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〃So where is all this knowledge？〃 I asked。 〃I presume you're not going to try to tell me you memorized it。〃
His expression had gone all speculative again。 〃Why do you need to know？〃
〃In case something happens to you；〃 I explained patiently。 〃I don't know whether you know it； but you're the very last of the Mohicans now…the rest of your group has been rounded up and are in Ihmisit hands。 Possibly Patth hands by now； actually； I haven't kept up…to…date on developments。 If they get you； too； that'll be it as far as the good guys are concerned。〃
〃And if you know where the data is； you might be tempted to trade it for that life you want so much to keep；〃 he pointed out。 〃I think it might be safer if I kept that little secret to myself for the time being。〃
I snorted。 〃Standing tall and stalwart against the invading hordes might be good melodrama； but it makes lousy real…world policy；〃 I told him flatly。 〃Face it； Cameron； you're in a dangerous and pletely untenable position here； and you're going to have to bite the bullet and trust someone。 At the moment； that's me。〃
Again his eyes drifted away。 〃I suppose you're right；〃 he said with a sigh。 〃All right。 The data is stored in code in a file on my notepad here。 If something happens to me； either Elaina or my executive assistant Stann Avery will be able to locate and decode it。〃
〃Got it；〃 I said。 It wasn't the entire truth； I knew…he'd given in much too easily for that。 But it was probably at least a partial truth； and for the moment I could live with that。 〃All right； then。 I'll send you in some more food and water when I get back to the Icarus。 Is your little toilet system working okay？〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 he said； his face suddenly gone taut。 〃What do you mean； when you get back？ We can both go…no one has to stay here to operate the device。〃
I shook my head。 〃Sorry； but I'm afraid you can't show your face yet。 I didn't tell you： We've disassembled most of the ship's interior。 Makes it a lot safer for the return trip； but it also means there's no place left where you could have been hiding。 You suddenly pop up now and someone's going to start putting the pieces together。〃
〃What about the smaller sphere？〃 he asked； his voice taking on an edge of panicked insistence。 〃I could have been hiding in the smaller sphere。〃
〃Besides which； you're the one who holds the key to this bombshell；〃 I continued； gesturing at his notepad。 〃Don't forget； we've got a murderer aboard the Icarus。 The farther you and your notepad stay away from him； the better。〃
He wasn't happy about it…that much was evident from the play of emotions across his face。 But he could see the logic in what I was saying； and a few extra days of isolation didn't stack up all that badly against the possibility of being knifed in the back。 Slowly； reluctantly； he gathered control of himself and nodded。 〃You're right；〃 he said with a sigh。 〃All right； I'll stay。 Any idea how long I'll have to be here？〃
〃Until we find a safe place to put down；〃 I said。 〃Don't worry； I'll let you know。〃
〃You'd better；〃 he warned with a game attempt at a smile。 〃The view in here doesn't really have all that much to remend it。〃
〃You can start naming the constellations；〃 I suggested； getting to my feet。 〃So。 How do I work this thing？〃
He gestured to the articulated arm angling its way toward the center of the sphere twenty meters above us。 〃Once I've set the destination panel； I expect all you'll need to do is work your way along the arm to the trigger section at the end；〃 he said。 〃Basically the same as you did on the Icarus。〃
Except that on the Icarus the gravitational field had been pointing the other way。 It looked like I was in for a long climb。 〃Right；〃 I said。 〃Don't worry if it takes me a couple of hours to get the supplies to you。 There isn't a lot of privacy in the ship right now； and I don't want anyone to catch me putting a survival pack together。 Someone might jump to the wrong conclusion。〃
〃Or even the right one？〃 he suggested。
I nodded。 〃Especially the right one。〃
A ghost of something flicked across his face。 〃You'll let my daughter know I'm all right； won't you？ We've hardly spoken since the trip began…there just haven't been any safe opportunities…but I know she's worried about me。〃
〃And vice versa？〃 I suggested。
His lips pressed。 〃Very much vice versa；〃 he agreed quietly。 〃I'd appreciate it if you'd watch over her for me。〃
〃I will；〃 I promised。 〃You can count on it。〃
For a moment he studied my face； as if trying one last time to see if I was indeed someone in whom he could place this kind of trust。 I met his eyes stolidly； not flinching away from the probe； exuding all the sincerity I could muster。 And after a couple of heartbeats he nodded。 〃All right；〃 he said with a sigh。 〃You'd best be on your way； then。〃
I nodded and gave a whistle。 Pax emerged from a mass of wiring he'd been nosing through and bounded enthusiastically over to me。 I managed to catch him before he could start with equal enthusiasm up my leg and settled him into a cradling carry in the crook of my elbow。 〃I'll let you know when you can e out；〃 I told him； crossing the sphere to where the arm was anchored。 〃I'll either e myself or send in one of the ferrets。〃
〃Understood；〃 he said。 〃Good luck。〃
〃You； too；〃 I said。 Reaching up with my free hand； I wrapped my legs around it and started awkwardly to climb。
The awkwardness didn't last long。 I'd barely started my climb when I felt myself rapidly going weightless。 For about five seconds I hung there in zero gee； and then the gravity began again； only this time pointed the opposite direction； toward the center of the sphere。 I quickly turned myself around； noticing that Cameron was still glued； albeit openmouthed； to the inner surface。 I don't know why finding a two…tier artificial gravity in our unknown aliens' bag of tricks should have surprised me； but it did。 The level of the pull stayed about where it had been aboard the Icarus； keeping me moving inward without giving me the feeling of uncontrolled falling。 I looked over…up； rather…at Cameron once as Pax and I slid down toward the center； wondering if he'd noticed that I'd somehow never gotten around to agreeing to his request that I tell Tera he was here。
Because there was no way I was going to let her in on what the Icarus really was。 No way in hell； for the simple reason that that would require me letting her know that I knew what it really was。 As a possibly advanced stardrive that might or might not still function； the Icarus had a value that was potentially high but still nebulous。 As a stargate with proven capabilities； that value had suddenly solidified to an astronomical level。
And I had no intention of letting Tera e to the realization that the Icarus's asking price was now light…years beyond the paltry half…million debt that held me enslaved to Brother John and the Antoniewicz organization。 Enough to buy me out of that contract； guarantee me immunity from prosecution for every illegal act I'd ever mitted； and set me up for a lifetime of luxury on top of it。
I had reached the trigger。 I took one last look at Cameron； who didn't know any of what his daughter had learned about