“Now tell me. What has been decided?”
“Everything is ready, Captain,” he said in a more serious tone.
“I’m no longer captain, Joe, I haven’t been for a long time.”
“About that,” he said.
Faris swiveled her chair to face him. “Father?”
He smirked. “You haven’t called me that in a long time.”
“Well if you’re going to be formal, I thought I would too.” They both laughed.
Faris would never have thought she and a Catholic Jesuit priest could be such good friends. It’s funny how life turns out, she mused.
“We have decided,” Joe said.
Faris had stayed in her office and had not attended the community meeting to choose a new leader. She didn’t want her presence to influence the outcome.
“I don’t think you should step down,” he said.
“What?” She was shocked. “I don’t understand.” She pushed herself up from the chair. Joe lent her a helping hand. “Of course I should. If things had gone as originally planned, I’d be arriving back at WSC Moon Base just about now and I’d be retiring, anyway.”
“Well things have not gone as planned, have they?”
“No they have not,” she agreed. “And you know what?”
“What?”
“I’m not the least bit sad.”
“Good. Then you won’t mind not retiring,” Joe said.
“You’ve never been a tease before, Joe. Why start now?”
“No joke. It seems you are well loved,” he said. “The community will not follow another.”
Pride swelled deep inside Faris’ heart. It spread up over her face. A little laugh followed. “I never expected.”
Joe smiled at her reaction.
Then Faris sobered. “What do you think? Should I accept?”
“Of course you should, what else will you do with your time?” he asked.
She shrugged and turned from him as she considered the offer. She turned back to face him. “I’ll do it under one condition.”
He sighed. “Must there always be a condition with you? What will it be this time?”
“That we co-lead.”
“Now you’re the jokester?”
“My offer is as serious as yours,” she said. “I may not be military, but I do represent authority. You represent the softer side of leadership.”
“Softer side?”
“You’re like a father to all of us.”
“I’m a Jesuit Priest.”
“I don’t mean like that. You advise us with compassion and reason. You care for us with love,” she said. “Spiritually, you care for us as though we are your children.”
He bobbed his head from side to side and up and down as he thought about it.
“You’ve always had the job. Now it will be official,” she said, hoping to convince him. “We both have our strengths.”
“And we both make up for the other’s faults,” he said.
“Ah yes, our faults.” Faris grimaced. “I’m afraid we have spent far too much time together, Joe.”
“Complaints?”
“None.” She reached her hand out. He took it. “You have been a good adviser to me and a good friend.”
“And you to me,” he agreed.
“Together we will lead Endurance and continue to bring people together into a community,” she said.
They left her office. She slipped her arm through his. He placed his free hand over hers. They walked together the gardens and joined the celebration.
“That robotic ship still sits outside,” he said. “What should we do with the bags of seed and livestock DNA?”
“We can use the seeds, but do you really want herds of cattle or flocks of sheep roaming in our gardens?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not really.”
“It was a brilliant idea to create a native garden. It relieves the harshness of winter. We should spend the next winter developing the garden,” Faris said.
“We could build a separate dome for the livestock,” Joe suggested.
“You ready to start another building project?” Faris asked.
“I guess not. I really don’t think anyone is quite ready for another dome just yet,” he said.
“I think we can wait on livestock. Save the DNA until we decide what to do with it,” Faris said.
“What do you want us to do with the ship?”
“We should take it apart and use it for components and raw materials,” she said.
“That will be a good five-year summer project,” he said.
“Just so. We wouldn’t want to become too complacent.”
Personal Log Continued
For a long time I was torn between my desire to return to Earth and stay on Akiane. I am glad I stayed. I cannot imagine my life on Earth being better than the one I have here. I look forward to the continual prosperity of our community.
I have always held to the belief that our true future and success lies in the next generation. And since I cannot ask another to do what I am unwilling to do, I married Adryel.
Our relationship started on a fishing trip, though at the time, I did my best to deny it. I held to the belief that as leader I should stand alone, but Joe, my very good friend, convinced me that one leads best when one is at peace with his/her heart. I found my heart could only be at peace with Adryel.
Our fourth child comes in a few days. I can barely contain my joy at meeting this new little person.
If I were any more blessed, I would melt from pure joy.
Thank you for taking time to read Pegasus Colony. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends andposting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
Phyllis Moore
Here’s the link to my Amazon page:
Ebook
http://www.amazon.com/Pegasus-Colony-People-Akiane-Book-ebook/dp/B011J4J71I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441290227&sr=1-1&keywords=pegasus+colony
People of Akiane
Book Two
Storm’s Coming
By Phyllis Moore
Odds don’t look good. . .
Lt. Jessica Hewitt is working her way across a frozen planet for what she feels is no good reason. She’s angry with WSC Space Force that has ordered her as negotiator to an alien Earth colony. Now for the sake of public relations, she’s been ordered on the expedition that could kill her. She’s furious.
She has to endure the companionship of two natives, who travel with their own agenda, and thirty-three dogs, all of which want attention.
The planet is warming, whiteouts and blizzards are coming, and a traumatizing, planet-shaking storm is on its way.
For her personally, things are going to get worse. Jessica must face down her old life, and stand up to her new one. She must learn to cooperate with her companions.
Her chances of surviving are slim.
***
To be notified of when Storm’s Coming is published and for other novels by Phyllis Moore, sign up at http://mythriderpublishers.com/moores_myths.php
Pegasus Colony (People of Akiane: A Colonization Science Fiction Novel Book 1) Page 25