Page 229 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

with tech and gadgets he’d accumulated. Somewhere among all that lay a gold cased; Kymograph
Chronometer. It was one of the thinnest, most accurate mechanical time-pieces made to date. He
had been so afraid he’d damage it he only wore it to very special occasions. With it he had hidden an
engagement ring; he intended to propose to Helen when she got back from her Mothers. They
complimented each other so well that it seemed like the natural thing to do. He got ready for bed
and slipped between the starchy linen hospital bed sheets. He was soon soundly asleep; and
oblivious to the faint shushing sound outside the building. If he had; he would have only put it down
to the approach of one of the summer storms; the weather service had predicted to roll through the
region, sometime late evening or during the night. He was soon in REM sleep; his eyes darting
rapidly back and forth. He was dreaming again. This time he was in an open meadow; blue cloudless
skies, bright warm sunshine. He was distinctly aware that he was totally naked, but he didn’t care he
was enjoying the fresh air and sun. In the distance he could hear church bells tolling out the noonday
peel. Cattle were lowing in one of the nearby fields. The place reminded him of the country village
he’d spent his early childhood in. He began to walk toward the edge of the meadow and a stream
running along its boundary.

The streams’ crystal waters were invitingly cool; tinted blue grey with the reflection of the
sky. As he looked into the stream he saw his shadowy reflection in silhouette. Suddenly the sky
darkened and a second shadow silhouette appeared beside him. He felt fear and anguish as he saw
the face of the figure peering over his shoulder. It grasped him by the shoulders and twisted him
around to face itself. The hideous painted smile on the surgical mask brought a sense of dread to
him; the sky flashed and sparked with lightning and rattled with thunder. He felt a searing pain as
the storm intensified… He woke sweating and flung the bed sheets away. He stood up and walked
two paces then tried to scream as he felt his entire body tingle with pain; then he blacked out as a
bright eerie glow surrounded him…

Myra Halaran was in the rest area of the ships Mess. On the
table beside her was a bottle of Mescal Rosé and a drinking bowl.
She was reading Lances communiqué and going through the
holographs he’d sent. She was wise enough not to drink the Mescal
too quickly; unlike her younger colleague who now had to take a
bathroom break. She too found the “implants” intriguing. She had
also received scans of the “vellum” fragment. The script fascinated
her. She recalled the words of one of her ancestors about the
Rosetta stone. She was awaiting a “live” link up with Lunaris and her
friend when word came that the occupant of the “Lifeboat” had
been resuscitated. Her colleague returned and the two women
finished the drinking cup together. Myra stoppered the bottle and
put it in her holdall. The Mescal had been a present from a former
student of hers. He’d managed to get a job in the Sonoran Trust at
the Archive of History in Kelgar. Zane had been one of her brighter
protégés. Zyra his younger sister was the colleague that was returning from her bathroom trip.
“Remind me to hit my brother when I see him next. Maker; but that stuff packs a punch!” she said;
but cut short when she saw the look in Myra’s eyes “Now what?” she asked
“The occupant has come out of stasis. We’d better make tracks down to Med Bay!” she said casually.
The two of them left the Mess and took a trans-pad to the Med Bay corridor. Midas was waiting
outside; his expression software seemed unable to recreate consternation, instead it made him look
constipated. He was pacing back and forth. He stopped as they approached.
“Forgive me Ladies; I have just witnessed something I have difficulty in… You’d best enter Doc
Manson will explain.” he said. Then he opened the door for the two of them and they went in
puzzled. They saw Dagnor first. Behind him was Doc Manson and to their right was T’luha with an