"2549 Ganymede (23.17.46.11) * Episode 34"

Source:THE ENGINEERS

RAPHAEL AND SONYA

He lived in the small city of Burundi, a short hover trip from the more central areas.

Still, it was a rural area, mostly farms for vegetables, but also a few with cows and other livestock.
He was bored to death.

Raphael had a girlfriend from another planet, the planet Norway.

As part of his chores, it was for him to pilot the cargo ship with fruit and vegetables to them – and that is how he met Sonya.

Sonya was the tall, blonde and fair-skinned girl responsible for the food import and distribution for Norway.

She was the daughter of Christina, and again a Scandinavian of origin – however long time ago.

She loved her Raphael – the quick and funny brown man – he having his ancestors from Guatemala, even Mona Lisa herself.

It was of course he who got the news first, through the viral network – but he was quick to relay to his girlfriend.

What to do now?

They discussed at length when he visited for the next haul, on a mountainside by the spaceship cargo holds, where they could be for themselves – making love, kissing, talking –as they did now.

“I don’t want to be without you, “ she whispered in his ear.

“And I cannot live without you, “ he whispered back.

“Do the Azanians already know what is going to take place?” he asked.

“Only a few of us, “she answered – “the rest do not care now that we have our own energy source.”

The jacaranda over their heads swayed a little, and the lemon trees sprayed their perfume, while in the background they could hear that both the rhinos and the elephants were in heat.

Down the mountain side they could see lights here and there from others making small camp fires, perhaps also in the same errand – to share compassion with a loved one.

It was Sonya who started the suggestions.

“Why don’t you let me move to Azania? We can live on your planet forever!”

“I would rather move to Norway and join you on the travel to new planets. I am tired of farm life, “ he answered.

Walking down the hillside, the discussion continued.

They came to a small café, complete with the virtual impression of a jungle and straw-roof overhead.

She chose the coconut-drink, served in a real coconut with a straw; he chose the mango juice one.

Not much had changed in preferences for beverages the last five hundred years – apart from the fact there was no alcohol anymore.

Instead, the tea made of cannabis leaves were quite popular among many, so the cookies too.

All the dangerous ingredients had been engineered away millennia ago, now it was only the pure cannabinol left.

As the night drew on, and the myriad of stars and galaxies reappeared – they made a compromise of sorts:
That she would ask the counsel for advice regarding his wish to join them.

Should the counsel deny him, they would move together on Azania.

Sonya was not easy to discuss with when she had made up her mind, he mused.

But again – perhaps she was right and he wrong.

“I will try to arrange a meet a few days from now, but I will send the request now, “closing her eyes and concentrating.

“There, it is sent now, “ she said some seconds later.

Raphael on the other hand informed his family about his wish and got mixed response.

Some asked him to go to Hell; others wished him well and happiness with his girlfriend.

As the hover glided down the path, surrounded by the cactus he could not help it; this could be one of his last days on the planet: He cried.

Only a few days later it was settled: He would join her for the long trip outwards.

The ring was changed and now able to travel by itself.

For that to take place they required a lot of power, now Azania was effectively left alone.

... to be continued.
next: "2549 Ganymede (23.17.46.11) * Episode 35" entitled:
"from BOOK5 - NEW HORIZONS" / stay tuned...
... TOMORROW