Free Hollow Moon by Steph Bennion Page A

essentially a giant greenhouse, built to trap the weak heat of
the sun and sealed to maintain a breathable atmosphere for its residents. The
skybus approached Newbrum from the west; a smaller dome to the south, made of
reinforced concrete rather than glass, housed the city’s life-support plant,
while a similar dome to the north served as the spaceport terminal. Beyond the
city to the east lay the choppy grey waters of the Tatrill Sea.
    “We are now approaching New Birmingham,” announced the
automatic pilot. Its use of the old name of the city confirmed Miss Clymene’s
earlier voiced suspicion that obsolete skybuses were being put back into
service. “Change here for interplanetary and interstellar spaceport services,
national skybus services and for flying boat services from Aston Pier.”
    The skybus was slowing and dropping to the monorail track
below. Newbrum station was in the north dome and the track passed close enough
to the main city dome for them to see the unruly collection of concrete and
steel buildings within. On the far side of the spaceport was the salvage yard
where old space vehicles were dismantled for recycling; like all planets
orbiting ancient red dwarf stars, Ascension was seriously short of
metal-bearing rocks. The skybus gave a jolt as it settled upon its rail, the
turbines now working to kill its speed as it approached the giant airlock doors
sliding open ahead. Moments later they were inside, speeding through a long
concrete tunnel into the heart of the concrete dome. A second set of airlock
doors closed behind them and with a final screech of brakes the skybus finally
rolled to a halt next to a long platform. They were home.
    “We have arrived at New Birmingham, where this service
terminates,” the automatic pilot proclaimed cheerfully. “All change, please.”
     
* * *
     
    “Are you absolutely sure there’s nothing available?”
asked Miss Clymene. She was talking to the ticket office clerk at the spaceport
departure lounge, a stern-faced woman who clearly thought she had better places
to be. Behind Miss Clymene, Endymion, Bellona and Philyra stood idly by,
looking bored. “It doesn’t have to be direct to Daode. I’m sure we could get a
connecting shuttle from Taotie.”
    “The Fenghuang III has been booked by private charter,” the clerk told her, sounding weary. “Once
that leaves orbit, the next ship to Epsilon Eridani is in three weeks time.”
    “Wonderful,” muttered Miss Clymene. Bradbury Heights
originally had offered her class some seats on the flight, but then just two
days ago had changed their minds on the grounds they now needed to make room
for a hamper of speciality cheeses. Miss Clymene decided to try a different
tack. “How about the Solar System?” she suggested. “If we can get to Earth or
Mars we can pick up a flight to Epsilon Eridani from there.”
    The clerk consulted her screen once more. “I have a
flight to Hellas,” she offered.
    “Oh good!”
    “Although it hasn’t actually left the Solar System to get
here as yet,” she added. “It should be at Ascension by the end of the week. Is
that any use to you?”
    “None whatsoever.” Miss Clymene sighed. They were due in
the city of Hemakuta on Daode in just four days time. “Is that all you have?”
    The clerk nodded and for a moment almost looked as if she
cared. It had been barely six months since the last of the big corporations
pulled out of the Barnard’s Star system, but the exodus had started years ago
when Tau Ceti became the new frontier and now very few flights routinely called
at Ascension. Miss Clymene decided she too would look glum if her job had gone
from dealing with endless hoards of unhappy passengers to the mind-numbing
tedium of sitting behind a desk all day telling people they were not going
anywhere.
    “Can we go?” asked Philyra, interrupting them.
    Miss Clymene glanced over her shoulder to where Philyra
and Bellona slouched miserably against a wall. Across the hall,