john a eyon

my little land cruiser jolts forward - rushing headlong towards the distant hills - towards the bluish white incandescence of the sun - low on the horizon - glaring into my eyes - casting deep blue shadows helter skelter over the terrain - by day a flat rocky barrenness - but now - forested by tall vaporous streamers - wavy yellow mist - erupting out of thin air - exotic portents of a deadly cold that kills - as it killed that geologist in our first days on this planet -

home base must be frantic by now - pacing about - the way i did that time the geologist failed to turn up - my stomach knotted with fear - waiting for word from the large insulated landcraft - as it lumbered out to the rescue - tractors gouging the dusty rocky surface -

those were the first words they radioed back when they found his frozen body in his flimsy land cruiser - crashed into a cliff - probably after loss of consciousness -

how could our advanced sciences not have predicted this - are there still phenomena beyond the ken of complexity analysis -

so thought the group leader - consequently - with only one landcraft and a limited numbers of deep space suits - the group leader established disciplines - such as - planned routes - time limits - care of equipment -

alone in the primitive expanses - away from the crush of companions - my sortie completed ahead of schedule - the vistas so enticing - it didnt seem that i spent that long relaxing -

the radio crackles "e t a" - i scan the navigational controls - "forty minutes" i reply - no response - so i ask "how long before the sun sets" - pause - "not long enuf" - "thanks" i reply gruffly - then i ask "what about the rover - is it repaired yet" - pause - "weer still working on the tractor" -

the rising streamers - caught up in the cruisers wake - undulate - break up - mingle with the purplish wake dust - but its hard to maintain top speed - hard to see thru the streamers - to spot boulders or pits - so i slow down a little - driving tactically - optimizing speed and safety - on the most direct route to home base -

no panic - no surrender either - my mood swings from a controlled fear - to a strange serenity - even tho the odds are heavily against me - even tho my mind has time to dwell on debilitating thoughts while it directs this pell mell drive - instead - it chooses to think - to strategize -

i hope when all is lost - if - all is lost - i hope it acquiesces and lets me die in peace - no hysteria - no terror -

the sun - a fleeting bluish image between the streamers - drops behind the horizon - chilling cold leaks thru the cab - thru my thin atmosphere suit - my sense of urgency rises - i speed up - not caring about pits or boulders -

there - between the streamers - the landcraft - all lit up - turning ponderously around - back towards the base - i near it - proving it is no illusion - nor is the makeshift tractor -

i drive up along side - slowing - synchronizing speed and direction to facilitate boarding while in motion - a door opens on the side of the rover revealing an airlock - a space suited figure within gestures - i open my cab door to the blast of cold - and leap towards the air lock - while the space suited figure leaps into my vehicle to complete the ride to home base -

the outside airlock door immediately slides shut with a clang - but i must bide my time during the hissing exchange of alien air with breathable air - until - finally - the inner door glides open and warm air washes around me -

i pull off my air helmet - step inside - and stand there glancing around - a smile on my face - but i get no smile in return - the crew - expressionless - except for a couple unfriendly members who openly smirk -

"scared" asks the group leader - hands on hips - head cocked -

but i dont say that - i know i should feel chagrined - so i force myself to avert my eyes and suppress a smile - after a pause i ask - my voice ragged - "why didnt you tell me you got the rover fixed" -

"a lesson" the group leader replied - "i want you to remember this day - i want you to remember - all of you - that there wont always be an alternative to good sense and discipline" -

later on - will come the guilt for my lapse in judgement - but right now - a stupor steals over me - my body and mind numbs - i sit snuggly in the rover - swaying its way back to home base - men and machinery clicking smoothly - providing an undercurrent of safety and security - putting me warmly - gently - to sleep -

end

Copyright 2005-2006 by John A. Eyon