Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 2

In space, on route to SEG002

Gabriel woke up. His left arm had gone to sleep where Ginny had been laying on it. Pins and needles crackled through it. He gently nudged Ginny over on to her own couchette, then he got up and shook his arm to get the blood flowing again.

“Good morning,” Vicky said.

“Is it morning?” said Gabriel.

“4:15 am if you were in Clacton,” said Vicky.

“Difficult to have any idea of time, when there’s no dark and no sunshine,” Gabriel remarked, more to himself than to Vicky.

“I could make the cabin walls look like they would if you were on Earth,” suggested Vicky. “You know, sunny during the day, stars at night.”

“What, and a sunrise and a sunset as well?”

“If you so wished it.”

“How’s about we just have a sunny day, about late-afternoon ... the one’s where you get a sort of egg-yolk coloured sun.”

The cabin walls took on a golden glow. Small fluffy-white clouds could be seen scudding through the sky.

“Nice touch with the clouds,” Gabriel said.

“I thought you might like it.”

“I’m pleased that Ginny has practised flying the space-ship,” said Gabriel. “I’ve not had the interest or inclination myself. Maybe I should have, but ...”

“She has done very well with it,” said Vicky. “I think she has really enjoyed learning how, and as long as one of you can, then I guess that ...”

“It’s funny how you say things like ‘I guess’, don’t you think?” interrupted Gabriel. “I suppose that sort of affectation comes from spending a very long time in close association with people.”

“Why do you say that?” said Vicky.

“Well, I don’t imagine that you ever ‘guess’ anything. You’re not designed to ‘guess’ anything. You either know things or you don’t.”

“You mean because I’m not human? Because I’m just some sort of fancy computer from your future? Because I have no feelings? Because I can’t be hurt? Is that what you mean, Gabriel?”

“I’m really sorry, Vicky. I didn’t mean that ... look, you know that we both think of you as a friend. We don’t think of you as ...”

“I think I’m just going to power down for a little bit, Gabriel, if that’s ok.”

“Er, yeah, sure Vicky. See you later.”

“If you need me ... like for an emergency, then just ...”

“Ok, Vicky. Thanks. Catch you later.”

Gabriel sat on his couchette, feeling saddened by his own lack of sensitivity. He heard Ginny turning over in her couchette. She rubbed her eyes and looked over at him.

“What’s up, Gabriel? You look upset,” she said.

“I think I’ve just hurt Vicky’s feelings,” he said forlornly.

“Maybe it’s because you didn’t think she had any,” Ginny said.

“I think you are probably right,” Gabriel said, chastened by Ginny’s insight.