One Giant Leap

by Keith Martin

  And Otto got the vacuum chamber installed to keep the critters in their proper place. He didn’t want spiders shorting out some piece of equipment they couldn’t replace.

  * * *

  A team of thirty scientists worked on making an Earth type environment on the Moon. Some things didn’t work, the Moon gravity was too low, or atmospheric pressure was wrong. They didn’t expect everything to work as it would on Earth; most things did just fine though.

  A major push was to compost crop, food and human waste into soil. There is no fertile soil on the Moon. And there was no way to bring it up from the Earth. So they were making their own in the greenhouses. They were producing one point two five acres of soil ten inches deep every year.

  This soil was what Otto was looking for to grow crops the way he wanted. He wanted to watch the young learn to dig and plant. Without soil there was only hydroponics. That works great for growing food. It grows even more than traditional farming will. “But it’s no way to teach the little ones.” He was heard to say. Many agreed with him.

  * * *

  Otto didn’t work in any one area on the Moon. He was voted Second In Command by a landslide without even running for the position and he was found guilty of using his abilities to help everyone he could. His insight was so strong he was better used to help the Moon and its people as a whole. His ideas made hard jobs easy and he simplified the difficult. When your mind was stumped or you had a problem you couldn’t get past, you called Otto. He would have it worked out in seconds.

  Today was Vic’s turn to use the master thinker. “Hey Otto, do you have a few seconds I could steal from you?”

  “Sure Vic, what’s up” The two friends shook hands as Vic took a seat. Otto could see that something was really bothering his friend. He had his full attention now.

  “Well, I don’t want to be some repressive cop Otto, you know that. But I keep getting whiffs of tobacco and at times pot in the chamber”

  Otto was relieved it was something so trivial. “You do?” He over acted his concern. “Very interesting.” He placed his fingertips together as if giving this some real thought. “Is it happening here in the main base also?”

  Vic knew his friend was teasing him, and he was well aware that this was not much of a crime. But it was up to him to report anything that could affect the performance of the work being done on the base. He just cut to the chase and let Otto’s little jest go by without reacting. “Yes Otto, by now they should have run out of those things. We all expected it to get used up in a few months. But I think we have growers taking care of the need now.”

  “Growers?” Otto was not ready to believe there could be more than one grower, if there was any at all?

  “Or grower.”

  “I see.” Otto waited for Vic to continue.

  “I haven’t gone looking for the crop yet. I’m not comfortable about going through crew quarters just to find this stash. I thought we could talk with Chris first; maybe get Ton in on it too. It could be one of his miners. You know how he protects them.”

  “Let’s get Chris on this right now then, we need to look into it. He dialed four and waited.

  “Chris Walker.” The Base Commander answered.

  “Where are you Chris?” Otto asked.

  “C&C, {Communications and Control}. Why? What’s up?”

  “Could you meet us up at Ton’s place right away? We have a little thing we need to weed out.” He had to just to get his friends goat.

  Vic shot him with the glance of death he practiced to use as a police officer.

  “Give me thirty minutes my friend, I have a few things I’m into right now. As soon as I finish up I’m on the way.” Chris assured him.

  “Thanks Chris; see you in a bit then.” He hung up and dialed five.

  “You got Ton here.”

  “Ton we will be at your place in less than thirty. Can you be there?”

  “I'm here at my place now Otto. What’s up?”

  “We will talk when we all get there. See you in thirty.” Otto shot back and hung up. The meeting was set. “Let’s take a walk my friend.” Otto said to Vic as the two rose and started for the main hall. From the chow hall it was close to a mile down to Tons place.

  It was easy to stay in shape on the Moon. Just walking to a meeting took twenty minutes the base was so spread out.

  Once all parties arrived and coffee was served the meeting got rolling. Vic took the lead. “Well men, I know we all talked about pot and tobacco just after I took this job. At that time we all agreed that it would be used up in just a few months. It hasn’t. It may be grown on base now; I get a whiff of it now and then, as I’m walking in the chamber, and sometimes in the tunnels. I did a check of the greenhouses and looked through all the planters, all were clean. I do not want to be thought of as a hard ass cop. But you men took me on as a cop up here and it’s my job to make sure nothing happens that could be of any risk to this base. We agreed the rule was to be no smoking and no drugs, drinking only on Saturdays. I don’t see any sign of hard drug use and hell…. I could use a Camel now and again. But if we just turn a blind eye to this we could be opening up a Pandora’s box. I don’t want anything going on behind our backs. If it’s not regulated with some kind of control, then it’s a crime. I need your input before I act on this. Any questions?”

  That was the most any of them had ever heard Vic say in one sitting.

  Ton took the floor. “Do you think it’s one of my men from the digging crews or one of the women?”

  “I'm not sure who it is or we would all be talking with them right now. I'm just sure there’s a crop in the main chamber somewhere and you’re like the Mayor of the chamber Ton. So I’m checking with you first.”

  “I see what you mean Vic.” Ton replied.

  “If it were left up to you, how would you handle it?” Chris asked Vic.

  “Well I hate lies more than anything, whomever it is growing this crop is keeping it from us. No one asked me if it was ok to grow it? Any of you get asked?”

  They all responded no.

  “I don’t want to put this party in a position to have to lie to me. Once they did that I could never trust them again. And I’m not of the mind to go door to door looking for the crop. That would do me no good with those who are not involved. I kind of feel as if this is a rock and a hard place kind of thing that’s why I called you men here and set it in your laps. I enforce laws… I don’t make them.”

  “So what you’re saying is that you’re a good cop now, and you don’t want to be forced into playing bad cop?” Chris teased Vic.

  “Right on the money!” Vic replied whole-heartedly. “And I’m just a man like the rest of us. I could really use a cigarette every once in a while. Plus we are only talking about pot. It’s not like their using hard drugs. I’d rather see a man smoke a little pot than drink themselves stupid.”

  “I say we have a town meeting on this. Everyone over eighteen years of age is to attend and have a voice in this. We put it to a vote first then decide what we do from there.” Otto suggested.

  “I second that.” Chris cut in. “All in favor of this vote say ‘Aye’.”

  As one they all replied ‘Aye’.

  “Motion passes.” Chris started to chuckle. “I really love this place.”

  “How about 9pm in the chamber at the common area? There’s plenty of room for us all there and when the meeting ends everyone will vote as they go up the ramp to the base. We vote and send everyone on home. They all have work in the morning.” Ton suggested.

  ‘Aye.’ They all called out as one again.

  “You guys are great; but nuts to work with. Thanks for taking this off my shoulders.” Vic said relieved.

  * * *

  Chris made the announcement over the P.A. system so everyone would know at once what was going on. “Tonight there will be a meeting at nine pm in the common area of the main chamber. All personnel over age of eighteen are asked to attend. There will be a vote tonight, so
please make it on time. Thanks… That is all.”

  The base was alive with talk of the impending meeting. The rumors generated about the reason for this meeting were as numerous as the people who would be attending.

  At 9pm the personnel were assembled and it looked as if everyone was on hand. Chris started off the evening with a greeting to them all. “Thank you all for your time. Vic has something to say then we will get on with the vote. So without farther ado, I’ll let him get to it.” He turned to Vic. “It’s all yours old man.” He turned to crew over to him then he took his seat.

  Vic hated this, but he knew it had to be done. He reluctantly stood and walked to the very edge of the stage. “My friends, thanks again for coming down to hear me out, I’ll get to the meat of this meal right away; then you will all have a hour to talk this out before the vote. As you all know there is an agreement… that we would not have drugs or tobacco here on the Moon. I know when we first started to arrive here that these laws…. or rules were kind of hard to swallow for some of you. I myself was a two pack a day man. But it is the law, so we all adhered to it for the good of us all. At this time we in administration would like to know how you, the people, feel about these laws. If we rescind these laws, there will still be controls. I was thinking a pack a day for smokers. No on the job smoking, we are talking pot, no smoking at all in halls or common areas except the bar. Smoking will be permitted at the park and in the greenhouses, and at any time in your own homes. The vote will take place in one hour. Please talk freely about this and let us know your feelings. If you think these rules need modifying please do so before submitting to the vote. In closing, hard drug use will never be accepted on my watch. If I find hard drugs on this base, the person or persons involved will do hard time. Again we vote at 10pm.” He started to walk back to his seat then stopped and added. “One last thing… will the person, or persons who are growing these products at this time please report to me after the vote. Thank You.” The chamber went silent as church mice. They were shocked by his last request. He turned and with the commanders they all headed up to Ton’s to give the personnel some time to talk this out.

  All watched them silently until they reached the lift up to Ton’s place; then Dr. Craft started the ball rolling.

  The voting population just stood there frozen for a few seconds. It was as if they couldn’t believe what they had just heard. Then the sound of discussion started to fill the air. It didn’t get heated. It was just learned professionals working out a problem.

  As the lift opened for Ton, Vic, Chris, Steve and Otto; the sound of the debate rose up to the living chamber. “Sounds as if they are working it all out Vic” Chris stated as they took to the porch.

  “What’s your poison boy’s?” Steve asked as he opened the bar. With an hour of hashing it out to go he was not planning to sit around with a parched throat.

  After ten minutes, the call button was pressed and the lift went down to pick up its load. Two minutes later the lift doors opened Chief stepped off and entered the porch looking sheepish as he walked up to Vic and said. “You wanted to see me Vic?”

  Keith Irwin III, a stocky U.S. raised Southern Boy half-breed native with a permanent smile and a green thumb. He had glowing brown eyes, and he was a man to run the river with. He was the Commander the greenhouses and he was known as a leader. He was studying Advanced Closed System Farming Techniques at the time the virus struck. He was a friend of Joshua’s and was one of the first men Joshua asked to move to the Moon. So his job in the greenhouses seemed the best place for him. It was also noticed that he always worked with a crew of women. He was still single at twenty-two years of age. He could have had a wife, if he wanted one. But he was a wild colt and too fast to get a rope on. It was rumored that many had tried. But no one woman could keep up with him.

  “Sit down Chief.” Vic invited him to a seat. Keith came up from Oregon State University with a handle… ‘Big Chief Pleaseum.’ On the Moon it was shortened to Chief. He had a way with the female population of the college and had earned his moniker. His first goal in life was to please the ladies… then he grew some of the best Green bud in Oregon’s history. He named it Little Chief Pleaseum.

  “A drink?” Steve asked.

  “That would be great; whatever you men are drinking would be fine.” He said as he handed Vic a perfect hand rolled cigarette and a lighter. “Sorry for hiding it from you Vic. Mom always said I was a rogue.” He smiled and batted his eyes jesting with his friend for forgiveness.

  Vic looked at the smoke and asked. “Tobacco…right?”

  “Unless you would like a joint?” Chief seemingly pulled a joint out of thin air with a flick of his wrist and held it out to Vic. “A full gram of Little Chief Pleaseum my friend?”

  Everyone laughed and Vic fired up his first smoke in more than a year and inhaled deeply. “Now that’s nice!”

  Steve handed Chief his drink and swiped the joint. He turned to Vic with the joint in his mouth. “Can I light this now Vic? Or do I wait for the vote?”

  “I'm not your Momma!” Vic barked at him and everyone laughed.

  “I’m not in Dutch with you, am I Vic?” Chief asked sheepishly putting on an act like an errant child.

  “You came clean as soon as you knew I was on your trail. Your stock just went up in my book Partner.” Vic was a man quick to forgive as long as the truth was free for the asking once he was on the trail.

  Chief took his seat and sat back, the relief he felt was obvious for all to see. “That’s a load off my mind. I never wanted to be on your bad side Vic. But then I had my Medical Card for 8 years when the virus hit. I didn’t know how to say... Ok Josh, ill come to the Moon and you can save my life but I’m bringing my life’s work with me and it’s Weed!”

  After a new round of laughter Otto asked. “How do you think the vote will go Chief?” He wanted to get on with business and away from this banter.

  “I say it will go seven out of ten yes. If it were just weed we were voting on it would be nine of ten or better. Weed never killed a soul and everyone knows it.” Chief shot Steve a sideward glance and he handed over the burning joint with a smile. Chief inhaled deeply then said. “To do it right, I will need about three acres to take care of the need. Can we get seed from Earth, or do I need to just improve what I’ve got? The hemp fibers will have a thousand uses too.”

  “Slow down Chief... Let’s get the vote done first. Then we can talk of space to do this if it’s needed.” Chris advised him reining him in.

  The vote came in at ten pm and it was passed. Dr Craft had made a change to the new rule, and it was on this change that the population had voted on. 10 cigarettes a day and 1.5 grams of pot a day max. He cited health issues as his reasoning for the change and no one argued.

  “Well Chief… you get your three acres, but the food crop work comes first. You’re going to have to keep books on all of this, and there will be no fudging the numbers. Agreed?” Chris stated.

  “Agreed Chris.” He answered quickly holding up three fingers like a good scout vowing his word.

  “Now let’s see this crop of yours.” Vic said.

  “Ohhhh! Busted!!!!” Steve and Ton teased him at the same time. They all laughed and started on their way to the chamber floor. Chief had to give up his secret hole in a wall filled with the finest he could grow while keeping it under cover.

  Vic had one last thing to ask and it was a real concern. “Chief, do you sell the Weed?”

  Chief just started laughing and admitted. “I give it all away Vic. Don’t even trade for it. Just give what I can’t smoke away.”

  * * *

  Joshua was flying to Mars every other month on supply runs. It was a two-week trip he did not like to take. He knew he had to take the good with the bad, so he did it without complaint. He was doing his part, and that was what counted.

  This was supposed to be Pete’s first run to the red planet as Commander of the mission. But Pete was on the sick list, grounded until he was c
ertified fit for duty. “I feel fine Joshua.” He coughed twice into his hand. “What’s with the Medical staff? It’s just a few little bugs. I’ll be fine.” They started to push each other around playfully as Pete escorted Joshua to Suit Up at Pre Flight. Walking through the halls of base, the two were greeted along the way by single women looking to catch one of the two Commanders. To the women of S.M.B. these two men were the hottest tickets in town; most would do anything to catch one of them.

  Joshua had finished Pete’s advanced training and he had finished all of his required tests. In just under two years Joshua had made a top notch Commander out of him. Now the first time Pete was assigned a mission as Commander and he was sick and Joshua was not happy.

  Joshua had advised him to stay out of the bar and to stop kissing every girl he came across. Being a Commander had turned Pete into a major target for the single women on the Moon. The single women were after him like bees to honey and he had to have his fun with them all. Now he was sick and Joshua was going to have to cover for him.

  Joshua was not pleased at all.

  He was looking forward to some time off from the non-stop schedule he had. Personally, he didn’t like the bar scene. It’s not that he didn’t like going out; but he was looking for a wife. And no girl from the bar would be his wife. He spent so much time in the cockpit that short of sleep, he was never on base long enough to look for a woman.

  Some of those who knew him best had let some of the good professional women on the Moon know that he was looking for a mate. But covering for a friend was a duty that couldn’t be broken in his book. The fact that it was going to cost Pete dearly for this was not in question. He would just have to start his search for a wife next time around.