“It’s all Gregg’s fault. I told you he doesn’t mess around.”
“I got that message.” She paused. “You are serious, I suppose?”
“Of course. It’d make a pretty sick joke ill weren’t.” He watched her face for a few seconds. “So, do I take it that it’s okay? You don’t have a problem?”
“No . . . I don’t think so.” She thought it over, then sat back in her chair and laughed, momentarily intoxicated by the acceptance that the offer was real. “It’s just that I still can’t really believe it.”
Hunt raised his glass. “Great.”
Gina joined him in the unspoken toast, then set her glass down and looked serious again. “So, what am I supposed to do? I mean, if we don’t want it to look as if I’m on an UNSA paycheck, I take it that I can’t very well travel with you.”
Hunt nodded. “That’s right. If we happen to meet casually later, that’s another matter.”
“But how do I get a seat on an alien starship that’s leaving in three
days? Am I supposed to call a travel agent and ask to book a ticket?”
“There’ll be a TWA shuttle going up from Vandenberg with some groups from the West Coast. That should give you enough time to get back to Seattle, pack a toothbrush, and sort out any notes and other stuff you need to bring along. I’ll bump into you after you join the Vishnu.”
“All I have to do is book a flight with the shuttle?”
“Right.”
Gina still looked perplexed. “But—what about getting on board the Thurien ship? Won’t I need some kind of authorized place or something? How do I fix that?”
Hunt grinned. “You don’t have a feel for Ganymeans yet, do you?” he said. “Most people don’t. Ganymeans are the most informal beings, probably in the whole Galaxy. They have no concept of authorizations, passes, permits, ID checks, or any of the other hassles dreamed up by the makers of rules that we inflict on ourselves to make life difficult, or any clear notion why we imagine such things should be necessary.”
“Oh, that life could be so simple,” Gina said with a wistful sigh. Hunt reached into his pocket and produced an envelope. “I just happen to have a number here at UNSA that can connect you through to the Vishnu’s administration center. In short, you just ask. Your story is that you’re a free-lancer working on a book, and you wonder if you can hitch a ride to Jevlen. There shouldn’t be a problem. But if you get stuck, call me.”
“Ask?” Gina looked nonplussed. “That’s all? And they’ll take you?”
“If they’ve got room. And there shouldn’t be any shortage of that—the Vishnu is twenty miles long.”
“So why isn’t everyone doing it?”
“Because they don’t know about it. They all assume nothing can be that simple—just like you did.”
“What about when they find out? Won’t the Thuriens have to make some rules then?”
“Who knows? Let’s wait and see. They don’t have much experience in dealing with people being unreasonable.”
“But they couldn’t let just anyone who wants to go there just move in, surely. It would get out of control.”
“Ah, you see,” Hunt said pointedly. “There you go, thinking like
a Terran who assumes people have to be controlled. A Ganymean couldn’t conceive why you should want to keep anyone out.”
They ate in silence for a while. Hunt was content to enjoy the food and give Gina time to take in what had been said. At last she looked up again and asked, “Who else will be going?”
“Well, not too many on the short notice we’ve got,” Hunt replied. “We’re hoping to get a life—sciences specialist along, too, whom I’ve worked with before. His name’s Chris Danchekker.”
“I’ve read about him. He went to Jupiter with you, right?”
“That’s him. He probably understands Ganymean psychology better than anybody. We haven’t actually approached him about it yet, though. That’s on the agenda for tomorrow.”
“He sounds fascinating. I’d like to meet him.”
“Oh yes, you have to meet Chris.”
“Do you think he’ll go?”
“Hopefully. He’s been immersing himself in Jevlenese biology lately, and I imagine he’d jump at a chance of going there. It would complete the cover of the whole thing as a scientific mission, too. Then there’s my assistant from Goddard, a guy called Duncan Watt. And we’re hoping Danchekker can get one of his people along, as well.”