Earth Below, Sky Above thd-13 Read online

  “Yes, that,” Rigney said.

  “We start with a promotion, I think,” Egan said. “She and her people are no longer the B-team, and we don’t have any more time to waste. Things are never going back to what they were, Abel. We need to build the future as fast as we can. Before it collapses in on us. Abumwe’s going to help get us there. Her and her team. All of them. All of them that are left, anyway.”

  Wilson and Lowen stood on the grounds of what remained of the Nairobi beanstalk and Earth Station, waiting for his ride, the shuttle that was slowly coming in for a landing.

  “So, what’s it like?” Lowen wanted to know.

  “What’s what like?” Wilson asked.

  “Leaving Earth a second time,” Lowen said.

  “It’s the same in a lot of ways,” Wilson said. “I’m excited to go, to see what’s out there in the universe. But I also know it’s not likely that I’m ever coming back. And once again, I’m leaving behind people I care about.”

  Lowen smiled at that and gave Wilson a peck on the cheek. “You don’t have to leave,” she said. “You can always defect.”

  “Tempting,” he said. “But as much as I love the Earth, I have to admit something.”

  “And what’s that,” Lowen said.

  “I’m just not from around here anymore,” Wilson said

  The shuttle landed.

  “Well,” Lowen said, “if you ever change your mind, you know where we are.”

  “I do,” Wilson said. “You know where I am, too. Come up and see me.”

  “That’s going to be a little more difficult now, all things considered,” Lowen said.

  “I know,” Wilson said. “The offer still stands.”

  “One day I’ll take you up on that,” Lowen said.

  “Good,” Wilson said. “Life’s always interesting with you around.”

  The shuttle door opened. Wilson picked up his bag to go.

  “Hey, Harry,” Lowen said.

  “Yes?” Wilson said.

  “Thanks for saving my life,” she said.

  Wilson smiled and waved good-bye.

  Hart Schmidt and Ambassador Ode Abumwe were waiting inside.

  Wilson smiled and shook the ambassador’s hand warmly. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you again, ma’am,” he said to her.

  Abumwe smiled equally warmly. “Likewise, Lieutenant.”

  Wilson turned to Schmidt. “As for you,” he said. “Don’t you do that again. That whole almost dying thing.”

  “I promise nothing,” Schmidt said.

  Wilson hugged his friend, then sat down and buckled in.

  “Did you have a good time back on Earth?” Schmidt asked.

  “I did,” Wilson said. “Now let’s go home.”

  Abumwe nodded to the shuttle pilot. They put the Earth below them and headed into the sky above.

  FB2 document info

  Document ID: fbd-95ea2e-2d78-ac4b-f08e-789d-f5c2-d4edc4

  Document version: 1

  Document creation date: 21.04.2013

  Created using: calibre 0.9.24, Fiction Book Designer, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6.6 software

  Document authors :

  John Scalzi

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