Beyond the Farthest Star: Chapter 3

Miles and Noel had just left the ZPE plant and were walking back toward the elevator. Miles found himself unnaturally tired but Noel was full of energy.

“That was fabulous!” Noel said enthusiastically. “You were right – we got that part replaced in less than half an hour. The generator is running better than ever! I think its output has actually increased by nearly one percent.”

“Wonderful,” Miles said. “You can get together my fee and lay it aside for me so I can pick it up next time I’m here. I’m going to head home.”

“Home? But it’s getting dark!”

“It gets dark every night, and it’s been happening for a mighty long time now. That’s the way God designed the world – He called the light day, and the darkness He called night. I’d think you would be used to it by now.”

“But it’s dangerous out there after dark! You never know what might be lurking in the shadows. Mars isn’t a safe place.”

Miles shook his head. “You’ve been living underground for too long, Noel. You’re developing all sorts of ridiculous phobias. The only living creature in this area is Lizzie, and she’s just as dangerous during the day as she is at night. This idea of monsters that come out only at night is just a lot of nonsense.”

“But you can’t see at night,” Noel protested.

“I don’t need to see her – my scope does that for me. Besides, the Raptor can go a lot faster than she can. Look, what’s really going on here? Is there something else you need?”

“I just don’t understand your rush to get back,” Noel replied. “You don’t even want to stick around long enough to get paid! If you can just spend the night here I can collect your payment and you can be off in the morning. How hard would that be?”

Miles sighed. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long day and I want to get home and rest. I don’t see any reason to stay here any longer than I have to.”

“Not even to get paid?”

“Especially not even to get paid! I told you a long time ago that I don’t want to get paid. I’ve already got everything I need. I really wish you would just keep it. There are surely other things you can be using those resources for than giving them to an old man like me. This colony needs it a lot more than I do.”

“But that’s not the point,” Noel protested. “You’re the one that’s been keeping this colony alive since – I don’t know, since before I was born. You’re the one that should be living the high life – not the mayor’s cronies. It’s just not fair.”

“No one said life was going to be fair. Besides, you know that’s not how it works. Mars has never celebrated the people that have kept them supplied with air – they’re too caught up in the latest politician or celebrity. It’s just the way life is. But you don’t have to worry about me – I have everything I need. I’ll be fine.”

“All right,” Noel said. “I’ll let you go, then. But would you mind if I came with you?”

“With me?” Miles exclaimed, surprised. “Why would I do that? You know I don’t allow visitors! It’s a strict policy I have that goes way back. The very last thing that I want is for my address to get out. Prospectors would just love to get their hands on my stuff. My home would become a war zone.”

“I know, and I understand. Every man needs his sanctuary, and believe me, I would never tell anyone where you lived. You could even blindfold me if you wanted, if that would make you feel any better. But – well, I hate to say this, but you’re not getting any younger. If you hadn’t come by today we would have lost field containment by now, and the colony would be running on reserve power. Within a week the air would have been poisoned and we’d be all dead. I was hoping that I could spend some time at your place and learn what you know so I can keep things running after you’re gone.”

“You want to learn everything I know?”

Noel hesitated. “Well, there’s a lot that I already know. I have been paying attention, you know. I can usually fix the ZPE when it fails but there are some aspects to it that I just don’t understand. I know you’ve got one in your refuge, and I was hoping–”

“What do you mean, you know I’ve got one? I never said that!”

“Oh, c’mon, Miles! You know how to fix them and you can always manufacture parts for them when they break. You’ve got to have one around somewhere that you use as reference. I find it really hard to believe that you can keep ours running without having one of your own.”

“All right,” Miles replied. “So let’s say, for the sake of this discussion, that I do have one. What about it?”

“Well, I was hoping you could answer my questions. Maybe we could spend some time building parts for it. You could teach me what I need to know – at some place far away from here, where there are a million distractions.”

“That could take weeks, maybe a couple months,” Miles pointed out. “Can you really afford to be gone for that long?”

“I don’t see why not. Henry can handle things while I’m gone, now that the ZPE is in good shape again. Besides, this has to be done for the future of the colony, and you know it. Do you have another suggestion?”

Miles sighed. “I suppose not. All right, then. Do you have your bags packed?”

“Of course!” Noel replied. “You didn’t think I wouldn’t be prepared, did you? In fact, I’ve already let Henry know that I was taking a leave of absence. All I have to do is pick up my suitcase and we can head out.”

“Then I suppose there’s no way I can get out of this,” Miles replied. “But I suppose it’s for the best. If you’ll go get your bag I’ll head up to the tank and get her started. Just meet me there and we can leave.”

Noel nodded and hurried off down the corridor. Miles shuffled over to the elevator, walked inside, and pressed the button to return to the surface.

I really shouldn’t be so hard on him, Miles thought, as the aging elevator slowly climbed up toward the colony’s parking garage. He is right. The only way the colony will survive after I’m gone is if people like him keep things running, and they can only do that if they understand the technology. This is something I should have done a long time ago. Noel definitely has what it takes to understand the ancient sciences. He is my natural replacement.

But the problem is that this is all futile. His ability to keep the air towers functioning isn’t going to make any difference when Mars loses the last trace of its atmosphere. Even if I taught him everything he won’t be able to keep the colony alive after Mars has finally died. No matter how hard he tries, they’re not going to survive another century. This is all a futile effort. What we really need is a miracle – but miracles are in short supply right now.

Miles got out of the elevator and shuffled over to his tank. Enough of that. Noel wants to learn, so I’ll teach him. That’s really all I can do. The rest is up to the Lord. If He wants to save the colony then it will be saved; if not then it will be lost. All I can do is play the part I’ve been given.