Shalon responded: “As I’m sure you realize, Derek, I’m not in a position to make that kind of decision. We’d have to get approval from higher authority. The president said he would abide by any commitment I make with you, but that statement should not be taken too seriously. However, he might be willing to lend assistance. You must let me talk with him first.”

“Of course. We can wait. You know how to contact us?”

“You will stay within radio range?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

The office fell silent. Finally, Zyra walked over to Derek and took his arm. “May I show you around the museum? I understand you’ve seen the first floor, but there’s considerably more. Security can clear the building for us.”

“Oh, yes,” he said. “I’d love that.” Derek was faking the enthusiasm. But he didn’t want to offend anyone, and he got away with it. “Can we do it without forcing anybody to leave?”

“We can try it if you wish. We’re not allowing anyone else inside the building. So, there will only be a few visitors to contend with.”

“Good. Let’s do it.”

•  •  •

The place was empty. It was obvious that the people who’d been in the building had been escorted outside. Either that, Hutch thought, or they’d decided they didn’t want to hang around with something that scared the kids.

Zyra walked with them among the displays and described the significance of urns and vases and rifles and aircraft that were thousands of years old. She talked about civilizations that had risen and fallen over the ages. It was difficult for her, of course, like showing off a sword that had once belonged to a member of Augustus’s Praetorian Guard to someone who had never heard of Rome. But she was energetic. Especially when they arrived at the interstellar section. “We’ve had to reinvent FTL vehicles twice after losing the technology. And I guess we’ve reached that stage again.”

They had religious artifacts from sects that had once prospered but had long since disappeared. There was a lectern that had belonged to the leader of the first global civilization, which had established and maintained peace for centuries. (Though Tasha had not yet worked out the actual length of a century.) There was a chair that had been the property of a celebrated playwright, and a timepiece that had belonged to Kamas Gordone, a mathematician who’d either constructed or solved the Gordonian Enigma. Shalon tried to explain it. Derek listened, asked some questions, and finally concluded that it was Fermat’s Theorem. But he admitted he wasn’t sure.

There were statues of historical leaders, mythical figures, artists, and even of a famous entertainer. “During her lifetime,” said Zyra, “everyone loved her. She is still very popular. I don’t know if anyone was more successful at making us laugh.