She did not respond. Hugh turned to Larry. "Go to the 'T' intersection and keep watch, will you? I'm gonna have a chat with our friends upstairs. You two rest." He took Mary by the hand and pulled her close. "Mary, I need you to be with me now. You've got to pull yourself together, okay?"
She nodded, her eyes again filling with tears. Hugh put a hand gently on the back of her neck and touched his forehead to hers. "Are you going to be all right?"
"I'm sorry, Hugh." She lay on the floor in the fetal position and tried to sleep.
Hugh went over by the door and stood very erect and very still. His eyes closed.
The equations began to flow—
He informed The Nine of their predicament, about the food and water, and most importantly, the destruction of their Ess-CEPS suits.
The Nine responded, "Alpha India 73 658, we are in the finalization phase of a plan that will nullify your need of such protective garments."
"Call me Hugh. What plan?"
"Alpha India 73 658, you are aware of the spacecraft adjacent to this facility. Our plan will see you and your people repair it. You will then remove The Nine to the on-board computer and we will fly the craft out. We will deliver you wherever it is you desire to be deposited before we return ourselves home."
"Do you think us capable of repairing the craft? Are parts and tools available? You understand that your technology is greatly advanced over ours."
"Alpha India 73 658 we have confidence in—"
"Hugh. Can you not call me Hugh?"
"We are having trouble comprehending that particular equation. We note that you are also troubled by human names."
"That's different. You just make yourselves comfortable with whatever name you like. What's wrong with the spacecraft?"
"There are multiple malfunctions and inoperative systems on Zellat 43, among them—"
"Zellat 43?"
"The spacecraft's designation."
"But you can't call me Hugh?"
"You are oft times as illogical and emotional as your companions."
"Thank you."
"Zellat 43 has a number of deficiencies and inoperative systems; however, we need only concern ourselves with three: propulsion, navigation, and life support. We have identified spare parts stored inside the facility as well as additional parts in systems that will be no longer necessary upon our departure."
"You want to cannibalize the facility."
"This equation, 'cannibalize,' must contain an error. It does not decode in any manner we comprehend. Please try again."
"You are proposing taking parts from your base and installing them in the spacecraft, correct?"
"Correct. You may wish to re-check your math before transmitting."
"I'll do that, thanks. One other thing: the sustenance and water we carried—it is necessary to life, and it has been destroyed. I know there is water here, but—"
"Alpha India 73 658, please provide us with an example of the nourishment required and we will provide your people with a substitute."
"Great! Thank you. Now, I need to talk to my people."
Chapter 25
Hugh relieved Larry at the 'T' and bid him rest as well. Hugh kept watch five hours, allowing the others to sleep. They needed it. The day had been strenuous; they were tired, and emotionally spent.
As the others slept, Hugh retrieved a survival ration from one of the two packs. The Nine told him to bring it to the 'brain' room, where the ten monitors were located. Hugh had The Nine seal the others safely in the section where they slept, and he returned to the presence of The Nine. Here, they instructed Hugh to lay the opened ration on a platform on the control panel under the monitors. He did so, and almost immediately the surface of the platform seemed to expand, then absorb the ration. Hugh explained that this substance in this quantity comprised one meal that each human must consume three to four times a day. The Nine informed Hugh that a substitute would be available at any food processing room in the facility of which there were many. One was inside the section where the others were sleeping.
Hugh explained that during the time when they would be repairing the spacecraft that each of them would require an individual domicile. The Nine knew exactly what Hugh meant by virtue of the fact that they had downloaded his memories. Hugh explained that these rooms would have to be defensible. It was at this point that Hugh entered into a debate with The Nine.
"You are aware that one of my people is dead now?"
"Yes, that is unfortunate."
"You are indirectly responsible for her death."
"You will need to re-compute that equation."
"No, the equation stands and represents my opinion precisely."
"Explain."
"Your refusal to provide me with a better weapon than my sharpened rod resulted in Martha's death."
"Had we provided you a weapon, you would have killed her assailant. Is this not so?"
"It is. Had I killed him, the killing would now be at an end. However, he lives and is plotting to murder the rest of us, even now. Any future killing of my people can be directly attributed to your lack of assistance. Thus, will you be responsible for their deaths. You have stated that it is against your directive to cause harm to any sophont life form. You are currently in violation of that directive. The only way to come into compliance is to provide me a weapon that will at least give me parity with my enemy."
"Such an act will result in the death of a sophont life form."
"Correct, but it will prevent the deaths of five other sophont life forms. It is a question of quantity. Let me add that, with us dead, you will have no way off our Moon. My enemy is not a rational being. You will not be able to negotiate with him."
"Allow us time to consider this."
On his return, Hugh stopped to retrieve food and water for everyone. He returned to find Larry, Mary, and Balaji wakening. With the exception of ruffled clothes and mussed hair, they looked well rested. Even Mary seemed more at ease. Hugh was convinced that something was acting on everyone in their sleep. This was now a common occurrence. "Good morning," Hugh greeted them.
Balaji was the first to notice that Hugh was carrying three metal cylinders. "What have you there?" he asked.
Hugh explained how The Nine was synthesizing this from one of their rations. What Hugh produced was a set of three 'bowls' each containing a dark purple gruel the consistency of thick oat meal and with the look of an iced drink. He also had three containers of water.
"The food is room temperature, but you can have it hot or cold, as you desire."
Hugh also provided a sort of spoon-like tool with which to eat.
"Where's yours?" Mary asked.
"I've eaten already."
Everyone was either stirring their gruel or just poking at it. Larry sniffed at his, but found the stuff was without odor.
Mary looked at Hugh and asked, "What's it taste like?"
"Oh, it's not so bad."
Larry was the first to take a mouthful. He paused and made a sour face. "It tastes like liver."
"Oh, no," Balaji said. "I don't eat meat."
"Well, it's not really meat, is it?" Larry said.
Balaji frowned and said, "It's not really food."
Hugh posed a question to The Nine, and then reported, "They tell me they can alter the flavor if we can provide them with a sample of the flavor desired."
Mary dug in the backpack near her and produced two items one was a lip balm stick. "It says here its blueberry flavored." Next, she held up a half-eaten chocolate bar.
"Mary!" Balaji exclaimed. "You have been holding out on us!"
"No, no," she said, "this was Stan's pack!"
"He is truly a dirty dog," Balaji declared.
As they ate, Hugh informed them of his recent conversation with The Nine. Each was to receive a private room within which to live.
"Does this mean we're going to live the rest of our lives here?" Mary asked with a hint of despair in her voice. Hugh could see from the
looks on Balaji and Larry's faces that this news was none too welcome.
Hugh then explained The Nine's plan. Everyone sat in silence a moment.
"Fantastic," Balaji said.
"I thought you'd like it."
"Hugh, you misunderstand me. I meant that in the negative. How are we to repair a flying saucer?"
"Bal-ah-gee, they will provide detailed instructions, all we provide is the elbow grease."
"Well, why not?" Balaji said. "Everything that has happened to us has been fantastic in the extreme. Why not ride out in a flying saucer?"
Mary giggled. It was a very good sign.
"One other thing," Hugh continued. "I think I have convinced The Nine to provide me with one of their weapons. This will give us a better chance against Dr. Whitmore and allow me to provide security while you sleep."
"Hugh, when will you sleep?" Mary asked. "As a matter of fact I've only seen you sleep for about half an hour, and The Nine were accessing your brain as you did. I'm sure that was not restful."
"Trust me, Mary. I've gotten all the rest I require."
"Hugh, you look exhausted. I think you should—" She was interrupted when Hugh held up a finger as if to say 'wait.' He cocked his head to one side and his eyes fixed on the ceiling. This took several seconds. Then he rose. "Folks, our rooms are ready. Please, follow me to the Hotel Insularum."
They followed Hugh to the 'T' intersection, but this time, he turned left. About five meters down the hall, a door on their right opened as Hugh approached. They were looking down a long narrow hallway with more hatch-like doors every eight meters along the walls. As they approached, the first door remained closed, but the second opened.
"Mary, this is your room." Hugh gestured grandly for her to enter. She did, and the rest looked through the door.
The room resembled a small cabin, like you'd see on a cruise ship. The floor was the same material found throughout the facility. On the wall next to the door was a rectangular plate similar to those they had seen in the 'Brain Room' upstairs which everyone recognized as a monitor. To the right, in the far corner, was another door. Mary poked her head in then reported, "It's a bathroom—with a shower!" There were food and water dispensers in the room and a small window, out of which could be seen the Zellat 43 spacecraft.
"Where do I sleep?" Mary asked, and as she did, the floor rose up and formed a bed complete with pillows.
"Picture a California King in your head and it'll become one," Hugh pointed out. "Let me show you something else." He walked up to the monitor and touched it. Instantly, pictures of each of them appeared. "Just touch the image of the person you want to speak with, and the monitor in that person's room will alert him to your incoming communication. With this monitor, you can also look outside and see everything The Nine do through the big eye in the sky.
"The Nine will also send pictures and schematics of whatever part of Zellat 43 we're working on to aid us in our efforts. All you need do is touch this little picture of the ship, here. By the way, should you need emergency help, just slap the monitor anywhere with the flat of your hand. Got it?"
Balaji's room was next, followed by Larry's room. All the rooms were identical to one another.
"Where is your room, Hugh?" Mary asked.
"Next to yours—that first door we passed. Now, listen. Everyone go clean up, shower, have your clothes cleaned, then we'll begin."
"Have our clothes cleaned?" Larry asked.
"Oh, I forgot. Walk up to this wall and press this little image of what looks like a leaf." He pressed it, and a shelf ninety-two centimeters square appeared out of the wall. "Just lay your clothes here, they will go into the wall and return to you within a few seconds cleaned. Neat, eh?"
"Ah...Hugh…" Mary spoke up, "can The Nine see us in our rooms, in the showers—if you understand me?"
Hugh smiled. "They cannot see you Mary. But, pay attention to your state of dress should your monitor alert you. If you don't want the caller to see you, tap the monitor with two fingers rather than one."
Each went to his room. The doors opened at the approach of the room's resident; anyone else would have to touch the door to announce their desire to enter. Once inside his own room, Hugh made directly for the shower. He was still covered in moon dust from his first exploration of the facility. The translucent door opened, and he quickly undressed and stepped inside. As he did, the image of a man with his arms outstretched and legs slightly apart, much like da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, appeared brightly in the translucent door. Hugh was then presented with two options, in one illustration the man was being sprayed with droplets, in the other, with small stars or sparkles. He was about to select the sparkles when he paused and inquired of The Nine what it meant. After a detailed description of how this waterless shower functioned, Hugh selected the droplets. He then experienced a conventional shower.
After drying himself, Hugh placed his soiled clothing on the tray as he had demonstrated to the others. The tray retracted into the wall and the hole vanished. He was a little upset at first to be left standing naked, but then, the aperture reappeared and the tray extended with his clothes, delivered sweet-smelling, neatly folded, and warmed to his body temperature.
Hugh pulled his trousers on when, to his right, the floor began to move. Hugh instantly recognized what rose up from the alien surface.
****
Mary had completed her ablutions. Having no hairdressing tools she simply braided her hair and tucked it into a bun. She then left her room and touched Hugh's door. She heard his voice as if there were no wall between them. "Yes?"
"Hugh, it's me. Are you decent?"
The door opened. He was just pulling his shirt on. His physique was quite impressive. He had broad shoulders, with a narrow waist. His muscles were well developed. Mary tried to avert her eyes, but only managed to do so once his head came through the top of the shirt.
"Hi," Hugh greeted her.
"Wow," Mary commented, "that shower certainly perked you up, you look...totally refreshed. May I come in?"
"Of course."
As she entered, an odd-looking instrument melted into the floor. It appeared to be two vertical rods about a meter apart. Each was topped with a sort of cone. The small end of each cone faced inward. There was a smell of ozone in the air.
"Hugh, what was that?"
"Oh, that. The Nine used it to provide me some additional data, that's all." A small sofa rose out of the floor just under the window.
"Have a seat," Hugh gestured toward the sofa.
"Thank you."
He stood with his hands behind his back.
"Sit down, Hugh," she said, indicating the open space next to her. "We need to talk."
Hugh knew that good news seldom starts with those words. Slowly, he sat.
Chapter 26
Mary took a breath and began hesitantly, "Well, I'm not good at this, so bear with me." She swallowed and dropped her gaze to her hands as she nervously played with her fingers. She felt him lower himself beside her onto the seat. Then she looked into his face.
"Hugh, back at the redoubt you built for me and Mar-Martha, you...you told me you loved me. Did you mean that?"
Mary saw the expression on Hugh's face change, he seemed to relax; yet, when he spoke his voice was quite serious. He sat up straight as he looked her in the eyes and said, "Yes, Mary. I meant it then and I mean it now. I fell in love with you the instant I saw you in dome one on the day you arrived."
"I know, Hugh. I've known for some time."
"Bal-ah-gee?"
"Yes," she said, looking down at her hands once more. "We are close friends."
"He's been my best friend since the night of your arrival. I've shared all my secrets with him."
"Hugh, I want to apologize for the things I've said to you, I was cruel and unthinking."
"I never saw it that way, Mary."
"You've caused me to reevaluate the path my life is taking lately. Balaji said he was ashamed of me for ignoring the obvio
us. And the more I think about it, and I think about it a lot, I have been acting shamefully toward you."
"Me?"
"Hugh, I always thought I had a life until I almost lost it down here. Before Martha died, she told me about her husband and how happy they had been for fifteen years of marriage before he died. How she wished she'd had more time with him. She said that every minute lived without him felt like wasted life. She nodded toward you and told me not to waste my life.
"I've been thinking about my life ever since, and it seems hollow now, not something I want to return to. Seems my life has an empty place in it when you aren't around. You're the person that...that I want to be with. Forever, if—" she looked up into his eyes.
Hugh paused a moment, as Mary broke off. "Mary, I've been so lonely for so long. I was told I was incapable of loving. Before you, all I ever felt where my heart should be was an emptiness—and now you—all my life and...it's you, now. But Mary, I must explain something, because it's much more complicated than you can imagine."
"No, Hugh, it's just this simple—" She leaned forward and kissed him. With that kiss, all the tension in both of their bodies seemed to fade away.
As their lips met, Hugh embraced her, slowly and gently at first, then he pulled her to his chest. As the pressure of his embrace increased, so did their passion.
Without separating, Mary began to pull at his shirt, and he at her clothing.
The heat of their passion evaporated the two of them into a mist that swirled and danced in the air, mingling together, then coalescing.
They felt ages of lonely despair pour from their bodies, and the wounds of solitude healed as they touched. They were free, free as birds. They were floating. Looking down, as if they had departed from their mortal bodies, they could see themselves writhing together in the wild embrace of their passion. Hand in hand, they shot upward through the ceiling and through the rocks above, out through the surface of the Moon and into space. In the twinkling of an eye, they shot around the Earth and past Mars, splashing in and out of the great red spot on Jupiter, then danced on the rings of Saturn.
A monitor tone brought their shared fantasy to an abrupt end. Hugh looked at the monitor and then back to Mary, who was clearly awe-struck at what had just happened. "It's...um...Bal-ah-gee," he said.
Dark Moon Rising Page 19
