Brodersen’s hail reached her as if through a stone wall: “Joelle, how’re you doing? What can you tell us?”
“I can’t,” she heard herself whimper.
“Yeah, no surprise.” Through his dry words, the captain’s tone resonated. “Listen, friends. Whatever we’ve found, and I do believe it is what we’ve hunted for, we can only wait till these… builders… get in touch. I imagine they will, they’re bound to’ve noticed us. Leave your stations. We’ll meet in the common room. Best to be together.”
Joelle rallied. “I’ll stay in holothesis,” she said.
“Good. Thanks. I was hoping you would.”
“You’ll be with us just the same,” Caitlin called.
No, not really, I’m certain. Pride and faith rose anew in Joelle. I should not have been dismayed to discover a whole new kingdom of the Law. Rather let me be eager to learn of it and take it into myself. Let me trust the Others will teach me.
Against the auroral skies a point of light sprang into view. Swiftly it grew until it was a nacreous arrow shape, bound straight for Chinook from the direction of the ellipsoid, which must be where the creators dwelt. They are coming, they are coming. And I am she who will converse with them, who is able to, I, alone among humans, I, who have gone beyond the human.
The crew floated waiting. Screens gave on immense and gentle brilliance; rainbow tints flew across them to make changeable the chamber they were in. They clasped each other around the waist, Rueda and Susanne, Frieda between Leino and Dozsa, Caitlin between Brodersen and Weisenberg. They shared each other’s breath, sweat, animal odors, warmth – sometimes taste, in a kiss.
The stranger ship, if ship it was, drew nigh, no larger than Williwaw, flowingly formed but featureless behind its iridescence. By invisible means it halted alongside, a hundred meters off. And there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
“Can you raise them, Joelle?” the captain asked hoarsely. “No,” he heard. “Neither laser nor radio. Nor do I detect anything from them.”
“But I’ll bet they’re looking us over,” he said, “in some way we’re ignorant of, that we can’t even feel.”
Caitlin tensed in her man’s embrace. “Can’t you?” she whispered.