
In the cramped, humming corridors of a generation‑ship, Johnny Nine and Marte spend their days tending the massive atomic engines that keep humanity afloat. Though the vessel is their entire world, both share a quiet longing for a planet they've never seen—Earth, a place spoken of only in old poems and half‑remembered stories. Their bond, a mix of youthful teasing and deep‑seated hope, unfolds in whispered conversations by a lone bulb that casts shadows on steel walls.
As they drift through the void, Marte’s imagination turns the cold bulkhead into a canvas for wind, flowers, and birds, while Johnny wrestles with his sense of duty and the fear that their dreams might be too fragile to survive the endless night. The story captures the tender tension between responsibility and yearning, hinting at a possible chance to return home that could test their courage and devotion. Listeners will be drawn into a gentle, lyrical sci‑fi tale that asks what it means to feel truly alive when the world outside is only a distant memory.
Language
en
Duration
~41 minutes (39K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-04-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1925–1980
A sharp, underappreciated voice from mid-century science fiction, this writer earned lasting admiration for stories that were witty, inventive, and a little offbeat. Best known for the novella Bettyann, he built an early reputation in the magazines before largely stepping away from fiction.
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