Year's Best SF 10 by David G. Hartwell

Author:David G. Hartwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780061757761
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2011-10-30T18:58:52+00:00

One hour had ticked by, then two. Miles had grown weary of watching the shadow space, and still Lucinda had not reappeared. “Well, Singh,” he said at last. “What’s our next best option? It does not seem that my wife has had the sense to step straight back into the CTC, does it?”

“Truly, I cannot tell,” Singh replied. “We simply do not know enough about how it works. Your lady wife may have tried to return but been transported to another point in time.”

“Or to this time in a parallel universe,” Miles added glumly. “One in which she does not return, at least not at this moment.”

“Correct,” said Singh. “That’s the rub. There must be an infinite number of possible temporal destinations inside the CTC. The whole thing is quite indeterminate.” He shrugged. “If you had gone together,” he added, “then both of you could have come back together, but still to another variant. You can’t go home again, as they say, but only to something like it, but maybe to something so close that you might not even notice it isn’t quite the same. Only mostly, maybe.”

“True,” said Miles. “But we didn’t go together. And I honestly don’t know what to do for the best.” He sighed heavily. “I’m willing to go after her, but it would help if we could figure out where that is. Or when it is.”

“Of course you are willing, Professor Smythe. And I, too, am willing to help in her rescue.”

The conversation faltered into silence as both men considered their willingness.

“I have been racking my brains for a solution,” Singh said at last. “But we must proceed safely. There is little point in complicating the situation by having both of you lost.”

“I know.”

“It seems to me,” Singh said carefully, “that we should perhaps consult with the other researchers to ascertain if their findings will be of any help to us.”

“But the researchers are not here today,” said Miles.

“Alas, no,” Singh replied. “Finding them will take a little time. Do you have a better idea?”

“No, but I’m concerned about my wife.”

“I’m sure she’ll be fine, wherever she is,” Singh said. “She is a formidable lady.”

“True.” Miles managed a little smile. “Lucinda can take care of herself. I don’t doubt that she’ll be safe, at least for a while. Someone is probably making her a cup of tea.”

“Then shall we go in search of my colleagues?” Singh said.

“What if she returns while we’re away? She’ll be very angry when she gets back, especially if I’m not here to meet her.”

“I’ll instruct Ahmed to keep watch,” said Singh. “He will certainly agree. After all, it’s the least he can do. He will telephone me immediately if your lady wife returns.”

Miles hesitated.

His watery blue eyes met Singh’s brown ones for an instant.

Miles looked quickly away. “I guess that would be okay then,” he said slowly.

Singh nodded. “You have my complete sympathy, Professor Smythe.”

“As long as someone is here for her.”

“I understand entirely,” Singh murmured.

“Do you know where we might find your colleagues today?” Miles asked.

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