Lee Edgar - The Andromeda Seed

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DEDICATED TO WIVES EVERYWHERE
© LEE EDGAR 1997
Originally Published and Printed by
REGENTLANE Ltd
Devonshire Road Industrial Estate
Millom, Cumbria LA18 4JS
All Rights Reserved by Bankside Publishing
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Andromeda Burn
Return to Andromeda
The Andromeda Trial
Andromeda Time
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The Director of the Europa Space Corporation was a powerful, influential man
and, to a great extent, his word was law on the continental mainland. His
secretary knew this as she reached out her hand towards the handle of the
boardroom door. She then hesitated because she also knew just how much he
hated unscheduled interruptions, especially when he was in the middle of
chairing an important meeting with the four senior members of the Space
Exploration Partnership.
‘Excuse me, Mr Thompson,’ she said nervously as the great man stopped
speaking and every eye focussed upon her. She knew them all well - Professor
Heinrich Akherd of the National Space Laboratory, Doctor Hans Bartek of the
Rocket Propulsion Unit, Natasha Ralentov of the Orion Base Committee and
General Dwight Phillips of Army Intelligence.
‘What is it, Janet?’ the Director said impatiently, clearly indignant at the
disturbance.
She swallowed. ‘Mrs Hardy is here to see you, sir.’
There were several seconds of silence before the Director straightened.
‘Very well, show her in.’
Grateful for the reprieve, the secretary instantly vanished only to be
replaced by a very much younger woman who stood in the doorway dressed in a
pair of pale blue overalls which bore the crimson collar identifying pilot and
navigation officers currently serving on the space programme.
The Director welcomed her warmly. ‘Come in, Cassi. I think you know everyone
here.’
The girl’s smile was both broad and genuine as she bounced into the room and
ran her deep, blue eyes around the group, nodding to each in turn.
‘I had to come at once,’ she said pleasantly but with respect. ‘I’m afraid
there will have to be at least one personnel change before the launch on
Friday.’
The Director looked puzzled. ‘Who is not ready?’
‘Commander Carter, for one. Pilot Officer Spencer, for another.’
He smiled. ‘What is the problem, Cassi?’
‘Those men are just not shaping up to the training. Commander Carter failed
again in the simulator this morning and Officer Spencer got us lost just going
to Luna Base. On Friday’s mission, we cannot afford such sloppiness.’
‘But, my dear, you must remember that everyone makes a mistake once in a
while.’
Cassi’s face flushed. ‘I do not make such serious errors of judgement.’
‘With respect,’ said the bespectacled Hans Bartek, a slight smile touching
his lips: ‘You are just a little different to the norm.’
Cassi pulled back her shoulders. ‘Doctor, we are talking about getting a
three-hundred tonne space-cruiser off the ground, something which has never
been done before. I know you said we could fit solid-fuel boosters to assist
the take-off but that does not alter the fact that we have to get it right
first time. It is my firm belief that the present crew are incapable of
getting Wayfarer Two into Earth orbit.’
‘Don’t forget that all them underwent a whole series of strenuous tests and
exercises before they were presented for selection. In theory, each one of
them should have been ready even before you began their final training.’
‘But they have been no farther than Orion Base: they have not seen space
properly; they have not experienced what it is like to have to make split-
second decisions when the lives and safety of the ship and crew are dependant
upon you. Instead, they seem to see the whole venture as some sort of a game,
one big joke.’
‘It sounds to me,’ said the dark-haired Natasha Ralentov: ‘As if you are
suffering from the typical male harassment that is usual on this sort of
project. None of the men think a woman is capable of taking a breath without
seeking advice about it first.’
Cassi grinned at the older woman. ‘Male chauvinism, I can handle - I’ve had
to cope with that ever since I came to Earth. It’s the sheer incompetence I
cannot stomach.’
The Director sighed. ‘Very well, Cassi. I will look into it and let you know
later. Go home for now and look after that sick husband of yours.’
She smiled once more. ‘Thank you, Alan.’ She nodded to the table.
‘Gentlemen, Natasha.’ She turned and left.
No-one spoke for a long time.
‘Well?’ said the Director eventually.
‘It’s too late,’ said the General. ‘We cannot change the flight crew at this
stage.’
The Director looked at Hans Bartek. ‘Could we delay the take-off, Doctor?’
The inventor of the Proton Drive shook his head. ‘Not possible. To gain the
greatest advantage of the positive Lunar alignment, the launch must go ahead
as planned.’
‘Are we not getting just a little paranoid about the whole thing?’ said the
Intelligence Chief.
‘I’m sure you mean well, General Phillips, but this could be a serious
complication.’
The General stood up. ‘Look, I’ve known Steve Carter since he went to
college with my own son, and Pete Spencer gained the highest marks at Flying
School. I would gladly stake my life on both of them.’
‘But you do not have to, General. It is the other crew members whose lives
will be at stake next Friday. As Mrs Hardy so rightly said, we have one shot
at this and one shot only. Wayfarer was never designed to be launched from
Earth.’
‘Then why are we doing it?’
‘If you remember, we had the choice of either dismantling her when she
landed last year or of trying to launch her intact. After somewhat lengthy
discussions, we all agreed to go for a launch with boosters to save time. We
must be able to rely on those men.’
‘Are you not placing too much trust in the judgement of someone who is
little more than a mere child?’ the General sneered. ‘Just because she happens
to be married to your nephew.’
The Director pulled himself erect, ready for confrontation, when he was
interrupted by the calm, confident voice of an older man who stroked his beard
thoughtfully.
‘Has the General already forgotten that it was Mrs Hardy who single-handedly
brought Wayfarer Two back from Saturn? Has he overlooked the fact that she
then docked her ship at Orion Space Station, a job normally completed by a
minimum of three officers? Has he also missed the point that it was this
“ child” who landed Wayfarer at Europoort in the first place with, I might
add, meticulous precision?’
‘I thought you might take her side, Professor.’
‘I take no sides, General. I simply look at things objectively, without
emotion. If I was one of the crew members on Wayfarer Two next Friday, I know
who I would rather have sitting at the controls.’
‘You would have the girl personally supervise the launch?’
‘If Commander Carter is not capable...?’
‘We only have her word for that,’ the General snapped.
‘True. But I for one trust her judgement. Perhaps if Commander Carter were
to watch her in action, he might prove suitable to continue the mission after
the stop-over at Orion. Wayfarer will be docked there for three days while we
load the supplies that would be too heavy to have on board during lift-off.’
The Director looked around the room. ‘I suggest we dispense with further
discussion and, as time is short, vote on it immediately.’
There was a show of hands and the General was alone.
‘Very well,’ said the senior official. ‘I will ask Commander Carter to stand
down for the time being. Mrs Hardy will command the launch on Friday.’
SPACE Commander Stephen Carter was livid at the news. ‘Goddamn it, Pete. That
little slut has gotten her own way after all - she’s got me off the launch
staff. My first chance to get my name in headlines and she mashes it for me. I
could ring her bloody neck.’
The other man smiled. ‘I’m off, too, remember. It seems she’s got it in for
both of us.’
‘Yeah, but you had little to do during the launch anyway.’ He slammed his
fist down on the table. ‘Damn it all, she’s just a kid.’
Peter Spencer grinned. ‘And you’re a man, right?’
‘I thought so. One day, I’m gonna get her alone on Beta deck and wipe that
cheeky smile right off her face.’
‘I think Marshal Hardy might have something to say about that.’
‘That pathetic husband of her’s? He’s useless since he got shot up last
year. Nowadays, he couldn’t fight a teddy bear and win.’
‘He still carries a lot of weight around Europoort thanks to his uncle’s
influence. He might have proved himself to everyone else by climbing the
ladder of success unaided, but his sort always run to family when in real
trouble. I’d be very careful if I were you.’
‘One day, I’ll get her somewhere where she’s light years beyond the reach of
her friends and family. Two minutes in an empty airlock can play havoc with
her so-perfect complexion.’
Pete shivered at thought of someone so lovely being spread all over the
walls of a decompression chamber by her own internal forces.
‘What are you going to do?’ he asked to take his mind off the terrible
mental picture.
The Europa Corporation’s youngest cruiser Commander grinned wickedly. ‘I
don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something.’
MIKE Hardy looked up and smiled as the door opened. He got up from his chair
and kissed his wife warmly. ‘Hello, gorgeous. Good day?’
Cassi shrugged. ‘So-so. I don’t know if we’re going to be ready for Friday’s
launch.’
‘Problems?’
She sat down at the round kitchen table, frustration clearly etched into her
face. ‘It’s just that the men are not coming up to scratch. I show them a
dozen times but they still get it wrong.’
‘You are pushing them rather hard. They are only human, you know.’
‘You’d think at least one of them would have a little gumption, wouldn’t
you?’ She looked down at her hands. ‘I’ve asked Alan to take two of them off
the team.’
Mike looked concerned and sat down opposite her. ‘Who, in particular?’
‘Commander Carter, for one.’
‘Steve won’t like that. He’s a proud man with a lot to prove and he won’t
take too kindly to you going over his head to the Directorate. Not only that,
he’s headstrong and can become very upset at someone getting the better of
him, especially if it’s a woman.’
‘I’m sorry, Mike. I hold nothing against him personally - in some ways, I
quite like him. However, lives are at risk on this mission.’
Mike laughed. ‘Cassi, my love. Lives are at risk on every space mission.
Even taking a ride on the shuttle to Orion Base is still constituted
dangerous.’
Cassi reached out and took his hands in hers. ‘This is different, Mike. We
are not launching a mere shuttle, we are lifting a space cruiser into orbit.
We cannot use the Proton Drive within the lower atmosphere for fear of
radioactive contamination. The reactor itself must be shut down prior to
launch in case of an accident.’
‘Will the Main Drive not be sufficient to get it up?’
Cassi shook her head. ‘Escape velocity is almost thirty-thousand kilometres
per hour and the Main Drive was not designed to reach such speeds, even with
the aid of the auxiliary drive.’
‘Is that why they’re going to use solid-fuel boosters?’
‘Yes. I’m told they used them all the time in the nineteen-nineties for the
early vertical take-off shuttles. The timing of the drive and boosters must be
very precise. Steve Carter has got it wrong three times already. He doesn’t
seem to take his responsibilities seriously at all.’
‘How many times did he actually get it right?’ Mike asked quietly.
‘Oh, I don’t know - fifty, a hundred times - I wasn’t counting.’
‘Then by the law of averages, he will get it right on Friday.’
Cassi raised her head quickly. ‘We can’t take that chance. He can’t make a
mess of it and then, a thousand feet up in the air say “ Sorry folks, let’s do
that again” . He’ll kill them all and destroy Wayfarer Two in the process.’
Mike grinned. ‘It’s the ship you’re really worried about, isn’t it?’
‘Not exactly. But I was incubated on board Wayfarer and I did live on her
for nineteen of my twenty years. The two of us became quite attached during
that period.’
‘You are just like your father at times, you know.’
She sat up straight. ‘So I should be.’
‘Can you never forget you are the daughter of a space pilot? Now that he’s
away in Wayfarer One, you no longer have to mimic him. Be yourself for a
change.’
The phone rang and Mike picked it up. ‘Mike Hardy.’ He listened and then
handed it to his wife. ‘It’s for you.’
Cassi pushed the long, golden hair from her face and placed the instrument
to her ear as she began to put a couple of things into the microwave oven.
‘This is Cassiopeia Hardy speaking.’
‘It’s Alan Thompson, Cassi. I have good news for you.’
She held up her head. ‘Yes?’
‘The Directorate want you to take Wayfarer Two up on Friday.’
Her face lit up. ‘They do?’
‘You were right to inform us of the situation. Commander Carter will go up
by shuttle and dock with you at Orion Base Station.’
‘No,’ Cassi said quickly. ‘I want him on board ship with me.’
There was a silence at the other end of the line.
‘If he is ever to learn, he must observe the way it should be done. He has
to fly her all the way to Titan, remember.’
‘Is that what you really want?’
‘Of course. I hold no personal grudge against the Commander.’
The voice sounded relieved. ‘I’m glad to hear you say that, Cassi. You did
have us worried for a while.’
The young woman smiled. ‘I never hate anyone, Alan. You should know that. My
ancestry would not permit such a negative emotion.’
‘Yes, I’d forgotten. How’s Mike?’
‘Almost back to normal,’ she said as she turned and looked at her husband,
slapping his wrist playfully as he picked at the nuts in a bowl on the table.
‘I have to take him to Bruxelles tomorrow to see Doctor Pederson for his final
check-up. If Jon gives him the all-clear, Mike could be back at work next
week.’
‘That is good news. Ever since he caught that bullet in the shoulder, we
were worried that he might be permanently handicapped in some way.’
‘Oh, he will be,’ said Cassi with a twinkle in her eye. ‘It seems probable
that he may never be able to take the G-forces of a shuttle launch any more,
so I will have him here all to myself.’
‘You are a very special person, Cassi.’
She grinned cheekily. ‘I am, aren’t I?’
The Director laughed. ‘Give my love to Maggie.’
‘I will. See you on Thursday for the pre-launch briefing.’
‘Will you tell Commander Carter that he’s in on the launch or shall I?’
‘I’ll tell him myself when he’s got it right on the simulator a few more
times.’ She rang off.
‘I think you should tell him right away,’ suggested Mike.
‘No,’ she said, checking the timer on the cooker. ‘Let him stew for a bit.’
‘I thought the Andromedan Race didn’t hold grudges.’
‘They don’t,’ she said defensively as she served dinner. ‘I’m simply making
sure the Commander is kept on the ball. If I tell him now, he might relax and
not take the matter too seriously.’
‘I give in.’
‘Not yet, you don’t. Where’s that daughter of yours?’
‘Maggie’s next door, playing with her friend.’
Cassi peered into the steaming casserole. ‘Call her for me, will you? Tell
her dinner is ready and on the table.’
He patted her bottom playfully. ‘At your command, your Highness.’
Cassi turned sharply, frowning. ‘How did you know?’
‘What?’ said Mike, surprised.
‘What you just said. Who told you? Dad?’
Mike looked puzzled. ‘About what?’
Cassi hesitated, realising that he probably didn’t know after all. She
turned to hide her embarrassment. ‘It doesn’t matter. You dish up and
I’ll go and get Maggie.’
Mike looked dazed for a minute as his wife ran out of the house. He picked
up the phone. ‘Europoort Launch Centre? Put me through to the electronics
expert working on Wayfarer Two’s computer.’
There was a slight delay before a voice answered. ‘Wayfarer Control Centre.’
‘Marshal Hardy here. Can you run an identity check through Iris for me,
please?’
‘Certainly, Marshal. One moment.’
Mike tapped his fingers impatiently as he looked out for Cassi’s return with
the daughter of his deceased first wife.
‘The computer is ready, Marshal,’ said the voice. ‘Who is the subject of
your enquiry?’
‘Navigation Officer Cassiopeia Hardy.’
There was a pause. ‘Nothing under that name, sir.’
‘Try it under her maiden name - Cassiopeia Duncan.’
‘Very well, sir.’ A pause. ‘I have it. What is it you wish to know?’
Mike asked him several questions, thanked the man and then slowly replaced
the phone onto its bracket as Cassi returned with his seven-year-old daughter.
‘Daddy, Philippa’s got a new bike and she let me ride it.’
Mike seemed distracted. ‘Did she now?’
Cassi was quick to notice. ‘Is anything wrong?’ she said as they sat down to
eat.
‘It’s nothing,’ he lied.
Cassi put down her fork. ‘Tell me.’
‘I’ve just spoken to Iris.’
The young woman looked shocked. ‘Why?’
‘Because you wouldn’t discuss it with me. Why didn’t you tell me before?’
‘You didn’t ask and it wasn’t really that important.’
‘How could you say that?’ He paused. ‘Who else knows?’
‘Only my father.’
‘I wish you’d told me.’
‘Would it have made any difference? To us, I mean?’
He shook his head. ‘Of course not. I married you because I loved you. I
still do.’
‘Then why bring up my parentage now?’
‘Because your father gave me the distinct impression that the female egg he
fertilised on board Wayfarer was selected at random from the Andromeda Seed.’
‘No,’ said Cassi slowly. ‘I knew it was not random. He told me once he had
loved the donor very much and he wished to preserve her memory through me.’
‘But it’s not just her memory which has been preserved is it?’
Cassi looked down at her hands on the table. ‘How much do you know?’
‘Everything that has been programmed into Iris about you.’
She looked up. ‘You know my mother’s name?’
He nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘I wish I had met her. Father said she was a wonderful person. Kind,
beautiful - everything a woman should be.’
Mike sighed. ‘Such a waste that she had to die along with the rest of her
people.’
‘Daddy,’ piped up Margaret Hardy. ‘What do you mean “ her people” ?’
He looked at his wife. ‘Ask your new mummy. Ask her who she really is.’
The child looked at her step-mother as a tear ran down her cheek. ‘Why are
you crying, Cassi?’
‘Because my own mummy died so that I could live, she and all her family.’
‘That’s sad.’
‘It is,’ said her father with compassion, ‘considering who she was. It must
have hurt your father a great deal to have to leave her behind.’
Cassi lay her head on Mike’s shoulder. ‘It did. He told me so.’
Maggie looked from one to the other of the grown-ups she loved dearly.
‘Daddy. Who was Cassi’s mummy?’
‘A very special person, my love. She was a lady called Lyniera - Queen
Lyniera. It seems that your new mummy is, in fact, Princess Cassiopeia of
Andromeda.’
THE road traffic was fairly busy as the sleek car travelled along the main
autoroute to Bruxelles. The weather was fine for the time of year and Cassi
was excited at the events shortly to take place. Mike Hardy hummed to a tune
on the radio.
‘This could be my final check-up,’ he suddenly said.
His wife smiled as she held the car steady in the gathering traffic. ‘I hope
so. I want you fit and well again.’
‘So I can get on with some work, eh?’
‘I didn’t say that,’ she said with a wry smile.
‘Ah, but that’s what you meant, isn’t it?’
‘Don’t you go putting words in my mouth, Michael Hardy. I just want you back
to normal as quickly as possible. Sitting round at home doesn’t suit you at
all. It makes you bad-tempered and miserable - not at all like the handsome
Security Marshal I met on Orion last January.’
He laughed. ‘Flattery will get you everywhere.’
‘I hope so,’ she said with flashing eyes.
‘Sitting around at home doesn’t suit you either, does it?’
Cassi shrugged. ‘I’ll get used to it in time, though this crew training at
the launch complex is keeping me fairly occupied at the moment.’
‘Well, it will soon be all over. Two days from now, Wayfarer will be in
geostationary orbit, docked with Orion Station, and you will be on the shuttle
back to me.’
‘Sounds good,’ sighed Cassi. ‘No more messing about at Luna Base with a
bunch of men leering at me in the changing room.’
‘Does that upset you?’
Cassi laughed a little. ‘Not in itself. Father warned me about some of the
strange habits of Earthmen before we arrived here. No, it’s just that their
time and efforts could be more profitably spent than in egging each other on
as to which of them can get the better of me.’
Mike frowned. ‘There’s nothing serious going on, I hope. Because if they’ve
touched you...’
‘No, nothing like that,’ Cassi reassured him. ‘It’s just it’s all one big
joke to them and I’m usually the butt of it.’
‘You don’t mind?’
She grinned. ‘Like you said - just two more days. Soon after that, they’ll
be away to Titan and I’ll be free for a while and all yours.’
‘Until you have to start training the next crew.’
‘That won’t be until we’ve heard back from this first lot.’ She glanced into
the rear-view mirror. ‘Tell me, why do you think that grey Land-Cruiser is
following us?’
Mike turned his head and looked behind them. ‘There are thousands of those
vehicles about. What makes you think it’s following us?’
She shrugged. ‘It was behind us soon after we left the launch complex.’
‘Plenty of people use this road to Bruxelles.’
‘But when we stopped for fuel, he did too.’
Mike grinned. ‘Even Land Cruisers need fuel, my love.’
‘He didn’t stop for fuel, he simply waited for us. Are you sure it’s not one
of your own security team sent to keep tabs on us?’
Mike looked round once more. ‘Not on my instructions, it isn’t. I can’t see
the occupants as the windows are tinted.’ He turned back to the front. ‘Ignore
him, he’ll go away.’
The traffic got even busier as they approached the city and joined the ring
road. After a few kilometres, they turned off down a slip road and, five
minutes later, were climbing the hill to the hospital.
‘How was the journey?’ greeted Doctor Pederson as they met at reception and
the men shook hands.
‘Terrible,’ said Mike. ‘That road seems busier each time we come here.’
‘You should have seen it when the inner roads were open.’
Cassi looked aghast. ‘You mean cars actually drove into the city?’
‘Oh, yes. In fact, right up until the end of the last century, cars and
lorries were allowed into the hearts of most European cities. Now only land
shuttles and bicycles use the centres during daylight hours.’
‘But how did the traffic get around?’
Jon grinned. ‘It didn’t, most of the time. Tell me, which of you drove here
today?’
Cassi held up her hand. ‘Guilty.’
The doctor turned to her husband. ‘Women drivers, huh?’
Mike came to his wife’s rescue. ‘She’s learning well. She should be ready
for her test soon.’
‘You like driving?’ Jon asked her.
Cassi nodded. ‘Sometimes. Though I would much rather take a spaceship
through the asteroid belt blindfold than try to negotiate the Antwerpen by-
pass in the rush-hour.’
Jon Pederson laughed. ‘I think I know what you mean.’ He nodded to a door.
‘In here.’ The three of them entered. ‘I won’t be long, Cassi. Why don’t you
take a stroll round the grounds while I take a look at your man?’
Cassi smiled and nodded, letting herself out through the french windows and
onto the lawn. All around her, the trees were shedding their gold and brown
leaves. It had been winter when she had first come to Earth and she had
initially thought Earth to be a stark, desolate planet. However, Spring had
come in due course and Cassi had wallowed in the bright sunshine, watching
birds and animals playing for the first time in her life, excited at the
variety of colours and smells. She would always remember Spring for another
reason. It was as the tulips had bloomed in the many fields and gardens of
East Anglia that she had gone to Mike’s family’s home near Cambridge where
they had wed.
Cassi liked Mike’s family. They were intelligent yet homely and genuine and
had welcomed her as one of their own despite the difference in race. Yes, she
would always remember Springtime. But then had come summer and Cassi was no
longer the ivory-skinned, somehow fragile-looking girl from Andromeda but a
suntanned beauty who turned heads all over Europe.
She shivered slightly as she walked into the shadow of a big building and
around by the grassy slope overlooking the river. That’s odd, she thought,
there is a Land-Cruiser parked outside the hospital identical to the one on
the road from Europoort. Casually, she glanced around but no-one seemed to be
paying her any attention at all as she sauntered towards it. There was nothing
remarkable about it - empty, of course, but she placed her hand on the bonnet
and mentally noted that the engine was still hot.
The sun was warm though the breeze cool as she walked back towards the main
block without seeing anything or anyone she recognised. She shrugged as the
main doors slid open and she walked into the warm corridor.
‘Come in,’ said Jon as she knocked on the door to the examination room.
Cassi entered as Mike was buttoning up his shirt.
He smiled. ‘It seems I’m okay for work, my darling. Uncle Alan will be
pleased.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ Cassi said with a smile.
Jon put down his notes. ‘Stick to driving for the time being, Mike. In a
month or two, you can risk using the ‘copter.’
‘Okay, doctor,’ Mike said officiously. ‘I suppose no trips up to Orion for a
while?’
‘Definitely not! The G-forces experienced during lift-off are for the very
fit alone.’
Mike sighed. ‘Okay. I’ll heed your advice.’
‘You do that.’ Jon smiled. ‘Must you go back straight away, or do you want
to see Tara? She is still here, you know.’
‘I’d like that. I haven’t seen that baby of her’s yet.’
‘Then step this way.’
Jon led the way along the passage until they came to a private section. In a
room at the back was a dark-haired woman in her mid-twenties who turned at
their arrival. Her face lit up. ‘Cassi, Mike, how good to see you both.’
The girls embraced. ‘You, too, Tara.’
‘Come and see my baby.’
Cassi bent down and pulled back the covers a little to look at the tiny
scrap. ‘He’s beautiful. What are you going to call him?’
‘I haven’t decided yet. How about something Andromedan? He is, after all,
half Andromedan.’
‘I don’t know.’ Cassi looked at the mother. ‘Can I pick him up?’
‘Help yourself. He is your brother in a manner of speaking.’
‘From the Andromeda Seed,’ confirmed Jon. ‘The first of many successful
cross-breeds, I hope.’
Cassi held the two-week-old child carefully in her arms and looked down at
the tiny face. ‘He’s perfect.’
‘Holding that baby, you look the real mother yourself,’ said Mike.
‘Soon, my darling,’ she said quietly without taking her eyes from the baby.
‘Very soon.’
‘Are you planning to go back to Orion, Tara?’ asked Mike.
‘Not likely. I’ve had enough space travel for a while. I’m going to remain
here on Earth with my new baby.’
‘Are you staying for a meal?’ Jon Pederson asked the duo.
‘I’m afraid we really must leave,’ said Cassi. ‘Young Maggie will be home
from school by the time we get back.’ She handed the boy back to his mother
and kissed her cheek. ‘Thanks. I’ll return the favour one day.’
‘Who’s driving back?’ asked the medical man as he shook hands with Mike at
the main door.
‘Cassi needs the practice,’ said Mike.
‘Safe journey then,’ Jon said as he kissed Cassi’s cheek.
They got into the car and Cassi started the engine, waving as she pulled
away. Driving carefully through the outer gates, she turned down the long
drive that wound around the hill to join the by-pass at the bottom.
‘Mike,’ she said quietly as the tyres squealed on the first bend. ‘The
brakes don’t work.’
Mike whirled round in his seat. ‘What!’
Cassi stamped the pedal with no result as the big car began to pick up speed
on the gradient. She tried the handbrake but it was also inoperative.
‘Rev up and then change down,’ said Mike suddenly as the wheels nudged the
kerb on a particularly tight bend.
Cassi obeyed and the gears grated but the car was checked from further
acceleration.
‘Again,’ said Mike and she changed into second just before the sharpest
bend. The engine whined in protest but, gradually, the car slowed until it
almost stopped on the last corner above the river. Mike breathed again.
‘Look out!’ screamed Cassi, staring into the rear-view mirror.
Mike barely had time to duck before the shadow of the Land Cruiser crept up
on them fast. There was a grating sound and they were moving forwards again.
The low retaining wall crumbled at the impact and their car hung over the edge
of the parapet. There was another push and tearing of metal and they were
rolling, helter-skelter, down the long grassy slope towards the river. People
scattered as Cassi kept her hand on the horn, fighting to get into a gear but
unable because of the steepness of the banking. Bouncing and sliding, the car
slithered down the steep hillside, out of control, narrowly missing children
and trees en route as Cassi desperately fought to keep the car upright.
‘Jump!’ said Mike as he unbuckled his seat belt, forcing open the passenger
door.
‘I can’t,’ shouted Cassi. ‘I have to keep the car from knocking someone
down.’
The vehicle slammed onto the concrete roadway at the bottom with a sickening
crash that knocked the wind out of both of them, throwing Mike completely
clear of the car before bouncing across the narrow strip and plunging, bonnet
first, into the murky waters of the Zenne.
It began to sink immediately as Cassi shook her head to try to dismiss the
thousands of stars swimming before her eyes. For some reason, her whole body
seemed paralysed and working in slow-motion as the waters gradually crept up
her legs and over her chest. As they enveloped her face, she was spurred into
action. She took a last breath before the water rose over here head and then
fumbled for the seat belt release. Frantically, she pushed and shoved but it
wouldn’t budge. For some reason, the belt catch had jammed. The front of the
car nudged the bottom and it began to turn onto its side as Cassi felt the
pressure of the water squeezing at her body. Desperately, she tried to wriggle
under her belt but it was too tight.
Keep calm, she told herself as the churned-up murk began to settle a little
and she could just see what she was doing. It was then she saw it. The seat
belt had not jammed because of the crash, the whole release mechanism had been
disabled. She could put on her seat belt but could not take it off.
The pressure built up in her lungs as her pulse hammered through her head.
She had to act soon or she would drown. Dragging her skirt up to her waist,
she swivelled her leg around, placing it against the other seat. With all her
above-normal strength, she heaved on the belt. At first, it would not move
but, as her mind began to falter, the metal of the transmission tunnel began
to tear. One more heave....
A shadow passed across her side window so she glanced up as a distorted face
peered in. It had hair that seemed to form a halo around his head and teeth
that were flashing in an evil grin as he pulled open the door.
Before she could respond, a hand reached in and grabbed her hair, tugging
back her head against the restraint, forcing her to lose her hold on her
breath as water started to pour down her gullet. The last thing she remembered
was the glinting knife as it sliced towards her exposed throat.
MIKE stood, his arm in a sling, staring through the large window to the
examination area of the hospital. After a few minutes, Doctor Pederson came
out and closed the door. ‘Don’t look so worried, Cassi’s got a constitution
like a rhinoceros. It will take more that a pint or two of river water to kill
Miss Andromeda 2021.’
‘She was damn lucky, Jon,’ Mike sighed. ‘If those two youths on motor bikes
hadn’t happened by when they did and if one of them hadn’t dived in and cut
her free, she would not be with us now.’
‘You did all you could, Mike. You dislocated your shoulder when you jumped
clear so you wouldn’t have been able to help her even if you had gone into the
water yourself.’
‘I feel so helpless. Things are happening beyond my comprehension. Why would
anyone try to kill us?’
‘The police sergeant said the hydraulic brake lines had all been tampered
with. The first heavy pressure on the pedal and, whoosh - no fluid. He said
it’s a good thing it didn’t happen at speed on the autoroute.’
‘And it’s also a good thing we were still so close to the hospital.’ He
paused in contemplation. ‘I wonder who it was who was driving that Land-
Cruiser.’
‘According to witnesses, it roared off immediately you went over the edge.
It’s not one of the usual vehicles seen around here.’
‘Cassi said one like it had followed us from Europoort. I wish I had taken
more notice of her. Never mind, I’ll find out somehow.’ He looked at Cassi as
she came out of the body scanner. ‘Is she really okay to go home?’
Jon smiled. ‘Perfectly. Frankly, I’m amazed at her speed of recovery. But
then, you already know how special she is.’
‘In more ways than one. Will Tara’s baby grow up with the same
characteristics?’
‘Probably. The only difference is that Tara has been fertilised here with
sperm from the Andromeda Seed whilst Cassi was conceived and actually
incubated on board Wayfarer.’
‘The first of many, eh?’
‘The other Seed eggs are ready for fertilisation and implantation, so there
could soon be the pitter-patter of lots of little Homo-Andromedæ feet.’
‘And few outside the research team will be any the wiser.’
‘Until the resultant hybrids start living for a very long time, that is.
Then someone is bound to realise what we have been telling them for the last
nine months is true.’
‘Oh, well,’ Mike sighed. ‘Time will tell. Is Cassi all right to drive home?’
‘I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve already rung the launch complex and they are
sending a ‘copter for you. Take her home and let her take it easy for a
while.’
Mike looked suspicious. ‘I thought you said she was all right.’
‘Relax, Mike. As far as I can tell so far, she is perfectly well. However,
there are a couple of other things I will not know the results of until
tomorrow at least.’
‘Serious things?’
Jon laughed and placed his arm along his friend’s shoulders. ‘Not at all.
Mike, your wife is as fit as a fiddle. It’s just that I took the opportunity
to give her a complete once-over while she is here. It’s not often we get real
aliens in here and it’s been almost a year since I examined her last and I
wanted to see what sort of an effect nine months of Earth environment had had
on her physical condition. If there is anything wrong, anything at all, I
promise I will ring you immediately. Okay?’
Mike grinned. ‘Doctor’s orders, eh?’
‘Definitely.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Your transport should be here soon.
Go in to her and reassure her. I’ll see you both on Friday.’
‘You’re coming over to Europoort for the launch?’
Jon smiled. ‘Naturally. As head of the Europa Institute of Biophysics, I
need to constantly advise on the health of the crew.’
The men shook hands. ‘Thanks for your help, Jon. I’ll see you Friday
morning.’
THE rest of the day was uneventful as Mike and Cassi were flown back to
Europoort and then driven home.
Maggie ran out from the nanny in the house and met them in the front garden.
‘Daddy, Cassi, I wondered where you were.’ She stared at her father. ‘Have you
hurt your arm?’
Mike smiled at his daughter and placed his good arm around her. ‘It’s
nothing to worry your little head about. Shall we go out to eat tonight?’
Her little face was a picture of delight. ‘Ooh. Yes, please.’
摘要：

ΤΤηηεεΑΑννδδρροοµµεεδδααΣΣεεεεδδβψΛεεΕδγαρDEDICATEDTOWIVESEVERYWHERE©LEEEDGAR1997OriginallyPublishedandPrintedbyREGENTLANELtdDevonshireRoadIndustrialEstateMillom,CumbriaLA184JSAllRightsReservedbyBanksidePublishingOTHERBOOKSINTHISSERIESTheAndromedaBurnReturntoAndromedaTheAndromedaTrialAndromedaTimeΤΤ...

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