Chapter 23
Three full days had elapsed since Carls’ arrival back in Torquay. The early morning sun was beaming across Torbay, illuminating the view, from their third floor apartment, of the cliffs between Bury Head and Brixham with a yellowy red light. Fishing vessels were on the move from Brixham to their deep trawling grounds.
The beach at Torre Abbey Sands was engulfed in low tide surf and, believe it or not, the early Wind Surfers were already on the water, in mid November.
“I wondered where you were,” said Kate,” it's usually me that's out of bed so early.”
“Pat's called and asked me what I intend doing.” He answered.
“So the time we talked about yesterday has arrived?” Kate asked.
“I think it has.”
They had talked and talked the last couple of days. It takes that long to get back into reality. Carl was no longer the normal 9 to 5 man. He had put off all decisions for a slightly later date, that date had now arrived. He looked back on previous days.
One day had been spent in London, a visit to Hatten Gardens and the diamond merchants. The emptying of his bag of gems onto the assay table had been a revelation. Even Carl had not seen all the diamonds spread out in a single layer under the crystal glare of high intensity halogen lighting, the dazzling display was beauty of the highest order.
The Director of the diamond brokerage was speechless at the sight, that is no easy task, to silence a diamond broker. He valued the mass of jewels in the billions of pounds, even at such a cursory glance, he also assured them that they were all virtually identical and cut with the highest precision.
They immediately signed a contract enabling the broker to be their agent. The process was to be long-winded and Carl suggested he obtain a Solicitor to be his signatory, the Broker agreed that it would release Carl from attending a three or four day assay period. That threat prompted Carl to immediately hire the services of a Solicitor, there was no way they were going to hang about for days. They were given an advance of a quarter of a million pounds, to order, for their deposit needs, enough forever as far as Carl was concerned.
London also provided Carl's essential needs of clothing, nothing he had hanging in the cupboards in Torquay fitted him in the right places, too small here, too large there, he had completely changed, physically.
His explanations to Kate as to what had happened to Pat and himself were, surprisingly, quite casually accepted. This was a revelation to him, he was fully expecting to have to prove everything he said.
“Look, if you can lift yourself off the floor without physical effort then I can certainly believe everything else,” said Kate,” I would be a fool to think it was a talent you had suddenly learnt, wouldn't I?”
Technical details usually bored Kate to the quick, but his Shield and Jump Modules had all her attention whilst he ran through all the functions it held.
“I have one for you Kate,” he said,” I was hoping you would like to come with me to Shadow and see the Moon or something.”
“Just try and keep me away.” She said.
Her enthusiasm was one hundred percent different from his fears, she was all for going right now.
“Let's have a bit of a rest first,” he said,” can we?”
“Not too long,” she said,” I'm really itching to see Shadow and having a zoom around space, it is all true isn't it?”
“Of course.” He laughed.
“Show me the shield module you have for me and tell me about it again.”
“I've shown it to you twice already.” He complained.
“I know, humour me.” She said.
He once again took the slim container from the Mahogany writing desk and lifted the lid. The module was sat there, very much like a piece of clear floppy plastic, nothing like an oyster at all really. Carl was the only one to be able to handle it at the present time. Kate had tried but it wouldn't shift for her.
He ran through the process of fitment and how the module indexed itself to its owner.
“Is it really going to grow into my nerves, my brain, everywhere?” Asked Kate.
“That is definitely what it's going to do,” he confirmed,” all over. You'll feel it extend its sensory filaments over your entire body, every square millimetre.”
“Let's put it on now,” she said,” I've got a sudden surge of courage, so strike whilst the iron’s hot.”
With that she offered her left wrist and gave him a very serious 'go-ahead' look.
“Ok, sit down and prepare yourself for the weirdest feelings of your life.”
Lifting the Module out of the case, he gently sat next to Kate and carefully placed the cool layer of living tissue onto her wrist. The effect was obviously the same as both Pat and Carl had experienced.
“It's gripping on,” she said, in a slightly panicky voice,” I can feel it sucking on. Now it's setting up an itch on my hand, is that what's going to happen all over?”
“That's right,” he said,” It's going to be an unbearable itch in every single place, on and in your body. It's bloody awful really.”
“You're right, it's like I'm infested with thunder flies.”
With that, Kate began wriggling and moving about in a futile attempt to lessen the awful itch that was now, obviously, all over and in her. A flush had spread over her face, and Carl also noticed it was fully over her arms.
“Watch the Module,” and he pointed to the ever-darkening plastic on Kate’s wrist,” god knows what it's going to look like, mine's the Casio watch display, yours is going to be a random choice by George I think.”
The display was hardening up and turning towards a gleaming gold effect.
“How's the itching feeling getting on?” He asked.
“I hadn't even noticed that it's gone.” Came the surprised reply.
The Module had now finished its growth and had finally taken on a very impressive solid gold look, with a familiar liquid crystal display, nearly identical to Carls’.
“It's gorgeous,” was Kate’s appreciative comment,” George has obviously the same tastes as me.”
“Tell Kate that this is one of the models provided for one of the wives of a ruling Lord of the Yil.” Said George softly in Carl’s ears. He passed on the information to Kate and she gave him a slightly open mouthed look of wonder.
“Do you mean he heard what I said?” She asked.
“Of course,” he confirmed,” I'm in constant contact, he has all my sensory functions on tap, any problems or whatever, are inputted directly, he's our lifeline you could say. He's now connected to you. You'll be able to communicate with him when we visit a Junction, in Shadow.”
“Can I do anything like you, flying to be specific?” Kate asked.
“Not yet, without instruction you are powerless,” he said,” we can and will fly together. I have to connect my module to yours with an interface cable so that you can jump using my patterns, that's how we'll travel to Shadow. You're protected now, by the shield, so you're safe from falling or being run over by a bus.”
Kate then ran through the process of removing her module and refitting it. Carl also showed her how she was the only one to be able to handle her module. Even Carl was unable to move it from the tabletop. Kate was very impressed.
“Carl, I'm thinking of returning to Shadow,” it was Pat,” I've got the itch to see some more of space. Life here is a bit of a drag.”
“Ok Pat, hang on a minute,” Carl said and turned to Kate,” Pat's going back to Shadow, fancy a trip?”
“Of course I do.” She nearly jumped into his arms.” Let's go as soon as possible, I can't wait.”
“That's affirmative Pat, Kate's ready to go as well. We'll have to wait until it gets dark. Can't be seen flying about.”
“Ok Carl, see you this evening, about time I caught up on the darts stakes.”
“See you there,” and turning,” I'd better give you a run-down on the Module operation and how we travel in a vacuum.” He said to Kate.
They spent a pleasant half-hour discussing the anomalies of not breathing and how the shield provided their bodies with oxygen. It didn't take Kate more than thirty seconds to catch on to the oddity of not breathing, she just breathed out and held it there. There was only a seconds panic as the shield took over, that short tingling period, and then the relaxation as all need for a breath of air disappeared.
“It's amazing,” she said,” I would never have thought it possible, what a magic device.”
“Exactly what Pat and I thought when we experienced the sensation.”
“What do we need to take with us?” Kate asked.
“Well, I'm going to put my leather look-alike gear on and you only need the barest minimum of your usual casual togs,” he said,” Junction will suit you up with any design of clothing you need.”
Kate went and started rummaging out all the clothing she thought she would need. It came to a small suitcase at the final count.
“I've included my make-up, I doubt if Junction will be able to do anything about that.” Said Kate, dumping the case on the floor in the lounge.
“I think it'll be able to help there,” he said,” but bring it all along in any case, you never know.”
The afternoon sun was dropping down below the hills across the Bay, the sky turning into one of those impossible bright orange and duck-egg blue colour combinations. The view from the lounge window was certainly a joy to look out to, a magnet that drew Carl back, time and time again, he was always looking out of that window at the ever-changing view. The tide was fully in and a Southerly wind was whipping the crashing wave tops over the sea wall and onto the main Torquay to Paignton Road.
“It's a sight I will never tire of looking at.” He said turning to Kate.” Thank God we bought this place. Let's make sure that when we finally settle down, in our dotage, we have a sea view like this.”
Kate joined him at the window and they watched the sunset together until darkness suddenly seemed to be upon them. The peace was awesome.
“I think it's ok to leave now,” he said,” not so dark as to illuminate us with the street lights but dark enough overhead so that we won't be outlined.”
“I'm ready, whenever you are.” Said Kate, holding his hand. Carl felt a slight tremor in her touch, not surprising that she was nervous, anyone would have been in the same situation, he had to admit to being a little apprehensive himself.
Carl turned off all the electrics whilst Kate bid their neighbour goodbye, saying they were going away for a month or two. When Kate returned, she made a hasty phone call to Debra in Brunei and their son Mike in Australia, telling them that they would be away for a while. Carl did the same with his parents in Norfolk. All loose ends tidied up, with their Solicitor looking after their interests.
They quickly left the apartment and walked to the car park, at the front of the building. A careful look around the area confirmed they were not being observed.
“Give me your wrist,” Carl said, and attached the interface cable between his Jump Module and Kate's,” George, HUD me your co-ordinates.”
Carl passed the required information into his Module and, taking Kate's small case, held her hand and lifted them up, oh so gently, until they were one hundred feet up.
“Ok Kate?” He asked.
“Fine, it's not like being up a ladder, I'm fine, go ahead.”
Carl rapidly increased their altitude until they were at eighteen thousand feet.
“Take a breath now,” he said,” and then stop breathing, we are now going to increase to maximum velocity.”
The earth dropped away below them. Carl turned them round until they faced the receding and brilliant blue and white disc. He could feel Kate gripping his hand very tightly, he turned and saw tears in her eyes.
“It's, just, so, lovely,” she stuttered,” can you, hear me?”
“Only just,” he replied,” Shadow, is, very, close, we'll, turn, and, see, the, approach, although, I doubt, if you, heard, that.”
On turning their backs to Earth, they both saw Shadow suddenly appear before them, as they decelerated towards the entry door. Pat was stood there, waving and laughing.
“Good to see you Kate,” as they dropped in through the screened opening,” enjoy the trip?”
“It was absolutely fantastic.” She replied.
“Welcome to Shadow, Kate,” said George, using the wall speakers,” it's good to meet you after all this time.”
“Hello George, I've heard so much about you,” said Kate,” I practically expected you to be a person, you seem so real to me.”
“We will get to know each other very well over the period of the next few weeks,” said George,” I hope you do not become too bored with all the steps that, out of necessity, have to be taken.
“I suppose you are referring to the instruction,” answered Kate,” I'm sure I can put up with it all, it is in a good cause after all.”
“It's good to hear you are taking the right attitude to it all,” said George,” it does become a little arduous but, as you say, it is very worthwhile.”
“Pat,” said Carl,” do you sense we are not wanted here, shall we go and leave the mutual admiration society to carry on?”
He immediately received a painless thump in the side from Kate and they all laughed as they walked to the lounge.
“Two beers George.” Said Pat.
“Three beers George.” Said Kate.
“Ah, right, you're a beer drinker as well, aren't you?” Said Pat, a little embarrassed at his oversight.
“That's right,” said Kate, taking one of the beers offered by Pat,” but I doubt I will be drinking as much as you two have in the last few months.”
“Right.” Said Pat, saluting.
“Here's to us, George, Shadow and our luck.” Said Carl.
“Cheers.” They all shouted.
Carl turned Shadow towards the Moon and they sat and enjoyed the view together.
After a couple of hours of chat, George asked after their plans.
“We need to visit a Junction George,” said Carl,” I would like Kate to be updated as soon as possible.”
“That is what I expected,” responded George,” would you like to initiate the Jump, we will call in at the last Junction we visited. It is still on standby.”
“Don't worry folks,” said Pat,” I'll do it right away.” He jumped up and disappeared to the cockpit.
“Watch the screen Kate,” Carl said,” you will see the Hyperdrive lines as we jump.”
“Ok folks?” Asked Pat.
“We're ready.” Carl replied.” Here we go.” To Kate.
The moon blinked out of existence, accompanied by a nervous jump from Kate, and the hyper lines flicked on and off across the screen for fifteen to twenty seconds. The view suddenly changed to the familiar Junction hanger scene.
“Bingo,” said Carl,” Junction, on the nose, how about that?”
“And how far have we travelled?” Asked Kate.
“That was just over two hundred and fifty thousand billion light years, an awfully long way,” he said,” without this mode of travel no other earth human will ever journey this far, not ever.”
“That's pretty numbing.” She said.
“Very true.” He confirmed.
“Carl, could you deliver Kate to the room you dislike talking about.” Said George, to Carl only. Kate was unaware of the communication.
“Come on, we have to get started,” said Carl,” you have to undergo some medical checks, which won't take too long. It's up three floors, out of the hanger, over there.”
He indicated the exit door and they wandered down the ramp and started the walk to the operating theatre.
“I'll see you when it's all finished and we can start you on the instruction,” he said,” up this chute.” They stepped into the gravity lift and winged their way up to the correct level. It was then a short walk to the theatre, Carl was more nervous about this part of the procedure than Kate was, he knew what was
involved, Kate didn't.
The theatre resembled any normal room, no shiny knives or equipment.
“I'll stay with you for a minute,” he said,” you are going to receive an injection. Can you take your shield Module off and leave it on the side there.” Indicating a shelf at her side.
Kate was giving him one of her special looks, which he understood as meaning,” are you being kind to me?” Yes he was.
“It won't take long.” He said.
“Don't worry, I trust you.” She said, holding his hand.
A large shelf slid out of the wall, softly padded and obviously for the purpose of receiving someone lying down.
“For me?” Asked Kate.
“That's about the size of it.” He confirmed.
Even before Kate had fully reclined, Carl noticed an oh-so-small injector touch her on the shoulder and draw away. Kate touched the spot and was then totally relaxed, out for the count.
“Leave her in my care Carl,” said George,” I will have a mouse bring her to the lounge when it's all complete.”
“Look after her George.”
“Be assured.”
Carl left, not wanting to see anything of what was about to happen, and jetted his way to the observation lounge, Pat was there studying the stars.
“All ok?” he asked.
“Hope so,” Carl said,” at least it was a better introduction to the nasties of the operating theatre than we had, now we can see how long we were there. It was about six hours as far as I remember.”
“About that, I think,” said Pat,” anyway, tell me what you've been up to.”
The time seemed to flash by, they had a good meal and a few games of darts, which allowed Pat to pull ahead in their endless tournament.
Kate surprised them with a very quiet entry.
“I'm here.” She called out.
“So soon,” said Carl, but looking at his display saw that seven hours had gone past,” maybe not so soon, how are you?”
“I'm fine and George tells me I'm fine too, so I must be.” She said. Of course, Kate was now patched into the comm net.
“Let's have some music George,” said Carl,” and do you feel like some food?” turning back to Kate.” I could do with some myself.”
“I'm starving.” She said.
“HUD up a menu for Kate, George.” He said, and could see the delight in her eyes as the display came up on her own shield, right in front of her eyes.
“I fancy some grilled fish with vegetables. What's that on this menu?” she asked no one in particular.
“Ah, right, have the Meenos and Sint, they are great.” Pat suggested.
“Ok, I'll have that lot.” Kate said. Pat and Carl cheered and they all collected their meals from the hatch. Carl had kippers and Pat had a meat/rice dish.
Their first meal together and very good it was too. They ate and talked, with Kate doing most of the talking, or should it be identified as questioning.
All too soon the 'day' was over and they had to crash-out for a good sleep, morning was only just an hour away but they agreed on a six hour night, this one time.
As the days on Junction passed, whilst Kate underwent the instruction, they had some serious talking, Pat and Carl, with Kate putting forward some interesting views. What were they going to do, now that they had found their good-old-earth. The desperation of the past months was behind them, it was that that had been their driving force.
One suggestion was to carry out routine visits to far-off worlds, but that seemed somewhat mundane, Carl had never been one for sightseeing.
“It's just come to me,” said Pat,” what has been our main task while we've been looking for earth?”
“We seem to have been rescuing people, all over the place,” Carl said,” why, what's your idea?”
“Just that,” Pat said, his face illuminated with excitement,” we carry on rescuing, on a Galactic scale.”
“Brilliant.” Exclaimed Kate.
“You mean we go out looking for people in trouble and do our best to help them?” Carl asked.
“Why not, I enjoyed it,” said Pat,” didn't you?”
“I would.” Said Kate.
“If you're game then so am I, I can see Kate is.”
“Course I'm game, I thought of it,” now Pat was on his feet,” I'm even going to give us a name.”
“What do you mean, a name?” Asked Kate.
“Let's call ourselves, wait for it, how about Galactic Rescue Inc.?” Asked Pat.
“You're serious, aren't you?” Said Carl.
“Deadly serious, what do you say?”
“It's terrific. What do you think Kate?”
“There's nothing against it that I can see,” she said,” it'll also give us a positive aim. When do we start?”
“As soon as you've finished your instruction.” Carl said.
“That's in twenty hours time.” Responded George.
They stood as one in the centre of the observation room, exhilaration showing on their faces.
“A toast,” said Carl,” to the newest company in the stars. Galactic Rescue Inc.”
They all said, as one,” Galactic Rescue Inc.”
The End
James T. Lay was born in London, England.
He began reading Science Fiction in 1953 and was an addict of the genre from then on.
He began writing Science Fiction whilst snow-bound in Sweden; having run out of books to
read. He realised that it was just as exciting writing the books as reading them; now he is committed to the
Galactic Rescue Inc. series and sees no end in sight.
Vol.1 Prelude
Vol.2 Outwards to the Stars
Vol.3 Way Beyond Infinity
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