Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
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Pajit off <strong>the</strong> station. Then <strong>the</strong> flashbacks from Peru started, <strong>and</strong> when<br />
I shoved those down I found myself remembering <strong>the</strong> look I'd seen on<br />
Jimmy's face when he came home <strong>and</strong> found his Dad in bed crying at<br />
four in <strong>the</strong> afternoon. I finally dozed off for a few minutes <strong>and</strong> woke<br />
up tangled, sweaty <strong>and</strong> gasping, with <strong>the</strong> walls closing in around me.<br />
The techs tell us that <strong>the</strong> air circulation on <strong>the</strong> Mount is fine, but most<br />
of us get <strong>the</strong> phobes anyway, <strong>and</strong> a few even jam doors open while<br />
<strong>the</strong>y sleep. Suffocation is one of our two constant nightmares--<strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r is explosive decompression.<br />
I hit <strong>the</strong> lights <strong>and</strong> sat up. I needed a drink.<br />
Luckily Ben was still awake <strong>and</strong> he invited me to his cabin. When<br />
I got <strong>the</strong>re, I peered around curiously. His walls were postered with<br />
paintings <strong>and</strong> sculptures; famous ones probably. Clo<strong>the</strong>s were tossed<br />
on <strong>the</strong> floor <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> unmade bed. Ben still wore his st<strong>and</strong>ard issue<br />
jumpsuit, very rumpled <strong>and</strong> stretched tight across <strong>the</strong> stomach. He<br />
didn't seem any more drunk than earlier, but it was always hard to tell.<br />
"About that drink..." I said.<br />
He pulled open a drawer under his bunk <strong>and</strong> took out a plastiche<br />
flask. I opened it <strong>and</strong> sniffed. It smelled like schnapps <strong>and</strong> industrial<br />
waste. I took a large burning swallow <strong>and</strong> passed it back. Ben lifted<br />
<strong>the</strong> flask ceremoniously.<br />
"To <strong>the</strong> real Scottish mo<strong>the</strong>rs' milk, nectar of <strong>the</strong> gods, <strong>and</strong> may<br />
we taste it again soon," he intoned, <strong>the</strong>n drank.<br />
I sank into <strong>the</strong> drop seat, eyes watering, trying to suppress a cough<br />
but savoring <strong>the</strong> wonderful glow in my stomach that I'd pay like hell<br />
for in a few hours. I didn't care. I drank some more.<br />
"To what do I owe <strong>the</strong> honor of this visit?"<br />
"Pajit."<br />
"Ah. Your campaign not going well?"<br />
"If he doesn't get death, he gets a lifetime in orbit for something he<br />
never did."<br />
"I take it you didn't consider that?"<br />
I shook my head, feeling stupid.<br />
"And Geir..."<br />
"Not his problem." It came out more savagely than I had intended<br />
<strong>and</strong> I felt ashamed. I would have done <strong>the</strong> same in Geir's shoes. I<br />
asked: "You know anything about immigration?"<br />
Ben leaned back against <strong>the</strong> wall, <strong>and</strong> raised an eyebrow.<br />
"Not a great deal, old man, but enough to tell you that his only<br />
hope would be a sponsorship <strong>and</strong> that is, to understate <strong>the</strong> case,<br />
unlikely. I don't know about Canada, but E.U. sponsors have to<br />
guarantee financial support for ten years, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y're liable for fines<br />
50