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r from it in a supreme mating with the Protoculture itself。 But for whatever reason…I suspect because the Regis was forced into it by violence…this transcendence has not worked out as intended。〃
〃We find ourselves in a situation of danger not only to ourselves but to the entire universe。 I believe that unless some solution is found； by the nature of Protoculture； all of the Creation that we know will vanish as if it never existed。〃
At his end of the table Lang watched and listened to Rem with a fascination and a sense of dismay that had been growing for months。
The clone had been scarcely more than a boy when the REF had first encountered him。 Now； grown and filled out； he was very much the image of Zor； albeit with some slight genetic alteration。 But even more tellingly； in the wake of his clonesong dreams； he spoke with the voice of Zor…with an utter certainty about the nature of Protoculture and the fate of spacetime。
Lang studied Rem's face。 It was the same countenance Lang had first viewed decades ago on the other side of the galaxy； ageless and graceful。 Then it had stared out of a screen and had spoken inprehensible words。 Now it lived before him。
Lang listened carefully to what Rem was saying； but within the scientist there was a pall； a feeling of total defeat。 Despite all his assumptions and all his efforts； it was not Lang that new…space was trying to contact； to use and deal with。 The mantle of ultimate Protoculture destiny had fallen on Rem。
All Lang's hopes were dashed。 It had been his creed that the Protoculture had sought him out； that he was at the center of the Shapings。 Now he saw the cruelty of it； that he was so more a luminary of the Shapings than one of the children or Sentinel fighters； perhaps no more than that overmuscled tank sergeant； Dante。
It couldn't be！ He'd e too far。 He refused to be done out of his place in the Shapings。 But how to avoid it？
Lang was a past master at concealing his feelings。 Nothing domed on his face； but inside he felt an icy thrill of hope and dread。
The Shapings had e full circle； and in some ways the pattern was ripe for repeating。 Or if not； at least Lang's place in the great cycle would be secure。
CHAPTER TWENTY…EIGHT
Those critics contending that the personnel of SDF…3 were unforgivably blind…in not seeing the implications of their own behavior in terms of the 〃birth； trauma〃 nature of their transit into new…space…are nothing but （God forgive me） lard…bottomed armchair generals。
Given the stresses of what they were going through； the emotional wringer pressing out every one of them； and the demands of constant strife and danger； the SDFers' confusion was almost inevitable。
Only children； fools； and those who have never known hardship could argue otherwise。
Pastor Basil Yanamamo； Pipeline： Experiences in Birth and Death
〃Karen； wait！〃
He had finished postflighting his Alpha and had rushed so that he wouldn't miss her； but somehow she had pleted her task even quicker and left the flight deck。
As he caught up with her in the passageway； Karen spun on her boot heel； tapping her toe； arms crossed； features posed in heavy weather warnings。 〃Make it brief； Jack。〃
He trotted to a stop； feeling something that would have been akin to deja vu if he had not known exactly where he'd felt it before： every time they had squabbled； disagreed； clashed； or vied for the upper hand。
〃Aah； it's no big thing。 Just thought we could hit the mess if you want some pany for dinner。〃
She was not looking any kindlier。 〃Don't you want to find out what's going on at the meeting？〃
〃You mean what went on； I heard it's just breaking up。 But by the time we grab a bite； there'll probably be an intel summary we can get a peek at。〃
Her eyes narrowed。 〃Then maybe stop for one or two at the officers' club？ Possibly a dance？〃
Actually； that was just what he had in mind。 He answered warily； 〃Why； is there something wrong with that？〃
〃Hah！ Honestly； Baker； there're cockpit canopies harder to see through than you are！〃
〃Who aho wha was all he got in。
〃This is so typical；〃 Karea said through clenched teeth。 〃We're stuck in newspace or wherever it is； possibly forever； and suddenly it hits you that we should be seeing more of each other。〃
〃Well； yeah； that just happens to be the case；〃 he said lamely。 Then he heard laughter and realized that there were some enlisted ratings standing back by the hatch； ordnance men and women taking a break before going back to rearming the mecha。
〃Haven't you goddamn BB stackers got anything better to do？〃 he railed at them。 When he looked back； Karen was gone。
This time he had to grab her sleeve to stop her； and he thought for a moment she was going to sock him。 At least they were out of anyone else's earshot。
〃Have it your way； Karen！ Let's go back to the cats…and…dogs routine。〃
〃My way？ I want you to think about that； Jack。 Remember back when we were stranded on Praxis and you got so domestic？ Even though you put on a front when there was anyone else around。 You were the one who was all set to plow the north forty； lasso goats； and raise us'ns up a crop of rug runners。 Right？
〃Then we get off the planet and back into the war； and your priorities revert。 That's your pattern。 When you were laid up after Burak gored you； you were actually acting human for a while； but once you were up and around； ugh！〃
Jack had his mouth open to object； but Karen had been saving this one up for a long time； and he didn't stand a chance。 〃And now we're beached here in new…space and you're making an approach run。 Well； spare us both the thrill； Baker！〃
〃You knew I was insecure and thoughtless when you got me to fall in love with you！〃 he hollered。
Karen uttered a wordless ki…yi and tried to take his nose off with a snap kick。 Jack just managed to fall back but tripped over a stanchion and whapped the back of his head on a viewport rim； going down。
He sat there seeing stars。 〃King's X！ What're you； working for the Invid？〃
She was torn between concern and the urge to do mayhem。 〃Oh； Baker； damn your eyes！〃 She knelt by him。 〃Here； let's see。〃
〃No！ Ouch！ You're just trying to finish the job。〃