Solar Surfer

He glanced behind him to check his distance. Now, the sun had brushed a stark whiteness over half of the huge and dirty, metal sides of Comfy Town. The rest was still inseparable from the cloying darkness of night. Close up, a visitor would have seen that it was peppered and scored by scratches and grazes, which had freed flakes of paint to wander off into the darkness along with the hopes of all who dwelt within its walls.

    Above him, the sail stretched and shook as the first gusts of wind began to hit. It seemed that the material began to glow as if in defiance of the stains and tears that corrupted its surface. He leaned backwards pulling the mast with him, bringing the board around into the wind as he tried to get a feel for its handling. One hundred and fifty million kilometres the other side of Comfy Town, another explosion cast material from the sun's surface into the darkness, illuminating the slowly spinning drum shape of the city and extinguishing the light from lesser stars.

    The rough and uneven sections of the boom snagged his gloves preventing a smooth transition and the turn back down-wind was clumsy. However, as soon as the sail picked up the small particles again it filled and spread wide. He pushed his boots further into the straps and flexed his toes, hoping to increase the purchase for his feet, then leaned back pulling the sail close to him. The result was marvellous. Second by second the speed increased and the board nosed its way towards the ominously large rocks, which made up the asteroid fields of The Avenue. By leaning his body one way or the other the whole contraption tilted and rolled in a 360degree axis without diminishing speed at all. The longer the sail collected the solar wind the faster he approached his destination. Yet, despite the speed and the activity, it was all held in a magically silent world, devoid of any hint or even distant note that his ears could pick up save that of his own breathing.

    The light reflecting from the asteroids masked their pitted surfaces much as it had Comfy Town. They were both equally bleak and equally hard places yet here he was exchanging one for the other. Shug smiled to himself behind the mirrored visor of his battered helmet.  Once he was through The Avenue it should be plain sailing. He adjusted the sail, spilling some of the wind and turning slightly into it again to slow his approach. Far off now, his home for the last twenty-one years was barely visible to him and he mentally saluted his father and sucked gratefully at the well-used mouthpiece. His hands were still sore inside his gloves from fashioning the carbon of the boom. The effort had been painful but enjoyable. Father and son had worked into the night as a team. His dad's own dreams were now invested totally in him and his adventure.

    Far off, in amongst the heavy, desolate rocks blocking his path, he caught a quick, ominous flash of blue. Licking his dry lips, he checked the canopy and manoeuvred the board below the lowest lying asteroids, checking his speed a little and straining his eyes into the dark spaces between the rocks.  Sure enough, there it was again. He could imagine the grim face of the immigration police, searching for just such as he. Shug pulled the sail tight and tilted the mast back, tracking the outline of the nearest rock and watching for a clear sight of them. Perhaps it might be better to rest on one of the asteroids until he was sure where they were. He coasted into the shadow of the huge rock nearest to him and nosed the board carefully towards a small shelf he could just make out in the gloom. Just for an instant his universal headset crackled, making him jump. He wasn't sure what made the sound in his ears but dismissed it quickly with a shrug. His mind was playing tricks. No one was close enough to him to make voice contact.

    The board smoothly nosed onto the sloping, beach-like lip of the asteroid and he quickly collapsed the sail. He stepped off and strode towards the cliff that led up into the sunshine washed ridge above him. Again, a small, sharp, indefinable noise broke the silence in his headset. Bloody hell! What's doing that? He cursed his poverty. If he'd been able to, he'd have switched channels. His hand rose swiftly and tapped the comms blister on his helmet, and all fell silent again. He was sure the cops weren't within the uni's signal range. In fact, he guessed that they were a good deal more than a klick away so it couldn’t be them triggering his device. And, even if they did hear a voice, they would be unable to direction find him. He glanced nervously into the darkness away from the asteroid, aware of the unpleasant facts. They didn't need to. They would know how close he must be and would be able to set up a search pattern that must in the end lead directly to him.

    He adjusted the dial on his belt to allow just enough gravity pull to hold him on or close to the rock and climbed easily towards the sunlight, glancing down frequently to make sure his board was still hugging the beach. The last thing he needed was to be marooned here. As he did so, it seemed that part of the shadow below was, if it could be so, a little darker than the rest. He stopped and watched closely, not wishing to give into the tricks of his eyes. He shook his head and grinned. Rubbish. Now, let's have a look for the police. He reached the top and allowed his eyes to scan the spaces and darkness, looking for the flash of the provost marshal's lights. While doing so, his peripheral vision caught something unexpected on the smooth surface. A slight defile, some 10 or so metres on the down slope seemed to have an unusual profile. There was something angular jammed into it, which had added an alien dash of colour to the barren dust covered stone. He tried to think of anything green that might be on an asteroid and mentally scratched his head to aid his thought process. The shape seemed familiar.

    He strained to make out what it might be but with one eye looking out for the police and from his awkward vantage-point, he couldn't make sense of it. Cautiously he slid over the ridge and descended on his hands and knees. When he reached the opening, he stared open mouthed while his heart raced. At the same time his headset crackled into life with what sounded like a curse. Shug spun around and leapt towards the slope he had just descended. If he was right he'd better be damned quick. As he propelled himself over the ridge and into the shadow on the other side his eyes looked frantically below. He shouted involuntarily at the dark figure which, by now, was crouching over his sail, trying to lift it into the small stream of particles passing above the rock. With a leap of desperation Shug dropped through the half-light more than thirty metres, where he landed with a pancaking of light dust and dived towards the black clad thief.

    Shug's shoulder connected with his adversary's midriff. He was pleased to hear another curse crackle into his ear as they tumbled together into the lee of the cliff. Before he could free himself a fist caught him on the side of his head with enough force to knock him backwards but he managed to connect with his booted foot hard, up between the bugger's legs. But instead of crumpling, the guy just lost his balance and fell underneath Shug. They grappled and rolled and punched and slapped at each other noiselessly for what seemed an age to him until, finally, the metallic synthesised voice of his adversary rasped into his ears.

"All right, all right." Panting replaced the words. It sounded harsh and alien, like an animal, but that was the normal with the universal comms kit. "You win."

    Shug's eyes narrowed and he kept a firm grip on the guy's arms as he stared down at the reflective visor. He took in the finely tooled outer skin and the expensive boots. They sat at odds with the old style helmet. He allowed himself to speak. "Your board …..it's the one over there with the mashed sail?" He nodded his head in the direction from which he'd come. The mirrored visor nodded in agreement. Again the voice crackled.
"I bounced it yesterday trying to get away from the police. Stupid buggers couldn't catch a cold." He paused then brightly continued. "Got any food?"
Shug looked over at his board. "No." He lied.

The stranger cocked his head and Shug felt his face redden inside his helmet. "Oh alright then. I've got a couple of packs of dry ration in the board." He stood up and went over to the board and loosened the hatch cover amidships, sliding it back but leaving it fastened within the runners. He allowed a pack to rise from inside and he caught it deftly before it spun away into the darkness. The nifty rations're mine though. You can have a biscuit."
The stranger, still on the ground shrugged his indifference. "Whatever you say." 
Shug paused and stiffened. "Don't get all clever mate. You tried to nick my board and now you think I'm your best buddy and I'm going to share my favourites with you?"

"Fine. Really. I agree. I'm a lowlife and only deserve the crumbs that you drop generously from your table" The speech was a little ruined by the snort of derision, which immediately followed it. 
Shug stared in disbelief. "Right,….sod off. You can go without." He slid the utility trap at the front of his helmet open and placed a nifty ration into the compartment before shutting the airtight seal . His waiting mouth accepted the morsel as it was flipped past his teeth. "Mmmmmh!" He mimed kissing his fingers as if to express the delight he felt.

The stranger attended to the dust, which he now could see was totally covering his suit skin. "No worry. I've been hungry before. I…." Without giving Shug a hint of what was coming, he stopped in mid sentence and with a impressive speed, leapt forward, his weight and momentum slamming Shug backwards into the dust. Before Shug  could do more than grunt and pull his fist backwards, the stranger's hand came up in front of his mouth in the sign for silence. He nodded urgently and Shug glanced in the direction he had indicated. No more than a kilometre away, he could see the blue lights of plod's machine. Slowly it cruised between the asteroids while a searchlight played against the rocks.

    They lay motionless, afraid even to breathe. The nifty ration made Shug's mouth water as he waited. He was very aware of his companion's leg pressing hard into his groin and struggled to shift it to one side. They lay quietly, entwined as one as the searchlight picked out the scars and lumps of their own asteroid although failing to drop to where the board and they lay in full view. Within an instant the police had passed them and were paying attention to the rest of the asteroid field.

    Still keeping silent, the stranger rolled off Shug and motioned him over to an outcrop of rock where they settled down to gather their thoughts. Shug rubbed his groin and was surprised to feel himself becoming a little aroused. Suddenly, and as if from a long way away what sounded like a shout broke into their headpieces. They froze as their eyes cast upwards expecting to see the police standing off above them but there was nothing. Again the sound came and this time they could make out the mechanical approximation of a word Shug was very familiar with in Comfy Town. The voice screamed repeatedly. 'No! No! No!' It stopped suddenly and finally and Shug and his new companion exchanged shakes of the head in commiseration with their unseen brother. Moments later, the police passed almost directly over their position. As they watched dry mouthed, the machine slowly crossed their position, affording them an excellent view of its sleek lines and the collection arm. Fastened to the collecting arm they could see the broken remains of a board and the shredded remains of a sail snagged in the metal collar. Shug shuddered and closed his eyes in thanks that it was not him. The pair waited at the top of the slope, watching the police patrol disappear towards Monty Video, still hundreds more, black, police patrolled kilometres away in the distance.

    Eventually, Shug gauged it to be safe enough to talk. "What's your name mate?" His mirrored visor reflected the solar flares in the distance as his companion turned his head.
"Sam."
Shug waited for the rest of the name but it was not forthcoming.
"And?"
"That's it."
"That's it?"
He shrugged. "What's yours?"
"Hughie but my friends call my Shug."
"Shug the thug. Sounds about right."
"What d'you mean by that?"
"Attacking me like you did. Could've had my eye out or something."
Before Shug could respond to the outrageous (and slightly camp) accusation, a tinny cackling interspersed with distorted snorting filled his ears. It dawned on him that his companion was actually laughing. He grinned to himself at the phrase that had been used and allowed Sam's arm to rest on his shoulders where it had landed. It felt light and surprisingly comforting.
"I'm sorry." Shug turned to look at the visor close to his head. "For trying to take your board."
It was impossible to convey suspicion through reflective visors but Shug tried hard. "Didn't look like it to me." He was surprised to sound a little like a spoilt child. "What were you doing then? Just going for a spin and bring it back?"
Sam shrugged. "I wouldn't have left you here, honestly. I just needed to get to Monty Vid urgently. I'd've sent someone back for you. I'd even have paid plod to turn the other way." He paused for effect. "Still could."

    Shug shook his head and stepped away quickly from him. He spluttered before finding the words. 'Bloody cheek! You’ve got balls for sure.' He shook his head again. 'Do you really think I'd give my board away? I'd just be another bag of bones floating in The Avenue or stuck forever on one of these rocks. '
Sam raised his hands, palms down, to try and calm Shug who by now was storming towards his board, kicking sand and dust sideways. 'Shug. I didn't mean that.' He chased after him and stepped in front, barring his way. 'Listen to me.' Shug stopped. 'I meant, take me with you.'  He paused but Shug made no answer so he continued. 'You've got a 701. You can easily tow me with that. It's just my sail that's destroyed. The board's a bit bent but otherwise ok. What d'you say?'
Shug thought for a moment. He chewed his lip at the unpalatable choice that was now being forced upon him. He sought a justification that would satisfy both logic and emotion. 'You said you could bribe plod?' Once again he regarded the finely decorated outer skin of Sam's suit. Perhaps, he thought, he did have the wherewithal to ante up the money if it became necessary.
'Yes. With this.' Sam reached into the kneepad of his suit and brought out a small and shiny, black disc. Shug looked closely at the symbols on the surface of the disc. 'Credits?' he ventured.
Sam laughed and shook his head. 'It's a Centurion.'
Shug shook his head and shrugged. 'What is that?'
'You're joking.'
'No I'm not. What is it?'
'You've never heard of the Galactic Express Corporation? …Or the Centurion?'
Shug shook his head again. Again the metallic rasp of laughter passed into Shug's ears.
'Are you from Comfy Town or something?' And then it dawned on Sam and he slipped the disc back into his suit. 'Sorry. I didn't mean to ….' He put out his hand onto Shug's arm for emphasis.
In a defiant tone Shug demanded quickly. "Aren't you?"
It was Sam's turn to shake his head. "Well, not exactly."
"Oh?" Suspicion had already provided the likely answer for Shug.
"I'm sort of from..." He hesitated. "Monty Vid." He watched the tilt of Shug's head to see if he could pick up anything about how this news had been taken. He was surprised to hear nothing. Then,
"I guessed as much anyway. No one I know has a fancy suit like that."

    When Shug unfurled his sail and the board lifted off the rock he barely noticed any difference. The telescopic arm was fastened hard to the mast foot of Sam's board making sure the whole thing moved as one. Sam lay on the front of the damaged board. Slowly they rose away from their rock and the solar wind began to spatter noiselessly against the sail. Speed began to pick up and Shug guided the board into the narrow gaps. Sam chewed on the dried biscuits that Shug had reluctantly handed over. In the light from the distant sun, his strong, slim legs and muscled arms were picked out in sharp detail. Sam flipped the utility trap aside and dropped another morsel of biscuit in. She didn't think the he had twigged yet. The biscuit met her tongue and began to melt, making her smile. The sweet taste matched her mood and her eyes travelled down Shug's lithe form until they rested on his tightly clenched buttocks. He strained against the pull of the sail and turned briefly to look at Sam. What sounded like a whistle broke into his headset, but Sam was now looking studiously into the dark distance. He turned back, grimly wondering how he could possibly free himself from his annoying companion.

They gained speed skirting The Avenue. Sam tightened the safety belt and settled down to keep a look out behind and to the sides for the police. The only warning that they might get that they were close, was the navigation lights on the patrol ship, but even that was going to be difficult. The little contrast there was, only served to camouflage small objects. Surrounding them on all sides was a fantastic light show. Swirling, coloured galaxies twinkled blue and red and green in the far reaches of the solar system. A myriad of twinkling stars carpeted the heavens, interspersed here and there by inky darkness. Behind them twirled the half-white drum of Comfy Town, now disappearing into the distance. The sun, of course, still proved the most massive reference point for them but ahead and to the sides and below, more familiar shapes helped them orient themselves. The Moon stood off the rear quarter of the board, while ahead and only very barely visible as a bright spot floated the massive complex of Monty Video. On the far side of Money Vid, and at probably three times the distance was Mother Earth. From Sam's perspective she appeared no more than a white dot but she had seen her from a lot closer and knew of her beauty and mystery. Her eyes wandered again to Shug. He was the first person she'd ever met from Comfy Town. He seemed fairly normal, if a little suspicious and prickly about his bloody food, but apart from that, quite normal. She wondered what he looked like. Probably pale and spotty if all the stories she'd heard were true. Tattoos all over him and body piercings. She shivered with disgust, but a part of her tingled.

There was no single sensation that warned of a change. It was more a realisation that the reference points were not in the expected places. And, when her tether jerked her from her vigil, she knew for sure that Shug had changed course. The brightness of Monty Vid was now in her left rear quarter as opposed to the front. Ahead, she saw Shug leaning back on the boom sailing more into the solar wind than away from it.

Shug's headset crackled. "What're you doing?"

"Just changing course slightly." Shug's calmness didn't impress her.

"Why? There's nothing out there but rocks and bloody bodies. We've got no cover at all."

"And, no plod either."

"That's because there's nothing to police out there. Just turn us back to The Avenue. At least we can haul up for a rest every now and then. If we go out into The Void, we'll get stuck! We'll end up on the dark side of the moon and we'll bloody well stay there for ever!"

"Other craft go into and out of The Void all the time. Don't be so timid."

Sam tugged at the safety line, pulled herself over the rear of the leading board and yanked Shug's arm.

"They aren't poxy sailcraft. They've got engines and oxygen and food and water and navigation instruments. For goodness sake, turn back you idiot!"

Shug pushed away her clutching arm. "I know what I'm doing. It's the best chance we've got. Plod won't expect anyone to come in from the other side of Monty Vid." He pulled violently at the sail, increasing speed as a statement of his firm intent and felt Sam's clutch released. A millisecond later his headset crackled into life.
The synthesised voice had diminished not one iota of its speaker's urgency. "Shug! I've gone! SHUG!"
He turned to see a brief glint of sunlight on Sam's helmet, tumbling in the vacuum, twenty metres or so away from him.
Sam instinctively used a swimming motion although she knew it was futile. The loose safety line was now wrapped around her leg causing her to curse her carelessness. The passing seconds took Shug further away from her. He was now about half a kilometre away. She was spinning uncontrollably and lost sight of him briefly. The uni crackled in her ear but she couldn't make out what he said before it faded out completely.

She tumbled slowly and gently, over and over. It seemed to her that the cosmos would provide the walls of a nightmarish centrifuge in which she was condemned to spin for eternity. She made no attempt to slow the motion. Her energy was all she had left at this moment. Panic, she reasoned, was probably only going to make things worse. Shug's sail had shrunk to a small speck before it had disappeared completely. She thought he'd been looking back but couldn't be sure. Anyway, there was no way he could do anything now. They were lost to each other. She figured the odds and they were not good. She might, she reasoned, expect to survive in this stasis until one of a number of things happened. She was rescued - unlikely given the vastness of her tomb; she could be hit by some space junk or rock spinning into her and smashed to pieces; she could die of thirst or hunger. Or, she could end it all sooner, by removing her helmet. She'd heard of shipwrecked travellers doing so in the past. She shuddered at the thought of what would happen if she did it. It would be quick, but euuugh!

Off in the dark nothingness, Shug counted the seconds down. It had been about thirty seconds since he'd lost Sam and he was now a good six kilometres away, He hauled hard on the sail and headed on a broad reach away from the sun. It was impossible for him to estimate his speed but his mind raced with all the possible permutations of options open to him now. He counted to fifteen than spun the board left on a track across the path of the sun, hauling in for all he was worth to snatch speed from the wind. He cursed his luck. How would he be able to find anything in this vastness. The shimmering, showers of lights ahead gave no clue to Sam's location. They made it all but impossible to identify anything but the largest objects. He counted another thirty seconds and cut back against the solar wind, slowing as he did so. If the use of his box pattern had been spot on he reckoned he might have a 100 to 1 chance of finding Sam again, but if he had miscalculated, the odds didn't bear thinking about. The board slowed as it tried to come into the wind forcing him to tack across its face. He gritted his teeth and pulled against the sail to keep the board as close to the wind as possible. Slowly, he drew closer to where he estimated Sam might be. His eyes probed to the front and sides, above and below as he rode closer. "Sam!" he tried. If he could get to within at least comm’s distance they might have a chance, but there was no response. He looked off to his front, right quarter at the brightness of Monty Vid. The sun was ahead of him blinding him. He looked off to the side, squinting at the tumbling silhouettes wondering that the light seemed to be getting closer. Before he could react an invisible force snatched the boom from his hands sending him arching away from the board to the full length of his tether and the giant cupola of mesh descended from the police machine to scoop him howling and cursing into its embrace. Light caught the edges of his board while it spun and tumbled free now to continue its journey perhaps forever at the whim of the solar wind and the universe.

Prefect Albright kicked the old helmet into the corner and hitched up his belt while he regarded Shug. The boy had fallen onto the floor of the airlock. Blood streamed from his nose, poured across his lips, staining his white teeth red before it splashed onto his suit then onto the metal floor. Albright shook his stinging knuckles and wiped them on his own leg.
“I can smell a Comfy Town boy from a hundred clicks.”
Shug glowered and watched the policeman’s feet, ready to dodge any kicks.
The policeman continued. “Must catch a dozen a week this time of year.”