The Colors of Space - Page 58/108

The crews of repairmen were working down in the hull, and the

Swiftwing was a hell of clanging noise and shuddering heat.

Maintenance was working overtime, but the rest of the crew, with nothing

to do, stood around in the recreation rooms, tried to play games, cursed

the heat and the dreary dimness through the viewports, and twitched at

the boiler-factory racket from the holds.

Toward the end of the third day, the biologist reported air, water and

gravity well within tolerable limits, and Captain Vorongil issued

permission for anyone who liked, to go outside and have a look around.

Bart had a sort of ship-induced claustrophobia. It was good to feel

solid ground under his feet and the rays of a sun, even a green sun, on

his back. Even more, it was good to get away from the constant presence

of his shipmates. During this enforced idleness, their presence

oppressed him unendurably--so many tall forms, gray skins, feathery

crests. He was always alone; for a change, he felt that he'd like to be

alone without Lhari all around him.

But as he moved away from the ship, Ringg dropped out of the hatchway

and hailed him. "Where are you going?"

"Just for a walk."

Ringg drew a deep breath of weariness. "That sounds good. Mind if I come

along?"

Bart did, but all he could say was, "If you like."

"How about let's get some food from the rations clerk, and do some

exploring?"

The sun overhead was a clear greenish-gold, the sky strewn with soft

pale clouds that cast racing shadows on the soft grass underfoot,

fragrant pinkish-yellow stuff strewn with bright vermilion puff-balls.

Bart wished he were alone to enjoy it.

"How are the repairs coming?"

"Pretty well. But Karol got his hand half scorched off, poor fellow.

Just luck the same thing didn't happen to me." Ringg added. "You know

that Mentorian--the young one, the medic's assistant?"

"I've seen her. Her name's Meta, I think." Suddenly, Bart wished the

Mentorian girl were with him here. It would be nice to hear a human

voice.

"Oh, is it a female? Mentorians all look alike to me," Ringg said, while

Bart controlled his face with an effort. "Be that as it may, she saved

me from having the same thing happen. I was just going to lean against a

strip of sheet metal when she screamed at me. Do you think they can

really see heat vibrations? She called it red-hot."

They had reached a line of tall cliffs, where a steep rock-fall divided

off the plain from the edge of the mountains. A few slender, drooping,

gold-leaved trees bent graceful branches over a pool. Bart stood

fascinated by the play of green sunlight on the emerald ripples, but

Ringg flung himself down full length on the soft grass and sighed

comfortably. "Feels good."