Jupiter's Reef (53 page)

“I know I’m right,” said Mary.

“Why so sure?”

“It talked to me. The reef is a thing. A singularity, Alex. I could feel its unity.”

“You never said so.”

“Not with the others around. How could I say that? How can I prove what I feel? It happened the first time. You recall, don’t you? I was very upset.”

Alex nodded and looked into Mary’s blue-grey eyes.

“Anyway,” she continued, sniffing away a tear. “I know you needn’t feel guilty. When it touched me the white one said that they knew we were coming, and even though you were mindful of the damage you might be causing it didn’t matter. ‘Humans will return’, it said.”

“Why?” Alex sat up straight and looked at her in alarm.

“Because we’re human,” said Mary Seventeen...