by C. J. Nash
“Very good. I’ll get your wine while you look over the menu.”
Janet picked up her menu. “It isn’t actually wine. All alcoholic beverages on Mars start with alcohol distilled from fermented potatoes. We grow lots of potatoes; they thrive in Martian soil. The wine has natural flavors from locally grown fruits and vegetables. It actually tastes like a fairly decent wine.”
Mason opened his menu. “What’s good?”
“It’s all good. I like the cheese ravioli, but the steaks are delicious, too. Just remember that all the meat dishes—even the seafood—are chicken. It won’t taste exactly like what you’re used to, and the texture will be a little different, but it is still good.”
“You’re getting the ravioli?” asked Mason. Janet nodded an affirmative. “I think I’ll have the ravioli, too.”
“I really think you’ll like it. Oh. Here comes the wine. Are you going to order for us or do you want me to?”
“Is there anything special I should know about ordering?”
“No. Just pretend that you are in any expensive restaurant on Earth.”
“Okay, I can handle it. Is this an expensive restaurant?”
“Very expensive for the tourists, but not too awfully expensive for the colonists.”
“I’ll be paying the tourist rate, I suppose?”
“Of course. If the NAU wants to waste money sending an investigator for a problem that should be solved locally, they can afford to keep you in the lap of luxury.”
“And you too?”
“Of course,” Janet laughed.
“Why is this called the Starlight Room?” Mason asked. Janet leaned back and looked upward. Mason followed her gaze and gasped. “You can see the sky in here!”
“No, that would cost a fortune—a fortune that we don’t have. It’s actually a projection of the night sky. It is a real-time live feed. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see Phobos rising.”
“Phobos? One of the moons?”
“Yes, the nearest. It rises in the West. Takes about five and a half hours to cross the sky.” Janet pointed. “That bright spot there is Deimos. It’s about half the size of Phobos but it’s a lot farther away. Makes it look really tiny.”
“It’s beautiful! I’ve never seen the sky like this before. Too many lights where I live.”
“You’re not going to ask?”
“Ask what?”
“What every tourist asks.”
“You mean, where’s Earth?”
“Exactly.”
“When I found out that I was coming here, I tried to find Mars in the night sky. It just looks like another star from Earth. I figure that Earth looks about the same.”
“Yeah, but the tourists always want us to point it out for them. I usually just pick the brightest star and say, ‘There it is.’ Makes them happy to see that their home is so bright and shiny.”
Mason laughed. “Earth isn’t even in the sky right now, is it?”
“Damned if I know. I’ve never looked for it. I left Earth behind when I joined the colony and I’ve never looked back.”
****
Phobos did not rise that night while Janet and Mason dined. Janet promised that there could be other nights if Mason desired. The food was delicious. Janet ate all of her own and half of Mason’s.
Later, outside Janet’s apartment, Mason said, “I had a lot of fun today. I can’t remember when I’ve had a better time.”
“I enjoyed it, too.”
“And you…You are beautiful.”
“You dress up pretty well, yourself.”
Mason wrapped his arms around Janet and pressed his lips to hers. For a moment, Janet yielded and returned the kiss, but then she pushed him away. “I can’t,” she said, as she stepped back from Mason’s embrace.
“I’m sorry. I was out of line. I got caught up in the moment and I thought…” He trailed off, unable to complete his thoughts.
“No. It’s okay. It’s just that…If circumstances were different…”
“Different? How?”
“Mason, you and I are from two totally different worlds.”
“Technically, we’re not. We are both from the same world; we just live on different worlds.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not funny. But I am attracted to you, and I thought that—maybe—you were feeling something for me, too.”
“I do. I am starting to like you a lot. But there is no future for us if we were to get too close. In two Earth years you’re leaving and I’ll stay here.”
“But do you have to stay? If things between us were to progress that far, you could always come to Earth with me.”
“No, I can’t.”
“What keeps you here? Are your ties to Mars so strong that you can never leave for any reason?”
“It’s not just emotional ties, it’s physical ties, too. I’ve lived here for most of my life. My bones are much less dense than yours. My muscles are not accustomed to your gravity. My heart would be taxed to its limit. On Earth, I would be an invalid.”
“But only for a little while until you got used to it.”
“No. Did you know that the NAU wants to shut down the colony even though they know that it would be a death sentence for many of the colonists? Those that survived would never be strong enough to lead normal lives. But even if that were not so, I love the colony. I love Mars. This is my home.”
“Okay. So I’ll back off. You can’t leave Mars, and I belong on Earth.”
“Even if you didn’t belong on Earth, you couldn’t stay on Mars.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but if I were, why not?”
“Because the NAU won’t allow it. They have made it very clear that there will be no more colonists. They can’t force us to return to Earth but they have put a permanent moratorium on any further immigration.”
“So, what do we do?”
“What we’ve been doing. You do your job and I’ll do mine. Neither job involves kissing.”
“Well, can I hug you goodnight?”
Janet wrapped her arms around Mason. “A hug would be acceptable.”
Mason returned the embrace. “Goodnight, Janet.”
Chapter 5
IT’S A PARTY
The next day, Mason was left to his own devices. Janet was busy attending to the details for the evening’s soirée at the governor’s home. He found the cafeteria easily enough but breakfast alone did not have the appeal of dining with the ever unpredictable Janet. He tried several times to strike up a conversation with other patrons, but was totally ignored.
Mason was ignored until one man took the time to explain the situation. “We all know who you are; we know who you represent and we know why you’re here. You are meddling in affairs that are none of your business. We didn’t ask the NAU to send you here and we will be glad to see you go back home. Nobody in here is being paid to be your friend, so don’t expect to find any.”
Mason finished his breakfast and purchased several sandwiches that he took back to his apartment for later. He had no desire to eat cold shoulder for lunch.
****
Mason arrived early at Janet’s apartment. He was apprehensive as he touched the annunciator, but Janet greeted him with a smile.
“Have a seat,” she said. “I was just about to get dressed.” She drifted into her bedroom, but left the door slightly ajar. “Did you manage to entertain yourself today?” she asked.
“Yes and no. I went to the cafeteria and managed to confirm what you told me on my first day here.”
“What was that?”
“Nobody likes me. One person did talk to me. I think he implied that you only tolerate me because that’s your job.”
“Well that’s true and it’s not. At first, I resented the fact that I would have to babysit you but not now. I honestly like you and I think the other colonists would, too, if they got to know you. There’s one problem though.”
“The problem?”
“Mr. Echols? The dead guy?”
“Yes, the dead guy. You won’t find anyone—myself included—who believes that the NAU has any right to investigate a problem that the colonists should handle.”
“It wasn’t my idea to come here, but now that I’m here, I have a job to do.” Mason felt a tinge of guilt as he stared through the open doorway hoping to catch a glimpse of Janet as she dressed. But Janet remained just outside of the field of view until she was fully clothed in a stunning red gown that left Mason speechless. When he did finally recover his voice the one word that he uttered was, “Wow!”
“You like it?”
Mason nodded furiously.
Janet turned. She was wearing heels and at the sight of her tiny round derriere Mason’s heart leapt. He had never before seen anyone this beautiful.
“Are you sure you like it?”
Mason found his voice. “You are like Helen of Troy.”
“Greek myth?”
“Yes. In Greek myth, Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world. But you go beyond Helen of Troy. You are the most beautiful woman of two worlds.”
Janet blushed and turned once more giving Mason the full benefit of her beauty. “You clean up pretty well yourself. We’d best get going. I borrowed a transport to take us to the Governor’s house, but you’ll have to drive.”
The transport turned out to be a three-wheeled bicycle with seating for two, one seat behind the other, and a cargo area in the back. Janet was to ride in the cargo area as her gown made it impossible to sit astride the conveyance. Mason easily lifted her onto the back of the transport and pedaled in the direction of the Governor’s house.
****
The governor himself greeted them at the door. Mason extended his hand. “Good evening, Governor.”
Mason and Janet were ushered toward the center of an enormous lavishly decorated room. “At the office I’m Governor Richards; in my home I am less formal. Call me Bart. Everyone does, except for this one.” He placed his hand lovingly on the shoulder of a pretty girl of about six. “This one calls me Daddy. Mr. Mason Turner, let me introduce you to my daughter, Patricia Richards.”
Mason extended his hand. The young girl dimpled as she grasped it daintily. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Turner. But Patricia is the name they use when I’m in trouble. The rest of the time, I’m just Trish.”
“I am very pleased to meet you, Trish. And you can call me Mason.”
The governor touched the elbow of a tall, thin woman standing behind Trish. “And this is my wife, Beth.”
Beth extended her hand. “I hope we have a chance to talk later.” Beth was not looking at Mason as she shook his hand. Instead, her gaze was fixed on Janet who gave a barely perceptible nod.
Janet guided Mason to the punch bowl. After filling his cup she said, “Beth wants to speak with you in private. Just between you and her—not even the governor needs to know. I told her that you can be trusted. Can you be trusted?”
“What’s this about?”
“Just promise me that whatever Beth tells you, whether you agree with it or not, if you do say anything to the governor, you won’t tell him that you heard it from Beth.”
“So, I don’t have to keep secrets from the governor, I just have to protect my source.”
“Exactly.”
“I can promise that.”
“Good. When you finish your drink, go down that hall.” Janet nodded toward a hallway. “Go in the third door on the left and wait for Beth.”
“You’re not coming?”
“No.”
“You didn’t let Tellus speak to me alone.”
“Tellus is a Morlock, Beth is my friend. Just listen to her with an open mind, okay?”
Mason nodded. When his cup was empty, he casually started down the hall. Inside the third door on the left was what appeared to be a guest bedroom. Mason slipped into an overstuffed chair and waited.
The wait was not long. Beth entered and locked the door, then sat in a chair facing Mason. “Mr. Turner…”
“Mason.”
“Mason, I can trust you to keep my confidence, can’t I?”
Mason nodded.
“To begin with, I need to explain why I don’t always agree with my husband’s policies. We’ve been on Mars for just a little over two years. Bart spends most of his days in his office. Nearly all of his interactions with the colonists are in his official capacity as governor. I, on the other hand, go out and socialize with the people. They were hard to get to know at first because they resent us being here. But eventually they accepted me and some of them even like me. Some of them are close friends. I think they would like Bart if he just weren’t always The Governor whenever he is outside our home. I’m not criticizing Bart—he’s a good man. But he needs to be more of a human being when he is around the colonists.
“I believe that I understand these people probably as well as anyone from Earth can possibly understand the colonists. I understand their frustrations when dealing with the NAU. Do you know how old my daughter is?”
“I would guess about six?”
“Yes, she turned six about a month ago. She was just barely three when we left Earth. I want another child, but I can’t get pregnant while I’m on Mars; the NAU won’t allow it. They’re afraid that if I get pregnant and, God forbid that I should have a child on Mars, that the child might have some legal tie to the planet and violate their No More Colonists policy. Trish will be nearly a teenager before she can have a brother or sister.
“Because I have some understanding of the colonists, I also have a lot of respect for them. When that man died, they wanted to deal with the situation without involving the NAU and I begged my husband to allow them to do so. But he is The Governor and insisted that, since they couldn’t—or wouldn’t—solve the crime, Earth would have to get involved.”
“What do you want from me?” asked Mason.
“While I don’t think that you can solve this crime, there is always the chance that you might. It will be over a year before you can leave for Earth so take your time. Get to know the colonists and try not to antagonize them. Get to know them and I know that you will like them. Some of them may even get to like you—Janet does. If they are covering up a crime, they probably have a good reason. Understand them and understand their reasons. If you solve the crime, don’t rush to tell Bart or send the results to the NAU. Spend the time to get to know these people before you judge a single one of them.”
Mason shifted uneasily in his chair.
Beth continued, “Can you, at least, promise to try to get to know the colonists before you jump to any conclusions about the crime?”
“I can do that.”
“Then go out and ask Janet for a dance. You two look fabulous together.”
****
Mason made a visual search of the main room but Janet was nowhere in sight. He threaded his way over to the punch bowl and filled a cup with golden liquid. Before Mason could take a sip, a man with a well-kept beard relieved him of the drink and said, “You don’t want this stuff. What you want is a Martian drink.”
“I’ve had some Martian wine,” Mason protested. “It was a very good red wine.”
“Yes, but our wine is intended to mimic wine you might find on Earth,” the bearded gentleman countered. “I’d like to give you a chance to taste a drink that is unique to Mars.”
“I’m really not a big drinker and I’ve just spent eight months in space with no alcohol. I probably couldn’t handle a real drink.”
The gentleman had his hand on Mason’s back and was guiding him toward the far corner. “Not trying to get you drunk. I just want you to try our unique beverage. Just a sip. And it’s not really a strong drink anyway. Just a sip, then you can go back to drinking that horrible concoction they are calling punch. Oh, by the way, my name’s Moe Howard.”
Moe handed Mason
a red cup that, though empty, was very heavy and thick walled. He then produced a decanter from underneath the table, a decanter half filled with a clear liquid. Next he produced a box from the same hiding place. “Now for the special effects.” Opening the box, Moe removed four white cubes and dropped them into the decanter which began to bubble furiously. A white mist filled the decanter above the liquid and began to overflow the vessel spilling onto the table and then to the floor. When the bubbling ceased, Moe poured two drinks.
Mason sipped his drink. It was cold and delicious with no fire as it slipped effortlessly down his throat. When his cup was empty it was filled and refilled again. He was never certain if there had been a fourth or fifth drink because he remembered nothing more of the party.
Chapter 6
PARTY’S OVER
Mason opened one eye a tiny slit. The light that rushed in drove steely knives into the back of his skull. A glass was pressed into his hand. “Drink this. It will help the headache.” The voice was Janet’s.
With his eyes once again safely shut, Mason drained the contents of the glass. The draught was warm and bitter but it began immediately to extract the blades from his brain. Eyes still tightly closed to the searing light, Mason tried to access his situation. He was in bed—whose he did not know. He was naked and apparently covered only by a sheet. A severe hangover accounted for some of the pain in his head, but there was also a large bump on the right rear of his skull. A bump that felt sticky and semi-liquid. Blood, maybe?
“Where am I?” The sound of his own voice exploded painfully in his head.
Janet answered in a whisper, “You are in your apartment—in your bed. Rest a little. Let the medicine do its job. Then we’ll talk.”
****
Mason heard someone snoring and then realized that it was himself. He ventured to peer through an eyelid. When the light did nothing to increase the dull ache in his head, he carefully opened both eyes. He was indeed in his own bed. Thankfully, the lights were dim but he could still make out Janet sitting in a chair by his side, reading something on her notepad. “What the hell happened?” he asked.