Copyright © 1980, by David Brin. All rights reserved. No duplication or resale without permission.

     The alien made a slight bow.
     "I am Bubbacub."
     The voice sounded artificial. It came from a disc that hung from the Pil's neck.
     A Vodor! The Pil race required artificial assistance to speak English, then. From the simplicity of the device, much smaller than those used by alien visitors whose native tongues were twitters and squeaks, Jacob guessed that Bubbacub could actually pronouce human words, but in a frequency range beyond human hearing. He decided to assume that the being could hear him.
     "I am Jacob. Welcome to Earth." He nodded.
     Bubbacab's mouth snapped open and shut a few times silently.
     "Thank you," the Vodor buzzed, in clipped, short words. "I am happy to be here."
     "And I to be of service as your host." Jacob bowed ever so slightly deeper than he had seen Bubbacub do when he came forward. The alien seemed to be satisfied and stepped back.
     Fagin recommenced his introductions.
     "These worthy beings are of your race." A twig and a bunch of petals gestured vaguely in the direction of the two human beings. A gray-haired gentleman, dressed in tweed, stood next to a tall brown woman, in handsome middle age.
     "I will now introduce you," Fagin continued, "in the informal manner preferred by humans.
     "Jacob Demwa, meet Doctor Dwayne Kepler, of the Sundiver Expedition, and Doctor Mildred Martine, of the Department of Parapsychology at the University of La Paz."
     Kepler's face was dominated by a substantial handlebar moustache. He smiled, but Jacob was too amazed to reply to his pleasantries with more than a monosyllable.
     The Sundiver Expedition! The research on Mercury and in the solar chromosphere had been a football in the Confederacy Assembly, of late. The "Adapt & Survive" faction said that it made no sense to spend so much for knowledge that could be pulled out of the Library, when the same appropriation could employ several times as many unemployed scientists here on Earth with make-work projects. The "Self-Sufficiency" faction had so far had its way, though, in spite of abuse from the Danikenite press.
     But to Jacob it was the idea of sending men and ships down into a star that sounded like insanity of the first degree.
     "Kant Fagin was enthusiastic in his recommendations," Kepler said. The Sundiver leader smiled, but his eyes were reddened. They bore puffy outlines from some inner worry. He pressed Jacob's hand in both of his own and pumped quickly as he spoke. His voice was deep but it did not hide a quaver.
     "We came to Earth only for a little while. It's an answered prayer that Fagin was able to persuade you to meet with us. We really hope you can join us on Mercury and give us the benefit of your experience in interspecies contact."
     Jacob started. Oh no, not this time you don't, you leafy monster! He wanted to turn and glare at Fagin but even informal intrahuman propriety required that he face these people and make small talk. Mercury indeed!
     Dr. Martine's face fell easily into a pleasant smile but she looked a little bored as he shook her hand.
     Jacob wondered if he could ask what parapsychology had to do with solar physics without sounding as if he were interested, but Fagin beat him to it.
     "I intrude, as is generally considered acceptable in informal conversations among human beings when a pause has occurred. There remains one worthy being to introduce."
     Oops, thought Jacob, I hope this Eatee's not one of the hypersensitive ones. He turned to where the lizardlike extraterrestrial stood, to his right, next to a multicolored wall mosaic. It had risen from its cushion and now moved on six legs toward them. It was less than a meter in length and about twenty centimeters high. It walked right past him without a glance and proceeded to rub itself against Bubbacub's leg.
     "Ahem," Fagin said. "That is a pet. The worthy whom you are about to meet is the estimable client who brought you to this room."
     "Oh, I'm sorry," Jacob grinned, then forced a serious expression onto his face.
     "Jacob Demwa, a-Human, ul-Dolphin-ul-Chimp, please meet Culla, a-Pring, ab-Pil-ab-Kisa-ab-Soro-ab-Hul-ab-Puber, Assistant to Bubbacub of the Libraries and Representative of the Library with the Sundiver Project."
     As Jacob bad expected, the name had only patronymics. The Pring had no clients of their own. They were of the Puber/Soro line, though. Someday they would have high status as members of that old and powerful lineage. He had noticed that Bubbacub's species was also out of the Puber/Soro and wished he could recall if the Pila and Pring were Patron and Client.
     The alien stepped forward but did not offer to shake hands. His hands were long and tentacular with six fingers each at the ends of long slender arms. They looked fragile. Culla had a faint odor, a bit like the smell of new mown hay, that was not at all unpleasant.
     The huge columnar eyes flashed as Culla bowed for the formal Introduction. The E.T.'s "lips" curled back to display a pair of white, gleaming, grinder-mashie things, one on top and one on the bottom. The partially prehensile lips brought the cleavers together with a white porcelain "clack!"
     That can't be a friendly gesture where he comes from, Jacob shuddered. The alien probably pulled his huge dentures out to imitate a human smile. The sight was disturbing and at the same time intriguing. Jacob wondered what they were for. He also hoped that Culla would keep his... lips curled back in the future.
     Nodding slightly he said, "I am Jacob."
     "I am Culla, Shir," the alien replied. "Your Earth ish very pleasant." The great red eyes were now dull. Culla backed away.
     Bubbacub led them back to the cushions by the window. The little Pil sprawled into a prone position with his quadrilaterally symmetric hands dangling over the sides of the cushion. The "pet" followed and curled up next to him.
     Kepler leaned forward and spoke hesitantly.
     "I'm sorry we dragged you away from your important work, Mr. Demwa. I know you're already heavily engaged... I only hope that we can persuade you that, that our own little... problem is worth your time and worthy of your talents." Dr. Kepler's hands were knotted together on his lap.
     Dr. Martine looked on Kepler's earnestness with an expression of mildly amused patience. There were nuances here that bothered Jacob.
     "Well, Dr. Kepler, Fagin must have told you that since my wife's death, I've retired from the "mystery business," and I am pretty busy right now, probably too much so to get involved in a long journey off planet..."
     Kepler's face fell. His expression became so bleak so suddenly that Jacob was moved.
     "... However, since Kant Fagin is a perceptive indiviunal, I'll be happy to listen to anyone he refers to me, and decide on the merits of the case."
     "Oh, you'll find this case interesting! I've been saying all along that we need fresh insight. And, of course, now that the Trustees have agreed to let us bring in some consultants..."
     "Now, Dwayne," Dr. Martine said. "You're not being fair. I came in as a consultant six months ago and Culla brought the services of the Library even earlier. Now Bubbacub has kindly agreed to increase the Library support for the project and come personally with us to Mercury. I think the Trustees are being more than generous."
     Jacob sighed.
     "I wish someone would explain what this is all about. Like you, Dr. Martine, perhaps you can tell me what your job is... on Mercury?" He found it difficult to say the word "Sundiver."
     "I am a consultant, Mr. Demwa. I was hired to perform psychological and parapsychological tests on the crew and environment on Mercury."
     "I assume they had to do with the problem Dr. Kepler mentioned?"
     "Yes. It was thought at first that the phenomena were a hoax or some sort of mass-hallucination. I've eliminated both of those possibilities. It's clear now that they're real and actually take place in the solar chromosphere.
     "For the last months I've been designing psi experiments to take down on solar dives. I've also been helping as a therapist for a number of Sundiver staff members; the pressures of conducting this kind of solar research have been telling on many of the men."
     Martine sounded competent, but there was something about her attitude that put Jacob off. Flippancy, perhaps. Jacob wondered what else there was to her relationship with Kepler. Was she his personal therapist as well?
     For that matter, am I here just to satisfy the whim of a sick, great man who must be kept going? The idea wasn't very attractive. Nor was the prospect of getting involved in politics.
     Bubbacub, head of the entire Branch Library on Earth -- why is he involved in an obscure Terran project? In some ways, the little Pil was the most important E.T. on the Planet outside of the Tymbrimi Ambassador. His Library Institute, the biggest and most influential of the galactic organizations, made Fagin's Institute of Progress look like a drum and tambourine outfit. Did Martine say he's going to Mercury?
     Bubbacub stared at the ceiling, apparently ignoring the conversation. His mouth worked as though singing in some range inaudible to humans.
     Culla's bright eyes were on the littla Library Chief. Perhaps he could hear the singing, or perhaps he too was bored by the conversation so far.
     Kepler, Martine, Bubbacub, Culla... I never thought I'd be in a room in which Fagin was the least strange!
     The Kanten rustled nearby. Fagin was obviously excited. Jacob wondered what could have happened in the Sundiver project to get him so fired up.
     "Dr. Kepler, it just might be possible that I could spare the time to help you out... maybe." Jacob shrugged. "But first, it would be nice to find out what this is all about!"
     Kepler brightened.
     "Oh, didn't I ever actually say it? Oh my. I guess I just avoid thinking about it these days... just skirt around the subject, so to speak."
     He straightened and took a deep breath.
     "Mr. Demwa, it appears that the Sun is haunted."

Continue reading sample 6 and 7, or purchase Sundiver.