Chapter 21
True to his word, Mitchum took his crew to the drill site and returned with the buggy for Foreman. For once, Foreman left Monkley back at the base, putting him in charge of the laundry. The little guy seemed a little put out, but knuckled down to the task. With Mitchum driving, Foreman navigated to the crash site.
'That's one hell of a mess, Andy.'
'They were dead from the impact, before the fire.'
'That's something to be thankful for I guess.'
'Come inside. See what you make of this.'
They opened the airlock door and climbed inside the wreck.
'Shit! You didn't bury them?'
'I thought about it, but the way the sand moves about, they would have soon been uncovered. I figured this way, if anyone wanted to locate the bodies, maybe take them back to Earth, they could be easy to find like this.'
'I suppose. Sorry. I wasn't having a go. It was just a bit of a shock seeing them like this.'
'Yes. It still is for me. Take a look at this.'
Mitchum knelt down to see what Andy was pointing at.
'That isn't good. It looks like some small explosive device was planted. Andy. This is murder.'
Foreman nodded solemnly. 'That's what I thought. I just wanted a second opinion.'
'I don't see what else it could be.'
'There was a bang. Not loud. I was in the back, securing Monkley. I was about to join the others to buckle up for the landing, but before I could get out of there, we dropped like a stone. When I got free, they were dead, and fire was breaking out all over the place. Me and Monkley only just got out in time.'
Mitchum stared at the three charred remains. 'Mind if we get out of here?'
Foreman led the way, and Mitchum noticed 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 asking the same questions. Mike. There's something else. Something that could be connected.'
'What?'
'Ever since I got here, I've been trying to contact Earth. I couldn't reach them.'
'Those damn solar winds.'
'I know that now. I did get through, just briefly. I got hold of a cadet?'
'A cadet? What the hell was a cadet doing in the com room?'
'There was some bad shit going down. Farley, Cadet Farley, just happened to be passing the unmanned Com room, and heard my transmission. He said they were evacuating the I S F base. Then I heard an explosion, and I haven't been able to contact Earth since. The only other contact has been with you.'
'Damn. I had no idea. We put the lack 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 a deliberate act...'
'No doubt in my mind.'
'Then, it must be something to do with Mars. Do you think we're in danger?'
Mitchum stared at the ship. 'I wouldn't be surprised.'