The Exodus-23 star system did not stand out from the other cold red dwarf star systems. All warmth and both planets ended up much closer to the star than the second local catapult danced in the orbital dance.
The star itself was even duller when viewed from the ship than the Sun from Pluto's orbit, and the planets were hiding in its weak light. Dusty disks, as in other, younger systems, were not there, and even the asteroids were wrong.
The only object close to us that stood out against the background of starlight and cosmic darkness was the Catapult community. It was at least ten times as long as the Earth's largest ship, the Ark - and how many millions of years it had surpassed their creations technologically, Floyd could not even imagine.
In his memory, when he saw this spectacle, only rare fragments of knowledge like the stars of the Exodus could be attributed to the constellation of Scorpio, the nebula Horse Head - a huge dust cloud, illuminated by the light of a star that is invisible to us and, suddenly, but what did Bowman see when he said he was full of stars?
Universe Ten was slowly approaching the Catapult. It was already clearly visible, from the beams to the guide rails to the rotating rings and the blue light inside... However, from such a distance, it did not seem to be a hundred times larger than a human ship, but a small, almost hand-made toy.
- To put on suits, to take places according to the schedule, - commanded Dmitry.
The suits were in the next compartment, and Floyd's place was taken right by the window. Next to him was Walter Kurnow, who was also not too busy managing the ship.
- Enjoy the show, Doc, - he winked.
- We're making contact with the Catapult," the captain repeated, typing something on the remote.
Suddenly, a huge, winding, long lightning struck Floyd from the light of the Catapult.
She touched the ship, wrapped it in a cloud of blue fire.
Floyd looked into the stars almost lost in the fire and made no mistake: on the side where the Catapult had directed them, they flashed brightly. Just for a moment, and then the cold blue flame broke out like it wasn't.
- We arrived. We're starting to work, - the captain's voice was amplified by the speakers.
And Walter Kurnow looked at him:
- Did you notice that, too, Doc? Amazing effect, wasn't it?
- The stars that broke out? Yes... - Floyd rubbed his eyes with his hand. - I wonder why it looks like that.
Walter shook his shoulders looking for something in the dark space behind the window.
- The basic theory is that the time for us in that short period of time when we're already ejecting, but haven't crossed the light barrier yet, is shrinking... And the light coming from those stars, as if accumulates. It just becomes much bigger in one second. That's it.
- I wonder, - Floyd thought aloud. - Do you have a normal theory of how the catapults work?
- You - that is, physicists? Well, you know. Such exercises for the brain of physics and mathematics began in the last century. But from a theory that fits into a few unexplained formulas to a working catapult, the gap is bigger than we just jumped over.
- Perhaps... By the way, how will we find that alien ship? It's been almost ten years.
- Well, Doc, have you forgotten that the scout probe not only sent the photos of the ship but also its orbital elements? And even if he misidentified them - the probe itself is still here somewhere. All you have to do is find it and get in touch with it.
Floyd was leaving deeply in response.
The alien ship did not fly far. As it follows from the testimony of the probe-intelligence - the most reliable "Angel-206", the production of Sputnix Industries, the year of the start of 2050 - activated Catapult attracted a freely flying ship of aliens, showing itself as a body of mass from the Earth, and now this Artefact was hanging nearby on the quasi orbit, without approaching and not leaving.
- It's wonderful, - the captain of the ship looked happy. - So, we will go on small, but effective traction, without wasting fuel in vain, and even so, we will get closer to the Artefact only for a week. Gentlemen, would you like to go to bed again?
- Not before we examine this system, - said the steady astrophysicist. - Dr. Floyd, what do you think?
- I'm already seeing what it's worth flying here for, - said Heywood, looking at the huge Horsehead Nebula. It only became visible now that the ship had turned around - and it was quite different from what Heywood was used to seeing in the pictures. However, the shape of the horse's head was still quite recognizable.