Richard started to explain what he had learned from the output of Rama’s celestial sensors. “I heard the last part of it,” Nicole said. “I gather we’re now going to miss the Earth altogether.” Richard helped her to stand up. “But where are we headed?”
Richard shrugged his shoulders. “No planetary or asteroidal targets are anywhere close to our present trajectory. Our hyperbolic energy is increasing. If nothing changes we will escape from the solar system altogether.”
“And become interstellar travelers/’ Nicole said quietly.
“If we live that long/’ added the general.
“For my part,” Richard said with a playful smile, “I am not going to worry about what happens next. At least not yet. I plan to celebrate our escape from the nuclear phalanx. I vote we go upstairs and introduce Michael to some new friends. Should it be the avians or the octospiders?”
Nicole shook her head and smiled. “You’re hopeless, Wakefield. Let me not in any way inhibit—”
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments . . .”
TB suddenly interrupted. All three of the cosmonauts were startled. They stared down at the tiny robot and then erupted with laughter.
“… love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds Or bends with the remover to remove. Oh no, it is an ever-fixed mark . . ,”
Richard picked up TB and switched him off. Nicole and Michael were still laughing. Richard embraced each of them individually. “I can’t think of three better traveling companions,” he said, holding the little robot over his head, “wherever it is we’re going.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many different people contributed to this novel during numerous conversations over a two-year period. Those whose comments or insights were especially valuable include Bebe Barden, Paul Chodas, Clayton Frohman, Michael Classman, Bruce Jakosky, Roland Joffe, Gerry Snyder, and Ian Stewart.
Lou Aronica, Malcolm Edwards, and Russ Galen each made significant contributions to the book. Their editing insights were essential in shaping the final structure of the novel.
Special thanks are extended to Father Martin Slaught, whose religious acumen was indispensable in creating General O’Toole, and Peter Guber, who enabled the authors to meet for the first time over three years ago.
Finally, no acknowledgment would be complete without bouquets for Mr. Lee’s family. His wife, Stacey, and five young sons, Cooper, Austin, Robert, Patrick, and Michael, generously allowed him to make the necessary trips halfway around the world to Sri Lanka and granted him the private time that was required for the integration of this novel.
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