Peter Hamilton - The Evolutionary Void

Her u-shadow opened a secure link to the High Angel .

“Paula,” said Qatux. “Our situation is not improving.”

“I understand the President has asked you to attempt to get through the Sol barrier.”

“He did. I don’t believe it is possible; however, I shall oblige his request. To do nothing for you at this point would be morally irresponsible. We will fly to Sol shortly.”

“The Raiel taking part in galactic events again? I thought that went completely against your ethos.”

“This is a very specific event, the one we have dreaded for eons. Our involvement is mandatory.”

“I believe the Sol barrier is based on the force field around the Dyson Pair. The Accelerators have been studying the Dark Fortress for a long time.”

“We suspected that was so. If true, the High Angel will be unable to breach the barrier.”

“What about a warrior Raiel ship?”

“I don’t believe it would fare any better, though there may have been new developments I am unaware of. The generator you call the Dark Fortress represents the pinnacle of our race’s ingenuity.”

Paula experienced a strange little frisson of relief at the statement. A very old puzzle finally solved. “Did the Raiel build the Dark Fortress? We always thought they were the same as the DF spheres at Centurion Station.”

“Yes. It is a unit from our Galactic Core garrison. They have several functions; the force field is only one.”

“You told us the Anomine imprisoned the Dyson Pair.”

“They did. We loaned them the units. We produced legions of them after our invasion of the Void failed. As your species correctly postulated, they are the galaxy’s final line of defense against a catastrophic expansion phase.”

“So the Raiel can stop an expansion phase?”

“That is something we will not know until the moment arises. The scheme was the best we could produce, but it remains untested.”

“Then it really is vital that Araminta doesn’t lead the Pilgrimage into the Void?”

“Yes.”

“I will do everything I can; you know that.”

“I know, Paula.”

“I may need help.”

“Whatever I can provide, you have only to ask.”

Eventually the forest gave way to a crumpled swath of grassy land that stretched away for miles to a shoreline guarded by thick dunes. The rich blue ocean beyond sparkled as the sunlight skipped across its gentle waves. Araminta smiled mournfully at the sight, knowing she’d never be able to run across the beach and dive into those splendid clear waters. The big quadruped beast she was riding snorted and shook its huge head, as if sharing her resentment.

“Don’t worry; the whole beauties-of-nature thing gets tedious after a while,” Bradley Johansson said. He was riding on a similar beast to one side of her while Clouddancer plodded along behind.

“After how long?” Araminta queried.

“Millennia,” Clouddancer growled out. “Nature produces so much that is worthy of admiration. Its glory never ends.”

Bradley Johansson pursed his round mouth and produced a shrill trumpeting sound. After a day and a half riding with the pair since they’d left the festival by the loch, Araminta had concluded this was his chuckle.

“Great,” she muttered. The fresh breeze from the ocean was invigorating, countering her falling mood. They were approaching a narrow fold in the land, one filled with small trees and dense scrub bushes. There was a pool at the head of the slope, producing a tiny brook that trickled away down through the trees. She reined in her mount just short of the water and swung her leg over the saddle so she could slide down its thick flank. It waited patiently as she performed her inelegant dismount. Bradley Johansson came over to help unstrap her backpack. She never actually saw him climb down, though she was sure his wings weren’t big enough to work in a standard gravity field.

“How do you feel?” he asked sympathetically.

“Nervous as hell.”

“Your spirit will prevail,” Clouddancer proclaimed. He was still sitting on his mount, tail curled up at one side, wings rustling in mild agitation. His head was held high as he looked toward the coast. If he’d been a human, Araminta would have said he was hunting a scent in the wind.

“I have to,” she said, and meant it.

“I am proud of you, friend’s daughter,” Bradley Johansson said. “You encompass all that is good and strong in our species. You remind me why I gave everything I had to save us.”

Araminta was suddenly very busy with the clip around her waist. “I’ll do my best, I promise. I won’t let you down.”

“I know.”

When she looked up, Bradley Johansson was holding a small pendant on a silver chain. The jewel was encased in a fine silver mesh. A pretty blue light was glimmering inside like captured starlight. He placed it around her neck. “I name you that which you already are, Araminta. Friend of Silfen.”

“Thank you,” she said. Ridiculously, her eyes were watering. She smiled over at Clouddancer, who bowed so solemnly toward her, it left her feeling hopelessly inadequate. “Do you have any suggestions for your new Friend?” she asked the pair of them, hating how weak she sounded. “My ex-husband said he’d help me, but he’s not quite the most reliable of people even if his heart is in the right place.”

“Laril isn’t independent anymore,” Bradley Johansson told her. “He can still offer advice that would be helpful, but it is not his own.”

“Oh. Right.” How do you know this? That was a stupid question; she was always allowing herself to be misled by the apparent carefree child like lifestyle the Silfen followed. There is more to them than this, a lot more . “So it’s Oscar, then? Will he be able to help me with the machine-thing you warned me about?”

Clouddancer and Bradley Johansson exchanged a look. “Probably not,” Clouddancer said. “Nobody really understands what it is.”

“Somebody must know or be able to work it out,” she said.

“That is for you to find, Friend Araminta.”

“Oh, come on! The whole galaxy is at stake here, including your own existence. Just for once cut the mystic crap and give me some practical help.”

Bradley Johansson made his shrill chuckling noise again. “There is someone you could ask, someone who may be smart enough to work things out for you. He was a phenomenal physicist once. And he was named a Silfen Friend.”

“Yeah, and look what he did with that most honorable of gifts,” Clouddancer growled.

“Of course he did,” Bradley Johansson said, sounding amused. “That is what makes him who he is. That is why he is our Friend.”

“Who?” Araminta demanded.

“Ozzie,” Clouddancer sighed.

“Ozzie? Really? I thought … Is he still alive?”

“Very much so,” Bradley Johansson said.

“Well, where the hell is he?”

“Outside the Commonwealth. Oscar can get you there.” He paused, letting out a sorrowful whistle. “Probably. Remember, Friend Araminta, you must walk with caution from now on.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be careful. That part you can really depend on.”

“Come back to us afterward,” Clouddancer said.

“Of course I will.” There was a tiny ripple of doubt in her thoughts that she swiftly quashed. This is all so massive. Visiting Ozzie! For … Ozzie’s sake .

Bradley Johansson took her hand, and they walked toward the top of the little wooded ravine. Araminta blew out a long breath and strode forward confidently. Somewhere up ahead of her, winding through the trees and thick bushes, she could sense the path to Francola Wood stirring at her approach.