“—are doomed to watch them in syndication or remakes,” he finished. Apparently the aphorism was a bit different here. But close enough. We turned together to finish ascending the long ramp, toward the low-insistent, jangling sound. While my guide pointed to this or that figure of Level Eighteen prominence, I grunted and nodded, trying to give an impression that it was all very familiar. As if I were, at most, visiting from another city on the same planet. But in fact, what I really wanted was one thing in particular.

This fellow may be what passes for a scholar in this ruined culture. If I can come up with some excuse to gain access to a library, an archive, perhaps a computer network, even if it is just a vestige of the plant’s glory days, it might teach me enough to help search for the Captain… or make contact with the Clever Gamble…

While I was pondering ways to put my request, we came upon a final row of exhibits – and I saw that they were empty.

REMOVED FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE, said a placard in one of the glass cases. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

“Been that way for ages,” my companion clucked, without breaking stride, keeping our momentum up the final portion of the ramp. “In fact, you can’t blame our latter day lords for glossing over the Big Transition. Those on top seldom want to be reminded how they got there.”

It sounded like a perfect opening for my request. Only, before I could speak, Katske stretched one of his skeletal-thin arms.

“And here you are, at the Great Atrium, where I must leave you. May the bones roll in your favor.”

We had, indeed, arrived in an impressive expanse, even by Alliance standards, a vast opening many stories high, with sloping walls that reiterated the pyramidal motif of the massive building, itself. Here, the low jangling seemed to come from many directions at once, while throngs hurried through a number of broad portals, each of them marked with flashing signage.

“If I could just bother you for one more—” I began, turning to implore a favor of the curator. But my jaw snapped shut when I saw that it was too late. He was already gone, vanished amid the host of people hurrying about.