Wind

"Wind" by Charles L. Fontenay is a science fiction story that unfolds on the planet Venus, during the late 1950s, where Jan Willem van Artevelde, a headstrong Dutchman, embarks on a perilous journey to rescue a boy afflicted with a deadly space disease. Against the backdrop of a harsh Venusian environment with treacherous earthquakes and fierce winds, Jan must reach the remote settlement of Rathole and return to the spaceport in time for a vital spacecraft departure. Facing technological hurdles when he finds Rathole without fuel for a flying platform, Jan showcases his ingenuity by repurposing windmill components into a wind-powered system. As he battles against time and severe weather conditions, the story underscores the cultural landscape of Venus, and highlights themes of resourcefulness, resilience, and the lengths one will go to save a life.