Writing in Public: Story 4 (Novella) Chapter 18

[image error]CHAPTER 18

Hope was glad Jian reviewed the scientist’s notes first.  The officer marked off the entries she thought were the ghost, and it was a pretty good job.  She’d eliminated some of the obvious not-ghost entries.

It was just Hope, Jian, and Brooks eating breakfast in the shuttle.  Mel was with her Marines., and the pilot had gone over to join them. The scientists were still in bed.  Must be nice to be able to sleep late.

The clatter of silverware against the bowls annoyed Hope this morning.  She still had to eat with her fingers and she was tired of being sticky.

Over oatmeal, she scanned through the notes.  The scientists had been quite through, including dates and details, and even where it had happened.

Not one of the incidents had happened near that big meteor.

All of them had happened in camp, some weeks before the meteorite fell..  Had the aliens even been here?  If not, how did they know about the ghost?  Hope doubted that any of the scientists would have gone gossiping about ghosties.

Did ghosts gossip?

She slouched down in her seat, rubbing her eyes.  Eyed a glop of oatmeal that had landed on her CTU shirt.  The CTU was trying to figure out to change color to match the oatmeal.

“You all right, Shrimp Woman?” Brooks asked, his tone gentle.

“Thinking about this makes my head hurt,” Hope said.

Jian glanced at the door, then skipped over a seat to get closer to Hope.  “Be honest: Are we going to be able to do anything?”

Brooks shifted, very uncomfortably.   The tension in the compartment thickened.

Hope’s tone was careful when she spoke. “I’m not going to be able to give the aliens what they want.  I can’t wave my hands and make the ghost go away.  Ghosts are ghosts.  I can ask him why he’s here, but–”

Hope stared down at her oatmeal, wishing she had better answers.  Or for that matter, any answer.

Jian glanced at the doorway again.  “I want to try to contact Colonel Graul while we’re out at the rock.”

“No Ms. Hagen?” Brooks asked, startled.

“I’ve run into Alien Affairs on and off during the last fifteen years.  Mel’s better than most of them—at least she has a Marine escort.”

Hope ducked her head to hide her smile.  “Probably the Colonel Graul influence.”

“No doubt,” Jian said.  “Most of the others come by themselves, with a couple of aides.  They don’t like the military.   They’re about going in and working out an agreement.  The military…”

“Kicks the doors in to stir up the roaches,” Brooks said.

“Spoken like Army,” Jian said.  But there was only understanding and warmth in her voice.

This was making Hope’s headache worse.  “I’m sorry.  I guess I’m confused.  What are you talking about?”

“Mel’s got a blind spot.  She thinks she can fix this problem.  I know enough about ghosts that I’m not sure this is fixable.  We might have to evacuate everyone.”

“The scientists will just love that,” Brooks said.

Hope wondered if it was going to be the first time she failed at something with ghosts.

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