Galactic rapture by Flynn Tom 1955-

Author:Flynn, Tom, 1955- [Flynn, Tom, 1955-]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amherst, N.Y. : Prometheus Books
Published: 2000-05-19T04:00:00+00:00

level beach maybe four bundled meters deep. Latin- spooled the magnification even higher.

"What the sldl).'" Beaman breathed.

Latier had exceeded the map's resolution. Nonetheless, the shifting pixel* seemed to depict some unnatural formation, a nearly straight bar of land running east to west.

"I need better imagery of this area," Latier said unnecessarily.

Beaman's lingers danced on controls. 'There's not much. Meteorological conditions there produce almost constant cloud cover. Still, it must clear up sometime—here we are!"

"Son of a bitch," rumbled Latier. "I mean, jeepers." The structure was clearly artificial—an immense stone-paved ramp rose from beach to clifftops at a seventy-degree angle. "Like Samu's incline at Point Eldek, only paved—and much steeper."

"The bed of an old funicular."

"An old what?"

"Incline railway." Beaman overlaid archaeological survey data. A radial pattern of streets emerged on the plateau at the head of the incline. At its foot, structures like docks wove themselves across the beach. "Apparently before the Tuezi struck, there was a commercial center on the bluff here. It used the funicular to communicate with its seaport."

"This is even better than I'd hoped," Latier said, smiling. "Now suppose we could get Parek and, oh, just a few of Ulfs divisions up that incline." Latier reclaimed control of the map display. He scrolled to the west, further inland. "If the troops cross this sixty kilometers of marshy upland, they'll reach the headwaters of a navigable river. They could build rafts and ride the current into the interior, making converts as they go. Samu would be alone in the ocean trying to figure out what happened."

"The pursuit fleet has Galactic support," Beaman noted.

"That's good," Latier gloated. "There are Spectators aboard the flagship, so we'll know Samu's movements. On the other hand, we seem to have succeeded in ridding Ulf and Parek's force of Spectators. So whoever's handling Samu wont know where Parek and Ulf went." One of Latier's cats hopped into his lap. He stroked it thoughtfully. "If our manufacturing module will only run for half an hour, what can we build, and what fraction of Parek and Ulfs forces can we get up that incline?"

Beaman tapped calculations into a small thought engine. He scowled and then smiled. Handed the unit to Latier.

Latier dropped the cat.

"The ships, too?" His chuckling built into raucous laughter. "Sorry, Thummim." Gasping, he returned Beaman's thought engine. "Heber, this will work?"

"The numbers say it will."

"Ulfs not going to take this scheme lying down." Latier steepled thick fingers. "It's not enough for him and Parek to be equals. We must make Parek the unequivocal commander of his fleet."

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