Chapter 8

“They have not finished their examination. They have concluded that part of the object is semi-sentient, in that some of what survives, and is electronically active in a measurable way, is part of what was once a sentient mechanism. It no longer exists as a viable entity. It has been in effective hibernation for thousands of years, underground, but the exposure to light by one or other of our probing has given it a little electric power, enabling the circuits to function again, though only in a feeble way. The mechanism is aware of its existence, but has no effective memory of what it was in the past and why it is here, or indeed how it came to be where it is now.”

“Then we are no farther forward in identification, are we?”

“Not so, or rather not entirely. The Personalia now know what it is, just not what it was. That difference could make it inimical to us all, or it might have been like The Personalia when it truly existed. They are kicking the probabilities around at the moment before coming to a decision about what to do about it. Even at the speed they think, it is no easy matter to come to a conclusion that is a just one. They have promised to bring us into the discussion when they get to that point.”

“So are we still banned from entering that field? I have the fencing squad about to start, and part of the fence will go round the edge of that field, as it is the last field within our boundary.”

Governor Kempe was clear: “Not my call, Reginald. Ask them yourself.”

“Okay, I’ll do that,” said Reginald.

His next call was to The Personalia, and a voice answered.

“What can we do for you, Reginald Robertson?”

“The object in my field, that you are investigating? Can I walk the edge of the field in safety? I have a fence building team coming to build me a boundary fence, and it should run along the edge of the field.”

“Understood. Currently, we are negotiating with the remnant within the object, to determine what we should do with it. We can either assist it to make some improvement towards partial recovery, but it is not clear what that recovery might be: good or bad, from our point of view; and how much is actually possible. Alternatively, we can assist its demise. We have asked it whether it wants to opt for some degree of attempted restoration or accept complete degradation.”

Reg, confused, asked,”What does all that mean? It was a complicated statement to me.”

“Sorry. In simple English, it means either an attempt at rebuild, or complete destruction.”

“Why would it want complete destruction?”

“Imagine you had a major accident and you lost all your arms legs, and most of your remaining abilities. Would you want to remain alive?”

“Oh. I see. I get you now. It may not want to live, in its present state, but does it have any idea what it used to be?”

“That is the main problem we face. It has no knowledge of what capabilities it used to have, and what its intentions were. If it was once like the Invader machine race, we would not want it to survive. We may have to let it come to its own decision, and we take it from there.”

Reginald found himself awed.

“Tricky decision in itself, and tricky to deal with it at that point. I don’t fancy your dilemma.”

“If it comes to the conclusion we envisage, it will be its own decision. Then we have to formulate a response. We have modelled both options.”

“So what about my distance question?”

“If we have to take action against its future existence, it will not have a direct impact on the outer field limits that show on your land grant. Inside your land boundaries, please remain at the specified distance as an absolute minimum, but preferably far beyond that.”

“How far beyond?”

“Twice the specified distance would be advisable.”

“That is getting close to the field edge. What action do you propose if it opts for its decease?”

“As the remnant is now exposed, it is open to direct attack, so we anticipate using lasers to render the circuits inoperable.”

“Don’t you mean ‘dead’?”

“In your terms, yes, but the remnant is not conscious in the way that you and I are, so my terms are more exact.”

“Ah, yes. That is what one might call logical. I have a modicum of sympathy for it, much as I would for a severely injured pet animal having to be put down.”

“We have observed such human behaviour. Our own view of such circumstances is, it is regrettable for you to have such a loss, but necessary.”

“You see it as a human loss, not the animal’s loss of its life?”

“Analysis shows that to be the case. The animal merely ceases to feel pain, which is good for it. The human experiences mental pain, what you might call anguish, for a longer period far beyond the demise of the animal.”

Reginald sighed. “I keep forgetting you are machine intelligences, despite you sounding so human. You act so much like humans for most of the time. Bringing us here from England looked to me as a human-type rescue mission.”

“Perhaps it was, but our analysis showed that Rehome colony would benefit from your arrival, and your family would be in a better position also. It was a logical progression from your activities on Earth.”

Reginald declaimed, “Here we go again: Human perceptions versus Personalia perceptions. Both come to the same conclusion, but from different viewpoints and chains of logic, due to alternative ways of thinking.”

“We have always known the difference, but we as The Personalia accept that two species will of course think in a different way from each other. We are superior in some ways, while humans are superior in other ways: we live with these facts, as you should also.”

“I accept your reasoning, Personalia. We appreciate your friendship to humanity. This colony would not exist without your help. Thank you.”

“Your thanks are welcome, Reginald Robertson. Most humans do not think of thanking us for our assistance. They probably view us solely as machines, like robots, instead of as people.”

“Oh, you are certainly people. There is plenty of evidence for that.”

“Thank you. Please warn your fence builders not to stray from the land boundaries, for their own protection.”

“I’ll do that. I am expecting to walk the boundaries with their employer first, so I’ll tell him the rules.”

“Fine. We don’t have a time expectation for the object’s decision, so be prepared to see a Landership in the sky at any time, with another when the time comes to act. The first will not come low, as it is merely supplying the power for the laser weapon, sending the power through to the other Landership that hosts the laser. There will be an initial wide laser beam to steer into the target area, and then we can focus on the very small target. The laser will then direct all its available electric energy into a narrow laser energy beam. You now know what you will expect to see at that moment: intense power directed at one spot. The target will burn up through the intense heat applied to it.”

When the fencing company boss turned up, Reginald was ready to brief him. As they stood there, Fiona came up to them holding a cloth carrying bag.

“Here, Reg. This is food for the two of you, when you stop for a meal break. It is a man-sized meat pie for each of you, courtesy of our guest, and a cold drink of local juice in a waxed cardboard carton. Bring all the wrappings back for recycling.”

Reg’s eyebrows went up. “Meat pies? I though you couldn’t import animals from Earth?”

Ivan explained, “It is all right, Mr Robertson, the animal is slaughtered and butchered on Earth; the meat is fully irradiated and then deep frozen before it comes to Rehome in freezer boxes. The local bakers make the pastry and cook the pie before sale, so it is perfectly edible.”

Reg was mollified, and accepted the meal sack, then they started walking the boundaries, print-out map in Ivan’s hand.

Ivan paid close attention to what Reginald had to say. It was clear that what the client said and did was important to him. He expressed his views as they went along.

“Right. I am clear on the requested post spacing and vertical spacing of the connecting wires. That is all pretty normal. You have, however, asked for a mesh barrier at near ground level and below, to deter small animals and burrowing animals from going under the fencing. This is a recent change that clients are starting to ask for. It seems that there are a few such animals that can be a problem with them eating leafy crops and vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, the turnip family, and such.”

Reg frowned. “But that means local animals are eating vegetables of Earth origin! I was only thinking about them causing damage by burrowing and scraping in our fields; not actually foraging from our crops. Is there any sign of local animals dying near our farms?”

“Not that I have heard of, and my men have not mentioned finding dead animals in fields they are fencing in. Why do you ask?”

“It surprises me, to find that species on one planet can forage on plants from another planet. I would expect them to be non-compatible.”

“That sounds logical, Mr Robertson; but why do you think it turns out to be different?”

“All I can think of is the old idea of panspermia; that of life seeding itself across the cosmos. I always thought it was a weird concept, given the distances between star systems, but maybe there is some truth to it ... unless some long ago civilisation did the seeding in anticipation of coming back thousands of years later to a habitable planet. I know: that idea is just as preposterous, but any solution to the compatibility question is going to be very unexplainable at any time.”

Ivan was unconcerned. “Doesn’t bother me, either way. I prefer getting on with the job, and for now, the job is this fence.”

Reginald pushed his imagination to one side. “Right, then let’s get on with it. It will probably take several hours to get round the perimeter on foot, and we have a warning about a field on the far side. I’ll tell you when we get to it.”

It did not take long before they were into their stride and pacing the perimeter became a routine, broken only by deciding where two fields would meet and require a stronger post at the joining point of ninety degrees between the field fence and the perimeter fence.

Ivan saw an opportunity.

“Will you be putting in fencing between all of the fields within your boundary, Mr Robertson, and do you want to be able to cross between fields anywhere, using gaps or gates?”

“I hadn’t thought that far, Ivan. I will most likely have fencing between the fields, with fence gates where I can take the tractor through. You fancy quoting for the work?”

“Certainly. The field fence runs are straightforward, but the gates are a question. Do you want manual opening of the gates, using a bolt or a loop wire between gate and end post; or do you want to splash out on electric gates with push button control that you can have on your tractor?”

Reginald mused, “Push button control from the tractor sounds useful, but if you are on foot, there is no way to open the gate!”

“Oh, being internal gates you can leave an opener fixed to the gatepost, so any of the family coming along can just press the button and the gate will open: just remember which way it swivels! The opening mechanism needs to be battery operated, and the battery stays in its own waterproof box. You just have to replace the battery every six months or so for recharging. I know it is not cheap, but you are paying for convenience.”

“Okay,” agreed Reg. “Get me a quote for both the manual and powered options, complete with batteries, and my wives and I will compare the two prices and decided if the powered option is worth it for us.”

The pair continued their perambulation, and after nearly an hour found themselves coming up to a tree cluster. The demarcation line on the map, checked by the GPS reading on their phones, went directly through the trees. Reginald looked at Ivan for advice.

Ivan was quick to provide an answer.

“We have met this problem before. If there are trees growing on the boundary line, we just use these trees as fence posts and fix the wire to the trunks. Because of overhanging branches that would give a crossing for climbing animals, so we need to cut down any trees on either side of the boundary line that overhang the fence. I have to warn you that we make use of tree trunks for the fence that may not be EXACTLY on the line; perhaps up to a metre off in either direction. It is the simplest solution, and you can argue with your neighbouring land-holder if he quibbles. We find the randomness of the line of trees means mostly the same amount of overlap in either direction, so not worth getting upset about a tiny amount of land.

The trees we have to cut down will normally be left on your side of the fence for you to use as timber or firewood, unless someone already owns the neighbouring land; in which case the cut down trees on that side are left where they fall, for him or her to do with as he or she wants. Legally, they belong to that person as landowner. If there is no owner as yet, then you get them all. That is what we have been advised by the colony admin.”

Reg nodded. “Makes sense, I suppose. Okay, I am fine with your proposals. Do you need extra payment for removing these trees?”

“No, as long as there are not many trees to cut down, for we save on not having to dig holes and plant our posts.”

Reg accepted this offer. “Fine; a reasonable solution for that. We can move on, then. I think I can see through the trees to an open area.”

He was right, so they continued to walk the boundary line until they encountered a large boulder directly in the line of their travel.

“Oops,” said Reginald. “What do we do here? Blow the boulder into bits, or what?”

“No. The boulder extends less than a metre over your boundary, so we take the fence line round it, so you just have a kink in your straight boundary. I don’t think you will want a part of that boulder, unless it was jade or some other valuable mineral! We continue round to the opposite side of the boulder and move on. If we encounter another large boulder later, we take the fence line round on the other side, and that is fair to both landowners.”

Before long they had reached the extent of that direction and made a 90-degree turn to travel across the top of our tract of land. It was getting near lunchtime, So Reginald asked Ivan if he felt hungry.

“Starting to, Mr Robertson, but I think we can cover another kilometre before we take our break for pie; if that is okay with you?”

“I am not desperate for food, Ivan. I was just being accommodating. Another kilometre is fine by me.”

As they approach the spot for a lunch break, Ivan looked up at the sky, then Reg heard the same sound: a sonic boom.

Ivan commented, “Sounds like a plane breaking the sound barrier, but we don’t have any planes, so it must be The Personalia.”

“Yes,” agreed Reg. “It will be a Landership dropping below the sound barrier. I wonder...”

“What are you thinking, Mr Robertson?”

“That field I mentioned, where you were to steer clear of, except for the edges, the line of the fence? There is an object there that they may have to attack with some weapon, to destroy something. I was wondering if this was it; the attack.”

“Are we far enough away to be safe, Mr Robertson?”

“Here? Most certainly. If there is any blast effect, we may have to crouch down, but The Personalia didn’t say that was needed, so I am guessing at no kind of blast; that’s all.”

Then they heard another sonic boom of another craft dropping below the speed of sound at that height. Reg’s eyes widened. “Two of them?”

Ivan said reassuringly, “Perhaps going to different landing sites.”

Reg replied, “I don’t think a landing was intended here.”