have been able to figure out where we were. 'I have no idea where we are,' Roland admitted.
'Sam,' I said, 'can you help those guys out?' 'Not really. All I can do is display the maps on my screens. Nobody programmed me how to read them.'
'I thought Oni did.'
'She was supposed to, last week. But then we found Entity X
'Oh, that's right.'
Roland had come forward and taken the shotgun seat. He was struggling with the many-folded paper map, trying to match a section of it with what was showing on the main screen.
He had been growing irritable. 'Why can't any race in the universe learn to make roadmaps simple?' he grumbled. 'Now where the hell??'
'What's the problem?' Sam wanted to know. 'Here's where we are on the star chart. See the flashing cursor?'
'Uh…' Roland scrunched up one dangling section of the map, rotated the whole thing ninety degrees and looked back and forth between map and screen. 'Yeah. Right.. Okay.' He squinted at the map. 'I think.'
'I thought you weren't programmed to read them,' I said.
'I'm not,' Sam answered. 'Sort of figured it out for myself.'
'Sam, what you didn't figure,' Roland said, 'was that the Ahgirr draw their maps upside down. Right is left and vice versa on these things.'
'What?'
'I think.'
'Well now, that's crazy.'
'Sort of like an astronomical map.'
'But this is an astronomical map… more or less.'
'Mostly less,' Roland said.
'Gentlemen,' I broke in, 'exactly what difference does it make?'
'Eh?' Sam said.
'Where, exactly, are we supposed to be going?'
'We want to enter a maze belonging to a race with an I unpronounceable name. Call 'em the Grunts,' Roland said.
'And how do we get to the land of the Grunts?' I asked.
'Well… Sam, give me a 3D graphic on that maze, will you? And show our entry point, too.'
'Like this?' 'Yeah. Now on this screen, can you give me the Nogon Maze, showing the exit point?'
'There you go.'
'Now, rotate this one a little. No, counterclockwise.'
'How's this?'
'Good,' Roland said, sitting back and folding his arms officiously. 'Now,' he said, then frowned.
'Now what?' Sam said.
'Look,' I said. 'There's a fork ahead, isn't there?'
Roland threw up his hands. 'I really don't know.'
'Oh, come on, there has to be a fork. We just ingressed here. There should be a road leading to the double- back portal and one leading to a next-planet portal. Unless this is a threehole planet. Is it?'
'Way I figure,' Sam said, 'it should be. There's a doubleback to the left fork, a next-planet to the right, and the middle road should lead to an interchange world. Big one, too, with about three major routes junctioning.'
'Great. Let's take the middle road.'
'Why?'
'When we get to the interchange, we'll flip a coin.'
'Suits me.'
'I don't know, Jake,' Roland said. 'Don't you think we should try to get ourselves back on Winnie's Itinerary?'
''That means going back to the Outworlds, doesn't it?'
'Well, I suppose.'
'No chance. We'd be dead as soon as we poke our nose through the portal. Besides, I have a very strong feeling that you can't get there from here.'
'Jake may very well be right,' John said, leaning over our shoulders. 'Ragna and Hokar told us that they've never heard a road story describing anything like Terran Maze. The Ahgirr have had their ears pricked for news of beings akin to themselves since they came to the Skyway. I gathered that the known mazes around here have some rather strange occupants. Harmless sorts, but you wouldn't be inviting them for tea.'
'Well, it's settled then,' I said.
Susan broke in, 'Good of you men-folk to make all the heavy decisions for us women-folk.'
Roland showed a crooked smile. 'Something tells me we're going to hear from the distaff side.'
'Do you see anyone spinning wool back here?'
'You're showing your age, Susan,' Roland remarked ascerbically.
'You shut up. Jake, I just wanted to let you know that the quote-unquote distaff side would like to be consulted now and then in matters that may affect their lives and general wellbeing… or is that too much to ask for a truck-drivin' he-man like y'all?'
'Shucks, ma'am,' was all I got to say before Darla interrupted.
'Susan, do you mind speaking for yourself?'
'Certainly not,' Susan answered, arching one brown eyebrow a bit haughtily. Or maybe it was just surprise.
'I think we all need to be reminded now and then that this is Jake's rig. I think it's only right that he should have the final say in which direction he should steer it.'
'Well, excuse me, Darla-darling?'
'Don't call me that,' Darla cut through icily.
'Pardon me. But may I remind you that I never asked to come along on this joyride. I was dragged.'
'That's neither here nor there.'
'Bullshit. I demand a say in decisions that affect me.'
Darla's voice was coldly ironic. ''Demand'?'
'Yes, dammit, demand. I think it's my right.'
'The universe doesn't grant rights easily, dearie. You have to fight for them.'
'I'm not demanding them of the universe. Actually, I'm merely asking?'
'You haven't offered an opinion on anything important up till now. In fact, you haven't done much of anything but complain. Why the sudden interest in the decision-making process?'
'I'm tired of everyone taking it for granted that I don't have an opinion. Or not one that counts.' Susan crossed her arms huffily. 'And don't call me 'dearie'!'
'So sorry. And what is your opinion?'
'Thank you for asking. As a matter of fact, I agree with Jake. I think it's about time he finds his legendary shortcut back home?wouldn't you agree?'.
'I'm not sure,' Darla said, her voice more subdued.
'Well, that's his Plan.'
'Plan,' Darla repeated, a note of sarcasm returning.
'Yes, Plan. Call it Fate, if you will. Use any word you want.'
'I call it merte.'
Susan's voice stiffened. 'That is your privilege.'
'Anyway, if you're agreeing with Jake, why the sudden need for self-determination?'
'It's not sudden, and it's not a need. It's a?'
'Well, I do know you have plenty of those. Needs, I mean, and you're fairly systematic about meeting them.'
'Just what is that supposed to mean?' Susan said, voice tightened with rising anger.
'Interpret it any way you wish,' Darla said airily.
