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Breathing Space [MultiFormat]
eBook by Tim Kane
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$0.80 |
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$0.68 |
eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: Cate is a deep space engineer who faces deadly danger on a routine basis. Until today, she has shrugged off the constant specter of sudden disaster. Today will be very different. Together with Felix, Cate repairs downed satellites and removes solar system litter. Space can be as deadly in Earth's backyard as in the farthest cosmic reaches. Outside the confines of the "vault," the ship's protected zone, Cate and Felix risk exposure to solar flares and severe radiation. When a junk satellite's fuel explodes, Cate hurtles into the empty void of space with only her spacesuit to protect her. She has no idea which direction leads back to her ship. Her air supply is dwindling. And worse, a burst of solar radiation is on its way. She struggles to reach the safety of the vault, but what is the cost of her survival?
eBook Publisher: Clocktower Books and Far Sector SFFH (magazine), Published: Far Sector SFFH, 2004
Fictionwise Release Date: July 2004
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [193 KB], eReader (PDB) [30 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [18 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [17 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [89 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [89 KB], hiebook (KML) [93 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [72 KB], iSilo (PDB) [15 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [19 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [59 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [28 KB]
Words: 5300
Reading time: 15-21 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
Unfamiliar puddles of light lurked in the corners like cancer. Cate felt she was inside an enormous egg: unborn. Flat as bone, only the curve of the room gave the illusion of depth. Shadows hid under folds of seats and slits from the installed machinery, not daring to expose themselves. She knew, this room, the vault, was numb--an island cut off from the body of the vessel--connected only by a slender artery of cable and conduit. Squeezing her body through was like birth, or as Cate thought of it, drowning in the womb.
She sailed to a lighted panel, afloat on a white wall. She concentrated on the screen, hoping it would block out the room. Pressing at the buttons, she found her gloved fingers were bulky. They missed and directed the computer to System Sealing. The icon flashing showed an animated display of the valve closing. She attacked the cancel button, pushing it three times before the screen cleared. "Relax." Her gaze trespassed onto the wall. The shell of the room radiated what was intended to be a soothing glow. It felt hollow. Only the curve of a seat kept her eyes from becoming lost in the ambient light. She directed herself towards the monitor. Her hand tapped the button that brought up System Integrity. Numbers and categories filled the screen. She focused, not allowing her mind to stray. Temperature. Air Mixture. Pressure. Illumination. Her hand paused over the last entry. She just wanted to get it over with and get out of here. Her breathing stormed inside her ears, contrasting the silence outside. "Power level." Speaking helped. She read through the remaining items, which all checked within admissible levels. Touching the Maintenance Sign Out button brought up a verification prompt; the date and time were listed under the maintenance schedule, and the system waited for her response. "Cate Stockhart." The screen confirmed her entry, then flashed back to ready position. She urged herself to go. Waves of breathing roared in her head. Hesitation. She closed her eyes, and envisioned spinning around and heading for the conduit. Gripping the edge of the monitor, she spun herself around. The fluid in her sinuses sloshed--a sensation akin to inflating a balloon in one's head. She looked. The cavity of the exit valve was directly before her. Pushing off, Cate kept her eyes on the murky circle. Two meters. One meter. She clutched the rim. Feet went first. The rest of her followed, propelled by the push she'd given against the rim. The sinuous pipe undulated; liquid fuel burdened the outside supports. Cate wriggled through the last few meters, shoving against the various collapsible segments. Her body shot out into the corridor, which was more conventionally lit. She wouldn't look at the aperture, keeping her gaze on the intercom. She pressed talk. "It's done." There was a moment's pause where Cate wondered if he'd got her message. "I love you," Felix came through, sounding flippant. "Next time you do it." * * * *Felix tried to sit upright when she came through the door. He flashed that famous grin over his shoulder as if to say, "You didn't catch me." He waggled an eyebrow then turned back to the display; the glow reflected against his face, painting alternating shades of amber and emerald. "Glad you could make it," he said as she took the seat next to his. Cate ignored the comment. He wanted a rise out of her, and she wouldn't give him the pleasure. "Are we there?" He tilted his head and stared at her. She waited for a response. "Okay," he said, a little disappointed. He put a finger against the glass, where stars appeared as flecks of glistening sand. A single grain sparkled intensely. "Another downed satellite, another dollar." "And a million miles from nowhere. Great. Lets get this over with." She started to tap the buttons on the console, pulling up read-outs of their position He leaned back in his seat, flopping his head on one side to look at her. He looked completely natural in this way, like a cat stretched into a position that threatens to topple at any second but doesn't. "Why do you hate me?" "Oh shut up." She knew he was being smart again. "I don't." She gave him sympathy, but this only encouraged him. "We never talk anymore Catie. It's all business with you." He gave a wry smile. "I spend all day piloting, the least I deserve is a little attention once in a while." "All right." She leaned over and punched him in the shoulder. "Now suit up why don't you." The smile broadened, creating little wrinkles at the corner of his cheeks. "Going in there bothers you." She fixed her eyes on the controls, watching the meters tick down towards their target. "Come on, just admit it," he pushed, half jokingly. "No, it doesn't." She hammered her finger into a button, switching displays. "Then you take the walk." Cate jerked her head up. He was reclining, a smirk on his face. "You go," he said She clenched her jaw, her body was still on edge. "Fine. At least it'll get done right." She hopped out of the chair and headed for the hatchway. Felix caught her by the arm. "Cate. You don't have to prove anything." She stared down, willing him to let her go. He took his hand away and held up a pair of fingers shaped like a V. "Peace." It never ended with him.
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