Journal Of Webster Zirkman 2

CHAPTER TWO

We pull the truck into a maintenance shed. And I start to grab some equipment, but Aber stands and look toward the storm. I suggest that it might turn away from the station. It didn't seem to be moving directly at us. He says we need to check the schedule for the next transport out and walks into the station. As I follow, we hear the station speakers blast a notification.

“Tracking the storm at about 5km in direction of 320 degrees. The station is not currently in the direct path of the storm. No schedules have been affected. Updates will follow.”

I feel some relief. At least we are not in imminent danger. Aber seems to have lost some of the tension in his body too. He says we still need to know the transport schedule incase we need to adjust our plans at the last minute. I had really hoped this would be the visit when we went through. We had set up everything at home to be able to do that. He asks if I can check on the schedule while he looks at the communications. He doesn't say it, but I know he is going to see if there is any word from Herbert. He never gives up hope that Herbert is okay and will be a message any day now.

I wouldn't say Aber has become hardened since I met him. He has certainly become more determined, more proactive, more of a leader. But when he talks about Herbert, I know part of him is that same self conscious, naive, young man I met on our way from this station to Earth. From what Aber tells me, Herbert had unknowingly become Aber's mentor, a father figure. Aber feels like he abandoned Herbert. Just to know Herbert was ok would be a weight removed from Aber's mind.

“Webby! It's here!”

I ran into the room. I knew what he meant. I asked him what it says. He tell me that the communication app was stuck in some update mode. Hard to tell how long it had been like that. He restarted it, and the first thing it sent was a message from Herbert. He begins to read it aloud.

“Aber, I am so sorry you have not heard from me before now. I am bewildered by the revelation that we slipped not just through space, but time also. Now that I look around the station, there were signs that I missed before. Relatively little time has passed for me. I have learned a lot about the technology here, and was hoping to visit Marvin's home planet. But I don't want to be gone in the event you arrive. If you do come through, please be aware that the dust storms Marvin told us about have started passing through The Rip. Also, I have a theory about the planets and people that were destroyed on either side. The same people exist in both, but the ones that still exist in one reality, but no longer exist in the other, they have been changed. Something at the molecular level. Like some quantum entanglement was broken. Or maybe still happening. You. Me. That may be why you and I can go through The Rip. Webby has been trying to tell me. It's just taken a while to figure out. It sounds like while your life was turned upside down when you returned, it has become a pretty good one. That makes me happy. If our paths don't cross again, know that in a short time, you greatly impacted my life, for the better. Your friend, Herbert”

I am not sure what to say. Aber stands silent too. The station speakers startle both of us as it blast an update on the storm. It reversed course and dissipated at about 6km away in the direction of 323 degrees. It went back to the other side.

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