Phillip Mann by The Disestablishment of Paradise

Author:The Disestablishment of Paradise
Format: epub
Published: 2013-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

24

A Closer Ecounter

Hera did not sleep well that night.

Though she had tried many times, she had failed to make contact with the platform above. She had always known in the back of her mind that the shuttle platform was up there, a last line of retreat, available if needed, though she was determined not to use it. Now it could not be contacted at all, and that made her feel very isolated. Her unease was compounded by a growing feeling that her presence on Paradise had become more marginal. She was still important, still had a part to play, but events seemed to be moving on past her.

She lay still and thought of Mack. Perhaps he was asleep by now, or still out there by the Dendron, trying to work out the quickest way to save the two young trees. Or perhaps he had reached his conclusion and was now lying back and staring at the stars, gathering his strength for the morrow, or snoring like an ox. Hera could not hide from the fact that Mack now seemed in some ways more at home here on Paradise than she. The Michelangelos which frightened her didn't seem to bother him. And what was more, he seemed better able to grasp the realities of their situation, and that of the Dendron, than she. That intuition of his carried him deep, to the very heart of things. Was she jealous? I think she was, a bit.

Finally, at four o'clock, she slipped from her bed and went up to the control cabin and instructed Alan to try again to contact the shuttle platform. One last try! She heard the tracking signal, the calibration, and then the call sign. Several minutes passed, and then - just as she was about to close down - the call signal was answered. Alan locked on immediately, a link was made and Hera found herself looking at the tired face of a young tri-vid operator.

Hera identified herself and asked to be put through to Captain Abhuradin as quickly as possible. The operator hesitated. Obviously Hera's name meant nothing to her and she was under strict orders. 'Captain Abhuradin will be resting. Shall I log the call for delayed transmission?'

'Check the coordinates I'm calling from first, sunshine, and then put me through.'

Hera saw the operator's surprise, quickly followed by the long-suffering look the young reserve for those seniors who insist on causing trouble. Hera was pleased to see that look change to one of near disbelief when the coordinate check was complete. 'It says here you are calling from the surface of Paradise. That's not—'

'So tell me about it. Now put me through.' Hera saw her nod and then establish the cross links. 'Sorry for the delay, Captain Melhuish, but all the communications have been crazy of late. Strange things have been happening. You are through now.'

Inez Abhuradin's face appeared, but Hera hardly recognized her. The face was puffy with tiredness and her fine features were partly hidden behind a large dressing.

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