За разломом орла

           Istartedwakingupproperly."Saythatagain." 

           "Theroutingerrorwasmoreseverethanyouwereledtobelieve.IttookyoufarbeyondtheLocalBubble." 

           Igropedforanger,evenresentment,butallIfeltwasadizzyingsensationoffalling."Howfarout?" 

           "Furtherthanyouthoughtpossible." 

           Thenextquestionwasobvious. 

           "BeyondtheRift?" 

           "Yes,"shesaid,withthefaintestofsmiles,asifhumouringmeinagamewhoserulesandobjectivesshefoundultimatelydemeaning."BeyondtheAquilaRift.Along,longwaybeyondit." 

           "Ineedtoknow,Greta." 

           Shepushedherselffromthebed,reachedforagown. "Thengetdressed.I’llshowyou." 

           *** 

           IfollowedGretainadaze. 

           Shetookmetothedomeagain. Itwasdark,justasithadbeenthenightbefore,withonlythelamp-littablestoactasbeacons. IsupposedthattheilluminationthroughoutSaumlakiStation(orwhereverthiswas)wasatthewhimofitsoccupants,anddidn’tnecessarilyhavetofollowanyrecognizablediurnalcycle. Nonethelessitwasstillunsettlingtofinditchangedsoarbitrarily. EvenifGretahadtheauthoritytoturnoutthelightswhenshewantedto,didn’tanyoneelseobject? 

           ButIdidn’tseeanyoneelsetoobject. Therewasnooneelsearound;onlyaglassmannequinstandingatattentionwithanapkinoveronearm. 

           Shesatusatatable. "Doyouwantadrink,Thom?" 

           "No,thanks.ForsomereasonI’mnotquiteinthemood." 

           Shetouchedmywrist. "Don’thatemeforlyingtoyou.Itwasdoneoutofkindness.