‘Red Eagle to Control, come in.’
Stirling noted the response arrived after a small delay, nothing so unusual, but enough to accentuate the emptiness of space.
‘Copy, Red Eagle.’
‘Commencing far side orbit,’ said Stirling. ‘See you on the other side.’
‘Acknowledged,’ crackled Control, then in a somewhat unofficial tone. ‘Listen, boys, things are—’
The radio cut to static. Stirling raised an eyebrow to his two crewmates at the unfinished transmission and they answered with shrugs. Whatever it was it would have to wait until they were out of the moon’s shadow.
‘Once more around, gentlemen,’ said Stirling. ‘Then home.’
‘What you gonna do when we get back, Cap’n?’ asked Danny, a first-timer to space who maintained a youthful exuberance despite the hint of exhaustion in his eyes.
Stirling stared out the window at the dark side of the moon, proud at the privilege of this secret sight.
‘I’d like to get a jump on the next missions.’
‘Don’t you ever think of anything else?’ scoffed Jim, second in command.
Stirling unconsciously rubbed his ring finger with his thumb, feeling only skin.
‘Sure Jim, I just want to be in contention for the lunar landings, you know?’
‘If the Russkis don’t beat us to it,’ said Jim.
‘You think they will?’ said Danny.
‘No,’ said Stirling. ‘I’m more worried they’ll blow us all to hell.’
This blunt statement, though unintentional, ended the conversation and it was a few minutes before Danny filled the awkward silence.
‘What about you, Jim?’
Jim tapped a photograph he had taped to the console—a small boy laughing and pointing towards the camera.
‘Little Charlie’s growing fast,’ he said. ‘Thought we’d head to Lake Livingston, go camping, maybe teach him to fish.’
Stirling blinked and for a moment the barren moon was replaced by visions of an afternoon by the sparkling lake; sun on his neck and a warm hand holding his.
‘What about you, kid?’ said Jim. ‘Gonna propose to that girl of yours?’
‘Might do,’ said Danny with a sheepish grin.
They all laughed and Jim slapped Danny on the shoulder.
Before long sunlight began to creep over the lunar surface and Stirling smiled as a familiar blue curve crested the rim of the moon.
‘Red Eagle to—’
His smile dropped the instant Earth came fully into view. The water colour perfection of their homeland had been obliterated, replaced with a black cloud, cracked red in the centre like a dying ember, and spreading in circles across the country like cancer. Each of them braced as if expecting some thunderous shockwave, but there was nothing save static from the radio.
‘Red Eagle to Control, come in,’ said Stirling in an automatic response.
Danny, his youthfulness evaporated, looked frantically between his crewmates for answers. Jim glanced at the photo of his son and dropped his head. Stirling stared towards home and caressed his ring finger; the skin cold and naked like the vacuum of space.
‘Red Eagle to Control, please come in.’