Robert Heinlein: The Rolling Stones

As at Mars, Roger Stone left her circum Ceres, not at a station or satellite - there was none - but in orbit. Hazel, the Captain, and Meade went down by shuttle to Ceres City, Meade to see the sights. Roger to arrange the disposal of their high grade and core material and for a cargo of refined metal to take back to Luna, Hazel to take care of business or pleasure of her own. Doctor Stone chose not to go - on Lowell's account; the shuttle was no more than an over-sized scooter with bumper landing gear.

The twins were still under hatches, not allowed to go.

Meade assured them, on return, that they had not missed anything. "It's just like Luna City, only little and crowded and no fun."

Their father added, "She's telling the truth, boys, so don't take it too hard. You'll be seeing Luna itself next stop anyway.

"Oh, we weren't kicking!" Castor said stiffly.

"Not a bit," insisted Pollux. "We're willing to wait for Luna."

Roger Stone grinned, "You're not fooling anyone. But we will be shaping orbit home in a couple of weeks. In a way I'm sorry. All in all, it's been two good years."

Meade said suddenly, "Did you say "home" Daddy? It seems to me we are home. We're going back to Luna, but we're taking home with us."

"Eh? Yes, I suppose you're right; the good old Rolling Stone ishome, looked at that way. She's taken us through a lot." He patted abulkhead affectionately. "Right, Mother?"

Hazel had been unusually silent. Now she looked at her son and said, "Oh, sure, sure. Of course."

Dr. Stone said, "What did you do downside, Mother Hazel?"

"Me? Oh, not much. Swapped lies with a couple of old-timers. And sent off that slough episodes. By the way, Roger, better start thinking about story lines."

"Eh? What was that, Mother?"

"That's my last. I'm giving the show back to you."

"Well, all right - but why?"

"Uh, I'm not going to find it so convenient now." She seemed embarrassed. "You see - well, would any of you mind very much if I checked out now?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Helen of Troy is shaping for the Trojans and the Wellington is matching there for single-H and a passenger. Me. I'm going on out to Titan."

Before they could object she went on, "Now don't look at me that way. I've always wanted to see the Rings, close up - close enough to file my nails on 'em. They must be the gaudiest sight in the System. I got to thinking right seriously about it when the air was getting a little stuffy back - well, back you-know-­when. I said to myself; Hazel, you aren't getting any younger; you catch the next chance that comes your way. I missed one once, Roger, when you were three. A good chance, but they wouldn't take a child and well, never mind. So now I'm going."

She paused, then snapped, "Don't look so much like a funeral! You don't need me now. What I mean is, Lowell is bigger now and not such a problem"

"I'll always need you, Mother Hazel," her daughter-in-law said quietly.

"Thanks. But not true. I've taught Meade all the astrogation I know, She could get a job with Four-Planets tomorrow if they weren't so stuffy about hiring female pilots. The twins -well, they've soaked up all the meanness I can pass on to them; they'll put up a good fight, whatever comes up. And you, Son, I finished with you when you were in short pants. You've been bringing me up ever since."

"Mother!"

"Yes, Son?"

"What's your real reason? Why do you want to go?"

"Why? Why does anybody want to go anywhere? Why did the bear go round the mountain? To see what he could see! I've never seen the Rings. That's reason enough to go anywhere. The race has been doing it for all time. The dull ones stay home - and the bright ones stir around and try to see what trouble they can dig up. It's the human pattern. It doesn't need a reason, any more than a flat cat needs a reason to buzz. Why anything?"

"When are you coming back?"

"I may never come back. I like free fall. Doesn't take any muscle. Take a look at old Charlie. You know how old he is? I did some checking. He's at least a hundred and sixty. That's encouraging at my age - makes me feel like a young girl. I may see quite a few things yet,"

Dr. Stone said, "Of course you will, Mother Hazel."

Roger Stone turned to his wife. "Edith?"

"Yes, dear?"

"What's your opinion?"

"Well... there's actually no reason why we should go back to Luna, not just now."

"So I was thinking. But what about Meade?"

"Me?" said Meade.

Hazel put in dryly, "They're thinking you are about husband-high, hon."

Dr. Stone looked at her daughter and nodded slightly. Meade looked surprised, then said, "Pooh! I'm in no hurry. Besides - there's a Patrol base on Titan. There ought to be lots of young officers."

Hazel answered, "It's a Patrol research base, hon - probably nothing but dedicated scientists."

"Well, perhaps when I get through with them they won't be quite so dedicated!"

Roger Stone turned to the twins. "Boys?"

Castor answerd for the team. "Do we get a vote? Sure!"

Roger Stone grasped a stanchion, pulled himself forward. "Then it's settled. All of you - Hazel, boys, Meade - set up trial orbits. I'll start the mass computations"

"Easy, son - count me out on that,"

"Eh?"

"Son, did you check the price they're getting for single-H here? If we are going to do a cometary for Saturn instead of a tangential for Earth, it's back to the salt mines for me. I'll radio New York for an advance, then I'll go wake Lowell and we'll start shoveling gore."

"Well... okay. The rest of you-mind your decimals!"

All stations were manned and ready; from an instruction couch rigged back of the pilot and co-pilot Meade was already running down the count-off. Roger Stone glanced across at his mother and whispered, "What are you smiling about?"

"And five! And four!" chanted Meade.

"Nothing much. After we get to Titan we might-"

The blast cut off her words; the Stone trembled and threw herself outward bound, toward Saturn. In her train followed hundreds and thousands and hundreds of thousands of thou­sands of restless rolling Stones... to Saturn... to Uranus, to Pluto... rolling on out to the stars... outward bound to the ends of the Universe.