Page 38 - Extraterrestrials, Foreign and Domestic

Globe Rentals

“Now, a planet is ideally suited for holon reproduction. Its
entire skin, where all the life is going on, may be molecularly
mapped into the outer layer of the sphere at an instant in time.
Later, the core is created cybernetically over several cycles, the
computer required for that process being present on-board the
scanning vessel; thus the holons were virtually ready for release
when the teams returned home.”
Kithlumer extracted the antique orb from its cradle. It had a
patina of unclassifiable air-borne pollutants, so he held it as far
from his spiromembranes as possible.
“Let’s have a look at this thing. What can you get out of it?”
“Well, it includes a complete cross-reference of the significant
features of the outer shell, animate and inanimate, geological and
cultural. Every piece of information, whether accessible to the
inhabitants or not, is recorded and translated into relational
structures the user can interrogate at will. That is, once you find
something of interest, even if most or all of the life-forms it
concerned had deficient or incorrect understanding of it, you can
navigate through the layers of data to a correct interpretation. One
of the amusing pastimes to which these globes could be put was
the solving of mysteries puzzling the creatures to whom the
necessary evidence was unavailable or distorted.”
They made their way back to the lone demonstration unit in the
budget aisle. Kithlumer deposited the holon and found himself
surrounded by the projection of an unfamiliar night sky.
“This is research holon mark nine, model Z-4723-D. Planet
M23-Q48928-R0003 is available for your inspection. Please
specify parameters of inquiry.”
The announcement was made in a formal language in vogue
many, many cycles ago, Kithlumer noted.
“How about showing me the cleanest individuals living at the
time the scan was made,” he asked; no sense in exposing one’s
sensibilities to anything too shocking at first.
The hologram flickered out; the odd voice announced: “Section
M23498/RJ98234-H087234.930021 is malfunctioning. Unable to
process request.”
Kithlumer restarted the unit.

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