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“They’ve constructed other machines,” the engineer said. “Four hundred and thirty-two of them.”
“But why?” Paul asked.
“Because they needed them for new tasks,” Kurt said.
The engineer was still reading off the console. “‘Continue mining until otherwise directed,’” he said. “‘Make all efforts to maximize recovery.’ According to the database, those were the last commands given before the avalanche.”
“And followed to perfection,” Kurt said.
“They’ve created their own civilization down here,” Paul said. “It’s incredible.”
“Almost feels wrong to shut them down,” Kurt replied. “But we have no choice.”
He looked at the engineer, who nodded his agreement. The man powered up the interface. Entered a new code and gave the robots a new authorization.
“Hopefully, they’ll do as ordered,” Paul said. “Otherwise, this could be the beginning of the robot rebellion.”
“Authorization code alpha,” the engineer said.
“Authorization code accepted,” a human-sounding voice replied.
“TL-1,” the engineer said. “Cease all mining operations. All units return to staging areas.”
A brief silence followed. And Paul exchanged glances with Kurt.
“Directive confirmed,” TL-1 said. “Shutting down resonators.”
The pervasive humming waned and then ceased altogether. The cavern grew deathly quiet until rumbling noises began emanating from the tunnels. Before long, a seemingly endless line of machines began flowing back into the cavern and parking in perfect order.
“Time for us to go,” Kurt said. “Our job here is done.”
Over the next two weeks, the water blasting from the field of geysers—which numbered over a thousand—slowed and then ceased. The sea levels stopped rising at the same time, leveling off with a total increase of just over eleven inches.
Eight hundred and fifty tons of Golden Adamant was eventually recovered from the mine and remained the property of the People’s Republic of China.
Western nations gained their own source of the alloy after deciphering the notes in Masamune’s journal, which led them to a mine in a dormant volcanic region of Japan, where he’d obtained the material for his remarkable sword.
