Leviathans of Jupiter

Safety subprogram: WARNING. Increasing depth causing rising internal temperatures.

Query: Are rising internal temperatures causing system malfunctions?

Safety subprogram: All systems operating within nominal limits.

Central computer: Continue existing course.

Sensor report: Predator pack has divided into two segments. One is continuing on course. The other has reversed course and is heading toward this vessel.

OBSERVATION DECK

Deirdre felt her breath catch in her throat.

She had agreed to meet Mrs. Westfall in the observation deck of station Gold, a special section of the second wheel with a long window of glassteel looking out into space. The deck was empty and dark when Deirdre entered; like the observation blister aboard Australia, once she closed the hatch she seemed to be hanging in the middle of infinity, swarms of stars gleaming all about her, solemn and unblinking, stars of all colors blazing their light across the universe.

Deirdre took an unsteady step across the glassteel floor. It was like walking on the face of the deep. And then, as the station slowly rotated, massive Jupiter rose majestically into view. The planet loomed huge, immense, its varicolored clouds churning and whirling before Deirdre’s staring eyes. It filled her vision, engulfed her senses like a true god, encompassing everything. Deirdre felt herself trembling. Jupiter, king of the gods, mightiest of all the planets of the solar system.

She reached out her hand as the incredible swirling beauty of the planet slid unhurriedly before her amazed eyes. Her fingertips touched the cold solidity of the glassteel window. For long minutes she stood there, transfixed, watching the giant planet’s roiling, eddying clouds. Close enough to touch, she thought. Almost close enough to touch.

Then the station’s rotation swung Jupiter out of her view. She watched the curve of the planet’s limb, brilliant against the blackness of space, slowly swing out of sight. How pale the stars seemed! How distant and cold.

The hatch opened and the floor lights glowed faintly. Deirdre could see Katherine Westfall’s slim figure reflected in the window, outlined within the frame of the hatchway.

Reluctantly she turned to face Mrs. Westfall. The woman was only shoulder high to Deirdre, but her form- fitting metallic jumpsuit once again made Deirdre feel shabby in her everyday gray coveralls. Once the hatch closed and the lights dimmed again, she heard Westfall’s breath puff out of her.

“Goodness!” Westfall gasped.

Deirdre smiled knowingly. “It’s like being in outer space,” she said, extending a hand to Westfall.

Quickly recovering, Westfall disdained Deirdre’s hand as she stepped up beside her. “It is rather spectacular, isn’t it?”

“The universe,” Deirdre murmured.

“All those stars. Clouds of them. Oceans of them.”

“Yes.”

“Can you identify them?”

“Some,” Deirdre said. “That bright blue one is Sirius, I think. And over there, the yellowish one, that’s probably Canopus.”

Westfall said, “When we were children we always tried to find ‘Beetlejuice’.”

“You grew up in Australia?”

“The Outback. I thought we saw plenty of stars back there, but this … this is rather much, isn’t it?”

“Rather,” Deirdre agreed.

“Now then,” Westfall said, her tone turning businesslike, “what have you found out?”

Knowing that Dr. Archer would tell her about Faraday’s first data capsule within a few hours, Deirdre reported, “The vessel sent its first data capsule on schedule.”

“Data capsule,” Westfall repeated, uncertainly.

“The vessel is down so deep in the ocean that it can’t transmit messages by radio or laser, so it’s programmed to send capsules up into orbit.”

“Ah! I see. And the capsules contain information about what the ship has been doing.”

“Exactly. The first capsule came out of the clouds and established an equatorial orbit late yesterday.”

“And what information did it carry?”

Deirdre shrugged slightly. “All the ship’s systems are performing as designed. Faraday’s down at the depth where the leviathans are usually found.”

“And?”

“No leviathans yet. None of the creatures have been detected.”

“None? Not one?”

“Not one.”

“What do the scientists have to say about that?”

Hearing the impatience in her voice, Deirdre thought, She’d never be able to be a scientist; she wants results too soon.

“Well?” Westfall demanded.

“They’re sort of surprised. The vessel was sent to a region where there’s always been leviathans swimming and feeding. But right now there’s nothing.”

“How can that be?”

“That’s what they’re trying to figure out. The vessel’s following a stream of organics, the stuff the leviathans feed on. Sooner or later they’ll find some of the creatures, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless the creatures have gone so deep the vessel can’t follow them.”

Even in the starlit dimness Deirdre could see unalloyed anger twisting Westfall’s usually composed features.

“They’re hiding something!” she snapped.

“No, that’s what the data capsule showed,” said Deirdre.

“Either they’re hiding vital information from you or you’re hiding it from me. Either way, I want to know everything they’ve found. Everything! Do you understand me?”

“But that is everything!” Deirdre said.

“I don’t believe you. I don’t believe any of you! You’re hiding the truth from me and—”

Westfall stopped in mid-sentence. Deirdre saw a reddish glow starting to light her face. Turning, she saw that Jupiter was sliding into view once again.

Westfall stood open-mouthed, staring.

“My god,” she whispered. “My god.”

Deirdre fought down the urge to snicker at Westfall’s sudden awe.

“It’s overpowering, isn’t it?” she whispered, extending her hand toward Westfall once more.

“Overwhelming,” Westfall said, in a little girl’s frightened voice. “As if it’s going to fall down on us, crush us…”

She turned and bolted for the hatch, fumbled with the keypad lock, and pushed out into the passageway as soon as the hatch clicked open.

Deirdre went after her. Westfall was standing pressed against the passageway bulkhead, eyes closed, breathing hard.

“Are you all right?” Deirdre asked.

With an obvious shuddering effort, Westfall pulled herself together. She took in a deep breath, opened her steel gray eyes, ran smoothing hands along the thighs of her metallic jumpsuit.

“I’m fine,” she said calmly. “I was merely … surprised. I’ve never seen Jupiter like that before. It seemed … so close … so … so immense.”