The Cave - Part 2

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The Cave - Part 2

Lionel and Enmanuel observed with the visors of their helmets, configured in infrared spectrum and then in ultraviolet, the place where the gallery made a long tunnel, which extended beyond where they could see, but there was nothing more than what they could distinguish with natural lighting, the interior of the tunnel shone with a soft blue-green light, product of the luminescence of the forms of life that populated it.

-You know it's not my specialty, but I don't see why you say that these life forms resemble those of the Earth, -said Enmanuel, pointing to the giant mushrooms.

-Of course they look alike, that you've never seen a mushroom, -he asked, without waiting for an answer -. In none of the other fifteen worlds with native life forms, that have been found, there are creatures that have the slightest morphological similarity with the terrestrial ones, and in this there are several terrifyingly similar examples, but by the policy of minimal intervention, samples of the genetic structure of these creatures were never taken, - he paused to put on the floor a container that had just come down from the load slider -. The genetics of the organisms found in other worlds, have great differences with that of the terrestrial ones, different nitrogenous bases, more or less of five bases, structures with triple and quadruple helixes and even the lack of nucleic acids, in some cases the cells lack nucleus or some cellular organelles. All this without taking into account the crystallodermes, those damned things, we do not know if it is up to us or to geologists to study them.

-Damn it, I didn't know that the life of biologists was so difficult," commented Emmanuel sardonically.

-Why do you think there are so many bitter biologists in psychiatric therapy, - replied Lionel -. I'm already on the verge of one or both.

Emmanuel burst out laughing, which resounded in Lionel's headphones, who made a gesture of displeasure.

-I think we should go in at once, we'll use infrared so as not to disturb any creature that may live in there, -said Lionel opening the container and taking out two small black metal boxes.

-What do you mean by annoying creatures? -Enmanuel asked, taking one of the boxes extended to him by Lionel.

-Just that, remember that this network of caves has never been explored and I don't know what to expect, most likely anything we find is too shy to approach, plus the suits are made of reinforced polymer, they should prevent any sting or bite, and in case of any emergency we have this, -he said, showing Enmanuel the inside of the box he was still holding in his hand.

-Are they electric pulse pistols?" asked Enmanuel, observing the weapon contained in the box.

-No, those wouldn't be practical, the idea is not to harm some creature," said Lionel, taking out and wielding the gun. They are sound impulse weapons, they emit a powerful low frequency sound wave that would knock down any creature that tries to get as close as possible, if possible, if you need to use it, try to aim at anything that looks like the head, if you have it, that way you will be more stunned or very possibly passed out.

-I started to dislike this, -said Emmanuel taking the gun in his hand and leaving the box resting on the large container that was still in the slider.

-Don't worry, it's a usual precaution, which we take, the few times we are allowed to enter territory not explored by robots, -said Lionel, taking a blue polymer briefcase from the inside of the open container -. Now let's get going, before it gets dark, I want to be back here in two hours, tomorrow we can devote more time.

Emmanuel hung on his shoulder a brown cloth bag, which he also took out of the container and both began to walk inside the cave. When they returned from their preliminary exploration, they would finish setting up camp.

Text of @amart29 Barcelona, Venezuela, October 2019

Otros relatos de la serie La Era de Perseo / Other stories from the series The Age of Perseus

• The Cave - Part 1
• The Cave - Part 2

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