"There are several things we can do." John explained while they were all gathered for dinner. "Like we talked about earlier, we can encourage it to go elsewhere. We can let it find its own way and move our ship as needed. I don't know how long we'll be here, but repairs have to be done. If nothing else, we need to patch the hull pierced by those micrometeroids. The pressure plates worked in a pinch, but we aren't going up again until those holes are sealed properly." He instantly thought back to this recent calamity, where all hands aboard, even a surprisingly determined and uncomplaining Smith, had pitched in to seal the minute openings.
"It would also be good to replenish supplies. See if there is anything useful here for when we do continue on." Maureen was already thinking ahead, which was her way.
"Excellent suggestion, Mrs. Robinson. Looking for fresh comestibles to add to the larder is always a splendid idea. I've already placed some fruits and berries in the lab area to be tested for edibility." Smith licked his lips as if already anticipating how delicious the juicy looking fruit would taste.
Robinson looked at the others gathered around the dinner table. "Back on task. Other suggestions are we can try to kill it. Poison it maybe. Our samples may yield some good ideas about that. Or as Doctor Smith suggested, make the land unsavory in some way and coax it to move in the direction we want."
"Force fields? How about those?" Judy inquired. She'd grown quite adept at installing those things over the last few years.
"Great idea, Honey," John nodded. "Unfortunately, from what Don and Dr. Smith tell us, it's so large I doubt we'd have enough power to generate a force field big enough to repel it. Remember, it moves so slowly that one blast won't deter it. And hitting it with a sustained shield would fry whatever we used to power it.
"Anyway, we could try using our lasers. I don't particularly like that idea but that option can't be removed from on the table.
Smith looked vaguely nauseated. "I just had a terrible thought. We can't kill it.
"We can't?"
"Do you have any idea how bad a rotting corpse that size would stink? We'd smell it thirty miles away and it'll be much closer by then. The noxious fumes alone would kill us long before the living Leviathan would."
"Oh Dr. Smith, don't you think you are exaggerating at bit?" Penny looked at him with a pruney expression and no one could tell if that was due to the thought of a gigantic rotting corpse, or the smell it produced, or from weighing if there was really that much truth to his words. "Of course, the smell won't kill us."
"Child, trust me. It may not, but after a while we may wish it had. I've smelled corpses and it's not something I wish to experience on that magnitude."
"I can't believe we are discussing this at the dinner table," Maureen gasped. "Let's hold this discussion for later. Much later."
"Forgive me madam. Occupational hazard. I can't think of a single doctor that hasn't repeatedly regaled family members with all manner of disgusting tales while at the dinner table. And I've grown accustomed to it." He gave a Penny lop-sided sheepish grin and patted her hand comfortingly. "Howsomever, your mother is right. We can put this topic aside for now."
"Now that we've laid out some ideas—" began John again.
"Professor Robinson, may I interject?" The question from their Robot who previously was standing quietly in the background. He was observing. Nothing more to do until that moment.
"Please do."
"You are doing studies of its blood to determine what nutrients it's using. But I suggest an easier course of action. Earlier, Major West was discussing setting up a search grid to study where it's already travelled by looking for new growth patterns in the forests. Dr. Smith told me long ago that he possessed some knowledge of aerial search and rescue procedures. He and the Major should be the one to take up the Pod again and backtrack."
"Oh, good heavens." Smith piped up. "Will you folks please stop volunteering me for missions, especially you, you mechanical meddler!" There was no attempt to hide the exasperation in his voice.
It may have been easy to sidetrack the conversation with humans but not so with the Robot. "Most important, they need to detect any areas it avoids."
The Robot's pause made John think. "I'm listening."
"It makes sense that if it is avoiding something, that 'something' may be useful for our purposes. I'm certain Dr. Smith will be useful in this endeavor."
"At least this one won't be dangerous," West informed his erstwhile companion, straight-faced. "We create a map, follow our flight pattern, and see what turns up."
"Dad, it's time, don't you think?" the boy called out from the far end of the table. "I know how to fly it well and as you said, there's no danger. Dr. Smith can mark the charts and make observations while I pilot." Will turned to the man in question. "You always make great analytical conclusions."
"Corralled again, by an unctuous urchin this time," the doctor moaned, while staring at the ceiling. "Very well, my boy. You and me against the world. And hopefully that won't turn out to be literal."
Will smirked with glee. He'd gotten his way again and was already looking forward to the adventure.