“The computer. It’s learning from me at the same time as I’m learning from it. What I said before about it being temporary? I might be just being kept active as a reference library, sort of. Once my usefulness is over, poof!”

“I hope not. Are you any closer to being able to actually talk to the computer?”

“Yes, but we’re still having problems with a lot of definitions. I think it’s more than just agreeing that a word means this or that. We seem to have completely different lists of concepts that need to be labelled. There’s very little in the way of one to one mappings.”

“Well, I guess the computer’s society would have looked strange to us.”

“But some stuff is coming through better. For instance, I think I know a little more about the Makers.”

“Okay?” Kemp leaned forward, elbows on knees. This might be a breakthrough moment.

“They’re like me. Or, really, I’m like them. At least like some of them—they’re not a single species. They scatter these artifacts, these booby traps, throughout space. Once in a while, some idiot triggers one and gets himself uploaded.”

“Uploaded?”

“Yeah, that’s the word the computer uses. Not sure why. Anyway, the Makers have lots of time. And they’re patient. And they need to contact other races. I haven’t been able to get why, yet, except it’s something to do with the other ones.”

“The bad ones.”

“Mm, yeah. Doc, I don’t know what I’ve stepped into here, but I have a feeling that the phrase We Are Not Alone is an understatement. And not in a good way.”

“Interesting. Anything else, Ivan?”

“I want to talk to the Makers. Or, rather, my computer wants to talk to them. Not sure how it would go about doing that. Or why, really. I think it has something to do with those animal images we discussed, though.”

“That is very interesting, Ivan. I’m going to call a few people after we hang up. Just to compare notes. I’m sure the military didn’t start moving you just to improve the view.”

“My thoughts exactly, doc. Thanks. Talk to you later.”

“Bye, Ivan.”

Kemp sat back, staring into the distance and waving his phone like a baton. Then, reaching a decision, he pulled up Captain Jennings’s number.

The phone buzzed twice before a voice said, “Jennings.”

“Captain Jennings, this is Dr. Kemp—”

“Dr. Kemp! Nice to hear from you. Enjoying your new-found wealth?”

Kemp made fish motions with his mouth for a few moments. It sounded like the voice of Captain Jennings, but the man had never shown the slightest trace of friendliness, beyond the basic formalities.

“Uh, yes, actually. I’m shopping for an ocean or lake view property. Something quiet and away from it all. You?”