Bill 2 - on the Planet of Robot Slaves by Harry Harrison Read Free Book Online Page A

said aiming her blaster between his eyes. “Ready for your pack?”
    Praktis saw the merits of her argument and only muttered in protest when another pack appeared — had this been planned from the start? — and was loaded onto his shoulders. After this redivision of their burdens they proceeded if not at a smarter pace, at least at a continuous one. Bill walked in an offcenter and lurching manner because his right foot was so much bigger than his left. And his toes hurt, scrunched inside the boot. He wondered why the hell he was wearing it. Because it had been issued to him and he would be out of uniform without it. Fury rose at the thought and he tore off the boot, hurled it out into the desert and stretched his toes — sharp claws gleaming in the sunlight. This was more like it. He hurried to catch up with the others, walking comfortably now.
    When the sun was overhead Praktis groaned an order to halt and they all fell down. Bill, goaded perhaps by the responsibility of his new rank, dragged a water container around and doled out a ration to each of them. Those with strong stomachs squeezed out a little Yumee-Gunge. Praktis watched them and tried some himself.
    “Yekh!” he retched.
    “And you are being complimentary,” Captain Bly said. “It is not edible.”
    “Something has got to be done,” Praktis said hurling the tube out into the desert. “I was going to wait — but we need food now or we can't go on.” He rooted in his pack and dragged out a flat case. “Bill — get me a cup of water.”
    “What the hell are you doing?” Captain Bly complained. “You have had your water ration.”
    “This is not for me — but for all of us. A little product of my original research. Illegal they said! Legality is for weaklings. All right, there were a few accidents, not many died, the buildings were rebuilt quickly enough. But I persevered — and won! Here it is!”
    He held high something that looked like a plastic-wrapped goat turd. Cy put his finger to the side of his head and made a rotating motion.
    “I saw that!” Praktis screeched. “You laugh, just like the rest of them. But it is Mel Praktis who will have the last laugh! Here is a seed, a mutated seed containing growth accelerators never dreamed of by myopic, pedestrian researchers. Watch!”
    He kicked a hole in the sand and placed the seed within it, then poured the water over it. There was a puff of steam as the water dissolved the plastic wrapping — followed by a rapid crackling. “Step back! There is real danger.”
    The ground burst open and green tendrils sprang into the air, blossomed with leaves in an instant. At the same time the sand stirred and rose as powerful roots shot out in all directions. Bill, ignoring Praktis's warning, touched one of the leaves that had appeared almost under his nose. He yiped and sucked his finger.
    “Serves you right,” Praktis said. “Life and growth generate heat — and at this speed there is far more heat than can be dissipated normally. Look how the ground cracks open as all of the water is absorbed, the sand heated by the burgeoning life within.”
    It was indeed spectacular. The broad leaves absorbed solar energy to supply the enzyme-driven furnaces within. A thick stem emerged and a gourd swelled out, growing and crackling before their eyes. When it was almost a meter long it grew bright red, sizzled and broke open just as all the leaves and stems turned brown, shriveled and died. The entire process had taken less than a minute.
    “Impressive, isn't it?” Praktis gloated as he opened his pocket knife and plunged it into the melon. Steam hissed out and a succulent smell filled the air. “Like lichen, the melon has both animal and vegetable cells within it. The animal cells are mutated beef so that — as you can see — the flesh within has been cooked by the heat of growth so that the melon-steak is ready to eat.”
    He sliced off a succulent pink slice and popped it into his mouth. Then jumped