Tilting The Balance (90 page)

You’ve looked at it?” Atvar asked Kirel.

“Yes, Exalted Fleetlord,” the shiplord answered glumly.

“All right. Reply on the usual circuits – no need to imitate this.”

“Yes, Exalted Fleetlord,” Kirel repeated. “And the reply is?”

“Very simple-just three words: I don’t know.”

Harry Turtledove was born in Los Angeles in 1949. He has taught ancient and medieval history at
UCLA
, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal State L.A., and has published a translation of a ninth-century Byzantine chronicle, as well as several scholarly articles. He is also an award-winning full-time writer of science fiction and fantasy. His alternate history works have included several short stories and novels, including The Guns of the South, How Few Remain (winner of the Sidewise Award for Best Novel), the Great War epics: American Front and Walk in Hell, and the Colonization books: Second Contact and Down to Earth. His new novel is American Empire: The Center Cannot Hold. He is married to fellow novelist Laura Frankos. They have three daughters: Alison, Rachel, and Rebecca.