Deitrich nodded agreeably. It was, he knew, a long ways away and a long time ago. He was used to a certain amount of surprise at this circumstance.
“B-but—” she stammered excitedly. “But that’s my time!”
Now it was his mouth that dropped open with astonishment.
“And my planet!”
He stared at her. “Where?” he asked. “When?”
“Rioessay. And I was born in 310.”
Eagerly they clasped hands. He smiled a little twisted grin as he said, “Rioessay? That was the capital once, wasn’t it?”
“Oh, yes, but way before my time.” Her eyes sparkled with hungry joy. “Our time,” she corrected.
“I knew I’d heard of it somewhere.” He paused and the grin righted itself and spread. “Well, what do you know about this.”
They still held hands. Her gaze darted from his face to his uniform and back to his face again, her eyes moist and shining. “Imagine,” she breathed, “meeting way out here. Oh-h-h.” She shook her head. “You don’t know.”