The Orthogonal Galaxy Read Free Page A

shined brightly
onto the professor.
    “ Yes, the young lady in
the back,” professor Zimmer craned and gestured to the back
row.
    “ Professor, my name is
Cintera Fernandez, and I have a relative who enjoys the benefit of
occasional zero-gravity therapy sessions as a relief from severe
rheumatoid arthritis.”
    “ That’s marvelous, isn’t
it, Miss Fernandez?” began the professor. “I was thrilled to see
the cost of low-orbit travel become reasonable enough in the last
couple of decades to allow the passenger airline industry to
venture above the atmosphere so readily. With the low-cost of
extra-atmospheric travel, doctors are able to prescribe these
therapy sessions that you mention. Thank you, Miss
Fernandez.”
    Zimmer was growing bored
with all of the trite answers and decided to shift direction a
little “But, class, I fail to see why any of these excuses gives us
any reason to consider galaxies which reside many, many light years
away from us. And yet, we’re going to be doing just that in this
classroom this year. What benefits will you as a student receive by
such a study?”
    For the first time, Zimmer
saw his students reaching deep into their intellect, straining for
the answer. He was pleased with the effective result of a few
moments of silence.
    “ Let me
ask what I hope to be an easier question.” Zimmer spoke more
quietly now. He had the attention of his students, but he wanted it
to be more focused. “When you look at the night sky with the naked
eye, you can see a few thousand stars.” He paused. “That is… when
you are not standing in Pasadena, California,” Zimmer paused for the
laughter to subside, “but rather on Palomar Mountain, where our
university’s observatory is located just a few hours away from
here, you can indeed see a few thousand stars with the naked eye. Which of these
stars is closest to our own Sun?”
    Joram’s heart gave a leap.
Carlton Zimmer was now asking a question about his star! Joram
looked around, but no hands went up to indicate knowledge of that.
Come on! This was a bright group of people, and not one of them
could answer that question? Maybe they were all still being too
timid on the first day of class. Joram tried to keep his hand from
shaking nervously as he projected it slowly into the
air.
    “ Yes, sir,” acknowledged
the professor without any apparent recollection of his earlier
disapproval of the interlude between Joram and Kath. “Please tell
us, if you will, the star which is closest in proximity to our own
Sun.”
    “ That would be Proxima
Centauri, Sir.” answered Joram confidently.
    “ That would be correct,”
approved the professor. “What is your name, young man?”
    “ Joram Anders,
sir.”
    At this, the professor
appeared to hesitate for just a moment, as if straining to remember
why that name should sound so familiar to him. It came to
him.
    “ Ah, yes,” interjected
Professor Zimmer, “Joram Anders... from Kansas, is it?”
    Joram gave a start. How on
earth did one of the world’s most renowned astrophysicists know
this obscure farm boy from Wichita? As if reading his mind, the
professor proceeded. “Sorry, Mr. Anders, if I have concerned you by
knowing more about you than you would have expected. I do assure
you that I am just an astronomer, and not also a mind-reading
astrologer.” Roars of laughter ensued.
    “ After returning from a
summer in South America, I had been reviewing all of the first-year
graduate applications just last week, and I happened to remember
your name, because I don’t believe I’ve had the honor of
instructing anyone from Kansas before, especially one with such
amazing credentials with which you come to this
institution.”
    It was always the way
Professor Zimmer treated others. He was naturally complimentary,
and in spite of being one of the world’s greatest intellects was
never condescending. Few ever doubted his intentions, for in the
well-established career and character which he had