Fighting Gravity (11 page)

I snorted. “They use robots to do that sort of thing.”

“I know,” he said, his mouth quirking.

“But didn’t you want to do something else when you were growing up? I mean, this wasn’t what you dreamed of doing, is it?”

He hesitated. “My dreams weren’t realistic. This is. In fact, I am very lucky to be here. I’m from a mining colony on Dessas. Everyone I grew up with is working in the mines now. It almost defies belief that I have this position. Yes, I’m very happy about my job.”

I thought about that. “I shouldn’t be here either,” I said. He looked at me, waiting. “I’m an unclass from the worst part of Mexico City. We don’t get jobs at the palace.”

“But you were chosen for the Intellectual Complex,” he countered. “People like
that
do indeed end up at the palace.”

“But that’s not the life I was born to.”

“Of course it is. What got you chosen for the IIC, if not the abilities you were born with?”

“Well then, your abilities are what got you here too.”

“No,” he smiled. “No, I’m here because of my connections. My uncle’s employer got promoted to a job here on Earth and when I came of age, he helped me get here and find employment.”

“Well, maybe things will keep going well for you and you’ll get a better placement soon.”

“There are few better placements than to a permanent appointee of the emperor.” I grimaced at his reference to my permanent status, but he misunderstood. “If you are unhappy with me, Mr. Dawes, you need only speak to the Head Steward and someone else will be assigned to you.”

“No, no, I’m not unhappy with you. I kind of like you. It’s just…Never mind, it’s nothing.”

His eyebrow twitched but he said nothing. In a rush of loneliness, I burst out, “I don’t want to be here, myself. It’s nothing to do with you.”

He raised his eyebrows but didn’t ask. I wasn’t sure if that was because he was being polite or because he didn’t want to know. But I pushed ahead. “I don’t belong here. I’m supposed to be at the IIC.”

“Isn’t this a more prestigious assignment than the IIC?”

“What do I care about prestige?” I countered. “I don’t know anyone here. My life and my work are at the IIC. I’d do better work there with Dr. Okoro than I will here all alone. I don’t belong here. I don’t want to be here.”

“I miss my family and my home as well, no matter how happy I am to be here.” His expression was sympathetic, but that made it worse.

“I’m tired,” I said. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself by snapping at him, when I’d already made myself look like a whiny baby. “I’m just going to go to sleep before long. You can go. You don’t need to wait around for me.”

He nodded, his expression neutral. “Goodnight, Mr. Dawes.”

I scowled at his back as he left the room.

-

I had only those two days at the palace before it came time to board the ship and embark on the year-long tour. Jonathan led me into a new area of the palace, in the Eastern Quarter. We emerged from the building onto a huge open lawn and there, on what must have been a temporary landing platform, was an enormous spaceship.

The ship was spectacular to look at, long and sleek and gleaming. Jonathan and I boarded in the belly of the ship and maneuvered through lifts and hallways. The room I’d been assigned was large and comfortable, not at all what I’d expected, and I felt guilty taking up so much space in a way I hadn’t at the massive palace. Once again, there were books in the sitting room, and I thought it was odd I should find that comforting.

It was an interior room, so no window, though I think I would have been embarrassed to have one. Where a window might have been there was a tall, thin glass piece, filled with liquids of different colors and viscosities floating up or down or streaming sideways, combining or separating in response to some stimuli.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“This is a replica of a piece of art that was designed for the emperor, when he commissioned the lab on the ship. The emperor asked for another to be made for you, as well.”

I was baffled. “Why?”

“He thought you would appreciate it even more than he could.”

I did, but that still didn’t explain why he’d commissioned one for me—why it had even occurred to him to do so.

The instructions came to secure ourselves for liftoff. Jonathan showed me how to activate the localized grav/anti-grav unit on each chair in the sitting area, so that the effect of liftoff and gravity changes on the passengers could be blunted. I was crestfallen. I don’t know what I’d expected but I wanted to be able to feel the liftoff, not the diluted-for-your-comfort experience. I stood there, disappointed and seriously considering not getting in the chair at all.

Jonathan was watching me and, after a moment he added, “As an alternative, or in case of unit failure, there are also safety restraints built into each chair,” Jonathan said.

I grinned at him and his expression softened just a bit into what I was beginning to think was his on-duty version of a smile. He showed me where to access them and how to strap myself in, and then started to leave the room.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“To my own quarters.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling foolish for asking.

“Unless you’d prefer company?”

“Not if you don’t want. I mean, I was just, I was just wondering.”

He hesitated a moment. “Mr. Dawes, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to stay.” I almost asked him if he really meant it or if he was just humoring me, but I didn’t. I was glad for the company.

We talked while we waited. I learned that he was twenty-three and had two brothers and a sister, all younger, who still lived on his home colony. I told him as little of myself as I could without being obvious about it. I think he realized what I was doing, though, and skirted away from my history when I did.

I felt the change before I heard it. A low thrumming I felt in my feet on the floor and seeping up through my whole body as the engines built up energy. I caught my breath as the buildup became audible even through the sound dampeners.

The sensations of that experience, of leaving Earth for the first time, washed over me and I felt, saw, heard nothing else for several long minutes as the ship was released and energy became force, force drove velocity. I closed my eyes to better see the way the physical forces were harnessed and mastered. We conquered the powerful drag of planetary gravity against our insignificant mass and hurtled into the void.

My weight pressed against the soft cushions of the chair and I felt as if I were being pulled into it, merged with it, until Earth’s gravity field was behind us and the micro-gravity of space took hold. The sensation lasted for only a moment before the ship’s artificial gravity kicked in and pulled back. I sank back into the chair, having barely lifted out of it. I wanted to cry. Couldn’t I have had just another moment or two?

Jonathan hadn’t spoken for some time. I blushed, feeling rude for having asked him to stay but then ignoring him, but he didn’t seem to mind.

After dinner, a servant summoned me to the emperor. This was now twice in as many nights. Was it about something I’d said the night before? That stupid ring?

I was led to where the emperor was talking with the ship’s captain in one of the hallways.

“Good evening, Mr. Dawes. I see you survived the lift-off.” He walked as he spoke, gesturing for me to accompany him.

“It was an incredible experience, Excellence. This is a nice ship you have.”

“Thank you. It’s not a new ship, there was no time for that. But many things were upgraded, the engines included. They’re the best of the best, I’m told. I thought about you during the lift-off. I wondered what you’d make of it.”

“You did?” I asked, stunned.

“Is there something wrong with that?” he asked, his mouth twisted in what looked like amusement but was probably something more dangerous to me.

“No, sir. I guess not…”

“Does it bother you?” He seemed to be teasing me again.

“Some,” I answered.

He stopped. “Why?”

“Because I’m afraid of you.”

He laughed, and started down the hallway again. But after a sideways glance at my face, he quieted. “You really mean that?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” His answer was soft, subdued, even. I got the distinct impression that I’d hurt his feelings.

“You must get that all the time.”

“I do,” he answered, but didn’t look at me. I was more and more sure that I’d offended him somehow.

“So why should it matter, then, Excellence?”

He thought for a moment. “I don’t know. I should be used to it. Of course, no one ever comes out and says it in so many words. It’s a bit of a shock to hear it confirmed like that.”

He stopped again, facing me, a slight furrow between his eyes that I would have called uncertainty, even vulnerability, if I hadn’t known who he was. “Why are you afraid of me?”

“Who wouldn’t be afraid? You can do anything you want with my life and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.”

The furrow deepened and he waited, as if I hadn’t explained myself at all.

“You uprooted my life a couple of weeks ago, who knows what you might do tomorrow?”

“You mean, you didn’t want this assignment?” he asked.

Apparently I wasn’t frightened enough to keep my mouth shut. “I want to be here,” I pointed to the ship around us, “but I didn’t want to be reassigned, no.”

“Mr. Dawes...” He hesitated. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

I shrugged but didn’t look at him.

“Would you like to be assigned back to the IIC?”

“Yes, Excellence.”

“Then you will be.” He started walking again, gesturing to me to accompany him. My stomach was jittery. I couldn’t believe what I’d just said. But he wasn’t reacting like an angry sovereign. He was acting like just another guy whose feelings were hurt.

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” I tried.

He turned to me. “Actually, you have no idea how much I appreciate your honesty.”

There was no reason for me to believe he was lying or just being diplomatic—and I couldn’t imagine why he would try to spare my feelings—but that didn’t make me feel much better. I was still on edge, certain I’d said far too much.

We walked along in silence for a while longer before I asked, “Are we going somewhere in particular?”

“Yes,” he answered still looking straight ahead. But after a moment he glanced at me sideways with an almost-mischievous smile.

I was still trying to process that when we came to a door. He slid his finger over the scan pad and, when the door opened, he entered.

I caught a glimpse inside. My knees locked and I stopped. For several long moments I forgot to breathe.

It was the lab. Except, it was the most fabulous thing I’d ever seen. Calling it simply a lab was almost a slur. The far wall and a good portion of the left wall were one large window. The smooth, slate gray floor seemed to flow into the void itself. My heart climbed into my throat—the first glance at the room made it appear as if it were open to space.

Lab tables lined the other walls. On every surface was a succession of instruments, devices, and other equipment, laid out like a feast. Everything was new, unused, and they gleamed and sparkled like scattered diamonds.

Near the window were a couple of couches, set facing the universe.

I stepped into the room. Turning to the table on the right, I ran my hand reverently over the first, pristine piece of equipment there. Without lifting my hand, I walked along, letting my fingers flow over each table and everything on it.

As I followed the right wall, I couldn’t help but cast a look, from time to time, away from the man-made objects and out the vast window into the expanse beyond. When my casual inventory brought me to the transparent wall I let my hand trail across it, to the very middle point. I stood so close I could feel the chill on my nose and cheeks. I put my hands at the level of my face and leaned even closer, so that all I could see was the void beyond and my own hands in my peripheral vision. It was like having nothing between me and the universe itself.

I don’t know how long I’d been standing there when a sound from behind brought me back to myself. I spun around and felt all the blood drain from my face. I’d just turned my back on the emperor.

Turned my back on him and ignored him for no less than ten minutes. The fear I’d felt before was nothing to the terror I felt now. I closed the distance and dropped to a knee in front of him, bowing my head. “Please forgive me, Excellence, I forgot myself.”

He laughed. I looked up at him in shock. He reached down and with a hand around my upper arm started tugging me to my feet with short, quick pulls. “Get up, please. Please,” he repeated through his laughter, and finally I rose.

“Mr. Dawes, I’ve given and received many gifts in my life but I have never seen anyone appreciate one quite as much as you seem to.”

“Gift?”

“Your lab,” he said, gesturing around the room.

“
My
lab?”

He laughed again. “Who else’s would it be?”

“Yours,” I said, trying not to sound as if I was explaining something elementary to a child.

“Oh, it’s all mine, isn’t it? Who cares about that? This is your lab. I have no use for it. I do hope, though, that you’ll let me visit from time to time to observe, even to assist if I promise not to get in the way or mess anything up.”

“Of course you can come as often as you like.” He nodded as if I’d just granted permission rather than stated the obvious.

“Well I’d love to stay but I’m afraid I don’t have the time tonight. Thank you, Mr. Dawes, for your time and your frank conversation. I look forward to speaking with you again.”

“Thank you, Your Excellence,” I said, as he left.

I turned to Jonathan, who was watching me. “Everything I do or say when I’m around him is idiotic and brainless. How long do you think it’s going to be before he has me put out an airlock?”

Jonathan laughed. “While I wouldn’t disagree with your assessment, I suspect the emperor likes you. Or at least finds you entertaining.”