My latest short story Pluto's Heart is now available from JMS Books!
Follow this link to order it on Amazon!
Read an excerpt here:
“Atmospheric pressure and standard
temperature have been established,” the computer said. “You may now safely
remove your helmet and space suit.”
“Finally,” he muttered. It took him almost
five minutes to remove his suit, down to the nylon overalls he wore underneath
and scanned the interior of the building. It appeared to be more machine shop
than scientific outpost. Almost every square meter of the space was occupied
with machinery and scientific equipment. A narrow path wound between the
mountains of apparatus, just wide enough for him to pass through. Brian took a
tentative step forward and his foot falls seemed to echo.
A noise from somewhere inside grabbed his
attention and he made his way toward the sound. An opening appeared before him
as he stepped around a stack of containers. A small living space, about three
meters by four meters sat among the piles. It had a low bed, an exercise
station and a kitchenette. A chamber jutted out from the wall into the room and
Brian could see a toilet and shower inside.
A lone figure sat at a table, his back to
Brian, hunched over a piece of scientific equipment.
“Zack?” Brian spoke in a soft voice, as
not to startle him. How could he have not
heard me enter? The airlock is not quiet, and the computer voice was loud
enough to hear through my helmet.
The figure turned around
“Brian?” The red-bearded face appeared greyer
and more drawn then when Brian had last seen him and Zack seemed thinner, but he
was still the handsome man Brian fell in love with years ago.
Zack wore overalls similar to the one
Brian had on, and heavy boots. He walked toward Brian who held his arms out for
a hug.
When he got close enough, Zack punched him
hard in the face. Brian fell back, landing on a pile of luggage straps.
He lay still for a few seconds, stunned,
pain shooting through his skull. When the shock subsided, Brian struggled to
get his feet and cleared his vision, noting Zack had not moved.
“Not the reception I was expecting,” Brian
said, rubbing his cheek where Zack’s fist had connected, feeling the stubble
that had grown during his trip.
“What did you expect?” Zack snapped.
“You’re responsible for me being stranded on this fucking rock! Did you think I
was going to welcome you with open arms and on my knees?” His voice rose to a shout.
“Wait a minute,” Brian retorted. “You left
me! You wanted to come out here to get
away from me!”
“I did not leave you,” Zack yelled. “I was told you wanted to break up with me
and the next thing I knew, I was shipped out to this frozen cesspool.”
“I was on the other side of Titan when you
left,” Brian argued. “We hadn’t talked
for several days, so who told you I wanted to break up?”
Zack pressed his lips together and did not
respond.
“Maybe the same person who told me you
requested this assignment?”
“Assignment?” Zack looked
surprised. His expression changed to amusement and he burst out laughing. “Do
you think this is an assignment?” He spat out the last word. “This is a fucking
death sentence,” he continued shouting. “We are never getting off this goddamned
planet. At least I’ll have the satisfaction knowing you’re stuck here too. And
will probably die here. With luck before
me.” He turned and walked back to his workstation.
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