Panspermia Deorum by Hylton Smith

its subject matter. There’s a lot of evidence now that
personality can be influenced by a person’s DNA. Irregularities
which cause conditions like Autism and Asperger Syndrome have been
linked to genetic defects without much fuss in society. But people
don’t want to think about this reaching as far as temperament, or
being self-centred. I gave up trying to help because Mum was so
stubborn. I know Sophie needed medication to control her addiction,
but we need to look at what caused her submission to drugs. Enough,
this sounds like a sermon, what happens next?”
    “A lot of what
you’ve just said actually resonates with me. I persuaded Mum to
take Sophie back to Geraldine’s for a while, and we’re there now. I
also suggested taking her back to Guiana, to re-unite her with
nature. You know, solitude when it’s needed, but the family can be
there whenever there’s a wobble. We’ll decide tomorrow.”
    “Well, well, I
can’t believe it. That’s exactly what Sophie needs right now.
Listen, Dad, I’d like to come out to see what you get up to in
Guiana, but I can’t take the time off just yet. How about the end
of the summer? I might be able to squeeze a couple of weeks’
vacation then?”
    “I’d love that,
Eugene, I’ve never asked you because I thought it would isolate
your mother even more. I hope you can understand.”
    “I’d figured
that out already. Anyway, you’ve got my support one hundred
percent, Sophie needs to be out of that zoo. Speak to you
soon.”

Chapter 7
     
    E lise had been up half of the night, researching
anything she could about Guiana. She wasn’t convinced it was right
for her daughter and aired her concerns at the breakfast table.
    “When were you
going to mention the oppressive climate, Julien, and all
the…compulsory vaccinations against tropical diseases?”
    “After we
decided whether reuniting the family would help Sophie with her
problems. I thought that was the priority.”
    “Maybe, but
I’ve read that a current yellow fever vaccination is mandatory…
even for… entry into the country. Protection against malaria is
definitely recommended, and the same applies to tetanus and…
sodding polio.”
    “I know all
that, Elise, but it’s under control, unlike drug addiction. And
yes, it’s hot and humid a lot of the time, but accommodation is
absolutely top class, and the city of Kourou isn’t far away. It’s a
tropical environment, with advantages and drawbacks just like any
other place. But the vivid colours and the night sky are truly
something to behold.”
    Elise was about
to bring up the question of crime when Sophie gripped her hand.
Then she rounded the table and hugged her father, with tears
streaming down her face. Beckoning Elise to join the embrace,
Sophie’s voice was barely audible. “I want us to go, Mum. What’s to
think about?”
    Geraldine had
to excuse herself, unable to control her emotions. Elise just sat
still, as if paralysed. Julien was pulled to his feet and guided
around the table by his daughter. The three of them joined hands,
as Elise saw a light in Sophie’s eyes which had been missing for
several months. They called for Geraldine and it was decided.
    *
    Having cleared
all the medical requirements and packed the maximum allowance of
life’s necessities for the family, all remaining arrangements at
the other end were authorised by Julien’s call to Volker Brandt.
They also briefly discussed Julien’s suggestions following his trip
to Chile.
    “If we narrow
down the options of deflecting the asteroid to only one technique
and one last resort, it would give us the opportunity to alter the
initial Mars objectives. I realise that if we fail with diverting
Chocolate Orange, the chances of surviving on Mars more than a few
years would be unlikely, but we just don’t know what we might find
there. Also, if we do knock the asteroid off collision course,
we’ll know by then exactly what the situation is on Mars.”
    There was