Dividing Sorrow
Harper coughed. He put down the macrowelder before he did any damage to the metal support and put his hands over his mouth. He was sick. The sniffles had started two days ago and his sore throat had turned into a vicious hacking cough that no amount of lozenges or cough suppressant could alleviate.
"Common cold my ass," he croaked and sat down on the nice cool floor.
He surveyed his newest project from the floor of the cargo bay and sighed. At this rate, he'd never get it done.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and picked up the welder and the metal support again. Officially, he was supposed to be sleeping. Captain's orders. Dylan had noticed Harper's scratchy throat when he'd tried to make one of his trademark witty remarks. Dylan had sent him straight to his quarters. Then he'd snuck out.
Because this was more important than anything else.
Harper didn't remember falling asleep.
Harper jerked awake as a shadow fell over him. He blinked.
"Tyr?"
"I was... leaving."
"Wait! What... time is it?"
"It is thirteen-hundred hours."
Harper covered his eyes and groaned. "Oh no. Nonononono..."
"Quiet, boy! What is the matter with you?"
"I... I was supposed..."
Harper's voice disintegrated into a fit of coughing.
Tyr frowned. "Does this have to do with these arts and crafts?"
Harper nodded sadly. "I'm late," he whispered. "In twenty years, I was never late."
"This is a ceremony," Tyr stated, scrutinizing the translucent polymer cylinders and strips of magnesium Harper had spread out on the floor.
Harrper crouched down and pushed the cylinder onto the last metal support and inserted a coil of magnesium. He reached for the striker but his hands were shaking so badly he dropped it.
"I guess so."
"What do the objects represent?"
Harper paused at Tyr's question. Of all the people on board the Andromeda, Harper figured Tyr to be the last person that would be curious about these silly little objects.
"They're lanterns."
Tyr crouched down beside him. "And?"
"And... uh, and they represent my family." As he said the words, something heavy filled his heart.
"You were an only child, yes?"
"Yeah."
"I count five lanterns."
"They're not just for the people who've gone, Tyr, like my cousins. They're for the ones that got... left behind."
Tyr picked up the lantern Harper had assembled and studied it.
"You could wait outside if you want. This'll just take a few minutes." Harper couldn't believe that Tyr would want to stay.
"You'll need help," Tyr said, in a tone that brooked no argument. He picked up the striker. "What do I do?"
"Um, just put on the goggles, fire up the magnesium and depressurize the cargo bay." Harper was still in shock as he held Harper's welding mask over his face.
"Go," he said.
Harper gathered up his tools and retreated into the hallway. His hands were shaking again. It was strange to have someone with him. He'd always done this alone.
Tyr lit each of the lanterns and they glowed a soft white, like beacons. He joined Harper by the window. He pressed the control panel and the doors closed.
"I'm... supposed to say something now," Harper said uncertainly.
Harper could feel Tyr staring at him and the words got stuck. Moments passed. Harper swallowed convulsively.
Tyr cleared his throat and said quietly, "May you find your way."
"Thanks," Harper whispered and depressurized the cargo bay. The lanterns tumbled into the darkness.
They watched the lights burn.
The End
September 16, 2001
Shared joy is doubled; Shared sorrow is halved - Swedish proverb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a little bit more info on the floating lantern festival, this is a good place to start :)
http://wordsmith-lotus.virtualave.net/river.html
I included this link just for the picture at the bottom.
http://beluga.ocgy.ubc.ca/~laplante/lfp/
Harper coughed. He put down the macrowelder before he did any damage to the metal support and put his hands over his mouth. He was sick. The sniffles had started two days ago and his sore throat had turned into a vicious hacking cough that no amount of lozenges or cough suppressant could alleviate.
"Common cold my ass," he croaked and sat down on the nice cool floor.
He surveyed his newest project from the floor of the cargo bay and sighed. At this rate, he'd never get it done.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and picked up the welder and the metal support again. Officially, he was supposed to be sleeping. Captain's orders. Dylan had noticed Harper's scratchy throat when he'd tried to make one of his trademark witty remarks. Dylan had sent him straight to his quarters. Then he'd snuck out.
Because this was more important than anything else.
Harper didn't remember falling asleep.
Harper jerked awake as a shadow fell over him. He blinked.
"Tyr?"
"I was... leaving."
"Wait! What... time is it?"
"It is thirteen-hundred hours."
Harper covered his eyes and groaned. "Oh no. Nonononono..."
"Quiet, boy! What is the matter with you?"
"I... I was supposed..."
Harper's voice disintegrated into a fit of coughing.
Tyr frowned. "Does this have to do with these arts and crafts?"
Harper nodded sadly. "I'm late," he whispered. "In twenty years, I was never late."
"This is a ceremony," Tyr stated, scrutinizing the translucent polymer cylinders and strips of magnesium Harper had spread out on the floor.
Harrper crouched down and pushed the cylinder onto the last metal support and inserted a coil of magnesium. He reached for the striker but his hands were shaking so badly he dropped it.
"I guess so."
"What do the objects represent?"
Harper paused at Tyr's question. Of all the people on board the Andromeda, Harper figured Tyr to be the last person that would be curious about these silly little objects.
"They're lanterns."
Tyr crouched down beside him. "And?"
"And... uh, and they represent my family." As he said the words, something heavy filled his heart.
"You were an only child, yes?"
"Yeah."
"I count five lanterns."
"They're not just for the people who've gone, Tyr, like my cousins. They're for the ones that got... left behind."
Tyr picked up the lantern Harper had assembled and studied it.
"You could wait outside if you want. This'll just take a few minutes." Harper couldn't believe that Tyr would want to stay.
"You'll need help," Tyr said, in a tone that brooked no argument. He picked up the striker. "What do I do?"
"Um, just put on the goggles, fire up the magnesium and depressurize the cargo bay." Harper was still in shock as he held Harper's welding mask over his face.
"Go," he said.
Harper gathered up his tools and retreated into the hallway. His hands were shaking again. It was strange to have someone with him. He'd always done this alone.
Tyr lit each of the lanterns and they glowed a soft white, like beacons. He joined Harper by the window. He pressed the control panel and the doors closed.
"I'm... supposed to say something now," Harper said uncertainly.
Harper could feel Tyr staring at him and the words got stuck. Moments passed. Harper swallowed convulsively.
Tyr cleared his throat and said quietly, "May you find your way."
"Thanks," Harper whispered and depressurized the cargo bay. The lanterns tumbled into the darkness.
They watched the lights burn.
The End
September 16, 2001
Shared joy is doubled; Shared sorrow is halved - Swedish proverb
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a little bit more info on the floating lantern festival, this is a good place to start :)
http://wordsmith-lotus.virtualave.net/river.html
I included this link just for the picture at the bottom.
http://beluga.ocgy.ubc.ca/~laplante/lfp/