Our story thus far: the starship Hawking, having arrived at the nearest classical black hole to Earth, about 2800 light years away, the scientists and their assistants are deep in the research, to where some occasionally forget to eat or sleep. The last episode is at https://mrw.5-cent.us/?p=405 , while the series of posts begins at https://mrw.5-cent.us/?p=387
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Elsewhere on the ship , Lassiter was sitting down to finish removing his
heavy EVA suit. He was just back in from finishing the repairs to one of
the astronomical dishes that had been damaged when they’d arrived, when
he got meshed by Ken. “What’s up, doc?”
“You just got back in, yes?”
“Yep. Heavy work out there, in these suits. I know, we needed the extra
shielding for this neighborhood, but it doesn’t make it fun.”
“Yes, well, your monitors tell me you’re more exhausted than you
should be. When was the last time you were in the gym?”
“Well….”
“I’m looking at the logs, and you haven’t been there since we arrived.
You will go and work out for half an hour a day every other day for the
next two weeks.”
“But doc, we’re so busy, that isn’t going to give me much time to
unwind….”
“Orders, young man.”
“Okay, okay.”
Later, Lassiter walked into the gym to find it busy. He got on a free
cycle and started pedaling. In mesh VR, he was riding along a lovely road,
but he just wasn’t in the mood, killed the VR, and looked around. Al, who
was second in communications, was on another bike, and nodded. Then his
eye was caught by a man and a woman about his age standing on a mat
doing some odd wrestling moves. He watched as he peddled, and found
himself interested in both the match and the man. The two were typical of
the mid-twenty-second century, of medium height and build thanks to
genengineering, both with brown hair, though the woman’s had a frizz, and
was held back with a band. When they broke off and the woman headed offto the showers, he got off the cycle and walked over. The man was
toweling himself down as he came up. “Hey, man, what was that?”
“What we were doing?” He smiled. “Always get that. It’s Greco-
Roman wrestling.”
Lassiter laughed. “What, no masks or tossing each other around, no
jumping from the ropes?”
“It’s a sport, not an entertainment. Takes real work to pin someone.”
Their eyes caught. “I’m Winslow. Wanna learn? It’s good exercise, too.”
“Lassiter. Don’t know, never been ath-a-letic, but the doc says I’ve got
to exercise.” He made a motion with his eyes toward the woman Winslow
had been wrestling.
“Shoshone?” Winslow shook his head. “Not the way she swings. We’re
old friends, met each other in college where we both turned out for the
sport.”
“Well, I’ve got to work out for at least another fifteen minutes. How do
you start?”
Several weeks later , Ruth was in the refectory eating lunch when second mate Annette came over to join her. “How’s the work going?” Ruth began telling her what they’d been finding when they both turned as a loud argument began down the table. They saw Jessup, who tended to be on the
abrasive side, and Ehigiator, a Nigerian astronomer, standing and yelling
at each other.
“Right, it’s the hand of your God that’s spewing out alcohols and esters
from outside the event horizon?” Ehi said, loudly.
“It was God that created life, and His Hand….”
“Then why do we see what look like tentacles? Is He an octopus?”
The enraged Texan was about to attack Ehi when Annette stood “M.
Jessup, M. Eweka, zat will be enough!” Her Vietnamese ancestry showed
in her features and straight black hair; but her blue eyes shone with anger,
and her French accent grew heavy. “Zere will be no arguing religion in
public on zis ship. You were required to read the general regulations, and
zat was in zem.” She stalked up to the two. “Do you understand me?” she
spoke in a fierce voice, her Parisian accent strong, looking at one, then the
other. The two men pulled back from her intensity.
“Yes, ma’am,” answered the Texan.
“I am sorry, Second Mate. It will not happen again.”
“See that it does not, either of you.” She turned and stalked back to
rejoin Ruth. Simmering, she sat.
“You really put the boys in time out,” Ruth said with a serious look on
her face.
Annette, who had been watching the two men going to different tables,
turned and smiled. “I learned from my mother. Zere’s no other way to deal
with some Parisians.”
Ruth laughed at the unexpected comment, then said, “I’m going to have
to talk to Jessup. This has come up before, though not quite so loud, and he
really hasn’t adjusted well during the voyage.” She shook her head. “He
came highly recommended from an old mentor, and interviewed well, and
he’s very good at his work, but some things only show later.”
“I know that too well. I will ask Guy to speak with Ehi.”
end of chapter 1