"Where will it go now?"
"It'll find it a world of its own, that was the deal. The SETI division had compiled quite an extensive list of local stars confirmed to possess planetary systems. I accessed the file before we left New London."
"Good old Rick."
"Yes." She took another look round the beach, and rubbed her arms absently. "It's going to be cold at night."
"The nanoware will make you some clothes, they'll make you anything as long as they've got the right raw material to process."
She glanced down at the white organisms. Both of them had closed up, shrinking slightly now there was no body to accommodate. if she concentrated she could feel their presence in her mind, an obedient animal-sentience, waiting for orders.
"I wonder what happened to me… her, afterwards?"
"We can always go back and see."
"No," she said with a sigh. "It was just a dream. This is our world now."
Royan slipped his arm around her waist. "Shall we take a look around?"
The image of a planet seen from space filled her mind, strange continents, deep oceans dotted with long island chains, and large dazzling white polar caps. She had always adored the recordings of Earth's ice-bound continent, ruing the fact she would never see it.
Exploring this planet would take a lifetime. The two of them would do it together, alone, and free of any obligations. The way it could never be on Earth.
"Sounds good," she said.
They started to walk along the beach towards the headland. After a minute, the nanoware organisms stirred themselves, and began to slither dutifully after them.