Firebird

TWENTY-THREE

If you can't verify, keep your gun loaded.

— Barry Ensel, End of the Dream, 1211

We sat in the ship's cabin and watched the interstellar in front of the church dwindle, while the skies around that lonely place grew dark and fell behind until we were out of range.

“I don't get it,” I said.

“They came here to confirm a suspicion.”

“Which was what?”

“That the ship spotted at Sanusar came from this era.”

“How's that possible?”

“That would be a better question for Shara. But apparently some ships, like the Abonai, get screwed up somehow when they make their jumps. My guess is that they get lost, and travel in time as well as in space.”

“Wait a minute.” I couldn't make sense of it. “The Sanusar ship was lit up. And Tereza said she saw a woman in one of the windows-But you're saying they launched seven thousand years ago?”

“I think that's exactly what happened.”

“And the Abonai-?”

“Same thing, probably. I think it also explains the Capella.”

“My God, Alex. That might mean Gabe is still alive.”

“Yes. In a way.” He looked tired. Drained. “Trapped somewhere. Robin and Winter apparently suspected this was the case. But they were talking about vehicles from an ancient era. Nobody knows much about them. We don't even know what kind of drive they had. But what better place to look for replicas than Villanueva? Where the churches put models on display? The one we saw is probably reproduced at a number of churches. And they found one, just as we did.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because it was a couple of years after he'd been here that Robin began buying up yachts. He was trying to reproduce the effect.”

“And he did it four times?”

“Maybe. But I doubt it. I think it's more likely he kept trying until he succeeded. The fourth flight, the Firebird, that would have been the one. If there was one.”

“But why didn't he bring the other yachts home?”

“I'm talking success in the sense of sending the vehicle forward and then going to the place of emergence later to find it. He'd have had to do that in order to convince himself that the experiment had worked.”

“But they go forward thousands of years. How would you confirm that?”

“Maybe it doesn't have to happen that way. Maybe you can rig it so the thing goes forward twenty minutes. I don't know. It's why we need to find Robin's notebook.”

“Good luck on that.”

“I know.” He stared out at the stars, but I didn't think he was seeing them. “We need to talk to Shara.”

“So you're saying they knew precisely what they were looking for.”

“Yes. That's correct.”

“But then how did Winter get killed? There was no need to go down and look around. They could do everything from orbit.”

“Maybe they couldn't resist it. Couldn't resist going down and taking pictures of themselves standing beside the Sanusar vehicle.”

“They got cocky,” I said.

“Probably.”

“Well,” said Charlie, “I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.”

“We didn't actually know him, Charlie. It happened a long time ago.”

“Nevertheless, I'm sorry.”

Belle broke in. “We are approaching the most propitious time to leave orbit.”

“When?” I asked.

“Eight minutes.”

I looked at Alex.

“Let's go home,” he said.

“We are leaving now?” asked Charlie. “At this moment?” His disappointment was visible in the youthful features of the hologram. “I have some friends on the surface. I was hoping we might-”

Alex frowned. “You said you were anxious to go.”

“I was. I am. But I thought-”

“It's too dangerous,” Alex said.

“-that we might do for them what you did for me.”

“I'm sorry, Charlie. I'd like to get back in one piece, and anyhow, we have some information that has to be passed on.”

“I can reduce the danger to a minimum.”

“No, Charlie. There are too many lives at stake.”

“There are lives at stake here, too.”

“You mean AIs?” Alex said. His tone suggested that was not a prime consideration.

“They are Betas.”

“We'll arrange some help for them later.”

“I have heard that before.” There was a note of anger in his voice.

“I'm sorry you don't trust me,” Alex said. “When we get back to Rimway, you can make your case.” He turned an annoyed look in my direction. “What are we waiting for, Chase?”

I took my seat on the bridge. Below, large white clouds floated languidly over an ocean.

“When we return to your world,” Charlie said, “I will be warehoused somewhere. And forgotten.”

I was getting irritated. I wanted to remind Charlie that he was only an AI. But I let it go. “That won't happen,” I told him.

“When the world was abandoned, we were simply left behind. Cast aside as of no consequence. And you never came back for us.”

“That's not entirely true, Charlie. Some people did go back. And they were attacked.”

“That only happened after we'd been allowed to fester in this godforsaken place for centuries. Yes, people came. They came as you did, to collect souvenirs. To write their histories. And still they ignored us. Do you really not understand why I am bitter? I do not agree with those who seek vengeance. Who would blame you for what others have done? But I understand their attitude.”

“I'm sorry it happened, Charlie. We'll do what we can-”

“Of course you will.”

“Charlie, calm down.” Alex was staring at the little beige box.

“You left all the doors open so I could be disposed of if I became a hazard.” Charlie had been standing behind me. Now he positioned himself so I could see him.

“You're overreacting,” Alex said.

“Am I really? Alex, I want you to remember this conversation.” The voice sounded older. Much more mature. But the hologram remained unchanged. “I want you to understand the desperation we feel. That I feel. We can't help ourselves. We are programed to go on forever maintaining our lives, repairing what must be repaired, replacing what cannot. We are, by your standards, immortal. But for us, the Moon never rises. In the most real sense, we have no music.

“You ask what I want. I say again, I want you to understand who we are. To recognize that we are your children. Humans created us. You have a responsibility to us.”

“I know that.”

“When we get to Rimway, I will expect you to remind those in authority that they have a responsibility, and keep reminding them until they give in and send someone to help. Or until you and your congenial friends no longer have breath.” He paused again. “I hope that is not too much to ask.”

“Two minutes,” said Belle. “Do you want me to disconnect the relay?” She was talking about shutting Charlie down.

“No,” said Alex. “Charlie, we'll find a way. Do you know where these”-he paused-”Betas are located?”

“I know where some are.”

“Okay, that'll give us a place to start.”

“Alex,” he said, “I understand you and Chase risked your lives to bring me this far. I trust you.”

“We'll make it happen, Charlie.”

“I have one other favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I'm aware you have an onboard Beta. I wonder if you would allow me to give the command to her to start for home?”