WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.839 The native soil by alan E Norse. Before the first 2 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:07.599 ship from Earth made a landing on Venus, there was 3 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:10.679 much speculation about what might be found beneath the cloud 4 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:14.359 layers obscuring that planet's surface from the eyes of all observers. 5 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:18.359 One school of thought maintained that the surface of Venus 6 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.039 was a jungle rank with hot house moisture, crawling with 7 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:26.839 writhing fauna and man eating flowers. Another group contended hotly 8 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:30.640 that Venus was an arid desert of wind carved sandstone, 9 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.159 dry and cruel, whipping dust into clouds that sunlight could 10 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:40.600 never penetrate. Others prognosticated an ocean planet with little or 11 00:00:40.679 --> 00:00:45.200 no solid ground at all, populated by enormous serpents waiting 12 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:49.479 to greet the first Earthlings with jaws agape. But nobody knew. 13 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:54.079 Of course, Venus was the planet of mystery. When the 14 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:58.119 first earth ship finally landed there, all they found was 15 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:01.960 a great quantity of mud. There was enough mud on 16 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:04.799 Venus to go all the way around twice, with some 17 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:10.359 left over. It was warm, wet, soggy, mud clinging, and tenaceous. 18 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:14.280 In some places it was gray, in other places it 19 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:17.920 was black. Elsewhere it was found to be varying shades 20 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:22.000 of brown, yellow, green, blue, and purple, but just the same, 21 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:27.280 it was still mud. The sparse Venusian vegetation grew up 22 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:31.040 out of it, the small Venusian natives lived down in it. 23 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:34.280 The steam rose from it, and the rain fell on it. 24 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:38.640 And that, it seemed, was that the planet of Mystery 25 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:43.239 was no longer mysterious. It was just messy. People didn't 26 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:49.760 talk about it anymore. But the technologists of Piper Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. 27 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:52.719 R and D Squad found a certain charm in the 28 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:58.400 Venusian mud. They began sending cautious and very secret reports 29 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.640 back to the Home Office. When they discovered just what 30 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:05.799 exactly was growing in that Venusian mud besides Venusian natives. 31 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:11.280 The Home Office promptly bought up full exploratory and mining 32 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:14.039 rights to the planet for a price that was a 33 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:18.960 brazen steel, and then, in high excitement, began pouring millions 34 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.960 of dollars into ships and machines bound for the muddy planet. 35 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:27.159 The Board of Directors met hoots of derision with secret 36 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:32.280 smiles as they rubbed their hands together softly. Special crews 37 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.919 of psychologists were dispatched to Venus to contact the natives. 38 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:40.560 They returned exuberant with test results that proved the natives 39 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:44.840 were friendly, intelligent, co operative, and resourceful, and the board 40 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:48.680 of Directors rubbed their hands more eagerly together and poured 41 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:55.240 more money into the Piper Venusian installation. It took money 42 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.319 to make money, they thought. Let the fools laugh. They 43 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:03.520 wouldn't be laughing long after all. Piper Pharmaceuticals Incorporated could 44 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:06.919 recognize a gold mine when they saw one, they thought. 45 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:14.199 Robert Kyland, special investigator and troubleshooter for Piper Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, 46 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:18.280 made an abrupt and intimate acquaintance with the fabulous Venusian 47 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:21.080 Mud when the landing craft brought him down on that 48 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:25.879 soggy planet. He had transferred from the great bubble shaped 49 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:30.000 orbital transport ship to the sleek landing craft an hour 50 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.879 before Bard and impatient with the whole proposition, he had 51 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:38.960 no desire whatever to go to Venus. He didn't like Mud, 52 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:42.719 and he didn't like frontier projects. There had been nothing 53 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:45.960 in his contact with Piper demanding that he traveled to 54 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.599 other planets in pursuit of his duties, and he had 55 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:51.800 bulked at the assignment. He had even bulked at the 56 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.719 staggering bonus check they offered him to help him get 57 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:58.639 used to the idea. It was not until they had 58 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:03.520 convinced him that only his own superior judgment, his razor 59 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:08.319 sharp mind, and his extraordinarily shrewd powers of observation and 60 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:13.479 insight could possibly pull Pharmaceuticals Incorporated out of the mudhole 61 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:17.639 they'd gotten themselves into that he had reluctantly agreed to go. 62 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:20.920 He wouldn't like a moment of it, but he'd go. 63 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.160 Things weren't right on Venus, it seemed. The trouble was 64 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:31.079 that millions were going in and nothing was coming out. 65 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:37.319 The early promise of high production figures had faltered, sagged, dwindled, 66 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:41.879 and vanished. Venus was getting to be an expensive project 67 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:47.519 to have round, and nobody seemed to know just why. Now, 68 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.040 the pilot dipped the landing craft in and out of 69 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:54.160 the cloud blanket, breaking, the ship falling closer and closer 70 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:58.639 to the surface. As Kyland watched gloomily from the afterport, 71 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:03.120 the lurching billow of clouds made him queasy. He opened 72 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:06.560 his piper sample case and popped a pill in his mouth. 73 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.480 Then he gave his nose a squirt or two with 74 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:15.480 his piper Rhinovac nebulizer, just for good measure. Finally, far 75 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:20.240 below him, the featureless gray surface, skimmed by a sparse, 76 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:24.240 scraggly forest of twisted gray foliage, sprang up at them. 77 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:29.319 The pilot sighted the landing platform, checked with the control tower, 78 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:32.240 and eased up for the final descent. He was a 79 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:35.879 skillful pilot, with many landings on Venus to his credit. 80 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:39.399 He bought the ship up on its tail and set 81 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:43.120 it down on the landing platform before a perfect three pointer. 82 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:48.519 As the jets rumbled, the silence. Then abruptly they sank, 83 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:53.519 landing craft platform and all. The pilot buzzed control tower 84 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:59.199 frantically as Kaylin fought down. Panic. Sorry, said the control tower. 85 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:02.720 Something must have gone wrong. They'd have them mount in 86 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.920 a jiffy. Good Lord, No, don't blast out again. There 87 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:10.560 were a thousand natives in the vicinity. Just be patient, 88 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:16.319 Everything would be all right. They waited presently. There were 89 00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:19.759 thumps and bangs as grapplers clanged onto the surface of 90 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:23.560 the craft. Mud gurgled around them as they were hauled 91 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:26.959 up and out with the sound of a giant sipping soup. 92 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:32.399 A mud encrusted hatchway flew open, and Kylin stepped down 93 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:37.279 on a flimsy looking platform below. Four small rodent like 94 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:40.639 creatures were attached to it by ropes. They heaved with 95 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:44.560 a will and begin paddling through the soupy mud, dragging 96 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:48.720 the platform and Kyeland toward a row of low buildings 97 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:53.720 near some stunted trees. As the creatures paused to puff 98 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:57.360 and pant, the back half of the platform kept sinking 99 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:01.680 into the mud. When they finally reached comparatively solid ground, 100 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:05.839 Kyland was mud up to the hips and mad enough 101 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:10.439 to blast off without benefit of landing craft. He surveyed 102 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:14.959 the Piper Venusian installation, hardly believing what he saw. He 103 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:18.800 had heard glowing descriptions of the board of directors. He 104 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:23.360 had seen the architect's projections of fine modern buildings resting 105 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:27.360 on waterproof buoys, neat boating channels to the mine sites, 106 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:32.480 fine orange painted drudge equipment, including the new piper axis 107 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:36.079 traction dredges that had been developed especially for the operation. 108 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:41.079 It had sounded, in short, just the way a Piper 109 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:44.879 installation ought to sound, but there was nothing here that 110 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:48.360 resembled that Kyland could see a group of little wooden 111 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:51.199 shacks that looked as though they were ready at a 112 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:54.480 moment's notice to sink with a gurgle into the mud. 113 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:58.560 Off to the right, across a mud flat, one of 114 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.279 the drudges apparently had done just that. A swarm of 115 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:05.000 men and natives were hard at work dragging it up again. 116 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:10.839 Control tower was to the left, balanced precariously at a 117 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:14.759 slight tilt and a sea of mud. The piper Venusian 118 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:18.560 installation didn't look too much like a going concern. It 119 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:21.319 looked far more like a ghost town in the latter 120 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:26.879 stages of decay. Inside the administration shack, Kyland found a 121 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.959 weary looking man behind a desk, scribbling furiously at a 122 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:35.120 pile of reports. Everything in the shack was splattered with mud. 123 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.080 The crude desk and furniture was smeared, the papers had 124 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.840 black speckles all over them. Even the man's face was splattered, 125 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:47.919 his clothes encrusted with gobs of still damp mud. In 126 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.559 a corner, a young man was industriously scrubbing down the 127 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:55.799 wall with a large brush. The man wiped mud off 128 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.320 Kyland and jumped up with a gleam of hope in 129 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:02.399 his tired eyes. Ah, wonderful, he cried, great to see you, 130 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:05.360 old man. You'll find all the papers and reports in order. Here, 131 00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:08.720 everything ready for you. He brushed the papers away from 132 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:12.000 him with a gesture of finality. Louis, get the landing 133 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.840 craft pilot and don't let him out of your sight. 134 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:16.039 Tell him I'll be ready in twenty minutes. Hold it, 135 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:21.960 said Kyland, aren't you Simpson? The man wiped mine off 136 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:24.679 of his cheek and spat. He was tall and gray. 137 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:30.039 That's right. Where do you think you're going? Aren't you 138 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:36.039 relieving me? I am not. Oh my, the man crumbled 139 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:39.519 behind the desk, as though his laves had just given away. 140 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:42.759 I don't understand it, they told me. I don't care 141 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:46.759 what they told you, said Kylin shortly. I'm the troubleshooter, 142 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:50.720 not an administrator. When the production figures begin to drop, 143 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:54.120 I find out why the production figures from this place 144 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:57.840 have never gotten high enough to drop. This is supposed 145 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.679 to be news to me, said Simpson. So you've got 146 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:07.200 troubles friend, you're right about that. Well, we'll straighten them out, 147 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:11.159 Kylon said smoothly. But first I went to see the foreman, 148 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:18.320 who put that wretched landing platform together. Simpson's eyes became wary. Uh, 149 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:21.120 you don't really want to see him, Yes, I think 150 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:25.679 I do. When there's just such obvious and competence, the 151 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:30.440 time to correct it is now. Well, maybe we can 152 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:34.240 go outside and see him. We'll see him right here. 153 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:37.840 Kylon sank down on a bench near the wall. A 154 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.960 tiny headache was developing. He found a capsule in his 155 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:45.039 sample case and popped it into his mouth. Simpson looked 156 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:48.000 sad and nodded to the orderly, who had stopped scrubbing 157 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:54.320 the wall. Louis, you heard the man, but Boss Simpson scowled. 158 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.960 Louis went to the door and whistled. Presently, there was 159 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:01.559 a splashing sound and a short gray creature patted in. 160 00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:06.320 His hind feet were four toed, webbed paddles. His legs 161 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:09.799 were long and powerful, like a kangaroo's. He was covered 162 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:13.360 in thick gray fur, which dripped with thick black mud. 163 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:20.679 He squeaked at Simpson, wiggling his nose. Simpson squeaked back sharply. Suddenly, 164 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:24.080 the creature began shaking his head in a slow rhythmic 165 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:28.279 undulation with a cry. Simpson dropped behind the desk. The 166 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:30.799 orderly fell flat on the floor, covering his face with 167 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:34.320 his arms. Kylin's eyes widened. Then he was sitting in 168 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:37.600 a deluge of mud. As the little Venusian shook himself 169 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.759 until his fur stood straight out in all directions. Simpson 170 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:45.200 stood up with a roar. I've told them a thousand times, 171 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:48.559 if I've told them once. He shook his head helplessly 172 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:52.399 as Kyland wiped mud out of his eyes. This is 173 00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:56.879 the one you wanted to see, Kylin spluttered. Can it 174 00:11:56.919 --> 00:12:02.279 talk to you? It doesn't talk. It's then ask it 175 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:05.200 to explain why the platform it built didn't hold the 176 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:09.919 landing craft. Simpson began whistling and squeaking at length to 177 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:13.679 the little creature. Its shaggy tail creft between its legs, 178 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:17.720 and it hung its head like a scolded puppy. He 179 00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:20.240 says he didn't know a landing craft was supposed to 180 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:24.840 land on the platform, Simpson reported. Finally, He's sorry, he says, 181 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:31.600 but he hasn't seen a landing craft before. Squeak squeak. Oh, yes, 182 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.559 wasn't he told what the platform was being made for? 183 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:42.840 Squeak squeak. Of course, then why didn't the platform stand up? 184 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:49.039 Simpson sighed. Maybe he forgot what it was supposed to 185 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:52.480 be used for in the course of building it. Maybe 186 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:55.440 he never really did understand in the first place. I 187 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:58.919 can't get questions like that across from him with this whistling. 188 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:02.919 I doubt you'll ever find out which it was. Then 189 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:05.759 fire him, said Kyland. We'll find some other. Oh no, 190 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.759 I mean, let's let's not be hasty, said Simpson. I'd 191 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:12.080 hate to have to fire this one for a while yet. 192 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:18.399 At any rate, why because we've finally gotten across to him. 193 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:21.559 At least I think we have just how to take 194 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.840 down a drudge tube. Simpson's voice was almost tearful. It's 195 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:28.600 taken us months to teach him. If we fire him, 196 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:31.440 we'll just have to start all over again with another one. 197 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:36.559 Kylon stared at the Venusian and then at Simpson. So 198 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:42.799 he said, finally, I see. No, you don't, said Simpson 199 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:46.879 with conviction. You don't even begin to see yet. You 200 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.320 have to fight it for a few months before you 201 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:52.519 really see. He waved for the Nusian out the door 202 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.480 and turned to Kyland with the burden of ten months 203 00:13:55.480 --> 00:14:00.799 frustration in his voice. They're stupid, he said, slowly, they 204 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:05.000 are so incredibly stupid I could go screaming into this 205 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:08.120 swamp every time I see one of them coming. Their 206 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:16.879 stupidity is positively abysmal. Then why use them, Kylin spluttered, 207 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:20.240 Because if we ever hope to mind anything in this 208 00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:23.759 miserable mud hole, we've got to use them for it. 209 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:28.399 There just isn't any other way. With Simpson leading, they 210 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:33.159 donned waste high waiters with wide flat silicone coated pans 211 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:36.840 strapped to their feet, and started out to inspect the installation. 212 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:41.320 A crowd of a dozen or more Venusian natives swarmed 213 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.639 happily around them, like a pack of hounds. They were 214 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:47.120 in and out of this steaming mud, circling and splashing, 215 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.720 squeaking and shaking. They seemed to be having a real 216 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:54.159 field day. Of course, Simpson was saying, since number four 217 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.679 dredge shank last week, there isn't a wail of a 218 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:59.759 lot of installation left for you to inspect, But you 219 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:03.080 can see what there is if you want. You mean, 220 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.759 number four dredge is the only one you've got to use. 221 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:10.559 Kayland asked peevishly, according to my record, you have five 222 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:13.480 axis traction dredges, plus a dozen or more of the 223 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:18.360 old kind, ah, said Simpson. Well, Number one had its 224 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:21.919 vacuum chamber corroded out a week after we started using dredging, 225 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:25.840 ran into a vein of stuff with fifteen percent acid content, 226 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:29.480 and it got chewed up something fierce. Number two sank 227 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.799 without a trace over there in the swamp some place. 228 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:35.600 He pointed, across the black mud flats to a patch 229 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:39.480 of sickly vegetation. The mud pubs know where it is, 230 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:41.960 they think, And I suppose they could go drag it 231 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:43.919 up for us if we dared to take the time, 232 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.279 But it would lose us a month, and you know 233 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:50.039 the production schedule we've been trying to meet. So what 234 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:53.679 about numbers three and five? Oh, we still have them. 235 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:58.240 They won't work without a major overhaul. Though overhaul they're 236 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:03.480 brand new, they were the mud pups didn't understand how 237 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:07.200 to sluice them down properly after operations. When this guck 238 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:10.559 gets out into the air, it hardens like cement. You 239 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:13.120 ever see a cement mixer that hasn't been cleaned out 240 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:16.519 after use after a few dozen times. That's numbers three 241 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:21.279 and five. What about the old style models? Half of 242 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.080 them are out on commission and the other half are 243 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:29.559 holding the islands still islands. Those chunks of semi solid ground. 244 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:33.000 We have administration built on the chunk that keeps control 245 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:36.600 tower in one place. Well, what were they going to do? 246 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:41.000 Walk away? That's just about right. The first week we 247 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.200 were in operation, we kept wondering why we had to 248 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:46.399 travel farther every day to get the drudges. Then we 249 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.679 realized solid ground on Venus isn't solid ground at all. 250 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:53.399 It's just big chunks of denser stuff that floats on 251 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:56.279 top of the mud, like dumplings in a stew. But 252 00:16:56.320 --> 00:17:00.480 that was nothing compared to these other things. They had 253 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:04.000 reached the vicinity of the salvage operation on number five 254 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:07.799 dredge to Kyland. It looked like a huge cylinder tight 255 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:11.480 vacuum cleaner with a number of flexible hoses sprouting from 256 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:16.240 the top. The whole machine was three quarters submerged and 257 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:19.720 clinging mud. Off to the right a dereck floated hip 258 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:23.599 deep in slime. Grapplers from it were clinging to the dredge, 259 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:27.359 and the derreck was heaving and splashing like a trapped hippopotamus. 260 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:32.680 All about this submerged machine were mud puffs working like 261 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:36.799 strange little beavers as the man supervising the operation wiped 262 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:40.039 mud from his face and carried on a running line 263 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:44.880 of shouts, curses, whistles and squeaks. Suddenly, one of the 264 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:47.880 mud pups saw the newcomers. He let out a squeal, 265 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:50.720 dropped his line in the mud, and bounced up to 266 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:54.119 the surface, dancing like a dervish on his broad webbed 267 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:59.319 feet as he stared in unabashed curiosity. A dozen or 268 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:03.880 more followed his lead, squirming up and staring, shaking gobs 269 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:08.200 of mud from their fur. No. No, the man supervising 270 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:14.400 the operation screamed, pull, you idiots, come back here. Watch out. 271 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:18.000 The Derek wobbled and let out a whine as steel 272 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:22.720 cable sizzled out. Confused, the mud pups tore themselves away 273 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:25.799 from the newcomers and turned back to their lines. But 274 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.680 it was too late. Number five Dredge trembled with a 275 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:33.960 wet sucking sound and settled back into the mud. Blub 276 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:39.880 blub blub. The supervisor crawled down from his platform and 277 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:43.960 sloshed across to where Simpson and Kyland were standing. He 278 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:46.759 looked like a man who had suffered the torment of 279 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:51.480 the damned for twenty minutes too long, No more, he 280 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.920 screamed in Simpson's face. That's all I'm through. I'll pick 281 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.559 up my pay anytime you get it ready, and i'll 282 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.599 finish off my contract at home. But I'm through here. 283 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:01.200 One solid week I work to teach these idiots what 284 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:03.039 I want them to do, and you have to come 285 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:05.440 along at the one moment all week when I really 286 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:11.240 need their concentration. He glared his face, purple concentration. I 287 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:13.319 should hope for so much. You've got to have a 288 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:18.240 brain to have concentration. Barton, this is Kyland. Here's here 289 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:21.799 from home office to solve all our problems. You mean 290 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:25.519 he bought us an evacuation ship. No, he's going to 291 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:28.720 tell us how to make this installation pay, write Kyland. 292 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:33.920 Simpson's grin was something to see. Kyland scowled. What are 293 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:36.119 you going to do with the dredge? Just leave it there, 294 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:40.359 he asked angrily. No, I'm going to dig it out again, 295 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:43.000 said Barton, after we take another week off to drum 296 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:46.119 into those quarter brained mud hens just what we want 297 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.599 them to do again, and then persuade them to do 298 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:52.119 it again, and then hope, against hope that nothing happens 299 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:57.759 along to distract them again, any suggestions, Simpson shook his head. 300 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.039 Take of rest, Barton, Things will brighter in the morning. 301 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:05.440 Nothing ever looks brighter in the morning, said Barton, as 302 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:10.079 he sloshed angrily off toward the administration island. You see, 303 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:13.079 said Simpson, Or do you want to look around some more? 304 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:18.000 Back in the administration shack Kylin sprayed his throat with 305 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:23.039 piper fortified biostatic and took two tetrasyline capsules from his 306 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:26.519 sample case as he stared gloomily down at the little 307 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:30.279 blob of blue gray mud on the desk before him. 308 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:34.960 The Venusian Bonanza, the sole object of the multi million 309 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:39.720 dollar Piper Venusian installation, didn't look like much. It ran 310 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:42.759 in veins deep beneath the surface. The R and D 311 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.920 mint struck it quite by accident in the first place. 312 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:49.480 Sampled it along with a dozen other kinds of Venusian mud, 313 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:52.960 and found they had their hands on the richest mice 314 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:56.160 and bearing bacterial growth since the days of New Jersey 315 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:01.000 mud flats. The value of this stuff was incalculable. Twenty 316 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.359 first century Earth had not realized the degree to which 317 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:06.880 it depends on its effective antibiotic products for maintenance of 318 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:11.000 its health until the mutating immune bacterial strains begin to 319 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:16.559 outpace the development of new antibacterials. Early penicillin killed ninety 320 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:20.559 six percent of all organisms in its spectrum at first, 321 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:27.160 but time and natural selection undid its work in three generations. 322 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:31.200 Even the broad spectrum drugs were losing their effectiveness to 323 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:35.680 a dangerous degree within decades of their introduction, and the 324 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:39.559 new drugs grown from Earth born bacteria or synthesized in 325 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.880 the laboratories were too few and too weak to meet 326 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:48.200 the burgeoning demands of humanity. Until Venus, the bacteria indigenous 327 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:51.839 to that planet were alien to Earth. Every attempt to 328 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.359 transplant them had failed, but they grew with abandon in 329 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:59.200 the warm mud currents of Venus. Not all the mud 330 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:02.160 was of value. Only the singular blue gray stuff that 331 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:05.200 lay before Kyland on the desk could produce the micin 332 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:09.640 like tetrasyline derivative that was more powerful than the best 333 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.839 of Earth grown wide spectrum antibiotics, with few, if any 334 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:17.680 of the unfortunate side effects of the Earth products. The 335 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:22.279 problem seems simple. Find the mud in sufficient quantities for mining, 336 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:25.559 dredge it up, and transport it back to earth to 337 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:29.200 extract the drug. It was the first two steps of 338 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:33.519 the operation that depended so heavily on the mud acclimated 339 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:37.359 natives of Venus for success. They were as much at 340 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:39.480 home in the mud as they were in the dank, 341 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:43.400 humid air above. They could distinguish one type of mud 342 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:46.799 from another deep beneath the surface, and could carry a 343 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:49.599 dredge tube down to a load of the blue gray 344 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:54.519 muck with unfailing accuracy of a homing pigeon. If only 345 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.720 they could be made to understand just what they were 346 00:22:56.759 --> 00:23:00.319 expected to do. And that was where production ground down 347 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:04.680 to a slow walk. The next few days were a 348 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:08.599 nightmare of frustration for Kayland as he observed with mounting 349 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:13.160 horror the standard operating procedure of the installation. Men and 350 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.759 mud pups went to work once again to drag number 351 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.519 five drudge out of the mud. It took five days 352 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:22.599 of explaining, repeating, coaxing, and threatening to do it, but 353 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:26.400 finally up it came, with mud kicked and hardened in 354 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:30.039 its insides until it could never be used again. So 355 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:34.319 they ferried number six down piecemeal from this special orbital 356 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:38.680 transport ship that had brought it only three landing crafts 357 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:42.599 sank during the process, and within two weeks Simpson and 358 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:46.200 Barton set bravely off with their dull witted cohorts to 359 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:49.200 tackle the swamp with a spanking new piece of equipment. 360 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:53.880 At last, the delays were over. Of course, it took 361 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.599 another week to get the actual dredging started. The mud 362 00:23:57.599 --> 00:24:02.039 pups who had been taught the excavation procedure previously had 363 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:05.960 either disappeared into the swamp or forgotten everything they'd ever 364 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:09.279 been taught. Simpson had expected it, but it was enough 365 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:12.119 to keep Kildered sleepless for three nights and drive his 366 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:16.680 blood pressure to suicidal levels. At length, the blue gray 367 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:19.960 mud began billowing out of the dredge onto platforms built 368 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.119 to receive it, and the transport ship was notified to 369 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:27.000 stand by for loading. But by the time the ferry 370 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.519 had landed, the platform with the load had somehow drifted 371 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:33.720 free of the island and required a week long expedition 372 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:37.720 into the hinterland to track it down. On the trip back, 373 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:41.119 they met a rainstorm that dissolved the blue gray stuff 374 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:44.279 into soup, which ran out between the slats of the 375 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:48.079 platform and back into the mud again. They did get 376 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:52.000 the platform back at any rate. Meanwhile, the drudge began 377 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:54.839 sucking up green stuff that smelled of sewage instead of 378 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:57.839 the blue gray clay they sought. So the natives dough 379 00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:01.680 mudward to explore the direction of the One of them 380 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:04.839 got caught in this suction tube, causing a three day delay. 381 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.640 While engineers dismantled the dredge to get him out. In reassembling, 382 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:13.559 two of the dredge tubes got interlocked somehow, and the 383 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:17.160 drudge burned out three generators trying to suck itself through, 384 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:22.559 so to speak. That took another week to fix. Kyland 385 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:27.039 buried himself in the administration shack, digging through records. When 386 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:30.079 the reign of confusion outside became too much to bear, 387 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:35.559 he sent for Tarnier, the installation physician, biologist, and Erstwhile 388 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:42.359 Venusian psychologist, doctor Tarnier looked like the breathing soul of failure, 389 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:46.079 Kyland had to steel himself to the wave of pity 390 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:48.279 that swept through him. At this side of the man, 391 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:53.480 you're the one who tested these imbeciles, originally, he demanded. 392 00:25:54.599 --> 00:26:00.200 Doctor Tarnier nodded, his face was seamed, his eyes lustrous. 393 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:05.720 I tested them God helped me. I tested them how 394 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:14.480 standard procedures, reaction time, mazes, conditioning, language, abstraction, numbers, association, 395 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:20.240 the works standard for earthmen. I presume you mean, so 396 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:22.960 what else? Piper didn't want to know if they were 397 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:26.519 Einstein's or not. All they wanted was a passable level 398 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:30.599 of intelligence. Give them natives with brains, and they might 399 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:33.319 have to pay them something. They thought they were getting 400 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:39.880 a bargain, some bargain. Yeah, only your tests say they're 401 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:44.759