Descending Road - FOND GOODBYES by Dana W. Paxson

FOND GOODBYES

0 NC, Day 2, Hour 4

“Damn, I nearly didn’t find you.” Doug sat beside Miriam, relieved, angry, holding her still-cold hand. Elena drifted nearby. He went on, “I had to go back and find out why you’d go where the bodies were, and this doc wouldn’t tell me.” The image of her bare body lying atop a man’s frozen corpse would not leave his mind; he wanted to ask her what she’d been doing, but found no way to speak such words.

Miriam‘s lips still moved with difficulty. “He was Allan, my man. I had to say goodbye.”

“That’s not all.” Commander Arnell drifted into the clinic. “Parker, you didn’t tell us about all of your discoveries, did you? It’s a good thing your recorders worked.” She held up a tiny, broken vial, and floated it toward Miriam.

Miriam‘s eyes flicked wide, then closed as she reached slowly out and caught the vial. “Shit,” she said.

Elena shot a glance at Doug, and grinned at her. “Your tests showed a possible fertilization from that session in the crypt.”

Doug stared numbly at Miriam‘s face as it blossomed into joy, then fogged over with exhaustion. So maybe she was pregnant, with a dead man’s baby. He started to retreat inside, back to his prison-place where this kind of pain couldn’t follow, when she spoke again.

“If I’m pregnant, I’m going to name it after this guy.” Miriam held out a hand to him. He took it, still numb. “Thanks, Doug. Will you sit by me when it’s time to go?”

“Sure.” The word came easily, and the numbness inside him lessened just a bit. He wondered in an awkward rush whether he would have to tell her about all the awful things he’d done, and how she’d react if he did, and…

“It’s time,” Arnell said. “Now that you’ve all said your fond goodbyes, we’re going. You’ve all got to be on the lander in two hours. The trip in toward Opo will take several days, and that’s about all the food we’ve got left. See you aboard.” She turned and left.

“No fonder goodbyes than yours, Miriam,” Elena said. Miriam blushed, looked away.

“Elena?” It was Enrique. “We’ve got a short farewell party in the launch bay, Pod Bay 41. You coming? Hey, you two can join us if you want. Time to dance on our own grave.”

Doug winced. Miriam smiled weakly, and said, “Give us about a half-hour. Doug can float me up there.”

He asked protectively, “Is this a good idea for you?”

She laughed and squeezed his hand. “Don’t you Scots celebrate at all? Or is that something you forgot while you were sleeping?” Her brown eyes widened at him.

An ancient mischief awoke in him, and he said, “We’d call it a ceilidh, a dance party. You want to rest up for it?”

“And you say ‘aye’ for yes, aye?” she said, smiling.

“Only among friends, aye,” he answered. The mischief spread through him like sunlight.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	FOND GOODBYES 0 NC, Day 2, Hour 4 “Damn, I nearly didn’t find you.” Doug sat beside Miriam, relieved, angry, holding her still-cold hand. Elena drifted nearby. He went on, “I had to go back and find out why you’d go where the bodies were, and this doc wouldn’t tell me.” The image of her bare body lying atop a man’s frozen corpse would not leave his mind; he wanted to ask her what she’d been doing, but found no way to speak such words. Miriam‘s lips still moved with difficulty. “He was Allan, my man. I had to say goodbye.” “That’s not all.” Commander Arnell drifted into the clinic. “Parker, you didn’t tell us about all of your discoveries, did you? It’s a good thing your recorders worked.” She held up a tiny, broken vial, and floated it toward Miriam. Miriam‘s eyes flicked wide, then closed as she reached slowly out and caught the vial. “Shit,” she said. Elena shot a glance at Doug, and grinned at her. “Your tests showed a possible fertilization from that session in the crypt.” Doug stared numbly at Miriam‘s face as it blossomed into joy, then fogged over with exhaustion. So maybe she was pregnant, with a dead man’s baby. He started to retreat inside, back to his prison-place where this kind of pain couldn’t follow, when she spoke again. “If I’m pregnant, I’m going to name it after this guy.” Miriam held out a hand to him. He took it, still numb. “Thanks, Doug. Will you sit by me when it’s time to go?” “Sure.” The word came easily, and the numbness inside him lessened just a bit. He wondered in an awkward rush whether he would have to tell her about all the awful things he’d done, and how she’d react if he did, and… “It’s time,” Arnell said. “Now that you’ve all said your fond goodbyes, we’re going. You’ve all got to be on the lander in two hours. The trip in toward Opo will take several days, and that’s about all the food we’ve got left. See you aboard.” She turned and left. “No fonder goodbyes than yours, Miriam,” Elena said. Miriam blushed, looked away. “Elena?” It was Enrique. “We’ve got a short farewell party in the launch bay, Pod Bay 41. You coming? Hey, you two can join us if you want. Time to dance on our own grave.” Doug winced. Miriam smiled weakly, and said, “Give us about a half-hour. Doug can float me up there.” He asked protectively, “Is this a good idea for you?” She laughed and squeezed his hand. “Don’t you Scots celebrate at all? Or is that something you forgot while you were sleeping?” Her brown eyes widened at him. An ancient mischief awoke in him, and he said, “We’d call it a ceilidh, a dance party. You want to rest up for it?” “And you say ‘aye’ for yes, aye?” she said, smiling. “Only among friends, aye,” he answered. The mischief spread through him like sunlight.