DEAD SPACE MARTYR PART FIVE COLLAPSE Part 50, 51
50 Tim was on duty, standing watch at the outer door, when his father appeared. This didn’t surprise Tim, apart from the fact that his father had been dead for twenty years and, when alive, had lived several thousand miles away. Hello, Tim, he said. He was smoking his pipe and wearing the sweater that he had always worn. Well, not always, but a lot. “Dad,” he said, “what are you doing here?” I came to see you. “You didn’t need to do that, Dad. You didn’t need to go to the trouble.” I’ve been worried about you, Tim, he said. About you and your brother. “Why, Dad? Tom’s okay. I’m doing okay, too. We’re both working. And we’re making good money.” It’s not that, said his father, drawing deep on his pipe. It’s just that, well, I don’t know how to put this, son, but are you sure that you’re ready? “Ready for what, Dad?” If you have to ask that, you’re not ready, son. And what about your brother? “I haven’t talked to him about it,” said Tim. “I’m not even sure what you’re talking about.” Things are going to change …
