Frank Schatzing - The Swarm

'How do you propose we do that, then? By adopting the customs of amoebas?'

'Of course not. It's genetically impossible, anyway. What we refer to as customs or culture is inscribed in our genes. Cultural evolution began in prehistoric times. That was when our mind was laid out. Sure, these days we design aeroplanes, helicopter carriers and opera houses, but only to continue our primitive activities on a so-called civilised plane. It's what we've been doing since the first axe was bartered for a slab of meat: going to war, congregating in social units, trading. Culture is part of our evolution. It allows us to survive in a stable condition-'

'Until another species with greater stability turns out to be superior. I see what you're getting at, Sigur. It's not something we like to dwell on, but genes are what's allowing us to have this conversation in the first place. We're so proud of our intellectual heritage, but it's just the result of biology. Culture is nothing but a set of successful patterns of behaviour grounded in our struggle to survive.'

Johanson didn't respond.

'Did I get something wrong?' said Li.

'No, I was listening in silent admiration. You're absolutely right. Human evolution is just the interplay between genetic mutation and cultural change. We owe the growth of our brains to genetic mutations. It was biology that allowed us to speak. Five hundred thousand years ago, nature restructured our vocal apparatus and built the language centres in our cortex. And these genetic mutations fired our cultural evolution. Speech gave us the ability to express our thoughts, describe our past, discuss our future, and give voice to our imagination. Culture is the product of biological processes, and biological adaptation occurs in response to cultural change. The whole process takes generations, of course, but it happens all the same.'

Li smiled. 'I'm glad I passed the test.'

'I never suspected otherwise,' Johanson said graciously. 'But you've pinpointed the problem: our much-vaunted cultural diversity is bounded by genetic limitations. And those limitations clearly separate our culture from the culture of non-human intelligent beings. Over time, mankind has created numerous cultures, and each is based on the imperative of keeping our species alive. We could never adopt the values of a species whose biology isn't compatible with our own. They're our rivals in the struggle for habitat and resources.'

'So you don't believe in the Federation, with walking electronic beehives queuing up beside us at the bar?'

' Star Wars ? 'Yes.'

'A great movie. No. That would only work if we could somehow suppress our instincts over hundreds of thousands of years. We'd need our genes to be reprogrammed towards inter-species co-operation.'

'Which proves that I'm right. We shouldn't try to understand the yrr. We should find a way of leaving each other in peace.'

'That's the snag. They won't leave us in peace.'

'Then we've lost.'

'Why?'

'Didn't you just say that humans and non-humans will never reach a consensus?'

'The same could be said for Christians and Muslims. Listen, Jude, understanding the yrr isn't an option. We'll never be able to understand them. But we have to make room for what we can't understand. That's not the same as allowing their values to hold sway – or vice versa. The solution lies in retreat. And, right now, it's our retreat that's being called for. It can work, you know. It doesn't mean we have to understand them emotionally – that would be impossible. It just means looking at things from a different, broader perspective, and we can do that by taking a step back from ourselves as a species. Because without that distance, we'll never be in a position to present the yrr with a view of us that's any different from the one they've got now.'

'But we're retreating already. We're trying to make contact – isn't that enough?'

'And what are you hoping to gain from making contact?'

Li said nothing.

'Jude, tell me something. How is it that I hold you in such high esteem yet with so little trust?'

The noise of the debate drifted over from the other tables. It gathered like a wave sweeping over the deck, breaking as it hit them. The scraps of conversation became raised voices, then shouting. At that moment an announcement came through the speakers: ' Dolphin alert! Warning! Dolphin alert !

Li was the first to wrench her eyes from the duel. She turned her head and looked towards the dusky sea.

'Oh, God,' she whispered.

It had started to glow.

BLUE CLOUD

All around them the waves were tinged with luminous blue. Shimmering violet pools surfaced on the water, spreading and merging, as though the sky were pouring into the ocean.

The Independence was suspended in light.

'Whatever you said in that message, you certainly made an impression,' said Greywolf to Crowe, as he stared at it.

'It's so beautiful' Delaware said softly.

'Look!' cried Rubin.

The veil of light began to stir. The glow pulsated. Enormous whirlpools formed, turning slowly at first, then ever faster, until they were rotating like spiral galaxies, drawing in fresh streams of blue. The light at the centre of the whirlpools intensified. Thousands of tiny stars lit up, then faded.

There was a flash.

A cry went up from the deck.

In a split second the scene had changed. Lightning zigzagged through the water, branching out between the swirling eddies. A mute storm raged beneath the surface of the sea. Then the maelstrom retreated, peeling back from the vessel's hull, as the blue cloud rushed towards the horizon, disappearing at breathtaking speed.

Greywolf ran towards the island.

'Jack, wait!' Delaware darted after him. The others followed. He hurried through the vessel, swinging down the companionways, then striding through the command centre and bursting into the CIC, Peak and Li close behind him. The cameras on the hull showed nothing but dark green water. Two dolphins swam into view.

'What's going on?' Peak called to the guys at the monitors. 'What are you getting from the sonar?'

A man swivelled round. 'There's something big out there, sir. Something – well, it's uh, kind of-'

'Kind of what?' Li grabbed his shoulder. 'We need information, you moron. What's happening?'

The man blanched. 'It's – it's- First there was nothing on the screen, then the next second there were sheets of something. They came out of nowhere. The sea just went solid. They turned themselves into a wall or something, they were – they were everywhere.'

'Dispatch the Cobras. I need them up there now, surveying the area.'

'What are the dolphins reporting?' asked Greywolf.

'Unknown life-form,' said a soldier. 'The dolphins detected it first.'

'Is it localised?'

'No, everywhere. But it seems to be retreating – one kilometre and still moving. The sonar's showing vast swathes of something all around the ship.'

'Where are the dolphins now?'

'Underneath us. They're crowding in front of the hatch. I think they're scared. They want to come in.'

People were still pouring into the GIG.

'Bring up the satellite footage,' commanded Peak.

The enormous monitor mounted at the head of the room showed the Independence , as seen by KH-12. She was resting on a dark expanse of water. There was no trace of any blue light.

'Just now the whole screen was lit up,' said the guy in charge of monitoring the satellite feedback.

'Any other satellites we can look at?'

'Nothing available, sir.'

'Zoom out on KH-12, then.'

The man relayed the command to the control centre. A few seconds later the Independence dwindled on the screen and the Greenland Sea extended across it. Whistles and clicks came through the speakers, as the dolphins continued to issue their warning of the unknown presence below.