The Ethics of Silence

by C. J. Nash

  At twenty-one hundred, Janet finally gave in to her concerns and called the governor.

  “Hello, Ms. Edwards,” the governor answered. “What can I do for you?”

  “I was wondering if Mason was there.”

  “No, Mason’s not here. Why would he be here?”

  “Well, what time did he leave?”

  “Leave? He hasn’t been here.”

  “Didn’t he come to see you this morning?”

  “I haven’t seen him since the day after he made a fool of himself at the party. Don’t tell me that you’ve lost him.”

  “I haven’t seen him since this morning. He said that he was going to see you.”

  “Well he hasn’t been here. And I was under the impression that it was your job, not mine, to keep an eye on him, Ms. Edwards.”

  “Sorry to bother you, Governor. I’ll handle it.” Janet ended the call. She could think of nowhere that Mason might be. She tapped out a sequence of commands on her notepad. She knew what she was about to do was unethical, but ethics be damned! She was worried.

  In a very short time, her notepad had formed a link. All the data contained on Mason’s ‘pad was now available on her own. She searched the messages and found the one that Mason had received the night before: Desiccation chamber tomorrow at ten hundred. More evidence. Come alone. Don’t tell Ms. Edwards.

  Alarm bells went off in Janet’s head. The anonymous message had obviously been intended to lure Mason into a trap. There had been no contact for over eleven hours and Janet feared that he might not still be alive. Janet called the Farmer, but received no answer.

  Janet left Mason’s apartment and ran to her own. She had not ridden her own bicycle since Mason’s arrival but there was no faster conveyance available. Janet was exhausted to the point of collapse when she mounted the bike. Her bruised ribs were afire but she forced herself onward.

  The Farmer’s residence was the first building she encountered when Janet entered the farm. She pressed the annunciator, pounded on the door and screamed for assistance.

  When the door opened, the Farmer saw the fear in her eyes. “Janet, what’s wrong?”

  “We’ve got to get to the desiccation chamber—now!” Without waiting for a response, Janet remounted her bike and rushed away.

  Janet was already inside the building tugging at the door to the chamber when the Farmer arrived. “Eddie, we’ve got to get this door open! I think Mason’s in there!”

  “My god! How did that happen?” The Farmer shut off the pump and opened a valve that would allow air into the chamber. “How do you know that he’s in there? How long? Do you know how long he’s been in there?”

  “I don’t know. I think he was here around ten. Do you think he’s still alive?” Janet was still tugging at the door.

  The Farmer pulled Janet away from the door. “You’re going to hurt yourself. We can’t open the door until the pressure equalizes. Just a ten millibar differential is about two hundred fifty pounds of pressure holding that door shut.”

  Janet fell back, arms folded against her ribs, trying to force the pain to subside. “We’ve got to get to him! He’s got to still be alive!”

  The Farmer watched a screen where the indicator was inching upward. “Just a few more seconds. But, Janet, you need to stay here. Let me go in first.”

  “No. I won’t wait outside.” Janet was back at the door with her hand on the handle.

  When the pressure differential reached five millibars, the Farmer grasped the handle and forced the door open; air rushed in with a sucking noise. Darkness. He reached inside and flipped the switch. Still darkness.

  Janet rushed into the darkened chamber and fell forward across the table which she could not see. She cried out painfully as her tortured ribs struck the unyielding surface.

  The Farmer retrieved an emergency torch before entering the darkness. He helped Janet back to her feet and swept the torch about the chamber. “He’s not here! Thank God! He’s not here!”

  “No! Back over there!” Janet pointed to a corner. The Farmer pointed the torch in the indicated direction. He saw nothing until he stepped around the table. Curled up into the fetal position was a naked human being; Janet was frantically seeking any sign of life.

  “He’s alive! He’s breathing! Help me, Eddie! Get him on the table!”

  With much difficulty, the Farmer lifted the unconscious form onto the table and ascertained that there were, indeed, signs of life. “He’s alive. But why is he naked?”

  “I don’t know why he’s naked.” Janet pressed her ear to Mason’s heart. “He’s alive. Why doesn’t he wake up?”

  The Farmer grasped Mason’s wrist. “Pulse is strong, but he is cold as ice. I think I’ve got a couple of lab coats we can cover him with.” The Farmer found the coats and spread them atop Mason.

  Breaths that had been rapid and shallow slowed to normal. Mason’s eyes fluttered open. “Am I dead?” he breathed.

  Janet kissed Mason’s forehead. “Don’t you dare die. I’m responsible for you.”

  The Farmer probed for Mason’s pulse—much stronger now. “This may be a crazy question, but what happened to your clothes?”

  Mason pointed to the vent where his clothes were stuffed. “Be careful,” he croaked. “I pissed on the shirt.”

  “Well, I think we will leave your clothes here for now. You can wear one of these coats. Do you feel like getting up?”

  “Yeah. I think I can manage.”

  “Well I’ll get you to my apartment. You can spend the night there.”

  “No,” protested Janet. “If you will help me get him on the transport, I’ll take him back to his own apartment.”

  “Do you want to go back to your own place?” the Farmer asked Mason.

  “Yeah, I’ll be okay. I can drive the transport.”

  “No. I’ll drive the transport. And if Janet will follow us on her bicycle, I’ll borrow it for the night to get back home.”

  With the arrangements thus made, Mason was asleep on the transport long before he arrived at his apartment.

  Chapter 15

  CONFRONTATION

  When Mason awoke the next morning, something was very different. Nice, but different. His hand cupped a breast.

  “Umm.” Janet responded.

  “You’re naked,” Mason whispered.

  “Don’t get any ideas.”

  “But I’m naked, too.”

  “You were shivering when we put you to bed. After Eddie left, I came in to share my body heat.” Mason’s growing erection pressing against Janet’s backside. “And I told you not to get any ideas.”

  Mason snuggled in closer. “I’m still cold.” His hand crept downward but was caught and returned to the breast.

  “Get warm, but keep your hands above my waist.” Janet rolled over and faced Mason. “And get that smile off your face.”

  They lay there for another fifteen minutes or so before Janet crawled out of bed. Facing away from Mason, she began to dress.

  “The most beautiful ass of two worlds.”

  Janet called over her shoulder. “I told you to stop smiling. Stay here and I’ll go get breakfast.”

  “I can get it. I don’t want you to hurt your ribs.”

  “I’ll be okay. Besides, there’s someone I have to talk to while I’m out.”

  “Secrets?”

  “Maybe. Just stay here.”

  ****

  Mason took a bite of bacon-flavored chicken. “How did you find me last night?”

  “I hacked your notepad and found the message to go to the desiccation chamber. You should have taken me with you.”

  “But the message said…”

  “Next time, take me with you.”

  “How did you hack my notepad? I didn’t leave it here. At least I don’t think I left it here—I’m really not sure.”

  “No, you didn’t leave it here. But I can access your files remotely. I told you that you can’t hide anything from me.”

&nbs
p; Mason felt the very large bump on the back of his head. “You have absolutely no respect for my privacy and for that, I am grateful. But I still don’t know where my notepad is. I lost it and couldn’t call for help.”

  “Let me see if I can ping it.” Janet tapped her ‘pad. “It looks like it is at the desiccation chamber.”

  “Not possible. Believe me, I looked for it.”

  “Maybe in the outer room. We can check while we are at the farm today.”

  “That’s right. It’s Sunday. No work. I guess we can both use some time to recuperate.”

  “Well, maybe a little work. I’ve got someone coming to the farm that you need to meet. And I’ll message Eddie and see if he can find your notepad.”

  ****

  Mason lay on the grass feeling the warmth of the sunshine and stared up at a clear grey sky. “Still needs to be painted blue,” he commented.

  Janet laughed. “When you’re the Farmer that will be your first job. You can paint the sky blue. Then you can figure out a way to put clouds up there, too.”

  “I think that’s exactly the job that I’d want if I could stay on Mars. The Farmer. He’s like the god-emperors of ancient Egypt. No one disputes his commands. It must be good to be The Farmer.”

  It was at that moment that the actual Farmer walked up and sat beside Mason. “It is good to be The Farmer. But with great power comes even greater responsibility. You looking for this?” He handed Mason his ‘pad. “Found it in the trash bin. Someone must have figured that you wouldn’t need it anymore. I’m just glad that I could get it back to its rightful owner. Who did this to you, Johnnie?”

  “I don’t know; it was dark. For a long time, yesterday, I thought it was you. I cursed your name often enough while I was locked in that chamber.”

  “And you don’t think so now?”

  “No. I really can’t believe that you are the type who would kill a man in cold blood. Besides, there is someone else who has already made two attempts on my life.” Mason glanced over at Janet, but she refused to meet his eyes. “And you saved my life. You got me out of there.”

  “No, Janet saved your life. I was just along for the ride. And that was one smart thing you did in there, Johnnie.”

  “What.”

  “Pissing on your shirt and using that to block the vent. I don’t know if it saved your life or not. Either way it was a damned smart idea.”

  Janet looked up. “I have to admit that I suspected you too. That’s why I didn’t want Mason to stay at your apartment last night.”

  “What I don’t understand is why I am a suspect. Everybody has access to that chamber.”

  Janet opened her notepad and displayed the text. “That message is the reason that Mason was in the chamber. If you didn’t send it, who did?”

  The Farmer nodded. “Does look incriminating at that. Talk to Lou. He ought to be able to trace that message. Well, Johnnie, I’ve got to be going. I’ll dig your clothes out of the vent and get them back to you in a couple of days—a week or two at the latest.”

  Mason laughed. “Recycle the damned clothes. I’ll just buy more. The NAU has deep pockets.”

  Mason watched as the Farmer ambled away. Eddie MacDonald’s real name was Edward Brannon. An Edward Brannon played an important role in the investigation that Mason had been conducting before being sent to Mars. Could Edward Brannon, the subject of Mason’s investigation, and Eddie MacDonald, the Farmer of Mars, be the same person? Until he knew for certain, the Farmer would remain on Mason’s list of suspects.

  After the Farmer had gone, Mason asked, “Was he the person you wanted me to see here at the farm?”

  “No, not Eddie.” Janet pointed to a woman who was walking in their direction. “Her.”

  The woman had very short dark hair and Mason noticed something familiar. “Do I know her?”

  “Imagine her with a beard.”

  “Moe? Oh my god! It’s Moe Howard.”

  “It’s Vera West. When I confronted her this morning, she said that she wanted to talk to you.”

  “You talked to her this morning?”

  “Yes. I couldn’t believe that she was the one who had tried to kill you in that chamber, but I had to be sure.”

  “And you’re sure?”

  “She wants to talk to you. You decide.”

  Vera closed the gap between them and sat in the grass facing Mason. “Mr. Turner, my name is Vera West. I am the person who made two attempts on your life and I am sincerely sorry that I did so.”

  “Two attempts. Not three?” asked Mason.

  “Two. The first nearly killed a man who Janet tells me is honorable and should be trusted. The second attempt very nearly killed my dear friend, a friend that you risked your own life to save.” Tears welled in Vera’s eyes. She continued, “After the second attempt, I made a sincere promise that I would not attempt to harm you again. I have kept that promise. When Janet asked me this morning if I had made another attempt on your life, I decided that it was time that I take responsibility for my actions.”

  “And you had nothing to do with what happened, yesterday?”

  “No. But I want to put an end to my part in the deception. We have no prison here on Mars, but I am willing to accompany you to Earth and face justice there.”

  “Please, Mason,” Janet begged. “Please don’t even consider taking Vera back to Earth with you.”

  “I want to see what she has to say,” Mason replied. And then to Vera, “Why do you want me dead?”

  Vera wiped away a tear. “I don’t want you to die. I don’t want anyone else to die, but if you continue your investigation, some innocent people are going to be hurt more than you can imagine.”

  “I’m not trying to destroy the colony. I only want to discover who murdered Mr. Echols and see that she receives justice.”

  Shock was evident in Vera’s eyes. “What makes you think it was a woman?”

  “It had to be a woman. Only a woman could have entered Mr. Echols’ home on The Day of Secrets. Were you that woman?”

  “No, not me.”

  “But you know who it was?”

  Vera stared at the grass and nodded.

  “Who?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Then why?”

  “Mr. Turner, there are many secrets on Mars. A few of the colonists may have evil in their hearts. If so, they have reason to keep their secrets. And other colonists may know secrets that, if revealed, will cause pain to the ones that they love. Those secrets will never be spoken.”

  “Which type of secret are you hiding?”

  “Do whatever you want to with me, but I can never tell you.”

  Janet spoke up. “I promise you that Vera is not a bad person. There is no evil in her heart. We keep our secrets because silence protects those who cannot protect themselves. If I had believed for a moment that Vera’s motives were in any way evil, I would not have hesitated to tell you when I discovered that it was she that tried to kill you.”

  “So, Mr. Echols was an evil person and his killer was just the instrument of justice?”

  “We cannot say,” replied Janet.

  “I am at your mercy,” said Vera. “I have twice tried to kill you and I’ll accept whatever justice you believe that I deserve.”

  “If you are letting me decide your fate, wouldn’t it be best if you cooperated with me? Shouldn’t you tell me what you know about Mr. Echols’ murder?”

  “I’m sorry, but I cannot. What will happen to me?”

  “Please,” begged Janet again. “Don’t even consider taking Vera to Earth. She could not survive there. And she has two children who need their mother. I believe her when she says that she is no longer a danger to you. Also, she can help find out who tried to kill you last night.”

  “How?”

  “She’s a technician. We don’t have to wait to talk to Lou. She can trace that message.”

  “Would you do that?” asked Mason.

  “Show me the message.”


  Mason opened his notepad and selected the message menu. The ‘pad displayed: Desiccation chamber tomorrow at ten hundred. More evidence. Come alone. Don’t tell Ms. Edwards.

  Vera pointed to Mason’s ‘pad. “Open that. Now that. That’s the routing code. Copy it and send it to my notepad.”

  Mason followed Vera’s instructions and reread the message. He still had the feeling that something was wrong with the message—and then he spotted it. “The person who sent this message was not a colonist.”

  “How do you know?” asked Janet.

  “Because of lesson number five, I think. Maybe six. I’ve lost count.”

  Vera stared at Mason questioningly. But Janet asked, “Which one was lesson number five?”

  Mason ticked them off on his fingertips. “Number one: Everything moves slowly on Mars. Number two: Nobody likes me. Number three: Transportation on Mars, we walk. Number four: The colonists and the NAU rarely agree on anything. Have I missed one?”

  “Only number five,” replied Janet. “What is number five?”

  Mason pointed at the text on the notepad. “Colonists never refer to a female as Ms. She will either be Miss or Mrs., but never Ms. But a non-colonist would call you Ms. Edwards. Even the governor still calls you Ms. This message came from a tourist—or maybe a scientist. Someone who came here on the same ship as I did is trying to kill me. The question is, why?”

  Vera continued to chase data through the network. “Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be able to tell you who, but it is up to you to find out why.”

  “Just out of curiosity,” asked Mason, “which wave of colonists did you arrive with.”

  “Me?” asked Vera.

  “Yes. I know that Janet came with the second wave. Were you in the second wave also?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the Farmer, which wave was he in?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Me either,” replied Janet. “Why? Does it matter?”

  “So, you don’t remember him being with you on board the ship?”

  Janet shook her head. “We were in hibernation. We don’t remember anyone we traveled with. Eddie would be able tell you. Why is that important?”