“Lethe,” Torec snarled. “And that garbage about timelike infinity—did you mean any of it?”

“I gave hope,” he said quietly. “And it gave me hope. That some day it will all be put right. People died because of me.”

Blue said, “Down on the Rocks, you saved far more.”

“The arithmetic of death doesn’t work like that,” Burden said.

“No, it doesn’t,” Torec said.

“I let you down, Squadron Leader.”

“Yes,” Red said with feeling. “Yes, you did.”

“When you asked me to join you, and then to be a flight commander, I couldn’t refuse. It was such a noble thing to attempt, such a right thing. I wanted to be part of it. I just hoped I’d be able to get through it.”

“Well, you haven’t,” Torec said bitterly.

Red said, “Guys, we don’t have time for this.”

“I’ll make the run,” said Blue immediately.

Red said, “Why? To save face for your buddy?”

“No. Because I’m the better choice for a two-ship run anyhow. Think about it, Red. We’re the same person. If we go in together, communication’s going to be essential. If we can’t understand each other, who can?”

Red said, “But—”

“I know what you intend to do,” Pirius Blue said. “While I drop my bombs, you’ll draw the flak. That’s what you’re really planning, isn’t it, Red? You see, I told you I understood you.”

Pirius sighed. “All right. Cabel. Bilson. Yes, I intend to draw the flak away from Blue. Maybe that way we’ll give him a chance of succeeding with the mission. But you’ve been down there already. If you don’t think you can do this again—”

“Count me in,” Cabel said immediately.

Bilson was clearly having a lot more difficulty. But the navigator sighed raggedly. “You did say that if we screwed up today we’d be back tomorrow. Let’s get it over.”

“Good man,” Pirius said warmly.

“Let’s do it,” Blue said. His ship broke immediately out of the formation.

Pirius grasped his controls, and the two ships settled side by side.

Burden said, “I just want to say—”

“Later,” Red snapped.

Torec whispered, “Godspeed.”

Blue asked, “What does that mean?”

“Something I learned on Earth. Very old, I think.”

“No good-byes,” Pirius Red said. “Ten minutes, we’ll be back.”

Torec forced a laugh. “Knowing my luck, both of you. Or neither . . .”

In formation, the two ships swept down through the great hollow toward the shining puddle of the accretion disc.

Once again Red found himself flying low over the accretion disc; once again the event horizon itself rose like a malevolent sun before him. But this time Blue’s ship was a green spark off his port bow.

Blue opened a private loop to Red. “Of course,” he said, “if we both get killed down here, then nothing will be left of me—of you.”

“That would be simpler,” Red said.

“That it would. Take care of Torec if—”

“And you,” Red called. “Good luck, brother.”

“Yes—Lethe! I’m in flak!”