“Cut it?” Celia yelled.
Jim produced the laser dagger Peter had given him from a pocket. He glanced down the aisle and saw Celia’s bare arm, neck and head as she strained to look around the chair. “I’ll buy you fifty of them Celia.”
After cutting a large rectangular section from the dress and spreading it on the deck Jim pulled a container from a locker and removed the cap. Dark blue fluid poured onto the deck. He dipped his hand in it as it pooled and commenced to paint a diagonal stripe on the red material.
Sam’s face suddenly glowed with recognition as he dove for the blue fluid and started another stripe on the opposite diagonal. “Aiieeehaaaa. You’re all right fer a Yankee.”
“Do we have anything that’ll stain material white?” Jim shouted. “We have to add thirteen stars.”
“I have a container of a white ointment in my medical bag,” said Dr Chin as he reached beneath his seat.
“Congratulations on your pregnancy Mrs. Young,” the chairwoman said.
“Thank you,” Carol said.
“Your what?” Jim said.
* * *
“What the hell were you doing there Celia?” Jim asked as he relaxed back in his chair watching her 3V image trudging through the newly grown, low vegetation.
“I got my shoe stuck in that damn mulch weed,” Celia said. “By the way, you owe me another pair. It’s still down there.”
Carol leaned left resting her head on Jim’s shoulder. “She did look a little odd in your old work suit,” she whispered.
“I heard that,” Celia said.
Incidental conversation in the 3V recording was all but drowned out by the roar of the wind. The crude Confederate battle flag, cross striped blue on red with thirteen stars, fluttered frenziedly against the solid gray cloud cover. Its plastic pipe flagpole swayed as Sam tramped toward a small rise then turned and planted it firmly through the weed and into the rocky dirt below. On the horizon, lightning continually flashed from a passing storm over the low hills.
Jim suddenly appeared on the right hand side of the 3V while supporting Carol. “Have you figured out what to say?” his image asked.
“Now, now,” Sam said, making a flicking motion with his hand. “Ah’ve seen them there Generals do thair fancy speachifyin’”
Clouds of water spray drifted rapidly past him as he stood up straight and cleared his throat. “Ah hea’ by claims this hea’ planet in the name of the Confederate States of America. T’ain’t much ta look at right now and stinks like Grandpa Harold’s pig sty. But ah has heard that it can be fixed up jest dandy in a year or two. So if’n y’all a fixin’ ta visit, jest let me know and ah’ll put the coffee on the fire.”
The scene faded and was replaced by one of the newsman Carl Nagel standing in front of a large picture window. Outside, the clouds of stars testified to his location somewhere in space.
“That was the scene just three hours ago as Mr. Carlisle claimed the, as yet, unnamed planet in the name of his government. A new constitution was voted on through national referendum. The vote was one to zero in favor of its adoption. The constitution was formulated, based on the Batalavian constitution and laws, by a consortium of legal representatives. Under that constitution an election was immediately called. Mr. Carlisle, now President Carlisle, was elected by a landslide vote of one to zero. His first act as President was to declare the birthday of the Old Earth General, Robert E. Lee, a national Holiday.
“After the flag raising ceremony, Mr. Carlisle continued his speech with an emancipation proclamation, making slavery illegal within the borders of the Republic. Mr. Carlisle apologized for his government’s former attitude and declared that his order was, in his words, better late than never.”
“Nagel’s a real professional,” Jim said. “Kept a straight face through the whole thing.”
“One incident did mar the festivities of the proceedings. An explorer ship, owned by the Mon Hong Corporation, has been reported missing in the vicinity. It was on its way to negotiate trade agreements with President Carlisle’s government. The President has assured the corporation that an extensive search will be immediately initiated. He has returned to the space yacht Lydia, owned by Mr. Jim Young, to supervise the search personally.”
“Oh yes, Captain,” Jim called into the air. “I forgot to ask, what happened to that ship.”
“Bounced off the atmosphere. Last seen headed somewhere. Did not pay much attention to the direction.”
“I guess we gotta go look for them,” Jim sighed.
“You would have to use that racist flag,” Karla said.
Jim turned to see her standing at the door of the 3V room. “I’ve told you before Karla, in Sam’s time it wasn’t a racist symbol. That came later.”
“Trust her to ruin the mood,” Carol said.
Chapter 8
“Jim, Jim, bring me the 3V camera please!” came Levin’s voice over the system.
Jim turned to look out the window at the colony ship. It was an illogical habit that most on board practiced. Even though Levin was well inside the ship it was human protocol to at least look in the direction of the person one is speaking to. “What’s up Levin?”
“This is.. This is..”
Jim jumped to his feet, his eyes still fixed on the ship. “Chris, what’s up with Levin? He sounds like he’s choking.”
“I’m not too sure. He’s bouncing off the walls right now waving his arms. He probably just asked a computer to marry him and it said yes.”
Jim took off at a fast walk toward the lift tube. “On my way.”
Picking up the case containing the portable 3V unit he entered the deck two airlock and rapidly put on his pressure suit. The trip over to the colony ship was becoming a matter of fact task, something that had to be done to get there. Even Earl now stepped into space with as much ease as stepping out the back door of a house.
The outer door opened. Jim hooked his safety loop to a cord that stretched from one ship to the other. It was suggested that they use a docking tube for ease of travel. It was a long, transparent, cylindrical tunnel that could be stretched from one ship to the other making pressure suits unnecessary when the colony ship eventually contained an atmosphere. The problem was in mounting the other end to the colony ship. The Lydia had a standard mounting bracket around all outer doors that would fit any number of manufacturer products, but the colony ship was a different matter. Its outer surface was deemed too damaged by age to even try to affix a bracket to it. For now, they had to tolerate a suited crossing. A quick push with his feet and he was on his way.
“Tal has to see this,” Levin said.
Jim gripped the 3V unit case’s handle as he dragged it after him. “Captain Mull, would you set up a direct 3V link with Doc Redmond on Batalavia.”
“Will do.”
“Chris, anything more on what Levin’s so excited about.”
“No, but I hope you brought a rope. We may have to tie him down. We’re now on deck five.”
Jim entered the ship and rapidly floated along the hall and four floors down the shaft. The entire team had assembled awaiting his arrival.
“What’s the problem Jim?” Redmond asked.
“You’ll have to ask Levin. I think he just invented a joke or something.”
A bright blue flash came from the device in Levin’s hand as he ran it along the edge of a doorframe that opened into a side room. “The camera, assemble it quickly. The corners of the room are not square.”
Jim saw the amused look on Chris’ face through the visor as he took the camera case and opened it.
“So, what has that got to do with the price of fish?”
“Ah... fish? No, no, I did not find any fish,” Levin said, pointing into the room.
Jim heard Redmond chuckle as he peered into the room stacked solid with cryogenics chambers.
“Look up there, through the crack between the chambers and the bulkhead. The corners of the room on the main deck are square. In the rest o
f the ship they’re rounded. Also, in the rest of the ship the chambers are welded in with no room to move between them. On the main deck they’re bolted with access to every chamber.”
“I’m getting the image now Levin,” Redmond said. “What do you think that means.”
Jim moved aside and looked back to see Chris holding up the unfolded 3V screen camera.
Levin tugged at the hallway bulkhead where he had cut it away from the doorframe. “Now look at this.”
Jim joined in the effort as they pulled the thin sheet metal away leaving a ten centimeter gap. Looking in, Jim saw that it was double walled. The room had its own inner, thicker bulkhead. Shining the light on his pressure suit sleeve into the gap he saw vacant bolt holes.
“Here,” Chris said as Jim felt a tap on his shoulder.
Jim turned to take a smaller camera and nodded. He then stuck it into the gap.
“Tal, I’m giving you a flat screen insert to your image.”
“Bolt holes?” Redmond said. “Put the camera inside the room.”
Jim complied and panned it around the narrow space.
“Ultra sound scanner Levin,” Redmond said, the enthusiasm in his voice now close to that of the technician now tugging frantically at an instrument hanging from his belt. “Run it along the bulkhead wall and see if there is a gap between rooms.”
Jim turned to Chris behind the translucent 3V camera screen. He shrugged indicating that he knew as much about what was going on as Jim did.
“Gaps,” Levin said. “There are gaps of about twenty centimeters between each. I think I can see something stored in the space between them.” He then ran the scanner vertical up and down the wall. “It’s an airfoil shape. I believe we’ll find the ion drive motors in the larger spaces at the corners.”
“Oh my,” Redmond said. “Wait one. I’m putting this through to Batchoff. Professor Heinz at Bretter University is going to have a cardiac arrest over this.”
“Jorgen here, what is it Tal?” said an elderly voice Jim didn’t recognize.
“Jorgen, forwarding video to your data pad.”
“Doc, would you please explain,” Jim pleaded.
“Levin has just solved the mystery of the century. It was how the colonists got themselves and their equipment from their ships to the planet’s surface. To shuttle them down and have the vehicle return would have taken more fuel than the ship could possibly carry. There has been volumes written on the subject with theories ranging from there having been a fueler ship accompanying the larger one to a mystical power source that has been lost in the passage of time. That mystery power source has been the subject of a number of 3V fictional works.
“It’s Professor Heinz’s theory that the ship was disassembled. As the rooms were modular, they fitted them with wings and a small motor to make a one way trip to the planet.”
“But the ship does have four shuttles.” Jim said. “The aeronautics engineer you connected us with told us they were capable of making round trips.”
“They were for the advanced party on the main decks and to shuttle the pilots of the one way landers back to the ship. Only the people on the main decks were to wake up in orbit. The rest were to travel to the planet still in their chambers.”
“Oh my goodness I was right,” Heinz sounded on the verge of tears. “That explains the line in that old poem. ‘I awoke to the sound of wind and the touch of my loves hand.’ How could the writer have heard wind if she had woken up in orbit inside a spaceship? They had to have taken them to the surface while still in their chambers.”
“Ah... let me get this straight,” Jim said. “All the information you have left regarding the old colonist’s first landings is one line of a poem?”
“Quite correct,” Redmond said. “Jim, you spent a few weeks on a colony planet that was a great deal more comfortable than the ones they had to endure. Total chaos does not lend itself to the preservation of technicals and details.”
“Wait one,” Jim said as he looked down the gap inside the room leading to the deck. “There’s something down there.”
He reached down and grasped the something which gave under the pressure of his fingers. A gentle tug and his hand returned with a black plastic bag that burst spraying a quantity of nuts and bolts all around them. Celia giggled and grabbed at one after another as they floated past.
“Does that mean this ship is one big transformer?” Jim asked, looking at the empty plastic bag in his hand. “The actual rooms had wings and were turned into landing craft?”
“Mr. Simmons,” asked another voice in the background, “how many rooms would have been bolted together.”
“Wha?...” Levin said as the undivided attention he was paying the wall of the chamber was suddenly divided.
“I’m sorry,” the professor said. “I was in the middle of a lecture at the university when your urgent call came through. I have a theater full of students here with me.”
“Ah... w... what was the question?” Levin asked nervously.
“My student wants to know how many modules went together to make one lander.”
“I... ah... do not know yet.”
“Mr. Simmons,” another voice asked, “is there one pilot control section with each or are they reusable and returned in the shuttle?”
“Ah... I... ah... It is...”
“Jim,” Redmond said. “I’ve switched to another line. Levin has a tendency to fall apart in front of a class. Could you help him out?”
“We don’t know yet,” Jim said, moving into the center of the camera. “It may be days before we get the full design of the landers.”
“Mr. Young,” another voice said, “from your experience with Old Earth atmospheric craft, would you think that they have landing skids or wheels?”
“Well... if they’re anything like military transports they would have neither. The landing technique called for a sudden stop. The pilot flew quite low to the ground and when he found a landing spot he pulled a lever and the wings fell off.”
“Ah... Mr. Young, in such a maneuver where there many injuries?”
“Not really, but after a couple of them I did walk a little funny.”
“Jim, shut up,” Carol said, obviously over the second line.
“I believe it’s too early to get a full story,” the professor interrupted. “If we could call at a later date it would be most informative.”
“We’ll make an arrangement to do that professor,” Redmond said.
“End transmission,” the professor said.
“Carol, how did you know I wasn’t telling the truth?”
“I know your stupid sense of humor. It’s the same as the boys. They frightened little Mara Kirby when they told her that raspberry bushes back on Earth walked around and strangled people.”
“So?”
“What if one of those students believed you and wrote it up in some future textbook?”
Jim heard Redmond laughing quietly in the background as his mind conjured an amusing image of someone a hundred years into the future reading, as fact, his spur of the moment joke.
“The wings seem to be full of something,” Levin said as he watched the screen of the ultra sound scanner.
“Full of what?” Jim asked.
“Fluid of some sort.”
“Fuel for the motors?”
“No, the motors are too small. They were probably just for maneuvering. They would not require this much. Each wing contains about one hundred to two hundred liters.”
“A wing?” Jim asked himself then thought for a moment. “Doc, are you familiar with the slang term shippers use for two hundred liters?”
“Yes,” Redmond answered with an understanding tone. “It’s a wing. That must be where the expression came from. The landers wings were used to store and transport liquids. They probably kept them for storage long after they landed.”
* * *
Mort, Dr. Chin’s assistant, leaned over the open cryogenics chamber. “Dr. Ellison? Dr. Ell
ison?”
The woman remained motionless for a few moments, then the left corner of her mouth flickered and she turned her head slightly to one side.
“Dr. Ellison,” Mort repeated in a louder voice and reached down to gently flick her earlobe.
“Huh?” she said faintly as she moved her head.
Jim stepped forward and looked down at the female covered with a sheet. Dr. Chin stood a few paces away with folded arms.
Mort reached down with a pen shaped device and placed the end against her neck. “I’m giving you something to ease your wake up. It’ll also lessen the headache you probably have right now.”
“Do I have to count back from a hundred for this one too?” she asked, slowly opening and closing her eyes. Her facial expression was still blank. There was, as yet, no proper control over the muscles. A sudden movement of her hand under the sheets indicated that her mind was taking inventory of her body.
Mort looked up at Jim with a questioning expression.
Jim smiled and dismissed the remark with a wave of the hand. He then leaned forward. “No doctor, that’s for going under the anesthetic. You are now waking up.”
“Ow... I’ll have to remember that.”
Jim heard the low hiss as Mort activated the injector.
“She should be fully awake within five minutes,” Mort said, straightening and slowly wandering a few paces away.
Dr. Chin moved closer and raised his head to look into the chamber. “It’s better to keep her engaged in conversation. That activates the mind.”
“You want me to talk do you?” the woman asked, opening her eyes again and looking around until she focused on Jim’s smiling face. “What were we talking about? I can’t remember. Was it the storm that happened just before we came up here? It was another one of those hot ones.” She squinted slightly as she tried to focus on the face above her. “Hello?”
“Hi there, my name’s Jim, Jim Young. How do you feel?”
“Just fine... Where’d Gary go? He was here a minute ago?”
“That was a long time ago, doc. You’re not going to sleep, you’re waking up.”
To Wake the Living (The Time Stone Trilogy Book 2) Page 15
