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ever anyone truly discovered a twin to Earth, it would be a major blow to the global economy. Think of
the speculation that would break out, the jockeying for position, the out-and-out greed. What else might
it be?
 Those people who died. Maybe they contracted some deadly plague.
 Possible, he mused.  That would explain the secrecy. If word got out that they have found an alien bug
that lives on human beings, they would be doing our job for us. We could get a recall order passed in
Parliament in a minute. All the ships would be broken up and sold for scrap within a year. I would see to
it.
 As would we all, Mikhail. What do we tell Rykand?
Vasloff frowned. That was a minor ethical dilemma. He had taken that rich young man s money on the
clear understanding that he would be told everything thatTerra Nostra found out about his sister s death.
Yet, what they had discovered was too important to share with someone whose only motive was revenge
rooted in personal grief. Whatever was going on out there might proveTerra Nostra  s best hope (or
worse nightmare). He considered it a moment, felt his conscience tug at him, and then shook it off.
 We tell him as little as possible. Call him and report that we have confirmed thatMagellan returned early
and that there is a hint around headquarters of a world marginally less uninhabitable than our current
colonies. As for his sister s death, tell him the truth. We have learned nothing.
#
Raoul Bendagar sat alone in the conference center and gazed at the holoscreen on the far bulkhead. The
screen allowed PoleStar s scientists to hold secure teleconferences with their colleagues on the ground,
and was used to display computer data and the results of experiments. When not used for those
purposes, it was switched to whichever hull camera offered the best view of Earth.
The Earth was a sphere the size of a medicine ball, surrounded by the blackness of space. Centered on
the orb was the polar ice cap, with the northernmost reaches of Asia, Europe, and North America
surrounding it.
Without the familiar outlines as a guide, it was easy to imagine that this was New Eden as it had been just
before the gravity wave announced the arrival of two alien ships. Perhaps Sar-Say s planet looked
something like this, or the Broan home world. How many other planets were there in the galaxy that
could pass for the twin of Earth? The answer, it seemed, was far more than even he had thought. Based
on humanity s rather small sample - Earth and New Eden - approximately one system in fifty must harbor
a terrestrial world. That meant the Broan domain was spread among some fifty million suns. A sizable
number, but still only a small fraction of the galaxy s one hundred billion stars.
His contemplation was suddenly ended by the chime that announced the arrival that he had been waiting
for. He checked to see that the recording circuits were operating, and then told his visitor to enter.
 Good morning, Sar-Say, he said as the alien pulled himself to the restraint frame opposite Bendagar.  I
trust that you slept well.
 Very well, Profess ... or. How your night?
 I hardly slept at all. Your revelation of the Broa yesterday has us all in an uproar.
 Uproar?
 Upset, agitated. Dieter Pavel had me up half the night composing a report to his bosses on Earth, and
after that, I lay in my cabin and thought about the implications. They are very frightening.
 Why? the Taff asked.
Bendagar smiled. He had noted yesterday that the alien could relate the most horrific vision of the
universe possible without any outward sign of emotion. In his lights, he was merely explaining the way
things were. It was as though a modern had tried to discuss the population control act of 2312 with one
of the original Pilgrims. Their frames of reference were just too different.
 Leesa said that you want talk about astronomy.
 Yes, I do. I am sure the political people will monopolize your time once they get instructions from home.
I thought I would get my licks in first.
 Don t understand.
 Not important, Bendagar replied with an airy wave.  Just tell me about the stars you have seen.
 I know very little of stars and galaxies.
 You probably know more than you think. At least, I hope that you do. Would you like to go home
someday?
 Very lot!
 I think I may be able to find your home if you will cooperate. I would like to start with the question of
how long the Broa have possessed the stargate.
 Why?
Bendagar repeated the explanation he had given Pavel when that worthy had first arrived aboard, and
several times since. Astronomy was not the politician s strong point, he had discovered. The concept that
light-years could be equated to time was an alien one for him.
However, not for Sar-Say, he quickly discovered. When he finished, the alien shrugged in a very
humanlike gesture.  Leesa ask me this once. I must tell you that I not know. I not think it help if I do
know.
 Why not? Bendagar asked.
 Broa expand faster than light using stargate. Maybe first gravity bump on way long after near bump
enter solsystem.
 Hmm, I hadn t thought of that. The alien s point, the scientist noted, was that as the Broa captured
system after system, the limits of their domain expanded faster than one light-year per year. Thus, the
borders of the Broan Empire always moved outward faster than the gravity waves produced by their star
gates. Thus, if the Broa had invented star travel a million years earlier and a million light-years distant, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]