Moon Dreams

by M.A. Harris

Epilogue

  Paul sat in the shade of the young tree and watched the wind ripple the surface of the reflecting pond; over the lip of the cliff he had a clear view of the shattered stump of Ship Plateau. Rubble pretty much filled the canyon floor between the half height stub and the valley walls. The road that had once run straight along the top of the canal now jogged to wind through a ‘relatively’ flat section near the foot of the cliff at his feet.

  Desert Rat’s Perch, as this little patch of green was called was one of a network of parks the town, the state, the US, Sumatra and The Luna Republic were funding. Since the Space War, Primus Junction’s only link to the outside world was the railway that had originally given the place its name. Or rather it was the only link other than stack propelled freighters. The state and federal governments were still arguing about the cost of rebuilding the road links, modern safety standards made the job unbelievably expensive.

  At one time turning the whole valley into a park had been discussed. But while many of the locals jumped at the idea, believing it was their only way out, others had flatly refused. And there were the Lunatics who saw the valley and the town as their root home. Paul and his government had insisted that one of the official spaceports be at Primus Junction.

  Paul heard someone approaching; he turned and then stood when he saw Ted Smitherson approaching. In the parking circle Clarice Smitherson stood between the couples well loved old blue Buick and the Lunar Republic embassy limousine that had brought Paul. She watching Ted and Paul, from this distance he couldn’t see her expression, and he was glad.

  Clarice, like some others, hadn’t forgiven ‘those Lunatics’ for the traumatic and tragic events of the War. He was saddened that he no longer got invitations to the Smitherson’s home. He looked at the old chopper warrior, “Hello Mr. Mayor, thanks for meeting me up here.” He held out and the other man’s hard hand grasped his strongly.

  “Good to see you Mr. President.” He waved at the shade, “Now enough with the platitudes, I don’t have time for politics today....though I hear that the midterm’s already underway Paul?”

  “Hard to believe it’s three years Ted, and this is only the midterm. I guess I have more enemies than I realized, or at least my three opponents seem to think I do. In some ways I wish them luck, if they can get two thirds of the voters to call for a full election I’d be able to bow out three years early. But my team all laughed at me when I said that in a cabinet meeting the other day, said that it’ll be a surprise if they can get two thirds of one percent to vote for a full election. There’s a lot of hot air but no substance to their grievances, so I’m probably doomed to another three years. And I have to say I cannot imagine why anyone would want this sort of job for more than six years!”

  They sat down on the carved rock seat with relief, even though he spent a good quarter of his time on Earth and even more exercising he still found Earth’s gravity a drag.

  Ted laughed as he sat down, and stretched, “I have a hard enough time with the mayor’s job, can’t imagine what your life’s like.”

  “Not that much different Ted, Primus Junction’s almost like a separate state these days given it’s legal status and the lack of road access. I hear that they’re talking of tearing up the railroad and using it as a roadbed?”

  Ted snorted, “Over my dead body, for several year’s there’d be periods of months at a time when our only ground link would be a construction road, no way am I going to agree to that, and the railroad won’t either, thank God..”

  Down in the valley there was a flash of orange, both men turned to watch a heavy lifter climb away from the concrete plant and settle into a curving climb. Ted grunted, “Conti’s got your boys and girls working like slaves on High Junction.”

  Paul sighed “We need the revenue and the good publicity. Finishing the Canal, at least the water works part of it, got one set of bureaucrats off our necks but it didn’t bring in any cash. The resort’s a demonstration of what the Stack makes possible on Earth, the pollution free power and low impact assured transportation provided by stack shuttles.”

  “And Primus Junction being the principle link even though you could link from anywhere on Earth, is going to be another boost to the local economy.” Ted smiled almost wistfully, “Little though we need it. With the spaceport here and your main embassy as well, the town’s growing fast, it’ll have outgrown me by the time my term’s up.”

  Paul reached over to put a hand on the older man’s shoulder, “You got drafted because people knew you’d always do the right thing and fight for the right thing if something hinkey was being pushed on you. By the time you’re ready to go back to full time chef the town will have gotten its feet back under it.”

  Ted grinned faintly, patted Paul’s hand, “That’s what you and others keep saying and I agree most of the time but some Mondays it’s all a bit much. I’d much rather be back at Betsy’s.” He drew in a breath, “But enough of the platitudes Mr. President, to the real business. He pulled out a bag, “You ready?”

  Paul unfolded a board between them, looking up to find Ted’s closed hands held out, he tapped one. Finding that he’d chosen a white pawn and was leading with white in today’s game of chess.

  -o-

  The Sunatran government couldn’t afford an embassy at Luna Haven yet but did maintain a joint US/Luna Republic embassy in Primus Junction. They had bought one of the big Victorian houses that Paul had admired when he first arrived. Paul walked up the steps and into the foyer, the greeter stood with a smile, “Mr. President, good to see you again, the Secretary of State is in the blue room.” She showed him to the door of what had once been the sitting room and withdrew as the two friends shook hands.

  Sunil waved Paul to one of the comfortable chairs in one corner, “Good to see you Paul, ready for the big bash this evening?”

  “I guess so, I can’t believe it’s taken this long to get the damned thing signed.” Officially he was down to sign the US/RoL trade treaty, which simply legalized the facts on the ground that insofar as economic activity went the RoL was a part of the US. It also gave RoL citizens, most of whom were still officially US citizens, all the rights of a green card holder when on US soil. Primus Junction and the valley it resided in were essentially a joint US-RoL economic zone. There were limits but they were reasonable limits.

  “Politicians always want their pound of flesh Paul, in this case they wanted a soapbox to stand on and a place in the bright lights you Lunatics are attracting.” Sunil grinned.

  There was a quiet knock on the side door, which opened to reveal Sathwathet in shimmering orange and gold silks, it was impossible to imagine the fairytale princess in a space suit facing down a space fighter with a sniper rifle. Especially with the little black haired baby asleep in her arms.

  As Paul rose to his feet, Sunil’s wife spoke softly, “Your godson’s a deep sleeper Mr. President.” As he leant down to stroke the fine black hair sleepy brown eyes opened above the little pug nose and the thumb jammed resolutely in his mouth, a little frown of irritation appeared on the smooth skin and the eyelids drooped closed.

  They laughed and chatted for a few minutes and then Sathwathet took the baby back to the nursery. Paul turned to Sunil, “You’ll both be at the ball after the ceremony?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it, chance to meet some old friends I don’t get to see enough of and to talk quietly with folks I can’t normally visit without causing rumors.”

  “Wheeling and dealing as always, I’m glad you’re on our side Sunil.”

  The diplomat smiled, “When the resolution of reunification passed they offered me the job of president of the reunited Sunatra but I held out for Secretary of State, it’s more important than the vice president and it gives me the chance to work on a broader stage. The president’s all about the day to day and I had more than enough of that in the resistance.”

  Paul nodded slowly, realizing he did see a lot more of Sunil than he did of the S
unatran president. Of course some of that was because he was ‘up’ fairly frequently, quite a few of his fighters had stayed on the moon and the Republic of Luna - Sunatra free trade treaty had been key to rapid passage of the reunification treaty.

  Paul was fairly sure Sunil had bigger ideas than just free trade agreements but the ex guerilla was good at keeping his own council and Paul was an official of his government, little as he felt like it at times. As usual they did have some business to conduct and they got down to it before Paul had to leave for his luncheon appointment.

  -o-

  The Luna Republic’s Embassy was all but invisible as you approached it from ground level; an unobtrusive low lying mound with scrub growing on it like the rocky ground all around it. The only obvious approach was a well kept single lane white gravel driveway that snaked through the subtly carved network of scarps and hummocks that would stop anything short of a large scale infantry assault. The lane ended in a cut that dived into an underground garage.

  The two lane road that passed the embassy had a parking area almost opposite the gate. As usual it was half full of cars and a few small groups stood or sat, waved or propped up a variegated batch of signs under the watchful eye of a sheriff’s deputy.

  Paul scanned them, they were the usual mix. One had a very professional logo and the words LUNA for Fifty First State! And a few feet away THE EARTH IS FLAT IT’S ALL A LIE and a bit further along, EXTRADITE THE NUCLEAR CRIMINAL RICHARDS TO THE HAGUE!. Paul, the ‘Richards’ in question, waved jauntily at this last group as his limo turned into the drive.

  Behind the stony lip was a three storey deep crater, its bottom a well tended oasis and the sides made of armor glass, behind which were more plants. It looked like an arboretum rather than an embassy, and it was both. Though most Lunatics loved their desolate home they had rapidly generated a passion for gardens and gardening. They were always interested in new useful plants to add to the collection on the steadily growing number of garden domes at Luna Haven and the two other settlements.

  The parking garage was a lot larger than one would have assumed from the modest approach, it was usually all but empty, today it was busy and tonight it would be full. “Hey boss,” yelled Conti, Paul’s secretary of Infrastructure and Trade who was clambering out of a spaceport shuttle van.

  A couple of military types in mufti hopped out and waved genial salutes at their commander in chief before striding towards the cordoned off area controlled by the US Secret Service contingent.

  Paul strolled up to the van and grabbed a couple of Conti’s bags; the Republic of Luna did not keep staff around to carry bags for people who could carry their own. In the end that would change but Paul figured he could try and set a presidential precedent for the first few decades, George Washington had succeeded in setting much more important ones that had lasted for more than a century.

  Conti sighed, “Getting old Paul, the G get harder every time, try as I do to keep the exercises up.”

  “The only people it doesn’t seem to bother are youngsters, the kids who spend time down as well as up.” Paul grinned, “and Patsy and her pilots, they’ve gotten so they claim they hardly can tell the difference, though I think that’s mostly bravado.”

  The older man grunted again, “Youth, wasted on the young.” He grinned, “I was hoping you’d let me pass this shindig up Paul.”

  “Infrastructure AND Trade Conti, your signature’s on it as well.”

  “It’s already on the blasted thing, we signed it a month ago so the US Air Force could take delivery of those mini-stacks, this is all just show damnit.” They dropped the bags in the embassy hotel foyer and headed towards the office section, bickering amiably as they went.

  In one of the glass walled conference rooms Arkan Olarik was standing with an arm around Helena, his expression relaxed and calm, looking years younger than the Military Governor of Luna Haven. Helena looked younger and softer as well, though her current assignment was almost as risky as fighter pilot’s.

  “Mr. President, Conti, good to see you.” Arkan smiled and, letting his arm drop from Helena’s waist, reached out to shake hands.

  They all smiled and shook hands, Paul held onto Helena’s hand for a moment, “How goes the search? Your reports are pretty slim reading.”

  She smiled thinly, “Pretty grim as well I should think, sir. As you know we recovered the one fighter and shot down the two platforms that were sold to drug cartels and the Chinese let us have two of the ‘missing’ stacks back. The rest,” she shrugged eloquently, “I don’t think we’ll ever see them again and it’s too late anyway. The technological genie is out of the bag, probably was before the end of the War.”

  Five space fighters had run for it at the end of the battle of New Port and seven bombardment Platforms had gone missing. There had been almost thirty stacks in various stages of fabrication when Aristide Industries had come off the rails, ten finished or almost finished and the rest in parts. The whole lot had simply evaporated in the chaos.

  Now Arkan and Helena spent a lot of their time with various intelligence and law enforcement groups tracking the remnants of the Crimson Staff and the location of the space drive.

  Conti sighed, “The secret was going to be impossible to keep once smart people knew what was going on. The Japanese have Mitsubishi building stacks and space craft and have done some low orbit tests already. The Chinese and Russians aren’t far behind, the Indians, Iran, Israel and the Arab Union are all working it like crazy. US, Brits, Canadians and Oz are well in the lead because we’re helping them, but the technology is out there. The only large block that’s stuck its head in the sand so far is the Euro Zone because of the Greens.”

  Helena smiled faintly, “You forget the Nordic block, we spotted a sub orbital run over the pole the other day. They’ve kept their program very quiet but they’re up there with the Japanese,” Helena said with a shrug. “As much as I worry about some of the players in the ‘white,’ I really fear what is going on in the cracks and sewers. The Nordic break out shows that it’s possible to keep a program hidden. The Crimson Staff got a taste of power and it showed the other network threats, like the rump Al-Qaida, what’s possible.”

  They sat and talked for some time but finally it was time to get ready for the ball.

  -o-

  Paul joined the party after the signing and circulated talking to various people, there were representatives from all around the world. All the powers and rising powers of a world given new energy by the opening of a new frontier were here tonight. The Republic of Luna was the leading edge of the frontier, there were no Martians yet. That thought gave his heart a squeeze and he pushed those thoughts aside.

  From his right came a polite, “Good evening, Mr. President.”

  Then Paul turned to smile at the US Secretary of State Roosevelt, “Welcome back to the Republic of Luna on Earth, Mr. Secretary.” The two men shook hands.

  Paul faux furtively glanced around and whispered loudly, “Are we done now Sean?”

  Sean Roosevelt grinned, “I think so, at least for this evening. We’re done with speeches. The president sends his regrets but he really does have a bad case of the flu and the VP is in Afghanistan.”

  “Just as well Sean, rather have you anyway.”

  “Ah, Mr. President, you flatter me, and you give away too much.” This last was said a bit sternly.

  “Thanks for the warning Sean, I do try and take your lessons to heart. Honest!” Paul laid a hand over his breast pocket as he said that.

  “There were about thirty Fifty First State’rs marching along the road both this afternoon and this evening. They’re getting some real traction, and you’re not helping.” Sean said a bit crossly.

  “Moi?” Paul asked innocently.

  “You Lunies in general, but yes you too, you young reprobate. People love that you basically kept the US Constitution with a few, emphasis on few, simple, key updates that people in the US have
been begging for, for years. Then started passing some really knock them dead simple and common sense laws. Hell there’ve been a few jokes on the late night shows about having the US petition the RoL for us to join you.”

  Paul was still laughing as put his empty wine glass on a passing waiter’s tray. Then he almost caused an accident as he saw a familiar/unfamiliar face and figure parting the crowd. The Secretary chuckled, “Oh yes I forgot to tell you that I brought my Deputy Secretary for Space Affairs and Technology with me tonight.” Then he turned away leaving Paul standing stunned.

  Julia was in full Formal Air Force Regalia The tall round neck of the white shirt had her rank flashes on either side. The shirt was silk, the buttons were black onyx. The long dress was the new ‘space’ blue with silver piping down the slash in the side. The dress ended just above the ankle to show that modified riding boots under them were polished to a mirror finish. The dress belted at the waist with a polished black leather belt and silver buckle. Over the shirt was a short cutaway jacket, of deep blue. The lapels were the gray of a line officer. It was open at the front with silver buttons and silver stitching down either side. It was gorgeously rich and aggressively retro and she was stunning in it.

  But then she was always stunning to him, even now, especially now.

  It had been a numbingly jam packed two years since the Battle of New Port. They had woken up on the Ronald Reagan in hospital beds next to each other. She had been almost the first thing he saw when he woke, up and he had been the first thing she saw. They had spent a day and a bit recuperating, and talking, before Paul had finally let his sense of duty drive him up and away from her.

  And then it had been a year of gradually more infrequent calls, texts and e-mails before they met again. The year had evaporated as she became buried in the job of managing the Challenger program and, for four frantic months, the Rapier fighter program as well, after its program manager had died of a heart attack. He had been wrapped up in the Republic of Luna and its relationship with the old world. A couple of times it had only been the remoteness of the moon that had kept war off the table as the terrestrial powers had tried to grapple with their changed status.

  They had met at the White House, he had been utterly focused on being the face of his republic and she had been dancing with handsome general and they had met as acquaintances rather than friends, or more.

  Then she had commanded the first human mission to Mars, had planted a US flag on the surface and spent ten days in the public eye hopping from place to place discovering wonders and gathering data that was even now being used for planning a Martian colony. After her return, at one of the many balls held in honor of the journey they had met again as acquaintances in the public eye, had smiled and shaken hands and moved on.

  That had been three months ago.

  She came to a stop, alone, a faint almost wistful smile on her face, she bowed, “Mr. President.”

  “Colonel Secretary.” She had made full colonel in record time now she was back as a full time officer.

  She dimpled, “One or the other Paul, I’m allowed to dress as I like on my time, but when I’m at Foggy Bottom I’m Deputy Secretary ma’am, at the Pentagon, Colonel sir.”

  Paul opened his mouth to say something gently humorous, to pass the time to relieve the pressure that was wrapping his chest. “I still love you Julia...can I call you...have I left it too long?” He could hardly believe that it was his mouth speaking the words, but the pressure around his heart eased.

  It was her turn to stand stiff and still, the charming sprinkle of freckles on her cheek a little more distinct than usual. His heart was beginning to tighten when at last her smile curled wickedly, pink infused her cheeks and he saw that her eyes were bright, “I’m so sorry I let my job get in the way Paul, I really didn’t mean to,” she replied softly.

  “Neither did I, it was at least as much my fault.” He took a step closer.

  She took a step closer and they were within lovers distance, his senses were filled with her, and his mind was blinded by the gentle smile, the glow of happiness that she suddenly gave off. His hand came out to rest on her hip and hers touched his chest, they kissed, a chaste kiss with a promise of many futures.

  There were claps and a few cheers from around, Paul glanced and suddenly realized that there was a circle around them, a circle mostly filled with familiar, smiling faces with relief or ‘at last!’ written on them.

  Conti yelled from the crowd, “OK, beat up the band, we need some dancing music here. We have a rather overdue reconciliation to celebrate tonight!”

  -3 Years Later-

  “Luna One, this is US Aerospace Control, Cheyenne Mountain.”

  “Cheyenne Mountain, this is Luna One, receiving,” Patsy’s reply was crisply laconic over the bridge channel that Paul was listening to..

  “Your request for a direct descent has been approved Luna One.”

  “Thanks Aerospace Control, Luna One out.”

  Paul leaned back and watched the world roll past. The passenger compartment of the brand new mixed passage space liner had been built by one of the companies who’d been building tourist rockets for the past decade, it had huge oval windows and the view was spectacular.

  Patsy loved her sleek white command. Anyone who knew anything could see that the overall aerodynamic ‘gloss’ was functionally pointless but no one, least of all Patsy, cared; the ship looked ‘cool,’ which Patsy had been at pains to ensure, for a class of ships that would be making regular runs into air-space ports all over the world.

  This was Luna One’s second trip to earth, the first had been a shakedown run with some light cargo. Officially this was still part of shakedown but like in the days of the first Moonship flights they still didn’t have time to waste on testing for testing’s sake.

  Patsy killed orbital velocity and accelerated down into the atmosphere. As they curved down to a straight fall the atmosphere began to buffet the ship but Patsy kept their velocity low enough to prevent any damaging heating. Near peak velocity the buffets got stronger and weight faded to a negligible quantity then the stacks took up the load, slowing the descent into Primus Junction Aerospace, as the new field had been finally named. It was fall again and the air was cold, the sky around them faded from black to clear, deep blue, except for the few white puffy clouds that they passed between in an instant.

  It seemed like only a few moments later he could see the town laid out through the big port like a model railroaders utopian image of a early twentieth century western town. Then the homes and businesses were hidden by trees and the landing gear deployed with a thump, Paul caught sight of the cross on the beautiful little brick and white church’s bell tower. Then there were trees with a few bronzed leaves and a soft thump as the shuttle settled onto the landing pattern painted on the gravel parking apron next to the church.

  He felt more than heard the stacks go off line and the APU start up, the sound proofing was very good.

  “All ashore, end of the line.” Patsy stood smiling down at him “You too Mr. President.” He had been in such a deep funk that he had hardly noticed the hatch opening and the rest of the passengers filing out.

  Paul grimaced up at her, “Don’t call me that Patsy, that nightmare’s over thank god.”

  She grinned, “Once a president always Mr. President you know, and don’t bet on it being over. You can run again after Mrs. Olarik’s term’s over.”

  He squeezed the bridge of his nose, “Oh lord, please don’t even mention that possibility to anyone.”

  She laughed evilly, “I heard you tried to have them change the constitution to get rid of the ‘draft’ provision and the ability to serve more than one term, no takers I hear.”

  “Bastards thought it was funny,” He sighed looking at her big grin, “Just like you. I’d be careful, or I’ll petition to have you drafted, you’ll be just about the right age next time around.”

  She looked horrifie
d, then smiled crookedly, “OK boss, you win, I’ll drop it.”

  “Good!” He said standing up, he felt a bit heavy and clumsy for a few steps, but he’d get over it fast, he spent almost half his time on Earth and after almost eight years his body had adapted to changing back and forth.

  Sunil stuck his head in the hatch and called, “Hey Paul, you’re overdue.”

  Paul waved and proceeded down the gangway between the twelve rows of seats to the main hatch. He could have sat up front but he had insisted on paying his way and he wasn’t paying for a first class seat even if he could afford it.

  Sunil, Sathwathet and four year old Paul stood waiting, Sathwathet breathtaking in her golden sari styled dress. Sunil was still Sunatra’s Secretary of State, though he spent more time in the US and on Luna than back at home. Paul shook Sunil’s hand, hugged Sathwathet and picked up his young namesake, who laughed at him, gave him a quick hug then wriggled to get down.

  Conti and his wife were talking to the Smitherson’s, Clarice caught him looking and waved with a small smile, she had finally forgiven Paul and the pair had even made a visit to Luna Haven.

  Major Tien and his wife, with Sergeant Thompson and his wife listening politely were talking to a tall man with a weather carved face and a slim gray haired woman of ageless beauty, Sam Chisholm and Julia’s mother the original Alexis Aurora.

  Arkan Olarik towered over a gathering of dignitaries, his face calm if stern, the crowd swirled and Paul saw Helena standing just in front of her husband. Paul was happy that she had run for, and won, the Republic of Luna’s presidency, she would do well and she had the goodwill of a lot of people both on Luna and Earth, in particular she had a lot of contacts in the US Government.

  Then Paul saw ex-US Secretary of State Roosevelt coming through the crowd, “Good to see you again Paul.” The two men exchanged smiles and shook hands.

  “Good to see you Sean, how does it feel to be a private citizen again?”

  Sean Roosevelt grinned, “Pretty good I think, I did help with the speech for this evening but the new boy has to give it.” He grinned at his rather disrespectful reference to the, relatively, youthful new President who had beat Sean’s old boss rather soundly. Paul knew that Sean actually liked the new president and Paul certainly found him a lot easier to talk to.

  They turned and started to walk towards the church and the crowd around it, beyond a police line some groups were holding up signs, one saying LUNA’S CONSTITUION FOR THE US NOW!!!. A few feet away was the evergreen EXTRADITE THE NUCLEAR CRIMINAL RICHARDS TO THE HAGUE!, and a bit further along, CHRIST DIDN’T NEED THE STARS NEITHER DO WE. Paul waved at them, “Wow, they just don’t give up do they.”

  “The Expansionists should know that they’ve won as much as they’re going to win. The Nativists are just too strong for anything beyond the North America and Luna Free Passage Zone.” Sean said a bit crossly.

  “Can’t blame people for wishing, the changes we implemented all seem to be working pretty much as intended, including keeping the lawyers tamed,” Paul pointed out with a grin.

  “I’m a lawyer damn it, and proud of it, you young reprobate.”

  Paul, patted the older man’s back, “But you’ve spent your career trying to make the world better, not figuring out ways to screw people or the law. And you’re one of the good guys.”

  “Phooey on you boy,” the older man waved him off, then grinned, “But thanks. But you know the Lawyer problems we’ve been suffering is an oversupply problem left over from the bubble starting forty years back and only beginning to tail off now.”

  “I do now Professor Roosevelt, I did read your book on the Education Bubble and its affect on the profession of law.”

  “Oh, you were one of the ten people who bought a copy were you?” Sean grumbled.

  Paul laughed. as he walked towards the church steps. He paused when he felt and heard the distinctive grumble of a Paaly stack under power. Turning with one foot on the step he saw the squat gray cone of a US Interplanetary Service Challenger class ship dropping towards a second temporary landing zone on the other side of the church entrance.

  The first series US production space craft was based on the old Orion space capsule. It was a small general purpose freight and passenger craft but Julia had landed the prototype on Mars and dropped probes into the atmosphere of Venus, proving once and for all that mankind owned their home system now.

  A few moments later the hatch swung inwards and steps unfolded, an instant later Admiral Davies, Chief of the US Interplanetary Service, ducked out, followed by his chief of staff Colonel Derry Jenkins. Both men smiled and waved when they saw Paul.

  Derry called out, “Hey you’re supposed to be inside!”

  Then Julia appeared and as soon as her eyes found Paul her face lit up, Paul’s world narrowed to one person.

  The three years since their meeting at the RoL Embassy had passed in a blur. The first year had tried to undo what his unpracticed words had been able to heal, the year had evaporated as she lead a mission to drop probes into Venus’ atmosphere then come back to be handed the reins of the Rapier fighter program when the program had hit a logjam of problems.

  But they had both matured and they’d created together time, sometimes by brute force. He still had a wonderful memory of being invited to the Chisholm family Thanksgiving and arriving just in time for the main event, in one of the incredibly ugly Luna Bugs, a horrid mix of construction shack module and Hopper. On another date he’d picked her up in the Bug at Edward’s Air Force Base and flown her to meet his parent’s for dinner. Then there had been the weekend in Hawaii.

  Paul turned and walked away from the church, she was wearing the a flight suit in the IS bluegray. She looked like everyman’s dream in it. But then she was always his dream.

  They hugged and kissed, unaware of the others.

  “Paul.” Derry called from the church, then a strong feminine voice called, “Julia,” sternly.

  The pair turned contritely to find Derry and Julia’s mother on the steps, waving them in.

  Mrs. Chisholm called, “Paul, you were supposed to be inside. You have things to do before the pair of you can ignore the rest of us, and Missy, you are due in a dressing room right now!”

  Paul winced contritely and started to pull away, but Julia laughed and grabbed his hand as she started towards the church. “Come on, we need keep the fussbudgets happy.”

  Hand in hand they ran towards the church.

  In a few hours they would be space bound once more. Their first night as a married couple would be aboard the Republic of Luna registered space liner Mars Dreaming. In two days they’d be at Virgin Resort’s Mars Base One, where they’d spend at least some of their time with the exploration teams.

  ####

  After-note

  https://www.ThisWorldandOthers.wordpress.com.

  Cheers

  M.A.Harris