The Space Tunnel

The amphs, as people called them, invented space travel. The insectoids like to claim they owned the invention, because they’d helped get it off the ground, through funding and advertising it. And the humans liked to take credit for everything. But Nor, as he was known by, knew the truth. The amphs created space travel. The practical kind that made it a regular occurrence, not the getting on a spaceship and traveling through the dark for years and years kind.

Of course, not many people could do space travel. Not many people had a job the required it. And without that, the only other option was a lot of money.

Still, Nor liked to go out at night. He’d lie down, look at the stars, and pretend he was going to all the interesting places he’d heard about. He’d heard about a planet that was mostly fungus, mushrooms growing up and out with wide brims that acted like trees. He’d heard about a place where the trees looked hard and shiny, like crystal or glass. There was a planet where there were two suns, and a planet where the sun was at a different stage, casting everything into a sort of pale blue light, instead of the usual yellow. He’d seen pictures of many of them, but he doubted it could compare to being there, experiencing it with all five senses.

And of course, there were the other sapient species. There were the humans and insectoids. There was a species that looked a bit like the humans, but had horns growing out of their foreheads. There was the hairy species that still walked on four legs, but were clearly intelligent. And there were crabs. Nor was pretty sure the crabs came from a few planets. He’d heard about all the species from amphs who did travel, and could talk to them or hear from them online, but he’d also met one or two in person. His planet got tourists, after all.

“I don’t understand your obsession with space,” his friend, Vin, said.

Nor frowned in confusion. “It’s not an obsession.” It was a dream. But he still took his classes, and had started a job, and spent time with his friends and girlfriend, and all the things obsessed people didn’t have time for. “I just like thinking about all the places out there. You don’t want to travel?”

It was Vin’s turn to look confused. “No? Everything I want is right here.”

“Sorry Nor,” his girlfriend, Allie, said. “Some people are just content. They don’t have big ambitions like you and I.”

“Hey! I do have ambitions. I’m going to improve the portable mister. That will make a big difference for all of us, whether we travel or not. I’ll be remembered forever.”

Not if the inventor of space travel was anything to go by, but Nor didn’t want to steal his friend’s thunder.

Nor had career goals too, of course. He was a photographer, and he’d love to be more well known for that, maybe win one of those competitions. But career goals were different than personal dreams.

He shifted. The three of them lay in the mud a bit longer, looking up at the stars.

***

“Doesn’t your hair get muddy if you lie in the mud?” the human asked.

“We don’t have hair,” Nor pointed out.

“You have something sticking out of your head.”

“Those are frills.”

“Oh.” The human did, at least, look embarrassed. Her shoulders went up and her cheeks turned redder.

Nor tilted his head. “What’s the most interesting planet you’ve visited?”

“What?”

Nor shrugged. “You’ve visited more than one planet, right? I want to hear your favorite.”

“Oh. Hmm.” The human was quiet for a moment, jaw clenched and eyes roving across the ground. “Ivantic.”

Nor nodded, and looked it up later. The planet was one that was so cold, it normally wouldn’t be able to support life. But there were thermals under the ground, hot springs bursting up in places. In places where that was close enough to the surface, plants sprouted up, and more life followed. It seemed a little cold to Nor’s liking, but it was unique, and pretty. Some of the pools seemed to have rainbow water.

***

Nor opened the door, to find it was Vin who’d been knocking.

“I won a free space trip,” Vin said.

“What?”

“Random lottery, to travel in space,” Vin said. “Well, there were some other possible prizes. I entered for those. I got the space travel.”

“Oh.” Nor’s grip on the doorknob tightened. It was the inside doorknob. Vin wouldn’t see. “That’s great.”

“It’s great for you. I’m giving you the prize.”

Nor stared at him. His big eyes, a bit like guppies, blinked. “What?” he repeated.

Vin flung his webbed hands up. “I told you, I don’t want to travel. My friends and family are here. My fish is here. My home and my job are here. I’m not just getting up and buzzing off for like, a week. Besides, it would mean more to you than me.”

“But . . . it’s your prize.”

Not that Nor wanted Vin to take the prize for himself. Nor would be disappointed if he did, and probably be bitter by the time he got back. It was just, Vin had been the winner of some sort of lottery. It sounded like one of those fundraising drives where you bought tickets for the chance of getting a prize. Did he really want to win, and not have a prize? Something to show for it?

“You can make it up to me,” Vin said, crossing his arms. “Bring me back a really good souvenir. Or help me get my dream. Now take it.”

***

Nor reached the tunnel, for it was a tunnel. It condensed space, and maybe time, in ways it maybe shouldn’t. He watched as the darkness ahead of him seemed to shrink. He couldn’t see what was on the other side, but he could see a white light indicating there was, indeed, another side.

Nor clasped his soft hands tightly, eyes wide. A backpack was strapped to his back. A portable mister hovered by him. As an amphibian, it was always good to have a source of water on hand.

This was happening. He had wondered if it was some sort of scam, or if they would refuse to let him travel, that only the real winner could. But now that the tunnel was in front of him and they were letting him through, he could believe this was real. He could let himself. He was going to travel.

I’m never going back.

There were a lot of unexplored planets out there. They sometimes took volunteers to discover knew ones. It could be dangerous, after all.

Nor would take his guaranteed week. He would see the sights and eat the food and meet new people. But he would also look into how you became a volunteer, how feasible it was. He’d try to sign up before the week was up, and then he could keep traveling, keep experiencing new things. Not through pictures, not through word of mouth, but actually being there, possibly being there before anyone else.

Nor tightened his grip on his backpack, determination growing in his forehead. Then he ran through.