“I... I was hungry,” she apologised, a little ashamed, swallowing the last bite.
James smiled.
“It’s fabulous.”
“Fabulous watching me eat?”
“Yes! I never thought I’d see a woman eating like you do.”
“Sorry...”
“No! I mean you really enjoy your food! You don’t worry about getting fat if you eat it, or if your dress will fasten or if eating that way isn’t good manners.”
“Well, to tell the truth... I do think about all those things you said. But as you can see, I don’t pay much attention to them.”
“Perfect by me.”
Mary kissed James with her lips full of milk and crumbs. Then, she thought about burping... but she decided to leave it for the second date – she didn’t want James to run away in fright.
With full stomachs, they lay down near the fire, under the same blanket.
“Do you know what Terraforming is?” asked James.
Mary shook her head.
“It’s a theory that I’d like to put into practice,” he confessed.
“What is it?”
“It might seem strange but, in a nutshell, it’s making the atmospheric and climatic conditions of any planet like those on Earth.”
“That sounds impossible. How could it be done?”
“There’s lots of literature on it, and even one practical case.”
“Where?”
“Right here – where we are.”
“Was it you who made it possible to breathe in here?”
“It was.”
“Wow... James, I didn’t know there was a scientific side to you.”
“Nobody does. I surprised myself up to my neck in texts on the subject – I was awake nights on end.”
“So, why are you like that?”
“Like what?”
“I mean you’re not usually James – you’re Mr Stafford: intolerant, dictatorial, arrogant, strong, hard... a womaniser.”
“It’s a family thing,” he said, shielding himself.
“But Andrew’s not like you. You don’t need to be someone that you don’t want to be.”
“You do when you have to keep a company going and the future of the planet depends on it.”
“James, you know very well that if you keep mining on this planet, it will end up like Earth. And then, the Terraforming you’re dreaming about will never happen.”
James went quiet.
“Mars won’t let itself be abused as the Earth was,” he said, seriously.
“Why?”
“The storm, remember? This planet doesn’t want us here.”
“What exactly does that storm bring?”
“You see, a few years ago, after operations started, a group of miners found something special. It was a cave that led to an underground lake.”
“A cave like this one?”
“Much bigger. The lake had stagnant water in it – maybe it had been stagnant for thousands of years. Although we don’t know that.”
“And what happened?”
“At first, nothing. Until one of the men discovered that there was something special at the bottom of the lake – something valuable: an unknown mineral, and it wasn’t long before it was identified as having a high energy level. Then we made the biggest mistake we could have made.”
“Did you plunder and pillage the cave?”
“We did. We robbed Mars of one its most important treasures. When the waters were disturbed, we freed something that we will always regret. Using big diggers to make several tunnels on all sides of the cave, we generated air currents that carried whatever was in the water to the outside. The sun meant that the virus that now lives in the storms multiplied itself a thousand times: a million microscopic beings running over the Martian landscape like real murderers with their never-ending whispers of death. The cold preserves them until it’s almost impossible to get rid of them. They get through your skin, into any tiny leak in a spacesuit, they want to kill. They are intelligent, travelling murderers.”
“But you saved us.”
“We were lucky. We were in time to disinfect... not like that fatal day...”
Mary remembered the cemetery.
“We weren’t ready,” he said. “Now, at least, we have storm-warning stations.”
“Who else knows about this?”
“Barely anyone. The Earth hasn’t been informed. Who would come to a place plagued by death? The new colonisation wouldn’t have been possible if we’d told the truth.”
“But it’s very unfair that the people didn’t know. You should do something. Everyone who has come here did it to get away from something bad or, maybe, simply, from their lives. They weren’t satisfied with them. They’ve come here to form a new world, new relationships, new lives – a future. It’s not fair that they have to live in fear of some kind of curfew, which is what the infected storms are.”
“I know, Mary, I know. But we’re caught between a rock and a hard place. We need people to keep the company going. There’s no way out of here if we don’t generate riches – all we can do is keep going. We have to achieve a minimum so that governments will agree to do business with us.”
“Tell your parents what you’ve told me about Terraforming. You have to find new ways of living on Mars. New kinds of business. You don’t have to damage this place.”
“They wouldn’t understand. For generations, our family has been...”
“...destroying planets by bleeding them dry.”
James felt uncomfortable.
“Sorry, James. I didn’t mean to say that.”
“Mary, you’re right. I know I should – but I know their answer.”
“You don’t know it – you imagine it.”
James got up.
“I’m not a coward, Mary. I’m simply waiting for the right moment.”
“The right moment is now, James. I’m sure that Mars will thank you for it.”
Mary went after him and hugged him from behind.
“It’s a beautiful planet,” he said dreamily. “Don’t you think so?”
“I do, but... will you tell them?”
“Let me do up some reports for them. I don’t want it to sound like madness.”
“I’ll help you, James. Now and always.”
James turned and kissed her gratefully.
And yes... they did it again.
Chapter 22
James watched from above, always on the back of his faithful companion, Loja.
“Look at them. They look like ants. Their eyes meet but they don’t talk – they don’t even say ‘hello’ to each other. They just exchange sacks of sand and minerals.”
Loja whinnied. Suddenly, James’ face tensed and he narrowed his eyes.
“Damn it! Can you see them? Those two are fighting. Let’s go and see what’s happening.”
The mining stopped.
“I’m going to kill you!” one of the miners shouted out of control.
“Come any closer and I’ll rip your head off!” threatened the other.
In a second, they were on top of each other in the Martian dust again. The rest of the men, when they saw Mr Stafford approaching, turned and got on with their work.
“Stop! What’s going on here?”
The fighting men continued blindly thumping at each other’s spacesuit. James got off his horse and separated them quickly and with authority. They both fell at his feet.
“If you keep it up, I won’t have to call Security! You’ll sentence yourselves! The suits aren’t made for full-body combat. Do you want to kill yourselves? Go on! Would you mind telling me what’s going on though?”
Neither of them spoke.
“Women problems?” suggested James.
The silence answered.
“It’s not my fault that his girl’s a slut,” muttered one of them.
The other got up and ran at him. James stopped him and read his nametag.
“Thomas, re
lax,” James said into his ear, trying to be friendly to the unknown man. “Who is he talking about?”
“About Gwyneth Allen – she works in the canteen.”
James smiled, understanding both of them. Then he looked at the other man’s nametag.
“Mackory, get up. Come closer. I don’t want any nonsense. Thomas, tell me: are you married?”
“No, sir.”
“Do you love her?”
“More than life itself.”
“Well, it doesn’t look that way because you were about to lose both,” said James, lightly pulling at a tube on Thomas’ suit that was about to rip. “Mackory, tell me: why do you say she’s a... ‘slut’?”
“I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
“Get her out of there, Mr Stafford, please! That place is bad for her. The nights are changing her – she’s afraid, always on the defensive,” said Thomas with begging eyes. “Find her another place to work, please, Mr Stafford – please!”
“No,” said James.
“But...”
“Mackory, and the rest of you – stop! Listen to me!”
The line of men continually passing from one to the other came to a standstill.
“Listen to me! We’re not in the Wild West! If you think we are, get ready, because I can put on a Sheriff’s badge at any time. This is not a lawless planet. You must respect and you will be respected. This man has just commented on some events that this other man has corroborated. From tonight, when you go to the canteen, you will respect Gwyneth Allen, and not only her but any other woman you bump into. If I hear that this is not being done again, be prepared to meet the consequences.”
From a half-lit room, the mansion maids attentively watched their ex-lover – entranced by a screen showing images from the security cameras near the Hale mine.
“What a man!” one of them sighed. “My legs turn to jelly when I hear him.”
“Look, look – there’s Ackerson arriving!” pointed out another of the maids.
The men dispersed after the speech. Mary appeared driving a vehicle, which stopped a few yards away from them. James went over to her as soon as he came out.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, don’t worry. A silly little fight.”
Mary recognised Thomas going back to the line.
“Again?” asked Mary. “James, you know it’s not a good idea to put a gang of drunken men into a closed place with a girl like Gwyneth. Please...”
“All right, we’ll get her out of there. Let me talk to the Department of Personnel Assignment and we’ll fix it.”
Mary felt hopeful at his words.
“Thank you, James.”
“Don’t cry victory yet. We have to see what vacancies are left.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s a first step. Can I hug you?”
“It’s not a good idea,” he said, nodding at the cameras and the men.
“I know,” said Mary, and hugged him anyway.
“Mary...”
“I tripped...” she lied through her laughter.
When she stood back again, James asked her:
“How’s your work going?”
“Good, the greenhouses are working to perfection. We have enough vegetables to feed all of these perverts for months. The meat is turning out to be more complicated.”
“Why?”
“We don’t have enough cows. Genetic cloning isn’t as fast as we hoped and, shortly, we may have to start rationing proteins.”
“Well, we can always give them powdered protein.”
“A lot of them deserve it,” Mary whispered to him.
James stood beside her, looking at the miners.
“Have you made any progress with... our stuff?” he asked putting his hat back on.
“You have me worn out looking for information. Of course I’m making progress – it’s in my head all day long. Seeing as you can’t, someone has to do it: we have to keep going until we succeed. I know more about the craters on Mars than I do about the freckles on my body.”
James smiled.
“Leave your freckles up to me.”
Without anyone noticing, they started holding hands.
“Oh, Mr Stafford is touching my glove...” she joked.
“I hate that rubber feeling,” mumbled James.
“Me too,” said Mary resignedly. “I’d kill to be able to put your hand on my naked body... Please, let’s change the subject or I won’t respond for my actions.”
“Good idea. Let’s see... Where are we going to meet to make love?”
“Wherever you want – but make it a place where I can breathe.”
Far off, hidden in their spy den, the maids sobbed.
“You can’t hear...” one said. “I wonder what they’re saying.”
“I don’t know but I can imagine,” commented another.
“What does he see in her?”
“I haven’t got a clue but I hope he gets over it quickly. I’m fed up of looking for Mr Staffords and finding drunken fools.”
That same night, James made love to Mary in the most unlikely ways. There was such perfect understanding between them that the slightest taboos that may have existed at first had moved into second place. Mary let him love her in all ways possible. He played with all of her body, searching for the perfect way to bring her to absolute climax. His tongue varnished her freckly skin, and his fingertips slid over Mary’s damp, pink sexual organ, making her feel like a wild animal possessed by passion. She, in turn, didn’t let any opportunity go by of discovering the nectar of manliness in James’ penis. She loved making him groan, feeling his contractions, his firm erection inside her. Grasping his phallus to make it hers, hers alone, was one of her secret pleasures.
Later, they slept joined together, their sweat drying amid dreams about the future of Mars.
Chapter 23
Gwyneth wasn’t much in the mood for jokes. She poured herself a drink and drank it in one gulp. The heat in her throat seemed to give her strength to go back to dealing with her clients. It seemed more like a pig-sty than a canteen. In spite of her being dirty, haggard and her hair not being brushed, the miners still lusted after her. Few now remembered Mr Stafford’s warning. The alcohol made them forget that too.
As she walked to the table, she felt hands spanking her. No longer feeling like turning around to give the same old complaints as always, she dragged herself along until she found a free seat. She let her head fall onto the table, onto the thin pillow of her bony hands.
“Tired?” asked Mary.
“Who wouldn’t be?” she answered in a mumble. “I hope Thomas gets here soon...”
“Gwyneth, I’ve asked James for help...”
“Your cowboy doesn’t have time to spend on cases like mine...”
“Trust him, he’ll help you, but you know that not even Mars is free of bureaucracy...”
“It’s clear that we’ve brought the best of the Earth.”
“Don’t generalise.”
“You can see you don’t work here. Okay, let’s face it: I don’t know how to do much more than serve drinks and scare off bluebottles, but I think I deserve something more... ‘dignified’?”
“Relax. Tell me who hassles you. I’ll tell James and they’ll remove him...”
“You won’t have any miners left,” sobbed Gwyneth resignedly.
“Sooner or later, there won’t be any. We have another idea for them for the future.”
Gwyneth sat up with difficulty, leaning back against the chair.
“What are you thinking of? Putting them into cages and making a zoo?”
“I can’t give you too many details but we’re about to present an alternative project. I’ve been preparing it for months. James wants to change the planet.”
“How?”
“We want to carry out a Terraforming process.”
“And what’s that?”
Mary leaned closer to Gwyneth.
“Would you like
your future children to run around Mars without spacesuits? Without being afraid of storms? Maybe even to be able to drink water from a spring?”
Gwyneth opened her eyes.
“It’s a lovely dream. But you have a problem.”
“What?” asked Mary.
“The Stafford family. We all know how anchored in the past they are – in their way of behaviour. You just have to look at the canteen. It’s like something out of a history book. They use technology to their own benefit but, nonetheless, they like to keep traditions like the drunks in the bar and maids losing their virginity to the lord of the house.”
“Gwyneth!” exclaimed Mary, slapping her hand. “James isn’t like that anymore!”
“I’ll believe you because I know you don’t leave him alone even one night; if you did...”
“Oh, what little faith... I already told you that James and Mr Stafford are two different – very different – people. And soon he’ll stop being the one that they all want him to be, and just be himself.”
Mary’s eyes lit up when she spoke of James. Gwyneth smiled, at the same time feeling disgusted at the smell of her own greasy hair.
“I stink of this place. What makes you come here?”
“To be with you until Thomas gets here. Does that annoy you?”
“No, just the opposite. But I’m sorry that you waste your free time in this dive.”
“It’s not wasted time. I just don’t want you to give in: you have to wait a little longer. Just running away wouldn’t be a good idea. You don’t want to irritate those who are pulling the strings. You must be patient.”
“Mary, I’ll end up like them. I drink, I don’t wash. Thomas will end up looking for someone else. I don’t feel... attractive.”
“Hey, hey, stop beating yourself up. You know that Thomas would never do that. A while ago, he was fighting for you at the entrance to the mine.”
“I know...”
“And doesn’t that mean anything? He was defending your dignity. Okay, it might have been more elegant to do it with words, but that scum only understand things when you use your fists.”
“But the stress, the wild monotony of this place – he’s no time, I’ve no time. Our relationship can’t take it. What began as a sweet dream is turning sour by the minute.”
Love On Mars Page 10