by Colin Owen
"Hi Hun, penny for them."
"What? Oh, sorry Sweetie, I was miles away."
"You were thinking about Jake," she said. "That's right, how did you know?"
"After that last radio message, it's what everyone is thinking about, should we find out what we can do?" She teased, but before he could answer she was off running like the wind. Steve set off after her, and to his amazement, he soon caught her up. It was no effort at all so they kept going until they reached the lake. It was still no effort, so they set off around the edge of the lake and soon reached the other side.
"This is wonderful," Clare said, giggling like a school girl, "I don't feel tired at all, and we've run a couple of miles."
Steve didn't answer, he had something else on his mind. He accelerated away from Clare and cut in front of her. She stopped running and just looked at him with her mouth open. Steve had run onto the lake, but wasn't so much in it, as on it.
"Come on," he shouted, "see if you can do it too." Clare was not one to pass up a challenge, so she started after him. She hit the waters edge and kept going.
"Weeeee," she screamed out in glee, "I'm running on the water." She was so focused on herself that she didn't see Steve standing some way off to her right. He just stood and watched the woman he loved having the time of her life. When she did eventually see him, he was sitting cross-legged on the water with his head resting on his hands staring at her. She slowed to a walk and came over to him.
"Pull up a wave," he said laughing.
"Is this for real?" she said, as she sat by his side.
"Oh it's real all right, I'm wet through, and the water's freezing.
"Sweetie, while we're here and on our own, can I run something by you?"
"Of course Hun, what's on your mind?"
He thought for a moment before speaking.
"I've been thinking about John and Lisa, and how they've sort of retired. Do you fancy doing something similar?"
Now it was her turn to think awhile.
"Yes, Hun, I've been thinking along those lines myself, but I was waiting for you to suggest it, now, what's this idea you've had?"
Steve was staggered at her perception and said, "Come on, let's get off this water and I'll tell you on the way home."
❧
The group arrived back at the cabins still somewhat elated at all that had happened. Dave and Mary had been holding hands most of the way, as had Jake and Martha.
"There must be something in those berries-" Jake said, but Martha cut him off.
"It's called youth," she said, with a rye smile.
"Ah...So that's it. We're all having a second childhood. No wonder I feel so funny."
She gave him a dig in the ribs. "Is that, funny, funny, or funny, funny?"
"Oh, definitely the second funny," he said, "especially when you're around."
"Ah," she said, "that funny! Would it help you to know that I feel that funny about you too?"
Jake smiled at her, at last he could stop being professional.
"Hey Zeek," he called out, "it's going to be a double wedding!"
A loud cheer went up, and Betty and Martha looked at each other and both mouthed, 'Yes!'
Celebrations went on late into the evening. No one noticed it getting dark until Sarah attracted everyone's attention.
"Look everyone, the moon is rising." They all turned to look at it. It was a beautiful sight, shining as usual against a black sky, but a wonderful green colour.
"Look Jake," Zeek said, pointing, "it's a green thing!"
No one else got the joke, but Jake and Zeek knew exactly what it meant.
"It's not all green," Danny said, a few seconds later, "there's a blue patch."
He pointed it out to the others, and sure enough, there was a patch of blue just discernible.
"Berries?" Betty asked, "They're blue."
"Could be water," Martha said, "though our lake is green too."
"Well, we'll find out soon enough folks," Jake said, "we'll be back up there in a few days."
The Thomases went to bed, but the others stayed up, enjoying each other's company, much too excited to sleep.
❧
"Blue you say, OK Jake, I'll pass it on. It's about time we did a survey up here anyway."
Bill told Steve what he had heard over the radio.
"Blue?" Steve was puzzled. "Just when I'd got used to everything being green too!"
Bill laughed. "We need to do a survey Steve, how about it?"
"I guess so Bill, but Clare and I have other plans, why don't you organise it after we get the prodigals back?"
"OK I will, I could do with a change of scene to be honest, and it'll be fun."
The two would have chatted further but were interrupted by a low flying ship.
"Tris must have got it working," Steve shouted, over the roar of the engines.
"YEAH," Bill screamed just as the ship suddenly went totally silent. "Don't you just hate it when that happens?" he said.
Steve just laughed. The ship landed in total silence.
Tris climbed out grinning from ear to ear. "It works!" he said, "Isn't she a beauty."
"So it's rocket powered magnetism?" Steve asked.
"Got it in one, it's a souped-up Keracraft. We just need to see how it handles a payload and we're ready to go."
"Excellent Tris," Steve said, enthusiastically, "this really is excellent, come on let's go for a ride."
"Sorry Bill, it's only got two seats."
"Never mind, I'll walk," Bill said, smiling, "go, and have some fun."
Steve and Tris jumped into the new ship and took off. "The magnetism is good for about a thousand feet," Tris said, "after that we need the rockets. We can fit bigger motors for orbital flight, but these small ones are fine for atmospheric travel."
They rose to the limit of the magnetics and Tris fired up the rockets. The ship tore away from the settlement.
"Head South Tris, there's something I want to take a look at."
They flew south for almost an hour when the Blue appeared over the horizon. Tris descended and went back to the magnetic drive. "It's awful big Steve," Tris said, "looks like one of the bigger craters has flooded."
What they were looking at was the beginnings of the first sea on the moon.
"Water must be seeping up to the surface," Steve said. "You know what this means Tris...Rain!"
"Oh no, really?"
"Afraid so. Once it starts evaporating we'll get clouds, and where there's clouds there's rain."
They did a rough survey of the new sea, it was already well over one hundred miles wide, and looked set to expand much further. They set course for home and arrived an hour or so later. Steve asked Tris to fit the bigger motors ready for the trip to earth. They determined to set off as soon as this was done.
❧
"Hi Hun," Clare called as Steve entered the house.
"Is she home yet?" Steve asked.
"Yes, she's in her room, shall we do it now?"
"May as well, let's go in together."
Steve and Clare went to Hope's room and knocked.
"Come in daddy, I've been expecting you."
Steve and Clare entered and closed the door behind them. They all sat on the bed to talk. Hope could see that this was not going to be an ordinary talk, so she waited quietly for them to begin. Steve spoke first.
"Sweetie, you're a big girl now and we feel that you are old enough to make this decision for yourself."
Now they really had her attention.
"Your mom and I are going to retire, like John and Lisa have done. We're thinking of taking a trip...Erm...A long trip, and we wondered if you wanted to come with us. We will be gone for a long time Hops, so think about it carefully."
"I'll come," she said, straight out, "somehow I knew what you were going to say, I've known for a few days. I want to come with you, OK?"
"Sure it's OK sweetie," Clare said, with a few tears in her eyes, "We just wanted you to have the chance to make you
r own mind up, that's all."
"I couldn't imagine life without you Hops," Steve said, touching her arm, "if you'd have said no, we wouldn't have gone."
"Oh daddy, you are wonderful, you to mommy, I'm so blessed to have such wonderful parents."
The whole thing ended up a soggy, but happy huddle.
"That settles it then," Steve said, a while later, "I'll start making the arrangements first thing tomorrow."
There was a scratching at the door, it opened, and in fell Rufus.
"Yap yap."
"OK fellah, you can come too."
❧
"I think that's everything Dave," Mary said, handing him yet another box.
"I'm sure it is," he replied, "I didn't know we had so much stuff, I hope it can all fit in the ship."
Jake walked in at this precise moment.
"What do you think Jake, will we be able to get this lot in the ship?"
"In the main ship certainly, but I don't know what size the smaller ship will be. We may have to leave some of it behind, but don't fret, there's plenty of everything in Eden, you won't lack any good thing."
"It sounds so wonderful," Mary said, "I can't wait to get there."
"Is Danny about," Jake asked, "I've got some news for him."
"Yes, I'll fetch him for you...DANNY," she called. He was outside at the back of the cabin playing.
"What is it mom?" He said, on entering. It was Jake who answered him.
"Danny, I've discovered what that blue patch is. It's the beginnings of the first sea on the Moon, and in accordance with time honoured tradition, we're going to name it after the person who discovered it...The Daniel Thomas Sea, congratulations."
Danny blushed bright red, but it didn't stop him from jumping up and down and shouting a lot. Dave and Mary joined in, well, it's not every day that your son gets a sea named after him.
When the noise had died down enough so he could be heard, Jake also said, "By the way folks, they're leaving Eden today to come and get us, they should be here in a couple of hours."
❧
"OK Steve," Tris said, "everything is ready, we can leave whenever you like."
"I'll be right with you, just give me time to say goodbye to this gorgeous young woman."
He hugged his daughter and left the house with Clare in tow. They jumped into the Keracraft and took off for the launch-pad.
As they were going, Steve said, "Tris, I invited you along on this trip so that you could cast a designer's eye over the main ship. I have some very special modifications I want you to make to her insides, and I would also like you to look at the Trion drive. I reckon you could make it go even faster."
Tris just nodded as he brought the small craft in to land.
"Plus," Steve went on, "it'll be good for you to get to see Earth."
Tris smiled at this. Having only known the Moon, he didn't have any nostalgic feelings for Earth, as the older ones did, but he was certainly curious about the place.
They met Jimmy and Shelley at the launch-pad.
"Nice to have you along guys," Steve said, greeting them, "all set?"
They boarded the big ship where Phil and Roy, the pilots, were waiting for them. Nancy and Mary, the original stewardesses, were there too.
"Just like old times," Nancy said, as Steve entered the cabin.
"Not quite Nancy, this time, we are the rescuers."
She smiled warmly at him and helped him into his seat. A few moments later the hatch closed and they could feel the vibration as the motors started. The intercom came to life.
"Hi folks, you'll be glad to know that we won't be pushing the ship so hard this time. We learned a lot from the last take off!"
There were chuckles from those who had been aboard the last time, when Jimmy's juice had taken them all by surprise.
"Hold on, here we go."
The great ship eased itself up off the launch-pad and accelerated away and up into the sky with little effort. A few minutes later they were in orbit around the Moon waiting for the coordinates for Earth to come into line.
"Get ready folks, Trion in three, two, one..." The mighty Trion drive kicked in and the ship left orbit and headed out across space towards earth.
"We'll be entering earth orbit in just over an hour folks, so sit back and enjoy the ride."
Phil had gotten the measure of the ship now, so acceleration was much smoother than it had been before.
"So, Tris, what do you think?"
"It's a big ship Steve so I guess it's possible, it's the Trion that intrigues me though, when you say, 'make it go faster', just how fast are we talking about?"
"I'm talking light speed Tris, do you think it's possible?"
Tris didn't answer, but Steve could see his thinking cogs start to turn. He was confident that Tris would do it, if anyone could, it was just a matter of time.
Jimmy was sitting behind Steve and Clare and had tapped Steve on the shoulder.
"What's this I hear about you two retiring?"
"It's true Jimmy, the old folks are retiring and going on a trip."
"Hey, less of the old!" Clare said, looking anything but old.
She had positively blossomed since taking the first berry, and now she looked, 'as good as new,' according to Steve, who was definitely biased.
"What trip?" Jimmy asked.
"Ah, now that would be telling, I'll let you know when I know, OK?"
Jimmy accepted the answer, but was more than a little intrigued by the whole thing. He turned to Shelley and said, "Do you know what he's going on about?"
"Not a clue Jims, I'm not privy to the family gossip since I married you!"
"Nice," he said, laughing. "I'll bet that Hope knows, we'll grill her when we get back."
They all settled back for the rest of the trip, which seemed to take no time at all. Steve and Clare had just managed to dose off when the intercom gave them a rude awakening.
"Right folks, we're in earth orbit, and it took just over an hour. I trust that there were no nasty surprises for you this time. Do say hi to Roy as he floats through on his way to the rescue ship."
The intercom went quiet and the hatch opened. Roy was greeted by a small round of applause as he exited the cockpit and floated, very professionally, through the passenger cabin en-route to the rear cargo bay, where the new ship was. It had been deemed wiser for one of the experienced pilots to fly the rescue mission rather than Tris, who was good, but inexperienced. Once through the cabin, all hatches were closed ready for the launch. It seemed like just a few moments before the small jolt came as the new ship left the cargo bay. The intercom opened up again, "He's away Steve, better start preparing to receive our guests."
No one knew for sure how long it would take to locate the prodigals and bring them up, so it had been planned to occupy this waiting time by allowing Tris to survey the ship and main drive, whilst the other passengers prepared to make the new arrivals welcome.
Tris had never been weightless before, so he was even more ungainly than Steve, who was not the best exponent of the art either. It caused a few titters as they tried to manoeuvre themselves around the cabin, taking measurements and talking quietly between them- selves. This accomplished, they moved into the cargo bay to access the Trion systems. The other passengers waited until the hatch had closed before getting up out of their seats to begin their preparations.
A small party had been planned to occupy the time of the return journey. Eden wanted to welcome the Thomases and make them feel at home as soon as possible. They knew what it would be like for them to be leaving their home planet for the first time, and space travel is always a daunting experience, no matter how many times you've done it.
Tris was fascinated by the Trion systems and spent quite some time exploring. The new Kerasite shielding was of particular interest, as it alone had increased the ship's speed by a large margin. Steve just hung back and let him get on with it. He was also amazed at how quickly Tris adapted to being weightless.
> "OK Steve, I've seen enough we can go back now." They made for the hatch and Tris waited for Steve to catch up. When he arrived, they both went through, back into the main cabin.
"Now that you've finished that Tris, why not take a look at Earth."
Tris did, it was a stunning sight from orbit as always, and it captivated him for quite some time.
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter 12.
The Journey Home
The new ship floated out of the cargo bay doors with ease, the magnetic drive being used to manoeuvre away from the big ship. Once clear, Roy fired up the rocket motors and cruised away to break orbit and descend to the surface.
"Hi Southgate, this is Roy calling, I'm on my way down. Send up a few prayers will you, the earth looks awful big from up here. Over."
"Will do Roy, we'll be watching for you. Over and out."
Jake had been waiting for Roy's call, and was most pleased to get it. Earth had become somewhat unsavoury since the fight with Beast and his followers, all they wanted to do now was get away. Jake left the radio shed and went to tell the others the good news.
"How long will he be?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know 'smudge'," Zeek answered, "but we should be able to see him, especially if the sun catches the ship, it'll light up like a Christmas tree."
They all stood around looking up, but there was no sign of the ship. Necks began to ache, so one by one they gave up and settled down to wait for it in a more comfortable position.
Some time had passed when Paul suddenly looked up a little alarmed.
"What's the matter son?" Dave asked him.
"I'm not sure dad, but I thought I heard voices."
Dave could see that he meant it, and knew that Paul was not given to pranks, so he asked him, "Which direction son?"
Paul pointed south and hearts began to race.
"Let's take a look Dave," Jake said, jumping up, "Zeek, you keep an eye out here while we're gone."
The two men set off towards the trees but stopped when they heard a twig snap. They all went quiet and listened. There were voices, whispering. They recognised the sound of them and instinctively crouched down.
"It's Beast," Jake said, whispering, "and he's not alone, quick, let's hide behind the cabins."