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smiled at Darv.
"It works better than I thought it would."
"What do you propose doing with it? Try to destroy the Challenger?
Because if you are thinking of that, Telson, you ought to know that it'll take
a lot more than this--'
Telson held up a hand. "It's insurance, Darv. I thought that it might be
a good idea to rig it up in the freight bay -- behind the ramp -- just in case
the guardian angels get too hospitable and don't open the excursion terminal
doors when we want to leave the Challenger. I may have promised that we would
all return to the ship but I said nothing about us leaving again."
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Telson's scheme seemed to sadden Darv.
"Don't you approve?"
"Oh, I approve. It's just that I thought that I was the one who was
supposed to think up all the bright ideas. God only knows what's going to
happen to your ego now."
The two men stared at other and then simultaneously burst out laughing.
* * * *
By noon the next day, when the shuttle's preparations for lifting into
orbit were nearly complete, the goat had sufficient time to turn what little
grass she had found into milk. Tidy even recovered two hives complete with
partly-filled honeycombs from the interior of one of the trees. There was
insufficient milk and honey for the adults but enough to ensure that the
children had a meal that was thirsty-quenching and nourishing.
While the final preparations for the lift-off were proceeding, Telson
took Sharna to one side. "I want you to double-check the analysis levels on
the resources computer," he said quietly.
"Why?"
"Because I'll want you to run sampling checks on all the food and
freshwater that the angels supply us with. I'm not taking chances with drugged
food and drink."
Sharna nodded. Telson's precautions were more than justified in the light
of their previous dealings with the guardian angels.
It was late afternoon when the shuttle was ready for its rendezvous with
the Challenger. The four settlers put Bran and Elka in Tidy's care in the
passenger cabin, and said goodbye to Charlie. The chimpanzee sensed that he
was being abandoned and sat by the shore line, sulking.
The four settlers took their seats on the flight deck. They were tense
and nervous. Despite a small drink each of distilled water collected from the
shuttle's dehumidifiers, their throats were dry and their tongues tended to
stick to the roofs of their mouths. None of them spoke unless required to as
part of the pre-flight checks.
"Ready for main engine burn," said Telson. "Strap in. I'm loading the
inertials for a steep climb."
Five minutes later all the creatures that had been released from the
shuttle stopped their scavenging and ran hither and thither in short-lived
panic to escape the silver apparition that was lifting skywards, balancing its
mass on a column of blazing exhaust gases.
Charlie didn't panic but sat on his rump, gazing upwards at the dwindling
speck that was spearheading the spreading trail of flame and thunder
accelerating into the blue.
* * * *
Astra and Sharna forgot their thirst as their astonished gaze traversed
the length of the great ship.
"That's the Challenger?" queried Sharna, disbelievingly.
"That's her," Darv replied, freeing his tongue from the roof of his
mouth.
"Where are the main control room viewports?" asked Astra.
Telson shrugged. "The angels have probably rebuilt the interior as well.
Certainly the interior of the excursion terminal was different."
There was a brief silence as Telson guided the shuttle to within fifty
yards of the excursion terminal's outer doors.
Angel One's voice broke over the speaker. "Welcome to the Challenger.
We're opening the outer doors now."
The speaker went dead. "Odd that we never hear Angel Two's voice," Sharna
commented. Darv gave her a quick glance: the same thought had just crossed his
mind.
A widening slit of brilliant light in the Challenger's hull indicated
where the excursion terminal doors were sliding open.
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Bran managed to slip away from Tidy. He tiptoed silently down the flight
deck's central aisle and stood quietly between Darv and Telson, staring at the
Challenger with large, expressionless eyes. Darv was uncomfortably aware of
the boy's presence and hoped that Telson would order him aft.
"He's not doing any harm," said Telson, not taking his eyes off the
square of light shining out from the excursion terminal.
Steered by brief bursts of thrust, the shuttle entered the huge terminal.
The doors were closing by the time the shuttle had turned round and was
pointing at them. The artificial gravity generators came on under the
terminal's floor and pulled the shuttle down with a gentle bump.
There was the muffled roar of air entering the terminal and creating an
atmosphere. Telson touched the controls that lowered the freight bay ramp thus
exposing the excursion terminal doors to the plasma discharge projector. He
also touched out the necessary commands that armed the projector so that it
could, if the need arose, be fired from the flight deck.
"It's nice to have you all aboard," announced Angel One's voice when
pressurization of the terminal was complete. "We are assuming that you are all
aboard, of course?"
Darv heard Astra's sharp intake of breath and could well guess the effect
that hearing an angels' voice terminal again had on her. "Why don't we hear
Angel Two's voice these days?" he inquired.
"A service unit is about to be sent in to you with a meal. Is there
anything special you would like?"
"Plenty of water for all six of us please, One," Telson answered. "Our
dehumidifiers have been giving trouble. We're very dry."
"It will be attended to," promised Angel One. "We have had a new crew
restaurant built during the refit. After your meal, we will discuss our mutual
future."
"We'll eat here," said Telson firmly. "In the excursion terminal."
"Very well. . . It is already being arranged," was Angel One's smooth
reply.
Sharna gave Astra an encouraging smile. "I feel exactly the same, Astra -
hearing those terminals echoing at us again."
A service android appeared. It was a simple portaging unit carrying a
folding table and six chairs which it set up near the foot of the shuttle's
boarding steps before disappearing through a bulkhead hatchway.
At Telson's insistence, the four put on PD weapons before descending the
steps, leaving Tidy to guard the flight deck. Telson and Darv were in the
lead, followed by the children, with Sharna and Astra bringing up the rear. At
the slightest sign of trouble, they planned to form a defensive circle, with
Bran and Elka in the centre, and fight their way back onto the shuttle.
"They look fine, healthy children," Angel One's voice observed from a
voice terminal.
Elka was frightened of the strange place and clung protectively to Astra.
Bran showed no fear and took a marked interest in his surroundings. He studied
every detail of the excursion terminal's interior. It was as if being on the
Challenger had awakened something within him.
"I suppose we all might as well sit down," said Telson.
They took their seats at the table and waited.
"Dinner coming?" asked Elka hopefully.
"Soon," said Astra.
"With lots to drink?"
"With plenty to drink," Astra confirmed.
The incongruity of the situation amused Darv. "Well," he said, grinning
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