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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

Droo was thinking about it: “We do not have the expertise or the technology to make a determination, Governor. However, I have gotten to know Ken and Hutch and the other Earthers quite well. I can tell you that I would not hesitate to trust them with my life. I cannot see what any of them would have to gain by lying. Consequently, I suggest we take them at their word.”

Droo turned over a set of photos. She examined them and looked up.

“I should add, Governor, that the pictures don’t show the reality. The sky seems to bend around it. I can show you if you like.”

“Please do.”

Priscilla’s Journal

Arin and Kwylla are among the most courageous people I’ve met. There’s no way I’d go riding off into the stars with aliens who admitted at the outset that there’s a fair chance I wouldn’t be able to come back. I think I’d rather take my chances that they were making up their claim about the black hole.

—Saturday, September 6, 2256

38.

Ultimately it is the heart of a sentient being which gives meaning to the universe.

—Angela Compton, The Last Warrior, 2166

It was pouring rain the following evening when Ken and Hutch left Arin’s cottage and rode with him and Kwylla in their car to the town hall, where a representative of Governor Rankin would deliver the news. Four chairs had been set aside for them at the front of the auditorium. Rumors of a problem had been floating for several days, but apparently, the actual depth of the threat had not gotten out. The hall, which had an accommodation of about seven hundred, had already overflowed, but they were crowding everyone inside. Extra chairs were being brought in and set along the walls and at the back of the auditorium.

The warmth Hutch had felt from the Volarians had vanished. They watched her with suspicion, possibly with anger, as if she and Ken were responsible for whatever it was they were about to confront. The place was noisy until the governor’s representative was introduced. Then it became quiet.

Hutch put on her pod and activated her commlink so Tasha could translate everything for her. Ken had one also, but he was going to try to get by without it.