Free Over the Darkened Landscape by Derryl Murphy Page A

She found the handset and brought it up to her ear, hit the button to answer. Dreading the voice she might hear on the other end.
    “Hello?”
    A soft clicking, and then an impersonal voice. “Mrs. Ferris, this is the operator. Please stand by for a call.”
    What the hell ? More noises, and then another voice, hollow and sounding far away. So unexpected it took her a second to realize who it was.
    “Jackie. Sorry about the time, love.”
    With some effort she rolled over onto her back, lay there with her free hand still on her belly, feeling the baby’s motions. “Allen.  My God, honey, the phone ringing so early scared the hell out of me. You haven’t come down already, have you?”
    A moment’s silence, and then a small chuckle. “No, love, not quite yet.” A few loud breaths, and then, “How’s the baby?”
    She smiled, felt the motion as it rolled inside her like a dolphin trying to breach the surface. “Just fine. Must know that its daddy is calling, because there’s some sort of party happening down there right now.”
    Her husband chuckled again. “Do me a favor, Jack? Put the phone up to your belly for a minute. I’d like to talk to the Worm for a couple of seconds.”
    Jackie laughed. “Jesus, Allen. NASA must owe you some big if you can get patched through from building the station just to talk to a fetus.”
    There was a knock on the bedroom door right then, and her mother poked her head in, a concerned look on her face. Jackie mouthed Allen’s name and shrugged her shoulders, smiling so her mother would understand it wasn’t an emergency. Then she pointed at the chair in the corner. Her mother sat, still looking concerned.
    Something in Allen’s voice changed, took on the firmness that he knew got things done for him. “Please just do it for me, Jack. Go ahead and put it on speaker so you can hear as well, if you like.”
    She frowned. “Sure, Allen. Mom’s in the room now as well.”
    “Good. I’ll talk to her for a moment as well.”
    “Oh-kay.” She dragged out the word. “Glad NASA’s paying the tolls on this one.” She pressed the button on the handset, held the phone above her belly. “Go ahead, hon.”
    A few more deep breaths, now sounding somewhat hoarse over the speaker. “Worm? This is your daddy. I know you haven’t heard my voice for a few weeks. That’s because I’ve been working far away from home, helping build the new space station. Whatever you turn out to be, Worm, boy or girl, I want you to know in advance that your daddy is very proud of you. I know that whatever you choose to do, you will do it very well and with much joy.” He took some more breaths. “I love you very much. Please remember that.”
    “Allen?” Jackie sat staring at the phone. “What the hell?”
    “Just a second, love. Denise?”
    “I’m here, Allen.”
    “You’ll know what to do. I love your daughter more than life itself, you know.”
    Jackie’s mother smiled slightly. “I never doubted it for a second, Allen. You were always more than I could have asked for.”
    “Thanks.” He laughed. “You too, sometimes. Take care, Denise.”
    Jackie switched off the speakerphone. “What the hell is happening, Allen? Are they keeping you up there for overtime? Because if they are, I’m going to phone Morris myself and let him know what I think about that. They promised you’d be down in time for the delivery.”
    “No overtime, love. But . . .” His voice caught, and except for the echoing breathing, he was silent.
    “But what? Allen, honey, you’re scaring me.” Jackie could feel tears coming to her eyes. “Please don’t do this. Just tell me what’s happening. Please .”
    “All right.” She heard him sniff loudly. “Shit. Wish they knew of some way to wipe your nose inside a helmet.”
    “In a helmet? Why are you in your suit, Allen? Shouldn’t you be talking to me from the living module or the shuttle?” She bit her lower lip and grabbed the blanket with her free