'59 A Space Exploration Adventure: PT43

“They already have.” Elaine replied. “Remember, these images we’re seeing now are from three weeks ago, so I guess it’ll be another ...

© A Sunderland 2011


yes, sixteen days till we get confirmation of the rendezvous.”
A man put his hand up, but Elaine couldn’t work out who he was. “Please.” she said, inviting his question.
“Can’t you speak to them by radio?”
“Unfortunately, sir, the reality of inter-galactic communications is rather more complicated than most people realize.”
“Why? Starquest IV has been able to have instantaneous two way communications with its base for years!”
Some people laughed and Elaine found that she couldn’t resist replying. “Next time, sir, we’ll get their studio executive to run the mission!”

Chapter 15
The dream
[Day 241]
The moon was full but pale, its cold and thin light crept through the open curtains of Janine’s bedroom. The window was shut but a moaning wind pushed against the glass. Janine lay fast asleep, her mind tracing kaleidoscopic images of Blaze, of the sea, video from the mission, and for some reason her brother Sean. Beside her on a low table, the clock displayed the time. 01:37.
“Jan….eeene…”
A sound, quieter than a whisper, joined the wind pressing against the panes, desperate to get inside the room and trying to articulate a word.
“neeene……” Now louder, somehow inside the room.
Janine moaned, her sleeping mind still in a world of dreams.
“Janine…..”
She sat bolt upright, suddenly wide awake but disorientated. Turning to her left, she looked at the clock. At first the display was blank then it flickered back to life, it read 20:59.
“What the hell?” She reached down to the foot of the bed to grab her dressing gown but froze, hearing the whisper as if just a few feet in front of her.
“Janine, Janine!”

It was stronger and more urgent. She looked up towards the window and screamed. Silhouetted by the moonlight on the other side of the glass was Don’s face, staring pleadingly and mouthing silent words. Janine looked away and back again. Still there.
“Dad!” She slipped out of the bed, her dressing gown falling to the floor, and moved cautiously towards him, fear and disbelief trying to hold her back. As she neared the window, Don’s face started to drift away into the darkness of the night sky, his eyes pleading for help and his hands stretched out in front, trying to breach the growing gap and touch her.
“No!” Janine called, rushing the last two feet to the window. “No, don’t go. Dad!”
She frantically grappled with the catch and pushed the window wide open, oblivious of the rush of cold air that flooded over her. “Dad.!”
Suddenly the room lit up. Cindy had rushed in. “Darling! What is it?”
“Oh Mum, it’s Dad! He needs my help. He’s in trouble!”
“Jan you’ve been dream—“
“No Mum, it’s not even bed time. And it’s Dad, and—“
Jan it’s the middle of the night. Get some-”
“No it’s just before nine.”
“It’s one thirty in the morning.”
Following her mother’s glance, Janine looked at the clock. 01:37. She shook her head, puzzled.
“But it’s real. It was Dad, I’m telling you.”
“Jan, you had a dream. Remember, we talked about this just the other day, about the other members of the family are having bad dreams too? No one’s getting a decent slee—“
“Why won’t you believe me?” Janine interrupted angrily.