Page 24 of Reinventing Cato
“What?”
“In 2015 the Hubble Space Telescope took a shot of a galaxy cluster where there were two bright spots that looked like eyes, one that was like a nose and a curved line of light that seemed to make a smiley face. The two eyes are both distant galaxies and the curved smile is just light that’s been bent by gravity around the galaxy cluster.”
“Gravitational lensing.”
Cato smiled. “You get it?”
“I get it. So when you’ve finished your doctorate, what are you going to do?”
“Concert violinist.”
“What?”
“It’s an option, but I’ve got an interview tomorrow in London for a job with NASA.”
“NASA? Wow!”
“If I don’t get it, I’m thinking porn star or violinist. Maybe I could combine the two. What do you think?”
“You play the violin naked?”
Cato laughed. “Sometimes. The violin is my second love after space. Sometimes my first when my head feels like it’s going to explode. Getting lost in music is my escape.”
Vigge’s lust kicked him hard, right where it hurt.
After they’d called in at the services, Cato slept again and when he opened his eyes, it was dark outside. It had stopped snowing and the traffic was moving freely, albeit not quickly. He was sort of disappointed.Did I really want to get stuck in a snowdrift with Vigge?Actually… He sighed and straightened in the seat.
“You’ll be pleased to hear we’re making good time,” Vigge said.
Damn.“Right.”
“Why did that sound as if youweren’tpleased to be making good time?”
“You got that from one word?” Cato gaped at him.
“Remember what I do for a living?”
“I need to test this out. Ready?”
“For what?”
“One word and you’ll tell me the real emotion behind it.”
Vigge laughed. “I’d have to ask you a question first. One random word isn’t going to tell me anything.”
“Want to bet? Ready?”
“Go ahead.”
“Yeh…huh…yeh…huh…yeesssss!” Cato groaned as if he was having an orgasm. Then turned and smiled.
“Pain. Did you stub your toe?”
“Bastard.”
“You just realised you’d left a chocolate in the advent calendar?”
“I give up. I was trying to be entertaining.”
