Nolan didn't turn, fascinated by the sight. "What's a telesonde?" he asked absently.
"A radio that carries neither voice nor vision. Only one note short or long depending on how long the key is held down. Your great-great-grandfather knew about it. It was the first method of wireless communication. Now it's so completely forgotten that when TPL researchers dug it up it was adopted as the most secret method of communication available."
Nolan nodded his head. The ships came around again, and down. This time the forward jets were delayed. When they flared out they persisted, while the ships dropped gently out of sight. They were landing.
The destruction of the dome was complete.
Nolan turned away. "Quite a sight," he said slowly. "They deserved to die, of course...."
"Steve."
Nolan's eyes narrowed suddenly. He looked at Petersen. "Yes?"
Petersen, for once, seemed almost at a loss for words. He licked his lips before he spoke. "Steve—there are one or two other things. Did you know that Ailse wasn't Woller's daughter by blood?"
Nolan looked at him unbelievingly. "Not his daughter?"