The aliens have arrived. Humanity has been given a chance to join the Galactic Union. But first, we must pass various tests.
"Airplanes fly at an infinitesimal velocity, jet engines and two wings keeping them airborne by playing with the impoverished air. Today's flight enjoys exceptionally clear winter skies. Marianne has the window seat. Marc presently has his eyes closed, waiting for a nap. Then what might be turbulence strikes. The airplane's momentum changes. Not much, not in the full scope of things, but the difference is enough for unrestrained bodies to be tossed into the ceiling before plunging again. People cry out. Limbs are shattered. At least two passengers have been knocked unconscious, and what might be a heart attack is occurring just two rows ahead of Marc.
"But their seatbelts are working, leaving them nothing but terrified.
"Someone shouts across the intercom. This isn't turbulence. That's what the cockpit voice seems to be declaring. Some ill-defined mechanical issue is responsible for this descent, their flight being diverted to the nearest available airfield. Maybe the crackling voice tells them where that is, but Marc doesn't have to hear anything. He just knows.
"'Have you ever seen the Tetons?' he asks Marianne.
"'When I was a kid,' she says.
"'You're always a kid,' he says.
"Together, they fall from the sky, glad to be holding each other's hands."
Robert Reed is the author of many, many science fiction stories and quite a few novels. He won the Hugo in 2007 for his novella, "A Billion Eves." But Reed is best known for his Great Ship/Marrow saga.
Genre: Science Fiction
"Airplanes fly at an infinitesimal velocity, jet engines and two wings keeping them airborne by playing with the impoverished air. Today's flight enjoys exceptionally clear winter skies. Marianne has the window seat. Marc presently has his eyes closed, waiting for a nap. Then what might be turbulence strikes. The airplane's momentum changes. Not much, not in the full scope of things, but the difference is enough for unrestrained bodies to be tossed into the ceiling before plunging again. People cry out. Limbs are shattered. At least two passengers have been knocked unconscious, and what might be a heart attack is occurring just two rows ahead of Marc.
"But their seatbelts are working, leaving them nothing but terrified.
"Someone shouts across the intercom. This isn't turbulence. That's what the cockpit voice seems to be declaring. Some ill-defined mechanical issue is responsible for this descent, their flight being diverted to the nearest available airfield. Maybe the crackling voice tells them where that is, but Marc doesn't have to hear anything. He just knows.
"'Have you ever seen the Tetons?' he asks Marianne.
"'When I was a kid,' she says.
"'You're always a kid,' he says.
"Together, they fall from the sky, glad to be holding each other's hands."
Robert Reed is the author of many, many science fiction stories and quite a few novels. He won the Hugo in 2007 for his novella, "A Billion Eves." But Reed is best known for his Great Ship/Marrow saga.
Genre: Science Fiction
Used availability for Robert Reed's Retrograde Tests