За разломом орла

           Theentiremiddlesectionhasbeencoredout,withtheinnerpartoftheringfacedbythequixotic-mattermachineryoftheapertureitself. Theysaytheq-mattermachinerytwinklesandmovesallthewhile,likethetickinginnardsofaverycomplicatedclock. ButthemonitoringsystemsoftheApertureAuthoritydetectnomovementatall. 

           It’salientechnology.Wehavenoideahowitworks,orevenwhomadeit. Maybe,inhindsight,it’sbetternottobeabletoseeit. 

           It’senoughtodream,andthenawake,andknowthatyou’resomewhereelse. 

           *** 

           Tryadifferentapproach,Gretasays.Tellherthetruththistime. Maybeshe’lltakeiteasierthanyouthink. 

           "There’snowayIcantellherthetruth." 

           Gretaleansonehipagainstthewall,onehandstillinherpocket. "Thentellhersomethinghalfwaytruthful." 

           WeunplumbSuzyandhaulheroutofthesurgetank. 

           "Wherearewe?"sheasks.ThentoGreta:"Whoareyou?" 

           IwonderifsomeofthelastconversationdidmakeitoutofSuzy’sshort-termmemoryafterall. 

           "Gretaworkshere,"Isay. 

           "Where’shere?" 

           IrememberwhatGretatoldme. "AstationinSchedarsector." 

           "That’snotwherewe’remeanttobe,Thom." 

           Inod."Iknow.Therewasamistake.Aroutingerror." 

           Suzy’salreadyshakingherhead."Therewasnothingwrong—" 

           "Iknow.Itwasn’tyourfault."Ihelpherintohershipclothes. She’sstillshivering,hermusclesreactingtomovementaftersomuchtimeinthetank. "Thesyntaxwasgood."