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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

“We can’t do anything, anyhow. You can’t stop a black hole.”

“What’s that got to do with blocking the TV?”

Most of the diners were listening to Arin: “Kwylla and I will probably be gone before it happens. But the lives of our children will be cut short. And their children.” Suddenly, they were looking at the beach filled with Volarians. It was one of the clips Hutch had inserted. “I must confess to you, Hutch, that my faith in Alora was shaken by this. Until you informed us there was a chance that you and your people might be able to step in. I was reminded that I should not be so quick to give up.”

Hutch saw the diners reaching toward one another, whispering, shaking their heads, finishing their drinks. A guy in a nearby booth was saying how you couldn’t trust the government.

The eighteen minutes played out. A few people grumbled about losing the Series. Near the end, Arin described his gratitude to their visitors, and how he prayed they really could help, and at that moment, the program ended. Some people were reaching for their handkerchiefs.

•  •  •

One of the diners recognized Hutch and came to the table to thank her for what she’d done. He was quickly joined by a swarm of others, asking to shake her hand and showing their approval. One complained that she might have done it, though, after the World Series was over.

NEWSDESK

Saturday–Tuesday, October 11–14, 2256

NSB CLAIMS TECH FAILURE CAUSED FILM SHUTDOWN

ALIENS LOOK LIKE DOLPHINS

ALIENS CAPTIVE AT UNION SPACE STATION

WSA: Isolated as Precaution

BLACK HOLE EXPECTED TO CRUSH DOLPHIN WORLD IN SIXTY YEARS

Connected to Waterfall Transmission Acquired by Van Entel

PRESIDENT PROCTOR: ALIENS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF

ONE OF THE ALIENS IS A PREACHER

Represents Monotheistic Religion

DOLPHINS RESCUED STARSHIP CREW AFTER CRASH

Hutchins: “They’re the Reason We’re Here”

WSA DIRECTOR STEPS DOWN

Zhang Chao Resigns

Denies Connection to Volarian Controversy

44.

The strongest, most generous, and proudest of all virtues is true courage.

—Michel de Montaigne, Essays, III, 1588

The world changed during the following few weeks. Kwylla and Arin were released with a report that they posed no threat to the general population. They became immensely popular guests on the morning talk shows, with late-night comedians, and on major news programs. Kwylla even showed up playing herself on the domestic comedy Touch and Go.