Regan's Reach 4: Avarice Read Online Free Page B

the
return portals and have taken every first jump since." Ham looked simply euphoric,
delighted to pass on the information and incredibly proud.
    Regan sat quietly trying to take it all in. Relax girl, there'll be time enough to learn about all of this.
    "You said this is the Gliese path . .
. does that mean there are others?"
    "It seems so, there's another portal
holding station a quarter orbit from here, and it's the first portal to the
star Rigel, in the Orion Nebula." He seemed to consider something and turned
to her with a look of genuine compassion. "Regan - be patient, it's simply
not going to be possible to absorb all the new information now, I can see that.
Babe, it's been more than six years since we were here and so much has changed.
There are people from every tribe in Gliese working in your solar system now,
and there are ships moving constantly between there and here. Reubus has a huge
trade delegation visiting Earth right now as we speak and they're preparing for
the opening of the Gliese portal line, it's amazing."
    "Reubus?" She turned to him with
a blank puzzled look. "Who's he?"
    The question made him pause for a moment
and then he reached across to gently place one hand on hers and squeezed.
    "Babe, exactly, you've missed so much
while you were away." Somehow he made the time sound like a holiday and
then he smiled suddenly gesturing back to the screen. "Now - we need more answers
and I think it's time for us to go in - are you sure you're ready?"
    She hesitated only a moment, taking one
last look at the glorious ring before answering with a confidence that
surprised even her, "Yes, I'm ready."
    He took her hands. "You understand how
we are going to do this; I will merge first, and then there will be a delay, and
then when we're ready we'll call for you."
    "I understand."
    And already the Saucer was moving, picking
up speed at astonishing pace, racing for Earth and Hillary Station.
     
    * * *
     
     
    With the Saucer now nestled securely in its
rightful place on the base of the STEIN Traveler the ship looked restored and
almost the complete sphere now for the first time in seven years. Only a small
coin slot shape marred the overall picture, with one Pod currently away on
duties in New Zealand.
     
    Regan's ethereal presence in the Saucer
Control seemed lonely now as she waited for news from Ham. She had no desire to
leave this space, not yet, and not even exploring the STEIN Traveler would
tempt her; instead she stayed where she was, curled up on the seat. This
smaller space felt secure, especially after years of loneliness locked in the
ADF flight recorder and now months with Ham recovering. The Saucer control, was
her womb; at least for the moment. Thankfully she could speak to Hilary who she
could tell was being careful in her conversation but nevertheless a wonderful
friendly voice. As they chatted Regan looked out via the screen to a completely
different Hillary Station.
     
    [This finished station design Hilary; it's
not at all what we envisaged all those years ago, what happened to the globe that
you planned?]
    [Democracy Regan, that's what happened. It
seems people like the variety of starscape that the pipe spin offers and even
though we don't need to spin for gravity any longer they preferred a world that
keeps on turning. I wasn't helped by lobbying from people who referred to my
design as the death star]
    She could see the central pipe or axle was
now encircled by huge rings, each attached by four spokes. Spiraling around the
whole structure curled a double helix tube that seemed to link with the pipe at
the ends. Tube transports, she guessed.
    [How many rings are there?]
    [You can't count them?]
    [No need to test me Hilary, I'm all here,
just running slowly at the moment.]
    [There are five . . . was it tough Regan?]
    She paused before answering, thinking how
best to reply. It only took a small prompt for all the memories to come surging
back and some of them she would rather forget.
    [From