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“You see their ability to build with stone and metal all around us, but there are no sculptures or engravings that would have stood the test of time,” she answered. “Not even slumped, indistinguishable pieces.”

“That is strange. But maybe the AIs the Pilot discovered explain that,” Davies said as they passed by a door that was taller than the others and had a high arch at the top rather like one of the gothic cathedral doors she’d seen pictures of on Earth.

“How so?” she asked.

“They cleaned it all up like they did the remnants of the Khul. Anything that rotted, they swept it away. Reused it. Recycled it.” Davies shrugged. “And maybe their art was ephemeral too. Stone and metal were only used for buildings. Or maybe their buildings are their art.”

“You could be right. But we don’t have any writings from them either. I mean there are some. But the Neenda and their ability to read the past by touch has been our main method of knowing the Altaeth,” Thammah explained.

Davies wasn’t exactly relaxed as they walked the silent corridors and spoke. He was still radiating readiness, but he conversed easily. She wasn’t sure if that meant he believed them safe or if he was always on alert.

“The Osiris, Gehenna and these other small AIs that the Pilot can speak with must know all about the Altaeth and the Khul,” Matzen supposed.

“I don’t think so. They weren’t designed as history teaching AI. At least not in the strict sense,” Thammah answered. “The Osiris appears to be made for war against the Khul. And Gehenna… well, she does train the Pilot, but she may have adapted herself to that.”

“What are the theories about the Altaeth’s disappearance?” Davies asked as he checked the map and led them down another set of stairs, which Thammah marked.

“They left this part of the known universe by gates we haven’t discovered,” she said.

“They were assimilated by the Khul,” Matzen offered.

“Yes, that’s a popular one in certain circles,” Thammah agreed.

“Some say that they uploaded their consciousnesses and eliminated the need for a material form,” Matzen said.

“That’s an interesting one!” Davies nodded.

“Is there any chance that the Osiris and Gehenna aren’t AIs, but uploaded Altaeth?” Matzen asked.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Davies responded dryly. “But I’ll ask the Pilot.”

“So all the little AIs could be ghosts of Altaeth too?” Thammah gave a shiver.

Matzen shrugged. “We know nothing of these beings but what they tell us. Perhaps they are lying. Or they don’t know what they are any longer.”

“Any other theories?” Davies asked.

“Yes, one last one,” Thammah admitted.

But before she could say it, Thammah was jerking her head around to look behind them. No slavering monster trundling after them with jaws agape. No white-eyed creature with claws moaning for their flesh. Nothing at all but the empty corridor.

If there really were creatures down here, what would they eat? Not enough explorers go down to make a reliable meal, she reminded herself.

“Pyrrhus?” Davies asked softly.

She dragged her gaze back to him. “Hearing things.”

“No, I heard it too,” Matzen said softly. “So there is something to hear. But I see nothing on our comms to indicate another presence.”

A chill ran through Thammah. “Do you think…” She stopped herself. Asking if he thought creatures really were tracking him was absurd.

“I imagine that we’re being followed by some Moturin people,” Davies answered. “Let’s not worry about them. I don’t believe they mean us harm. And if we do run into something we need an extra arm for, we’ll have them.”

“Of course,” Thammah muttered, feeling foolish for thinking a creature was following them.

She turned back and they hurried down the stairs. They reached the bottom and there was a set of large metal doors. The moment they set foot on the landing, the doors began to grind open. They were all tense as they waited to see what was beyond this.

“The map is sketchy here,” Davies indicated. “Gehenna is located somewhere beyond these doors and then directly down.”