Pandora's Star (cs-2) by Peter F. Hamilton

Author:Peter F. Hamilton [Hamilton, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf

“He is with us, yes.”

Mellanie remembered that last achingly long day in the hospice, waiting by his bed for him to die. She was only nine at the time, and never did understand why he didn’t rejuvenate like everybody else. Her parents hadn’t wanted her there, but she’d insisted—stubborn even back then. Grandpa (actually, her great-great-grandfather) was always the nicest relative she had, always found time for his baby Mel despite his status as one of the planet’s most distinguished residents. All the history files at school mentioned him as one of the programmers who had helped Sheldon and Isaac write the governing software for their original wormhole. “Are you still you, Grandpa?”

“That’s a difficult question to answer, Mellanie. We are the memories of your grandfather, but at the same time we are more, a universe more, which makes us less than the individual you want.”

“You always listened to me, Grandpa. You always said you’d help me if you could. And I really, really, need your help now.”

“We are not physical, Mellanie, we can only help with words.”

“That’s what I need: advice. I need to know what to do, Grandpa. I’ve made a bit of a mess of my life.”

“You are only twenty, Mellanie. You are a child. You haven’t begun your life yet.”

“Then why do I feel like it’s almost over?”

“Because you are young, of course. Everything that happens to you is epic at your age.”

“I guess. So you will help me, then, Grandpa?”

“What would you like to know?”

“I don’t have any money right now.”

“So we see. The Darklake National Bank is being its usual efficient self, and quantifying your ex-lover’s assets for redistribution. The funds will be split between Tara Jennifer Shaheef and Wyobie Cotal, once various exorbitant fees have been claimed by officials, lawyers, and institutions. We do not believe you would be successful if you applied for a percentage of them. Legally, you have very little standing.”

“I don’t want any,” she said forcefully. “I’ve decided I’m not going to be dependent on anyone again. I’m going to make my life my own from now on.”

“That is the baby Mel we remember. We were always proud of you.”

“I tried to sell the story of what happened with me and Morton, but it hasn’t worked out very well. I was naive and stupid, I guess. I trusted a reporter. It didn’t work out too good. I might get arrested. There was this terrible man, a pornographer. I kind of assaulted him.”

“Fancy trusting a reporter. That was stupid. But the situation can probably be resolved. And pornographers are not notorious for running to the police.”

“I wanted to give myself a profile, Grandpa. I had this idea that I could become like a celebrity, a media personality. I’ve got the looks, and I’m sure I have the determination to make it. I just need some guidance, that’s all. My story was just going to be the start. Once it’s released, people will know my name. That can be used. If I can keep myself on the unisphere then who knows, one day I could be as big as Alessandra Baron.

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