The Movement of Mountains by Blumlein Michael

Author:Blumlein, Michael [Blumlein, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction.Sci-Fi
ISBN: 9780312910341
Amazon: 0312910347
Barnesnoble: 0312910347
Goodreads: 6923329
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2017-03-22T16:00:00+00:00

15. Jessica’s Story

Soon turned out to be several weeks and might have been longer had I not taken the initiative. In the past I had always relied on Jessica to do so, and when she did not, I assumed that important matters regarding her work had intervened. I let the matter lie, but after several weeks became curious. At first I wondered if she were hiding something, then later, if she felt merely that I was uninterested. I decided to act and made arrangements with Ms. Higgins to close the clinic for half a day. I went to the main kitchen, where Oona was kind enough to provide me with a provision of goods, and I carried these to my quarters. Then I called Jessica.

“We’re having a picnic,” I told her.

“We are?”

“In my apartment. You’re the guest of honor.”

“I’m flattered. Who else will be there?”

“No one. Just me.”

“That’s sweet, Jules. But I have work to do. Don’t you?”

“I canceled clinic. You can take some time, too. You could use a break.”

She smiled. “You don’t have to twist my arm. What’s the occasion?”

“We could use some time together. And I want to hear your story.”

“Story?”

“The one that you’ve been trying to tell me for months. About Guysin.”

“Oh, that. I’d forgotten.” She rubbed her forehead. “My mind seems so full of other things these days.”

“You need to relax.”

“Noisy birds, Jules. Do you ever hear them?”

“Come over. I’m just about to start cooking.”

“I’m on my way.”

The screen went blank, and I went to prepare the food. After a while Jessica came. She wore a light green jumpsuit, and I could not take my eyes off her.

“You’re ravishing,” I said, embracing her swiftly.

“Am I?”

“But still too thin. You must eat.”

“Food is the farthest thing from my mind.”

“No,” I said. “It mustn’t be.”

She laughed and allowed me to lead her to the table. I began to feed her, but after several spoonfuls she pushed my hand away.

“Enough,” she sputtered.

“You must eat the rest.”

“I will, Jules. Give me time.”

I gave her a stern look, then turned to my plate. I guided a buttered broccoli stem to my mouth, and while I sucked on it found myself musing on the past.

“Do you know that this is the first peaceful meal we’ve shared, just the two of us, since Earth?”

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“It has. I remember the last one before you left. It was after your friend died.”

“Mingo,” she said softly.

“You liked him, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. He was all right.”

“I wonder if they ever found out what killed him.”

She looked up. “You told me it was Barea disease.”

“It was. But they found some virus too. The doctor with whom I spoke thought that perhaps the two were connected.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter much, does it? Not to Mingo.”

“No. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“What’s gone is gone.” She sighed.

I reached across the table and took her hand. “I love you, Jessica.”

She squeezed me and smiled.

“Now eat your food, will you? Before I have to eat it all myself.

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