Jared considered this. “Maybe you weren’t funny.”
“See,” Cloud said, “now you are telling jokes. So you are really seventy-one minutes old.”
“Seventy-three now,” Jared said.
“How is it so far?” asked Cloud.
“How is what so far?”
“This,” Cloud said, and motioned around him. “Life. The universe. Everything.”
“It’s lonely,” Jared said.
“Huh,” Cloud said. “Didn’t take you long to figure that one out.”
“Why do you think Special Forces soldiers have no sense of humor?” Jared asked.
“Well, I don’t want to suggest it’s impossible,” Cloud said. “I’ve just never seen it. Take your friend back on Phoenix Station. The fair Miss Curie. I’ve been trying to get a laugh out of her for a year now. I see her every time I transport a gaggle of you Special Forces down to Camp Carson. So far, no luck. And maybe it’s just her, but then from time to time I try to get a laugh out of the Special Forces soldiers I’m transporting down to the surface or bringing back up. So far, nothing.”
“Maybe you really aren’t funny,” Jared suggested again.
“There you go again with the jokes,” Cloud said. “No, I thought it might be that. But I don’t have any problems making ordinary soldiers laugh, or at least some of them. Ordinary soldiers don’t really have a lot of contact with you Special Forces types, but those of us that have all agree that you have no sense of humor. The best we can figure it’s because you’re born grown-up, and developing a sense of humor takes time and practice.”
“Tell me a joke,” Jared said.
“Are you serious?” Cloud said.
“Yes,” Jared said. “Please. I’d like to hear a joke.”
“Now I have to think of a joke,” Cloud said, and thought for a moment. “Okay, I thought of one. I don’t suppose you have any idea who Sherlock Holmes is.”
“I do now,” Jared said, after a couple of seconds.
“That’s a very scary thing you just did,” Cloud said. “All right. Here’s the joke. Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Watson decide to go camping one night, right? So they make a campfire, have a bottle of wine, roast some marshmallows. The usual. Then they bed down for the night. Later that night, Holmes wakes up and wakes up Watson. ‘Watson,’ he says, ‘look up at the sky and tell me what you see.’ And Watson says, ‘I can see the stars.’ ‘And what does that tell you?’ Holmes asks. And Watson starts listing things, like that there are millions of stars, and how a clear sky means good weather for the next day, and how the majesty of the cosmos is proof of a powerful God. When he’s done, he turns to Holmes and says ‘What does the night sky tell you, Holmes?’ And Holmes says, ‘That some bastard has stolen our tent!’”
Cloud looked over at Jared, expectantly, and then frowned after Jared stared back blankly. “You don’t get it,” Cloud said.
“I get it,” Jared said. “But it’s not funny. Someone did steal their tent.”
Cloud stared at Jared for a moment, and then laughed. “I may not be funny, but you sure the hell are,” he said.
“I’m not trying to be,” Jared said.
“Well, that’s part of your charm,” Cloud said. “All right, we’re entering the atmosphere. Let’s put the joke-swapping on hold while I focus on getting us down in one piece.”
Cloud left Jared on the tarmac of Camp Carson’s skyport. “They know you’re here,” he said to Jared. “Someone is on the way to get you. Just stay put until they arrive.”
“I will,” Jared said. “Thank you for the trip and the jokes.”
“You’re welcome for both,” Cloud said, “although I think one was probably more useful to you than the other.” Cloud stuck out his hand; Jared’s BrainPal unpacked the protocol and Jared stuck his hand into Cloud’s. They shook.
“And now you know how to shake hands,” Cloud said. “That’s a skill to have. Good luck, Dirac. If I fly you back after your training maybe we’ll swap a few more jokes.”
“I’d like that,” Jared said.
“Then you better learn a few between now and then,” Cloud said. “Don’t expect me to do all the heavy lifting. Look, someone’s heading your way. I think he’s for you. Bye, Jared. Stay clear of the lifters, now.” Cloud disappeared back in his shuttle to prepare for his departure. Jared stepped away from the shuttle.
::Jared Dirac,:: said the rapidly approaching person.
::Yes,:: Jared responded.
::I am Gabriel Brahe,:: the other man said. ::I am the instructor assigned to your training squad. Come with me. It’s time to meet the others you’ll be training with.:: As quickly as he reached Jared, Brahe turned around and started walking toward camp. Jared hustled to follow.
::You were speaking to that pilot,:: Brahe said as they walked. ::What were you discussing?::