Page 218 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

have to rotate our shield dynamics constantly to keep the effect in place. The ships; in effect, would
be doing what the “surfers” Old Earth did. Travelling along and through the arch created by the
wave.” She said. Leeson looked proud of himself for remembering his ancient history.
“We would create the wave for them to ride!” Dagnor almost shouted “Leeson I bow to your
prestigious historical knowledge” he added and did an over the top bow. Midas looked bemused
“Surfers?” he said. Leeson explained the history and the practice. After he’d finished; Midas smiled
and said “Surfing the edge of space into the atmosphere”. It was time for the others to look puzzled.
He explained that he’d recently discovered an ancient form of entertainment called “Movies” while
searching for an unrelated matter in the Terran Archives. He was recalling an image from one of
these entertainments. A genre called “Science Fiction”. He went on to describe how one of the
characters used a piece of shielding from the crews ruined craft to “surf” into the atmosphere of a
planet below him.
“An odd and interesting form of suicide” Leeson added…

Helen was at her Mothers’ Birthday Party. It had been a hard slog to get there. Although
most of the carnage on the M25 had been cleared, there were still odd smaller snarl-ups. She had
eventually arrived late yesterday evening. Arthur had insisted she tried to get there; he’d be OK, he
was in good hands after all. She looked over at her Mother who was unwrapping a present from her
grandniece. Her mother happened to look up and nodded. Later in the kitchen her Mother
approached her.
“Felicia will make sure he is treated well. I know you caught sight of the reports of the other “cases”.
Arthur is different; he hasn’t shown any “bad” signs” she said making the appropriate gesture
“What would you call the nightmares? Panic attacks? Mum; you haven’t seen him when he wakes up
from one. The last one was really bad. I feel like I’m betraying him passing all the notes on to Gran.
He’s like a child at times; a confused and frightened one. I didn’t tell him that they found the…
remains yet. I had to lie that the paper wasn’t delivered” Helen said furiously and started to shake. “I
feel like I’m slowly losing him. He’s changed since it happened; I can’t explain exactly how or what’s
changed, but...” she added
“Be thankful you got him back intact. When the smoke eventually cleared from that crack in… where
did you say that place was called?” Helen replied Crawlboys Lane “Ah; yes. The sight that the poor
policeman and that fire fighter found… The body was barely recognisable as human let alone a child.
A young girl they reckoned” her mother finished.
“What kind of person would do that to a kid? I just hope it wasn’t the girl from Arthur’s nightmare.
That would have thrown him over the edge… Enough! What did May Higson get you; she wouldn’t
let me in on the secret?” She deftly changed the subject
“I haven’t opened her present yet; you know what she’s like, I dread to think what crazy “find” she’s
got me” her mother confided and the two of them went back to the party giggling…

Chapter 3
“Space… The final…”

Lance was in the office of Sandra Marsh; Sector Senior Xeno-
Archeologist, looking at the collated artefacts from She’brakda. One
in particular had his attention. It carried the label “Religious Object
537”; it was an ornament consisting of three columns mounted to a
base. He’d seen something similar during his search of the Terran
Archives.
“Did any of the Kryst ever say whether that was of religious
significance or not?” he asked
“Oh; that thing, it was some sort of offering to bring good luck. Like
the “Feng Shui” principle from an area of Old Earth called China I
believe” she answered not even looking up from her terminal