02 Quetzals Flock

QUETZAL'S FLOCK
Kane knew that the conditions below were the equivalent of what existed
outside of the protective bubble of their force field. Around them, it was utterly dark
and the stars were sharp clear in the icy vacuum of space. The Ship was gathering
speed and soon the lurid blast of a red dawn was upon them and dead ahead, the
varicosed surface of the Giant.
The land was still below them and their orbit had been confined to the higher
latitudes in which Tursac had originally landed the Ship. There was another variation
in the orbital path and they began to move directly under the red star. They were
bathed in a ruby red light, but there was no heat - just an intensity of redness, so much
so, that they felt pressed down in their seats. Kane almost expected to fry in its
ferocity, but they didn't. Hammadi looked at him with a certain apprehension. He was
excited now, caught up in the marvel of having commanded the Ship to leave the
planet and ride over its surface.
The night line was approaching again, it was decision time. Kane grinned at
him.
"Had enough?"
"Is there more?"
"Much more - If you can stand the pace!"
"I can stand any pace you set!"
"I'm not trying to test your manhood! All of this is quite a culture shock for
someone who's spent most of his life herding Picun!"
"I want to see more!"
Kane leaned back.
"We have limitless options, but we haven't got unlimited time. How about
taking a look at Jubal from a long way out? We can get some idea of your solar
system. If the Command Computer thinks it's safe, we can even take a closer look at
the Dwarf!"
He nodded his head in vigorous agreement.
"You're the Commander, Hammadi. Just give the order."
"I want to do what he's just suggested."
Kane sighed.
"You're going to have to learn to do what you want - not what I think is a good
idea. I won't be here to hold your hand!"
The Ship started to gain altitude in its orbit. It soon became obvious that they
had reached escape velocity. Their speed increased and the Giant was only a number
of stars which became visible. Most of them were distant, although in Solar System
terms, they were much closer than the Centauri group. The Giant and the Dwarf were
not the only two to exert their influence upon Jubal.
The planet fell away beneath them, at first, it seemed immense, but as the sky
darkened beyond the purple into that of the blackness which signifies true space, Jubal
became small, miniaturised by its relationship to the vastness of the galaxy. Even the
red star was cut down to size, although it was still big and menacing, with its sombre,
dying fires. Hammadi pointed in another direction. Cruel and hard in its white
intensity, was the Dwarf.
They made a transit across the face of the red sun and suddenly, it emerged
again - the companion star - or perhaps, one of a number of companions to the Giant,
in a complex relationship of counter-balancing forces. The Dwarf was relatively tiny,
an almost insignificant speck compared with the bloated expanse of the Giant.
Hammadi whispered, fascinated.
"They are so different in size!"
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