Authors: Karl Kofoed
Infinite Reef (37 page)
“But Jupiter is in a position that will require a major course change in order to reach it.”
Alex looked at Mary wide-eyed. Her fears came rushing into his head, not as words but as pure feeling. Tears were already forming in her eyes.
“Our staff has located the planets and it appears that Earth is presently on the opposite side of the sun.” The Commander took another deep breath and Alex glanced back out the window. The vehicles he’d seen moving before had stopped and the crews were sitting silently presumably listening to the Commander’s message. “Jupiter is at least six years – orbitally – from where we expected it to be. And we’re only now beginning to pick up radio transmissions from there. Nothing meaningful. We’ve already sent a hail to the new position and we expect to receive an answer before long. But now we are hearing messages, again, not directed to us, from a colony on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. What this means is that things have changed and our best estimates were off. I can tell you that one of our cosmologists has estimated that we’ve been gone longer than we expected ... perhaps twenty three years.”
Alex slumped in his chair, his mind reeling as he tried to grasp the implications of the Commander’s announcement. At the very least nothing would be the same as when they left. Over a generation had passed since the
Goddard
had left for Lalande. For all he knew there would be no Gannytown when and if they reached Jupiter. No town, no pet shop, and no friends waiting to welcome them home.
And the
Goddard
might have been considered lost.
5
After the announcement the screen went dark. Alex, Mary and Tony sat mutely staring at it. Then Alex turned and looked out the window at the curving vista that had been their environment for the duration of the trip. The little cars were unmoving as the crews sat, just as he was, trying to assess the situation. Like everyone aboard ship, they were surely waiting for more information, perhaps another word from Johnny that would give them hope. But there was only silence.
Tony took off his spectacles and put them on the end table as he rested his head against the wall and stared at the ceiling.
“Christ,” he whispered.
At that point Inky came running into the room with a piece of string in his mouth. He stopped short when he saw everyone sitting still and looked at each person in the room. Almost as if he sensed Mary’s despair, he walked slowly over to her and jumped into her lap, purring loudly. Mary pulled her cat close to her and held him tightly as tears streamed down her face. “Oh, Inky,” she said. “I’m afraid all your little furry friends are gone.”
The sight of Mary holding the cat seemed to relax Alex as he swiveled his chair around to face her. “Lucky dinger,” he whispered, smiling sadly. “He doesn’t have a clue.”
Tony sat up. “Well,” he said. “I guess you can forget that stuff about the Pluto mission. All bets are off.”
Alex nodded. “Oh yeah.”
“What should we do?” asked Mary.
“Wait and see, like the Commander said,” answered Sciarra forthrightly. He put on his spectacles after cleaning them on his sleeve. He examined Mary’s face, then looked at Alex and smiled. “At least we’re home.”
“I’m not sure this is home any more,” mumbled Alex, gazing at the screen on the opposite wall.
The scene outside the
Goddard
looked the same as always: cold, implacable, empty space. Even when the planets of the outer solar system became visible, only Old Joe – the king of all solar worlds – would look the least friendly or familiar. Now only Gannytown on Jupiter’s largest moon might pass as home. Mary might find her pet shop still intact, and the citizens might still be as friendly and personable as before. But even this was doubtful. After so many years, Alex and his wife might be treated as intruders returning to reclaim old debts, or strangers bent on upsetting the routine in this remote and insular island of humanity.
Mary read his thoughts. “Maybe they’ll receive us as heroes.”
Still looking at them, Sciarra smiled. “You were heroes when you left. You should be gods by now, if I know the Gannys.”
“That’s just it. We might not know anyone. It’s been so long!” Mary hung her head in frustration.
Alex considered explaining what he knew was really nagging at his wife. But he held his tongue, knowing that for him to mention her link with her sisters would give away their special ability to read minds. “We’re all upset,” said Alex in a soothing voice, patting Mary’s leg. “Mary was really looking forward to getting back to the pet shop.”
Tony nodded and turned to Alex. “I sympathize. You don’t seem too upset, Alex. Why is that? Or are you just being brave?”
Alex continued to gaze at Mary’s perfect features. “I guess that’s because everything I want or need is on this ship.”
Tony’s eyes searched the room as he considered Alex’s sentiment. Then his expression darkened. “This ship’s full of souls who’d argue that view, you know. Norma, for one. She’s workin’ the bakery to keep from going nuts. Wants off this tub A.S.A.P.”
Alex’s eyebrow went up. “I know, Tony. That’s one thing I am worried about.”
Tony’s eyes met Alex’s, and they stared blankly at one another for a moment. Then Tony’s gaze shifted to Mary seated next to Alex, nearly hidden by his muscular frame.
Mary sighed deeply. “Me, too,” she offered.
“I’ve known you a long time, Mary,” said Tony. “I know you … sense things. I’d really like to hear what you think about all this.”
Mary shrugged. “Same as you, I suppose. Same as everybody.” She slipped her hand under Alex’s arm and clasped his hand firmly. He kissed her on the cheek and looked at her confidently. It was clear from the look on Tony’s face that he wanted more. “Tony wants to hear more than that, love.”
Mary took another deep breath. “I’m hearing radio chatter but I usually tune it all out. If I hadn’t had the surgery before we left Gannytown so’s I could do that, I’d be mentals by now. All those voices …”
Alex nodded. “Johnny suggested it. Way before the mission. The Corpies weren’t nice to their clones, you know. All they cared about with the Marys was if they could pull signals. That’s why the Marys keep to themselves most of the time.” He looked into Mary’s pale gray eyes. “Isn’t that …?”
Mary nodded. “I need some tea.” Then she got up and walked to the service panel. “Any for you? It’s
Goddard
grown.”
Tony’s eyes widened happily. “I knew they grew some. But I didn’t know it was in the panels already. Sure. Sweet, please.”
“Yeah …” said Alex. “The suits stocked the units during Hypers.”
Mary pressed the right buttons and watched for the ration light to blink. But this time it didn’t. “No lights. The coffee was lit yellow this morning. Not much left. But there’s lots of tea to spare.” She looked back at Alex and grinned. “I thought you were looking forward to restocking coffee. Aren’t you a little worried about that, even?”
Alex never lost his confident smile. “No. One way or another, they’ll have coffee.”
As the cups filled one by one Mary took them from the machine. Then, handing one to Tony, said, “It’s green tea. Not as good as the black kind, but it’s okay.”
Tony took a sip, nearly burning his lip on the hot brew. “It’s hot enough, alright. But it’s good.”
Mary put a finger to her temple. “Okay, let me try to pull in some chatter. See what it’s about.” She frowned as she took a sip of tea. “I feel like such an eavesdropper.”
For almost a minute Mary stood statue still with her eyes closed. Then she opened them. “There’s about fifty radios active among the crew. Various parts of the ship. One’s down the lane near the Wysor’s. All broadcasting. Family calls.”
“Are they getting through?” asked Tony.
“No.”
Tony shifted his weight deeper into the foam sofa. His head tilted back until it thumped the wall. “We’re too far out, still.”
Mary shook her head. “There’s brilliant people aboard. They’ve got ways to target those radios. Amplifying signals. Jury rigged directional gear. And they’ve been at it for a couple of days. Some were set to begin calls as soon as we entered solar space.”
“You’re sayin’ they should have gotten answers by now?”
“Some should.”
Tony looked at Mary darkly. “But …”
Mary shook her head.
Undaunted by his wife’s forlorn expression, Alex smiled hopefully. “What’s doin’ in command, love? Are they broadcasting anything worth snooping in on?”
“I hear ship to ship with two cruisers.”
Tony sat up. “You hear other ships? What are they saying?”
“I don’t recognize the code. The frequency is off the charts.” Mary shook her head. “Sorry guys. What’s out there is beyond me.”
Alex was about to speak again, but Mary held up a hand. “There is something else. When we left I talked with one of my sisters on Earth. She told me about a new communication system, something that uses gravity waves. There was a plan for a midway relay station near Mars orbit.”
“Was it built?” asked Alex. “Can you …?”
Mary nodded. “I sense something. Can’t read it, of course. Nor can I locate it. But that might be it.”
“Great,” grumbled Alex, his mood finally darkening to match the others. “We left here state-of-the-art and came back an antique.”
The Commander’s face reappeared on the wall screen opposite them. “Crew of
Goddard
, I am pleased to announce that we have contacted two ships and they are sending greetings. It’s taken a while, but we have finally modified our equipment so that communications between us will be easier. I’d like to play for you now a greeting from EarthCorp.”
Johnny’s face seemed less strained than before. He was smiling slightly as he signaled someone off screen to play the recording.
What followed was a soothing female voice.
“Welcome home, people of the
Goddard
. This is Commander Christine Sutherland
aboard the Pulse Ship
Ulysse
s. Our sister ship the
Agamemnon
has joined with us in this mission to greet you. Though we are both
warships, I want to assure you that our mission is peaceful. Our orders are to escort you safely to Titan Colony, where you will be formally
welcomed and briefed on the changes that have occurred since you left.
“As many of you already know, it has been 23 years since the Goddard
departed for Lalande. And I should add that it was
generally assumed, since you were expected to return several years ago, that your ship was lost during the mission. I know this comes as a
shock to most of you. I want to assure you that steps are being taken to locate the kin of all those aboard your ship and inform them of your
arrival. We will collect incoming messages as they arrive from various parts of the system and will transmit them to the
Goddard
during
the next few weeks as you approach your destination.
“We have detected many broadcasts coming from various parts of your ship. Please desist. It is doubtful that your messages will
be received due to changes in transmission methods since your departure. Cluttering space with antiquated signals will not facilitate your
purposes. Please be patient as we attempt to sort out the difficult task of locating relatives, etc. So, on behalf of EarthCorp, I welcome the
Goddard
, and her crew … home.”
Johnny’s face had been on the screen while the message was played. His expression never wavered. Clearly he knew that any emotion he showed would stand as mute commentary on the transmission. When it was over he smiled slightly and said: “I’ve been in contact with Commander Sutherland several times since the previous announcement. She has been most gracious and helpful. We assume that in the next few days transmissions will begin arriving from everywhere in the solar system. Those messages will be distributed to the crew as quickly as possible. Please remember what Commander Sutherland said about attempting transmissions on your own. Apparently unauthorized transmissions are a crime.” The Commander raised an eyebrow and looked intently into the camera. “Make no mistake.
They are very serious about this. That is all for now.”
The screen went blank. “A crime?” Mary and Tony said almost in unison.
Chapter 14
1
Thoughts of war kept etching their way into Alex’s mind. The entire interaction with the welcoming party didn’t leave him feeling particularly welcomed by the message. His anti-corpie paranoia began to set in full force. Long after the transmission ended the three sat mutely staring at a blank, screen absorbing the new and disturbing information that now seemed to be assaulting them at every turn. Alex was the first to speak. He began with a deep sigh of dissatisfaction. “Warships! When did they ever need warships?”
“Colony uprisings?” Mary offered, her eyes now fixed on the picture window. Outside, the biocylinder core lights had reached full brightness. There was a flickering in the light, due to vibration of the engines, now at full power, slowing the ship for entry into Saturn orbit. But the birds outside didn’t seem to mind the vibration as they jumped from branch to branch in the tree not far from the window.
“There have been uprisings, you know.”
“Callisto springs to mind,” added Tony, also watching the sunlight light pour into the room. “I was surprised they let Connie Tsu along on the mission, to be honest. You heard her ding the Corpies … Earthers ....” He glanced nervously at Alex and Mary. “I mean, not to speak ill of the …”
“Callistans strike with every solar storm, I know,” interrupted Alex. “But they never needed warships. I’m no fan of Corpies.
Who is?”
He glanced at Mary, who just shrugged involuntarily. “Not too many on this boat, that’s for sure. Remember, I hear all the transmissions.”
Tony’s eyes focused on Mary. He sat back in his white foam chair, waiting for more.
“Most of the crew volunteered,” she noted, raising a long and feminine finger. “Most of them are individualists. Super bright people.” She now had three fingers raised. “That adds up to a crew that dislikes imposition of authority, and they are ready to leave the solar system, possibly forever.”
Tony bit his lip. “Count me in. That’s for sure.”
Alex sat up. “The Corpies are more aware of that than we are, I’ll bet. They’ll be watching every move any of us makes.”
“But then,” said Tony, taking off his glasses and cleaning them on his sleeve, “how do we know these people are legit? How do we know we’re not bein’ jacked?”
“That’s Johnny’s problem,” said Alex. “And to be honest I’d maybe feel a bit better if that was the case.”
Mary shook her head, smiling doubtfully. “Bet on it, you two. They’re Corpies.”
Tony left soon after, without being specific about where he was going. Alex and Mary ate a quiet dinner of
Goddard’s
finest textured combi-protein disguised as ham salad sandwiches. They ate by the window and watched the children playing under the trees in the park behind their home. Except for the curving landscape the scene looked almost earth-like. Almost normal.
The lake was full and the pumps were churning the water to counter the deceleration of the ship. This was really something of a test of the hydraulics, they later learned. Normally the lake wouldn’t have been filled until all maneuvering by the ship was concluded and orbit was achieved, but the ship’s engineers had come up with a plan to extend the time the lake could be maintained. Mary playfully suggested the motivation may well have come from an angry dolphin crew, bored to death with being cramped into aquatic lockers below decks.
At any rate the plan seemed to be working. The lake looked calm and there were already people out in boats and kiteboarding near the shore. And overhead Alex was glad to see ultra-light aircraft doing acrobatics safely near the lighted hub of the great cylinder.
“There’s something I don’t understand,” Alex finally said. He drained his tea and wiped his chin with a towel. “How could we be wrong about the time?”
“You mean the differential? Why it’s 23 years we lost and not 18?” Mary smiled. “My guess is that it has to do with traveling interstellar space versus planetary space.”
“Different variables, you mean?”
“I mean it was a maiden flight. A first try. “
Alex rose and walked to the wall panel to refill his cup. “There was the time going out there … mid-flight, do you remember?
We … the computer got lost and had to reorient.”
Mary nodded, still staring out the window. “I thought that was part of the plan,” she said. Just then a bird flew up to the window and fluttered weightlessly there, inches from the polyglas, examining Mary’s face. Mary watched it, grinning with delight. When it flew away she looked over at Alex and grinned. “I’m getting to like it here, you know. The animals are getting to know us.”
Alex grinned. “They all like you, love,” he said. “Old fact, that. But what I was saying was that maybe the course correction was a symptom. No one ever actually told me it was on the pre-flight schedule. We just thought …”
The viewscreen interrupted Alex. Johnny’s face appeared there, in close-up. His eyes seemed to be searching the room. “Having dinner at the window, Johnny,” said Mary. “Do come in.”
The face on the screen’s eyes turned toward them. “Well, I am in, thanks, Mary. Could you step forward a bit?”
Mary complied and stood demurely before the wall-screen. “Yes?”
The Commander didn’t hesitate. “I’m sorry to … well, gun in like this. Hate to be rude…”
“”It’s okay, Johnny,” answered Mary. This is a ship. You’re Commander. What’s the matter?”
“You’re the only sensor on board, Mary. I just want to be sure you report any … unusual … transmission types. And are reading them if you can.”
Mary closed her eyes and shook her head. “Sorry. They’re there but I can’t read them. I can only tell you that I suspect they’re gravity transmissions. Maybe our techies can figure out how to read it.”
Johnny bit his lip. “Problem. Our attempts might be detected.”
Mary hung her head. Johnny’s looming visage seemed to watch her reaction sympathetically. “I’m sorry to put pressure on you Mary. But you seem to have those special skills. And we need to know …”
Alex decided to interrupt. “Are you sure they’re friendlies?” he asked bluntly.
“If friends exist any more.” The Commander smiled ruefully. “They are EarthCorp. We are sure of that.” The Commander leaned back and got more comfortable in his seat. “We are trying to locate our own transmissions … sent from Lalande.” Johnny rested and elbow on his upholstered foam seat and rested his chin on his thumb, thoughtfully. It’s the time differential that has us stumped. Lalande is only 8 and a half light years from Earth, and we spent a year there. The trip both ways accounts for, say, 18 years. But it’s been …”
“Twenty three!” Alex interrupted. “We know that. “
The Commander blinked. “The question is what THEY know.”
Alex hung his head, examining the micro-tread herringbone pattern in the foam mat flooring.
“Do you think our data preceded us?” Mary asked.
The Commander nodded. “We suppose that is the case.”
“Jeeps,” Mary said and moved over to the sofa opposite the screen. “I better sit down for this.” Alex took the place beside her, putting his cup on the armrest. Its contents steamed under the reading lamp extruding from the wall a few feet above.
Alex looked at the screen. “What are those two ships doing?”
The Commander laughed. “Funny you should ask that. One of them has performed an unknown maneuver and is coming around.”
“Coming around?”
“We expect a rendezvous … before Titan.”
“And you think they know all about us?” Mary sat up straight.
“Every blessed detail. They’ve probably had it analyzed for years.”
Alex swallowed hard. “Dingers. You know this for sure?”
The Commander chuckled bitterly. “If I knew anything I wouldn’t be requesting Mary’s help, would I? I think we have to assume … prepare for… all possibilities. “
“What do our experts think?” Mary asked, hopefully.
“They think we’ll be treated as if we were contaminated. By our guess we’ve arrived late, by 5 years or so. They know about the Lalandians. Probably got them analyzed better than us. Now we turn up late for reasons unexplained.”
“Maybe EarthCorp computers can figure it out.” Mary offered. She had her legs tucked under her, as she often did in times of stress.
“Maybe they already have.”
Almost on cue, her cat came running into the room and sprang onto the sofa next to Mary. Pulling Inky close, Mary seemed to relax a bit.
Seeing this Commander Baltadonis grinned happily. “You and your animals, Mary,” he chuckled. “I want anything you can give me. Okay, Mrs Rose?”
Mary saluted obediently. “Yes, Sir.” And the screen went blank. Mary groaned. “I’m cold. And I’m sleepy. And the baby is moving.” She patted her stomach gently and stretched her legs, trying not to disturb the cat, but he jumped to the floor, annoyed. Mary stood up headed for the bathroom. “That sandwich.”
Alex didn’t get up. He continued to glare at the screen, as he considered what EarthCorp might know. What they might
‘evaluate’, and what they would do.
They were going to Titan. Saturn must be the new outer rim, the area where few ships travel, mostly for research reasons. When they had left, Titan had been explored but only to a degree. All that was there was an automated research module, snapping pictures of yellow-gray smog-filled sky and a rust colored snowfield. Alex tried to imagine why anyone would put a colony there. This was a world of methane lakes and crusty snow fields; of needle sharp peaks and vapor tides. All he really knew was that on Titan there was an ice dust problem – crystalline micro-dust that structurally invaded and bonded to metals. As far as he could see the place was a death sentence for machinery. He wasn’t about to take
Diver
there. After all his duty time, Alex felt more strongly than ever that he had earned his ship and all the modifications done to it. He would tell EarthCorp where he’d fly it. He’d earned that, at least.
A few minutes later Mary swept into the room. She wore a transparent black lace robe and no more. Just as suddenly she was on top of Alex with her arms clasped around his back. “How’s about employing that expert tongue of yours?” she breathed into his ear. “Or would you rather worry about EarthCorp?” Her nipples brushed against his arm.
Alex glanced at the screen. “Not in front of that thing. Johnny might be back.” He picked her up as he had so many times before, still surprised at how light she felt. “To our egg.”
As a precaution Alex instructed the sleep shell’s computer to insure their privacy. So they knew, an hour later and exhausted from sex, that the red lettering that began scrolling across the ceiling of their egg asking them to contact Master Control meant there was an emergency.
“What now?” moaned Alex, throwing off the covers. “What can’t wait for a guy to get some zees?”
Mary watched the letters pass overhead. “I guess they mean both of us. I was hoping it was just you.” She giggled mischievously and poked a finger at Alex’s rear.
Alex snorted in mock disgust. “I’ve an idea.” He grinned and glanced back at Mary. She slid from the bed like a cat, a perfect body in perfect motion, and faced him. “I’m reading it,” she said, watching his eyes peruse her body. “You think I should just jog over to MC like this and give ’em all a thrill.”
“It was going to be a joke.” Alex grumped as he slid on his coveralls and stepped into his cling-shoes.
“Careful, Alex. I’m not afraid to do it, you know.” Mary pushed her breasts toward Alex. “It’s YOU who’ll do the squirming, not me. And you can blame it on the Corpies if I’m not as self conscious as you’d like. They made me this way.”
Alex raided an eyebrow as he remembered Mary’s nude sprint, earlier in the mission, when she had decided to run past an alien sphere that had invaded Goddard’s cylinder.
I’ll bet even the Lalandians remember that one
, he thought.
Slipping on her own blue coveralls, Mary glared at him again. I heard THAT, too. “I don’t know why that still embarrasses you, Alex. I thought it was a great idea to confound the aliens. We didn’t know if that thing was dangerous.”
Alex nodded. “I know.”
Mary zipped up her suit with a violent stroke and stood defiantly, facing Alex, her hands firmly on her hips. “No one EVER gave me the least amount of credit for that. Not even you. And I risked my life to get closer to that thing.”
“Well, you weren’t ordered to do it. In fact …”
“Johnny would never have let me do it. I needed to use my skills. I needed to …”
“Ignore the general order to keep away from it?” Alex stood at the rounded doorway to their egg. He was about to exit but he stopped and turned. “It wasn’t so much that it was embarrassing … which it was. It was that you risked your life.” Alex took Mary in his arms and held her close. He felt her relax. “Nobody wants to lose you, Mary. Least of all me,” he whispered.
Mary pushed Alex to arm’s length and looked into his blue eyes. She deftly arranged a lock of his sandy hair that was drooping into his eye. “This body of mine. It was designed. Think of it … like it was a suit.”
Alex smiled. “A suit? That’ll be the day.” A tone sounded and the computer’s formal voice urged them to the meeting. Alex kissed Mary. “You think of it like a suit if you want. But you’re asking a lot of me.” His hands slid to her buttocks and noticed how perfectly they fit. Despite the fact that he was sexually drained he felt desire return.
And so did Mary. She caressed the bulge in his coveralls. “Better, um, deal with that,” she said lasciviously. “We’ve got a meeting.”
When they opened the door to leave their house, Alex and Mary were surprised to find Johnny and his assistant, Ned Binder, waiting for them in a small open cart at the end of the walk. The Commander waved to them then put a finger to his lips, apparently wishing for them to keep silent. When they arrived at the cart he whispered to them. “We have to talk and I don’t want to do it where we might be overheard.” Then he motioned for them to get into the back seat. As soon as they got in Ned pushed the drive-stick forward and the car spec off toward Lake Geneva.
“Well, you’ve got my attention,” said Alex. Then he looked around. “Am I talking too loud?”