Fine Line

Chapter Five

"Across the sea of space, the stars are other suns."
― Carl Sagan

"We don't have much time now, Van," Nic was trying to put some sense in the young man's foggy mind. "We will have to put him on stasis in the cryogenic tank."

Van and his friend had left Earth since almost three weeks, although it seemed eons for the islander. He couldn't stop remembering the glory of their younger years, the time spent in the ocean, more swimming than fishing. He remembered his grandfather, forcing them to get their tattoos, to wear proudly their past and culture on their skin as they were sent into the unknown.

The two young men never had left the atoll before. They had hopped on their outrigger canoe and affronted the deep waters. They had relied on their senses and the stars to find their way. They just knew they needed to go North-West, the nearest space-port as the old man had told.

Through a series of small islands, they paddled their way to Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and, finally, Hainan. When they docked on a fishing village at the south of the island, they found chaos. Keeping to themselves and avoiding trouble, they reached the launching area on a starry night. There, three thrusts rockets were ready to depart, though people still struggled and rushed to embark.

The two friends had feared they would be denied, however, the situation was such that no one really took notice of who was boarding. Once the spaceship had reached its full capacity, the crew just closed the hatches, asked everyone to seat properly and to secure themselves. The power of the engines as the rocket took off had stunned the young men. They held each other's hand to draw some comfort in the contact. Their adventure just started.

In the medical bay, Van was holding Gauguin's hand. He didn't want to come up with the decision to put his friend to sleep, even if it wasn't an eternal one. He roamed one finger along the lines on the sleeping man's skin. He drew circles following the sun and the waves of the Ocean, halted when it reached the Enata, the memory of their people waving them good luck bringing tears to his eyes.

"... ing... Tickling..." The word was almost inaudible. Nevertheless, Van looked at Gauguin with a prayer. His wish was granted as he saw the deep green of his friend's eyes fixing him.

"Move!" Nic had also heard the sleeping man's words and pushed the crying Van on the side. She subjected her patient to a series of tests and samples. The checkup lasted almost a full day; Gauguin was too tired and weak to object to it. Van tried to protest, once, and was sent to wait outside. He ran to Vince and Leo, who were analyzing the images taken from FUTURE-III, to give them the good news. His friend was up, sound and alive.

The two scientists left their work on the side and followed behind Van in the direction of the infirmary. Nic almost threw them out of the room when they started to jump and shout in excitement. Gauguin was smiling, though his prolonged sleep had left some marks on his features.

"What is the verdict?" Vince wanted to know about the aftereffects of the exposition to radiations and the long sleep that followed.

"Nothing! Zip! Zilch! Nada!" Nic sounded almost furious. She explained that she couldn't find any trace of damaged tissue, not deterioration of the internal organs, no sign of DNA mutation of carcinogenic cells. She couldn't accept that Gauguin's misadventure had no repercussion.

Before he could leave the bay, Nic forced Gauguin to remain for another couple of days under observation. She asked some of the doctors newly added to her team to help her with the analysis of this surprising case.