За разломом орла

           Iftherearealienculturesoutthere,eachstumblingontheirownlocaldomain,whyhaven’tanyofthemevercomethroughtheaperture,thewaywedid?" 

           Againthatsmile.Butthistimeitchilledmyblood. 

           "Whatmakesyouthinktheyhaven’t,Thom?" 

           Ireachedoutandtookherhand,thewayshehadtakenmine. Itookitwithoutforce,withoutmalice,butwiththeassurancethatthistimeIreally,sincerelymeantwhatIwasabouttosay. 

           Herfingerstightenedaroundmine. 

           "Showme,"Isaid. "Iwanttoseethingsastheyreallyare.Notjustthestation.Youaswell." 

           BecausebythenI’drealized. Gretahadn’tjustliedtomeaboutSuzyandRay. She’dliedtomeabouttheBlueGooseaswell. Becausewewerenotthelatesthumanshiptocomethrough. 

           Wewerethefirst. 

           "Youwanttoseeit?"sheasked. 

           "Yes.Allofit." 

           "Youwon’tlikeit." 

           "I’llbethejudgeofthat." 

           "Allright,Thom. Butunderstandthis. I’vebeenherebefore.I’vedonethisamilliontimes. Icareforallthelostsouls.AndIknowhowitworks. Youwon’tbeabletotaketherawrealityofwhat’shappenedtoyou. You’llshrivelawayfromit. You’llgomad,unlessIsubstituteacalmingfiction,ahappyending." 

           "Whytellmethatnow?" 

           "Becauseyoudon’thavetoseeit.Youcanstopnow,whereyouare,withanideaofthetruth. Aninkling.Butyoudon’thavetoopenyoureyes." 

           "Doit,"Isaid. 

           Gretashrugged. Shepouredherselfanothermeasureofwine,thenmadesuremyownglasswascharged. 

           "Youaskedforit,"shesaid.