'Why didn't you say something, anything, to help me understand?' almost exasperation.
'I tried! Gods, how I tried.' He shook his head. 'But I was afraid to hear you tell me no.'
'And I was afraid I might say yes.' She looked out the window again. 'But I've belonged to this star port too. And so have you...' She sighed, looking back. 'Neither of us belongs here now, Miroe. We'd better get out of here before they seal it up like a tomb.'
He grinned, easing. 'That's a step in the right direction. We'll take the rest as it comes; step by step.' He turned solemn again. 'Whenever you're ready.'
'I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Miroe. For whatever comes.' She felt her excitement and her courage coming back to her. 'It's going to be interesting.' She felt her face warm as he touched her. 'You know, Miroe—' she laughed suddenly, 'among my people, 'May you live in interesting times' is not exactly a benediction.'
He smiled, and then he began to laugh; and together they started back through the abandoned halls — returning to Carbuncle, going home.
About Author
Joan D. Vinge received a degree in anthropology from San Diego State University in 1971 and considers herself an 'anthropologist of the future.' She worked briefly as a salvage archaeologist before turning to writing. Her novella Eyes of Amber won the Hugo Award in 1978, and her stories 'Fireship' and 'View from a Height' were Hugo nominees in 1979. Ms. Vinge lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Jacket art by Leo and Diane Dillon Jacket typography by Jack Ribik
