“These trapezoidal stone windows are … portal walls. Klikiss mathematics and engineering are completely amazing. Using what we already learned from the Torch, I was able to back-calculate and fill in some of the equations.” He placed one hand atop the humming machinery, gesturing with the other toward the compelling blank trapezoid. “These portal walls are a completely different type of star travel. According to the equations, this machinery makes the variable of distance go to zero. They shift the reference frame, overlapping coordinates of different destinations.”

Margaret stared in amazement. “In other words, they could travel through these portal walls from Klikiss city to Klikiss city without even climbing aboard a spaceship.”

“And without ekti, and without wasting any time.” He turned to the Klikiss robots. “Isn’t that right? Do you remember anything yet?”

Sirix answered, “Your conjecture appears to be reasonable. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm or deny with certainty.”

“If you’re right, that explains why they never bothered to leave any records of spaceships, though they obviously traveled from planet to planet.” Margaret turned to her husband, holding out a stern finger. “You’d better not even think about testing one of these portals, old man. That machinery has been nonfunctional for thousands of years. You may be a genius, but you don’t really understand how it works yet.”

“No, dear.”

Abruptly, the two black robots swiveled on their ellipsoidal body cores and scuttled toward the exit of the chamber.

“Where are you going?” DD asked.

“We must inform Ilkot of this development,” Dekyk said.

Louis called after them, “Well, if you remember anything, come back and tell us right away.”

The Klikiss robots vanished, leaving Margaret and Louis alone with DD. Margaret turned to the compy. “When the robots talk to each other in their electronic language, can you understand any of it?”

“Not all of it, Margaret, but a substantial portion.”

“And? What were they just saying to each other?”

“Sirix and Dekyk seemed quite excited by your translations and deductions.”

She frowned. “Were they excited, as in ‘thrilled and happy’? Or were they more… agitated.”

“Those nuances are beyond my capabilities of interpretation,” DD said. “I am very sorry, Margaret.”

Louis’s enthusiasm and good cheer could not be diluted. He placed his bony arm around his wife’s shoulders and gave her another hug. “We still have that dusty old bottle of champagne we brought with us, don’t we, dear? Tonight we have plenty of cause to celebrate.”

Margaret smiled. “Absolutely right, old man—if I can just

finish translating this section of the wall. I think the Klikiss

have a few more surprises in store for us.”

“Incredible!” Her voice was husky in her dry throat. At last, after staring for hours and crouching until her muscles cramped, Margaret couldn’t believe what she read.

Beside her, DD said brightly, “I am sure it is incredible, Margaret.”