Bob
May 2233
Delta Eridani
I set the waterskin down and tied the pergola walls open. Outside, another gorgeous day on Eden was dawning. Bird-like things sang, and squirrel-like things chewed out anyone and everyone for the cri of existing.
I picked up the skin and went over to sit by Archides. “Wake up buddy. I brought fresh water.”
He hadn’t woken up yet. I tried to let Archides sleep as long as possible, to keep up his strength. I reached over to nudge him, and…
Nothing.
No breathing sounds. No pulse.
I could hear a low whining sound. It took a second to realize it was coming from . A hand on my shoulder. Belinda.
“Robert? Robert? You have to move.”
I looked up to see Buster gazing down at , sadness on his face. I realized I was in the way. I got up, walked stiff-legged to the other end of the tent, lay down and curled into a ball.
* * *
The funeral for Archides was huge. It was not just his family; almost every living Deltan had been affected by him, one way or another. By the ti the procession was over, Archides was covered in white flowers.
When the family moved in to fill in the grave, I asked them if I could have so ti. Everyone looked at Buster, who nodded. Archides and I had been inseparable for twenty Earth years—about eighteen years on Eden. It was a reasonable request.
As soon as the others had moved far enough away, I directed one of the small, baseball-sized drones into the grave. With the camouflage systems working overti, it was almost completely invisible as it snuck along the ground and in. I reached over, moved Archides’ arm slightly, and settled the drone into his embrace.
Spy drones didn’t show anyone having noticed anything. I admitted to myself that it was a silly, aningless act. But it felt, sohow, right. I wanted to leave a piece of with him.
After an appropriate amount of ti, I got up and walked over to Buster and the rest of the family. They turned to , then wordlessly we proceeded to fill in the grave and cover it with stone slabs.
The drone, with the new Casimir power supply, would probably last centuries. Sothing would give out eventually, of course, but anwhile, anything or anyone that disturbed the grave would get a face full of surprise.
When we were done, I knelt at his grave for a while longer. Afterward, I went to his tent, where Belinda and Buster were sitting. Belinda offered so jerky, and we ate silently.
When we were done, Buster said, “You can have his things, if you want. You’ve been his best friend for years.”
I responded with a brief smile, about all I could manage. “Thanks, Buster, but I think I’ll be going. Archides was all that was holding here.”
Buster gazed at in a perplexed silence for a few monts. Then he said, diffidently, “Robert? You’re theBawbe, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Buster, I am.” I shrugged. “And with Archides gone, well…”
“Will we be okay?”
I nodded. “Yes, you will. You’ve gotten control of your environnt, now. You’ll show the world who’s boss. And in so huge number of hands of years, your children’s children’s children will co find and mine.” 𝘳ΆŊȱꞖЕ𝐒
I stood. “Goodbye, Buster. Belinda. Live long and prosper.”
And without looking back, I walked out of the village to the waiting cargo drone.
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