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All I know is that it is a matter of some urgency.
This is silly, Chancellor! They really expect me to make up my mind without telling me anything about
the project? I thought things like this only happen in historical holofilms.
I ve never seen anything like it, Seaton agreed. That, coupled with the coordinator s interest, should
give you some idea of the importance.
Or else the bureaucrats are merely playing their damned power games.
I am sure that if you find the assignment not to your liking, you can always resign. Nothing will be said if
we find you back here in a week. Now then, your decision, please.
I suppose I ll do it. When do I leave?
They ve booked you on this afternoon s flight out of Sahara Spaceport, if you can make it.
Lisa let her eyes go wide as she considered the implications. She had thought his comment about being
back in a week had been rhetorical. She had expected to have time to prepare for the trip and
coordinate with those who were taking over her classes. She could not possibly leave this afternoon!
You re not serious.
I am very serious, Professor Arden. They were emphatic that I should put my selection on this
afternoon s booster. Now then, are you still our volunteer?
Despite her misgivings, six hours later, Professor Lisa Arden, Ph.D., found herself forced deep into an
acceleration couch as scramjet engines roared somewhere behind her and the outside sky turned from
dark blue to jet black.
#
Her instructions were to take the C-Ring lift down to Gamma deck, and from there, to proceed sixty
degrees to spinward, to Compartment G-103.
As the lift descended into higher gravity, strange things happened to her inner ear. There was a name for
the effect, she knew, but she could not remember it. When spin-gravity had climbed to approximately
one-quarter of a standard gee, the doors opened to reveal a corridor that curved sharply upward in both
directions. She turned to spinward (the direction being prominently marked on the opposite bulkhead)
and began striding. G-103 was closer than expected and she nearly missed it. She pressed a recessed
control in the corridor wall. A moment later, the door slid into its recess to reveal a small anteroom of the
sort that guards the entrance to most airport and spaceport VIP lounges.
May I help you? a handsome dark-haired man of about twenty-five asked as she stepped into the
sumptuously furnished compartment. His glance quickly scanned Lisa s form and stopped at the
pink-and-white kit bag she carried.
I am not sure, she said, suddenly very aware of the piercing eyes focused on her. The directions I was
given brought me here, she stammered. Perhaps I took a wrong turn--
Not if you are Miss Arden from London.
I am.
Welcome to Equatorial Station.
Thank you.
It is a shame you won t be with us long. We just finished completely remodeling the Ring-B shopping
mall.
How long do I have?
The steward consulted the work screen on the corner of his desk. It will be an hour before your ship is
ready for departure. They are topping off their reaction mass. You can leave your luggage in the locker if
you wish.
What is my ship s destination?
He raised a questioning eyebrow at that. I am sure I don t know. Don t you?
No, they didn t tell me.
Interesting, was his only comment. Somehow, he managed to cram that single word full of meaning far
beyond what it actually said.
Lisa stowed her gear on the indicated shelf next to an expensive leather bag. She pushed through the
inner door into the lounge beyond. There was one other person in the lounge. A tall redheaded man lay in
one of the recliners reading a micro book.
Hello, he said, returning her appraising look.
Sorry, I didn t mean to interrupt your reading, she muttered.
You didn t. I have been hoping someone would come in to talk to me. How long are you going to be
here?
An hour.
Oh? he asked in a tone that signified that his interest had been piqued. Where are you headed?
They didn t tell me. All my chancellor said was that a study team is being formed in orbit.
He smiled. Then you must be Professor Arden. He rose and crossed the curved floor of the
compartment. My name is Dieter Pavel. I am on the staff of the World Coordinator.
Then you must know what is going on.
Indeed I do.
Mind telling me?
He glanced around, making a show of inspecting the walls. Once we are aboard ship, I ll answer that
question. As for now, you will have to trust us.
What s the big mystery? she asked, refusing to be put off.
He laughed. Look, I have my orders. I do not like them, but they are orders. I take it that you were
rushed into ... volunteering?
Now it was her turn to laugh. It all happened so fast, I barely had time to buy this outfit, she said,
gesturing toward her shipsuit.
It is very fetching. Now then, shall we relax and talk about something wecan talk about. Why don t you
start by telling me the story of your life? After all, we are going to be together for quite some time.
CHAPTER 4
Lisa Arden floated in midair before the orbit-to-orbit ferry s small viewport and searched the firmament
in front of her. Save for the yellow-white billiard ball that was the sun, there was nothing to see. The stars
were too faint to compete with the Great Hydrogen Bomb in the Sky, and the Earth was somewhere
behind her. Of the vast orbiting mirror that was their destination, there was no sign. It was as though the
artifact were hidden behind some great black veil.
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