The Long Way Home

by Darrell Bain

  "But, sir...” He broke off under the Lieutenant's disgusted glare. He wished Lieutenant Commander Chambers was in the control room. He thought she would have believed him.

  "What do we do now?” Jana asked.

  "I said, don't ask stupid questions. We go closer to the star under thrust, and then come back and make transit for the next star. What else could we do?"

  Jeremy wanted to ask how many transits they could make without running out of power but decided not to. Whistler was obviously in no mood for teaching today. He seldom was, for that matter.

  "You can leave now, Costa. You too, Waters,” said Lieutenant Wong, who had the watch. “You can come back when we're closer to making transit. I'll have someone call you."

  He left with Jana and started back toward the day room.

  "Whistler never seems happy to see us, does he?” she said, disgust evident in her expression.

  "No, but we don't have a choice, do we?” He glanced at her plain face framed by short black hair, and then looked away when she smiled. She had been making rather obvious overtures lately, and he had to admit that her smile was rather appealing, but then so was Juanita's. If he could ever catch the latter woman alone and could untangle his tongue in her presence, he intended to see if there was anything behind the smile she usually had for him. He hoped there was.

  "At least you have Lieutenant Commander Chambers for your private lessons. Half the time, Whistler doesn't show up for mine, and when he does, I'm scared to ask questions because he jumps all over me for being dumb."

  "You're not dumb, Jana,” he said and knew it to be true. They studied together sometimes, and she seemed to catch on to her lessons well enough despite asking him for help occasionally.

  "I know, but you couldn't prove it by him. Want to see what's doing in the day room?” she asked, appeal written large on her face.

  "No, I think I'll go and study,” he said hurriedly. To avoid hurting her feelings, he added, “I'm on another of Mister Shinzyki's details after dinner. Now, there's a man who can teach. I don't mind working for him."

  "I had PO Silks last time. He's an asshole."

  "Don't say that too loud. The boat has ears.” It was amazing how anything unusual or anything that changed, such as partners breaking up, was quickly known to everyone in the boat. He was sure that before the day was over, someone would kid him and Jana both about asking stupid questions in the control room.

  "I know. I heard PO Silks got chewed out by Mister Shinzyki for not instructing some spacers on a detail."

  "I'm not surprised. See you later. Call me if you need help with the astrogation problems."

  "I will,” she said. It sounded to him as if she didn't quite believe his excuse.

  He did study conscientiously for an hour, and then went to draw rations for the evening meal. The detail of two explorers broke open cartons and used tongs to hand out the blocks of food rations wrapped in edible paper. The taste was usually different each meal, but after the floater beach party none of them were particularly pleasing to his palate. Nevertheless, he ate all of it. Three days running in the gym with Juanita had given him more appetite than usual. He would miss their workout this time because of being on the evening detail schedule that Warrant Officer Shinzyki posted every day. At least, they usually proved interesting when Shinzyki supervised them himself. Maybe he'd be there this time. He made his way toward the newly opened bay where acceleration seats had been removed.

  Juanita was there, along with Spacer Gerald Spence, Explorer Sylvia Rothman and a spacer he didn't really know. He was surprised over Juanita's being present. Another spacer had been on the roster when he looked earlier.

  "Hi!” Juanita greeted him brightly. “I got shanghaied when Jones fell off the ladder from Topdeck. She broke her leg."

  "How in hell did she do that?"

  "She wasn't paying attention to what she was doing,” a gravelly voice said from behind the group. “Don't let it happen to you."

  Jeremy recognized the voice, just as the rest of them did. Warrant Officer Shinzyki's deep bass rumble was impossible to forget once it was heard.

  "Hello, Chief,” Jeremy greeted him in unison with the other three. All of them knew he didn't mind being called Chief rather than Mr. Shinzyki.

  "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We've got a dirty job ahead of us, so let's get started."

  "What are we going to be doing?” Juanita asked.

  "The number one recycler overflow tank and the chemistry drains need cleaning. Let's go."

  They all knew where the recyclers lived. Cleaning them was a regular, unwanted job, but it had to be done. What was surprising was that Chief Shinzyki was going to supervise the detail, but no one asked why. He was a rule unto himself, and it took a brave person to question his orders.

  Jeremy walked beside Juanita while thinking that it was a shame for her to get dirty and sweaty. She had her dark brown hair pinned up on her head in the same way that she wore it in the gym. Usually, she let it flow loosely over her shoulders and down her back. He decided he liked it. Her pretty face and slender neck drew all the attention, rather than her hair. He wished he could talk to her as easily as he could with Jana or Siegfrer, but other than in the gym he found himself inhibited.

  "How's the astronomy coming?” she asked.

  "The astrogation? I like it. It's nice to be able to put what I learned in astronomy to use."

  "I wish I could have gone to the academy, but Mom didn't have the money for college, so I joined the navy right out of high school."

  "What about your Dad?"

  "He was killed by a sabertooth when I was a little girl."

  "You're from Seller's World?” Seller's World was almost an analogue of Earth during the late Pleistocene, including a fearsome predator that resembled the extinct saber tooth but was more than twice the size.

  "Uh huh. Mention a sabertooth, and everyone knows where you're from immediately."

  "I've heard it's a nice world."

  "It is. Nicer than that overflow tank we're going to be staring at."

  They had arrived, but they didn't get to work immediately. First Shinzyki lectured them on the proper relationship of chemicals and the blocks of pressed organics gathered from their last stop. He told them how the machinery worked and pointed to the valves and pipes that controlled the mixing rate. He paused to answer questions. Finally, he showed them the right order in which to close valves when shutting off the flow and the sequence in which parts were to be removed before the cleaning job began. After that, he stood by as they worked together to take part of the tubing loose.

  "Now, the overflow tank gathers the organics that didn't get digested first time through. The stuff is tough and usually smelly after just one round through the ‘cycler. Disconnect the tank like I showed you, and dump the contents into the bin over there. Then scrub it down, disinfect it and hook it back up. Get it clean but don't waste water."

  Jeremy got busy working beside Juanita on the tank, while the other two cleaned out the tubing with long brushes. Shinzyki rolled up his sleeves and ran tests of the circuitry while keeping an eye on the worker bees. By the time he was satisfied with the circuits and test readings, the cleaning was finished. He ran through the checks he'd just completed. After inspecting their cleaning job, he had them put everything back together. When they were finished, he ran his hands over all the connections, checking for tightness and seeing that no threads were misaligned.

  "C'mere,” he pointed at Rothman. “See here? You didn't tighten this connection enough. It would've worked loose eventually and spilled goo all over the deck. Then somebody would have been awfully damned pissed at you. Always go back over what you've done before you leave a job. It'll pay off eventually."

  "Yes, sir.” Rothman tightened the fitting until Shinzyki nodded that he was satisfied.

  "Okay, you people can go get cleaned up now. Thanks for the help. I'll authorize a three minute shower if you'll pair up.” he pointed. “The
stall's over there."

  "Do you want to? Pair up, I mean?” Juanita asked him before the others could say anything.

  "Uh, sure, ‘Nita."

  She tucked her arm through his, and they trooped the short distance to the shower stall normally used by the Spacer who worked in recycling regularly. Most of the time at the end of a shift the smells and organics had to be washed off, or the Spacer would find little company when off duty.

  "You guys can go first,” Sylvia said.

  "Thanks,” Juanita said and smiled at her.

  Jeremy figured that she wanted to say a few words to Spence before getting into the shower with him. He stripped off his cammies and arranged them on the cleaning frame. He changed the settings slightly and flipped the switch to have them heated and blown clean.

  "Hang mine for me when Jeremy's are finished, Sylvia?” Juanita asked as she finished removing her outer garments.

  "Sure. Have fun."

  Still in their undergarments, they entered the shower together so they could wash the clothes as well as themselves. Jeremy stepped out of his shorts and held them under the water for a moment, and then rolled them around in his hands.

  "Here, let me show you,” Juanita said. She had removed her underpants and bra and was holding out her hand for his shorts.

  He handed them over while trying not to stare. He hadn't realized what a magnificent body ‘Nita had under the loose cammies. She had generous breasts and a narrow waist that flared into slim hips and long legs.

  "See, you slap them against the wall, squeeze and do it again. But he said three minutes. Hurry and wash, then do my back for me.

  He hurried, not the least because he wanted to help her bathe. Having scrubbed himself quickly, he did her back with his hands, as there were no washcloths—not that he intended to complain about it. Running his hands over her skin was an erotic sensation, and he couldn't help experiencing a growing erection. In the meantime, she got the undergarments done and washed the rest of her body. When she turned around and saw his reaction, she giggled. They finished just before the water went off.

  "Now put your cammies back on, but carry your undershirt and shorts back to the cabin and dry them there."

  He followed her instructions, knowing that she must have done this job on a previous occasion. Sylvia was naked by that time and holding her undergarments, ready to step into the stall. He hardly looked at her, even though she was nicely built and was attractive enough. Juanita had all his attention.

  He wanted to ask her if she would like to come to his cabin with him but found that his tongue had somehow become frozen.

  She solved the problem neatly by looking at him and grinning. “Now that we've seen each other, why not come on back to my cabin with me?"

  He didn't have to be asked twice.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Eight

  Jeremy woke with a sense of tired satisfaction but was somewhat disoriented. He glanced at his thumb and saw that it was nearing midnight by boat time.

  "That put you out just like a sleeping pill,” he heard ‘Nita's soft voice comment humorously in the darkness. She was close enough that he felt her breath in his ear.

  "Sorry. I guess I've been going kind of hard lately."

  She laughed. “Literally!” He felt her shifting in the narrow bed, and a night light came on. She told the bed to make a backrest.

  He felt his upper body being raised. He looked over at ‘Nita. The sheet fell into her lap as the bed rose, leaving her nude from the waist down. She nudged him with her shoulder, and he took the hint. He put an arm around her. She snuggled against him with one firm breast pressed against his side.

  "I noticed you right after you came aboard, you know,” she said. “I was hanging space with Charlie Vann at the time, though."

  "You did? I mean, you were?"

  "Uh huh. You're always so earnest when you're doing something. That's what a person notices first about you. And you're good looking, too."

  "Really? Uhm, I mean I'm not as good looking as you."

  "Uh huh, you are. Most of the women think so. And it doesn't matter whether you're studying or working out or cleaning a recycler tank, you're always so grimly determined to do it right.” She laughed again. “Even making love."

  "Uh, is that bad?"

  "No, silly, it's good. You might try being playful some time, though.” She reached across him and tickled his ribs. He whooped.

  "Aha. You're ticklish. Now I know how to get you when we're working out."

  "Not fair. Besides, you get me all the time anyway."

  "All's fair. I thought Siegfrer was never going to turn you loose. I was getting ready to trip you if you didn't say something soon. Or maybe her."

  "I wanted to."

  "I know. You should have. Look at the time we've wasted."

  "Can I make up for it?” he ventured.

  "Try me and see."

  He kissed her and felt the bed sliding back to level with her head resting on his arm. His hand traveled over her breasts and other parts of her body as he began doing everything he knew how to do, in order to make up for being so slow.

  "Mmm,” she said as she drew him close. A few moments later, she murmured in a heavy slurred voice, “Now, now!"

  He moved over her and she locked her legs around his, holding him tightly while her hands roved up and down his spine. Her fingers dug into his back with a painfully pleasing hurt as they neared a climax. They reached it almost at the same time. He got very little sleep the rest of the night.

  * * * *

  "Now stand still and don't get in the way,” Whistler said as the boat prepared to transit out of the gravity well of the planetless star.

  The lieutenant aggravated Jeremy because from where he and Jana stood it was impossible to see what Whistler was doing, and he was supposed to be teaching them. He knew what the astrogator must be doing, though. He was keeping the ship lined up to intersect that spot in the gravity well which would take them into hyper and let them come out of it in the gravity well of their target star.

  "It's like the tables I showed you,” Joyce said quietly to them. “Lieutenant Whistler picked the table corresponding closest to the distance from and mass of our target star. The computer sets up a vector and thrust to take us there, but he had to calculate the correct point in the gravity well to arrive at, and he had to compensate for the masses in this system. He also has to calculate the differences from the table and our measurements and plug them into the equations. That's where the art of it comes in. Our target hasn't been surveyed, or rather we don't have the data, so the calculations have to be even more precise than if we knew all about it. We also have to take into account other factors relating to that, which we'll get into later. Right now, he's keeping us in the path and at the right speed and vector to hit the right gravity well point exactly. Watch closely, because soon he'll apply the power to get us into hyper. That has to be done precisely on the tick, too."

  Whistler was bent over rows of figures below the main screen. Jeremy could barely distinguish them from his position, but he could see that Whistler's forehead was wrinkled with stress lines. His hands were steady, though, as he tapped in corrections.

  "Those numerals at the bottom of the screen are telling him how close to the corrections for the calculated parameters we are."

  Jeremy thought of a question and whispered it. “With the movement of stars, how do the tables stay effective for those that have been surveyed? Wouldn't the figures change over time?"

  "You're going to make a good astrogator, Jeremy. Yes, of course they do. Distance change over time is another parameter. We take the interval from the last known date of the tables and the directional movement of both primary and target star and the computer will plug in a figure. Here, of course, it's a little more delicate. We have to do the surveys ourselves, and longboats aren't equipped with the best instruments for that. Even with the best, some exploration ships don't come back.” Sh
e gave a mirthless chuckle. “I suspect the reason that at least a couple of the ships that have gone missing did so was because someone plugged in one or the other of the directional figures backward and didn't run a computer simulation beforehand. Or forgot about a gas giant near the vector to transit point. Always run a simulation first. Always."

  "Yes, ma'am. I will."

  She squeezed his shoulder and stepped over to where Jana stood. He saw her nodding as Chambers whispered to her, and knew she was repeating the explanation she'd given him.

  Whistler tapped his Reader, and a pre-recorded message went out to the crew. Thirty seconds to transit. Stand fast and hold on to a fixed object. Thirty seconds to transit. Mark. Thirty, twenty nine...

  Jeremy put his hand around one of the ubiquitous grab bars in the control room and braced himself. In a few moments the usual dizziness engulfed him. He held tightly to his bar until the sensation passed. He glanced at the screen and saw that it had changed. He watched as Whistler tapped his Reader again. A message flashed on the screen. Transit successful. Instituting search for mass objects. His gravity detector screen came alive.

  "Thank you, Lieutenant Whistler,” the commander said. “XO, you have the watch. I'll be in my cabin."

  "Yes, sir. I have the watch.” Once Brackett had taken his leave, Trammell said, speaking formally, “Lieutenant Whistler, you may allow Lieutenant Commander Chambers to take the astrogation watch."

  He nodded with a grumpy expression and left the control room to the executive officer, Chambers, the slim, dark-haired Lieutenant Rayne Medford and the two explorer students. Also, a spacer by the name of Barker tended to something in the com alcove.

  Chambers looked at Jeremy and Jana. “You two come over here, and we'll go over the instrumentation used for transits."

  Jeremy was glad. It would be the first chance either of them had to get hands-on experience with the devices. For the next two hours, as Hurricane Jack sped closer to the primary, she let each one of them try calculating a transit that had been previously recorded. It was much harder than he had anticipated, even though Jana went first, and he observed all her mistakes and the corrections the astrogator made. It was evident that the only way he or Jana were going to be able to master the technique was with practice using the real instruments. For this, a simulation was far from the reality of hands-on. He knew they weren't likely to get much of it, so long as Whistler was the designated chief astrogator. He didn't understand why Commander Brackett let him keep the position, but he had to assume there was a reason. If Whistler didn't know what he was doing, nothing else made much sense.