Snow Outbreak Read online

  SNOW OUTBREAK

  Boris Licina

  For Ruža and Rene

  Copyright © 2017 by Boris Licina

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  www.borja.org

  1.

  She usually played shooter games, but on that day she needed an arcade brain teaser. Something to take her mind off the fact that she was going to spend the next two weeks in a space hotel. With her parents. An ideal vacation for every eighteen-year-old girl! Eli would rather have chosen the Yosemite or two weeks in the Canadian national parks around Calgary. Woods were always her first choice, all other kinds of wilderness the close second. This was her grandfather's fault. He lived nearby, in Gig Harbor and took the kid around every weekend because her parents worked so much - somebody had to code all that software for home computers. Grandfather, Millie the Border Collie and Eli were doing adventures every kid would die for!

  The space hotel! She was bored by the very thought of this weird construction in the Earth's orbit. Yes, the view was probably wonderful, but how long could you stare at Earth and the blackness around it? Luckily, the hotel playroom would provide a number of game consoles to kill time until they returned home. After the wilderness, video games were her second great love. She loved to lose herself in both, but games offered her an option to choose which hero to play. Eli was an average girl, of average looks - no outstanding features. Her black hair was cut just below the ears, eyes slightly bigger than usual and the sweet little nose had an inconspicuous piercing. Unlike the most of the girls her age, she was rather happy with her looks. She liked being common, this allowed her to disappear in the crowd.

  She was not at all surprised they would spend their vacation in the space hotel.

  "Eli, we have exciting news", her Dad told her during dinner several weeks ago. "We're going to the space hotel for two weeks!"

  "Oh, yes!", said her Mom serving the wasabi puree that only she really liked. "We worked for it the entire year. You know that we could not afford such a thing if didn't solve the GSP, the GREAT SOFTWARE PROBLEM", she said and winked at Dad with a smile.

  The company where they worked, produced software of all kinds and held a competition each year to resolve a GSP. That year, Mom had found the solution. The prize was this space trip.

  "I know, Mom", Eli certainly did know it, they had been talking about it for the last several months. "I'm happy for you. I just don't understand why I have to go. Why can't I wander around with grandpa and Millie, like every year?"

  "Eli, honey, grandpa's not young anymore, he can't roam the hills with you", Dad said while pretending to like the wasabi puree.

  "Oh, well, I guess I'll survive, then", Eli sighed knowing she stood no chance of winning this battle; she smiled and ended the argument with dramatic waving of arms. "If it's that important to you, I'll be glad to sail out into the vastness of space."

  She wanted to reserve some ammunition for the college battle. Though she had several of them in mind, she actually wanted a sabbatical year for herself and some travelling. More precisely: six months in New Zealand! To take an RV from the far north to the far south. No fuss, no hurry. Her lips would quiver into a smile with the very thought of this magnificent trip that was worth spending two weeks in space.

  2.

  Ava came to the company that managed the first space hotel, Rene 9, as well as many other hotels and resorts on Earth, straight out of the Cornell University. She had spent her childhood in the small town of Camden, Maine, where her family had a family hotel named after her - Ava Inn. It was situated on the shore, next to a small harbor, had several rooms with views to the sea and moored old wooden sailboats. If not for the motor boats, guests would have thought they had travelled back in time. Wide balconies with canvassed deck chairs were ideal for a vacation, and in good weather, the sea invited everyone to sailing.

  From April to November, Ava Inn was full. The old stairwell squeaked with every step, the business was booming as in any small family hotel. Ava had been helping things along since childhood, not only because she had to - she actually enjoyed it so much, that she was eagerly waking up early every day. She liked that the guests were coming from all over the world, bringing their interesting stories and adventures with them. In the morning, she helped with the breakfast, then she would hop off to water the flowers and tend to the garden, and in the evening she would make her rounds, talk to guests and curiously ask many questions. As Ava grew, so did her chores. She took up handling reservations on the Internet, then organizing trips, as well as all those tiny, invisible things happening in a hotel. The Cornell School of Hotel Administration was a logical choice, but only because she wanted to sail out into her own adventure. Managing hotels all over the world! The family hotel got to be too small for her.

  From Cornell, she went straight to Saint Martin, to the Company's resort and the assistant director's position. There, everything was just like in Camden, only bigger. The sea was clearer and turquoise clear, so she used all of her free time for swimming. Just like at Cornell, where she barely left the swimming pool. The Company recognized her talent even before Cornell - so they paid for it. Two years later, the CEO himself came to the resort to see her. They were sitting on the bar's terrace with a pool, at one of the separate tables for those who liked more privacy. The night was creeping in and the dinner for guests had just begun, but the bar was already filled with guests who were enjoying the sunset.

  "Ava", John Golt, the Company's CEO said to her, touching the tips of his fingers - we have been watching you for years. You are among our most talented employees. All your feedbacks have been exquisite so far, your knowledge is beyond reproach. But, all this technical portion of the work may be learned. You have what many lack, and that is your specific charm and loyalty to the guest. With you, they feel safe. You inspire trust and have above average communication skills. You are more like a ship's captain!"

  "Thank you", she replied while she adjusted her long blond hair. This was her rare, almost unnoticeable sign of anxiety.

  "The Company is facing some exiting times", John continued sipping Wadadli, the local beer. "As you know, our first space hotel. Rene 9, has had unbelievable results in the first year and it is fully booked for the next three!"

  She knew that. So did the entire world. The media kept a steady flow of news.

  "In fact, so unbelievable - and this is still top secret - that we have begun preparations for two new hotels!"

  Well, this was new. But no surprise.

  "Unfortunately", said John, "Martin, whom you've met several times, and who has managed the hotel very well, has a wife with health problems and she has to stay on Earth. Martin requested and got the transfer. He's returning home in two weeks. We'd like you to take over the management, as the director of Rene 9."

  "Excuse me?", she yelled so loudly that most of the bar guests turned, but repeated it whispering - "Excuse me?"

  "I know it's a surprise", John smiled and leaned closely, "but don't be. You're qualified. Yes, the usual ladder is a bit longer, but there is no need to linger on in this case. We in the Company believe that you can manage this hotel perfectly well and even emphasize the safety issues. We would like the word of mouth to work for us. The hotel has been sold out, but as soon as we announce the two new hotels up there, new reservations are bound to be coming in fast. And if you need more time to think about it, think fast."

  "Of course I don't", she said turning towards the bar to find a waiter - this opportunity must not be passed.

  Ava preferred the Caribbean
and Earth, but the space hotel was a chance only an idiot would miss. Two years managing Rene 9 and she could face any investor, should she ever decide to manage her own hotels.

  3.

  "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! HA HA HA HA HA! VIC-TO-RY! VIC-TO-RY!", Oliver shouted while jumping and trying to prevent his black glasses to fall off his nose.

  "Calm down, it's OK", his dad said, laughing with him.

  "I can't. I-CAN'T! I-CAN'T!", he imitated the cheering. “This is the best news in all of my eighteen years. THE-BEST! THE-BE…”

  "You mean, seventeen and three hundred and fourty days?", Dad interrupted him.

  "Round it up!", Oliver shouted.

  "OK, we better start packing. Rene 9 awaits", Dad concluded giving him a high five.

  "The best birthday ever!", said Oliver.

  Definitely, thought his mom listening to this outspoken ardor, smiling contentedly. She and her husband had managed to pass their own love for space and adventures to Oliver! There was no film they had not watched, no book they had not read. Oliver's room was always full of planets, shining stars and spacecrafts. At first, his parents decorated the room, but soon Oliver took this up himself. He was hungry for space and everything space!

  And for his eighteenth birthday, just before he would leave his parents for college, a vacation in the space hotel was an ideal gift. His parents discussed it at length, could they afford it at all - he was a journalist, she a photo reporter - but in the end they decided to go for it. When Oliver would go off to college, they would manage somehow. He got a student grant, but more money was needed. This was not the time to think about it. First, a dream vacation for the three of them!

  Oliver's room upstairs had a view to the Kennedy Space Center. Located in one of the prettiest streets of the Baldwin Park, their house stood out among the others with its light blue façade and the porch with a swing. Oliver could watch space center launches from his window! He often did, sometimes with his parents, sometimes alone. Still, he preferred to go over there and watch them up close. As journalists, Mom and Dad usually had to watch launches that were of interest for the public, so they brought Oliver along. There was a huge calendar on his wall, with all scheduled launches for that year, and he made a point of entering each date in all the digital equipment with a calendar and a reminder. It would be such a shame to miss any of them.

  His friends in school did not share his space enthusiasm. On the contrary - they thought he was a weird geek, as if it was a bad thing. At first, he was bothered, but then he got used to it. He survived his high school by keeping to himself. Oliver had some friends, but they were more like acquaintances. They would get together occasionally, perhaps go see a movie, but he was not ready for anything else.

  Oliver looked forward to college, everything was going to be different there! He would join various space and other interest groups, select the most interesting school activities, gain friends for life. He promised himself to spend more time outside after studying, less at the computer. Maybe even find some guts and talk to a girl. He was low on that experience. Oliver was not timid, but one could hardly say he showed any initiative. Perhaps there just was no right girl for him in Baldwin Park? He was not unattractive. Medium height, with glasses forever on this nose, brown eyes and slightly restless hair, he resembled Harry Potter a bit. Wizards had dropped out of fashion, he thought.

  4.

  Onions were slowly cooking in the combination of olive and sunflower oil. Another minute and the translucent dice would be joined by fresh, peeled tomatoes and garlic. The final result, after some pepper and good mincing, would be a thick tomato soup. The end phase for each plate would be some basil. Whenever he had time, Cody controlled each plate and added basil. He would lean over the plate and sprinkle the herb - the smell of the soup and freshly added basil revealed to him how successful the dish was. It always succeeded, with small differences. Cody smiled and let the line chefs continue. Not even today, after several months, could he believe he was the executive chef of the space hotel's kitchen!

  Thirty-something, with grey hair, Cody Brown was not a chef you would expect - "he started cooking early on, worked at the Michelin star restaurant at sixteen, became the greatest chef star in the world at twenty". Quite opposite, actually. He started to cook more seriously only five years ago! and started his own start-up at twenty four. It was nothing revolutionary, nor was it one of those start-ups to change the world and attract a billion users. But it was a simple software enabling quicker operations in one of the social networking segments. After the first year, when he nearly quit because he was dead in the water, they got the first hundred users. And the first two employees. From that moment on, everything went spinning. The next year his business grew to enable him a nice and normal life without additional investments or any credit obligations.

  He started cooking at work. First, just for himself. His thinking was best in the kitchen. With time, cooking became the passion he decided to pursue. The competition was ever so happy to purchase his start-up, and he went to school. Having moved from San Francisco to New York, he enrolled in the Institute of Culinary Education. At the same time he took various jobs at various restaurants. Since he had never worked in the kitchen before, he had to get some experience to see if he could cut it. Because cooking at home for his friends and in a restaurant for hundreds of people, these were two completely different things. His desire to learn about the differences between small and gigantic restaurants, brought him to the kitchen in the Company's New York hotel. Although he advanced fast, he was still unclear as how it came about that he was selected for the Rene 9 hotel. He knew they usually supported rising chef stars, but he did not consider himself a star. He believed he was just a rookie, with a lot of learning ahead of him.

  Cody removed his cap and headed towards Martin's office. He was sorry to see him go, but also knew he would have done the same for a loved one. He stopped at a huge window and looked towards Earth. Right at this moment, somewhere down there the new director is prepping to take over the hotel management. Cody hoped only that she was a normal person that would not meddle too much in his work.

  5.

  Jessica stood next to the Apollo command module Columbia, lost in her thoughts. It was transferred only recently from Washington to the Kennedy Space Center, the departure point for all Rene 9 hotel guests. The PR services had lobbied for months because "the passengers would feel like explorers in the hotel when passing by the module". Load of trash, she thought. Apollo 11. What an ancient history! The first steps into space, and look at us now. From the great, unexplored unknown, to the tourist destination of today. The mystery was gone. Jessica was somewhat disappointed. Yes, she was happy to fly up every few weeks, but she still thought that her career would take her more towards Mars, then a tourist bus driver.

  As usual, she judged herself too harsh. The money was good, so she forgave herself. It would not be long now. She hopped for something more exciting and remote. Everything beyond the Moon was OK, weather it was the Space Agency or a private Company. It was predicted that the following five years everything beyond the Moon was going to become reality and trips to Mars an everyday event. It was true, because progress was obvious. Just a little bit more waiting and transporting people and other hotel necessities. It was a late flight and Jessica still had a few more hours to rest before the launch status check. While it was true that there were no routine flights, and no operations for that matter, still she had no fears, because the crew was well-trained and the technology reliable. She decided to spend the time dining with some old friends from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, reachable, amusingly, through the Banana River lagoon.

  Several of her Air Force Academy friends were stationed at Cape and Jessica loved to meet them. Unlike her, they chose the army. Jessica thought the obligation for several more years was too much. She was afraid of missing space adventures so she accepted the Company's job offer. This space flight experience should give her an advantag
e at the right moment. Almost thirty and with some ten years of flight experience she would be an ideal candidate. If only things would move along a little faster, she thought as she sat down in the large, reliable car to drive to the Cape base.

  ◆◆◆

  The Falcon Enterprise stood proudly on the runway, nose down. Its capacity was a hundred and ten people and a bit more luxury than a classic ship. But just a bit, considering additional space was used to transport hotel supplies. The flight of about six hours was pleasant - counting the boarding and approach to the hotel. This last portion of the trip was most sensitive - it lasted almost an hour in order to avoid potential costly errors. Better to err on the side of caution.

  Eli sat closer to the cockpit, only a few rows behind. She planned to watch at least two in-flight movies, perhaps catch some Z's.

  "Did you know", said her Dad looking at Mom, "that this is the Enterprise's two hundredth flight to the hotel!"

  "Wow, the two hundredth, really?", Eli teased him. "Just imagine the number of lines in that code."

  Her parents got excited. If code was at stake, it was like a cute puppy to them, and Eli knew that.

  "Eli, stop it", Mom pretended to be angry, "but, you're right. A ship like this probably has several million code lines more than the first spaceships."

  "Ha, and then some!", Dad added laughing merrily.

  "Dear passengers, welcome to the Falcon Enterprise's two hundredth flight", the space flight attendant spoke through the applause. "We'd like you to listen carefully to the flight safety and emergency protocols. The estimated time of arrival on Rene 9 is approximately six hours. A large selection of in-flight movies, TV shows and similar entertainment is available to you, as well as a lush assortment of refreshments …