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Back The Long Sunset Save as PDF
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Prologue
  5. 1.
  6. 2.
  7. 3.
  8. 4.
  9. 5.
  10. 6.
  11. 7.
  12. 8.
  13. 9.
  14. 10.
  15. 11.
  16. 12.
  17. 13.
  18. 14.
  19. 15.
  20. 16.
  21. 17.
  22. 18.
  23. 19.
  24. 20.
  25. 21.
  26. 22.
  27. 23.
  28. 24.
  29. 25.
  30. 26.
  31. 27.
  32. 28.
  33. 29.
  34. 30.
  35. 31.
  36. 32.
  37. 33.
  38. 34.
  39. 35.
  40. 36.
  41. 37.
  42. 38.
  43. 39.
  44. 40.
  45. 41.
  46. 42.
  47. 43.
  48. 44.
  49. Epilogue
  50. About the Author
  51. Copyright

“Yes. To a degree. We do not have politicians. The president is programmed to ensure that his decisions are made in the common interest. It is not a perfect system, but it provides the great majority of us with meaningful lives. And with an opportunity to pursue those areas that are of interest. Unfortunately, we must deal occasionally with situations that require our intervention. For example, an area in the southern hemisphere lost a substantial portion of its population several years ago because of a new virus that appeared. We have a few individual researchers who were eventually able to devise medications, but it took longer than it would have if we’d possessed an active team.” Shalon paused. “Derek, can I get you a drink or something? Forgive me; it’s not every day we receive visits from persons like yourself.”

“No, thank you, Shalon. I’m fine.”

“So, what will you do now?”

“We’ll have to think about it.”

“If you’re interested, we have a museum which is focused on civilization’s early years.”

“That sounds intriguing. Is it in this area?”

“Yes. It is only a short ride.”

“Tell me: Why do you think your people stopped traveling among the stars?”

“For the same reason we stopped pursuing science. Because there was nothing new to find. Nothing to learn. We had everything we wanted.”

“You were lucky the gods hadn’t gotten bored.”

Priscilla’s Journal

If Shalon and his friends really believe that interstellar travel is of no consequence, that it simply consumes time and resources, they should take a trip out to the ocean world. Or to that star that’s about to go supernova.

—Saturday, August 16, 2256

34.

Who does the best his circumstance allows

Does well, acts nobly; angels could do no more.

—Edward Young, Night-Thoughts II, 1732

Hutch activated her commlink. “I’d like to go with you to the museum.”

“Best stay where you are, Hutch.” He disconnected before she could answer.

Shalon put his red jacket back on. They went downstairs and left the terminal. The black car was waiting for them. But the robots were gone. Apparently, he now trusted his visitor. Doors opened and they climbed in. He spoke to the car, and Tasha translated: “Take us to the Repository.” Then he spoke to Derek: “It’s located in the center of the city.”

The car pulled out onto the road, proceeded about five minutes into a set of rising hills, and turned onto a highway.