Chapter 25
'You guys look happier.'
'We hit a sweet spot, Andy,' said Mitchum. 'Pure luck. Debbie found a high point of the water reservoir, that would take us roughly central to the deeper part of the cavern. And our good fortune was that it was just dirt and small stones all the way. Like a knife through butter.'
'You broke through?'
'About an hour ago. All we need to do now is to connect the delivery pipe, and we only have to connect it to the existing pipe, flush it all out with the fresher water, test it and job done. If it works as well as we hope it does, the need to change filters should be an annual job. Cheers.'
They all raised their glasses. The sweeter wine was becoming more acceptable with each sip.
'So, we'll be taking off for Earth soon?' Foreman asked.
'I haven't decided,' said Mitchum.
'Why the hell not?' asked Hancock.
'Have you told them?' said Foreman.
'What's going on, Mike?' asked Susan.
'I've been putting it off telling you. There's no easy way of saying it, so I'll just tell it how it is. Andy's ship was sabotaged. It was brought down with a small explosive charge being planted in the controls.'
'What?' gasped Debbie. 'Are you sure?'
'I saw the hole the explosion made. Nothing else could have done it. Andy told me there was a small explosion just before the ship crashed.'
'But that's murder,' said Giavani.
'Correct,' agreed Mitchum.
'I think, and Mike agrees with me,' said Foreman, 'That the ones responsible have some plan involving Mars.'
'And they could possibly be heading our way to do what ever it is they plan to do,' added Mitchum.
'And you only decide to tell us now?' said Susan.
'Andy and I have been trying to contact Earth and send for help, or at least find out what the hell is going on.'
'And...?' Hancock demanded.
'We still can't get through. Those solar winds must still screwing up the radio signals.'
'There's something else you should know,' said Foreman. 'Just before I contacted your ship, I got through to Earth. A cadet named Farley answered. They were in the middle of evacuating the I S F base. I heard an explosion, and then nothing. I've not been able to reach Earth since.'
They sat in silence contemplating all that information and its ramifications.
'So what is it?' Giavani asked. 'Some weird revolution? Something that involves Mars, too?'
Mitchum said, 'Pete. You now know as much as Andy and I. Sorry. I should have told you sooner.'
'Damn right you should,' snapped Susan.
Joe Hancock said, 'My guess is if they come here, they'll come armed. What do we do? Throw rocks at them?'
'I have my gun,' said Mitchum. 'Just the regulation type I S F insist the commander carries. There are no weapons on this base. I'd be the first to fight to the death, but with nothing really to fight with, I don't fancy committing suicide by taking them on.'
'Me neither,' said Debbie.
Giavani said, 'Could we just take off and get the hell out of here? Take Andy with us?'
'It crossed my mind,' said Mitchum. 'The problem is, they would hunt us down and the Moonstruck is unarmed, like us. Also. Where would we go? We could be walking right into an even worse situation on Earth.'
'I propose we stay and fight,' said Giavani. 'We have equipment and a few explosives of our own. As the engineer, I could make something useful.'
'Okay. You and Joe see what you can come up with. In the meantime, the rest of us will finish the water connections. Andy. Can you keep trying to call Earth?'
Foreman nodded. 'I'd be doing that, anyway.'
'I could sure use a smoke right now,' said Susan.
'The pool and a smoke might help us think this out,' said Mike.