Mars Fire - Chapter V, Sol 2
Serialized science fiction
Previous Chapters: Chapter I , Chapter II , Chapter III , Chapter IV
Chapter V - Sol 2 - Tuesday
There was already a small crowd of colonists waiting in the main dome by the time Burrows arrived, and after looking around and seeing Pope and Reyn conferring at the edge of the crowd, he headed over and joined them.
Pope was also in an olive singlesuit today, matching Reyn, although his sleeves were rolled up to reveal dusty forearms and an array of tattoos that competed with the dust to hide most of his skin. Reyn had a compad out and was showing something to Pope, and the two acknowledged Burrows with brief nods before continuing their discussion.
“That’s the shipping rate, and that’s the new storing rate they are charging at New Hopetown. We can lock in more storage space in advance, up to the seventeen percent level. After that, they give preference to other renters.” Reyn offered the compad to Burrows, who shook his head. He trusted Reyn when it came to this type of logistics work. “Max two to three weeks, and then we are out of space. Unless we start stacking.”
“No. We stack now already, with the next shipment.” Pope sketched out shapes and figures with his hands as he talked, fingernails black with grime. “We have a lifter contract with Maxwell that we can use. We reinforce the ore boxes with an additional layer of braces, and then we stack them as high as we can the moment we get there.”
“They have rules about over-stacking though,” Burrows mused, and took the compad from Reyn after all to look for the relevant article. “They don’t allow above a certain threshold, to prevent collapses during the storm season.”
Martian storms were legendary, and rivalled anything that occurred on Earth. Burrows had been through a tropical cyclone on Guam that, in retrospect, felt like a mild spring breeze compared to the hellstorms that Mars could throw up. Storm season was still a few months away, at present, but with the expected delays to get the rail lines opened again there was no telling how long it would take to get the ore boxes moving again.
“Then we build pyramids,” Pope replied, and then snorted at his own statement. “Martian pyramids, full of rocks and braced with the best Martian steel the old foundries can pump out.”
“I’m sure there are conspiracy theorists back on Earth who would love to hear that,” Reyn retorted dryly, and Burrows felt himself grinning as well.
“Yeah there are a lot of people on Earth that are still very disappointed we haven’t found the aliens yet.” Burrows found the contract article, then passed the compad to Pope to read. “If you go building pyramids in the wilderness now, the conspiracy theories will ramp up to the nines again.”
“As if they are sane on any other day.” Reyn rarely rolled his eyes, but this topic was enough to warrant the reaction from him. “After the neon sheep thing last year, and the data angels on Deimos, I’m surprised people still trust their eyes for anything.”
Pope looked up with a stunned expression on his face.
“Wait - you mean the data angels are not real?”
Their laughter was interrupted by the arrival, from the vehicle park tunnels, of two of the colony administrators, along with the newest member of the colony. Stern-faced Vera Gilberts, from the accounting department, and sharp-eyed Hans Felmann from the council board walked with the new member between them, and came to a halt at the edge of the crowd. The new colonist was tall, in that fleshed-out way that separated Earthers from Martians born to the lower gravity here, and had a blond mop of hair that flopped over his ears. His face was open and soft - to Burrows’ discerning gaze, who put the man at somewhere in his early twenties - and his eyes appeared to be some shade of grey or blue. He wore a Euro-style white singlesuit, feet tucked into some of the local slippers, and had his pressure suit in an anti-static bag over his one shoulder. There was no sign of his luggage, which Burrows assumed was still in the vehicle park - or en route.
“Kid looks nervous,” Pope murmured, and handed the compad back to Reyn. “He’s in for a lot of new things.”
“Wait until he meets Dixon, then we’ll see if those Euro rumours are true,” Burrows murmured back, and then stopped when Councillor Felmann started speaking.
“Friends, it is good to see so many of you here today. It is not often we get to welcome a new member to our midst, and it is not often that we know they will make such a big difference to our diet,” Felmann’s booming voice drew laughter from the crowd. The councillor turned and patted the young man on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, the rumours are all true: we don’t eat people here any more.”
More laughter rippled through the crowd, although Burrows also noted some grim faces. The cannibalism rumours, from settlements that had failed during the early years of the colonisation process, were still a sensitive point to some. The young man next to Felmann had an awkward grin stuck to his face, clearly not knowing what to make of the joke.
Pope, on the other hand, found it hilarious, and roared with laughter along with the rest. Burrows could not keep a grin from his face after that.
Hand still on his shoulder, Felmann turned back to the crowd with a smile. Burrows knew he would have noticed those who had not laughed.
“Everyone, this is Ian Drees. He’s from the Confederation of European Nations - the Netherlands, yes? - and has been on Mars for about six months now. He signed up for the volunteer exchange programme, and then someone in New Hopetown flagged his profile and matched it to what we have been looking for here in the Bear State.” Felmann nodded at Vera, on the other side, who inclined her head in response. “After we got his contract agreed and signed, they put him on the passenger line to Stockton, and then from there it was one long drive through our beautiful patch of Mars to bring him here.”
Vera, her blonde hair tied back into one of her customary buns, gave a crisp and very professional smile before continuing where the councillor had left off.
“As you all know, we have been trying to expand our aquaponics area for some time now. With the departure of the previous engineer in that area” - Burrows noted that she was careful not to name the engineer, who had left under a cloud of scandal and abuse claims - “we found ourselves short of the type of experience we need to make this colony thrive. Now, in Ian, we believe that we have finally found a worthy replacement.”
Ian stood between them with that awkward smile stuck on his face, and Burrows recalled his own experience upon arriving at the colony seven years ago. It had been a smaller affair, back then, but the feeling of facing a crowd of strangers - who would now effectively become your family - was still nerve-wracking at first. Granted, he had probably been a bit more travelled and experienced than this fresh-faced youngster - but it was still quite the leap into the deep end to deal with.
“So, in the spirit of keeping it short and getting to the point quickly,” Felmann continued, and motioned for the colonists closest to him, “let’s get on with the introductions. Ian, don’t try to remember every name - just try to remember who makes food, and then you’ll be set from there.”
More chuckles followed, and Felmann guided Ian to the first of the colonists, who had started lining up. One by one they filed past, shaking Ian’s hand and introducing themselves and their responsibilities to the newest member of the family.
By the time Burrows got to the front of the line, he could see that Ian’s eyes had already glazed over. The young man had a firm handshake though, and Burrows felt calluses along the edge of the palm as he pumped the proffered hand.
“Jack Burrows, general engineering and part-time security,” Burrows introduced himself, and saw a flicker of interest at the mention of the latter. “I look forward to seeing what you can do with the fish farms.
“Thank you. I look forward to learning more about the colony, and your security arrangements.” Ian’s accent was pronounced, but Burrows had heard so many different versions of English over the years that it hardly registered for him. “I heard that you will be part of my initial familiarisation schedule?”
“Yes - myself, and the gentlemen behind me,” Burrows replied, and turned to motion Reyn and Pope closer. “Despite their appearances, they are actually quite capable.”
“Speak for yourself, I’ve never seen you do anything except clean up after Dixon,” Reyn retorted, and shook Ian’s hand. “Reyn Heaney, specialist engineering and designer.”
“Fred Mann, but everyone calls me Pope. Mining and related troubles. You have strong hands for a fish-man,” Pope remarked after shaking Ian’s hand. “Do you build the tanks yourself too?”
“I do a bit of everything, actually. The training programme at Planckstadt was thorough.” Ian looked embarrassed. “I also tried to keep up with my physical training from Earth, but I am still struggling with the gravity and the resistance machines here.”
“It takes a while. You’ll get used to it eventually,” Burrows nodded to Reyn and Pope. “The Martians don’t even know what they are missing.”
“You mean having a body so heavy that you struggle to walk? No thanks. I like being able to move without fighting a planet the whole time.” Reyn demonstrated by squatting down and then launching himself into the air with an explosive grunt, reaching almost two metres of elevation before drifting down again. Pope steadied him as he landed, before Reyn sketched a mock bow towards Burrows.
“With legs like that, I’m going to change your callsign to Frogman the next time we’re out on patrol,” Burrows shook his head. “Damn aliens.”
“Well, if you think about it - we were actually born here. You were not.” Pope waggled a dirty finger at Burrows, who had heard the joke a hundred times before. Ian was new to the punchline though. “So technically, that makes you the alien here.”
Ian snorted with a half-contained laugh, and let it all out when he saw Burrows grinning as well.
“Prepare yourself for the alien jokes. There are going to be many of them ahead.” Burrows shook his head in mock resignation, then tilted his head sideways to indicate the kitchen area off to the one side. “Finish up your introductions, then come meet us in the kitchen for lunch. We can start your briefings from there.”
Reyn and Pope filed past, the big man clapping Ian on the shoulder as he passed, and then the three of them headed for the dining area and left Ian with the last of the introductions. The last of the colonists still needed their share of attention, and handshakes, to make the young man feel at home.
Lunch - which only Reyn had pre-booked, so Burrows and Pope had to pay extra - was noodles with broth and pork cubes, which Burrows vaguely remembered they had obtained in trade a week or two ago from one of the livestock growers to the west. Meiwes Station was famous for its pigs, which - for reasons the scientists were still trying to determine - were notoriously difficult to keep healthy on Mars. Meiwes had managed though, somehow, but guarded their secrets tightly.
Pope led them to his customary corner booth once everyone had a bowl in hand, and they had barely started to tuck in when Vera arrived with Ian in tow. The young man already had a noodle bowl in one hand, and slid in beside Pope once Vera indicated for him to take a seat.
“Jack, Reyn, Fred - I’ve sent you all the introduction pack for new members. Please make sure you take Ian through the basics as soon as you can.” Away from the crowds, Vera was a bit more relaxed, although Burrows had rarely seen her with her metaphorical hair down. In his experience, accounting departments tended to draw a very specific type of person.
“I’ve lodged Ian in the singles area in Section One,” Vera continued, and withdrew one of the green passcards from a hip pocket before passing it to Ian. “Fred, it’s probably close enough for you to be neighbours, so it would be great if you could help him with that.”
Pope, mouth full of noodles, nodded and ended up with broth down his chin.
“Reyn, I know you have some contracts with Botany, so I’m asking you to get Ian introduced at the labs over there.” Vera pivoted smoothly, and Burrows hid his face behind his bowl as he watched Vera’s eyes.
Did she know?
“I know Doctor Berube wants to get the current setup reviewed as soon as possible, so the sooner we can get Ian on that, the better.” Vera turned her attention to Burrows next, who managed a polite smile in return. “Jack, I’m putting you in charge of Ian’s EVA training. I see from the travel logs that you and Hank have been spending a fair bit of time outside these past few weeks. If you can get Ian familiarised with our procedures, that would also be great.”
“I already know exactly where we can start, sure,” Burrows nodded in agreement, before turning his attention to Ian. “Have you ever gone rock-climbing here on Mars?”
“He’s from the Netherlands, he probably doesn’t even know what a mountain is,” Pope interjected, and this time it was Reyn’s turn to spill broth as he half choked on a laugh. Burrows snorted as well, and Ian just gave a wry smile in return. Vera seemed nonplussed by the humour.
“Ja, I know what a mountain is. The gate station at Planckstadt is on one. I have not done any EVA climbing on one though.” Ian grinned. Burrows noticed that he had very white teeth. “We don’t build fish farms like that.”
“There’s a first time for everything, in this place.” Burrows nodded towards Reyn, who looked up with wide-eyed innocence. “Ask that one how we got the first sensors installed on the Mexican City Aerospace contract.”
“We got them installed. That is all that matters, as far as the contract was written.” Reyn nodded once, twice, and then put on a serious face. “No-one needs to know exactly what we did to the terrain. Or why the Felter Ridge is now half a kilometre shorter than a few years ago.”
“I’ll show you the crater next time we drive past. It was a big first time for all of us.” Burrows grinned at the memory, then turned to Vera. “Vera, thanks for everything. We’ll take it from here.”
“Please don’t infect him with whatever it is that you lot think is a sense of humour.” Vera looked down her nose at Burrows, then relented and cracked a small smile which disappeared just as quickly. “If anything pops up, please let me know.”
There were nods and agreements from around the table, and then Vera left them to continue the lunch. Ian waited until she was out of earshot before leaning forward and lowering his voice.
“Are all the admin people like that?”
“Like what? So focused that they can out-cut a boron laser?” Pope wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, suppressing a belch. “No, not all of them. Vera is probably the funniest of them all.”
The laughter that followed quickly wiped the look of consternation from Ian’s face.
Next chapter: Chapter VI
