by Eric Filler
Jeriwipedtearsfromhereyes.“Keeputhgoingathfathtathyoucan,”she growled.Shestormedbacktothebridge.Sheriworeaschooluniformsimilar tohersandherbrownhairwasjustasstraight.Theblouseofheruniformclung tightlytoherflatchestandtherolloffatinhermidsection.
“Hi,”shesqueakedwiththevoiceofalittlegirl.“Howdiditgointhe engineroom?’
“Fine,”Jerisaidwithahuffandthencrossedherarmsoverbreaststhathad shrunkentonubs.Beforelongtheywouldn’tevenbethat.
Chapter3
Jeri’sfeetcouldnolongertouchthefloorwhenshesatatherstation.Just tenminutesearliershehadundergoneanotherchange.Whenhervisionhad cleared,shehadbeenlefttostareatthefaceofalittlegirl.Withtinyhandsshe hadpattedherlushgoldenhairwithbangsthatswallowedherforeheadandthat wascrownedbyaturquoisebowthatmatchedthedressandshoesshewore.
Thoseshoeshoveredabouttencentimetersoffthefloornow.Sheswung themaboutabsentlyandthenhuffed,“Arewethereyet?”
“We,um,justpassedPtora…Ithink,”Sherisaid.Shetoohadgotten youngertenminutesago.Fromwhatthescannersaid—Jerihaddraggeditonto thebridgewhileitwasstillmobileandshehadthestrengthtomoveit—Sheri wasjustsevenyearsoldnow.Shepeekedattheinstrumentsthroughmussed brownhairthatwaslongerinthefrontthanintheback.Sheworeacornflower-coloreddressthatwassimilartoJeri’s,butnotaspretty.Swirlsoflightfreckles hadcroppeduponherfacetoremindJeriofherlongagodalliancewithVal.
Jeriflickedaswitchonherconsolenexttoaspeaker.Theyhadlostany visualcommunicationsystemswiththemostrecentchange.“Can’twegoany faster?”shewhined.
“It’sgoingasfastasitcan,”Tery’stinnyvoicecameback.“Maybeyou shouldgetoutandgiveusapush.”
“MaybeIwill,”Jerisaidwithanotherhuff.Sheflickedtheswitchagainto turntheintercomoff.Shecrossedherarmsoverherflatchestandsaid,“This sucks.”
Withnothingelsetodo,shefussedwithherthickhair.Sheremembered howlongithadtakenhernannytowash,comb,andstyleherhairthelasttime she’dbeennine.IthadalwaysbeendifficultbecauseJerisquirmedinthevanity chair,anxioustorundownstairstoshowMommyhowprettyshewas.
Aswitheverychange,shewonderedwhatwouldhappenifshewasstuck likethis.Mommywassixty-sevennow,muchtoooldtocareforarambunctious nine-year-old.NotthatMommyhadeverdonemuchtoraiseJeriinthefirst place;thathadbeenlefttotheservants.SheimaginedMommy’srealproblem wouldbethescandalthiswouldcreate.“Whatwillwetelltheneighbors?”
Mommywouldsayassheshookherheadandcluckedhertonguewith disapproval.
Aswitheverychange,Jeriremindedherselfthiswasprobablyamoot point.TheyweredaysawayfromPheraandifthechangescontinued,sheand theotherswouldbedeadlongbeforethen.Iftheydidn’tvanishintoprimordial
oozethentheshipwoulddisappearonthemorturnintosomethingtooprimitive tosupportthem.
Thisisn’tfair,Jerithought.She’dneverwantedthis.Shehadnever strayedoutofvisualrangefromPheraonanyofherpreviouscommands.At firstthathadannoyedher,buttheoldershegot,thelessshewantedtoaccept anyofthelong-rangeexploratorymissions.Whyhadn’tsheturnedAdmiral Jenedownwhenthismissioncameup?Whyhadn’tsheaskedforanicedesk jobdownontheground?
Ironicallyitwasbecauseshehadbeengettingold.Beforeshegottooold fordeepspace,shehaddecidedtotakeonelongmission,justtoseesomeof thosedistantstarsshehadfantasizedaboutasachild.Aftershegothomethen shehadplannedtotransfertoadeskjobuntilshecouldfinallyretire.
Shesnorted.Shehadbeenworriedshewastoooldandnowhereshewas, justalittlegirl—
Thescannerbeepedamillisecondbeforetheflash.Jeriputherhandstoher eyes,notthatitdidanygood.Shecouldfeelthemgetsmallerasagainherbody changed.
Whensheopenedhereyes,herfeetwereanothertencentimetersaway fromthefloor.Nowsheworepinkshoesthatmatchedherpink-and-white checkeddress.Thebowatopherheadhadmigratedtothebackofherheadto tiebackherthickplatinumhair.Herbangshadrecededtojusttwotressesto frameherforehead.Shesquintedatthedialsonthescannernexttoherstation.
Fromwhatshecoulddiscern,shewassevenyearsoldnow.
Aheadofher,Sherihadbecomelittlerandevenplainer.Herfreckleshad darkenedwhileherlongerbrownhairhadknititselfintoapairofbraids.
Stringybangscoveredmostofherforehead.Herdresshadbecomearuffled mintgreentopwithawhiteskirtandsneakers.Thedialsonthescanner indicatedshewasonlyfivenow,practicallyatoddler.
TheyhadalreadyhadtobringinanoperationsmanualforSheritositonin ordertoseehercontrols;nowthatwasn’tenough.Sheleanedforwardtostareat thegaugesandmonitorsonherstation.Afteramoment,shebegantosob.
“Whatareyoubawlingabout?”
“Ican’tweed!”Sherianswered.
“So?Thisisaspaceship.Wedon’thaveanyweeds.”
“Notweed, weed.Ow-E-A-D.”Foremphasis,Sherimotionedfromher eyestotheterminal.NowJeriunderstood;Sherihadregressedtothepointshe couldnolongerread.
Withasigh,Jeriheavedherselfawayfromherterminal.Shewentoverto Sheri’s.“GoseeifyoucanhelpTeryorsomething.”
“No!Thisismystation!Youcan’thaveit!”
“Whatgoodcanyoudothere?Youcan’tevenreadthecontrols.”
“So?Theadmiwawassignedmetobethehewmswoman.It’smine.”
“Getlost,stupidbaby,”Jerigrowled.SheseizedSheri’shandtoyankher offthechair.ShericlungtoanarmrestwithbothhandsandtriedtokickatJeri withherlegs.“Stopit!”
“No!I’mnotweaving.NottogoworkwithsmewwyowdTewy.”
Thoughitwasagainstregulationstostrikeafellowofficerexceptincases ofmutiny,Jerisawnochoice.SheslappedSheriontheleftcheekashardasshe could.Asexpected,Sheri’spaintolerancehadalsoregressedtothatofafive-year-old.Herfacereddenedandshebegantowail.Thisloosenedhergrip enoughforJeritodisplaceherfromtheseat.
Sherilandedwithathud.Hersobsintensified.“I’mtewwing!”
“Whoareyougoingtotell?”
Sheriponderedthisforamomentandthenhuffed.“Owtewtheadmiwaw whenwegetback.”
“Youdothat.”Jerileanedforwardontheoperationsmanualinordertosee thecontrols.Theyhadagainbecomeevenmoreprimitive.Shereadonegauge thatshesoondeterminedwasthespeedometer.Fromthelookofit,theyhad slowedtoameretenthoftheirpreviousspeed.Fromthefuelgauge,shefigured theymustberunningonfossilfuelsnow,old-stylerocketsthatcouldn’tmanage muchspeedordistance.
ItwasJeri’sturntobawlassherealizedtheywerestucknow.
“Whatareyoubabiesblubberingabout?”Teryaskedfromthedoorway.He didn’tlookmuchdifferent,justabitsmallerandhisT-shirtalittlelessgrimy.
SherisniffledandthenscrambledontotheseattopressherselfagainstJeri.
“What’sherproblem?”
“She’stoolittletoreadanymore.”
“So?”
“Youkindofneedtobeabletoreadtoworkonthebridge.Whichiswhy you’rejustatechnician,”Jerisaid.Shestuckouthertongueathim.
“Ohyeah?WellIthinkit’stimesomeoneelsetakesoverforyoubabies.”
“I’mnotababy!”Jeriroared.
“Aretoo.”
“Amnot!”
Terygrabbedatherarm.Itwasherturnnowtograbatthearmrestand kickattheolderandlargerboy.SheriswattedatTery,butoneslapfromhim andshecurleduptosobagain.Jeri’sfingernailsgradu
allylostpurchaseand thensheendeduponthefloor.Herownpaintolerancehadregressedaswell,so
thatshebegantowailatthesightofherskinnedknee.
“Thatwasmean,”Sherisaid,butanotherslapfromTeryandsheslunkoff thechairtopressherselfagainstJeri.
“Stupid girls,”Terygrumbled.“Letyourunthingsandlookwhat happens?”
“Fine,thenyoufixthingsifyou’resosmart,”Jerisnapped.
“Iwill.”
Shewatchedhimstudythecontrolsforafewminutes.Thenshesaid,
“Well,Mr.SmartyPants,haveyounoticedwe’rerunninglowonfuelnow?”
“Yeah,so?”
“Sowhatareyougoingtodo, Captain?”
Afteraminuteofdeliberationheadmitted,“Idon’tknow.”
ThoughJeriharrumphedsmugly,insideshefeltacoldtremorassheknew theyweredoomed.
Chapter4
ItturnedoutjustaswellTeryhadtakenoverthebridgeasanhourlaterJeri couldnolongerreadeither.Onemomentshehadsatmopingonherbedwhile SherijumpedonitandthenextshewasaslittleasSherihadbeen.Cladina palegreenbabydolldresscrownedwithalacecollarandbowandwithher platinumhairswirledintopigtails,shelookedevenyoungerthanfive.Shehad lookedoveratamanualonherdeskandimmediatelygroaned;thetextlooked likeabunchofgibberishtoherfive-year-old’seyes.
Sherihadbeeninmid-jumpduringthechange.Sheletoutasquealasshe fell.Whenshelanded,Sheriwasababy,herownpigtailsmuchstubbier, stickingoutfromthebaseofherneck.ShewascladinapinkT-shirtand equallypinkoveralls,aroundthewaistofwhichwasabulgearoundherwaist thatJerirecognizedasadiaper.Sheri’sfreckledcheeksreddenedforamoment andthenshebegantowail.“Notbaby!”sheshouted.
“Aretoo.”
“Nuh-uh!”
Jeriseizedthebaby’shandanddraggedheroffthebed.Shestompedover tothemirrorandheldSheriuphighenoughtoseeherface.Itturnedmagentaas shebegantowailagain.“Nofair!”shescreamed.
Jeridumpedthebabyonthefloor,morebecauseherscrawnylimbswere tooweakthanasapunishmentforSheri’sbrattiness.“Nowshutupaboutit,”
Jerisnapped.
Sheriwaddledoffafewpaces,backtothebed.Shewastoolittleandweak toclimbitherself,soshecurleduponthefloortosob.Withinafewminutes, shewasasleep,herthumbinhermouth.
Jeriturnedbacktothemirrortostudyherownbabyishface.Shehadbeen suchanadorabletoddler.Adultshadalwayspinchedhercheeksandgushed overhowprettyshewas.Shehadevenwonabeautypageantforlocaltoddlers.
Thebestofthathadbeenwhensheskippedouttogethercrownandsaw Mommyinthefrontrowtocheerforher.Jerihadwantedtogoontothenext levelofcompetition,butMommyrefused;shewastoobusytocartJeriaround overthewholeplanettoshowoff.Jerihadlookedjustlikethisthatdayandjust likethen,hercheeksreddenedandtearscametohereyes.Whycouldn’t Mommyeverbeproudofher?
Sheturnedawayandwentbackovertothebed.Withagruntshehoisted Sheriontothebedandthentuckedherin.Jericrawledinnexttoher.She turnedtowatchSherisleepandsoonfellasleepherself.
***
Sheawoketosomeonetappingonthedoor.SheheardTerycallout,
“Whereareyoubabies?Youdidn’tturntogooalready,didyou?”
“No,”Jerisqueaked.Shewrestledthecoversoffonlytoseeanother changehadhappenedwhilesheslept.Herbodywaseventiniernow,cladina frillypinkdress.Acurledtressofblondhairdrapedovereachshoulderand whenshepattedherhead,shefeltabowontop.Shewasrelievedtofeelno diaperaroundherwaist,soatleastshewasn’ta babyyet.
Asshethoughtofthat,shewonderedwhathadbecomeofSheri.Shesawa lumpcoveredbytheblankets.Jeripushedtheseasidetoseeababyprobablynot evenayearoldwithatuftofbrownhairheldinplacebyabow.Thebaby suckedherthumbassheslept.Jeriletthebabysleep;shewastoolittlenowto carrySherioffthebed.
“Whereareyoutwo?”Teryshouted.
“Icome!”Jericalledback.Asshehurriedtothedoor,shepausedinfront ofthemirror;shecouldonlyseehereyesandthetopofherheadcrownedbythe pinkbow.Shestoodonhertiptoesforamomenttoseetherestofherpudgy face.
Shehadtogetonhertoesagainandstrainwitheveryounceofherfeeble musclestoopenthedoor.Terywasprobablyonlyfiveyearsoldnow,thoughhe stillstunk.Hegiggledather.“Youlookstupid.”
“Donot!”
“Dotoo.”
“Shutup!Whatyouwant?”
“Wegottagetouttahere.”
“Wehome?”
“No.Buttheshipwon’tlastmuchlonger.Seeforyourself.”
Heledhertotheengineroom,thedoortowhichhe’dleftproppedopen withachair.Inside,Jeristaredatthepistonsmuchbiggerthanshe,Sheri,and Teryputtogether.Anoveninthecenteroftheroomglowedavolcanicred.Off tooneside,shesawapileofblackrocks.Thenitoccurredtoherwhatthiswas.
“Steampower?”
“Yeah,that’sright,”hesaid.“Wegottagetouttaherebeforenextchange.”
“Where?”
“There’sstillanescaperocket.It’sprettysmall,butweshouldbeableto fit.”
“Thatgetushome?”
“Idon’tknow.Maybeifwegetouttahere,thiswillallstop.”
“Maybe.”
Hetookherarm;shetriedtoshakeitaway,butwastooweak.“Comeon, getthebabyandlet’sgo.”
Shethoughtaboutthisforamoment.Diditreallymatteriftheytriedto escapeornot?Thisrocketwouldprobablykillthem,eitherwhenitchangedto nothingorwhentheyranoutofairorwhentheychangedintozygotes.Still,at leasttherewasachancetheymightbeabletoescape.Thesamecouldn’tbesaid forthisship.“OK,”shesaid.
Sheskippedintoherquarters.Sherihadwokeupandmanagedtoprop herselfuptolookaround.Ababy’sjoyousgrincametoherfacewhenshesaw Jeri.Jerismiledbackather.“Hi!Wegonow.Come.”
Jeriheldoutherhand.Sheritookitwithonepudgyhandofherown.Jeri helpedtoeasethebabydownontothefloor.Sheri’slegswobbledasshetriedto stand.WithsomehelpfromJerishemanagedtogetuprightandtoddleforward afewsteps.
Theytookitonestepatatimeacrosstheroom.Terymettheminthe corridor.Heshookhishead.“Notimeforthis,”hegrumbled.Sherishriekedas Teryseizedher.Hewasbiggerthanthem,butnotbigenoughtoreallycarrythe baby.HedraggedherthroughtheengineroomwithJeribehindthem.Jeri whimperedastheypassedthegiantpistonsthatwhumpedupanddown.She toldherselftheycouldn’thurther,buttheyweresomuchbiggerthanher;ifone misseditsmarkbyafewcentimetersitmightspringoutofitsalignmenttocrush herlikeagrape.Withthatinmindshehurriedtocatchup.
AsTeryhadpromisedtherewasadoorattheendofthecorridor.Hehadn’t proppedthisoneopen,buttherewasachairnexttoit.“Yougottahelpme,”he said.
“Why?”
Herolledhiseyesandsaid,“Becauseit’stooheavy.”
Despitetheseriousnessofthesituation,Jericouldn’thelpbutsmile.“So youtooweaktodoityouself?”
“Shutup!”hepulledononeofhercurlsforemphasis.Shesquealed, whichpromptedSheritoshriekagain.“Damnbabies,”Terygrumbled.“Come on!”
Itwasatightsqueezeforthetwoofthemonthechair.Itwasevenmore difficulttoturnthewheelforthehatch.Theybothgroanedastheystrainedtheir littlemuscles.Jeri’sarmsburnedfromtheeffortandsweatplasteredher expensively-coiffedhairtoherface.Shefinallysighedandsatdown.“Ican’t doit.Tootired.”
“Getup,youstupidbaby,”Terysaid.
; “No.Thisstupid.Wegonnadieanyway.”Shecrossedherarmsoverthe
ruffledpinkfoldsofherdress.
“Fine.Idon’tneedyourhelpanyway.”Hebegantoworkatthewheelfor thehatchagain.JeriwatchedhimforamomentandthenlookeddownatSheri.
Thebabycriedsilentlywhileshesuckedonathumb.
Jeristaredatthebaby’sinnocentface.Iftheydidn’tgetthehatchopen thenbeforelongSheriwoulddisappearorturnintogooorwhateverhappened whentheybecametoolittletostillbealive.NomatterhowmuchSheri’s chipperprofessionalismhadgratedonherduringthismission,shedidn’tdeserve that.
Jeristoodupandsetbacktowork.Shethreweverythingshehadinto makingthatwheelturnjusttheslightestbit.Finally,withametallicscreechthat momentarilydeafenedher,thewheelturned.Fromthereitwaseasiertogetitto spin.TerymanagedthatbyhimselfwhileJerihelpedSheriup.
Whenthewheelturnedenough,thedoorcameopenonitsown.Insidewas acrampedtubewiththreeseats.Theseatsweresizedtofiteachoftheminturn, asifdesignedforthem.“Thisisweird,”Terysaid.
“What?”
“Theseseats.Andthiswholerocket.Whyisitarocketwhiletherestof theshipisrunbysteam?”
“Idunno.Let’sjustgo,”Jerisaid.Shehadnowishtogetanyyounger whiletheysathere.ShebuckledSheriintothesmallestoftheseatsandthen putherownstrapson.
“Fine.Let’sgothen.”
WiththatTerypulledalever.Thedoorwaythathadbeensohardtoget opensealedinseconds.Theescaperocketbegantovibrateastheenginescame tolife.Thevibrationcontinuedtogetstrongeruntilsomethingonthecontrols buzzed.“Blastoff!”Teryshoutedashepushedaredbutton.
Therocketstreakedaway,oratleastJerihopeditdid.Shehadnoidea wheretheywere;therewasnowindowintherocket.Shereachedouttotake Sheri’shandinhers.Assheclungtoit,shewasblindedbyanotherflash.No, notnow!
