Human Starpilots by F Stephan

Author:F Stephan [Stephan, F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781981063284
Published: 2018-05-08T22:00:00+00:00

41 Brian

“You are not going to believe what they did,” exploded Emily in the middle of the cafeteria. Brian, who had been playing the Old Game with Oddoril, turned quickly to her; her voice was not anxious, more unbelieving. He laid his cards, sighting at the interrupted card game which he had really come to like since his arrival, and focused on his friend.

“What happened?”

“At last, the Heavyweight has rendezvoused with the carrier Theoldcow.” The ship was making the run from Adheek to Fizhert to Illimer and Pelor and then back via Nelom and Alkath. “While the crew was busy transferring the different goods into the smaller transport, Tasha, Shanak, and Illoma managed to sneak outside and take a full picture of the three of them with the two ships behind.” She showed the picture all around. They gaped at the contrast between the impossible dark expanse behind them and the brightly lit ships, except for Sonter who seemed blasé.

“Go, play it,” said Oddoril.

“This is so cool,” began Tasha in the message. “We are allowed to connect, one at a time, to the command interface while the ship gets into hyper.”

“Yes, and we manage the shortest jumps and accelerate each time while in hyper. You feel all the space even more than in the simulator, and then suddenly it blacks out, and after a few seconds, you’re out back in real space with more speeds,” continued Shanak.

“I don’t know how it works, but the feeling is just fantastic,” finished Tasha, with a huge grin. “I get tired faster than she does, but I concur,” added Willfried from behind the camera.

Brian was delighted to see her so energetic. She hadn’t been herself for a very long time, but she now seemed much better. Then, Shanak had collected all the best spacemen stories he had found on board and had spent some time adding them to the message. Even Sonter laughed at the best of them.

Then, Li Bao sent a lengthy explanation on how the singularity, hosted at the back of the ship, generated an artificial gravity at the front of the ship that allowed them to work normally. Brian barely listening looked inquiringly at Emily.

“She’s more and more withdrawn. This is the longest message she’s sent us in a while. Maybe it’s positive. At least, I hope so.” She was concerned.

Sonter looked at Brian, purposefully catching his eye, and shook his head in a silent ‘no’. This worried Brian even more.

“Now, everyone, group together.” Dendrom was their master photographer, and they moved in for a group photo to send back to their spaceship-bound friends. Brian joined the others.

Later, in his room, he found out that Illoma had written to him, no video, a quick message he had read time and time again before carefully composing his answer. He had closed a lot of doors before they parted, and he tried, without pressure or demands, to reopen at least a minimal communication with her.

The days continued with their routine. Follow classes, work in maintenance operations, fly the shuttle or watch the others fly from the auxiliary control room.

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