One Way To Mars

Chapter 10

Foreman stared at the radio. He'dfigured out the controls. What he hadn't figured out was how he wasgoing to summon up the courage to turn it on and try to communicatewith Earth. If he didn't try, a part of his brain could pretendeverything was still okay. That maybe nations had said “sorry' toeach other and kissed and made up. He remembered his old man. Aftersome pressure from Mom, he had retired from the air-force and settledfor a desk job in the city. After the adventurous life as a fighterpilot, one day was now a repeat of the previous one and he would diea little more each day. Every Saturday, he would buy a lottery ticketbut he never watched the live draw. Instead, he would take off forhis den, play solo darts while he drank his grog, and listen to thesports on the radio, while mom would watch the Saturday movie, andeat chocolate.

But, on Sunday morning, he wouldcheck the lotto results, screw up the yellow ticket and throw it inthe waste paper basket, usually with a muttered oath or two. OneSunday morning, young Andrew Foreman had watched the ritual for thethousandth time, the well practised shot into the basket followed bythe swear words, followed by Mom's knowing “I told you” smile.

'Dad. Why don't you ever checkthe results on Saturday night?'

His dad smiled. 'Because, Son,for a whole night, I can dream I won. Just for a few damn hours, Icould be a millionaire. And I could be. It could just as well be meas some other shmuck.'

Sitting in front of the radio,for the first time, Foreman truly understood what his father meant.If he didn't turn on the radio and listen to the irritating static,it could be that everything was okay. He could imagine that at theother end was a cadet like Farley, who would be laughing and saying,'Thank God that spot of bother is all over. Hey, Mr Foreman. We got arescue ship on its way to get you home. Just hang in there and you'llbe home in no time.'

It could be just like that. Likehis dad dreaming for a whole night he could be the next big winner,Foreman thought that if he didn't turn on the radio, then everythingon Earth was still peachy. Only flicking that switch would make thehorror all real. That was still too much reality to accept, rightthen. He would hang on to hope, to the illusion, for one more night.He left the room and the auto light turned itself off.