Lakeside
The sun was setting in another of those impossibly red and brilliant sunsets as Helena picked her way carefully along the trail by the lake. Apollo padded beside her. It was usually Lee’s job to walk the dog, but Lee was in Chicago again and going to London next week. So Helena had been making sure to come home at a reasonable hour to check on the dog and then settle in to work for a few hours in the evening at the computer at home. Walking the dog had become a nice break from the new pressures of her work with the newly formed Science Agency.
Lost in her own thoughts, she might have passed by the bench next to the path without ever noticing its occupant if she hadn’t called out to her.
“Helena?”
Helena turned and recognized Jean Koenig sitting on the bench, wearing a batik caftan in colors that matched the sunset.
“Hello Jean. I almost didn’t see you there.”
“You looked a million miles away.”
Apollo turned and padded over to the woman on the bench. He sat and paced her head in Jean’s lap.
“Hello, old boy. You’re quite the love, aren’t you?” Jean leaned over the graying muzzle and stroked the dogs ears.
Helena sat down on the bench and smiled. “You should be honored. He’s very selective with whom he makes friends.”
“Then I am honored.” Jean said, continuing to stroke his silky head. “What’s his name?”
“Apollo.”
“A fitting name for a Space Agency family.”
“We thought so. It’s the Science Agency now, though.”
“I heard. Your husband has been getting a lot of press recently.”
“He’s doing everything he can to keep everyone employed.”
“Not to mention keeping civilization from collapsing.”
“That too,” Helena nodded in agreement. She missed him. He was constantly gone. Since his return from Jupiter, he had played the political game well and had ended up virtually in charge of the Space Agency. But he had always been based here in Houston and they had been very close. Now, as the head of the new Science Agency, he was away most of the time and constantly rolling additional agencies into the new governmental structure. It was likely he would have a cabinet post soon. She supposed she would have to move to Chicago or she would never see him. She hated winters in Chicago.
“How have you been?”
“Well, all things considered. Most days, I can ignore the fact that John’s… gone. I talked with Victor Bergman the other day. He feels they may have survived.”
Helena nodded. “I’ve spoken with him too. But at the speeds they’re traveling, we have nothing that could ever catch up with them and if they found a way to come back on their own, it would be years before they arrived back. Decades.”
“Victor tried to explain that to me, but I’m afraid it was lost on me. I’ll have to just take his word for it.”
“Yes, me too for the most part. It’s hard to believe that time is passing at a different rate for them.”
Jean nodded. “Helena, I’m coming to accept the fact that he won’t be coming home. But I still want to set up a foundation that can further his dream. I think there are other Alphan family members that would contribute.”
“As well as friends. You know the space program won’t be moving forward for the foreseeable future?”
“Victor said that too. But we can’t just completely abandon…” Jean’s eyes filled with tears and she took a deep breath and looked out at the lake. “Listen to me. When I first met John, I had no interest in the space program. It looks like I caught his dreams.”
Helena reached over and took Jean’s hand. They sat together in silence for a while.
“Victor says he can recommend some avenues of research. There’s a life insurance policy… I don’t need it. Victor suggested a foundation that would offer grants to advances in various areas of physics – communications and propulsion. There’s someone in England that has been making progress in something called neutrino transmission, a Professor Benes.”
Helena nodded. “I’ve heard of him. His daughter was on Alpha too.”
“Yes. In any event, I will need a board of directors for the foundation. I’d like you to be on the board.”
Helena considered for a moment and Jean sat patiently beside her stroking Apollo’s silky head. There was so much to do, but she wanted very much to support Jean’s efforts. She turned and smiled at the strong and determined woman sitting beside her. “I accept. I’d be glad to help any way I can.”
Jean smiled. It was good to see her smile. Apollo stood, ready to resume his walk. Helena stood as well. “It looks like Apollo is ready to go. Walk with us for a while?”
“I’d love to. I didn’t realize you lived just across the lake from me.”
“Usually, this is Lee’s job,” Helena confessed. “I’m afraid I don’t spend much time at home or enjoying the park here.”
“We always enjoyed the park. John would get up and run in the morning.” She almost managed to say his name without a catch in her throat. “And the light here in the evenings is beautiful.”
Helena nodded.
They walked together to the edge of the park and Jean turned and took Helena’s hand. “Thank you, Helena. I’m going to head home now. Please feel free to call me any time you would like company walking Apollo.” Jean bent down and gave the dog a final pet before turning to follow the sidewalk home.
Helena gave her thanks and turned to head back across the park toward home.
November, 2006
ECL