Death Wave Read Online Free PDF

away from careers in business or science or academia to take on the responsibilities of the World Council. While it was possible to run for Council membership in an open election, most Council members were selected by a computer-directed lottery; to refuse the honor was not permitted, except under the most exigent circumstances. Hardly any of the Council members had been professional politicians, although that is what they had inevitably become. And their staffs had plenty of lifetime politicians working behind the scenes.
    Halleck said, “Professor Rudaki. Your daughter is still on New Earth, isn’t she?”
    With a blunt nod, Rudaki answered, “Yes. My Elyse is studying the white dwarf star, Sirius B.”
    â€œThe Pup,” Halleck murmured. Jordan thought she did it to show that she was not entirely ignorant of astronomical jargon.
    Rudaki ignored it. To Jordan, he said, “While Einstein showed that no body containing mass can exceed the velocity of light, there is no such restriction for information.”
    Jordan knew where he was heading.
    Jabbing a stubby finger in Jordan’s direction, the astrophysicist continued, “You tell us that these aliens of New Earth have warned that a wave of intense gamma radiation is heading toward us.”
    â€œYes, the result of a massive gamma burst in the core of the Milky Way nearly thirty thousand years ago.”
    â€œThe front of this wave is two thousand light-years away from us.”
    â€œAnd heading toward us at the speed of light.”
    â€œHow do the aliens know of this?”
    â€œThey’ve observed it,” Jordan replied. “From planets closer to the core of the galaxy, where the explosion occurred.”
    â€œExactly. And if this wave destroys all life, who would be left alive to report on it?”
    â€œThe death wave destroys all organic life. But the aliens who observed it were not organic. They were intelligent machines.”
    â€œIntelligent machines,” Halleck muttered.
    Aditi spoke up. “Our Predecessors. They created New Earth and my people. They have visited your Earth many times.”
    â€œI find that hard to believe,” one of the other Council members challenged. “Our best robots are hardly what I would call intelligent. They have no self-awareness, no … no divine spark.”
    â€œWe’re not here to debate philosophy,” snapped the woman sitting beside him.
    Aditi explained, “Organic life is finite. All organic species become extinct, sooner or later. But some intelligent organic species develop inorganic intelligence. Machine intelligence can be virtually immortal.”
    Silence fell around the table.
    â€œMachine intelligence has superseded organic intelligence in many parts of the universe,” Jordan explained. “One day, I suppose, intelligent, self-maintaining machines will become our descendants.”
    For long moments no one spoke a word. Then Rudaki shook his head and said, “You don’t understand. I don’t care if they were intelligent machines or intellectual rocks.”
    â€œThen what—”
    Rudaki asked, “How can their observations of the gamma wave get here before the wave itself does? How can the information travel faster than the wave itself?”
    Jordan saw perplexed looks on the faces of most of the Council members.
    His brow furrowing, the astrophysicist explained, “Observers ten thousand light-years closer to the core of the Milky Way observe the gamma wave, yes? Their information of that phenomenon should take ten thousand years to reach us here, if their communications are limited to the speed of light, as ours are.”
    Halleck understood. “You’re saying that the aliens must have some form of communication that moves information faster than light.”
    â€œYes,” Rudaki said emphatically. Looking at Jordan, he asked, “What have they told you about their communications