Wrapped in bandages like a mummy, Charles lay on the bed and stared at the snow-white ceiling. He appeared to be spacing out, but his mind was replaying the simple phrases the mantis creatures had exchanged.
Though they had only spoken two sentences, the information contained within them was immense. First, they mentioned that humanity had suffered some kind of disaster. Judging by the state of the creatures, that disaster had affected them as well. Second, he inferred from their other sentence that a group of humans had previously negotiated with them and signed some sort of contract. That group was most likely the Foundation.
