To The Stars (The Harry Irons Trilogy) (19 page)

"Don't patronize me!"

She calmly looked at the wild-eyed wirehead. "Do as I say or I'll have you forcibly removed from the bridge."

Blane looked at her for a long time. His hands shook and his mouth twitched. Finally, without a word, he left the bridge.

"That's one shook up white boy," commented Nadine after Blane was gone.

"Yes, well, he'd better get a grip," said Doris. "Hold down the fort. I'm going to talk to the doctor."

"All right, but don't forget my shift is over in half an hour."

"I haven't forgotten," Doris said over her shoulder as she made her way out. She passed Bonner in one of the narrow passageways and asked how the work on the shuttle was going.

The large man shook his head. "It doesn't look good. One of the hydraulic lines developed a crack. I can patch that okay, but the stress on the guidance system while the fluid was low... well, it caused some microcracks in the relief tubing. There's no way to fix that until we get back to the Earth station."

"You mean we can't use the shuttle again?"

Bonner looked thoughtful. "Now I'm not saying that. But I am saying that if we do, we're going to have to be very careful. If I had to make a decision, I'd advise against taking it out again."

"Well, do your best."

"What about Kathleen?"

"What about her?"

"Well, what if we find her?"

Doris leveled her gaze at the engineer. "Now Bill, what do you think the chances are of that occurring?"

Bonner looked uncomfortable. "I don't know." The big man shrugged. "But if there's a chance, shouldn't we try?"

Doris patted him on the arm. "We'll do everything we can, Bill, we've got to remain focused on the mission. Right?"

"I guess so." Bonner felt uncomfortable and changed the subject. "Who's on the bridge? Any more radio signals?"

"Nadine's up there now. I sent Blane to get some rest; he got a little excited about Kathleen. And no more radio signals. I've got to go. I'm glad we had this little talk. See you later."

Parker didn't see Doris enter the lab. He played with his specimens like a kid with new toys.

"Find anything interesting?"

The doctor looked up. "Yes," he said, "I did. Would you like to see?"

"Sure." Doris stood beside the doctor as he displayed his prizes. She pointed at a large beetle. "What's that?"

"That's an insect I picked up at the spot where Kathleen and I ran into the trouble. Beautiful specimen, huh? Look. It could have evolved on Earth." He set the insect down and picked up what looked like a salamander. "The same for this. It's really quite remarkable."

"Why?"

"What do you think the chances are that a species would evolve here in the same way a species would on Earth?"

Doris shrugged.

Parker continued. "Not much chance at all. I mean, it's possible. But not very likely. The really odd thing is that the geological survey indicates a much earlier eco-culture."

"What?"

"These plants and animals," Parker motioned toward his specimens. "They're similar to Earth organisms, but they don't fit with the geological time. The geological activity is similar to a much earlier period. The life I've seen, plants and animals, all appear to be too advanced. At least, in comparison to the age of the planet."

"How can that be?"

The doctor shrugged. "That's a good question."

"I'd like you to take a look at Blane when you get a chance."

"Oh? What's the problem?"

"He's upset about Kathleen."

"We're all upset about Kathleen. It was unfortunate."

"Yes, but it's worse with Blane. They were friends, they shared thoughts through implants. Blane claims he needs the stimulation."

"Right," Parker said matter-of-factly, "he's a wirehead. He's addicted to the extra neural stimulation. The malady was officially recognized two years ago: the Horewitz syndrome."

"Is he going to be all right?"

Parker held up a snail and looked at it. "Beautiful, eh? Blane? Oh, I would think that a person as dependent as he is on stimulation for as long as he has been, I would say that person would have a very rough go of it."

"Can you do anything for him?"

"Sure. No problem. I'll medicate him. He won't be of much use, but he won't go crazy on us."

*

Harry couldn't sleep, so he finally quit trying. For a time, he sat at his small desk and wrote letters to his family and friends. If he made it back intact, he'd carry the letters with him. Rather than use a keyboard, he preferred to write his personal thoughts in long hand. He used a corporation pen with the Braithwaite logo emblazoned on the side. It was nice to look at, but it didn't work very well. Before he could finish the second letter, the pen went dry.

Harry shook it and tried again. No luck. He rose and poked his head out the compartment door. No one was around. The other compartments were shut. No, that wasn't completely the case. Down the hall, Harry saw that Fagen's door was ajar. He pushed himself into the corridor and worked his way to the open hatch.

He tapped on the durasteel door. There was no answer. Harry pushed and the door swung open. The compartment was empty and Fagen's things were secured but out in the open. Clothes were hastily stuffed in mesh bags attached to the bulkhead, the bunk was unmade, and a crack at the desk drawer showed that it too was open.

Moving quickly, Harry floated into the cabin and moved to the small desk. He pulled open the drawer and, as if it knew, a pen floated out. Harry plucked it from the air and glanced at the contents of the drawer. A map, lined with plastic, drew his attention. It was a map of Mia Culpa. They certainly have been on the job, Harry thought, referring to Doris and Nadine.

But something was wrong. He looked at the legend. It was dated five years prior. How could that be? Pondering the question, Harry left Fagen's compartment and shut the door behind.

Parker appeared at the opposite end of the passageway. He said nothing to Harry and proceeded to Blane's room. Not bothering to knock, he pushed opened the hatch and pulled himself inside.

Harry went to the open doorway. Blane was in his bunk with wires running out of his head to his portable computer. His eyes were glazed but he was able to talk.

Doing his best to adopt a bedside manner, the doctor asked Blane how he was doing. Harry noticed that Blane was sweating.

"I'm doing fine, but I don't like being locked out of the ship's computers."

"It's for your own good. You need rest, Blane. I'm a doctor. Remember?"

"Then you know what I really need."

"Kathleen's gone, Blane. You're going to have to get by on your own."

"That's why I need the ship's computers."

Parker shook his head. "No, you need rest." He skillfully slipped a syringe from his pocket and slid the needle into Blane's arm. Blane didn't struggle.

"I can feel it already. It's not unpleasant."

Parker smiled. "I thought you might like it. Ever used drugs before?"

"Sure, but I prefer to plug in. I must admit, this is not too bad. I'd still like to have more data, but my anxiety is definitely leveling out."

"Good," Parker said, "I've got to get back to the lab now." The doctor left, pushing past Harry without speaking. Blane spotted Harry.

"Harry, come in, will you?"

"Hello, Bart." Harry floated into the cabin. "What's the matter?"

"Ah yes, my affliction." The wirehead waved a hand in the air. "Kathleen's gone, you see."

Harry took a handhold on the bulkhead. "Tell me what was between you two."

"You still don't get it, do you?"

"I guess not. Why don't you enlighten me?"

"Why not? There was nothing sexual between Kathleen and me, if that's what you're worried about. I know she told you about the implants. What do I care? Here's the story in a nutshell: I've been plugged in for so long that my brain requires spontaneous external stimulation. Computers still can't emulate spontaneous human thought, and that's what Kathleen did for me. She suggested things, made comments, however inane. It was stimulating. It's the human counterpart to being in cyberspace. Anyway, you have to understand, I've been strung out for years. The thing was, Kathleen and I started out as a lab experiment. As you see, she's become more than a friend to me, but not in a sexual way. I don't get my kicks like that."

"So you're having... withdrawal symptoms?"

"Along with a dose of depression, Harry. Like I said, she was my friend. She liked you Harry. She took to you right away."

"Yeah, well..." Harry looked away.

"What did the surface look like?" Blane asked, changing the subject.

Harry told him. He described the trees, how large they were, and he told Blane about the mountains. Then Harry commented on how lucky they were to have found such a place.

"I don't know how much luck had to do with it."

"What do you mean?"

"You weren't on the bridge, but you know we had trouble entering hyperspace, trouble with the computer routine?"

Harry nodded.

"There were some guidance parameters Fagen told me to change. There wasn't time to question it. I just replaced the numbers with those he gave me."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing's wrong with it. It's exactly right. It brought us here. One of these moons is suitable for terra-forming. The planet looks good for colonization. Tons of minerals. This is big time stuff for the corporation. The thing is, Fagen gave me those numbers. Where did he get them?"

"Pre-selected Corporation coordinates, I guess."

Blane replaced one of his disks and started a new program. "Yes, that's the one," he murmured.

"Nope," he continued, "they weren't pre-selected. There's only one coordinate for each trip. Only one destination. There's never been a need for a backup. Hence, there's no such thing. Fagen just dreamed up the new coordinates."

Harry thought about the map he'd seen in Fagen's cabin, but he didn't say anything to Blane about it. Blane yawned and laughed. A little hysterically, Harry thought.

"I'm getting sleepy," he said and laughed again. "I can't remember the last time I slept."

"Maybe it would make you feel better."

"Yeah, maybe so." Blane closed his eyes.

Harry turned to leave but Blane's hand shot out and gripped him by the arm. "If I go to sleep, don't let them unplug me, Harry. I need it. Don't let them unplug me. Okay?"

"Sure," Harry said. He let himself out and went back to his room where he thought about what Blane had said. And the map in Fagen's cabin. Finally, he fell into a restless sleep. Two hours later, a call from the bridge woke him. Bleary, Harry pressed the intercom switch.

"Yeah, what is it?"

Fagen's voice came over the intercom. "Uh, Harry, would you come to the bridge?"

"What is it?"

The response was slow in coming. "Looks like we've got a new radio signal."

"From the surface?" Harry asked, hoping that somehow Kathleen was trying to communicate with the Magellan.

"No, no, not from the surface. From an orbital location. Looks like we might be ready to use your language skills."

Harry was shocked into full alertness. "I'll be right there." He flicked off the intercom and quickly dressed, wondering if they had finally found an alien intelligence.

Chapter 17

Kathleen and her two captors traveled for another full day. She couldn't understand a thing they said, but she noticed that they had begun to treat her better. Although they still kept her hands tied, they allowed her to walk by herself. It was much easier for all. Once, the young one even offered her some food. Afraid of poisoning, she turned it down.

Along the way, she saw plants and animals of all shapes and sizes. Most had Earth counterparts, although a few were truly bizarre. In particular, there were vines that moved away when approached. By a streambed, Kathleen caught sight of a creature that burrowed into the mud, leaving only its tail above ground. The tail looked like a small green plant. It waved in the breeze, beckoning to insects and small game. When something approached to nibble at its bogus leaves, the creature would spring its trap and devour its game in seconds.

They moved along and left the strange animal behind.

Kathleen kept expecting to hear the sound of the returning shuttle, or the chopping sound of the bladed airjeep, but she was disappointed. They traveled most of the day and heard nothing but the natural sounds of the forest. They'll come looking for me, Kathleen thought, and they'll find me. It could be any time now. She kept looking skyward, expecting to see the shuttle gliding in, but nothing appeared.

Kretin and Arai saw her looking skyward and craned their heads upward in kind, to see for themselves. But there was nothing. Kretin supposed that the alien creature looked for help from its god.