‘What do you mean, they’ve gone up?’ shouted Lake. ‘Gone up, where?’
‘To Armstrong,’ said Herez.
‘Virr and Faux are on the station?’
‘Yes.’
‘When the hell did this happen?’
‘Last night.’
‘They’ve got two weeks of training to go yet. What the fuck are they playing at? Their test ship can’t be ready,’ Lake bellowed.
‘They could be finishing the training on the station,’ answered Herez quietly.
Lake noticed several construction engineers had stopped what they were doing and were listening. Herez opened a door and beckoned him into a small deserted drawing office at the side of the construction hangar and shut the door.
‘Just in case they’ve brought forward their schedule, I’ve had a conversation with the Chinese,’ said Herez. ‘They’ve agreed to let us dock our test ship up on Tiangong in a couple of days and we can finish the final construction there.’
‘You’re sure they have no idea what it is?’ said Lake, calming slightly.
‘Yes, as far as they’re concerned, it’s still a prototype executive spaceplane.’
‘Good,’ said Lake, looking a little happier. ‘I want you to go up with it.’
‘ME – in space?’ choked Herez, looking horrified.
‘Yes, Mr Herez. The space plane. Tiangong. Tomorrow.’
‘What about my work here?’
‘You seem to have forgotten about the international arrest warrant the British Government have posted for you. Although I’m sure it was the Americans’ idea. This will get you safely out of the way and keep nosy people away from that jump drive. Don’t forget, I’m paying them a shitload of cash for the use of their workshop on the station. So, you put it in a corner somewhere out the way and stay in it day and night. Only our engineers get to touch it, is that clear, Mr Herez?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You could sound a bit more enthusiastic,’ said Lake, glowering.
‘I’ve never been into space.’
‘You’re not going alone. Two engineers are going up with you and they’ve been up before. Do what they do. Let them use the accommodation at the station and you bunk down on the ship. The sleeping module is state of the art and distinctly better than the Chinese cabins anyway. Remember to run the life support and seal the ship when you have to sleep. They won’t be expecting you to be there and they usually depressurise the service bay to move ships in and out during the sleep cycle.’
‘Okay, boss. When will you be coming up?’
‘When the ship is ready for the first test, which the engineers promise me will be in about three days. Then we can go for a little joy ride and make history.’
‘We?’ Herez stared wide-eyed at Lake. ‘What do you mean, “we”? If you need to take anyone on a test flight, surely one of the engineers would be the better call.’
‘Your lack of backbone is beginning to irritate me, Mr Herez. Should I have a problem with your lack of enthusiasm?’
‘No, sir. Not at all. Everything will be ready for your arrival.’
‘Make sure it is.’
Lake left the office, leaving an unusually nervous Floyd Herez behind.