Chapters 10-12 Summary

Chapter 10 is dated November, 2050. Maria meets with Paul Durham at a coffee shop. He explains the project he has in mind. He wants her to use Autoverse to design a planet and stock it with conditions and micro-organisms that might one day evolve into separate species. Maria explains that this would be impossible, since it would take more computing power than exists in the whole world to run such a simulation until complex life evolved. Durham says he understands this, but only wants a "sketch of a proof" that such a thing is theoretically possible. He offers to pay her $30,000 and give her another $30,000 in computer time for the project.

Maria is skeptical of his motives, but he assures her he is serious and she will be paid. He gives her a chip with some of his notes about the project...