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Colonies

The planet seemed to be emptying. Anyone with any sense was boarding the giant ships, taking off to the newly-discovered colonies. Staying behind on a polluted Earth no longer seemed like an intelligent option for anyone who had any money. This was especially true now that the colonies were a viable option, with breathable air and fertile land.

Miles and Lyle found each other on the third day of the voyage. Both of them were extremely excited. They had gone from boring lives as high school sophomores to something new – space explorers. Sure, the voyage would take a full year, but it would be worth it. They were going somewhere no one had ever been before, except a scout drone – a machine that tested each planet’s air, land, and water, and searched for any signs of large animals or intelligent beings.

Miles was happy to get as far from his family as he could, searching the far reaches of the ship and exploring any corner he could find. His father and mother had quarreled a lot during the last months before they had boarded the ship. His father believed that leaving was the only intelligent plan. He didn’t want to raise his son on a planet that was killing everyone. Miles’ mother argued that the unknown dangers of the colony planets could be even greater. And the cost of the travel had nearly bankrupted them. Miles preferred not to be around when his parents were quarreling. Lyle’s situation was different. His father had died a few years earlier, and his mother was in poor health. Lyle liked to stay near her, to check on her and reassure her.

The two boys wandered about, with Lyle often checking back in with this mother. They found the food storage unit on the second day. They had a surreptitious feast of six ice cream bars each, until they were chased out by the head cook. They also found the hydroponic farms, where plants from earth were carefully tended. Here Lyle and Miles were much more careful, caressing the plants lovingly. The head gardener let them wander through the greenery, much of which they had never seen even when they had lived on Earth. But their favorite spot was the peak lookout. This was a small window located directly above the ship’s bridge. It didn’t really make sense. It was as though the person who had designed the ship had stuck it in at the last moment. The stairway that led up to it was out of the way, and there was nothing else to go to nearby.

For these reasons, Lyle and Miles often found themselves alone in the peak lookout for long hours. They would lie on their bellies, gazing at the stars. At the speeds they were moving, they could see the position of the stars change if they waited for more than ten minutes. When they came back the next day, they would have a whole new star system to stare at. A few times they saw planets – small, round balls that seemed to be welcoming them. Miles sometimes would sneak onto the bridge where the navigation and piloting occurred. Lyle was often concerned about his mother, and would return to her cabin to spend time with her.

At the end of the long year, the ship threw itself into reverse as it began to slow down. They were approaching the colonies. Lyle grew increasingly excited, and talked about almost nothing but the planet they would settle. Miles, though, grew increasingly quiet. He was making a decision that would impact the rest of his life. Even Lyle was surprised when Miles said he wasn’t going to join his family on the new planet. He wanted to stay on board and learn to fly the big spaceships.

As Miles and Lyle said goodbye, they knew it wasn’t forever. They would see each other again, someday. Lyle joined his mother at the gangplank and stepped out into the cool blue light of the strangely fresh new world. He turned to wave to Miles, but he could no longer see him.

After reading the above passage:

• Describe what Miles and Lyle did together on board the spaceship.
• Discuss in what ways Miles and Lyle are similar. In what ways are they different?
• If you were Miles, would you stay on board the ship? Explain why, or why not?