The Before Short Story Series. Part 1 - Иван Перепелятник

remember to collect your belongings when leaving the cabin. On behalf of New Horizons, thank you for choosing our company. Thank you for using our services and we wish you a very good evening! We will be glad to see you again!’

‘Mrs Stern, Mr Podger, let me escort you to your cabin.’

‘Of course, John. Thank you,’ Lewis replied.

‘Your shuttle to the Moon will start in a little over an hour. You will have some time to look around at your level. I’ll tell you everything on the way.’

Tourists arriving at the station did not need to register anywhere or undergo control, inspection, or any other checking procedures. Everything happened automatically, without direct human interaction. Scanning systems embedded in the cladding of the premises performed their functions imperceptibly, ensuring safety and order. The main element of the modern human communication system and the PAX system was the digital passport of a citizen of the Federation or Tracker, as it was also called. It was implanted into the human body prior to birth at the stage of fetal development. The tracker was designed to do the three main tasks—(1) communication with the PAX digital systems, starting with the basic representation of the personality, (2) continuous monitoring of medical indicators, (3) preventive security. Nothing else was required from anyone, but to go about their own business without being distracted by routine issues, which were delegated to smart systems.

John, Meryl and Lewis were walking along a lengthy corridor, about 2 meters wide. John was leading the way one step ahead. Recently knighted space tourists looked in all the directions turning their heads around, as if afraid to miss something important and interesting.

New York is not the last city on the planet, perhaps, and probably not the most boring. And they travelled quite a bit around the world, having visited all continents not for once. But neither Lewis nor Meryl expected so vivid impressions and such an acute interest they experienced on the Federation space station.

Preparing for the trip, Lewis managed to lose some weight. However, just a bit. But he was in good shape and felt great. Always solid on the ground, Lewis was holding Meryl’s hand and smiling, almost bouncing at every step: ‘Yes, the gravity is a third weaker here… What an old fool I am!’ Lewis suddenly realized the reasons for his elated mood. ‘But it’s still nice to feel a hundred years younger…’

‘When we were approaching the station, Meryl, I thought that we would run like guinea pigs in the big wheel of the station… But I must admit that my fears were unjustified. I don’t have such a feeling at all, although the round geometry, the visible rounding of the floor and ceiling, are noticeable to me.’

Meryl looked apprehensively at her husband:

‘Are you all right, Lewis? You’re strangely joyful and it’s like your thoughts are foggy. I’m worried about you.’

‘I’m just feeling great, darling!’

‘You know, Lewis,’ John started saying having carefully examined the two under his wardship, ‘this feeling of elation often happens here. This is especially true of newly arrived tourists from the Earth. Gravity, the purest filtered air saturated with oxygen—this effect is akin to a slight intoxication. But the body will soon adapt. Don’t worry, Mrs Stern,’ John smiled.

Two young men dressed in semi-athletic cotton suits came out of the room located on the right side along the way. The same as Lewis and Meryl were wearing, only white. Meryl saw the name and the number 3 embroidered on the sweatshirt of one of the guys.

‘John, tell me, what are the numbers embroidered on the front of the uniform and on our suits?’

‘They show the access level, Mrs Stern. There are many full-time employees at the station, far from everyone knowing each other. There have been cases when the guests of the station, violating the security regime, entered the work premises together with the staff. For example, in a laboratory where they were denied access. Of course, nothing special happened. Tourists were just curious, but still the administration decided that it would not be extra to single out, separate locals and visitors, so to speak, and visually as well.’

‘In such a case, I feel like a tipsy scientist!’

‘Why is that, Lewis?’ Meryl was surprised.

‘Firstly, the situation itself—we are in space on the orbit of the Earth! The assignment of the station—to carry out research. I’ve read that 6 rings out of 11, that is, 6 modules of the Federation are under scientific council management. And finally, look at this stunning interior here. The feeling is that you’ve got into an supermodern office of a high-tech company— everything is flooded with light, white floor, glossy walls and ceiling, large, huge windows in which you can see the opposite part of the station, its inner ring.’

‘Mr Podger, your perception by and large does not deceive you. The station is the largest scientific laboratory ever created by man. Moreover, it is important to note that most of the station’s budget is funded by a consortium of private companies.

Here’s your cabin,’ John gestured for Meryl and Lewis to enter the room. ‘Please come in.’

‘Oh my God, what a view!’ All Meryl’s attention was attracted by a large porthole. ‘Lewis, look at that! This is beautiful!’

The blue surface of the planet’s ocean was floating by the porthole, some places shrouded in fluffy clouds.

‘You can turn the porthole dark completely if this continuous movement in it bothers you. A monitor is built into the porthole. So if you prefer to display some static image, this option is also available,’ explained John. ‘The station is spinning all the time, creating artificial gravity. I hope this will not cause you any discomfort.’

‘In any case, we’ll have to put up with all these inconveniences and your local asceticism,’ Lewis winked at John.

‘If you need anything, please call me.’