Free Infinite Reef by Karl Kofoed Page A

exploratory flight into Lalande c’s vortex. Once the explorer instincts in him would have welcomed that prospect, but the rescue mission to Howarth’s egg had quelled that part of him, and he was already dreading a return trip. His suggestion about a return mission was the only way he felt he could learn if such a trip was in Stubbs’ mind. What Mary had taken as volunteerism was really a bid for information from a Commander whose intentions seemed blurry at best.
    Then there was the matter of Mary’s health. She had been sick again that morning and, as before, had been dismissive when he showed concern. Would Mary’s undiagnosed malady cause her harm if she went on another mission?
    9 They had settled in to watch the launch of the sphere from the comfort of the bubble when orders came from the Commander.
    Minutes later, Alex and Mary boarded a tube car for a trip to their shuttle. Stubbs wanted a chase vehicle to observe the sphere after its launch from Goddard . His choice was Diver , with Alex at the helm, of course. Johnny and Matt Howarth would be along to monitor the sphere while Alex and backup pilot Connie Tsu manned the helm. Stubbs wanted Mary to go along as communications officer.
    When Alex asked her if she felt up to it, Mary looked at him as if he was crazy. “I’m fine,” she insisted. I want to go. I just wish Stubbs had let me take Inky along, too. He’s been lonely during all the excitement.”
    Mary was changing the subject, and he understood why. The only illness that she had ever known resulted from injury or implant surgery. He never heard her complain of a headache or even an upset stomach. If Stubbs hadn’t been so adamant about the importance of the mission, Alex would have insisted the meds look at her first. But the dolphin had said there was no urgency, and the cylinder’s weather staff had already reported a mean temperature drop of two degrees. As the Commander had said, the longer the sphere stayed aboard the greater the threat to ship and crew.
    Though Alex still worried about her, Mary seemed fine as they got out of the tubeway and floated together, hand in hand, toward the hangar doors. They were dressed in the silver coveralls provided without explanation by the med techs.
    Inside the hangar stood the rest of the crew, and one more member, borne in a small locker by Connie Tsu. When Connie saw Mary enter the hangar bay she pushed the box gently in Mary’s direction. Alex heard protesting meows of their cat as the box tumbled toward Mary, who caught it handily and peered inside. She smiled, wide-eyed, at Tsu. “Inky?”
    “We thought he should be along, for old time’s sake,” said Johnny, hovering next to Tsu. “I had the crew stow some chow for him.”
    Mary’s brightened mood was evident when they reached Diver’s airlock. She breezed inside and took up her station.
    Everyone else did the same, hastened by the steady urgings of the Commander’s voice on their wristbands.
    Alex surveyed the cabin and smiled, glad to see that there were no unfamiliar modifications, as had been the case on the last two missions. His eyes fell on Tsu and she returned his look with one of consternation. “What?” she asked. “Why the grin?”
    Alex was about to reply when Stubbs’ voice came over the cabin intercom. “Stow it and buckle up, people,” said the Commander. “We have a launch sequence for the sphere. Two minutes.”
    “Wow! They’re really pushin’ it,” remarked Matt Howarth, last through the airlock. “Jesus H. Pope,” he growled as he floated like a silver pillow to the radar station behind Alex’s chair.
    The Professor was already busy inside the bubble that dominated the center of Diver’s cabin. “Sealing the lock,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
    “Contact,” said Stubbs’ voice on the intercom.
    Diver creaked as it moved out of its docking position and onto the launch ramp. There was nothing for Alex to do but sit back until he was called