in0 by Unknown Read Free Book Online

complex and little differences, even two sites just a few
miles apart can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes two seemingly
identical occupation levels in two sites are actually a generation apart or
maybe a century in age. A lot of changes can take place in a century. Just look
at all that’s changed in the two years since we sat together here last. What’s
that?”
    “The rest of the University,” Arn
explained. “It’s grown quite a bit and so has the rest of the town. Along with
all the new Atackack scholars we’ve more than doubled the population of the
city with Mer immigrants. That’s not really a surprise. We’re the major
spaceport on Pangaea so everyone in the space industry wants to be here.”
    “What about the other ports?”
Park asked. “Every major city has one, you know.”
    “But this is the center of
activity,” Arn told him. “This is where Doctor Sheetz hangs up her hat so this is
where all the new ships are.”
    “Oh?” Park wondered. “Is her
private shipyard no longer a secret?”
    “I’m not sure it ever really
was,” Arn admitted. “Marisea had it right two years ago. Everyone knew we were
building something big down there in the basement and most of them guessed
correctly. The strange thing is everyone seems to be willing to keep the
secret. Everyone knows what’s going on in there, but no one is talking about it
until the first production models roll of the line in Questo. The prototypes
only get rolled out at night and everyone makes a big deal about how it must
have just “flown in” when they see it out in the spaceport. In any case, though
a lot of the Mer moving in are here to study with some of our other experts.
    “There’s been a lot of interest
in Twenty-first Century crops, for example,” Arn went on. “We have over one
dozen Mer agronomists currently studying here full time and they’re have a
world-wide convention next month. Do you remember that Mer Engineer who helped
out with the new runway?”
    “Larie Hawshu,” Park supplied.
“Is she back?”
    “She’s opened a office here,” Arn
informed him. “She teaches at the University sometimes and otherwise runs her
consulting business from Van Winkletown. She says our central location is
ideal.”
    “Equally inaccessible from
anywhere on Pangaea,” Park laughed.
    “With dozens of flights coming
and going each day,” Arn countered, “we’re at the hub of everything on Earth.”
    “Dozens of flights?” Park asked.
“That’s a very big change.”
    “We have a lot of open space to
expand in,” Arn explained, “and our climate is better suited, except during the
rainy season which is relatively brief, as you know.”
    “Somehow it always seems
interminable to me,” Park replied, “Although I have missed rain.”
    “It doesn’t rain on Owatino?” Arn
asked.
    “It does,” Park admitted, “but
Centre or Owatino city – I’m not sure why it has two names – was built in an
ever drier climate than Van Winkle’s. Even during the rainy season it only
rains at night.”
    “Owatino is Camelot?” Arn
chuckled.
    “It is a silly place,” Park
joined him. “Is that a city park?” He pointed vaguely northeastward.
    “One of several,” Arn informed
him. “When you left, the town was still small enough that if you wanted to go
on a picnic you could simply walk to the edge of town. Now it takes
considerably longer, so while we were rebuilding anyway. We put some areas
aside for parklands, including that place between the rivers where the green
kids got married.”
    “Dannet and Melise,” Park
supplied the names. “Dannet, you may recall is the ambassador from Dennsee.”
    “I know that,” Arn replied just a
little defensively. Park chuckled, but privately know that Arn, for all his
political aspirations had trouble remembering names. Fortunately he had several
aides who were normally on hand to keep him informed. “Anyway, we’ve named that
area Dennsee Park. In a few