Divergence

repair?”

Craig looked down at Edward. “Does that answer your question?” he said. Edward shook his head.

“No. No, it doesn’t. If it is where it is supposed to be, why does it want a lift from us?”

“A very good question!” called the Stranger. “I require delta vee because I’m floating towards a region of Dark Plants. I estimate I will be amongst them in around six hundred years if someone does not help me.”

Edward noted the hungry expression that had awoken in Joanne and Saskia’s faces. Joanne was mouthing, “Pick him up.” At the same time Saskia murmured, “I think you should consider this new information, Michel.”

“Why is the Stranger afraid of Dark Plants?” whispered Edward up to Craig.

“Every intelligent being is afraid of them,” Craig whispered back. “Even AIs stop thinking when near them.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, but Dark Plants kill intelligent life. You must know that, Edward. You must have heard of Dark Plants before! Anyway, Joanne and Saskia now think that we are in a much better bargaining position.”

“Why?”

“Because…” began Craig. “Look, I’ll explain later. Shhh, listen!”

“I think Joanne is right,” called Armstrong, Maurice nodding in agreement. “We should pick him up. Find out what’s on offer.”

“Be quiet,” hissed Michel. “I haven’t engaged the buffer. It can hear everything we’re saying.”

“Yes, I can hear everything,” agreed the Stranger. It really did have a cheerful voice, thought Edward. Happy and positive: it made you feel good just to listen to it. “Listen, I will give you some advice. Free advice! Remember, as all negotiations pass through the FE software, there is no need to be secretive. All of our intrigues will be as naught once FE takes over.”

“You were already told that by the crew of the Imagio, ” Saskia reminded a scowling Michel.

“I know! I know! So, Stranger, what do we get if we take you to safety?”

“System repair, of course. It’s what I do. Even from here, I can see many things that are wrong with the systems on the Eva Rye .”

“Could you fix the Self-Replicating Mechanisms?” asked Armstrong suddenly. “I’m fed up with rubbing up knives by hand.” By way of illustration, he picked up the template of a katana, a tiny carbon crystal the size of his finger, just ready to be grown.

“Could I fix the Self-Replicating Mechanisms?” repeated the Stranger. “You are very new to this, aren’t you? I wonder if you really understand the implications of what you have taken on?”

“Of course we do,” said Joanne smoothly, neat and efficient in her trim suit. Green eyes looked keenly down at the Stranger. “We heard what you said earlier about openness. Are you trying to bargain the price down now?”

“Not at all,” said the Stranger primly. “I will not offer anything more or less than that which is agreed by FE. It will decide what the appropriate fee will be for you to take me where I wish. Now, do we have a deal?”

Joanne nodded emphatically. Michel turned to Saskia, who was looking out under a fringe of aubergine hair at Joanne.

“It’s your decision,” said Saskia. “You’ve heard enough evidence to realize that we should pick it up.”

Michel nodded. “Okay then,” he said, “we’ll give you a lift. Would you like to interface with our processing space now?”

“Certainly,” said the Stranger. “May I suggest that you begin your intercept? It could take some time for the FE protocols to complete. The longer you wait, the more fuel you will expend in catching up with me.”

“I’m on it,” said Craig, unfolding his console. Edward got up to look over Craig’s shoulder as he touched the screen of his console, moving around the colored lines that told the ship where to go.

“Donny, could you open up the pipe to the Stranger?”