Between the Strokes of Night

They saw billions of cubic feet of power generation equipment, and massive drives sufficient to allow Gulf City to cruise where it chose in interstellar space. Near the center of the structure there were food production facilities enough to feed tens of thousands. Most of them stood idle. According to Wolfgang Gibbs, the current population of Gulf City approached seven hundred, though the capacity was more than ten times that.

Finally, after showing them corridor after corridor of living accommodation, Gibbs stopped and shrugged his shoulders. “It will take you a month to see everything, but you should have enough now for a first impression. Take a break, and make yourselves comfortable here. All these suites are fully equipped. The information system will tell you most things about the city that I haven’t covered. I’ll make sure the service robots will accept your voice commands — but don’t expect instant response, we’re always short of service. We have an appointment in JN’s office in three hours. I’ll see you there.”

“Where is that?” asked Elissa.

“Ask the info-system if you want to go there on foot. If you’re feeling lazy, just give the command. If you want me, use the call system.” Wolfgang Gibbs winked at Elissa, manipulated a control on his belt, and vanished. * * *

“So. What do you think?” asked Peron.

Elissa looked up at the ceiling. They were alone at last. Sy had left them a few minutes after Wolfgang Gibbs, saying he needed time to think. Peron and Elissa had wandered for a while along the endless corridors, poking their heads into kitchens, entertainment areas, and exercise rooms. All were deserted. Finally they found a set of living quarters that appealed to them, and decided they might as well move in. Now they were lying side by side on a huge, cloud-soft floor area.

“What do I think?” she said at last. “I think we’re being monitored.” “When in doubt, assume we are. But does it make any difference?”

“I guess not. But I think we’re going to see sparks fly here at the next meeting. Did you notice the way that Sy and the Director General looked at each other?”

“Judith Niles? It was hard to miss it. She’s probably used to a lot of respect. You know old Sy, he’d be rude to the devil.”

“I told him to go easy.” Elissa laughed. “He said she was arrogant.” “Coming from Sy, that’s a bit much. What does he think he is?”

“I told him that. He says that maybe he has ‘the natural suspicion of youth for age’ but that she has the ‘intolerable arrogance of unquestioned authority.’ According to Sy, she’s surrounded by yes-men and yes-women, and she thinks she knows all the answers.”

“When in fact, he does?” Peron was irritated. He was still slightly jealous of Sy — particularly when Elissa sounded admiring.

“No. He says he has a hundred unanswered questions, but he didn’t want to go into them with Gibbs. He’s waiting for a shot at Judith Niles.”

“So am I. But there’s really only one question to be asked. Why does Gulf City exist?”

“You heard what Wolfgang said: to study the Kermel Objects.”

“Sure — but that’s nonsense.” Peron rolled over to face Elissa. “Look, I can imagine a group of pure scientists arguing that it was worth the enormous effort of setting up a research station out here in the Gulf, to decide the nature of the Kermel Objects. But you’ve met Judith Niles. Can you see her swallowing that argument? She’d throw them out of her office in two minutes. I think Sy will ask her the main question — and rather him than me. But if he doesn’t, you and I must do it.”

Peron sounded unhappy but resolute. Elissa said no more, but she snuggled closer to him and took him in her arms.

* * *

Almost a mile away, in a secluded area on the other side of Gulf City, Wolfgang Gibbs was engaged in his own secret meeting with Charlene Bloom. They lay side by side in an empty room, in darkness and with all monitors turned off. “You noticed the difference, didn’t you?” he said softly. “I think we caught a new breed of fish this time. Sharks, maybe, instead of guppies.”