“Can you do as Simon has asked please Adams?”
“No problem Roy.”
We headed back to the station and ten minutes later we had landed back in bay nineteen. Simon was highly animated about what I had shown him and kept on going on about navigation and what a life changing moment that was for him. I thought he was over doing it as the image was a very poor quality.
I said my goodbyes to Simon and went back to my apartment to get changed. After getting into my cowboy clothes I went to Sam’s Bar for some breakfast.
*
When I arrived at Gary’s salon, Russell was already there in his Chinese outfit. We exchanged pleasantries and I told him all about our afternoon out in the German and Indian sectors. Whilst I was telling Russell this I could see Gary walking towards us. As he got closer I could see he had buttoned up his shirt, got rid of the feather and rolled his jeans down.
When he arrived I said “Morning Gary.”
“Hi Roy. Does this look better?”
“Yes thank you Gary.”
“What about this?” And he turned around.
“Jesus Christ Gary. I give up.” On the back of his shirt in blue rhinestone was the word ‘Cute’ and underneath that was a big pair of red rhinestone lips. “Why don’t you just put a sign on your back saying, ‘I am Gay’ in big letters?”
“I did think about that but I like the word cute better. What do you think Russell?”
“I think it suits you,” answered Russell. “Where did you get all the stones?”
“You know Kelly who makes all the jumpsuits? Well I went to see her yesterday morning and she has lots of bits and pieces like this that she never uses because everybody wears a jumpsuit in this sector. She put it all on for me.”
“Come on,” I interrupted, “let’s get going.”
We walked to the door that led to the Chinese sector. Russell raised his arms and said “Bish, Bash, Bosh.”
“Open the door please Adams.” I added.
We walked through the Chinese sector to the door that led to the Australian sector and Russell raised his arms again “Izzy whizzy let’s...”
I interrupted him “Open the door Adams.”
On the other side of the Australian sector Adams guided us to the next door. When we stopped at the door I looked at Russell. He had his head bowed and looked like he’d had his dummy taken off him. “OK Russell, do it if you have to.”
“Thanks. Alakazam!”
Adams opened the door and we all walked through.
*
As we went through the door the first thing that hit us was the icy-blast. Although I didn’t feel it on my body because of the material the clothes were made of I could feel it on my face and hands. It was so cold. I tucked my hands into the pockets of my jeans and asked “How cold is it Adams?”
“It’s about zero degrees.”
“Christ, w w wwhy would you w want your s sector this c c c cccold?”
“Maybe they’re all Eskimos,” answered Gary.
We walked to the end of the corridor and turned the corner to look at the new sector. There was no green grassy square like most of the other sectors, but there was a snowy vista. The roof was a lot higher than all the other places we had visited because there was what looked like an artificial mountain rising from the floor. As we started walking towards the centre we could see skiers on the slope. When we got closer I could see that the mountain extended beyond the roof which followed its contours leaving a wide gap between the roof and the slope.
“Where do you think we are?” I asked.
“There are lots of countries that like skiing,” answered Gary, “Switzerland, Finland, Norway, err...”
“Austria,” continued Russell, “Canada, Sweden, Iran...”
“Iran? Are you taking the piss?” said Gary.
“No I’m not. Iran has several ski resorts.”
“Well I never.”
When we arrived at the base we watched the skiers coming down the slope for a while. As they arrived at the bottom of the slope some would unclip their skis and sit on benches and some would walk around to the back of the slope.
After a while I asked “So where are we Adams?”
“Austria.”
“Brilliant,” added Russell, “I love skiing. I’ve been to Austria several times. The Alps are stunning. Let’s follow the skiers around the back and see what they’re doing.”
We followed some skiers around the back to find out what they were doing. There was a short line of about ten people who were waiting by the entrance to what looked like a lift. As we watched, the door opened and all of them entered the lift.
“Must be how they get to the top,” observed Russell. “Let’s get some skis and have a go. I love skiing.”
“OK,” I agreed, “Adams? Is there anywhere here where we can get skis?”
“Yes. Walk back where you came from and look at the facilities. See if you can find a shop called Skiverleih. They should have all the equipment you need.”
“Will they have c c ccoats?” shivered Gary.
“I think they will have everything you need.”
We did as Adams suggested and spotted the shop. Within thirty minutes we were all kitted out and ready to go.
“How often have you two been skiing?” ask Russell.
“I’ve been several times,” answered Gary.
“Never,” I said.
“Perhaps you should start on the gentle slopes at the bottom Roy,” suggested Russell.
“Fuck that I’m going to the top. How hard can it be? It’s all downhill so all I need to do is keep upright and it’ll be fine.”
“I think you’ll find there’s a little more to it than that.”
“Bollocks! Stand on two planks and stay upright. That’s all I have to do, simples. Come on let’s get the lift.”
We walked back to the ski slope with our skis and took the lift to the top. At the top we exited the lift to a small flat area. I walked to the edge and looked down the slope.
“Holy shit,” I gasped, “that’s jocking steep.”
I stepped back and we all put our skis onto our boots. I watched Russell before clipping my skis on. Russell moved to the edge of the slope, pushed off and was gone.
“Do you want to go next Roy?” asked Gary.
“I think I’ll let you go next Gary.”
Gary did the same as Russell and he also was quickly gone. I shuffled to the edge on my skis, bent my legs and pushed hard with the stick things. For about half a second I was doing really well, going like the clappers and then I fell over and travelled the next hundred metres on my back. Where I stopped it was relatively flat so I got back up and pushed myself forward. The trouble was that every time there was a bit of a slope I fell over and ended up on my back. After ten minutes I was at the bottom being greeted by Gary and Russell.
“See I told you it was a piece of piss.” I said with a big cheesy grin
Gary and Russell doubled up laughing and Russell told Gary to check the back off my jacket for friction burns, offering to fetch a bucket of water should it be on fire. Gary suggested strapping a snowboard to my back to protect my jacket and that set the pair of them off again, laughing at my expense.
“We’re going up again. Are you coming?” said Gary smirking.
“I think I’ll miss this one out. See that building over there,” I pointed out a building.
“Which one?” asked Russell.
“The one that says Die Bierkeller. I will be waiting for you in there.”
I hobbled off as Gary and Russell chuckled to each other. About an hour later Gary and Russell joined me for lunch which consisted of cheese, various types of sausage meat and bread.
“What are you going to do this afternoon?” I asked.
“I can’t do any more skiing,” said Gary
“Why?”
“I’m knackered. Shall we go and lounge by the pool in Australia and then get a Chinese for tea?”
; “That sounds like a plan.”
We took all our kit back to the hire shop and started walking back to the Australian sector. Well, Gary and Russell walked and I hobbled. We spent the afternoon sat by the pool slowly drinking a few cans of Tooheys. Just to continue their mirth, Russell asked Gary to check my back for any chilblains because they didn’t want me suffering. Finally we went for a Chinese.
When we got back to the UK sector Gary asked “What are you doing tomorrow Roy?”
“Well it’s Sunday,” I replied, “so Claire is coming back. I’m going to meet her at ten and I guess I’ll spend the day with her and then I’m back to work on Monday so I think it’ll be some time before I go to another sector again with you lads.”
“That’s a shame,” said Russell, “I’ve really enjoyed exploring over the last few days. In all the time I’ve worked here I don’t think I’ve had as much fun as I’ve had with you guys.”
“I totally agree,” added Gary.
“Next time I get some time off,” I added, “we will have to get together and go for a walkabout again because I’ve had a great time too. I think it’s made me realise I really want to remain on the station. I cannot think of a better place to be and besides which it’s probably safer here than on Earth if Doctor Death wants to try and kill me.”
“I think he’s all talk,” said Russell. “I bet you never see him again.”
“Let’s hope so.”
We bid each other good night and I walked back to my apartment. I’d stopped hobbling at least.
Chapter 14 – Sunday
Adams woke me up with plenty of time to get ready to meet Claire. It didn’t take me long to get out of bed and ready because I was so excited about Claire arriving back at the station. It felt like Claire had been away for months rather than a week. I arrived at her bay in the hangar at about five to ten and a few minutes later her ship entered through the plasma glass entrance to the bay. As it approached it was totally silent until the clang of the feet hitting the floor. I stood by the exit hatch and watched it open and the steps descend. As Claire stepped out of the craft I had a massive smile on my face. She quickly came down the steps and gave me a big hug and then a long kiss.
“I’ve missed you so much.” I said.
“I think you’ve been having a lot of fun with the boys.”
“Well I have had fun, but I wish you could have been there because I did miss you.”
“Come on, let’s go hang out in your apartment and have a good long chat.”
We went back to my apartment and had a good long talk about all the places I’d been, Doctor Death and Claire’s mum and family. At lunch we went to the Pilot’s Bar and it felt like I hadn’t been there in ages. Whilst eating, Adams informed us that Hugh’s service would take place at seven o’clock in the main square.
“What are you going to tell Simon tomorrow?” asked Claire.
“I’m staying. I didn’t think I’d change my mind but I’m definitely stopping.”
“What makes you so adamant?”
“Several things, I think I’m safer from Doctor Death here, I have really enjoyed the last few days with Gary and Russell but most importantly I don’t want to leave you, besides which I’m pretty sure that Simon isn’t going to jump to conclusions again based on circumstantial evidence.”
“Bless you Roy. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d decided to leave.”
“What would you like to do this afternoon? Would you like to visit a foreign zone?”
“I don’t really fancy it. I guess I’m just not in the mood. I do want to go to the water park in Australia and I’d like to teach you how to ski on your feet rather than your back, but I don’t want to do it this afternoon. I think the impending service for Hugh would take the fun away.”
“I think you’re right. We’ll be on duty tomorrow for three days so why don’t we do those things when we next have a couple of days off.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“So what would you like to do this afternoon?”
“The same as this morning please Roy.”
“OK sounds good to me.”
We went back to my apartment and chilled out all afternoon. At half five we went for a meal in the Pilot’s Restaurant and left at quarter to seven to take our seats for the service. The square had a lectern in the centre with Hugh’s coffin behind it. Chairs had been arranged in a semi circles around the lectern. There were a lot of seats and I didn’t realise just how many people worked in the UK sector.
“How many people do you think will be coming?” I asked Claire.
“I reckon about three hundred.”
“I never knew so many worked here.”
“Well there are about twenty pilots, with four ground crew each and then all the staff to operate the facilities and do the cleaning and other general duties.”
The service lasted about an hour with each of Hugh’s closest friends giving a short eulogy. After the service Claire came back to my apartment and stayed until about ten o’clock. She didn’t want to stay too late because we had a meeting with Simon in the morning and we were on duty in the afternoon.
Chapter 15 – The Wrong Side of Bad Luck
At eight o’clock the next morning Claire and I were sat in front of Simon.
“OK Roy,” said Simon, “you’ve had a good opportunity to seriously think about your future. What do you want to do?”
“Well, let me see.” I tilted my head to one side and enacted my thoughtful look, pausing for a few moments before continuing, “The negatives are that you kind of assumed I smashed Doctor Death’s computer and now I’m top his hit list of people he wants to kill,” I could see beads of sweat appear on Simon’s brow and after another pause for effect I continued. “On the other hand I’ve got some great new friends, it’s been fun doing the impossible and I am enjoying the work which is much better than teaching.” Taking another break I stared at Simon and moving my mouth as if to be totting up the pros and cons, I deliberated. “However... on balance, taking all things into consideration, I think... I’d erm better... erm stay.” I’d strung things out as long as I could, and was reassured to see the look of relief flooding across Simons face.
“Thank goodness for that,” he sighed, “I was hoping you’d say that. I think with what you’ve done recently you leaving would have been a massive loss. That Hyper Travel idea is so simple an idea but it’s going to have a massive impact on our society over the next hundred years. The whole thing was a thought of pure genius. By the way, The Architect has left the station and given your computer the all clear. He said that there is nothing wrong and it is operating within acceptable parameters.”
“Hyper Travel idea?” asked Claire.
“Roy, didn’t you tell Claire about what you did?”
“No he didn’t,” answered Claire.
“I didn’t bother telling you Claire because it’s not very good. Simon is blowing it out of all proportion.”
“Claire, I’m not doing anything of the sort. What Roy has done is achieve the impossible. It’s pure genius.”
“Don’t listen to him Claire. Having a space ship travelling many times faster than light, powered by a quantum singularity is achieving the impossible. What I did was put a bit of polish on the front window.”
“I have no idea what you two are talking about. You sound like a pair of idiots.”
“Roy, I want you to show Claire what you showed me the other day and then I want you both back in my office at twelve before going back on duty.”
“OK Simon.”
We got up and started walking over to the hangars.
“Simon was really singing your praises.”
“Don’t get too excited because you’ll be disappointed with what I’m about to show you.”
Fifteen minutes later and we were a thousand kilometres from the station.
“Are you ready Claire?”
“Ready when you are.”
“Adams? Put t
he pedal to the metal.”
“What?”
“Fire up the engines and let’s go!”
The screen all went black except for a tiny dot on the front screen that expanded into a fuzzy view of the outside. Claire remained silent the whole trip. I turned round to look at her at one point and saw her mesmerised by the view. The ship stopped and all the screens flicked on.
I interrupted the silence “See, told you. Not that interesting. It’s too fuzzy.”
“It’s fantastic.”
“It’s crap. I thought it would be much better than that.”
“Simon was right. It’s pure genius.”
“It’s pure pixilation more like.”
“Stop putting yourself down Roy. I want this on my ship and so will every pilot not to mention every ship in the universe.”
“Well it’s got a bit of work needed first.”
“Yes but even in this crude form its ground breaking. You shouldn’t be so harsh on yourself.”
“I hear what you’re saying but when I thought of it I thought it would work better.”
“The Wright Brothers wanted to fly. I’m sure they weren’t disappointed because their plane didn’t have jet engines and couldn’t break the speed of sound.”
“I know. Come on let’s go back to the station. I could do with a big greasy breakfast at Sam’s Bar before heading out.”
*
After breakfast we hung out at Sam’s until it was time for our meeting with Simon. When we arrived in his office, Amelia Rose and Peter Vosper were already there waiting. They both greeted us and I felt really happy that I was going to be working with Amelia and Peter again as they had both helped me sow the seeds of interest in the new view in Hyper Travel.
“Take a seat,” said Simon and we sat down. “I’ve given all the information about the new Hyper Travel view to the computers of all the pilots. Would you like to name your new system Roy?”
“I hadn’t thought about it. Err...how about the Sight Hyper Invisible Topography system, although the acronym might need a bit of work.”
“I don’t think we could do that Roy.”
“Well I think the SHIT system is an accurate description.”
“Roy!” Warned Claire, using that tone of voice that makes men folk shake, knowing for certain that they have crossed a line and need to jump back across it damned quick.
“OK, how about we call it the Mac Viewer.”