The Klaatu Terminus by Pete Hautman

Author:Pete Hautman [Hautman, Pete]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7025-2
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2014-04-08T16:00:00+00:00

“I can walk, you know,” Kosh said as Severs guided his wheelchair along the hospital hallway.

“There are rules.”

“So you keep reminding me. It’s pretty cool, this chair having only one wheel. It would be even better if it had no wheels, like a hover chair. This is the future, right? Don’t you have flying cars?”

“Flying cars would lead to accidents. The use of maglev transport within our hospitals has been explored, but it proved impractical. Even in my time, a century from now, we will rely on wheel-based patient transport.”

“I thought the future would be cooler,” Kosh said.

Over the past two weeks, Severs and Kosh had spent several hours talking. Severs had told Kosh about the coming Lah Sept destruction of Mayo, and of her time with the Yars in Romelas after the overthrow of the priests. Kosh had told her about his life, and about Tucker, and Emma, and about how he had been shot. Kosh liked Severs. They had something in common — both of them were castaways in time. Severs was living seventy-odd years before her birth, while Kosh was stuck three centuries in the future.

“Your recovery is going well,” Severs said as she wheeled Kosh into his room. “The damage to your heart and lungs is nearly healed, and your strength is at one hundred seven percent of optimum. Are you still experiencing pain?”

“I feel great,” Kosh said. He hopped off the chair, ignoring the sharp twinge from his hip and the grating sensation from his chest.

Severs regarded him doubtfully. “The more time you give your body to repair itself, the less likely you are to reinjure yourself. Your journey through the portals may be arduous.”

Kosh opened and closed his fists. “I’m ready.”

“You cannot know that, because you cannot know where the portal will take you.”

“Yeah, well I’m ready to give it a whirl. Not that I haven’t enjoyed your company.”

Severs smiled. “It has been a pleasure to know you as well.”

“What about you? Do you ever think about leaving here?”

Severs shook her head. “It is a peculiar thing to be here, helping to build and maintain this society all the while knowing that it is likely to come to a bloody end. Still, day to day, the work is gratifying. Who knows? Perhaps something I do will change the dark future I remember.”

“Thinking about that kind of stuff makes my head hurt,” Kosh said. “I figure I just do what I have to do, and what has to happen happens.”

“That is as valid an approach as any,” Severs said.

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