Part 90 (1/2)
Why didn't I think of that? Of course, every great solution looks simple in retrospect, doesn't it? Marc-thank you. It's magnificent.”
The elegant mental edifice seemed to hover between them.
She enfolded it in her memory with meticulous care, and then Marc rose.
”No doubt you noticed,” he said, ”that the metaconcert does not include you.”
She looked away. ”That's for the best.”
”Are you so very anxious to return to the Milieu?”
His voice and mind carried a warning flavour, and she suddenly felt her heart go cold. ”You're going to oppose us after all! You've found some way to keep the gate from opening!”
His coercion compelled her to face him. ”I must.”
Her mental voice cried: Anatoly I told you so ...
He had taken her by the hand, and before she realized what had happened they had walked together to the other end of the garden. The noon sun was harsh and the two suits of armour, enveloped in heat-s.h.i.+mmer, loomed facelessly over her.
She heard him say, ”I could show you another world where you would be truly needed. An educative work that would never pall. Challenge without end.”
”No, Marc.” Her voice was steady. She pulled her hand away.
He said, ”I'll win, one way or another. You must tell Anatoly that the temptation was too great.”
”Yes, I know,” she said.
He took a step backward into blackness and in a moment the gravelled yard was empty.
Jordan Kramer came onto Kyllikki's bridge with obvious reluctance, closed the door behind him, then gave a curt exclamation of surprise as he spotted Alex Manion standing behind the chart table, out of casual view from the quarterdeck.
”Dammit, Walter-what's he doing here?”
”We both want to talk to you, Jordy,” Saastamoinen said.
”I should be back in the stern hold with Gerry. Marc will be back soon from Black Crag-”
”That's why we want to talk to you now. Time's running out.”
He thumbed several studs of the autowinch unit. ”Half a mo', though. Little headwind coming up and we're sheet-heavy.
Liable to drag anchor. One disadvantage of solar-collection sails.”
Manion the docilator headpiece firmly in place, fixed intent eyes on Kramer and said, ”Marc ... ordered ... batteries ... recharged ... max. He's ... ready ... to ... flit.”
”Jesus, he can override the docilator!” Kramer cried.
”But it's hard on him,” Walter said. ”Let him out, Jordy.
You've got the keying sequence.”