Yesterday Son Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: A. C. Crispin
accustomed to the entity’s circumlocutions, nodded, apparently satisfied that the answer was an affirmative one.
“Very well. There is a life-form located in Sarpeidon’s last ice age that is of the same species as I. We are of one blood and kin. I wish to locate this life-form. Is it possible for us to be delivered to this location when we go through the portal?”
Short silence. Then the voice boomed out again, seemingly from the air around them. “All things are possible.”
Spock’ s face, in the light reflected from the Guardian, looked drawn, fleshless. The Vulcan persisted, hands clenched into fists, “Does that mean you will be able to place us in the same location as this life-form when we jump into time?”
The silence dragged on, broken only by the droning of that desolate wind. Spock stood rigidly motionless, seemingly willing an answer from the air around him. On impulse, McCoy stepped over to him, laid a hand on the First Officer’s arm. The Doctor’s voice was gentle. “Take it easy, Spock. Something tells me it’ll be all right.” The Vulcan glanced at him, no recognition in his eyes. Freeing [40] his arm from the Doctor’s grasp, he walked over to their supplies. Opening his kit, he began pulling on his therm-suit, a one-piece garment with attached face shield.
The Captain walked over and joined McCoy. “There’s the answer, Bones. He’s going, no matter what. Let’s get ready.”
When they were prepared for the jump, Spock made final adjustments to his tricorder, then spoke again to the time entity. “Guardian. Please show us Sarpeidon’s past again, so we can locate and rescue the life-form that is similar to me.”
Even the wind seemed to quiet for a moment as the scenario began to flicker in front of their eyes again. They stood, muscles twitching in anticipation, poised. From behind them somewhere came Vargas’ voice. “Good luck—I envy you!”
“Be ready. Soon.” Spock’s eyes never left the tricorder. “One, two, three—now!” They all took a giant step, straight into the whirling vortex.
A star-flecked blackness, massive disorientation, giddiness. They staggered forward, blinking, then the cold air hit them, making their eyes water in the vicious wind. The entire world seemed to be white, gray and black, but the wind made it hard to tell. McCoy dug at his eyes, breath puffing in a steaming gasp, and swore.
“We would land at night.” Kirk growled, fumbling for his face shield. “Put your mask up, Bones. You all right Spock?”
“Perfectly, Captain. I suggest we not attempt to move around in this wind. We seem to be on a level spot here, and fairly sheltered. There’s a cliff to our right ... if we can reach the lee of that ...” The three stumbled a few meters to the right, and the wind died slightly. Fumbling, they set up the small therm-tent they’d brought.
Inside the comparative warmth and light of the tent, they relaxed, looking at each other. McCoy’s sense of humor reasserted itself as he observed his friends. [41] They looked like large insects, he thought, with their faceted eye coverings and shiny scaled insulators covering their mouths and noses. “Looks like Halloween in here,” the Doctor chuckled, pulling his face shield off. He wagged a finger accusingly at the Vulcan as the First Officer brushed snow out of his hair. “I’ll tell you something, Spock. You sure have a talent for picking nice places to spend our first leave in way over a year.” McCoy shook his head at Kirk, who was grinning, and continued, “Beautiful warm sunlight, gorgeous countryside. The women are welcoming, the natives are friend—” The Medical Officer broke off abruptly as something roared outside. Something very large, by the sound of it.
They sat in silence, as the roar came again, dying away into a bubbling wail, and then there was only the sound of the wind, and the swish of the snow against the tent. McCoy swallowed.
“What was that?” he asked,
“Very well. There is a life-form located in Sarpeidon’s last ice age that is of the same species as I. We are of one blood and kin. I wish to locate this life-form. Is it possible for us to be delivered to this location when we go through the portal?”
Short silence. Then the voice boomed out again, seemingly from the air around them. “All things are possible.”
Spock’ s face, in the light reflected from the Guardian, looked drawn, fleshless. The Vulcan persisted, hands clenched into fists, “Does that mean you will be able to place us in the same location as this life-form when we jump into time?”
The silence dragged on, broken only by the droning of that desolate wind. Spock stood rigidly motionless, seemingly willing an answer from the air around him. On impulse, McCoy stepped over to him, laid a hand on the First Officer’s arm. The Doctor’s voice was gentle. “Take it easy, Spock. Something tells me it’ll be all right.” The Vulcan glanced at him, no recognition in his eyes. Freeing [40] his arm from the Doctor’s grasp, he walked over to their supplies. Opening his kit, he began pulling on his therm-suit, a one-piece garment with attached face shield.
The Captain walked over and joined McCoy. “There’s the answer, Bones. He’s going, no matter what. Let’s get ready.”
When they were prepared for the jump, Spock made final adjustments to his tricorder, then spoke again to the time entity. “Guardian. Please show us Sarpeidon’s past again, so we can locate and rescue the life-form that is similar to me.”
Even the wind seemed to quiet for a moment as the scenario began to flicker in front of their eyes again. They stood, muscles twitching in anticipation, poised. From behind them somewhere came Vargas’ voice. “Good luck—I envy you!”
“Be ready. Soon.” Spock’s eyes never left the tricorder. “One, two, three—now!” They all took a giant step, straight into the whirling vortex.
A star-flecked blackness, massive disorientation, giddiness. They staggered forward, blinking, then the cold air hit them, making their eyes water in the vicious wind. The entire world seemed to be white, gray and black, but the wind made it hard to tell. McCoy dug at his eyes, breath puffing in a steaming gasp, and swore.
“We would land at night.” Kirk growled, fumbling for his face shield. “Put your mask up, Bones. You all right Spock?”
“Perfectly, Captain. I suggest we not attempt to move around in this wind. We seem to be on a level spot here, and fairly sheltered. There’s a cliff to our right ... if we can reach the lee of that ...” The three stumbled a few meters to the right, and the wind died slightly. Fumbling, they set up the small therm-tent they’d brought.
Inside the comparative warmth and light of the tent, they relaxed, looking at each other. McCoy’s sense of humor reasserted itself as he observed his friends. [41] They looked like large insects, he thought, with their faceted eye coverings and shiny scaled insulators covering their mouths and noses. “Looks like Halloween in here,” the Doctor chuckled, pulling his face shield off. He wagged a finger accusingly at the Vulcan as the First Officer brushed snow out of his hair. “I’ll tell you something, Spock. You sure have a talent for picking nice places to spend our first leave in way over a year.” McCoy shook his head at Kirk, who was grinning, and continued, “Beautiful warm sunlight, gorgeous countryside. The women are welcoming, the natives are friend—” The Medical Officer broke off abruptly as something roared outside. Something very large, by the sound of it.
They sat in silence, as the roar came again, dying away into a bubbling wail, and then there was only the sound of the wind, and the swish of the snow against the tent. McCoy swallowed.
“What was that?” he asked,