Where orbits are wildly varying, life has no chance to develop. Changes are too extreme. Temperatures melt… — Charles Sheffield

A long time ago humans talked of terraforming Mars and Venus, but we never did it. Just too busy blowing ourselves up, I guess, ever to get round to it.

“I’ve been testing Kallen’s Law—my name for it, not his. Remember what he said? ‘Anything that can be put into a data bank by one person can be taken out of it by another, if you’re smart enough and have enough time.’ That’s one problem with a computer-based society, and one reason why computers were so tightly controlled on Pentecost: it’s almost impossible to prevent access to computer-stored information.”

“My aunt doesn’t even believe there is a Ship. She says we’ve been here on Pentecost forever.”

“What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. For someone with that view, logic is irrelevant—she’ll believe what she chooses, regardless of evidence. Her religion says God placed us here on Pentecost, and for her that’s the end of the argument.”

“And you?” Peron was aware that she had moved in very close to him. “What do you think?”

“You know what I think. I’m cursed with a logical mind, and a lot of curiosity.”