After the week was over nearly all the peasant class dispersed to return to the fields. The harvest was beginning and from all accounts it was going to be a very bountiful year. Most of the noble class however, stayed at court, anxious to see the alien ship depart.
“Just how you’ll react to one another during such a long voyage is our main concern,” Rice warned the four of them after the long week of celebrating was finally past. They were together in one of the large tents for their final briefing. General Peebles was present, as was Colonel Lemay and Lee Robertson, who had returned from his expedition to the west where the locals were good enough to show him a large deposit of oil.
After surveying the land Robertson was confident that their limited energy needs would be met with just the surface oil, which was remarkably abundant. It would certainly last long enough to create a manufacturing base advanced enough to reach the underground reservoirs. It was a wonderful find, and he still had not come down from the high of its discovery. For the first time since their arrival he was sure that they would be able to build a functioning civilization. Everything was moving along far better than expected, and he paid little attention to the adventurers in front of him. They would succeed or fail, but the ultimate outcome would be decided far beyond his lifetime. All he could do was to keep the home front progressing as rapidly as possible, but of course that too would succeed or fail beyond his lifetime. For now, however, his attention and his dreams rested solely on England.
“There have been experiments in Earth orbit, where small groups of people have been isolated for long periods of time, but even so the longest such experiment lasted only a year and a half aboard the ISS,” Rice said, still lecturing, wanting them to completely understand what they were up against.
“But there have been many other instances where humans have been isolated for years with no detrimental effects,” Matt replied. “Expeditions in the Antarctic, laboratories on the ocean floor, and there are hundreds of cases from early American settlers of the old west where groups of people lived alone and did not come in contact with anyone for years.”
“Like the Donner party,” Rice said with a laugh.
“Food will be the least of our worries,” Matt answered. “We’ll be fine. We’ll stay occupied; we’re ready to go.”
Dr. Rice nodded, knowing that no matter what the risks they were going to send these four off to wage war with the Skawps. It was necessary; they had no choice. The trip had to be made and these people were going to make it. Rice glanced over at the Colonel, but he was looking thoughtfully at his boot tops, apparently oblivious to the conversation around him. So Rice looked to the General but his commander just shrugged, leaving the decision to go or delay to the doctor. Rice knew they had little choice, that the trip had to be made, and though the decision was up to him, he realized the ultimate results would be well out of his hands.
“What do the rest of you say?” Rice asked the three remaining crew members.
“Go,” Princess Æthelgifu said immediately, even before Captain Giles could speak up. He glanced at her, admiring her enthusiasm.
“Go,” he added directly after her.
“Go,” Ellyn echoed, and slipped her hand into Matt’s. She would be content to be with her man.
Rice nodded to them all, shook his head and gave a resigned smile, then looked over at General Peebles, who shrugged again. “Let’s go then,” he said and Peebles broke into a grin and nodded.
“Tomorrow morning...09:00,” was his entire contribution to the debate.
§
The four space travelers spent the remainder of the day together, outside in the open fields surrounding Winchester. Every breeze that swayed the branches of the mighty oaks, every ray of sunshine that warmed their skin, every lark song that floated down from above, took on extra meaning for them all. Their time on Earth was precious and not to be taken for granted.
“Twill be verily hard livin’ in the ship will it na?” Ellyn asked holding Matt’s hand as they sat under a large oak tree, near a small, but busily bubbling little stream. They looked out toward the open Salisbury plains, and watched the common folk work in the nearby wheat fields. Murphy sat on the ground, back to the very same oak, but he faced the opposite direction, with Æthelgifu lying next to him, her head in his lap. The Princess was comfortable now with this man, after just a week. Her wedding night was full of fear and anxiety until Murphy had come to her, held her gently and loved her slowly. There was pain, but not so much as she anticipated, but there was pleasure too…far more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed was possible. Oh, she’d heard the washerwomen of the castle talkin’ and braggin’ on their men, but she thought it was just that…talk and common talk at that. Now she realized some men might just deserve the braggin’.
“It will be hard,” Matt agreed, “but we’ll keep busy...after six years we’ll either come out of this hating one another, or be very, very close friends…a family others will envy.”
“If they succeed here and there are any people left to envy us,” Murphy added gloomily. Æthelgifu raised her head and looked at him scornfully.
“Murphy,” she reprimanded, but not harshly, “they twill make it work! I can see it in the way the people are talkin’ and workin’. Ye Americans h’ve brought the Anglish people to life.”
“I agree,” Matt said. “Robertson has found the fuel resources they’ll need to start to rebuild...once true civilization hits there will be no stopping it...no turning back.”
They all sighed, lolled by the feel of the sun on their heads and said nothing more, content and quiet until a large group of children, girls and boys, came running through the woods noisily. Eve was among them but she stopped and jumped on Murphy, and the entire group stopped with her. They were loud, all noisily chattering about many, many things, things only important to children. Eve kissed Murphy then tried to climb the tree and failed, until Matt stood and then picked her up. She remained content in his arms for a time.
“Bring me back one,” she implored, and slipped her arms around his neck.
“Back one what?” Matt asked.
She rolled her eyes as if the question was obvious. “A star,” she replied then squirmed in his grasp until his was forced to set her down with the other children. “Promise,” she said looking at him intently.
“Promise,” Matt answered with a smile. The group then ran off together, as if they all heard the very same command, a command which was undetectable to adult ears. The four of them laughed. They would miss the children.
They said nothing more, simply watched as the day turned into evening and the sun dipped below the horizon. Fittingly, it was a glorious sunset. Still they sat watching the stars come out in the sky, and just as they were about to leave two torches bobbed their way through the darkness. It was Sir Gospatrick and his friend, Ædwin.
“I wold speak with ye,” Sir Gospatrick asked the Lady Ellyn, then turned to Matt, smiling, liking the man despite the sorrow he caused. “If that be all right with ye?”
Matt nodded and helped Ellyn up from the ground. She stood a moment rubbing her backside, which had fallen asleep then she moved off a short distance with Sir Gospatrick.
“He truly loves her,” Ædwin announced when they were out of ear shot. “Loves her as she loves ye,” he told Matt.
“That’s bad,” Matt answered only slightly concerned.
Ædwin shrugged. “He’ll find another...he likes the ladies.”
Sir Gospatrick was not so sure at the moment. These past weeks he’d tried to forget about Ellyn. After that first day, when the ship had come from the west and he’d watched as she greeted Matt, he knew that she was lost to him. Better that she went away, rather than stay to torment him, but in the end, finally he had come to her.
“I just come to say farewell to ye,” Gospatrick said with a sad smile.
“Goodbye Sir Gospatrick,” Ellyn answered, and they stood silently next to each other for a moment.
�
�If the Ammericaans had na come....” he started to ask, but she reached up and held a finger to his lips.
“Mayhap,” she said. “Mayhap.”
He grabbed her hand from his lips, kissed it and then held it tightly. Then, without warning, he bent and pulled her into his arms, kissing her long, kissing her passionately. He released her just as Matt was beginning to move forward.
“Tis a kiss so ye be knowin’ what yor leavin’ behind,” Sir Gospatrick said then turned and left.
“Thank ye,” he said to Matt and walked off down the hill. Matt hustled over to his lady, who stood utterly stunned, still held firmly in the grip of the unexpected kiss. Matt looked down at her and frowned.
“Maybe I should find me another maid to kiss, perhaps…what was that little slip of a girl’s name...Ædella, you remember her?” He asked and she snapped out of her trance.
“Why Matthew Thane, are ye jealous?” She asked mockingly.
“Damn right,” he replied and picked her up in his arms and kissed her passionately…seconds later Ellyn forgot all about Sir Gospatrick of Wilton.
They moved back to the town gates together, but none of them even attempted to sleep, instead they climbed to the top of the east tower of Maiden Castle. They stood on the heights, huddled together, looking up at the stars. Matt and Murphy named the constellations they could find, while the women just hovered close, relishing their last night on Earth.
In a strange way, time teased and confused them that night. It seemed to drag and to fly by at the same moment. They all experienced the confusion in turn; one minute wishing the night would never end, and the next wishing for the beginning of their greatest adventure. But, in the end, time moved as it always does, steadily, plodding along, and it seemed that the entire castle was up with the sun to wish them a safe journey. The farewells were heartfelt and long, especially for the two English women, who would be leaving behind their families, but finally, after all had been said, came the final hour. They waved one last time, then entered the ship and closed the door on their home world.
Matt powered up the ship’s engines, and they all looked out at the crowds that filled the grounds around Winchester. Every American soldier stood rigidly at attention, General Peebles in front with Colonel Lemay, Doctor Rice nearby holding Eve, who was mimicking the men around her and giving the ship her own little salute. And the locals were also present, King Alfred standing with Queen Ealhswith and their daughter, Æthelflæd and her son Leoforic, plus Sir Wulfhere, Æthelnoth, the Ealdorman of Somerset and his wife, the Lady Merwinna and finally Sir Oldalf, who sadly would be losing a daughter. From the cockpit the four of them waved back and then Matt glanced over at Murphy and winked.
“Ready partner?” He asked then looked back at the women. “Partners?” He amended.
“Let’s go already,” Murphy said and looked back at Giffu who smiled and nodded.
“All right then,” Thane answered and looked quickly back at his own wife. She smiled at him, loving him, but he could see the sweat on her forehead, and could tell she was very tense but she nodded in agreement.
“Let’s be gone from here,” she echoed.
Matt turned back to the controls, and within seconds they were lifting off, the muffled roar of the crowd the only sound. He moved the ship away from the town, and then shot forward due east. He flew low and fast for nearly thirty seconds before turning back and streaking toward the watching crowds. The ship whizzed overhead and then up, straight up, and up, and up...out of sight, out of the atmosphere and into space.
“Powering main engines,” Captain Giles announced calmly as they streaked out of orbit. The moon was ahead, but fifteen degrees to starboard. On their trip to the beloved satellite, they’d not come anywhere near using the full power of interstellar engines and both Matt and Murphy were curious on how they would perform. They would bring the engines to full very, very slowly.
“Accelerating to one-tenth,” Matt said automatically and activated the main engines. He was under control, but still very nervous. He had never flown this fast except in the computer simulators back on old Earth. The engines ignited and pressed them all back in their seats, and the moon suddenly shot past them and was left behind. Matt heard a gasped come from the back seats, but he wasn’t sure if it came from his wife or Murphy’s, not that it mattered.
“Continuing along planetary plane,” Matt said.
“Acceleration optimal,” Murphy answered, and the women in back wondered just to whom they were talking. “Switching to reverse monitor,” and they all watched as the small blue ball they called home quickly shrunk until it was just a pinprick of light.
“All systems nominal,” Matt reported, feeling their acceleration in his back and kidneys rather than seeing it with his eyes. He checked the readouts, astonished even though everything was normal. “Time to Saturn...710 minutes,” he added and smiled at Murphy’s grunt.
“We wanted you to see this,” Matt said looking back at Ellyn. “Aside from Earth, Saturn is the most beautiful planet in the system...a real jewel...I wanted to see it.” Then they were all quiet for many long minutes, each feeling the steady acceleration.
“Confirm heading,” Matt finally said several hours later, breaking the silence, growing nervous once more.
Murphy checked and rechecked the computers. “Heading confirmed...Saturn dead ahead in 585 minutes. “It’s just too bad that Mars and Jupiter are on the far side of the system. It would have given us something to do in the mean time.”
“You bored?” Matt asked with a grin.
Murphy shook his head. “I’m about ready to soil my britches,” he answered truthfully, and the two women giggled behind him. The constant acceleration continued as their speed increased steadily, until their velocity was even beyond the comprehension of the two pilots.
“Confirm heading...” Matt requested once more.
“Heading confirmed,” Murphy replied just as the engines suddenly cut off. “Speed one-tenth...Saturn dead ahead 417 minutes.”
The two men looked at each other, each knowing that they were now traveling at approximately 67 million miles an hour and accelerating, but even at this speed, Saturn would take almost six hours to reach. The numbers were unimaginable.
“Saturn has rings,” Giffu informed Ellyn, and Murphy looked back at her and nodded.
“Leoforic showed me a picture of it on the computer...it didn’t seem real,” she explained.
“It’s real, and coming up fast,” Matt answered, then turned to his co-pilot. “All systems go. Everything seems to be functioning normally.”
Murphy nodded. “Scary isn’t it?”
Matt nodded back.
“All systems nominal,” Murphy reported a half an hour later. “Would the Captain like us to accelerate to one-fifth?” He asked in a broken Scottish accent, the allusion lost on the two women in the back, but not on Matt, who smiled.
“No Scotty, I think we should keep it here. Even at this speed I’m not sure how much of a peek we will get at her as she goes by,” he replied, grossly underestimating the vast size of the planet. The women began to chat idly in the back as the hours ticked by.
“Time to Saturn 282 minutes,” Matt said. “It’s still over four hours away. If any of you wants to get up, use the head, get a drink, we have plenty of time,” he added and they all took turns getting up, stretching and moving about the ship.
Saturn was still over two hours, or about 125 million miles away when the planet began to take on a distinct disk shape, and over the next hour they watched it grow until it was about the size of the moon in the sky. The cloud bands were very distinct, the colors bright and the rings absolutely beautiful. They all sat quietly, watching as the planet approached very, very slowly. The view was surreal. Occasionally someone would comment at the beauty of the scene, and everyone would mutter their agreements and then it would grow quiet again until the next person felt they had to say something.
“My God, it’s huge,” Matt final
ly exclaimed, surprised that the planet seemed to be coming up on them so slowly, though they were moving very fast, and they were still so many millions of miles away.
“Time to Saturn 62 minutes,” Murphy reported, checking the computer regularly though he was reluctant to take his eyes off the growing wonder before them. “All systems nominal.”
They watched Saturn grow for a spell.
“Confirm heading,” Matt asked not taking his eyes off of the large gas planet.
“Heading confirmed...43 minutes to Saturn.” The planet and its exquisite rings now filled the forward window. It was growing very fast now, finally their great speed beginning to reveal itself. To their eyes it appeared as if they’d already reached the ringed planet though they were still nearly 70 million miles away. This was a very, very large planet and would grow much larger before they hit their nearest approach at just over a million miles.
“Confirm heading,” Matt said, the planet so large now that they could not even see all of it. Something must be wrong; they seemed to be heading directly for it.
Murphy paused a moment “Heading confirmed,” he answered, momentarily sharing Matt’s worries. “We’ll pass just outside the orbit of Titan. I recommend we turn fifteen degrees aft, and that will take us several million miles farther out.”
Matt nodded. “Negative, have the computer take us out of the planetary plane, and then plot a course for the Skawps home world.”
They all continued to be transfixed by the planet before them.
“It’s so beautiful,” Ellyn commented, her eyes darting all along the planet and the nearest section of rings.
“Heading confirmed to take us out of planetary plane,” Murphy said moments later, and Matt nodded.
The Temporal Knights Page 64
