THEY WERE BEING PULLED steadily along the umbilicus. Cherry peered through the translucent walls. She saw hazy impressions of stars everywhere around them except for directly ahead, where all was black.
“I wonder where in the galaxy we are,” said Kes.
Cherry had been wondering the same thing. They had clearly traveled a huge distance on the threads’ ship. She wouldn’t have expected to be able to judge where they were because they were viewing the starscape from a new angle, but they were clearly in another section of the galaxy entirely. The stars clustered much thicker here than in the Concordian night sky.
“We’re deeper within the Milky Way than we were,” Aubriot replied.
“I think you’re right,” said Kes.
The tunnel exit appeared and quickly yawned wider.
“Do you think the Assembly
