As she lay in the dark and the silence, Nicole thought about the events of the previous evening. During the reunion
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she had been so overwhelmed by her emotions that she had not really had time to sort out her reactions to what she was seeing and hearing. Immediately after Nicole had entered the room, Nikki had gone next door for the others. For the next two hours there had been eleven people in the crowded room, at least three or four of them talking all the time. Nicole had had brief conversations with each person individually during those two hours, but it had been impossible for her to discuss anything in depth.
The four young people—Kepler, Marius, Nikki, and Maria—had all been very shy. Maria, whose stunning blue eyes stood out in contrast to her copper skin and long black hair, had dutifully thanked Nicole for rescuing her. She had also politely acknowledged that she had no memories of any kind from the time period before she went to sleep. Nikki had been nervous and diffident in her brief tete-a-tete with her grandmother. Nicole thought she had detected some fear in Nikki’s eyes; however, Ellie told Nicole later that what she had seen had probably been awe, that so many stories had been told about Nicole that Nikki felt she was meeting a legend.
The two young men had been polite, but not forthcoming. Once during the evening Nicole had seen Kepler staring at her from across the room with great intensity. Nicole reminded herself that she was the first really old human the boys had ever seen. Young men in particular, Nicole thought, have difficulty with women who are old and phthisic. It shatters their fantasies about members of the opposite sex.
Benjy had welcomed Nicole with an uninhibited embrace. He had lifted her off the floor with his strong arms and yelled with joy. “Mama, Mama,” he had said, turning around in circles with Nicole’s head above his. Benjy had seemed quite well. Nicole had been startled to discover that his hairline had receded and that he now looked decidedly avuncular. Later she had told herself that Benjy’s appearance was really not that surprising, since he was about forty years old.
Her greetings from Patrick and Ellie had been very
warm. Ellie had looked tired, but she had said it was because she had had a full day. Ellie had explained to Nicole that she had taken it upon herself to stimulate interspecies social activity at the Grand Hotel. “It’s the least I can do,” Ellie had said, “since I speak the octospider language. I’m hoping that you’ll give me a hand as soon as you have your strength.”
Patrick had spoken quietly to Nicole about his concern for Nai. ‘This Galileo situation is tearing her apart, Mother,” her son had said. “She is furious because the blockheads, as we call them, removed Galileo from the normal living areas without much explanation and without anything that we would call ‘due process.’ She is also angry because she is not allowed to spend more than two hours a day with him. I’m certain she is going to ask you for assistance.”
Nai had changed. The spark and softness were gone from her eyes and she was uncharacteristically negative, even in her first remarks. “We are living in the worst kind of police state here, Nicole,” Nai had said. “Far worse than under Nakamura. After you are settled, I have many things to tell you.”
Max Puckett and his adorable French wife, Eponine, had both aged, like everyone else, but it was clear that their love for each other and for their son, Marius, sustained them on a day-to-day basis. Eponine had shrugged when Nicole asked her if the crowded living conditions bothered her. “Not really,” she had replied. “Remember, I lived in the orphanage in Limoges as a child. Besides, I’m just delighted to be alive and have Max and Marius. For years I never | thought I would live long enough to have any gray hair.”
As for Max, he had remained his ornery, irrepressible
self. His hair too was mostly gray, and he had tost a little of
the bounce in his step. But Nicole could tell from his eyes
that he was enjoying his life. ‘There’s this fellow I see
regularly in the smoking lounge,” Max had told Nicole during
the evening, “who is a big admirer of yours. He somehow
^escaped the plague, although his wife didn’t. Anyway”—
iMax had then grinned—”I thought I’d fix you two up as
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soon as you have some free time. He’s a little younger than you are, but I doubt if that will be a problem.”
Nicole had asked Max about the problems between the humans and the octospiders. “You know,” Max had said, “the war may have taken place fifteen or sixteen years ago, but none of the humans has any intervening memories to soften his anger. Everyone here lost somebody, a friend or a relative or a neighbor, in that horrible plague. And they can’t quickly forget that it was the octospiders who caused it.”
“In response to the aggression of the human armies,” Nicole had said.
“But most of the humans don’t see it that way. Maybe they believe the propaganda Nakamura told them and not the ‘official’ war history, presented by your friend the Eagle soon after we were moved here. The truth is that most of the humans hate and fear the octospiders. Only about twenty percent of the people have made any attempt to mix socially, despite Ellie’s courageous efforts, or to learn anything about the octos. Most of the humans stay in our ray. Unfortunately, the cramped living quarters do not help to alleviate the problem.”
Nicole now rolled over on her side. Her daughter Ellie was sleeping facing her. Ellie’s eyes were twitching. She’s dreaming, Nicole thought. / hope not about Robert. She thought again about her reunion with her family and friends. I guess the Eagle knew what he was doing in keeping me alive. Even if he doesn ‘t have anything specific for me to do. As long as I don’t become an invalid or a burden, I can be helpful here.
“This will be your first major Grand Hotel experience,” Max said to Nicole. “Every time 1 go to the cafeteria during open hours, I am reminded of Bounty Day in the Emerald City. Those weird creatures’ that came along with the octospiders may be fascinating, but I’m a damn sight more comfortable when they’re not around.” *.
“Can’t we wait until it’s our period, Dad?” Marius asked. ‘The iguanas frighten Nikki. They gawk at us with
their yellow eyes and make such repulsive clucking noises while they are eating.”
“Son,” Max said, “you and Nikki can wait with the others until our segregated lunchtime, if you want. Nicole wants to eat with all the residents. It’s a matter of principle to her. Your mother and I are going to accompany her to ensure that she learns the cafeteria routine.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Nicole said. “I’m sure that Ellie or Patrick—”
“Nonsense,” Max interrupted. “Eponine and I are delighted to join you. Besides, Patrick has gone with Nai to see Galileo, Ellie is over in the recreation room, and Benjy is reading with Kepler and Maria.”
“I appreciate your understanding, Max,” Nicole said. “It is important for me to make the right kind of statement, especially at the beginning. The Eagle and Dr. Blue didn’t tell me much about the details of the trouble . . .”
“You don’t need to explain,” Max replied. “In fact, last night after you fell asleep, I told Frenchie I was certain that you would want to mix.” He laughed. “Don’t forget, we know you very well.”
After Eponine joined them, they walked out in the hallway. It was mostly empty. A few people were walking in the corridor on their left, away from the center of the starfish, and a man and a woman were standing together at the entrance to the ray.
The trio waited two or three minutes for the tram to arrive. As they drew near to the final stop, Max leaned over to Nicole. ‘Those two people standing at the ray entrance,” he said, “are not just passing time. They’re both big activists on the Council. Very opinionated and very pushy.”
Nicole took the arm that Max offered her as they disembarked. “What do they want?” she whispered as the pair started walking toward them.
“I don’t know,” Max mumbled quickly, “but we’ll find out soon enough.”
“Good day, Max. Hello, Eponine,” the man said. He was a portly man in his early forties. He looked at Nicole and broke into a wide politician’s smile. “You must be Nicole
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