Reuben nodded. And thats just for starters. Theres doubtless lots more to be done in terms of trading mining sites. I bet we know where all sorts of valuable minerals, fossils, and so on are that they havent found, and vice versa.
Mary realized he was probably right. Anything natural thats older than a few tens of thousands of years would be present in both worlds, wouldnt it? Another Lucy, another Tyrannosaurus Sue, another set of Burgess Shale fossils, another Hope diamondat least, the original uncut stone. She paused, considering it all.
By the middle of the day, Ponter was clearly feeling much better. Mary and Louise both looked in at him, covered by a blanket, lying on the bed, as he slept quietly. Im glad he doesnt snore, said Louise. With a nose that big
Actually, said Mary, softly, thats probably why he doesnt snore; hes getting plenty of airflow.
Ponter rolled over on the bed.
Louise looked at him for a moment, then turned back to Mary. Im going to have a shower, she said.
Marys period had begun that morning; shed certainly like a shower herself. Ill have one after you.
Louise headed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Ponter stirred again, then woke. Mare, he said softly. He slept with his mouth closed, and his voice on waking didnt sound at all raw.
Hello, Ponter. Did you sleep well?
He raised his long, blond eyebrowMary still hadnt gotten used to the sight of it rolling up his browridgeas if he thought it a preposterous question.
He cocked his head; Louise had started the shower. And then he flared his nostrils, each the diameter of a twenty-five-cent piece, and looked at Mary.
And suddenly she realized what was happening, and she felt enormously embarrassed and uncomfortable. He could smell that she was menstruating. Mary backed across the room; she could hardly wait for her turn at the shower.
Ponters expression was neutral. Moon, he said.
Yes, thought Mary, its that time of the month. But she certainly didnt want to talk about it. She hurried back downstairs.
Chapter 28
Adjudicator Sard had an expression on her lined, wise face that conveyed, This had better be good. All right, child, she said to Jasmel, who was still standing next to Adikor in the Council chamber. What other explanation, besides violent action, is there for your fathers disappearance?
Jasmel was quiet for a moment. I would gladly tell you, Adjudicator, but
Sard was growing more impatient than usual. Yes?
But, well, Scholar Huld could explain it much better than I.
Scholar Huld! exclaimed the adjudicator. You propose the accused should speak on his own behalf? Sard shook her head in astonishment.
No, said Jasmel quickly, clearly realizing Sard was about to prohibit this outlandish notion. No, nothing like that. He would simply address some points of technical information: information about quantum physics, and
Quantum physics! said Sard. What bearing could quantum physics possibly have on this case?
It may in fact be the key, said Jasmel. And Scholar Huld can present the information much more eloquently she saw Sard frowning and succinctly than could I.
Is there no one else who could provide the same information? asked the adjudicator.
No, Adjudicator, said Jasmel. Well, there is a group of females in Evsoy engaged in similar research, but
Evsoy! exclaimed Sard, as if Jasmel had named the far side of the moon. She shook her head again. Oh, all right. She fixed a predators gaze on Adikor. Do be brief, Scholar Huld.
Adikor wasnt sure if he should rise, but he was getting tired of sitting on the stool, and so he did. Thank you, Adjudicator, he said. I, ah, I appreciate you allowing me to speak other than simply in response to questions posed.
Dont make me regret my indulgence, said Sard. Get on with it.
Yes, of course, said Adikor. The work Ponter Boddit and I were doing involved quantum computing. Now, what quantum computing doesat least in one interpretationis reach into countless parallel universes in which identical quantum computers also exist. And all these quantum computers simultaneously tackle different portions of a complex mathematical problem. By pooling their capabilities, they get the work done much more quickly.
Fascinating, Im sure, said Sard. But what has this to do with Ponters alleged death?
It is, ah, my belief, Worthy Adjudicator, that when we were last running our quantum-computing experiment, a a macroscopic passage of some sort might have opened up into another one of these universes, and Ponter fell through that, so
Daklar Bolbay snorted derisively; others in the audience followed her lead. Sard was once again shaking her head in disbelief. You expect me to believe that Scholar Boddit vanished into another universe?
Now that the crowd knew which way the adjudicators sentiments were leaning, they felt no need to hold back. There was out-and-out laughter emanating from many seats.
Adikor felt his pulse quickening, and his fists clenchingwhich was the last thing he should be doing, he knew. He couldnt do anything about the tachycardia, but he slowly managed to force his hands to open. Adjudicator, he said, managing as deferential a tone as he could, the existence of parallel universes underlines much theoretical thought in quantum physics these days, and
Silence! shouted Sard, her deep voice thundering in the hall. Some audience members gasped at her volume. Scholar Huld, in all my hundreds of months as an adjudicator, I have never heard such a flimsy excuse. You think those of us who didnt go to your vaunted Science Academy are ignoramuses who can be fooled by outlandish talk?
Worthy Adjudicator, I
Shut up, said Sard. Just shut up and sit back down.
Adikor took a deep breath, and held itjust as theyd taught him to those 250-odd months ago when hed been treated for having punched Ponter. He let the breath out slowly, imagining his fury escaping with it.
I said sit down! snapped Sard.
Adikor did so.
Jasmel Ket! said the adjudicator, turning her fiery stare now on Ponters daughter.
Yes, Adjudicator? said Jasmel, her voice quavering.
The adjudicator took a deep breath of her own, composing herself. Child, she said, more calmly, child, I know you lost your mother recently to leukemia. I can only imagine how unfair that must have seemed to you, and little Megameg. She smiled at Jasmels sister, new wrinkles piling atop the old ones on her face. And now, it seems perhaps your father is dead, tooand, again, not the inevitable death that comes eventually to us all, but unexpectedly, without warning, and at a young age. I can understand why you are so reluctant to give up on him, why you might accept an outrageous explanation
Its not like that, Adjudicator, said Jasmel.
Isnt it? Youre desperate for something to hold on to, some hope to cling to. Isnt that so?
II dont think so.
Sard nodded. It will take time to accept what has happened to your father. I know that. She looked around the chambers, then finally her gaze landed on Adikor. All right, Sard said. She was quiet for a moment, apparently considering. All right, she said again. Im prepared to rule. I do believe it is just and appropriate to find that a good circumstantial case for the crime of murder has been made, and I therefore order this matter be tried by a trio of adjudicators, assuming anyone still wishes to pursue the issue. She looked now at Bolbay. Do you wish to press the charge further, on behalf of your minor ward, Megameg Bek?