Leo Frankowski

except personal adornment. This human had collected more of it than he could
carry. Strange. Contrasurvival.
    A block over,
another human, a female, was filling a plastic case with green paper certificates.
Weird. But there was nothing
in Claymore’s directives against it, so he scanned on.
    He reached the top of
the cliff and had to use his humanoid
hands to make it over the lip. From there he turned
back to “face” the crumbling city. Not that he had a face, or even a
head. His body turned a brownish green to match the grass below his
feet.
    Scanning to the
north, he saw a large group of humans crossing a shaky bridge to an island in
the river. Trouble. As soon as transmission space was available, he thought
to those below.
    Claymore here. Is
anyone near the island two miles due north of the city?
    Jarid here, Claymore. I am. What can I do
for you?
    Claymore here. There
are approximately twenty-three hundred humans crossing over to that island. The
bridge leaving it is down, but they can’t see that from where they’re at. When the bridge they’re using
goes they’ll be stranded. We’ll probably lose half of them.
    Jarid here. I’ll get on it. Where are you
calling from?
    Claymore here. I’m on
top of the sandstone cliffs south of the city.
    Jarid here. I see you
now. I suggest you stay there and direct us down here. We have only
eighty-two LDUs here to take care of almost two million people. I wish
we had some observation birds.
    Claymore stifled a
sob.
    Claymore here. Will
do. There are some strange things going on in the city.
    Jarid here. Like
what?
    Claymore here. Humans
in the city are foraging for baubles rather than food.
    Jarid here. So? It’s
what they usually do. Where have you been? The subject was discussed a week ago.
    Claymore here. I just
came out of shock. I lost my bird a month ago bringing down a bomber. But
I’m functional now.
    Jarid here. Sorry. I
didn’t realize you were a Beta unit. From your name, I mean.
    Claymore here. A claymore was a mine as
well as a sword. I’m functionally an Alpha now. I’ll get used to it.
    Jarid here. I’m sure
you will. We’re a tough species. To fill you in on your earlier question, the consensus is that humans were never programmed to handle their present problems. The result is a clinging to
obsolete value systems and generally aberrant behavior. Jarid out.
    The above
conversation took less than a second.
    Claymore continued his scanning,
occasionally making suggestions to other LDUs below. There were minor outbreaks and riots among the humans, but at least
the LDUs didn’t have to face metallic weapons anymore.
    Claymore! Gamma 5723
here. Go directly south at top speed. I’ll explain when you’re on your way.
    Gamma units were
somewhat telepathic with humans, that is, they could hear humans think,
although they generally
couldn’t talk to them. A recent development, they were few in number and so they generally concentrated on major
emergencies. When a Gamma made a suggestion, an Alpha moved fast.
    Claymore here. I’m on
my way. What’s up?
    Gamma 5723 here. Go
one mile due south, then right, onto a gravel road. In approximately one mile you will come to a
stone cabin on your right. There you will find six adult human males and one
adult human female. The males are presently sequentially raping the female.
    Claymore here. Rape?
Oh, yes, One of the humans’ bisexual reproduction customs. Considered improper in most human cultures. But why trouble me with it?
Rape is not on the forbidden list of human activities.
    Gamma 5723 here. I’m not concerned with
the rape. That’s been going on for hours.
The house is the property of the
female, and its construction is such that it will probably survive the present
emergency. Furthermore, it contains a
large supply of dehydrated camper’s food in plastic packages. The males have
decided to kill the fe male to more
easily take her property. Also, the males are presently despoiling some
of the food supply.
    Claymore here. Murder
and destroying food are certainly forbidden activities for humans. But their
actions are so
irrational! Why destroy part of a food supply that is necessary to your own
survival? And why go through the bother of impregnating a female of your own
species when you are going to terminate her
before she can possibly reproduce?
    Gamma 5723 here. It
has been some time since I heard of a human being accused of
rationality.
    Claymore here. But it’s countersurvival.
    Gamma 5723