Chapter 1 — Right on Solar Time

Alan stood barefoot in the kitchen, waiting for the first cup of coffee of the day as though it was something sacred.

A thin ray of sunlight crept across the table toward a small crack in the surface beside the coffee maker.

The machine gave a low rumble.

The ray crept closer.

The coffee maker hissed.

The sunlight touched the crack.

The coffee maker began pouring coffee into the cup, saying in Alan's own voice, "Morning, Alan. Right on solar time."

Alan smiled.

"Morning."

The coffee maker fell silent.

He took a sip.

Much better.

The sounds of the waking city fell into place, one by one. Somewhere below, a truck rumbled. Tires hissed against the wet asphalt. A door slammed. A little further off, an engine started, sputtered, then settled into a steady drone.

Yet something was missing.

Then, from somewhere beyond the buildings, came the long, distant horn of a departing train.

There.

The morning fell back into place.

Alan glanced at the table. The sunbeam had already crossed the crack and moved on.

"Two centimeters late today."

The refrigerator clicked off, reminding Alan that it had been humming all along.

"You're getting old, buddy."

With the refrigerator quiet, Alan could clearly hear the fairer half of humanity getting ready in the bedroom.

"Too short."

A drawer opened.

"No, the blue ones."

Something fell.

"Sonya, those are mine."

A zipper rasped.

"Ouch! Don't cry. It just pinched your ears a little."

A moment later, Sonya came running toward him. Someone's furry bottom was sticking out from under her arm.

"Daddy, can he go in your suitcase?"

"Why?"

"Mommy's suitcase bites his ears."

"Sonya!"

"Mommy, can you wait? I have to make sure he's happy with Daddy!"

She pushed Mr. Rabbit into Alan's arms and ran back.

Better not pinch them.

Alan tucked the rabbit into his suitcase, leaving the long ears safely outside, then looked toward the bedroom.

Janet appeared in the doorway, smiling, a stack of clothes in her arms. She walked over to him.

"Packed?"

"Yep."

"And these?"

She held out the stack.

"I prefer to travel light."

"Without underwear?"

"Well, not that light."

She tapped him on the forehead.

"Go pack. We're running out of time, and the rabbit's ears are still sticking out of the suitcase… What are you looking at me like that for? We didn't buy him a ticket. He'll have to fly as a stowaway."

Alan caught her around the waist before she could turn away.

"You know," he said, "you're very beautiful when you discuss international rabbit smuggling."

Janet tried not to smile.

He kissed her.

For a moment the stack of clothes between them became inconvenient.

Then Janet kissed him back.

She pulled away first and tapped his forehead again.

"Pack."

"I thought we were having a moment."

She slipped out of his arms and headed toward the bedroom.

"We were. It's over."

Alan watched her go.

A moment later, Janet's sandal flew out of the hallway.

He caught it against his chest with his free hand, nearly spilling his coffee.

"Not my size," he called after her.

"Pack!"

Alan set the sandal on the counter and glanced at the patch of sunlight.

Plenty of time. Couple of hours.

He should probably finish packing.

Instead, he reached for his phone.

He already knew the conversation before it happened.

The line rang once.

Ship's bells began to strike.

One.

Two.

They'll flog me if I'm late for watch.

The thought snapped Nico awake.

The ringing continued.

Three.

Oh. Home.

Now I'm going to tell them exactly what I think of them.

Four.

Eyes still closed, Nico groped around on the nightstand.

Five.

He opened one eye.

The phone was on the floor.

Six.

He reached for it.

Too far.

He was going to have to sit up.

Seven.

Nico pushed himself upright.

Hell of a storm. Ten out of ten.

Eight.

"Yeah?"

Was that me?

"Yeah?" he tried again.

Still didn't sound like him.

"Morning to you too."

Nico sat on the edge of the bed, phone pressed to his ear, rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand.

On the nightstand stood an empty glass.

He looked across the room.

Two bottles of soda stood on the table.

Too far.

He closed his eyes.

"You know what time it is?"

"Yes. Which means you're still technically alive."

"That's debatable."

Nico opened one eye and looked at the soda again.

Still too far.

Something rustled behind him.

Nico turned around warily.

A bare leg was sticking out from under the blanket.

Looks female.

Nico groaned, got to his feet, and made it across the room.

"Where'd you go, sailor?"

Sounds female.

"How do you know it's storming?"

"What, did the pirates drink it all?"

Nico grabbed a bottle, twisted off the cap, and drained it.

He picked up the second one.

Alan waited.

Nico drained that one too.

He looked around for another.

Nothing.

Nico blew across the empty bottle. It answered with a hollow whistle.

"Brother, the place is practically empty."

"Don't I count?"

The blanket disappeared from the bed.

"Damn!... Look what I picked up!..."

"Finally got it into focus?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

"Appreciating the view? That makes me happy."

"Sounds like she really is a beauty."

"You can see her too?"

"Got a cigarette?"

"Since when do you smoke?"

"I don't."

"Don't stare, sailor. No cigarette—no show."

"You still haven't replaced that bed?"

"Then you… and I… are going nowhere…"

"Abandoning ship?"

"I need a deep-sea captain… with a cigar…"

"No goodbye kiss?"

"But for now… I'll settle for his smoking mate."

"And that front door still squeaks. Your old schooner's drying out."

"Bye for now!"

"Maybe it's time I started smoking…"

"Maybe it's time you stopped drinking."

"Sounds like Mother… What'd you call for, anyway?"

Alan put the call on speaker and opened the fridge.

"You're awesome, brother! We're flying, my friend. Flyyying! So—are you coming with us or not?"

Sonya burst into the kitchen like a miniature hurricane, this time nearly sliding across the floor in mismatched socks.

"Uncle Nick! Uncle Nick! Did you know the ocean can talk?"

"I just heard its voice."

"And what did it say?"

She stopped dead, eyes wide, holding her breath.

"Convenient," Alan said. "Saves money on telephones."

She ignored him completely.

"It gives presents to good little girls."

She sprinted back toward the bedroom.

"Mom! Mom! I'm getting a present! I've been good, haven't I?"

Janet poked her head out of the bedroom and glanced at the still-unzipped suitcase.

"Bunny needed a little breather?"

"Since when am I Bunny? I like it. Keep going."

"Nick?"

"Yeah. Call me Bunny again, please."

"You owe one little good girl a present."

"When you get back. It's still storming over here."

"So I guess you're sailing your ocean a while longer. Not coming to ours?"

"Not in the cards. You make some noise without me. Bring me a little back. Like last time."

"See you, then. And tell her a proper navigator doesn't smoke."

"A wave came in and washed her away. Later, brother."

The call ended.

Alan walked over to the suitcase, pushed Mr. Rabbit inside, closed the lid, pressed it down with his knee, and pulled the zipper shut.

Mr. Rabbit clearly expressed his displeasure.

Sonya peered cautiously out of the bedroom.

Alan smiled.

"He's buckled in and ready for takeoff."