The Reproductive System (Gollancz SF Library) (13 page)

Taking chalk from his pocket, he wrote ‘Nomenclature:
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
,’ across the top of the board. The three men pulled pads towards them and readied pens. Meany wrote ‘syst.’ and underlined it three times.

‘The Reproductive System is composed of what we call
cells
.’ The doctor wrote it on the board. ‘The first cells were constructed at Project 32, as you all know. They were of a variety of types, differing from one another in two respects:

‘(1)
Differing means of perception and communication
. These included metal detectors, radiation detectors, radar, cathode tubes, microphones, light pens, graphic inputs and displays, and typewriters. Only the first two of these were standard on all cells built.

‘(2)
Differing modes of propulsion
. These included gear-driven wheels, jointed insectoid legs, rockets, propellors, and the inertial, or “falling-cat” system. Just as a cat can right itself while in midair, so an objective may be propelled by displacing weight “outwards and backwards” rapidly. It moves as does a child scooting along in a cardboard box. We saw a soldier on television doing the same thing unconsciously—threshing his arms to restore his balance.’

‘Yes,’ chuckled the admiral, who was not taking notes. ‘We saw how well it worked for
him
, didn’t we? He’s only dead, that’s all.’

Ickers jumped up. ‘It’s a glorious and fine thing to die in the
service of our country,’ he shouted. ‘I only wish
everyone
had the chance to do so, right this minute !’

‘Now gentlemen,’ said Meany. ‘Let’s try to reconcile our differences. There is much truth in what each of you say. Perhaps the doctor would be good enough to give us his view on the matter?’

‘How about a little action !’ shouted Ickers. Meany filled in the single word on his pad with geometric forms. Nematode began drawing female genitalia. ‘Let’s not sit around here all day. I want to get out there and
slam that thing in the gut
. My boy Grawk is out in the hall now, waiting for orders. Let’s go-go-go !’

Dr. Smilax drew a cross-section of an individual cell. ‘The size varies,’ he exclaimed, ‘for various hereditary and environmental reasons. The original cells were not of a size, and their differences have become in some cases quite marked. The armoured exterior of each cell is usually weatherproofed by paint, rubber or plastic coatings and the like. Apertures are maintained, through which tools can be projected: hooks, claws, cutters, welding equipment, etc. On some types the casing is expandable. In most types it can be opened to admit materials—or emit a neophyte cell.

‘The space just inside the cell is where reproduction and maintenance take place. Manufacturing is quite limited in scope, consisting chiefly in adapting found objects to makeshift purposes.

‘Templates for both mechanical and electronic components (such as integrated circuits) are constructed at the orders of the QUIDNAC control unit. All bearings and other parts requiring close tolerances are made by sintering; finer machining is done with acids.

‘Any power supply may be used, if either it can be modified to fit into the cell or the cell can make sufficient modifications upon itself. We predicted, for example, that cells would be able to glue themselves to locomotives and take power from them, and I understand our prediction was correct.

‘Now for the “yolk” of our “egg”,’ he said, with another dry, professorial smile, and pointed to the centre of his chalk diagram. ‘This is the QUIDNAC control unit, in three sections: (1) The DNA section; (2) the amplifying and interpreting section; and (3) the control linkage.

‘The DNA section is a complex, compact means of storing and retrieving information. In it are stored about 10
¹⁰
, or ten
billion messages, many of them only three units long, but some as long as a million units. The fourteen simplest messages correspond to the rules of logic, to arithmetic computation, or to the mechanics of handling other data.’

He wrote:

Message	Meaning	Conventional Symbol
AAA	‘Either … or … or both’	v
CCC	‘If … then …’
GGG	‘… and …’	.
TTT	‘… is equivalent to …’	≡
GAGGAG	‘zero’	0
GCGGCG	‘positive’	+
GTGGTG	‘negative’	—
TGTTGT	‘… is identical with …’	=
AGAAGA	‘Record …’	(Remember)
ATAATA	‘Erase …’	(Forget)
CGCCGC	‘Duplicate …’	(Repeat; Copy)
CTCCTC	‘Transit …’	(Tell me)

‘These messages are encoded in a double helix of DNA. They are activated only by the appropriate input. In one sense, the QUIDNAC is completely programmed, since it is true that every message output, or response, has been encoded into the molecule of DNA. But different
sets
, different combinations of responses are not predictable, if only because of their very, very, varied variety.’ Again the smile, and again no response from his audience. ‘The total number of message combinations possible is equal to the sum of the squares of all the numbers from 1 to 10
¹⁰
.

‘All input data, or stimuli, are automatically recorded, and compared with previous stimuli. If they correspond, they are dealt with as in past successes; if they do not, various analogies are devised from past experiences. If no analogies seem to have the slightest relevance to the new stimuli, random responses are selected and tested. In effect, QUIDNAC learns, and as it learns
it alters the structure of the DNA molecule
. Alterations generally consist in breaking the molecule apart and reassembling it in new patterns, much in the manner of making anagrams

from long words:’

Here he wrote: ‘
JOHN THOMAS SLADEK
’

And under it: ‘
DNA’S MOL HATH JOKES
’

‘You see, a
mol
is a gram molecular weight, or the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams. The molecular weight of our DNA is about 287 × 10
¹⁶
, so the joke of it is that one mol would weigh about three trillion tons.’

He laughed heartily at DNA’s subtle jest. The three faces before him, however, remained fixed in their gargoyle patterns of joy, despair and indecision. Dr. Smilax cleared his throat and prepared to resume.

‘British trillion or American trillion?’ asked the WAF secretary. ‘Long tons or short tons?’

‘I’ll go into it later, if you’ll make a note of it.’ A muscle in the doctor’s scalp began twitching. ‘Now then:

‘The second stage of the QUIDNAC control unit consists of a system of integrated circuits which translate and amplify the output of the DNA section. The third section consists of actual control mechanisms, switches, relays, etc., operating various ‘limbs’, ‘organs’ and functions of the cell. Tuned circuits are employed, so that a rather complex signal may be sent as an excitation “clang”, out of which each receiver selects its own signal. Our own nervous system works on much the same principle.’

‘What we’d like to know, Doctor,’ said the Army head, glancing nervously towards both ends of the table, ‘and I think I can safely say I speak for my colleagues here in this—what we’d like to know is, what does the QUIDNAC computer
look like
, and how can we shut it off?’

‘The entire control unit looks much like a transistor radio,’ said the doctor. ‘The bulk of it is control linkage, however. The amplifying section is about the size of a lady’s wrist watch. The DNA memory file is, of course, invisible. Its casing may be seen—it is roughly the size and shape of a light pencil dot.’

‘The US Air Force isn’t likely to have much trouble slaughtering a few pencil dots,’ said Ickers, beaming.

‘Well—’ Smilax began, then sighed.

The admiral emitted a pained snort, his equivalent of a laugh. ‘I guess that finishes us,’ he said. ‘I always knew the human race was bound to be finished off by something like a bunch of pencil dots. It figures.’

‘Perhaps we’re beaten,’ cajoled General Meany, ‘and perhaps

again we have a chance. I think it’s too early to tell, at this stage of the game. I defer judgement until we hear from our expert here.’

‘Are you trying to tell me,’ asked Ickers, ‘that in only a few days these invisible bugs have piled up enough junk to cover twenty thousand square miles? And we can’t stop this?’

‘I’m afraid that is correct,’ said Smilax, ‘though rather pessimistic. They have worked underground for over two weeks, preparing for this takeover. Moreover, they have only fenced, or enclosed, rather than covered the area, and I believe it to be only about 17,213 square miles. That you have had no success thus far in stopping it is evident,’ he added, with his eyes downcast. ‘That is why you have sent for me. I do foresee one way of stopping the Reproductive System—though you may find my way repugnant.’

‘I knew we weren’t beaten !’ screeched the Air Force head, and gave an exultant laugh. ‘What
is
your idea, doctor?’

‘Sure, go ahead. What have we got to lose now?’ said the admiral. ‘The human race is a dead letter, now.’

Smilax lighted a display map. ‘The System seems to have three centres of growth, at the moment, and it is fencing off and surrounding the area between them. They are the lab at Mill-ford, Utah; Altoona, Nevada; and Las Vegas. The judicious detonation of three thermonuclear devices of the order of 150 megatons each would, I feel confident, completely neutralize the System at these points. The remainder would be a simple matter of—I believe the expression is “mopping up”—using smaller thermonuclear devices. I know what question you are going to raise in advance, so let me say I estimate the total number of civilian casualties at no more than a million.’

‘Did he say a million or a billion?’ murmured the WAF.

‘If it’s the cost of our commitment,’ said the smiling Ickers, ‘I’m all for it !’

‘That’s about the population of Nevada and Utah combined,’ Admiral Nematode pointed out. ‘And this is election year. We’ll never get Congress to buy the idea of bombing hell out of two states. Might as well throw in the sponge now.’

‘My colleagues both have a valid point,’ said Meany carefully.

‘Have you any alternatives, doctor?’

‘Only a plan for a new line of research towards altering the System genetically. It has, fortunately or unfortunately, the ability to pass along acquired characteristics. Given about two

months, we could—’

‘Two months !’ Nematode shouted. ‘In two months, it’ll be covering the globe.’

‘No, by my estimate, if it grows at the present rate, it would reach 88 times its present size in eight weeks. It would then cover most of 1,514,788 square miles, that is, roughly the size of fifteen of our westernmost states, not including Texas or Oklahoma, but with the area of Maine thrown in.’

‘Oh, Christ.’

Ickers had called in Grawk and seemed to be in a furiously jubilant state over what his subordinate was whispering to him. ‘Great ! Great ! Great ! Tell them about it.’

‘I know this sounds like kind of a crazy idea,’ said the ugly little general. ‘But maybe it’s just the kind of wacky thing that would work. Give a listen: I remember once in an old science fiction movie they got rid of the monster by electrocuting him. Remember that? Well we could try the same thing—just hook up the high voltage and juice it to death !’

‘Science fiction,’ snorted the admiral.

‘I think he has something,’ said Smilax. ‘It
may
work—by shorting out the fine circuitry—but if it fails, we gain nothing.’

‘At least we lose nothing,’ shrilled Ickers. Clapping Grawk on the back, he bawled, ‘Your idea, my boy. You’re in charge. Tap the power line at Altoona. Get to work on it right away. Thumbs up.’

‘And when you fail,’ said the admiral with bilious charm, ‘it’ll be thumbs up for you, all right. You’ll be Airman Third Class Grawk—if we don’t shoot you.’

Meany summed it up. ‘Godspeed, Grawk,’ he said. ‘We wish you success and warn you not to fail.’