CHAPTER THREE : STEVEN
Steven was well organized this morning. He found that being a temporary house husband was not all that disturbing and besides, he actually enjoyed the free time during the day where he could sit on the balcony, read his big fat legal study book, take down a few notes and make some entries on his laptop. He would check his email (he had given strict instructions to his secretary to severely cull most correspondence to him) and would just smile to himself when thinking of his associates busily rushing around the office back in Frederick. This is the life, he thought, and he was going to take full advantage of this wonderful and unusual time with Eva and the kids.
He was a lawyer of leisure and would go back to his practice in a couple a months, right now, he had the kids to get ready for school, and then see that his Evie was all organized for another day at the Flight Centre. It was Tuesday – his car pool day – and would drive Darren, Megan plus Zac from next door, to Highland Middle School. It was only about a 40 minute round trip and Eva may or may not still be at home when he returned. The NASA Limo (as they had dubbed it) always seemed to come and collect Eva between these domestic jobs.
He had finally mastered the art of flapjack making, ensuring that the maple syrup soaked well into the tiny craters of the small masterpieces – the kids loved them sopping and dripping and Steve had finally worked out just how to squeeze the spray cream enough to sculpture eyes, noses and mouths on these breakfast delights. He never thought that he would come to actually enjoy the hustle and bustle of a family getting ready for the day ahead.
Megan was a little surly this morning – she couldn’t find her favorite scrunchie – it had to be the purple one – and her world would end if she couldn’t wear it to school today. Darren was still blurry eyed from playing his electronic war games far into the night, and it didn’t help matters when Steve reminded him that today he had a science exam to look forward to. A little cold running water to the back of the neck did wonders. The scrunchie was found in the laundry hamper, the flapjacks were eaten, the checklist was completed and all systems were go. Eva came down the stairs dressed in her tracksuit – hugs and kisses and goodbyes all round. “The coffee’s hot and I’ve left you a couple of flapjacks – may or may not see you when I get back sweet heart – kissy, kissy, bye yaw’ll” Steve chuckled – he just couldn’t get used to the Texan drawl and would break out in laughter when listening to the local radio station in Houston.
Eva smiled to herself as she watched her family race to the front door “it’s my turn in the front seat! no it’s not, yes it is, dad, dad, tell him dad.”
Steve turned and gave Eva a smile, hunched his shoulders, and said “just another day in paradise” and whistled that tune as he closed the front door.
Eva sat at the kitchen table; she knew he knew, that all her food and drink had to be strictly controlled and reached for her “suck bottle” of stuff that those wonderful chefs at the Flight Centre would like her to digest.
She was quite sure that Steve’s coffee and flapjacks would have been the best tasting breakfast in the world right now, but she was in training and her determination to get through the next few months of the program, was strong
She looked at his handiwork and was delighted to see that one of the pancakes was shaped as a spaceman – how did he manage to write her name across it in cream? She gathered her haversack, and waited for the NASA Limo.
She had a lot of things to be happy about, in fact since her childhood, everything was perfect. Loving parents in a loving home, school and university without problems, a wonderful husband and children and now this, an opportunity and a possibility for going into space – and she wasn’t even an astronaut! Although it wasn’t all that important to her, she knew that she would become a celebrity, perhaps even worldwide. Her absolute passion was education, she was a teacher and she was already in discussions with the Flight Centre and NASA as to the possibility of teaching a lesson to her class in Frederick from outer-space. Currently she was learning and arranging a number of experiments that could be done whilst in orbit including the effects of weightlessness on eggs with embryos, some hydroponics and something she also enjoyed, photography. It was now day 30 of 120 days of training at Houston - so far, so good.
The NASA Limo was running very late today and Steve returned from dropping off the kids and was delighted to see that Evie was still there. They kissed and strolled onto the balcony. “I think I’m getting a little bit jittery Steve, lately I get this feeling that someone’s watching me, out there and in the house – hard to explain. Sometimes I spin my head around to see if anyone’s behind me. You know sometimes you think you see something just on the edge of your vision but when you turn, there’s nothing there? – that sort of thing.”
Steve scratched his head, “well this is a brand new house, it’s not built on an ancient cemetery or a sacred site, I don’t think the kids are possessed and I’m not trying to poison you – so it must be you Evie – you’re going mad and I need to tell NASA immediately – I’ll ring them right now.”
“Don’t even think about it Steven Redcliffe, you’re not getting out of this - we have a deal remember. I’m going to be the hero for a while, so tell your dish-pan hands to get used to a few more months of it.” They both giggled. Steve didn’t argue – he knew he was on a good thing – for a while anyway. NASA had been very good and generous with the family, paid for everything, the trip plus compensation for loss of earnings, free rent on a lovely house; free schooling for the kids and all the creature comforts – a paid vacation with benefits.
“So what’s on today O Maiden of the Heavens?”
“Today has something to do with emergency procedures, I suppose that being able to operate a fire extinguisher may come in handy...oops the Limo’s just pulled up out front – bye honey – don’t work too hard – kissy kissy.”
Steve helped her to the white unassuming van and waved at some of the passengers already aboard. It was still hard for him to believe that shortly, these people would be up, up and away, far away. He was happy for her, but still harbored a primeval concern that his wife, his woman, would be out of his reach and away from his protection.
He wondered as to what he could do about her nervy jitters – perhaps she needed something more to be able to relax at home. She loved music and was quite the musician when they first met at the university. He walked to the hallway, flipped through the telephone pages and dialed a number.
“Hello, is this Oliverie’s Music Barn? – yes, I would like to buy a baby grand piano - yes cash - can you deliver today?”
Yep, it was turning out to be a beautiful day. Steve looked at himself in the mirror on the wall next to the telephone and said, “Yaw’ll like caffee dood? ...yesiree Tex, arl jist boot scoot along and git me some a that dar brew.” He shook his head and thought - shit now I’m talking to myself – snap out of it councilor – there’s ironing to be done.
-oOo-
During the next 90 days, Slig fluxed back and forth, reporting on his progress, to Dwarg and the Whisps. It had gathered a plethora of information about the female Human and her brood - but in particular, how other Humans were preparing her for the exit from the planet. The Whisps seemed to show little concern with Slig’s reports on the female, what they wanted to know was how to stop the Swirl Chaos, which by Slig’s own admission, was inevitable and shortly due to disrupt the now. Slig suggested that as a group or as individuals, Whisps may be subjected to a lesser swirl if they cared to flux to a position within the Aura on the other side of the planet, which would be directly behind the area where the rocket would leave. At the very least, Whisps now had some prior warning of an impending swirl – Slig became the messenger and was very much admired for the efforts.
-oOo-
On day 120 of Eva’s training program, she was very weary and inwardly worn by the constant bombardment of information, techniques, repetition, analysis, calculations and the “stuff” that NASA needed her
to know. She had however, thoroughly enjoyed hands-on training and had never been more fit in her life. She had actually developed a taste for the meals and drinks from those mystical NASA chefs, and she very much looked forward to leaving Houston and getting into the job of being a teacher in space. Steve, with Darren and Megan, were allowed into the training facility for Eva’s passing out ceremony.
The motor of Steve’s car was quietly idling at the sentry gate. The security guards were very particular with going through the invitations, passes, IDs and even through the trunk of the vehicle. Steve turned to his kids, “so remember what I told you. After today, we won’t be seeing mommy for a while and we’re going back home, our real home, in Frederick. What do we think about it all? – are you excited?”
“How long before mommy comes home forever daddy?”
“Only a few more weeks Megan – you know what mommy is doing is very special don’t you? She is going into space, far above the Earth and doing things up there that have never been done by anyone, ever.”
Darren shuffled and made his joggers squeak together - “Evan’s father told him that sending people into space is just a waste of money – we could feed all the hungry kids in the world for the same price as sending a rocket up.”
“I hope you told Evan that with the experiments done in outer space, we learn more about our environment and perhaps even find cures and medicines for sick people. There may be lots of important things to be discovered out there and we need to find out – did you tell him that?’
“No, I just punched him in the stomach; Miss said she would write to you about it.”
“Great” Steve hissed – Frederick was looking better and better. He had been blessed with correspondence from Darren’s teacher before - what a surly and primpish little sarcastic woman she was. Her last note outlining Darren’s efforts in biology was a good example.
He presented a display of mounted insects neatly pinned to a foam tile, but it wasn’t quite up to her expectations. She had to mark his exhibition with an F, because ..“as I checked Darren’s display, various specimens began to crawl around the tile: one large cockroach leaped from the tile, onto the desk and onto the floor with a sewing pin still attached. A honey bee did not have its head attached. Another insect was utterly unidentifiable, obviously due to the circumstance of its demise, perhaps by downward pressure from a shoe”, and so on. It had not been a particularly good term in Darren’s formal education, and no doubt Miss “Vinegar” would have sent a copy of her letter to the Principal of Frederick Middle School.
“Please drive forward to the next sentry, sir.”
“Have any trouble getting here hon? I know they make visitors jump through hoops with their security.” The Redcliffe family were having a group hug and Eva tried to be brave and not burst into tears. She had felt very emotional for the last few days and although she was in constant telephone contact with them, she had not seen her loves for the last week or so.
“No, not at all, how are you bearing up sweetheart?” Eva nodded with a smile. “By the way Mrs Eva Redcliffe, congratulations on your graduation – do I have to call you ma’am now?
“No, sweetheart will do thanks – kids been OK?”
Steve smiled, “great, and looking forward to Frederick – most of the stuff is packed already and the removalists come next Monday – we have a little more to move this time with the piano and kids’ bicycles and the new refrigerator with the ice cube maker - your mother rang from Frederick to say she has given the old place a bit of a clean-up and she said she can’t wait for us to come home.”
Darren and Megan were wrapped around Eva’s legs and holding on tightly – her heart ached. “Got to go now love, and get into costume - see you inside – see you later kids, we have cake, ice cream and juice for you as soon as the boss lets me join you after the parade.” Begrudgingly, the kids let go of their mom – they knew all this was very important to her.
The ceremony at the Training Centre was not extremely formal – Steve was introduced to some of the Training Officers and Staff, the Commanding Officer, some government representatives and a couple of NASA officials. All were directed to a building and once through the portals, one could see a splendid and high marbled hall with columns – Steve thought it was all quite swanky with large golden framed portraits of astronauts on the walls, huge pictures of space shuttles, rockets and aircraft. A temporary stage had been set up and the Redcliffe family were ushered to the second row of chairs –there were little cards on the seats with names of guest and officials. They found their allocated seats and sat down. Steve looked around and tried to imagine how much all this would have cost. Darren began squeaking his shoes together again until Steve gave him a stern look with his finger to his lips. Maybe, he thought, Darren’s friend had a point about all the money being spent.
“Will Mommy’s picture be on this wall after she comes back from heaven?” asked Megan. She was also looking around and obviously wide eyed with wonder at all this big stuff.
“Yes, I think she will have her photo here later” Steve replied, “maybe in a few years we will come back here and see it.”
“Yea, yea and I can tell everyone that’s my mommy.” Megan then sat up straight, pulled her skirt over her knees, brushed back her hair and became quite attentive – she knew she was part of this adventure and didn’t want to do anything that may interfere with it.
The “class” walked onto the stage in single file – there were 15 people, all looking splendid in NASA uniforms and they lined up facing the audience. The Commanding Officer of the facility walked up to the lectern and proceeded to welcome all and sundry, explained the rigorous training program which this group had just completed, and then went on to extol the virtues of NASA and the part that Houston was playing in the exploration and investigation of space. He was followed by a few other dignitaries who Steve thought perhaps were pushing their own agendas with some wishy-washy tirades.
Quite a few references were made about Eva and the unique situation of her involvement, and when she was pointed out on stage, the audience clapped and cheered – Steve stood up and clapped as did Megan – Darren has just developed his whistling ability and used it enough so that people looked around to see where it was coming from.
Finally it was all over, scrolls of achievement were handed to each graduate, hands were shaken, the assembly clapped and the Redcliffes jumped and hooted when Mom’s turned came. They were really proud of her, and knew that the best for her was still to come. Inwardly, Steve was a little relieved knowing that in a few weeks, things would be back to normal – he had enjoyed and celebrated her incredible adventure, but there would be an end and he and she could resume their careers.More importantly the family unit needed balance and it was the time in the children’s’ lives where parental unity and guidance was paramount.
The children had their ice cream and cake, Steve and Eva held on to each other until the time came for Eva to say goodbye... again. Within a few hours, she would be taken to Cape Canaveral and placed into quarantine - the countdown for the lift-off was now 74 hours. Steve and kids would be in Eva’s classroom, along with her class, and God knows, half of Frederick to watch the rocket lifting off - in fact, the whole world would be watching.
Slig fluxed back to the Whisps to report matters and confirm that a Swirl Chaos would occur in 5 days of Human time from the now – it knew well before the NASA Weather Prophets did, that there would be storms and earth elements which would not allow the rocket to proceed, regardless of the Humans’ predicted time. Slig thought it amazing that there were so many variables that Humans had to cope with and take into consideration when trying to achieve something. It was interesting that, given the Humans’ advanced state of evolution, their inquisitive and aggressive nature, their machines, their concepts, their ability to heal each other, their harvesting of the environment– they still could not accurately foresee seemingly simple things. Things like the changing ph
ysical world, things they call earthquakes, movements of land masses and apparently the simplest reckoning of all - the weather over it.
Eva spent another 5 days in quarantine – storms, gales and high winds had seen lift-off postponed 4 times. She felt rather more relaxed. Those feelings of being watched were not so consistent now. Perhaps it was the spotless and sterile ward and the knowledge that the climax
of all this training was coming to fruition. Somehow she felt lighter – although her weight had remained constant, due to the meticulous input of the NASA sustenance – but a different kind of relief, almost as if some invisible pressure had been lifted off her shoulders.
Slig fluxed back to Cape Canaveral. The Whisps were concentrated and grouped in an area which the Humans called Egypt. They had no plan of action; they would just be there and wait for the Swirl Chaos to engulf them.