Jupiter's Reef (9 page)

“Let me see. Professor Johnny Baltadonis. Johnny Appleseed, eh? You look a bit older and a bit taller, for some reason.”

“Mars, I guess,” said Johnny. “Good to see you, too, Harry. I’d shake hands, but ...”

“I know,” said Stubbs. “We’ll all shake hands after Customs.”

Stubbs’ bowed politely to Mary. She smiled awkwardly in return. “I don’t think I could ever get used to this silly machine,” she said with a giggle. “Pleased to meet you, though, Mr Stubbs.” Reflexively she held out her hand and the G-scooter assisted her arm movement with a soft whirring of motors.

Stubbs looked at Mary’s outstretched hand, then looked at Alex. “What a kissable hand, but I’m told not to touch either of you until you’ve been through customs. Unfortunate, though. I’m missing a golden opportunity to kiss a beautiful lady.”

Mary laughed and withdrew her hand.

“So,” continued Stubbs. “Mary Seventeen, Sensor at large, and Alex Rose. The world will one day carve your names into some hallowed hall of science, I’m sure.”

“Then you’ve seen the data?” asked Alex.

Stubbs shook his head. “Not at all, Mr. Rose. I know only what Johnny told me in his wire. It was cryptic at best. But I remember your obsession with the Great Red Spot. And judging from the fact that you’ve come all the way to Earth, I can easily guess what it’s about.”

“Well, I found the reef you said couldn’t be there. I’ve ... we’ve explored it. My data is aboard
Diver
,” said Alex. “I brought a disk with me. But the full data is in
Diver
’s computer.”

“
Diver
,” mused Stubbs. “I assume that means that your ship is the one that dove into the spot? And I guess, then, that you’re prepared for some legitimate scientific attention?”

“You could say that,” said Alex, trying to look casual in his harness.

“And you stored the data in your ship’s computer? You never downloaded it elsewhere?”

“Well, with all due respect, sir. I’d rather not say.”

Alex didn’t like the way the conversation was going. And Mary could feel anxiety grow in him. She moved her G-scooter as near as possible to him but there was nothing else she could do.

Johnny’s eyes ping-ponged back and forth between Alex and Stubbs. “May I inquire as to whether we’re going to hash this all out right here in the arrival deck of a spaceport. Or can we go somewhere where we don’t all feel like we have elephants sitting on us.”

“A true gentleman, Johnny,” said Mary. “I’d kiss you if I wasn’t hanging from a coat rack. But I don’t think it feels like an elephant. It feels like we’re blasting off. It did, at least. Now, I just feel tired.”

“You look lovely in plastic smoke and steel, my dear,” said Johnny, winking at her.

“Dingers!” said Alex. “We all look ridiculous in these contraptions. Lead the way, Professor Stubbs.”

The domed spaceport commons seemed much larger on the inside than it had appeared from the air. And they were all glad to have been encouraged to use the G-Scooters. It seemed to take forever for them all to walk or roll the distance to the Customs offices.

3
Four hours later Alex, Mary, and the two professors entered Null-gee Suite 4 of the Bradenton Arms, a retro-style hotel attached to the spaceport. Despite the great help the G-Scooters had provided, everyone was delighted to be rid of them.

“These things have a geek-of-the-week quotient of ten,” said Alex in disgust as he let his rig fall into a numbered rack provided for the G-Scooters inside the suite.

Mary and the Professor did the same, then everyone took some steps carefully, testing the gravity in the suite. Johnny seemed to have a problem, but he blamed his aging ear canals and not the facilities.

Stubbs was less cavalier. He stood holding a handrail, seemingly afraid to move in the reduced gravity. “I have to say that I’m less than fond of meetings with you off-planet types. Being from the ‘when in Rome’ school, I think the visitors should be the ones to require adapting. After all, they gave you perfectly good G-Scooters to haul you around.”

The others all felt too relieved to be sympathetic. And Johnny didn’t mince words with his old friend.

“I might agree with you, Stubbs, if an elephant hadn’t just gotten off my chest. Those scooters are fine, but after being on Mars you certainly have to appreciate that the Earth is a much bigger ball of iron.”

“I suppose,” said Stubbs. “No matter. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Mary couldn’t stop smiling. She’d had no idea there would be gravity reduction facilities where they were staying. She’d imagined herself being slowly crushed to death while the meetings dragged on.

The suite was located inside a large circular arm of the hotel. Alex was impressed at its size. There was a conference table, a full AV panel with wall screen, and a bar that appeared fully equipped with food and drink. The room had a rustic look. The walls were decorated with ornate wallpaper and bore several expensive looking paintings. The ceiling was white with large wooden beams.

Next to the door, a diagram of the hotel’s null-gee wing showed that the anti-gravity field was strongest (about 1/8 gee) in the center and housed a recreation room. Suite 4, designated on the map with “YOU ARE HERE” printed in red, was located at the rim of the complex where the gravity was reduced by only half.

“Well, Professor Stubbs,” said Alex, “I wouldn’t complain. This is only a half gee. We could have insisted on going to the Moon Room.”

Mary looked at the diagram and exclaimed. “Oh, look. They have pool there. And a lo-gee Jacuzzi! Can I go? You don’t need me for this meeting, do you?”

“Sure, love,” said Alex. “You don’t need permission. Just a bathing suit.”

Sensing disappointment in Alex’s voice, Mary walked over to a Victorian sofa and sat down. “I guess they don’t allow nudity in the hotel,” she said, feigning disgust.

“I don’t think so,” said Stubbs dryly. “This is Boston.”

Mary didn’t understand but she let it pass. “I’ll buy a bathing suit later, I guess.”

Alex took a data disk out of his shirt pocket and inserted it into a slot in the AV panel. Handing a small controller to Stubbs, he sat down next to Mary. She immediately leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

For a moment the two older men looked at her, then at Alex. There was clearly envy in their eyes, but neither said anything.

“You can start the player any time,” said Alex.

For the next half hour Stubbs reviewed Alex’s disk. It was the short version of their trip into Jupiter’s Reef. The same one Johnny had seen on Mars.

Stubbs asked few questions. And when he was done he leaned back in his seat and stared open-mouthed at the screen.

Alex watched Stubbs, waiting for a reaction. But the man didn’t speak.

Finally, Alex had to ask. “Well?” he said. “Nothing to say, Professor?”

Harry Stubbs looked at Alex and smiled. “I was thinking about your letters, Alex. The thing that I found so unsettling, I guess you could say, was your sincere belief in that reef idea. You had no evidence. Nothing. Scientists, you know, get a little tired of layman experts and speculation in the place of common sense.”

“Is this an apology?” asked Alex.

“Call it that if you want to,” said Stubbs with a snicker. “I’m ordering lunch for us. Shall I include crow?” He looked through his bifocals at Alex.

Alex smiled. “You can only get that here,” he said. “On Earth. Or so I hear.”

“You want to go back, don’t you?” said Stubbs.

“Back to Mars?”

“My god, no. To Jupiter. To your reef,” said Stubbs.

Alex sat back and looked at Mary. She looked uneasy.

Watching the Professor review the reef data brought back the whole trip for both of them. Her special sensitivities let her tune in to Alex, enhancing her memories of the trip. Her expression reminded him of the time they were lost in the reef. Now they were lost on Earth. Really lost.

Alex had felt nervous hundreds of times during their adventures, but he had always been in control. Now everything was different. His fate and Mary’s were resting on Stubbs. It wasn’t just a matter of winning a bet or an argument any more. Suddenly Alex and Mary were seeing their future, and it included Jupiter’s Reef.

“I’ve thought of going back to the reef,” said Alex. “Now, seeing the data replayed it’s as though we never left. You’d need a fleet, maybe. To explore it right.”

“Nonsense,” said Stubbs. “You have all the ship we need at the moment. No need to rush things. We’re still in the first stages of exploration, here. What we need is a little more scientific data, a little better documentation and some samples. Your ship’s already modified for the task.
Diver
is a perfectly good research vessel. I’d have some other engineers go over it. Maybe beef it up a bit; add some instruments, some different provisions.”

“You’d want me to go back?” Alex was sitting bolt upright, at full attention. “You really do?”

“I’m sorry, Alex. Are you saying you don’t want to go back?”

“No, but when?”

Johnny sat at the bar, helping himself to peanuts and daiquiri mix.

“Harry,” he said sternly.. “You just saw the data. Back off.” He suggested everyone join him for refreshments.

Everyone welcomed the suggestion, glad of a break.

By the time they’d all had a turn at the bathroom, Alex and the Professor were talking shop again. He explained that his work as a biochemist required him to remain on Earth, but, with Alex’s permission, he would recommend special funding for a mission. He said it would be easy to get, but it would take time.

Stubbs began unpacking a bag that contained electronic devices that looked similar to the equipment Johnny had brought aboard
Diver
to authenticate Alex’s data. Stubbs removed Alex’s data disk from the AV machine and slipped it into a slot in one of his own machines.

“You could stay at the spaceport, but even the state’s science arm can’t afford this hotel. I doubt you can either. Eventually there will be plenty of money, but at the moment ...”

“How long will we have to wait for a mission to begin?” asked Mary.

“A few weeks,” said Stubbs. “Longer, perhaps. I’d invite you to say with me in Milton, but we have no zero gravity facilities.”

Stubbs explained that Bradenton Field had become the main spaceport in the area principally because New England was a favorite tourist site. He told them that Null-Gee services were costly and were suspected of contributing to earthquakes, which was why there were only a minimum number of such sites worldwide.

Alex held up his hand. “No need to explain, Professor,” he said. “I have an idea. I’ll set
Diver
down near your house. Is that possible?”

Stubbs looked surprised. “Preposterous,” he said. “How would we move the ship?”

“Alex can fly it there,” said Johnny. “It’s not generally allowed, but there’s a field near your house that nobody’s using, or is that built up already?”

Stubbs scratched his head. “The field is sold, but they haven’t built on it yet. There are homes nearby. But, considering the circumstances I might be able to get special permission.”

“Tell them it’ll save money. We plug
Diver
into the power grid and have a low gravity base near your home for as long as it takes,” suggested Johnny.

“We could outfit the ship there, too,” said Alex.

“I get to see your home?” said Mary. “That would be wonderful. I was beginning to think I’d never see how people live on Earth.”

All eyes were on Professor Stubbs. He sat down on a bar stool and looked at the floor. “We’ll have to prepare the site for a ship, check with EarthCorp and arrange a special crew.”

Stubbs mumbled to himself for a full minute. His lips spelled out a completed logistical plan. But it still saw
Diver
waiting at the airport, and them spending money on the hotel facilities.

But Mary had a bright idea. “What if we tour Earth in
Diver
before we return to your field? How many days before the field would be ready?”

Stubbs smiled. “I have a lot of work to do before any of us have our answers. For now, I’d just go back aboard your ship. You seem to be comfortable there.”

“I’m staying in this room,” said Johnny. “I can shuttle to Stubbs’ house when we need to, I suppose.”

“I suppose,” said Stubbs, giving Johnny a critical eye. “But I seem to recall that you have a wife on Earth. There’s time for a visit. You have the suite.”

4
Two G-Scooters were now packed aboard
Diver
as it rolled smoothly toward the runway. Mary and Alex sat side by side watching through the ship’s forward windows. Mary was fascinated by every detail of the launch.

Alex had finally, reluctantly, turned over the data his ship’s computer had recorded on Jupiter. It only took a minute and seemed anticlimactic. No brass bands. No news bulletins broadcast around the world, for the moment at least.

Stubbs had it now. All of it. He would be heading a review board at the Interplanetary Consortium, a group of scientific experts chosen from the ranks of the Academy of Sciences at MIT. The funding would be recommended by them and, as Stubbs had warned, only them.

“Too much gravity for a mass driver launch, my love,” said Alex. “This sure isn’t Mars. But we’re touring Earth, not launching into orbit.”

The idea of piloting the steed that allowed Mary to finally see planet Earth delighted Alex. At the moment he was glad to forget about the reef.

Now, and for the next few days,
Diver
had a flight path to follow. There would be time to set the ship down and relax with or without Earth’s gravity.

“Here we go, my love,” said Alex as
Diver
lifted into the clear sky and headed toward open ocean.

As it turned out, it was only the large null gee facilities that had significant effects on bedrock.
Diver
’s little pocket of weightlessness was small potatoes compared to the field generated by a hotel sized institution. The electrical field
Diver
generated was another story, however. The flight plan they were given was rigid and accompanied by warnings and admonitions against straying off the path.