I think we’ve left the dead zone behind, said Cantha. He looked at his fellow Narseil. Should we disturb them?
Yes! Wake them! Do whatever you have to. Legroeder wheeled around. Where is Impris?
Far off to the port side, he saw the other ship, tumbling and twinkling. They should bring the two ships back together while they still could. He needed help. Palagren! he shouted. Snap out of it!
The Narseil rigger was slowly turning his head. His neck-sail was glowing a delicate yellowish green along its outer rim; the glow faded as his eyes focused. By the deeps, he sighed, that took me farther than I expected. Were we in entirely separate meditations?
I think so, Legroeder murmured. But never mind that. Impris is over there—he pointed to the tiny, distant ship—and we’re falling fast, toward that. He pointed down, toward the malevolent light of the quantum flaw. It had grown in the last minute.
Palagren gasped. We’ve succeeded!
I think so, Legroeder said. But what the hell do we do now? He felt Deutsch connecting with his implants, asking the same question.
Cantha turned from rousing Ker’sell. I’ve been searching for Flux currents leading away from the flaw.
And? said Palagren.
What have you found? Legroeder demanded.
Cantha had links set up to the bridge sensors, and now they flashed a rippling series of lines across the darkness of the Flux below. The lines spiraled and spiked as different measurements were highlighted; it was difficult to discern an overall pattern. But one thing Legroeder did not see was anything like a path emerging from the vicinity of the flaw, a path that would take them away from it.
This isn’t working the way we’d hoped, is it? Palagren asked softly.
Legroeder squinted downward. Do we have any idea what lies inside that thing?
I imagine, said Cantha, almost casually, that it bears some resemblance to a singularity.
Legroeder felt his heart stop. He swallowed and peered across at Impris, still twinkling at a distance. They were both still falling, the thread of light growing beneath them. Palagren, having roused Ker’sell from his trance, was stretching his arms into the invisible streams like a high-diver.
I really had hoped it would all become clearer once we approached the quantum flaw, Cantha muttered, adjusting the sensor-displays.
Legroeder tried to keep the desperation out of his voice. Do you have any more data? Anything at all?
I’m trying, but I—wait, let me do something.
Legroeder waited, for an endless couple of heartbeats.
Cantha made another adjustment, causing a sudden change as all the space around them suddenly filled with what looked like a blue Cherenkov glow. Can you see it better now?
Unfortunately, Legroeder could. The space around them had suddenly taken on a discernible shape and form. Now he could see all the streams of movement in the region. They were all flowing, twisting, spiraling… all in one direction.
Toward the quantum flaw.
Into the quantum flaw.
Chapter 32
Sailing the Quantum Flaw
What the bleeding hell are we doing? Poppy screamed shrilly, deafening Deutsch. You aren’t taking us into that thing!
No choice, Poppy. That’s where we’re headed.
No-o-o-o!
Deutsch cut off the music and jacked up the alpha-field. It’s the only way. You’ve got to forget the dreams. Those are your fears speaking.
Jamal shouted, You’re damn right my fears are speaking. And they’re saying, don’t go into that thing!
Deutsch called on a series of authority-routines to deepen his voice and projection. We can’t NOT go into it. The question is, are we going to fly in like riggers, or drop like stones? GENTLEMEN, I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE! His words rang in the net like a gunshot across a valley.
Jamal’s voice was muted, frightened. You don’t suppose the dreams were telling us we have to go meet it, do you, Pop? You think Legroeder mighta’ been right?
Deutsch held his breath, as Poppy wailed wordlessly—and after gulping a few times, finally calmed down enough to say, You really think so—?
Maybe. ’Cause we’re goin’ down, anyway, said Jamal. Shall we go out in glory?
Deutsch began to breathe again. Whether it was his words or the calming effects of the alpha-field, the two riggers seemed to be finding the foothold they needed to climb out of their hysteria. Excellent, gentlemen. Now, let’s see if we can get this ship under control…
If they were going to do anything, they would have to do it fast, Legroeder thought. The quantum flaw was a lot closer now, their movement toward it visible to the eye. Cantha—are you getting any information on what to expect?
Pretty fragmentary, Cantha said from the top gun position. But I believe the flaw has a greater than infinitesimal aperture, which I take as a hopeful sign.
Jesus, Legroeder thought. If that’s what you call hopeful…
It may be, said Cantha, that we can fly through it. It’s possible that the flaw itself is the exit path we’re looking for. I don’t see any other hope.
Legroeder blinked in fear. He turned to Palagren, who was watching the growing thread of fire. Let’s see if we can close the range with Impris.
Are you in contact with Freem’n? Palagren asked.
Legroeder could hear little sputters of static from his implants. He shook his head as he asked, (Anything—?)
// Getting stronger fragments of transmission now… //
The net flexed alarmingly as Palagren stretched it, trying to find a shape that would give them better control. It was like trying to steer in a waterfall. But if they could at least converge on a course with the other ship…
Let’s see if we can reach across, link the nets again, Legroeder said.
At that moment, his implants found their signal lock, and he felt sudden input from Deutsch’s streaming in. (Freem’n—can you hear me?)
(Right here. Are we going down into that thing, then?)
(We seem committed. Cantha thinks maybe we can go through it and out. Otherwise we die. We should go in formation or God knows where we’ll be scattered. Can you extend your net toward us?)
(I’ll try. Let me see if—hey, watch it, Poppy!) Deutsch’s voice suddenly went elsewhere.
Legroeder swallowed hard. But he saw a tendril of light stretching out toward them from Impris.
Legroeder focused on flying Phoenix, as Palagren and Ker’sell stretched their end of the Phoenix net toward Impris. It was still too long a reach. But the ships were drawing closer. Could they link in time?