He grinned. “Yes. I think it would be. Make new friends. Sit down and talk with them, if we can find a way to do that. And I don’t mean talking with their physicists. I mean ordinary people. These guys at Calliope: If they really had television seven thousand years ago, I’d love to get a few history books from them. Find out what matters to them. Whether they’ve been able to put together a peaceful existence.”

Hutch smiled. “It all comes down to hanging out with them in a bar.”

“I think you could say that, Hutch.”

“I think Jack Crispee should get you on his show.”

•  •  •

They left the mess area and strolled back into the passenger cabin, where the conversation had shifted to politics. Wally supported Proctor; Beth and Derek thought any of the candidates on the other side would be a distinct improvement. They were all nursing drinks. Hutch’s intention was to cruise straight through and go onto the bridge. Not that there was any point in sitting up there, but she didn’t want to listen to another debate. “Wait, Hutch,” said Wally. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Oh?” The remark caught everyone’s attention. Surprises were generally not something you wanted to encounter on a starship.

“What’s the surprise?” asked Hutch.

He glanced around at the others. “We’ve all been on long-range runs before, right? Well, that means everybody can remember sitting in here for weeks, wishing you could get out of this damned room and go somewhere? Just get some fresh air? Well, I’m happy to announce there’s been an upgrade in the technology. Barry, you listening?”

“I’m right here, Wally.”

“Good. Make it happen.”

“Wally, you know I can’t do that. The only person here who can give me instructions is the captain.”

“All right. Hutch, I guess you’ll have to tell him to proceed.”

“Proceed with what, Wally?”

“Just tell him to go ahead. Trust me.”

Hutch knew Wally well enough that trusting him was not a problem. Still, she didn’t want the others to get the impression she was weak. She glanced over at Derek, who was seated beside him, signaling that she should go ahead. She was about to do it when her instincts cut in. “What’s going to happen?”

“Hutch,” he said, “where would you like to be at this moment?”

“I don’t know. Maybe in New York, headed for one of the shows.”

“Good. I don’t think we can quite manage that, but we can get close. Tell Barry to run the program.”

She didn’t see how that could go wrong. “Okay, Barry. Do what Wally set up.”