Read Online ISS by Laurie Mains, L Valder Mains - Free Book Online Page A

the gun on his chest. He closed his eyes and listened to her breathing trying to will her to wellness with his mind. When he opened his eyes again the room was dark and Sara was gone.
    And so was the gun.

Chapter Seven
    Mission specialist Mike Peters was running the computer simulation again but he was frustrated because it was impossible to be accurate; the problem was they did not have performance data for the commercial spacecraft. Fully half of what he planned was based on guess work about the spacecraft’s performance and the few scant details he’d gleaned from a Science article from five years ago. It did not help matters that the craft was designed specifically for low earth orbit. This made it difficult if not impossible to predict how it would handle at seventeen thousand miles per hour and minimal shielding. He hoped it had proper stabilizers or those kids would be in big trouble.
    The ISS crew’s plan was to automate the operation of the spacecraft as much as possible so that, if Sara and Jack somehow managed to get to Nevada and still wanted to try it, they would not have to learn every onboard system. Jack seemed to have some technical skill, he had re-worked the laser used to communicate with them and that showed initiative and some talent, but the downside was he’d never flown anything. If they could walk the kids through the modifications needed, it might be possible to fly it from the ISS. At the very least it was worth a try.
    He did not want to put the kids in danger, it was a tough call. The whole world was in a bad situation and without being resupplied they would eventually perish or have to risk returning to earth.
    Returning to earth would not be a problem they have the Soyuz escape pod all set to bring them back. The problem was not the ride it was the plague but Jack and Sara were right if they did get a sample they might be able to find a solution. Returning to earth would not be a problem once they’d created an antidote to the virus. The tricky part was having two teenagers fly a massive commercial spacecraft up to the ISS with a sample. If they could figure out a way to do that it could save all their lives.
    ***
    Jack crept up the stairs and stopped before peeking around the corner into the living room. What he saw worried him. Sara was sitting on the couch holding the gun in her lap looking towards the front door. When she noticed him she smiled.
    “I heard something,” she said.
    “What?” he said.
    She shrugged her shoulders and nodded at the front door. He came around the corner and saw that the door was wide open.
    “What the heck are you doing?” he said and ran to it and slamming it shut and locking it, “There are wild dogs roaming around out there.”
    He heard the squeak of fear in his voice when he spoke and felt ashamed of his reaction.
    “I know,” she said grinning,” they drove past in a van.”
    Her grin widened in response to the look of distress on his face.
    “What were you going to do if someone came in?” he said.
    “Well,” she considered, “If I did not like the way they looked I would shoot them,” she said matter-of-factly like shooting people was something she did all the time. He looked at her and wondered if the fever and infection had affected her mind.
    “Are you okay?” he said. His question clearly implying that she wasn’t.
    Sara got up from the couch and walked over to where he was standing.
    “Here,” she said handing him the gun,” I’m way too hungry to shoot anyone right now.”
    He opened two cans of beef stew and a can of pork and beans and used the barbeque to heat their meal. Sara ate quickly washing it down with a bottle of water and he was still eating when she began to sing.
    “Beans, beans, the musical fruit the more you eat the more you toot.”
    He laughed, she was obviously feeling better.
    “I need to take another look at your arm and give you another shot,” he said.
    “You can get in trouble for practicing