Matt showed pictures from the flight, shots of Alioth, the five voyagers crowded onto the bridge moments after their arrival, Matt hunched over the instruments, Hutch and Jon gazing out the viewport, Rudy trying to look like Columbus, and Antonio taking notes.
Refreshments arrived.
One of the Orion Tours people came in, and Rudy watched with distaste as she curled up next to Jon. She was all smiles and casual talk, but she’d be offering a contract shortly. Come with us, and we’ll make you a better deal than anyone else can. He wasn’t sure why, but the notion of rich morons running around the galaxy sightseeing, oh, Jerry, look at the black hole, irritated him. He wondered if tourists from somewhere else had ever come to Earth, maybe watched the Roman circuses or sat in the Academy, the real Academy, with Plato and Socrates.
He was tired. It had been a long day, and he couldn’t take all-nighters anymore. He put down the drink he’d been nursing and said good night to Hutch and Matt. He was unable to catch Jon’s eye, gave it up, and left.
He’d just gotten into his room when the hotel AI announced he had a call. “From Dr. Silvestri, sir.”
“Rudy,” Jon said, “I didn’t expect you to leave so early.”
Rudy collapsed into a chair. “I was wiped out, Jon.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I guess it is a bit late.” He was standing, and it looked as if he was still at the party. But his features became suddenly serious. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m grateful for the Foundation’s support. For your support, Rudy. I won’t forget it.”
“You’re welcome, Jon. I’m glad the Foundation was in a position to help.”
“I have a question for you.”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“Kosmik wants to run a mission to the core.”
“I’ve heard the rumors.”
“Rudy, they’re offering me a lot of money for licensing rights to the Locarno. So they can make the first flight. They want to equip a small fleet and go after the source of the omegas. See what they are. Where they come from.”
“It’s a worthy cause.”
“I know.” For a long moment he was silent. “I understand Epcott’s going to make an offer, too.”
“Congratulations, Jon.”
“Without you and the Foundation, Rudy, it would never have happened.”
Rudy managed a smile.
“I plan to split the money with the Foundation, Rudy. You’re a worthy cause, too.”
“Thank you. That’s very generous, Jon.”
There was another long pause. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“That’s not the message I’m getting.”
“Nothing’s wrong, Jon.” Just let it go.
“Rudy, we can’t attempt a mission like that with one ship.”
“You’re right. That’s absolutely right.”
“If there was any kind of mechanical problem, everybody’d be dead.”
“I know. You’re absolutely right.”
“So then why are you annoyed with me?”
“Because you never asked.”
“Asked what?”
“Whether we could get a second ship.”
“Can you?”
“Of course.”
“You wouldn’t kid me?”
“Never.”
“You really want to go?”
“Jon, I’d kill to make that flight.”
“Good.”
“Thanks.”
“Hell, Rudy, it’s your ship. Your ships.” Someone stopped to talk with him. Then he was back. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“We’ll need two pilots. I want to ask Matt. If that’s okay.”
“Sure. Who else did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you’d suggest someone.”
“How about Hutch?”
He did not look receptive. “I don’t think she still has a license. Anyhow, she resisted making the Alioth flight. You think she’d consider something like this? Going to the core?”
“There’s one way to find out.”
ANTONIO’S NOTES
I knew something was going on. While everybody else was singing “The Rockaway Blues” and Harry McLain was playing the theme from the old Midnight Moon VR show, Jon, Hutch, and Matt were off to one side talking. Lots of excitement. When they broke up, they all looked pretty happy. Then Jon spotted me. He came over, grabbed my shoulder, and pulled me out of the room. He told me he had an exclusive for me, something to go with the story I’d filed about the flight to Alioth. “We’re going to the core,” he said. “We’re going to look for the source of the omegas.” And after I got through asking when they’d be leaving, and who else was going, and what they expected to find, he told me he had a question for me. “Yeah,” I said. “What is it?” And he said, “Antonio, you want to come? You’re invited.”
—Wednesday, October 10
PART THREE
outbound
chapter 21
HUTCH WAS BARELY in the door when Maureen was on the circuit. She was glad the mission had gone well, but she was clearly upset.
It was probably guys again. Maureen fell in and out of love regularly. But she wasn’t inclined to relay the details. Hutch recalled how little she’d told her own mother. Remembered how shocked the woman had been when she’d announced she was going off to pilot superluminals. Stay home, she’d advised. Find a good man. Is this what we sent you to school for? Do you have any idea how much that cost?
“Everything okay, love?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” Maureen was an attractive young woman. Looked like her mother, Hutch thought with a sense of pride. She was a history major, also like Priscilla. She had her father’s easygoing manner. That latter characteristic inevitably betrayed her when she tried to hide being unhappy. “I’m glad you got home okay.”
“Maureen, we only went to Alioth.” She smiled at how that must have sounded. Maureen had never been farther than Moonbase. “It was a good flight.”
“I hear you’re going out again. To the middle of the galaxy.” It hadn’t taken long for the news to get around. “To the place where they make the omegas.”
“In November,” Hutch said. “We’re just making the trip to look around. And don’t worry. We’ll only be gone a few months.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“I’ll be fine, sweetheart. We’re just going to take a look and come home.”
“You’ll get yourself killed,” she said. “What happens if the monsters come after you?”
“I don’t think we need to worry about monsters, Maureen.”
“You don’t know that. And the ship could break down. Who’s going to go after you? Who’d even know?”
“There’ll be two ships, Maureen. Orion’s lending us the James McAdams.”
“What if they both break down?”
“You know that’s not going to happen.”
“Mom, you’re not the most careful person in the world.”
“I promise I won’t do anything foolish.”
“I know. I’m just not sure what I’d do if something happened to you.”