in the blink of an eye. He slowly removes his right hand from its place on the left hand.
Cardiff:
Anyway, you won’t be able to get that grease off with water; you’ll have to use the soap. It’s right there by the faucet.
Lawrence:
Right.
Chapter 5
Year 15, Day 37
T he fog of night creeps underneath the closed dormitory building door from the plaza, covering the floor of the dormitory hallway in a heavy mist. Faint traces of starlight shining into the dome, and through the hallway arcade of windows cast the shallow fog into consternation and guise as it moves along the painted floor.
The mist-laden air pours through the small space beneath Long’s dormitory door. Long sits silently on his bed, cross-legged. Apprehensive fingers curl in loosely-formed fists as he watches the fog; it seems to be reaching up for him from the floor. Heavy fists slam against the outer door, loudly enough to awaken the others from their light slumber.
The banging in the hallway is followed, quite shortly, by the outer door opening and slamming. Long remains still and silent on his bunk. His attention is fixated upon the fog that has inundated the floor of his room. The fog rushes toward the opening under his door rapidly; twice as quickly as it had come; the fog leaves his room in a coordinated flight out into the hallway. The dry floor is cold, yet it hastens to Long as he cautiously places his bare feet on it. A single wooden car is left alone on the bunk.
Long reaches for the handle on his door; he is greeted by icy metal as he places his hand upon the handle. With a twist of the handle, the door is freed from its captivity within the door frame. Once again, the thick fog rolls past Long. The fog sits waist-high as he walks into the hallway. The numb sensation in his feet and legs causes Long to look down into the corralled sea of mist. He can see no further than his own waist as he peers down.
A door opens down the hallway, the sound of the latch releasing draws Long’s attention up from the fog below. Cardiff stands in her own doorway, rubbing her eyes.
Cardiff:
What was that noise?
Long:
I have my theories.
Cardiff:
Care to share?
Long:
No point.
Cardiff stands in her doorway, fixated on Long’s apathetic expression. The rising sun looks as if it were rising for the first time. Rays of light begin to pour into the dome from behind the dorm building. The fog begins to evaporate into thin air outside. The thick fog inside the hallway begins to wane in the morning light. Long stands still in his doorway, just watching the fog disappearing before his eyes.
The hallway fills again, this time with footsteps as the others have finished readying themselves for the day. The early hour precludes the customary morning greetings as they stumble around in the hallway. The hallway empties again as they all leave Doctor Long alone in his doorway.
Several minutes later, Long walks into the mess hall and sits down next to Ghent. From the look in his eyes, Long hasn’t slept all that much the night before. Mendez is quietly eating her own eggs, carefully watching Long.
Lawrence:
Just in time, Long. I made breakfast; I think you’ll find the eggs will be to your liking. They’re loaded with hot sauce.
Ghent looks up at Long, a subtle shake of the head back and forth warns Long to avoid the eggs. Long continues to serve up his breakfast, avoiding the reconstituted eggs. Mendez sits across the long table from Lawrence; her eyes are casually placed on him as he quietly eats.
Mendez:
Where did you say you were from Mr. Lawrence?
Lawrence:
I never did.
Mendez:
Right.
Lawrence:
I suppose you are going to ask what it is that I am doing all the way out here next, eh?
Mendez:
The thought had crossed my mind.
Lawrence:
Then you’ll probably ask me about my military background; and you’re just being polite, aren’t you?
Mendez:
Never mind then.
Cardiff looks on at Lawrence and Mendez; back and forth she
Cardiff:
Anyway, you won’t be able to get that grease off with water; you’ll have to use the soap. It’s right there by the faucet.
Lawrence:
Right.
Chapter 5
Year 15, Day 37
T he fog of night creeps underneath the closed dormitory building door from the plaza, covering the floor of the dormitory hallway in a heavy mist. Faint traces of starlight shining into the dome, and through the hallway arcade of windows cast the shallow fog into consternation and guise as it moves along the painted floor.
The mist-laden air pours through the small space beneath Long’s dormitory door. Long sits silently on his bed, cross-legged. Apprehensive fingers curl in loosely-formed fists as he watches the fog; it seems to be reaching up for him from the floor. Heavy fists slam against the outer door, loudly enough to awaken the others from their light slumber.
The banging in the hallway is followed, quite shortly, by the outer door opening and slamming. Long remains still and silent on his bunk. His attention is fixated upon the fog that has inundated the floor of his room. The fog rushes toward the opening under his door rapidly; twice as quickly as it had come; the fog leaves his room in a coordinated flight out into the hallway. The dry floor is cold, yet it hastens to Long as he cautiously places his bare feet on it. A single wooden car is left alone on the bunk.
Long reaches for the handle on his door; he is greeted by icy metal as he places his hand upon the handle. With a twist of the handle, the door is freed from its captivity within the door frame. Once again, the thick fog rolls past Long. The fog sits waist-high as he walks into the hallway. The numb sensation in his feet and legs causes Long to look down into the corralled sea of mist. He can see no further than his own waist as he peers down.
A door opens down the hallway, the sound of the latch releasing draws Long’s attention up from the fog below. Cardiff stands in her own doorway, rubbing her eyes.
Cardiff:
What was that noise?
Long:
I have my theories.
Cardiff:
Care to share?
Long:
No point.
Cardiff stands in her doorway, fixated on Long’s apathetic expression. The rising sun looks as if it were rising for the first time. Rays of light begin to pour into the dome from behind the dorm building. The fog begins to evaporate into thin air outside. The thick fog inside the hallway begins to wane in the morning light. Long stands still in his doorway, just watching the fog disappearing before his eyes.
The hallway fills again, this time with footsteps as the others have finished readying themselves for the day. The early hour precludes the customary morning greetings as they stumble around in the hallway. The hallway empties again as they all leave Doctor Long alone in his doorway.
Several minutes later, Long walks into the mess hall and sits down next to Ghent. From the look in his eyes, Long hasn’t slept all that much the night before. Mendez is quietly eating her own eggs, carefully watching Long.
Lawrence:
Just in time, Long. I made breakfast; I think you’ll find the eggs will be to your liking. They’re loaded with hot sauce.
Ghent looks up at Long, a subtle shake of the head back and forth warns Long to avoid the eggs. Long continues to serve up his breakfast, avoiding the reconstituted eggs. Mendez sits across the long table from Lawrence; her eyes are casually placed on him as he quietly eats.
Mendez:
Where did you say you were from Mr. Lawrence?
Lawrence:
I never did.
Mendez:
Right.
Lawrence:
I suppose you are going to ask what it is that I am doing all the way out here next, eh?
Mendez:
The thought had crossed my mind.
Lawrence:
Then you’ll probably ask me about my military background; and you’re just being polite, aren’t you?
Mendez:
Never mind then.
Cardiff looks on at Lawrence and Mendez; back and forth she
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