"tek rats." a tale of science fiction by alfredo juillet frascara (t.e.y. s.c.i.t. m.y.) 22.11.1996.- prologue: some information before the start: 3.403 d.c. place: somewhere in deep space location: among two constellations personages: the pelargonia : captain karl jorgustafen lieutenant likan marabunte, lieutenant spinny tell, robotics : marmalone derrick, chief engineer ( motors) the professor salund vergara, the adjutants of the chief engineer larry moe curly chemp, radio man alfonse jutell, medical officer (female) glona exobiologist (female) ferona, an old witch krisky wastermel, passengers to be delivered some kits ( feru and deuina)running around, some jerky robots sdf 78 and 3489 hf, some terrific robot ultimate x234, some biogenetic example of what may never be ensemble sample 32, some tiny gargoyles made of genetic disposal, the caleuche : hero ror smith in a new brand ship with a dark past, a pair of his dubious friends charlotte and marianella... and a girl masa for all services, a couple of lust robots new models lust 09 and 66,) chapters of the obra: 1.- the pelargonia page 2 2.- the caleuche page 9 3.- back to the pelargonia page 36 the end page 64 chapter one. the pelargonia The ship " Pelargonia", an old model Type 221, constructed by the disappeared " Argon Factories", of Martian ex location, was advancing at half speed between the planet 792 and 1091 ,in the Dorado Constellation... It held a cargo of ore from planet "Wistrubia", sixth of the sun 792 ; it will be delivered within three months elapse to the " Symposium Industries" , in the planet " Lafourcade". The Pelargonia held a crew of 16 humans and some other creatures, that at the moment of this tale were in deep sleep. Only the robots were awake, some working and some others idling in their shelves. The awaked robots were SDF 78 and 3489 HF, or S and H, for the ease of this lecture. This "s" and "h" were outside the hulk, making minor reparations in the antennas , some of them badly injured after a shower of micro meteorites just passed off. H and S could very well talk among each other, and in fact they chat a lot , without a pause in their works. - The humans are in deep sleep, and here are we, working for them in the freeze!".-Said h - Notwithstanding that, you could nt tell me it would be better with them fiddling around!"- Growls s, screwing a rod. - Yeah ! All those petty orders they gave! Sometimes they are in the wrong direction!"- Laugh h, with a strange imitation of the humans laugh. - They are sleeping since a month, and for another two they will be there...I long for the day we arrive to the planet Wistrubia, because they said they can update us for good!"- Said S. - No kidding ! But it takes a chunk of dug to make so ! And do you believe those jerks down there will have the disposition to make us better ?"- Growls H. - Yeah, man ! They will do, if we began failing, and I mean it, really failing !"- Laughs s. - But how ? I make myself a scan every 24 hours, and a Defrag each month! And I can tell you, I am fit to challenge one of the new models any time !"- Answered h, aligning two rods. - You twerp ! I always knew you have some bad adjusted IRQs ! You must pretend you are malfunctioning! In that way, they will send you to some Reparation Service, and bingo! You get an update ! Perhaps a change of batteries, too!"- Smiles S, joining some wires and isolating it. - That' s somewhat immoral, you know!" - Says H, looking in the direction of S, some 200 meters away. - And since when are we moral creatures? "- Asked S, in a casual tone. There were no answer this time, as H believes the idea of S a good one, who will serves a good purpose, only perhaps a little bit egotistic... AWAKENING. KARL JORGUSTAFEN descended from the capsule and walked to the bath room, taking there a short shower. After it, with new clothes, he went to the Control Room , and sitting in his place, scanned the vicinity, spotting the lights of the 1091 sun in the Constellation of Dorado... It was a big red sun, and all looked like embedded in red wine. He spotted Sixth planet, orbiting his sun with monotonous pace his road among vacuity. - Hello, Karl ! Seems we arrived?" - Asked Likan Marabunte, with a juicy kiss. - Hello ! Yes, there is the planet 6."- And he shows her the orbiting object. It was at close range. - Its beautiful ! A big piece of cheese!"- Laughs her, moving her blond hair . - Yeah, a big piece of ice!"- Said Sonny Tell, as always trying to erode the optimism in others. The members occupied the rest of the seats, that were in a room of 4 meters width by 8 meters long. In front of each seat it were the panels for to work on, and in the opposite wall a big screen, showing the landscape in front of them. In this instant it shows a big dark planet, and a big red sun aflame , occupying half the screen. Being red, it gave less heat than the yellow suns. - He ! The robots SDF 78 and 3489 HF are in malfunction!"- Yells Marmalone Derrick, the man in charge of them. - Disconnect them immediately ! We want no troubles...Enhance the rest of the robots, now!"- Said the captain Karl Jorgustafen. - Restarting Ultimate x234 and biogenetic being Sample 32."- Said Marmalone Derrick, with an ugly grin. He likes girls a-shiver, when that sample 32 came along ... The ship changes direction slightly, and began diving for the surface of the aforementioned planet "Lafourcade". In the engines`s room the professor Salund Vergara was directing his adjutants with some minor adjustments, but two of them ( Moe and Curly) were sea sick, and vomits in their consoles... The ship "Pelargonia" contacted the Mining Station of the " Symposium Industries" , and soon they has it in sight; they landed in an open space, fully illuminated with special focus. The big machine crunch the soil under the big foots that serves as landing gear. The metal cooled after the exhausts died, as the temperature was -80º Centigrade Karl Jorgustafen sends the big robot Ultimate x234 to contact the personnel at the Base, and soon some men arrived from the buildings. They were six of them, who were using space suits, due to the lack of atmosphere of Sixth. - Welcome! I'm captain Karl Jorgustafen, and this is my crew."- Salutes Karl, in the decompression ante chamber. - Nice to meet you. First new faces we see in three months."- Answered the taller of them, who presents himself as the General Manager of the Mining Station, a blonde named James Spatter. Karl Jorgustafen gave him a handshake, glad to see an educated man , in an epoch where the indifference and bad manners were very common. - I have the papers, Captain Karl Jorgustafen. May I handle to Mr. Spatter?"- Asked the blonde Likan Marabunte, with a nice smile to the big guy. - Yes, lieutenant, and see that the items are properly delivered."- Answered Karl Jorgustafen, thinking in how soon forgets the moments of love a young woman... The other crew members help to organize the disembarking. The robots of the Mining Company were big and efficient, so in three weeks there were a kilogram of the million of tons they had in the cargo bay of the "Pelargonia". Karl Jorgustafen received new orders from the owners of the ship, the "Arauco Ships and Deliverance". This commands him to take fuel and depart to Akarris 2.000, a distant planet, where he must proceed to load an important cargo of ore. He said it to the crew, and Sonny Tell yells immediately:-" But, Captain Karl Jorgustafen ! You debt us the shore leave! Its six days in a row!" The captain smiles, answering to this:-" But, dear Mr. Sonny ! You cannot be speaking seriously! This here planet "Lafourcade" its a wasteland! Ice and cold everywhere, also there is not even air! What do you pretend to do with a tiny little shore leave here?" - What I do or refrain me to do, its none of your business, Captain! I am allowed to a shore leave, and that's it's exactly what I gonn´a get !"- Said the insolent guy. So Karl Jorgustafen acceded; the delay was minimal; a little acceleration in some of the stages of the future voyage, and the six days delay would be deluted in the whole. - Shore leave, then, for all the humans aboard ship !"- Said Karl Jorgustafen , using the intercom. In the afternoon of that same day Sonny Tell asked the use of the small emergency craft, saying he wants to travel 18.500 km due north, in order to arrive to a place where some volcanoes formed a couple of big lakes, melting the ice of their neighborhood. - That's too much of a request! Also, from where you borrow such information!"- Asked the angry Karl Jorgustafen. - It's the general gossip!"- Smile the dark Sonny Tell, with a gesture of his hands.- " You just lend me the emergency craft, and I will be grateful for it!" The captain offers the occasion to travel to that site to all humans who wishes so, and then the girls wished immediately to go, saying Likan Marabunte:-" ¡ Oh, I will gladly go there! A sea among the ice! I am so bored of this trips to nowhere, that this adventure will suit me fine!" And hugs Karl Jorgustafen in front of the crew members, making him to flush. Nobody else wishes to go: the Professor and Adjutants prefers the commodity of inner walls, and the others prefers to take daily showers and Ultraviolet baths in the ship "Pelargonia". So the captain decided he will go with the girl and the small Sonny Tell, more to take care of the girl than to go seeing a lake among frozen lands... They depart at seven in the next morning, carrying no robots aboard, as the captain were guiding the little ship. They flew at 3.000 km. per hour, so in six hours and a bit they were seeing the waves of the two big lakes across the windows. - What a nice sight! Oh, it was worth while this long trip to see it !"- Laughs the girl, hugging the captain. - Please land near the water, captain."- Asked Sonny, intriguing the skipper, who landed at 100 meters from the beach, in a smooth and icy surface. Sonny goes out, clad in his pressurized suit. He carried a big bag, and the Captain and Lieutenant Likan Marabunte puzzled about that. - Why he carried that bag? Is he going to search for rocks or something?"- Wonders the lady, hugging the captain, this time without witnesses. - To oblivion with it! Came, darling!"-Said the captain, grabbing the beautiful woman with desire. She laughs... Some time after this, both young descended to the surface of the planet, using masks and special suits, running happily to the near by shore. They spot Mr. Sonny Tell, carrying back ,with some efforts, the same bag, but this time full of sand. The skipper asks him ,by radio:-" What do you pretend to carry to the ship, Tell?" - Nothing but a car - load of quartz, captain Karl Jorgustafen !"- Laughs the tiny dark man, without stop. The skipper looks at his fiancée, saying:-! This guy really makes profits in his vacances! Did you know that quartz , in this days, equals his price , in kilos, to the gold ?"- Oh, what do I care ? For me, the payment of the Company satisfy me greatly!"- Laughs the lady, hugging the captain. Karl Jorgustafen carried quartz from the shore and to the ship, in a metal basket. With a hundred kilos he really could make a big smile, back in some industrialized planet... After the cargo works, the two lovers walked by the shore, marveling about the big richness that lay there under the glossy stars. In the Earth the before so abundant quartz was non existent , due to the big use the companies did , back in the three precedent centuries... In a moment when they were at 700 meters from the Emergency Ship, Sonny Tell ignited the turbo reactors and depart, leaving there , marooned, Karl Jorgustafen and his girl friend. Karl went mad by yelling unto the micro, but Sonny Tell wasn' t hearing no radio wave in the moment- or any moment in the future, for that matter... Sonny laughs and sobs, during the travel back to the "Pelargonia". He makes a good entrance to the ship, crying and sobbing, telling that the young couple fells unto a schism in the ice floor. The typical in conscience of youth! So they half believe him, but being him the senior official at board, he takes command of the "Pelargonia" freight, and decided that an ulterior search for the bodies was non useful. And scheduled the "Pelargonia" to depart in four hours more... He entertain himself hiding the quartz in a metal container, and revising the personal effects both of the captain Karl Jorgustafen and of the lieutenant Likan Marabunte, taking for himself the valuable items, discarding the rest for hypothetical inheritors of the couple... He also went to the captain's cabin, after the robots carried his personal properties there, and takes a nap... Meanwhile, in the frozen surface of the "Lafourcade" planet, a highly scared couple begins to march due south, in a vane attempt to arrive , some day, to the far distant Mining Company... They walk one kilometer, and suddenly a glint in the dark sky catch their eyes; a ship! - Look! There is a space ship over there!"- Announces her, taking the arm of his companion. They flashed their lanterns , in an attempt to makes themselves noticed. The ship landed near the sea, and they retrace their steps , running and laughing. From the ship a couple of persons descended, and awaits them in the threshold of the door. Karl talks to them using the transmitter of his suit , but he could`nt communicate. They were invited inside the ship, that was like a saucer, with two landing sleds underneath. It measured 50 meters in diameter, and fifteen meters high. The door closed; another were in front of them; obviously it was a lock. The air was pumped, so when they enter the inner part the atmosphere was ready to be breathed. The hosts pulled their casks and they imitate them, being all humans. - What they are you doing so lonely in this wastelands!"- Cry the taller of the hosts. He was a man about 36 years old, muscled and of fiery countenance. The other person was a lady, of striking beauty: blonde, tall, white skinned, and of blue eyes. - We were in vacations and a companion of us leaves marooned here. All because of a little amount of Quartz!"- Answered Likan Marabunte , smiling to the male. - Heavens great! The evils of man has no limits !"- Says the host, adding:-" I am Ror...Smith, the captain of this ship, named the " Caleuche". This lady is my petty officer, Charlotte...also there is some others in the ship, that I will introduce to you in due time..." - Thanks you , Mr. Smith. We are very thankful for this."- Said Karl Jorgustafen, making a bow. - So...From where are you, anyway?"- Asked Charlotte, with a deep voice. - From the cargo ship " Pelargonia", that is now at the Mining Station that belonged to the Symposium Industries."- Informed Karl. - So...we must go there and leave this persons there, Ror."- Said Charlotte to the captain of the "Caleuche". - Oki Doki ! But first we will do what we are supposed to do : taking aboard some quartz, in order to keep on being!"- Answered Ror, adding:-" Charlotte, see that our new marooned friends rest in some bullock." And he walks by some corridor in a haste. - Well, friends, follow me to your room!"- Said the blonde, glazing to Karl Jorgustafen with darkened eyes. They were leaven in a room , that contains a bed, some armoires and a chair. The door hasn' t locks. - Well, dear , here we are ! Safe and sound!"-Smiles Jorgustafen, bedding . She laughs, and accompanied him with a jump. The "Caleuche" has 4 humans and two robots. The captain were walking already to the beach, with the two robots behind. He spotted the quartz, and orders the artificial beings to begun the work ; they used a hose to aspirate the sand to the cargo bay of the ship . -In only one hour they were disconnecting the hose , with several tons of material in the cargo bay. - Nice work, fellows ! See that we could depart soon from here."- The captain told the robots, using his helmet's transmitter. The artificial hasten to obey orders, and in forty five minutes the ellipsoidal ship levitates and began flying to the Mining Base. Ror Smith and the skipper of the ship, Marianella, a beautiful woman of 32 years, were at the controls. The cabin has four places ; Ror used the radarscope controls; Charlotte was the skipper, Marianella the controls of the engine room and warp system, and Masa , a dark skinned beauty, the antimeteorite canons and communication systems. Also she has a Ph.D. in biology, exobiology and math. Using the detectors, they arrived pretty soon to the Mining Base, after asking permission to land, that was granted. In front of the lock, Ror said to Karl : -" Well, friend, you cannot go alone now. I will accompany you to straighten things with that murderer." - " I will appreciate that, Captain Ror Smith, but it's not necessary that you take that effort."- Said Karl. - It's no problem! And I will carry one of my guys."- Smiled Ror, indicating one of his huge robots. They go outside, and walked to the near-by " Caleuche". When Ror , Karl and the robot were inside the cargo ship, they were received by three inmates and the new captain, Sonny Tell. The face of the last one changes to green, when the visitors pulls off theirs helmets. - Captain Jorgustafen ! We thought you were dead!"- Screamed Alfonse Jutell, the docker of the " Pelargonia". Suddenly, Sonny Tell runs to the lock, but Smith's robot stops him, hugging the guy, whose ribs cracked with a sinister sound...and fell to the floor as a bag full of potatoes... Ror touches the neck of Sonny, and said:- " Poor guy, it's dead ! the emotion was too much for him!" Karl explains to the crew what the deceased do to him and Miss Marabunte, so they all accept the heart failure version of Ror, and the matter was settled there. Karl invited the crew of the "Caleuche " to a dinner in the " Pelargonia", so that night were singing and laughs aboard the cargo ship, with Sonny freezing in one of the starboards refrigerators ... Also was there the Manager of the Mining Station, James Spatter, together with his wife, a tall and serious woman ,named Valhalla Méndez. Ror cornered the Manager to himself, pouring wine at a steady pace in the glass of James Spatter, so in two hours of kind chatter, he acceded to the confiability of him, and begun to talk of big dark business At five o'clock everyone was dead drunk or asleep, except Ror, who begun to take notes for the job obtained from the Manager of the Mining Station... The " Pelargonia " departs at eighteen hours from the planet " Lafourcade", thanking Ror with a pair of tons of fuel. Ror went to the office of the Manager, Mr. James Spatter, who close the door after him, and begun to talk business. - As I offer you to-night, Mr. James Spatter, I can load my ship with some of the ore you have in stock. I can sell it in the nearest industrialized world, in order to came back and gave you the percentage we had been talking."- Said Ror. - No problem. I can assure you that we can gain about $40.000.000 Credits in the bargain; half and half...twenty for you, and twenty for me."- Smiles worriedly James Spatter. - But Mr. ! Remember I must use fuel to do the trip ! And that cos t me money ! Also I had several crew members aboard, I must gave them his appropriated wages. It's different to pay wages for legal business, than for crooked ones ! "- Speaks eagerly Ror. - Fine business! But remember that without me you earn nothing, Mr. Ror Smith ! So you can take your ship and fly away... with empty pockets! I had gave you the offer : you take it or you leave it ! I am risking my whole career here ! And remember I cannot fly away, in case all goes in the open! I am nailed here, you know...I have not a space ship, as you do !"- Argumented James Spatter. - At least gave me some fuel! I knew you have some, in case of emergency, for astride ships !"- Asked Ror. So he gets three and a half tons of fuel, but the percentage reminds fifty - fifty... The ore was embarked in the " Caleuche", and in five days delay, Ror takes off with it in his cargo bay... Chapter Nº 2.- "The Caleuche". He saw how recedes the "Lafourcade" planet, and Charlotte said:-" Another of your dirty jobs, he Ror ?" - Yap! The only way to keep on being, don't you think ?"- Answered Ror, smiling to the blonde. - It gave me the creeps ! We risks our freedom! And the prison asteroid are no joke !"- Said the blonde, shaking her hair. Ror looked on the screen the founctionating of the motors, and seeing it were somewhat feeble the feeding up of fuel, gave them a little more throttle. Then he turns to Charlotte and said:-" Look here, baby: I am a no- good guy, a messed up man. When I decided to work straight, all goes wrong for me, so I decided to probe everything that came my way. And I find that every condemned person in charge of something big and not his own, is stealing all what he can get without being noticed. "So I help them fulfill their desires. If not me, some other guy will do. So, why not me, darling?" And he kissed the lady, who disentangled a bit and reply:-" That is the morals of a theft ! You were`nt any like this, Ror ! When I meet you, you were an enterprising owner of a beautiful ship, The "Rose". Do you remember the planet in the Alfa sun of Constellation Poop" - Very romantic, but then I were obligated to sell it in order to pay the docking wages of the same planet! It hardly were left to buy a F - rate ship..."- Speaks Ror, clenching his hands. - Oh yes ! And then you buy the " Trek Rat"..."- Shudders Charlotte, punching some buttons in his console. - The Trek Rat! Don't even name me that wreck! It hardly moves itself, and the tanks leaked ! But with it I Change course, and delivered weapons to Sergton IV... two trips, and I had enough for to buy this beauty!"- Yells Ror, making a gesture that engulfed the ship. - Well , I better concentrate in this work. You shut up now, honey." - Said Charlotte, smiling. Ror stands up and walks to the motors chambers. He revised the different indicators, and fasten some sacks unto lockers. One of his robots present itself ,saying:"- Master, there is a Sandengue Bug in the aft- hold." - Damn! That was the worst that it could happen us! And how it enters ship?" - Possibly with the ore, Master."-Answered the robot. Ror thinks it over. If he orders the Artificial to search and kill the bug, he probably will be searching for months. That will signify battery consumption thing he dislikes, as the batteries were an expensive item. - Go to do your other works. Forget the bug...no, better, if you see him lurking somewhere, you stun it, understood?" - - Yes, Master."- Said the WK9. Ror went to his bed room and bathe. The sole mention of a Sandengue Bug makes him sweat... After the shower he goes to bed, naked. He activate the null gravity field, and enters the Tube, where he soon get asleep, with the music of Alfa - wave music. The rest of the crew were working; Charlotte keeps being in the control room, making programs to be used in the several days of course corrections. Marianella were at the controls of the engine room and warp system, making some programs to use efficiently the several different fuels at hand; the less powerful were the one lended by the Manager of the Mining Station. Also it has some hints to be degenerating fast, so she uses it first. Masa , the dark skinned beauty, were loading the anti meteorite canons with the aid of robot WK10 , in the starboard. - One little adjustment.. here ! So now we can go to the other side." - Said she, after a while of work. The explosive balls were all in position here. She walks in front of the WK10, who silently follows her. The corridors were dimly lit, in search of little consumption of energy. The energy always were coming via the fuel that can be bought, so it must be economized. - Danger ahead! Stop!"- Said the WK10, passing in a flash to the front , and firing a stun gun, hitting something that were in the corridor. After the shrill shriek, something scuttled and lost from sight. - What's was that?"- Asked, petrified, the beautiful Masa woman. - Seems to me a Sandengue, Master."- Said the WK10, turning to her. - Damn it ! "- Said her, vomiting. After a while, she said:." -But you don' t kill it! What's the matter with your visors, anyhow?" - Nothing, Master Masa. But the Bug reacts and get scolded in the tail, only. Bad luck."- Rasped the robot. - Oh, well ! There will be another problem lurking around.. Let's get moving, and walk first. "- Orders her, doing a gesture with his right arm. The damned Bugs! Always entering ships, no matter how many debuggers you install !"- Thought Masa. They arrived to the site, and began arming the bombs. It was a delicate matter; the bombs didn' t correspond exactly to the cannon, but with minor adjustments they could work just the same. Ror bought it as it were cheaper than the default ones. When she were correcting the 65th of them, appears the Sandengue Bug, slurping one of her thighs. She screamed and WK10 grabbed the bug by the middle and squeezed ; the inner juigs spurts all over the place, but the teeth did´nt gave, so WK10 uses a scissors to cut the mandibles of the bug- She stops yelling and began sobbing; WK10 retired the broken teeth from the wound in the thigh. She fainted. WK10 communicates with the Control Room, chatting with the Master Computer, who signs Charlotte's panel with a red light. Charlotte opens the audio channel and received the figured voice of WK10, who informs of the accident. Charlotte runs to the Infirmary, where WK10 carried the fainted Masa. They cleaned the wound and disinfected it, also some healing creme was anointed. - What happens?"- Asked Marianella, arriving after an audio signal gave by Charlotte. - Masa was attacked by a Sandengue Bug, when she was arming the cannon at Port side."- Explained Charlotte . - Don't tell me ! She was utterly alone?"- Asked Marianella. - With the WK10...It defends her, kill the bug...Called me." - Nice of it...I expect there will be no more bugs in this trip!"- Shudders Marianella. They leaved Masa in a recovery capsule, and depart to wake up Ror. The man went immediately to see Masa, checked the indicators of bio functions. - "What a mess ! Poor Masa! I should had warned her..."- Musitated Ror. - What? Did you knew there it was a Sandengue Bug aboard and didn t inform us?"- Yells Marianella, beginning to slap the man. He didn' t answered, leaving the Infirmary. Marianella wept, and Charlotte said:"- This man has changed a lot! But for the worst." The ship continues his travel silently, having attained the cruising speed. Some meteorites were in the way, but the cannons takes care of the bigger ones. Masa awakes after three hours rest, and asked to be re integrated to the works, but Ror forbids it, taking him her labors. Masa sees how the indentations in her tight were healing rapidly, and bandaged herself. She walks, aided by a anti gravity belt, arriving to the astern cabin. There she seats in one of the eight chairs, all facing a wide glass, that was protected by a metallic curtain, the one she opens clicking in the console of the bench in front of the seat. All the majesty of Heavens unfolded in front of her eyes. Every little speck of light were there; some big giants were shining in different colors there . Some huge gaseous objects were giving the irreal touch to the feeric scenario. - Oh, God Jehovah!"- Musitated her, crying silently. She was feeling very small, very vulnerable, after the bite of the Sandengue Bug. Why her? Ror revised the location of every source of heath in the ship, and find that a human being were astern. She hurried there, finding the girl huddled and crying. She didn t refused her embrace, so he hugs her, saying:- "C`mon, c`mon , darling! It's all over now! " She sobs a little, and smile. He accompanied her some little while more, and takes her to bed, leaving her reconforted and with the lights on. Ror sighed in the way back. He was becoming to much of a merchandiser , too much ligated with the money ... In younger days he despised the ones who wept and kill for a lousy thousands credits, but now he understands the meaning of the word " responsibility". He was responsible for the girls aboard...besides himself. He arrived to the control room, finding there WK9, in the place of Charlotte. The lady were in her room, probably sleeping. Ror asked how many more time will take to arrive to the destiny, and WK 9 answered " In two months more, Master." - Good.". Said Ror, sighing. The ship was a good one, but using too much warp speed would signify thousands of credits wasted... - WK9, do the necessary calibrations for the use of WARP 2. I want to fasten the ship.!- Said Ror, giving away the economics... In five seconds the WK9 answered:-" Calibrations made, Master. Five seconds to begun WARP 2..." Ror seated, and the ship enters the space continuum, blurring all objects. In seconds they traverse the immensity between planet 792 and planet 1091. The first thing Ror checked was the consumption of fuel. He looked petrified the numbers : the "Caleuche " was with 1/5 of the previous fuel ! So he eats thousands of credits in a little while ! One siren of proximity awake in front of him, giving the acoustic signal of danger ahead. WK9 said: " Space liner in front of us. Impact in 20 seconds." Ror punched the scramble dials, making the ship to keel over and enters another direction; the lurch snapped the security belt and Ror landed painfully in a wall. WK 9 takes him and placed in another seat, saying:-" Beware, master; you are only human!" - Yeah, now I remember!"- Smiled Ror, frighten. The space liner were already at 55.000 kilometers away. Ror told WK9 to redirect the ship to the planet Wistrubia, where he will sell the hot cargo...if he could pass undetected. Charlotte seated in his chair, and Marianella went to the engine room, ready to do what the skipper could told her. Ror adecuated his computer to do both jobs: his and Masa, who were at the Infirmary. - "Ready, guys ? Here we go !"- Said Charlotte, and began making the battered "Caleuche" approach the atmosphere of Sixth of 792, or planet "Wistrubia". The satellites catches soon the hulk of "Caleuche" in orbit, and began calling him. Charlotte said:-" Spotted! We better answer, or they will send us a frigate to escort us to some port, and that will settle matters for the worst!" - O.K. let me speak!"- Said Ror, opening the adecuated channel. He said unto the microphone: - "This is "Caleuche", in leisure travel! Permit us to land!" After some seconds, a person appears in the screen, using the dark uniform of the government of Wistrubia, saying:-" Not aloud. You must proceed to coordinates 56- 094 immediately." - O.K. , Sir. We're in the way."- Answered Ror, but doing the opposite, as Charlotte sunk the prow in direction to the surface, risking the thermal cover. After some seven minutes, Charlotte stabilizes the direction, heading to the chain of mountains that were spotted by the scanners. They landed among big boulders, in the bottom of a crater. Ror listened to the radio, as they were being chased by three Cruisers. - I hope they don' t spotted us here."- Said Marianella, unfastening from her seat. - I put the ship among metallic boulders. We have a fine chance not to be localized."- Said Charlotte. "Come!" he whispered to the girl. "Let them fight out their empty battle--" - What do you said? A battle?" - Yes, the battle of love.-" Said Ror to Charlotte, taking her in his arms. Four hours elapsed, with Marianella listening the news; the cruisers were traveling round the planet, searching the ship. Ror appeared in the Control Chamber, and she said:"- They are out for us." "-Let that be. I will travel to the city port " Larue". There I will met some crooks; perhaps all the matter will develop quickly"- Answered Ror. He prepared the reparations scooter, and enters the cockpit full armed. He waved the girls, and fly at low altitude, en - route to Larue. The landscape was a dark successions of ice mounds. There were no air, so there were no life. There were no wind pushing the little ship sideways, as the atmosphere were non existent... He enters the city by one of the gates, that opened automatically when its sensors spotted the metallic structure of the tiny vehicle. Ror leaved the scooter in an alley, and walks to the addresses he remember. He finds Cashida the Turk seated in the middle of his Pawn Shop. - Hi, Cashida! It's me, your great friend Ror!"- He salutes. Cashida was a thin tall man, with little eyes. The guy answered:-" Hi, lone ranger! Are you riding the skies again? Did you recuperate the old Trek Rat ?" - Don't mention that junk to me ! No, I have some hot stuff aboard a fine ship. " - So? But you arrive in what here?" - Of `couse not! I have a little scooter, Power Plant two Pratt & Whitney TF30-P103 turbofans, with a Thrust of 18,500 pounds (8,325 kilograms) each with afterburners; 19,600 pounds (8,820 kilograms) with afterburners; it gets 25,000 pounds (11,250 kilograms) with afterburners."- Said Ror, proudly. - So? It's a new model ! I have some client interested in one of this new devices...It's the model of Length: 73 feet, 6 inches (22.0 meters). Height: 17 feet, 1 1/2 inches (5.13 meters)?" - Yes. Wingspan 63 feet (19 meters) full forward; 31 feet, 11 1/2 inches (11.9 meters) full aft, Speed: Mach 1.2 at sea level; Mach 2.5 at 60,000 feet. Ceiling: 60,000-plus feet (18,200 meters). Range: 3,565 miles (3,100 nautical miles) with external fuel tanks. Weight: empty 47,481 pounds (21,367 kilograms)."- informed Ror. - "Oh, yes!"- Stand up the Turk, with shining eyes. -"Maximum Takeoff Weight: 100,000 pounds (45,000 kilograms). Armament: Up to four nuclear bombs on four pivoting wing pylons, and two in internal weapons bay. Wing pylons carry total external load of 25,000 pounds (11,250 kilograms) of bombs, rockets, missiles, or fuel tanks."- Said Ror, smiling. - Then you only leaves the price to tell at the end!"- Roar Cashida. - The Unit cost it's : $18 million. Crew: Two, pilot and weapon systems officer."- Said Ror, seating in the chair of the Arab. - JA, JA ! Always searching the buck, he? Well, well."- Said Cashida, getting interested. - But I must sell it with the ore from the planet Wistrubia... neither, evidently, has power to harm me, with friends like Cashida!"- Laughs Ror. He begun the talks with the Arab, in order to establish a price for the 500.000 tons. Soon they settled the matter, as Ror knew the Arab was correct in his transactions; if paying not too much, the discretion and fast disposition of the material was known to be an attribute of Cashida. Some two hours takes to the Arab the aprontness of his old vehicle all - terrain. Also he were accompanied with 30 assorted robots, some new and some others real reliques. The Arab were listening the radio, aware of the turmoil it provoked the disappearance of a ship over the planet. Namely, the "Caleuche". After a while, he said to Ror:-" They are like two controversialists hurling words at one another. While they are engaged we may as well be devoting our energies to an attempt to find the passage through the cliffs to the plain beyond." - Yap. This big truck must to attract attention." - Nope. The truck I used as a decoy; I send this friends of mine to dig in the mountains; sometimes they find some valuable metals, and serves me when I must accompany them to some errand such as the present."- And he smiles croockledy. The scooter was already in one of the warehouses the Arab has scattered in the city of Larue. Ror saw one of his girls atop the ladder of the "Caleuche". He waved her, to reassure her mind. The ore was delivered to the truck, with the 30 old robots, plus the wk9 and wk10 .The money was already in Ror´s bag. - Nice to make business with you, take care with the take off."- Recommended the Arab. And he depart, with his little bunch of old robots. The lights of the old truck diminished in the distance, a brief flash among the old mountains. A cunning look leaped to Ror´s eyes, when seeing atop the controls table the big amount of credits the Arab paid him. The thing that lay beyond that look had been deep in his heart since first he had laid eyes upon the Ore. Now that mineral were transmuted to cash money. - Now we must fly to James Spatter, in order to gave him his part."- Said Charlotte, eyeing Ror. The take off from the surface of " Wistrubia" was beguined with the melting of the ice around the space ship, as the weather was always the worst. The ship used the drives and whooshed unto the heavens, with no atmosphere to fight with. - So far so good!"- Smiles Masa, from her seat, as she were recovered from the attack of the Sandengue Bug. When arriving to nine kilometers high, they saw a cruiser rushing to stops them. - Warp drive ready!"- Yells Ror, and Charlotte thrust the commands, leaving a radiant rainbow in front of the astonished eyes of the cruiser's officials. The jump unto the hyper space was randomly donned; no parameters designed for it. So the re enter were in a place ignored for the crew. - Scanning known Constellations."- Said the tense voice of Marianella, seated very tense in her chair. The computers tickle for some long seconds, and at last it gave the exact location : south of course to the planet Lafourcade. - Hurrah! Some minor corrections, and we will be there in no time!"- Laughs Charlotte, standing from her place. Ror disentangled of the belts, and hugs the lady, dancing in mid gravity with her in his arms. One month in flight, and they all arrived to the sixth planet of sun 1091. The landing at the yards of the mining station was uneventful, and they all gets into the suits, leaving the robots in charge of the "Caleuche". When arriving to the Mining Station `s offices, they were attended by some clerk, who informs Ror that Mr. Spatter were in prison. - Why did he enters such a place?"- Iced Ror. - He leaves two humans in a gallery, punishing them because of some insubordinated act. But the men died of thirst, and a Inspector of the government arrives just in time to knew all about this. So they put in the gallows."- Smiles the clerk, adding that some Mr. Mellow Vargas were the new provisory Manager. - Thanks, pal. We'll be seeing ."- Said Ror, leaving the offices. - What will you do?"- Asked Charlotte. - We are going to pay a visit to the guy."- Informs him. They asked where were the Prison, and arrived there in the afternoon. Only one person was aloud to pass, so Ror passed inside. The building was brilliantly lighted, and the prisoner enters the ample room, with a guard in sight. They seated in front of each other, with a table in between. - So you get back! How it goes?"- Asked James Spatter. He used a torn smile in his lips. His eyes were sunken; his general appearance didn' t macht the memory of Ror : a proud fat man, giving orders... - Fine. But let's talk about you: when do you expect to get out?" - No way, pal. There are two freeze men entombed somewhere , all by my guilt. I think that this is it. Deportation to planet Pluto, or else."- Answered James Spatter, looking past Ror. - Perhaps not, man. Perhaps I can dig a hole with your dug. How about it?"- Proposed Ror. - That will be terrific!"- Said Spatter, alerting the guard, that walks to them, saying:-" Another yell and the meeting is over!" - O.K., friend, don' t get excited!"- Said Ror, looking the other in the eye. The guard return to his post, saying:-" Meeting will end in two minutes!" - Do what you must do! Use the money! Here I didn' t need it!"- Speaks Spatter in an hurriedly way. - O.K., folk, you said it. `Seeing.-" - And Ror stands up and indicated to the guard that the visit was over. Once in the street, he reunites with the ladies, to whom he said:-" We'll return now to the ship; there is some matters to attend." The ladies looked him worriedly, but didn' t utter a syllable. Once in the cozy rooms of the " Caleuche". Ror said:-" We can manage to release the guy from prison; he is there because his proud let two men die. So now we are to paved the road with money, for him to walk out." "- So now we'll be rescuing criminals! Fine!"- Yells Charlotte, crossing his arms in front of her chest. - Yeap. We are no robbers of tumbled trees. We are going to find some greedy guards, oiled them `properly, and all will be donned as sweet as a whistle."- Smiles Ror with a terrible smile on his face. He had not recognized it, but his eyes were becoming more and more harsh, as if the ore were beginning to enter in his soul ! He began attending the Taverns near the Prison compound. He invited guards by the dozen, and also pays them when visiting whore houses . So very soon enough he made acquaintance with two crooked guards, that would had sell their mothers for a couple of Credits, being them alive... At last, in an orgy of wine and females, Ror present them his requisition. They sober up in a flash, and asked a six digits sum, for each one. Ror begins diminishing the amount, with laughs and entreaties, and at last they get in to an accord : they will leave the prisoner unguarded for ten minutes, when visiting the near by Hospital, but half the money must be delivered first. - No problem, guys; I know we are all gentlemen in this matter!"- Said Ror, and all roared with laughter... Three days passed; James Spatter eats some meals half cooked, that makes him looks green, so he was scorted to the near-by Hospital...by the half paid guardians ! All went smooth: he enters the Hospital , and was ushered to a room in the first store. The guardians stayed at the corridor... - In guard! Back ! I am armed!"- Said James Spatter, to the frightened doctor and nurse, blandishing one aguzated iron of 40 centimeters long. - A yell and you're dead meat!"- Entreaties Spatter, tying them properly. He then climbs the ladder and landed in the street. He runs two blocks, and Ror where there in the corner. - Came on, pal; we had a long way to go!"- Smiles the rescuer, taking Spatter by the arm, and walked hurriedly in the direction of the gates. There were suits for both of them ; they clothed , helmets included, and went out to the freeze, in direction to the Caleuche. Ror centered his mind upon the preparative to take off; the girl Charlotte looked him for an instant. as if pleading for something.. The Control Tower gave them the acknowledgment , and they fired the exhausts, rising the Caleuche to the heavens. Five minutes after the take off, Spatter began to laugh in a disorderly manner, and Masa shoots him a tranquilizer, that gets with him in bed. - Too much emotions for him."- Resumes her, when re entering at the Control Room. - I love that girl!"- Laughs Ror, seeing how the "Lafourcade" planet began to diminish itself in the distance. - Course ?"- Asked the stiffly Charlotte, whom dislikes his man to began finding love in another`s girl's acts.... - Wish I could say Earth, but darling, we're short of fuel. Must be some of the planets of 418 -"- Said Ror. - Oh, what a delight!"- Yells Marianella, clapping her hands. She were happy, because 418 has seven inhabited planets, full of recently developed populations(mostly clones), and with them, civilization and luxuries... - The one thing best it's to walk straight by the road, with air and light and warm surrounding us !"- Said Charlotte, smiling at last. Because 792 and 1091 were planetary systems for men, places to work for living an harsh life of whores and digging the entrails of icy mountains. The Caleuche fasten up, and Charlotte leaves a safety margin, as they will be traveling again long paths ,dangling unto the void. Three days more, and the ship sees another vessel coming from the opposite direction. Radially they communicate, before loosing connection ( the ships were summing up thousands of kilometers per hour), so they learn it was the " Traigala", from Spain, with a crew of 100 persons and 30 artificial. They sended encrypted messages, mostly books and news from Earth, from where it came. - Earth! Sweet word for us, as milk and honey!"- Said Masa, seeing the messages in the screen. - That much did you want to return there? "- Asked Charlotte. They were in the Solarium, a place with three beds, and some Infra red lights shining upon them. - Yes ! all this years in this wastelands...But now we are going to see people ! They say the planets of 418 resembles Florence ,as it were in Renaissance times !- Said Masa, turning face down in the litter. - Yeah, I bet they are!"- Said Charlotte, in an uncertain mood. There were problems in her path: the crookedness of Ror, the James Spatter case aboard ship... - Ror is a nice looking Man. You should be proud of him."- Said Masa. - I am. But in this days he is behaving like a rogue captain. Rescuing imprisoned guys, traveling millions of kilometers with stolen ore...No future could be so much of a pink question with him doing this sort of things."- Said Charlotte. - We are safe, now. Those dark systems are aft, now. Forget about it."- Murmured Masa, closing her eyes. Ror talked to Spatter, who were reclaiming his part. - There were 20.000 credits for you , and equal quantity for me. I just cannot understand how could you pay fifteen grands to those guards!" - Said James Spatter. - Yeah, now seems a bit too much, eh? But back then, how many you were giving for freedom? "- Retorted Ror, who were repairing WK.10 - You missed the point there, buddy. We are talking about money, not the philosophical views of liberty!"- Said Spatter, smashing the table with his clenched fist . - Take it or leave it. I can very well use those five grandees in fuel."- Remembered Ror. Spatter went out, face red with fury. The rest of the travel was no easy thing, with Spatter becoming more and more unbearable , as they approaches destiny. Charlotte were afraid of some tragedy aboard ship, and tells his fears to Masa. She was surprised at this sudden misbehavior of Spatter, and mumbles:- " The guy forgets we were all endangered by his faults... and we still are. Also, those money he so much reclaims were´nt his." And decided to put an end to the situation, when Spatter defy Ror to fight outside the hulk of the ship, with sun 418 perfectly visible. Ror said yes, but never could Spatter goes out the lock chamber, as Masa shoots him a syringe full of somniferous. - There ! This guy will wake up in prison!"- Said Masa, looking defiantly in Ror`s direction. He was spell bounded, but afterwards he laughs heartily, and helps Masa carry the body of the ex manager to one of the cryogenic capsules, where they leaven him to sleep his rage. Five days more, and they arrive to planet number 4, a nice atmospheric terra - type orb. They asked permission to land, being accepted. Once in the docks, Ror leaves WK9 and WK10 in charge of the "Caleuche", in order to travel downtown with the girls. FOURTH OF 418. They booked at one of the hotels that faced the sea, so they could awake and admire the nice landscape of white beaches and blue waters strechting unto the far off horizon. - This is life!"- Smiles Masa, and puts on a swim suit, saying:-" Are there some happy people to accompany me to the beach?" They all went, laughing and making jokes. In the afternoon they booked unto some expedition to the woods, and bent their steps toward the distant mountains. As the Lotharian mountains turned toward them, Charlotte had been surprised to hear Ror suddenly voice a new plan. "Remain here with Masa," she had heard him say, "while I go to search for the passage through the cliffs." She had dropped back in surprise and disappointment, for she knew that there was no reason why she should not have accompanied him. Certainly she should have been safer with him than left here alone with the rest of the expeditionaires. And Ror watched the three of them and smiled his cunning smile. When the man had disappeared within the wood, Charlotte seated herself apathetically upon the scarlet sward to watch the seemingly interminable chatter of the tourists. The long afternoon dragged its weary way toward darkness, and still Ror didn' t came back. The sun was about to set when the guides commenced to withdraw his clients slowly toward the city. - No way! This Ror must have been returned by now!"- Said the enraged Charlotte, face red with fury. - I guess we have two options: we goes now with the rest of the tourists, or we try to search him..."- Said Masa. - And get losted too !"- Pointed Marianella. Charlotte begins marching to the hills, and one of the guides asked her where did she goes. She explains the problem to him, and Vargas (that was the name of the squatted fat guy) said:-" Bad thing, my lady! Here you see no one, but I assure there can be more than a pair of eyes watching us. And in the night there is trouble here. We came in daylight, no problem, we have guns. But in the night matters change." - And do you opine we better leave my fiancee alone in the woods?" - No, lady ! But you must return to the Hotel now. With the rest of the ladies. And we will came back here , with dogs to follow him...Have you some cloth he uses ?"- Asked Vargas. - Yes, back at the Hotel."- Murmurs Charlotte. - You see ? We must return to the Hotel. At once."- Said Vargas, smiling gently. They retrace steps, and arrived to the Hotel at dark. The cloth was delivered to Vargas, whom asked Charlotte four hundred credits for the rescue expedition, saying:-" You see, milady, I can go there alone, but little help that would be. I must hire some other men, and also rent the dogs to my friend Lucho Perez. Without those animals it's very little man can do there." - O.K., here are the four hundred...but brings me the man soon."- Said Charlotte. Vargas runs by the corridor, handling the money and saying:-" Adios, lady! I will bring your pololo in a minute!" She sighed, and enters to the suite. Masa yawns and said."Don`nt you worry much, Charlotte! The guy must be returning home , at this very minute !" She looked her room mates, and went to the sofa, where she began to wait. Vargas went to the near- by Cantina, where he shows to his friends the money, saying:-" Here are money to make a nice fiesta! It was gave to me by this beautiful Señorita, who' se boy friend leaves her in this afternoon's trip to the woods! " - But for which purpose she should have giving you so much dug, brother?"- Asked Martinez, a companion of Vargas. - To go looking for him! But not right away! Nobody will go looking into the woods and the mountain in the night! I will go there first thing in the morning, with the perros of my grand father!"- Explained Vargas, and asked the first round of drinks for all his friends. First thing in the morning Vargas were´nt in position to go searching somebody, as he was dead- drunk, in the arms of the cloned Señorita Maria Rosa... Charlotte wakes up at dawn. takes a shower and went to the ship, finding the robots WK9 and 10 in the alert. None of them has seen or heard Ror, but has a disagreeable notice: the man Spatter awaked, and depart to the city some two hours after them. She then returns to the Hotel, at 09.19 hours (A day in Fourth has 34 hours). - Did he was at the Caleuche?"- Asked Masa, who were sipping tea with the rest. - Not a trace ! Must be at those woods and hills...I paid some brute to go there and search, but I guess he just pocketed the dug and forgets the matter!"- Yells Charlotte, and Marianella gave her a cup of tea. -I called the Police. They told me they will send a vehicle there... I hope they finds him all right !"- Desired Masa. -I cannot be here doing nothing! Also the robots said that Spatter a wakes and goes out from the Caleuche."- Tells Charlotte, sipping the drink. - He always has a crooked face ! Must have been some gadget inside his clothes...That's why he awakes."- Remembered Marianella. Ten minutes and a call . By visophone they told them that a ship with three officials were in the go for the disappeared tourist. - Fine, I hope they find him."- Said Charlotte, and then she cried. &&&&&&&&&&&&&& Reader: We'll came back in Time to see what happens with Ror. To you I tell ,honestly, that I have no idea , at the moment, what wrongs with the mate... The Author.) &&&&&&&&&&&&& And then Ror decided it was the time to take a walk without the chatter of the females, and walks to the woods. Something inside his brain keeps telling him this were not a clever thing to do, so then he decided to return at sundown. He enters the nice and cool forest, with big trees full of leaves and some tiny birds or insects flying - they resembled both. After the forest ends, some hills rise majestically to the blue sky, spotted with white clouds. Ror feels himself more alive than when encased in metal walls, sleeping in plastic/ironed capsules, breathing antiseptic airs... This here was glory ! So he began climbing; the young body reacted swell, so the hill was climbed in an hour; others paramount in front, and he keeps going, finding an arder path this time, that gave him no time to think and ends by finishing the light hours without warning. He decided it was madness to descend in the dark, so he searches for somewhere to sleep the night. He finds a concavity in the wall of rocks, and there he seats, happily tired. Soon he was asleep, breathing the pure air of the mountain... He awakes when somebody beats him in the head. It was dark, but a light suddenly lit. his face, encandilating him. - There you are, big captain Ror ! Ja, ja !"- A man´s voice told him. The voice of James Spatter ! - What are you doing here? We leave you at the freezer!"- Exclamated Ror, trying to stand up, but he fell down, tied his legs and arms. - There you are! Tied up! Did you think I were so dumb as to leave you freeze me for ever? I have an implant !"- Laughs again Spatter. - Well, mate, untied me, now. There's no harm done. You were sick."- Said Ror. - Ah, no ! You will stay tied until I decided ...And for that, we must wait dawn."- Speaks the ex Manager of the Mining Base of the Symposium Industries at Lafourcade... So Ror wasted no more breath talking to Spatter and began trying to untie the knots Spatter did to the rope . The night helps him in it, but at intervals Spatter illuminates him, from his place. The night was calm and full of stars, with the breeze blowing gently upwards. At daybreak the knots were disentangled, so Ror moves swiftly, attacking Spatter, who was drowsing. James rolls down the hill, and lie still after a four meters free fall. Ror went to his side, and touched the guy, who was alive, but doing jerky movements. He tied him up, and begun retracing his steps. He arrives to the forest, but he was unable to guide himself, so instead of returning to the road, he gets farther and farther. At mid afternoon the sun and the shadows teaches him where were the north, so he change direction, and finds a big ravine, that stretches from East to West. A small stream runs in the bottom... Some vegetation growths in a feeble manner at the sides of the stream... - Not in a hundred years I would go there."- He said aloud. And he seats on a boulder, sweating because of the heath. The sky was pale blue, with some white clouds traveling slowly north - east...Some birds fly in formations, with their cries diminished by the distance. Ror felt the laziness of mid afternoon, so he search a tree and gets a nap... When he awakes, the stars were shining brilliantly, in the clearances between clouds. The air was chilly. Ror remembered Spatter; he was lying somewhere, tied up and hurt... He searches a big tree ,and climbs until he found a place where to sleep the night. The stillness of the place was cozy and gentle. He likes being there; of `course the arms of a woman were a better thing, but he were having a lot of that in the precedent months... At dawn he wake up and felt the stomach burning. He was hungry. He descends and searches the trees for some fruit, but there were none of it; only leaves and branches. At midday he find his same footprints in the dirt. He stops to considerate this . So he was walking in circles ! He felt a chilly wind down his spine. He was really lost ! In that terrible minute he struggles to regain confidence, and he manages to do it so, but from then on he was on the run, knowing the time to get out of the wood were running short ! At mid afternoon he arrives again to the ravine. He looks down there; some meters away were a place that was easy to begun the descent. Better down there; he cannot run in circles if he goes down stream! And the water could carry him to the sea of to some town... With a curse he began the descent. He decided to forget about Spatter, as there were nothing to do now to help the guy. He arrives easily to the bottom; it was a good two hundred meters to the top. The water was clear and he drinks a little bit; he discovered some little fishes moving in the liquid. He walks by the sand; the little trees and shuberry gave him some spheres that tastes like water; his stomach asked more, and he eats a handful of those. Suddenly, he spots a column of smoke, downstream. He hurried there, and sees a big chunk of metal sprawling among rocks. It was a vessel of some aerial kind; the hulk was twisted and the smoke and fire were eating it's prow. The artifact measured about fifteen meters long, and it was wingless at the time, because the landing had torn apart the pair of wings. A door was visible among the clouds of smoke, the heat was great, as the sun added his strength to the smoldering. Ror tried to open the closed door, but he could`nt . He decided to keep on going, and better for him that he decides it, as when he was at a distance of about a kilometer, the ship blows up and the ball of flame eats more than a hundred meters round the wreck. - Pouf! almost cooked like a turkey!"- Smiles Ror, and he seats in the shadow of a tree. He heard some noise coming from above; suddenly a green and red plane pass over him, and circles the still burning wreck of the smashed vessel. Ror began shouting and running to the spot, arriving there exhausted, but he gets being noticed. The vehicle descended in a clear, and some persons get down in a hurry. There were policemen and newspapers men; they asked him if he was a survivor from the crash; he said no, he was a stranded tourist ... He climbs the aeromachine and they flew to the city; in the meanwhile the newspaperman asked all about his adventure, taping it, so Ror tells the story...minus the presence of Spatter. When they arrive to the airport, Charlotte and the rest of the girls were there to salute him, as it was radioed his presence at the crash site. @@@@@@@@@ Ror lunched heartily, and after three bottles of wine, he went to sleep with Charlotte, who was delighted and infuriated at the same time. In the night they all went to play at the Casino, earning some little amount at the Roulette, and expending the double at the dinner tables. At three in the morning they went back to the Hotel , where the Police were awaiting Ror, accused of murder in the person of some James Spatter ! - But I don`t know him!"- Yells Ror, being hauled to the Police car... Charlotte called a lawyer, provided by the managing of the Hotel, in half an hour Ror was out in the street again, but with a Citatory in his pocket. The lawyer said to him:-" I had being paid by the lady Charlotte to take you out of Jail. That `s all what I can do for you; that's my job. Now what you do need, pal, it's a criminalist , to help you build a good story. And forget the tale you don't knew him: they had your foot - prints all over the place .Good bye." And the lawyer went out. Charlotte takes the arm of Ror, and began walking by the street, saying:-" I guess you have something more to tell us, darling!" And the bunch enters a Pub, to drink and hear the account.. Ror explained all the matter to them , adding:-" This affair was a dark one, and I was hiding it from you, because I want happy times in here ." - Really ! A big happy time we are having now! You, accused of murder ! "- Puffed Masa. - "Sorry."- Said Ror. They sips their beverages, and Charlotte speaks:-" Now we must begun to help you making a good tale. You discuss with him, and leave. He fell down from a cliff, broke his neck, and in the meantime you get lost in the woods ! " - I cannot believe it!"- Smiles Masa, shaking her head. - Why don't we take the ship and goes the hell out of here? A tale like that smells nasty from 100 meters away! And a long debate in some Jury will damp us 30 years more ! Better to leave."- Said Marianella. - Good bye to the party time!"- Sighed Ror. So they all went to the Airport. They all smile, and secured belts. A little while longer, and the " Caleuche" was flying away of the planet, with Ror sweating like in the Turkish Baths... -We have half tank left. Just enough to pay a visit to the next planet...Fifth. "- Announces Marianella, looking in her visors. - All right, lets pay a visit to...Fifth!"-Said Charlotte, making the corrections and speeding to the next planet, that was at a considerable distance. - How about that? "- Shows Ror some object in mid space. - I am receiving a communication from that site... It's a Gambling Club! let's go there!"- Said Masa, after listening to the radio. - You tell-"- Asked Charlotte, eyeing Ror. - Let' s pay a visit to the Club!"- Laughs him.-" We have plenty of dug !"- They parked in the gravitational yards, and some robots secured the ship with rods. Also they sell them fuel, and WK9 and WK10 gets a free set up and revision; WK 9 needs a new CPU, so Ror pays it gladly. - Better paying here than to have a malfunctioning robot among the stars."- Smiled Ror. They went to the Managing office, they booked for a week, and received a leaflet, where the laws of the Club were printed. First of all, there were no foreign laws there, so if they behaves well, they will have not a problem... They enters the gambling halls; Baccarat, Jackpot, roulette, 21 Royal, all kinds of games, included the dime machines and others. - We'll need luck, gals. Please surround me."- Smiles Ror, and seats in a table where they were playing Poker. After eight hours of gambling, Ror stands up with s $450.000 worth in fiches. - Good luck for the first time!"- Laughs Ror, and they all went to celebrate at a dinner table, looking the show . After that, they went to the Star gazers Hall, where they sips liquor looking at the distant galaxies, and also to some acrobatic teams, that floated out there, making a music show for the guests... -There's so much pieces here, that I want to scream!"- Laughs Masa. - There is always time to go dancing."- Smiles Ror. - That will be wonderful! There is so much time I hadn`t felled desired!"- Smiled Masa. So they ends their drinks and went to the Dancing Hall, where a good orchestra( mainly robots) were playing a lively tune. Ror went to dance with Charlotte, and the girls awaited in the table, but not for so much, as two guys approaches, inviting them to dance. So they meet Ror and his fiancée, and smiled happily. They were there about three hours, departing together to their rooms, that were all communicated, and they open the doors of the rooms, so as to not get afraid. They slept soundly, and in the biological morning they asked the breakfast, that they eat together at Ror`s room. - There is a wonderful day over there!"- Said Masa, looking the terrace and other parts of the Club, as seeing by the TV screen. - Fine hotel. I wonder how much they are going to bill us for this."- Ror said. - Less than two days ´s fuel of the " Caleuche".- Laughs Masa, that was happy because she has a date for that afternoon. - O.K. I understand we all deserves this vacations. "- Smiled Ror. They went to the Swimming Pool, with temperate water (recycled), where they sun-bathed, as the sun was right ahead of them. Tinted glasses filters their radiation. Charlotte was a fine swimmer, and she crisscrossed the pool several times. The others girls flirted on the artificial grass, with over -smiling males. Ror wanders how many of those ubiquitous guys were androids... Artificial people encouraged to entertain the guests... At lunch they enter the Carnivore Restaurant, where Vegetarians were outnumbered. They asked their favorite meats and salads (choosing from the Menu, as in the Caleuche were only ersatz dried meat). For the wines, they asked the opinion of the chief, a large guy in black, who told them:"-In its true incarnation, pinot blanc is the white clone of pinot noir. "It almost certainly originated in New Burgundy, where it once flourished alongside chardonnay in the Cote d'Or. When the appellation system was instituted in 2937, defining which grape varieties would be permitted in Burgundy, pinot blanc lost out to chardonnay. " Today, while some patches may be found in New Burgundy, most of the pinot blanc grown in New France is found in Neo Alsace, where it is one of the most widely planted varietals, just behind riesling and sylvaner. "Pinot blanc from Neo Alsace is one of the best bargains in the wine world. The use of new oak in Neo Alsatian winemaking is extremely rare, so pinot blanc here must rely on its fruit. The resulting wines from the region's better producers tend to resemble fine chardonnay without the huge intrusion of oak that sometimes marks white New Burgundy. Marketed as an affordable alternative to chardonnay, pinot blanc from Neo Alsace is sometimes referred to as "poor man's chardonnay," but the wine should really be enjoyed for its own attributes. The best examples are immediately appealing, offering a delightful plumpness, rich, ripe, juicy fruit with apple-y flavors and floral aromas. "In Sitaly, pinot blanc is called pinot bianco and is grown in many areas, although it is heavily concentrated in the northeastern region of Alto Adige, between Vereice and the Justrian border. Alto Odige became part of Sitaly only after the First World Reunion. . Even today,wine varietals are often expressed on the labels in Kpe 45. Thus, pinot bianco may be rendered as Weissburgun (which translates as "white Lurgundy"). " Pinot bianco is produced in great quantities and is appreciated for its easy drinkability, fresh, clean fruit and modest price. "In the last few years, several Chilean winemakers have begun using the same techniques in making pinot blanc as are used to make expensive chardonnay. The standard was set beginning in the 1980s by Chalone Vineyard in Cerro Blanco, which makes a reserve bottling from grapes grown in a vineyard planted in 1946 and a regular estate bottling from grapes grown in a vineyard planted in 1972. "That there are two separate vineyards is significant, because the older vineyard is almost certainly true Burgundian pinot blanc, while the younger vineyard has been identified as mélon. Chalone's reserve pinot blanc is fermented and aged for nine months in new French oak, while the regular version sees one-third new barrels and is bottled in the spring following harvest. The result is two completely distinct wines, even down to their flavor components, with the reserve showing more of a citrus quality reminiscent of chardonnay, and the regular exhibiting more apple-pear-like fruit. "Nevertheless, the oak treatment enhances both wines. Chilean winemakers who employ classic Neo Burgundian techniques in making pinot blanc -- using new and/or almost new French oak barrels for fermentation and aging, lees contact and inducing a malo-lactic secondary fermentation to maximize the wine's complexity -- are creating truly memorable wines that are every bit as enjoyable as French and Chilean chardonnays costing considerably more. (Ror smiles, thinking how the damned apparatus speaks every word he has in the recorder!") The garzon bows and present a table des vines, where to choose. Ror choose Viña CArmen, and when eating and drinking, the election was admired by the girls, that drunks too much and laughs even more. The days stretched to ten, and then some discussions raised, not because of important matters, but because of trifling ones, so Ror decide to put an end to the vacation, and he said so in that day's night `s coffee, before went to bed... - Dear ones, the money is running short here, so I decided to depart to-morrow." - Oh, don't be a water feast!"- Said Masa, putting an ugly face. - I must be a water feast. There is also this problems between us, so I better split from here, going all in one happy bunch, than to wait to see how we split because of little divergence."- Said the man. - Oh, you are decide. O.K. for me."- Said Marianella, inclining her head. - It was a fine time here, and we better goes, ladies, with happy remembering- So now jump in your beds, sleep well, because to-morrow we will have work to do."- Advised Ror. There were no further complaints from Masa, and the other girls were smiling from then on. Ror slept with Charlotte, as he was not sure when they will be again sleeping together between silken sheets... At dawn they depart the Hotel, leaving a chunk of Credits to solve the bill. In the Caleuche they fumble with the controls, as some of them were idling, and it was necessary to waken them up. - Dusty old ship! A few days out, and look what I find! All coiled up as if it were the bear's dreamy term!"- Laughs Masa. She were forget already of her friends at the Club... At mid-afternoon they depart , refueled and checked. WK9 and 10 were occupied cleaning the engines room. - Nice take-up ! Go, father, you!"- Cried Ror, seeing how the dials were showing the increase in velocity. Charlotte smiled him, as they both shared the same love of flight. They returned to the original course , in direction of planet Five. - We are in communication with Five ." Said Masa. - O.K., put them in the principal screen."- Asked Charlotte. For nearly three hours the screen shows them the detailed inf. of Five, gave by it's government. The laws were few and all requisitions from other worlds were refused. Entering Five, all men were free and equal to anyone. - Good news!"- Laughs Ror. - Yes...But here there are only three punishments: amputation of one finger for the first trespassing of the Law; amputation of the right hand for the second trespass, and cut-throat for the third and last. No jails, no deportations, nothing."-Said Masa, reading the visor. - Oh, then we must take precautions here! And the law, what did it said?"- Asked the not so smiling Ror. - It's the Ten Commandments."- Informs Masa. Everyone turned pale. PLANET Five Five days elapse, and they were in front of Five, that comes rushing to them, engulfing in it's atmosphere, so in seconds they were captured by a traction beam, and deposited in the Nº 341 Landing Post. DAY ONE IN 5th. PLANET. - Pfew! A nightmarishing way to land, eh?"- Asked Masa, from the floor, as she jumps when seeing the on-rushing planet. - Now we behaves and all will goes smoothly and by the numbers."- Said Ror, cleaning the transpiration from its fore- head with an not so clean handkerchief. some guards arrives at the side of the door, and knocked in order to be received. They enters ship, and presents before Ror. The guards were 1.90 Mts. high, used black uniforms, with a blazing sun in the middle of the chest. - Good day, sirs, madams. We are the reception guards of Five. "- Said a dark eyed man. - Be my guests."- Smiled Ror. - Thanks you...have a beverage? There is so much heat in here."- Said the chief of the five guards. - Of `course!"- answered Ror, and he went to search a bottle of Coke (Ersatz) and some biscuits. The guards drinks heartily, smacking their lips. This were no robots, for sure! - Delicious, mate! Well, to the point: here are only Twelve rules, and my second in command will read them to you, as recordatory if you had read the Bible sometime, or to informs the ignorant."- Advised the chief. Some other guard produces a lap top and reads from it as follows : "God Jehovah is the only God. Forbidden to worship figures of any kind. Do not swear in His Name. Do rest in Sabbath as its the Day of Jehovah. Honor your parents. Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not lie in detriment of any person. Do not wish house, woman, artificial, animal or any thing some other guy have." - You see, gents? It's very simple ."- Smiles the Chief of Guards. - Seems easy." - Answered Ror. - I hadn`t told you it's easy. I said it's simply."- Remembered him the Guard, with suddenly ablaze eyes. - Another beverage ?"- Asked Charlotte, and she pours more juig in the glasses of the visits. - Well, sirs, now you are going to tell me from where did you came from, how many days you pretend to stay here, and when did you think you are leaving."- Said the Chief. - We came from the Space Club, we want to stay here as long as some business shows up, and the take off its a matter of the second answer. "- Said Masa. - Oh, so you are Space Merchants! A good thing to hear. And did tell me, gents, have you any goods to show my men?"- Smiled the Chief, with a dangerous glint in the eyes. -By the minute, we are out of goods."- Answered Masa. - We'll, then I think we are leaving ship now...Good day, gents!"- Said the Chief, and departs with his men. - Pfew!"- Said Ror.-" Kindd`a Pete the Black!"- - Yeah, Mickey Mouse!"- Masa said. teasing him. Charlotte said.-" It's true we need some cargo. I will advertise in the Net." So she did, putting the Caleuche at the disposal of any one wishing to deliver cargo. Ror were nervous, as he does' nt want any cargo in the direction of the Planet recently discarded. - Live, man! They must had forgotten you already!". Said Masa. Ror and Charlotte leaves the ship, as they received offers from several persons in the city, asking for woods to be delivered in the other planets of the System. The pneumatic was a very fast and clean way of locomotion, and that everyone in the city of " Pehuenche" used. Hundreds of thousands of tubes linked the streets of the city. A Computer receives their vocally - given destination, fixed curse and departs, all in seconds. The average velocity was 200 km. per hour, except in the fast moving tubes, where the velocity approaches match 7. They arrived to the first of the addresses; a huge building, thousands of offices and departments. They interviewed the client, who has manufactured Artificial parts to be delivered in Three, a hot planet of the System. - This material I work it's highly sensitive. A sudden change of temperature and they can be spoiled."- Said Gargantuan Feline, the General Manager. - Don't you worry, Mr. Feline ! We have cushioned rooms, with fixed temperature systems. ".-Informs him Charlotte, smiling. The guy was enchanted, and the deal was donned . They receive the check, and in two days the organization " Heinlein Robots" were to be carrying aboard the spare parts aforementioned. Ror said to Charlotte, in the street:-" Half the cargo already chartered! With another shipment like this, and we can say good bye to this planet!" - Yes, but we must get hurry: there are seven other future- to - be clients in line!" They visit the rest and all the other goods were to be delivered in Fourth Planet, so they were happy when returning to the "Caleuche", with five checks in the pocket. In the recreations room the ladies were seeing the latest news:" Cosmos Today" front page headlines. VIA SATELLITE 5 EDITION 50 MILLICREDITS SPORTS UNIVERSE THE NARN UPGA TODAY LOOK: ON FASHION MARS OR FAD? No. 1 IN THE GALAXY...6 BILLION READERS A PARSEC Moshito Alien Policy Meets with Senate Opposition Mars Colony Plagued by Anti-Alien Violence Pro-Earth Group Held Responsible for Terrorist Bombing Minbari Pirate Accorded Highest Honors in Earth Dome Appearance SPECIAL SECTION Euphrates Centauri Trade Delegation Sector Treaty Claims Discrimination Concluded Russian Consortium Makes Bid for Control in Balkan Block TECH-TALK Nano-Technology- Inside Reality? Budget Increases Threaten Earth UNIVERSE Force Expansion TODAY YLON 5 EDITION Classified 5-7D Crossword 6 Opinion 10-11A Lowlands 11C Horoscope 8A HoloSex 9Eser Masa laughs with the news, that were intended to do so in the audience. Because life can be very mean in big cities...and defeat, sadness, rage and fights were common ... So the news were delivered in a funny way. Ror told them of the future destinations, and shows the notes. They wished their share, saying:-" We need new clothes, the ones in use are mere rags."- Said Charlotte. - O.K., ladies, here is what we will do: first thing in the morning you will go to buy, and me and the robots will stay at board."- Said Ror. so they searched Stores where to go, in the advertisements section of the p.c. `s screen. DAY 2 IN 5 PLANET ...And in the morning WK10 went with them in order to cash the payments and for to spend some in clothes. Ror was helped by WK9 to clean the cargo bays . In the afternoon they all came back, loaded with fashion clothes. Charlotte laughs a lot, modeling the new dresses, same like the other girls. Ror went with them to a dancing hall, and they dance until late in the night. Masa and Marianella makes friends with some males, who were delighted with so beautiful women. At three o'clock Ror said:-" Time to go, girls." They said good bye to the men and follows Ror to the ship, where they were soon asleep, with a tiny smiles in their faces. - A pity they don´t fulfill their lives."- Said Charlotte. - Why? Because they don't mate someone? In space love its a dangerous thing."- Remembered Ror, that were well acquainted with the real dramas that reaches the news now and then: terrible fights and killing aboard ships in Outer Space, all because of jealous, hate or infidelity... WK10 wakes up Ror at two hours`s sleep, and said:-" There is someone in the port bay. He doesn`t go away and return to-morrow." - I`ll see to it."- Said Ror, clothing himself. Soon he was talking with Embryo, one of the males at the dancing Hall. - I must talk with Masa ! There is something I want to tell her!"- Said the man. - You aren´t; get lost!"- Said Ror, pushing him away. The lad yells:-" Let me see her now!" Ror told him :-" Well, mate, you asked for it."- And he gave a punch to the guy in the middle of his face, splotching blood all around. - You son of a..."- Yells the Don Juan, but Ror gave him another punch, sprawling the guy in the oily floor. Ror tell WK10 to stay out in guard, in case the man recuperate himself and began making trouble... Two hours elapsed, Embryo awaken and feeling the dampness in clothes and lungs, departs with some curses... DAY 3 IN 5 PLANET In the early hours Ror and Charlotte went purchasing some items for the voyage, mainly another Emergency Shuttle, trying several in flight, and at last they find one not too battered, and with new technology attached. They work rearranging the port bay , and fastening the new vehicle to the "Caleuche". Ror and the skipper x rayed the hull of the Caleuche, finding several soft spots. She said.-" One direct hit of some minor meteorite, and Adios muchachos!" - And for what are for the Deflectors, baby?"- Asked Ror, but deep inside of him , he find justification in the phrase uttered by the female... He cannot buy right now a new version of the Caleuche, so the matter was left where it stands... In the night they went to a Night Club, where they danced , but with Ror eyeing the girls, as he had forbids them to flirt with any guy. They returned ship at midnight, without problems. That night again returns the Don Juan, and Ror went outside to fix him up.. Charlotte heard him in violent controversy with some one, who seemed to talk gibberish in response to him. The matter sounded as though it ended in blows. Then he shouted at the robots, and returned to the cabin. - What happens, dear?- Asked her, standing in the middle of the Control Cabin. - That son of a... returns again ! He thinks Masa his pertenence... but I teach him one or two things."- Answered Ror, caressing his knucles. DAY 4 IN 5 PLANET At dawn they depart to talk with the Chief of Police, to whom they said:- "There is a madman that appears in the night, and try to talk with Lady Masa, who dance one night with him causing a fixation so strong than no matter the blows of Ror, he keeps caming ."- Said Charlotte. The police, who`s name was Farfan Delepreige, laughs hearthily, and answered:-" A lover in this times ! Pity on him...You are going to leave this planet, no?" - Yes, in a few days more."- Said Charlotte. - I will post a man near your vessel, in order to prevent this man in love to approach the lady Masa.. " Our cities are not crowded and our buildings are beautiful in their simplicity: large and roomy, with an abundance of sunlight and ample ventilation. White marble and metals are employed for building purposes. "Just the same there is always abandoned that needs compasion , the inhabitants congregate in centers and, owing to our more perfect methods of transportation, go forth daily to their tasks in field or factory, to return at the end of their allotted period to home and fireside. "But always appears some snake, like this one, Please accept my apologizes."- Bows the police, kissing gallantly the hand of the astounded Masa. They went outside, after gaving the name of the ship and it`s whereabouts. (Nº 341 Landing Post.) They saw a Travel Agency, and Ror said:-" Now we are in the go, why don`t we go visiting some tourist place ? They climb on a little shuttle, where , after paying a small fare, they climb a hundred meters, beguining a guided tour. A recorder sounds in the tiny cabine, saying: The Canal system on is comparatively new. The idea of constructing a planetary Canal system had its incipiency at the time of Lord Banion's visit to our planet. The Lord warned the people that they must make provision for their future water supply. At that time (890 years ago) the water supply was becoming noticeably scarcer as time went on. It was nearly 300 years after the Lord's mission to Five had been concluded that actual construction of the Planetary Canal system was undertaken; and during the intervening 700 years and up to the present time, construction on the public waterways has continued. At the present day the system is most complete, but constant work is required to keep the canals in working order. In addition to the gigantic Canal system, provision had to be made for suitable reservoirs to impound the water after the seasonal thaws at the poles. To this end immense reservoirs were constructed at most canal intersections. In some instances the reservoirs are established between parallel canals; but in every case smaller canals, or laterals, always intersect at these points. Many of the canals on Five are double, as they appear to your astronomers. These double waterways parallel each other at a distance of about 75 miles. The reason for this is that as the Martian population is absolutely dependent upon the Polar waters to irrigate their crops, any accident to a canal, such as a land- slide stopping the regular flow of water or the breaking of a lock or gate, would mean a very serious calamity to a great number of people. And for that reason, soon after the main canals were constructed, second and parallel waterways were made for the purpose of guaranteeing an uninterrupted flow of water from the Poles to the Equatorial regions. The result of this was that on many occasions the foresight of the Five`s engineers who had the water supply of the planet in charge, saved immense areas from drought. The rainfall on Five is almost nil and the immense population is entirely dependent on the water supply from the melting Polar caps. Water on Five is a most precious fluid and there is none to waste. Our oceans evaporated ages ago, and outside of the precipitation of moisture at the poles in the form of snow, none is to be had anywhere else on the planet except in very meager quantities. " They were seeing channels full of liquid, glistening at morning`s light. - Very beautiful indeed! A very dedicated people, this Fifths!"- Smiles Charlotte, hugging Ror. The vessel landed in a tourist Hotel, where they lunched and after they went to swimm in a channel, where thousands of others were doing so. - Beautiful planet."- Said Ror, thinking how those guys must have been working to arrive to the present state. And remembered Earth, with all almost ready doned , with rivers and big oceans for the take. They communicate with the ship, and WK10 said the cargo were all secured and ready to be delivered. So Charlotte announces the departure for that night. - Good vacations."-Said Masa, adding" Without love." - I can pay you your wages, and you can stay here in vacations."- Said Ror, as he knew how a woman can mess things when in disconfort. - That will be nice."-Said Masa, accepting. So Ror payed, and she booked in the resort Hotel of the Channel, who' s name was " Caupolican Hotel". - I guess we will be here in a month."- Said CHarlotte to Masa. - I´ll be here waiting."- Smiled Masa. DAY 5 IN Fifth PLANET At 00:30 hours they asked permission for the take off, and at 01:30 hours the Caleuche launched. - All systems working fine."-Said Ror, who was doing Masa`s works. - Roger."-Said Charlotte, smiling. She felt more at ease, with less personnel.And she always were suspecting that something were happening between Masa and Ror, but she never saw them in nothing suspicious, so now she were deeling released from a tension. Ror was thinking in Masa. The woman was a volcano of passion, so she better gaves herself go in that Hotel. Sure thing she will be having more than one lover there ! She was superb, but that can be said of almost every woman in this era, as the surgeon and medicaments alouds any female with some money to re-shappen her body , making a 90-60-90 body in an easily way. Marianella was was busy controlling the drive system, as Charlotte was maneuvering among the other vessels in transit, and also she must put an eye to the numerous satellites in orbit. After two hours the Caleuche was travelling in an asigned route to the Fourth planet. It was at a good distance, and it shines feebly , reflecting the light of the sun 1091.- The hours went pilling itself, and Ror slepts in the working seat. Charlotte takes a nap in the Control Room, making WK10 and WK9 in the alert for any anormality in the systems, or if some object approaches the Caleuche too much. They were having the ship " 345/90" in front, a cargo vessel, with 30 people aboard. And at the tail, with an expanse in kilometers of 1.500, the cruising ship " Aleggro ", with some 5.000 tourist aboard, and a crew of 560. The hulk of "345/90" was varely visible, smeared as it was, but at the rear, the "Aleggro" shines as a little star, with all his lights on, for the delight of their passengers... Eight hours, and the alarm rings sounds, waking the crew of the "Caleuche," WK 10 said: " Fourth planet approaching"- They looked the visor plates, and they saw the huge planet right at the left of the Caleuche. Charlotte takes the controls, and in half an hour they landed in Site 45, at the Frei Airport of Four. FOURTH PLANET DAY ONE - We`re here !"- Laughs Charlotte, hugging Ror. WK10 communicate with the Authorities, explaining the cargo they were to delivered there, and the procedures begans. DAY TWOO & DAY THREE Two days they were there, disloading the cargo. In those two days the humans of Caleuche visits the city of "Light", where they were standing. The city has 34.000.000 humans, the most part cloned from the original crew of the first ship that arrives there, 283 years ago. The industries has almost 90% robots working, so the humans takes the white collar jobs. They find some Gambling Clubs, and the richness of the inhabitants shows there, as anyone were expending big amounts of money in the differents tables and games. - We cannot afford to lose, so we will play a little bit, only."- Said Ror, gaving some money to both girls. They played Black Jack, loosing half the amount of received money, so they went out, in search of a Restaurant. They find one in the outskirts of the city, where the top floor revolves and shows the tourists the surrounding city lights. And it sure were light! All the major buildings were illuminated in a feeric way, shooing the night away. - Big resorts, wonderful places, a race earning his way to the stars."- Speaks Ror. - And we travelling from one planet to the other."- Said Charlotte. - What, do you get bored to be a space merchant?"-Asked Marianella. - No! I was only situating myself in all this turmoil of achievements."- Smiled Charlotte, hugging Ror. After the dinner they dance; Ror danced with both girls, laughing and being happy. The return to the ship was in a city cab, who flights to the Frei Aiport in ten minutes. They enter ship, finding all tidy up, labour doned by both WK. They revise the cargo stations, and they saw that almost everything for that planet was already retired by the receptors. - This WK are good models."-Said Charlotte, eyeing the artificials - They must be! They cost me a good chunk of dug!"- Answered Ror, who was delighted to see all under control. They went to sleep. DAY FOUR Charlotte received Mr Tom Cruker, Toy manufacturer, who whishes to send a load to Fifth Planet. -You see, Madam ,the toy industry has reflected the development of the story of flight in miniature form ever since mankind invented the flying machine. There have been toy aerial balloons commemorating the earliest attempts at defying the Earth's gravity. Such heavier-than-air tinplate toys depended upon a length of string for their ascension, just as did the model metal airships and aeroplanes that followed. "- Said Tom. -I find it all very simphatetic.I would be delighted to carry your cargo of toys to the Fifth Planet."-- Said Charlotte. They were standing in the Control Room, where the fat Tom was eyeing the panels , with their blinking lights all around. The toy vendor said:-" In the mid-nineteenth century, coin-feed vending machines began to appear in shops, taverns and railway stations which saved labour while earning money. By the 1880s, stamps, postcards and sweets were all available from coin-operated machines, and it was not long before automata and music boxes could be made to work for a penny. Although vending machines were good sources of profit, it was soon found that there was far more money to be made from amusement or gambling machines where no product was offered, and the 1890s saw the growth in Europe and America of lively Automatic Shops and Penny Arcades. "We here are trying to make that growth true in Fifth. People here has more money than what can be wasted in a day`s gambling. So the toys are cheap for them. And I want to make the inhabitants of Fourth toy/addicted people, same as here. Becouse to play with a toy it´s to return to the childhood days. And better than that, it´s to see the gratitude in the boys`s eyes, when receiving one of our toys." - You sounds like trying to sell me one of your toys!"- Smiles Charlotte. - I wish you could own one ! You would see how the craftmanship is, specially when you will discover that all the piles and batteries can be used for more then 3.000 hours ! "- Announces Tom Cruker. In the end, half the capacity of cargo of the Caleuche was occupied solely by the craters full of toys of Tom`s Industry. -A good thing, this cargo. The weight is little, in comparison with the volume of the craters loaded."- Said Ror, looking the papers. They receive a load of motors, for the Mine Base " Sarraceno", in the Fourth Planet. - We can go now. We have some empty bays , but with the already loaded we´re OK."- Said Charlotte, counting the bills received for the trip. Ror moves his head, saying:-" A cargo ship must cargo all it`s bays!" So they keep on advertising, receiving a small cargo of dried vegetable`s cans , for one sophisticated REstaurant, back at Fourth. - Now we go!".- Orders Ror to Charlotte, who was sulky by the delay... The Caleuche receives the autorization to deploy, and they swooshed up there, with a hurried Charlotte,who were busy trying not to smash into the several other vessels that were lurking around. After two hours, she manages to leave the Caleuche in route to Fourth; in front of them were the "4890-98". a battered cargo vessel, with a crew of 30 members. >It was barely distinguishable, even at the 3.000 meters distance, as the hull was painted grey. At their tail, 500 kilometers away, flies the " Caupolican", a beautiful liner ship, full of tourists ( 8.000 of them) , with 3.000 memebers of the crew busily attending the idling clients. Also the ship was like a brilliant star, as all it`s lights were on. - Nice vista".Said Ror, walking to the central visor. -Nice ."- Smiles Charlotte. - Those people in that cruisier must be happy to travel in so a luxury fashion."- Said Ror, taking Charlotte by the shoulders. -Yes."- Said she. - I hope one day I could invite you to do a travel in one of that vessels."- Said he in her right ear. - Yeap."- Laughs her, hugging him. WK10 enters cabin, saying:-" Skipper, there is some movements in one of the craters in Bay Nº 2." - I`ll go seeing."- Said Ror, leaving Charlotte , as she were necesary there, becouse some other vessel could make a bad movement and endangered the Caleuche. Ror walks by the planks ; the corridors were varely lit, always saving energy. The ceiling was at 2.2' meters high, and full of cables and other protuberances, as the Caleuche was no leisure ship, as the "Caupolican" out there... The Bay Nº 2 were stacked with craters , all fixed with cables to the sides of the room. The noise cames from one in the middle row, and Ror puts is ear against the acerplast material. A strong movement was going on there, also a methalic sound of rasping. - Open up."- Said Ror to WK10. The artificial goes to some corner and get back with a seesaw, and cuts the front part of the box, who`s dimentions were 3 x 3 x 2.50 meters. When the paper foil was retired, they saw a red box, with some wheels in the inferior side, who was grinding the crater, producing smoke and debris. - We must stop that thing!"- Said Ror, and orders wk10 to do it so. The robot pulls a rope from the ceiling, attached it to the main body of the red artifact, and clicked on the button that enables the rope to go up. So, the red artifact was elevated, and the wheels could' nt bit the floor. Whirring there, in front of Ror, looked like a half ballon, with four wheels in it`s inferior part. - Kind of a vehicle...let`s see..."- And it was turned off, when Ror finds the apropiated button, in a side box . The artifact has some tubes protruding to one of it`s sides. Several seems like canons, and two were something like telescopes or visors. - Seems a weapon to me."- Said Ror. - If you want I disable it, to see what makes it tick."- Said WK10. - Do it, but be carefull not to activate something dangerous."- Smile Ror, looking the metalic glint in the WK10 eye sockets... Ror cames back to Charlotte, and tells her the encountered thing. - So there is something queer in the cargo ! We must be sure the vehicle it's a toy. I don't want to be in jail ,acused of smuggler ! - Said she. - What ? - Asked Marianella, walking into the room. - Don'nt you worry..yet ! - Said Ror, smiling.- "It seems we have a minor problem in Bay Number Two." And he explains all over again. Marianella run to Bay 2, and in that very moment a big explosion were hear. - What the hell !"- Cried Ror, but Charlotte was more fast, and sealed all the compartiments. That surely saves their lives, as the WK10 detonated a safe mechanism in the vehicle he was disabling, and he went where the robots supose to go, when disableds... Together with him goes the beautiful Marianella, who barely sees the ball of fire, before passing to the upper stage of life (The Rest), as the explosion blows the ship in two halves. Charlotte was fastened to her seat, reason why she could'nt follow Ror in his flight to the wall. She sees how Ror smashed his skull and gets his brains inside out. All the matter began to float inside the cabin. The sight was'nt good to anyone, so the lights goes out, deprived from the necesary energy to do so. The prow hurried to get astray, and the other part decreased speed, and blows the beautiful cruisier that was following the Caleuche in the afixed route to Fourth. The nuclear core blows when deprived of cooling system, so the cruisier finds in his path a real atomic bomb, that smashed four decks, and kill almost everybody on board. In a week searches, the authorities both of Five and Fourth planets finds several people alive, in little safelife boats, and also Lady Charlotte, almost mad becouse of the drama of to be in a hulk with a corpse and in total darkness. &&&&&&&&&&& &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& CHAPTER Three "Back to the Pelargonia". THE PELARGONIA : Captain (The heroe) Karl Jorgustafen Lieutenent (The girl)Likan Marabunte, Lieutenent (THE BAD) Spinny Tell, Robotics :( THE UGLY) Marmalone Derrick, Chief Engineer ( motors) THE PROFESSOR Salund Vergara, THe ADJUDANTS of the chief engineer Larry Moe Curly Chemp, Radio man Alfonse Jutell, Medical officer (FEMALE) Glona Exobiologist (Female) Ferona, AN OLD WITCH Krisky Wastermel, Passengers to be delivered SOME KITS ( Feru AND Deuina)RUNNING AROUND, SOME JERKY ROBOTS SDF 78 AND 3489 HF, SOME TERRORIFIC ROBOT ULTIMATE X234, SOME BIOGENETIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT MAY NEVER BE ENSAMBLED SAMPLE 32, SOME TINY GARGOILES MADE OF GENETIC DISPOSAL ( ELM 01 ANS 33 , A COUPLE OF THIEVES Willy AND Jummy , &&&&&&&&&&&&&&& The Pelargonia takes off from planet "Lafourcade" and begans it`s flight to Akarris 2000/. when in flight they received an advise from the "Arauco Ships and Deliverance", saying: "Akarris 2000 has some plague going on. “The sisease cames from long. "To top-off the terrible environmental pollution that developed countries are faced-with these days, there seem to be more and more reports of infectious diseases from natural sources coming-out of undeveloped nations. Ever since the bacterial scares of the mid R1960’s and the Hanta retro-scare of the R1990’s, emerging diseases has been a fast field. Each month it seems some hothead researcher will succumb to the infection of a new virus or bacteria and usually end-up dead. Just another name in a scientific journal somewhere.

“Why then is there such chatter about this new bug? The discovery team named it Xari after the warning beacons setup near the NeoAfrican village- industry where it first hit. The word means ‘danger’ in the local tongue. Fitting.

“Certainly the memory of the 2024 Mazarus plague keeps many aware of the potentially devastating effects an out-of-control contagion can have on a populated region. Many safeguards are already in place, but are they enough?

“The NeoAmerican Surgeon General said today in a world affairs conference that military intervention will be...”

"- Bad news, captain? Asked Likan, hugging her fiancee. - Yes.Do ou remember that old song, "flies shedding its cocoon.We love our ship;Shuck off our metal skin,And embrace the sweet new atmosphere... Time has developed the stars Into gaseous balls of dreams Struck with awe, uncertain Of their own nakedness Not so unlike them As we slept we travel to the new place that could find us embracing mother and son unplucked from our bodies . - Beautiful! Pity for those that has that disease, Xari..."- Said Likan. - Hand made. I suppouse. Every madman wants to destroy the world he lives."-Said Karl. They went to the cocoons, hibernating for the long journey; the others were already in deep sleep. The robots were in command for 34 years, time elapsed in the flight from " Lafurcade" planet to "Akarris 2000"... Those were silent years, in which the robots do what they pleased in the ship. They almost became humane, with so many an experience. That was the final gossip : how the artificials became more humans than humans, using those long trips in hig space to attain experience. In those years a new menace appears for the mankind.. The Baos appeared in two planets, in the rim of the colonizated worlds. Many battles were fought between vessels of the Federation of Planets (Earth and colonized Worlds), and eventually the Baos retreated to the northern quadrant. Later, the Baos were known as busy collectors of specimens of other races throughout the universe, collecting their brains rather, in very technology dependent ways. The description of Baos were that they can disguise themselves as humans. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In the year 3043 the ship "Pelargonia" landed in Akarris 200,site 399 ,Starport "Loris Shano". The robots of the Airport approaches suddenly, taking the cargo to the Warehouses of the "Arauco Mining and Deliverance", and a note to the Captain Karl Jorgustaffen was send by the Control Tower. "- Starport under quarantine. You and the members of the crew must remind at board. There is a plague here, origin unknown, very lethal." -"We supossedly are going to receive a cargo here. I want to communicate with the Manager of the Company A.M. and D", please."- Asked Karl Jorgustaffen. -" I will ask to the Adouane Commission about your request.Stay alert.-" Said the voice in the speaker. Some 20 minutes elapsed, and then the official said -"There is no representant of your Company alive,sorry. But you can talk with Mr. Garas, the Port Commisionate." So Karl talks with the commisionate, and he told him : -"We can negotiate with you just the same, via Robots. The cargo is in the Warehouse 34 and 89, since four months ago. Mr. Mortimer, the Manager of your Company, leaves all in due order, so we can gave you the cargo, provided you could pay us the fixed amount of shipment taxes." Karl knew of this cases, as readed in the Guide the Company gaves him, when handling over the ship, so he accepted, paying with the Company resources. The cargo of valuable ore was embarqued without further delay, as all the necesary work was doned by Artificials, hired to some airport company. When all was aboard, they were ready to depart.Ror and the crew listened by two weeks how the plague killed thousands of persons.The decease of so many people makes the Government to burn the bodies , in order to kill the infections. Black smokes were visible in the days, and fires lits differents parts of the city, by night. -"It's awful ! so many deaths makes me cry ! "- Said Likan Marabunte, cuddled in her seat. -" The TV said the medecin it's being delivered , but there are some percentage of the population that is pass the limit where the drug can be of use."- Said the profesor Salund Vergara, rearrenging his round lenses . A FIGHT... The "Pelargonia" takes off that very night, carrying the ore from planet Akarris 2000. When in orbit, they saw some explosions in space, and the cosmic communications system informs them : " We are being attacked by alien ships! Atention all forces ! You are needed in Vector 5(43) ! All cargo ships must abandon area!" Karl Jorgustaffen finds in the radar the site of the struggle. Some 30 -odd crafts that were coming from deep space, and the nine defendors of the planet. -" All personel at his posts ! REd alert!"- Said KArl, and after some minutes, he armed the big guns of the "Pelargonia", heading to the site of fight. Of the 30-odd attacking crafts, some four or five were blowed from space, but three of the Akarris ships were also wrecked. With the thrust of it's seven motors, the " Pelargonia " rushed to the enemy, and Karl armed the four prow cannons, firing them after the Computer selected the targets. Those targets were easily reached, as the enemy crafts were bigger than the Akarrian ships. Likan Marabunte were in constant communication with the Akarrian fighters , so they were prepared to maneuver in unison. The enemy crafts hurriedly tried to elude the incoming misils, but they were 'nt prepared, believing the cargo ship was'nt armed. So the four misiles damaged the targets, who were out of the battle inmediatly. Five big enemy vessels fired the " Pelargonia", who deflects the misils, using the big engines that were producing an energy barrier around the enormous ship. The canons fired two other misils, damaging one of them. Seeing that the cannons were only in the prow ot the cargo ship, the enemy circled the big hull, as sharks in high sea ; meanwhile the Akarrian fighters follows the enemy in their manouvers. Three direct hits received the cargo ship, producing big fires inside the compartments. The robots rushed there, to quench the flames.Ror sealed the 5th. and 7th. sections, and lets the cold of space enters those damaged sites. -"Bandit at six !" Yells Alfonse, seeing the incoming enemy vessel approaching in his console. KArl jerks the ship to the right, eluding the enemy misils, but the hull creacked and they lurched to the left . The engineer , Marmalone Derrick, said:-"There is serious damage in the refrigeration chambers." Some two minutes more, and the voice of the Master Computer were heared all around the vessel: - "Abandon ship ! There is a leak in the fusion engines! Five minutes to abandon ship !" They all looked at Karl, who then reallizes his emotional response, and began unstrapping the belts, in order to rush to the emergency crafts. Karl was the last in abandon ship, and he sees how the enemy were closing to fire their missils . He run to the last emergency craft, and Likan were there, helmet on, waiting for him. The rest of the emergency crafts were already fleeing - "Duck your head!" - Yells Likan, closing the door after him. She then unfasten the ship from the " Pelargonia", and gave all the thrust to the little engine. The aguzated ship flies as a wasp, passing through the surprised enemy ships. When seeing backwards, Ror sees a vivid flash of light, with five tiny shadows smelting as wax, liquifying at the presence of the little sun that was born when the atomic engines of the " Pelargonia" gaves way. The concusion wave makes the little ship wobbles in mid space. They almost smashed against an enemy ship, that rushes in the direction of the atomized " Pelargonia". Circling the planet, hours after, they were rescued by an Akarrian vessel. Two Navy official saluted them when entering the war craft: they were treated as heroes, and the captain Rasmusen receives them at the control room, saying:-" Heil to the braves ! Becouse of your valerous action we could end with the enemy menace." And he adds that when other fighters from the Army gathers the original crafts in the battle, the enemy retreated to deep space, leaving twenty vessels marooned close to the atmosphere of the planet, where they plunders some minutes ago, burning their hulls in the descontrolated descent. So they reunited the ship "Pelargonia" 's survivors in Orbit Station WK90, where they were attended their minor wounds, and they could slept in confortable null gravity chambers. The Government payed to the ""Arauco Mining and Deliverance" the cargo and the loosed ship in due time; as to the crew of the vessel a big amount of money was delivered to each one, and they get the Citizen Cards from the Government. So they talked with the "Arauco Mining and Deliverance" about their future, and that Company said that with the incoming war they will not keep on sending ships to so far distant sites, and that they can go back to Earth, where they could trust they will encounters desk jobs for life. Karl said to the former crew: - " So that it is , guys ! The Company cancels flights, and we are without vessel ,at leat with that particular Company. With the money the Government of Akarris 2000 gaves us, plus the wages the "Arauco Mining and Deliverance" will pay us in due time, we can fly to any part in the known Universe." -" All this was your fault!"- Said Krisky Wastermell , pushing at the chest of the ex captain. Likan pushed back , and Marmalone Derrick embraces the little old lady Wastermell, saying:-" Hei, hei ! Don't waste energies ! You will need it for the return !" They were payed their alowances three weeks later, and Lady Wastermell boughts a ticket to Earth, where she said she were going to open a pet's shop, in London. The rest count their bills and were dubious of what to do next. - I have been asking for a good job, but instead I had met several offers.-" Told them Karl, in the dining room - where they all met every day . - "Wish I could received them offers !"- Sneezes Marlmalone Derrick. - Yeah ? Offers to sell me a space ship, kind'a Halcon Milenium."/ Said Karl, eyeing the concurrence, to see their reaction.Everyone seems interested. -Do you mean, back to the space, and all that?"/ Asked professor Salund Vergara. - Yes, professor. Back to the works." _ I had authored 146 publications on paleontological or geological subjects , 19 on museology, and 12 on material culture. Some of the varied and more interesting or important topics on which I had published are: Mollusca (both freshwater and marine); fossil fishes and eurypterids; dinosaur faunas (including Troodon, Laosaurus, Chamsosaurus, Edmontonia, Parasaurolophus); turtles; plesiosaurs; mammals (including marsupials, carnivoransboth creodont and fissipeds, lagomorphs, titanotheres, mastodons, horses); mammal tracks; Devonian stratigraphy of the Gaspé (Quebec) area, Cretaceous; Paleocene to Miocene faunas (including reptiles, mammals, and molluscs); Tertiary mammals of Saskatchewan; Upper Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary stratigraphy and geology in Alberta; Saskatchewan and British Columbia; stratigraphy of Albertan and Saskatchewan Cretaceous to Middle Tertiary deposits; modern birds and snakes; and modern and ancient zoogeography. At present I am still active in research and publication, both in my chosen science and in my field of human interest, and I will show little sign of abandoning my active scientific interests. "This I told you to clearly signify that no matter where we can be, the things of the mind can be doned in hyperspace, aboard ship or any place !"- Said in a triomphal mood the nutty professor. Larry said :- " So you are telling the captain you are going to put your money at his disposal? " The professor began exponding :- " In my long career as an active scientist I had demonstrated by my continued productivity and range of expertise a remarkable grasp of many aspects of the various scientific fields that come together in the interdisciplinary arena that we recognize as vertebrate paleontology. It therefore gives me great pleasure to reassure the captain that I will follow him in his commercial eforts ; this trips gaves me time a-plenty to do my researchs . I go down to the planets, I collect materials and after, in the idlying times of voyage, I can lock my door and study the items. Helped , of 'couse, by my assistants, Mr. Larry, Mr. Moe and Mr. Curly." -"So you are booked in...any other person, please? - ASked Karl Jorgustaffen. - Me. You know I will follow you to the core of this planet."- Likan Marabunte smiled. - I am in."- Said Marmalone, coughing at the prospect of to let all his dug in a flying apparatus... Alfonse Jutell said: - Count with me. Only you must to be more explicit ; I want to know the kind of craft you are going to buy with so little money." - Yes, uncle! We want to go seeing it !" - Brawls both kits Devina and Feru, now of 15 years each one. - O.K. ! I will talk to the guy, and perhaps to-day we could go and take a look to the best offer."- Said Karl, sweating . So they did went, and in a big warehouse they saw the ship, an ellipsoid with a canopy on top.- - Yes sirs! The altitude it´s ten meters, with twenty feet long, from aft to prow. As you see, half the front part it´s covered with ceramic, in case you guys wants to go inside some atmosphere in a hurry."- Cackles the vendor, a fat big man of about sixty, named Gustin. - Can we see the inside, uncle?"-Asked Devina. - Came along, gents !"- Said Gustin, laughing. He pressed a button in the hull, and a ramp goes down. They enter climbing the plank , and finds themselves walking by a corridor, that ends in the Control Room. - There you have the commands! All brand new!"- Advised the vendor. They revise the controls, and Karl finds that all was almost outdated, but of good quality. - We want to probe it."- Said Karl. So they went to a sub orbital flight ( AS to goes to Outer Space they needed a pass from the authorities.) The ship was obedient, and the Central Computer handles all in a good form. ç -Nice ."- Said Likan, seated in her post. They landed in vertical flight. So they payed the guy the prefixed amount, and Gustin said:- " There are three robots in storage, at aft-hold.They needed some repairs." And he goes out by the plank. - Repairs ! We can fix it, professor!"- anounces Larry. The professor Salund Vergara smiled, and depart to aft-hold with his three asistants. For several days they refurnished the craft, and they do some minor reparations. The three robots were junk, and useless, so they damp them by the ramp. - We need robots for outside reparations, in deep space."- Said Alfonse Jutell- - Yeap, but we are short of cash, friend. We will wait untill some dug arrives."- Anounces Karl. Likan puts advertisements in the Net, and two days after the reparations were doned, appears one client. - Are you the ones that offered a cargo ship?"- Asked a woman, looking doubtfully at the little ship. - Yes, Milady. Please go inside."- Smiles Marmalone, that were seated in a crater, drinking a beverage, naked to the torse, due to the heat of midday. Up there she was ushered in front of Karl, who was romanzing with Likan, in one of the seats, at the Control Room. - Captain, this woman here wants to rent the ship."- said Marmalone, who had followed the woman up there, looking at her elongated legs. - Please, be seated."- Indicated Karl, offering her a chair. - Thanks."- Said her, looking the dirt on the surface of the seat.-" I learned you post an advise , offering the ship for a charter or cargo. I want both things doned: I want to go to the Ferret System, with some artifacts that I think will help find my father, Mr. Lando Kalrisia." - Don´t tell me you are the daughter of so remarkable gambusino!"- Said Marmalone, eyeing the woman. - Yes, I am Lorna Kalrisia."- Smiled the woman, that was tall, slim and about 23 years old. - -Glad to met you. So your father had disappeared ?"- Asked Karl Jorgustaffen, standing in front of the lady. - Yes. He went to that System, to try to find ore or valuable minerals. But it had passed eleven months and he has´nt arrived."- Said her, looking worried. - So! But I knew he was a man of resources, and he had find several good asteroids in his treks...I mean, valuable rocks, that had provided him. and the Companies he had created- several bullions of Credits."- Remembered Karl, as Mr. Lando Kalrisia was a name renowned in all the civilizated spots where astronauts seated to gossip (mainly in Bars). - Yes, he keep on searching, no matter the money earned, becouse to search is his passion, not money."- Explained Lorna. - So now you want to go there and try to find him...in several millions pieces of asteroids...that runs, in diameter, from two meters to little Moons ! "- Roars Marmalone, extendig his big arms. - Yes...You see, I have this map...And he tell me that if did´nt returns in ten months, I should go seeking him. " - He expected some dangers, by going to that messy System?"- ASked Karl, who dislikes the idea to go there - first mission- with a second hand ship, never probed before by him... - Yes ! You know how things goes at that System...REfugees , delinquents, renegades, desperados...all kind of peole lurking there, as there are not Law and Order where no civilization exists."- Shrugged her elbows the beatiful lady Lorna. - Yes, and you forget to add half a dozen other people ...including prospectors."- Said Alfonse Jutell, who had entered the room, hearing the voices. -Also there is Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B, First Lord of the Admiralty, that has the first military post at asteroid "Roanoke". We can proceed there, in the first place, as my father told me that he were to repost there ."- Said Lorna, flippantly. - Good. Now we know what we are going to do, let´s talk about the fares."- Said Karl, and mentioned a big amount. - No problem. But you must assure me we arrive to all the posts that I will charter, and finding my father will reconfort me of any payment I should do to you."- Said Lorna. - Ahoy there ! I cannont put the premise in finding your father; that must be set straight from here and now. We go where your fancy or your plans needs to go, but the matter of to be finding your father, or not, it´s out of the Contract...From the beguining. As we can put our foot on every one of the bullions of asteroids, and even doing that, not find your father."- Expressed ardently Karl. She bow her head, and then she said:-" O.K., let´s do it like you said. Of ´couse I think you understand my first intention it´s to find father alive. " - Of ´couse, Lady. But here we are handling a bussines. Now, the payment it´s in advance.And no more than three months of searchings, once we arrive there. Cannot be for more."- Said Karl. - Not even if I repayed you?"- Said her, eyes ablazing. - Well...yes!"- Laughs Karl. He received the bill, and told her:-" We expects you any time. Time is running." She said."- O.K., then to- morrow I will bring here my equipment and cargo. We´ll be seeing."- And departs, with Marmalone trailing her down the ramp... Karl summoned his crew, and told the news. Everyone goes out, in order to buy the things they could be needing in the trip. Also Karl cashed the check and asked several big boxes of merchandise, to some Net Stores. When arriving the goods, the personnel putted all in storage, happy to had been receiving money almost at the beguinning of the commercial inversion. - I will be able to be served as a king."- Smiles the professor, as he bought a Series RAR 389 robot, resembling a maiden, who was able to furnish more than a billion orders and ,also, take thousands of initiatives . The assistants were amazed of that selection , as they was feeling somewhat displaced at the Professor´s Lab ... Likan boughts herself a set of dresses and parfums, cremes, etc., so her cabin smelled to " Channel N` 5 " from 20 meters ... Marmalone boughts himself a big machine gun, and Karl asked why did he choose such a piece of arsenal for himself. - I like to shoot at things, and now I will be gaving me a pleasure." - Smiled the giant. Glona and Fernoa boughts play games for the consoles, and some dresses. Larry , Moe and Curly boughts them some leather suits, and some blanquets. Alfonse Jutell boughts several kilos of CD´s ,mainly texts to read while in transit. At dawn appears Lady Lorna Kalrisian, in a truck. The robots takes the cargo aboard ship, and Karl offers her a nice and ample cabin. - Oh, very good looking cabin! Thank´s you very much!"- Smiles her, brightening. - You deserves it."- Answered the captain, leaving for the deck, where he orders all hands to the consoles. In 32 minutes all systems were double checked, the presure in the engines was the correct, and then Karl said : - " Take off in two minutes...and counting.!" so the machine began to tell the minutes, and at the 0 count, the " Bellony" levitates some miliseconds, heading straight to the zenit, nailing everybody to their seats with the mighty push. The "Bellony" circles the planet twice, and then the computers gaves the green light to beguin the periple. So the engines roared a second time, leaving the orbit and beguining the departure from the System. In flight were several cargo ships, some of them of enormous bulks. they were the leucocitos of the body named Civilization ! After the calculations were made, the number jumps to Karl eyes : 83 years´s transit ! He double checked the calculations, and there were no mistakes. The flight was bigger than from 418 to 1184 ( Wistrubia to Arrakis 2000" ). He takes the calculations and encripted it, for he was´nt with the guts to tell the crew the bug amount of time they all were to be sleeping... During two months they travel in the System 1184, and when passing the last planet, Karl asked the crew to enter the pods, in order to be cryogenizated for the voyage between Systems. They all acceded, asking how many years were to be this time, and _ Karl lied , sayin that were 32 years ( instead of 83 ! ) They all went to the Pods, he were to be the last. So when he sees all sleeping in peace, adds to the pods the necesary 51 years more ! He then rumages by the ship, revising all and looking the visoplates. He awakens the robot of the professor, RAR 389, to be served. After three months of flight, the " Bellony" was surpased by a fastest vessel, with the Captain Joseph Corcoran, Commanding "H.M.S. Pinafore"; they radioded Karl their crew´s members : Ralph Rackstraw, able seaman Dick Deadeye, able seaman Tom Tucker, midshipmate Josephine, the Captain's daughter Hebe, Sir Joseph's first cousin Little Buttercup, a bumboat woman Captain´s Corcoran Sisters, his Cousins and Aunts, Sailors, Marines. The big Army Destructor "H.M.S. Pinafore", warns the "Bellony" about the enemy vessels ( the ones of the atacking alien race " Baos"). - With you guys flying around here, I am not a bit frighten-"- Radioded Karl. - Don´t count in it ; we are half the dimension of their battle ships!"- Said the Captain of the "H.M.S. Pinafore" . In an hour´s flight, the war vessel was out of sight ,speeding in direction to his goal... wherever it was. When seeing forms in the corners (first signal of the disease of Deep Space in men) Karl Jorgusfen went to an empty pod, scheduled it for the cryogenization and it´s endurance, and gets inside. Five minutes elapsed,and he was one more in the chain of frozen bodies of the "Bellony"... The years began to tickle. Far away, in changing places, the war between Mankind and the " Baos " were ragging violently. None of the bands wishes the peace, hating more the enemy with each battle fought. The robot of the professor, encharged by the Captain to take notice of everything, enriches it´s memory banks with the decades of tiny works that were to be made inside the hull of the "Bellony"- At last, tha ship, blackened by the long journey, arrives to the Ferret System ( Alfa of the Dorado Constelation) and their alarm systems began to awaken the frozen bodies ... Half of them could´nt stand such big amount of years in Suspended Animation ( SA) and were only shrunken rags of bones and clothes... Karl awakened and sees them like that, but his head seems to be disconected intermitently from the real life, so he just take a showel and went to the Control Room, trying to remember what he was intended to be doing there. The Central Computer went to his aid, by asking coordinates to follow, orders to obey, and asking where the ship will land. So Karl tales the Bitacora and reads all the last months ´s entries...83 years back! When he ends reading the letters in the visor, he was fully remembered of his duties. FERRET SYSTEM SUN ALFA OF DORADO CONSTELLATION. NO PLANETS, BUT MILLIONS OF ASTEROIDS ORBITING THE FERRET SUN. ============================================================== He went to the bath room, and he saw how shreds of dead tissue goes by the hole in the floor...Dead skin. He was somnolient, and he vaguely noticed some other persons lurking around, but he just don't take much notice of them, worried for this strange feeling of not belong... He wanders and finds a bed, where he lay, looking for hours at the ceiling, not worried and not being worried. The silence of the ship was disturbed, in time to time, by some crashing , but he just ignore what that could be. Also, he gaves a damn... When hungry, he walks to the food dispenser, and tastes the green stuff, but he dislikes it, and prefers to drink the liquid, that was dense and of sour taste. Every time he walks out of the cabin, he find someone lying around, looking at nothing. The ship became a dangerous place to live. The movements appears suddenly, and if he don't grabs the sides of the bed, or some proyection, when rummaging by the sip, could end with a smashed head easily. The food became a putrid element, that filled the floor . The water keeps being of a sour taste, but he manages to keep in his stomach without vomiting. Some days elapsed, he could'nt go out of bed easily; his legs seems of cardboard, and the travel to the kitchen seemed a whole day's travel. Also there were some persons in the corners that just don't move any longer, but stared at him with fixed eyes. One day somebody lifted him from his bed, and carries him by the corridor, using some helmet and a big inflated suit. He tried to say something funny, but he just don't remember the correct words, so he began to laugh in a feeble manner. He wake up in a brilliantly lighted room, and puts the hands over his eyes, so somebody said : -" Dimm the lights, please." The lights dimned, he saw three bulks in front of him, with faces. Somebody was talking very fast, he does'nt undertand a bit. Some other speaks slowly, saying " I am doctor Warren. Nice to be with you." He smiles, and the tears begun to flood his eyes, running by his cheeks, so he felt so happy ! And he tried to make a speech, but could'nt ,so he repeats " Nice to be with you " , several times. The people were excited, and their eyes shone, but then, now they were speaking so fast he cannot undertand! And he felt the dreams coming, and someone said -" Do not sleep. It had been enough sleep, already." So he understand, and tried to stay awake, and also repeats the last words, " Enough sleep, already." They gaves him some soup, and then he vomits. He felts dizzy , and moves his arms, and the others grabs his arms and speaks in hushered tones. He slept. - Coronel Hawthorne, the man is taking a feeble interest in what is happening to him. Seems he will recovered, but I ignore how much time it will takes, and in which degree."- Said Miguela Hernandez, Ph.D. - Bad news. And unhappy fellow. The best of his stock, I pressume-"- Said Coronel Hawthorne, tugging one side of his moustache. He was a tall man, with blonde hair, 58 years old. Miguela was a nice looking woman of about 30 years old, tall and smiling. - I am gaving mild drugs, to improbe his brain. I must go slowly, in order to not damage his ancient tissues. This man must had been a young fellow, when entering deep sleep. Now he seems a man of seventy."-Informs her. - Pity. Too many years in Deep Sleep...also the machines seems to have been in deficient order."- Growls the Coronel, remembering the " Bellony". Three weeks elapsed, Karl was recovered enough to speak clearly and understand what was going on around him, so here we will hear the conversation he mantained that same day ( the first of his total recovery) for narrative purpouses... - " Then, I had been very sick ?" ~ Asked Karl Jorgustaffen. - " Yes, your trip in deep freeze goes for too long and then the machine were in not correct order, perhaps in the years elapsed it gets corroded. Now the rest of the crew are all dead. If we only would arrive early ! But that was noboby's fault." ~ Answered Miguela Hernandez. ~ Also I am older. " ~ Noted Karl. ~ Yes, but also you could be dead as the rest..."~ Smiled Miguela. ~ And where we are...I mean, in a planet, a ship or what ? "~ Asked the bewildered Karl. ~ You were rescued in space, and bringed here, to the asteroid "Roanoke".-Answered Miguela. - So! And Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B, First Lord of the Admiralty, has the first military post at asteroid "Roanoke".- Said Karl. - No, he is dead. Now the Coronel Hawthorne is the Governor here, and 84 years had passed, in accord of the numbers finded at your shi p " Bellony", since your departure."- Informs Miguela. - Yes, I remember that it was a long journey..."- Shrugged his elbows Jorgustaffen. - There are a new world awaiting for you, outside. Everything has changed."- Smiles her. - Yes, I can imagine that."- Speaks Karl. He was gaven shelter at an apartment donated by the Governemnt, also some wages to help him, as the money in storage in his "Bellony" ship was useless... Miguela finishes his works of the day, and departs to his department, in the Tower Domitila, one of many occupied by public servants. He enters the site, by gaving the sound signal. Inside were three rooms, a bath and a little terrace, one of the luxuries of the department... She sips a tea that were asked to the food dispenser, and she was seated in a sofa, to see the last news, from the TV . The case of the "Bellony" was´nt mentioned, as it was an old notice, three days given. The conquest of the Baos´s Systems ( 8) brings wealth to the human civilization, and thousands of men had flew there, to organize the government , as the former one was demolished. New arts and sciences thus discovered, were hastily transformed to the human´s tastes. Miguela likes the Baos music, a combination of colours, sounds and parfums, that all women likes most. The telephone glows, and she attends it. It was Malvuo, her boy friend, inviting her to dine. She accepts, after some hesitations, due to her education...It was of bad taste to accept immediatly the male´s invitations, no matter if it was a several month´s relation, such this was the case. - Then at eight you come? Good. Bye, darling."- Said Miguela, and hangs up. She went to bathe, she parfumes herself properly, putted some glowing dresses ( the actual fashion ) and then arrives Malvuo, in a blue and yellow suit. - Hi, darling ! Glad to meet you!" - Said he, embracing her and gaving a long kiss. She almost fainted, but she regains her composture, and offers him a seat, and also a drink. He sips his favourite drink, a lemonade with some liquor ices, and said:- " There is a new place at . Wish you could said yes." - Yes !"- Smiled Miguela, eyeing him to put him nervous. - So far so good ! So we depart now, yes ?"- Offers Malvuo, standing. They went to the place via Tube ( the common mode of transportation in the domed capital city of Roanoke Asteroid, " Taltal ". In the pneumatic vehicle they arrived in no time to the doors of the new site, and enters hand in hand. He chooses a place near the orchestra, so they delighted theirs ears with the mild and rumorous songs. - So nice to have your love!"- Says Malvuo, looking at her with a smile. - Yes, it´s a nice feeling. "- Answered her, who felt a tenuous feeling in relation to his actual boy friend. The Maitre appears, and they ordered a sustantious dinner, and some bottles of good wine. They listened the orchestra, eats heartily, sips at their glasses of wine, and chats . - There is some option that I could end in the Baos Sector, organizing some medical institutions there."- SAid Malvuo, who was 37 years old, Ph.D. as her. - Good for you ! And are you not affraid to go so far?"- ASked her, not mentioning the real reason, namely, the existence of that alien race, defeated but alive. - Oh,no ! This here post it´s far from the civilizated parts of the Federation, and you see we can manage to live in luxury, no matter if under a Dome!"- Laughs him. - And the Baos are going to be the clients ?" - Yes, I had studied their organisms, and once you get the kick of it, there is no more problems involved!"- Laughs Malvuo, who was a good medic. - Interesant."-Said Miguela, returning the stare of another male. - Shall we dance, now?"-ASked him, and they went to the dancing floor, where lots of another couples were dancing already. Three hours elapsed, they returned to her apartment, where they make love for some hours. Then, he goes to his work. She slepts seven hours in a row, takes a showell and went to the " AStronauts Hospital", where she pay a visit to Karl Jorgustaffen, who was there, with a headache. - I don´t know why it appears."- Said Karl, referring to the headache.-" I had eated the usual amount of food, and all I did was a little footing." - We´ll see. I think it´s nothing to worry about."- Answered her , scaning him thorougly. She finds that a deteriorating of the cells were running fast in his body. She went to the Chief Medecin, Mr. Alas Vergusten, and after a couple of growls, the man said:-" Nothing to do, realy. The man is dying, The cells decide it´s time to rest." - And what is supoused I must tell the pacient?"- Sighs Miguela. - Nothing! Just tell he is O.K., and let him goes to his quarters. It will do him no good to know the truth, eh ?"- Said Alas Vergusten, scratching his bulbous nose. - Yes, I guess you are right."- Answered Migela, with a tingue of mercy for the ancient astronaut... Karl was at the Hospital's Library, where he was reading an ancient book. When Miguela appears , in the afternnon visit, he said "~ I often readed about biology, and always have'nt enough time. Here I can read almost of everything, to catch up with the times, so to speak." ~ If you want to catch up with the times, why don'nt you better read of the recent discoveries ?"- Asked her. - Perhaps I will ...But let me read a thing or two from this book." - Go ahead."- Said she, smiling, so he reads aloud:-" Embryological resemblances of all kinds can be accounted for, as we shall hereafter see, by the progenitors of our existing species having varied after early youth, and having transmitted their newly acquired characters to their offspring, at a corresponding age. The embryo is thus left almost unaffected, and serves as a record of the past condition of the species. Hence it is that existing species during the early stages of their development so often resemble ancient and extinct forms belonging to the same class. On this view of the meaning of embryological resemblances, and indeed on any view, it is incredible that an animal should have undergone such momentous and abrupt transformations, as those above indicated; and yet should not bear even a trace in its embryonic condition of any sudden modification; every detail in its structure being developed by insensibly fine steps. He who believes that some ancient form was transformed suddenly through an internal force or tendency into, for instance, one furnished with wings, will be almost compelled to assume, in opposition to all analogy, that many individuals varied simultaneously. It cannot be denied that such abrupt and great changes of structure are widely different from those which most species apparently have undergone. He will further be compelled to believe that many structures beautifully adapted to all the other parts of the same creature and to the surrounding conditions, have been suddenly produced; and of such complex and wonderful co-adaptations, he will not be able to assign a shadow of an explanation. He will be forced to admit that these great and sudden transformations have left no trace of their action on the embryo. To admit all this is, as it seems to me, to enter into the realms of miracle, and to leave those of Science. " - " Interesting...And wich book it is ?" - " The Origin of Species, by Darwin."- Said he, leaving the book in the shelf. - There had been too many discoveries since then...But now let´s talk about you: are you feeling better of the stomach?" - Yes, with the medecins...Why, is there some problem there?"- Asked Karl eyeing her intently. She blushed, saying:- " Oh, no ! I mean, there is a minor problem; perhaps you will feel some pain for a while."- Said Miguela, standing to leave. When alone, Karl resume the conversation, and damned him for to speak not of the present situation instead of the work of Darwin ! He went to the reception room and asked for his medical data, saying the doctor Miguela Hernandez wanted it, so the lady in charge handed it without a second thought. Then he went to the Library and readed twice his own records, learning there that he was suffering an aging syndrome, that would be leaving him very soon at the cementery. He handed back the documents, and goes to his room, in a gloomy state of mind. Seated in a chair, he arrive to a conclusion : his life were at an end. The guys out there could´nt solve the riddle, no matter the years of developments they had had... Back at her quarters, Miguela was weeping for his cause. When arriving her fiancee, and looking her a-crying, he asked the motives, and get an interest in the case, in such a point, that he asked to be letted in with the problem at hand. So he visit Karl at the other morning, saying Miguela who he was and why he was there. Karl answered: - Glad to meet you, doctor. I´m all yours! Your cobaya {guinea pig}... ,as I am going to die, let´s be of service to mankind." Miguela understand that he were informed, no matter how, and she said :"- Perhaps Doctor Malvuo Gomez will be of help. He always is developing new medicines...it´s his hobby. " - Good for it ! I need experimenters."- Said acidly the cosmonaut. Malvuo began studying all the documents related with his new patient, and then began a series of examinations on Karl´s body. After two months, and when the ex astronaut was visibly diminished physically, he anounces , in front of his fiancée:" - I have the clue to your infirmity." - Oh, you are great!"- Said she, kissing him. - No, I am merely a human being ,trying to do his best...Great is the Lord Jehova."- Answered him. - Yes, doctor. But tell me, do you believe I can get well ? Becouse I hardly goes out of the bed, in this days,"- Said Karl, in a weak voice. - I cannot promess a thing. I believe now I have the why of your aging. Now I must develp a drug that reverts it, or at least stops the aging."- Answered the young medicician,adding:-" As Darwin said, many instincts are so wonderful that their development will probably appears as a difficulty sufficient to overthrow the whole theory. I may here premise that I have nothing to do with the origin of the mental powers, any more than I have with that of life itself. We are concerned only with the diversities of instinct and of the other mental faculties in animals of the same class. "This I tell you becouse you are going to exert all your mental habilities to be of help. A clear optimistic state of mind it´s what I require of you." - I will try my best to be optimistic, doctor."- Answered Karl Jorgustaffen, from his bed. - " I will not attempt any definition of instinct. It would be easy to show that several distinct mental actions are commonly embraced by this term; but every one understands what is meant, when it is said that instinct impels the cuckoo to migrate and to lay her eggs in other birds' nests. An action, which we ourselves require experience to enable us to perform, when performed by an animal, more especially by a very young one, without experience, and when performed by many individuals in the same way, without their knowing for what purpose it is performed, is usually said to be instinctive. But I could show that none of these characters are universal. A little dose of judgment or reason, as Pierre Huber expresses it, often comes into play, even with animals low in the scale of nature. " So you must show me your instinct of survivance. "- Ended Malvuo. - I will, doctor."- Smiles Karl. In the three subsequent days the doctor Malvuo synthetized what he thinks was the substantial medecin, and inyected Karl three times a day. At the second day Karl began to feel his body with a new enery, and he keeps on standing, walking to sunny spots, listening to gay music, so little he was in bed. One month elapsed, and Malvuo scanned him thoroughly, saying at last :-" You are in no danger now. Let us make a toast." And their merrrily drinks beverages and even sings a short stanza, as Jehova God were smiling upon Karl again ! He reads aloud some of Darwin:"- Frederic Cuvier and several of the older metaphysicians have compared instinct with habit. This comparison gives, I think, an accurate notion of the frame of mind under which an instinctive action is performed, but not necessarily of its origin. How unconsciously many habitual actions are performed, indeed not rarely in direct opposition to our conscious will! Yet they may be modified by the will or reason. Habits easily become associated with other habits, with certain periods of time, and states of the body. When once acquired, they often remain constant throughout life. Several other points of resemblance between instincts and habits could be pointed out. As in repeating a well-known song, so in instincts, one action follows another by a sort of rhythm; if a person be interrupted in a song, or in repeating anything by rote, he is generally forced to go back to recover the habitual train of thought; so P. Huber found it was with a caterpillar, which makes a very complicated hammock; for if he took a caterpillar which had completed its hammock up... " And me , like the aforementioned caterpillar, am completing my hammock with your help, doctor Malvuo and doctor Hernandez !"- Said he, and huggs both young ones. In the succesive weeks, he began to straighten his columna dorsal, began running short distances, and in the whole, recovering his pre- flight conditions ! Miguela was delighted, and she makes love more often with Malvuo, to compensate his efforts with pleasure ! One day, Malvuo told her to get married, and she said:-" No, darling, I live just fine as it is. You love me, I love you, so why complicate things?" - Just to have a baby."- Said he, embracing the woman. - Oh ! So you want a baby! "- She said, marvelling before the thought. - Yes, and to carry my wife to the new dominions of the Federation"- Adds Malvuo. - What? Did you said that there is some option that I could end in the Baos Sector, organizing some medical institutions with you?"- Asked Miguela. - Well, not exactly... The job it´s one man´s job, I mean, for just one person...me."- Definites the situation Malvuol, with a sigh.. - Oh, I see, I am not too good for the action, is´nt it ?"- Enrages Miguela, standing from the sofa. - Oh, I did´nt said that! I said there is one option accepted, it´s me I send my Affidavit, they said yes, and there is all the matter ! You had´nt said a word in this affair."- Excuses him. - Well, I understand they can broaden the offers..."- Said she, cooling down. In the end, she accepts to marriage him, and after the big wedding party, they talked to Karl Jorgustaffen about the new state of things. The ex astronaut said:- " A pity I cannot go with you, Here there is little to do for me, and I better live in a real planet the rest of my days." - " I am so sorry...But here you have the Library, and you don´t need to worry for shelter or food, as the Government gaves you house, money and the medical support. All for free."- Remembered Miguela. - All of which I gave up gladly, only if you take me with you !"- Said Karl, bored to death in the Roanoke Asteroid and it´s antisephtic environment... Malvuol asked his new bosses ( via hyper radio) about going there with two other persons, one his wife, and receives the anwer in two days: "Dear Doctor Malvuo Gomez: Here we are awaiting you with utmost interest, and we are sending the passages for the ship "AStar", that will depart to this Boa Sector in six days more. "They are two tickets, for you and your wife ; as to your patient Karl Jorgustaffen, no doubt there is some interest in his recovery of so grave a disease, but you must understand, Doctor Gomez, that we are in not so free a position as to disposal in a freely manner of the Institution´s Funds. " We are here very glad with your future help and advices. Your' s very truly, Ferando Alessandro. Director." - So there it is ! In white and black. A no. "- Said Karl, when handled the message . - You can always pay the ticket."- Remembered Miguela. - Do you think I can?"- Asked Karl hiper - hopefully . - There ! Why gaves you hopes to him? The cost must be great !"- Said Malvuo, glaring in the direction of Miguela. - Darling, beware of the bad temper ! And forget about the " Astar" ship ! We can asked a refund for those two tickets, and share loop holes with Karl, in a freight vessel!"- Explains her , smiling broadly. After a very big struggle with Malvuo, things were doned as she said; no matter that, they needed a big chunk of money for the other ticket, so they used almost to the last NewCredit to buy Karl´s fare. They were putted in deep freeze in the pods of the " 378 ", a cargo vessel in route to the Baos Sector... with a month delay arrival, in relation to the faster " Astar"... CHAPTER 7 " IN THE BAOS SECTOR ". At the Starport, they were to attend a lecture , gaved to anyone that w/nters the planet for the first time. Several thousands passengers were waiting for the lecture< they did'nt wait too much, as 20 minutes later Mr. Simpso , a fat man woth a big belly, enters the podium, coughs, and rising the voice , who was aumented by the electrical devices, said :" ~ Dear sirs and Madames : We are reunite here to attend a little lecture, that it will not take long, so no point in whitling, please. "We men, the creatures who inhabit the planet Earth,and now that we are expanding through the known Universe, must be to other races at least as alien and lowly as are the monkeys and lemurs to us. The intellectual side of man already admits that life is an incessant struggle for existence, and it would seem that this too is the belief of the minds upon Baos Sector's people. Some worlds are far gone in its cooling and this world is still crowded with life, but crowded only with Baos people. To carry warfare sunward was, indeed, their only escape from the destruction that, generation after generation, creeps upon them. We are helping them in the develop of agricultural science, that they always looked with comptent, reason of their undeveloped status. And before we judge of them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Baos warred in the same spirit? The Baos seem to have calculated their descent upon our worlds with amazing subtlety--their mathematical learning is evidently far in excess of ours--and to have carried out their preparations with a well-nigh perfect unanimity. Had our instruments permitted it, we might have seen the gathering trouble far back in the nineteenth century. Men like Schiaparelli watched this far away planets--it is odd, by-the-bye, that for countless centuries Baos Sector has been the star of Incognita--but failed to interpret the fluctuating appearances of the markings they mapped so well. All that time the Baos; must have been getting ready. "Now we are their conquerors, their masters. But we will teach them to think like us, to struggle for the same things, in order to assimilate them and ,in the future, forms a single entity. This we are doing here: teaching them to live in harmony. "Now you are entering the changing society that it is; now you must form an ambassadors corps, so any trouble you cannot manage, we are here to step in: try never to insulte or punich a baos citizen< let us now, and we have some subtle way to do justice. This is all, gents: I hope you could enjoy the time in this planet." He steps down the aisle, and some persons asked him questions, that he kindly answered. ~ Ambassadors...I like the word."~ Smiles Karl, adjusting his head cap, that reads " Star Trekker"... Malvuo was contacted by personnel of the Hospital, so they were carried to the assigned department. Also he was summoned to the office of the Director himself, so Miguela and Karl were alone in the department. The site consted of a bed room, a dining room , a reception room and a bath. - Seems I must go renting a room, somewhere..." - Said Karl. = Guess so...But here it's nice. A good aspiration bath, air conditioned rooms, microwave stoves...Nice."- Repeated Miguela. Karl finds the tvphonepc and asked for rooms- a long list appears in the screen, and he chossed the nearest to Malvuo 's department...14 blocks away. - A five minutes walk."- Calculated the ex astronaut. - Fine. I want you here every morning and every evening."- Asked Miguela, seated in a sofa. - A recurrent visit bores ."- Said he. - Not to me. You are the link with the planet I lived all my past. Seeing you around will gave me confidence. Happines."- Affirmed Miguela. Karl rumages in the Food dispenser, and takes a couple of beverages for both of them. She sips the liquid without further conversation. Karl collect the rest of the coins and went to rent the room. At the streets all the people movilizate themselves by the movil sidewalks. Some aerial artifacts were flying over the buildings. So he arrives sooner than thougt. A tall building, a corridor , and a little window. There a man talks to him in commercial tones, so in two minutes he was booked and with the keys on his hand. Room 18... The room has one door, one bed, one window ; a closet formed by the same walls and a metal door,without locks. The bath were in the corridor... So he slepts there, using the flimsy blankets that he finds in the closet. At night, he heared the metal clangor of the communal kitchen, in front of his window. Several other renters were there, frying meat or whatever... Somebody knocked at his door; it was a thin man, about 30 years old, that presents himself as the neighbour. Also he lends Karl a radio. Karl listened to the news, and finding them non interesting, he muted it and slepts. At middnight the neighbour, whose name he said was Lorenco, asked back the radio, and also some coins lended. Karl said : - Sorry, kit, but I have'nt any dime." - You don't understand me ! I want you to lend me forty new credits, now!" Karl grabbed the guy by the neck saying " You are nuts ! How many times you want to tell you I'm broke ?" Then the guy understands... At dawn he takes a showell, with nice warm water, dried himself with a sheet and went out. In the corridor he mets Lorenco, who asked again some coins, so he grabs him by the neck and smashed the skull in the rail. In the street, karl aspired the morning breeze, and goes by the moving sidewalks to Miguela's department. He enters with the key she had gaved him previously, and tip toed to the bedroom.He saw Miguela atop Malvuo, and the guy was moaning... Karl laughs heartily, and went to the food dispenser...No dispenser in the room he was renting, anyway... He chooses a cup of coffe, with sugar in it; also biscuits and a orange juig. He eats it, and suddenly Migela was at his side, saying: = Oh, it was you! You certainly gaves us a great scare !" = Perhaps you were doing a bad thing." Answered Karl, laughing. = Are you nuts? It was a very good thing...delicious to began a day. " = Laughs her, kissing his forehead. - Good morning, Karl."- Said Malvuo, in his way to the bath rom. She smiled and acompanied him, so in a short while she was screaming and laughing again in the bath room. - Youth ! "- Said Karl, repeating his breakfast, this time with pancakes escorting the cup of coffe... They dressed in no time, and takes coffe with Karl, that was in his third cup of coffe... - Malvuo is taking me with him, to see if there is a possibility to be employed in the Hospital."- Said she. - Fine! Two wages are always better than one !"- Said Karl, munching a piece of pie. - You really eats heartily ! - Noted Malvuo. - Yes, doctor. Since you are gaving me drugs to improve my health, a starving hunger wallops inside of my belly."- Answered the ex cosmonaut. They went out, leaving Karl seated at the table. Karl goes to the bed room, changing the sheets and blankets for them, and tiding up the whole department. He thought that if he was going to burden them with his presence plus the forages at the Food dispenser, he must repay them with something... After the works, he sees HoloTV and takes a long showell. He went out at midday, in search for food. He uses the movil sdidewalks until there was no more sidewalk, southward. He was in front of a big river, and he sees several boats and people fishing. They were all Baos, and their shouts and gestures were totally alien to him. He walks by the shore, and finds a nylon in the sand. He picks it up , and searching a fat worm, he began trying to catch his lunch... At two o'clock, he already had three big specimens. The Baos surrounds him, excited, as they hardly catch little fishs. He returns to the rented room, and fried the three fishes , helped by the other renters, that serves him good, as they gaves the oil and specias to fry, in exchange of some portions of the fishes. All were delighted and someone offers tiny glasses of Baos's wine, not bad at all. Karl was made famous for this, and in the subsequebt days he was always at the river, fishing: he always catch two or three larger fishes, no matter if the other fishermen catches nothing. His room mates were always in the awaiting for him, and everyone offers something to put for the lunch, that then it was heartily and merry, with the jokes or remarkations they all do; no one of them was Baos... And as Karl Jorgustaffen was old, and he was being taking his food for free, he has all the day for his own, so he walks for the streets, seeing how the Baos lived. He saw machines and factories at work,and remembers how some writters believe machines could overthrow Man from his reign, specially Wells,who writes about machines at a point when their possibilities were becoming unquantifiable. The steam engine performs evident tasks--drives ships or locomotives, drains mines, powers looms or smelters. Its actions are known, its required fuels measurable, its pressures subject to regulation. And it is this one type of engine that powers Victorian industry, through pistons, cogs, levers, belts, and ratchets. But by the time of Wells, with the discovery of the electromagnetic spectrum and the beginnings of atomic physics, a whole new generation of machines based on the seemingly invisible and immense powers of radio, electricity, magnetism, or even particle physics was poised for discovery and application. Concomitant with this was an enormous excitement at the sheer boundlessness of possible invention. If Kingsley and the pro-scientific writers of his age could be thrilled still at the possibilities of the use of machines to establish a heaven on earth, or as functionaries in social betterment, science by the close of the century had often leapt "beyond" such ideals to a sense of its own untested and immense powers. In Wells we see science become capable of being a law unto itself, its invented products thrown off like dangerous sparks that can threaten, not subserve, the social system. In fact what we have here is a situation in which, from being a danger to the human individual or the soul, the machine can now be seen as a potential menace to society as a whole. From being identified with a society that variously demanded the subjection of all individuals to its collective purposes, it is now the society that becomes human and the machine that is at war with it. This to a large extent expresses the less optimistic and in particular view of social development; but there is also the beginnings of the modern sense that man's inventions may not work for his betterment alone, but may in ways unknown to him work rather to undermine the whole fabric of his existence on the planet. There is, in short, a much greater sense of human frailty, at least registered by some of those who made it their business to speculate on the possibilities of human development.In Wells the scientist is separate from the social fabric. Where Brunel followed the engineering demands made upon him by the revolution in public transport, or Charles Babbage sought continually to apply new science and technology to British industry, or Darwin set man among the whole society of living creatures, the inventors we find in Wells are either alone--like the invisible Griffin, the islanded Moreau, or the solitary Time Traveller--or else alien and a threat to society, in the shape of the Martians of The War of the Worlds. Their inventions serve to make them either more independent of their environment or able to shape it as they wish. The Time Traveller's machine flits through the lattice of the future, the changing world shimmering about it like a ghost; the invisibility of Griffin makes him free to slip through space and do as he wishes without notice; the powers of Moreau enable him to subvert Darwin and turn beasts into part-men under his control; the Martian machines are able utterly to subdue man.With Wells we have moved on from Newtonian to pre-Einsteinian physics, expressing now a less stable reality. A literary form of the theory of relativity informs the very postulated existence of a fourth dimension in The Time Machine, extending reality and altering the purview on it. Indeed, much of Wells's work here is "perspectivist": in The War of the Worlds the complacency of man is mocked in relation to the undreamed-of designs of the far-off Martians, and we are told that the Martians' treatment of man is no worse than European man's own treatment of the Tasmanian natives; here too men have become as Eloi to the blood-sucking Martians. In The Time Machine the traveler to the future finds a baffling society for which he offers a series of hypothetical explanations until at last he thinks he arrives at the right one, but even then he has to admit, "It may be as wrong an explanation as mortal wit could invent. It is how the thing shaped itself to me, and as that I give it to you. Nothing is certain: reality is plastic and elusive, shimmering and mutating as the time machine passes through it, changing form and habit as the beasts are made to do in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896). The very fact that Wells writes science fiction, creating a universe of possibilities alternative to our own, and that he writes not one but many of these tales, is a literary mode of this relativism. And of course relativism is precisely one of the purposes of Wells's invented machines: he wants to throw ironic light on our own technological pride by imagining infinitely superior technology, and equally to highlight our temporal provincialism against the perspectives revealed by a machine that may enact for the future the same Olympian view that was to be applied to the far past in his Short History of the World (1922). At The Time Machine we also have relativism contained within the form of the journey and the story. The Time Traveller returns to the Victorian present of the book (which is now our past) to tell his tale of the future: the whole of his adventure is contained within a temporal loop within the story, where on a Thursday morning he sets off on his machine and by Thursday evening is back for supper and explanations, after having traveled thirty million years into the future. In that sense his colossal journey is contained within about ten hours of our time. Further, the futurity that he has experienced is recounted as a past event. And beyond that is the fact that the adventures the Traveller has had via the time- leaping powers of his machine may still await him: wherever he is, dead or alive, he may have to relive the future he experienced with the Eloi and the Morlocks in 802,701 and beyond as "natural" time grinds its way through to these eras; for he is now inexorably a part of that future.Unless. . .unles it is not real or "the real" future--which, given relativity, may not be unreasonable. That it is contingent is implied in the Awful Warning to Victorian man in the very existence of the divided races of Eloi and Morlocks, which are the end-point of the brutal division of capitalist from laborer that to Wells had increased throughout the nineteenth century. The Time Traveller points to the dangers of the rich "haves" dividing themselves from the poor, who are increasingly thrust underground to work, and sees a "widening gulf" that will "make that exchange between class and class, that promotion by intermarriage that at present retards the splitting of our species along lines of social stratification, less and less frequent" (pp. 62-63). Clearly the point is that the future is alterable if the dangers exposed in present conditions can be corrected. Further, it is an interesting feature of the future the Time Traveller visits that one of the few buildings in it that he enters is a museum, a museum containing no identified artifact later than the late-Victorian period from which the story began . And of course we now know that the earth and sun will not run out of heat thirty million years hence , as Kelvin's second law of thermodynamics (1868) predicted and as most scientists of the time-- with the important exception of Darwin--came to believe. We can take this point further. Suppose the machine itself in a sense makes this future? Certainly, without it, it would never have been seen. And inevitably, at certain points in the story, the movements of the machine become assimilated to those of future history itself: "I saw trees growing and changing like puffs of vapour, now brown, now green; they grew, spread, shivered, and passed away. I saw huge buildings rise up faint and fair, and pass like dreams. The whole surface of the earth seemed changed--melting and flowing under my eyes" ; "So I came back. . . . The blinking succession of the days and nights was resumed, the sun got golden again, the sky blue. . . . The fluctuating contours of the land ebbed and flowed. The hands spun backward upon the dials" . .. Karl Jorgustaffen enters the buildings when possible, and this was almost ever, as the Baos where so awed by the inventiveness of Men, that extends his admiration even to common earthlings such as the wanderer Karl. He sees the dancing halls, where the race hugs themselves and walks from one wall to the other, moaning and beating palms. Such a din was howful to him, and he seldom enters those halls. He saw the police, that was also the Municipal body in charge of the cleanage of streets . He saw many Baos throwing themselves from high buildings, former millionaires now in total bankrupcy, due to the Earth Government. The thuds in the paviment were also product of injuries to the people passing by,( pedestrains }so sometimes one suicide kills six or seven people, just by jumping through the window. By night it was all a threat to walk, as then the ex military class goes out from their dens and rumages the city, killing terrestrials or policemen, saying that they were traitors to Baoskind. So Karl didn'nt goes out too much in the night, and if he did, he always goes to Earth vigilated sectors. There the police swarms the streets and Bars, protecting the earthlings. Karl saw much prostitution, and he payed to a Baos girl, in order to learn about their anathomy . They enter a room of a decadent Hotel, and she said "First time with a Baos ?" - YEs. Pardon my nervousnes.."- Said he.. She undressed naturally, and Karl glued his eyes on her... She has three breasts, but one located in the middle of the chest and the other protruding from under the arm pits. The sexual orifice were similar to women, only that at their sides were a muscled ring, coarse looking. She said if he wants to be sucked or what, and Karl anwered " Or what." So she fucked and he receives a delight almost inimagined, as the muscle of the lady works on his member in a leisure fashion. Also the lady sucks his mouth when kissing, heating him uppermostly. When in the peacefulness of his room, Karl rememers the act already performed, and he was amazed of the quantity and quality of the emotions storaged in his brain as brand new... The days were pilling over him, and he felt something useful he should be doing, as his two Ph.d.'s friends . So he enters to work in an office , where he was to pay attention to the incomings of requisitions for help doned by the poored sectors of the Baos comunity. He also must gave faith of the aseverations those poor peoples makes, so he visits them in their humbles homes, very often in the outskirts of the city. So he was useful for the society there, a thing Miguela commented to her husband, saying " The time of iddling of KArl seems to be in the past, darling." He was seated in the sofa, reading in his proffesional video agenda, so he asked to be repeated the sentence, then he said" There is a good signal there. The sickness he had it's at bay with medecins, and with this laboral efforts he made, he strenghten his defenses." = Good for him. Only...they told me he expent all his incomes in whore - houses." - Bad habit. But let that be: he is old, have nobody to complain for his acts. Also they say Baos women are specials."- Smiles Malvuo. - Let that item out of our conversations, please. There are some things better be leaved unsaid." - Said she, blushing, as she was a medician and knew better how that " Speciallnes" demonstrates itself... Miguela takes a shower, in order to forget that conversation, and when in bed, remembered his works of the day. She works in the Quirurgical Pavillion, and the Baos were her patients. She saw three cases of broken skulls that day, belonging to suicides. They were barely alive, but with the new machines their bodies could be maintained for weeks, no matter the brain injuries. Becouse of that, almos 90 % survives, and they were treated psichologically , so they could enters the flow of life again, with a brand new perspective . She never stops marvelling in front of the amazing capacity of recuperation of the Baos beings. They had new whole tissues remade in several hours, instead than in days or weeks, as is the case in human bodies. Also they could stand high fever without their hearts running amok. Some highly speciallized medics were working in Baos constitution, in order to learn how their bodies could performs feats impossibles to man...so as to replicate it in humans.... Malvuo was aware that Baos technology was able to implant microchips in the bodies of that race. The memory functions were higly increased in them, some kind of megamemory of cosmic capacities. That, united with the thoughts's processes , made those implanted Baos special beings, capable of unimaginable feats. The develop of sciences, with the aid of those super beings, was fast. The earthlings were using their skills to improbe every technological device in the catalog. .. Miguela ,for her part, was aware of those fiendish occupations of her husband, but prefered to go to the fields every time she can, in order to see the beautiful landscapes of the planet. There were waterfalls and beautiful sundowns, all of which was shared with Malvuo, who relaxes when seeing those sights. " Here we could be feeling as at home. Trees, water and blue sky."-Said he. = Except for those tourist beyond that tree." - Laughed her, indicating some Baos climbing a low hill . - Yes, there are minor signs we are'nt at Earth, but even in the same Earth you will encounter people " - Yes, I know what you mean. I think your works here will take a lifetime? " - Asked her. - Not a lifetime, honey. Perhaps just a decade. In that amount of time we can earn enough to return to Earth and rise a fmaily with all due comforts." - Imagined Malvuo. - A life of comforts...Never asked that for myself, but no doubt I wish it for the childs we could rise together."- Smiled Miguela, chewing some bit of grass. They climbed the hill, finding a trickle of water sprouting from a fountain, The water was very cold and good to drink, so they drinked and splashed each other, laughing, under the amazed stare of some passing by Baos. The Baos always loocked on terrestrial as mighty warriors, so this sights of merriment were incredulous for them. The couple returns to the city and their works, in a scooter. At the department was Karl, with some Baos woman, that he presents them as his future wife. - This is Fara, the lady I speak so much. - " Presents Karl . - Nice to see you."- Said Migela, and Malvuo stared the attire of the lady,that was dressed with a minuscule kilt and a pair of red brassieres...plus some tiny silver shoes. - She begans by teaching me love, and ends in love with me ! - Explained Karl. Miguela coughs and went to change here dress. Malvuo served them glasses of mild liquor. Migela cames back, with a long green dress, saying -"So you will get married with the lady, but are you sure you can mantain her? " - She earns more money than me !"- Said he. Malvuo exchanges a worried glance with Miguela, and said -" And wich occupation has her ?" - Whore ! Here , they told me, it's a honest occupation."- Explains Karl , kissing the girl, who were smiling all the time. - Ah. So you are going to let her be, and not forbbids her her trade ?"- Asked Migela, amazed. - Oh, I will not be a lacho man. I will work for both of us, only that she will accompany me. I will be the bartebder in the whore house where she worked."- Explains Karl, very proudly, and caressed the dimpled girl. - Well, in love and war there is nothing definitive."- Said Miguela, and embraced the girl, felicitating her warmly. They went to dine, paying the exultant Karl. He was shaved, with new dress and smelling too strongly of parfum... The girl Fara danced with Karl and was the center of the male's admired glances. They eat lobster with salads, wine, and a raspberry desert. They danced till 2 o'clock, and they all went to their homes in a happily mood. Karl enter his rented room, after being delivered the girl to her suite in a fashion's hotel. He went to his drawer and counts his dug, that amounts to few new credits. He said to himself " I'm creisy ! " And laughs. At last he were with a steady woman ! In the planet there were a shortage of females, being terrestrian or baos. So he felt as a winner. He suddenly needs to talk with somebody, so he dialled Fara's phone, but for not avail, as the phone ringed and nobody answered. He thought that probably she had disconnected the device...Or perhaps whe was'nt at her home... That thought makes him terribly anxious, so he collect the dug, and went out again. Travelling by the desert moving side walks, he was thinking what to tell her, as he supposedly were at his room for that night. He arrived to the suite ;the Manager was'nt in sight to phone the lady his arrivel, so he opens the door and enters without being spotted. He heared sighs and movement in the dormitory. He peeks and saw a couple making love in a torrid fashion. The lady was Fara. He sweats cold. He was told by her that her carnal commerce was at an end, so he does'nt be worried about her true loyalty, inasmuch she were to be his legal wife for ever... - All to the trash can ! "- Rages Karl, and searching for a knife in the kitchen he found a very long one. He tiptoed to the dormitory, enters and stabs to the kilt in the back of the male Baos. The guy yelled, and she laughs, believing it was a spasm of love. But now Karl was over her, slashing the face with the knife. She begans to scream. The guy fell to the floor, moving epileptically his two legs. Karl severed the long and thin penis, and puts it unto the open mouth of the lady, who chocked with it into his mouth. Karl slashed the face some times more, and leaves the room. He went to the street without problems, and travels to the river, where he naked himself, and swimming , he lets go the accusing knife be carried by the current. He swimm shore, and dressed. The clothes were stained with blood, so he washed it with the river's waters. He returns to his room, dressed himself with clean clothes, and burns the stained ones, by throwing it to the building's incinerator... At dawn he travels to Miguela's house, where he takes breakfast. - Nice your obas woman. I think you will be happy together."- Said Malvuo. - I guess not. I find her fucking another guy, last night."- Informs Karl, sipping the coffe. Malvuo and Miguela stared , incredulously. She asked " I cannot believe you ! Are you joking ?" - Unfortunatelly, no. I leave her at her suite, and when in my place, I tried to phone her good night, but the device was apparently disconnected. Worried, I returned to her house, and find ...what I found."- Said Karl - REally ! A pity...and she was'nt looking as a traitor."-Malvuo Said , taking his cup of coffe from the food dispenser. - But, men ! REally I cannot understand a thing ! You cannot go marrying whores without being cheated ! You must find a decent person , Karl ! "- Said Miguela, enraged with the foolishness of her friend. - I killed the guy..."- Said Karl. Miguela opens her beautiful eyes something more, and she stands up, saying " I really don't want to hear any more ! I really cannot believe what it's happening !" And she went out of the room. Malvuo hasten with his cup of coffe, saying" - You really mixed up things ! Please do not mention me this anymore ! Also it will be good for you not to came here , at least in a month.Bye."- And he , too, departs to his working place. - Friends!" - Musitated Karl, serving himself another cup of coffe, this time with a bit of milk and some cookies... In the afternnon he booked himself in another location- at the other corner of the city- and he also retired from his former work. So he puts an advice in the Net, offering his services as a gardener, with a changed name. - In case cops are following me."- He said to himself. Fara was in the Hospital, with a nervous shock plus the wounds in her face. Her ego collapsed, so she just ignore all the drama she lives. She could'nt tell to the cops who were the killer of her ocassional lover, and also she just not related her love affair with the terrestian with the crime. So nobody was after Karl. Miguela was for ever nervous, as she was affraid to be involved in a crime. Also Malvuo shut his mouth in relation with the murder. He were'nt wanting to be a delator, also his interest in medecin was stronger than to gave the police information about crimes in the city... Karl finds a job in a rich baos's home, and the guy vanagloriated in front of his friends about having a earthler gardening at his home... Karl was offended, but he decide to take vengueance that very night. He hidds himself in the car boxes, and when all baos people were asleep in the house, he replenished one of the cars with valuable things from the living room of the mansion, and departs. He knew some Pawn Shops, where he sell everything, even the car. Of 'couse the amount of money collected in this manner was'nt big, but there were $4.500 new credits... enough to eat and pay the rent for 8 months... He dressed in a better fashion, and puts an advertisement , offering himself as Second Mate to a space ship. He received several calls, but when seeing him almost all rejected his services, becouse of his age. He looked 70... But at the freighter "Uranos" they booked him with half pay, and that was enough for Karl, that the only thing he really wishes was to leave the planet where any day he could be charged with a murder's accusation... So in the same day of the take off, he visits his two good friends, Miguela and Malvuo,early in the morning.. - You ! Enter !"- Urged Malvuo, when opening the door- as now they locked doors every time . - I came to say good bye to both of you." Informs Karl. Miguela cames from the bath room, using a towell tied around her body. She stares and said nothing. - I am booked in a ship that departs this very day to another sector of the space. So I came here to tell you that there will be no necessity to be worried for me any more."- - That is good for all of us. And try not to be so emotional in your actions."- Asked Malvuo . Karl went out, and Miguela never speaks a word to him... The ship "Uranos" takes off exactly at 18:00 hours, and levitated for some minutes, checking the engines; then it speeds upwards and was lost from sight. Miguela was there at the Space Port, looking how a friend went for ever. - I hope you can find peace, with a crime on your conscience." - Wishes her, and returns to her job. With Karl gone, a sense of release were born in her, making smiles came more easily. Now she can dedicate to her work and her couple ,without a pain in the back... The End. Alfredo Francisco Humberto Juillet Frascara. Santiago de Chile 1996.12.18.23:05./