One Way To Mars

Chapter 19

Foreman and Monkley prepared thebest meal possible from the various vacuum packed supplies, addingsweetner to the wine to improve the harsh citrus taste. It wasanother nine hours before the airlock door opened and the buggy wasdriven inside.

'Hey. The workers return.'

Shaking the sand off their suits,they all stripped down to their undergarments.

'How's it going out there?'

'Slow and tedious,' said Mitchum.'We're used to it.'

Foreman nodded. 'Why don't youall hit the showers and come and eat. Not a bad meal waiting, thoughI say it myself.'

'Good idea,' said Susan. 'Inearly didn't recognise you.'

'Do you approve?'

'Much nicer,' she said with apout and a mischievous smile.

When she returned from thebathroom, she looked and smelt good enough to eat. Her thick mane ofauburn hair shone and framed her beautiful face. Why a woman like herwas remotely interested in him, Foreman could only wonder and bethankful.

'Andy,' said Mitchum as he sippedthe wine as he ate. 'I hope I didn't offend you earlier.'

'Hell, no. I could kick myselffor being so stupid, coming over there.'

Mitchum shrugged. 'You were justbeing curious and I understand that. Believe me, if it wasn't forinsurance, I'd rope you in and get you working with us.'

'It's cool.'

'I would hardly call itentertainment,' said Giavani. 'Drill a bit further, stick anothertube on, drill a bit further... boring, boring.'

'I guess that's why they callthem bores,' said Foreman, hardly raising a smile. 'Say. Mike. CouldI have a word with you?'

Mitchum stifled a yawn. 'SorryIt's been along day. Yeah. I could do with stretching my legs andbreathing air not from a pack on my back.'

'Thanks. Help yourself to wineand I've filled the jars up for a smoke if you want one.'

He followed Mitchum outside andthey strolled along the path.

'I didn't want to say anything infront of the others, but there's something I'd very much like youropinion on.'

'Shoot.'

'I have to show you.'

'Okay.'

'It's outside. It's the ship Icame down on.'

'That was damn bad luck, Andy.From what you told me, you and the GenMoP were lucky to survive.'

'Mike. We should have allsurvived. But I need you to see it.'

'Okay. But not right now. We'reall bushed. Besides, driving a buggy at night, even with lights on,is asking for trouble. I tell you what. In the morning, I'll get thecrew working, then I'll come back in the buggy and we'll take a look.How does that sound?'

'That's a good idea, Mike. We'llbe fresh. Listen. Don't say anything to the others, okay? Not untilwe've had a look. I don't want them worried unduly.'

Mitchum nodded. 'Okay. Andy. Isthere something I should be worried about?'

'If your opinion is the same asmine, could be.'

They found the others naked andwallowing in the pool, each with a jar to smoke from. Monkley wassnuggled up close to Debbie, as he seemed to have a crush on her. Hehad the silly mellow look on his face, which reminded Foreman of StanLaurel from Laurel and Hardy. Slightly self conscious, Foremanstripped off and slipped into the pool and picked up a jar. Lookinginto Susan's face, told him the dope in the jar wasn't the only thingsmouldering.