though it’s not slang , Roberts. Fo’csle, an abbreviated version of the word spelled out like ‘fore’ and ‘castle’, is the front of a ship. The stern or the fantail is the rear. And for the record, port is left and starboard is right as viewed in the reference frame of someone facing the fo’csle. Just remember that both port and left have four letters and you’ll never get mixed up. I apologize if I accidentally use these terms.”
“Don’t apologize, Steele,” McKenzie said, “It’s understandable that you’d use nautical terms for a ship whether that ship is in space or at sea.”
“So anyway, what’s the scuttlebutt on the hallways again?” Roberts asked.
Conner looked at Roberts who was grinning at his own attempt at humor. Crossway pushed Roberts, then walked over toward Conner.
“And a scuttlebutt is a drinking fountain, but enough with the lessons for today,” Conner said, “The hallway looks to be clear in both directions. For now, I recommend going aft since the passageway appears to be shorter. This has me curious, especially since we entered this vessel nearer to the front of the ship than the rear. Logic suggests the hallway should be longer going aft, but it’s not. McKenzie is the leader of the mission though, and is therefore the one who states where we go.”
“Tha t’s actually a good suggestion, Steele,” he replied, “I’d like us to move single file with Conner taking the front and Roberts taking the rear with their weapons ready.”
“Why do I get the back?” Roberts asked.
McKenzie turned to him, confused momentarily by his question.
“There are two military men in our crew, Roberts, and you’re one of them. I’d like to think it makes sense that the two of you would be trusted to protect the group,” McKenzie said, “And I must say, you’re starting to concern me.”
Roberts raised his hand defensively and nodded, “I’m sorry. I understand now, Doctor. I’ve got your backs.”
“Good,” Lentz said sarcastically, “I feel much better now.”
“Me too,” Crossway added with equal sarcasm.
Ten
The passageway offered nothing but a series of doors, which they all agreed would remain unchecked for the time being. The alarm stopped by the time they were halfway to the end of the passage.
“Do you think they gave up on warning the crew?” Crossway asked.
“Doon sen wa skon ee tor,” a gurgling voice called over the intercom, “Doon ree o oooooooorrrrk ooorkkkk oooooorrrrkkk.”
The alien voice was changing now as it seemed to stretch out the words it spoke. The gurgling sound faded from its words as it repeated those last foreign words. They paused and looked up toward the ceiling as though the voice was coming from above.
“Hok roin cowl,” the voice spoke slowly in a deep baritone, “Wuh wuuuhhh wuuuuuuuhhhhh whyyy do I get the back?”
“ What was that? It just spoke English,” Roberts blurted, aiming his weapon at the ceiling, “Do you think they are trying to communicate with us?”
“ It repeated exactly what you said earlier. I really wonder if it is searching for a way to speak to us. They’ve got to know that we wouldn’t understand their language,” McKenzie said, “If they wanted to communicate though, it would make more sense to meet face to face and start with gestures.”
“Hok roin cowl,” the gurgling voice repeated, then added, “Ee homa heelkin. Wuuuhh Whaaat was that? It juuuhh just spoke Englishhh”
“It can hear us. It’s repeating our words ,” Crossway said, “I wish we could reply.”
“I’d rather not say anything they could misinterpret. McKenzie is right – we’d be better off meeting face to face with this alien if it wants to communicate so bad,” Lentz agreed.
Conner slowly proceeded down the corridor, letting the others follow if they wanted. He kept his weapon ready just in case one of the many doors along the hallway opened up suddenly.
“ I’d be more worried that a face
“Don’t apologize, Steele,” McKenzie said, “It’s understandable that you’d use nautical terms for a ship whether that ship is in space or at sea.”
“So anyway, what’s the scuttlebutt on the hallways again?” Roberts asked.
Conner looked at Roberts who was grinning at his own attempt at humor. Crossway pushed Roberts, then walked over toward Conner.
“And a scuttlebutt is a drinking fountain, but enough with the lessons for today,” Conner said, “The hallway looks to be clear in both directions. For now, I recommend going aft since the passageway appears to be shorter. This has me curious, especially since we entered this vessel nearer to the front of the ship than the rear. Logic suggests the hallway should be longer going aft, but it’s not. McKenzie is the leader of the mission though, and is therefore the one who states where we go.”
“Tha t’s actually a good suggestion, Steele,” he replied, “I’d like us to move single file with Conner taking the front and Roberts taking the rear with their weapons ready.”
“Why do I get the back?” Roberts asked.
McKenzie turned to him, confused momentarily by his question.
“There are two military men in our crew, Roberts, and you’re one of them. I’d like to think it makes sense that the two of you would be trusted to protect the group,” McKenzie said, “And I must say, you’re starting to concern me.”
Roberts raised his hand defensively and nodded, “I’m sorry. I understand now, Doctor. I’ve got your backs.”
“Good,” Lentz said sarcastically, “I feel much better now.”
“Me too,” Crossway added with equal sarcasm.
Ten
The passageway offered nothing but a series of doors, which they all agreed would remain unchecked for the time being. The alarm stopped by the time they were halfway to the end of the passage.
“Do you think they gave up on warning the crew?” Crossway asked.
“Doon sen wa skon ee tor,” a gurgling voice called over the intercom, “Doon ree o oooooooorrrrk ooorkkkk oooooorrrrkkk.”
The alien voice was changing now as it seemed to stretch out the words it spoke. The gurgling sound faded from its words as it repeated those last foreign words. They paused and looked up toward the ceiling as though the voice was coming from above.
“Hok roin cowl,” the voice spoke slowly in a deep baritone, “Wuh wuuuhhh wuuuuuuuhhhhh whyyy do I get the back?”
“ What was that? It just spoke English,” Roberts blurted, aiming his weapon at the ceiling, “Do you think they are trying to communicate with us?”
“ It repeated exactly what you said earlier. I really wonder if it is searching for a way to speak to us. They’ve got to know that we wouldn’t understand their language,” McKenzie said, “If they wanted to communicate though, it would make more sense to meet face to face and start with gestures.”
“Hok roin cowl,” the gurgling voice repeated, then added, “Ee homa heelkin. Wuuuhh Whaaat was that? It juuuhh just spoke Englishhh”
“It can hear us. It’s repeating our words ,” Crossway said, “I wish we could reply.”
“I’d rather not say anything they could misinterpret. McKenzie is right – we’d be better off meeting face to face with this alien if it wants to communicate so bad,” Lentz agreed.
Conner slowly proceeded down the corridor, letting the others follow if they wanted. He kept his weapon ready just in case one of the many doors along the hallway opened up suddenly.
“ I’d be more worried that a face
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