Deep Black Road: The Head of the Snake

Chapter 27

Ricky stood on the top of Mount Bradley in the Montes Apenninus range-some distance north of the centre of the moon as seen from Earth-from where he could see the lip of Conon Crater off to the southeast. Crescent Earth loomed almost directly above in the black sky, with the sun well off to one side.

I did it! he thought. The glow gave me enough power to leave Earth and get here. I really am a creature of space.

And there's no way Orkan can get to me now.

But if I thought I was alone before ... Man, I miss Lisa and the kids! Why does love have to hurt so much? But I do love her. I'm not just a robot, like Dad thinks.

Then there's Suzanne. Can I ever love her? I have to love her, because God's made her part of my destiny. It won't be a lot of fun like it was with Lisa; but I can love her. I must love her. ... I will love her.

Hold on! I didn't have to make myself love Lisa! It just happened.

Well, God, you're going to have to find a way to 'make it happen' with Suzanne, because I sure don't have a clue.

Will she ever love me? ... Not my problem.

Anyway, right now I've got some time to kill.

Scouring his archives from the university for lunar history, he turned up that there was an over-a-century-old exploration site called Apollo Fifteen not too far north from where he stood; so he decided to check it out.

Floating on his rockets, he studied the mountain's gradual slope that headed west in the direction of the Mare Imbrium, which lay some hundred and fifty kilometres away. Then he pushed off, and descended gently in the low gravity towards the plain below, hung a right when he reached the bottom, and started blading. Some time later he came across vehicle tracks in the dust, and followed them into the landing site.

Stopping to look around, he spotted a small rock lying on the surface of the dusty soil, and picked it up.

Cool, he thought. A moon rock. I'd bet Lisa'd really like to ... No!

He flung it away as hard as he could, the effort making him stumble in the low gravity.

Suddenly a grey fog enveloped him, which obviously wasn't natural. Steadying himself, he glanced around, trying to figure out its source as he braced for a quick exit if necessary.

"Ricky," came a soothing voice. "Why do you look back at the Earth and all its troubles? Those you care about have rejected you; and nothing holds you there any longer. Turn your gaze beyond to the planets and stars. Perhaps there are others like you out there, others seeking life in this galaxy. Search. Find love and companionship."

"Who are you?" Ricky radioed, not sure if he'd get an answer, since the voice had been piped directly into his audio sub-processor. What it said did sound awfully good though; and he found himself yearning to take off and do what this voice was suggesting.

But something seemed fishy, since he'd never had a meeting with God like this; so he radioed, "Why are you hiding on me? Show yourself!"

Then he thought, Whoa there, Ricky! If this is God you're talking to, there's no way you should be making demands of him.

But the visitor didn't seem to mind, because one area of the fog started to glow, and the back-lit silhouette of a man appeared.

"Why do you doubt any longer?" the man asked. "See and believe. I have come to give you wisdom, wisdom that will set you free. Don't trouble yourself about the carnate humans and their problems. You can't help them anyway. You have enough problems of your own."