Larry Niven Ringworld 2 The Ringworld Engineers

Author:The Ringworld Engineers
Language: eng
Format: epub

"No . "

"It would solve our problem very nicely," said the Hindmost. "The device must have operated on a tremendous scale. Converting matter to energy must be far easier than converting matter to other matter. Suppose we simply fired a ... call it a transmutation cannon at the underside of the Ringworld at its farthest distance from the sun. Reaction would put the structure back in place very nicely. Of course there would be problems. The shock wave would kill many natives, but many would live, too. The burned-off meteor shielding could be replaced at some later date. Why are you laughing?"

"You're brilliant. The trouble is, we don't have any reason to think there was ever a

file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/lncoming/Lar...ld%2002%20-%20The%20Ringworld%20Engineers.txt (99 of 138) [10/15/2004 2:43:06 PM]

file:///GI/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Larry%20Niven%20-%20Ringworld%2002%20-%20The%20Ringworld%20Engineers.txt

transmutation cannon."

"I don't understand."

"Halrloprillalar was just making up stories. She told us so later. And after all, how would *she* know anything about the way the Ringworld was built? Her ancestors weren't much more than monkeys when that happened." Louis saw the heads dip, and snapped, "Do *not* curl up on me. We don't have the time."

"Aye, aye."

"What else have you got?"

"Little. Pattern analysis is still incomplete. The fantasies involving the Great Ocean

mean nothing to me. You try them."

"Tomorrow." * * *

Sounds too low to interpret held him awake. Louis turned over in darkness and free fall.

There was light enough to see. Kawaresksenjajok and Harkabeeparolyn lay in each other's arms, murmuring in each other's ears. Louis's translator wasn't picking it up. It sounded like love. The sudden stab of envy made him smile at himself. He'd thought the boy was too young; he'd thought the woman had sworn off. But this wasn't rishathra. They were the same species.

Louis turned his back and closed his eyes. His ears expected a rhythmic wave action; but it never came, and presently he was asleep.

He dreamed that he was on sabbatical.

Falling, falling between the stars. When the world became too rich, too varied, too demanding, then there came a time to leave all worlds behind. Louis had done this before. Alone in a small spacecraft, he had gone into the unexplored gaps beyond known space, to see what there was to see, and to learn if he still loved himself. Now Louis floated between sleeping plates and dreamed happy dream of falling between the stars. No dependents, no promises to keep.

Then a woman howled in panic, right in his ear. A heel kicked him hard, just below the floating ribs, and Louis doubled up with a breathy cry. Flailing arms battered him, then closed round his neck in a death-grip hug. The wailing continued.

Louis pried at the arms to free his throat. He called, "Sleepfield off!"

Gravity returned. Louis and his attacker settled onto the lower plate. Harkabeeparolyn stopped screaming. She let her arms be pried away.

The boy Kawaresksenjajok knelt beside her, confused and frightened. He spoke urgent questions in the City Builder language. The woman snarled.

The boy spoke again. Harkabeeparolyn answered him at length. The boy nodded reluctantly. Whatever he'd heard, he didn't like it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.