resources,â he added, as a mischievous grin crept across his face.
âI think you can see where this is going.â Beck leaned forward to place his empty wineglass on the table. âWe mean to send the Galileo to Spindrift, with the intent of investigating the origin of these signals.â He nodded toward Sinclair. âThis will be a bilateral mission. After all, it was the Union Astronautica that discovered Spindriftâ¦â
âAnd ESA has the means to get there.â Ramirez toyed with the untasted drink in his hand. âNot a bad idea, if you have a ship capable of reaching the objectâ¦Spindrift, I meanâ¦when it makes its closest approach.â He searched his memory. âJust short of two light-years, about two and a half years from now. Youâre going to be cutting it close, even with diametric drive.â
âWe have a certainâ¦well, edgeâ¦that gives us confidence that we can make it,â Harker said. âIn order for us to achieve our launch window, weâre looking at a departure date of June 1.â
Ramirez raised an eyebrow. âSo soon? Thatâs only six weeks away.â
âWe believe that it can be accomplished.â Beck settled back in his chair, steepled his fingers together. âWe already have a good crew, with Captain Lawrence in commandâ¦sorry he canât be here, but heâs attending to other matters just now.â Harker made a face, but said nothing. âAnd weâre presently assembling our science team, with representatives from both the Union Astronautica and the European Space Agency.â He paused. âWhich is why weâve asked you to be here, Dr. Ramirez. Weâd like to have you aboard.â
The glass slipped from Ramirezâs hand, spilling wine across the dark green carpet. He barely noticed the waiter as he rushed forward to sop up the mess with a terry-cloth towel. His heart skipped a beat; for a moment, it was hard for him to breathe. No one in the room spoke; Ramirez waited for someone to grin, laugh, tell him it was just a gagâ Oh, no, weâre not seriousâ¦Youâre staying behind, to act as a consultant âbut everyone simply gazed at him, waiting for a response.
âSure,â he said at last. âIâd love to.â
âSplendid,â Shillinglaw said. âWe were hoping youâd say that.â He grasped Ramirezâs shoulder as he gazed at Harker. âYouâve got your astrobiologist, Commanderâ¦the best in the business.â
Harker gave him a tight smile, then nodded to Ramirez. Sinclair let out his breath and shook his head, while Beck asked the waiter to fetch a round of champagne so that they could make a toast to the mission. None of them noticed Shillinglaw as, still holding Ramirezâs shoulder, he leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
âThere, you see?â he said softly. âYou didnât really want to jump out that window, now did you?â
THREE
MAY 29, 2288âTSIOLKOVSKY STATION,
NEW GUINEA SPACE ELEVATOR
L ike a silver caterpillar ascending an impossibly long strand of silk, the tram from New Guinea climbed the last hundred yards toward its berth within the stationâs outer hull. As it approached the terminus, the vehicle began to decelerate, the conical fairing of its nose bisecting to reveal the flanges of its docking module. The tram almost seemed to coast the rest of the way home; it slowly entered the sleevelike berth, then there was a slight jar as it came to a halt.
A recorded voice came through speakers within the passenger lounge, announcing the tramâs arrival. First-time travelers, impatient to board the elevator for its descent, unbuckled themselves from their seats. Clutching the straps of their carry-on bags, they began to waddle toward the hatch leading to the boarding gate, careful not let the soles of their stickshoes leave the floorâs densely fibered carpet. The gate
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley