Arin turned back to Ken. “Are you certain? Is there any possibility that you’ve made a miscalculation?”

Ken looked at Derek. “You’re the expert. Any chance we’re wrong?”

“I don’t see,” Derek said in English, “any way that could be possible.”

Ken caught Arin’s eyes and shook his head.

“Let me understand, then. You’re offering to take us to see this dead star that you say is coming toward us?”

“Yes. If you wish.”

“How long will this take?”

“Not long. A couple of days. But you might also want to look at the new world.”

“We can see that too?”

“Yes.”

“Am I correct that the vehicle in the sky, the one that circles the planet, is bigger than the aircraft with the six seats? That is the vehicle we’ll be traveling in?”

“Yes.” They finally got some smiles. “The ship in orbit is much larger than the lander.”

“Incredible. And I assume you have food on this ship?”

“Yes. But you should bring some of your own. Maybe fifteen days’ worth. Just to be safe.”

“You can preserve it?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Arin had been so happy a few minutes earlier, coming out of the temple. Now he looked exhausted. “Give us some time. We’ll put together a team and you can show us this thing. This dead star. I assume that when you say you will need my help that you are talking about something more than an inspection tour.”

“Yes. Putting together a fleet of vehicles to manage the transportation of your people to another world will require a major effort by our people. There’s a substantial chance that those who sent us will decline to help. We need you to go home with us and help persuade them.”

“And how can I possibly do that? By making all kinds of gestures? I can’t even speak your language.”

“You’re already doing pretty well, Arin. You can work on it during the ride home. We’ll have time. You can handle it.”

“Are these creatures—no, I’m sorry, I mean people—can they be persuaded?”

“I hope so. There’s one other issue: It’s possible they may not only refuse to help, but they might not allow us to return here. You could get stranded on our world. But we need you to help win them over. Our people are capable of acts of kindness, but sometimes, they just don’t understand. They will find you easy to like, and we hope that will inspire them to do whatever is necessary.”

Beth’s voice came in through the pod: “Darling,” she said, “the people they have to persuade are like us, you and me and Derek. You don’t want him thinking he will have to persuade some hard-core politicians.”

Kwylla put a hand on Arin’s knee. “Love, you don’t go unless I do.”

Beth Squires’s Notes