Lifeline

“Duncan, Allen—and all of Orbitech 1—I place myself in your hands. Right now a long trial would be divisive and destructive to our fragile balance. It would sap our energy and our attention, which would best be directed elsewhere. And I am too tired to go through with it.”

The image of Winkowski mumbled something at the edge of the screen, but Brahms made a dismissive gesture with his hand. He continued.

“I leave the decision to you. You can take the easy way out and just disconnect me—throw my body out the airlock to join the hundred fifty-two people lost in the RIF. But do not allow yourselves to forget that I acted in what I thought was the best way to ensure our survival.

“Punish me or forgive me, as you see fit. We all do what we must do. Right now I want nothing more than to rest. I leave you to determine how long that rest will be.”

The holographic image dissolved into static, then nothing.

Winkowski had started to cry. McLaris took a deep breath and pulled his lips tight. “That’s it. We’ve got a new start.” He turned to walk away. “Let’s try not to screw it up this time.”

Terachyk slammed a hand against the chamber. Spinning, McLaris saw the man trembling with anger.

“I hope he’s having nightmares!”

In the depths of his cold sleep, Curtis Brahms dreamed of playing checkers.

Epilogue

ORBITECH 2—Year 3

Ramis watched as Clifford Clancy boosted his daughter up on his shoulders, letting the giggling girl survey the open spread of the newly completed Orbitech 2. The girl’s face had an Oriental appearance, muted and mercifully free of Clancy’s own craggy features. Wiay slipped an arm around Clancy’s waist and beckoned for Ramis to take in the view with them.

As Ramis drew close, Clancy nodded toward the girder webwork of the outer, larger torus still being assembled. “Another two years and we’ll be finished. Orbitech 2 will give us enough growing room for fifty years.”

“A lot will change in that time,” Ramis said, watching the silvery figures moving around in space. Most of Clancy’s construction crew had left the Moon the first chance they could, though some had agreed to stay, apparently to Clancy’s chagrin.

Ramis knew he was being too quiet on his first tour of Orbitech 2, but other thoughts kept him distracted. He remarked on how the colony looked enormous—especially without any growing foliage. Bare steel decks gave the impression that the huge station was naked and cold. But that would change. Several species of Dobo Daeng’s modified wall-kelp would cover the decks in only a few months.

“I wish Father Magsaysay could have seen this,” Ramis said in a quiet voice.

“I thought he wasn’t all that interested in space construction,” Clancy said. “He seemed pretty wrapped up in the Aguinaldo.”

“That is not what I meant,” Ramis said. “He was afraid that once the Americans and the other colonies got over their period of crisis and did not need us anymore, you would treat us as ‘little brown brothers’ all over again.”

Ramis took a deep breath. “But the last time I saw him, he took me to one of the viewing verandas on the Aguinaldo and pointed out to Orbitech 2. He told me his worries were wrong—that we had learned not to focus on the survival of the Filipino race, but on the human race. He was very proud of all of us. I think he felt fulfilled. He was happy to see us growing again.”

Wiay patted her swollen belly. “Cliffy and I are doing everything we can to help. We’ll have Lang Ti’s little brother running around soon.”

Ramis looked away from the viewport, blinking. “Huh? Excuse me, I did not hear you.”

Clancy frowned, rubbing his fingers against Wiay’s shoulder blade. “You’ve been absentminded lately, Ramis. I thought this tour of Orbitech 2 would get you out of the doldrums.”

Ramis shrugged, pulling himself away from his thoughts. “I am sorry, but I am considering too many things at once. Director McLaris has offered me a very good position working with the sail-creatures if I wish to return to Orbitech 1. It is either that or join Mr. Terachyk and Dr. Tomkins on the radio-telescope project. But something makes me uneasy. It all seems so permanent.”

Clancy laughed. “I can’t imagine why a nineteen-year-old wouldn’t want to settle down and choose a course for the rest of his life! You’ve still got wanderlust. You’re looking for some grand challenge; otherwise, you’re not going to be happy.”

Clancy flipped his daughter off his shoulders and over his head. She shrieked as he caught her and held her upside down. Wiay spoke over the child’s laughter. “No one’s going to blame you if you join the Kibalchich, Ramis. That does seem more like your style.”

“I was afraid someone might point that out to me. I thought I was the only one crazy enough to consider the possibility,” Ramis said, looking away.

“I hope Brahms’s trial isn’t held until after I leave. I don’t want to testify.”