Read Online Polymath by John Brunner - Free Book Online Page A

crowd, “Is that acceptable?”
    There was a ripple of applause.
    “Very well, then.” The doctor shuffled his notes. “As you know, our position has much improved in spite of…”
    When Jerode got around to describing the urgent work ahead, Lex was able to sort a great many more of the crowd into their respective categories. The useful ones frowned, hut were cheered by realizing what a well-planned program had been devised. The less-than-useful also frowned, then gave up listening and began to mutter restively among themselves. Still, there was no real trouble until Fritch finished talking about work on the accomodation. Nobody was minded to object to improving their living conditions.
    But then Bendle talked about possible new food supplies, and went on at great length and with a lot of jargon, and people fretted visibly. Jerode’s voice shook when he rose to call on Aldric next, to discuss water supplies, the manufacture of tools, and other technical matters.
    “The ship!” someone cried at the back of the crowd. “Hey, what about the ship?”
    “Yes! Yes!” Twenty voices shouted agreement, and a pattern of nods made heads wave like grass under wind. Jerode, uncertain, stood blinking, and Aldric—on his feet to approach the verandah—hesitated with his notes in his hand.
    “Very well,” the doctor said at last. “If it’s your wish I’ll call on Lex, who visited the ship yesterday.”
    The useless ones were the ones who applauded now. The others only came alert. Lex unfolded his long legs and made the one step up to take station beside Jerode.
    “The ship,” he said in a clear, penetrating voice, “is about one-third under mud, about one-third under water. Salt water. A highly corrosive liquid. I entered it through an open cargo lock”—his eyes flicked to Arbogast, who winced, but he had to rub in the facts—“and found that when it rolled over, everything unsecured was smashed. What was not broken by being flung against the wall or ceiling is in unsalvageable condition. At least two explosions occurred in the fuel-reserve room and shattered most of the drive gear. Sand and mud—hundreds of tons of it—have sifted inside. Sea-creatures and weed have taken possession. This is exactly what we were expecting.”
    He paused, assessing the impact of what he was saying.
    “Accordingly,” he resumed, “the best we can make of the ship from now on is a stockpile of metal and other raw materials. And it isn’t going to be easy to get at it, either. We’ll have to develop some way of powering cutting-tools under water, means of floating large piecesback to shore—rafts, maybe—and solve other problems which will take so much time I can’t recommend them for immediate attention. All I can recommend right now is stripping out loose fragments that can be brought back in the boat.”
    He glanced at Jerode. “I think that’s all I can say.”
    “Thank you, Lex. As you said, I think we expected the substance of your report. Now we’ll hear Aldric, and—”
    “Just a moment!” That was Rothers, sitting beside the Nanseltines, having moved when they shifted their chairs. Lex glanced his way. Nanseltine’s wife was speaking urgently to her husband and several people nearby were nodding vigorously. Now, ponderous, Nanseltine got up.
    “Who went over the ship?” he demanded, setting his shoulders back. “No one but you?”
    “That’s correct,” Lex said, climbing back on the verandah.
    “No one but you!” Old mannerisms were returning to Nanseltine, that was obvious. “Are we to take it, then, that this—this defeatist view is based exclusively on your inexpert observations?”
    “You’re welcome to put on a suit and come down with me to see for yourself. I think we might find one to fit you.” Lex weighted the words with deliberate sarcasm.
    “Don’t descend to personal insult, young man!” Nanseltine glowered, while those of the crowd who hadn’t got Lex’s point at once got it now