One Way To Mars

Chapter 20

True to his word, Mitchum tookhis crew to the drill site and returned with the buggy for Foreman.For once, Foreman left Monkley back at the base, putting him incharge of the laundry. The little guy seemed a little put out, butknuckled down to the task. With Mitchum driving, Foreman navigated tothe crash site.

'That's one hell of a mess,Andy.'

'They were dead from the impact,before the fire.'

'That's something to be thankfulfor I guess.'

'Come inside. See what you makeof this.'

They opened the airlock door andclimbed inside the wreck.

'Shit! You didn't bury them?'

'I thought about it, but the waythe sand moves about, they would have soon been uncovered. I figuredthis way, if anyone wanted to locate the bodies, maybe take them backto Earth, they could be easy to find like this.'

'I suppose. Sorry. I wasn'thaving a go. It was just a bit of a shock seeing them like this.'

'Yes. It still is for me. Take alook at this.'

Mitchum knelt down to see whatAndy was pointing at.

'That isn't good. It looks likesome small explosive device was planted. Andy. This is murder.'

Foreman nodded solemnly. 'That'swhat I thought. I just wanted a second opinion.'

'I don't see what else it couldbe.'

'There was a bang. Not loud. Iwas in the back, securing Monkley. I was about to join the others tobuckle up for the landing, but before I could get out of there, wedropped like a stone. When I got free, they were dead, and fire wasbreaking out all over the place. Me and Monkley only just got out intime.'

Mitchum stared at the threecharred remains. 'Mind if we get out of here?'

Foreman led the way, and Mitchumnoticed the Luxotrol marker hanging on the wreck.

'Nice touch.'

'It was the least I could do.'

Mitchum stared back at the ship,shaking his head. 'Who the hell would do this? Why?'

'I've been going insane askingthe same questions. Mike. There's something else. Something thatcould be connected.'

'What?'

'Ever since I got here, I've beentrying to contact Earth. I couldn't reach them.'

'Those damn solar winds.'

'I know that now. I did getthrough, just briefly. I got hold of a cadet?'

'A cadet? What the hell was acadet doing in the com room?'

'There was some bad shit goingdown. Farley, Cadet Farley, just happened to be passing the unmannedCom room, and heard my transmission. He said they were evacuating theI S F base. Then I heard an explosion, and I haven't been able tocontact Earth since. The only other contact has been with you.'

'Damn. I had no idea. We put thelack of communication down to the solar winds. This is serious stuff,Andy. What the hell any of it means, I can't imagine.'

'If our ship going down was adeliberate act...'

'No doubt in my mind.'

'Then, it must be something to dowith Mars. Do you think we're in danger?'

Mitchum stared at the ship. 'Iwouldn't be surprised.'