by Colin Owen
Vink' just looked at her, so she took that as a yes.
❧
"Vink' speechless?" Kay said incredulously. "I find that very hard to believe." Janice and Kay were friends, and Janice just had to tell someone. Steve walked in on the conversation.
"Hi," he said, in his usual friendly manner.
"Oh, this is Dr. Forester," Kay said, introducing Steve to Janice.
"So you're the Forester working here," Janice said, surprised.
"Yep that's me," Steve answered, "why the surprise?"
"Oh, just something I overheard General Carter shouting at Vink'."
"And what was that?" Kay asked.
"Well, it sounded like he said, 'that Forester woman', I could be wrong of course, but that's what it sounded like. So, I expected you to be female." Janice grinned at Steve.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Steve grinned back.
"No disappointment," Janice said, "no disappointment at all." She gave Kay a knowing look and made her exit.
"Now what do you think that's all about?" Kay asked when she'd gone.
"I don't know," Steve answered, "but I'm going to find out."
When he was alone, Steve called home. "Hi Hun," Clare said, "what's up?"
"Do you know a General Carter?" Steve asked.
"No, I don't think so," came the reply, "why Hun?"
"Well, he was here today at the Lab tearing Vink' off a strip, and was over heard to say, 'that Forester woman'. I just wondered if you had come across him somewhere?"
"Well, there was a Carter somewhere back in my field days, but I don't think he was a General."
"OK," Steve said, "just thought I'd ask, see you later Sweetie." He put the phone down.
Steve was somewhat distracted for the rest of the day; something inside him was giving him an uneasy feeling about what had happened. He had learned long ago to go with his gut feelings, and so determined to find out just who 'this Forester woman' really was.
Steve made a detour on his way out of Star Labs that took him past Vink's office. He knew the door would be locked if Vink' wasn't there, but figured he'd cross that bridge when he got to it. As it happened, Vink' was still in his office working at the computer. He was looking through his files for something, and must have been really distracted, because he'd left his door a-jar. Steve nonchalantly stopped outside so he could peek through the gap. Janice wasn't at her desk, so Steve gently pushed the door just a little until he could see Vink's computer screen. The text was small but he caught sight of a heading that he could just make out, it read, 'Dr. Clare Forester, the plant...' Vink's head obscured the rest, but it was enough, Steve's curiosity was fully aroused. He knocked on Vink's door.
"Just a minute," came the panicked voice of Dr. Vinkle, then, "come in."
Steve entered Vink's office. The computer screen was blank. 'So, he is up to something,' Steve thought to himself.
"Just thought I'd let you know that I've solved MBA's coms problem," he said thinking on his feet.
"Oh, that's good news Steve, thanks for telling me."
Now, Steve was certain there was something up. Vink' had never called him Steve before. "It was a glitch in the new chip we've been trying, I've made some modifications to the spec...It should be all right from now on."
"Good man," came Vink's reply, "see you tomorrow."
"Yes, see you tomorrow," Steve said, leaving the office.
"Oh, close the door would you," Vink' called, turning back to his computer.
"Sure thing," Steve said, closing it behind him.
It was late in the evening, after the kids were in bed, when Clare asked, "So, what's the intrigue then?"
"Hmm," Steve murmured thoughtfully. "For some reason, Vink has some information about you on his computer. I saw into his office today and he was reading something about you, you were mentioned by name. Add that to Carter shouting 'that Forester woman' and I'd say something stinks."
"Yes, I've been thinking about what you said earlier today, and I do remember a Carter, but I only heard the name mentioned by the head of my department, I never actually met the man. As I remember, I also heard he was a bit of a bully and no one liked him. Does that sound like your man?"
"In one." Steve affirmed. "It has to be the same guy. Now I wonder what they're up to, the way they've been acting lately, it must be something big."
"Do you think it's to do with your work Hun?" Clare asked.
"Could be, but more likely, it's to do with yours." Steve was looking straight at Clare when he said this, and he could see she was perturbed by it. "We need a plan of attack," Steve said, after a pause.
"Oh really?" Clare said, with a smile, sensing an adventure coming on.
"Yes, we need to get a look at what's on Vink's computer," Steve said, smiling a wry smile. "If the answer is anywhere, it's there."
❧
"Hey Jake," Zeek called on the coms, "what's that green thing?"
"Green thing!" Jake said. "You sure are technical Zeek I'll give you that. Here we are on the moon, patrolling the perimeter of the most expensive structure ever built by man, and you say, 'green thing!'"
"Ah, so sue me, I still say it's a green thing. Can you see it?"
"Not from here Zeek, where exactly are you?"
"I'm on the south perimeter near the disposal unit."
"OK, wait there, I'll be right over."
It took Jake several minutes to bounce over to where Zeek was. Gravity on the Moon may be only one-sixth of Earth's, but it still takes a while to get about in it. Jake hadn't been at Moon Base as long as Zeek and hadn't yet got his 'moon legs.'
"Whoa, I see what you mean Zeek, it is a green thing."
"Tell me Einstein," Zeek smirked, "but isn't everything supposed to be grey up here, or am I missing something?"
"Well, it is as far as I know Zeek, but they did discover some red dust one time."
"Red ain't green," Zeek said, sarcastically, "and what we have here is definitely green!"
"Beats me," Jake replied, "let's go take a closer look."
"Hey," Zeek shouted, "it's out of bounds, we're only supposed to patrol inside the perimeter."
"Yeah, I know," Jake said, "and the Moon isn't supposed to be green either!"
Zeek got the point, and both guys hopped over the token perimeter fence and headed out towards the green thing.
When they got there, Jake was dumb-founded, but Zeek always had an answer.
"Look," he said to Jake, "we've been here a couple of months and already the place is going rotten."
What they were looking at was a large rock covered in green mould.
"This shouldn't be happening," Jake, said, half to himself, "this just shouldn't be happen-"
"I heard ya the first time," Zeek broke in, "what are we going to do about it is the question."
"Are you kidding? We've got to report this, and now."
"Gee, I love it when you get all masterful," Zeek quipped, "but don't blame me if they stick us with the bill for messing up the Moon."
❧
Next day, Carter came bursting through the doors at Star Labs and ran straight into Vink's office.
'Boy what a difference this time,' Janice thought to herself, 'he was actually smiling!' It soon got around that Carter and Vink' had broken at the brandy.
"What, no shouting?" Jimmy said incredulously.
"That must be a first," Kay added.
"I wonder what they're so pleased about?" Steve said.
"Perhaps they've won the lottery," Janice grinned.
"Perhaps," Steve said, "but I'll wager it's something far greater than that. Far, far greater."
Chapter Three
Chapter 3.
Disturbing News
The kids had been deposited at aunt Jo's for the night. "You set?" Steve asked, Clare, as they stood by the door ready to leave.
"As I'll ever be," she replied.
"OK, let's go then," Steve said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. The
y climbed into the car and set off for Star Labs. It was late, and they knew that when they got there, only the cleaning staff would be around. If they could just get past security it would be a doddle the rest of the way.
"Leave the talking to me," Steve said, as they approached the main entrance.
"Sorry Dr. Forester, no one is allowed in after eight, those are my orders."
"But I left my lap top in the lab," Steve pleaded, "and it has some vital information on it that I really need to work on."
"Sorry sir," the guard replied, "my orders are clear."
"Sure thing officer," Steve said, not wanting to push too hard, "have a good night."
He reversed away from the main gate. "So," he said turning to Clare, "the front door is closed, we'd better try the back."
Clare was too excited to reply, her heart was pounding, so she just grinned from ear to ear. She hadn't been on an adventure like this since she'd quit her field studies. The car pulled into a parking bay across the street from the rear of the Star Labs building. Steve had noticed a rear door that was used for garbage disposal. He figured that it wouldn't be too well protected, after all, who's going to steal the garbage!
He and Clare jumped out of the car, and walked across the street, holding hands like young lovers, so as not to attract attention. The alleyway that led to the door was dark, with only the light from a distant street lamp for them to see by, but their eyes quickly became accustomed to the darkness, and they had no trouble in finding their way to the back door. Steve tried the door, which could only be opened from the inside, at least, that was the idea. It was locked. Steve had a large screwdriver with him, he had planned on using it to get into Vinkle's office, but it would do the job here just as well. He had noticed that the door didn't fit very well, so he pushed the screwdriver into the gap between the door and the frame, and levered the door open quite easily. They were in, and Clare's heart began to really pound. She had never seen where Steve worked before as access was restricted to authorised personnel only, and that didn't include wives.
Steve had been right, the cleaners were the only ones in the building, they could hear the clank of mops and trolleys down the corridor. Steve took Clare's hand, "Follow me," he whispered, and led her into a stairwell. They climbed two flights, and emerged slowly, into the corridor where Vink's office was situated.
"This could be tricky," Steve, said, "I don't know if the place is alarmed."
"Go for it Hun," Clare said, "we've been lucky this far." She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
Steve was about to insert the screwdriver into Vink's door, when, on an impulse, he tried the handle, the door opened.
"I can't believe it," Steve said looking at Clare. "Vink's office is normally locked up like Fort Knox!"
Clare smiled one of those womanly smiles and said, "Even Fort Knox has to be cleaned."
They were inside and Steve hit the power switch on Vink's computer. He turned the brightness control on the monitor all the way down so as not to alert the cleaners when it started up. When the machine was running, he slowly increased the brightness so they could just see the text. Vink's computer had a recent documents system, so Steve was able to see everything that Vink' had been working on that day. It took only a few moments to find the article that he had seen the day before.
"Come and see this," he said softly to Clare, who was keeping an eye on the corridor. She came over and looked at the screen.
"Why, that's the article on tropical plants I did for National Geographic," she said. "Why would he want that?"
"I don't know Sweetie, but keep looking there may be more." Clare knew her way around a computer too, and it didn't take her long to find something shocking.
"Steve," she called out somewhat loudly.
"Shush, not so loud, what is it?"
"He's got virtually all my field notes on here, just about everything I've ever written, it's all here."
"Something is going on," Steve said, realising the gravity of what Clare had just said. "He's using your notes for something illicit. We've got to find out what it is and put a stop to it Sweetie."
"That we have, I'm not having that weasel stealing my work." With that she hit the delete key.
"No wait," Steve said, grabbing her arm, but it was too late. Clare had wiped everything.
"That'll teach him," she said, smugly, "let's see him use it now."
"I do wish you hadn't done that Sweetie," Steve said, "now he'll know that someone has rumbled him, and he'll go to ground."
"Ah, didn't think of that," Clare said, "sorry Hun, but he deserves it anyway."
"Never mind that now, let's get out of here before the cleaners arrive." Steve reset Vink's computer and turned it off.
They left the building the same way they had come in. Once they were in the alley, Clare caught hold of Steve's arm and said, "I think it's time for some straight talking, don't you?"
"OK," Steve replied, "let's get back to the car."
They drove around nervously, the car seeming to be the safest place for them to talk. Having seen what Vink' was up to, it might not be safe even at home.
"Do you think that Vink' would bug our house?" Clare asked.
"No," Steve replied, "but I wouldn't put it past Carter! We'll need to be careful from now on."
"So," Clare said after a short silence, "just what are you working on Hun?"
Steve thought for a moment, he had never broken a confidence like this before, and it took him a few seconds to summon up the courage now, but he knew he had to.
"For the last year Sweetie, I've been working on a top secret project called Moon Base Alpha. Star Labs have been involved with it for ten years, and they drafted me in when the last project head was taken ill and had to retire."
"Retire? Do you believe that?" Clare asked.
"Not on your life," Steve's replied, "I think he was sidelined by Vink' or Carter for some reason. MBA was his project, he would never have retired."
"Do you mean to tell me that there are people actually living on the moon?" Clare asked wide-eyed.
"Yes, there are Sweetie, the base is still under construction, but there are people up there right now."
"So what's your part in this?"
"I'm in charge of technology, it's my job to invent new systems and make sure that they function in space. There's a lot of new stuff gone into this project, why, even the communication system uses a totally new form of interface. It's neural based-"
"Neural?" Clare interrupted.
"Yes, neural. It's not perfected yet, but it has the capability to sense your feelings, at least it will one day. Right now, it can detect micro changes in skin resistance and body temperature, which are signs of the situation you are in, i.e. restful, active, danger etc."
"Clever," Clare said, "and you invented it?"
"Well, yes, I did," Steve said, a little hesitantly, "that and other stuff."
"I'm impressed," she said snuggling down onto his shoulder. "You're my little professor."
Steve was glad that Clare finally knew what he was doing, he'd hated keeping secrets from her, but the work was classified as top secret, and that meant telling no one, no one at all.
Suddenly, a thought dawned on him. Clare's life might now be in danger. If they'd done away with the project leader, they wouldn't think twice about someone like Clare. The thought frightened him, and Clare became aware of his fear.
"What is it Hun?" She asked.
"It's you Sweetie," he answered, "by telling you, I may have put your life at risk."
"It probably was anyway." Clare replied. "'That Forester woman,' remember? And all my notes were on his computer. I figure I'm involved in Moon Base Alpha as much as you are."
Clare was smart, Steve hadn't made the connection, but it had not escaped his wife.
"So, why do you think they've got your study notes?" Steve asked.
"Well, there are some things about my work that you don't know. My field is hybrid plants rememb
er?"
"Sure I do, but what's that got to do with the Moon?"
"Ah, that's the 64,000 dollar question, isn't it, but my guess is it's to do with either food, or air production."
"Of course," Steve shouted, "that's it! One of the main problems MBA has to overcome is air, it's not possible to transport enough of it from Earth, and it can only be recycled so many times. Air is the key to MBA's success, without it, MBA will fail, but is it really possible to use plants to create enough air?"
"Not that I know of," Clare replied, "at least, not yet, but there was one plant I discovered high up in the Andes that was very efficient at converting sunlight into oxygen. All green leaf plants do it, but B37A was almost ten times more efficient than your everyday plant. I wrote an article on it..." Her voice faded as she realised that she'd seen the very same article on Vink's computer. "That must be it," she said, "they've taken my work on hybrids and created a new strain of B37A, a strain that can make enough air to run MBA."
"Makes sense," Steve said, "grow enough of the stuff, and it's free air. There's one other problem though, water. There's no water on the Moon, and plants need water."
"Can't help you there," Clare replied, "I don't know of a plant the can turn sunlight into water."
"Maybe not," Steve replied, "but plants could be created that used very little of it-"
"They already exist," Clare interrupted, "most of Earth's deserts have some form of plant life, even if it just lies dormant until it rains."
By now it was really late, they had been driving around for a couple of hours and Clare was sleepy. "Let's go home," she said, "I'm all in."
❧
It was on TV the following morning. Rufus was his usual self, and the kids were full of beans, but mom and dad were rather fragile. "Shush," Clare suddenly gestured, "quiet, there's something on the news." Everyone became silent, even Rufus, for a second or two. Clare went over to the TV to listen.
"What is it Sweetie?" Steve asked.
"There's been an accident in Russia," she said, "some sort of explosion at a factory."
