TSPC a_dick

Top a_dick_1952

title	The Gun
author	Philip K. Dick
date	1952
source	Planet Stories September 1952 edition
taken from	Project Gutenberg, June 15, 2009. Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29132)
genre	fiction
terms of use	Creative Commons license

1	THE GUN By PHILIP K. DICK
2	Nothing moved or stirred .
3	Everything was silent , dead .
4	Only the gun showed signs of life ... and the trespassers had wrecked that for all time .
5	The return journey to pick up the treasure would be a cinch ... they smiled .
6	The Captain peered into the eyepiece of the telescope .
7	He adjusted the focus quickly .
8	“ It was an atomic fission we saw , all right , ” he said presently .
9	He sighed and pushed the eyepiece away .
10	“ Any of you who wants to look may do so .
11	But it 's not a pretty sight . ”
12	“ Let me look , ” Tance the archeologist said .
13	He bent down to look , squinting .
14	“ Good Lord ! ”
15	He leaped violently back , knocking against Dorle , the Chief Navigator .
16	“ Why did we come all this way , then ? ” Dorle asked , looking around at the other men .
17	“ There 's no point even in landing .
18	Let 's go back at once . ”
19	“ Perhaps he 's right , ” the biologist murmured .
20	“ But I 'd like to look for myself , if I may . ”
21	He pushed past Tance and peered into the sight .
22	He saw a vast expanse , an endless surface of gray , stretching to the edge of the planet .
23	At first he thought it was water but after a moment he realized that it was slag , pitted , fused slag , broken only by hills of rock jutting up at intervals .
24	Nothing moved or stirred .
25	Everything was silent , dead .
26	“ I see , ” Fomar said , backing away from the eyepiece .
27	“ Well , I wo n't find any legumes there . ”
28	He tried to smile , but his lips stayed unmoved .
29	He stepped away and stood by himself , staring past the others .
30	“ I wonder what the atmospheric sample will show , ” Tance said .
31	“ I think I can guess , ” the Captain answered .
32	“ Most of the atmosphere is poisoned .
33	But did n't we expect all this ?
34	I do n't see why we 're so surprised .
35	A fission visible as far away as our system must be a terrible thing . ”
36	He strode off down the corridor , dignified and expressionless .
37	They watched him disappear into the control room .
38	As the Captain closed the door the young woman turned .
39	“ What did the telescope show ?
40	Good or bad ? ”
41	“ Bad .
42	No life could possibly exist .
43	Atmosphere poisoned , water vaporized , all the land fused . ”
44	“ Could they have gone underground ? ”
45	The Captain slid back the port window so that the surface of the planet under them was visible .
46	The two of them stared down , silent and disturbed .
47	Mile after mile of unbroken ruin stretched out , blackened slag , pitted and scarred , and occasional heaps of rock .
48	Suddenly Nasha jumped .
49	“ Look !
50	Over there , at the edge .
51	Do you see it ? ”
52	They stared .
53	Something rose up , not rock , not an accidental formation .
54	It was round , a circle of dots , white pellets on the dead skin of the planet .
55	A city ?
56	Buildings of some kind ?
57	“ Please turn the ship , ” Nasha said excitedly .
58	She pushed her dark hair from her face .
59	“ Turn the ship and let 's see what it is ! ”
60	The ship turned , changing its course .
61	As they came over the white dots the Captain lowered the ship , dropping it down as much as he dared .
62	“ Piers , ” he said .
63	“ Piers of some sort of stone .
64	Perhaps poured artificial stone .
65	The remains of a city . ”
66	“ Oh , dear , ” Nasha murmured .
67	“ How awful . ”
68	She watched the ruins disappear behind them .
69	In a half - circle the white squares jutted from the slag , chipped and cracked , like broken teeth .
70	“ There 's nothing alive , ” the Captain said at last .
71	“ I think we 'll go right back ; I know most of the crew want to .
72	Get the Government Receiving Station on the sender and tell them what we found , and that we —
73	He staggered .
74	The first atomic shell had struck the ship , spinning it around .
75	The Captain fell to the floor , crashing into the control table .
76	Papers and instruments rained down on him .
77	As he started to his feet the second shell struck .
78	The ceiling cracked open , struts and girders twisted and bent .
79	The ship shuddered , falling suddenly down , then righting itself as automatic controls took over .
80	The Captain lay on the floor by the smashed control board .
81	In the corner Nasha struggled to free herself from the debris .
82	Outside the men were already sealing the gaping leaks in the side of the ship , through which the precious air was rushing , dissipating into the void beyond .
83	“ Help me ! ” Dorle was shouting .
84	“ Fire over here , wiring ignited . ”
85	Two men came running .
86	Tance watched helplessly , his eyeglasses broken and bent .
87	“ So there is life here , after all , ” he said , half to himself .
88	“ But how could — ”
89	“ Give us a hand , ” Fomar said , hurrying past .
90	“ Give us a hand , we 've got to land the ship ! ”
91	It was night .
92	A few stars glinted above them , winking through the drifting silt that blew across the surface of the planet .
93	Dorle peered out , frowning .
94	“ What a place to be stuck in . ”
95	He resumed his work , hammering the bent metal hull of the ship back into place .
96	He was wearing a pressure suit ; there were still many small leaks , and radioactive particles from the atmosphere had already found their way into the ship .
97	Nasha and Fomar were sitting at the table in the control room , pale and solemn , studying the inventory lists .
98	“ Low on carbohydrates , ” Fomar said .
99	“ We can break down the stored fats if we want to , but — ”
100	“ I wonder if we could find anything outside . ”
101	Nasha went to the window .
102	“ How uninviting it looks . ”
103	She paced back and forth , very slender and small , her face dark with fatigue .
104	“ What do you suppose an exploring party would find ? ”
105	Fomar shrugged .
106	“ Not much .
107	Maybe a few weeds growing in cracks here and there .
108	Nothing we could use .
109	Anything that would adapt to this environment would be toxic , lethal . ”
110	Nasha paused , rubbing her cheek .
111	There was a deep scratch there , still red and swollen .
112	“ Then how do you explain it ?
113	According to your theory the inhabitants must have died in their skins , fried like yams .
114	But who fired on us ?
115	Somebody detected us , made a decision , aimed a gun . ”
116	“ And gauged distance , ” the Captain said feebly from the cot in the corner .
117	He turned toward them .
118	“ That 's the part that worries me .
119	The first shell put us out of commission , the second almost destroyed us .
120	They were well aimed , perfectly aimed .
121	We 're not such an easy target . ”
122	“ True . ”
123	Fomar nodded .
124	“ Well , perhaps we 'll know the answer before we leave here .
125	What a strange situation !
126	All our reasoning tells us that no life could exist ; the whole planet burned dry , the atmosphere itself gone , completely poisoned . ”
127	“ The gun that fired the projectiles survived , ” Nasha said .
128	“ Why not people ? ”
129	“ It 's not the same .
130	Metal does n't need air to breathe .
131	Metal does n't get leukemia from radioactive particles .
132	Metal does n't need food and water . ”
133	There was silence .
134	“ A paradox , ” Nasha said .
135	“ Anyhow , in the morning I think we should send out a search party .
136	And meanwhile we should keep on trying to get the ship in condition for the trip back . ”
137	“ It 'll be days before we can take off , ” Fomar said .
138	“ We should keep every man working here .
139	We ca n't afford to send out a party . ”
140	Nasha smiled a little .
141	“ We 'll send you in the first party .
142	Maybe you can discover — what was it you were so interested in ? ”
143	“ Legumes .
144	Edible legumes . ”
145	“ Maybe you can find some of them .
146	Only — ”
147	“ Only what ? ”
148	“ Only watch out .
149	They fired on us once without even knowing who we were or what we came for .
150	Do you suppose that they fought with each other ?
151	Perhaps they could n't imagine anyone being friendly , under any circumstances .
152	What a strange evolutionary trait , inter - species warfare .
153	Fighting within the race ! ”
154	“ We 'll know in the morning , ” Fomar said .
155	“ Let 's get some sleep . ”
156	The sun came up chill and austere .
157	The three people , two men and a woman , stepped through the port , dropping down on the hard ground below .
158	“ What a day , ” Dorle said grumpily .
159	“ I said how glad I 'd be to walk on firm ground again , but — ”
160	“ Come on , ” Nasha said .
161	“ Up beside me .
162	I want to say something to you .
163	Will you excuse us , Tance ? ”
164	Tance nodded gloomily .
165	Dorle caught up with Nasha .
166	They walked together , their metal shoes crunching the ground underfoot .
167	Nasha glanced at him .
168	“ Listen .
169	The Captain is dying .
170	No one knows except the two of us .
171	By the end of the day - period of this planet he 'll be dead .
172	The shock did something to his heart .
173	He was almost sixty , you know . ”
174	Dorle nodded .
175	“ That 's bad .
176	I have a great deal of respect for him .
177	You will be captain in his place , of course . Since you 're vice - captain now — ”
178	“ No . I prefer to see someone else lead , perhaps you or Fomar .
179	I 've been thinking over the situation and it seems to me that I should declare myself mated to one of you , whichever of you wants to be captain .
180	Then I could devolve the responsibility . ”
181	“ Well , I do n't want to be captain .
182	Let Fomar do it . ”
183	Nasha studied him , tall and blond , striding along beside her in his pressure suit .
184	“ I 'm rather partial to you , ” she said .
185	“ We might try it for a time , at least .
186	But do as you like .
187	Look , we 're coming to something . ”
188	They stopped walking , letting Tance catch up .
189	In front of them was some sort of a ruined building .
190	Dorle stared around thoughtfully .
191	“ Do you see ?
192	This whole place is a natural bowl , a huge valley .
193	See how the rock formations rise up on all sides , protecting the floor .
194	Maybe some of the great blast was deflected here . ”
195	They wandered around the ruins , picking up rocks and fragments .
196	“ I think this was a farm , ” Tance said , examining a piece of wood .
197	“ This was part of a tower windmill . ”
198	“ Really ? ”
199	Nasha took the stick and turned it over .
200	Interesting . But let 's go ; we do n't have much time . ”
201	“ Look , ” Dorle said suddenly . Off there , a long way off .
202	Is n't that something ? ”
203	He pointed .
204	Nasha sucked in her breath .
205	“ The white stones . ”
206	“ What ? ”
207	Nasha looked up at Dorle .
208	“ The white stones , the great broken teeth .
209	We saw them , the Captain and I , from the control room . ”
210	She touched Dorle 's arm gently .
211	“ That 's where they fired from .
212	I did n't think we had landed so close . ”
213	“ What is it ? ” Tance said , coming up to them .
214	“ I 'm almost blind without my glasses .
215	What do you see ? ”
216	“ The city .
217	Where they fired from . ”
218	“ Oh . ”
219	All three of them stood together .
220	“ Well , let 's go , ” Tance said .
221	“ There 's no telling what we 'll find there . ”
222	Dorle frowned at him .
223	“ Wait .
224	We do n't know what we would be getting into .
225	They must have patrols .
226	They probably have seen us already , for that matter . ”
227	“ They probably have seen the ship itself , ” Tance said .
228	“ They probably know right now where they can find it , where they can blow it up .
229	So what difference does it make whether we go closer or not ? ”
230	“ That 's true , ” Nasha said .
231	“ If they really want to get us we have n't a chance .
232	We have no armaments at all ; you know that . ”
233	“ I have a hand weapon . ”
234	Dorle nodded .
235	“ Well , let 's go on , then .
236	I suppose you 're right , Tance . ”
237	“ But let 's stay together , ” Tance said nervously .
238	“ Nasha , you 're going too fast . ”
239	Nasha looked back .
240	She laughed .
241	“ If we expect to get there by nightfall we must go fast . ”
242	They reached the outskirts of the city at about the middle of the afternoon .
243	The sun , cold and yellow , hung above them in the colorless sky .
244	Dorle stopped at the top of a ridge overlooking the city .
245	“ Well , there it is .
246	What 's left of it . ”
247	There was not much left .
248	The huge concrete piers which they had noticed were not piers at all , but the ruined foundations of buildings .
249	They had been baked by the searing heat , baked and charred almost to the ground .
250	Nothing else remained , only this irregular circle of white squares , perhaps four miles in diameter .
251	Dorle spat in disgust .
252	“ More wasted time .
253	A dead skeleton of a city , that 's all . ”
254	“ But it was from here that the firing came , ” Tance murmured .
255	“ Do n't forget that . ”
256	“ And by someone with a good eye and a great deal of experience , ” Nasha added .
257	“ Let 's go . ”
258	They walked into the city between the ruined buildings .
259	No one spoke .
260	They walked in silence , listening to the echo of their footsteps .
261	“ It 's macabre , ” Dorle muttered .
262	“ I 've seen ruined cities before but they died of old age , old age and fatigue .
263	This was killed , seared to death .
264	This city did n't die — it was murdered . ”
265	“ I wonder what the city was called , ” Nasha said .
266	She turned aside , going up the remains of a stairway from one of the foundations .
267	“ Do you think we might find a signpost ?
268	Some kind of plaque ? ”
269	She peered into the ruins .
270	“ There 's nothing there , ” Dorle said impatiently .
271	“ Come on . ”
272	“ Wait . ”
273	Nasha bent down , touching a concrete stone .
274	“ There 's something inscribed on this . ”
275	“ What is it ? ”
276	Tance hurried up .
277	He squatted in the dust , running his gloved fingers over the surface of the stone .
278	“ Letters , all right . ”
279	He took a writing stick from the pocket of his pressure suit and copied the inscription on a bit of paper .
280	Dorle glanced over his shoulder .
281	The inscription was : FRANKLIN APARTMENTS
282	“ That 's this city , ” Nasha said softly .
283	“ That was its name . ”
284	Tance put the paper in his pocket and they went on .
285	After a time Dorle said , “ Nasha , you know , I think we 're being watched . But do n't look around . ”
286	The woman stiffened .
287	“ Oh ?
288	Why do you say that ?
289	Did you see something ? ”
290	“ No .
291	I can feel it , though .
292	Do n't you ? ”
293	Nasha smiled a little .
294	“ I feel nothing , but perhaps I 'm more used to being stared at . ”
295	She turned her head slightly .
296	“ Oh ! ”
297	Dorle reached for his hand weapon .
298	“ What is it ?
299	What do you see ? ”
300	Tance had stopped dead in his tracks , his mouth half open .
301	“ The gun , ” Nasha said .
302	“ It 's the gun . ”
303	“ Look at the size of it .
304	The size of the thing . ”
305	Dorle unfastened his hand weapon slowly .
306	“ That 's it , all right . ”
307	The gun was huge .
308	Stark and immense it pointed up at the sky , a mass of steel and glass , set in a huge slab of concrete .
309	Even as they watched the gun moved on its swivel base , whirring underneath .
310	A slim vane turned with the wind , a network of rods atop a high pole .
311	“ It 's alive , ” Nasha whispered .
312	“ It 's listening to us , watching us . ”
313	The gun moved again , this time clockwise .
314	It was mounted so that it could make a full circle .
315	The barrel lowered a trifle , then resumed its original position .
316	“ But who fires it ? ” Tance said .
317	Dorle laughed .
318	“ No one .
319	No one fires it . ”
320	They stared at him .
321	“ What do you mean ? ”
322	“ It fires itself . ”
323	They could n't believe him .
324	Nasha came close to him , frowning , looking up at him .
325	“ I do n't understand .
326	What do you mean , it fires itself ? ”
327	“ Watch , I 'll show you .
328	Do n't move . ”
329	Dorle picked up a rock from the ground .
330	He hesitated a moment and then tossed the rock high in the air .
331	The rock passed in front of the gun .
332	Instantly the great barrel moved , the vanes contracted .
333	The rock fell to the ground .
334	The gun paused , then resumed its calm swivel , its slow circling .
335	“ You see , ” Dorle said , “ it noticed the rock , as soon as I threw it up in the air .
336	It 's alert to anything that flies or moves above the ground level .
337	Probably it detected us as soon as we entered the gravitational field of the planet .
338	It probably had a bead on us from the start .
339	We do n't have a chance .
340	It knows all about the ship .
341	It 's just waiting for us to take off again . ”
342	“ I understand about the rock , ” Nasha said , nodding .
343	“ The gun noticed it , but not us , since we 're on the ground , not above .
344	It 's only designed to combat objects in the sky .
345	The ship is safe until it takes off again , then the end will come . ”
346	“ But what 's this gun for ? ” Tance put in .
347	“ There 's no one alive here .
348	Everyone is dead . ”
349	“ It 's a machine , ” Dorle said .
350	“ A machine that was made to do a job .
351	And it 's doing the job .
352	How it survived the blast I do n't know .
353	On it goes , waiting for the enemy .
354	Probably they came by air in some sort of projectiles . ”
355	“ The enemy , ” Nasha said .
356	“ Their own race .
357	It is hard to believe that they really bombed themselves , fired at themselves . ”
358	“ Well , it 's over with .
359	Except right here , where we 're standing .
360	This one gun , still alert , ready to kill .
361	It 'll go on until it wears out . ”
362	“ And by that time we 'll be dead , ” Nasha said bitterly .
363	“ There must have been hundreds of guns like this , ” Dorle murmured .
364	“ They must have been used to the sight , guns , weapons , uniforms .
365	Probably they accepted it as a natural thing , part of their lives , like eating and sleeping .
366	An institution , like the church and the state .
367	Men trained to fight , to lead armies , a regular profession .
368	Honored , respected . ”
369	Tance was walking slowly toward the gun , peering nearsightedly up at it .
370	“ Quite complex , is n't it ?
371	All those vanes and tubes .
372	I suppose this is some sort of a telescopic sight . ”
373	His gloved hand touched the end of a long tube .
374	Instantly the gun shifted , the barrel retracting .
375	It swung —
376	“ Do n't move ! ” Dorle cried .
377	The barrel swung past them as they stood , rigid and still .
378	For one terrible moment it hesitated over their heads , clicking and whirring , settling into position .
379	Then the sounds died out and the gun became silent .
380	Tance smiled foolishly inside his helmet .
381	“ I must have put my finger over the lens .
382	I 'll be more careful . ”
383	He made his way up onto the circular slab , stepping gingerly behind the body of the gun .
384	He disappeared from view .
385	“ Where did he go ? ” Nasha said irritably .
386	“ He 'll get us all killed . ”
387	“ Tance , come back ! ” Dorle shouted .
388	“ What 's the matter with you ? ”
389	“ In a minute . ”
390	There was a long silence .
391	At last the archeologist appeared .
392	“ I think I 've found something .
393	Come up and I 'll show you . ”
394	“ What is it ? ”
395	“ Dorle , you said the gun was here to keep the enemy off .
396	I think I know why they wanted to keep the enemy off . ”
397	They were puzzled .
398	“ I think I 've found what the gun is supposed to guard .
399	Come and give me a hand . ”
400	“ All right , ” Dorle said abruptly .
401	“ Let 's go . ”
402	He seized Nasha 's hand .
403	“ Come on .
404	Let 's see what he 's found .
405	I thought something like this might happen when I saw that the gun was — ”
406	“ Like what ? ”
407	Nasha pulled her hand away .
408	“ What are you talking about ?
409	You act as if you knew what he 's found . ”
410	“ I do . ”
411	Dorle smiled down at her .
412	“ Do you remember the legend that all races have the myth of the buried treasure , and the dragon , the serpent that watches it , guards it , keeping everyone away ? ”
413	She nodded .
414	“ Well ? ”
415	Dorle pointed up at the gun .
416	“ That , ” he said , “ is the dragon .
417	Come on . ”
418	Between the three of them they managed to pull up the steel cover and lay it to one side .
419	Dorle was wet with perspiration when they finished .
420	“ It is n't worth it , ” he grunted .
421	He stared into the dark yawning hole .
422	“ Or is it ? ”
423	Nasha clicked on her hand lamp , shining the beam down the stairs .
424	The steps were thick with dust and rubble .
425	At the bottom was a steel door .
426	“ Come on , ” Tance said excitedly .
427	He started down the stairs .
428	They watched him reach the door and pull hopefully on it without success .
429	“ Give a hand ! ”
430	“ All right . ”
431	They came gingerly after him .
432	Dorle examined the door .
433	It was bolted shut , locked .
434	There was an inscription on the door
435	but he could not read it .
436	“ Now what ? ” Nasha said .
437	Dorle took out his hand weapon .
438	“ Stand back .
439	I ca n't think of any other way . ”
440	He pressed the switch .
441	The bottom of the door glowed red .
442	Presently it began to crumble .
443	Dorle clicked the weapon off .
444	“ I think we can get through .
445	Let 's try . ”
446	The door came apart easily .
447	In a few minutes they had carried it away in pieces and stacked the pieces on the first step .
448	Then they went on , flashing the light ahead of them .
449	They were in a vault .
450	Dust lay everywhere , on everything , inches thick .
451	Wood crates lined the walls , huge boxes and crates , packages and containers .
452	Tance looked around curiously , his eyes bright .
453	“ What exactly are all these ? ” he murmured .
454	“ Something valuable , I would think . ”
455	He picked up a round drum and opened it .
456	A spool fell to the floor , unwinding a black ribbon .
457	He examined it , holding it up to the light .
458	“ Look at this ! ”
459	They came around him .
460	“ Pictures , ” Nasha said .
461	“ Tiny pictures . ”
462	“ Records of some kind . ”
463	Tance closed the spool up in the drum again .
464	“ Look , hundreds of drums . ”
465	He flashed the light around .
466	“ And those crates .
467	Let 's open one . ”
468	Dorle was already prying at the wood .
469	The wood had turned brittle and dry .
470	He managed to pull a section away .
471	It was a picture .
472	A boy in a blue garment , smiling pleasantly , staring ahead , young and handsome .
473	He seemed almost alive , ready to move toward them in the light of the hand lamp .
474	It was one of them , one of the ruined race , the race that had perished .
475	For a long time they stared at the picture .
476	At last Dorle replaced the board .
477	“ All these other crates , ” Nasha said .
478	“ More pictures .
479	And these drums .
480	What are in the boxes ? ”
481	“ This is their treasure , ” Tance said , almost to himself .
482	“ Here are their pictures , their records .
483	Probably all their literature is here , their stories , their myths , their ideas about the universe . ”
484	“ And their history , ” Nasha said .
485	“ We 'll be able to trace their development and find out what it was that made them become what they were . ”
486	Dorle was wandering around the vault .
487	“ Odd , ” he murmured .
488	“ Even at the end , even after they had begun to fight they still knew , someplace down inside them , that their real treasure was this , their books and pictures , their myths .
489	Even after their big cities and buildings and industries were destroyed they probably hoped to come back and find this .
490	After everything else was gone . ”
491	“ When we get back home we can agitate for a mission to come here , ” Tance said .
492	“ All this can be loaded up and taken back .
493	We 'll be leaving about — ”
494	He stopped .
495	“ Yes , ” Dorle said dryly .
496	We 'll be leaving about three day - periods from now .
497	We 'll fix the ship , then take off .
498	Soon we 'll be home , that is , if nothing happens .
499	Like being shot down by that — ”
500	“ Oh , stop it ! ” Nasha said impatiently .
501	“ Leave him alone .
502	He 's right : all this must be taken back home , sooner or later .
503	We 'll have to solve the problem of the gun .
504	We have no choice . ”
505	Dorle nodded .
506	“ What 's your solution , then ?
507	As soon as we leave the ground we 'll be shot down . ”
508	His face twisted bitterly .
509	“ They 've guarded their treasure too well .
510	Instead of being preserved it will lie here until it rots .
511	It serves them right . ”
512	“ How ? ”
513	“ Do n't you see ?
514	This was the only way they knew , building a gun and setting it up to shoot anything that came along .
515	They were so certain that everything was hostile , the enemy , coming to take their possessions away from them .
516	Well , they can keep them . ”
517	Nasha was deep in thought , her mind far away .
518	Suddenly she gasped .
519	“ Dorle , ” she said .
520	What 's the matter with us ?
521	We have no problem .
522	The gun is no menace at all . ”
523	The two men stared at her .
524	“ No menace ? ” Dorle said .
525	“ It 's already shot us down once .
526	And as soon as we take off again — ”
527	“ Do n't you see ? ”
528	Nasha began to laugh .
529	“ The poor foolish gun , it 's completely harmless .
530	Even I could deal with it alone . ”
531	“ You ? ”
532	Her eyes were flashing .
533	“ With a crowbar .
534	With a hammer or a stick of wood .
535	Let 's go back to the ship and load up .
536	Of course we 're at its mercy in the air : that 's the way it was made .
537	It can fire into the sky , shoot down anything that flies .
538	But that 's all !
539	Against something on the ground it has no defenses .
540	Is n't that right ? ”
541	Dorle nodded slowly .
542	“ The soft underbelly of the dragon .
543	In the legend , the dragon 's armor does n't cover its stomach . ”
544	He began to laugh .
545	“ That 's right .
546	That 's perfectly right . ”
547	“ Let 's go , then , ” Nasha said .
548	“ Let 's get back to the ship .
549	We have work to do here . ”
550	It was early the next morning when they reached the ship .
551	During the night the Captain had died , and the crew had ignited his body , according to custom .
552	They had stood solemnly around it until the last ember died .
553	As they were going back to their work the woman and the two men appeared , dirty and tired , still excited .
554	And presently , from the ship , a line of people came , each carrying something in his hands .
555	The line marched across the gray slag , the eternal expanse of fused metal .
556	When they reached the weapon they all fell on the gun at once , with crowbars , hammers , anything that was heavy and hard .
557	The telescopic sights shattered into bits .
558	The wiring was pulled out , torn to shreds .
559	The delicate gears were smashed , dented .
560	Finally the warheads themselves were carried off and the firing pins removed .
561	The gun was smashed , the great weapon destroyed .
562	The people went down into the vault and examined the treasure .
563	With its metal - armored guardian dead there was no danger any longer .
564	They studied the pictures , the films , the crates of books , the jeweled crowns , the cups , the statues .
565	At last , as the sun was dipping into the gray mists that drifted across the planet they came back up the stairs again .
566	For a moment they stood around the wrecked gun looking at the unmoving outline of it .
567	Then they started back to the ship .
568	There was still much work to be done .
569	The ship had been badly hurt , much had been damaged and lost .
570	The important thing was to repair it as quickly as possible , to get it into the air .
571	With all of them working together it took just five more days to make it spaceworthy .
572	Nasha stood in the control room , watching the planet fall away behind them .
573	She folded her arms , sitting down on the edge of the table .
574	“ What are you thinking ? ” Dorle .
575	“ I ?
576	Nothing . ”
577	“ Are you sure ? ”
578	“ I was thinking that there must have been a time when this planet was quite different , when there was life on it . ”
579	“ I suppose there was .
580	It 's unfortunate that no ships from our system came this far , but then we had no reason to suspect intelligent life until we saw the fission glow in the sky . ”
581	“ And then it was too late . ”
582	“ Not quite too late .
583	After all , their possessions , their music , books , their pictures , all of that will survive .
584	We 'll take them home and study them , and they 'll change us .
585	We wo n't be the same afterwards .
586	Their sculpturing , especially .
587	Did you see the one of the great winged creature , without a head or arms ?
588	Broken off , I suppose .
589	But those wings —
590	It looked very old .
591	It will change us a great deal . ”
592	“ When we come back we wo n't find the gun waiting for us , ” Nasha said .
593	“ Next time it wo n't be there to shoot us down .
594	We can land and take the treasure , as you call it . ”
595	She smiled up at Dorle .
596	“ You 'll lead us back there , as a good captain should . ”
597	“ Captain ? ”
598	Dorle grinned .
599	“ Then you 've decided . ”
600	Nasha shrugged .
601	“ Fomar argues with me too much .
602	I think , all in all , I really prefer you . ”
603	“ Then let 's go , ” Dorle said .
604	“ Let 's go back home . ”
605	The ship roared up , flying over the ruins of the city .
606	It turned in a huge arc and then shot off beyond the horizon , heading into outer space .
607	Down below , in the center of the ruined city , a single half - broken detector vane moved slightly , catching the roar of the ship .
608	The base of the great gun throbbed painfully , straining to turn .
609	After a moment a red warning light flashed on down inside its destroyed works .
610	And a long way off , a hundred miles from the city , another warning light flashed on , far underground .
611	Automatic relays flew into action .
612	Gears turned , belts whined .
613	On the ground above a section of metal slag slipped back .
614	A ramp appeared .
615	A moment later a small cart rushed to the surface .
616	The cart turned toward the city .
617	A second cart appeared behind it .
618	It was loaded with wiring cables .
619	Behind it a third cart came , loaded with telescopic tube sights .
620	And behind came more carts , some with relays , some with firing controls , some with tools and parts , screws and bolts , pins and nuts .
621	The final one contained atomic warheads .
622	The carts lined up behind the first one , the lead cart .
623	The lead cart started off , across the frozen ground , bumping calmly along , followed by the others . Moving toward the city . To the damaged gun .