Starhawk

Chapter 42

THEIR REPORT ARRIVED in the solar system eleven hours before they did. When the Baumbachner surfaced, 950,000 kilometers out, they checked in with Ops and, within moments, Frank was on the circuit. “Jake,” he said, “are you sure there were no survivors?”

“We only found the one body,” he said. “But the Vincenti was torn apart. There’s no way any of them could have gotten through it.”

“Were you able to recover the body?”

“No, Frank. It’s in their lander. The gravity’s too much.”

“Okay. There’ll probably be a follow-up mission. We can get it then.” He sighed. “We’re thinking about what part of this to release. We were hoping— Well, none of that matters. We’ll see you when you get here.”

* * *

THEY ARRIVED IN port two days later. One of Frank’s staff people was waiting at the dock to escort them to his office. Patricia was with him when they arrived. “I’ve read the report half a dozen times,” Patricia said. “Tell us again: How did you guys find the lander?”

“It’s hard to explain,” said Jake. “There were some atmospheric lights. They were directly over the spot where it had gone down.”

“Atmospheric lights? What actually do you mean?”

“I don’t know any other way to describe them. They were literally pointing at the lander.”

Patricia broke in: “Jake, you’re not exaggerating?”

“No. It’s just the way I described it.”

The director glanced at Priscilla, who nodded. “That’s correct. We have it all on the record.”

Patricia frowned. “Were they the only lights in the area?”

“Yes,” said Jake. “As far as we could tell, they were the only lights on the planet.”

“That’s going to be hard to explain.”

“I guess,” said Jake. “But I’ll tell you, without those lights, we’d still be out there looking.”

“Okay.” Frank’s tone suggested the story made no sense. “We’ll figure it out later. Tell me how the lander got onto the hilltop.”

Jake took a chip out of one pocket and held it out for him. “This is Simon, the lander AI. Giving his description of what happened.”

Frank inserted the chip into the projector. They listened while Simon went through it again. When it had finished, Frank and Patricia sat staring at each other. Finally, the director shook her head. “This gets crazier all the time, Frank.”

“I know.”

“Well, it’s not really our business at this point.” The director looked frustrated. “You guys complete a report for us. Don’t skimp on the details.”

“We already have it,” said Jake.

“Good.” She turned back to Frank. “Let’s bring the Academy people up to date. I assume they’ll want to figure out a way to retrieve the body. They’ll be annoyed at us for not doing it.” Her eyes went back to Jake, but she didn’t pursue the issue. “Let them know we’ll give them whatever help we can.” She shook her head. “A superdense rock. And an invisible parachute. What’s next?” With that closing comment, she got up and started to leave.

“Wait,” said Jake.

She stopped. “There’s more?”

“I want to tell you about the rain.”

* * *

WHEN THEY’D FINISHED explaining, Frank made no effort to hide his smile. “And you think that was, what, a way for an alien force of some kind to say hello?”

“It felt that way,” said Priscilla. “Rain in a place that was brutally cold. Or should have been.”

“Did you experience a change in the temperature?”

“Yes. It got warmer. A lot warmer.”

“What’s the temperature usually like out there? A hundred and something below zero?”

“Usually,” said Jake. “But we’re obviously getting some wild fluctuations.”

Patricia took a deep breath. “So it, whatever it is, was saying hello. Don’t we usually associate getting rained on as a negative experience?”

“We’re not suggesting anything,” Jake said. “We agreed before we got home that we wouldn’t try to put an interpretation on this. And I guess we got carried away. We’re just telling you what happened.”

“Still,” she said, “that’s what you think?”

“Maybe you had to be there,” Priscilla said. “But yes, that’s what I think.”

Patricia nodded. “If someone tossed water at me, I’d read it a little differently.” Her eyes seemed focused in a distant place.

“It might be a good idea,” Frank told them, “if you didn’t repeat this part of the story outside.”

“Yes, please,” said Patricia. “We don’t want people thinking we’ve completely lost our minds. But I think Samantha should be informed.” She meant Samantha Campbell, the director of the Academy Project. “Any other surprises?” she asked.

“That’s it,” said Jake.

“Good.” She headed for the door. “I think I’ll get out of here while I can.”

When she was gone, Frank leaned forward. “One more thing. The families will be setting up a memorial service in a few days. Just so you know. But I don’t see any need for you to attend. Jake, you’re clear. Thanks for helping. We appreciate it. You too, Priscilla.”

* * *

“PRISCILLA,” SAID JAKE when they were alone, “you know we’re going to hear from the Academy about this.”

“I’d be shocked if we didn’t. I’m surprised Frank and Patricia brushed it off.”

“They weren’t there. For them, it’s just one more problem.” He looked toward the Cockpit. “I could use a drink. You with me?”

* * *

LIBRARY ENTRY

MCGRUDER PRESS CONFERENCE

UBS: Governor, as recently as last week, you were saying that spaceflight was an unnecessary expense, that it had no long-term payback. Yesterday, during your remarks at the National Space Center, you said that—let me make sure I have the quote correct—you said that our expansion beyond this planet demonstrates who we are. Could you elucidate on that?

MCGRUDER: Look, Bob, when I discussed long-term payback, I was talking about money. With the present technology, resources invested in space travel are effectively gone. I’m sorry it’s that way, but that is the reality. That’s not the same as saying there’s no reason to do it. It’s obvious to us all that we have an obligation to move off-world, to find other places where the human family can live. To go out and explore, to look around and learn everything we can about the universe. It’s what we’re about, Bob. To find out. All I’m saying is that we should do it without breaking the bank.

—February 12, 2196