True passengers / Chapter 8: I finally finish

I finally finish with my capsule, then do the same with Barbara’s capsule. She won’t need it anymore. When you do something for the second time, it goes faster. That’s it! Now the regenerators will purify the air in my makeshift tent. I take off my spacesuit helmet with relief and breathe in the fresh air. I’m so happy to be rid of this outfit. But the oxygen leak through the gaps in the hanging insulation panels is much worse than the heat leak.

Armed with a few more rolls of tape, I carefully seal all the joints. Of course, this won’t save the situation, but it will slow down the process. The oxygen concentration outside my dwelling will always be significantly lower. Well… Let’s imagine that I live in some highlands. How romantic.

Tired, I sink into my bed made of other people’s jumpsuits. I listen to the silence, trying to pick out the faint sound of air compressors rustling. My heart is beating a little louder, but it is also gradually calming down. Fear gradually begins to recede under the influence of a false sense of security. It seems that everything can still be fine. I can be saved. It is a trait inherent in people not to think about the bad until there are pressing problems. A wonderful trait. Without it, we would constantly think about death. Actually, what difference does it make if you die in a year or in 50 years? The end is inevitable for everyone. The only difference is the waiting time before the inevitable happens. In the countdown. What to do? I need to start keeping a diary.