As I started towards the hall to get some rest in my cabin, I saw someone coming out of the sanitation room.
It was a slender young woman, probably six or seven years older than me, rubbing some sanitizer between her hands. A white medical tunic covered her Surveyor uniform, and her armband bore the red cross insignia that I knew signified nurses. She had rich olive skin, and her hair fell in waves to her shoulders, perfectly matching the color of her large dark eyes.
She smiled at me, and the Doctor stepped to my side.
“Andi,” he explained. “This is Olive McMillan. Engineer McMillan got back from his honeymoon leave—just in time, too. His wife signed on to help, and since she’s an R.N. Trent thought she could be useful to me.”
The beautiful girl smiled again, and held out her slender hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, Andi.”
For an instant, I hesitated. Then I gave a return smile, and put my own hand out. “I’m glad to meet you. It will be good to have some more help around here.”
It was hard for me to say it, and sound genuine. I still didn’t want a stranger in sickbay. But somehow, even though I still didn’t like the idea, I felt resigned. It was for the best.
The only indication of understanding that the Doctor gave was to put his arm around my shoulders for a moment, but it was enough for me.
It was time to let go.
A beep came from my wristcom, followed by the Captain’s voice. “Andi, are you there?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Come on up to the bridge, I want to show you something.”
I smiled up at the Doctor. “Care to come along?” I asked.
For answer, he offered me his arm. As I took it, he said to the nurse, “You can let the boy go. But he’s off duty for forty-eight hours.”
“Yes, Doctor,” the girl nodded. Then she smiled a full, genuine smile at me. “I hope we’ll be friends.”
I smiled back. “I hope so, too.”
Then she moved off, and the Doctor and I left sickbay together.
When we walked through the sliding doors that led to that always exciting room, I looked around contentedly. There sat the Captain, giving orders commandingly, there was Guilders, obeying staunchly. And Crash sat in the visitor’s seat, his boots propped up on the comm marshal’s console. As we entered, he turned, grinned, and saluted. I smiled. It was good to have him back.
The Captain turned and saw us before we could announce our presence, and a smile broke across his face. “Ah, Andi, Gerry.” He stood up and walked over to me, taking my free hand kindly in both of his. “How are you feeling?”
“Just fine, Captain. What was it you wanted to show me?”
“We’re approaching the Artemis Nebula, and I thought you’d like to see. I know you always like seeing nebulas.”
“Yes I do! Thank you for thinking of me.”
With a charismatic smile, he tipped his cap to me, shook the Doctor’s hand warmly, and returned to his chair. Guilders turned and winked—actually winked—at me, filling me with a glad warmth. I owed him a lot of gratitude.
As we came in sight of the enormous nebula, I drew closer to the Doctor gladly. It was beautiful. Its misty, shifting clouds of purple and pink were ever moving, like the northern lights of Earth. The peaceful sight made me smile.
I heard the bridge doors slide open, but didn’t turn to see who entered. And yet somehow, I was not surprised when August quietly approached and stood beside me. Together, the three of us—my brother, the Doctor and I—gazed at the beauty spread out before us in the star-studded blackness.
Then August spoke softly, so softly that no one but myself could have heard him. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.”
I linked my arm through his, wordlessly, as the Surveyor made her way into the outer reaches of God’s creation.
Did you read the bonus prologue online before reading this book?
Now it’s time to continue Harry’s story.
To read the epilogue, go to:
http://www.firmamentseries.com/radialloy/epilogue/
and type in this code:
KAINUSGE
About the Author
J. Grace Pennington has been telling stories since she could talk, and writing them down since age five. Now she lives in the Texas Hill Country with her parents, her eight younger siblings, and her horse, Pioneer. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading good books, playing movie soundtracks on the piano, and looking up at the stars.
You can find out more about her writing at www.jgracepennington.com.
Firmament: Radialloy Page 18