1n1REzE

Peter Watts 142 Blindsight
The tent breathed around us.
"Then how can you speak" Susan asked the voice. "If you don't
exist, what are we talking to"
"Something...else." A sigh. A breath of static. "Not me."
"Shit," Szpindel muttered. His surfaces brightened with resolve
and sudden insight. He pulled his hand from the wall; my HUD
thinned instantly. "Her brain's frying. We gotta get her inside."
He reached for the release.
I put out my own hand. "The spike—"
"Crested already, commissar. We're past the worst of it."
"Are you saying it's safe"
"It's lethal. It's always lethal, and she's out there in it, and she
could do some serious damage to herself in her pres—"
Something bumped the tent from the outside. Something
grabbed the outer catch and pulled.
Our shelter opened like an eye. Amanda Bates looked in at us
through the exposed membrane. "I'm reading three point eight,"
she said. "That's tolerable, right"
Nobody moved.
"Come on, people. Break's over."
"Ama—" Szpindel stared. "Are you okay"
"In here Not likely. But we've got a job to do."
"Do you—exist" I asked.
"What kind of stupid question is that Szpindel, how's this field
strength Can we work in it"
"Uh..." He swallowed audibly. "Maybe we should abort, Major.
That spike was—"
"According to my readings, the spike is pretty much over. And
we've got less than two hours to finish setting up, run our ground
truths, and get out of here. Can we do that without hallucinating"
"I don't think we'll shake the heebie-jeebies," Szpindel admitted.
"But we shouldn't have to worry about —extreme effects— until
another spike hits."
"Good."
"Which could be any time."
"We weren't hallucinating," James said quietly.
"We can discuss it later," Bates said. "Now—"