He Without Sin by Ed Hyde Page A

serious.
    “We didn’t,” he answers as we walk toward what he earlier called his command cave. “You’d be surprised how complex a structure can be built from just a few simple components, if you have enough of them. We carry with us a couple of small fabricators for the purpose of making what we need on-site out of local materials with local energy sources.”
    Now in his work area, he says, “Look here at these four little items: I can make these now at will. They are what all this is made of,” he says, pointing around and overhead and then hands me the pieces. I look. They are light structural components, simple in design.
    I look back at Mark, “All this? Where are these pieces used?”

    “Look around again, they are everywhere. They can be made in to a door, a wall, a table. What do you want?” He walks to the door, takes back the handful, and shows how pieces of the same design are part of the frame construction. “See? They are the same pieces. It’s just a matter of adjusting the dimensions to suit. Longer, shorter, different connections. You add this sheeting component to span the large areas and there you have it. Boom—that’s a door. There’s a door. The sheeting is really the same material, but thin and plain with no edge treatment, and can be lapped over itself to make any size panel. Cool huh?”
    Oh, he’s in his element now. “Yes, cool. Doors, walls and…everything?”
    “Look, we carry digital models for every component we can foresee needing, and can modify existing design for those we can’t. One fab unit can make repair parts for another unit should one fail, or it can make parts for the runabouts or lander; it’s really a tight system. While I can make inorganic parts to suit, Doc has a similar but different gizmo to put you or me back together as well if need be.”
    “Speaking of that, did you receive the want list from the Hobbe? David wants to know.”
    “Yes, priority one. As soon as we are completely set up, the needs of the ship are first on the schedule. We have to make sure we can get out of here and get home. Although…” Mark leaves an opening that I don’t follow and choose to ignore, for now, while we step outside to see the source of an overhead sound.
    The thrill of being out of doors, the expanse of it all, dominates my attention. It’s still there but I hardly notice Mark’s limp anymore. It sure doesn’t slow him down any.
    We walk toward a sheer rock face and sit on a boulder seemingly conveniently located for that purpose as the vehicle arrives. I see it’s the larger of the two models, the transport, and David’s not in it. “Wait, David took the small one? What’s up with that?”
    “He had to; I need the carrying capacity to bring in resources on the transport. Priority one—I told you. He is off somewhere with the other unit scoping out the bio camp parameters and location. I’ll be able to divert some, but not many, of my resources to his work to keep him happy. In any case, we are going to be here a long, long time, by my reckoning, even if there are no glitches. Plenty of time.”
    “Perfect. I mean the progress so far, not the long stay,” as I get up. Why did I say that? I don’t care about the length of the stay, within reason. As long as we make it out someday, I’m good. I check my genie for the runabout, the one that David has and get a quick status from it; all systems good. I have no reason to contact David directly at this time although I am curious as to what he is finding out about the natives. It might be too soon. “These guys been reporting any interesting native contacts yet?” I ask, referring with a nod to the transporter crew.

    “All kinds,” says Mark and adds, “mostly plants and simpler life—the place is teeming with it. Until David’s OK we are under a strict hands-off policy.”
    “That’s not what I mean.”
    “Oh, you mean the other…” Mark pauses for effect and then adds, “Oh, they’re out