Rick turned to Con. 'The world's going to change for-ever this morning.'
'Then let's not stay in here,' she said. 'I want to see it one last time.' As they walked back outdoors, they saw the time probe sparkle in the sunlight as it rose into the sky. 18
CON FELT ALMOST NUMB AS SHE WALKED, AS IF THE
things around her were happening to someone else. That per-son was going to die, not she. She dispassionately observed Sara glaring at her. She noticed Pandit speaking to Sara. His voice seemed to come from far away. 'Everything will be fine,' he said, as one might soothe a child. 'Just you see.' She saw James join them. He, too, said soothing words, but his sad eyes betrayed his true feelings. Con did not want to see them.
Rick reached out and gently grasped her hand. 'Thank you,' he said softly. 'Thank you for saving my life.'
Con stared at the hand holding hers. It looked strong de-spite its long, almost delicate, fingers—a hand used to work, already a little worn by living. It pulled her from the void of unfeeling.
'I guess I did,' she said, as a glimmer of animation re-turned to her face.
'I've never met anyone so brave,' he said, squeezing her hand a little tighter.
'I just did it without thinking. I'd hardly call it brave.'
'I would,' said Rick.
Con met Rick's eyes. He gazed at her as if she were the entirety of his world, as if nothing else mattered. No one had ever looked at her that way and despite their approaching doom—or perhaps because of it—Rick's gaze met a desper-ate need within her. She saw in his eyes the adoring look she had always dreamed of and longed for. It filled her with joy mingled with almost unbearable sorrow.
she lamented.
'I can't believe this is happening,' she said.
'I wish I was wrong, but I can't see how,' said Rick. 'Everything fits together so neatly. Now, it all makes sense.'
'This makes sense?' said Con bitterly.
'I should've figured it out earlier,' said Rick. 'In all Earth's history, this is the most spectacular event. The only one you could pinpoint precisely. Of course they'd build an observatory here. How could I be so stupid!'
'Don't blame yourself; everyone lied to us.'
'That's true. Joe had me going up to the last minute,' said Rick.
'He talked Green out of shooting us.'
'Only to save his own skin.'
'I don't want to talk about Joe,' said Con, 'or Daddy or anyone else. Let's go to where we had our picnic.'
They walked to the beach, then slowly strolled along the shore, as the wind and the surf roared in their ears. Con paused to pick up a shell. She held it for Rick to see. 'The pink ones are my favorites,' she said.
'It's beautiful.'
'I want to see as many lovely things as I can.' Tears were glistening in her eyes. 'I want every moment to count.' Still holding the shell, she wrapped her arms around Rick and kissed him on the lips. For a moment, his expression was one of surprise. Con murmured to him, 'Aren't you going to kiss me back?'
'Con,' said Rick, his voice filled with wonder and ten-derness. He lovingly brushed a tear from her cheek, then embraced her as their lips touched, and the wind called their names. The wind had Joe's voice. 'Rick! Con!' They turned and were startled to see Joe running down the beach. 'Thank God, I found you! We've got to go.'
Rick stared at Joe in disbelief. 'Why the change of heart? Green kick you out?'
'Of course,' Joe replied. 'But I had to convince him that I thought I was going. Otherwise, he never would have got into the probe.'
