Fiction: A Token of Gratitude

Article by R. K. Wigal

Chance Munro, recently of the Army of Northern Virginia, had boarded his newfound friend, Brack's incredible machine. The machine began to rise and Munro watched in utter awe as the Earth receded beneath him. He'd seen the Earth from observation baloons on the great Civil War battlefield, but to see the Earth fall away so far so quickly was incomprehensible to him. Odder still, there was no sensation of motion. He turned to Brack, "Where are we and where are we going?"

"We are in outer space and we are going on a tour. You saved my life back there, a life that is very dear to me," Brack said, a smile lighting his face, "so I decided to try to repay you as best I can by showing you things you have never seen."

"I don't see that I did anything so grand," Munro responded. "I saw that something needed to be done and I did it. That's all."

"And I am indebted to you." Brack affirmed, speaking from the heart. Then, a broad grin lighting his face, "Next stop..." He paused.

"Next stop where?"

"Why, the moon of course."

"Of course! How could I not know that!?"

They both looked at each for a brief moment, then burst out laughing.

* * *

Brack swiveled his console chair around and hopped out of the chair onto his servicable foot.

Take by surprise, Chance "Whoa, now hold on there! What're you doing!?"

"I'm going to apply an apparatus to my leg that will allow me to walk." Opening a sliding compartment at the base of his console chair, he took out a small, off-white container, set it down beside him and opened it. He then untied the splint bindings and removed them along with the wrappings and the well crafted wooden splints. "I'll need your help getting out of my trousers."

"Of course," Chance assented.

Careful not to jar the injured leg, Chance pulled gently on pant legs and helped Brack ease slowly out of his trousers. Then, Chance watched in fascination as Brack took a jar from the box beside him, opened it, and began smoothing a dark, viscous salve interspersed with tiny metallic flecks over every square inch of the injured leg. He then took out a two-inch wide roll of fabric-like material and wrapped it around his leg from the the ankle to just above the knee, fixing it in place with clips. Next, he brought out a small, palmable device, activated it, and ran a heat generating swath of light over the fresh binding. This he did for several minutes. Once done, he put the closed jar and the heat-light divice back into the box. "This box is my medikit," he told Chance. "The salve I applied aids the healing process. The bits of metal you saw are tiny magnets that assist blood circulation. All in all, the salve helps reduce muscle stiffness. The bandage-wrap works in conjunction with the salve to keep the bone immobile so I can walk. The infrared heat lamp provides energy to speed up the process. I'm going to get up now. I shouldn't need help."

"Okay," Chance replied.

Brack rose to his feet. He took one hesitating step, then another. Satisfied, he began walking, albeit a bit stiffly. "I never had to use that before," he said. "Works pretty well." He was able to put his trousere back on unassisted.

* * *

Less than an hour after leaving the Earth, the moon's face filled the forward view screen. Munro carefully surveyed the image for several minutes, then he spoke. "Amazing! I've seen the craters of the moon through telescopes. It shouldn't surprise me then that there are even smaller craters when seen from up close. The mountains...the great flat expanses...all breathtaking to see! It's almost overwhelming!"

Brack then guided his craft around to the back side of the moon.

"Holy cow," Munro Exclaimed. "The two sides are so different! The back is just mountains aned craters...and craters within craters! Unbelievable!"

"Gives one pause to wonder how, does it not?"

"Brack, I'm already becoming indebted to you!"

"Put this on." Brack handed Munro an encounter suit.

Within minutes, they had landed in Mare Imbrium. Chance was literally bounding over the surface. Brack spoke through his com link, "You weigh but a sixth of what you weigh on Earth."

"This is great fun! I swear, I can almost fly!" Munro was exultant.

"Come, I will show you something."

Munro came and stood next to Brack as Brack pointed. Munro then saw the Earth from the moon for the first time. "Oh my," he said pensively. "I never imagined Earth could be so beautiful! She is truly a sight to behold!"

"I fell in love with your planet the first time I saw it. I was compelled to visit ever since. But now, let us go. There is so much more to see," Brack effused, "or would you rather I simply return you to Earth?"

Munro thought for a moment. He remembered something. Then he spoke. "I'll be very happy to go, but there's something I'd like to do first. Can we return to Earth for a brief visit?"

"We can. Why?"

"I need to do some stocking up."

"Very well then," Brack agreed.

Brack and Chance returned to the ship. Brack brought the ship to life and steered it toward Earth. Little did they know then that they had just embarked on the first of many great adventures.