Deborah Hockney (10 page)

‘Making a fool of yourself again, Eddie boy?’ someone’s sneering voice echoed from the back of the spacecraft.

Jocasta craned her head as far round as she could to try and see who had been responsible for the comment, but she was too far forward to even work out which row the culprit was sitting in. She did, however, manage to smile sympathetically at Ed, who had gone rather pink with embarrassment, and she said, sincerely: ‘Good to meet you Ed: I’m Jocasta Jackson.’

She was beginning to realise that making friends (even if it was slightly wearisome) was going to be one of the most important things to do over the next few days and she could sense that Ed, despite all his apparent bravado, was feeling just as nervous as she was about the challenges that lay ahead of them.

‘Hey look,’ the boy in the neighbouring seat nudged her and pointed to the screen in front of them. ‘The sky’s turning black.’

Jocasta watched as the thirty thousand metre height indicator flashed onto the screen and the luxurious blue sky gradually became darker and darker as the spacecraft climbed higher and higher; speeding away from the Earth’s atmosphere.

And then, the magical moment arrived. Everyone became quiet. Far out in the inky blackness of distant space, one by one the stars began to sparkle and shine.

Chapter Nine

‘Keep moving, everybody.’ Lt. Wing Commander Wren’s voice echoed in the space hotel atrium. ‘There will be plenty of time later on for you all to enjoy zero gravity conditions.’ She paused to pull a novice Elite gently down from above her head. ‘Now
young Cameron, don’t go floating up there again, I can’t spend all my time hooking you off the ceiling.’

Jocasta sensed a smile in her voice and guessed she enjoyed the feeling of weightlessness too, but in the next breath Lt. Wing Commander Wren’s voice turned back to its sterner tone. ‘My group, follow me, we have Elite business to attend to.’

Again Jocasta marvelled at how quickly they all managed to disengage themselves from the others and assemble around Lt. Wing Commander Wren near the main entrance to the space hotel. There were about thirty of them in total, looking slightly strange with their overnight bags fixed with Velcro to the front of their uniforms.

‘So glad we’re in the same group,’ Ed’s voice whispered in her ear. Jocasta was a little startled as she was sure she would have noticed Ed before in the group (which had walked from the station to the platform to the Cosmodome). She was just about to ask where he’d been then, when they were led quickly into an adjoining room.

While they settled themselves in rows of chairs, Lt. Wing Commander Wren made her way to the small elevated platform at the front of the room; her slight frame held an unusual aura of authority as she cleared her throat to bring the trainees to an attentive silence.

‘First of all I want to let you in on a small secret,’ she began. ‘Not to be shared with the other new sections,’ she added, as an afterthought.

Everyone’s attention was now fully focused and Jocasta privately hoped she was going to find out a little more about her talent.

‘I am,’ continued Commander Wren, ‘extremely pleased to be here as your section leader as this is my first appointment as an Elite training officer.’ She paused before adding, ‘I do not want this information passed onto any friends or acquaintances you may have in other sections, as I do not want it to undermine my authority.’

A few people exchanged puzzled looks but their Commander chose to ignore them.

‘More importantly, for the moment I have some Elite announcements to make.’

These seemed mainly to concern the next few days, which they were going to spend in the space hotel. They needed to learn about the solar space flight to Mars and would have to practise their samgee training. They were also going to be allowed to use the leisure facilities, including, much to Jocasta’s delight, the swimming pool.

Jocasta remembered how she had enjoyed the weightlessness of zero gravity and how it was similar to being in the water when Commander Wren’s words made her heart skip a beat.

‘Now of course, for those of you who have yet to discover your own personal gift the next few weeks may prove extremely interesting.’

Jocasta glanced at those nearest to her, trying to squash the feeling that she was probably the only one in the room in that position. Everyone’s expressions, however, seemed to be the same: all eyes fixed intently upon Lt. Wing Commander Wren’s face, following her every word.

‘For those of you lucky enough to have some inkling of your skills, you will be expected to develop and use them in a controlled environment. For those still trying to discover your particular expertise, your training will be a little more difficult.’

‘That’s an understatement.’ Ed’s words echoed disconcertingly around the room.

‘Do you wish to elaborate, Mr Weisz?’ Wing Commander Wren sounded distinctly irritated by the interruption and Ed, sensing he had overstepped the mark, mumbled an apology.

‘As I was saying, discovering your talent will be one of, if not the most, important part of your initial training. Those of you who fail to achieve in this department will not be granted continuance with an Elite career.’

Jocasta felt a wave of panic sweep over her as she tried to imagine the disgrace she would experience if that were to happen. She fervently wished that she could be like David or Nikki, who already knew what they were capable of, even if it did mean wearing glasses or having to suppress any thoughts of animals.

‘And I also want you to remember…’

But Commander Wren’s words were curiously obliterated for Jocasta, as a sudden sickening pain spread across her temples, blocking out all other senses. She grabbed onto Ed’s arm to stop herself collapsing onto the floor and closed her eyes in an attempt to ease the intense flashing lights that punctured her vision.

‘Are you ok?’ Ed’s concerned voice rang softly in her ears as the intensity of the throbbing ceased and her eyes regained their focus.

‘Think so,’ she managed to mumble back, wondering how many other people had noticed her distress.

‘Well that’s all for now.’ Lt. Wing Commander Wren’s calm tones brought her back to attention. ‘You may all take the rest of the evening, until your next briefing, to settle in and explore the facilities open to you.

‘Please behave sensibly and do not enter the restricted zones, unless specifically advised to do so by the space hotel staff. Remember you are members of a very special section in the AIR Unit; so please conduct yourselves in an exemplary fashion.’

With these words she made her way towards the exit, pausing briefly to diplomatically ask if Jocasta had recovered form her discomfort.

‘Thank you Commander. Just slightly dizzy, I think.’

Reassured, Lt. Wing Commander Wren briskly left the room, leaving a buzz of anticipation behind her.

*

Once Jocasta had convinced herself and Ed that she was fine after her brief spell of ‘post-space flight trauma’, they decided to explore the space hotel together. First they made their way to their separate dormitory-like rooms to off-load their overnight bags and check on the safe carriage of the rest of their belongings. Jocasta chose a bed in the corner of the room and after a quick conversation with some of the other girls sharing the room, she left them to find Ed waiting a little further along the corridor, outside the boys’ quarters.

He cupped her elbow in his hand and guided her through the different zones of the hotel, with surprising ease.

‘You seem to know your way around here rather well,’ Jocasta remarked with a teasing smile.

‘Oh, I’ve been here loads of times,’ replied Ed. ‘Where do you want to go first? Observation room, space-sports complex, zero gravity room? Though that’s a bit tame unless you try out the ‘fly like a bird’ sessions.’

Jocasta had the feeling that Ed liked to be in charge, and was quite happy to let him take the lead, for the time being. After all, it was really quite good being in the company of someone who knew where to go; it certainly beat having to stand and ask the computer for directions or press the activated screens for info-location.

‘Hey, I know,’ he said, with sudden inspiration. ‘What about the low G swimming facilities? It’s recently been upgraded and the new pool is meant to be the best in the world, well… solar system really.’ He chuckled at his own pun as Jocasta poked him in the ribs. ‘We’ll have to go through a ten minute instruction course, but it’ll be worth it… great fun.’

‘Okay,’ said Jocasta, not wanting to sound too enthusiastic, but thinking how good it would feel to get back in the water again. ‘But there’s one slight problem, Ed.’

He looked at her quizzically.

‘Swimsuits, stupid,’ she said, with mock exasperation.

‘Oh, that’s ok.’ Ed paused momentarily. ‘We don’t need them.’ Seeing the look of horror on her face he quickly explained. ‘No, silly, we don’t go skinny dipping here- all the gear’s provided: costumes, goggles and towels too, if you want them.’

Jocasta felt her face colour up at the thought of skinny dipping, but she soon composed herself. Besides, the opportunity of diving into a low gravity pool and being able to enjoy the sensation of freedom that swimming always gave her, was, she supposed, a small price to pay for a bit of embarrassment about swimsuits.

‘Come on then, lead the way. Sounds like your best idea so far!’ She plucked at Ed’s sleeve and headed in what she hoped was the right direction for the water complex.

They spent an hour of fun in the swimming room, which was the complete diameter of the space hotel’s central core. Jocasta marvelled at how the gentle rotation of the section kept the water in its place at the curved sides and found that once she got used to ducking the luminescent water bombs that Ed kept throwing at her- which shattered into the most amazing light filled pieces as they hit the surface -she could swim and dive with real ease.

When the time buzzer sounded Jocasta reluctantly made her way out, wishing they had longer at the Space Hotel so that she could return to the pool; she somehow doubted that they would have anything like it on Mars.

Shaking her damp hair around her shoulders and trying not to wriggle about too much in her Elite uniform, which wasn’t nearly so comfortable against the clamminess of her not-quite dry skin- perhaps the towel would more efficient than the full-length hot-air dryer, after all- she rejoined Ed at the entrance. She was just about to ask him about eating facilities, when Nikki appeared around the corner with a group of girls.

‘Hey, Casta!’ she exclaimed, sounding full of excitement. ‘Have you been to the trampoline room? It’s absolutely brilliant!’ She continued without waiting for a reply, ‘You
must
go there!’

‘Perhaps later,’ Jocasta tried to smile, but found that she was suddenly too tired to work up much enthusiasm for any more energetic activities. ‘We’ve just had the most amazing time in the pool.’ She spoke quickly, trying to ignore the exchange of looks and curious smiles that the rest of the girls were throwing at her and Ed. ‘I’m totally exhausted and absolutely ravenous. Does anybody know of a good place to eat?’

‘Oh, I’m sure your friend does,’ said a tall, bronzed girl, with an immaculate hairstyle, and flashed her perfectly polished teeth at Ed in a coy smile. Which, much to Jocasta’s annoyance, made her feel slightly uncomfortable as she became aware of her own flushed face and dishevelled hair.

Ed seemed oblivious to the apparent whispering that was going on and replied in a loud voice that echoed down the corridor.

‘Sure do, I think I know just the place; it has an excellent cuisine and a view that will take your breath away.’ After this declaration, the small group made its way, snakelike, along the passageways, with Ed shouting instructions from the rear, to turn this way and that until they reached the restaurant on the outer rim of the hotel. Their numbers had increased to twenty or more, as whenever they passed another hungry cadet or two, Ed invited them to join their group, with tales of delicious food and inspiring remarks about the view of both the Earth and Moon. Jocasta couldn’t help but wonder if Ed was planning a career as a tour guide.

They filled their rumbling stomachs with plenty of choices made from the buffet selection; there was something to suit all palettes, and everyone was mesmerised by the incredible sight of the two glowing orbs hanging low in the sky; their very own home planet and resident moon.

*

‘First visit is it?’ a waiter asked them as they sat gazing out of the large, long windows. ‘It took me a while to tear my eyes away from that spectacle when I first started working here. Had a few tumbles over chairs and tables, I can tell you, when I wasn’t looking where I was going. And a few rows from Chef for my clumsiness,’ he added with an amused smile. ‘But you make the most of it while you can; you’re going to be busy little bees when you get to Mars, you mark my words,’ he called over his shoulder as he moved onto the next table.

‘It must be time to try to find our way back to sleeping quarters,’ somebody mumbled through a half stifled yawn. With a few nods of the head and slowly pushed back chairs the tired group made their way back to the hotel’s maze of corridors.

After a several wrong turns and abrupt stops, as invisible barriers stopped them from entering the restricted zones, they managed to navigate a path back to their respective quarters.