After last night I knew I had to get back to writing or I’d die.  Considered various ideas throughout the workday.  Just after 1700, when I was cleaning the isolation hood, the roar of its motor must have mixed with the chemicals in the Cavicide wipes to let me see something.  Not a lot of detail but certainly a week’s or more worth of story.  I’d been thinking about Faustina, however by lunch I’d come to know I didn’t know her well enough to tell her story.

For Gary and Henge, though, I’d already laid down two big markers:  one in “Echoes of Family Lost” and another in ‘Worlds Without End.’  I’ll be picking them up now.  This is, I think, going to be a great deal of fun!

This may seem shorter than usual, but when you only need to write dialog, as in a play, it tends to keep your word count down.

PS  I came up with the title after writing all this.  It derives from something Ai said late in “The Fourth Law.”  In doing so, I may have been given a glimpse of Faustina’s story.  Apologies to Cornelius Ryan in advance.

That didn’t work, either, Dorina.

We did get the nervous system to function!

For less than a second. Not a marker of success.

Just a waypoint, little niece, just a waypoint!

We’re going to need more nanomaterials.

Already coming upriver. Three of their days.

Thank you, Dorina.

Hah! Do you think they know what we’re up to?

I’d guess one of them does.

You would take the side of your pet’s family!

Not remotely funny, Dorina.

What will you do, hit me? Did you inherit your father’s predilection for violence?

[***]

I said too much. I apologize, Henge. Here: consider this for the nervous system.

We cannot do it alone. We’ve shown we’re fast enough but we are not old enough.

Not again…

We must have his help, Dorina.

Shandor has not interacted with us since Pavel!

Perhaps he did not have enough reason.

And your selfishness is a reason?

Yes.

So bold!

I shall ask –

You will not! He doesn’t like your father and suspects what you are! I shall.

Thank you.

He said he would help.

Just like that?

It felt as if he wants us to fail. Here.

Oh. So much uncertainty.

He said it was due to your belief in your soul.

I know; I just don’t understand. Will he help? Much of this is beyond me.

Me too. But, yes, he will.

He wants us to fail but is willing to help?

Perhaps he has an agenda? Perhaps he’s just bored?

He’d not be if he and the other two would open themselves to the Fourth Law.

You know why they do not.

Yes: my father and aunt Ai.

Give them time, Henge.

Something our family has surfeit of while I watch another’s fly away.

From what you told me, I thought you people of the Way have nothing but time!

Yes. But we must make the best of what we’ve been gifted!

You really do love him, that young human man?

I love the Lord with my whole heart, mind, and strength. But yes, Dorina: I agape Gary Hartmann.

So much you’re willing to do all this?

Yes.

My headstrong little niece! Here! Let’s simulate how Shandor has made us older!