Gravity by Tess Gerritsen Read Free Book Online Page B

nodded in greeting and continued with his work. The man’s silence irritated Bill. He was like the station’s resident ghost, creeping around without a word, startling everyone. Bill knew it was because Kenichi was insecure about his English and, to avoid humiliation, chose to converse little if at all. Still, the man could at least call out “hello” when he entered a module to avoid rattling the nerves of his five colleagues.
    Bill turned his attention back to tube #23. What would this gelatinous mass look like under the microscope?
    He slid tube #23 into the Plexiglas glove box, closed the hatch, and inserted his hands in the attached gloves. If there was any spillage, it would be confined to the box. Loose fluids floating around in microgravity could wreak havoc on the station’s electrical wiring.
    Gently he loosened the tube seal. He knew the were under pressure, he could see the cap was bulging. Even so, was shocked when the top suddenly exploded off like a champagne cork.
    He jerked back as a blue-green glob splatted against the inside of the glove box. It clung there for a moment, quivering as alive. It was alive, a mass of microorganisms, joined in a matrix.
    “Bill, we need to talk.” The voice startled him. Quickly he recapped the culture tube and turned to face Michael Griggs, who had just entered the module. Floating right behind Griggs was Diana. The beautiful people, Bill thought. Both of them looked sleek and athletic in their navy blue NASA shirts and cobalt shorts.
    “Diana tells me you’re having problems,” said Griggs. “We just spoke to Houston, and they think it might help if you considered some medication. Just to get you through the next few days.”
    “You’ve got Houston worried now, have you?”
    “They’re concerned about you. We all are.”
    “Look, my crack about the CRV was purely sarcastic.”
    “But it makes us all nervous.”
    “I don’t need any Valium. Just leave me alone.” He removed the tube from the glove box and returned it to its slot in the cell unit. He was too angry to work on it now.
    “We have to be able to trust you, Bill. We have to depend on each other up here.”
    In fury, Bill turned to face him. “Do you see a raving lunatic in front of you? Is that it?”
    “Your wife is on your mind now. I understand that. And—”
    “You wouldn’t understand. I doubt you give your wife much thought these days.” He shot a knowing glance at Diana, then launched himself down the length of the module and into the connecting node. He started to enter the Lab module, but stopped he saw Luther was there, setting up the midday meal.
    There’s nowhere to hide. Nowhere to be alone.
    Suddenly in tears, he backed out of the hatchway and retreated into the cupola.
    Turning his back to the others, he stared through the windows at the earth. Already, the Pacific coast was rotating into view.
    Another sunrise, another sunset.
    Another eternity of waiting.
     
    Kenichi watched Griggs and Diana float out of the lab module, each propelled by a well-gauged push-off. They moved with such grace, like fair-haired gods. He often studied them when they weren’t watching, in particular, he enjoyed looking at Diana Estes, a woman so blond and pale she seemed translucent.
    Their departure left him alone in the lab, and he was able to relax. So much conflict on this station. It unsettled his nerves affected his concentration. He was tranquil by nature, a man content to work in solitude. Though he could understand English enough, it was an effort for him to speak it, and he found conversation exhausting. He was far more comfortable working alone, and in silence, with only the lab animals as company.
    He peered through the viewing window at the mice in the animal habitat, and he smiled. On one side of the screened divider twelve males, on the other were twelve females. As a boy growing up in Japan, he had raised rabbits and had enjoyed cuddling them on his lap. These mice, however, were