From a Changeling Star by Jeffrey A. Carver

Author:Jeffrey A. Carver [Carver, Jeffrey A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780759295957
Publisher: E-reads/E-rights
Published: 2009-05-29T23:00:00+00:00

“Well, I never meant to hide it from you. But you worked on a lot of things and this was one of them.”

“Okay, but tell me about it!”

She thought for a moment, brow furrowed. “Well, let me see if I can get this right. As I remember, you told me that before a gateway could be possible, you needed to understand better the process of black-hole formation. And that was one of the reasons for studying supernovas—because one causes the other, right?” He nodded silently. “And that would be why you were going to Betelgeuse, because it’s relatively close, and it might be on the verge of going supernova.” She peered at him uncertainly. “Does that sound right?”

He stared at her, not answering.

“But none of this was secret, Willard! You talked about it as everyday scientific research.

What could that have to do with—” she gestured helplessly—“all this? And with someone trying to kill you?”

For the space of several breaths, he could say nothing. There was a tightness in his chest that hadn’t been there a minute ago. (

Dax, what is it

?) And there was something … that didn’t ring quite true in what Tamika had just said. But what?

(

Dax

?)

((

I don’t know yet …

))

He gazed back at Tamika and found himself blinking back tears of frustration.

That’s what it’s all about, though. The supernova

.

“Rus’lem, if I’d known, I would have said something earlier.”

“I know.” Sighing, he rose. “Twig, I’m sure of it now: the sooner we’re on our way, the better. I’m going to book tickets.” He could not explain his urgency, but the feeling was stronger than ever. He would just have to explain to his office colleagues when he got back.

If he got back. “And I need to talk to Max right away.”

((

And E’rik Daxter, please …

))

“And E’rik Daxter, before we leave. Right.” He took a deep breath. He felt better now that he’d made some kind of decision. “We have a lot to do.”

Tamika disappeared to tie up the loose ends of her own work obligations, while Ruskin checked in with Ali’Maksam. To his joy, he learned that Max had succeeded in obtaining an emergency leave of absence from the university—though not, apparently, without calling in some favors. With that confirmation, he made flight reservations for three, then set to work copying most of the contents of his home thinktank onto slivers that he could take with him.

Halfway through, he remembered a crucial detail and placed a call to the Yonupian Crafts

Guild. The starship he’d ordered had living quarters for just one person. It would have to be altered; fortunately, he was told, the changes could be made before he arrived to take delivery.

He accepted the increased cost without hesitation; he could worry about his expense account when he returned.

Max and Tamika rejoined him late in the afternoon, and together they made their way back to Page 107

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