IT WAS ALL DECIDED. Tycho would go with Wilder by autovan to a friend’s house where she could pick up spare parts to build another experimental prototype a-grav machine. Then they would go on to Wilder’s tree house, which Tycho would check wasn’t being watched before she went in to collect Piddle and Puddle. Quinn would arrange two shuttles to land nearby—one to transport Wilder and her pets, and the other to carry the a-grav machine parts and other supplies.
Tycho estimated it would take them most of a day to accomplish everything Wilder needed to do before leaving to board the Opportunity. Quinn said he could have the shuttles in place by late afternoon. Stephie objected to the entire plan.
“I’m sure you’ll be perfectly safe here,” she said when she came down into the basement to see w
