Jeffrey Carver - Eternity's End

Gentlemen, if we’re to stay with Phoenix, we need to follow her precisely. Which means—

We’re clear on what it means, said Jamal, in a mutinous tone.

If we go limp the way you want us to, Poppy said stiffly, how are we going to keep from falling right in?

Deutsch drew the net more firmly about himself, thinking, we sure won’t fall in if we stay stuck here in the underflux. Phoenix had already flickered away for a couple of minutes; now that it was back, he didn’t want to lose it again. But when things got more energetic, he wouldn’t be able to manage Impris alone.

He was not going to win this by arguing. He spoke to his augments. (Bring up some alpha-wave; amplify and broadcast it into the net.) On further reflection, he decided to add music, and chose a selection from his augment archives, something soothing.

What’s that —hospital music? Poppy asked, with thinly disguised annoyance.

Well, damn, Deutsch thought. It had always worked on the riggers in the raider ships. Maybe musical tastes had changed more than he thought. He riffled through his play list and tried something different, with a little more bass beat and movement, and some horn. It wasn’t as soothing to his ears, but he could manage. Better?

First Poppy, then Jamal shrugged. Deutsch kept an eye on them, and after a few minutes they began to relax. Now, if they just unwound enough for the alpha-waves to start having an effect…

The silvery shape of Phoenix shimmered; it began to sink into the hill of mist it was resting on. Deutsch nudged the alpha-field up a little more.

As the net of Impris grew calmer, Deutsch thought he felt the tug of the lower underflux, pulling them downward also.

Have to get back.

Heaven and sky . Legroeder had gotten so absorbed in the vision of all these women, like a testosterone dream, that he’d nearly forgotten what he was doing. He was in the net of a starship, trying to fly out of an impossible situation.

Gazing through the fading image of Tracy-Ace, he saw myriad stars. The ship was falling through space like a stone now. Around him, the Narseil riggers were deep in meditation; only Cantha seemed alert, and Cantha wasn’t actively influencing the net. He looked scared, actually. Everything okay? Legroeder murmured.

Cantha’s neck-sail was quivering; his eyes were darting downward, and back up again. Thank heaven you’re conscious, he said. Look down there .

Legroeder looked—and for a moment, had trouble drawing a breath. Below them, through the faint glitter of the net, he saw the starry darkness change to just plain darkness… and far down, embedded in the deepest part of the darkness, was a writhing thread of fire.

The quantum flaw? he whispered.

They were falling toward it like a body tumbling from a cliff.

I think we’ve left the dead zone behind, said Cantha. He looked at his fellow Narseil. Should we disturb them?

Yes ! Wake them! Do whatever you have to. Legroeder wheeled around. Where is Impris?

Far off to the port side, he saw the other ship, tumbling and twinkling. They should bring the two ships back together while they still could. He needed help. Palagren! he shouted. Snap out of it!

The Narseil rigger was slowly turning his head. His neck-sail was glowing a delicate yellowish green along its outer rim; the glow faded as his eyes focused. By the deeps, he sighed, that took me farther than I expected. Were we in entirely separate meditations?

I think so, Legroeder murmured. But never mind that. Impris is over there— he pointed to the tiny, distant ship —and we’re falling fast, toward that . He pointed down, toward the malevolent light of the quantum flaw. It had grown in the last minute.

Palagren gasped. We’ve succeeded!

I think so, Legroeder said. But what the hell do we do now? He felt Deutsch connecting with his implants, asking the same question.

Cantha turned from rousing Ker’sell. I’ve been searching for Flux currents leading away from the flaw.

And? said Palagren.

What have you found? Legroeder demanded.

Cantha had links set up to the bridge sensors, and now they flashed a rippling series of lines across the darkness of the Flux below. The lines spiraled and spiked as different measurements were highlighted; it was difficult to discern an overall pattern. But one thing Legroeder did not see was anything like a path emerging from the vicinity of the flaw, a path that would take them away from it.

This isn’t working the way we’d hoped, is it? Palagren asked softly.

Legroeder squinted downward. Do we have any idea what lies inside that thing?

I imagine, said Cantha, almost casually, that it bears some resemblance to a singularity.

Legroeder felt his heart stop. He swallowed and peered across at Impris , still twinkling at a distance. They were both still falling, the thread of light growing beneath them. Palagren, having roused Ker’sell from his trance, was stretching his arms into the invisible streams like a high-diver.

I really had hoped it would all become clearer once we approached the quantum flaw, Cantha muttered, adjusting the sensor-displays.

Legroeder tried to keep the desperation out of his voice. Do you have any more data? Anything at all?

I’m trying, but I—wait, let me do something.

Legroeder waited, for an endless couple of heartbeats.

Cantha made another adjustment, causing a sudden change as all the space around them suddenly filled with what looked like a blue Cherenkov glow. Can you see it better now?

Unfortunately, Legroeder could. The space around them had suddenly taken on a discernible shape and form. Now he could see all the streams of movement in the region. They were all flowing, twisting, spiraling… all in one direction.

Toward the quantum flaw.

Into the quantum flaw.

What the bleeding hell are we doing? Poppy screamed shrilly, deafening Deutsch. You aren’t taking us into that thing!

No choice, Poppy. That’s where we’re headed.

No-o-o-o!

Deutsch cut off the music and jacked up the alpha-field. It’s the only way. You’ve got to forget the dreams. Those are your fears speaking.

Jamal shouted, You’re damn right my fears are speaking. And they’re saying, don’t go into that thing!

Deutsch called on a series of authority-routines to deepen his voice and projection. We can’t NOT go into it. The question is, are we going to fly in like riggers, or drop like stones? GENTLEMEN, I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE! His words rang in the net like a gunshot across a valley.

Jamal’s voice was muted, frightened. You don’t suppose the dreams were telling us we have to go meet it, do you, Pop? You think Legroeder mighta’ been right?

Deutsch held his breath, as Poppy wailed wordlessly—and after gulping a few times, finally calmed down enough to say, You really think so—?

Maybe. ’Cause we’re goin’ down, anyway, said Jamal. Shall we go out in glory?

Deutsch began to breathe again. Whether it was his words or the calming effects of the alpha-field, the two riggers seemed to be finding the foothold they needed to climb out of their hysteria. Excellent, gentlemen. Now, let’s see if we can get this ship under control …