“All the lighthouses in the world care about humanity, even if people do not,” said Chin-Tsu softly. “They sounding, all of them. Now. The storm, it comes.” She squinted up at the trees swaying in the wind. And then she squinted at Tom Gill, who was panting beside her like a dog,
“Sorry,” he panted. “Weightlessness has had more of an effect on my legs than I thought. It was bound to. I will be fitter again soon.”
She gazed at him impassively. They were in woodland not far from Guildford. She picked up a twig and snapped it.
“You too much muscle gym bunny,” she said. “More muscle, less agility. Strong man with bad legs falls. You learn weightless way on ground.”
“Yes yes I know,” said Gill, struggling to control his panting. “What was that anyway about lighthouses?”
“They are all sounding warning of cosmic storm,” shrugged Chin-Tsu. “I think so.”