Part 31 (1/2)

Viktor turned and peered at the gangling young man. ”That's nice,” he growled.

Balit blinked at him but went on enthusiastically. ”Yes, and do you know what they've done? Three of the other schools got together, and they've launched a new observatory! A really big one this time. Big mirrors and radio webs-it'll be looking for infrared and radio and gamma radiation and all those things you've been talking about. And Forta says they're even talking about moving one of the habitats, or building a new one, in orbit around Newmanhome!”

He broke off, aware that Viktor was not matching his pleasure. ”Is something the matter, Viktor?” he asked worriedly.

Viktor flung his arm up toward the black sky. ”Look,” he said. ”It's all gone! The whole universe, it's simply grown old and died on me!”

Balit was silent for a moment. ”That might be,” he admitted. ”But really, Viktor-don't you remember all the things you've told me? That's there. there. This is This is here. here. Our own sun isn't old. It's got billions of years left-much longer than all the time life's existed in this system.” Our own sun isn't old. It's got billions of years left-much longer than all the time life's existed in this system.”

”I know that,” Viktor said wearily.

”But, Viktor-what does it matter what happened to the rest of the universe?”

”It matters that I don't know know what happened,” Viktor said tightly. ”And I never will! Oh, it's wonderful that Kiffena's trying to patch up some of the old records, and people are starting to look for new answers again, and-it's all wonderful, I admit it! But it's all taking so what happened,” Viktor said tightly. ”And I never will! Oh, it's wonderful that Kiffena's trying to patch up some of the old records, and people are starting to look for new answers again, and-it's all wonderful, I admit it! But it's all taking so long. long. And even if sometime people do find out what was going on on Nebo, and what caused our stars to do what they did-I won't live long enough to find it out!” And even if sometime people do find out what was going on on Nebo, and what caused our stars to do what they did-I won't live long enough to find it out!”

”But Viktor,” Balit said lovingly, ”I will.”

CHAPTER 31.

What Wan-To was doing was pruning himself-as surgically as any horticulturist trying to save a winter-struck shrub.