The Kuiper Rogue by C.P. Schaefer

Author:C.P. Schaefer [Schaefer, C.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

A TALL TALE

The shuttle streaked toward Gaia and bounced through a turbulent pocket of air. The rumble woke Margaret from a deep sleep as the shuttle passed through a cloud bank with zero visibility.

“You feel all right?” Will asked and patted her hand.

“What’s the flight status?” she asked.

“No problems,” he replied as they passed through the cloud. “We’re cruising on autopilot, about thirty minutes from base.”

“What was that we just passed through?” she asked. “I’ve never seen a low cloud on Titan.”

“This moon doesn’t get much light,” he said. “It’s a greenhouse effect of some kind. The methane oceans must be vaporizing.”

“Marvelous.” Margaret moaned. “Will, do you suppose there could be some connection between the ring phenomena and these dreams we’ve been having?”

“Robert already told us about the combination of low O2 and radiation,” he replied.

“I understand,” Margaret said. “But maybe there’s more to it than just the medical explanation. Every dream I’ve had in the past few weeks involves the rings. There’s some psychic connection.”

“Or maybe it’s because it’s always on your mind,” Will said.

“Could be,” she said. “But I need to know more about TIgrIS and that picture on the wall. What more can you tell me?”

“I’ve been going over it in my mind since we left,” he said. “What I found all those years ago must have been one of the best-kept secrets of the ancient world. The Romans stumbled across an ancient archive of Assyrian clay tablets, translated their secret, and decided to hide them away forever.

“It’s one of the best-kept secrets of modern times, too. TIgrIS suspected they were getting close, so they hired cheap help to do the dirty work, then brushed it under the carpet like it was no big deal.

“I can still picture Shastri, all smiles, boarding the transport with the headstone. I knew he was lying to me, but I could not find out what it was. A man tracked me down after Ben died, and I’ve had this ring ever since.”

“But what did they expect to find out here?” Margaret asked.

“Maybe we should ask them,” a voice came from behind. Robert stepped into the cockpit in full E-suit gear.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve been listening to your conversation,” Robert continued. “I’ve revived our guest.”

“What?” she shouted.

“I don’t think he’s going to make it,” Robert said. “But he’s able to talk.”

Will unstrapped and moved past Robert while the doctor and Margaret continued their discussion.

“I thought he was dead,” she said.

“Close and in shock,” Robert said. “I doubt we can bring his body temperature down quickly enough to save him. There’s just too much frozen tissue. Before they thaw, his internal organs will quit functioning. If you want to talk to him, you’d better get back there fast.”

Robert had removed his icy environmental suit and helmet. His dark hair glistened as a light coating of frost melted away from his face. The man’s frozen legs and arms were locked in a stone-like stillness while steamy vapor rolled away. But his upper chest and face appeared undamaged by the freeze.

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