civilization.) Now, a wide group of powerful interests saw Quraqua as a laboratory, a place to establish a Utopia, a place to start over. 'When?'
'Six weeks. A little less. Henry was supposed to be out of there by now. But you know how he is. Hell, Richard, once they start, we're finished. Forever.'
Well, for a half-century anyhow. Might as well be forever. 'You can't let it happen, Ed. The situation's changed.'
'I can't see how. Nobody gives a damn about the Monument-Makers. Not really. You and me, maybe. Not the taxpayers. And certainly not the politicians. But a lot of people are excited about terraforming. There won't be any more delays.'
'Have you spoken to Caseway?'
'No. And I don't intend to. That son of a bitch wouldn't give us the time of day. No.' Homer's eyes flashed. Richard read his old friend's frustration. 'Look, you know I would if I thought there was a chance. Why don't you try talking to him?'
'Me?'
'Yeah. He thinks you're the big hotshot with this outfit. He's read your books. Always speaks highly of you. Asked me why the rest of us couldn't be more like you. Wald wouldn't put his own interests first, he says. Thinks you have a sense of decency. Unlike me, apparently.'
Richard grinned. 'Can't argue with him there.' The wind howled over the house. 'Ed, can you get me transportation to Quraqua?'
'Why?'
'Because we're running out of time. I'd like to see the Temple. And Oz. Can you do it?'
'We have a flight going out to pick up Henry and his people.'
'When?'
'When can you be ready?'
'Soon as the storm blows over. Thanks, Ed.'
The comers of Homer's mouth rose. 'I want you to do something for me.'
'Name it.'
'Two things, actually. I would like you to consider talking to Caseway. And, when you get to Quraqua, make sure Henry gets off with time to spare. Okay?'
NEWS DESK
NO END IN SIGHT FOR MIDWEST DROUGHT
Small Farm Bankruptcies Up Ninth Straight Year
NAV, Quebec Promise Help
INFLATION SOARS TO 26%
October Figures Fueled by Food, Medical Costs
Housing, Energy Down Slightly
GREENHOUSE GROUP PESSIMISTIC Natural Processes Have Taken Over, Says Tyler
'We Waited Too Long' President-Elect Announces Wide-Ranging Agenda
How You Going to Keep Them Off the Farm?
EUROPEAN URBAN POPULATION HITS NEW LOW 71 % Now Live in Rural or Suburban Areas
Similar Trend in NAU (See related story following)
FOXWORTH REASSURES MAYORS
ON FOOD TRANSPORT Insists Breakdown Cannot Happen Again Will Implement Ad Campaign To Halt Flight from Cities
BRITAIN, FRANCE REVEAL PLANS FOR NEW INNER
COUNCIL 'We Can Avoid the Old Mistakes,' says Kingsley
Cites 'Executive Group with Teeth' Haversham Warns of World Government
572 DIE IN MIDAIR COLLISION OVER MED Massive Search on for Black Box
HORNCAF ARRESTED WITH PROSTITUTE
Holovangelist Claims Interest Only in Her Soul
Sex Scandal Latest in Series
WET YEAR PREDICTED FOR MEXICO Rainfall Expected to Double Summer Planting in Danger
THIRD WORLD GROUP CALLS FOR SHUTDOWN OF MOONBASE
'Insult to World's Starving Populations'
Demonstrations Scheduled in NAU, UK, Russia,
Germany, Japan
MARK HATCHER BURIED IN LONDON Dead With Six-pack, A Poetic Tour Through the Great Famine
Won PulUzer in 2172 Had Been in Seclusion 30 Years
MILLIONS DEAD IN INDOCHINA
Drought Worsens Throughout Subcontinent Council to Consider Options
REBELS SEIZE KATMANDU Hundreds Die in Street-Fighting
NAU POPULATION REACHES 200 MILLION
Foxworth Promises Action Propose More Benefits for Childless Couples
POPE ON THIRD DAY OF FRENCH TOUR
Soys Moss at Notre Dame Nouveau Exhorts Faithful on Advantages of Celibacy
GROUND WATER DESTROYING EGYPTIAN
MONUMENTS
Ancient Heritage at Risk
Restoration Groups Mobilize
GUNMAN KILLS SEVEN IN LIBRARY
Shoots Self as Police Close In Former Girlfriend Hides in Stacks
POLL REVEALS AMERICANS TURNING OFF POLITICS Voters Cynical in Wake of Sex, Money Scandals
ISRAELI LEADER DENOUNCES QURAQUA RELOCATION PLAN 'We Will Wait for a World of Our Own'
NAU WILL CUT BACK STAR FLIGHTS
Move Forced by Budgetary Constraints
(See two related stories following)
LIVABLE WORLDS EXTREMELY SCARCE
Odds Astronomical Commission Recommends Resources Go Elsewhere
Quraqua To Be Ready in Fifty Years 'One New World Is Enough,' Says Hofstadtler
PROTEST PLANNED BY NEW-EARTH SOCIETY 'Don't Abandon the Hunt,' Warns Narimata
3
Arlington. Saturday, May 8; 0915 hours
The chime brought her out of a warm, silky dream. She fumbled at the lamp stand and touched the commlink. 'Yes?'
'Hutch?' Richard's voice. 'They tell me you're the pilot for the Temple flight.'
'Yes,' she said sleepily.
'Good. I'll be going with you.'
She came awake. That was a pleasant surprise. She had not been looking forward to a month alone rattling around in Wink. 'I'm delighted to hear it,' she said. But she wondered why he'd bother. This was strictly an evacuation run.
'I'd have asked for you in any case,' he was explaining.
'And I'd have appreciated the business.' Hutch was a contractor, not an employee of the Academy. 'Why are you going?'
'I want to see Oz,' he said.
