Read Online The Old Man of the Stars by John Burke - Free Book Online

they went on. One of the men had a fine voice and an imaginative gift for versifying, and he sang songs that had much in common with old primitive ballads: he set the memories of all of them to music, filling them with nostalgia as he dwelt on the beauties of the planet they had left. Matthew did not actively discourage this, but he hinted at one time that it would be better for everyone’s morale if the singer could turn out some bright prophetic verses about the worlds they would visit in the future rather than about the one to which they could not return.
    Week succeeded week, month trickled down upon meaningless month. They were one year out from Elysium; then two years.
    One of the engineers had a fit of hysteria and would have smashed his hands to pulp against the unyielding side of the ship if Dr. Richards had not forced a sedative preparation down his throat.
    Two men fought over the wife of one of them, and provided food for conversation for nearly a fortnight.
    Gradually the star patterns in the sky shifted slightly.
    A child was born to the wife of Dr. Richard. It was a boy. The women of the company showered attentions on him: no child had ever been so spoilt. But Matthew was glad to see him, and hoped, that there would be more. A new life always uplifted the dullest and weariest people. It brought with it hope and a sort of promise that they all recognised without being able to explain.
    But there was still too much time to fill each day. Sleep, to which so many resorted, did not come easily. They none of them did enough work to be really tired, and they did not possess the hibernating faculty of certain animals. One day, thought Matthew, it will be possible, perhaps, to put ourselves to sleep for several years, and cross space in what seems a matter of seconds.
    Trouble of some sort was bound to break out. It came from two of the men—the two who had opposed the idea of leaving Elysium in the first place.
    They came into the control cabin when Matthew and Clifford were on duty. It was during the sleep period: it was still called ‘night’ although the eternity outside made no difference between day and night.
    Matthew glanced up and tensed at once, sensing trouble.
    He said: “Only pilots should be in here.”
    â€œThat’s a ruling that you yourself laid down. We’re getting a bit tired of doing things your way.”
    It was the taller of the two who spoke, a lean and resentful-looking man with a nervous habit of chewing his thin lips.
    Clifford said: “We are all agreed that Matthew is the man who should make decisions.”
    â€œNot all of us. We’re tired. We’re tired of this whole mad business.”
    â€œWe’re all tired,” said Clifford in a level voice. “It’s just a matter of carrying on.”
    â€œIs it? That’s what we want to settle. We don’t think it’s any such thing.”
    The other man said aggressively: “There’s such a thing as turning back.”
    â€œYou must be mad,” said Matthew.
    â€œIt’s going on that’s the madness. We’ve been talking to some of the women, and it’s wearing them down. They can’t take it. They want to get back to their homes. We’ve wasted over two years. We want to cut our losses and turn back to Elysium.”
    â€œBack to Elysium?” Matthew echoed furiously. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re committed to this trip now, and we’re going on. In any case—”
    â€œI say we’re going back!”
    The man’s voice had risen to a scream. The two of them suddenly sprang on Clifford and Matthew. Clifford was taken by surprise, and went over sideways. But Matthew had been braced for some such thing from the moment the two men came into the room. He struck out decisively, and sent the shouting, cursing man back across the room.
    The one who had dislodged Clifford from his chair made a wild,