Nearest Approach

Captain’s Log, Stardate 66256.2

Nearest Approach

Our current assignment is to observe the nearby star cluster, Bellus Fides; this assignment was interrupted when the Communications Officer notified me that he had received an alert over the CLS (Condensed Light and Sound rays) that Venus would be making its nearest approach to Mars in this 26,000 yr. Cosmic Cycle which ends at Stardate 66440.2.  As Captain, I was obliged to instruct all official personnel to be on high alert in the event that we receive immediate orders to deploy to Venus; accordingly, I ordered our navigator to determine the precise location of where our ship would be at that time and asked the quartermaster to make sure we had ample stores in the event of our deployment.  Another communiqué came shortly after but was garbled owing to the confluence of two disruptive forces, Solar flares in the cluster’s twin stars and the magnetic disturbance of a Dark Giant two parsecs away.  The communications officer attempted to ascertain whether the previous transmission was flawed in some way, necessitating a correction, or whether the recent communiqué held new information regarding a different subject; however, communication could not be reestablished with Orvonton Command.  Since our current mission will hold us in the magnetic field of the Dark Giant for the next few days until the mass of its system comes between us, I am making this log entry.

I immediately alerted the crew to start making preparations to reach Venus because the event of her nearest approach to Mars is an event of immense importance to not only my whole Life’s work, as it prefigures the completion and fulfillment of a process I started on Mars around Stardate 4427.1, but also to the whole crew of our Starship because they volunteered for this mission on the chance they could serve in just this circumstance.  I must, therefore, note that the crew is thrilled and jubilant at this possibility and morale is very, very high.  Little did I suspect upon awakening this morning how wonderful this day would prove to be as a result of receiving just that little bit of wonderful news—even supposing our deployment to Venus never materializes.  In an effort to reestablish communication, I have taken advantage of emergency protocols that allow me to utilize the circuits of the Gravity Messengers for communication and I have instructed the communications officer to utilize those circuits to let Orvonton Command know that we have lost our regular communication channels and should be communicated with by the Gravity Messenger Circuits until such time as we pass beyond the field of magnetic disturbance generated by the Dark Giant.  The mood is electric right now among the crew and officers; and we are functioning at the highest level of efficiency I have seen since the Starship was christened.  We are all viewing this opportunity with much heightened expectations and anticipation.

Love Laughs Alot

The quiet of the morning awakened them there on the mountain and soon coffee was brewing and the back door was opened to let a slight breeze come through the screen.  Hot buttered toast with raspberry preserves, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs broke the evening’s fast and a morning dove cooed to make awakening official.  The conversation was tender and strayed to the previous day’s magical moments in the mountain meadow and a plan was made to return there soon but today held a walk up the stream to the tree line after showering.

There was a kind of rapids in the stream as it passed near the cabin and the sound of the water tumbling over the boulders could be heard in the bedroom and provided a soothing “white noise” for deep, restful sleep, free from cares, worries, and disturbing dreams.  The sound of the water seemed to flush away all tension from the muscles and erase everything from the mind that would upset, frighten, or annoy.  So, it was a relaxed couple indeed that set out hand in hand that morning toward the stream and the tree line far above the cabin.

The scent of spruce and pine was pungent in the air and the slight crackle of the pine needles under foot drew attention to the dry, warm morning air.  Sound seemed to travel for a great distance and, although they were speaking somewhat softly, in contrast to the natural sounds around them, their voices seemed booming and echoing.  Each, rather involuntarily, stopped speaking and continued walking in a meditative silence.  As they ascended, the trees became less dense and the patches of snow became more frequent and larger.  They turned to survey the climb they had made and looked out on a vista that included a brilliant morning sun and shaded, foggy valleys with sparkling streams that seemed to be sending some shining signals to all around.  It was time to don the warmer sweaters and share some trail mix and a quick drink; they could see the dome of the mountain as it stood out boldly against the western sky, surrounded at the tree line by a growth of pine and fir trees that made it look like a jewel of diamond-shining whiteness held in a filigree setting of green.  How fresh was the air; how clear was the sky; how crisp was the morning light as it shone off the snow, scintillating in a sparkling dance of water crystal diamonds.  The snow was now crunching under foot all the way and the path was becoming steeper; they could hear the stream rushing out of the mountain cave, beginning its cascade down and past the cabin where they were staying and that cave was their destination.

The mouth of the cave faced due east and was ablaze with the morning sun and, despite the temperature, it felt quite warm inside and this was borne out by the fact that there was a steam arising from the walls that gave the cave a slightly mystical and magical feel.  They dipped their cups in the stream for a drink and it was ice cold, refreshing, and with a distinct taste of iron; they felt invigorated.

The stream had cut down into the mountain inside the cave and left a ledge that provided a good vantage point for sitting and looking out over the mountain; the cave, the roar of the stream, and the silence of the panoramic view suggested the feel of a holy sanctuary and each held their cup of water as a chalice of holy communion.  He put his arm around her; she placed her hand on his thigh; they sat still like that for almost an hour and finally stirred with a kiss.

The trip back seemed to go more quickly and was punctuated with more laughing and giggling; more skipping and jumping; some slipping on the pine needles and a general lighthearted good time of it.  They ran the last little bit to the cabin and arrived breathless and deeper in love, ready for a hearty meal.

I Was There

I was there;

This morning after you left your room.

There was a palpable vibration of tension in the air.

The light came in on the right hand side of the bed as reckoned by one lying on it looking toward the ceiling.

I saw clothes hanging on chairs and the bed was not yet made up.

There was a device with a cd in it lying on the bed; I played it.

The male vocalist started out singing in Arabic then changed to English;

The lyrics were a variation on the theme of us v. them…not constructive.

I was nervous with fear that you might return and see me there;

How could I explain…or worse…that someone else might see me there.

I was nervous, too, because I have been so honest with you and I have left myself vulnerable and, more or less, naked before you.  I have nothing to hide behind so I didn’t want the scathing glare.  I held the device close to my heart knowing that you had held it too; that you had touched it; that you, perhaps, even loved it.  I left my Light there for you to find when you returned.

I came home and finished sleeping.