own lattice and then transmit it all the way to the Coalition. Then they combined my old memories with newer ones, some shared with you, following my placing a lattice inside your skull.’
‘Indeed,’ said the Ambassador. ‘Our lattice technology takes advantage of certain properties of the ultimately granular structure of reality at its most base level. Further, when combined firstly with certain properties of superluminal communications, such as the ability to maintain constant contact between two points regardless of distance, and secondly with a memory substrate that can . . .’
Luc groaned, unable to take it all in.
Antonov chuckled and clapped the Ambassador hard on the shoulder. ‘Yes, all very dry and dull. Much more fun to call Sachs a wizard, and say that he has stolen our spirits away to some magical realm. But what he is trying to describe is the means by which we are able to witness Vanaheim’s destruction.’
‘All right,’ said Luc, ‘you’ve answered pretty much everything I wanted to know, except for one thing – why did you both want to meet me here, on this ship, so very far from home?’
‘As Winchell pointed out, we do have a magnificent view of the Milky Way,’ said Sachs. ‘And besides, it feels appropriate to our purpose in bringing you here.’
‘Appropriate in what way?’
Antonov turned to the Ambassador, punching him lightly on the upper arm. ‘Go on, tell him, Horst.’
Sachs cleared his throat, regarding Antonov with a mixture of amusement and befuddlement. ‘There was, it turns out, some information of genuine value that Father Cheng recovered via the Thorne gate,’ he explained, stepping closer to Luc. ‘Here.’
Sachs opened one hand, to reveal something very like a firefly, glowing with inner radiance, nestled on his palm.
‘What is it?’
‘Please,’ said Sachs. ‘Take it.’
Luc opened his hand, and the firefly hopped from Sach’s open hand and into Luc’s.
Luc closed his fingers, the light of the firefly fading away at the same moment that a torrent of information spilled into his conscious mind. A second later he regarded his two companions with an expression of astonishment.
‘You discovered yet
‘So it seems,’ Sachs agreed. ‘Naturally, we intend to be vastly more cautious in meeting with them than we were even throughout our initial encounters with the Inimicals. We have, however, even in the brief period since making contact, experienced a level of communication with them that has proven to be far more than merely satisfying.’
‘And that’s why you’re here?’
‘That’s why
‘But – another race? Are you sure that’s wise? I mean, after everything that happened with the Inimicals?’
‘We have learned from our past mistakes,’ Sachs explained, ‘and have learned much about this new species already. Enough to be convinced that they offer no possible threat to us. More than that, each has much to gain from the other.’
‘But . . . why bring
‘Our reward,’ said Antonov, ‘for services rendered.’
‘Few in history have had the opportunity to observe or indeed engage in a genuine first-contact scenario,’ added Sachs.
‘And that’s where you come in,’ said Antonov, his grin growing wide. ‘You
‘We have been given an opportunity to study this civilization’s history,’ said Sachs. ‘It’s an incredible opportunity, and one we hope to share with the citizens of the Tian Di as our two societies become more fully reintegrated. But you have to tell me first whether you want to be involved.’
Luc gazed again at the sight of the Milky Way, a wreath of stars circling a stormy void.
‘Yes,’ he said.
THE END.
Acknowledgements
This time, particular thanks go out to my agent, Dorothy Lumley, who was the first to believe there was potential in my ratty first-novel manuscript way back in the Nineties. I should also take time to mention the sterling work done not only by beta reader
