Infinite Reef (10 page)

Chapter 4

1
En route to the shuttle bay
Diver
had passed over the site on
Goddard’s
hull where the mysterious orb had hit it broadside.

The metallic blister that had covered it was gone, and all that remained of the alien debris was a brown splotch on the ship’s presumably unstainable hide. The hole itself had been sealed and was being finished off by a robotic team. As they passed overhead Alex saw plates of polycer being fused into place.

An hour later Alex and the rest of the crew of
Diver
were assembled in the main control room inside the biocylinder. As Stubbs greeted the group at the doorway, he said they were still tracking the discarded engine, adding that he had decided, reluctantly, to use radar sweeps to track it. “I’m relieved to say that our signals appeared to have no effect on its course,” he noted, with a self assured smile. The Commander pointed toward the lounge at the rear of the room. “We’ve instituted a new credit system, but the refreshments are on me.”

Connie looked at Stubbs hopefully. It was the happiest Alex had seen her in some time. “Oh, Commander. Did you say a new credit system?”

“Yes?”

“What about old debts?” asked Connie, standing stiffly, almost at attention.

“Carried over, of course, Tsu. Why?”

Connie shook her head as the Commander eyeballed her skeptically. “I was just wondering. I didn’t know.”

Stubbs turned and put a hand on Tsu’s shoulder. “If you need a clean slate I can authorize it. You’ve done some difficult duty. But if you’re overspending, that means you’re not conserving.” The Commander pointed toward the row of broad picture windows that looked out on the curving landscape of the cylinder. “It might appear that we have inexhaustible resources out there, but our calculations are showing a marginal loss of vital materials.” He looked around at the crew. “I don’t have to remind any of you about conservation, do I?” He smiled warmly and left the group. He stopped at Captain Wysor’s console and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. The Captain was wearing a virtual helmet similar to the one Alex had used on
Diver
. He took it off and looked up at Stubbs. The Commander said something to him, then pointed toward the lounge where they both joined the crew of
Diver
.

When everyone was settled with refreshments in hand, the Captain toasted them all with what he said was an old Ganny toast. “May th’ Ea’th ’ear y’ name, an’ may th’ stars drink y’ he’th. We’ll all stand t’gether, ’n time, an’ in death.”

Mary and Alex were first to drink, because they knew the poem. They had heard it often on Ganymede. Perhaps too often. But neither Johnny, Matt, nor Connie had heard it before. Tsu reacted strangely, turning quickly on her heels and facing the wall. Alex noticed her wipe her eye, then she turned back, sporting a wide grin. “I like that, Captain,” she said. “I’ll have to remember it. Makes me think of C ...” Her voice broke.

“Callisto,” said Wysor, “Well when ya gets back ... come to Gannyto’n f’r a vizzy ’n stay a wee. Ya can learn all th’ yammers o’ the icers.” He laughed and lifted his glass. He looked at the amber suds sadly and shook his head. “We’ll ha’ t’ge’ back to Earth, pr’t soon, y’ know, mates,” he said, looking at them seriously.

Alex frowned. “Is there a problem?”

“A grave one,” said the Captain, looking around to see that his words weren’t overheard. “Me ganny brew’s alm’st gone!” he whispered, looking mockishly grave.

Everyone in the group broke into laughter except Professor Baltadonis, who seemed preoccupied, staring into the distance.

“That is serious,” said Alex, grinning slightly. “Can’t the food processors do it?”

Wysor drained the last of the suds and put his cup back into the refreshment processor. He watched it vanish from sight, then turned toward the control room. Now the Captain seemed almost wistful. “It’s gotta be aged, Alex. Aged in Ganny ice.”

“You’re all getting me very homesick,” said Mary Seventeen. “We’re eight and a half light years from that Ganny ice.

But if it’s ice you want, Captain, this system should be full of it.”

That statement seemed to capture Johnny’s attention. “Our astro boys report that Lalande c has an ice ring,” he said quietly.

“A small one close to the planet. We could swing by on our way home.”

“You said home, Professor,” said Connie. “Are we leaving?” She clasped her hands together. “Please say yes.”

Johnny waffled for a moment, stroking the stubble on his chin as he surveyed the control room. “Not for a while, I’m afraid. Unfinished business.”

Connie gave the Professor a look of betrayal.

Alex empathized with Tsu. “Commander,” he said to Stubbs, “there’ll always be more to learn. But isn’t it true that if we stay longer we’ll be pressing our luck? What if the Lalandians decide to launch an attack? Am I going to be riding shotgun in my shuttle for the whole trip?” Alex shook his head. “Out there I felt like a flea protecting an elephant.”

Commander Stubbs smiled. “Nice analogy, Alex. I like that. What makes you think we’re pressing our luck?” He pointed at the windows. The midafternoon light from the cylinder was tinged green from the lush vegetation now burgeoning everywhere. “Look at that greenery,” he said proudly. “All and all, I think we’ve acquitted ourselves admirably.” He smiled at Alex. “Consider. A successful rescue of a presumably lost crew. That was your doing, Alex. Thank you!” He raised a finger.

“Consider also that we survived, with apparently no ill effect, the broadsiding of our biosphere by a meteor.”

“Meteor?” said Alex.

“A dinger, I believe, is your favorite term for it. Call it what you will, Alex. My point was to enumerate the overwhelming success of our mission. We’ve a lot to be proud of. Especially you.” The Commander looked around at the group. “True, the meteor incident cost us some time and trouble ...”

“And an engine,” injected Tsu, walking away from the group toward the refreshment panel.

Stubbs glared at Connie’s back for a moment, then smiled engagingly. “We expected to lose a few of the engines.”

“Commander,” interrupted Alex. “I hope you’re not considering going back down to Bubba again.”

Stubbs seemed unflapped by Alex’s forthrightness. “Well, that brings us to the one unarguable point that I was about to raise.”

“What’s that?’ asked Alex.

“We’re here!”

Alex shook his head. “I think we’re pushing our luck.” He looked around at the rest of the group. “Isn’t it obvious that we’ve been trading punches with them, blow for blow? We invaded them, they invaded us. We damaged them, they damaged us. Then they try pushing us toward home.” He scratched his head. “How obvious does it have to be?”

Stubbs looked at Professor Baltadonis. “Johnny? Do you agree?”

“Yes, Commander,” said Johnny. “That sphere clearly represented a technology unknown to us. It’s obvious we’ve provoked them. Now everything’s quiet. We have a chance for a clean break. Our job was to find out if life was here and to get the news home. I say, let’s go while we can.”

“I agree,” said Mary. “There’s a lot to be learned. But enough is enough.”

Stubbs’ eyes then moved to Captain Wysor, who sat stone-faced next to Mary on the foam sofa. “What’s your take on this, Captain?” asked the Commander.

“It’s our maid’n flight,” said Wysor. “First out o’ dry dock. We’ve got news t’ take home. Let’s do it.” The Captain stood and stretched his long frame until it creaked audibly. “Well, my break’s over. I can’t say what’s best, command’r. Your call.

But, as pilot of this tub, I’d like to know ’f we CAN get home. Don’ you?”

Stubbs looked at the viewscreen at the far side of the room. On it was a magnification of the sphere, propelling the torn engine ever outward toward the stars. “That thing has been talking to me ever since we first laid eyes on it,” he said. “But what is it saying?”

“Look at it,” said Mary. “It’s telling us to go home.”

2
Stubbs never really concluded the meeting. Mary did, by running to the control room lavatory. Still present in the lounge were, Johnny, Alex and Tsu. Stubbs was at his station in the center of the control room with the Captain standing at his side.

Matt had excused himself and returned to his Biolab.

For the first time since the dolphin had expressed concern about Mary’s health, her ailments were apparent to others besides Alex. But it was Johnny who broached the subject. When she returned to the refreshment area he looked her over head to toe. “You don’t look well, Mary? Are you ...”

Mary interrupted him. “I’m okay, Professor. Just an upset stomach.”

Alex decided the time had come to speak his mind. “Mary, just before the sphere punched the ship I was taking a walk by the lake. I met your dolphin friends.”

Mary nodded as she sat down. “You met them before.”

“I met some of them, but there were others I hadn’t met. Anyway, they told me they were concerned about you.”

Mary sighed. “They want me to see a doctor.”

“Did they say what’s wrong?” Connie sounded genuinely concerned.

Alex shrugged. “They said it wasn’t serious, whatever that means.”

“I’m okay,” insisted Mary, speaking more to Tsu than Alex. She faced Alex, her expression angry. “Can’t we talk about this in private?”

“I’m sorry, Mary, I just ...” Alex looked at Connie and the Professor. “I think we’re both tired,” he said. “Maybe it’s time to get back to our place and talk.”

“Understood,” said Johnny.

Mary got up and nodded to the Professor and Connie, then she glanced at Alex and walked toward the exit. “See you later, Johnny,” she said as she left. Alex excused himself and followed her to the door hoping she wouldn’t take another of her impromptu jogs.

When he got outside he found her gazing up at the green spectacle of the biocylinder in bloom. The air smelled fresh and full of vegetation. Suddenly, as if it had waited for Alex and Mary’s arrival, the rain system came on. Alex pulled Mary back under the building’s curved awning. “We can talk here, Mary,” he said. “We don’t have to go home.”

Mary didn’t look at him. She surveyed the landscape and smiled broadly. “I don’t care about the rain. Let’s run home,” she said. “I want to see if Inky’s okay.”

It was only a short dash down the boulevard to their house, and, as Mary hoped, Inky was at the door to greet them. Mary swept the cat into her arms and hugged him. “They remembered to let you out of the carrier,” she cooed.

They had both taken the brunt of the artificial rainstorm. Alex closed the door behind him and began unzipping his wet flight suit. “Can we talk about it now, Mary? The dolphins? Or are you going to dry off on Inky?”

“Should have kept their mouths shut,” interrupted Mary, ignoring the water running down her cheeks and the squirming cat in her arms. “I wasn’t sure before, but everything is becoming clear.”

“What?”

Mary held up her hand to silence him. “Computer, she said in a loud voice. “Are you listening?”

“
At your service, Mary Seventeen
,” came the voice.

“Can you see us?” asked Mary.

“
Only in the bedroom dome
.”

“I want some music. Maybe a little Dorsey?”

“
Jimmy, Tommy, or Grace
?”

“I don’t care, really. Just make it loud.”

When the strains of ‘Stella by Starlight’ filled the room, Mary put her arms around Alex and began swaying to the music.

Alex was befuddled for a moment, but before he could say anything she whispered in his ear, “I’m going to have a baby.”

“But how ...?”

Mary’s eyes rolled in disbelief. “Wild guess. We had sex.”

“But you’re ...” Alex cut himself off. He realized that it didn’t matter how, only that it was true, and he felt joy sweep over him. He took her tightly in his arms and held her close. “Mary, that’s wonderful,” he whispered. “I thought you might be sick, or worse.” He held her shoulders and looked at her seriously. Tears ran down his cheeks. “You’ve seen the doctors?”

“Of course not. That’s why I kept quiet,” she said sadly.

“You think Earthcorp would make you ...”

“I don’t know,” she said. “They might say it’s illegal or something.”

Alex took a deep breath. “I want our baby, Mary,” he said. “I don’t care what their rules are. I never dreamed it was possible.”

“You didn’t say you wanted a child,” said Mary quietly. “I was afraid ...”

Inky stood at their feet purring fervently while they embraced in silence. Mary kissed Alex’s neck and whispered, “You know, we’re soaked to the skin. Maybe we should dry off.”

Later, while Mary combed her long white hair as she sat on the bed, Alex stood at the window gazing out at the lake. In the distance he saw several sailboarders racing among artificially produced waves. At the same time, as though she was whispering in his ear again, he could hear her thoughts. He glanced at her but she was looking at the floor as she combed her hair in long smooth stokes. The thoughts came flooding from her, almost overwhelming him. Mary told Alex that three of her

“sisters’ had secretly borne children, all girls. Mary wanted a boy and was almost sure her baby would be one. She didn’t want to tell anyone until they returned home, if at all.

For a few moments her mental dialogue continued, then Mary looked up and said loudly, “I’m afraid of that sphere, Alex.

I didn’t want to say so with the rest of them around. This situation has me sick with worry, I guess. I’ve never felt this way before.”

He understood that her words were for the eavesdroppers, so he played along. “Then you don’t want a checkup?”

“The dolphins could tell I was upset,” added Mary. “They can see through people, feel things. I’ll be okay.”

Alex looked at his wrist communicator meaningfully. “So I’ve heard,” he said. “Well, that explains it. Dingers, Mary, I wish I’d known earlier. I’ve been worried.”

Inside his mind he heard her say, “You’re really getting good at this, Alex.”

“I love you, Mary,” he said aloud.

3
They awoke the next morning to the news that Commander Stubbs would be making a general announcement at noon. No other details were given.