with Eponine had been much more difficult than convincing the single human guard and the Garcia biot at the habitat exit of the legitimacy of her need for an overnight pass.

Just after midnight Ellie and Eponine had picked up their sheet and crept cautiously into the streets of Avalon. Being very careful to avoid the roving biots that Nakamura’s police used to patrol the small outside village at night, the two women had sneaked through the outskirts of the town and into the Central Plain. They had then hiked for several kilometers and deposited the cache in the designated location. A Tiasso biot had confronted them outside Eponine’s room upon their return and had asked what they were doing wandering around at such an absurd hour.

“This woman has RV-41,” Ellie had said quickly, sensing the panic in her friend. “She is one of my husband’s patients. She was in extreme pain and could not sleep, so we thought that an early morning walk might help… Now, if you’ll excuse us…”

The Tiasso had let them pass. Ellie and Eponine had been so frightened that neither of them had spoken for ten minutes.

Ellie had not seen the robots again. She had no idea whether or not an actual escape had been attempted. As the time for her mother’s execution now drew near and the auditorium seats around her began to fill, Ellie’s heart was pounding furiously. What if nothing has happened? she thought. What if Mother is really going to die in twenty more minutes?

Ellie glanced up at the stage. A two-meter stack of electronics, metallic gray, stood next to the large chair. The only other object on the stage was a digital clock that currently read 0742. Ellie stared at the chair. Hanging from the top was a hood that would fit over the victim’s head. Ellie shuddered and fought against nausea. How barbaric, she thought. How could any species that considers itself advanced tolerate this kind of gruesome spectacle?

Her mind had just cleared away the execution images when there was a tap on her shoulder. Ellie turned around. A large, frowning policeman was leaning across the aisle in her direction. “Are you Eleanor Wakefield Turner?” he asked,

Ellie was so frightened she could barely respond. She nodded her head. “Will you come with me, please?” he said. “I need to ask you a couple of questions.”

On shaky legs, Ellie edged past three people in her row and entered the aisle. Something’s gone wrong, she thought. The escape has been foiled. They’ve found the cache and somehow- know that I’m involved.

The policeman took her to a small conference room on the side of the auditorium. “I’m Captain Franz Bauer, Mrs. Turner,” he said. “It is my job to dispose of your mother’s body after she has been executed. We have, of course, arranged for the customary cremation with the undertaker. However… “At this point Captain Bauer paused, as if he were carefully selecting his words.”…in view of the past services that your mother has rendered for the colony, I thought perhaps that you, or some member of your family, might like to take care of the final procedures.”

“Yes, of course, Captain Bauer,” Ellie replied, weak with relief. “Certainly. Thank you very much,” she added quickly.

“That will be all, Mrs. Turner,” the policeman said. “You may now return to the auditorium.”

Ellie stood up and discovered that she was still shaky.

She put one hand on the table in the middle of the room. “Sir?” she said to Captain Bauer.

“Yes?” he replied.

“Would it be possible for me to see my mother alone, just for an instant, before…?”

The policeman studied Ellie at length. “I don’t think so,” he said, “but I will ask on your behalf.”

“Thank you very—”

Ellie was interrupted by the ring of the telephone. She delayed her departure from the conference room long enough to see the shocked expression on Captain Bauer’s face. “Are you absolutely certain?” she heard him say as she left the room.

The big digital clock on the stage read OSM. “Come on, come on,” the man behind Ellie grumbled. “Let’s get on with it.”

Ellie forced herself to stay calm. She glanced around at the restive crowd. Captain Bauer had informed everyone at five past eight that the “activities” would be delayed “a few minutes,” but in the last half hour there had been no additional announcements. In the row in front of Ellie, a wild rumor was circulating that the extraterrestrials had rescued Nicole from her cell.

Some of the people had already started to leave when Governor Macmillan walked onto the stage. He looked harried and upset, but he broke quickly into his official open smile when he began addressing the crowd.