“Let’s hope,” said Derek, “we’re within a few light-years.”

“Seven thousand years is a long time,” she said. “I wonder whether any civilization can last that long. Judging by what we’ve seen so far, most of them seem to collapse pretty quickly.”

“Five minutes,” said Barry.

“What’s this star look like?” asked Beth, speaking through the allcomm.

Wally responded. “Like every other star in the sky.”

“So how do we tell it from the others?”

Derek took it from there: “We have its spectrum, Beth. We have a telescope so Barry should have no trouble identifying Calliope.”

Wally asked whether each star’s spectrum was unique, and that led to a discussion that quickly faded from Hutch’s attention. Barry came in on her personal channel to inform her they were at one minute. She broke into the conversation. “Get ready, guys. Let’s finish this on the other side.”

The AI counted down the last twenty seconds, Derek thanked Hutch for a smooth ride, and then they were out under the stars again. The near-blinding effect of the Wasserman Cluster was of course gone, although it was still visible behind them, a relatively dim cloud now.

“Everybody okay?”

“It makes me want to throw up,” said Ken.

“You all right?” Beth’s voice.

“Yeah. I’m okay. I think I need a cinnamon bun.”

“Anybody else with a problem?”

“I’m good,” said Barry.

She laughed. “All right, people. We’re hunting for Calliope. That might take a while. In the meantime, you can unbelt and wander around.” Hutch switched over to the AI. “Glad you’re okay, Barry. Do you know where we are?”

He would be comparing the sky with what the star patterns would look like had they emerged close to Calliope. “Give me a minute, Captain.”

Derek got up, opened the door, and paused. “Priscilla, let me know as soon as you have something.” He disappeared into the passenger cabin. She sat quietly for several minutes, staring out at the sky, looking maybe for moving lights, for something that would give them what they were hoping for. But she saw nothing unusual.

Finally, Barry was back. “We did extremely well, Captain. We are within thirty light-years of Calliope.”

“Great. Have you found it yet? The star?”

“No. I don’t see it. But despite our enthusiasm, thirty light-years is a considerable distance. Let’s just stay on course and get closer.”

•  •  •

Hutch went back and ordered a sandwich while she waited. Beth joined her. “How does Barry know we’re thirty light-years away if he can’t see Calliope yet?”