“But before that, we can have a private celebration. It’s time to move this show
along—to the Globe IV Recreation Deck and the bar, I say! The first round is
mine.”
Everyone began moving toward the door, and at that moment Osmond Periera burst
in with Malcom Wade close behind. They seemed excited about something. “I’ve
been studying the transcripts of some of the conversations with the Taloids down
in Padua,” Periera said, waving some papers. “All that business about the
revolution and the new religion didn’t just happen, you know, Karl. There were
some good reasons—amazing things going on in the sky at the time, all well
authenticated. I don’t think we’re the only beings who are watching developments
down on Titan. There are aliens here too—alien UFOs around Titan!”
Zambendorf brought a hand up to his face and frowned down at the floor over his
knuckle. If he was going into a new line of business, there was no better time
to start, he supposed. He drew in a long breath and looked up at Periera,
hesitating for a moment as he searched for the right words. And then he saw
Massey smiling ruefully and shaking his head behind Periera’s shoulder. Massey
was right—there was no point. With even a million years to try and explain,
there would have been no point.
Zambendorf sighed and draped an arm affectionately around Periera’s shoulder as
he turned him around and began walking him back toward the door. “Really,
Osmond, my friend?” he said. “It sounds fascinating. We’re just on our way to
the bar. Why don’t you and Malcom join us. You can tell us all about the UFOs
there. It will be far more comfortable, and I’m sure you’d agree that we all owe
ourselves some time to rest and relax a little, eh?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JAMES HOGAN WAS born in London in 1941 and educated at the Cardin I Vaughan
Grammar School, Kensington. He studied general engineering at the Royal Aircraft
Establishment, Famborough, subsequently specializing in electronics and digital
systems.
After spending a few years as a systems design engineer, he transferred into
selling and later joined the computer industry as a salesman, working with ITT,
Honeywell, and Digital Equipment Corporation. He also worked as a life insurance
salesman for two years “. . . to have a break from the world of machines and to
learn something more about people.”
In mid-1977 he moved from England to the United States to become a Senior Sales
Training Consultant, concentrating on the applications of mini-computers in
science and research for DEC.
At the end of 1979, Hogan opted to write full-time. He is now living in northern
California.