Чужой

           InlargeparttheirsuccessasbothfriendsandcoworkerswasduetoBrettneverintrudingonParker’smentalground.ThetechwasassolemnandphlegmaticinoutlookandspeechasParkerwasvolubleandvolatile.Parkercouldrantforhoursoverthefailureofamicrochipcircuit,damningitsancestrybacktothesoilfromwhichitsrareearthconstituentswerefirstmined.Brettwouldpatientlycomment,’right.’

           ForBrett,thatsinglewordwasmuchmorethanamerestatementofopinion.Itwasanaffirmationofself.Forhim,silencewasthecleanestformofcommunication.Inloquaciousnesslayinsanity.

           AndthentherewasAsh.Ashwasthescienceofficer,butthatwasn’twhatmadehisdreamssofunny.Funnypeculiar,notfunnyha-ha.Hisdreamswerethemostprofessionallyorganizedofallthecrew’s.Ofthemall,hiscamenearesttomatchinghisawakenedself.Ash’sdreamsheldabsolutelynodelusions.

           Thatwasn’tsurprisingifyoureallyknewAsh.Noneofhissixcrewmatesdid,though.Ashknewhimselfwell.Ifasked,hecouldhavetoldyouwhyhecouldneverbecomeaprodreamer.Noneeverthoughttoask,despitethefactthatthescienceofficerclearlyfoundprodreamingmorefascinatingthananyofthem.

           Oh,andtherewasthecat.NameofJones.Averyordinaryhousecat,or,inthisinstance,shipcat.Joneswasalargeyellowtomofuncertainparentageandindependentmien,longaccustomedtothevagariesofshiptravelandtheidiosyncrasiesofhumanswhotravelledthroughspace.