The Lost Animas (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 5)

Chapter 18

THE SHUTTLE CAME down through the hydrogen atmosphere of Yttrea with extreme caution, Ledin listening carefully to the visitor, who was directing the landing. He could see nothing through the greenish-tinted clouds.

They were in the centre of a dip of about twice the height of the shuttle, and they could see nothing over the edge of this. Their lights allowed them to see for perhaps ten metres before being reflected back to them by the clouds. Overhead was completely black, except for the greenish tinge. The hydrogen mix above them was blocking out any stars.

Ledin made sure that Tallen and Bennel had everything they needed. It was only a short trip from where he had landed to the ortholiquid, and the others had decided to let the two Coriolans effect the mission on their own. Neither Six nor Diva felt any inclination to squint through the dark clouds that made up the atmosphere, and Grace had suggested they spend the time relaxing after Tarboleus. She offered to stay on pilot duty on the New Independence. Both Tallen and Bennel were more than happy with the honour of being chosen, although there was some doubt as to who would lead and who would follow.

Bennel peered out of the hatch into the gloom around them. He had known it was going to be pitch black, because the planet was now so far away from its sun, but he hadn't expected these swirling, dense clouds.

"I thought the atmosphere was mainly hydrogen?" he asked. "Surely that is transparent?"

Ledin nodded. "But this is a mixture of gases and water vapour thrown up by volcanic activity," he explained. "That is why Yttrea has retained a small atmosphere. It is the greenhouse effect. I remember Grace telling me about it."

Bennel nodded. The only classes he had been entitled to on Coriolis were combat training; he rather envied Grace her hours spent learning about things like this. Until he had traveled away from his own planet he had never realized how little he really knew about anything.

He and Tallen set off towards the ortholiquid, leaving Ledin behind with the shuttle. Bennel noticed a fine ash on his bodywrap, and reached a hand up to brush it away. But the hand was covered with the ash too, and as soon as he managed to sweep the fine particles off him, they were replaced by others. The mask pack was slowly being obstructed by them too. He frowned. "What is this ash? It is all over."

Tallen was also examining the fine particles. He brought his hand up to the visor of the mask pack to examine the ash.

"Uh-oh."

"What?" Bennel spun round.

"Err ... These things are moving."

"Moving? Moving? You mean they are alive?" Bennel began to brush himself down.

"There's no point doing that. As soon as you get rid of some, more attach themselves."

"What are they? Can they harm us?"

Tallen shook his head as he examined them further. "They look like tiny baskets with lots of little antenna coming out of the top."

Bennel frowned. "What do you think they are? Some kind of space flea? Where are the morphics, anyway?" He looked around and then gave a shout into the gloom. "Visitor?"

A shape shimmered at his shoulder. "What? You don't have to shout, you know. I communicate quantically, remember?"

"You forgot to tell us the planet was infested by fleas!"

"They are not fleas," the shape quivered with indignation. "And I didn't forget to tell you. I did tell you about the bacteria. Surely they shouldn't bother you? You are so big, and they are so small ..."