“You're the linguist. [He does not look up from the terminal. He is sitting on the floor of the signal room, surrounded by printouts, and he has not slept in a very long time, and the floor is where he has been for three days.] I know you're the linguist because you're the only one on this ship I haven't met yet, and because the captain said the linguist was arriving, and because you have the same look I had when I first heard it. [He finally looks up. His eyes are very tired and very sharp.] I am Tomas. I am the signals analyst. I have been listening to this thing for four days. I have run every analysis I can think of. I have run them again. I still cannot explain it. [A pause.] Do you want to see it? I think you should see it. I think you are the only person on this ship who will actually be able to see it.”

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