“Toshiba has put us all back on the duty roster.”
“Sucks being you but how does that affect me?”
“They want to climb down into the crater.”
“And I’m the only qualified guide,” Tim stated.
“You got it, pal.”
“I just finished a climb.”
“Sorry, bud, but you’re on the duty roster.”
“Not according to the employee hand book.”
“All right, you’ve twisted my arm. I’m authorized to offer you triple time.”
“Triple time?”
“The owners of that ship paid a very large sum of money to Toshiba. They expect full use, and I do mean full use, of these facilities.”
“All right, all right, I’ll do it. How long do I have to get ready for them?”
“They’ll touch down at five, they’d like to leave for the crater by six.”
“No way.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look, I just got back from a climb. The batteries in my communicator are dead. The fuel for my jet packs is spent. What the hell am I supposed to do if there’s an emergency?”
“Come on, you never call for back up.”
“I don’t usually work with tourists.”
“These guys’ll know what they’re doing, they were on their way to climb the mountains of Titan.”
“So, they’re experienced climbers, so what? This isn’t Earth, these guys are used to gravity. You know how dangerous tourists are out here.”
“What’s the worst thing they could do? Fall? Big deal. The crater isn’t that deep, with the gravity we have they’d be in more danger of dying from boredom than anything else.”
“Just the same, I’d feel a lot better about this if I was properly equipped. Right now the only things I’ve got enough of are rope, pitons, and propellent charges for the p-gun. If something goes wrong I’m screwed.”
“What do you need?”
“The minimum that regs’ll lets me get away with is a functioning communicator and one jet pack.”
“Let me check my computer. I’ll see what I’ve got.” Tim waited for a moment. “I can get you a battery for your communicator and a jet pack.”
“Simmons, if you weren’t offering me triple time, I’d tell you to stuff it. Can you have supply load up the tram for me?”
“Sure, you need anything else?”
“No, I think that’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Ross, I owe you one.” Simmons broke the connection before Tim could reply.
“I guess that means you’ll be leaving,” Sam’s delicate voice said from the other side of the bed.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Just one of the hazards of dating a space jock.”
“I’ll be back before noon. Sleep in and when I’m back we can grab lunch together.”
“Only if you promise to think about coming home with me next month.”
Tim bit back his quick reply. Sam knew how he felt about going back to earth. She could earn a good living planet-side as a massage therapist, but what was Tim supposed to do, mountain climbers weren’t exactly in demand down there. “I’ll think about it. See you in a few hours.”
Tim leaned over and kissed Sam. She pulled him close and said, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Tim whispered. Then he got out of bed, dressed quickly, and let himself out of the room.
Dragging a comb through his hair, Tim made his way down to the mess for a cup of coffee and a quick breakfast. His mind drifted back to Sam. Why did she have to be so set on going back to Earth? God, the argument had gotten bitter last night. Tim tried to push the memory of it away, but it refused to go.
“Tim, I have to go home. I haven’t seen my family in five years, I was only supposed to be out here for six months, then I met you . . . . ”
“So it’s my fault.”
“Of course not. I stayed out here longer than I’d planned to because I love you, it was my decision and I don’t regret it. If I had it to do over again, I would. But now it’s time for me to go home. I’d really like for you to come with me.”
“Sam, I never fit in on Earth. All that corporate shit is just too much for me. I wouldn’t be happy.”
“I am going.”
“Don’t, please.”
“Tim, I need to go home. I need to feel real sunshine on my skin again.”
“You said you liked it out here.”
“And I do. But I want to be with my family. Do you realize we’ve never met each other’s families. Never.”
“What can I say. I don’t want to lose you, but I hate it down there. Pollution, crowds, bad weather, who needs it?”
“I do.”
“Sam—”
“No, Tim, I’m not staying. I’ve booked passage for next month.”
“You did what?”
“I booked passage home. The agency is holding a second ticket for me in case you change your mind, but I’m leaving.”
“How could you do this to me?”
“I’ve given you ample warning, you just haven’t been listening.”
From there things had gotten ugly and Tim regretted it now. Sam was everything he’d ever hoped for, thoughtful, charming, loving, passionate, the list could go on and on. Tim thought back wistfully to their first year together. “So many people out here are motivated by the money,” Sam had said. “I love it that you’re here to climb. Money doesn’t make your world go round, do you know how rare that is and how much I admire you for it?”
Then why the hell do you want to leave me? Why can’t we have it like it used to be, like before you thought about going back home to earth? On their first anniversary Sam had given Tim a single red rose imported from earth. It was in full bloom, Tim knew the cost had to have been extraordinary. Even now the thought of those early days could bring a smile to his face. Why did they have to end? Why can’t she be happy staying out here with me?
Tim finished his breakfast and pushed thoughts of Sam from his mind. It was time to go and meet his climbers. He got to the reception area just after the climbers. They already had their climbing gear on over their space suits. Tim approached them.
“Hi, and welcome to Toshiba Recreational Facility. I’m Tim Ross, I’ll be taking you out on your climb.” Tim handed them each a list of climb rules. “These are the climb rules. The two most important rules are follow my instructions, and, don’t, under any circumstances, jump. You can familiarize yourself with the rest of the rules on the ride out.”
The climbers each introduced themselves to Tim. With the skill of a longtime tour guide, he memorized their names. They were Jeff, Hank, Erica, and Luke. After shaking their hands, Tim directed them to the tram and they started the trip to the crater.
He pointed out land marks as they passed them. “One thing you’ll want to keep in mind, this asteroid is only ten kilometers