“And you’re going to let them have it?” Rudy’s face had gone pale.
“I haven’t decided which one yet.”
“Depends on who makes the best offer?” said Matt.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
LIBRARY ENTRY
The Locarno is simply another novelty. We’ll be replacing the Hazeltine with it, and we’ll go considerably farther than we ever did before, and we’ll learn the same lesson: Life is a rare commodity in the universe. And intelligence even more so. I suspect it can do no harm, as long as we don’t start spending tax money on it again.
—Op-ed by Gregory MacAllister,
Worldwide News Service, Tuesday, September 18
chapter 20
THEY GOT THE good jump Matt had hoped for. Not good enough to make the late shuttle, but enough to bring them into Union in the morning. A crowd was waiting. Some carried signs reading ON TO ANDROMEDA and MOVIN’ OUT. One attractive young woman carried a banner stenciled MARRY ME, JON.
Other signs reflected different sentiments: LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE and SHUT DOWN THE LOCARNO and DON’T COME BACK. But the dissidents were outnumbered. There was some pushing and shoving, and a fight broke out. But the security people were there.
Someone, in a high-pitched voice, asked whether they’d made Alioth. The crowd held its collective breath while Jon paused for dramatic effect. “Yes,” he said, finally. “We’ve been there and come home.”
The crowd roared.
EVENTUALLY THEY GOT away into a room reserved by Rudy. Journalists showed up, and Foundation supporters, so the place quickly overflowed.
Matt showed pictures from the flight, shots of Alioth, the five voyagers crowded onto the bridge moments after their arrival, Matt hunched over the instruments, Hutch and Jon gazing out the viewport, Rudy trying to look like Columbus, and Antonio taking notes.
Refreshments arrived.
One of the Orion Tours people came in, and Rudy watched with distaste as she curled up next to Jon. She was all smiles and casual talk, but she’d be offering a contract shortly. Come with us, and we’ll make you a better deal than anyone else can. He wasn’t sure why, but the notion of rich morons running around the galaxy sightseeing, oh, Jerry, look at the black hole, irritated him. He wondered if tourists from somewhere else had ever come to Earth, maybe watched the Roman circuses or sat in the Academy, the real Academy, with Plato and Socrates.
He was tired. It had been a long day, and he couldn’t take all-nighters anymore. He put down the drink he’d been nursing and said good night to Hutch and Matt. He was unable to catch Jon’s eye, gave it up, and left.
He’d just gotten into his room when the hotel AI announced he had a call. “From Dr. Silvestri, sir.”
“Rudy,” Jon said, “I didn’t expect you to leave so early.”
Rudy collapsed into a chair. “I was wiped out, Jon.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I guess it is a bit late.” He was standing, and it looked as if he was still at the party. But his features became suddenly serious. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m grateful for the Foundation’s support. For your support, Rudy. I won’t forget it.”
“You’re welcome, Jon. I’m glad the Foundation was in a position to help.”
“I have a question for you.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“Kosmik wants to run a mission to the core.”
“I’ve heard the rumors.”
“Rudy, they’re offering me a lot of money for licensing rights to the Locarno. So they can make the first flight. They want to equip a small fleet and go after the source of the omegas. See what they are. Where they come from.”
“It’s a worthy cause.”
“I know.” For a long moment he was silent. “I understand Epcott’s going to make an offer, too.”
“Congratulations, Jon.”
“Without you and the Foundation, Rudy, it would never have happened.”
Rudy managed a smile.
“I plan to split the money with the Foundation, Rudy. You’re a worthy cause, too.”
“Thank you. That’s very generous, Jon.”
There was another long pause. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“That’s not the message I’m getting.”
“Nothing’s wrong, Jon.” Just let it go.
“Rudy, we can’t attempt a mission like that with one ship.”
“You’re right. That’s absolutely right.”
“If there was any kind of mechanical problem, everybody’d be dead.”
“I know. You’re absolutely right.”
“So then why are you annoyed with me?”
“Because you never asked.”
“Asked what?”
“Whether we could get a second ship.”
“Can you?”
“Of course.”
“You wouldn’t kid me?”
“Never.”
“You really want to go?”
“Jon, I’d kill to make that flight.”
“Good.”
“Thanks.”
“Hell, Rudy, it’s your ship. Your ships.” Someone stopped to talk with him. Then he was back. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“We’ll need two pilots. I want to ask Matt. If that’s okay.”
“Sure. Who else did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you’d suggest someone.”
“How about Hutch?”
He did not look receptive. “I don’t think she still has a license. Anyhow, she resisted making the Alioth flight. You think she’d consider something like this? Going to the core?”
“There’s one way to find out.”
ANTONIO’S NOTES
I knew something was going on. While everybody else was singing “The Rockaway Blues” and Harry McLain was playing the theme from the old Midnight Moon VR show, Jon, Hutch, and Matt were off to one side talking. Lots of excitement. When they broke up, they all looked pretty happy. Then Jon spotted me. He came over, grabbed my shoulder, and pulled me out of the room. He told me he had an exclusive for me, something to go with the story I’d filed about the flight to Alioth. “We’re going to the core,” he said. “We’re going to look for the source of the omegas.” And after I got through asking when they’d be leaving, and who else was going, and what they expected to find, he told me he had a question for me. “Yeah,” I said. “What is it?” And he said, “Antonio, you want to come? You’re invited.”
—Wednesday, October 10
PART THREE
outbound
chapter 21
HUTCH WAS BARELY in the door when Maureen was on the circuit. She was glad the mission had gone well, but she was clearly upset.
It was probably guys again. Maureen fell in and out of love regularly. But she wasn’t inclined to relay the details. Hutch recalled how little she’d told her own mother. Remembered how shocked the woman had been when she’d announced she was going off to pilot superluminals. Stay home, she’d advised. Find a good man. Is this what we sent you to school for? Do you have any idea how much that cost?