[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
happen. They watched empires rise and fall, wars depopulate whole nations. Klara began looking less
and less pleased with the plate, as the wars began to multiply. Then, without saying a word, she abruptly
left the room and did not return.
Hypatia remained, watching them silently as she lounged on a couch. Stan turned to her. "What's the
matter?" he asked.
The shipmind gave a sinuous shrug. "Klara doesn't like wars." She seemed about to leave it at that, then
reconsidered. "Have you ever heard of the Crabbers? I suppose not. They were a nonhuman race from
the old times that were wiping themselves out with wars when their star went nova and finished the job
for them. They were horrid people, a lot like those old monks that murdered the original me. And then,
just as she was showing signs of handling that, along came that big tsunami."
"Right," Stan said, pleased to remember. "The one that messed California up."
Hypatia set him straight. "The one that destroyed a lot of places. One of those was Klara's private
island."
It was Estrella's turn to remember. "She had some orphans living there, right?"
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"She provided a home for a number of children who didn't have one, yes. But that isn't all. Maybe you
don't know that Klara really wanted to have a child of her own body. She had ova stored on her island,
hoping to find the right man to fertilize them. She didn't. The ova were destroyed with the island." She
paused, looking at Estrella. "I think that's why she's so thrilled about your child."
"Oh, hell," Stan said. "That poor woman."
"She is, isn't she?' Estrella said thoughtfully. "For all her money. Poor indeed, in the sense that you and I,
Stan, are so very rich."
When they least expected it the door announced a visitor, and it was Achiever. "Have been away," he
informed them. "Now am returned. Wish urgent talking with you."
Surprised but endeavoring to be hospitable, Stan showed him to a Heechee perch, offered him a coffee
(refused) and asked after his new family. Unexpectedly, that seemed to upset Achiever. "I do not have
'family,' " he said frostily." 'Family' requires declaration of commonality. I have made no such
declaration." Then he unbent a fraction. "Unborn child of my parentage in generative space of Salt,
however, is excellently well. When birth occurs his-or-her name will be Boundary Condition. Gender?
Unknown. Baby has not yet decided."
Doggedly polite, Estrella tried: "And yourself, Achiever? Are you well, too?"
Achiever mulled that over for a moment. "Well? Perhaps not. Not truly well, that is to say, but " he
flapped his long, skinny fingers at them " what is one to do? One has been, as you say, scarred. By
enforced and prolonged exposure to others of your race, that is. So would not say that word 'well' is
appropriate. To be well would need what is your word again? more of concinnity than is possessed
at this time. On the other hand" he frowned reproof "am not here for talk of this sort but to discuss
coming with me of you two in accord with known wishes of human machine-intelligence person Sigfrid
von Shrink."
Stan and Estrella exchanged looks. "What do you know about that?" Stan demanded.
"Not a large amount. Nearly everything, however. For example, is known to me that aforesaid artificial
intelligence person wishes it quite much. Also that you two organic human persons feel obligation to
same. Is any statement herein incorrect?"
"Not really," Stan admitted.
"Then is proper, is this not correct?, for you two to accede to said wishes and accompany me on
spaceflight to permit mutual presence, as advocated by person hereinabove. Wait. Do not reply.
Consider also fact that I fortunately now have excellent spacecraft at my disposal for said purpose."
"Hold it rightthere,"Stan commanded, patience all expended."Sigf rid didn't say a word about going on a
spaceship. He just said he'd like us to spend time with you."
Achiever gave him an approximation of a supercilious smile. "And what better spending of joint time can
be imagined than the becoming of shipmates? Especially utilizing spacecraft I have just returned from
familiarizing self in? Now attend to proposal. If you join me in aforesaid craft, I will then transport you to
splendid selection of interesting Core planets, each of which happens to contain specimens of your
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
people. Are beyond numbering planets worthy of visit. Include Chilly Wet Planet of Blue-White Star
Fifty-Four. To this place mother of self, who was Food Factory designer, brought me as young person.
Extremely of interest."
"Extremely cold, too," Stan offered.
"Well then! Are many, many of others, some of quite high temperatures indeed. Do you understand what
I speak of? Then I ask, considering all facts, notably those involving express desire of said Sigfrid von
Shrink, will you accordingly agree to travel in my company for period of some days or weeks?"
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]