SFFSat 15/3/2014

This is my snippet this week for SFFSat. SFFSat is a place where a number of authors post snippets from their written works, and give the opportunity for comments, support and encouragement. Please also explore the other blogs that are part of this set - you can find the information here. 

Poisoned Ice   part 6

This is the penultimate part of a science fiction short story.  The earlier segments are earlier in this blog.  Anton deGama's spacecraft in the rings of Saturn had been poisoned, leaving him stranded in the rings, with apparently no prospect of signalling for help. He realised that the harvest of bio-engineered space-growing plants around him responded to his comms laser, changing attitude to line up with the laser, and began to think he had a chance...

    Kellerman sat in Titan-D's tiny, cramped bar, her blue eyes looking over her synthbeer at Anton's space-darkened face. "You've caused something of a stir, deGama - you're the first person to write 'HELP' on the surface of a ring."

    Anton smiled wanly. "It worked. What would you have done?"

    "If someone had murdered Polestar I'd have used my suit tanks to build a missile to blow them out of the ring."

    "The thought never occurred to me."

    She raised her glass to him. "You're too much the nice guy, deGama. How's Emerald?"

    Anton shrugged, and concentrated on his glass. "Nothing the bio-team could do for her. The emergency flight from Titan-B were too late for that."

    She leaned forward and took his hand. "Oh, Anton, I'm sorry."

   

 What hope for Anton's future? The conclusion next week. As always, comments welcomed.