Read Online Article 23 by William R. Forstchen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: William R. Forstchen
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formal. Glad to have some youngsters drop by for a visit. One of the boys told me you can only stay a couple of hours."
"Yes, sir," Barker replied stiffly. "Have to be back for chow and evening classes, sir."
"Well, enjoy the sights wish you could stay longer."
The monk started to hoist the canisters up.
" Bell, Leonov , give the brother a hand."
"No, quite all right, zero gravity here. No problem at all."
"Where are you lugging them to, sir?"
"Ah, just to quarter gravity, but fine, you two can tote them if you want."
Justin obediently took one canister from the brother's hand and Tanya took the other. Barker motioned for them to follow the monk who led the way through the decontamination room, where they and the canisters were quickly scanned by the ship's computer for any threatening microbes. Once cleared, the monk led the way out of the zero-gee area, ascending the flight of steps that led to the gravitized region of the rotating sphere. Justin saw Barker turn and head off in the opposite direction. Justin wondered what delights he and Tanya might be missing but continued to follow the monk without complaint.
"How long have you youngsters been with the service?"
"We're first-year plebes, sir," Tanya replied.
" 'Brother Bartholomew,' please. Or just 'Brother Bart.' "
Justin looked over at the rotund monk. Such a sight was rather out of the ordinary in Indiana , and his own Presbyterian upbringing had rarely brought him into contact with genuine monks.
"I have a great-aunt aboard an Orthodox nunnery," Tanya volunteered.
"Ah, Russian then?"
"Yes, sir, I mean, 'Brother.'"
'Tour name?"
" Leonov ."
Bartholomew broke into a grin. "Illustrious name. Any relation?"
"Yes, Brother. My great-grandfather was the first man to walk in space."
"An honor, then," Bartholomew announced. "We must celebrate."
He continued to lead the way upstairs, and the burden in Justin's hands grew heavier. He could only hope that they would arrive soon. Fortunately, they stopped just then and turned into a side corridor.
Justin had to suppress a gasp of astonishment.
The corridor was like the interior of an ancient gothic cathedral. Soaring arches joined overhead; the spaces where stained glass windows would have been on Earth were covered instead with high-stress plastishielding so that the wonders of space lit the chamber. Justin looked at a small chapel set into a niche. Earthlight shone through the window, revealing a row of monks who were softly chanting a service. As Brother Bartholomew passed he genuflected and made the sign of the cross. Tanya followed suit, making the Orthodox cross, and Justin awkwardly nodded. He stood paused in silent awe, listening to the medieval plain chant echoing in the corridor. He was stunned by the timelessness of it, as if a chapel hovering in high orbit was as it always had been.
Bartholomew motioned for them to follow and he stepped back into the stairwell.
"Always like to show that off to our visitors," Bartholomew offered by way of explanation as he bounded up to the next level and motioned for his two bearers to follow.
The next corridor had a uniquely different charm. This one was open as the first, with a soaring arched ceiling, but here the long chamber was planted with trees. Overarching branches heavy with apples, peaches and pears canopied the lengthy curving hallway. Monks wearing plain brown tunics tended the crop; Justin stepped to one side as a small electric crate rolled past pulling a wagon piled high with fruit. Bartholomew pulled out a couple of apples from the crate and tossed them to his companions.
Justin was delighted. On the farm back home they had several acres of apple trees and at any time of year it was fun to walk through the orchard, but he especially enjoyed it at harvest time when the air was heavy with the scent of ripening fruit.
He rubbed the apple on his tunic as he walked, admiring the shine before biting into it.
"Yellow Delicious," Justin announced,
"Yes, sir," Barker replied stiffly. "Have to be back for chow and evening classes, sir."
"Well, enjoy the sights wish you could stay longer."
The monk started to hoist the canisters up.
" Bell, Leonov , give the brother a hand."
"No, quite all right, zero gravity here. No problem at all."
"Where are you lugging them to, sir?"
"Ah, just to quarter gravity, but fine, you two can tote them if you want."
Justin obediently took one canister from the brother's hand and Tanya took the other. Barker motioned for them to follow the monk who led the way through the decontamination room, where they and the canisters were quickly scanned by the ship's computer for any threatening microbes. Once cleared, the monk led the way out of the zero-gee area, ascending the flight of steps that led to the gravitized region of the rotating sphere. Justin saw Barker turn and head off in the opposite direction. Justin wondered what delights he and Tanya might be missing but continued to follow the monk without complaint.
"How long have you youngsters been with the service?"
"We're first-year plebes, sir," Tanya replied.
" 'Brother Bartholomew,' please. Or just 'Brother Bart.' "
Justin looked over at the rotund monk. Such a sight was rather out of the ordinary in Indiana , and his own Presbyterian upbringing had rarely brought him into contact with genuine monks.
"I have a great-aunt aboard an Orthodox nunnery," Tanya volunteered.
"Ah, Russian then?"
"Yes, sir, I mean, 'Brother.'"
'Tour name?"
" Leonov ."
Bartholomew broke into a grin. "Illustrious name. Any relation?"
"Yes, Brother. My great-grandfather was the first man to walk in space."
"An honor, then," Bartholomew announced. "We must celebrate."
He continued to lead the way upstairs, and the burden in Justin's hands grew heavier. He could only hope that they would arrive soon. Fortunately, they stopped just then and turned into a side corridor.
Justin had to suppress a gasp of astonishment.
The corridor was like the interior of an ancient gothic cathedral. Soaring arches joined overhead; the spaces where stained glass windows would have been on Earth were covered instead with high-stress plastishielding so that the wonders of space lit the chamber. Justin looked at a small chapel set into a niche. Earthlight shone through the window, revealing a row of monks who were softly chanting a service. As Brother Bartholomew passed he genuflected and made the sign of the cross. Tanya followed suit, making the Orthodox cross, and Justin awkwardly nodded. He stood paused in silent awe, listening to the medieval plain chant echoing in the corridor. He was stunned by the timelessness of it, as if a chapel hovering in high orbit was as it always had been.
Bartholomew motioned for them to follow and he stepped back into the stairwell.
"Always like to show that off to our visitors," Bartholomew offered by way of explanation as he bounded up to the next level and motioned for his two bearers to follow.
The next corridor had a uniquely different charm. This one was open as the first, with a soaring arched ceiling, but here the long chamber was planted with trees. Overarching branches heavy with apples, peaches and pears canopied the lengthy curving hallway. Monks wearing plain brown tunics tended the crop; Justin stepped to one side as a small electric crate rolled past pulling a wagon piled high with fruit. Bartholomew pulled out a couple of apples from the crate and tossed them to his companions.
Justin was delighted. On the farm back home they had several acres of apple trees and at any time of year it was fun to walk through the orchard, but he especially enjoyed it at harvest time when the air was heavy with the scent of ripening fruit.
He rubbed the apple on his tunic as he walked, admiring the shine before biting into it.
"Yellow Delicious," Justin announced,
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