Moving Mars (37 page)

I stared at Charles with a mix of horror and awe.

Does Earth know youve made this discovery, this breakthrough? I asked.

The Olympians shook their heads. They might suspect, Charles said, but weve kept it very quiet. Only the nine of us, and Ira, have understood how far weve come. And these recent developments the most significant developments theyre no more than six months old.

Cailetet? I asked.

Theyve been led to believe weve made a minor communications breakthrough, after we left them, Charles said Nothing more.

How minor? I asked.

Weve told them we can access descriptors to correlate broadcast communications with states at origin. That is, we can clean hash off radiated signals.

Can you? I asked.

Of course, Charles said. He made me uncomfortable, focusing intently on me with his curious, detached expression. But actually we can do much better than that. We can transit signals across the Solar System instantaneously.

Have you? I asked.

No. Only across Mars, he replied. Of course, we need two devices. None exist on Earth or anywhere else in the Solar System.

What do you expect us to do? Ti Sandra asked.

Leander and Charles spoke together, and Charles deferred to Leander. It was becoming apparent to me that Charles led the group, but that he had chosen Leander as a more mature-looking speaker. That did not stop Charles from interrupting.

Madam President, youre at the head of the first effective government in Martian history, Leander said. Weve been worried for years now that our work would bear fruit in an improper political climate, and would be misused, or that Earth would benefit, and not Mars. In a few more years, perhaps sooner, researchers on Earth will know what we know, and that could be dangerous.

Its dangerous for just Mars to know, I said. If Earth believes we have this power

I agree, Charles said. But we cant just sit on what we know.

Ti Sandra rubbed her large shoulders with crossed hands. Ours is an interim government, she said. We only serve for a few months.

Leander said, We didnt think we could afford to wait any longer.

Charles leaned his head to one side and shook it slowly, then stared at me again. I apologize for the short notice, with no preparation, he said. Casseia, I do not know how to tell you the importance of this. Im no egotistyou know that.

Well, Royce said, smiling, but Leander put his hand on the young mans shoulder.

When you were on Earth, you asked me a question I could not answer. I apologize for that. Maybe now you understand why.

Cailetet couldnt support you, so you turn to us, I said. The words came out more accusing than I intended. You need money.

Actually, were already in a development and applications phase, Leander said. Using a Tharsis Research grant, weve been designing motors for long-range spaceships, standard shuttles or liners refitted. In theory, we could use a few tons of propellant to cross the system in a few weeks, in comfort

Charles held out his hands as if pleading. Thats hardly even a beginning. The implications of what weve learned are immense, he said, still speaking as if only to me. We may not know everything

We most certainly do not, Leander said.

But weve opened the door, Charles finished. Were not telling you this to get funding. Its my duty as a Martian to inform the leaders of the first true Martian government. Having done that, it is up to you to decide where we go, next.

All right, young man, Ti Sandra said. She was not that much older than Charles or I, but her attitude did not seem out of place. You give us the universe on a platter. Am I correct to say that?

Leander started to speak, but Charles took over again, leaving the gray-haired scientist smiling crookedly and lifting his hands in agitation.

We can arrange a demonstration, Charles said. Something small but convincing. We can arrange for vapor clouds in orbit to go off like big sparklers. No damage, not much dangerous radiation, but

Earth might think something peculiar was happening, Leander cautioned.

Ti Sandra released her shoulders and folded her hands in her lap. We dont need a big, obvious demonstration, she said. Id like other scientists to look over your work. We choose the scientists. Then we think about the next step.

We think security is an important consideration, Charles said, and his colleagues nodded emphatically.

Oh, yes, said Chinjia Park Amoy.

Parts of our discovery are very subtle, and we happened to be a little lucky, Charles said. But much of what we know is familiar to scientists on Earth. It might not take them long to work from a few clues

Wont it be better if everybody knows? Ti Sandra asked.

I dont think so, Winkleman said, stepping forward. Earth would use it to force the rest of the Triple to do what it wants.

Couldnt we defend ourselves?

There is no defense, yet, Charles said. Youll need to understand the details to understand why. As a weapon, the uses are truly frightening. Remote conversion of matter to mirror matter No defense.

Where does all this energy come from? Ti Sandra asked brightly, as if a new doubt gave her hope this was all a sham. Youre saying you can violate basic physical laws?

No, Leander said. We just alter the books. Add here, subtract there. It balances.

Mr. Leander, what is your association? Ti Sandra asked.

Im ex-Cailetet as well, he said.

Youve all broken completely with Cailetet?

The group nodded. None of us trusts Achmed Crown Niger, Winkleman said.

Do you need more money? I asked.

Thats up to the government, Charles said. To you.

Not at all, I said. We have no idea what youll need, or what

My voice had started to break. Ti Sandra held my hand and squeezed it. We need time to think. And documents to study. I believe other scientists should be called in to advise us. No demonstrations for the time being. And Im certain my Vice President will agree with me, that you should all be seriously considering the practical applications of your discoveries, and preparing another report.

We have such a report, with detailed plans, Leander said.

Ti Sandra shook her head firmly. Not now, please. I shall have nightmares tonight as it is. Well get back to our duties, to our husbands To our private thoughts. And, she added, to our prayers.

Charles offered his hand, as did the others, and we all shook. Well do nothing without the governments agreement, Winkleman said as he escorted us to the gate, and down the tunnel beyond.

No, Ti Sandra said. You most certainly will not.

Ti Sandra called me into her quarters, the chancellors suite, and offered me a cup of late-evening tea. Her face was gray as she poured. I once had a dream, she said. A beautiful man approached me and dropped a bucket of gold into my lap. I should have been very happy.

And you werent? I asked.

I was terrified. I did not want the responsibility. I told him to take it back. She drew herself up and stared at the chamber. Here, years before, Chancellor Connor had ordered the voiding of students, sparking our protest.

You know Charles Franklin? she asked.

We were lovers, briefly, I said.

Ti Sandra nodded appreciatively at the confidence. I had four lovers before Paul. None of them showed much promise. Charles Franklin must have been something.

He was sweet and enthusiastic, I said.

But you did not love him.

I think I did, I said, but I was very confused.

And if you had lawbonded with him?

He asked, I said.

Oh? Ti Sandra sat on the couch beside me and we sipped our tea in silence for a while. Please tell me these scientists are making bad jokes.

I did not answer.

Madam Vice President, she said, life is becoming a bowl of shit.

Not cherries, I said.

Shit, she repeated emphatically. We are nothing but children, Casseia. We cant possibly handle this much power.

Humans arent ready?

She snorted. I dont speak for humanity. I speak for us for simple Martians. I am terrified what Earth might do if they find out, and what we might do in return

If they

Yes, she said before I finished.

We should look on the bright side, I said.

She ignored that with a toss of her hand and a shiver of her shoulders. And over the years, Charles Franklin never told you? You wrote to him, asked him questions, no?

Once, I said. At my uncles urging. Charles told me he was working on something very important, and that it would, it could cause us a lot of political trouble. What he actually said was that things were not going to get any easier. I thought he was exaggerating.

Should we speak privately with Charles Franklin, or with Stephen Leander?

I think Charles is the one in charge.

Is he wise, Casseia?

I smiled and shook my head. I dont know. He wasnt very wise when we were younger. But then, neither was I.

Cailetets involvement concerns me, Ti Sandra said. I would not put it past Achmed Crown Niger to know more than these scientists say he does. And if he knows, he will use the information. We have pushed him into a corner. He has gotten nowhere on Mars. He is trapped, politically and financially.

We dont have guidelines for keeping government secrets, I said. Whom do we trust?

Trust! I dont even trust myself. Ti Sandra made a sad face. God help us all.

I lay beside Ilya that night, watching him sleep. He almost always slept soundly, like a child; I imagined his head filled with memories of the digs, thoughts of work yet to be done in the sulci I envied him so much it brought tears of childish frustration to my eyes.

We had shared a glass of port and fresh cheese, both made by Erzul families and donated to the new government. He had joked about the infinite privileges of being at the center; I had not reacted, and he had asked why I was so somber. Everything is going well, he had said. You deserve congratulations, all of you.

I tried to smile. The effort was hardly convincing.

Do you mind if I pry a little? he asked, pushing closer to me on the bed.

I shook my head.

Youve heard something upsetting, he said. Something you cant tell me about.

I wish I could, I said fervently. I need advice and wisdom so much.

Is it something dangerous?

I cant even tell you that, I said.

He lay back on the bolster with his hands behind his head. I will be glad when

You have your wife back? I said quickly, fixing him with an accusing glare.

No, Ilya said evenly. Well, yes, actually. He smiled. Trick question. I havent lost you yet.

Yes, I said, unassuaged, but I cant go on digs with you. We seldom spend time together. I wish I was with you all of the time. Im getting sick of meetings and dinners and propaganda and being called the midwife of a New Mars.

Ilya refused to snap back. This angered me even more, and I jumped out of bed, marching back and forth along one short wall of the inn room, raising my fists at the ceiling. God, God, God! I shrieked. I do not want this, I do not need this! I turned on him again, hands outstretched with fingers curled in witchs claws. We had things under control! We could do everything on our own! This only makes things so much worse.

Ilya watched me helplessly. I wish

But you cant

The one-sided rant faded and I slumped by the wall, knees drawn up, staring blankly at a corner of the bed. Ilya kneeled beside me, hand on my shoulder. After, as a kind of apology, I forcefully made love to him. My false performance did not seem sufficient. I held on to him and we talked about the time after the interim governments term had expired.

I wanted to take a teaching position at an independent school, I said, and he reassured me, there would be no end of such appointments. I had only to ask. Midwife to the New Mars, he had said softly. It fits, really. Dont be angry at yourself.

I had watched him fall asleep, thinking of when we would have children, wondering now whether that time would come.

It was easy to imagine what so much power could lead to. Images of Achmed Crown Niger and Freechild Dauble, unwise leaders, memories of forceful, together Earth; how would they feel, knowing youthful, naive, dangerous Mars had such power? Perhaps they already knew, and plans were in place, and there was nothing we could do.

The Olympians erected a small, remote laboratory in Melas Dorsa, using some of their own money and a bit of land donated by Klein BM. Melas Dorsa is moderately cratered land, cut from the south by shallow canyons, and swept by low dunes. There was little water and few resources.

Even on Mars, it was a desert.

I went alone to view the demonstrations. Ti Sandra had an emergency meeting in Elysium to shore up support for the new government among suddenly nervous delegates and a district governor of marginal competence and few brains. She trusted me to be her eyes and ears, but I also sensed she was terrified of what they might show us, of the magnitude of this unexpected and unwanted gift. I was no braver than Ti Sandra, but perhaps I was less imaginative.

Charles and Stephen Leander accompanied me on the shuttle flight from UMS. The shuttle had been marked with government symbolsthe flag and FRM 1 to signify it was carrying VIPs. We were to meet two impartial scientists from Yamaguchi and Erzul, flying separately from Rubicon City, at the Melas Dorsa lab.

There were no trains through Melas Dorsa, no stations within four hundred kilometers of the lab, and Charles warned me there would be few amenities.

I stared at him accusingly. Luxury is not very important to me, certainly not now, I said. Leander sensed the charged atmosphere and conspicuously studied the landscape passing several dozen meters below. The craft flew over a low ridge, then continued its ascent to avoid a chain of diffuse dust devils.

Charles blinked at me, surprised by my tone, then reached for his slate. We have a lot to catch up on.

Ive read your papers, I said. Most of its way beyond me.

Charles nodded. The ideas are simple enough, however.

He drew his lips together and raised an eyebrow. Are you prepared to take some things on trust?