‘Just over a thirtieth of the entire citizenry,’ Clearmountain said. ‘It’s a catastrophe, no doubt about it. But we have to thank our stars we’re talking about millions, not tens of millions. And if we get out of this and we’ve lost forty-five habitats . . . it’s nothing against the ten thousand, Dreyfus.’
‘I wouldn’t say it’s nothing, but I take your point.’
‘The citizenry will get over it,’ Baudry said. ‘They’ll move on with their lives, choosing to forget how close we came to disaster. For some of them, the forgetting will be quite literal. At the moment we’re in the middle of an emergency. In a few days, if all goes well, it’ll have been reduced to the status of a crisis. This time next year, we’ll look back on it as an incident. Ten years from now, it’ll be something no one outside of Panoply remembers, something our new recruits learn about with bored indifference.’
‘Not if I get my way,’ said Dreyfus. ‘What about Aurora’s prognostication? The time of plagues?’
‘We’ll keep a weather eye open,’ Clearmountain said.
Baudry looked at Dreyfus with interest. ‘Do you have plans, Senior?’
‘We haven’t won,’ he told her. ‘We’ve just postponed the day of reckoning. If it isn’t Aurora, we’ll be facing the Clockmaker.’
‘There is such a thing as the lesser of two evils,’ Clearmountain observed.
‘I’ll remind you of that when it crawls out of the woodwork again.’
‘Where do you think they are?’ asked Baudry.
‘Dispersed,’ Dreyfus said. ‘Spread out over the network, two alpha-level intelligences smeared as thin as they can go before they stop being conscious entities at all.’
‘How can you be so certain?’
‘Because it’s the only way for them to survive. If Aurora concentrates herself in one habitat, the Clockmaker will find a way to engage and destroy her in a single attack. The same applies to the Clockmaker. But distributed, spread out across the entire Glitter Band, they’re almost invulnerable.’
‘Why didn’t Aurora adopt such a strategy already?’
‘Because there’s a cost. The speed of her thought processes depends on the distance between processing nodes. The Clockmaker’s forced her to spread out just to survive. The downside for her is that she can’t think quickly enough to defeat us.’
‘But we can’t kill her either,’ Clearmountain said.
‘No. Finding her would be almost impossible now. Maybe if we listen to network traffic long enough, we’ll see the tiny slow-down caused by Aurora’s presence. But that still wouldn’t help us destroy her. We’d have to take out thousands of nodes, thousands of habitats, before we began to hurt her.’
‘And by then we’d have hurt ourselves even more,’ Baudry said, nodding as she understood what Dreyfus was driving at. ‘So what you’re saying, if I get you rightly, is that there’s nothing we can do. We just have to sit back while these two monsters slug it out in slow motion, parasiting our network infrastructure.’
‘That’s right,’ Dreyfus said. ‘But I wouldn’t worry unduly. If they’ve been slowed down as much as I think they have, it’s going to be a long time before one of them emerges as victor. You’re talking about a chess match between two opponents of almost limitless intelligence and guile. The only problem is they only get to make one move a year.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Clearmountain said.
Dreyfus smiled. ‘So do I. In the meantime, we still have jobs to do. We can’t dwell on the gods fighting over our heads.’
‘Gods will be gods,’ Baudry said.
‘But that doesn’t mean I’m finished with this case,’ Dreyfus continued. ‘With the permission of the acting supreme prefect, I’d like authorisation to dig into the murder of Philip Lascaille. If there’s still a body, I want it exhumed for analysis. I want to see if there’s any evidence that his brain was subjected to alpha-level scanning.’
‘You have my permission, of course,’ Clearmountain said. ‘I don’t doubt that Jane would give it to you. But you should realise what you’re getting yourself into, digging into ancient history like that. You’ll be going up against the legal apparatus of House Sylveste. That’s an organisation that protects its secrets even more zealously than we do. It isn’t to be trifled with.’
‘With respect,’ Dreyfus said, standing up, ‘neither is Panoply.’
A little while later he called upon Demikhov. The man resembled a spectral shadow of his former self, spent beyond exhaustion.
‘I heard that there were complications,’ Dreyfus said.
‘Nothing medical, you’ll be glad to hear. The cut was as clean as a guillotine. Nerve reconnection could not have been less problematic. The only difficulty was occasioned by the intervention of your former colleague.’ Demikhov shrugged philosophically, bony shoulders moving under the green fabric of his surgical gown. ‘It was undignified, what he did to her. But at least she was unconscious throughout the whole sorry escapade.’
Dreyfus had no idea what he was talking about. He assumed he would learn all about it later.
‘And now?’
‘I completed partial reattachment, then brought her round to talk to the Ultras. She was lucid and comfortable. I then put her under again to complete the procedure.’
‘How did it go?’
‘She’s whole again. It would take a better doctor than me to tell that Zulu ever happened.’
‘Then she’ll be fine?’
‘Yes, but it’s not going to happen overnight. At the moment she can breathe for herself and make some limited body movements, but it’ll be a while before she can walk. Having the wiring back in place doesn’t mean her brain’s ready to use it again.’
‘I’d like to see her,’ Dreyfus said.
‘She’s sleeping. I’d like to keep her that way until there’s another emergency.’
‘I’d still like to see her.’
‘Then you’d better follow me,’ Demikhov answered with a heavy sigh, standing up to lead the way.
He brought Dreyfus to the quiet green room where the supreme prefect was recuperating. Jane Aumonier lay under bedsheets, sleeping normally. Aside from her thinness, the baldness of her skull and the grey pallor of her skin, there was nothing to hint at what she had endured, either in the last day or the last eleven years. She looked peaceful, serenely restful.
Dreyfus moved to her bedside. ‘I won’t wake her,’ he whispered.
‘You wouldn’t be able to. I’ve put her under for her own good. It’s quite safe to talk normally.’
Dreyfus touched the back of his hand against the side of Jane Aumonier’s face. Despite all the time they had known each other, this was the first moment of physical contact between them.
‘I’m going now,’ Dreyfus said. ‘There’s something I need to attend to, before I put it off any longer. I have to go to Hospice Idlewild. There’s someone there I need to see, someone I haven’t seen in a very long while. I probably won’t be in Panoply when you come around, but I want you to know that I’m going to be with you every step you take. If you need a hand to hold, you can count on mine.’
‘I’ll tell her what you said,’ Demikhov said.
‘I mean it. I don’t break my promises.’
Demikhov was about to usher Dreyfus from the room when he paused. ‘Prefect . . . there’s something I should show you. I think it’s rather wonderful.’
Dreyfus nodded at the sleeping figure. ‘This is enough for me, Doctor.’
‘I’ll show it to you anyway. Look at the wall.’
Demikhov conjured a pane into existence, filled with trembling neon-blue lines whose meaning Dreyfus couldn’t fathom.
‘What am I looking at?’ he asked.
‘Dreams,’ Demikhov said. ‘Beautiful human dreams.’
A Gollancz eBook
Copyright © Alistair Reynolds 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
All rights reserved.
The right of Alistair Reynolds to be identi
fied as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in Great Britain in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 by
Gollancz
The Orion Publishing Group Ltd
Orion House
5 Upper Saint Martin's Lane
London, WC2H 9EA
An Hachette UK Company
This eBook first published in 2011 by Gollancz.
A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978 0 575 12908 5
All characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
www.alastairreynolds.com
www.orionbooks.co.uk
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Praise for Alastair Reynolds
About the Author
Also By Alastair Reynolds
Revelation Space
Cover
Title Page
Contents
ONE - Mantell Sector, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, Delta Pavonis system, 2551
TWO - Aboard a lighthugger, interstellar space, 2543
THREE - Cuvier, Resurgam, 2561
FOUR - Carousel New Brazilia, Yellowstone, Epsilon Eridani, 2546
FIVE - Carousel New Brazilia, Yellowstone, Epsilon Eridani, 2546
SIX - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546
SEVEN - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546
EIGHT - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546
NINE - Mantell, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, 2566
TEN - Approaching Delta Pavonis, 2564
ELEVEN - Approaching Delta Pavonis, 2565
TWELVE - Sky’s Edge, 61 Cygni-A, 2483 (simulated)
THIRTEEN - Resurgam Orbit, 2566
FOURTEEN - Mantell, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, 2566
FIFTEEN - Mantell, North Nekhebet, 2566
SIXTEEN - North Nekhebet, 2566
SEVENTEEN - Rendezvous Point, Resurgam, 2566
EIGHTEEN - Resurgam Orbit, 2566
NINETEEN - Delta Pavonis system, 2566
TWENTY - Approaching Cerberus/Hades, 2566
TWENTY-ONE - Approaching Cerberus/Hades, 2566
TWENTY-TWO - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-THREE - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-FOUR - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-FIVE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-SIX - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-SEVEN - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-EIGHT - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
TWENTY-NINE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
THIRTY - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
THIRTY-ONE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566
THIRTY-TWO - Approaching Cerberus Surface, 2566
THIRTY-THREE - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2566
THIRTY-FOUR - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2566
THIRTY-FIVE - Cerberus, Interior, 2567
THIRTY-SIX - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2567
THIRTY-SEVEN - Cerberus Interior, 2567
THIRTY-EIGHT - Cerberus Interior, 2567
THIRTY-NINE - Cerberus Interior, Final Chamber, 2567
Chasm City
Cover
Title Page
Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
THIRTY-EIGHT
THIRTY-NINE
FORTY
FORTY-ONE
FORTY-TWO
EPILOGUE
Redemption Ark
Cover
Title Page
Contents
PROLOGUE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
THIRTY-EIGHT
THIRTY-NINE
FORTY
EPILOGUE
Absolution Gap
Cover
Title Page
Contents
Dedication
PROLOGUE
ONE - Ararat, p Eridani A System, 2675
TWO - Lighthugger Gnostic Ascension, Interstellar Space, 2615
THREE - Lighthugger Gnostic Ascension, Interstellar Space, 2615
FOUR - Ararat, 2675
FIVE - Ararat, 2675
SIX - Ararat, 2675
SEVEN - Approaching Hela, 2615
EIGHT - Hela, 2727
NINE - Hela Surface, 2615
TEN - Hela, 2615
ELEVEN - Hela, 2727
TWELVE - Hela, 2727
THIRTEEN - Ararat, 2675
FOURTEEN - Ararat, 2675
FIFTEEN - Ararat, 2675
SIXTEEN - Ararat, 2675
SEVENTEEN - Hela, 2727
EIGHTEEN - Ararat, 2675
NINETEEN - Ararat, 2675
TWENTY - Hela, 2727
TWENTY-ONE - Ararat, 2675
TWENTY-TWO - p Eridani 40, 2675
TWENTY-THREE - Hela, 2727
TWENTY-FOUR - Ararat, 2675
TWENTY-FIVE - Ararat, 2675
TWENTY-SIX - Hela, 2727
TWENTY-SEVEN - Ararat, 2675
TWENTY-EIGHT - Ararat, 2675
TWENTY-NINE - Ararat, 2675
THIRTY - Ararat, 2675
THIRTY-ONE - Near Ararat, 2675
THIRTY-TWO - Hela, 2727
THIRTY-THREE - Near Ararat, 2675
THIRTY-FOUR - Interstellar Space, Near p Eridani 40, 2675
THIRTY-FIVE - Hela, 2727
THIRTY-SIX - Interstellar Space, Near Epsilon Eridani, 2698
THIRTY-SEVEN - Interstellar Space, Epsilon Eridani, 2698
THIRTY-EIGHT - Hela, 2727
THIRTY-NINE - Hela Surface, 2727
FOR
TY - Hela Surface, 2727
FORTY-ONE - Hela, 2727
FORTY-TWO - Hela, 2727
FORTY-THREE
FORTY-FOUR
FORTY-FIVE
FORTY-SIX
FORTY-SEVEN
FORTY-EIGHT
FORTY-NINE
FIFTY
EPILOGUE
Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days
Cover
Title Page
Contents
Dedication
DIAMOND DOGS
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
TURQUOISE DAYS
ONE
TWO
THREE
Galactic North
Cover
Title Page
Contents
Dedication
GREAT WALL OF MARS
GLACIAL
A SPY IN EUROPA
WEATHER
DILATION SLEEP
GRAFENWALDER’S BESTIARY
NIGHTINGALE
GALACTIC NORTH
AFTERWORD
The Prefect
Cover
Title Page
Contents
Dedication
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
Copyright
The Revelation Space Collection Page 434
