Neptune Crossing Page 15

  *

  >>>>>>>>>>>>

  >>>>>>

  >>>

  >

  ——

  A burst of fireworks expanded in his vision, then crystallized into a network, which hung against darkness for a heartstopping instant—then drained like rivulets of glowing water toward him, into his vision, his eyes, his brain, his consciousness . . .

  >>  Thank you for choosing Planetview Systems as your all-hour information service. We have researched and placed in cache the information that you requested during your last session. Would you like to downlink the data at this time? >>

  Now what the hell was that all about? Bandicut thought. Of course: Charlie had signed him onto Planetview and requested a complete, full-volume, updated ephemeris. /That the stuff you want?/ he asked.

  /// Yes.

  Please give me a moment

  while I prepare a storage area for it. ///

  /You can use my personal safe-zone here in the datanet, if you want./

  /// No, this is better.

  I’m setting up a cache file in your brain . . . ///

  /Huh?/

  /// Go ahead.

  Take the downlink. ///

  /Hey, I don’t want this stuff cluttering up my long-term memory!/

  /// It won’t.

  You won’t even miss the storage space.

  YES, WE’D LIKE THE DOWNLINK. ///

  Bandicut sputtered in protest, but the Planetview prompter had heard the quarx’s voice.

  >>  Prepare your cache and signal when ready . . . >>

  He took a breath, but the quarx beat him to it.

  /// Ready. ///

  >>  Cometary listings updated 2164MAR, code sequence: R.A.(H,M,S); DEC.(D,M,S); TYP; MAG; DIS; PHAS; A.VEL.; . . . >>

  Numbers and characters began flowing past with dizzying speed. For the first few seconds, he tried to make sense of it, but it was like trying to seine Niagara Falls. He couldn’t feel it going into his brain; he wondered if only the quarx would be able to retrieve it.

  /// John, you worry too much.

  Relax and let me take care of it. ///

  /Okay,/ he sighed.

  The dataflow rumbled on, a torrential waterfall beneath the surface of his consciousness . . . .