And Dust to Dust
| K/S Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | ... And Dust to Dust (as per the table of contents, "And DUST To DUST" on the title page) |
| Author(s): | Gerry Downes |
| Date(s): | January 1977 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
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...And Dust to Dust is a K/S story by Gerry Downes.
It is one of the first K/S stories to be published in a zine. That zine was Mahko Root #1. It was reprinted in Relay #3.
While it was not labeled as K/S, Gerry defines it as such: "It's hard for me to [properly review] "Dust to Dust" because I wrote and illoed it. A fan asked me to try a story where the Kirk/Spock premise was just part of the background, not the main story, and this was the result. I liked it when I wrote it. And after I got Mahko, I sat down and read it again. Know what? I still like it." [1]
The second issue of Mahko Root published also six very early K/S fiction, this time stories by Katy Young.
Summary
Kirk, Spock, McCoy and two crew members beam down to a swampy planet to assist two professors, one of whom has disappeared.
Excerpts: The Two Slashy Bits
McCoy's foot struck a soft spot on the trail, and he pulled it free awkwardly, taking more care and less speculation on the rest of the way back to the camp. He wasat the outer fringes of the fireglow, treading quietly so as not to wake anyone, when he stopped suddenly and stared.
Kirk was curled up asleep on the far side of the fire, and Spock--the Vulcan was keneling next to him, carefully tugging the sleeping bag free from where Kirk had rolled on it- While McCoy watched, Spock tenderly drew the bag up, fastening it more securely over Jim's shoulders. The Captain didn't start awake, as Bones expected, but merely settled in little deeper.
The glowing embers from the fire gave just enough light that McCoy could see Spock's fingers as his hand reached out and brushed the hair back from Kirk's forehead, gliding down, slowly, to draw lightly across his mouth.
Spock had just started to lean down to that faintly smiling mouth when a clatter of wood and muttered curses froze his motion. He turned slowly, in time to see McCoy lost his grip on the lamp while trying to hold on to the remaining vine stems.
And later:
Kirk drew his shirt off the rest of the way, slowly, folding it muddy side inwards before walking over to the disposal chute. "No--no, I think a shower and a long sleep would be best.""Very well." Spock turned to leave. "Uh, Mr. Spock?" "Y es?" "You might stop by in the morning...before you report for duty." McCoy caught just the faintest glimpse of a smile playing at the corners of the Vulcan's mouth as Spock replied with strict formality, "Of course. Good night, Sir." He walked briskly past the Doctor and was out the door. McCoy said a quick 'good night' and hurried to catch up. By the time the Doctor reached him, Spock was at his own cabin. Funny, Bones thought, I never realized before how close together these rooms were. "Uh, Mr. Spock.... "
Spock stopped as the door to his quarters slid open. "Yes, Doctor?" Maybe Jim had found warmth in those dark eyes a minute ago, but McCoy could see only a glacial chill as defensive screens snapped into place. He'd better ascertain exactly what the situation was before. "Uh, last night, down on the planet., I, uh, didn't ... drop those vines right away."
Spock made no answer, but simply stood, waiting, and McCoy fumbled on, "--when you were... over with Jim, well, that looked like... more than friendship to me--it looked more like the way... " He swallowed. "The way a man might touch... a lover."
Spock's face was not even cold, now--it was completely, totally devoid of any expression. Not even an eyebrow flickered. "Yes, Doctor, it was."
"Well, us," McCoy hurried on, "I just didn't want you to think, from anything I said just now with the Captain--" Oh, hell, say it, dammit. "I didn't want you to get the impression that I thought there was something wrong with... having affection for someone."
McCoy waited, mentally holding his breath. He couldn't tell whether Spock was angry at the invasion of privacy, amused at his obvious embarassment,or simply neutral, filing his words away like so much miscellaneous, and probably worthless, data. Then Spock inclined his head, an almost imperceptible motion; McCoy breathed an inward sigh of relief.
"I assure you, Doctor, I took no such meaning."
There it was again--that fleeting ghost of Spock's earlier smile returning-- or maybe it was just fatigue softening those stern features...
"If there is nothing further," Spock continued, "I would also like to shower-- I find the residual swamp odor most disagreeable."
"Oh--uh, sure thing."
Spock nodded briefly again in dismissal as his door closed, and McCoy continued the last few steps to his own quarters.
Reactions and Reviews
1977
'Dust to Dust' is the last major piece. This is a K/S story of a very different kind and to understand it, your really need to read it.[2]
... a very interesting Gerry Downes sci-fi/Enterprise story, 'And Dust to Dust' -- the story itself is good, and has a few interesting subtleties...[3]
1978
'Dust to Dust' by Downes is the only piece in the zine that hits at the K/S 'relationship' so famous in underground fandom at present. Actually, the incident detailed has no connection with the remainder of the story, and while I enjoyed it for what it was, to me it appeared to be simply added as an afterthought to an otherwise action-adventure story in the ST manner. MR will probably quickly sell out and become a collector's item.[4]
The final lengthy piece inside [the zine Mahko Root] is "And Dust to Dust," by Gerry Downes. It occurs on a planet called N'braxis, a "steamy, slimy muck of a planet" grown over with dense jungle. While the Enterprise is visiting in order to conduct routine physicals of the scientific party there, one of the two scientists comes up missing. A search party is organized to find the missing person, but soon develops into the extraterrestrial equivalent of the search for Bigfoot, with an interesting, but not totally unexpected, conclusion. A very good story in all. One of Ms. Downes' better efforts. [5]
1981
DUST TO DUST is set on a slimy, decaying planet, N'braxis. It centres on the quest by Mela Duncan, research scientist, for an apparently shy, elusive creature that, legend suggests, springs to life rom the swamps of the planet. This quest becomes intertwined with the search by Mela and the Enterprise landing party for Jason Philotre, Professor Duncan's research partner and lover.
Gerry Downes sustains the suspense well throughout. The reader, like the search party, gets fleeting impressions of a presence - feels that the solution is within reach - only to have it slip away at the denouement. The theme running through the story is the uncovering of a rather insular, dependent relationship which has developed between Mela and Jason Philotre from their student days. I admit I was rather puzzled as the story progressed as to why it was necessary to print it in Relay (being an 'adult' publication). This is not at all obvious for the first 20 out of 26 pages. However, without giving away too much of the plot, I think it is safe to say that all is revealed thereafter.
I imagine that Gerry Downes is trying to demonstrate - as McCoy says - that it is possible to be 'independent people first and lovers second!' If so, I am not sure she does it to my satisfaction, but this is purely a personal point. At any event, this in no way detracts from the atmosphere generated by the story as a whole.
The illustrations are by the excellent....the illustrations for 'Dust to Dust' by Lee Sullivan which reproduce superbly. Incidentally, I would not advise opening your copy on the train or in any other public place! [6]
1999
When I first got involved in K/S, I read Gerry Downes' "And Dust to Dust," which is also a Trek story that stands on its own with K/S in the background (although integral to the plot in a creative and wonderful way) and thought, this is probably the next phase of K/S fiction: Good Star Trek stories in which K&S just happen to be lovers instead of friends. Boy, was I ever wrong. But I still would love to see more of those stories.[7]
References
- ^ from Stardate: Unknown #4
- ^ from Sehlat's Roar #5
- ^ from Sehlat's Roar #5
- ^ from Scuttlebutt #5
- ^ from Spectrum #35 (1978)
- ^ from Communicator #1
- ^ from a private mailing list, quoted anonymously (September 6, 1999)