In the Blink of an Eye by Mark Dutkiewicz

Author:Mark Dutkiewicz [Dutkiewicz, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20:

NEXT STEPS

Blowing out a grey cloud Jeff sighed, “You’re a lifesaver Emerson.” Leaning his head back he allowed his eyes to drift admiring the heavens. “Would you look at that sky. A view like that can almost make you forget about the terrible things we do for a living.” The last sliver of sunlight was just now sinking below the horizon and night, or what passed for it anyway, was quickly encroaching. True dark never seemed to veil Euphrates as the glow of the nearby gas giant draped the moon in a haunting twilight. Gliese 876 C dominated the night sky and looked far less foreboding from the surface than it did in orbit. Occasional streaks flickered overhead, remnants of the pitched battle that had played out earlier. In a way it was a fitting testament to the souls who lost their lives today. The briefest flash of life before fading away, and near insignificant against the celestial backdrop.

“Almost feels like home,” Emerson said joining him. “Lose that big ass planet and I’d say we were on an overnight drill. This place reminds me of the Jeshimon Waste.”

“Where’s that?” Jeff asked unfamiliar with the name.

“Eden Sir. About one-hundred klicks north of Paradise. Spent a lot of time there as a kid. My dad was a geologist. He’d drag me out there every chance he got. Mom wasn’t a fan, always worried I’d get hurt when he’d take me spelunking. Looking for gem stones or studying the fossil layers.”

“You live there your whole life?”

Emerson laughed. “Outside my three years in the corps.” The private took a drag of his cigarette blowing a pair of streams from his nostrils. “What about you Sir, if you don’t mind my asking? Earth? Prokuon?”

“Earth,” Jeff said thinking of home himself now.

“Thought you sounded like an Earther. You’ve got that old world way of talking same as the gunny.”

Jeff smiled saying, “I believe Sergeant Pierce would take offense at that and claim I’m a yankee.”

“I didn’t mean it that way Sir. Can’t really explain it either. The gunny has that thick drawl true. But there’s something similar to your cadence. It’s more musical or…I really can’t say. Just something you grow up learning to pick out.”

“Like a sommelier finding the subtle differences in a fine wine,” Jeff analogized.

Before the two men, small rodent like creatures began to emerge from holes or under rocks. Scurrying about the cracked surface, similar to their earthly counterparts, they began their habitual nocturnal rituals. The wind had died to a wane breeze and the moon itself seemed to settle down for a long slumber. Stifling a yawn Jeff felt ready for a good long rest himself.

“I won’t keep you up Lieutenant Commander,” Emerson said snuffing out his cigarette and standing. “Should probably be getting off to relieve Andrews anyway.”

“What’s the watch rotation?”

“For you it’s the back of your eyelids Sir.”

“Come on Emerson. Just because I’m a pilot doesn’t mean I don’t know my way around a rifle.”

Emerson laughed. “You can talk to the gunny.

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