Second Variety and Other Stories by Philip K. Dick Page B

you down with magnetic grapples."
    "And the controls? Can I operate them?"
    "The controls are virtually automatic. All you have to do is give the right signal at the right time."
    "I will."
    "The seat absorbs most of the take-off shock. Air and temperature are automatically controlled.
The ship will leave Terra and pass out into free space. It'll line itself up with the moon, falling into an orbit
around it, about a hundred miles above the surface. The orbit will carry you over the base. When you're
in the region of the Appenine, release the signal rockets."
    Tasso slid into the ship and lowered herself into the pressure seat. The arm locks folded
automatically around her. She fingered the controls. "Too bad you're not going, Major. All this put here
for you, and you can't make the trip."
    "Leave me the pistol."
    Tasso pulled the pistol from her belt. She held it in her hand, weighing it thoughtfully. "Don't go
too far from this location. It'll be hard to find you, as it is."
    "No. I'll stay here by the well."
    Tasso gripped the take-off switch, running her fingers over the smooth metal. "A beautiful ship,
Major. Well built. I admire your workmanship. You people have always done good work. You build fine
things. Your work, your creations, are your greatest achievement."
    Tasso gripped the take-off switch, running her fingers over the smooth metal. "A beautiful ship,
Major. Well built. I admire your workmanship. You people have always done good work. You build fine
things. Your work, your creations, are your greatest achievement."
    "Good-bye, Major." Tasso tossed the pistol past Hendricks. The pistol clattered and rolled
away. Hendricks hurried after it. He bent down, snatching it up. The hatch of the ship clanged shut. The
bolts fell into place. Hendricks made his way back. The inner door was being sealed. He raised the pistol
unsteadily. There was a shattering roar. The ship burst up from its metal cage, fusing the mesh behind it.
Hendricks cringed, pulling back. The ship shot up into the rolling clouds of ash, disappearing into the sky.
    Hendricks stood watching a long time, until even the streamer had dissipated. Nothing stirred.
The morning air was chill and silent. He began to walk aimlessly back the way they had come. Better to
keep moving around. It would be a long time before help came -- if it came at all. He searched his
pockets until he found a package of cigarettes. He lit one grimly. They had all wanted cigarettes from
him. But cigarettes were scarce.
    A lizard slithered by him, through the ash. He halted, rigid. The lizard disappeared. Above, the
sun rose higher in the sky. Some flies landed on a flat rock to one side of him. Hendricks kicked at them
with his foot. It was getting hot. Sweat trickled down his face, into his collar. His mouth was dry.
    Presently he stopped walking and sat down on some debris. He unfastened his medicine kit and
swallowed a few narcotic capsules. He looked around him. Where was he? Something lay ahead.
Stretched out on the ground. Silent and unmoving.
    Hendricks drew his gun quickly. It looked like a man. Then he remembered. It was the remain of
Klaus. The Second Variety. Where Tasso had blasted him. He could see wheels and relays and metal
parts, strewn around on the ash. Glittering and sparkling in the sunlight. Hendricks got to his feet and
walked over. He nudged the inert form with his foot, turning it over a little. He could see the metal hull,
the aluminum ribs and struts. More wiring fell out. Like viscera. Heaps of wiring, switches and relays.
Endless motors and rods.
    He bent down. The brain cage had been smashed by the fall. The artificial brain was visible. He
gazed at it. A maze of circuits. Miniature tubes. Wires as fine as hair. He touched the brain cage. It
swung aside. The type plate was visible. Hendricks studied the plate. And blanched.
    IV-V.
    For a long time he stared at the plate. Fourth Variety. Not the Second. They had been wrong.