Visions of the Future by Joe Haldeman, David Brin, Greg Bear, Kevin J. Anderson, Ben Bova, Hugh Howey, Robert Sawyer, Ray Kurzweil, Martin Rees Read Free Book Online Page B

Glint’s thought cut through his own: Do you want to try slowing down again?
    Kelric sat motionless, watching his holomaps. They all showed images of the world below him as it receded in the sable backdrop of space.
    If we don’t slow down within eight seconds, the Glint thought, we won’t have enough fuel to return to base. In fourteen seconds we won’t be able to reach any emergency landing site.
    Kelric’s private thoughts whispered like a strain of discordant music playing under the computer’s voice: You can drift in space forever. With the stars as your lovers, you’ll never be alone.
    Escape velocity achieved, the Glint thought. We are leaving the planet.
    With a mental heave, Kelric snapped himself back to reality. Glint, return to base!
    At first nothing happened. Then the thrusters rumbled in their bay and the rockets fired, flattening him in his seat.
    Re-entry initiated, the Glint thought.
    Kelric exhaled. Do we have enough fuel to get back?
    Yes.
    So I’m going to live after all. Kelric wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or to curse.

    “We weren’t able to analyze much of your cyber log,” General Schuldman said. He was seated behind the darkwood desk in his office, a huge room as spare and as strong as the grey-haired man who used it. “Most of the log was garbled. Do you have any comments to add to our quick-look report?”
    Kelric was sitting in front of the desk, uncomfortable in a leather-bound chair. Was Schuldman asking for more details about his hesitation during the flight? Kelric had none; he wasn’t certain himself what had happened in that moment when he had let the plane leave the planet. However, that hadn’t caused the system failures.
    “There’s a flaw in the Glint’s computer, sir,” he said. “I think it’s the neural-hardware interface.”
    Schuldman nodded. “Apparently the computer tried to break the lock that keeps it out of your private thoughts. When your mind blocked it, the system froze up.”
    His private thoughts. Kelric had enough trouble himself dealing with those; it was no wonder it had confused a computer. “Can the problem be fixed?”
    “Our techs repaired the damage,” the general said. “Jessa Zaubern checked their work herself. It shouldn’t try to break your lock again.” He considered Kelric. “Engineering also ran simulations using the higher velocity data you obtained. Their results suggest the Glint may indeed be able to withstand the huge accelerations Dr. Zaubern claimed in her first reports.”
    So Jessa had been right. It didn’t surprise Kelric; she had one hell of a good mind. “Sir, the ship may be able to withstand those accelerations, but the engines can’t achieve them.”
    Schuldman regarded him steadily. “That’s why we’re putting an inversion engine in it.”
    What the hell? They wanted to put a starship engine in a plane? What a thought.
    Schuldman was watching him with a scrutiny that made Kelric wonder if the general questioned his judgment in letting the Glint leave the planet. Probably not. Schuldman had specifically directed him to test the limits of the craft’s abilities. As for Kelric’s private thoughts during those moments, they were just that. Private.
    In any case, putting a starship engine in a plane added a new dimension to the project. Intrigued, Kelric said, “Even data from my last flight can only give us a rough idea of what will happen at higher velocities. I wasn’t going fast enough to test the parameters that would affect a starship.”
    Schuldman considered him. “That’s why I’m looking for a volunteer to test the modified aircraft.”
    Kelric knew the general’s ability to get fast results made him one of the most valued officers in the Space Test Wing. The rumor mill also claimed Schuldman had earned his reputation by pushing his planes—and their pilots—to the limit.
    What a ride it would be, though! The speed, the challenge, rushing on the edge—the idea exhilarated Kelric. Then