Infinite Reef (38 page)

Johnny laughed. “That’s fine, Alex. The situation is this. We know that the data from the mission preceded our arrival. That means that EarthCorp … and everyone else who had access to it … has had plenty of time to analyze our actions. We have no way of knowing what they made of it, and we don’t think they understand why we showed up late. The fact is we don’t either …”

Alex interrupted. “But they don’t know that. So they’re suspicious, you think?”

“Exactly.”

Mary leaned forward. “And you think they may be monitoring us somehow?”

“They have asked for access to our computer,” volunteered Ned as he negotiated a turn and headed the cart toward the causeway that led to the peninsula that divided Lake Geneva.

“And you let them do that?” Alex nearly shouted.

Johnny cringed at Alex’s outburst. “Not so loud, please! Yes we did. This ship still takes its orders from EarthCorp. You may not see it that way, Alex, but EarthCorp certainly does. They’re docking with us is a few hours, and they said they have a large boarding party.”

“So we’re all under arrest?” Alex folded his arms and sat stiffly as the car wobbled silently along the spongy roadbed. “Tried and convicted?”

“Jumping forward a bit aren’t you, Alex?” Johnny looked back at Alex and frowned. The expression seemed to etch more deeply into his face than Alex remembered. The weight of responsibility, he guessed. “You understand that this is THEIR ship. We are THEIR crew. “

“And they probably see us as contaminated,” offered Mary with a brave smile.

Johnny’s expression softened, as it usually did when Mary spoke to him. “Perhaps. More likely they think we’re on the brink of insurrection.”

“And you say I’m jumping the gun?”

“He’s not saying that’s the case,” offered Ned, keeping his eyes on the road.

The Commander nodded. “Indeed. We don’t know what EarthCorp thinks, but we do know they’re scanning us and downloading data at an astonishing rate.”

Ned raised a finger. “They downloaded our personnel files … first.”

Again Commander Baltadonis nodded. “You see why we’re here.”

Mary and Alex both nodded in agreement. “What can we do?” asked Alex.

Johnny finally smiled. “You, Mary particularly, can try to sort out their transmissions. Remember that it was EarthCorp that ordered the modifications to your bio-mechs.”

Mary looked surprised. “I thought you ordered it. For my sanity.”

“They ordered the extended range capabilities and what they called the ‘new’ stuff. I ordered the limiters, so you could tune out at will. THEY argued against it. They talked cost but they were worried …” Johnny caught himself from speaking more frankly. “Well, suffice to say, I got those limiters. “ He gave Mary an affectionate look. “How’re they working?”

Mary grinned. “They work great. Thanks!”

Johnny’s gaze stayed fixed on Mary’s perfect features, but his smile evaporated. “And what about that … other stuff? Any reports?”

Mary squirmed a bit in her seat. “No. I already told you.”

The intensity of the Commander’s gaze didn’t diminish. “Don’t hold back, Mary. This is important to our entire crew. “

“You said you could sense their transmissions, Mrs Rose,” echoed Ned Binder. “Isn’t that correct? Then isn’t it possible your … limiters … are getting in the way?” He was very careful to keep his eyes forward and both hands firmly on the drive stick.

The tiny car was now moving at running speed along the shoreline of the lake. A hundred meters off shore, a group of dolphins was patrolling the newly filled lake. Johnny noticed them, too, and pointed. “We’re releasing the food fish soon. “

Alex shook his head. “Your treating this as if we’d just arrived at Lalande. We’re home. Dingers, why are we setting up shop?”

Johnny winced. “Alex! You know too much about this ship and its mission to be asking that.”

“A biosphere can’t just be turned on and off,” added Ned.

Alex nodded. “Insurance.”

They drove for a while in silence along the road that traced the shore. Soon they rounded the tip of the peninsula and began heading back down the other side toward the causeway. Alex gazed out into the water and remembered that it was somewhere out in that lake bed was the black mark where Connie Tsu had crashed her ultralight on the day before
Goddard’s
launch back to Earth. Two meters of water now covered the superstructure where her plane impacted and its fuel cell exploded. Alex lifted his eyes from the blue waves to the curving face of the cylinder that rose beyond the lake. Its tapestry of farm land was already showing the pale yellows and greens of new growth. Alex thought he should be used to the vast curving landscape by now, but he still found it endlessly fascinating, if surreal, to watch. Here and there he could see activity: vehicles moving along slender roadways, teams of workers erecting greenhouses, rows of spindly machines tilling the artificial sod, and irrigation systems spraying cloudy waves of mist on newly planted fields.

Johnny looked back at Alex. “We all joined this mission, knowing it may be a one way trip. The crew is full of humanity’s best and brightest. But we all share a common personality profile … one that allows us to turn our back on humanity.”

“I don’t see it that way at all,” protested Ned, lifting a hand from the drive stick to gesticulate. “Well, I agree with the best and brightest part, of course.”

Alex and Johnny both laughed. “Of course,” echoed Alex.

“With all due respect, Commander,” continued Ned, ignoring the laughter. “I have no interest in turning my back on the humanity … if by that you mean the Solar System. And there are lots of others here who share my view. I’m more than ready to rejoin civilization.”

Johnny’s smile faded. “Perhaps my characterization was extreme. But I clearly recall the protests over the exhaustive level of the personality profile inquiries that were conducted. Like it or not, Ned, everyone aboard was psychologically ready for a one way flight. And whether you agree or not, you can bet EarthCorp will see us that way.”

“Remember, Ned,” said Alex. “There’s probably been a war since we’ve been gone.”

Johnny nodded. “And war makes people intolerant and suspicious.”

Ned gripped the stick with both hands to negotiate a turn onto the main roadway that circumnavigated the cylinder. Soon they were across the causeway and moving along at walking speed past newly cultivated fields. Here and there, small signs described the nature of the crops. From what Alex could see they were mostly corn, rice, wheat, and soy. And every so often they passed small work details.

Invariably they would watch the small car pass by and then, recognizing the Commander or Alex and Mary, they would salute or wave.

After passing one such group Johnny smiled and waved back happily. “It’s nice to see we have their support,” he commented.

“At least it appears that we do.” He reached over and touched Ned Binder’s arm. “Stop the cart, Ned. I want to talk to that man.” Without waiting for the car to stop, Johnny stepped out. He nearly fell from the forward momentum, but recovered his footing handily and trotted back to where a group of four men stood watching.

Ned stopped the car and shut down its power cell. The soft whine of the motor faded and they could hear what the Commander was saying. “Farming team, I suppose?” Johnny said, extending his hand toward them. The tallest of the group, a man dressed in dark green coveralls, smiled slightly and extended his hand as he stepped toward Johnny.

Seeing this, Alex decided to get out of the car, too. He remembered that on a few occasions during the mission he had heard of unrest among the crew. There was no telling what some crewman might do if they found the Commander cut off from his security forces.

The thought put spring into Alex’s step and he was soon at Johnny’s side extending a hand as well. “Hi. I’m Captain Alex Rose. Glad to meet you.”

The tall farmer took the Commander’s hand first. “Sorries, suh,” he drawled in Ganny dialect. “No tellin’ who’ll turn up in the fields, eh?”

Alex judged the farmer to be older than the other men. He sported a long gray beard that made his mouth nearly invisible when he spoke. “Ganny?” asked Alex, taking his turn shaking the man’s hand. “You one o’ th’ icy-mato growers?” He nudged Johnny. “Ever taste those things? Pure white … sweet as honey.” Alex smacked his lips.

“S’mater o’ fact, matos is right.” The man grinned broadly. “Bob Paag at ‘yer se’vice, c’mmanda.” He took Alex’s hand, squeezing so hard Alex was sorry he offered it. But the painful handshake reminded him of his days among the miners on Ganymede.

“Salutes, Bob,” said Alex. Once Paag released his hand, he rubbed his sore knuckles and pointed at the black dirt field that began as a sharp line beyond the meter of perfect grass that edged the ceramic foam roadway.

“What ye’ suggest?” answered Bob. “The plan’s f’ sweetcane.” He looked back at his men. “Or are ye’ still goin’ wi’ the’ plan for stink weed?” He laughed, and the others echoed the laughter.

“What is stink weed? You mean tea?” asked Commander Baltadonis, trying to keep up with the conversation.

Bob Paag smiled broadly. “It’ll be sweetcane, sir. Y’can bet on ‘t.”

Alex nudged Johnny again. “I think Mr. Paag is referring to a recreational crop, sir.”

“So … y’ folks ’re out drivin’? I heard there ‘s Corpies around.”

Johnny looked around at the landscape. “EarthCorp … indeed, Mr. Paag. And that’s pretty much why we’re out here … driving around.”

Bob scratched his head. “I thought you’d be pretty wi’ all that, sir.” Then he touched his lips. “If y’ don’t mind my sayin’.”

Johnny put up a hand. “Not at all. As a matter of fact, I wanted to ask your thoughts on the matter.”

Hearing this the three other farmers stepped forward. “Are we all going to be … arrested?” said one of them, a short bald headed man. Next to him was a young blond boy in his late teens. “Isn’t there a ... a penal colony on Titan, sir?”

Johnny looked at Alex. “Is there?”

“If so, I haven’t heard of it,” answered Alex with a shrug.

By now, Mary and Ned had decided to join the group. Though suitably covered by coveralls, Mary’s charms were nonetheless evident. She gave the farmers a cavalier smile. “Did I hear someone discussing EarthCorp?”

Until now the other two farmers had remained silent. Alex hear them mutter the word “Sensor.” Experience had taught Alex to beware when the word was spoken in public. He eyed the two men but saw more awe than enmity in the way they looked at Mary.

“Yes,” Mary offered, fixing her gaze upon the farmers. “I am a sensor. Call me your transistor sister. Don’t like what you see?

Take it up with EarthCorp.”

Her directness shocked even Alex. He put his arm around Mary’s shoulders and smiled. “We both prefer th’ term Mr. & Mrs.

Rose.”

Bob Paag, slapped the back of his hand into the chest of one of the men. “Mind y’ manners, mates. Mary Sev’nteen’s a Ganny, too.”

Mary stiffened. “I seem to be up to my ass in defenders. “ She raised a perfect finger. “No need. I came here to talk about EarthCorp and so did you. If you want to talk about me I’ll go back to the cart.”

Johnny grew increasingly irritated with the group. His hand shot up. “Hold it, people. Mary’s right. And I’d like to hear more about this penal colony on Titan. As a scientist I was only aware of an experimental module there. But it’s got a methane atmosphere.

That’s no place for a colony. ” The Commander’s eyes were focused squarely on the man who’d mentioned the colony.

The farmer squirmed and said: “I heard, is all.”

Until now Ned had been the one person to remain silent. Hearing the Commander’s question he seemed duty bound to step forward. “He’s right, sir. It is … or was … a secret facility.”

Johnny spun to face him. “How do you know, may I inquire?”

Ned blinked. “I have always worked for EarthCorp Security, sir. “

“Well, jeebus sakes, man, why didn’t you mention this when we were directed to Saturn?”

Ned Binder clasped his hands together behind his back and stood perfectly erect. “I don’t recall seeing it as … relevant, and it escaped my mind. I’m sorry, sir.”

Hands on his hips, Johnny walked away from the group into the dirt field. He reached down and took up a handful of black soil and put it to his nose. “I’m an orchid grower, you know. That is … my vocation was algae tanks and bloom generators for the terraformers.” He looked back at the group. “I’m just a botanist, not a politician. I need … That’s why I’m out here … to be away from EarthCorp ears … to think.”

Ned didn’t move. Only his head turned as he watched the Commander put footprints in the soil. “I’m sorry sir, but I really didn’t think about the Titan colony,” he offered apologetically. “Why should I? We’ve done nothing wrong.”

Johnny raised both hands. “There’s been a war!”

“We don’t know that,” cautioned Mary.

Johnny walked back to the roadway, kicking the soil from his slippers. “We don’t know. That’s the problem,” he said. “All we do know is that the Solar System we all knew … is history.”

“Wars make prison populations grow,” said Mary.

When everyone looked at her she shrugged. “Statistically.” She smiled. “So … statistically, the chances are that the prison population has grown.”

Johnny folded his arms and put a thumb to his bearded chin. “We requested … well, asked … about
Goddard’s
returning to Ganymede, our launch point.”

Ned relaxed a bit. “What did they say?”

Johnny frowned. “That preparations for our … debriefing … were already underway on Titan.”

“Details?” asked Alex.

“No. That’s what got me worried.”

Two ultra-light aircraft swooped by, just ten meters above their heads, then looped back up into the sky. Alex smiled as he watched them, recalling his own maiden flight in one of the flimsy planes. His smile faded as he remembered Connie’s crash.

The twin aircraft stayed in tight wing-to-wing formation as they turned. Soon they were in level flight about a hundred meters above the curving landscape and headed back toward the group.

“Lookin’ like them secur’ty birds, chief,” said Bob Paag.