"Did you all hear that?" Bandicut asked hoa.r.s.ely of the others.

"We've been grabbed by s.h.i.+pworld, from wherever the stargate was sending us. I think--I hope we're out of the Maw's sphere of knowl- .,.

edge and influence--"

*Affirmative. Course alteration in progress.*

He c.o.c.ked his head, waiting--and thinking,/Course alterationback to s.h.i.+pworld? Or to somewhere else?/ He heard a clicking and tapping from the robots, and Napoleon chirped, "Cap'n, I believe we have a transmission coming in. I'm attempting to translate to audio."

"Transmission coming in?" Bandicut asked in disbelief. "Com- ing in from where?"

"Uncertain, Cap'n. s.h.i.+pworld, I a.s.sume. Here it is--"

A voice was speaking to them in English. Englis.h.!.+And it was in a slightly metallic tone, as if coming from an artificial source.

Like a robot ...

"Congratulations on your successful departure. I look forward to your return, and to meeting you. My name isJeaves. If you can hear me, then you know that the intercept by the star-spanner beam has been successful. G.o.dspeed, and drive safely."

And with that, the voice fell silent. Around them, the bubble began to change to flickering rainbow hues, and the stars becameTHE INFINITE SEA * 379 barely visible again, stretched and blurred into short, angled, moving streaks of light.

Bandicut looked in amazement at Ik, Li-Jared, Antares. "Was that voice speaking in your language?" she whispered. He nodded.

In time we shall see.

In time. Indeed.

--to be continued in Book Four of 7HE CHAOS CHRONICLES--ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

is the author of a number of thought-provoking, popular science fiction novels, including The Infinity ink and The Rapture El/bet. His books combine hard-SF concepts, deeply humanistic concerns, and a sense of humor, making them both compellingly suspenseful and emotionally satisfying. Carver has written several successful novels in his "star-rigger" universe, Star Rigger's way and Panglor (now available from Tor Books), Dragons in the Stars, and most recently, Dragon Rigger. With Neptune Crossing, The Chaos Chronicles: Volume One, Carver created an intriguing new universe, inspired by the science of chaos. In Strange Attractors (Volume Two) and now The Infinite Sea, he takes his readers even further into this unique and wondrous vision. Carver is the host of an interactive educational television series on writing science fiction, with partic.i.p.ating schools in a number of communities nationwide. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and two daughters.

Further information about the author and his works can be found on the World Wide Web at: http:"www.oneworld.net/SF/authors/carver

Books by Jeffrey A. Carver

Seas of Ernathe *Star Rigger's Way *Panglor * The Infinity Link * The Rapture Effect Roger Zelazny's Alien Speedway.. Clypsis From a ChangeBng Star Down the Stream of Stars *Dragons in the Stars *Dragon Rigger The Chaos Chronicles *Neptune Crossing.. Volume One *Strange Attractors.. Volume Two *The Infinite Sea: Volume Three