Pulse by C. Scott Frank

Author:C. Scott Frank [Frank, C. Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-23T22:00:00+00:00

Revelation

Warm sunlight crept through the gaps in the leaves. An old oak tree swayed in the wind, towering far above Holden. It was almost involuntary: a smile parted his face as he grabbed the chains of the old tire swing.

His dad’s baritone laugh boomed as he pushed the swing. Holden had been looking forward to this all day. His favorite part of each day was when his dad came home to play with him. He begged his dad to push harder, the thrill of the wind racing past his ears and the ground disappearing below made his heart leap.

In the distance, a ship rocketed from the nearby spaceport, lancing through the sky toward space. Holden had never been up there. He knew his father had. Someday he would, too. As his dad pushed him, he shouted, “Higher! Higher!”

He flew upward, imagining he was on his own rocket ship bound for the stars. Giggles bubbled from his mouth as he felt the thrill in his gut. He closed his eyes against the wind, the atmosphere parted before him, inviting his ship into the heavens. Just when he wondered if he might actually touch the stars, the swing fell backward toward the Earth, continuing its arcing trajectory.

It was the perfect day.

As the swing twisted and arced through the air, his father’s laughter began to change. It became more staccato and rough, almost a buzzing tone.

Holden whirled toward his dad, confused. Every time he opened his mouth, the bleating tone came out. Holden tried to ask his dad what was wrong, but found his voice gone. He leaped from the swing into his dad’s open arms.

Holden woke with a start. Heart racing, he was fairly sure he’d almost fallen from his bunk.

As he lay in his bed trying to ignore his datapad’s alarm, he clenched his eyes and tried to remember his dad. He couldn’t picture his face. Just a hazy memory. Dark eyes. Sandy hair. Nothing more than faded dreams.

The intercom chimed.

“Holden, briefing in half an hour. Conference room. Thanks.”

The announcement from Dr. Kubitz was curt. Holden wondered what he’d missed. He groaned as he stretched, bones sore from the light gravity. Reluctantly, he stood and began to get ready for the day.

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