Somebody Else's Space Program
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Chapter Forty five ". . . a universe of fresh starts . . ."
Ross looked over his shoulder at the small procession approaching the observation platform. "Medlen, who's with Mairyonven? I see Josgoroth -- who's the other one?"
Medlen pulled the binoculars from the wall and looked. "Probably his cousin Envyss -- Mairyonven's son. I'd heard he was back. He was living with his father for a good while." Medlen grinned, "I think Josgoroth has been talking -- Envyss is asking a lot of questions, and Josgoroth's pointing up at us. Brace yourself."
Only minutes, and there were excited voices below the two men, and feet pounding up the stairs. Two breathless boys came through the doorway first, the second one almost tripping in his eagerness, but recovering with surprising grace.
Mairyonven was not that far behind, even though she was a little winded from the fast climb. "Ross, you've met Josgoroth, of course. This other little demon is my son Envyss. I'm afraid I've promised him that you'll try him as an apprentice for a while, before he goes off to University in a couple of months."
"We met, many years ago. I think Envyss was less than two at the time." Ross had never been any good at judging the ages of children. "What are you studying?"
"Engineering, like my father."
"And you're how old?"
"I'll be seventeen in two months."
Adult by their standards, then. "The work is dangerous. And tedious."
Envyss smiled, "Both? I can deal with that, as long as there are _some_ interesting bits."
Ross's heart took a long time to start beating again. When Envyss smiled, he looked just like a younger Jheraind. Not too surprising, given how much his mother looked like the lost one, but...
Envyss's voice wasn't as deep, but he still had some growing to do. "Yes, both. Mairyonven, will he follow orders? If he won't, I can't have him around here -- he'll be a danger to everyone else."
Ross was impressed when Envyss waited for his mother to answer instead of blurting out a protest of his own. "His firearms instructors have spoken well of his attention to the safety courses," she answered. "I think he can understand the necessity."
"Alright. It won't be a formal apprenticeship, but if you do well, I'll be happy to write letters of recommendation to your school."
"Thank you."
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The technical parts intrigued Envyss the most, not the thunder and fire. "Do you know why we're doing this?"
"This specific test run?"
"The whole project. Trying to get objects, eventually humans, into space."
"I never really thought of 'why.' I know we have to do it. I know I _want_ to do it, to be part of the people who do it." A big grin, "I want to be one of the pilots. But I doubt my family will let me."
"Once there's a fair chance that the rocket won't blow up under you, I don't see why not. You'd be perfect to get your people behind space travel."
"It's the 'blow up' that worries Mother. If we lose me, that will bring the whole project down around your ears. I, of course, will not be in any shape to care at that point."
Ross laughed. "That's what your uncle would have said."
Envyss grinned and shrugged. "It's true, though." A bit more soberly, "I wouldn't mind a place in the history books, but not as chopped raw meat. That lacks a certain dignity."
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