Luna by Rick Chesler Page A

before setting off on what would surely be the journey of their lives. Saudi sheiks, South American heads of state, Japanese businessmen, international celebrities, and American socialites all witnessed the awe of being a true astronaut, of traveling at speeds of nearly twenty-five hundred miles per hour – three times the speed of sound – before being released from their restraints in order to enjoy a zero gravity environment. But of course, that was just the beginning for the rapidly growing industry of space tourism.”
    Blake swiveled his head from left to right, searching the lunar grounds, no doubt still amazed himself by the desolation of the moonscape.
    “Today,” he continued, “Outer Limits has taken you – a privileged few – to a new world. The New New World, if you will. With the successful conclusion of this flight, the moon is now officially a tourist destination for almost any individual on Earth with the means to fulfill their dreams.” As James listened, he tried his best to read Blake’s face behind the helmet. The magnate seemed preoccupied, perhaps even dismayed by something.
    Yet as he rambled on about the magnificence of the moon, about Outer Limits’ unrivaled focus on safety, his own grandiose plans for stations and bases, housing and eventually amusement parks, his confidence seemed to swell back to normal levels.
    Well, normal at least for Blake Garner. Overinflated for anyone else.
    “Someday in the near future, the moon will represent more than simply a premiere space experience package. A few men and women and children – this century’s pioneers – will call Earth’s natural satellite their home . Not their home away from home, mind you, but home .”
    As James looked around the dry, dusty gray world, he found it difficult to believe anyone would ever want to call this place home, fancy habitat or not. Then again, he never imagined he’d even be standing up here, either, so who knew? By now he felt comfortable enough to move to within a few feet behind Suzette, who had her camera focused on Blake’s helmet. He tried to be surreptitious but swiftly learned that was a losing battle here on the moon. His movements were far too clumsy and exaggerated to manage any kind of stealth. He squinted in order to get a better image of Blake’s facial expressions. Was he calm, in control, or faking it? But what he really wanted was not only to get into Blake’s helmet, but to get into his head. Because...and he wasn’t sure how he knew—call it a flight safety inspector’s sixth sense—he still sensed something was wrong, very wrong. And only Blake seemed to know what that was.
    Blake took a step back. “As I am sure our moon scientist, the esteemed Dr. Asami Imura, can attest to you in far greater detail, the world on which we are now standing was most likely formed some four-point-five billion years ago, when the newly formed proto-Earth was struck by another celestial body the size of Mars. That magnificent impact blasted vast amounts of material into orbit around the Earth…”
    Blake trailed off for a moment, turning his head to the left as though he’d heard someone calling out from behind him. When he continued, his voice wavered a bit, as though filled with uncertainty and trepidation.
    “…which eventually coalesced to form the moon.” 
    “Is something wrong, Blake?” Martin Hughes stepped closer to the business mogul.
    Blake turned to glare again. “Not wrong,” he said at a near whisper. “Just off.”
    Burton kept his own face expressionless behind his helmet. He’d mastered his poker face over the decades after learning early on that people would ask What’s the matter? if they saw him make any kind of facial gesture while on an inspection. He didn’t want them picking up on certain things he was noticing either, or they might be corrected before he submitted his report, and contested later. He could tell by looking at the helmets of the others that if there