Snippet #1119846

Six Days Before Landing


Colt knelt next to the chair in his fathers office. It had to be the fourth time it had broken in the last few weeks. He held the parts together with one hand and carefully hammered a nail through the pieces with the other. His father, John, had spent most of the past week in the infirmary. From what he heard his health was declining. He Finished with the nail and wrapped the protective, hard plastic around the stem of the chair once again. Hopefully no other parts would fall off of it before the landing.

At that thought a small smile kept across Colts lips. They were finally going to feel the earth under their feet and feel the sun and the rain and experience all these things that they had only heard and learned about. It had been five generations since the ship had last been on solid ground. There would be a lot of work for every one. Mostly the carpenters, hunters, and gatherers. Though there was no doubt in any of their minds that many of them might not adjust well to the new environment and fall ill. In that case the nurses would be in high demand.

He left the office and headed down the hall to the cafeteria. There were many people rushing around and trying to get things done. Only yesterday Colt had heard the gardeners discussing the check of the seeds that they had never planted but had saved for the day that was very close at hand. He made it into the cafeteria and grabbed a coffee in a can from one of the heated vending machines. He popped the top open and took a sip. Perfect, like always. He was about to sit when a messenger ran up to him. This one was probably in training from how young she looked.

“Colt! You must come to the infirmary quickly.” With those words the girl was off again and Colt wasn’t to far behind her. He darted around people and tried to keep calm. He knew the only reason would be his father. Maybe he was….maybe…. He wiped whatever thought from his head before he could think it. He arrived and was taken immediately to where his mother was. Her hands covered her face and she was crying. He knew from the look on the doctors face that his father had passed on. He wrapped his arms around his mother and held her tight. Instead of braking down he told her they would make it through the tragedy.