SUNGLASESS AND ROCKETS Part 2: The Machine

LAST CALL

"Darwin, Gordo," he continued, "take the parallel duct to KJ-N-231 now. You only have four minutes left to leave the silo."

I was totally indifferent to the ultimatum. That strange laser had captured all my attention and now it was becoming a threat. It trembled as it described a plane. I drew back, although it didn't do much; the beam began to move in my direction.

I drew another step backwards and turned around halfway; I felt the railing bump against my hands.

"Watch out!" Darwin shouted.

The laser was getting closer. I arched myself as much as I could and tucked my paunch in. The beam reached me. I closed my eyes tight.

A green bright light dazzled my eyelids.

That was all. No burn, no cuts. I opened my eyes.

"Where's the laser?"

"It's gone," Darwin answered shaken. "It was only for satellite detection..."

"But—"

"Don't move!"

I stayed still. Again, with my left hand, I groped for the railing for support. All I found was air. I turned my head toward my pal in disconcert. He was holding his arms apart in order to keep his balance. I followed his example.

"The railing," he said.

At that moment, the sound of a thundering metallic impact spread throughout the vault.

"It came loose," he finished saying altered. "Damn, it came loose!"

I held my breath and looked down.

Bad idea. Over a distant burnt bottom laid a wrung piece of bridge. I got a head rush. The bridge rumbled and leaned downward. I bent my knees. I was paralyzed with my arms wide open. Nevertheless, it didn't take long before I reacted: the doctor's voice was noticeable over the loud screeching from the hatches and I began to turn slowly toward the rocket.

"Gordo! Gordo!"

I twisted my neck. The doctor appeared through the hatch of the Bat.

"I told you to wear the jet-pack!" He pushed a white package toward the edge. "Come on!" he shouted. "Come and get them!"

"The bridge is collapsing!" Darwin exclaimed behind me.

The doctor shook his head.

"Gordo! You are closer! Come on!" he yelled at me. "Come on!"

How could I explain to him that I could not move?

"Move!"

Tremulous, I turned right about. I began to bring myself near, switching glances between the grating and the ship's hatch. I stopped just where the span was getting difficult.

The doctor was taking out another white package.

"Get closer! Come on! Faster!"

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Now, I was walking through the twisted wires like a tight rope walker, but drunk. I ended up at a short distance from the rocket, right at the edge of the tangle of sharp iron.

"Stretch out your arms!" the doctor shouted.

I stretched them out promptly. The doctor threw a jet-pack.

"Catch!"

The package flew towards me with impetus. I managed to dodge it making a contortion; it would have knocked me down. The jet-pack fell sideways; unhesitatingly, I bent down to pick it up.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Darwin coming at a squat.

"Just on time!"

"There goes the other one!" the doctor was heard saying. "Catch!"

I turned around and looked up. The device was about to fall right on top of me: I tucked my elbows in. The heavy jet-pack hit my arms and went to the back, shoving me along.

"I've got it!" I heard Darwin say.

My back bumped against him and I recovered my balance. I turned around and grabbed the jet-pack.

I caught a glimpse of the abysmal bottom. But urgency ruled out vertigo. I got up at once and put on the jet-pack. I grasped the controls, which were leveled with my chest, and slowly rotated towards the hatchway.

I had to call to the doctor. We could not leave him there.

"Doctor Masterton!" I yelled. "Doctor!"

I realized that my cry resounded all over the vault. The deep murmur had ceased.

"The hatches have stopped!" Darwin informed. "They're stuck!"

"Doctor!" I urged. "We need to go!"

The doctor had disappeared from the hatchway of the Bat, but his voice was heard right away:

"Run!"

"We're not going to leave you! They'll come to get you!"

"Damn!" he replied. "They're disembarking on the south wing! Run!"