Or was there something else working?
Kolvin needed more data to understand.
It seemed that Tina needed more data, as well.
"Master System is your central brain, then?"
"It is. Do you have such a system in your world?"
She snorted. "No. We have the internet, which is a kind of net between all the computers in the world. It has all the knowledge and information we can pour into it, and we use it to watch stupid videos and share pictures of cats with one another."
"What is a cat?"
"A four-legged feline creature covered in fur that wanders around people's houses and ignores them, and as such, we worship them."
"They are gods of some kind?"
"Sure. We can call it that."
This saddened him. He thought that Tina was of higher intelligence. She and her people still worshiped primitive feline gods, which showed a lack of understanding of the fundamental scientific principles that made exploration into space possible. As such, her world, on its dimension, was still a long way away from true space exploration. "Gods are a primitive construct for an immature species."
This made her laugh. Not the expected response, but better than her being insulted--which he realized too late he likely did insult her.
"They're not really gods. They're pets."
"Oh."
Did he misunderstand? It would not be the first time he misunderstood. And it likely would not be the last time.
"I am sorry if I offended you."
"No worries," she said. "People worship a lot of things. Some do worship deities. Others worship, well, let's just say, reality entertainment, rather than logic and science."
"Maybe you would be better off here with me."
"I am beginning to wonder. I wouldn't be too impressed with my people from how I've explained them to you."
She got up and walked around the residence. "What should we do? I imagine we have the next month to--"
Thumping against the wall made him turn.
It made her turn.
They both looked in the direction of the sound.
The thumping was followed by moaning. Female moaning.
Kolvin shifted and was about ready to go see if everything was well.
He didn't like the thumping. It reminded him of the prison.
There was always something thudding or thumping or thundering in the cells. The sound put him on edge, and he wanted to go find out the source.
"Wait," Tina said.
He looked back at her. Her cheeks were pink.
The thumping started again. His body tensed at the noise.
