Jupiter by Ben Bova

Author:Ben Bova [Bova, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780812579413
Google: Lo6zSDF8eFgC
Amazon: 0812579410
Goodreads: 267334
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2000-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30 - Breakdown

Bone weary from the long day's simulator runs, Grant picked up his dinner in the conference room, stopped by the cafeteria for a bowl of fruits for Sheena, then trudged alone down to the aquarium with two sets of neural nets stuffed into his trouser pockets.

He passed the rows of fish tanks, their underwater lights glimmering against the solid bulkhead on his left. The dolphins were swimming lazily in their big tank, sleek and silent. Grant stopped for a moment at the tank that held the simulator. It was empty now. Technicians would start dismantling the hardware after the ship actually left on its mission. Grant wondered if they would store it in anticipation of future missions. Most likely so, he guessed.

He felt slightly uneasy that Sheena was not out in the corridor to meet him. Usually she was prowling along the fish tanks, waiting for him with the eagerness of a two-year-old child. On the other hand, it gave him the opportunity to power up the monitoring console in the corridor outside her pen. Grant saw that it was working properly and receiving a steady flat signal from the net in his left pocket. The one in his right was deactivated, a dummy whose only purpose was to deceive Sheena into thinking that he was wearing the same 'hat' that she was.

When he came to Sheena's pen he saw that the gorilla was sitting on her haunches, bent over a large wooden jigsaw puzzle. She had filled in eight of the ten big pieces.

She looked up as Grant stepped in.

'Food!' she said in her rasping voice, and scrambled up onto all fours. Grant knew she couldn't smile, but he thought she was glad to see him — and the bowl he had brought for her.

'Fruit,' he said, placing the tray on the floor.

'Fruit,' echoed Sheena. 'And Grant food.'

He nodded. 'I've got a soyburger and salad and ice cream for dessert.'

Sheena picked up the bowl of fruit, but stared hard at the ice cream. Then she looked up at Grant. 'Grant ice cream?'

'Would you like some ice cream, Sheena?'

'Yes,' came the immediate answer.

'Okay.' Grant handed the small dish to her. Tucking the fruit bowl under one arm, Sheena grabbed for the ice cream with her free hand.

Grant laughed at her unabashed greed. 'Save some ice cream for me.'

'Yes,' Sheena replied. But within less than a minute the ice cream was gone, except for a few smears around her muzzle. Then she started in on the fruit.

Grant wolfed down his burger, surprised at how hungry he suddenly felt. He offered Sheena a few leaves of his salad, but she sniffed at the dressing and refused them.

Once the fruit was gone Sheena asked, 'Grant bring hat?'

He pulled the neural nets from his pockets. 'Here they are, Sheena. One for you and one for me.'

She leaned toward him and allowed him to place the net over her head and tie it under her chin. Then he did the same for his own.

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