"Not that I don't agree with everything the others have been saying, Doctor„I assure you I do„but try to put it aside for a moment, and experience this ride. Can any philosophical discussion really make your blood race like this ship? I doubt it. So when you think about joining us, think about this too„" I turned to face her. "You and I could travel to literally every corner of the world, just the way we are now„with no restrictions and no laws but our own. Are you game?"

I looked back out at the moonlit sea as it rushed along below us. "Jesus„I'd like to say that I am," I told her uncertainly. "But it's all so„so ƒ " I tried to get a grip. "Impulsiveness has never been the most comfortable mode of behavior for me."

She let me have the coy smile. "I know."

"That doesn't bother you?"

She made a judicious little humming sound. "Not entirely„it's part of the reason we wanted you, after all." She put a hand lightly to my cheek. "Part of the reason ƒ "

Without turning toward us Tressalian called out, "Oh, sister„if I may interrupt, perhaps you'd care to explain what avenue of approach you've chosen. Toward our geographical objective, that is."

Larissa gave me one more searching look before answering him. "Very droll, brother. We'll make landfall south of Karachi, then follow the Indus valley north. We're safe from any radar, of course, and because the river's been a nuclear dead zone since the Kashmir war we shouldn't be risking any visual contact. We'll move west along the 35th parallel into the Hindu Kush, then north to the valley of the Amu Darya river. The camp is strung out along the Afghan side of the border with Tajikistan. We'll arrive just past dawn„right on schedule. The apparatus will already have engaged."

"Splendid." Tressalian turned away from the transparent hull just as a black strip of coastline became faintly visible in the dark distance, and he fixed his gaze on me. "Then there's time, yet, for the doctor to ask the rest of his questions."

"Questions," I mumbled, trying to focus. "Yes, I've got questions. But there's one thing I've got to know right now." I moved over to stare down at him intently. "How many other lies like the Forrester assassination story am I believing without even knowing it?"

"You mean," Tressalian answered, "How much of the information that makes up your reality is utterly unreliable?" I nodded, bringing back his smile. "Oh, certainly more than you'd suspect, Doctor. And, quite probably, more than you'll believe ... "

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Read Chapter One of Killing Time

Will We Travel to the Stars?