space rocks

It is the first of April and your Uber-driver stopped in front of the main building.  He opened the boot of the red Ford and helped you carry your bags to the front door.  You squint your eyes as you walk towards the building, the front triangular-like walls are made of glass and the mid-day sun reflects against it.  

A tall thin white man walks towards you.

 

“Charlie, I’m delighted to see you!  My name is Moorland, we were introduced to each other at the training centre.”  He holds out his bony hands to you and shakes your hand for what feels like forever.

 

“Hello, yes, I remember you.  Where must I take my bags?”

 

“Let me show you, the residential building is at the back.  We call it the main building.”  He grabs one of your bags and leads you to a large beautiful steel blue building.  “Follow me and I’ll take you to your residence.”

 

 He leads you through a long hallway to a rather large studio apartment.

 

“All the other residences are occupied, we don’t use this one much because it is rather small.  The windows look out to the back of the main Hanger, so it isn’t ideal.”  He opens the curtains and points towards the metal wall of the Hanger a few meters away from the window.  “We’ve invited you a few days early.  Plenty of time to  prepare some formulas for the research.”
 

“I thought as much, I’d like to work in silence, please.  I can’t work with other people clattering about.”  You take out your laptop from your bag and place it on the small dining room table in the studio apartment.   “You can forward everything to me.”

 

“Uh, Charlie don't you want to meet the team?”  Confused, he scratches his head and frowns at you.

 

“Yes, of course, after I completed the work.  I need to be at my fullest mental capacity or I might make an error.  Meeting new people distracts me, it’s nothing personal.  My calculations won’t be accurate if I am distracted.”  Smiling at Moorland you place the rest of your bags on the bed.  “Give me a few hours of sleep and, I’ll get to it.  I haven’t slept for more than 24 hours.  My brain needs rest.  Oh, and Moorland, do you have some bananas?  It helps me to think.”

 

“Uh, yeah, sure kid, I’ll ask the kitchen to bring your food to your room for the week.” Still frowning he closes the painted white wooden door behind him.

 

“At last, some sleep.”  Wondering why you put the bags on the bed in the first place, you swipe them to the floor and climb into bed.