Starship Walker

A Visit to The Bridge

It was four days later. Gillian Berry was now considered fit to return to work. In her small cabin on the Xinglong Hao, she readied herself for her day. She ate a quick breakfast of hot noodles followed by coffee. She selected her clothes, stood before the main wall and with a gesture turned it into a mirror. Gillian dressed with concentration, connecting buttons and fasteners with care, making sure the edges of her clothing aligned properly. Nothing should be in disarray. She brushed her hair and polished her shoes before sliding her feet into them. She ignored the icy sensation in her stomach.

After dressing, Gillian examined herself in the mirror to check her presentation. She checked her reflection front and sideways, scrutinising her appearance and her posture. She did not want to slouch. She was satisfied with her look, although her eyes seemed a little red. She brushed her hair again, angry that her hands were shaking. Today she was to attempt another simulator Walk.

Her morning preparation had hardened into a ritual, a repetitive procedure that had taken hold of her in the last few days, since she had returned from the hospital. But she didn't want to talk to Dr Morris about her problems. She had to be a Walker. She was born to it, even if it had terrified her. This was her life now.

In her tedious administrative job in the Gliese system, Gillian had been responsible, among other things, for checking the mass balancing of cargo on starships, providing a final human validation of automated calculations. She had never found an error. She had lived in the Gliese system since she was thirteen, growing to adulthood on the moon of a planet so obscure that it was still only identified by a reference number, "581d": the fourth planet from an equally obscure star named Gliese 581.

Planet "d" was a huge, dead place, its gravity so strong that its exploitation was not economically worthwhile. Its moon, where Gillian and her family lived and worked, was just called "The moon". It was a barren globe full of mines and transport networks. Life had been much like Hellas Basin, lived underground, safe from dangerous radiation and the attacks of random meteorites. There had even been large underground parks, similar to the rim park aboard the Xinglong Hao. Gillian had dreamt of excitement and travel. Something within her urged her towards it.

Gillian picked up a pad from the table, tapped it and read over her notes again. Today was to be similar to her last Walk, but more realistic, with the inclusion of the mysterious macro-quantum structures and other interstellar features.

Gripping the pad tightly under her arm, Gillian left her cabin. Outside, the décor was unchanged. She noticed that, instead of her relaxed stroll, she was marching stiffly along the curved corridor. She kept her eyes straight ahead, ignoring the many curious stares directed at her.

The West Side concourse area around the elevators bustled with people. One or two brushed against her, then someone bumped right into her. At first, she thought she was being jostled in the crowd. She almost muttered an embarrassed apology. Then she realised that a bony male hand had grabbed her arm. It dragged her around.

Gillian faced a large young man, or a big boy, gaping at her. He had moist, bulging eyes and horrible puffy skin. He jabbered incoherently. She caught a few words.

"I - I love you, Gillian! You're my girl! You're my girl!"

He wrenched her towards him and held her, pushing her face into his sweaty shirt with the palm of his hand gripping the back of her head. His other hand ran down her back. He groaned.

"Huun-hh. Huhh! Huhh!"

Gillian, rigid with shock, humiliation and fear, stopped breathing for a moment. Her pad slipped from her grip and her hands pushed and punched at her attacker in a pathetic, futile spasm. Her physical weakness against this revolting man enraged her. But still, another part of her seemed to watch the scene with curiosity.