" "I'll be fine, Fawn." "I'll be fine, Fawn. I'll be back before you know it. And I have my telemetry and radio rig." "You know I'll be watching." "I know." I climbed up the ladder and up onto the slowly rocking roof of the shuttlecraft. Looking around, first without my mask, I breathed in the warm, clean air. "Terra, pristine and clear." I saw some birds flying on the island nearby, and laughed. One thing we will never get rid of, though, is the damned seagulls. I gave beautiful Ida one last glance before jumping into the water. I always see this bright red button in my imagination when I do things like that, with a finger poised over it. The button is labled 'COMMIT.' The splash surrounded me and bubbles followed me down as I kicked and regained control. Clearing my head, I looked around for the opening of the caves Fawn had indicated. I could see for miles; visibility was incredible. After I found the opening, I eased myself into it. I started to feel anxious; I knew of too many people who had died cavediving, running out of air and slowly strangling to death. The idea made me shiver. I knew, though, that if Fawn had the slightest idea I was in trouble she would send an army of drones down here to blast their way to me and rescue me. Flashlight in hand, I made my way through what seemed to be a deliberately, if roughly, hewn passageway. After what seemed like forever (a glance at my watch told me fifteen minutes), I started to notice more light around me. I stopped for a minute, turning off the flashlight and waiting for my eyes to adjust. After a while I felt secure enough to move on, making my way on just the bioluminescence around me. |