Jacob's Log

Jacob's Log

Robert Neal Johnson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 Robert Neal Johnson

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Table of Contents

I. First Landing

II. The Mist

III. The Rescue

IV. The Illness

V. Communications Improve

VI. Jacob's Log

VII. The Discovery

VIII. The Secret

IX. Three Gliders

X. The Buildings

XI. The Floaters

XII. The Move

XIII. Years Pass

XIV. The Rendezvous

Chapter I

First Landing

Time Code 06.15.2684

They felt compelled now to tell their story, not that it was the beginning but rather a new beginning. Gabriel, age 24, was given the designation PBM1 for First Planet Born Male and Sarah, age 23, was designated PBF1 for First Planet Born Female. The burden of the great secret had weighed heavily on them for some time and they finally decided to tell their story in the hopes that all who acquire their knowledge would benefit.

It was 14 years earlier when Gabriel and Sarah were out on one of their hunting and exploring adventures. They enjoyed being out on their own, away from the others, responsible for just themselves as they explored, going farther out with each trip. They wanted to seek out the seventh ridge in the northeast sector, which would be the first time any expedition had gone beyond the fifth ridge in any direction from base camp. The hunting remained excellent in the first valley over from base camp so going farther out was purely for exploration purposes, to seek out possible future hunting grounds and learn the land.

They camped in a valley, nestled in the pine trees close to a stream with a clear view of the seventh ridge. The valley was full of game but at this distance from the settlement, it would be too far to carry any meat back to camp. They carried the number 7 and the number 5 rifles with them for both protection and hunting. Gabriel was an expert marksman with both rifles, able to take game at great distances. Sarah, age nine at the time, did not feel comfortable yet with the power of the number 7 rifle. However, she was an expert marksman with the number 5 rifle and able to pick off even the smallest of game at long distances. She would shoot the small game and Gabriel would shoot the larger deer or elk.

The valleys were wide with meandering streams that were dammed up in spots by the beavers. Their plan was to make it to the top of the next ridge this morning and spend most of the day mapping the terrain before returning to this same spot for the night before starting back to base camp.

They knew they would probably not make it back to the settlement before the landing took place but Gabriel's father had encouraged them to make the expedition anyway. They believed he did so because he did not want them to witness another crash in person. The previous three glider landings ended in crashes, each time killing both pilots and at that point the total number of crashes was ten, with no survivors. The gliders carried two pilots and their equipment modules. As it was, Gabriel and Sarah might be able to spot the ship making its approach if they were on top of one of the ridges in the morning.

As they started to cross the stream, using the beaver dam as their path with the stream flowing over their leggings, Sarah whispered, M1, sorry, Gabriel, there are two bear cubs over on the ridge just to the right of the pine grove one third the way up. Do you see them?

I see them, he said, as he carefully watched the ridge looking for any other movement.

I don't have the sow in sight yet, Sarah whispered nervously.

Gabriel said, I don't either. Let's pull back and move further up the valley. We can cross at another spot and perhaps stay out of their way.

Not a single bear, mountain lion, wolf or any creature had bothered anyone in the fourteen years since the first landing took place. Everyone was taught to respect the animals but they were also taught to be ready to defend themselves at all times. There was no need to shoot bears, mountain lions, or wolves for meat since other game was so plentiful but everyone also knew the nature of wild animals and they stood prepared to protect themselves.

The detour would probably mean they would not get high enough on the ridge for a good look at the landing craft if it arrived today. They moved effortlessly across the wet terrain through the thickets and forest and eventually arrived above the tree line late morning. The second moon was still visible above the southern horizon and was white since the sun was so high in the sky. The ridges were covered with knee-high grasses and colorful yellow, red and blue flowers that always made them feel comfortable as they watched the breezes dance across the ridge.

It was always an exciting moment when they reached the top of a ridge and looked out beyond it to new and unknown territory, seeking out their next valley and ridge to explore. The ridge today would be their last on this trip but they still intently stared off at the distant ridges wondering what was out there.

Tired from their hike up the ridge they found a shaded spot below a boulder where they could look up, without squinting too much, hoping to see the ship gliding in on approach. Sarah passed the time picking up various rocks, examining them closely to see if she was familiar with them. She had been fascinated with rocks as far back as she could remember. Anytime she was free to roam on her own she would spend hours picking up rocks and categorizing them. Quartz was her favorite but, like everyone, she was fascinated with the softness of the yellow rocks found around the streams.

No ship had ever arrived after midday so they were quickly running out of time on this day to see it. Doesn't have to be today, Gabriel said, as they watched and rested, grabbing lunch and a drink.

I know. I like using our names, Sarah said as she studied the rocks she had picked up.

Yes, he replied, me too.

It was tradition to select your own name on your tenth birthday. Up until that time, everyone used his or her birth designation like Gabriel's PBM1 or M1 for short. Gabriel's father Eric was born aboard ship so his designation was CBM4 for Colossus Born Male number four and he chose his name Eric while still on board ship. It was a tradition that was taught to them on board Colossus.

Gabriel said, My dad said that he expected numbers eighteen to be arriving on this next flight.

Since they did not have communication with Colossus, they could not be sure if the flight would be today and they did not have their chosen names yet. Communications were supposed to be available from the beginning of the landings but something went wrong and they'd been unable to figure out the problem.

Sarah said with a concerned voice, I hope they see the swirls on the western side and land on the east side.

All of the crashes had occurred on the western side of the landing plain where the winds always swirled violently after the sun had time to bake the ground, creating very large dust devils. Sarah's mom Susan (CBF8) told her that when they landed they saw the windblown haze on the left side of the landing area and chose to steer to the right side early enough so they were able to land without any wind affecting the flight and landing. Unable to communicate this information back to Colossus, every landing since then had encountered the same peril.

Gabriel diverted his eyes from the air to the ground looking back in the direction of their return trip thinking about the ridges, valleys and path to take on the way back. He also was thinking about Sarah. He knew that the next crew that landed would probably have at least one, maybe two males on board that were his age and could be competition for him concerning Sarah.

Gabriel said calmly but firmly, Sarah, we have grown up together and have done so many things together, would you be my companion?

Sarah moved her eyes up from her rock specimen, looked directly at Gabriel, and without hesitation said confidently, That's been my plan for some time now.

Gabriel made a quick nod of his head and said, Great!

He reached into his backpack, grabbed his tablet, and noted the time and date, 10:42 AM, 6th month, 15th day, year 2668. He also noticed that he had about a 20% battery remaining on the tablet and most likely would run out before they got back to camp and he should add any notes to it before he lost power. He mostly wanted to draw the layout of the land and mark the high point where they were sitting so he could return to this spot in the future.

Sarah had been noticing off in the distance well right of their return path a hazy spot down in the trees a good day's hike away.

Gabriel, she said, look over there, do you see the haze between those ridges?

Interesting, he said. If we go over there it could add a day or more to our return trip, let's check our food supply before we decide to do that.

Sarah replied, I hope we can, it looks interesting.

As Gabriel and Sarah were discussing the landing a similar discussion was taking place at base camp with Gabriel's dad Eric and the others as they stood outside the common log lodge surrounding the large fire pit. Some of the Youngers in the group were pestering Eric to tell his story about his landing but Eric wasn't having any of it. His concern now was with the landing and hoping there would not be any problems. There had been so many mishaps with the landings due to the lack of communication with the orbiting ship Colossus that Eric was always anxious about them.

Not now, Eric told the Youngers, we will have plenty of time to go over that again later, today let's hope they make it.

Everyone settled down and they all were staring upwards seeking a first glimpse of the landing craft. Three of the group, PBF2, PBM2 and PBM3 ages eight, seven, and seven decided to go higher up the ridge behind the cabins for a little better vantagepoint.

At least one of you take a rifle with you, Eric said casually, might be a bear up there.

They simultaneously responded. Yes sir, and scampered up the ridge.

Eric couldn't help pondering that of all the landings that had taken place more were failures than successes. I hope they see the swirls as I did, he thought. He looked off across the white flat plain and saw the fuzzy horizon that blocked out the mountains on the other side. He couldn't see the dust devils from his vantagepoint but he knew they were there when he couldn't see the mountains; the mountains had disappeared as if they were never there.

He said to the group, Those of us who made it safely down were lucky to notice the windy conditions on the far side of the landing area and chose to maneuver away from the dust and haze to this side.

He contemplated all the training he had received on board Colossus as he grew up on the ship. All training from birth was geared to the successful completion of the mission - Glide to the planet, Land and Survive. Technical skills and survival techniques were taught and monitored while developing on board ship. Year ten was chosen to allow time to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to pilot the craft while minimizing food and water resources and keeping their weight within the payload limits of the gliders. Their training on board Colossus was intense and purposeful, providing them with the skills needed to survive.

The communication problem was present from the first landing attempts and still exists to this day. Two advanced modules were parachuted down in balloon wrapping to protect the sensitive radios on board the modules. Both units never transmitted any data back to Colossus and have been an ongoing issue for them with all attempts to fix the problems failing up to this point. They do not know on board Colossus that some of them were successful and they don't have any means to warn them of the problem with the winds on the far side of the landing area.

F2 and her two followers made their way up the ridge following a well-worn