So. When last we met, I had just finished my four-day web institute for my grad program. Basically, I sat in a room for four days and had way, way too much information shoved into my brain. The last couple of weeks have mostly been settling in to doing classwork, and continuing to look for work. Boring boring.
So! Today I bring you the first page of a current short story WIP. I don't usually write short stories anymore, I don't usually write science fiction, and I almost never write about adults. This story is all three, and has been massively tricky to write!
Working title for this is "Ghost", but that is subject to change.
*
When Andy Rollins started spouting to anyone who would listen that he was seeing ghosts, it got him more than a few funny looks.Folks on Rainmaker VII don't much hold with superstition. It didn't help that Andy was the chief compactor on hydrogen deck. The thought that he was crackin' up didn't go down too good.
I work in compression--two decks below hydro, where we do the actual assembly--fusing the H with oxygen to fill the vats with water. Vital work, but the noise and heat is enough to make anyone crazy. Been more than a few times I've heard things when I get off shift--getting out of comp leaves your ears ringing like nothin' else. Really, it's a wonder it was Andy and not me who went nuts.
He come down to compression deck two shifts after I'd first heard about him seeing things, to warn me that the latest H delivery had been short by nearly a million tons. Not news I wanted to hear--we were already behind on production, and it was planting season down on Homeworld. Had to rain in 8 days, and we were already behind, since the main compressor was down. Component issue was the last thing I needed.
"Goddamn, Andy," I said, screaming to be heard over the whomp-whomp of the compressors. "What am I supposed to do?"
He shrugged, looking unhappy. Andy always hated to disappoint anyone. His family had come from Base3, about two months out from Homeworld, and he had been supposed to get a good job and a spot for them on the surface. Closest he ever got was Rainmaker VII, hovering in the upper troposphere. Not that we could see the planet from here. Weather ships don't get windows. I don't think he ever got over the guilt from his mother dying on a Base.
"There's nothing I can do, Lisle." Andy said. "it was the ghosts."
*
Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuun.
I like this - it's a good beginning for what looks to be an interesting story. I like the flavor you gave the narrator's speech. I'm a SciFi nut, but not a science buff, so I wouldn't know - did you research your background? Is this something you're writing for a class?
ReplyDeleteStill no luck with the job search? Sad! I hope something good turns up soon.
~ Diana
I did a little research, but mostly I made it up. This is still pretty rough. It's not for a class, just something that popped into my brain. I hardly ever write first person--I think it's really difficult--so I tend to think I go overboard differentiating any first person narrators' voice from mine. Thanks for the comment!
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