"Rhys Hughes - The Singularity Spectres" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Rhys)

Only by visualising my wife's topology and the feasibility of its analysis was I persuaded to push onward. My
guide had finally brought some luggage of his own, a huge wooden crate which I realised was empty. We
picked our way to the cavern and he bewildered me by taking up the end of string from the previous day's
suitcase, looping it around a stalagmite and securing it to the crate, which he positioned on the rim of the
escalator. Then he sat in the rear of the box, calling for me to join him. I hesitated and he sighed deeply.
"Have you paid any thought as to how we get back up?"

I was forced to concede I hadn't and he nodded solemnly. This was a gesture weighty enough to
command my obedience. I crouched in the crate, gazing in mute panic at the drop. Why was I made to have
the front seat? It was unjust. While I was huffing, Zimara whispered in my ear, "What do you think I brought
the string for?" He thrummed the line with his thumb and I watched the vibrations race down. "You didn't
expect me to go on a one-way trip to the world's core?" "I deemed it best not to ask," I replied.

"The timing was critical. I planned everything. The very first case we sent down has just reached the
bottom. All the others are exactly one day's travel from each other. Sitting in this crate, we can slide faster
down the steps than if we allowed the escalator to carry us. As we fall, the string which is looped around the
stalagmite will pull the suitcases up. That way, we'll get our food in half the time! As the cases go past, we'll
transfer the rations into our crate. It's much more civilised than having to chase after our edibles!"

Swallowing painfully, I said, "I thought we were going to walk down and that it would take four weeks?"
"I don't intend walking anywhere! When we reach the Earth's centre, the last suitcase will arrive up here.
The crate's weight should hold it steady at the top. When we're ready to return, I'll knock out the wooden
sides and that will lighten the crate enough for the suitcase to descend a second time and draw us back up."

"Ingenious," I conceded, "but worrying. It's too elaborate. Can you be sure the arrangement will work?"

"One way to find out!" he shouted. With his foot, he pushed us over the edge. I shut my eyes as the
crate rocked forward. We began to slide, accelerating gradually. With a base long enough to straddle the
edges of a dozen steps, the crate was a smoother ride than I'd anticipated. After a couple of minutes, I
overcame my alarm, opened my lids and fumbled for my telescope. Beneath lay an interminable length of
stairway, monotonous and illuminated by lambent slime. Close to my face, pulled upward by our descent,
was the nerve which connected the global heart to its skin: the four-thousand mile long cord. I leaned out to
touch it but Zimara jabbed me in the spine and called, "It's moving too fast! It'll singe the flesh off your bones.
Leave it alone!"

Behind us, the gas-lit cavern receded to a speck of purer light and disappeared. A tedious journey was in
store, I realised, as Zimara asked to be passed the suitcase I'd brought with me. He claimed his motive was
a better distribution of mass, but immediately it was in his possession, I heard him unclasp it and rummage
through the contents. I felt it was a little early to be dipping into our supplies, but he was content to fill his
mouth. He opened a bottle of Ch├вteau d'Yquem and I grudgingly joined him in a toast to our adventure.

When that bottle was drained, he opened another. "There's plenty to spare," he announced. "Just relax
and enjoy yourself. What else is there to do on this jaunt? That's why I told you to pack so much stuff. It's a
feast as well as a contribution to science!" I was forced to accept this logic and I joined him in devouring the
entire innards of the case. When it was fully plundered, I was surprised he didn't jettison it overboard. He told
me it was important to hang onto all the luggage; it formed part of his scheme for our ascent. I'd already
resolved to let him handle the technical side of our mission, so I didn't challenge any of his actions. We
plummeted with full stomachs.

My chief duty consisted of looking out for the suitcases which were coming up to meet us. With my