Free The Gap into Madness: Chaos and Order by Stephen R. Donaldson Page B

Sorus knew what was coming. But she’d just lost the only place she
might have called home, the only people she might have called friends; her ship
was damaged; and her enemies were gathering — enemies who turned out to have
allies in unexpected places. She had no intention of letting mutated
monstrosities like Marc Vestabule and Milos Taverner make her do their work for
them. Under these circumstances she would have refused a direct order from the
Mind/Union which was the highest source of “decisiveness” she knew of in Amnion
space.
    “You
still haven’t answered my original question,” she countered stubbornly. “Why
are we in a hurry? Trumpet is gone. We can’t stop her now. What do we
need haste for?”
    Vestabule’s
human eyelid fluttered like a signal flag, but his gaze held hers firmly. “Amnion
scan has not yet been restored to full function,” he said. “Therefore data is
imprecise. However, it will be made precise in a short time. At present the
characteristic residue of ‘going into tach’” — that human phrase sounded
awkward on his tongue — “is discernible, despite the bombardment which clouds
your instruments. As distortion fades, Calm Horizons will be able to
determine Trumpet’s gap vector. Her velocity and acceleration may be
calculated from previous data. What is known of the gap drive parameters of
such vessels will enable us to extrapolate both direction and distance.
    “The
results will be approximate,” he finished, “but pursuit will be possible.”
    There
it was. Pursuit. She’d known it was coming, but she still hated hearing it said
aloud. Pursue a UMCP ship on UMCP business into human space, where no doubt
there were half a dozen warships waiting to keep trouble off her tail.
    “What,
us and Calm Horizons ?” she protested acidly, not because she expected
Vestabule or Taverner to heed her, but simply because she needed to acknowledge
the weight of mortality hanging from her bones. “Have you considered the
possibility that the pure and righteous UMCP just might consider that an act of
war? Have you considered the possibility that maybe you have more to gain from
this kind of peace than they do, and if you break it you might have to pay
more?”
    Taverner
shook his head slowly, as if the movement were one which he’d memorised but
didn’t understand. However, it was Vestabule who answered.
    “Once
again you speak of an intersection of perhaps and perhaps not. We have not yet
reached that intersection. Calm Horizons will remain in Amnion space.
You will pursue Trumpet . You will capture her and her people, if that
goal is attainable. Otherwise you will destroy them.
    “But Calm
Horizons will come to your support, if it is required. At that
intersection, we will accept the hazard of war rather than permit Trumpet to gain safety.”
    Nausea
twisted through her stomach as he spoke. An act of war — and Soar right
in the middle of it. She was too old for this; she was born too old for it.
    “Damn
it,” she objected, knowing that objection was hopeless, “you’re days away from
getting a message to the Mind/Union. How can you take a risk like this on your
own? How do you know the Mind/Union will approve?”
    The
decision he’d announced had a human sound, a sound of desperation. Was it
possible, she wondered, that the origins of creatures like Vestabule and
Taverner could affect Amnion decision-making processes; inject an element of
terror which their kind couldn’t recognise?
    Whether
that was true or not, Vestabule had no trouble answering her. “We are Amnion,”
he replied flatly. “And we must act. That is required. The perils of inaction
now outweigh those of action.
    “To ‘approve’,”
he added, “is not a concept which has meaning in relation to the Mind/Union.”
    Facing
Sorus directly, he continued, “You also must act. I will not speak of this
again. You are required to approach Calm Horizons at the course and
velocity you have been