Discovery by Paul Rix

Author:Paul Rix [Rix, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space exploration and colonization, colonization, Mars Colony, Mission to Mars, Space exploration science fiction
Publisher: P&J Books
Published: 2019-10-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 36

The chief was more worried about Georgia than he would have expected, and he wondered about his feelings. He had become closer to her over recent days. But he couldn't be sure if that was due to her being sick and having only weeks to live. He hoped that it wasn't simply pity he had for her. Yet, at the same time, he knew an emotional attachment of any kind would make it very difficult when she died. He had been trying to be there as a friend, as had most of the crew. So why was there a hint of envy whenever he saw her speaking with Mancuso or Redmayne?

His mind wandered back to two days earlier and the exhilaration of racing Georgia across the plain to visit the legacy supply ships. The sense of freedom after having spent so much time in Endeavour had been intoxicating but had that elation been because he was with Georgia?

Time to focus on the present, he told himself as Intrepid loomed up in front of them with still no sign of her. It would be difficult to spot her if she'd collapsed but if she could grab their attention with a wave, then they might find her. How much oxygen would she have left?

They were only a few hundred feet from Intrepid when Mancuso excitedly pointed his finger at one of the landing legs. "Look! There's a speeder. It must be Georgia's."

Jim saw it and then noticed that the cradle was next to the open cargo door. "She must still be up there," he said to the others as he tried to contact Georgia on the radio, once again receiving no reply.

He relayed the news back to Endeavour. There was some relief in Winter's voice this time. "At least we now know where she is and why she went there. There's obviously some problem with her radio or her suit. Get up there and bring her home."

As soon as the MEV rolled to a stop, Jim exited the airlock and ran to the access panel to bring down the cradle. "Nicola, you're with me to search the ship. Joe, can you have a look around just in case Georgia is close by."

As they slowly ascended in the cradle, Jim and Nicola had a bird's-eye view of the local scenery, but there was no sign of Georgia. "At least we're narrowing the search zone," said Nicola. "She has to be in here."

Jim's heart was racing in the expectation of discovering Georgia before it was too late. "We need to work fast," he said. "We don't know what state she's in." Neither of them voiced the thought she may already be dead. That was not an option they wanted to contemplate.

On reaching the hold, they made a quick inspection before climbing the ladder to the next level. "She's definitely here. There's her flashlight," Jim pointed to a spot about six feet from the ladder. He picked it up and shone it around the first level before walking around the whole of the area searching for any other clues.

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