I

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Chapter Eight: Recovering

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Somewhere in orbit

I

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October 1823

I

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- Why aren't we sick?

Geoff who was with his wives floating around in the Airship's lounge shrugged without making too much of a fuss.

They had been forced to go into orbit to avoid a huge storm over the Pacific Ocean and it had revealed itself as not a particularly good idea since the crew was clearly not prepared to endure weightlessness. And twenty-three sick people vomiting around in an airship had been at the origin of quite a huge mess.

Luckily for everybody involved neither the captain nor the helmsman had suffered from the weightlessness sickness.

- I'd bet on the bug, said Maureen. That's a real son of a bitch we've got ourselves infected with. He wants his host in perfect health and he clearly has done what was necessary to get what he wants…

- I like it up here, said Jane. And I think I like weightlessness even more.

She jumped to intercept her husband and they flew together towards the next wall where he, adroitly, caught himself to avoid crashing into the porthole.

- It's like when we flow together over the Temple Mountain, said she with a huge smile. I don't remember what sensation I have when I dream-fly but here it is exactly as I imagined it would be. Let's fly all over the ship…

- I wouldn't were I you, said Maureen with a grimace. There's vomit flying around everywhere. We need to find a place to land as soon as possible or I will be sick just because everything stinks of vomit.

Geoffrey nodded and took his first wife in his arms while gliding towards the intercom.

- Captain?

- Yes, Mr. d'Arcy.

- What choices do we have to land this vomit bucket as soon as possible?

- I'd say we go for your family's domain in Tupaï, Sir. The storm has already passed the archipelago and the weather is back to fine and sunny. We could stay a few days in the bungalows that the Vice-Roy has ordered to be built there. Everybody could use the available rooms while the crew cleans the mess. I think the place's nice landscape and climate would make it easier for everybody to overcome the consequences of our arrival in orbit.

- Sorry about that, said d'Arcy. Since the Galathea is as much a spaceship as an airship I thought that it would be a good idea to fly over the Storm. I would never have thought that it would have those results. None of Charles' crew had shown any inconvenience the first time we went up.

- I believed Sir Charles' crews have been trained in zero-G practice. The Galathea's crew are perfectly fine Airmen but going from airman to spaceman clearly asks for some training or as it is for me and the Helmsman some innate resistance.

- Well we'll have to ask Charles to train you as soon as we are done with this trip. My wives love to fly around, so, I'm quite sure that this is not our last sojourn in orbit.

- Training will be good, Sir, but we will need to embark a few specially adapted Space utensils. Things like vaccumers to suck up the mess while being in orbit.

- I'll ask Charles about the gear and you should begin to inform the crew that we are about to reenter the atmosphere. Please bring us down slowly because I think my wives are not yet done with their new flight passion.

- We'll reenter in exactly and hour, please do convince your wives to seat themselves and to buckle in. It could be a rough reentry.

I

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Tupaï Tuamotu Archipelago

I

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October 1823

I

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- Lizzy was right, this is Paradise…

Maureen and Jane were sunbathing on the inner beach of the Southern part of Tupaï where Fitzwilliam had ordered a dozen bungalows to be built.

But for one that was clearly designed to be the family seat, they were all similar and could host up to a hundred persons.

One had already been occupied with the Guardian's family when they had arrived. Within minutes said guardians had showed the newcomers their respective rooms and had organized a feast with food and drinks for everybody. They even had offered to organize a guided visit of the small island for those who were interested.

Geoffrey, aware that the Galathea's crew was dearly in need of a few hours rest had thanked the helpful guardians but had postponed it to the coming days.

- Lizzy's always right, smiled Jane. At least as long as she shares my opinion.

- Sea, sun and plenty of nightly sex is, in my mind, the perfect approach to a mature family holidays. We should have come here directly…

- I almost agree with you but I quite liked the discovery of Africa's landscapes. From above, Earth is such a marvel. I really appreciated it.

She smiled at Maureen's little frustrated frown.

- But rest assured that I will agree to stay here for a few days, and it isn't because of the nightly sex which was already our lot while flying over Africa.

- I prefer my bed to be on the ground, grumbled Maureen. When up there, there is always that little voice in my mind whispering to me that we are about to crash in the next incoming mountain.

She made an all-encompassing gesture.

- Here at least everything's securely placed on the floor of a real house. You can't imagine how I love the feeling of a floor that isn't vibrating or slowly pitching or tossing in answer to the wind's influence.

- You are an Irish peasant's daughter and sometimes it shows…

She easily caught the empty coconut Maureen threw at her and placed it on her table.

- We Bennets are lot more mundane. We love our flying airships…

Her teasing smile disappeared to be replaced by a wishful one.

- And I personally love even more to hover in weightlessness. It's such a wonderful feeling I would have gladly stayed up there for an entire week.

- Next time we borrow a trained crew from Charles' manpower reserve. Being drown in vomit isn't a death I would wish to my worst enemy.

Jane couldn't help but feel guilty. She had enjoyed it and so had Geoffrey but none of the others, not even Maureen or the few crewmembers who hadn't been sick had shared her pleasure. And being happy while other people were sick wasn't really something Jane was able to do easily.

- I had no idea that normal people would react in such an awful manner. For a moment I was even scared. They seemed to be at the brink of a violent death…

Maureen, remembering the awful reek the Galathea was probably still carrying, made a face.

- I'm quite sure that some of them would have died, love. Being sick and wallowing in your own vomit can only be described as a nightmare. We were lucky to be in the lounge when the weightlessness came upon the crew.

Luckily, the sickness had disappeared almost as soon as the Airship had reentered the atmosphere.

To be replaced by the scare of their life when the sky had begun to literally burn around them.

- Remind me, added Maureen, that we send a gift to Charles. We are probably only still alive because of his obsessive research of engineering perfection. Apart from the burned paint all over her hull, she's still in perfect working order.

- I've been there at the Wanderer's return, said Jane. The paintjob was still as perfect as when Jeanne took off.

- There's probably a better, safer way to reenter the Earth atmosphere, commented Geoffrey who had joined them after having taken a swim in the laguna. I should have been more attentive to Charles' after-mission report. I'm quite sure that, as usual with Charles' crews' reports, everything was clearly explained.

He shook his head.

- I have known him for twenty-three years now and I'm still guilty of not taking him seriously! He's proven times and times again that in matters science and technology he's a man who knows everything and still, when I look at him, I see the young man who had been unable to secure the most perfect jewel present on Earth.

He reached over, took Jane's hand and kissed it.

- I do love him like the little brother I've always dreamed of, but whatever his many successes over the years, I'm just unable to take him seriously.

He shook his head while sighing in frustration.

- And this time it could have killed us all!

He walked to his lounging chair and took the book he'd secured just before leaving the Galathea.

- This book says everything one need to know before reentering the atmosphere. Did you know that under each bed aboard there is a one or two survival pods where all non-essential personnel should have been the moment we chose to reenter?

Both women who hadn't really looked at the books aboard the airship could only shake their heads.

- The survival pods have been built to resist a major reentry failure ending with a hull breach! And we just ignored them because I didn't take my brother-in-law seriously enough! Charles clearly knows how to deal with security matters aboard an airship or in this case a spaceship and I didn't even look them up!

- Let's remember that we had no choice, protested Maureen. The Storm would have destroyed the airship. Going into orbit was the sane and safe decisions.

- And, in the end, we came down safe and sound, added Jane with a smile. Luckily for us, Charles airships are tough enough to resist even the mistakes of the most arrogant family members.

He stopped drying himself and frowned at his wife.

- Did you just call me arrogant, wife?

- I sure did, husband! But had you listened a little better you would have heard the 's' at family members. It was a hint that I was including myself in the arrogant lot.

She looked at Maureen.

- My dear sister could probably also be included in that little club of miscreants. She didn't seem a lot more attentive than we…

- Indeed, I wasn't, acknowledged Maureen. And it won't happen again, I give you my word on the matter. Your lives were at risk and I didn't even look at what to do to reduce the risks. It was more stupidity than arrogance, but, in the end we would have died in the same manner. I just didn't think it through.

- Once more God was on our side and I will not forget to thank Him, said Jane. The most important feature right now is that we are safe, together and, hopefully, wiser than before. And, as said we owe Charles for his obsessive insistence on safety measures.

- Safety measures we didn't even use, said Maureen with a smirk. We have been imprudent, and it could have ended with our death. Falling from the sky towards the Earth is probably too much even for a bug as resilient as the one we host.

- I won't be foolish enough to make the test, said Geoffrey, but it could be that we would have survived a fall from orbit. Betty survived a shot in the heart, remember. Would the bug be capable to revive us after a deadly fall from great height into the ocean? It's possible, but I wouldn't bet on it. Next time, we read and follow the safety rules.

He smiled at his wives and wiggled with his eyebrows…

- I know it's still early in the day but I wouldn't be against testing the bed Lizzy has clearly installed while thinking of us. What about a little bout of evening sex, my ladies?

They were clearly ready to make the necessary steps to test said bed.

I

-°-oOo-°-

- The bed was as perfect as you, husband, whispered Maureen while Geoffrey was holding her with his right arm…

Jane was already sleeping but she was the deep sleeper of the family. And she had been quite active for a couple of hours before falling asleep.

- We try to serve with everything we've got, my dear wife, answered Geoffrey. And if you should like a third pass, I'm all yours.

- No, thanks, let's not risk waking Jane. She's better but she's not yet recovered. A few days here in your company will do wonders for her health.

He nodded while looking at his sleeping wife. For the first time in a long time her smile was back. He should really have been more attentive.

- I'm sorry that I didn't react earlier. I just haven't been able to see the signs.

- She's been quite good at disguising her exhaustion, said Maureen. She fooled me as easily as you. And she's taken a lot of the burden the kids' education represents upon herself. I knew she was worried and that she wanted to correct what she thought was her mistake.

- Lizzy's report has done wonders last evening. As usual she was worried when far away from the little ones.

Maureen snickered discreetly.

- She's worried about everyone of them, you know. Even Betty who's a force to be reckoned with worries her. It's in her nature to worry for the people she loves. While you were away to fight you battles in Persia or in Russia she was worried all the same.

He smiled while looking at Jane's smile. A tear escaped from his eye.

- I wouldn't be what I have become without her… Did I even thank you for all you did to protect her?

- More than once in words and in deeds, answered Maureen with a smile of her own. And I did it for me as much as for you or her. Without her to show me that there is goodness within Mankind I would have snapped years ago.

She looked into her husband's eyes and shook her head.

- We are monsters, both of us, and those monsters are asleep only because she's able to lull them into sleep with her soothing energy. There are nights when the memories of what happened in that prison in Ireland try to seep into my mind. I swear that the very moment such a memory tries to show its ugly snout, her hand appears on my heart and her presence just snuffs it out. She's my guardian angel, not the reverse.

Geoffrey could only nod in silence.

He could only agree with Maureen. Deep down within his soul a black beast was lurking. Waiting for the right moment. It knew that its time could come. It just had to be patient… The moment his Jane would no longer be there to drive it away, it would reappear with a vengeance.

- I'm here, too, whispered Maureen. We'll help each other to tame our beasts. It's not as efficient as Jane's magic touch but, should we lose her, it will have to be enough. We owe it to her and the kids.

- I know, answered he in a whisper. Let's do everything in our power to have her stay alive as long as possible. She's what makes us Human.

Maureen shook her head.

- No, she's what's makes us better than Humans. Humans are, for the most of them, ugly beasts who are very ready to rip their fellows' throat out. I quite like what she achieved with you and me, so let's make it our lives' mission to protect her…

- Let's do that, indeed, love…

He just felt her head nod when she fell asleep.

He looked up and imagined the sky and the heavens above.

His last waking thought was a thanksgiving prayer.

I

-°-oOo-°-

- How did they arrive? Did they jump the reef?

Jane was still asleep and Geoff was breaking the fast with the Oro Tonirau, the Island's Guardian who has invited him.

Maureen had chosen to swim in the laguna when she had seen the school of dolphins playing around.

Orirau, the Guardian's eldest son had been put in charge of the members of the family, shook his head.

- No, they could probably but they don't need to do it. There is a gap in the reef, said he. The Vice-Roy ordered its widening. Now they can easily cross into the laguna. But they don't do it normally. They come only when we have guests.

- How do they know?

He shrugged.

- They are very clever, you know. The Vice-Roy's children speak with them. I suppose that some of them have seen your airship arriving. And they clearly have no problems to inform their brethren that people have arrived…

- Why would they come? Do we feed them?

- No, we don't and the laguna hasn't enough fish to feed them all. They come to play and talk. It seems that now that they know that some Humans can speak with them, they like doing it. Tupaï has always been a strange and weird place. It still is even if it is for different reasons.

- What different reasons?

- The island was cursed and taboo, because of the Fireseedling. But the Vice-Roy has sent it somewhere else and now the island is no longer dangerous.

He pointed at the school of playing dolphins.

- The only bad thing here is them…

- Bad? Why is it a bad thing?

Orirau shot her a perplexed glance.

- The Tiki are competitors for the food. They are too numerous to allow a Clan to survive here with them. It makes it a place where families won't live easily.

Once more he shrugged.

- But then this is the Vice-Roy's Island and if one thing is sure it is that he doesn't need to fish to feed its family.

Maureen couldn't help it but she had to ask.

- Why do you call Fitzwilliam by his Title? He is the Vice-Roy of Indian and Asian Britain. Those islands are not under his jurisdiction.

- He's the Vice-Roy. Only the King is over Him. And he has chosen to settle here. Why shouldn't we call him by his title? He and the Mistress have brought lots of changes to these Islands. Lots of good changes and a few less good ones. With the possibility to come here by airship and the fact that the climate here seems plenty likable we hope to get other people coming over.

He smiled at Maureen.

- Being paid handsomely just to guard and maintain a score of houses that have been built a lot sturdier than any of our own huts is a very easy way to live, you know? We hope that others will come and build houses they use only a few weeks a year.

- Considering the Climate and the circumstances, I'm quite sure that you'll get what you wish for. But tourists aren't always easy to master. Too many of them and you'll soon feel that you no longer are at home.

- Our elders have spoken lengthily with the Vice-Roy. He and the Mistress have shown us pictures of what has been built on the shores of what you call the Middle Sea. We know that we must avoid the great hotels to privilege smaller dwellings. It will be better for us and the nature… We've been lucky that the Vice-Roy was the first to come here. He's been of good counsel and he and your family will be our best allies to protect us from those who just want to make money.

Maureen wasn't surprised, the family had done in Croatia what they could to protect the coasts but against Napoleon's greed it has been a forlorn hope. Here they were on British territories and some protections could be granted.

- The family will help. We are rich but not greedy.

Orirau nodded. Clearly she had no need to convince him.

She took a deep breath.

- I'm hungry. I hope I won't have to fish for my breakfast?

- Nobody fishes when the Tiki is present. The fish has either fled or has been eaten. But it isn't important, this settlement has been equipped with everything to provide to members of the family who are present. You've seen that we have electricity, and it changes everything. We have lots of frozen food in the freezers under the houses and even more within the kitchen pantries. We can feed all of you for at least four weeks. And should you have special wished, we can always make a call to Tahiti where the Company has its main base and hangars.

For a moment, the young man seemed lost in his thoughts.

- A lot has changed with the Vice-Roy's arrival.

- That's often the case when the family takes an interest in somebody or something. We tend to invest in what we believe in.

- That's alright with most of us, said Orirau. There are a few oldsters who frown at your meddling, but they are rare, and nobody listens to them.

Once more he shrugged. Clearly, he wasn't happy with the situation, but Maureen could see it in his eyes, he was at peace with the consequences.

- We have seen the first airship arrive, added he finally. And, as son as we've been aware of what it meant, we knew that nothing would ever be the same. Our isolation had been our strength for centuries. But the possibility to fly here, once and for all changed everything. We've lost what could have protected us for a few more years. Strangers were now able to reach us without taking any of the risks a dangerous sailing trip always had brought with it.

A small unhappy smile reached his lips.

- Without the Vice-Roy's support we would just be small communities at the mercy of outsiders. We needed a protector, and we couldn't have found a better one. Especially since he is only one of quite a few remarkably interesting, if dangerous, people to call upon in case of emergency. I won't say that we like what has occurred to us, but we are all very aware that the Gods have not forsaken us.

He looked at the playing dolphins and sighed.

- Even if we would have preferred a world where we hadn't been obliged to share with the Tiki.

- Better the Tiki than Napoleon, said Maureen with a smile.

- That's probably right…

I

-°-oOo-°-

- Tea and scones?

Jane was wearing the sarong-styled Tahitian pareo-thing and, as usual, she was resplendent.

Maureen nodded and swallowed the piece of buttered and jammed scone she was masticating. Coffee, scones and jam were what she used to call her breakfast. Since she had spent the years after her liberation in France, it wasn't surprising that her eating habits were a lot more French than English.

- Fitzwilliam and Lizzy did organize this place to provide everything a guest would wish. And they clearly thought of those of us who like jam and honey in the morning. But there are eggs and bacon aplenty if you wish a real English Breakfast. You just have to order. There are enough cooks in the kitchen to cater for a dozen people.

Jane shook her head while taking a seat.

- No need to bother the cooks, buttered and jammed scones with that pitcher of hot chocolate will do marvels for my appetite. I'm ravenous!

- Since when is that news? I'm unable to remember a morning when you weren't ravenous…

- These last weeks I seldom was, said jane in an unusually hushed voice. Food just didn't seem as attractive as in the past.

- Well, said Maureen, another symptom that helped us to diagnose my love's illness! We spoke lengthily with everybody within the family and even if you are quite gifted when it comes to hide your ill-being, Lizzy had suspected the situation for as long as we. There had been days we couldn't witness even the hint of a smile. Not at all what Jane d'Arcy had used to look like in the past.

Jane couldn't deny that what Maureen had witnessed was probable true.

- There are so many problems that haven't yet been solved, Maureen. So many…

- And there are probably a lot your intervention could help to solve, admitted Maureen. But most of those problems are difficult ones and to solve them it is probably better that we are at our best. Numbed by exhaustion is not the best situation to keep a clear mind? Won't you agree?

While preparing her scones Jane could only nod.

- Of course, I agree. But, as you said, there are problems Jane d'Arcy the Duchess of Aquitania, well-known wife of Geoffrey d'Arcy and famous healer, will solve a lot faster than anybody else.

- Josephine has been informed and she is as we speak, at Mary's side in Spalatro.

Jane couldn't help but shoot a surprised look at Maureen.

Josephine was her best friend and she loved every minute she could afford to spend at her side but if there was one thing Josephine was not, then it was being open to other people's problems.

She wasn't self-centered… At least not all the time… But Jane had never seen her friend talk with somebody not coming from her usual circle of friends and sycophants.

In fact, Josephine, was, even if she would never ever say it to her face, the laziest person she had ever met. Josephine could spend a whole day doing nothing but drinking coffee and nibbling toffees.

Maureen laughed at Jane's flummoxed expression.

- Indeed, even Josephine, who has the empathy of an Italian banker and the energy of a sloth, had felt that you were off, dear. She doesn't like your sort of involvements, but she's agreed with us that, to get you back, three weeks of hard work -at least what she calls hard work- won't be too high a price. Lexi and Alexander will be there too and I'm quite sure that with Mary and Lizzy those three will be able to replace you in everything French. At least for what is important!

As was her habit at breakfast she pilfered Jane's plate…

- The rest will have to wait, love, until you are back.

Jane couldn't help but make a face.

- Josephine is a social wonder but only when it comes to deal with important people. She has no…

- Empathy, provided Maureen. And that's why Lexi will deal with the real people, love. She's never been arrogant or condescending with the common people in Spalatro. She will be able to replace you easily in those matters. Five good people to embrace what you did all alone, that should placate even you…

Jane nodded and replaced the pilfered scone with a new one. She was, deep down, a messy person. Tidying up had never been her forte and she was very aware that her maids had lots of work to do to maintain the d'Arcy apartment in the pristine and orderly shape Maureen and Geoffrey liked it. And to be honest, she liked it in order too. She just loved to be allowed, by their wealth, to let others do the tidying up…

But there was one exception for her messiness and that was when preparing her breakfast.

She loved it to prepare everything before biting into her first morsel. It dated to her being the eldest and in charge of making sure that her little sisters had enough on their plate to be satiated.

And it had gone on even after her wedding.

Weddings…

It was like a ceremony during which she thought about her day and her schedule.

She also used the time of her preparation to thank God for everything He had given her and her family. Be it in material wealth or in spiritual happiness. She has always been aware that she was amongst the luckiest persons of the world even when she was only the eldest daughter of a not extremely serious but very loving gentleman farmer. Mornings, during her little ceremony, was the perfect moment to send her Mighty Benefactor the praise he deserved for all the Gifts he had bestowed upon her.

And the fact that Maureen never forgot to pilfer one or two of her scones had always been a real satisfaction for her since she considered that, by participating, she prayed with her.

She had, long ago, fathomed that God wasn't a favorite of her sister. Too much evil and too many deaths shuffled on her during her youth had brought Maureen to consider the French approach to religion as the less dangerous one. She wasn't an Atheist, of that, at least, Jane was sure, but she never had shown any religious zeal when in her company.

But still there was something in the air that pushed her to cross a border she had all her life tried to avoid out of respect and a fear to have a bad reaction.

- Do you ever pray to God, love?

- Every Morning during your little food preparation ceremony. It's the perfect moment to thank him for having offered to me the opportunity to share the life of the two best people I know…

- Best? I'm quite sure that there are m…

Maureen stopped her before she could lessen herself as was her habit.

- And there you are wrong, love. You and Geoffrey are the best people I know. And even if it is only for me that you are the best, it's still a miracle to have been thus rewarded when I should have been punished a lot more than...

- Don't say that. What you've gone through has been punished enough for two lives, love. It is when I listened to yours and Geoffrey's stories that I really understood how privileged we Bennets really were. Not rich enough to be bothered by those who lust after power and not poor enough to really understand that we weren't more than slightly wealthy.

She took Maureen's hand in her own and brought it to her lips.

- And it has been my greatest accomplishment to rip out of your heart your guilt and your stupid beliefs about deserving what you got earlier in your life.

- I still feel guilty… Sometimes…

- So, do I. Who can really believe themselves innocent?

Her comment made Maureen laugh out aloud.

Seconds later they were in each other's arms.

- I won't ask you for what awful crimes you still feel guilty, love, but believe me when I say that I'm quite sure that there was nothing bad enough in your life to feel guilt for.

As often when confronted with Jane's totally distorted lookout at life, Maureen just shook her head and smiled. Smiles were a message Jane had no problem to understand.

- You would be amazed at the number of evil persons who never ever feel any guilt at all. I've been in Paris at the very height of the Terror. I've seen normal decent persons become blood lusty monsters whose only pleasure would be to get a few scores more people beheaded. The only thing those people feel is frustration not to get what they want fast enough.

She forced Jane to look into her eyes.

- In my opinion, only decent people feel guilt. The others just go on looking for outside reasons for their fucked-up situation. And you are the most decent person I've met in all my peregrinations all over Europe.

- Since you love me, I will have to consider that you are biased in my favor.

- Count on me being biased in you favor, love. And there's nothing on this Earth strong enough to unbiase me. But that doesn't change anything at the truth of my words. And if you don't believe me, just ask anybody who's had the chance to share time with you and who isn't a member of the family and you'll be surprised.

- I'm Geoffrey's wife and I'm the King's mother… That title come's with a lot of favorable prejudice.

Maureen was always amazed that her attempts to convince her sister of her intrinsic value always ended with Jane finding an outside reason to explain why people liked her.

As usual, she abandoned her attempts to just bask in her sister's love for her.

- Of course, love, she whispered. It is only because of William and Geoffrey that people love you. No fault of yourself at all…

I

-°-oOo-°-

- Already evening? What did we do with our day?

Jane was genuinely baffled that the sun was really going down on the Ocean.

It was Geoffrey who answered her not literal question.

- What we came to do: nothing!

They had walked on the beach, swam in the laguna, slept in the shadows of the palm trees after lunch, talked about trivial subjects and even played silly boardgames they usually only played with the kids. And from sunrise to sunset they did only what they wished to.

- I beg to differ, said Maureen. We did quite a lot. We just didn't do anything for anybody else but us. We just had fun with each other. And that's a whole new and satisfying feeling. I hope we will stay long enough to learn how to do it on a regular basis. It's very fulfilling.

- I agree with you, love, said Geoffrey. It would be so fitting to be able to just, from time to time, cut the links that bind us to our responsibilities and enjoy the life together.

- We've succeeded in almost everything we've ever attempted, said Maureen. Why should it be more difficult to succeed reaching that goal? Life is experience and we have seen that even if we have no real intention to stop looking out for each other our environment made it difficult to go on like before.

- We have lots of duties, said Jane. I consider that following those duties is a small price to pay when compared to all the things we've been granted.

- I'm not against paying a price, protested Maureen. Nothing comes for free in this life. I'm just against paying it with too much stress. We have duties and I agree that, considering our positions, we owe it to the people to do what's necessary to fulfill those duties. But that doesn't mean that we have to do it with such an intensity that we forget to care for those we love and to take the time to be satisfied with ourselves and our life. Loosing it is a real danger and, now that we've recognized the risk, we should think about ways to never again be in the present situation.

She took Jane's hand in hers.

- Don't take me wrong, I'm always ready to spend leisure time with you and Geoffrey and even after only a day here I'm convinced that it is a real therapy, but we should use those vacations to prevent the problems, not to cure them.

Geoffrey looked at his favorite Human Beings.

- So? What will it be? A day each week? A week each month? A month each year?

- No such strict schedule, said Jane. You know that we are no longer the masters of our time. Problems arise all over the world and there is an ever-growing probability that we, as a family, will have to deal with most of them. So, let's just say that whenever there is a possibility for us to vanish and organize a discreet and relaxing vacation, we take it!

She pointed at the red and purple Sea in front of them.

- This place is as discreet and welcoming as they come. And dedicated for the family and our retainers. For a time, we will perhaps even be safe from too curious journalists.

- It won't last…

- There's always the possibility to take the Galathea to orbit and to stay there, said Jane with a smile. I'm quite sure that making love in orbit will be a very new and entertaining experience.

- I agree, said Geoffrey, but before we climb up there to reach new heights, I believe we need to refurbish at least one room to adapt it to said heights…

- And even if the sensations were pleasant, I will confess, said Maureen, that I don't like the weightlessness. I like to be Earth-bound, having no longer an up and a down is something that unsettles me.

- I'm quite sure, said Jane, that Charles' scientists have already thought about a way to recreate the sensation of being bound to Earth. A spaceship, a real one I mean, not a hybrid airship like the Galathea could probably have room for both environments. It would be very satisfying to have both possibilities in the same ship.

Geoffrey took his wives in his arms and pulled them at his sides.

- We'll have to ask Charles… But not yet! You're still not at your best. Let's finish what we've begun. Let's just enjoy what we have until we're back…

I

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Soon to come… Another Chapter dealing with the next part of the recovery trip.

I

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