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