His eyes still lingering where the girl stood few moments before.
TWO
~ 196 sols before ~
The sol proceeded peacefully. After lunch, during which the three guys returned to their respective bases, Jordan dedicated an hour to studying the chemistry lesson of that morning, in his private room. He finally abandoned the desk at 3:00 pm, leaving it completely submerged in flying papers, notebooks, volumes and periodic tables. All he did was switch his laptop off, change his clothes into something more sporty and leave his room, heading to the gym.
As he walked down the corridor, usually governed by silence, he heard several voices speaking animatedly, coming from the Main Base and somehow he perceived a weird ferrous smell in the air. He felt an invisible powder tickling his nose until a spasm crossed his body and he sneezed. He had stopped in the middle of the corridor to evaluate the circumstances. All of that could mean one thing only, Jordan thought, someone had arrived from the outside, involuntarily taking inside some dust. But no extravehicular activity was planned for that sol.
His heart began to race as he realized what was happening. He resumed to walk, more quickly, until he came out on the other side.
There were his father, George Jenner and Klara Nowak surrounding someone whom Jordan couldn’t identify. He got closer to have a better look. It was a young man who seemed unable to stop smiling and had an exhausted look as if, instead of driving a rover, he had carried it on his shoulders for miles and miles. Jordan observed him with curiosity, as if he had never seen anything like that before.
He resembled Frank Larsen very much, only he was younger and his skin was a little bit more colorful. He wore a huge white suit that looked like those they used to exit the base, only it was much bigger and bulkier, an old-fashioned one. His father and George were helping him to get rid of it.
After several minutes, when the man had come out of the spacesuit, the three noticed his presence.
«Ah, here you are!» his father exclaimed before addressing the new one «Shäfer, this is my son.»
«Jordan Miles, it’s really you! It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance» the man said with a strange accent, reaching out.
Jordan shook his hand, wondering how he knew his name.
«My pleasure» he replied, trying to hide the uneasiness and to look like someone who met new people every sol.
«I’m Hans Shäfer of the European Space Agency, I take it you’ve already heard of it» he introduced himself.
«Uhm, yeah… Yeah, I know it. So you truly come from Earth…» it was too late when Jordan realized he had thought out loud.
He noticed Hans sending meaningful looks at Alexander and George and he lowered his gaze, embarrassed.
«Sorry, I was just-» he muttered, but Hans interrupted him with a friendly pat on his arm.
«Hey, sorry for what? Yes, I come from Earth, of course» he replied and Jordan raised his gaze to see he was smiling at him.
«How long are you staying?» he asked, quickly returning to his senses.
«For a long time» Hans said vaguely.
Jordan wasn’t satisfied with his answer, having no idea of what he meant. He observed him carefully for one more moment, then he decided to let it go.
«Well, I got to go now. Have a good stay.»
The boy turned and left as Hans thanked him. But when the adults resumed to talk among themselves, he couldn’t help but stop next to a wall where they couldn’t see him, in order to overhear some of their conversation, unable to repress his curiosity.
«Just as you described him, maybe a little bit taller than I imagined» Hans’ voice said cheerfully.
Alexander laughed.
«All his father, isn’t he?»
«Oh, he’ll surpass you» George commented, «All because of the lower gravity and he hasn’t finished his growth yet.»
«Can’t believe I’ve just met a real Martian and I can’t wait to get to know the other two» Hans continued with a dreaming tone.
«They’re just kids really» George said, then Hans spoke again.
«Alexander, I almost forgot. Laurie gave me something for you.»
Hearing his mother’s name, Jordan’s heart threatened to jump out of his chest. He moved a step to get closer to the three.
«Finally, what is it? Some real coffee I hope.»
«Jordan, are you alright?» a voice spoke suddenly behind his back and he gasped, not expecting it.
He turned to meet Klara Nowak’s gaze observing him with an amused expression and her arms crossed.
He straightened up.
«Yes, I was er… going to the gym» he concluded, swallowing.
Klara nodded once, before walking past him.
«Behave» she said at last.
Jordan took a breath of relief. He wished he could keep listening to that conversation, but in the end he just turned and continued on his path.
An aluminum ladder descended from the summit of the cylindrical structure. Jordan climbed up to the top, where there was another geodesic dome. He entered and found himself in a room full of computers whose screens showed images from the satellites orbiting both Mars and Earth, while others showed series of alphanumeric codes that probably only Yan’s programming mind would understand. He walked past them and entered the adjacent section of the dome: the gym. There was a cyclette, a tapis roulant and other workout equipment for arms and abdomen. He wasn’t alone, a woman wearing a sporty top and a pair of tight grey trousers was running on the tapis roulant.
«Hello, Dounja» Jordan greeted he as he went to sit on the cyclette next to her.
«Hey, how’s it going?» she replied quickly, too busy trying to breathe.
Jordan began to pedal.
«He arrived, you know that?»
His gaze was fixed on the small screen that showed his speed. He tried to keep on twenty kilometers per hour.
«Really? When?»
«Right now. There are dad and George with him.»
Dounja slowed her run down until she definitely stopped.
«How’s he? Everything went well? The name’s Shäfer, is it?»
«I think so, but he seemed very tired. And yes, his name’s Hans, Hans Shäfer».
«Later I’ll go say hi» the woman said almost to herself as she headed to a sink at the bottom of the room to drink.
Jordan kept pedaling in silence, while some overwhelming thoughts continued to roam in his mind. He didn’t know whether he had to admit them or keep them private. He didn’t even understand them completely. In the end he sighed.
«You arrived four years ago, Dounja. I can’t remember… I don’t remember if I felt the same way» he tried.
At his words the woman returned to him and gave him a curious look. She leaned against the machine of the tapis roulant and crossed her arms, giving him her full attention.
«How did you feel?»
Her words lingered in the silence for some time, nothing but the muffled squeak of the cyclette was hearable. Jordan decided to stop pedaling and passed a hand through his hair, thoughtfully.
«I don’t know how to explain this. You know… Sometimes I wonder if I was born on the right planet» for the first time he raised his gaze to meet the woman’s eyes.
Silence returned, Dounja seemed hesitant at first, but then she briefly shook her head.
«Oh, Jordan. What are you saying? Of course yes, this is your home. Our home.»
She placed a hand on Jordan’s shoulder in a tender gesture and he simply nodded.
Those thoughts had whirred in his head for a while now. Maybe he simply had to ignore them.
«Do you need help?»
Jordan and his father were in the storage room of the Main Base. It was a long, narrow place which followed the arc of the dome and was located between the bathroom and the corridor which led to the Krasnij Gorod. It contained literally everything.
Among various working tools, replacement parts, lyophilized food supplies and mountains of bo
xes, some of which still packed, Jordan was putting on his EVA biosuit for the extravehicular activities. His father helped him seal it safely, he placed the life support backpack on his shoulders and connected it to the system. The boy grabbed his helmet and closed the cabinet from where they had taken everything. He felt invincible when wearing his EVA biosuit. It was completely adherent to his body, an intertwining of red and grey lines spread across his torso, arms and legs on a white base.
«Let’s go» the boy said before heading to the door, carrying the helmet under his arm.
The two came out from the storage room and reached the airlock which allowed them to go out without blowing up the base because of the difference in pressure between the inside and the outside. Alexander wore his helmet after sealing his own biosuit in a couple of moves, then he helped Jordan, who was a little bit more troubled.
«Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it» he said, making sure his helmet was well sealed.
«I guess I will, given that since tosol on I’m going out every sol.»
After double-checking every system and ensuring that there was no pressure loss, the airlock opened and they entered in that small cubic empty room. The hatch closed right away behind them.
«You ready?» his father’s voice resounded in his helmet. The boy nodded, but he soon realized that probably Alexander couldn’t see him.
«Yeah, can’t wait. It’s been a while» he said aloud, trying to calm down his enthusiasm and nervousness.
Alexander pulled a handle on the wall and shortly after Jordan could hear three series of bip-bip. A green light switched on above the hatch in front of them and finally it opened.
«You deserved it.»
Jordan moved some steps forward until he found himself stepping on rusty, scarlet brown sand. He smiled, it always reminded him of when he was a child, of the first time he had exited. He crouched down and let some sand stream between his fingers and although he was wearing thick gloves, he thought he could feel every grain. But probably it was just an impression.
«Come on, Jordan. Don’t waste time, we’ve got two hours and a half of air» his father’s voice bounced in his helmet, bringing him back to reality.
«Yeah, I’m coming.»
The boy stood up and took one more second to look around himself: an endless lowland of sand and rocks spread in every direction.
It was the Hellas Planitia, the second largest impact crater existing on Mars and it was the deepest one with its seven kilometers below the ground level. It extended for two thousand and three hundred kilometers in the southern hemisphere of the planet.
Jordan spent an entire hour with his father inside the Red Stone garage, a structure which kept the rovers safe during sandstorms. They focused on a two-seater unpressurized rover that basically consisted of four wheels and two seats. During that hour, Jordan memorized the onboard instrumentation and its functioning and, later on, Alexander drove the rover around the Aresland, letting Jordan observe his moves and explaining every parameter he had to keep an eye on.
It was by now 6:30 pm and Jordan’s working sol could be declared concluded. He was tired both physically and mentally and he stank incredibly. He went to pick up some clean underwear and clothes from his room and he rushed to the bathroom of the Main Base which was fortunately free, to take a shower. He soaped and washed himself quickly in order to use as little water as possible. He took some more time to dry: he loved being wrapped in his towel, enjoying the hot, scented steam until it was completely withdrawn by special fans. Once dried and dressed, he cleaned the shower and tossed his old clothes and underwear in the laundry, he would return to collect them later.
As he left the bathroom he met George Jenner who was exiting from his private room.
«Hello, George. Do you know how long till dinner?»
«It should be almost ready, tosol Dounja cooks. You hungry?»
«Yes, very much.»
«Let’s go then, I’m heading there too.»
Jordan and George began to walk, following the circle of the dome.
«So, tell me, how did it go with the rovers?» George asked, sounding sincerely interested and moving his hands behind his back.
«All theory, dad drove. But I found out what a radioisotope thermoelectric generator is and how it works, therefore I feel sufficiently satisfied.»
George chuckled. They had already reached the table where they usually had meals and reunions.
«Alexander says you learn quickly, I’m glad.»
Jordan shrugged.
«It’s about necessity and survival, George. Suppose one sol I lose my mind and run away with a rover. Suppose it breaks, I will have to come out alive somehow, despite my mistake, won’t I?»
George sighed and Jordan observed him expectantly.
«My dear boy… Mars does not forgive.»
At his words, Jordan rolled his eyes, already knowing where all of that was going. George continued nevertheless.
«You might also be the most expert among the experts but if you commit a great mistake, you won’t be forgiven. It’s the Red Planet’s Law, Jordan. Never forget that.»
«Yeah, the Red Planet’s Law, I know. But don’t worry, George, I’m not someone who loses his mind. I’ve got a perfect control over myself» he declared proudly.
«That’s good. Come on, dinner’s ready, let’s go help Dounja.»
George walked up to the young woman who was coming out of the kitchen and took the trays with the steaming plates from her hands, while the dinner bell rang in every dome. Jordan recognized the smell of rice and asparagus and his stomach growled. He helped Dounja distribute the cutlery while the other inhabitants of the Red Stone were reaching them.
After dinner Jordan met Anna in her room and shortly after Yan joined them. They were all very tired, sol solis was one of the hardest sols of the week. They spent an hour chitchatting about the new entries in the Aresland and Jordan realized that his friends had felt his same new sensations. They didn’t talk about that too much though, they preferred to laugh at how Yan perfectly mimicked the new man who had arrived at the Hong Se De Du.
They went to sleep early in order to recover some energy for the following sol that, certainly, was going to be no less tiring.
THREE
~ 195 sols before ~
“Sol lunae, Virgo 16, 239.
HISTORY OF MARS.”
That was what Jordan wrote on his laptop that morning. It was 8:00 am and the Martian history class had just begun with Frank Larsen inside the Krasnij Gorod. The three guys were ready to take notes, an animated image of the Solar System was projected on the multimedia whiteboard.
«So, guys, who of you is able to briefly repeat what we've seen during last week's class?» Frank asked leaning against his desk,
Anna's hand shot upwards first.
«You go, Anna.»
«In the last lesson we've talked about the hypothesis regarding the formation of Mars. It's possible that Mars was formed by an aggregation or accretion of small objects in the primordial Solar System. However, differently from what happened to Earth or Venus, Mars completed its formation in about four point two million years, without ever going beyond the embryonic planetary phase.»
«Very good, Anna, you got it. And you two, can you tell what happened later?»
Yan interjected right away, after briefly glaring at Anna, who looked way too proud of herself.
«Probably the decay of aluminium twenty-six transformed the planet into an ocean of magma. And after the cooling there was a long period of meteor bombardments.»
Finally Jordan added his contribution.
«The hot mantle pushed and raised portions of the crust, then there was another intense period of volcanic activity and lava flows. Finally the planet cooled down, the atmosphere became rarefied, mostly due to the solar winds and the absence of a magnetosphere.»
Frank nodded his approval.
«Good job, guys. So, tosol we'll start a trip back in time, toward
s something that concerns us more closely. And that is, the history of Mars observations» Frank turned and went to take something from a drawer under the desk.
He took out three big headbands with a device each, which had to be worn like a pair of glasses.
«Therefore I ask you to wear these visors for virtual reality, you already know how they work.»
The three didn't hesitate to take one visor each. They had already been thrown into virtual reality. It was the learning method that Yan preferred as it really felt like being absorbed in a huge videogame. In fact a big smile played on his lips, revealing his excitement. Jordan wore his visor and after few moments of darkness, a light grew wider until he found himself on Mars' surface, outside the Aresland. Yan and Anna stood at his side, the sky was dark and starry and the reddish desert spread all around them. Suddenly they left the surface at full speed and shortly after they found themselves looking at a blue and greenish planet from above.
«Mars observations began with many ancient terrestrial cultures» Frank explained and at his words they reached the surface, landing in a white desert.
Huge temples stood behind them while some people wearing simple tunics wandered in the sand. It was night, some of them occasionally stopped to gaze at the sky. They raised their gaze as well.
«They had noticed, in the sky, a bright dot, slightly reddish, that moved differently from the stars. The first ones to name that dot were the Greeks, who called it Ares, like their divinity representing war.»
«Like Aresland» Yan said.
«Precisely. Then, the Romans changed the name to Mars, that has the same meaning of Ares.»
«Who was the first one to spot Mars?» Anna asked.
«We can't say for sure, but probably the first ones were the Egyptians. The first real scientific studies, instead, began on Earth around 1600, when Galileo Galilei built the first telescope to observe the planets...»
The scene changed suddenly and they found themselves standing inside a small wooden room. An old man with long hair and a full grey beard was bent on a paper. He was tracking the path of stars and planets in the sky. There was a long tube standing next to him, pointing outside a window and with two lenses at the extremities. It had to be the first telescope ever.
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