by J F Clayton
Peter wanted to laugh, but he managed to stay serious, “I understand, I’ll put your name on the returners list.” Peter didn’t have a list and wasn’t going to make one, but that seemed to pacify him.
Steve seemed satisfied and even sounded upbeat when he said, “I suggest that we start a new custom. Every fifth year there should be a celebration, with food and wine. I could cook something special if you want.”
Peter struggled to smile in agreement. He knew that Steve was a trained cook and was good at it. It was also a great proposal, but the implication that they would remain another five years worried him.
Steve accepted the responsibility of organising the event willingly and got up smiling. He nodded politely and said pleasantly, “We’ll meet again in five years.” He closed the door behind him.
Peter glanced at the clock on the wall. The meeting with Steve hadn’t lasted as long as he’d expected, and that meant he now had a few minutes to himself. He tried relaxing, but it wasn’t working. He was worried about the upcoming meeting with Liam. He folded his arms and shut his eyes. He tried not to worry. He looked at the clock again and noticed it was time. He checked the door camera if Liam was there. He wasn’t. Peter opened the door remotely and waited patiently, but Liam didn’t come. He was late. Liam was never normally late. Peter wanted to get this meeting over and done with. He wondered if something had happened and decided to go and get him. When he got there Liam was working. He stood quietly behind Liam and waited to see if he would notice him.
Liam’s head remained perfectly still while he stared at one of the monitors. He could feel Peter’s presence and was trying to ignore him. It didn’t last long before Liam said, “I wanted to see if we can increase the cosmic radiation deflection field.”
Peter’s voice was gentle but firm, “Are you coming?”
Liam got up slowly and followed Peter to his office. Peter closed the door firmly before going to sit in his chair. Once there, he leaned forward a little. He wanted to reduce the distance between him and Liam. He looked squarely at Liam and kept his face friendly. His arms were on the table and his hands were touching with the palms showing, “Your work is excellent. I honestly don’t know what we’d do without you. Would you like to renew your contract of employment for another five years?”
Sounding both tense and defensive, Liam asked, “Do I have a choice?”
Peter’s deep fatherly voice sounded caring, “Not really, but it’s probably easier if you believe it’s your decision.”
Liam leaned forward, his expression hardened, and he straightened his back as he said slowly and deliberately, “If it’s my decision. I never want to go back.”
Peter held his body still and without smiling, nodded once, “I know.”
Liam looked defiant, as if he didn’t believe Peter.
Peter forced himself to speak with a steady neutral voice, “The personnel files were automatically released as the contracts came up for renewal.” He looked at Liam closely, “I alone have read them, no one else.”
Liam remained quiet and watched Peter closely.
Peter’s gaze flicked between the desk and Liam as he lowered his voice to hide both his nervousness and his awkwardness as he said, “I know you’re a paedophile and you were in prison for four years.”
Liam sank a little in his chair, he seemed smaller and didn’t look at Peter as he answered, “I did part of my Moononaut training in prison.” He looked briefly into Peter’s eyes and then turned his gaze back to the desk.
Peter went red in the face. He didn’t want to, but he had to say it. He was responsible for order on the Moon Base. He felt uncomfortable and it was reflected in his voice, “Patrick is only three years old. He should be able to grow up unharmed.”
Liam froze, his facial muscles became rock-hard and his words were spoken slowly, clearly and deliberately, “I’ve never touched Patrick and I’ve no intention of getting anywhere near him.”
Peter was watching Liam closely. Trying to decide if he was a risk to Patrick.
Liam’s voice was quiet and sounded both pained and honest, “After prison I came to the Moon because there aren’t any children here.” He looked at Peter defiantly, “I want to stay here. I’ve found peace here. A peace I will never again find on Earth.”
Peter remained silent and looked at Liam. He didn’t know what to say.
Liam continued talking quietly, “I moved as far away from children as possible.” He paused, plagued by the pain of admitting his guilt, then he looked at Peter directly and said, “Yes, I’m still a paedophile, but I’ve decided never to act on it again.”
Peter looked at him closely. He still wasn’t sure what to say.
Liam felt angry and challenged Peter, “It wasn’t my idea for a child to come here.” His brief anger spent, he became more appeasing and his voice sounded softer, “I’ll never do anything against the law again. I realise it doesn’t matter what I do, everyone will always hate me. I’ve come to terms with that.” He looked down into his lap and whispered, “I just want to be left alone.”
When they looked at each other, Peter could clearly see Liam’s remorse and sadness.
Peter was curious, “Before we lost contact, did you control the flow of information?”
Liam turned his chair to the left, “Yes, but there was nothing to control during your shift.”
“And during your previous shift?”
With an open gesture Liam nodded, “I’m not an idiot.”
Peter looked at him closely.
Liam looked Peter directly in the eye and said, “I just wanted to protect myself. I still have morals. I know the difference between good and evil.” As he spoke, he sounded more and more desperate. Liam looked at his hands, wrung them, and breathed deeply in and out before he said in a soft serious tone, “I have no intention of hurting anyone to make myself feel better.” The determination and clarity of his statement was unmistakable.
However, Peter believed that it was necessary to warn Liam, “Sometimes it gets very hot in the Moon Base. We sit ninety percent of the time in the Sun. It can get way too hot in here without temperature control. I’m in charge of temperature control. Can we work together?”
Liam understood Peter’s indirect reference and recognised the mollifying note in Peter’s tone, “Yes, we can, but I don’t want anything to do with the child.”
Peter handed Liam his letter and they both said a respectful goodbye before Liam returned to his work.
As Peter watched Liam leave his stomach rumbled and reminded him that it was time for a break, and to get something to eat. He fetched something small from the canteen and returned to his office, closed the door firmly and turned to Meichun and asked, “How are you?”
Meichun’s attempts at small talk were improving and Peter enjoyed the distraction while he ate his lunch. He avoided thinking about the meetings. He could do that later.
Europa came after his lunchbreak. She was, as he’d expected, punctual and before she came he’d opened the door. She walked straight in and glared at him for a few seconds. Looked pointedly at her watch and then at Peter. She raised her eyebrows to signal that they should start.
Peter smiled, he liked the simplicity and predictability of Europa, “Thank you for coming. Is it okay if Meichun listens?”
She nodded uninterested.
He refrained from commenting on her work and deliberately avoided any small talk, “Do you want to extend your contract of employment for another five years?”
Europa’s expression was serious and her voice level, “I welcome the opportunity to continue my research.”
“That’s good. Do you want to know about the terms of the contract?”
She bowed her head and without enthusiasm said, “Yes.”
“You’ll get a fifteen percent pay rise, and because you are working a double shift, you also get credits on your environment and social responsibility account.” Peter avoided smiling.
Europa nodded satisfied
and changed the subject, “I thought about the cause of the loss of communication. There might have been a gamma-ray burst from Betelgeuse supernova. It could have destroyed half the atmosphere. This is only speculation.”
Peter was pleased, “Meichun can integrate this into their search program. Maybe we’ll find something. Is there anything else you want to say?”
Europa looked concerned, but her voice remained steady, “Yes, the next international vote will take place soon and I’d like to cast my vote.”
Peter hesitated before asking, “You know it’s not possible?”
She bowed her head, “My sister Callisto probably has a proxy vote.”
Peter looked at her a little perplexed and realised this was what she needed – this was her game. With a serious expression he replied in a deep voice, “Yes, probably.”
He passed Europa her letter. She took it and got up, signalling that the meeting was over.
Peter thanked her as she left and wished her lots of fun with her work. He thought that she had almost smiled as she’d left.
Peter stood up and walked around the office. He needed to stretch his legs. Something about Europa’s demeanour had disturbed him. He couldn’t put it into words and found it frustrating as he tried to work it out. He didn’t noticed Maria when she arrived. He heard as she sat down. He looked at her and smiled but Maria’s sadness took away his smile. He let her talk.
She didn’t look at him and spoke quietly, “I miss my family. Especially my sister. Another five years away from home will be hard.”
He nodded and waited.
He listened to her confess to both of them, “I don’t want to fly home in one of the escape capsules. I’m scared.”
Peter felt sorry for her but knew he needed to do his job, “Do you want to know the terms of the offer?”
She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
He tried to make the offer sound exciting, “You get extra credits on your environment and social responsibility account and a fifteen percent salary increase.”
She smiled a little and nodded accepting the terms.
He’d thought she’d be pleased about the environmental credits. She seemed so sad and he wanted to cheer her up but didn’t know what to say. He tried, “You have a new necklace.”
She looked down at her necklace and smiled a little, “It’s the same one Beatriz gave me. I’ve just adjusted the shape and colours.”
He thanked her for the good work and handed her the letter.
She thanked him and holding the letter against her necklace, stood up to leave. As she opened the door. Peter saw Charlie already standing there. Peter watched as Charlie whispered something to Maria who nodded and continued on her way without saying anything.
Peter welcomed Charlie into the room. Pleased to see him and not only because he was the last one.
Charlie came in smiling broadly and sat himself down with a plump across from Peter.
Peter was pleased that it didn’t seem to bother him that he was the last.
Charlie remarked, “Maria smiled at me. She seemed in a good mood.”
Peter’s impression had been different, but he didn’t contradict Charlie, he just asked him, “How is everything going with you? Any complaints, problems?”
Charlie shrugged his shoulders and pulled an ambivalent face, “I’m very happy.”
Peter smiled and thought, happy that he has more time with Maria. Peter explained to Charlie about the raise and the credits. And asked him if he wanted to extend his contract.
Charlie grinned and said enthusiastically, “Of course. The offer is more than I’d expected. I would have been satisfied without a raise.” He put his hand to his mouth and looked as if he wished he hadn’t said that.
Peter laughed and asked him about his work with the drones.
Charlie had just finished some improvements with the drone control system and explained that they seemed to be working much better than before, but unfortunately not yet when Maria was around.
Peter listened to him carefully and laughed at Charlie’s jokes.
Charlie chatted about how he liked working in the gardens, and now and then he helped Paul. He thought work was going well and his life on the Moon was just great. He was smiling the whole time he talked.
Peter enjoyed Charlie’s positive energy and when he stopped talking he gave Charlie his letter and thanked him for the good work.
After Charlie had left, Peter sat up straight and breathed in and out deeply. He’d made it. The fifteen percent had worked out brilliantly. Nobody had expected so much, because most of the time they got between 0.5 and 1 percent. Although Steve always wanted more. He hoped that he would never have to justify his decision to Columbus.
He felt good that the reviews were over for another five years, and he hoped that they could carry on with their daily lives. He took off his captain’s hat, put it on the desk, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and relaxed.
Moonday Six
Date: Monday 2nd October 2147 – 06:07 CET
Location: Alpha 12 – Moon Base
Patrick’s heavy eyelids fell back shut as he tried to open them. His mouth fell open and he dribbled as he turned his head while trying to lift it off the pillow. His eyes flickered registering the regulated early morning light, but his head wobbled unsteadily as he tried opening his eyes again, it felt like a dead weight on his straining neck muscles. His head was still too heavy with sleep. He let it fall gently back onto the soft pillow of his mother’s bed before turning onto his side and snuggling up with his face under the duvet.
The top of his head was poking out and something was interrupting his warm cosy world under the duvet. He could hear soft, gentle music and could feel someone touching his hair, someone gently and lovingly stroking his hair, he tried opening his eyes again, and he wasn’t sure if he’d managed it. He turned over and forced his eyes to open enough to make out a blurred picture of his mother. He recognised her beautiful smile, and the familiar curves of her face before sleep took over again. He turned towards where his mother was sitting and put his arms around her.
Dervla wasn’t mad at Patrick for sneaking into her bed during night. For once, it was all right because today was his sixth birthday. She smiled and tousled his hair again while saying his name softly a few times and trying to remind him that it was time to get up if he wanted to meet Maria before sunrise.
She knew he wanted to wake up and go to the main garden with Maria. With his eyes still shut, he began to move his arms and legs jerkily. She turned him onto his back and wiped his drowsy face with a small damp cloth, and then she watched the heaviness of sleep begin to leave his face. His eyes opened, and he smiled sweetly at his mother and heard her say, “Happy birthday my son,” as she put her hand gently on his cheek.
She opened the drawer of the bedside table, and, like she did every year, took out a little wake up present for Patrick. He sat up wide awake, wanting to open the gift immediately. The wrapping paper flew to the side and he stuffed the candy greedily in his mouth.
Dervla helped him get up and sent him to the bathroom to brush his teeth. After a few minutes he came back with toothpaste all around his mouth smiling broadly. He ran back to his mother, who was lying on the bed, and gave her a hug. Dervla laughed quietly and motherly. She got up, wiped Patrick’s face again and said to him, “What are you going to wear today? Go to your room and choose something sensible.”
He returned a short time later with a colourful pile of clothes and dropped them to the floor in the middle of the room. On top of the pile lay his captain’s hat. He took a big step backwards, put his arms on his hips and smiled proudly as he looked at his great work of art. She reminded him gently about getting dressed. He looked at the pile a little puzzled he wasn’t sure where he was supposed to start.
Dervla watched him in his indecision lovingly for a few moments before saying, “Get dressed, as I showed you.” Her voice sounded gentle and caring.
&nb
sp; Patrick looked at her in confusion.
“Choose your vest and underpants.”
Patrick rummaged through the pile and chose his clothes, letting the others fall in a pile to the side. He clumsily took off his pyjamas and dropped them on the floor and needed a few attempts with the underwear.
Dervla watched his clumsiness and smiled. The colour mixture fascinated her. His choice of clothing was a startling mixture of blue, violet and white. He was particularly fond of violet and bright white clothes. After dressing himself correctly, he proudly stood up straight and showed her the result. She laughed spontaneously at his seriousness.
Dervla affectionately reminded him, “Put on your captain’s hat.”
Patrick picked up the hat and put it on his head with great satisfaction. He was big enough now, and it fitted him really well. It no longer fell over his eyes when he moved his head.
“Should I come with you or do you want to go alone to Maria?”
In reply to her question, he ran out of the room to go and look for Maria in the main garden. He ran down the flights of stairs, continued running through the Moon Base towards the main garden. Maria had promised him that if he could get up early enough, she would show him a wonderful natural spectacle for his birthday and he couldn’t wait.
She was waiting in the garden surveillance station. She had been relaxing with a cup of coffee in her hand and looking at the monitors as she slowly came around. She’d delayed sunrise by half an hour to give Patrick a better chance of getting up on time.
Maria had increased the daylight hours in the garden after Patrick had been born. At first, they’d had an extra hour of daylight in the gardens, but it turned out that it wasn’t necessary. People preferred more daylight, but her plants didn’t. Plants also needed to sleep, and Maria wanted to keep them healthy. They had discussed the issue a few month later, and everyone had agreed to twelve and a half hours of daylight. She’d thought about delaying sunrise for longer this morning, she knew she could do that without damaging the plants, but she didn’t want to, because they didn’t jeopardise the plants’ metabolism and anyway it was more exciting for Patrick to have to get up early.