Eating in
by Gary Hewitt

 

 

He popped another tablet. They tasted like strawberry dipped in beer and butter. Not great.. now the crew could breathe on the alien world. He punched a button. Landing gear splayed out. 1000 feet, 900, 800, 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200 (big red warning light on), 100 (siren is far too loud), bang.

The craft shook quite a bit. The crew unbuckled their restraints and Casey Laing rushed to the exit door first. Her space boots licking at bare calves, a red giga pulse jacket shielding her from shoulder to knee in case of radiation. A simple headset and microphone attached to her ear and she pulled up the shutter before giving the thumbs up.

She disappeared onto the surface of Venus with Chick, Roy, Clancy, Alice and Buck in pursuit. Captain Billy Ray put the vehicle in park, applied the hand brake and followed.

“Ok, listen up. Casey, scout on ahead with Chick. Set your guns to shallow zap. Alice and Buck, get the sensors up and take some readings whilst Clancy and myself will take some samples. Be careful out there, we don’t know who or what we might bump into.”

“Roger that,” the crew all said in unison.

The Captain grabbed a stainless steel bucket along with a plastic shovel. Clancy seized a windbreak. Billy Ray found a soft spot of sand, began to dig. The soil easy to move and soon a good sized mound sat by the side. Billy stopped. He reached into the hole and pulled on something metal. He tugged hard and took hold of a tea pot.

“What the blazes,” said Clancy.

 Billy Ray brushed his hand over the surface. He peered at his astonished reflection before turning over the unexpected find. He brushed away the dirt and peered at three words. He caught his breath.

“What’s it say skipper?”

“Made in China.”

Clancy laughed.

“Seriously, what does it say?”

“It’s no joke. Made in China,1955.”

“My God, that’s only last year!”

Billy Ray placed the teapot in the bucket. He looked up to see Casey and Chick dashing back.

“Captain, you’re not going to believe this but there’s a building over the hill. It looks, kind of inviting.”

Billy Ray called everyone together. As one, they moved over the hill.

“This is a strange situation we have here people. Clearly, someone beat us to it. Let’s find out what the hell is going on.”

The group soon advanced on the building. A simple glass front waited them along with an empty unlit sign. They walked inside to find the interior lit by fluorescent tubes and several rows of chairs and tables.

A door opened at the back. A bull of a man walked in, he was wearing a chef’s hat and had a meat cleaver in his hand. His countenance was oriental. He indicated for them all to take a seat. Billy Ray ordered his crew to follow the instruction. The chef handed Billy Ray a piece of card.

“What’s it say?” said Casey.

“Menu. I think I’ll order Chow Mein, pork balls, special fried rice and duck.”

“Wow, what a blast. I’ve not eaten Chinese in the longest time. Do they have crispy seaweed?”

“They do, they’ve got prawn sesame bread as well. Oh, and you get chopsticks too.”

The chef returned with notepad at the ready.

“You want drinks? We’ve got beer, wine, juices, tea and coffee.”

Despite his Eastern appearance he spoke in a London lilt.

“Sure, by the way, how long you been here?”

The chef looked to the ceiling for a moment in thought.

“About ten years now. Used to be really busy at first but these days it’s just the odd traveller coming through on the way to New Chinatown. Mostly Chinese, French, German and English come in here. I was born in China, moved to London when I was a kid. I think you’re the first Americans though. What took you so long?”

Billy Ray struggled for an answer. He ordered coffee; black.

“We had no idea anyone was here. My name’s Billy Ray by the way.”

He offered his hand.

“Steve Smith at your service. I don’t know how long you’re visiting but there’s a nice motel round the corner at good rates. They accept travellers checks.”

“That’s good to know. I think we’ll be staying a while. What do you say everyone?”

His crew all agreed. Billy decided to call back on the walkie talkie to Washington tomorrow. His thoughts consumed by Chow mein and pork balls. He quite liked Venus.

 

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