The Smoke Ring

“Raym found you something, Silver Man.”

Clave jumped. “What? Carlot, don’t do that.”

“Rather, take it. It’s sporing fringe. Bring it back if you can. It’s worth money.”

Rather took the bag. “What’s it for?”

“If you’re in trouble, throw it. Everyone around you will have a wonderful time while you get away. Make sure you don’t breathe it.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

“Sure.”

“I’m ready to go.”

There was something more that he ought to say, something she expected, but he couldn’t for the life of him think what it was.

“You get tired, I’ll take over,” Debby said. “No, no, the tank must be nearly full by now.” Sweat slicked Raym wherever his skin showed. He was gri

The tank must be full already, Debby thought. They wouldn’t let Raym stop until—

Raym stopped. “What was that?”

Debby turned to where he was looking. “I don’t see anything.”

Tiny twin flames burned in the Dark, receding.

“Huh.” Raym resumed pedaling. “Hope that isn’t the fire getting closer. You never know where it’s go

Carlot called from the rocket. “Raym! Enough. Let’s go find our mudball.”

Chapter Twenty

The Library

from Discipline’s records, year 926 State:

YOUR ORDERS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

1)…YOU WILL VISIT EACH OF THESE STARS IN TURN. OTHER TARGETS MAY BE ADDED. WHERE APPROPRIATE YOU WILL SEED THE ATMOSPHERES OF PROTO-EARTH WORLDS WITH TAILORED ALGAE USING THE CANNISTERS YOU CARRY. THE STATE EXPECTS TO SETTLE THESE WORLDS, SPREADING HUMANITY AMONG VARIABLE ENVIRONMENTS, AGAINST DANGERS THAT MIGHT AFFECT ONLY SOL SYSTEM.

2) THE STATE IS AWARE THAT YOU DO NOT REQUIRE A CREW TO OPERATE.

THE HUMAN SPECIES IS NOT INVULNERABLE. THERE IS FINITE RISK THAT THE CREW OF ANY INTERSTELLAR SPACECRAFT MAY FIND, ON ITS RETURN, THAT IT HAS BECOME THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE. YOUR CREW AND THEIR GENES ARE YOUR PRIMARY CARGO. CLASSIFIED.

3) YOUR TERTIARY MISSION IS TO EXPLORE. IN PARTICULAR, ANY EARTHLIKE WORLD WITH POSSIBILITIES FOR COLONIZATION MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND REPORTED IMMEDIATELY.

MATTER WAS TOO THICK IN HERE TO USE BOOT JETS.

Rather used them to get clear of Raym’s sight, then do

There were no ponds; but sometimes you could catch a glint of light from one of the fuzzy-edged fungus jungles. There were white pillow shapes, and flat white lenses streaked with yellow and crimson, and networks of interwoven pale stalks. He took care to avoid touching anything; he flew around clouds of dust or spores. The paint on him would still be wet.

Rather began to understand the beauty Raym found in the Dark.

Straight lines, rare in a tree, were unheard of here, save (rarely) for long beams of blue-white or yellow-white sunlight breaking through the murk. Where he saw these, he corrected his course to cross them. This close to crossyear, north would be at right angles to Voy and the sun. After what felt like a couple of days he was seeing many more. The Dark had grown rarified. Now there was room for jets.

He fired a burst of five breaths’ duration. Mist flowed past him as he coasted out of the Dark.

The day brightened. Too bright. His eyes were slow to adjust.

“Jeffer the Scientist calling Rather. Can you hear me yet?”

Jeffer’s voice was scratchy. Rather turned up the volume. “Reception isn’t good, but I’m hearing you. I’m nearly out, moving north, coasting. The rest of us are in good shape. How long till we get Kendy?”

“A quarter day to spare. Rather, did you bring wings?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You can’t approach Headquarters on jets. I didn’t think of it.”

“I did.”

“I have you located. Make your burn now. You’re well north of the Smoke Ring. The air’s thin, it won’t slow you much, but in less than a half day you’ll be back in the plane.”

“I know, north and south bring you back. So. How long a bum? What direction? I’m well and truly lost.”

“I’ll time you. Three minutes, about sixty breaths. Can you see Voy? The Market is ten degrees west of out from you, and you have to cross four hundred klomters. You didn’t actually get very far into the Dark.”

By now he’d fallen into clear air, with the Dark spread out below. Rather wriggled to point his feet ten degrees east of Voy. He would move nearly at a tangent to the flow patterns in the Dark.

He lit the jets. His body tried to sag into his boots.

The Dark skimmed below him, a storm with granulations in it, and sudden red and golden and purple glows where the sun shifted just right. Jeffer counted aloud and told him when to fall free.

Flying. The Dark was thi

“Kendy for the State,” said the familiar deep voice.

“Rather, are you on schedule?”

“No problems. Expedition’s in good shape. Raym will probably swear I was there the whole time.”

“Repeat after me. ‘There’s a respectable store of metal here.’ ”

“There’s a respectable—”

“Try to say it like I did. Listen a few times. ‘There’s a respectable store of metal here.’ ”

Rather deepened his voice and tried to spit the syllables. “There’s a respectable store of metal here.”

They rehearsed “You wouldn’t want to have to sell your new house,” and “I need to consult the Library,” and “I relieve you.” Rather was lethally sick of it when Kendy quit. “It’ll have to do. Try to be in a cloud when you sight Headquarters. Don’t make your approach without me.”

“Right.”

“I’ve displayed a neudar map of Headquarters for Jeffer. He can guide you if I’m out of range. Back in two days. Kendy out.”

“Jeffer?”

“Here. Rather, you should try to sleep.”

“Sleep?”

“Nothing natural can hurt you in the silver suit. Sure, sleep. You’ll be less hungry. You’ve got no food.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

He slept not a wink. The turning of the Clump spiral caught him up and he had to make a correcting burn. Houses and decorated puff jungles passed, none close enough to see more than a passing pressure suit. Citizens would wonder what the Navy was doing out here.

Within a layer of haze he found the unmistakable shape of the Market. Headquarters to spinward… “Jeffer? I have it.”

“How close?”

“Forty klomters.”

“Get a lot closer. Approach from the Market side if you can. Rather, it just struck me: there are two ways into the Library, and they have to guard both.”

“So?”

“I don’t think it was ever meant to be guarded. The Library was supposed to be free to all. Just a guess.”

“What’s the word from Kendy?”

“Any breath now.”

“I’ll come in through that cloud bank. You see it? I think there’s a pond in there. I’ll come around that.”

“Kendy for the State. Rather, are you in place?”

The boy sounded edgy. “Ready. You missed some interesting stuff.”

Headquarters was four hundred meters distant. They’d lose a few minutes crossing that. Kendy sent, “Something I should know?”

“No, just interesting. I watched two triune families arrange a marriage.”

“If your helmet faced it I didn’t miss it. Time to move. Just wings.”

Kendy watched the guards as Rather approached.

Would they expect him to have an escort? They spread arms and legs as he came near, with a hand and foot to hold the harpoon. That position had been Attention! for any military man in free-fall since long before Kendy’s birth. The door behind them was large and massive, and closed.