The Afterlife of Alice Watkins 1

by Matilda Scotney

  “Fortunately, that isn’t my problem.”

  “You’re a hard man, Ryan. I’ll keep in touch. Hardy out.”

  The screen darkened and as Ryan leaned over to flick off the registry, his face broke into a huge grin.

  “Holy shit!” he exclaimed, his deep blue eyes widening with admiration. “Grossmith did it!”

  “Alexis Langley? I don’t believe it.” Patrick’s handsome face was incredulous in the light of these revelations. Principal Ryan had summoned his first and second officers to appraise them of their prospective cargo.

  The records took Ryan many hours to read, a few of the references he remembered from school, but he’d found the more recent information, fascinating. It was easy to predict how his two most senior officers would respond.

  “The records are available to read on your personal files,” he informed them. “It seems Grossmith’s theory she would wake spontaneously proved sound.”

  Hennessey was in disbelief. “I remember Grossmith’s paper on her, from university. His dedication and certainty she would wake on her own, without help, was impressive.”

  “I remember reading it,” Patrick added, trying to get his head around the fact that the evening before, he had escorted a 400-year-old woman to dinner. “Ryan, that paper could only have been written a few years before all this happened. Why did they keep the details of her relocation to Saturn station so quiet?”

  “Read the file for details, Patrick,” Ryan said, “but to summarise, the body showed signs of change. Where there had been only the unusual and consistent brain activity, there was hair and nail growth. Grossmith was sure the sarcophagus acted like a shell, a chicken’s egg, if you recall his analogy, and in time, would open, leaving the body susceptible to pathogens that hadn’t existed in her time. In the belief her awakening was imminent, he wanted to ensure a sterile environment. They have that on the station.”

  “I bet Principal Katya had a hand in agreeing to that move,” Patrick said.

  Hennessey nodded, “I bet she did, but what if Dr Langley had been subjected to Moses’ Pathogens? Her internal organs would never have regrown, and those four hundred years would have been for nothing. That would have been such a loss. What was it that deteriorated? Heart? I can’t remember.”

  “It’s on file, Hennessey,” Principal Ryan told him. “You can learn all you need about the ten years since she woke.”

  “I feel as if I’m prying, Ryan. She’s walking and talking and breathing and we’re all delving into her personal files. It doesn’t seem right.”

  “I can’t believe we were working out how old she was and came up with 37,” Patrick laughed at the irony. “We were out by about four hundred years, I thought she looked good even for 37.”

  But Principal Ryan wasn’t in the mood for speculation. If they wanted answers, they would have to read up on her themselves.

  “Dr Langley is transferring to the Significator. She’ll have clearance for guest deck and amenities, but she is not to be left alone. A third-year Educator has been assigned as her companion, but Hardy suggested I give Dr Langley access to the officer’s entertainment decks. I’m amenable to that, provided Patrick is with her at all times.”

  But Patrick was lost in thought. He gave Ryan a blank look.

  “Is that a problem, Patrick?”

  “No, Ryan, it’s fine. I’m sorry, but it’s an unusual situation. I assume I can’t ask questions of her?”

  “She has amnesia, and she gets confused, so none of us can ask questions. You need only keep her amused and away from the general crew. She ceases to be our problem once we get to space dock. I’ll inform this Educator of the plan. For now, Dr Langley’s circumstances are classified.”

  Once outside the briefing room, the two men looked at each other, still in wonder at what they had just heard.

  Hennessey spoke first.

  “Hardy said ‘Dr Langley’ before the dinner, not for one second did I put two and two together.”

  “Why would you?” Patrick was also trying to make sense of it. “I’d only ever heard her referred to as the Sleeping Beauty Phenomenon, I must have been at university before I even knew she had a name and I didn’t give it much thought.”

  “How come Ryan’s so blasé about her? This is science at its most impressive, and in many ways, as remarkable as the Knowledge given to us by the A’khet.”

  Patrick had known Ryan since childhood and felt he had some authority to speak on the man. “He plays his cards close to his chest, Hennessey, and he is a scientist. I bet he stayed up all night reading about her. He’s had that same attitude since we were kids!”

  “If you say so, but this isn’t an elaborate hoax is it, Patrick?” a tiny note of suspicion creeping into Hennessey’s voice.

  Patrick had to grin at that. “With Ryan involved? Not likely. He’s incapable of subterfuge.”

  Principal Ryan linked through to Saturn Station and was redirected to the gymnasium. The steward stressed to Educator Sebel it would be inadvisable to suggest to Principal Ryan she would call him back after she had finished and urged her to take the call in all haste. She arrived at the registry red-faced and sweating with a towel over her shoulders.

  After the usual protocols of greeting, he came to the point, offering no apology for disturbing her workout or her leisure.

  “You are due on the Principality ship Significator the day after tomorrow. I presume you are aware?”

  Amelia nodded. “Yes, Principal Ryan.”

  “You are cleared for blue and yellow zones only, Educator Sebel, but you also have restricted access to the guest deck, namely Dr Langley’s stateroom, the observation deck and the dining facilities. Dr Langley is not permitted outside the guest deck except in the company of a senior officer. If you have concerns or queries, address them to Statesman Patrick.”

  “Yes, Principal Ryan, I will.”

  “Good day, Educator Sebel. Ryan out.”

  Amelia pulled a face at the console as his image faded.

  “Arrogant bastard,” she said out loud and with the image of Principal Ryan still in her head, she returned to her punchbag and bashed the hell out of it.

  During lunch, Dr Grossmith and Principal Hardy undertook the sad task of informing Alice that she was leaving for Earth on the Significator. She tried to stay calm but the emotion of finally knowing got the better of her and she broke down, right there in the mess hall, with both men trying to comfort her and drawing attention from a steward who brought fibrelettes to mop up her tears.

  “I’ll have no-one,” she wailed.

  Principal Hardy tried to soothe her. “You’ll have Educator Sebel. And you met Statesman Patrick, you said he was nice.”

  “And Statesman Hennessey and Principal Ryan,” Dr Grossmith added, even though he realised, as soon as the words left his lips, it probably wasn’t terribly reassuring. Hardy’s sudden glance suggested he didn’t think so either.

  “You’ll stay with Principal Katya at the Tabernacle,” Principal Hardy allowed her to cry into his shirt. “She’s kept a close eye on the events of the last 40 years. She’s a lovely person, Alice and so excited to meet you at last.”

  Dr Grossmith agreed. “Principal Katya and I are old friends. She is much loved, and you and she will get along well. You can rely on her to help you with your integration back into Earth’s society. There’s nothing to fear, Alice, I promise you.”

  “And you can contact us here on the station whenever you want,” Principal Hardy assured her. “You will have your own registry and complete privacy at the Tabernacle.”

  Alice stopped crying. What purpose did it serve, anyway? She was going even though Saturn Station had become her home, with Principal Hardy and Dr Grossmith and Kelly. Now, she was being told that in less than 48 hours, she had to leave. Outside the viewport, the Significator waited and Alice shivered. She had to go on that enormous ship. Even the thought of seeing Statesman Patrick again didn’t diminish her sense of loss.

&nb
sp; Chapter Eighteen

  “You have exceeded our expectations, Dr Langley,” Dr Clere stated his findings, his face as sour as his manner was brisk, before turning back to his case of instruments. He’d resented Hardy’s absurd insistence she need not return to the infirmary for her review, because of her current emotional fragility. Whoever heard of house calls on a space station? What utter nonsense. But as ordered, he attended her quarters to examine her one final time before she left, arrogant and firm in his belief the time would come when Principal Katya, as World Principal would approve his research over Hardy’s shortsightedness. Then all this Alice Watkins nonsense can be forgotten, but when Kelly admitted him to Alice’s room, he’d been surprised to see Dr Grossmith also present. He bowed stiffly, he would not make waves, at least for now.

  Alice heard the anger in his voice and saw his mouth twitching, something had upset him. Even her exceeding his expectations didn’t seem to make him any happier.

  “As of this moment, Dr Langley, I am no longer involved in your care,” Dr Clere continued. “Dr Grossmith will carry out any further examinations, either remotely, or when he returns to Earth in the next few months.”

  Dr Grossmith returning to Earth soon? Alice peered round Dr Clere to give Dr Grossmith an approving grin. Clere saw it and sneered. What a waste of time, he thought to himself, nurturing her delusions.

  “However,” Dr Clere turned his stern gaze to Dr Grossmith, “I doubt he will have anything untoward to report, at least not regarding your internal workings.”

  Alice meant to thank him for everything he had done; but by the time she’d sorted out the words, he’d left the room.

  Dr Grossmith knew even after all these weeks, Larry Clere was still angry at the outcome of the conversation with Principal Hardy, an anger compounded now that Alice was leaving the station. Clere would have taken the view that not being allowed to carry out his examination without him being present and in his infirmary, represented further insult.

  “Do you have questions, Alice?” he said.

  “I wanted to thank Dr Clere, but I expect he’s still upset I haven’t got my memory back.”

  “Don’t mind him. He’s pompous and self-opinionated, but he has a right to be proud of what he did for you. He’s composed a paper and plans to publish when you’re declassified.”

  “When will that be?”

  “When you decide, Alice, but I recommend waiting until you return to Earth and then telling only a select few, as you get to know them.”

  “Alright. Does everyone at the Tabernacle know? Besides Principal Katya, I mean?”

  He shook his head. “Just Principal Katya and her two chief Statesmen. You’ll learn to judge for yourself whom you can trust. Our society is far removed from the world of your time and I know you will make many friends. Your history will take second place to their regard and respect for you.”

  “You say lovely things, Dr Grossmith. I’ll miss you.”

  “I’m also returning to Earth in a few weeks, Alice. We’ll see each other, I promise.”

  She squeezed his hand.

  “There is something, though. What if I get travel sick on the spaceship? I’ll die of embarrassment. And don’t people float around?”

  “You won’t get sick, I can assure you and you won’t notice the movement. They have artificial gravity, the same as here, so you won’t be floating around. Once you arrive in space dock, you will go by shuttle to the surface.”

  Two mornings later, Dr Grossmith, Principal Hardy and Kelly waved Alice and Amelia goodbye. Alice promised herself she would not cry at the farewell but of course, she did. Amelia held her tight and walked her to the shuttle. Alice didn’t want to look at the Significator looming outside, but it filled just about every viewport and she couldn’t avoid it. Her friends stood at the viewport as the shuttle banked and turned, and she watched them until they were out of sight.

  The shuttle that took Alice on her tour outside Saturn Station, was the same one that ferried them across to the Significator. It seemed such a short distance between the two. Alice could have walked.

  “Isn’t she magnificent?” the pilot called over his shoulder.

  Yes, Alice agreed, magnificent. Amelia had told her that the starships were principalities in their own right, and Alice had no difficulty believing it. Close to, Alice estimated this one to be the size of a city.

  The forward section of the Significator was an oval disc, indented in the centre with a gentle, sloping hollow as if someone had pressed down a thumb to create a shallow dish. The rear of the disc rose high into a narrow tower, making Alice think of the skyscrapers she’d seen in magazines about America. The topmost part of the tower bent slightly towards the front of the ship like the tail of a scorpion. The young pilot pointed out the fairings, the communications array and other structures to his passengers but rather than trying to educate them, Alice could tell it was his way of voicing his impression, marvelling at the scale and making sure the entire ship was burned into his memory. All over the ship, pinpoints of lights twinkled, which Alice guessed were viewports.

  The pilot rotated the shuttle and flew along its length and around into the docking bay.

  Alice looked down at her hands. Fists clenched and knuckles white; the ship represented the immensity of what lay ahead for her and she felt like a little speck of frightened dust.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Alice expected the docking bay to be a place of industry and mayhem but instead, it was quiet and ordered. A few people, working inside, glanced up as their shuttle passed through the forcefield, but returned to their tasks without sparing them a thought. A few minutes later, a separate shuttle, with different markings to the station shuttle, landed on the other side of the bay and several uniformed personnel disembarked along with their pilot. Alice had seen the shuttle leave the station when she looked back, and Amelia told her it belonged to the principality ship, carrying station personnel returning to Earth aboard the Significator. A few loud greetings came from the docking bay staff, shattering the initial quiet, and laughter rang around the high ceilings and walls.

  Alice wanted to shut her eyes and ears against the sudden, intrusive clatter and held onto Amelia like a limpet, ensuring she couldn’t leave her side.

  A tall, slender youth, dressed in a pale blue uniform and aged about 19, met them as they exited the bay, ahead of the noisy, happy group. He bowed to Alice.

  “Dr Langley, welcome to the Significator. I’m Tyro Drake, I’m here to show you to your quarters.” Then he turned to Amelia. “Educator Sebel.”

  He lifted his arm out to the side and invited them to follow him.

  “Tyro? His first name?” Alice whispered to Amelia.

  “A title,” she whispered back. “It’s like novice or learner. He’s doing aptitudes.”

  “He knew who we were.”

  “That’s his job.”

  The portals, placed at intervals on either side of the walkways gave no indication of no sign of their purpose or who or what was in residence. Tyro Drake deactivated one of the unmarked portals and stood back to let them pass through, following just in time to see Alice gaping open-mouthed at the luxury of the beautiful apartment awaiting her. He waited, without a word, as she composed herself.

  “This is beautiful, Tyro Drake, thank you.”

  He put her bag on a table, but to her dismay, kept Amelia’s bag in his hand and walked back to the portal, making it clear Alice would not be sharing.

  “Where are you taking Amelia, I mean, Educator Sebel?”

  “Educator Sebel has her own quarters on crew decks, nearby.” Tyro Drake pointed to the registry. “You can call each other any time you wish.”

  Alice wasn’t sure about this arrangement, but Amelia plastered on a bright smile. She didn’t need to be a genius to know Alice’s thoughts.

  “I’ll come right back. Must be morning tea time!”

  Alice had overlooked the fact that Amelia would be considered part of the org
anisation, even though she wasn’t military. To Alice, it highlighted her lack of a ‘place’. She hadn’t found her ‘place’ yet, but she had this splendid room all to herself. She could do this. She could be alone.

  As expected, the viewport took up an entire wall, but Saturn Station wasn’t visible from this side of the ship, there was only a view of Saturn itself. She sauntered over to look out.

  Saturn. Sometimes, back on the station, she thought she could reach out and touch the rings, though she knew, despite its immensity, it was a long way away from the station. It was only now, faced with the prospect of never seeing it again, she appreciated its majesty and presence. How silly she thought, to feel sad about a planet.

  Her new bed was large and luxurious, so large even Kelly couldn’t have called it a bunk. The washer was identical in layout to her other washer, complete with the gel pillows for washing. An entertainment registry panel, like the one she had in her quarters on Saturn Station and had never got around to using, hovered over a long desk. A regular registry panel hovered alongside, quite unlike the registry she had learned to use before and she didn’t recognise this configuration at all. As she analysed its technology by poking around, the communication panel lit and taken unawares, she waved her hands around madly for a second or two before it came to life. Alice was clueless how she managed to activate it, but Amelia’s delighted face came into view.

  “Wow! These crew quarters. I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave.”

  Alice agreed. “It’s five-star luxury.” Five-star meant nothing to Amelia, but she gathered it was Alice’s way of being impressed.

  “I’m coming back. See you in a second.”

  The screen flicked off with no help from Alice; far more sophisticated than the ones on the station where both parties had to end a link. By the time Alice worked out the difference in technology and found the beam that activated the communication link, Amelia arrived at the portal.