Read Online John Maddox Roberts - Space Angel by John Maddox Roberts - Free Book Online Page A

circumstances of its birth are so singular? Numbers like that are meaningless when applied to human perceptions of time, anyway. A few dozen zeros more or less hardly matter."
    It is well that you recognize your mental limitations:
    They all jumped as if they had been stung, several leaping to their feet. If their chairs had not been bolted to the deck, they would have tumbled over backward. the voice had come from within their minds, but there was no doubt as to its origin. They now eyed the sphere with a mixture of fear, awe, and excitement.
    "What are you?" The skipper was fighting to keep her voice steady.
    A being.
    "So we had surmised. We found you during an
    excavation. We did not realize that you were intelligent at the time. Do you wish to return?"
    No.
    That disappointed some of them a bit.
    "We are returning to Earth, our home planet, with a cargo of crystal," the skipper said, gaining confidence. "Do you wish to accompany us?"
    No.
    "I fear that those are your only choices. We are not able to make extensive side trips. Our schedule does not permit it." She was beginning to sweat.
    I have a mission. You will help me to accomplish
    it.
    The inward voice was completely uninfected, but the imperative was thrillingly powerful.
    "I am in command of this ship, and I refuse."
    They all braced themselves.
    I would prefer your consent, but you have no choice. I can control this vessel.
    "I believe you can do it. But why, with your power, do you need my ship?"
    I have exhausted much of my power. I might not be capable of such a journey.
    "How far do you need to go?"
    To the center of this galaxy.
    That gave them all a start. They looked at each other incredulously and all began protesting at once. The skipper silenced them with a glare.
    "Look, Sphere, you don't seem to understand. Our species has never traveled so much as a thousandth of that distance. It's debatable whether we could even survive the radiation and stresses ait the Center. I might add that we are a short-lived species, by your standards. Even with the Whoopee Drive, we would all die of old age long before we reached the center of the galaxy."
    I will change your drive. It is crude even by the standards of mechanical devices. I can protect you from harmful radiation. You will not age significantly during the journey. You must understand that, to me, you are tiny, insignificant specks of life, as inconsiderable to me as the smallest units of living matter on your planet are to you. I who am communicating with you am a minute subdivision of the intellect of the thing you think of as Sphere, detailed for this purpose. The greater part of that intellect is quite unaware of you , and is as oblivious of your function and mine a s you are of the cells of your bodies.
    You may as well cooperate. You are a primitive and isolated species, obscure even in this little galaxy. At the Center the stars are dense, and you may find many species of planetary beings like yourselves. Surely you will learn things that will be of use to you? It will be the beginning of a new era for your species. If Your culture is still based on the exchange of goods, you will find much to your profit.
    "Retro me, Satanas," Bert muttered.
    Sphere certainly knew how to tempt spacers. Already, they could feel the itch, the intoxicating pros-pcct of getting into unknown space. They would not have been serving in the tramps if they had not had a C,ood deal of the adventurer's spirit in them. The skipper had it worst of all. She looked around at her crew. Even Kelly, who was new to space, was plainly eager to go. Finally she turned to the factor. "Sorry, Sergei. It looks like Minsk gets its crystal a little late."
    "So it would seem. We'll renegotiate the contract so that Minsk Mineral gets a percentage of whatever we find. Since we have no choice, we might as well make the best of it."
    "An admirable attitude," said Torwald. "And, under the circumstances, the only "one possible."
    "I don't believe for