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"He was looking for these Assassins," Estrella said, nodding, "but we don't exactly know who they
were."
"She means," Stan corrected, "we know that they killed intelligent races and all, a long time ago, but we
don't know why."
Von Shrink studied his glass for a moment.
Then he looked at them with an almost mischievous expression. "Would you like to discuss those
Assassins in more detail?" he asked. "You see, I am quite an elderly program now, and I know that often
I am quite garrulous. But if you want to "
Stan shrugged, but Estrella said at once, "Yes, I definitely would."
Von Shrink gave her a warm smile. "Then, as to the question of why the Assassins were, well,
Assassins, on so large a scale, I'm not sure I know the answer, either. I'm not sure anyone does. The
best guess I have heard is that the Kugels were afraid that other intelligences, particularly organic
intelligences, might interfere with their plans, whatever they are."
Stan was getting impatient. "You keep saying these things that we don't know anything about," he
complained. "What are Kugels?"
"I'm sorry. Really. You see, the problem is that I know so much that it sometimes is difficult for me to
assess just how little organic humans know oh, confound it," he said, biting his simulated lip, "I've done
it again, haven't I? I truly don't mean to demean you in any way. It is a fact that I do know a great deal.
I've been around, as an AI, for a very long time, and I've been doing things all that time "
Stan's impatience was mounting. "Kugels," he reminded. "What the hell are Kugels?"
"I keep on doing it, do I not?" von Shrink said remorsefully. "Let me try to clarify what I have been
saying. The reason we call the individual particles of the Assassins Kugels is that they exist in what is
known as a Kugelblitz. What is a Kugelblitz? It is the name given to a black hole whose contents are
energy, rather than matter. You see, that is what the Assassins are. They are energy creatures, and long
ago, before the Heechee retreated to their Core, where we now are...."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Von Shrink didn't start at the beginning, exactly, but close enough to try Stan's patience. But, as Estrella
seemed to be hanging on every word, he kept his peace. He ate while he listened, one bizarre
combination of textures and flavors after another as he heard one weird story after another of races
slaughtered and Heechee deciding to retreat to the Core. He kept on listening long after he had finished
eating and the two of them had picked up all the crumbs and wrappers and put them in the disposer
they still listening, and the nonexistent (but nevertheless a person, and not only that but a person who
possessed the gift of dominating a conversation) Sigfrid von Shrink still talking.
It was all interesting enough. All the same, Stan was not sorry when their doorbell growled. "Excuse
me," he said, glad enough to get off that padded, but still far from comfortable, Heechee perch.
Surprisingly, though, Estrella had listened attentively throughout and still wanted more. "One thing, Dr.
von Shrink," she said. "These Assassins? Are they still around? Should we be worrying about them?"
Stan tarried for the answer, but it took a moment to come. "As to your first question," von Shrink said at
last, "yes, they are still around, in their Kugelblitz. As to your second well, they are being watched very
carefully in a large wheel-shaped space station built for that purpose. But yes, perhaps we do need to
worry not much, perhaps, but a bit. Now should we not answer your door?"
Von Shrink himself led the way through the connecting rooms to the outside door. Where he waited
politely for Stan to open it.
There was no one there. Whoever had rung the bell had already gone away, but not without leaving a
curious object behind. The thing was constructed of woven strands of blue-gleaming Heechee metal and
was roughly, it seemed to Stan, the size of a coffin. He had no idea of its use or provenance.
Sigfrid von Shrink, however, clearly did. "Stan, Estrella," he said, sounding almost remorseful, "this is the
device I have been waiting for, and now I must confess that I have not been candid with you. The reason
I am here is that I am going to ask a favor of you, and it has to do with this device. Which," he added,
"we'd better carry inside, shouldn't we? Estrella? Could you give us a hand here, please?"
That turned out to mean that Estrella took one end of the thing while Stan took the other. Sigfrid von
Shrink, being impalpable, was therefore of no use in any kind of heavy lifting. He led the way, though.
Fortunately the thing was lighter than it looked. Von Shrink stopped near the exit to the balcony. "You
can set it down here," he said, smiling. "Now, if you'll just lift the top section off they're hinged, you
see yes, that's fine." He bent to examine it at close range. The thing had opened into a pair of woven
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