Page 211 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

“Your little inquiry has stirred up a Hornet’s nest down here. That friend of mine accidentally let slip
about your interest in the location of Fort Knox. It must have filtered right up to the top. The Military
are planning a lunar wide re-mapping survey using the latest deep penetration scanners. How soon
can you get here?” Lars asked
“I’m just about to board the shuttle now. I can take a transport pad if it’s that urgent.” Lance replied
“No; I’ll meet you at the landing station. David’s excited that his Uncle Lance is coming to his
Birthday celebrations” Lars responded. Lance double checked that he’d remembered David’s present
and said
“I thought I’d forgotten something special there for a moment. It shouldn’t be long now. See you
moon side!” he ended the call. Checking his briefcase again when he’d taken his seat. He reassured
himself that David’s present was still there. He’d managed to find an old Ships Chronometer from
one of the early Buraxin star ships in a Bazar on Mira; in Heledar City to be precise. He’d also
managed to get one of the engineering students to fix the intricate clockworks. It kept amazingly
accurate time for something Analogue and “old fashioned”. The shuttle launched and the descent to
Lunaris Spaceport was underway…

Lars was waiting for him as he cleared arrivals. He took Lances’ baggage while he set his
gravity belt compensator. He’d only been on Lunaris twice before and had never quite got
accustomed to the low gravity. He took the briefcase that had David’s present in it back from Lars
and the two friends headed for a Transway to the residential region. They arrived at Lance’s hotel
and got him settled before catching an auto cab to Lars’s place
“I wish you’d stay at ours; though with the work you’re here for, you’d probably be spending more
time on a cot in the Archive than in a comfortable bed. Needless to say Marcia was not well pleased.
She’s seen so little of her older brother. David on the other hand…” Lars said rolling his eyes.
“I wish I could, but it’s a part of the contractual obligations. This weekend is going to be the only free
time I’ll have until we have the indexes collated” Lance responded. Marcia; Lars’ wife, was Lances
younger sister. As with most female Achenazi she took on the name of her Husband’s family line.
There were exceptions, but the rules were still in place when she and Lars married. A generation or
two later and things became more relaxed. “Does Marcia still make Halva Cakes?” he asked

“Oh boy does she! As you can see; I’ve developed a taste for them” Lars
replied and he prodded his bulging paunch “I’m going to have to diet and
exercise more often to lose it!” he laughed. Lance chuckled too and they left
the Cab and walked up the path to the door of Lars’ house. The door flung
open and David sprinted out. He grabbed Lance and dragged him into the
living room to show off his birthday presents and then he led him into the
garden at the rear where the party was in full swing. Kids running wild; party
food on tables and a Cake with candles. It brought back memories of his
birthdays when Mum was alive. He put the briefcase in the kitchen; and went out to play with the
kids. It wasn’t long before someone started shooting water pistols and… Chaos! ...