Part 15 (1/2)
Rhyssa had the grace to look abashed. You know I had to. You know I had to.
”How do you know Johnny doesn't like working in s.p.a.ce?” Dave asked, surprised.
”I just do,” Peter said, and he lifted his shoulders in the general's characteristic shrug. ”You get to know who likes EVA and who's the least bit nervous.” A genuine case of mind over matter, Rhyssa. A genuine case of mind over matter, Rhyssa.
”Why do they work in s.p.a.ce then, if they're nervous?” Amariyah wanted to know.
”It's a good job and pays well,” Peter said.
”And safe enough once Barchenka was no longer in charge,” Dave remarked.
”Why? Wasn't it always safe?” Amariyah tilted her head inquiringly at Peter, wanting his opinion.
”No, it wasn't, Maree, but no one needs to worry about getting lost in s.p.a.ce anymore.”
”Why? Do you rescue them?” she asked, although she indicated there could be but one answer.
Peter dropped his eyes to his drink.
”Well, do you?” she insisted, leaning toward him. ”You can do anything you want.”
”I suspect that if Peter needed to rescue anyone, they wouldn't be aware of it. Would they, Peter?” Rhyssa asked.
He grinned at her. ”More or less. Didn't happen often anyway. All they needed was a bit of a halt to stop their spin.”
”Did you have eyes in the back of your helmet?” asked Dave, amused.
”No, I had Madlyn looking out for me and she knew the signs. ”So,” and his grin was self-deprecating, ”it was more her than me, Maree, preventing the need for rescue.”
”When I've learned hydroponics and work on the s.p.a.ce Station, will I get to go out into s.p.a.ce? Will you rescue me if I need it, Peter?” Amariyah asked.
”Of course I will,” he said stoutly.
Rach.e.l.le appeared in the doorway. Eoin and Chester saw her and clung to Peter's arms.
”You've had an extra fifteen minutes, boys,” their father said, gesturing for them to go to Rach.e.l.le. They grumbled and s.h.i.+fted about, hoping for a reprieve.
”C'mon, boys. The bubbles are all ready for your swim,” Rach.e.l.le said, holding out both hands.
”Which bubbles?” Eoin wanted to know, reluctant to leave Peter.
”I'll be back tomorrow morning, Eoin. You can tell me which ones then,” Peter said, and gave the little boy a subtle push off the couch. Rach.e.l.le saw the obstinate look on Chester's round face and went to scoop him off the couch. ”I'll see you tomorrow morning, too, Chester. It's great to be back!”
”I think dinner's ready,” Rhyssa said, rising to her feet and indicating to Dave that he should escort Dorotea to the dining room.
During dinner, Rhyssa brought Peter up to date on all Center news. Lance Baden was back in Adelaide, flown directly into the Woomera s.p.a.ce Station, his contract for the Moon expansion completed. He would probably sign up for another. Dorotea had Peter repeat some of the tales he had recounted the previous evening of his experiences on Padrugoi. Rhyssa was not unaware of some of the pressures he had experienced. That was why the subtle Dorotea had prompted him to repeat them. Rhyssa had plenty of food for thought while Peter, with great relish, ate the meal she had prepared for him.
”Not that I can't get anything I want up at Padrugoi,” he hastily amended.
”Food eaten in the company of good friends always has more savor,” Dorotea said pontifically.
”Why? We're eating the same things you cooked last night,” Amariyah said.
Dorotea cleared her throat and rolled her eyes heavenward at such tactlessness. Dave guffawed.
A bit like Tirla, isn't she? Peter said, rea.s.suring Rhyssa with a wide grin. ”I'd like seconds of the garlic potatoes, please. That's one thing they don't use on the Station.” Peter said, rea.s.suring Rhyssa with a wide grin. ”I'd like seconds of the garlic potatoes, please. That's one thing they don't use on the Station.”
”Why not? Garlic has many healthful properties,” Amariyah said.
”It also has one effect that may not be appreciated in a recycled air environment,” Dave said.
”What?” Amariyah asked.
”Bad breath,” Dave replied, ignoring flatulence.
”Elephant garlic has no odor,” the girl said.
”We take the point, Maree,” Peter said, grinning with mischief.
”He's growing up,” Rhyssa said wistfully to her husband when they were getting ready for bed that night.
” 'Bout time. And he's enjoying life. All All of it, I hope.” Dave rolled his eyes. of it, I hope.” Dave rolled his eyes.
”David!” she said in protest, because his expression was slightly salacious. ”He's only eighteen!”
”Honey, I'd had my first s.e.x by the time I was sixteen.”
”You did?”
”We won't go into that. It was youthful exuberance, love!”
”Peter's not sterile,” she added. ”The medics say that paraplegics can, you know.”
”I know. I asked,” Dave said.
”Then kindly don't encourage him.”
”It's not for a guy guy to encourage him,” Dave said with a second suggestive leer. to encourage him,” Dave said with a second suggestive leer.
”David!”
”And he's closer to nineteen, you know.” He tried to change the subject. ”So he has a week home, and then another three being a stevedore?”
”Stevedore?” Rhyssa gave him another hard look for his word choice.
”All right, transport and construction kinetic!”
”That's better. I wonder who else we could send up to Padrugoi from the Center?”
”I thought you didn't want him to experience 'life' yet?” Dave asked, stacking the pillows behind him so he could watch Rhyssa at her nightly beauty ritual. Privately he didn't think she needed to fuss with creams and lotions, but he liked watching her.