I wrote this story as an answer to all the stereotypes of creepy aliens and big bad computers. I also wanted to ask, "What makes a human being human?"

Linda A. M. Schneider was born in Washington, D.C., and has lived in Arlington, Virginia all her life, so she teasingly says she is "one of the natives". After graduating from Trinity College (Michigan Avenue, Washington, D.C.) with a B.A. in English literature in 1974, she received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977. At present, she works for the SEC as an attorney.

In addition to this present book, Ms. Schneider has published some poems in Catholic newspapers. She has compiled a collection of short stories, Slice of Life, and she has written one other fiction novel, The Unbroken Circle. Her other avocations in spare time include knitting and sculpture.

Ms. Schneider lives in either a one or two-dog household depending on whether she has a retired guide dog, as well as the working one. Her present guide is an Australian Cattle Dog/German Shepherd female named Remus, as in the Roman twins.

I stare in mounting horror. Like Pooh in Rabbit's door, he's stuck!

"We'll have to try to pull that vent open, from the outside," Phil says.

I nod, and start running out into the hall. I don't know about Phil, but I can't survive Up Topside without my pressure suit! "I'll meet you outside!" I yell over my shoulder.

The Regulator has the Mobile waiting for me. I jump into it, and ask to be taken back to my room. There I find the suit, thankful that I have reorganized my gear recently, and get into it and my helmet. I take my oxygen container, hoping that the utility vehicle has oxygen in a tank or something. As I emerge into the hall, I hear the Regulator's voice from the ceiling above me.

"Joanna, take the gravidic lift, the door next on your right." I remember looking down what appeared to be a utility chute the morning after I arrived. "That's a lift? I'm supposed to step out into space?"

"You will not fall. It's a one-way emergency exit. Phil has the utility vehicle outside."

Do I trust the regulator or don't I? Do I have a choice? Precious time will be lost if I have to go around to the big lift, and more time if Phil has to drive around there, too. I open the panel, and stare for a moment at what appears to be a chasm. Beside my legs, I feel Alkes' familiar presence. Then she jumps in ahead of me, and I follow automatically.