The Object: Hard Science Fiction by Joshua T. Calvert

Author:Joshua T. Calvert [Calvert, Joshua T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

16

When Mel opened her eyes, she saw Tom sitting next to her, just pulling an oxygen mask from her mouth and nose and smiling at her. There was no joy in the smile, but relief.

Gently, he squeezed her shoulder. “Welcome back.”

Thank you, she tried to say, but only a caw came out, like an old crow.

“Here.” The German reached behind him and brought a drinking tube to her lips. “Suck slowly, though. I don’t want you to choke on me, after all. I’ve never lost a patient before, and I want to keep it that way.”

Mel drank, and the liquid felt like ambrosia in her throat. Then she nodded and Tom withdrew the bag.

“You’ve only been practicing for a year, however,” she croaked hoarsely.

“That’s why I have such a good success rate,” he joked, but there was a shadow of sorrow in his eyes.

Gabriella.

“How long was I gone?”

“Unconscious only five minutes, but still dazed for about fifteen minutes.”

“Gabriella...”

“There was nothing you could do.” Tom spoke emphatically, as if he wanted to hammer the words into her head and weld them there.

“I just wish⁠—”

“I know. The micrometeorite must have shot from the left ventricle through her cardiac septum, the AV node, the right ventricle, and the sinus node and exited behind her right clavicle. She appeared to have died extremely quickly because the conduction of excitation stopped immediately, and with it the heartbeat. A second must have gone through her life support unit on her back and her chest computer, after the first impact and her change in position, cutting off power to her boots. Then the impact into her helmet.”

The German was now speaking with extreme accentuation, like a forensic scientist dictating a report. She knew this behavior. Rationalization to prevent emotional reactions.

“My foot. I⁠—”

“No problem. The hole is smaller than two millimeters. I didn’t even have to stitch it. You’ll still have a little pain when you step on it, but it’s nothing we can’t handle with a moderate analgesic.”

“Did Hongbo save me?”

“Yes. You did most of it on your own, though. She said it was down to ten feet or less.”

“Where is she?” Mel asked earnestly.

“I’ve already let her know you were awake.”

“Can I get up?”

“Sure—if you shouldn’t, you’ll know.”

“I have to report to Houston,” flashed through her mind and from her lips. Her own rationalization to prevent emotional reactions.

“Zhigang has already taken care of that,” he reassured her, making a placating gesture.

They were silent for a while, then Tom began to speak again, a little quieter this time. “I was in astronaut training with her over ten years ago. She didn’t like red wine, but being Italian, she would never admit it. But, she secretly drank grape juice on our first date.” Tom smiled with an absent look.

“I didn’t know you guys⁠—”

“You knew.”

“Only that you were together the night before the launch,” she countered.

“It was complicated. She came from South Tyrol. Did you know that?”

Mel nodded silently and gave him an inviting look. She wanted to hear

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