Journey to the Heart of Luna - Andy Frankham-Allen [21]
“Do not concern yourself too much; I anticipate that you will become a lot more haggard before this mission is complete.”
Chapter Three
Arrival on the Moon
1.
EXCERPT 3.
“Beyond the Inner Worlds: The Journal of Professor Nathanial Stone” (Published July 2011, by Chadwick Press.)
Saturday 13th April, 1889.
It has been over an hour since I left the bridge, and in that time I have visited the sickbay to get my wounds properly treated. It was a pleasant surprise to find the doctor there, one Robert Beverly, a formal man. Stout, resolute and very Welsh. His prognosis; remain chipper and the wound will heal in no time. It is refreshing to find such people on the Sovereign; I was beginning to fear that the ship was crewed by blackguards. Not that I have any disrespect for Staff Engineer Boswell and his crew in the engine room, but it does seem to be that perhaps Captain Folkard allows his crew a little too much informality. The British Empire is founded on strong character, strength of purpose, rules and propriety. Folkard insists he runs a tight ship, but I have so far seen little evidence of this. That is not to say that the crew of the Sovereign are incompetent; quite the opposite is true. But they could do with a stronger hand.
I have since returned to my cabin. Well, I call it my cabin, but of course I still share it with several ratings, one of whom I have discovered is Mister Stevenson – he was just finishing getting changed into a clean uniform when I arrived. Short he may be, probably no taller than five and a half feet, but he is well developed. He has gentle eyes, eyes that smiled at me as soon as I entered, despite his formal salute. As if I, an ersatz professor, deserve to be saluted by a member of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy! We barely had time to exchange pleasantries before other ratings arrived for their own rest-bit.
We stood there in an awkward silence for several moments while the ratings went about their business, before Stevenson placed his cap on his head and returned to duty. The newly arrived ratings barely spared me a glance, instead they quickly undressed, folding their uniforms neatly, and climbed into their cots. No doubt the Sovereign is soon to be a very active place, and the ratings knew to get their sleep while they could. For my own part I barely noticed them, moving about the cabin as quietly as I possibly could, changing into something a little more respectful, my mind taken up with thoughts of Stevenson.
I am keen to sit down and talk to that young man more. It is quite possible that I shall not be returning to Earth for some time, and it is agreeable to see that I may have found…made a friend aboard ship.
I am now, once again, sitting on the edge of my cot waiting. I do not know this ship enough to just walk around it unguided, besides which I suspect Captain Folkard would not appreciate his guest acting as if he owns the ship. And so I wait, and hope that when my guide arrives he does not awake my sleeping cabin mates. I should think that they would not be wholly appreciative of being so awaken.
2.
NATHANIAL DID not have to wait long. Stevenson returned presently, careful not to disturb his fellow ratings, and informed Nathanial that he was needed on the bridge. Nathanial’s curiosity was instantly piqued. Being asked to the bridge was one thing, but to be needed was quite another. He promptly left the cabin, and followed Stevenson through the ship. He entered a busy bridge, and noted with interest that this time Folkard did not dismiss Stevenson, who instead stood back and waited, standing at ease by the now closed door.
“Ah, Professor,” said Folkard, and motioned Nathanial over. “Would you care to identify the object below?”
For a brief moment Nathanial glanced at the steel grating beneath his feet, then realised the captain meant outside the ship. So he walked past the coxswain and joined Folkard. He peered out of the glass that formed the viewing port from which the helmsman was able to direct the path of the ship. He nodded at Bedford, who was standing next