'These poor, primitive colonists!' lamented Mihailovich. 'I'm horrified - there's not a single concert
grand on the whole of Ganymede! Of course, the thimbleful of optronics in my synthesizer can reproduce
any musical instrument. But a Steinway is still a Steinway - just as a Strad is still a Strad.'
His complaints, though not altogether serious, had already aroused some counter-reactions among the local intelligentsia.
The popular Morning Mede programme had even commented maliciously: 'By
honouring us with their presence, our distinguished guests have - if only temporarily - raised the cultural
level of both worlds...'
The attack was aimed chiefly at Willis, Mihailovich and M'Bala, who had been a little too enthusiastic in
bringing enlightenment to the backward natives. Maggie M had created quite a scandal with an
uninhibited account of Zeus-Jupiter's torrid love affairs with Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Appearing
to the nymph Europa in the guise of a white bull was bad enough, and his attempts to shield Io and
Callisto from the understandable wrath of his consort Hera were frankly pathetic. But what upset many
local residents was the news that the mythological Ganymede was of quite the wrong gender.
To do them justice, the intentions of the self-appointed cultural ambassadors were completely
praiseworthy, though not entirely disinterested. Knowing that they would be stranded on Ganymede for
months, they recognized the danger of boredom, after the novelty of the situation had worn off. And they
also wished to make the best possible use of their talents, for the benefit of everyone around them.
However, not everyone wished - or had time - to be benefited, out here on the high-technology frontier of
the Solar System.
Yva Merlin, on the other hand, fitted in perfectly, and was thoroughly enjoying herself. Despite her
fame on Earth, few of the Medes had ever heard of her. She could wander around, in the public corridors
and pressure domes of Ganymede Central, without people turning their heads or exchanging excited
whispers of recognition. True, she was recognized - but only as another of the visitors from Earth.
Greenburg, with his usual quietly efficient modesty, had fitted into the administrative and technological
structure of the satellite and was already on half a dozen advisory boards. His services were so well
appreciated that he had been warned he might not be allowed to leave.
Heywood Floyd observed the activities of his shipmates with relaxed amusement, but took little part in
them. His chief concern now was building bridges to Chris, and helping his grandson plan his future. Now
that Universe - with less than a hundred tons of propellant left in its tanks - was safely down on
Ganymede, there was much to be done.
The gratitude that all aboard Galaxy felt towards their rescuers had made it easy to merge the two
crews; when repairs, overhaul and refuelling were complete, they would fly back to Earth together. Morale
had already been given a great boost by the news that Sir Lawrence was drawing up the contract for a
greatly improved Galaxy II - though construction was not likely to begin until his lawyers had settled their
dispute with Lloyd's. The underwriters were still trying to claim that the novel crime of space hijacking
was not covered by their policy.
As for that crime itself, no-one had been convicted, or even charged. Clearly, it had been planned, over
a period of several years, by an efficient and well-funded organization. The United States of Southern
Africa loudly protested innocence, and said it welcomed an official enquiry. Der Bund also expressed
indignation, and of course blamed SHAKA.
Dr Kreuger was not surprised to find angry but anonymous messages in his mail, accusing him of being
a traitor. They were usually in Afrikaans, but sometimes contained subtle mistakes in grammar or
phraseology which made him suspect that they were part of a disinformation campaign.
After some thought, he passed them onto ASTROPOL - which probably already has them, he told
himself wryly. ASTROPOL thanked him, but, as he expected, made no comments.
At various times, Second Officers Floyd and Chang and other members of Galaxy's crew were treated
to the best dinners on Ganymede by the two mysterious out-wonders whom Floyd had already met. When
the recipients of these (frankly disappointing) meals compared notes afterwards, they decided that their
polite interrogators were trying to build up a case against SHAKA, but were not getting very far.
Dr van der Berg, who had started the whole thing - and had done very well out of it, professionally and financially - was now
wondering what to do with his new opportunities. He had received many attractive
offers from Earth universities and scientific organizations - but, ironically, it was impossible to take
advantage of them. He had now lived too long at Ganymede's one-sixth of a gravity, and had passed the
medical point of no return.
The Moon remained a possibility; so did Pasteur, as Heywood Floyd explained to him.
'We're trying to set up a space university there,' he said, 'so that off-worlders who can't tolerate one
gee can still interact in real time with people on Earth. We'll have lecture halls, conference rooms, labs -
some of them will only be computer-stored, but they'll look so real you'd never know. And you'll be able
to go videoshopping on Earth, to make use of your ill-gotten gains.'
To his surprise, Floyd had not only rediscovered a grandson - he had adopted a nephew; he was now
linked to van der Berg as well as Chris by a unique mix of shared experiences. Above all, there was the
mystery of the apparition in the deserted Europan city, beneath the looming presence of the Monolith.
Chris had no doubts whatsoever. 'I saw you, and heard you, as clearly as I do now,' he told his
grandfather. 'But your lips never moved - and the strange thing is that I didn't feel that was strange - it
seemed perfectly natural. The whole experience had a - relaxed feeling about it. A little sad - no, wistful
would be a better word. Or maybe resigned.'
'We couldn't help thinking of your encounter with Bowman, aboard Discovery,' added van der Berg.
'I tried to radio him before we landed on Europa. It seemed a naïve thing to do, but I couldn't imagine
any alternative. I felt sure he was there, in some form or other.'
'And you never had any kind of acknowledgement?'
Floyd hesitated. The memory was fading fast, but he suddenly recalled that night when the minimonolith
had appeared in his cabin.
Nothing had happened, yet from that moment onwards he had felt that Chris was safe, and that they
would meet again.
'No,' he said slowly. 'I never had any reply.' After all, it could only have been a dream.
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