Judgment Day (25 page)

CHAPTER 49 ACCIDENT

Every answer given arouses new questions. The progress of science is matched by an increase in the hidden and mysterious.

—
JUDAISM AND SCIENCE
, LEO BAECK

N
owhere on Earth was there a landscape to match the dust, craters and ridges of the moon. The people of Earth saw all of this on their high-definition televisions, broadcast from the nose of the
Jesus Wept
while it continued soaring across the surface. Intercut were shots of the moon walkers being fitted into their PLSS suits—portable life-support system.

Christy and Roland were climbing into the bottoms of their suits, assisted by Gus and Bob. Paul had docked the
John Henry
on the top of the
God's Love
and was there too, helping Micah and Shelly. Glen would continue to entertain the viewers on Earth with lunar landscapes until the moon walk began. Because his docking ring was on the bottom of the
God's Love
, he could not dock the
Jesus Wept
until the shuttle lifted off again.

Christy wore special underwear wired with sensors to monitor her physiological signs. It fit tight, embarrassing her at first, but she was past blushing, relying on Gus to help her into each piece of the cumbersome suit.

The PLSS suits were based on the original NASA design. Essentially pliable spaceships, they performed all the same functions except propulsion. Technological advances since the sixties had reduced the weight and bulk of the packs, which were now only about half the size of the originals. The forty-pound packs were powered by silver zinc batteries about the size of a Sony Walkman and they contained a half pound of oxygen in reserve that was tapped to maintain a nitrogen-oxygen mix at a comfortable level of pressurization. Carbon dioxide and other contaminants were scrubbed by charcoal filters in the pack. Body heat was removed by a network of water-filled, quarter-inch tubes. The water was then forced from the suit where it would freeze and vaporize. The suits also contained biomedical data transmitters connected to sensors in their underwear. Data on oxygen reserve, water temperature, suit pressure, and battery charge level were continually transmitted. They had energy and oxygen for only two hours on the surface—half the Apollo design. An oxygen reserve would provide another fifteen minutes. Unlike the Apollo suits, their suits were fully computerized with a heads-up display triggered by a touch on the sleeve.

The original astronauts underwent years of training for their walks on the moon,- Christy had trained only three days. Even with minimal training, she had wanted to go, to be one of the few to step on the moon.

With her torso sealed in the bottom of the suit, she put her hands into the gloves that were secured to the arms of the suit with red metal rings that locked together with a firm twist. Now sealed in the suit from neck to foot, she was hot and sweating. Gus wiped the beads on her forehead with a tissue, then he turned on her backpack, the computer measuring the temperature in the suit and beginning the water circulation to lower the temperature.

When the helmet was placed over her head all sound was shut out and she felt like she was alone in a small cave. The helmet was twisted and locked into place and suddenly a tiny green light glowed to her left. Static startled her and then she heard Gus, who stepped in front of her so she could see his face.

"Turn on the heads-up display."

Holding out her arm and bending at the waist so she could see the controls on her sleeve, she pushed the switch and the display was painted across the bottom of her visor. The suit temperature was seventy-eight degrees but declining. The pressure was within the green range, and the power indicator was reading one hundred percent.

The others were ready, helmets locked into place and suits pressurized. Now Sandy could be heard sending instructions from Earth.

"As soon as I sign off the network will get the audio feed, so if you have anything private to say, say it now."

"Would someone scratch my nose?" Micah said, rubbing the glass of his helmet on Shelly's suit.

"Thanks, Micah," Shelly said. "Now my nose itches."

"Does anyone have anything serious to say?" Sandy asked.

"I do," Gus said. "If you hear any warning tones you hurry to the ship. Any peculiar readings and you head to the ship. If you feel light-headed, back to the ship. If you see any defects, especially bubbles in your suit, back to the ship. If you have a premonition of danger, back to the ship. Is that clear?"

They all answered yes, but their simultaneous transmissions cut the audio in and out, making a cacophony of static and human voices.

"All right," Gus said to Sandy. "We're ready."

"The network gets the audio in five, four, three, two, one."

"Seal the hatch, Gus. Depressurize the hold," Shelly said.

Gus and Bob stepped out of the hold and sealed it. Soon Christy felt the vibration of the pumps as they recaptured the atmosphere. She checked the readings in her suit, noticing the heart rate indicator showed her pulse racing. It embarrassed her since her readings were broadcast back to the New Hope. She was excited, not afraid.

Roland stepped in front of her so their helmets touched and shouted, "Unbelievable!" She smiled and nodded, then he stood next to her facing the cargo doors as the pumps stopped.

Micah walked to the back wall and looked at a row of gauges, each lit with a green light.

"Zero psi, Bob," Micah said.

"Zero psi," Bob repeated.

"Opening the cargo doors," Micah said.

"They are now opening the cargo doors," Wyatt Powder said a few seconds later.

More vibrations and then a spear of light split the back of the compartment. One of two sun screens automatically slid into place on Christy's helmet. Now Christy could see the moon as only a few had seen it—at eye level. She was looking across a plain of gray chalk, pockmarked with thousands of small craters and sprinkled with rocks the size of her fist. It was magnificent desolation.

With the doors open wide, Shelly and Micah pulled a ramp to the edge of the deck, then dropped it, fitting three prongs into slots in the floor. Micah shook the ramp to be sure it was secure. Then Shelly led off, followed by Roland and then Christy with Micah trailing behind and carrying a bundle.

"They are leaving the safety of the ship now, just as the
Apollo 11
astronauts did, but this time our intrepid explorers represent all of America, not just European American males."

A sigh came over Christy's suit speaker but it was impossible to tell whose it was. All of them felt the same way about Wyatt Powder's PC commentary.

The suit was cumbersome but manageable in the light gravity. She used exaggerated motions, stretching out her arms and legs as far as she could, and she moved easily, albeit slowly. She stepped out under a speckled black sky above a colorless landscape. Her heart pounding with excitement, she reached the bottom of the ramp and stepped onto the surface, feeling little through her thick boot. She walked a few steps and looked back seeing her footprints on the moon. The surface was like powdered chalk and compressed an inch under her weight. Then she stepped behind a rock shaped like a football and pressed down hard, lifting her foot carefully to leave a perfect footprint. On an airless body that footprint would last for eons unless obliterated by another walker. The others were tucking samples—souvenirs—away, so she looked quickly, picking three rocks the size of eggs. She dropped them in the pouch on her leg and zipped it closed. Then she unzipped the other leg pouch and removed a small doll, a plastic ID card with her picture on it, and a plastic case containing notes friends had written and her own brief biography. She placed these on the football-shaped rock, arranging them carefully since they would remain in that position forever.

"Let's move to the lander," Shelly said.

Shelly led the way using the kangaroo hopping motion perfected by the Apollo astronauts. Christy hopped after the others, finding it an efficient means of moving in the light gravity. Cameras on the ship followed their moves while Wyatt Powder continued to describe the obvious. They lined up on the back side of what was left of the lunar lander for a photo, then circled the lander giving the front side where Neil Armstrong had stepped onto the surface a wide berth. They would not trample the original footprints.

Shelly posed with the
Apollo 11
American flag in the background, Micah taking her picture. Then one by one and in all combinations they had their picture taken. Wyatt broke in when Roland was posing.

"Roland, as the first African-American man to walk on the moon, what are your thoughts right now standing in front of the flag of the nation that has mistreated your people for so long?"

"I may have thoughts on that later, Wyatt," Roland said, a little out of breath. "But now I'm struck by the significance of this moment. I'm standing on a world other than the one humanity evolved on. We've left the nest and taken our destiny into our own hands. If we can learn to live out here, to survive . . . no not just survive, but to thrive—all of this could be ours."

Dramatically, he raised his arms to the stars and turned a full circle.

Now Micah opened the bundle he carried. It contained pieces that fit together making a pole and there was a flag attached to one end. Micah pulled a mallet from a suit pocket and hammered a stake into the surface. Then he slid the flagpole over the stake, the pole now upright.

"As you can see, our explorers are preparing to unfurl a second flag near the original
Apollo 11 Hag,"
Wyatt said. "We want to emphasize for our many international viewers that these flags do not represent any claim to the moon. The moon belongs to all nations."

Christy twisted off the metal bands that held the flag tight to the pole. There was no wind to unfurl the flag, so an arm was attached to the top of the pole at a right angle. Then Micah released clips, and pulled the flag up to the cross arm, displaying the flag. It was the Christian flag—white and purple background with a cross in the top left corner. Powder was shocked into silence, but only briefly.

"My apologies to our many viewers of different faiths. I assure you that we at the network did not know that the Fellowship would use this momentous scientific event to push their religious beliefs."

Suddenly Bob was shouting in Christy's helmet.

"Everyone back inside, Glen is in trouble."

Her helmet exploded with sound as everyone demanded to know what had happened. Bob's voice was back briefly but cut up as two or three tried to speak over him. Shelly passed Christy, hopping furiously toward the ramp. Christy tried to keep up but fell face first into the powdered surface.

The slow-motion fall did no damage and she struggled to her feet to find herself next to Roland, who set a manageable pace. Christy matched her rhythm to his and they soon reached the ramp, a confusion of voices urging them to hurry. Halfway up the ramp her stomach fluttered and she grabbed the railing to steady herself. She looked up to see the
John Henry
lifting into the air.

Once in the hold Micah turned off the suit transmitters to clear the frequency. While they secured the ramp, Bob explained what had happened from the flight deck.

"There was a fire on the
Jesus Wept
. Glen was screaming." Bob paused, his voice thick with emotion. "He was putting the fire out when he went down. He's using the respirator, but the temperature in his sphere is climbing."

"Is he still transmitting?" Micah asked.

"Intermittently to save power."

"Is he hurt?" Shelly asked.

"Yes," Bob said grimly.

The pumps droned on, slowly pressurizing the hold, taxing everyone's patience. Suddenly their stomachs fluttered. Christy stepped toward the wall but the
God's Love
lifted midstep and she lost her balance, unable to regain it in the clumsy suit. Roland fell too, crashing into her. Then the ship shot forward, tumbling them across the floor toward the rear bulkhead. She hit the wall with enough force to bruise. Roland tumbled into her, sandwiching her against the wall. The force quickly built to at least twice normal gravity and she could not push Roland off. He felt her struggle and managed to slide sideways, flopping against the wall next to her.

Micah and Shelly were hanging on the rail, watching the gauges. The force lessened to near normal gravity, but still pushed them to the rear. Micah helped Shelly out of her helmet, then she did the same for him. Working together they were able to get out of their suits, letting them tumble to the rear wall where Roland and Christy were pinned. Roland stood, leaning out, reaching for Christy's helmet.

"I'll unlatch you," he said over the speaker.

She waited while he fumbled with the releasing mechanism at her neck. She was working on his helmet when electric motors hummed and the doors opened. Micah and Shelly pulled themselves through while it was only a crack, and were gone without a word. Roland and Christy worked together to get her out of her suit, and then Roland from his. When they were free Roland pulled himself to an intercom and called Shelly. Gus answered.

"What's happening, Gus?" Roland asked.

"We've taken off to find Glen. The
Jesus Wept
has crashed onto the surface somewhere. He was supposed to call in every fifteen minutes but he hasn't."

"Can we help?" Christy asked.

"Pray and stay out of the way," Gus said, then with a click was gone.

Roland pulled himself along the wall and out the hatch. Christy watched the reporter
go
. The story of the century kept getting bigger and she couldn't blame him for wanting to be a part of it. Christy prayed for Glen and his safe return, then put her coveralls on and gathered the others' clothes. She was struggling up the ladder with her load when the acceleration ended, leaving only the moon's gravity. She hung on the ladder a minute letting her stomach settle, then climbed to the top, dragging the bundle behind.

Micah and Shelly were in the pilot's seats, still in their underwear, and Roland was standing between Bob's and Gus's engineering seats. Roland made room for Christy, and smiled when he saw the coveralls, struggling into them while she steadied him. They tucked the other coveralls under Bob's seat, not wanting to disturb Shelly and Micah.