Part 11 (1/2)
Book Two - The Return.
Chapter 1.
Eden.
Eden had become well established and life was good. The climate settled into a perpetual mild light summer that was just about perfect. Water was plentiful though rain had not yet started. There were clouds in the blue sky, but thin wispy white ones that had no threat of a storm in them, they formed for a time and dissipated just as quickly. There was little wind to move them around, though the atmosphere was increasing quite rapidly. It was felt that atmospheric coverage wouldn't reach Earth proportions for some decades, but here, things had a habit of happening much faster than expected, so no one took too much notice of such feelings.
According to Clare Forester's wishes, a nearby crater had been flooded to form a lake. The project had taken some time, but time, as always, was plentiful; there was no pressure to achieve anything by a set date. Life had taken on a leisurely and extremely peaceful routine, that no one had any intentions of breaking, or modifying in any way.
Chris and Katy had been married for some time, though there was no sign of tiny feet yet. Hope was nearing her teens and growing into everything that a Forester was expected to be. She was tall and slim and extremely bright for one so young. Her dark hair shone with all the beauty of youth, and it was blatantly obvious to everyone that she would be a real stunner in just a few years time, a point not lost on many of the young men in Eden.
For quite some time now a romance had been blossoming between Jimmy and Sh.e.l.ley. Though he was somewhat older than she was, his youthful outlook seemed to make up for the extra years he had over her. Steve and Clare had given tacit agreement to this relations.h.i.+p, both of them having a very special place in their hearts for Jimmy, who had been a part of this adventure from its Genesis. His father had been the founder member of the Star Labs team, and was responsible for much of the success of Moon Base Alpha, and hence, the success of Eden; success that all were currently enjoying. The name Peebles was as much revered as Forester, even Vinkle held a place of some standing in the hearts of the Edenites. His contribution to the whole endeavour far outweighed his eventual demise, under the influence of the, so-called, General Carter. His inventiveness had made so much possible, remembrances of him were tinged with sadness, rather than hatred. Hatred didn't seem to play any part in Eden at all. There had been no arguments or fights since they had all left Earth so many years ago.
Ah, Earth. How it had slipped out of the memory. It was now just a big blue version of their moon, and appeared in the sky regularly as...o...b..ts dictated. No one thought of Earth as home, or even mentioned it much anymore. Eden was home now, and forever would be. A place where violence didn't exist, and everyone would do anything to help their neighbour. It had proven to be quite prophetic, when the name Eden was called out at Chris and Katy's wedding. Eden, meaning 'pleasure', was a very apt name indeed.
As an act of agreement, a monument had been erected in the central meeting place to the memory of General Hammond. It wasn't a likeness in the form of a statue, but a representation depicting all he had achieved. He held the highest place in the hearts of all Edenites, and was looked on as the father of the new humanity. A G.o.d-fearing man, who had laid down his life so that others might live, in the very best tradition of the Bible, and all that was good in the old humanity. He would never be forgotten, regardless of how much time pa.s.sed.
Clare's favourite place was by the lake, she had seen it in her mind's eye long before it had actually been formed. The water was a deep green colour, due to the plant growth in the crater before it had been flooded. The water had decreased the amount of sunlight reaching the crater floor, so growth had slowed markedly there, but the banks of the crater were carpeted with green, much like everywhere else on the moon.
No one had been very far from the settlement since it was built, there hadn't seemed to be much point, but thoughts of an expedition were beginning to take root in Clare's mind, the old curiosity of the field worker was beginning to rear up. Sitting here by the lake, she was fascinated by all the new growth that had taken place on the moon's surface, and wondered how the different seeds had taken root in different areas. The more she thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her. She determined to take it up with Steve the next time they spoke.
As she sat on the gra.s.s surveying the horizon, she caught sight of Jimmy and Sh.e.l.ley walking hand in hand in the distance. 'How good they look together,' she thought, and how Sh.e.l.ley had been such a good daughter. She had become special to all who knew her, which was everyone. Jimmy too, had won the hearts of those who had travelled here from Earth. Their union, when it finally came, would be looked upon with much love and affection.
The thought of the next generation of Edenites was thrilling, even though it meant being a grandparent for Clare, but she didn't mind that. It seemed that the old concepts had died along with the Earth all those years ago. The term grandmother held only joy for her now. ”Just like you old boy,” she said, turning to Rufus who was now very old and grey. ”We've both done our bit,” she said, patting him gently on the head. Rufus was by far the most prolific father in Eden, and he too would go down in history as a founder member of Eden's canine population.
The day wore on, and Clare was lying on the gra.s.s, pondering her expedition when Steve arrived.
”I thought I might find you here,” he said, stretching out beside her. ”Sure is pretty Sweetie, it was a great idea to form a lake.”
He stopped when he noticed she seemed lost in thought, and was just nodding and grunting in the right places.
”Okay, what is it now?” he asked. ”I've seen that look before, and it usually costs plenty!”
Clare looked at him, stretched out next to her, he was every bit as handsome now as he was when they first met.
”I'm a very lucky woman Steve Forester,” she said, squinting in the suns.h.i.+ne.
”Now I know I'm in trouble,” Steve grinned back at her. ”Just what is going through that wonderful mind of yours, and why do I feel another adventure coming on?”
Clare just grinned at him for a moment and then launched into her idea.
”I think it's a wonderful idea Sweetie,” he said, to her surprise, ”I've been searching for an excuse to get away from the lab for some time. We haven't spent very much time together recently, and I for one am suffering from withdrawal symptoms!”
Clare smiled and grabbed his legs, having achieved this, she pounced on him and pinned him down. He begged for mercy, but very half-heartedly.
Some way away, Jimmy and Sh.e.l.ley were watching the antics of their elders.
”I hope we turn out like that,” Jimmy said.
”We will,” Sh.e.l.ley a.s.sured him, ”after all, with them as our example, how could we not?”
”Uh oh, we've been rumbled,” Jimmy said, ”they've seen us.”
The young couple waved to the older couple who were shamelessly hugging each other and trying to take pieces out of each other's necks.
”We don't stand a chance, we're doomed!” Jimmy said. They laughed and began to mimic the old folks. Sh.e.l.ley decided to play hard to get and ran off, Jimmy followed.
”Too much energy these young people,” Steve commented.
”Too much by far,” Clare agreed, kissing his cheek.
Their walk back to the settlement was slow and leisurely, unlike Jimmy and Sh.e.l.ley who ran all the way.
”So, when shall we go then?” Clare asked.
”Let's make it as soon as possible,” Steve suggested, ”but we need to make plans first, and hey, we don't have any maps!”
He was getting visibly excited, and Clare loved it. They had always loved doing things together, and the extended gap since the last time had certainly made their hearts grow fonder. The whole idea was almost too wonderful for them, and the exuberance of youth threatened to engulf them. They giggled like two naughty school children hatching a plot to put glue on the teacher's chair. As they approached the settlement, Hope came out to meet them. She was beaming, and her eyes flashed as she sensed something had happened to her mom and dad.
”Everything all right you two?” she asked, knowing full well that it wasn't.
”Sure Hops,” Clare replied trying not to grin from ear to ear.
”Now I know you're up to something.” Hope said, staring at each of them in turn. ”You'd better tell me before you both burst, it's no use trying to hide it, you're up to something, it's written all over your faces.”
Steve squeezed Clare's hand, took a deep breath and said, ”We're going on a field trip, we want to see just how far things have gone and what kind of plant growth there has been.”
”When are we leaving?” Hope responded knowing they'd have to take her along.
Steve looked at Clare and replied, ”As soon as we have it all planned Hops.”
”Yes!” Hope gestured on hearing it.
”When shall we tell them?” Sh.e.l.ley asked, as Jimmy rose from his knee.
”How about now, there's no time like the present.”
She giggled in agreement and they set off to find his future in-laws. They b.u.mped into Hope first who was obviously excited about something.
”Hey what's got you going?” Sh.e.l.ley asked her.
”It's mom and dad,” she answered, ”they're going on a field trip and I'm going with them. I've never seen them so excited; they're like a couple of kids. And what's with you two?” she asked, seeing that they also were very excited.