21
Blastoff
Laura looked at her
bedroom one more time. “I can’t believe I’m leaving so much behind,” she said
to Ethel.
“Well, we’re grateful. Especially the keyboard; even if none of us can
play it, someone will come along who can, or will learn how to.”
“Easier for me to buy a new one on Earth than for someone to import one
to Mars!” exclaimed Laura. “I needed a new one, anyway. So, you think you can
use the clothes?”
“Definitely. We’re pretty much the same size. If I can’t, someone else
will.”
“Mars is going to need heaps of used stuff, so we might as well start
accumulating it now. Returning astronauts might as well fly home light; more
room for samples.”
“And it sounds like you’ll need all the space you can get!”
“Oh, I don’t know. Between the two shuttles, we’ve got almost ten
tonnes. That’ll flood the university science community with Mars rocks. As far
as I’m concerned, they might as well start to sell them!” Laura sighed and
walked out of her bedroom, then closed the door. Another chapter of her life
had ended.
In a nearby room, David was looking at the clothes and the Moroccan rug
he had left. “I’ll cherish this rug, Daoud,” said Will.
“Hey, I’ve got to leave something with you, Moonman.” David smiled and
his voice choked with emotion. “I don’t even know whether we’ll ever see each
other again. Or if we do, I doubt we’ll ever fly together again.”
“Who knows. Ethel and I have only committed to one more two-year tour
of duty; that means we’ll be back to Earth in early 2024. I bet we’ll come to
Paris and have a nice barbeque with you, Malika, and the kids.”
“That would be nice. Or maybe we’ll come see the two of you and your
children.”
“God willing, my friend.”
David smiled. He and Will embraced; they were very good, very old
friends. “Let’s keep in touch.”
“Definitely. I’m counting on you to keep my geological theories from
getting out of hand.”
“I’ll be a science advisor, that’s for sure,” promised David.
The two of them stepped out of David’s room. They headed for the Great
Room, where Laura, Ethel, and Sergei were already waiting. Shinji hurried in as
well. “It’s time,” he said. “We’re at t-minus two hours and holding the count.”
“My friends, it’s time to say our goodbyes,” said Laura. She looked
around the room, and a tear appeared in her right eye. “This has been the most
incredible mission in my life. Nothing can ever top it. I can’t begin to
express my thanks to all of you for making it so successful. And thank you for
the friendship. We’ve become a family in the last two years; I never expected
that. I hope we get together again at some point in the future.”
The six of them started hugging each other and expressing their tearful
goodbyes. Those leaving wished all the best to those staying; and those staying
wished the others a successful and safe flight. In either case, they would all
be in danger; that was the nature of space exploration.
Then they all headed for the suit-up area and put on their suits, because
those staying were driving the two rangers that would take the three departing
crewmembers to their shuttles. Both shuttles would take off for the
interplanetary habs; the launches would be ten minutes apart to allow the first
shuttle to achieve orbit safely before the second one was launched.
It took twenty minutes to get their suits on. Then they all clambered
into the rangers for the predawn drive to the shuttles and their launch back to
Earth. It was a bittersweet moment, culminated by two beautiful and powerful
launches and the beginning of the long journey of Columbus 1 back to humanity’s
home world.
(Finished about Dec. 3, 2002)