Blood of the Cosmos (37 page)

“Kotto never intended for anyone else to have to decipher them,” Howard said in a calm voice to steady her, as he always did.

Uncertain, Shareen went back to recopying and organizing the scientist's handwritten notes for countless half-finished projects and dead ends, crackpot ideas, and musings about physically impossible inventions. “I'm sure he had something clear in mind.”

Kotto had asked Howard and Shareen to do this, since he didn't have time. “And,” he had added with a twinkle in his eye, “it'll give you insight into how my mind works.”

So far, Shareen's primary insight was that Kotto had a disorganized mind. But she supposed that was how the quality of
genius
would appear to an outsider. She knew she was clever enough to figure it out, though.

Inside the chamber cluttered with gadgets, measuring equipment, testing apparatus, and marking boards, KR and GU puttered around the laboratory space. GU said, “Your contributions are far superior to what a compy can provide. Even Technical models like myself and KR could not organize and interpret Kotto's concepts.”

KR added, “We have offered to help him in any way possible, but he does not let us touch his notes.”

Shareen drew satisfaction from that as she picked up the scrambled papers. She reminded herself that Kotto had been responsible for so many incredible breakthroughs, surely something just as important might be hidden here under all the mathematical debris and false starts. She just had to find it. “I can't even tell where one idea ends and another starts. I could be collating two entirely different designs.”

Howard smiled at her. “That could lead to a wondrous hybrid invention.”

“Right, like an advanced cooling system that also makes music.” She shook her head and got back to work.

From looking at his hodgepodge of “ideas in development,” she decided that Kotto Okiah's attention was like a bullet ricocheting through a maze. Most of his “designs” were simple musings without underlying calculations, as if he jotted down any amusing thought that came to mind but never bothered to go through the vigorous mathematics and proofs to back it up. In fact, Howard had said the same thing about her. Shareen smiled to think she might have something in common with Kotto.…

As a Roamer, she had had an insatiable curiosity since she was a child. She had taken apart mechanical objects long before she had any inkling of how to put them back together (causing much consternation when she meddled with sophisticated ekti-harvesting systems in her family's skymine).

When she'd gone to Earth to study in a prestigious academy, she hadn't done well in the environment. She argued with her professors, insisting that if she intuitively understood the mechanics, then the math was a waste of time that she could use more effectively for inventing other things. Meeting Howard at the academy had been the one bright spot of the experience—and he taught her the importance of rigorous double-checking and follow-through.

Apparently, no one had taught Kotto that, though. Well, then it was up to her and Howard.

Sifting through the notes, she did find some of the concepts quite fascinating; she just wished she could interpret how Kotto envisioned bringing them to fruition. In years past, he had developed vital defenses against the hydrogues during the Elemental War; he had improved ekti-skymining operations; he had designed and established seemingly impossible Roamer settlements in the most inhospitable of places, from lava worlds to frozen planetoids.

When Shareen reminded herself of all those things, she found more patience for his disorganization. It was an honor to work with such a legend, even if Kotto didn't seem to know what to do with the two of them.

Howard came over to join her. “We always do our best work together. Let me help organize and interpret, since we both want to make sense out of what Kotto was working on.”

“I'm not sure even he knows,” she mumbled, but it was not a complaint. “Between the two of us, maybe we can finish some of these things.”

Kotto's lab space was a dumping ground of half-completed prototypes, from plasma rainbow dispensers to an oscillating sonic projector that could cast strange sounds across a room like a mechanical ventriloquist—to what purpose, Shareen didn't know. He had built a surveillance system equipped with a self-looping anti-grav field so the imager could float independently, but it wobbled so much that any reconnaissance was useless.

At first glance, these uncompleted projects did not seem up to the caliber of Kotto's previous breakthroughs. And his concept sketches for even bigger inventions seemed entirely impractical. She switched on the plasma rainbow dispenser, then turned it off, dazzled by the flood of colors. “A lot of these seem like … toys.”

Howard cautioned, “I would not presume to judge the merits of Kotto Okiah's concepts. It's altogether probable he's so far ahead of us in his thinking that we don't grasp their potential.”

Shareen just wished the scientist would spend more time mentoring them so she could learn—and ask a lot more questions. Instead, Kotto's attention was focused on the Big Ring construction project. She looked up from incomplete or recursive calculations scrawled on a scrap of paper. Outside the lab module, she could see the gigantic torus being assembled in the sea of nebula gas, and its enormity impressed her. Thousands of large superconducting magnets would form a huge loop, powered internally by charged power blocks.

Now
that
would be something to be a part of.

Kotto had been working on the Big Ring with unlimited funding and unwavering Roamer support for six years. His mathematics were beyond the comprehension of most clan members, but when he said the test was necessary, that it might open up a new galactic landscape for instantaneous wormhole travel far superior to the limited Klikiss transportal network, the Roamers gave him the benefit of the doubt. After all, when had he ever asked them for anything before?

The last segments of the torus were just now being framed out with linked girders, and all available power blocks were commandeered for the project. Fireheart Station had just sent out a call for new workers, qualified engineers and experienced space construction crews. With Kotto Okiah's name attached, there would be plenty of applicants.

When it was completed in another month, the Big Ring would be the largest pure-physics experiment humans had ever conducted—and who knew what they would discover about the structure of space-time? The power the ring generated would be inconceivable. Shareen couldn't wait to see it in action.

Howard caught her staring out the windowport. “We both want to take part in that, but we have to impress Kotto first. Maybe then he'll let us assist him.”

With greater determination, Shareen looked back down at the notes spread on the lab table and suddenly realized that two completely separate scribblings were continuations of yet another project, and when she sorted them together, the concept made more sense. “There's the Guiding Star I've been looking for! Looks like Kotto has a plan for sequencing the energy-collector films for power blocks so they can be charged logarithmically instead of linearly.”

Excited now, Shareen used a stylus to cross out several sections that Kotto had painstakingly derived, then left unfinished. “That's a dead end—here's where he went off track.” She tapped a row of calculations, corrected them, then furiously wrote a new sequence of integrals. “
This
is the way to do it.”

Howard bent closer. “Yes, but don't forget this step.” He pointed with his finger. “Logarithmic charging of energy films? That's a significant breakthrough. It could increase Fireheart's production of power blocks by an order of magnitude.”

“Then it's a good thing we figured it out.” Shareen felt a warm pride, wondering if this was some kind of test that Kotto had left for them. He would certainly be proud of what they had done. She glanced again at the Big Ring, then back down at the notes. “We might even have time to finish one of these other inventions.”

Howard accepted the challenge.

 

CHAPTER

59

ORLI COVITZ

With Garrison's personal mission complete, the
Prodigal Son
flew away from the Rendezvous asteroid cluster. They set course for Newstation, where both Orli and Garrison knew there would be great changes for them. She had to go to Earth to take care of unfinished business with Rlinda Kett; Seth would study at Academ with other Roamer children; and Garrison planned to fly back to Ikbir with the requested supplies and a repair crew for Yoder's ship.

He and Orli sat awkwardly during the flight, talking of many things but nothing of consequence. They had been thrown together by circumstances, had found comfort and happiness in each others' company, but neither of them had been intentionally looking for romance. Garrison had his scars from Elisa, and Orli had her scars from Matthew—and she had just recovered from a deadly plague.

Once they reached Newstation, they would have to make a decision. It seemed as if they were going their separate ways, but it didn't have to be permanent. This would be a good chance for them to think and decide.

Garrison smiled uncertainly at her as he flew toward the new Roamer capital complex. “I'll see that Seth gets settled at Academ, but he doesn't want me looking over his shoulder the whole time. I could take you to Earth, if that's what you'd like?”

Orli's smile was troubled. “I think it might be better if DD and I go by ourselves, maybe just for a month. I need some time to think. Is there more to this relationship? Is there a future?”

Garrison took a long time to answer. “I don't know. You're great with Seth, and he adores DD, but … we both have a lot to think about.”

*   *   *

Newstation was a dramatic contrast to Rendezvous. Garrison was upbeat as he piloted the
Prodigal Son
toward the retro-looking wheel station that rotated above the planet Auridia. Seth pointed to a faintly shimmering comet that hung next to the giant station. “That's Academ, DD, where I'm going to school.” He hesitated. “I'll miss you.”

“I will miss you too, Seth Reeves,” DD said, “but the Roamer school has several Teacher compies to assist with your instruction. They are more qualified to educate you than I am.”

Orli felt a pang. “DD and I will be able to visit you, after we make a trip to Earth.”

Garrison added, “Business first. We need to arrange the supplies and equipment for Ikbir.”

Orli knew that the busywork would occupy her mind so she didn't dwell too much on their imminent parting. She and Matthew had had enough good years in their marriage to give her some fond thoughts, but enough bad years to negate most of it. Having been treated badly himself, Garrison was also cautious. But he and Orli were so good together, and she felt close to Seth.… Maybe it wouldn't take her a month after all to make up her mind—if Garrison came to the same conclusion.

While Garrison and his son went to arrange for Seth to attend the school, Orli took DD and the list of supplies Ikbir needed. As they moved through the frenetic station, DD maintained a patter of conversation, but Orli was preoccupied.

Early in her life she had experienced so much drama, so much tragedy, that she had wanted to settle down. She and Matthew got married, and she spent years working with compies on Relleker. When that fizzled, she went to her old friend Rlinda Kett and tried her hand at trading. That hadn't turned out well either. Orli's life seemed to be a succession of dramas and dead ends, and now she needed to go back to Rlinda for closure. And Garrison … Garrison needed to find his own way.

They reconvened at dinner. Seth ran to DD to tell him all about the classes he intended to take, and Orli was surprised to see Garrison just as exuberant. “Kotto Okiah just posted that he's looking for qualified engineers to help finish the Big Ring.” His eyes were shining. “The Big Ring!”

Orli didn't know what that was, and DD promptly explained, “It is a gigantic physics experiment being constructed out at Fireheart Station. The results of the tests could provide extraordinary insights into the structure of space-time.”

Garrison nodded. “This is a chance to be a part of history. They sent an open call for engineers and constructors, and the project will last a month.” He offered her an optimistic smile. “A month—is that the time you needed?
We
needed?”

“What about the supplies for Ikbir?” Orli said.

He dismissed the idea. “This is Newstation. I can find a dozen Roamers to make the run, and I wasn't really looking forward to going back there anyway. This is simply too great an opportunity to pass up.”

“It sounds perfect for you.” She grew more serious. “You saved me in more ways than one, Garrison, and I'll always be grateful.”

He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her, much to Seth's amusement. “If you start missing me too much, you'll know where to find me.”

*   *   *

After traveling to Earth aboard a Roamer passenger yacht, Orli and DD made their way to Kett Shipping headquarters. The big hearty woman came out of her office, and swept Orli up in her massive arms. “I never thought I'd see you alive again, girl!”

“We are very pleased you didn't see her dead, either,” DD said.

“And that was a close thing,” Orli admitted.

Rlinda herded them into her office. “We've got a lot of catching up to do. I'll order a meal for us.”

“I'm not all that hungry.”

“Then I'll order a meal for
me
, and it'll look so delicious, you'll want to eat anyway. I know it.”

Orli supposed the trader woman was right. In a somber voice, she said, “I'm sorry I lost the
Proud Mary
. I had no other option—it was contaminated, and I didn't want to risk—”