rules. Every so often it would get into a heated argument with Jeeves, speaking through Sigmundâs comm, about fine points of translation. Within minutes Erâo had been teaching Jeeves more than the other way around.
âWe can begin,â Erâo said abruptly.
Sigmund had just been thinking that. âAll right. Why did you contact us?â
âFor most of our history, the roof of the world was ice. Then we discovered that the universe is a much bigger place. Ever since, the sky has fascinated us, and we have put considerable effort and resources intoââquick consultation with Jeeves in Tnâhothââastronomy. Perhaps we would watch less if, like you, we could travel faster than light.â
Eric blinked. Sigmund hoped with little conviction that Erâo would be slower to master body language than the spoken variety.
âHow do they know?â Baedeker yelled from the safety of his cabin. âWe must find out!â
The howl went straight to Sigmundâs earplug speaker. He put a finger up to his ear, pretending to scratch. The pressure cranked down the amplification.
How
was a good question, and Sigmund would follow up. First, though, he wanted an answer to his own question. âAnd what have your astronomers seen?â
âSomething unusual moving through space, more or less toward us. At sublight speeds, but fast.â
âThe Fleet?â Baedeker asked, loud despite the lowered setting of Sigmundâs earplug.
Maybe, Sigmund thought. Five worlds accelerating through space looked scary enough to him. âCan you describe it, Erâo? Better, are there images we can see?â
âImages would be best,â Erâo said. It unclipped one of the devices that dangled from its harness. âThis is at the limits of resolution of our instruments.â A hologram appeared, ghostly faint. âMy apologies. This projector is designed for use under water, not in air.â
Sigmund dimmed the relax-room lights nearly to off. His eyes adapted and details emerged. Stars, all in shades of red. Lurid dust clouds. Here and there, momentary sparkles. The projection was some sort of time-lapse graphic, because the clouds seemed to change.
Whatever this was, it wasnât the Fleet. It wasnât New Terra.
âI donât recognize the starscape.â Eric rapped once on a leg of his chair, addressing his comment to Jeeves, then twice more in quick succession.
The double tap signified Kirsten, sitting unhappily on the bridge at the launch controls. And at the weapons console. Sigmund didnât trust Baedekerto use the laser if a reason aroseâor not to run for home without reason.
âMe, either,â Kirsten said, sounding embarrassed by the admission.
âIâll see if I can match it,â Jeeves said into Sigmundâs earplugs. âIt may take a while.â
Meanwhile, Sigmund thought, there were other things to clarify. âErâo, you said, fast. How fast?â
The Gwâo had flattened itself on the table, and Sigmund guessed it must miss the effective weightlessness of the ocean. It raised a limb tip and wiggled it about. âThere is no single answer, Sigmund. Local variations span the range from rest to four-fifths light speed.â
âWhat about overall?â Baedeker asked in Sigmundâs earplugs.
Sigmund repeated the question.
The Gwâo waved the tentacle tip again. âIn the short time we have been watching, the overall phenomenon has been propagating at about two-fifths light speed. Modeling of the turbulence is inconclusive.â
Sigmund was feeling dim-witted again, like Dr. Watson to an alien Sherlock Holmes, when Jeeves interrupted.
âIâve matched stellar configurations,â Jeeves announced via earplug. âAs for why the image looks so odd, Gwâoth appear to be blind across most of what humans consider the visible spectrum. Iâll send an adjusted
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