The Legend That Was Earth by James P. Hogan Page A

great friend. It's just..." He threw out a hand helplessly. There was no gracious continuation. He had painted himself into a corner. Julia rose, came over to the bed, and disposed of the few garments she was still wearing. Cade let his gaze wander over her, and in moments all thoughts of his impasse had fled. She slid in beside him, entwining bodies, and drew close.
    "Then think about a Terran woman for the time being," she murmured.
    They made love skillfully, satisfyingly, with the ease and confidence that come when time has bred a familiarity that goes beyond just good companionship and has banished uncertainties. The physical gratification that they shared at night was the ideal complement to the professional intimacy that they shared during the day. At times, Cade was tempted to bring up the possibility of marrying again; but then, he would ask himself, why risk messing with a good relationship?
    Afterward, they lay contentedly, Julia resting her face on his shoulder, her finger tracing idle designs on his chest. "You make me feel like a woman," she told him.
    "What did you expect? Orangutan? Wildebeest? Sumatran two-horned rhinoceros?"
    "Oh, don't be so unromantic. You know what I mean."
    Cade grinned and slid an arm around her shoulder. "Of course I do. Life just gets better, doesn't it?"
    A few seconds of silence passed, as if Julia were pondering something. "Wasn't it ever good before?" she asked finally.
    "It depends when did you mean? Any time in particular?"
    "Oh... when you were with Marie, for instance. Was it good like this then?"
    "It had its ups and downs, I guess." Cade was surprised. "What made you bring that up?"
    "I'm not sure.... Maybe when those two ISS people came here, asking about her."
    Cade shook his head. "Like I told them, that was all over years ago. The last I heard, she was in China."
    "They seemed to think she's come back," Julia reminded him. She seemed to let the subject rest there, then added lightly, "Do you ever hear from her?"
    "What? Hell, no. Why should I?" Cade turned his head. "Don't tell me you're getting jealous."
    "I was just curious," Julia replied.
    * * *
    The next morning, Mike Blair called to inform Cade that he was going to Australia. Krossig, the Hyadean anthropologist at the LA mission, would be leaving almost at once to join the Hyadean scientific field station still being operated there. He and Blair had gotten to know each other in the course of Blair's long periods of ensconcing himself at the mission, which had resulted in an invitation for Blair to go too as Krossig's Terran scientific understudy and consultant.
    "It sounds good, Mike," Cade told him. He had taken the call in the gym behind the garage at the side of the house, where he had been working out with Luke. "So when is this likely to happen?"
    "Once these guys make their minds up, they don't fool around. It could be a matter of weeks."
    "What's the political situation like there?" Cade asked. He was always curious about backgrounds that could affect business.
    "With a pure scientific research station, it's okay. The government's trying to keep the contact but stay out of any main currents. The Hyadeans have had a presence there since the first landings. It's probably good diplomacy to just go along with them."
    Cade nodded. "It sounds like we're going to need another party to send you guys off, then."
    "Well, I wouldn't say no to that."
    Luke came through on his way to the shower room, clad in a blue track suit with a towel tucked around the neck, his face still red and perspiring. "It's Mike," Cade told him, gesturing with the compad. "Krossig's transferring to that place they've got in Australia, and Mike will be going too."
    "Great," Luke acknowledged.
    Cade thought for a moment. "What do you think Hyadeans might say to a day out fishing, Terran style, instead of another party?" he asked Blair on the screen.
    "Vrel would like it for sure. Probably Krossig too.... I don't think he's ever tried anything