Friday at
5pm in the CovaPlex administrative hub was not unlike large corporations or
government offices elsewhere in the galaxy – empty.
Upper management had long shuttled off for
the weekend. And once the bosses flew
the coop, middle managers suddenly found reasons to deliver documents or attend
to clients outside the office. By the
time Tak and Audrey closed up, the concourse was barren except for maintenance
engineers.
“How long
have you been on the station?” Tak made
small talk as they walked.
“About four
years,” said Audrey. “I came to stay with Uncle Ros and Auntie Marge after
their son Scott went missing. At first, I
helped her set up the Aerodrome. I loved
the sense of community here, so I stayed. I took a job at the bank and when the Insurance
office split off a couple of years ago, they offered me the position. I like the idea of running my own shop, without
having to leave.”
“Scott - that
was his picture above the sofa in their quarters?” Tak asked.
Audrey nodded.
“Scott was a pilot, like his dad,” she
said. “But he wanted something more
adventurous so he went to work for Path.
He was making a run to Elysium, when he was forced to stop
to replace a burned out capacitor in his Freelancer. The convoy leader wouldn't wait and they left
him behind. Scott’s ship was never seen again.”
“Uncle Ros
mounted a search when Path and the UEE refused to do so. He spent weeks combing space around the
Elysium system, but there was no hint of Scott.
I'm sure Aunt Margaret opened the
Aerodrome in the hope some passing freighter crew had heard of a stray Freelancer
in deep space with Pathf1nder markings. It consumed them both for a long time,” she
added.
That explains Ros stopping for me, thought
Tak...and maybe a lot more.
“Well, here
we are,” declared Audrey.
A glass roundel
was mounted over the doors, surrounded by a red neon sign that read, ‘The Aerodrome’. The happy sound of laughter and music beckoned
inside. Tak placed his hand on the small
of Audrey’s back.
“After you,” he said.
It took a
moment to adjust from the bright promenade to the darker interior of the
bar. Tak looked around the room, taking in the
groups of pilots and crewmen in flight suits scattered around the room. Models of spacecraft – just like the ones in
Scott’s room, but larger in scale, hung from the ceiling. Men occupied themselves playing cards. Others sat at com booths talking with loved
ones. A sound system poured out golden
oldies with a definite country slant.
One bunch
sat in front of a monitor and cheered racers powering around a circuit. Waitresses in short tight skirts and thigh-high
boots bustled about, carrying trays of food and drinks. Tak’s eyes followed the sway of Audrey’s
perky frame as she made for the bar. For
a second, he pictured her in a waitress outfit, and quickly shook the image out
of his head.
Startled, he looked up and saw
Ros sipping his drink at the bar, but the middle-aged woman behind the bar had
seen the stray of Tak’s glance and smiled wistfully at him as they approached. Tak blushed.
“Hello
Audrey. So this must be the wandering minstrel boy I’ve been hearing
so much about!”
Tak smiled
and held out his hand. “You must be Mrs.
Mittens.”
Foam shot out Ros’ nostrils. “Gee z - not so loud,” he said, looking quickly
about in mock horror. “The others will find out I'm married.”
“You never
mind Roswell,” she warned, swatting a towel at his arm. The laughing eyes turned to the couple. “Everyone calls me Mama; and you will too. Sit down and we’ll get to know one
another; but first, what can I get you two?”
“I’ll have a
glass of Tevarin white please,” requested Audrey.
“A cold hydrofroz
will be very fine,” said Tak. He pulled a
stool out for Audrey and moved protectively to her exposed side. Two young UEE militia pilots on his right had begun squirming to get closer.
But one measured look at Tak and they retreated back to their end of the
bar, chiding each other jokingly for their lack of nerve.
Mama placed
a long stemmed flute of wine on a napkin for Audrey. Then she took a frosted glass from the
freezer, held it under a copper nozzle and pulled on a joystick shaped handle. “Young and dumb and full of cum,” Mama
laughed, the draught of golden liquid filling the glass.
“It was only
yesterday I was a shave-tail,” Tak smiled, jerking his head toward the
pilots. “I can remember what it was like
to be a kid on liberty.” Audrey was
talking to Ros and hadn't noticed anything.
“I wanted a safe
place where these boys could have a little bit of fun and a little bit of home. These waitresses are the daughters and wives
of Covalex men, and they’re used to living in a masculine world. But make no mistake; they can bite if the
testosterone gets a little elevated. Mainly,
it gives the girls something to do, and some of them can earn as much in tips as
a freighter captain,” Mama said proudly.
“You've put
together the perfect mix of officer’s mess and saloon,” Tak said, looking
around, “The weight of the past few days lifted off my shoulders the moment I
stepped inside.”
“Thank you,”
Mama said, taking it as a compliment. The
two touched glasses.
“Yes, just
what we need, a toast!” commanded Ros, loudly.
The music was turned down and the room grew silent as he waited until
everyone in the bar held a glass:
"Here’s a toast to the future; A sigh for the past; We can love and remember, And hope to the last, And for all the base lies That the universe holds; While there’s love in the heart, We can never grow old.”
“To love,” the
room roared.
“And absent
friends,” said Tak, his voice modulated.
“To absent
friends,” everyone repeated more quietly.
All drank deeply.
“The next
round’s on me!” Tak declared to a loud cheer.
Somebody turned the music back on.
“Big
spender,” Audrey teased,
“Make mine a
double,” ordered Ros.
He felt Audrey
settle against his chest and his hand moved to her left shoulder in response. Tak smiled as he thought
about the absurdity of life; lost one moment and found the next. The weight of the world had indeed lifted from
him and his soul felt lighter than it had in years.
The four
talked for an hour before Mama disappeared into the back and returned with a
platter full of food. There were potato
skins covered in melted cheese, synthetic bacon, and salsa; burritos with sides
of stuffed mushrooms and deep-fried jalapeño poppers.
Tak hadn't eaten
prepared food for a week... and nothing like this for a long time. They used their fingers to pick casually at
the food while they talked; each of them sharing stories about their
lives.
Mama told
how the Aerodrome had filled a big hole in their lives after Scott went
missing.
“This place
has never closed since we opened,” she explained. “I stopped asking about Scottie years ago,
but I keep his picture on the wall behind the bar, in the off-chance somebody came
across him or his ship somewhere out there.
I keep this place open so there is always a place for some lonely
traveller looking for a drink and some company.”
“Amen to
that,” Ros intoned.
“I take it
your insurance business was successful?” Mama enquired of Tak.
“Yes, I was
able to conclude everything this afternoon, thanks to Audrey,” he said. “And tomorrow she has offered to take me
shopping for some clean clothes.”
“You and
Scott weren't so different in size. Feel
free to take what you need from among his things. I take it you put Tak in his room?” She asked
her husband, who nodded in the affirmative.
“Good. You’ll feel much better
after a good sleep, a shower, and a set of clean clothes.”
“Speaking of
sleep... I hate to be a party pooper, but I feel my bed calling me,” said
Ros.
“Come on Mama, take me home, and we’ll
leave these youngsters alone.”
“I'm fading
fast, too,” Tak said to the group. “If
it’s okay, I’ll walk Audrey home then meet you at your place.
“Hey, who
says I'm going home?” said Audrey, looking past him to the two officers still trying
to catch her eye.
“Audrey
Walker, stop your teasing,” scolded Mama.
This one doesn't miss a thing, thought
Tak, I better not take her lightly.
Ros helped
clear and clean the bar while Mama turned over management to one of the staff. They
walked out of the bar together. The PTV
was parked next door and Ros went to get it.
When he returned they all said their goodnights.
“Hmm, wonder
if we should wait up,” Ros said the words as soon as they drove out of
earshot.
“I was
thinking the same thing,” laughed Mama. “That
boy could barely keep his hands still. But
there’s a lot of depth to him so I expect he will be along shortly.”
“He’s an uncommon fine
young man,” agreed Ros, “I wish someone like Tak had been with Scott on the
day. He might have made it back. At least he would have faced whatever happened, with a dependable friend.”
Mama put her
hand on her husband’s knee. “Aye Rosie,
Aye.”
As for Tak, Mama wasn't far off the mark. She had just finished
changing the sheets and turning down the bed when the com announced that “Lieutenant
Takwira is home.” She turned to find him
standing in the doorway.
“There are
fresh towels and clean clothes on the bed.
The shower is right next door. Sleep
well.”
“Thanks for
everything Ma,” he murmured.
She kissed
his cheek. “Good night.”
Funny she thought, making her way to the sleeping quarters, that’s what Scott used to call me.
:)
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