Under Strange Suns by Ken Lizzi

Author:Ken Lizzi
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Aliens, Alien Invasion, interstellar, Space Fleet, Adventure, starship, Military, First Contact
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Published: 2015-08-23T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

AIDAN JERKED HIS HEAD UP FROM his hands and stared at the apparition standing below.

Human, no question of that. Thin and bearded, though the beard showed evidence of grooming and wasn’t simply the product of time and neglect. The man was smiling, showing strong, yellowed teeth, his eyes large in a pinched face. He carried a tall walking stick and was dressed in what looked to Aidan like the remains of uniform coveralls, threadbare, but clean and bearing the signs of frequent and expert patching. The straps of a backpack dug into the fabric at his shoulders.

Aidan lifted himself over the tented fold in the metal that had held him in place on the sloping surface of the shuttlecraft’s nose. He let himself slide, dropping the half-dozen feet to the ground.

The two men stared at each other across the few yards that separated them. Then the gaunt stranger spread wide his arms and threw himself toward Aidan.

Aidan flinched before he realized he wasn’t under attack and braced himself as the man plowed into him and wrapped him in a bear hug.

“Hello. Hello. Hello, hello, welcome, hello,” the man said, his voice muffled as his face was pressed tightly against Aidan’s chest.

“And hello to you too,” Aidan said, suppressing his desire to push the man away and step back.

As if he’d read Aidan’s mind, the man did release his surprisingly strong grip and move back a pace. “I’m Brennan Yuschenkov. Doctor Brennan Yuschenkov, that is. Perhaps you’ve heard of me? Welcome to Ghark. God, it is good to hear someone speaking English. Someone other than me, that is, not that I make a habit of speaking English, since who else here would understand it other than me, and I don’t want to wander around talking to myself as if I’d gone batshit crazy. Is that expression still common currency, ‘batshit crazy?’ I do realize I’m talking too much–logorrhea is the word, I think–but I’ve pulled the cork and I don’t think I can stop until it all gets out. Okay. There. I think that did it.”

“I suppose it’s a bit late for ‘Doctor Yuschenkov, I presume,’” Aidan said.

“If your name is Stanley, I’ll let it slide,” said Yuschenkov.

“Sadly, no. I’m Aidan Carson. I am–or I was–leading this expedition to locate and rescue you.”

“Screwed the pooch on that one, didn’t you? Wow. Who is going to come rescue you?”

Aidan’s face prickled, reddening with a combination of irritation and shame. He turned and began walking back the way he’d come. He had no idea where he was going or why, but he wanted to put some distance between himself and the source of his aggravation. What would Brooklynn think if the first thing he did after traveling forty light-years to rescue her uncle was to punch the old man senseless?

“Oh, hey, Mr. Carson. I’m sorry. My manners were never exactly Emily Post to begin with, if that means anything to you, and I’m out of practice talking to another human being. I apologize.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.