* * * *
The camera recorded the historic moment of the first human visitors to an alien world. Baxter Gammond posed before of the gleaming landing craft, looking directly at the camera, staring at it like there was nothing else to see. Other members of his landing party were busy behind him, unloading supplies and setting up equipment, allowing him his time of glory. They were laughing and joking to themselves, and overcome with the joy of being there. Their place of landing was a green open field, surrounded by tall lush trees, and behind them tall blue mountains. Everything was different from Earth, and yet somehow the same.
“Greetings from Apaea,” Gammond announced to the camera, his voice full of pride. “This is Commander Baxter Gammond of the Quasson, and we have found a new Earth. We have set foot on a true new world. Words cannot express how I feel, how we all feel, at this moment.”
He paused as he looked at the ground.
“Even through these boots I can feel it. Something different. Something remarkable.”
Gammond reached down and unsnapped the fastenings on his boots.
“I know it’s not according to our plan … but I have to do this. I just have to.”
He took off his undershoes and feet protectors, so that his feet were bare. With slow squirming of his feet, he tested the dirt with his toes. His face showed pure delight.
“Oh, this is just remarkable. I can’t believe it. This is so different from Earth. The soil is so rich, so smooth, so perfect.”
He laughed, child-like. “Please excuse me. I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment. It’s different; I know I keep saying that, but I can’t think of any other way to describe it. But be sure, any one of you would be the same, if you were standing in my place.”
He stepped a few paces back from the camera and gave a long and loud bellow, with his arms raised in triumph. No one behind him took any notice.
* * * *
The name Apaea lasted only three years, before it was officially replaced with Ancia. The first colony was called Ancian City, and it was built in the middle of a perfectly flat plain. With enormous machines constructing the buildings, the city developed at a fast rate, soon becoming rival to some of the main cities of Earth. There was an agreement with every company that no factory would produce pollution that could damage the pristine world.
Real Munro knew such details and more. He considered himself to be an expert, and if he ever met Baxter Gammond, he knew he could mention a few things unknown to even him. His apartment was always untidy, with papers and clothes thrown here and there, but the centre of attention was his collection of files about Ancia. He would watch one recording per day, and seldom went three days without seeing one. It was an impressive collection, with the oldest from the early days when the planet was first discovered. He even had copies of government files covering the debate over what type of probes should be sent to investigate the planet. Everything else that wasn’t Ancia took a back seat in Real’s life, including his girlfriend.
K was just getting home from her day job, a waitress in a lunch bar, a job that she hated more with each passing day. Real knew she would not appreciate seeing him sitting in his chair, drinking and snacking, and viewing old Ancia reports. She was at him about it from the start of their relationship, telling him he watched the Ancia stuff too much, and she had seen all she wanted.
When Real saw her arrive home, he again asked her what she thought of Ancia, and she told him she was tired of hearing about it.
“It’s all I hear from you, lately,” she said.
Real dropped a file that he was about to view again. It was Gammond’s second interview, that was famous because he started crying and needed to leave the studio, and no one knew why. After that, Gammond became reclusive and would only answer questions in written form.
“What if I told you I could get passage?” Real asked her mischievously.
“And you think saying that changed my mind and makes me come over all Ancia-like? No way could you get passage anyway. You’ve got a criminal record, remember? They aren’t interested in anyone with records. They only want the good people for their new planet. Bad people, like you, like me, have to stay here on little itty-bitty planet Earth. You know what? That ain’t so bad if you ask me. Sure, Earth may have a few problems here and there. But if we start cleaning out the goody-goody people, we’ll have more fun here. More of them go to Ancia, the better.”
“You know what I told you about Australia, right?”
K sat on the coach next to Real’s chair, and took off her shoes. “Rub my feet, will you please? They’re hurting.”
“Look at how Australia turned out,” Real continued as he went to sit next to her and massage her feet. “Fine, upstanding members of the global community, and all. Who remembers they were a prison colony? Criminals from England, chained up and shipped off to this ancient and harsh land. From those beginnings they went out and established their independence, built up cities and such, and produced a decent country for themselves.”
“Meaning what?” she asked, not really caring where he was going with it but hoping that he would not stop his massage.
“Meaning, Ancia may not look like much now, but it can be made into something good. It’s just a matter of the right people getting there, doing it, doing the work.”
“So, you want go there and build your own little Australia?”
“Why not? If it’s gonna happen, now is when it’ll happen. We’ve got to take advantage of this.”
“That is so stupid.”
“Stupid how?”
“You don’t even have a job here, on Earth. What makes you think you can go build a colony on another planet?”
“I have it all planned out. You can use their builders; great machines that do all that work for you. All you’ve got to do is tell it to dig up that bit of land there, or move that mountain, and put in a lake and river, and then sit back and watch your bit of paradise get even better.”
“Sure, if you are rich you can do that. I don’t think you’re rich, Real.”
“So we’ll have to work a bit, before we can start doing that. Don’t you see the potential?”
“If you do go there, you’ll do it by yourself. You know that.”
Without a word, he dropped the foot he was working on, stood up and grabbed his car keys.
“What’s with you?” she asked.
“Maybe I will.”
“Wait on a moment. What’s up with you? You can’t just go out when I’ve just got in.”
He hesitated at the door, and then turned back to her.
“I’ve got passage.”
Her response was to laugh, but he told her it was true.
“Serious?” she asked.
“Private shipping.”
“A smuggler? No way. They’re blowing them out of the sky. Real, this is serious, listen to me. They’ve virtually declared war on private contractors sneaking unregistered colonists out there. Don’t you follow the news anymore? Or do you just watch those old reports? They’re shooting ships down every day. They’re patrolling up in orbit. No one’s getting out without them knowing, and shooting them out of the sky.”
“I know all that, but I’ve found a good one. He can’t miss. He’s a pro. This one’s got UDE contacts, so he’s protected. He’s a hero.”
K nodded. “That’s good. He’s one of them, is he? Get you away from Earth and into space, will he? Without getting blasted into a fireball? That’s good news. And what else was that you said? He’s a hero? A hero, is he? So he can fly his ship better than someone who’s not a hero? But wait, he’s a hero who is offering illegal flights to the most sought-after destination in the history of forever. There can’t be a catch in that story, so that’s all right. So, you have a good plan, and in this plan, you think I’m going with you? Is that what you think? I have zero interest in anything about Ancia, since it’s only for the rich and famous, and neither you or me are one of those. And I’m sick to death about the subj
ect, and only pretend to be interested so you’ll do things like rub my feet when I get in from work. And yet you still think I’m going to risk my life and everything I’ve ever known, fly off into outer space, to never have any chance of coming back, as none of those ships ever come back, and I’ll never see any of my friends or family again, and never even get to speak to any of them again. And I’m going to do all that … with you?”
She let him leave.
* * * *
The alley was colder now. With a wind sweeping through, it had become something of a wind-tunnel, probably the reason no homeless people ever wanted to spend the night there. Dawn-Star had not intended to keep talking, but they kept up with their questions and she hoped they might say something else she could laugh about.
“How many times has TC Beggs been to Ancia?” Rolondo asked, his hands buried into his coat pockets.
“A couple,” said Dawn-Star. Her hood was back up over her head, and more snugly placed to keep the wind off.
“How many?” asked Rebbi. “Two? Three?”
“A couple. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Just as long as we’re not the first. Your first clients. There have been others, right?”
“What would be so wrong with being the first? Not that this is the first, of course.”
“First is okay if you’re Gammond,” Rolondo said as a joke, his mood getting better. “He’s the kind who likes being first. Number one. Top doggie. Me, I prefer taking the tried and true way. Safer, that’s all. The smart dog, that’s me. Go with the pack.”
“That wasn’t me saying that,” joked Rebbi.
“Saying what?” he asked her.
“Call yourself what you want. Leave me out of it.”
“I want to know how experienced Beggs is, that’s all.”
“Look, do you have any other questions for me?” Dawn-Star asked them. “I’ve got to go, you know.”
“So, he has shipped others out there?” Rebbi asked again, still wanting to hear a straight answer. “We aren’t looking to wind up in the same place with them, is what I’m worried about. We want our own space. He doesn’t plan to drop us off where they are, right?”
“Our own country,” added Rolondo. “Far away from anyone else.”
“Far from any neighbours,” said Rebbi. “We don’t want competition.”
“We’re experienced,” said Dawn-Star. “That’s all I’m saying right now. And yes, we will make sure you’ve settled and have self-containment before we leave you. It’s all part of the agreement.”
“One more question,” said Rebbi. “Then we’ll be happy to let you go.”
“And what’s that?”
“How come you’ve not stayed there? You and TC. From what we’ve heard, none of the private shippers come back. Not a single one of them. Rumour is, they get attacked before they even leave orbit. But you’re telling us this TC has been there and back without a scratch. That’s right, isn’t it? He’s not been attacked trying to get there?”
“Too many questions now,” Dawn-Star said as she started to walk away. “We will contact you.”
“Wait on,” Rolondo protested. “We haven’t discussed supplies and robotics.”
“That’s not my concern. But whatever you have, we can carry.”
They watched her leave.
“That was weird,” said Rebbi.
When they arrived back at their car, neither wanted to say another word until they were both inside and the doors were locked.
“What was all that about?” Rebbi fired at him when the doors closed.
“All what?” Rolondo responded, on the defensive, not expecting her to start on him like that.
“You and that girl, getting all friendly. You think I didn’t notice?”
“Getting friendly? What you mean by that?”
“I saw you, don’t act like you didn’t. How are we supposed to make this work with you flirting with every girl that drags herself across your path? ‘Can we both hook up?’ That’s what you said. I heard you. I was standing right next to you. You think I didn’t hear that? What, you think you’re that attractive to her? It was so dark in that place that she must have gone all mushy for your voice, because she couldn’t see your face. Is that what you were hoping?”
Rolondo went to defend himself, but stopped when he saw that Rebbi was wiping away tears. He considered going back outside and standing in the cold wind.
“This is so hard for me, Ro,” she said.
“Woman, I was doing no flirting on that girl,” he said with his voice far louder than it really should have been. “Believe me on that,” he added with genuine tenderness.
“No,” Rebbi said as she lightly punched at his arm. “I mean this whole plan, the whole adventure. It’s hard for me. I’m scared.”
“Aw,” he said as he leaned over and with his hand pulled her head to his chest. “I know, girl. Leaving your family, and all. And here’s me not having any kind of family to speak of. Big scary space ride coming up. All that exploring and settling to do, in an unknown place. It’s going to be hard work up there. No getting over that. We want to build us something great, it’ll take a lot.”
“I’m doing this for you, you know.”
“I know.”
“You don’t say it enough.”
“I’m saying it now.”
“Then say it.”
Rolondo switched the car on. “Hey, we’d better get moving.”
“Are you going to say it?”
Rolondo looked at her and felt growing fear, as he had lost track of the conversation and had no idea what she was talking about. Now she was starting to eye him, saying without talking: Say it!
His mouth opened and shut a few times, before he said, “I sure love you, Reb.”
Rebbi smiled. “I love you too, Ro,” she said with her head at an angle that made her even more attractive.
Rolondo smiled wide, relieved that he had bluffed his way through. Such discussions were becoming common for them, when they started out normally, then erupted into accusations and shouting, only to have her start crying and him apologising. Every time that happened, he had no idea what was going on.
“Now tell me why I’m doing this fool’s thing with you!” she demanded, back to her accusing tone. After a few long moments silence, she added, “For you?”
“For me, Babe,” he said.
“Because I’m your woman, and don’t you forget it!”
He did not know if she was serious or trying to be funny, and he could not bring himself to ask. The rest of their way home was in silence.
* * * *
There was no surf up but the group sat at their usual spot on the beach anyway. Maybe it would come up soon, or maybe they would spend the day relaxing on the sand. Either way, they were happy to be there. The group knew that there might not be a chance to get out into the water today, but they liked sitting and thinking about it nearly as much as doing it. They used their boards to keep off the chilled breeze that had just come up, and acted like it was a warm day. All of the young men had bare feet, but only one of the young women followed their style. The main style of footwear was sandals known as black-wraps, that hugged the feet to the wearers’ specification, but they were not seen as socially acceptable to their group.
The tall and leggy blond who approached them wore black-wraps that were no good in the sand. She walked with obvious discomfort over the deep and unfamiliar surface.
One took a quick glance and no more, since he knew her. Dawn-Star Beggs, daughter of a famous man. He had no time for either.
“King of the waves out here, are you?” she asked him, ignoring the others. Then she added, unable to resist, “You gave up the space race for this? To play in the dirt with your funny looking buddies?”
Jupe looked out at the sea as he answered her, “What do you want?”
“Not me. TC wants to say goodbye. He must be getting old, sentimental, and whatever.”
“I don’t kno
w anyone named TC.”
Jupe noticed no one else in his group was saying a word, which was unusual for them. They would always enjoy giving out abuse to anyone who came near, especially women they did not know. Just when he wanted them to, so she would have a distraction and give him time to leave, they remained silent.
“He says he’s going to live out at T Station after his next flight, and he’s not coming back,” she said. “Not ever. You know how he says things he doesn’t mean. But this one, I’m not sure about. You know he thinks of T Station as his second home, so I wouldn’t put it past him if he wants to spend the rest of his days up there.”
Jupe shrugged. “Don’t know who you’re talking about. Who are you, again?”
Then one of the surfers spoke, at last, and Jupe began to relax, knowing that they would be on his side.
“What’s T Station?” a young and thin man asked Dawn-Star.
“Deep-space port,” Dawn-Star told him, unable to hide her repulsion of his toothy smile. “Not many beaches out there, so it wouldn’t interest you. You know, it’s the space age now. Technology, the future, and all that stuff. No dirt out there, I’m afraid.”
“You are right about that, girl, it doesn’t interest me,” he responded, oblivious to her mockery. “But you interest me.”
Jupe did not know much about Angus, being a friend of one of the others, and not much of a surfer, but he knew enough to know that he did not want him getting too friendly with his sister.
“That’s not far enough away, far as I’m concerned,” said Jupe.
“Fine, have it that way,” she said in a tone familiar to Jupe. It meant that she had run out of patience, and if pushed she would start to yell at all of them. “All I was sent to do was ask. That’s all he thought he would get, really, considering you are not much better than him when it comes to family values. So, consider him gone from your life. Happy now?”
“I already have considered that about him,” Jupe said with a small laugh.
Dawn-Star took an abrupt step to leave and that made Jupe stand, to ask her one last thing.