Kenneth was back a couple of minutes later, a hand-rolled cigarette dangling from his mouth, “Just about the coolest thing we’ve done all week, brother. All year, in fact.”
Forest wasn’t offended and handed his backpack to Kenneth.
“Crammed with space weapons and impossible gadgets, no doubt?”
Forest didn’t answer and reached upwards, “I’ll try and stand on one leg, help me get up. I should be able to pull myself out of here then.”
Kenneth wasn’t strong enough to pull him out, not by a long shot. He was a gangly, skinny kid in his mid-twenties who probably lived on Kit Kats and baked beans. Forest reached upwards and grabbed hold of the rim of the hatch with both hands. With huge effort, he pulled himself through the narrow opening onto the pod. The peg was very close. Forest slid off
