The Rolling Stones

XIX - THE ENDLESS TRAIL

Hazel had used the ancient fakir's trick, brought to the west, so it is said, by an entertainer called Houdini, of breathing as shallowly as possible and going as quickly as may be into a coma. To hear her tell it, there never had been any real danger. Die? Shucks, you couldn't suffocate in a coffin in that length of time. Sure, she had had to depend on Lowell to keep up the cry for help; he used less oxygen. But deliberate suicide to save the boy? Ridiculous! There hadn't been any need to.

It was not until the next day that Roger Store called the boys in. He told them, "You did a good job on the rescue. We'll forget the technical breach of confinement to the ship."

Castor answered, "It wasn't anything. Hazel did it, really. I mean, it was an idea that we got out of her serial, the skew orbit episode."

"I must not have read that one."

"Well, it was a business about how to sort out one piece of space from another when you don't have too much data to go on. You see, Captain Sterling had to -"

"Never mind. That's not what I wanted to talk with you about, you did a good job, granted, no matter what suggested it to you. If only conventional search methods had been used, your grandmother would unquestionably now be dead. You are two very intelligent men - when you take the trouble. But you didn't take the trouble soon enough. Not about the gyros."

"But Dad, we never dreamed -"

"Enough." He reached for his waist; the twins noticed that he was wearing an old-fashioned piece of apparel - a leather belt. He took it off. "This belonged to your great grandfather. He left it to your grandfather - who in turn left it to me. I don't know how far back it goes - but you might say that the Stone family was founded on it." He doubled it and tried it on the palm of his hand. "All of us, all the way back, have very tender memories of it. Very tender. Except you two." He again whacked his palm with it.

Castor said, "You mean you're going to beat us with that?"

"Have you any reason to offer why I shouldn't?"

Castor looked at Pollux, sighed and moved forward, I'll go first, I'm the older."

Roger moved to a drawer, put the belt inside. "I should have used it ten years ago." He closed the drawer. "It's too late, now."

"Aren't you going to do it?"

"I never said I was going to. No."

The twins swapped glances. Castor went on. "Dad - Captain. We'd rather you did."

Pollux added quickly, "Much rather."

"I know you would. That way you'd be through with it. But instead you're going to have to live with it. That's the way adults have to do it."

"But Dad -"

"Go to your quarters, sir."

When it was timefor the Rolling Stone to leave for Ceres a good proportion of the community crowded into City Hall to bid the doctor and her family good-by; all the rest were hooked in by radio, a full town meeting. Mayor Fries made a speech and presented them with a scroll which made them all honorary citizens of Rock City, now and forever; Roger Stone tried to answer and choked up. Old Charlie, freshly bathed, cried openly. Meade sang one more time into the microphone, her soft contralto unmixed this time with commercialism. Ten minutes later the Stone drifted out-orbit and back.

As at Mars, Roger Stone left her circum Ceres, not at a station or satellite - there was none - but in orbit. Hazel, the Captain, and Meade went down by shuttle to Ceres City, Meade to see the sights. Roger to arrange the disposal of their high grade and core material and for a cargo of refined metal to take back to Luna, Hazel to take care of business or pleasure of her own. Doctor Stone chose not to go - on Lowell's account; the shuttle was no more than an over-sized scooter with bumper landing gear.

The twins were still under hatches, not allowed to go.

Meade assured them, on return, that they had not missed anything. "It's just like Luna City, only little and crowded and no fun."

Their father added, "She's telling the truth, boys, so don't take it too hard. You'll be seeing Luna itself next stop anyway.

"Oh, we weren't kicking!" Castor said stiffly.

"Not a bit," insisted Pollux. "We're willing to wait for Luna."

Roger Stone grinned, "You're not fooling anyone. But we will be shaping orbit home in a couple of weeks. In a way I'm sorry. All in all, it's been two good years."

Meade said suddenly, "Did you say "home" Daddy? It seems to me we are home. We're going back to Luna, but we're taking home with us."

"Eh? Yes, I suppose you're right; the good old Rolling Stone ishome, looked at that way. She's taken us through a lot." He patted abulkhead affectionately. "Right, Mother?"

Hazel had been unusually silent. Now she looked at her son and said, "Oh, sure, sure. Of course."

Dr. Stone said, "What did you do downside, Mother Hazel?"

"Me? Oh, not much. Swapped lies with a couple of old-timers. And sent off that slough episodes. By the way, Roger, better start thinking about story lines."

"Eh? What was that, Mother?"

"That's my last. I'm giving the show back to you."

"Well, all right - but why?"

"Uh, I'm not going to find it so convenient now." She seemed embarrassed. "You see - well, would any of you mind very much if I checked out now?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Helen of Troy is shaping for the Trojans and the Wellington is matching there for single-H and a passenger. Me. I'm going on out to Titan."

Before they could object she went on, "Now don't look at me that way. I've always wanted to see the Rings, close up - close enough to file my nails on 'em. They must be the gaudiest sight in the System. I got to thinking right seriously about it when the air was getting a little stuffy back - well, back you-know-­when. I said to myself; Hazel, you aren't getting any younger; you catch the next chance that comes your way. I missed one once, Roger, when you were three. A good chance, but they wouldn't take a child and well, never mind. So now I'm going."

She paused, then snapped, "Don't look so much like a funeral! You don't need me now. What I mean is, Lowell is bigger now and not such a problem"

"I'll always need you, Mother Hazel," her daughter-in-law said quietly.

"Thanks. But not true. I've taught Meade all the astrogation I know, She could get a job with Four-Planets tomorrow if they weren't so stuffy about hiring female pilots. The twins -well, they've soaked up all the meanness I can pass on to them; they'll put up a good fight, whatever comes up. And you, Son, I finished with you when you were in short pants. You've been bringing me up ever since."

"Mother!"

"Yes, Son?"

"What's your real reason? Why do you want to go?"

"Why? Why does anybody want to go anywhere? Why did the bear go round the mountain? To see what he could see! I've never seen the Rings. That's reason enough to go anywhere. The race has been doing it for all time. The dull ones stay home - and the bright ones stir around and try to see what trouble they can dig up. It's the human pattern. It doesn't need a reason, any more than a flat cat needs a reason to buzz. Why anything?"

"When are you coming back?"

"I may never come back. I like free fall. Doesn't take any muscle. Take a look at old Charlie. You know how old he is? I did some checking. He's at least a hundred and sixty. That's encouraging at my age - makes me feel like a young girl. I may see quite a few things yet,"

Dr. Stone said, "Of course you will, Mother Hazel."

Roger Stone turned to his wife. "Edith?"

"Yes, dear?"

"What's your opinion?"

"Well... there's actually no reason why we should go back to Luna, not just now."

"So I was thinking. But what about Meade?"

"Me?" said Meade.

Hazel put in dryly, "They're thinking you are about husband-high, hon."

Dr. Stone looked at her daughter and nodded slightly. Meade looked surprised, then said, "Pooh! I'm in no hurry. Besides - there's a Patrol base on Titan. There ought to be lots of young officers."

Hazel answered, "It's a Patrol research base, hon - probably nothing but dedicated scientists."

"Well, perhaps when I get through with them they won't be quite so dedicated!"

Roger Stone turned to the twins. "Boys?"

Castor answerd for the team. "Do we get a vote? Sure!"

Roger Stone grasped a stanchion, pulled himself forward. "Then it's settled. All of you - Hazel, boys, Meade - set up trial orbits. I'll start the mass computations"

"Easy, son - count me out on that,"

"Eh?"

"Son, did you check the price they're getting for single-H here? If we are going to do a cometary for Saturn instead of a tangential for Earth, it's back to the salt mines for me. I'll radio New York for an advance, then I'll go wake Lowell and we'll start shoveling gore."

"Well... okay. The rest of you-mind your decimals!"

All stations were manned and ready; from an instruction couch rigged back of the pilot and co-pilot Meade was already running down the count-off. Roger Stone glanced across at his mother and whispered, "What are you smiling about?"

"And five! And four!" chanted Meade.

"Nothing much. After we get to Titan we might-"

The blast cut off her words; the Stone trembled and threw herself outward bound, toward Saturn. In her train followed hundreds and thousands and hundreds of thousands of thou­sands of restless rolling Stones... to Saturn... to Uranus, to Pluto... rolling on out to the stars... outward bound to the ends of the Universe.