Transplant by D. B. Reynolds-Moreton Page B

concerned, and the Captain would have done something about it if we were in any danger.’ Benz was, as usual, agog with indifference about such things.
    ‘You would have been if it had come closer, and hit us up the rear end.’ Glyn didn’t like the dismissive attitude displayed by Benz, but then, remembering what Benz was like, changed the subject and asked him what he had been doing.
    The rest of the evening passed as most did, visiting various groups engaged in time passing activities. Glyn and Arki split up, each going their separate ways with their separate thoughts about what they had just seen.
    The evening and its activities drew to a close, Glyn and Mia retiring to their cabin for the night, and after the usual pleasantries, settled down for some well earned rest in their separate bunks.
    Glyn was looking forward to the next day, as he intended to question the Captain about the asteroid and then, time permitting, return to the book room to continue the saga of those who had gone before him.
    As he drifted into sleep, he wondered what had happened to the originator of the diary and why his story had ended so abruptly. Perhaps there had been an accident, or maybe the Captain had got wind of his intended exploits and put a stop to them. He wondered if he would have the nerve to follow in the steps of the first story teller, for they had found the same malfunctioning lift when they went to the hydroponics room, delivering its occupants to the service tunnel, or was it a different one?
    The dreams came and went, some making little sense, some entertaining, but so far, no nightmares.
    The soft tones of the ‘morning is here’ gong sounded, pulling him out of a deep and restful sleep, not that he minded too much as today was going to be a little different, if he had half a chance.
    Mia was in one of her giggly moods, which usually led to a bit of slap and tickle, and it did, with the usual panting climax, so they were the last in to breakfast.
    A couple of knowing grins from the already seated diners failed to have much impact on Glyn, he had other matters on his mind.
    The meal consumed, they all waited for the day’s chores to be announced and allocated. They didn’t have long to wait, the Captain’s voice came in right on cue.
    ‘There has been a malfunction on a panel deep within one of the control units for hydroponics garden number seven.
    ‘Four personnel will be needed for the repair, report to the equipment room where the replacement panel will be issued together with the necessary tools.’ Before the Captain  had a chance to cut the audio channel off, Glyn was in like a shot, ‘Captain, thanks for telling us about the asteroid last evening, we saw it from the observation room and couldn’t make out what the metallic constructions on its surface were. Do you have any data on what they might have been?’
    ‘The asteroid was observed approaching the ship, calculations were done to make sure that it would pass harmlessly by, and you were informed of its presence. I have no further data on it.’ The click of the audio circuit being cut off was almost instantaneous with the last syllable spoken. The Captain wasn’t going to give anyone a second chance to ask any awkward questions.
    Glyn turned to Arki, who was seated beside him, and said,
    ‘The Captain’s getting just a little too slick for my liking, he anticipated my next question and cut me off short. We’ll have to sharpen up a bit if we’re going to catch him out.’
    ‘You’ve got a real thing about the Captain, haven’t you? Be careful it doesn’t get out of proportion and distort your judgement.’ Arki was always ready with good advice, which was rarely taken.
    Glyn, assuming Arki would accompany him, asked for two more volunteers to attend the control panel replacement exercise, and the four of them briskly walked off in the direction of the equipment room.
     ‘You know, I’m sure some of these jobs we get sent on aren’t really