Rama 4 - Rama Revealed by Arthur C. Clarke; Gentry Lee

Author:Arthur C. Clarke; Gentry Lee
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: High Tech, New York (N.Y.), General, Science Fiction, Fiction, Women Astronauts
ISBN: 9780553569476
Publisher: Random House Digital, Inc.
Published: 1995-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

566

ARTHUR C. CLARKE AND GENTRY LEE

feeling of loss that you might have after my death. Again, look at the octospiders. They do not grieve."

"Mother," Ellie interrupted, fighting the return of the tears, "we are not octospiders, we are human beings. We grieve. We feel desolate when someone we love dies. We know, in our minds, that death is inevitable and that it is all part of the universal scheme, but nevertheless we weep and feel an acute sense of loss."

Ellie paused for a moment. "Have you forgotten how you felt when Richard and Katie died? You were devastated."

Nicole swallowed slowly and looked at her daughter. / knew this would not be easy, she thought. Maybe I shouldn 't have come back. Maybe it really would have been better if I had asked the Eagle to tell everyone I had died of a heart attack.

"I know you were upset," Ellie said softly, "to find out that an alien robot had replaced you in Michael and Simone's family. But you shouldn't overreact. Sooner or later all of their children and grandchildren will learn that there can be no substitute for the real Nicole des Jardins Wakefield."

Nicole sighed. She felt she was losing the battle. "I did acknowledge to you, Ellie, that I felt there was no place for me in Michael and Simone's family. But it is unfair for you to imply that my reaction to the other Nicole is the sole, or even the main reason for my decision."

Nicole was becoming exhausted. She had planned to talk first to Ellie, then to Benjy, and finally to the rest of the group before she went to sleep. Ellie had been much more difficult than she had expected. But were you being realistic? Nicole asked herself. Did you really think Ellie would say, "Great, Mother, it makes sense. I'm sorry to see you go, but I understand completely"?

There was a knock on the door of the apartment. The Eagle looked at the two women after the door was opened. "Am I intruding?" the alien asked.

Nicole smiled. "I think we are ready for a short*break," she said.

RAMA REVEALED

567

Ellie excused herself to go to the bathroom and the Eagle walked over to Nicole. "How's it going?" he said, bending down to the level of the wheelchair.

"Not so well," Nicole answered.

"I thought I'd drop by," the Eagle said, "to tell you mat your request to visit the Knowledge Module has been approved. Assuming the basic situation you described to me in the shuttle is still valid."

Nicole brightened. "Good, " she said. "Now if 1 can just summon the courage to finish what I have started."

The Eagle patted her on the back. "You can do it," he said. "You are the most extraordinary human we have ever encountered."

Benjy's head was resting on her chest. Nicole was on her back with her arm wrapped around her son. So this may be the last night of my life, she thought as she drifted toward sleep. A small tremor of fear rushed through her and she forced it aside.

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