by Greg Bear
The young man has his back to this crate when he finds what he’s looking for. He bends over to shift a box.
ON THE REACTOR VESSEL. A hollow, empty MOANING WHINE from within, and the crate SHAKES.
The YOUNG MAN straightens, turns slowly, staring at the crate, LIFTING HIS GAZE to the ceiling, higher and higher, where the crate SCRAPES AGAINST PLUMBING.
THE CRATE SHUDDERS and something BANGS.
The young man drops his clipboard, gives a small SHRIEK and runs for the DOOR—but the DOOR IS CLOSING ON HIM!
IT SLAMS SHUT. The lights go out, and we hear that pulsing, BALL-BEARING WIND SOUND, RISING IN VOLUME.
FADE OUT:
END OF SHOW
About the Author
Greg Bear is the author of over twenty-five books, which have been translated into seventeen languages. He has won science fiction’s highest honors and is considered the natural heir to Arthur C. Clarke. The recipient of two Hugo Awards and four Nebula Awards, Bear has been called “the best working writer of hard science fiction” by the Science Fiction Encyclopedia. Many of his novels, such as Darwin’s Radio, are considered to be classics of his generation. Bear is married to Astrid Anderson—who is the daughter of science fiction great Poul Anderson—and they are the parents of two children, Erik and Alexandria. Bear’s recent publications include the thriller Quantico and its sequel, Mariposa; the epic science fiction novel City at the End of Time; and the generation starship novel Hull Zero Three.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
These are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Greg Bear
Cover art by Greg Bear
“Sisters” first appeared in Tangents, 1989
“A Martian Ricorso” first appeared in Analog, 1976
“Schrödinger’s Plague” first appeared in Analog, 1982
“Blood Music” first appeared in Analog, 1983
“Silicon Times e-book review” first appeared in Signs of Life
“Tangents” first appeared in Omni, 1986
“Through Road No Whither” first appeared in Far Frontiers, 1985
“Dead Run” first appeared in Omni, 1985
“The White Horse Child” first appeared in Universe 9, 1979
“Webster” first appeared in Alternities, 1974
“The Visitation” first appeared in Omni, 1987
“Richie by the Sea” first appeared in New Terrors 2, 1980
“Sleepside Story” first appeared from Cheap Street Press, 1988
“Genius” © 2000 by Greg Bear
Cover design by Mauricio Díaz
978-1-5040-2141-8
This edition published in 2016 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
180 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
www.openroadmedia.com
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