PART FIVE

*

I'll make love to you

in all good places

under black mountains

in open spaces.

By deep brown rivers

that slither darkly

through far marches

where the blue hare races.

Come with me to the Winged Isle ---

northern father's western child.

Where the dance of ages is playing still

through far marches of acres wild.

*

Acres Wild – Jethro Tull

Gotta get out. Alarms ringin'. Ship going down? Where am I? Where's the ruttin' live pods? Pulled on clothes, coat, boots, got my weapons. Found a life pod. Nearby planet? Ah, moon. Got atmo. That'll do. Go, go go...

*

Wha..? I was having this lovely dream about being pleasured senseless by a gorgeous fella and I wake up cold and alone. The alarm's ringing. Pull on several layers of clothes lickety split. Add boots, get my all weather coat. Grab my emergency bag, hunting knife and a couple of guns. Life pod. Found it, get in. Search for nearby habitable planet. Well, there's a habitable moon with breathable atmosphere. That'll do. Launch off. Do a re-con. Ah, Euridice. Orbiting Orpheus, big sterile gas giant. I can see it, swirling blue, orange and green out the other window. Not a good way to go, the gases would be toxic. Check navigation; everything fine. Says here in the memory banks that Euridice was a lifeless mining moon with a feisty earthquake habit where terraforming didn't take until recently. The miners died and their remains kick-started the vegetation and other habitable processes into life. It's small, but it's got a bit of everything. Snow at the poles, forest, a big river and even geo-thermal activity. Some wild species dumped there recently; mostly game animals. That'll do.

*

Jayne's life pod drifted down into deep snow. He popped open the hatch and breathed thin, cold but clear air. He bundled up the parachute and popped it into the bag provided. In designing the basic life pod, someone had the brilliant foresight to supply a parachute which could double as a waterproof tent and bedding. Jayne picked up the hatchet and flash