White-aureate was the sun to which Chinook had come, half a degree of arc wide, heartbreakingly like Phoebus.
“Where are we, Joelle?” Brodersen called rough-toned.
Her answer held an unevenness, a tinge of delight and… humility?…
which had long been lacking in it. “How beautiful- We must be in a globular cluster, Dan. Old; hardly any dust or gas left free; the biggest, shortest-lived members long since burnt out, leaving mainly dwarf, though the O types, akin to Sol, also survive- Let’s stay a while, no matter what.”
Everybody agreed. Besides (who could foreknow?) the Others might inhabit so regal a loveliness. The standard research programs got started. In a while the ship was accelerating. Weight felt good.
Studies terminated in a few hours. Joelle had collected most data directly and interpreted them. The yellow sun had at least seven planets. One, slightly more than an astronomical unit distant from it, appeared to be terrestroid and certainly had oxygen in its air. The T machine was in the same orbit, sixty degrees ahead. There was no detectable trace of communication going on.
Nevertheless, Brodersen decided, “We’ll take a look. It’s about a three-day trip. If nothing else, we need to get out of zero gee for a spell.”
“And per’aps walk on a world like ‘ome?” Susanne asked wistfully.
Nightwatch.
In his bed, Leino released Caitlin and lay back beside her. “Ah-h,” he said. “That was great. Afloat is fine too, but, well, we’re designed for a gravity field, aren’t we?”
She sat up, threw arms across lifted knees, and looked straight before her. Hair in lustrous efflocks tumbled past her cheeks and over her shoulders.
Sweat sheened a little on the white skin; he caught mingled female odors, sunny and musky, and a sense of radiated warmth. It took him a few minutes to recover energy enough that he noticed the trouble on her face.
He raised himself to an elbow. “What’s wrong, querida?” he inquired.
Still, she regarded the bulkhead, not him. “Nothing,” she said low.
“And, in a way, everything. Not your fault, Martti. Mine.”
He patted a silky thigh. “Would you tell me?”
“I’d not of my own will be hurting you.”
He braced his muscles. “Go ahead. You… always talk easily, Caitlin, usually cheerfully, and – well, the fact was slow coming to me, what a very independent and, yes, private person you are.” Silence. “Please. Maybe I can help. You know I’d walk barefoot through hell for you.”
He saw her gather her own resolution. “That’s what’s wrong, Martti.”
“Hoy?” He too sat straight.
“All right, this had to come.” She met his eyes. “It’s truth you spoke, weight is welcome again, also for making love. This first chance should have been with Dan.”
He flushed. “Uh, if I’m not much mistaken, he’s got Frieda tonight. They disappeared together, at least.”
Side 159
Anderson, Poul – Avatar, The Caitlin nodded. “Sure, and I’m not begrudging them that. Indeed I was glad for her sake when she succeeded, a couple of weeks ago – after I’d been spending such a deal of time with you. She’s a good soul who deserves a reasonable share of the best.”
He flinched. She saw, laid a hand on him, and said quietly, “I’m prejudiced, you understand. I like everyone aboard; you’re each of you special; but Dan I love, and he loves me.” After a moment: “I’d not have been neglecting him this often did you not need help. That well do I think of you, Martti Leino.
Now the time is on for returning to normal.”
“You don’t mean drop me? No! I love you!”
She gave him a light kiss. “Och, no. While this voyage lasts, we’ll have our occasional tumble, you and I. Nor will that be a favor done you out of kindness. I’ve had plenty of pleasure here.” Drawing slightly aside, once more grave, she went on, “But you’re too emotional about me. Frankly, you’ve grown too possessive. This evening you well-nigh dragged me from the common room, when I had words left for Phil and an unspoken date with Dan. I thought best not to provoke a scene… Don’t be wounded, dear. ‘Twas a fine romp. Just the same, that kind of thing has to stop, and the place where it must stop is in yourself.”