Enemies of the System by Brian W. Aldiss Page A

anxiously scratching his beard. “As a doctor, my duty is to stay here with the larger party.”
    â€œIt is a privilege to go forward, Utopianist Doctor,” cried Sygiek, flinging up her hand. “I shall go with my partner, Jerezy Kordan. Fererer will remain here in charge of the bus party, and to look after poor feeble creatures like Orlon. Volunteers to go with Kordan and me to assemble here in a line. We want no cowards, either—this is a miserable backward capitalist planet for which we should feel every contempt.”
    Several volunteers stepped forward, among them the burly Dulcifer.
    â€œUtopianist Dulcifer, you are under criticism,” said Sygiek. “You will remain with the bus.”
    Kordan touched her arm. “You must not give all the orders,” he said. “Dulcifer is a resourceful man, even if he is from Venus. Let him come in our party—we can then keep him under surveillance. That is best.”
    After some further argument, the six were agreed upon. Besides Sygiek, Kordan and Dulcifer, the party was to consist of Rubyna Constanza and the two young men from different sectors of the Martian State, Ian Takeido, the exobotanist, and Che Burek, the metals analyst. Takeido’s partner, Regentop, was to have gone, but she and Takeido quarreled, so that Burek stepped into her place. He was a well-built cheerful man who announced that he would be pleased to take orders.

VI
    The six set off, waving farewell and giving the System salute. They took with them a motorized luggage truck which had been stowed in the rear compartment of the bus. On this were loaded provisions, flares and other items. They marched sturdily down the center of the freeway, in single file with the truck in their midst. The bus was left behind and obscured by a slow curve in the road. They were alone in the immense tan landscape. Silence dwelt over them.
    A breeze rose and died. An immense dragonfly came to inspect them, hovering above them for some way. The river meandered away from the road. The land became more uneven. They remained in the center of a great inverted bowl of soupy air. Only once did the sun shine through the cloud sufficiently to be remarked as a blurry disk.
    An E-hour and a half had passed before they saw the post of a landphone in the distance. By it stood a large road sign. As the party approached, the letters on the sign formed themselves into words:
    DUNDERZEE GORGE 200 Km.
    Work—Enjoy—Learn Even From Scenery
    â€œOh, it’s much farther than I remembered,” Constanza exclaimed. “This journey is so fast and easy by LDB.”
    â€œWe’re certainly learning more than we want from this damned scenery,” said Dulcifer.
    â€œJust recall that the magnificent road on which we walk is a part of our culture,” said Kordan.
    When they reached the phone, it was Sygiek who opened the armored box and switched on. The others stood by the trolley, looking on expectantly. The small screen did not light.
    â€œDefunct,” she said. She switched off and closed the box. Takeido pushed her aside and tried himself, joggling the switch up and down, without result.
    â€œSo much for our culture,” he said. He looked half-regretfully at Kordan. “We’ll never make the Gorge. You and I will never have our confidential discussion. These—these protein-seekers will have us as soon as the sun goes down.” He hopped on top of the luggage truck and began to whistle.
    Kordan cleared his throat, frowned at the younger man, then stared up at the low clouds overhead.
    They stood there forlornly under the big sign, avoiding each other’s gaze.
    â€œCan we go back to the bus?” asked Constanza. “I know it sounds decadent, but my shoes are pinching my feet.”
    â€œWalk without your shoes,” said Sygiek, curtly. “We must strike on to the next phone and the one after that, if necessary. It’s no good giving up,