The Wandering Planet: And Other Short Stories

By Bernard Stocks

In these ten tales we travel from the present day to the 25th century and from Earth to the far reaches of the Universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481799874

Bernard Stocks

This is the tenth science fiction novel from retired civil servant Bernard Stocks. Originally from Glasgow, he now lives in East Kilbride in Lanarkshire.

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© 2013 by Bernard Stocks. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/25/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9986-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-9987-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

THE WANDERING PLANET

AIDAN AND EVA

THE SHOPLIFTER

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT

THE BIG BROTHER MYSTERY

DEATH SENTENCE

THE ISLAND

PINPRICKS

THE LAND BENEATH

FINALE

BOOKS BY BERNARD STOCKS

The Guardians

The Teenage Pensioner

The Lannan Project

The Far Side of Nowhere

The Lannan Diary

Half Alien

A Leap Too Far

Cara IV

The Lannan Memoirs

Desolation

THE WANDERING PLANET

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I n the pilot’s seat of the Space Survey Vessel Rover 2 Second Officer Brian Griggs yawned for the third time in less than ninety seconds. The action drew a reaction from First Officer Gary Belmont in the command chair behind him.

I wish you’d stop doing that, Brian, he growled. You’ve got me at it now.

I’m bored, Griggs said with another prodigious yawn.

If you’re that easily bored why did you join the Survey Branch?

I thought it would be exciting.

If you wanted excitement why didn’t you opt for the Space Police instead? asked Science Officer Barbara Letham, the only other person present on the bridge.

Griggs snorted. Not likely! Do you know what the mortality rate is in the Space Police. Over forty per cent! I like excitement, but I don’t want to die young.

I don’t know what you’re complaining about, Belmont broke in. What’s more exciting than being the first humans to visit a new world? What’s more exciting than mapping such a world, discovering previously unknown vegetation, always in the hope of being the first to discover some kind of alien life form?

Oh, that part of it’s all right, Griggs admitted. It’s these long hops between assignments. Months on end travelling through deep space with nothing to see and do except look out into a world of darkness. I didn’t bargain on twelve hour shifts, either.

At least you joined when twelve hour shifts became the norm, Belmont said sourly. Spare a thought for the longer serving people like me who were in post when they reduced the size of the crews.

Belmont spoke with feeling. Ships in the Survey Branch had for over a hundred years carried a crew of twelve working eight hour tours of duty. Then, as happened so often in the course of history, finances became tight and budgets had to be slashed and crews were reduced to seven: captain, first officer, two second officers, one science officer and two engineers.

Spare a thought for me too, Barbara said plaintively. I’m officially supposed to be on duty twenty-four hours a day. Don’t forget the engineers, either. They’re stuck down below for twelve hours at a time with nothing to look at but their computer dials. At least we get to see outside, even if there is nothing to see most of the time.

The discussion petered out. Griggs gazed moodily through the one hundred and eighty degree plexi-screen in front of him, Belmont carried on writing up the day’s log and Barbara bent over her instruments again. Silence prevailed once more. The log entries completed, Belmont fell into a brown study. Eyes half closed, he looked back over his career to date.

At twenty-nine he reckoned he’d done pretty well for himself. A bare week’s holiday after finishing school at seventeen and he’d gone straight to Space College. The next three years had been hard. It hadn’t just been the studying, intense though that had been: twelve hours a day, seven days a week, theory and practice, with examinations every two months. With so many applicants for the service, all with first class qualifications, it needed more than brainpower to pass and gain the coveted places. The students were under observation twenty-four hours a day. Marks were awarded or deducted on how they behaved around the college and in their limited spare time. Anyone showing signs of truculence, too much interest in the opposite sex or a fondness for alcohol could expect immediate expulsion. Every aspect of the student’s life, from cleanliness and table manners to relations with staff and fellow students came under the microscope. It had been frustrating, but Belmont had exercised iron self discipline. Unlike most of those around him he never sampled the occasional glass of wine or beer and he steeled himself against the charms of female classmates. As a normal healthy teenager that had been the most difficult part of all. He sympathised with the lives of Trappist monks. His application had had its reward. At the end of the three year course he passed out fifth of the forty-one successful candidates and joined the service proper as a Second Officer. Like all recruits he put in two years on the short haul freighters to the colonies on the moon, Mars and Venus. At the second attempt he secured a posting to one of the deep space passenger liners and had made two trips to Persephone and back. After that he put in his application for the Survey Department. Acceptance meant another rigorous six month course at the College before his appointment to Rover 2 as First Officer at the tender age of twenty-six. With luck he would make captain before he was thirty-five.

In a way he sympathised with young Griggs. It wasn’t an easy life on a survey ship, though it wasn’t that much different from the rest of the service. If you wanted to go into space, and most young people did, then you had to accept the many drawbacks. He began to enumerate them. First and foremost you had to abandon thoughts of a home, wife or husband and family. Deep space and domestic bliss simply didn’t mix. Then there were the long periods of sheer boredom, not to mention the compulsory medication to suppress all sexual urges, vitally necessary when often more than forty per cent of most crews were female. He smiled wryly to himself. In his present surroundings that medication was more than necessary. The blonde Barbara could have aroused passion in a stone statue, though his preference would have been Kathleen McNeil, the Scoto-Italian Chief Engineer with the gleaming blue black hair and tight-fitting overalls. He smiled again as he thought how necessary the medication was for young Griggs also. Belmont had seen the way he looked at his fellow second officer Lucy Andrews.

There were compensations of course. Belmont was a great reader and the on board computer held over three million books. Like the rest of the crew he used the gymnasium and fitness room on a daily basis. Best of all was the tiny cinema, where by donning the strangely shaped hypno-helmet one could play any part in any of some fourteen thousand films. On the present voyage alone while under the induced hypnosis he’d made love to over two hundred women, met death seventeen times, fought for both sides at the battle of the Little Bighorn and survived the horrendous African earthquake of 2218.

He was roused from his reverie by an exclamation from Barbara. Giving himself a shake he turned and asked what was wrong.

There’s a solid object showing up on the sensors at bearing one seven five, the Science Officer reported. It’s not appearing on my screen as yet, so it must be a long distance away. All I can confirm is that it’s definitely solid matter.

Forward screen on, full magnification, Belmont instructed Griggs. The latter flicked on a switch and rotated a dial.

Full magnification as ordered. All three occupants of the cabin peered intently at the screen.

Nothing in sight, Belmont observed as he sat back. Brian, alter course to one seven five. Let’s take a closer look at this mysterious object, always assuming it’s not just an equipment malfunction or a figment of Barbara’s imagination.

I don’t have a habit of imagining distant objects, Barbara said coldly, and my equipment is perfectly sound.

The three continued to watch the screen. Five minutes passed and then Brian gave a cry. There it is! Top left. Sure enough, a tiny black dot had appeared.

Belmont turned again to Barbara. Distance?

Still too far away to calculate. But to be visible while still out of range it must be huge. Another five minutes and I should be able to give you an estimate of the size.

Belmont considered. As far as I’m aware there shouldn’t be anything that large in this sector. Am I right?

Barbara nodded. We’re not due to come in sight of the next galaxy for more than ten days. Never mind the size, there ought to be nothing around here but empty space.

Could it be a comet? Griggs enquired.

If it is it’s the biggest comet ever recorded. Barbara replied as she studied the dials in front of her. But a comet would normally show up as an ellipse and small though it is that object is definitely round. Right. I’ve got a rough estimate of the distance. At current speed we’ll be within normal eyesight in just under three hours.

Should we call Old Nick? Griggs wanted to know.

Wait until we’ve got something more definite to report, Belmont instructed. He won’t thank us for waking him up just to tell him there’s a dot on the horizon. And don’t let the captain hear you calling him ‘Old Nick’ or you’ll be in deep trouble. You know how pernickety he is.

This was nothing less than the truth. Captain Nicholas Sloan was one of the old school, a strict disciplinarian who insisted on formality and adherence to proper procedures even in the relaxed atmosphere between actual surveys. At forty-nine he was a year away from compulsory retirement from active service. Most of his crew were in awe of him, but Belmont admired him and the two had struck up a comfortable relationship close to friendship. In his turn Captain Sloan appreciated the dedication and professionalism of his First Officer.

Five minutes passed in silence. The dot on the screen did not appear to grow. A sudden flurry of activity saw Barbara running her fingers feverishly over the keyboard near her right hand.

A bit more information, she announced finally. The object is definitely solid. It’s a perfect sphere and give or take ten per cent about seven thousand miles in diameter. I would say it’s a full sized planet but for one thing. It’s not in any sort of orbit. In fact it’s moving in a dead straight line like a spaceship.

Griggs looked excited. Maybe it is a spaceship, crewed by giant aliens. Maybe we’ll be the first humans to meet other intelligent life forms.

Dream on, Belmont advised. If there are any other intelligent life forms in the universe someone would have come across them long before now. Anyway, there’s no point in speculating. Let’s wait until we’re a lot nearer and can make out some detail.

Another hour passed before the object on the screen started to increase in size. The two men had watched without moving and mainly in silence while Barbara had concentrated on her instrument panel. Every so often she made a note on the pad in front of her. Finally she leant back in her seat.

Amazing, she said. I’ve been able to do a rough analysis. The object has all the necessary requirements for life to exist. The instruments show that there’s water, metals, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen.

Any signs of life? Griggs asked and then swallowed, knowing it was a stupid question.

Barbara didn’t spare the scorn. I should have thought even you would know that we can’t detect life signs until we get within fifty thousand miles.

Sorry, the hapless Second Officer apologised. I spoke without thinking.

Not for the first time, Belmont commented. Remember the old college motto, ‘put your brain in gear before engaging mouth’.

One other thing, Barbara continued. The object is moving very slowly. I would say about two thousand miles an hour maximum, probably a bit less.

Belmont considered. That means we’ll be within range in about fifty minutes. We’ll wake the captain in half an hour. By that time we’ll have a good view.

Silence ensued once more as the three watched the image on the screen grow. After another twenty minutes it was possible to make out some detail and Belmont gave a low whistle.

It’s certainly a planet, he observed. Look closely. You can make out areas of blue that must be oceans and greens and browns that must be land areas. But why is the image blurred slightly? It should be sharp and clear by now.

I’m detecting some kind of electrical activity around the planet, Barbara said slowly. It may simply be in the outer atmosphere or it may be some kind of force wall.

Belmont picked up the communicator at his side and grinned. Time to call the skipper. Sit up straight Brian and try and look efficient. Oh, sorry to disturb you, sir, but I think you should come to the bridge. Something unexpected has come up.

It was typical of Captain Sloan that he asked no questions. It was also typical that when he arrived in the control cabin less than five minutes later he had shaved and was in full uniform. He strode forward and spent a full minute looking at the screen before he spoke. Analysis, Miss Letham, please.

Barbara repeated the information she’d already gathered in precise terms. Captain Sloan thought for a moment or two before turning to his First Officer. Theories, mister?

Nothing concrete, sir. The best I can do is to make a guess or two. The most feasible is that it’s a planet that’s broken away from its orbit and has become a meteor. We’ll know more if Barbara can detect life signs when we get closer. The object is spinning slowly, so there will be gravity of some sort and all the other requirements for life are present.

As the object had grown Griggs had reduced the magnification of the screen. The captain moved to the side of the pilot and turned the dial to increase it again, then peered closely.

Look at this, he exclaimed, pointing to a dark brown area amid a swathe of green. Go back and recall how Earth looks as you’re leaving the moon. I’ll bet a month’s pay that’s a town or city of some kind. And that almost certainly means humans.

With respect, sir, Belmont’s relationship with his captain ensured that he could argue without fear. When you see Earth from the moon half of it’s in darkness. This object ahead is light as far round as we can see.

Point taken. The captain indicated the brown area. Full magnification, Mr. Griggs, please. We should be near enough to make out some detail now. Griggs made the necessary adjustments. Ah ha. Look at this. It may still be hazy but those are buildings without a doubt.

A new arrival entered the cabin. Lucy Andrews was the other Second Officer, a fair-haired slim woman of medium height. At twenty-seven she was on her second assignment for the Survey Department. She was yawning as she asked what was happening. Quickly Belmont brought her up to date. As soon as he had finished Barbara had more information to impart.

That shimmer is definitely a force wall. As far as I can make out it’s about thirty thousand feet above the surface of the planet. We’re now three hundred thousand miles distant.

Captain Sloan thought for a moment. Slow to minimum speed Mr. Griggs and put us into orbit ten thousand miles above that force wall. Once we’re in orbit we’ll try to communicate with whoever’s down there.

Details of the object ahead were emerging minute by minute. As it rotated it was now possible to distinguish land and water. There appeared to be four continents and numerous large islands. On land rivers and mountains slowly came into view along with roads, railways and many more built up areas.

Ten minutes passed in silence before Griggs spoke. Going into orbit now, sir. Almost immediately Barbara announced definite life signs below them. Moments later she spoke again. Incoming communication, sir.

Captain Sloan moved over to the Science Officer’s desk. Loudspeaker on, please, so that everyone can hear.

Faint but distinct came the voice from below, speaking in English but with a distinctly American accent. This is the planet Lotus III. Incoming ship, please identify yourself.

The captain picked up a microphone. "This is Space Survey Vessel Rover 2 from Earth, on an exploratory mission and heading for the Nero system. I’m Captain Sloan. To whom am I speaking?"

This is Sub-Lieutenant Byron Kovalski of the Spacewatch Centre, Columbus City, captain, came the reply. Could you please hold on for a few minutes? The President is in the building and wishes to speak with you.

That shouldn’t be a problem, young man. We’ve no intention of leaving until we settle the mystery of where you’ve come from and why you’re here. Call back when you’re ready.

In fact it was exactly four minutes before the console light glowed, indicating an incoming transmission.

The President’s voice was deep and musical and very American. Captain Sloan, I believe. I’m Clayton Kershaw, currently president of Lotus III for my sins. This is an unexpected pleasure. I understand from the duty officer that you’re curious about us. It’s a long and involved story, so may I suggest that you come down to the surface so that we can meet and talk. I can assure you that we are a peaceful world and that you, your crew and your ship are not in the slightest danger.

Captain Sloan thought for a moment. I think that would be a good idea, Mr. President. There’s just one problem. Our instruments show that your whole world is surrounded by a force wall. How do we get through that?

There is a pathway that we can open up. It resembles a series of diagonal tunnels and the sides will be coloured green. It is wide enough for your ship to negotiate safely as long as it doesn’t touch the sides. I’ll instruct the duty officer to open the pathway and give you instructions. It will take about seven or eight minutes. I look forward to meeting you and your crew shortly. Over and out.

The captain laid down the microphone. Mr. Griggs, I’m not casting doubt on your ability as a pilot, but Mr. Belmont has had much more experience. As the descent sounds tricky I want you to hand over the pilot’s seat to him. Griggs looked resentful, but did as he was ordered. After three minutes of silence the voice of Sub-Lieutenant Kovalski came through.

I’ll be opening up the pathway in stages over the next three or four minutes. Don’t start to come through until I give you the signal. There will be six diagonal shafts altogether. Each shaft is quite wide, but the corners are at an angle of forty-five degrees so use your slowest speed. Once you reach the third shaft number one will close to prevent our atmosphere escaping. When you come out of the final shaft the spaceport will be just ahead of you. By the time you’ve landed a car will be waiting to take you to the President’s office. Any questions?

The captain looked at Belmont, who shook his head. Thank you Mr. Kovalski. It’s all very clear and my pilot knows what to do. Over.

Belmont slowly reduced speed and watched the planet below him. One by one the green shafts opened up until all six were in place. It took him five minutes to navigate to the first opening, by which time the Rover 2 had reached its slowest speed of just under three hundred miles an hour. He made a quick calculation and estimated each shaft was some three miles long. As had been predicted the shafts were wide, leaving a good fifty yards clearance on either side. Getting round the angles was tricky, however, and it needed all his skill and experience to negotiate each one. A couple of times he had only inches to spare and was holding his breath until the turn was completed. Finally they emerged from the last of the shafts and saw green fields below them. Letting out a sigh of relief Belmont brought the ship down to a perfect landing on the runway ten miles ahead of him, taxiing to the only building in sight. The spaceport looked deserted, apart from a car waiting outside the building with a uniformed chauffeur standing beside it. By this time the two engineers had also crowded into the control cabin and were standing at the back.

Ms Letham, Ms McNeil and Mr. Belmont will accompany me, the captain announced. Best uniforms, please, as quickly as you can get into them. And Ms McNeil, try and get the grease out from under your fingernails. Kathleen looked sheepish and hid her hands behind her back. The rest of you will get shore leave once we know a little more about this world. Mr. Griggs, you’re in charge until we return. Do not allow anyone to enter the ship unless you get instructions from me by radio. Understood?

Understood, sir.

Five minutes later the small party was ready to leave. The chauffeur, a tall, heavily built black man in his late forties, ushered them into the six-seater car. It was somewhat antiquated by Earth standards, petrol driven, but quiet and smooth running. There was no conversation as the car headed along a wide dual carriageway towards the distant city. Belmont, who was in the front passenger seat, noted that they were cruising at a hundred and thirty miles an hour. Ten minutes brought them to the city suburbs, rows of brick built houses with small shopping arcades here and there. A question from the captain elicited the information that Columbus City was home to some two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. The two women were hoping to see something of the city centre, but the car veered off half a mile before that and headed in a northerly direction.

The chauffeur spoke for the second time. That big glass building over to the left is the Space Centre. We’re just coming up to the President’s home and office which will be on our right. Seconds later he turned into a tree-lined driveway leading through parkland that was a riot of flowers of all colours. The house of the President was modest by comparison to those normally associated with heads of state. It was a square building three storeys high with dark green cladding on the outside walls. Belmont estimated that there would be no more than six main rooms on each floor. As the car came to a halt the front door opened and two people came out on to the steps. One was a tall slim grey-haired white man; the other a shorter and plumper black woman. Quickly the chauffeur ran round and opened the car doors. Once outside Barbara thanked him with a flashing smile.

The duo came down the five steps and the man spoke. Welcome to Lotus III, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Clayton Kershaw and this is my Vice President Martina Hallam. The incoming party saluted.

Captain Nicholas Sloan. This is my First Officer, Mr. Belmont, my Science Officer Ms Letham and my Chief Engineer Ms McNeil. There were handshakes