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“Nice,” Tilly said “Rehearsal pays off”

“Thank you,” the bishop said

“What is the Ring?” Anna said with a frown “It’s a wor about these on a theoretical basis for centuries They look just like this Soh it and the place on the other side isn’t here We get the trans It’s a wormhole”

“That’s certainly a possibility,” Father Michel said Tilly smiled at the sourness in his voice “How do you see our mission here, Anna?”

“It isn’t what it is that’s at issue,” she said, glad to be back in a conversation she understood “It’s what itwonderful, it’ll be displacing People will need to understand how to fit this in with their understanding of the universe Of what thistells us about Hi here, we can offer coree,” Cortez said “Our work is to help people coreat mysteries, and this one’s a doozy”

“No,” Anna started, “explaining isn’t what I—”

“Play your cards right, and it et Esteban another four years,” Tilly said over the top of her “Then we can call it a rin at soroup ofat them

“Can you believe those people?” Tilly asked

“I believe those are delegates from the Church of Humanity Ascendant,” Anna said

Tilly shook her head “Humanity Ascendant I ion and pretend we’re the gods”

“Careful,” Cortez said “They’re not the only ones”

Seeing Anna’s discomfort, Father Michel attempted to rescue her “Doctor Volovodov, I know the elder of that group Wonderful woman I’d love to introduce you If you all would excuse us”

“Excuse me,” Anna started, then stopped when the room suddenly went silent Father Michel and Cortez were both looking toward so near the bar, and Anna et a better view It was hard to see at first, because everyone in the roo ht red suit was revealed He’d poured so all over hi a clear fluid onto the floor A strong alcohol scent filled the roo man yelled out in a voice that trembled with fear and excitehan people!”

“Oh dear God,” Father Michel said “He’s going to—”

Anna never sahat started the fire, but suddenly the young ulfed in flaistered annoyance at the sound Really, when had sonized her fixation on this irritation as her oay of avoiding the horror in front of her, but only in a distant and dreamy sort of way She was about to tell Tilly to just shut up when the fire-suppression system activated and five strea The fiery uished in seconds The smell of burnt hair competed with the alcohol stench for dominance