"Will you cancel the transmission?"

"When I'm able to talk to him. And if I'm satisfied with what I hear."

"Surely you understand that conditions here will become chaotic if the information gets out."

"I want Alex back."

"All right. Stay where you are. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

He needed about forty minutes. Then he reappeared in the office. "I believe we have him now." "I believe we have him now." He bent his head and listened to someone I couldn't see. Nodded. And returned his attention to me. He bent his head and listened to someone I couldn't see. Nodded. And returned his attention to me. "Stand by, Chase," "Stand by, Chase," he said. Then Alex was in front of me. He was on a beach, a placid sea at his back. he said. Then Alex was in front of me. He was on a beach, a placid sea at his back. "Chase." "Chase." His eyes widened. His eyes widened. "What's going on?" "What's going on?" Technology is what it is. I was looking at a hologram, but I didn't know if it was actually Alex, or something generated by a software system. "Alex," I said, "we visited Atlantis recently." He saw what was coming. Technology is what it is. I was looking at a hologram, but I didn't know if it was actually Alex, or something generated by a software system. "Alex," I said, "we visited Atlantis recently." He saw what was coming. "Yes. Excellent trip." "Yes. Excellent trip." "Who was with us?" "Who was with us?"

"Selotta and Ka.s.sel."

"What's your favorite joke, Alex?"

"I don't do jokes."

"Okay," I said. "Wexler, are you there?" Wexler reappeared. "Satisfied?" "Satisfied?" "Get him back here." "Get him back here."

"Not yet."

Alex glanced off to one side. He wasn't alone. Krestoff casually walked up behind him. She was carrying a scrambler. And she allowed me to watch as she reset the weapon. To lethal lethal . Wexler sighed. . Wexler sighed. "Chase, I don't like having to resort to this. But the stakes are too high, and you're not leaving me any choice." "Chase, I don't like having to resort to this. But the stakes are too high, and you're not leaving me any choice."

A door opened behind me. Bong came into the room. He looked at me with relish. I saw no weapon. He obviously didn't think he'd need one. I suspected he was right.

"Now, let me tell you how you may save Alex's life and your own. I want to know where we can locate the transmission you spoke of. And you will delete it." He paused to make sure I understood He paused to make sure I understood what would happen if I declined. "When that is done, you will, I'm sorry to say, have to remain under our jurisdiction for the time being. I'll add that, should a duplicate transmission turn up, some fallback precaution you might have taken, that I'll feel obliged to kill you both." "When that is done, you will, I'm sorry to say, have to remain under our jurisdiction for the time being. I'll add that, should a duplicate transmission turn up, some fallback precaution you might have taken, that I'll feel obliged to kill you both." Bong closed the door, and I was alone with him. Alex looked uncertain. Finally, he shook his head. Bong closed the door, and I was alone with him. Alex looked uncertain. Finally, he shook his head. "They'll kill us anyhow, Chase. Don't cooperate." "They'll kill us anyhow, Chase. Don't cooperate." Krestoff must have gotten a signal from Wexler. She raised the weapon and pointed it at the back of Alex's head. "Forget it," I said. Wexler studied me for a long moment. Krestoff must have gotten a signal from Wexler. She raised the weapon and pointed it at the back of Alex's head. "Forget it," I said. Wexler studied me for a long moment. "You're sure?" "You're sure?" "I can offer a compromise." She did not lower the weapon. "I can offer a compromise." She did not lower the weapon.

"I'm listening."

"Release us both. Then I'll rewrite the message. And remove everything from it that points to you. And I'll hold it until tomorrow. That'll give you and your thugs time to get out of town." Thugs. Thugs. Krestoff's eyes locked on me. She didn't say anything but I got the message. It was the same as before: Krestoff's eyes locked on me. She didn't say anything but I got the message. It was the same as before: I'd like to meet you alone somewhere. I'd like to meet you alone somewhere. Wexler sucked on his lower lip. Wexler sucked on his lower lip. "I'm sorry. That's not acceptable." "I'm sorry. That's not acceptable." My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to break loose. But I kept my voice calm. "Then do what you have to." He nodded. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to break loose. But I kept my voice calm. "Then do what you have to." He nodded. "All right. If that's your last word." "All right. If that's your last word." He gave me a few moments to change my mind. Then he turned to Krestoff. He gave me a few moments to change my mind. Then he turned to Krestoff. "Kill him." "Kill him." "If you do," I said, "you'll get nothing from me. And the media will have the truth about Callistra within the hour. I wonder if the voters will be upset with you?" He raised a palm to stop Krestoff. And stared at me. I smiled at him. I've never in my life done anything harder than getting that smile up and running. "Pack your bags, Wexler. She pulls that trigger, we're all dead." Krestoff waited. Alex stood motionless. Bong circled around to get a better angle on me. And Wexler stood in his faraway location and just sucked in air. I picked up a lamp with a weighted base. It wouldn't have been much of a weapon against Bong, but it sent the right signal. Wexler sighed. "If you do," I said, "you'll get nothing from me. And the media will have the truth about Callistra within the hour. I wonder if the voters will be upset with you?" He raised a palm to stop Krestoff. And stared at me. I smiled at him. I've never in my life done anything harder than getting that smile up and running. "Pack your bags, Wexler. She pulls that trigger, we're all dead." Krestoff waited. Alex stood motionless. Bong circled around to get a better angle on me. And Wexler stood in his faraway location and just sucked in air. I picked up a lamp with a weighted base. It wouldn't have been much of a weapon against Bong, but it sent the right signal. Wexler sighed. "How do I know you'll pull my name out of the story?" "How do I know you'll pull my name out of the story?" "You'll have to trust me." Another long pause. Somebody tried to get into the office. Then I heard raised voices in the corridor, and the noise went away. "You'll have to trust me." Another long pause. Somebody tried to get into the office. Then I heard raised voices in the corridor, and the noise went away. "Okay." "Okay." Bong growled his disappointment. Alex took a deep breath. Bong growled his disappointment. Alex took a deep breath. "You can use the AI in the office. Please cancel your report." "You can use the AI in the office. Please cancel your report."

"I'll use my own AI. And I'm not canceling anything. I'll move it back. In case you change your mind. How long do you need to bring Alex here?"

"I don't like the arrangement."

"I really care about that."

"You said you'd hold off until tomorrow."

"I'll do that."

"Give me seventy-two hours."

"You have until midnight tomorrow. Local time."

"You're a b.i.t.c.h, Chase."

"Alex, how far are you?"

"I'm about three hours away."

"Get him here by three."

"Impossible."

"Well, I can be reasonable. I'll give you an extra two hours. Have him here by close of business." I was still watching Bong. "Would you get that creep out of here?" Bong's disappointment morphed into anger. "Shelby," "Shelby," said Wexler. said Wexler. "Wait outside. And see that Ms. "Wait outside. And see that Ms.

Kolpath gets transportation to wherever she intends to go."

Bong delivered one more frustrated stare. Then he left. "There's something else I want." Wexler looked trapped. "What?" "What?" "Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Sloan. He's the pilot who took me out to the asteroid." "Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Sloan. He's the pilot who took me out to the asteroid."

"What about him?"

"You have him, too. I want him turned loose also." He shrugged. "Okay. Sure, we've no reason to hold him." "Okay. Sure, we've no reason to hold him." "And there's somebody else." "And there's somebody else."

"For G.o.d's sake, Chase-"

"Haley Khan."

"Who the h.e.l.l is that?"

"Vicki's pilot. I want them all back."

"Okay. I'll arrange it."

"Not that I don't trust you, but I'll be in touch with them within the hour. If they're not free, all three of them, the deal's off." "I wish," "I wish," he said, he said, "you had some notion of the damage you're going to cause." "you had some notion of the damage you're going to cause." "Whoever's in this with you, Doctor," I said, "will probably throw you to the wolves. You and the administration have wasted several months. That thing's a lot closer now than it was when you first found out about it. And you've done "Whoever's in this with you, Doctor," I said, "will probably throw you to the wolves. You and the administration have wasted several months. That thing's a lot closer now than it was when you first found out about it. And you've done nothing nothing . Except move money and real estate around." . Except move money and real estate around." "That's not so, d.a.m.n you. We've been creating shelters. Storing supplies. Getting ready as best we can under extremely difficult circ.u.mstances." "That's not so, d.a.m.n you. We've been creating shelters. Storing supplies. Getting ready as best we can under extremely difficult circ.u.mstances."

"Circ.u.mstances, h.e.l.l. Look, Wexler, I'd be willing to bet Aramy Cleev learned about this thirty years ago." "Yes," "Yes," he said. he said. "That's probably true." "That's probably true." "He's the guy you led a revolution against." "He's the guy you led a revolution against." "He was a monster. And if you're trying to compare him to me-" "He was a monster. And if you're trying to compare him to me-" He stopped, his jaws clamped. "It's hard to see a difference," I said. He stopped, his jaws clamped. "It's hard to see a difference," I said.

They delivered Alex to me in the middle of a public park. Kids rode swings, birds chirped, a cl.u.s.ter of guys were playing the local version of chess. Alex took me into his arms. "You were beautiful," he said. "You okay?" "Yes. Still a little rattled, but I'm all right. How about you?" "I'm good." "They won't tell me anything. I take it the big light was missing." "Callistra? Yes." "I'm sorry to hear it." "They've got three years." We sat down on a bench. "You knew all along, didn't you?" "I suspected it from the time we heard about Jennifer's comment." "That it didn't matter whether the wedding had a religious element?" "Yes. That and the Calient business and the math." "Ah, yes," I said. "The math."

THIRTY.

"Parker did what he thought best. Star was tired so he took the short route home. I mean, what were the chances, really?" "But it cut through the darkest part of the forest." "I know. But the point is, he meant well."- Etude in Black We were sitting on top of a tidal wave, but at least we saw no reason to hide any longer. We checked back into the Blue Gable, where we'd stayed when we first arrived in Marinopolis, and took over the penthouse suite. It had a broad balcony and a magnificent view across the top of the city. Ivan called. "They let us go." "They let us go." "Good. You guys are okay, right?" "Good. You guys are okay, right?"

"Yes. We're fine."

"Glad to hear it. You hear anything from Khan?"

"No. Why? Is he in on this deal, too?"

"Supposed to be. Anyhow, I guess I'll be seeing you back on Rimway." "I don't know," "I don't know," he said. "Are you going somewhere else?" he said. "Are you going somewhere else?"

"We talked it over."

"And- ?"

"I don't know. She doesn't want to leave. We have friends and family here."

"Oh."

"We've talked to a few of them. They don't believe us."

"I'm not surprised."

"Even if they did, I'm not sure they'd go. This is their home." "So what are "So what are you you going to do?" going to do?" "I'll let you know." "I'll let you know."

Twenty minutes later I got a call from Khan. He said thanks.

I rewrote the report I'd stored online, eliminating everything that implicated Wexler and his stooges and also anything that I thought would tend to spread panic. That latter part wasn't easy. But I'd used the term Thunderbolt Thunderbolt to refer to the gamma-ray burst, and I got rid of that. I also tried to make the account a little less breathless. When I'd finished I directed the AI to deliver it to Peifer at one minute past midnight. Then to follow up and give it to the rest of the world three hours later. As I had earlier, I took precautions to ensure it couldn't be blocked. Then, for the first time in a while, I collapsed and slept through the afternoon. That evening we ate in the hotel dining room, which was filled with well-dressed patrons. They had candlelight and soft music, and it felt good to be together again. "I thought I'd lost you," I told him after the host had seated us by a corner window. We were on the ground floor. Outside, shoppers moved beneath glowing lamps, their arms filled with packages. We were approaching a local holiday in which it was customary to give gifts. There was a theater across the street, doing a musical, to refer to the gamma-ray burst, and I got rid of that. I also tried to make the account a little less breathless. When I'd finished I directed the AI to deliver it to Peifer at one minute past midnight. Then to follow up and give it to the rest of the world three hours later. As I had earlier, I took precautions to ensure it couldn't be blocked. Then, for the first time in a while, I collapsed and slept through the afternoon. That evening we ate in the hotel dining room, which was filled with well-dressed patrons. They had candlelight and soft music, and it felt good to be together again. "I thought I'd lost you," I told him after the host had seated us by a corner window. We were on the ground floor. Outside, shoppers moved beneath glowing lamps, their arms filled with packages. We were approaching a local holiday in which it was customary to give gifts. There was a theater across the street, doing a musical, Late Night Out Late Night Out , which had been imported from Khaja Luan. I'd seen it two years before, enjoyed it thoroughly, and still remembered the show-stopper, "Go for Broke," at the end of the first act. A family trailing a boy and girl pa.s.sed outside. The parents carried bags of packages, while the kids giggled and ran along beside them. The boy stopped and looked through the window. At us. Our eyes connected, and he waved. I waved back. He'd be about ten when the gamma rays came. The Thunderbolt. "I feel guilty sitting here," I said. "I'm anxious to hand it over to Rob. Get it over with." "I know." "We're talking twelve hundred light-years, Alex. I didn't think novas could do any damage this far away." , which had been imported from Khaja Luan. I'd seen it two years before, enjoyed it thoroughly, and still remembered the show-stopper, "Go for Broke," at the end of the first act. A family trailing a boy and girl pa.s.sed outside. The parents carried bags of packages, while the kids giggled and ran along beside them. The boy stopped and looked through the window. At us. Our eyes connected, and he waved. I waved back. He'd be about ten when the gamma rays came. The Thunderbolt. "I feel guilty sitting here," I said. "I'm anxious to hand it over to Rob. Get it over with." "I know." "We're talking twelve hundred light-years, Alex. I didn't think novas could do any damage this far away."

We both had a soup appetizer. He tried his, but didn't react to it. "It's a hyper hyper nova." "The worst kind." "Yes." Alex cupped his chin in his hands and closed his eyes. "Callistra is- nova." "The worst kind." "Yes." Alex cupped his chin in his hands and closed his eyes. "Callistra is- was was -a hypergiant. It's been on the verge of collapse for thousands of years. The people here knew that. -a hypergiant. It's been on the verge of collapse for thousands of years. The people here knew that. Everybody Everybody knew it. There was a time, a couple of thousand years ago, when they kept instruments out there. Monitors. But the instruments had to be maintained, nothing ever happened, and eventually people got used to it. And forgot about it. "I found some reports that the current administration was going to restart the program. But they had other priorities. So it never happened." "Other priorities." "Yes. No wonder Vicki did the mind wipe. She knew, and she couldn't warn anybody. She did it because it looked like the only chance she had to get a warning back to Salud Afar. She sacrificed herself." "Gutsy woman. Alex, I hate seeing Wexler walk away from this." He looked ambivalent. "You know, he's not entirely wrong about the worldwide reaction. I'd just as soon not be here when the news gets out." "I hate this, Alex." "Me, too, babe." knew it. There was a time, a couple of thousand years ago, when they kept instruments out there. Monitors. But the instruments had to be maintained, nothing ever happened, and eventually people got used to it. And forgot about it. "I found some reports that the current administration was going to restart the program. But they had other priorities. So it never happened." "Other priorities." "Yes. No wonder Vicki did the mind wipe. She knew, and she couldn't warn anybody. She did it because it looked like the only chance she had to get a warning back to Salud Afar. She sacrificed herself." "Gutsy woman. Alex, I hate seeing Wexler walk away from this." He looked ambivalent. "You know, he's not entirely wrong about the worldwide reaction. I'd just as soon not be here when the news gets out." "I hate this, Alex." "Me, too, babe."

Peifer found us first. We'd just gotten back to our suite. "Chase?" "Chase?" His hologram barged into the room. His hologram barged into the room. "You got Alex back?" "You got Alex back?"

"Yes, he's here." "Thanks." "Thanks." His voice rasped. His voice rasped. "I really appreciate your letting me know." "I really appreciate your letting me know." "I was going to call." "I was going to call."

"What happened?"

I glanced over at Alex, who was out of Peifer's field of vision. Reading a book about the missing civilization that Ivan had described. He shook his head no. I don't want to talk to him. "I got lucky," I said.

"Yeah. Good. How about some details?"

"Umm- "

"Forget it. Let me talk to Alex."

"He's not here."

"Come on, Chase, you just said he was there." "I was speaking metaphorically. I meant here as in "I was speaking metaphorically. I meant here as in out out . . Free. Free. " " "Who was holding him? Was it Wexler?" "Who was holding him? Was it Wexler?"

"Rob, I'm not able to talk about it now, okay? You'll have the entire story later tonight." "Me and who else?" "Me and who else?" He looked skeptical. "You'll have a three-hour head start." He looked skeptical. "You'll have a three-hour head start."

"Okay. I can live with that. When?"

"When what?"

"When will I get the story? I don't live up here, you know."

"Midnight."

"Great. That's good planning, Chase. How about a preview? You can trust me."

"First I need a favor."

"You may always ask."

"I want you to keep Wexler's name out of it." "So he "So he is is involved." involved." "A favor to me, Rob." "A favor to me, Rob."

"Oh. And when did I acc.u.mulate this debt?"

"Rob, this story is bigger than Wexler. Believe me."

"I'll think about it."

"I made a deal to get Alex back."

"I didn't make the deal."

"Please, Rob."

"You're a hard woman, Chase."

"Only when you get to know me."

"By the way, I've another question for you."

"Go ahead."

"Do you know anything about the crazy woman who took a taxi up to Samuels a few days ago? And then disappeared? The description sounded a bit like you."

Minutes later someone knocked on the door. When we didn't immediately respond, a male voice announced he was CSS. "Here we go again," said Alex. "Please open up." More knocking. There wasn't really anywhere to go, so I complied. There were three of them, two men and a woman. The woman was not not Krestoff. "Chase Kolpath?" The question came from the older of the men. "Yes." "The Administrator would like to speak with you." He glanced over at Alex. "And with Mr. Benedict." "Don't you guys ever give up?" I said. He frowned. Looked puzzled, put his official look back on. "Please come along." He stepped aside to make room. "Before you do this, the original transmission, the one implicating Wexler, is scheduled to go out unless I stop it." "I don't know anything about that, Ms. Kolpath," the agent said. "But I would appreciate it if you and Mr. Benedict would come with us." I got a jacket out of the closet. A look of utter resignation crossed Alex's face. He got up and grumbled something indiscernible. We walked out into the corridor, they closed in around us, and we went up to the roof, where another white skimmer waited, identical to the one that Krestoff had used to haul us around. Moments later we lifted off. I was relieved to see that we turned in the direction of the Seawalk and not toward the gray building on the edge of the city. n.o.body said much. One of the agents asked whether I was comfortable. And the pilot spoke softly to his control. We were approaching Number 17 Parkway, the executive mansion. "It looks as if it really Krestoff. "Chase Kolpath?" The question came from the older of the men. "Yes." "The Administrator would like to speak with you." He glanced over at Alex. "And with Mr. Benedict." "Don't you guys ever give up?" I said. He frowned. Looked puzzled, put his official look back on. "Please come along." He stepped aside to make room. "Before you do this, the original transmission, the one implicating Wexler, is scheduled to go out unless I stop it." "I don't know anything about that, Ms. Kolpath," the agent said. "But I would appreciate it if you and Mr. Benedict would come with us." I got a jacket out of the closet. A look of utter resignation crossed Alex's face. He got up and grumbled something indiscernible. We walked out into the corridor, they closed in around us, and we went up to the roof, where another white skimmer waited, identical to the one that Krestoff had used to haul us around. Moments later we lifted off. I was relieved to see that we turned in the direction of the Seawalk and not toward the gray building on the edge of the city. n.o.body said much. One of the agents asked whether I was comfortable. And the pilot spoke softly to his control. We were approaching Number 17 Parkway, the executive mansion. "It looks as if it really is is the Administrator," said Alex. "I guess." I was not comfortable. "Do we know whether he's involved?" "I've no idea how high it went." The building and the grounds were enclosed by an iron fence. We descended onto a pad off the east wing. The agents opened up, and there was a brief exchange with security people. When they were satisfied, we were escorted across a wide lawn and into the mansion. The building itself was of recent vintage, relatively small and un.o.btrusive, standing among the architectural giants erected by the Cleevs. "It sends the right message," Alex commented. Once inside, we pa.s.sed through an elaborate security arrangement and were given IDs. Then we were taken to a waiting room. "He'll want us to cancel," I said, when we were alone. "Of course. But I'd be surprised if we see him personally. He'll have somebody else lean on us. They've probably disposed of Wexler." The room was filled with bookcases, but the volumes were all in sets and showed no sign of use. There were portraits of stern men and women who appeared to be looking off at a horizon, and a picture of a waterfall, and another of a structure with columns and porticoes set against the sea. Alex was looking through the books when an aide came in and asked us to follow her. She led the way down a corridor lined with more pictures of still more severe people. I wondered whether anyone in power ever smiled for a portrait? A large office occupied the s.p.a.ce at the end of the the Administrator," said Alex. "I guess." I was not comfortable. "Do we know whether he's involved?" "I've no idea how high it went." The building and the grounds were enclosed by an iron fence. We descended onto a pad off the east wing. The agents opened up, and there was a brief exchange with security people. When they were satisfied, we were escorted across a wide lawn and into the mansion. The building itself was of recent vintage, relatively small and un.o.btrusive, standing among the architectural giants erected by the Cleevs. "It sends the right message," Alex commented. Once inside, we pa.s.sed through an elaborate security arrangement and were given IDs. Then we were taken to a waiting room. "He'll want us to cancel," I said, when we were alone. "Of course. But I'd be surprised if we see him personally. He'll have somebody else lean on us. They've probably disposed of Wexler." The room was filled with bookcases, but the volumes were all in sets and showed no sign of use. There were portraits of stern men and women who appeared to be looking off at a horizon, and a picture of a waterfall, and another of a structure with columns and porticoes set against the sea. Alex was looking through the books when an aide came in and asked us to follow her. She led the way down a corridor lined with more pictures of still more severe people. I wondered whether anyone in power ever smiled for a portrait? A large office occupied the s.p.a.ce at the end of the pa.s.sageway. Inside, a harried-looking male staff member sat at a desk next to a closed door. "Mr. Benedict and Ms. Kolpath," our escort said. The staff member flung a smile in our direction and spoke into a link. "They're here." He received a reply, nodded, and got up. "This way, please." He took us down another corridor. Then upstairs. And finally we confronted a large, paneled door. He opened it cautiously, looked inside, announced our presence, and stepped out of the way. It was like walking onto a stage. The overhead was vaulted, and tinted windows filtered the light. A large carved desk, with flags behind it, anch.o.r.ed the place. There were maybe a dozen chairs scattered around. A long sofa was set against one wall. A fireplace crackled happily. Somehow, they'd arranged things so that it felt felt like a place where history was routinely made. Behind the desk, rising as we entered, was Tau Kilgore. The Administrator. Himself. He was engaged in an earnest conversation with a heavyset guy who looked angry, and a middle-aged chestnut-haired woman who was carefully maintaining a neutral expression. "Can't be done," Kilgore was saying as he got to his feet. The woman spotted us and raised a hand for us to stay back. "Find a way," continued Kilgore. "I don't care how you do it. But find a way." He turned in our direction and signaled us to take seats. "When we first heard of this," he said, "first heard about Greene, we immediately sent out a mission. Which confirmed the story. The thing, the ray burst, whatever, is a little more than three years away, and we are directly in the crosshairs. And somehow n.o.body ever thought it would be a good idea to get the word up here." He looked like a guy carrying the world on his shoulders. "It was a rogue operation, sir," said the male. "They kept it to themselves." "How in h.e.l.l could they possibly do that, Grom?" "We're looking into it, sir." "I would G.o.ddam well hope so. I want everybody who was involved. Then we are going to hang their sorry a.s.ses." "Yes, sir. I'll get back to you as soon as we have the details." He turned toward us, still apparently seething. I wasn't sure, though. It could have been an act, carried on for our benefit. We did a round of introductions. The woman was Dr. Circe Belhower. Her eyes were intense. Not a warm woman, I suspected, under the best of circ.u.mstances. She didn't look any happier than the Administrator. She was tall and prim and humorless. The teacher for whose cla.s.ses n.o.body ever signed up. "Dr. Belhower," he said, "is a special consultant. She's going to try to help us deal with this"-he struggled for a word-"catastrophe." Kilgore addressed himself to Alex. "I understand you've been held a virtual prisoner, Mr. Benedict." "Yes, Mr. Administrator. Although 'virtual' is not the way I'd describe it." "How long?" "Several days." "Where?" "They called it a custody chamber. It was on an island somewhere." "How were you treated?" "Fine, sir. Other than being locked in. And a pistol held to my head." "d.a.m.n them," he said. "Well, I'm glad to hear you're okay, anyhow." He seemed barely able to contain himself. "We've just learned what's been going on. They're coming out of the woodwork now," he said. "Trying to save their a.s.ses by turning in their collaborators. I'll be honest with you, Alex-Is it okay if I call you that?" "Yes, sir." "I'll be honest with you, Alex-" He paused again, had second thoughts and waved away whatever he was going to say. "When you found out about this, why didn't you come directly to like a place where history was routinely made. Behind the desk, rising as we entered, was Tau Kilgore. The Administrator. Himself. He was engaged in an earnest conversation with a heavyset guy who looked angry, and a middle-aged chestnut-haired woman who was carefully maintaining a neutral expression. "Can't be done," Kilgore was saying as he got to his feet. The woman spotted us and raised a hand for us to stay back. "Find a way," continued Kilgore. "I don't care how you do it. But find a way." He turned in our direction and signaled us to take seats. "When we first heard of this," he said, "first heard about Greene, we immediately sent out a mission. Which confirmed the story. The thing, the ray burst, whatever, is a little more than three years away, and we are directly in the crosshairs. And somehow n.o.body ever thought it would be a good idea to get the word up here." He looked like a guy carrying the world on his shoulders. "It was a rogue operation, sir," said the male. "They kept it to themselves." "How in h.e.l.l could they possibly do that, Grom?" "We're looking into it, sir." "I would G.o.ddam well hope so. I want everybody who was involved. Then we are going to hang their sorry a.s.ses." "Yes, sir. I'll get back to you as soon as we have the details." He turned toward us, still apparently seething. I wasn't sure, though. It could have been an act, carried on for our benefit. We did a round of introductions. The woman was Dr. Circe Belhower. Her eyes were intense. Not a warm woman, I suspected, under the best of circ.u.mstances. She didn't look any happier than the Administrator. She was tall and prim and humorless. The teacher for whose cla.s.ses n.o.body ever signed up. "Dr. Belhower," he said, "is a special consultant. She's going to try to help us deal with this"-he struggled for a word-"catastrophe." Kilgore addressed himself to Alex. "I understand you've been held a virtual prisoner, Mr. Benedict." "Yes, Mr. Administrator. Although 'virtual' is not the way I'd describe it." "How long?" "Several days." "Where?" "They called it a custody chamber. It was on an island somewhere." "How were you treated?" "Fine, sir. Other than being locked in. And a pistol held to my head." "d.a.m.n them," he said. "Well, I'm glad to hear you're okay, anyhow." He seemed barely able to contain himself. "We've just learned what's been going on. They're coming out of the woodwork now," he said. "Trying to save their a.s.ses by turning in their collaborators. I'll be honest with you, Alex-Is it okay if I call you that?" "Yes, sir." "I'll be honest with you, Alex-" He paused again, had second thoughts and waved away whatever he was going to say. "When you found out about this, why didn't you come directly to me me ?" Tau Kilgore ?" Tau Kilgore looked looked like a chief executive. He was tall and deliberate, with silver hair and gray eyes that were at once intelligent and compa.s.sionate. He was the kind of guy who inspires confidence. The word about him on the nets, though, wasn't flattering. He was described as a man who consulted only those who agreed with him, who was inflexible, who tended to confuse disagreement with disloyalty. Looking like a chief executive. He was tall and deliberate, with silver hair and gray eyes that were at once intelligent and compa.s.sionate. He was the kind of guy who inspires confidence. The word about him on the nets, though, wasn't flattering. He was described as a man who consulted only those who agreed with him, who was inflexible, who tended to confuse disagreement with disloyalty. Looking at him, I had a hard time believing it. "We didn't really get a chance to, Mr. Administrator. As soon as we got close, they scooped us up." "I see." "I should add," he said, "that it was originally Vicki Greene who figured it out. And then sacrificed her life to give us reason to look into it." "Yes. I know about her. We owe her a considerable debt. Do you mind telling me how long you've known about all this?" "We weren't certain until a few days ago." He digested that and leaned forward. "And you you are about to give the story to the media. Is that correct? "Yes, Mr. Administrator. We are." "Have you considered the consequences of such an act?" The guy was intimidating, but Alex went toe to toe with him. "By consequences I a.s.sume you mean the reaction of the voters." "Of everyone on the planet, Mr. Benedict. By releasing this information, you will ensure that we will spend the next three years living in a state of chaos." "That's more or less the reasoning the conspirators used to justify sitting on this for the last several months." "You mean Wexler." "You know about him?" "Of course I know, G.o.ddammit." The color drained from his face. "Please answer the question, Alex. Don't confuse me with Wexler." "Yes," said Alex. "We have considered the consequences. I think-" "I don't give a good G.o.ddam are about to give the story to the media. Is that correct? "Yes, Mr. Administrator. We are." "Have you considered the consequences of such an act?" The guy was intimidating, but Alex went toe to toe with him. "By consequences I a.s.sume you mean the reaction of the voters." "Of everyone on the planet, Mr. Benedict. By releasing this information, you will ensure that we will spend the next three years living in a state of chaos." "That's more or less the reasoning the conspirators used to justify sitting on this for the last several months." "You mean Wexler." "You know about him?" "Of course I know, G.o.ddammit." The color drained from his face. "Please answer the question, Alex. Don't confuse me with Wexler." "Yes," said Alex. "We have considered the consequences. I think-" "I don't give a good G.o.ddam what what you think. You're about to bring the walls down. Do you realize that? How am I supposed to deal with this if you tell the general public that there was a rogue operation in their government? Don't think they won't blame me. And I know exactly what's going through your mind. It's true that I deserve a substantial chunk of the blame. But it'll create a political firestorm. We don't have time for that. These people have to have a government they can believe in. And they have to have it now." "Maybe," said Alex, "you should have been more careful about the people you put in power." "I'll concede the point. But that's in the past now. It's irrelevant. You're about to impose a death sentence on two billion people. And you're going to tell them, either directly or by implication, that I was hiding the truth from them. And that I am therefore responsible." Alex's own temper began to rise. "I think there's some truth to that admission." "Look, I made the mistake of trusting the wrong people. G.o.d knows I regret that." "They were building shelters, Mr. Administrator. Making up bogus reports of Mute encroachments. How could you you think. You're about to bring the walls down. Do you realize that? How am I supposed to deal with this if you tell the general public that there was a rogue operation in their government? Don't think they won't blame me. And I know exactly what's going through your mind. It's true that I deserve a substantial chunk of the blame. But it'll create a political firestorm. We don't have time for that. These people have to have a government they can believe in. And they have to have it now." "Maybe," said Alex, "you should have been more careful about the people you put in power." "I'll concede the point. But that's in the past now. It's irrelevant. You're about to impose a death sentence on two billion people. And you're going to tell them, either directly or by implication, that I was hiding the truth from them. And that I am therefore responsible." Alex's own temper began to rise. "I think there's some truth to that admission." "Look, I made the mistake of trusting the wrong people. G.o.d knows I regret that." "They were building shelters, Mr. Administrator. Making up bogus reports of Mute encroachments. How could you not not have known?" Circe broke in. "Wexler and his friends were very good at keeping the truth quiet." "They knew," said Kilgore, "what would happen to commodity prices, to have known?" Circe broke in. "Wexler and his friends were very good at keeping the truth quiet." "They knew," said Kilgore, "what would happen to commodity prices, to everything everything , if the word about Callistra got out. So they told n.o.body." "And what did you think the shelters were for?" "G.o.ddammit, the reports about the Mutes took me in, too. They lied to me the way they lied to everyone else. Because they knew I wouldn't tolerate what they were doing." I'd never seen Alex angrier. His voice shook: "Where's Wexler now?" "We're looking for him." "And how'd you finally find out what's going on?" Kilgore showed us a photo. It was Bong. "Came forward yesterday," he said. "We'd always heard rumors that the reports of Mute incursions had been drummed up. And the experts were divided over the rift-in-s.p.a.ce story. I should have looked into it. I can't believe now that I let it all go on." "You'll be lucky if you're not forced to step down." "If it comes to that, I won't hesitate, Alex. Meantime, I intend to do what I can for the people of this world." , if the word about Callistra got out. So they told n.o.body." "And what did you think the shelters were for?" "G.o.ddammit, the reports about the Mutes took me in, too. They lied to me the way they lied to everyone else. Because they knew I wouldn't tolerate what they were doing." I'd never seen Alex angrier. His voice shook: "Where's Wexler now?" "We're looking for him." "And how'd you finally find out what's going on?" Kilgore showed us a photo. It was Bong. "Came forward yesterday," he said. "We'd always heard rumors that the reports of Mute incursions had been drummed up. And the experts were divided over the rift-in-s.p.a.ce story. I should have looked into it. I can't believe now that I let it all go on." "You'll be lucky if you're not forced to step down." "If it comes to that, I won't hesitate, Alex. Meantime, I intend to do what I can for the people of this world."

"What's going to happen to Bong?" I asked. Kilgore looked at me, startled. I got the impression he'd forgotten I was there. "Who?" he asked. "Bong. The guy in the picture." "We haven't decided yet." He lowered his voice. "I guess it's safe to say he'll be pretty much the last guy off the planet." He picked up a pen, scribbled himself a note, and put it in his pocket. "Well, the truth is, I'm not going to ask you to hide what you know." "Really?" "There's no way I can keep it quiet now. Too many people know about it. The leaks have already started. So it's best if the news comes from us. If we handle it right, we should be able to avoid widespread disruptions." "I think you're underestimating your people, Mr. Administrator." "I wasn't aware you were a psychologist, Alex. But I hope you're right. When are you releasing the story?" "At midnight." He wiped his forehead. "G.o.d." n.o.body said anything. "All right." Kilgore took a deep breath. "This is going to sound politically motivated." "Okay." "It's essential that people not lose complete faith in their government at a time when they most need leadership. It will be chaotic enough as it is. What I would like, what I beg from you, is that you let me make the announcement. Hold back on what you were planning. It can do you no harm. Just until tomorrow morning." "When did you intend to let them know?" "Tomorrow. I've scheduled an address." His gaze shifted to me. "I need you to stay quiet until then. And it is essential that you not mention Wexler and his part in all this. If people discover there was a group within their government that knew about this in advance, that tried to use it for their own benefit, they will not trust us again. So I need you to tell the media how you found out, and I will see that you get full credit. You'll even get medals. But leave it at that. Okay?" "Sir," said Alex, "Rob Peifer already knows part of the story." "Peifer." The Administrator's brow wrinkled. Alex glanced at me. "Global." "How much does he know?" "He knows," I said, "that Alex was held by Wexler. And I'm pretty sure he'll be able to put the rest together. But I think I've persuaded him not to say anything about that aspect." "Okay." Kilgore's eyes slid shut. "I can't promise anything." "It's okay. I'll talk to his editor." He was in agony. "There's no way the Wexler business won't come out eventually. But the gamma-ray jet will be enough bad news for one day." We sat for a long time, staring at one another. "It's hard to believe it's really happening," said Circe. "So what are you going to do, Mr. Administrator? Try to evacuate?" "It's hopeless, Alex. We'll get as many people off as we can. But-" He shook his head. "How much damage will it do?" I asked. "The gamma-ray bolt?" Circe answered: "It'll kill anything that's exposed. It'll be possible for some people to get into shelters. But afterward we won't be able to grow our own food supply." Alex sat motionless. "We can't run a ma.s.s evacuation," said Kilgore. "We have about a hundred ships. They'll carry an average of fifteen people. Not quite fifteen. Chase, twenty-eight million babies will be born on Salud Afar by the end of this year. Does anyone seriously think that the entire human fleet could transport even our new arrivals?"

I called Peifer and told him the story would be delayed again. "Until tomorrow morning."

"Come on, Chase. Give me a break. I'm already starting to hear pieces of it from other sources."

I explained why we needed him to cooperate and not jump the gun. He wasn't happy, so I appealed to his patriotism. That went nowhere. I said something about being his slave for the rest of my life if he'd go along quietly. He complained that we'd caved in. He told me he'd thought Alex and I had a reasonable degree of integrity, and now we were letting a politician cover his tracks. "Kilgore says he had nothing to do with it," I said.

"Right. And if you can't trust a politician, who can you trust?"

In the end I promised to give him the inside story and a lengthy interview. Finally, it was time to go back to Rimway. I reserved seats on the next day's afternoon shuttle.

Neither of us was sleepy that night, so we went down to the lounge. It was called the Skylark, and it featured a woman doing dreamy stuff on a keyboard and drinks I'd never heard of, straight-ups and colbies and something that looked like liquid silver and left me feeling as if nothing mattered but the moment. We settled into a table near the keyboard and toasted Salud Afar. Long may she wave. There were maybe twelve other people in the place, and human service rather than bots, which gave it a warm touch. A good-looking young guy came over, told us his name was Max, and said he'd be our server. He was maybe twenty-two on a Rimway calendar. I wondered whether he was married. It was hard to tell. Men on Salud Afar don't wear rings. It has something to do with their masculinity. I never quite figured out what. But he felt felt unattached. Maybe it was the way he looked at me. Maybe it was my imagination. I thought about his chances of getting off-world when the news got out and two billion people started scrambling for the gates. Poor Max. If he left now, tonight, that moment, he could get pa.s.sage on one of the two liners that departed weekly for Rimway and Toxicon. The lady at the keyboard was singing "Lost Hours" while she writhed. There was a young couple at a table near us, laughing and toasting the evening, and a group on the far side celebrating something. I watched a young man trying to manage a pickup with an obviously reluctant woman at the bar, and I found myself hoping he'd succeed. But she got up and moved to another place. Our drinks came. Something called a quibble-really-for Alex. I got a Valo delight, which was the slow silver. We whiled away what was left of the night, talking about carpe diem, how you should live for the present because you never really know what the next day will bring, what might even happen on the walk home. Except on this very unusual occasion, unattached. Maybe it was the way he looked at me. Maybe it was my imagination. I thought about his chances of getting off-world when the news got out and two billion people started scrambling for the gates. Poor Max. If he left now, tonight, that moment, he could get pa.s.sage on one of the two liners that departed weekly for Rimway and Toxicon. The lady at the keyboard was singing "Lost Hours" while she writhed. There was a young couple at a table near us, laughing and toasting the evening, and a group on the far side celebrating something. I watched a young man trying to manage a pickup with an obviously reluctant woman at the bar, and I found myself hoping he'd succeed. But she got up and moved to another place. Our drinks came. Something called a quibble-really-for Alex. I got a Valo delight, which was the slow silver. We whiled away what was left of the night, talking about carpe diem, how you should live for the present because you never really know what the next day will bring, what might even happen on the walk home. Except on this very unusual occasion, we knew we knew . After about an hour, Alex said he'd had enough and wandered off. I sat awhile longer, nursing my drinks. And finally I smiled at the guy who'd been trying to do the pickup at the bar. When he came over, I encouraged him, and eventually went home with him. Not sure how Max made out. But that evening I was rooting for everybody. . After about an hour, Alex said he'd had enough and wandered off. I sat awhile longer, nursing my drinks. And finally I smiled at the guy who'd been trying to do the pickup at the bar. When he came over, I encouraged him, and eventually went home with him. Not sure how Max made out. But that evening I was rooting for everybody.

THIRTY-ONE.