This day started just like always. Julius gets up, makes the coffee, and brings me the first cup of the morning before I get out of bed. I sometimes tease him “That’s the only reason I stick around.“

        Later on we were going to visit Junior, Linda, and the grandkids and take a ride up by the reservoir. Our daughter-in-law, Linda, is a real jewel. She’s a wonderful mother to Karyn, who’s a bundle of energy at 3, Liza who at 14 is very sweet-natured but a puzzle at times, and Emily, a beautiful budding young lady who seems wise beyond her years and will be 17 next week. Linda is an exceptionally proficient nurse who would have been a doctor but for the medical school quotas (others judged more worthy, not by test but by class). She and I have a special bond because I pulled all the strings and secured permission from the UNWG for JJ and Linda to have a third child. They wanted to name her Kara, but I insisted that she have her own identity.  Karyn is especially dear to me because of that and I treasure her. She is separate from the memory of my beloved departed daughter Kara but always a reminder.  My priest, Fr. Kelly, was particularly helpful as I emerged from that abyss.  And as always, Jules, who knows best my heart unspoken.
 
        I got ready to go make breakfast, but before leaving the bedroom stopped at the message machine to check my mail. I never get anything important from work anymore but old habits die hard. Nothing in the public account so I checked the private box and saw the email from Robert Hamilton. I suppose I should have felt shock, instead, an almost serene calmness enveloped me. I called out to Jules, “Could you come here for minute, Dear?”

       When he entered the room I just pointed at the message screen. He walked over, read it, and then read it again, looked at me and said, “Why don’t you start packing while I call the kids and let them know we will be over a bit early?”
       There are lots of reasons I’ve stuck around.
 
         I knew Jules would  handle it just right with JJ and Linda.  On the phone he said, “Hi, Son.  Mother and I have a surprise for the family.  With the girls off school next week, we want to treat you to a mystery trip.  Linda doesn’t work next week either.  Could you shake free?  And by the way, we should stop at Linda’s office on our way out, and get some things for your sis.  She’s under the weather, running a fever, needs protein pills, etc.” 
        JJ would know something big was up because of his dad’s reference Kara.  Sometimes Jules and Junior talked in hushed tones about the UNWG, the risks for me [and them?] because of religious beliefs, and desire for a freer existence.  “Put Linda on to talk with Mother about what to pack.”  Then he handed the phone to me.
       
        Already in synch with the situation, Linda and I immediately pooled ideas, and carefully worded our selection.  She would tell the girls to pack, and to bring two favorite items with them for our adventure.  Aware of the urgency, she could be counted on to remain discreet and level-headed.  As a nurse, she would be invaluable to our family, and to the community.  I could hear her mentally compiling a supply list of items to remove from her dispensary.  Some of Liza’s old clothes might come in handy for Karyn, who is growing like a weed.  Who knows where or when we could shop again?
       
            Jules and I had matter-of-factly packed, as if we’d rehearsed it before.  We hadn’t, but after all those years we intuitively knew what the other would do.   Into the suitcases:  slacks and tops versatile for varying temps; warm outwear; trail boots; gloves, scarf, hat.   Set aside larger items to wear on the trip and save suitcase space.  Jules’ personal communicator unit.  Binoculars, flashlight, matches and lighter, compass, whistles, pocket knife, magnifying glass, Halizon tablets, compact camping cup/cutlery/kit; boomerang, flint. I wanted to bring my atlatl but if we need one Jules can make it, he‘s pretty handy most ways.  Paper, pencils, pens.  Then my knitting supplies and sewing notions. I took a lot of yarn, but distributed over all the bags it seemed reasonable.   Aspirin and Jules’ prescriptions, first aid kit w/solar blanket, extra reading glasses, toiletries [tweezers, shampoo, comb, etc,], mirror.  3 pillowcases (Do I need pillow cases?  Probably not, but I never go any where without my own.)  Clock, snacks, dried fruit, honey, tea.  Several family photos.  Then, our personal selections:  Jules took his grandfather’s pocket watch.  I chose a hymnal and Bible.  I wistfully glanced at the crucifix on our bedroom wall and thought instantly of the faded spot it would leave if I brought it with me.  Jules put his arm around my shoulder.  From his bureau he removed another wooden crucifix.  It had been his parents’!  He’d kept it all these years, and now gave it to me.  He said, “I’m ready.  I’m with you all the way.  All the way!”
 
When they search the house, as I know they will, they’ll never know for sure that we were planning to leave forever.
 
            On the way to JJ and Linda’s in Canoga Park, we savored our last breath of California air, and the sights and sounds that we’d called home.  Again, calm and peace and a special closeness came over Jules and me.  We’re so together about this.  About the opportunity.  For us.  For our family.  Despite the risks, it’s now or never. 
 
            Before we could even get out of the car, Emily and Liza, with Karyn toddling behind, ran out from their modest old-fashioned ranch style home to greet us.  “Oh, Granny,” Emily shouted, “What a wonderful surprise!  We’re ready!  We’ll follow you anywhere.”  Emily only called me “Granny” when she was especially excited or very emotional.
 
             I told her, “We’ll make your birthday celebration ‘out-of-this-world.’”  Then I spoke softly to her, “I think that you have a lot on your mind lately.  Turning 17 isn’t easy in any era.  Peer pressure, school, boys, and friends.  We’ll just relax, and you can tell me all about it.”  Emily quietly replied, “Yes.  I really need that.”  Karyn was jumping up and down.
             “Tell me where we’re going.  Oh no, don’t spoil the surprise.  Tell me!  Don’t tell me!  Okay, just give me a hint……”   Liza stood there, taking it all in with an enormous grin from ear to ear on her face. 
 
             Jules and JJ were talking quietly in the front yard.  Linda came out, smiling but quite focused on the mission at hand.  We quickly stepped inside, and confirmed our plan.  The four of us were of one mind:  to leave; to build a better world elsewhere; freedom for our family, and our beliefs, and liberation from the UNWG. 
JJ took one last stroll through his home.  The cabinets he’d built in their bedroom.  How he’d decorated the girls’ rooms.  The warmth that emanated from each room that he and Linda had decorated with care.  That he and Linda had provided for their family.  He had a good enough job, a very good job as a Sales Rep, with the Chinese manufacturing company, but he still didn’t trust them or like the fact that he was working for foreigners.  At least he had good perks, especially the flier that was providing our getaway.
            A quick stop at the clinic dispensary by Linda, then secreting biotics and other necessaries into each suitcase, and she was ready to go.   The older girls brought their day packs loaded for a local excursion.  Now, into the flier, Linda and me in the back.  The adventure begins!
 
        As we approached the Hilton Satellite, I remembered hearing that except for the moon, it was the brightest object in the night sky.  Why, even at home we could sometimes see it slowly passing overhead. Getting nearer I could just make out the large outer ring when I said to Linda, “I wonder what’s to keep anyone from just running into the thing?”

     “Well, Mom”, she said, “We have been under either Earth-to-Orbit or Hilton Orbital control ever since JJ registered the flight plan. And little bugs like us aren’t even allowed close to the Resort itself. See those small dot like things just ahead of and behind the ring?”

     “Yes”,  Squinting I could just make barely them out.

     “That’s where we’re headed. They’re the docking hangers where we will leave the flier and catch a shuttle to the Resort.”

     “And so we did”

Not a Normal Day

OK then ….

My wife and the rest of our friends have gone ahead as tourists … the bare minumum mentioned, and nothing unlawful carried … I get to be the mule for the stuff the blue-helmet assholes would wet their pants over … fine. the fewer people involved, the less chances there are for a screw up.

The buggered transponder is working correctly … if a flight line inspector sees this, he is going to freak. I will be long gone by then, hopefully. At least 4 felonies here, not including the weapons, of course. Screw them. Inquiries will also be made when I fail to take off from a controlled field … about a week from now … heh.

All the stuff is loaded, survival gear, vacc suit, scuba gear, mechanics tool set, chainsaw, climbing rope, explosives, and hand tools … I wonder if anyone else considered bringing a pick and shovel? My container also has a transponder and cargo chute … paranoid, I guess.

And of course, the usual collection of “Conneticut Yankee” library data cells … everyone and his uncle was making noises about reference libaries … in fact, I’ll bet that net traffic probably prompted this clusterfuck. That Loompanics retrospective I downloaded probably put me on twenty different watch lists as well. I also downloaded 10 times as much entertainment … if someone wants to watch something other than “Basic Blacksmithing”, they can bloody well pay me for the privilege.

Getting to the spacecraft was surprisingly uneventful … heave to at the deliveries dock in a rented cargo lifter, wear a grey coverall, hang a correct looking badge from your pocket, and push around a massive shipboard container marked “Sanitation/Life Support”, and no one even sees you.

One wandering guard actually looked at my badge … and apparently didn’t look at the photograph … that, or I look a lot like Mickey Mouse.

Lots of empty space on the cargo deck … yea, it looks like planning went right out hte bloody airlock here … just keep acting like I belong here and am doing my job, and everyone else will look right through me … pick a place inside the liner where I can see the boarding gate … sit down, get out my iTablet, and look busy … make sure the Super Redhawk ( love that antique ) is loaded and reachable inside the tablet’s case.

And just wait to see if this shindig gets started without the federales inviting themselves.

Got ‘The Call’. E-mail actually.

I had to redistribute my belongings since we are more limited in luggage than originally planned, so the hard copies are out, but the Library fits along with a couple readers. Some paper notebooks, writing sticks for doodling.

Being forced to live frugally many times in my life, I am an old hand in gaming travel restrictions and such to get more on a plane in one bag than most do in two. I wore the bulky items like hiking boots, thermal hiking pants and a hat. It was cool so I could wear the warm coat. That saved a lot of space in the bags. So I could pack extra clothes of heavy arti-silk. Light and tough as steel for the same weight. Some extra shoes, sandals, etc.

Since most of what I bring to the colony, other than the bikes if they made it, is in my head, and my skill at researching in the Library, I had little to pack other than personal clothing and toiletries. Huh. I wonder how long I till I let the beard grow in? Data-stick for personal stuff like family videos and stuff. Memories. A few comfort items.

I authorized the stock transfer I had planned and posted it to issue 2 days later at start of business. Boy will Mary be surprised to find out she does not have a partner any more and owns the entire shop herself. But her family can use the extra income and I won’t be using it. I hope she keeps it going. I left a message for her saying I would not be in the next day and cover as best she can.
I called ahead and managed a ticket on a shuttle up to the Hilton. I got to the ‘port, no problems at security since I kept my passport with the travel authorization on me at all times. No problems with the Library, since it has been ‘re-labeled’ as a current copy. Knowing software is a good thing. Nothing suspicions in my luggage, since everything other than the library was sent ahead with the bikes.

I just hope the crates of bicycles I sent up a few weeks ago made it, along with the tools. It’ll suck if we do not have transportation intermediate between Flier’s and feet. RJH was a bit skeptical at first, but not needing to rely on fuel, power or animals won him over.

Not to mention the printer and paper RJH promised. It will be a pain if we cannot distribute hard copy of some items. Technology is great, but it needs power and can break. Good old paper can be read by starlight if need be.

Well, I’ll find out soon. I am about to board the Lancer. I wonder if everyone on board will be part of the migration. It should be an interesting group.

The message that it was time to leave came as quite a surprise. I thought I had enough time to pick and choose what I would pack. There won’t be any stores on this trip where I can run out and buy the items I forget. The real question I had was how do you prepare for the unpredictable? After all, the passengers on the first Mayflower were headed for Virginia.

Of course I brought a handheld computer with a data crystal that holds the entire Libary of Congress. But I also bought a few old books, a copy of the Bible, an organic gardening encyclopedia, an old army medic’s guide and my two volumes of Macauley’s The Way Things Work. I wanted to bring more books but could not on such short notice. I know I have everything I could want on the data crystal, but I actually like books and also know that books won’t break and need to be repaired. A couple of bowstrings are the strangest items. Of course I packed some warm clothing. Mostly thin layers, so that I can easily adjust for the climate we find on Alchibah. Also I brought a good basic toolkit and a first aid kit.

I wanted to bring some firearms and a Bowie knife, but had no way to get them through security, so I didn’t even try. Hopefully the pocket knife in my toolkit will be sufficient. Bringing the Bible turned out to be the greatest idea. The flunkie looking over my luggage had to find something to question, and it was the most obvious. I simply answered him by telling him that my mother had insisted that I bring it and remarked that you know how mothers are. Fortunately, he didn’t think to check my personal records to find that my parents died over a year ago in the Chicago riots. Since my parents are dead, the only person who might miss me would be my girlfriend, but she was far to blind to Earth’s problems to even consider bringing her along to Alchibah.

 Inconceivable! Not only has Imperial Earth gotten wind of our plans, that fool Hamilton has broadcast a rather dramatic change of plans. Hopefully, that won’t damage my own. Fortunately, I was ready ahead of time.  The smelter, mine, and mill blueprints are already concealed among in the lining my my oversized suitcase, as are my other plans. Everything is packed, my weapons, computer and and tailoring equipment are in my barely-legal backpack, and my clothing and survival gear is in my suitcase. I’ve already arranged for me and my crew to bypass security. Senator O’Connor was glad to exchange a security waiver for some… favors.

They’ll be waiting for my signal before they dock. If it’s a trap, the C-12 laced throughout my shuttle will take the whole damn station with me.

Alright. We’ve docked. I’ve always liked big structures, it’s fun wondering through everything. My crew reports no problems with security, apparently the good senator called ahead. Well, the more documentation the better. All of our bags are stowed, and we’re awaiting departure. Oh, great.

Security.

“You there! Name and purpose!”

I hate people, especially stupid people with badges. “Leave me alone, you self-inflated fool, I have a waiver from O’Connor.”

“I have reason to believe this is a forgery-”

“The F- you do!”

The meathead grabs his stick, and says, “You’re coming with me, let’s go.”

Wow, my luck sometimes does incredible things.

“There he is! Go ask him, boyo.”

This brilliant guard recognizes O’Connor and blinks. Then he goes over to speak with O’Connor while his lackeys wait here.

Sometimes, I love stupid people.

As soon as Officer Forgery points at me, O’Connor draws his pistol and shoots point-blank. Naturally, both remaining guards disappear. I decide it’s best to wait aboard the cruiser, rather than risk additional attention, and now’s probably the best time anyway. Before we get on, I remotely launch the beacon from my shuttle. Hopefully, it’ll be far enough away to look right when I’m activating it.

 Jack Of Blades.