The greenhouses were established and working according to plan. This trip inaugurated phase two of the project: melting the enormous polar ice cap of the planet.
There was water on Mars; the first Voyager probes had discovered that. But it was mostly locked up with the carbon-dioxide ice at the poles. Although some minute part existed as water vapor, it was not enough to sustain plant life. By melting the polar ice, it was hoped that enough water vapor might be released to allow the planet to begin rebuilding an earth-type atmosphere. As the amount of oxygen and water vapor in the atmosphere grew, the temperature would stabilize and the mineral-rich soil though dry as desert sand-would perhaps support some varieties of plant life, and later animals and eventually man.
Terraforming was a bold idea that seemed bound to work, given enough time. Packer planned an expedition to the poles to view various sites where nuclear devices might be planted to melt the dry ice. He was anxious that terraforming of Mars be complete within his lifetime. "I want to see my grandchildren romping over the lush, green landscape of Mars," he told his cadets. He was far more taken with this project than with the plasma drive. Still, the first colonies were decades away.
Little red clouds of dust rose from the tramping feet of the cadets as they moved along the trail. By the time they reached the installation, an octopus arrangement of buildings with the central barracks surrounded by the long rows of greenhouses radiating out from the center like arms, everyone was covered with the fine rusty grit. They moved along the translucent shells of the greenhouses and Spence could see flashes of green from within, completely out of keeping with the dullness of their surroundings.
The occupants of two other landing pods had already reached the installation and were pulling tractors with high, wide wheels out of hemispherical sheds. Cadets under the direction of project leaders were heading back to the pods to begin hauling in the provisions. The rest were given chores to do to ready the installation once more for human occupancy. Spence, Adjani, and Packer entered the bomb-shelter entrance of the barracks and made their way through the tube to the air lock and to the installation's nerve center.
Packer took off his helmet and inhaled deeply. "Ahh! Smell that fresh air! It comes from the greenhouses."
Spence took his helmet off as Packer waved his hand over a console set in the wall near the air lock. Lights winked on in a ring around the circular room. Overhead a shield peeled away to allow sunlight to enter and warm the interior of the sunken sphere. "All the conveniences of home," said Packer.
"If your home happens to be Antarctica," quipped Adjani.
"Think of it! In a few years this whole area will be nothing but greenhouses as far as the eye can see. We'll turn this place into a jungle of life-careful, of course, to introduce only the most beneficial of plants and organisms. The place will be a paradise."
"It's too late," said Spence. "You're here already."
"Look what you've done to him, Adjani! He's as bad as you are. Why am I treated like this? What have I done to deserve it?"
He broke off his wounded-elephant act to direct them around the cavernous interior of the living unit. "Come on, I'll show you where to hang your hats."
Spence glanced at the wall console where a crimson signal had bloomed in one corner. "Does that red light mean anything?
"What's that? Oh, that one. It's a meteorological signal. Must be a special weather report coming in." He keyed a code on the console's pad. The data screen lit up green and began scrolling sentences.
"There's a Simoom blowing up near the equator. It could reach us by tomorrow morning. We'll have to stay inside a few days at least and keep the shields up."
"A Simoom?"
"A storm-wind and sand. A sandstorm such as you've never seen before. It's like a gigantic sandblaster. Winds up to four hundred and eighty kilometers an hour. If anyone were to wander out there in that-why, you'd be erased in seconds! Provided you weren't blown clean away first."
"Incredible," said Adjani. He looked around at the superstructure of the building.
"Don't worry," laughed Packer. "These structure are windtunnel tested and the shields can withstand anything short of a direct nuclear attack. We're safe enough inside. We just have to stay undercover until it blows itself out." …
BY NIGHT FALL ALL THE provisions and equipment frames were stored away and the barracks hummed with life; the interior of the dome resembled an ant colony. They ate a common meal and then split off into their work groups to begin mapping out the tasks for the following days. Spence and Adjani, without any direct assignment, stole away to the director's lounge to relax and talk.
Spence noticed that Adjani had stuck close to him since they landed and even now regarded him with a watchful eye.
"Do you think the Dream Thief will try something tonight?" he asked as Adjani came to stand beside him. He gazed down at a holographic map of the Martian landscape encompassing the region thirty kilometers in a circle around the installation.
"I was thinking how great the mountain is-Olympus Mons. Twice the size of Everest. Why? Do you feel something?"
"No, but you've been my shadow ever since we landed; I wondered if there was a reason."
Spence recalled the conversation between them and the plan they had agreed upon. He was to alert Adjani the moment he felt anything at all peculiar beginning to happen to him. Adjani would then take whatever steps were necessary to prevent Spence from doing any bodily injury to himself. It was a simple plan, but it would have to do until they returned to Gotham to begin tracking down the cause of Spence's troubles.
Adjani gazed down at the holomap. "Sinai-the desert of Moses. Here we are, wanderers in an alien wilderness, searching for a home in a foreign land. History repeats itself once more, eh?"
"I wonder if this place has a god, too?"
"Spence-" Adjani turned a solemn face to him. "You asked me if I thought the Dream Thief would come again tonight. The answer is yes, I do think so. He has left you alone during the trip, but I think it likely he will try to reach you. We must presume he will try tonight."
It was true, Spence had not been bothered by the dreams or blackouts since leaving Gotham. He had begun to feel that by leaving he had escaped altogether. Adjani's mention of trouble struck a raw nerve.
"You don't think I'm safe even here?"
"No, my friend. You will not be safe until the Dream Thief is stopped."
"At least you Believe he con be stopped. I was never so certain."
"Of course he can be stopped. But we must keep you safe until we find the way. And remember, if I am right in my assumptions yours is not the only life in danger. Others may depend on what happens to you. We must keep you safe."
23
… SPENCE STUMBLED DOGGEDLY ACROSS a rocky, alien landscape. Over his shoulder Deimos, a beautiful, serene blue-white globe, rose full in the black sky. Spence winced in pain as needlelike shards of tiny cinders sliced the flesh from his knees. Blood bubbled from the minute tear in his surface suit.
He shivered and wrapped his arms across his chest for warmth. Staring down at his feet he saw that he stood on a barren ledge of rock, red in the glow of the rising sun. Around him lay diamonds glittering with an icy glare. With a shock he realized that they were his tears, frozen where they had fallen upon the bare rock. He raised his hands, replaced his helmet once more, and continued walking.