"The sanity of religious ideology can be measured scientifically by its appropriateness as a guide for action in real situations," Rebecca pronounced. "By that measure, she is insane."
McGee shook his head. "No, she's not. Get this through your head, Rebecca: There's room on the sea of thought for more than one sail. You're one of those people always yakking about cultural diversity, but when confronted with the real McCoy, you recoil in horror. Maybe you should have read the Bible at Radcliffe. At least it would've given you some insight into what's going on here."
Rebecca's face turned beet red, and she spoke in a low voice: "Kevin, you can forget about anything happening between us on Earth. We're through."
McGee looked at her sadly. "Yes, I know, and part of me is crushed to hear you say it. Rebecca, in so many ways you're all I've ever hoped for in a woman. But this is where I draw the line."
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence in the cabin, Townsend cleared his throat. "Professor, how you and Dr. Sherman work out your personal problems is your business. But NASA mission regulations and the logic of those who wrote them are very clear."
McGee turned to face the colonel. "Screw the logical mission regulations. We've got something with us here on Mars that overrules them."
"And what might that be?" Townsend asked.
"That!" McGee pointed out the window. Everyone looked. The American flag raised on the day after the landing was visible, still hanging on its telescoping pole, vibrating in the dusty Martian wind. A shock of recognition grew on Townsend's face as the flag reflected in his eyes.
McGee saw comprehension dawn in the commander and pressed his point home. "That, that ‘glorious banner carried by our fathers over the cruel beaches of Normandy' says that she has rights!"
As Townsend glanced down at the flag shoulder-patch that adorned his bomber jacket, Gwen started to sob.
"And as long as it flies here," McGee continued, "that's the law we are going to follow. Mars will be free!"
Luke, however, remained unconvinced. "But what she wants to do makes no sense."
"Yes it does," McGee answered. "She may not understand it consciously, but what she's doing makes perfect sense. In fact, it's the only thing in this whole stupid mission that makes any sense."
Townsend was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Look, Colonel," McGee explained, "we didn't come here to look for pretty rocks, or even to search for evidence of life. We may have fooled ourselves into thinking that's why we came, but it isn't really the reason. Gwen knows—unconsciously perhaps, but she knows."
Townsend leaned back in his chair in exasperation. "Well, since none of us knows, Professor, and the major is not conscious of what she knows, but you are, why don't you enlighten the rest of us?"
"Gwen knows instinctively what I know as a historian. She knows that we came here to conquer a frontier, and that no frontier was ever truly conquered until some woman had the courage to go there, and raise children there."
The commander shook his head. "One woman with a child does not make a colony."
"But one family, with father, mother, and child, does."
Luke exclaimed, "But I'm not staying!"
"But I am," McGee said flatly.
A shocked silence filled the room. Then Gwen burst out crying.
Rebecca was the first to regain her composure. "Kevin, are you mad?"
"No, Rebecca, I'm not mad." McGee's voice carried a new firmness. "It's just that there comes a time when a man has to stand up and put himself behind what he believes. I've spent my whole adult life lecturing people about the importance of opening up new frontiers. I can't go back. I couldn't live with myself if I did."
Gwen looked at him with amazement. "You're willing to spend the rest of your life here with me?" she sniffled.
"Yes," McGee said tenderly, "if you'll have me."
Gwen's eyes were wide. "You'll be my husband?"
"Yes..." McGee smiled. "My princess."
Gwen smiled tenderly in return. "My chieftain," she said softly.
McGee was astonished by the response, and his face showed it.
Seeing his astounded expression, Gwen had to laugh. "Don't look at me like that, you old egghead. You've been talking about those Burroughs' John Carter of Mars books for the past year. Don't you think I'd take the trouble to read them?"
With a new lightness in her step, Gwen skipped over to McGee and landed in his lap. She kissed him warmly on the lips, and then pulled back to smile at him with love in her luminous eyes. McGee could only smile back.
Gwen gently tousled his hair. "My chieftain," she whispered, and kissed him again.
OPHIR PLANUM
DEC. 16, 2012 15:00 MLT
"Are you ready yet, Dr. Sherman?" Townsend called from the galley.
"Just a minute," Rebecca responded from inside the lab. "Okay, you can start now."
The commander looked to McGee, who was standing to his right. "Are you ready, Professor?"
"You bet. Let's do it." McGee seemed nervous. Townsend smiled and pointed to Luke, who stood behind the historian. "Begin."
Luke threw a switch, and music began to play, filling the cabin with the joyful strains of Mendelssohn's Wedding March.
McGee's eyes shifted to watch Gwen make her entrance. She appeared, wearing a white lab coat that had somehow been modified to resemble a wedding dress. Her face was lit up by happiness, and a garland of greenhouse flowers adorned her head. She looks like spring itself, McGee thought.
Rebecca followed her, holding a bouquet. As the two women made their ceremonious advance, McGee marveled at his bride-to-be. What a gem you are, Gwen. Why did it take me so long to see you?
Gwen took another tiny step forward. She could see that the slow timing of her approach to the altar had McGee on edge, so she shot him a mischievous look and answered his objections with a grin that spoke as clearly as telepathy. This girl's only getting married once, and I intend to make the most of it. Relax. I'll get there soon enough.
McGee smiled sheepishly. What a nice smile, Gwen thought. As a little girl, she had secretly hoped that she would meet her Prince Charming someday. Not finding him among the rough types that surrounded her, she'd preferred to make herself one of the boys rather than allow herself to be one of their objects. Then she had met Kevin McGee, so good, so fine, so smart, so light spirited and strong hearted. The more she'd gotten to know him, the more she liked him. It had seemed impossible that the distinguished historian might ever notice a simple country girl like her. Then he had, and showed himself when she'd needed him most.
Back on Earth, it was night in North Carolina. She thought of her family back home. Perhaps they were looking up right now, seeing Mars in the sky.
I'm getting married in the sky, she marveled. This is a marriage made in heaven. She reached the altar, and turned to face McGee.
Townsend began reading.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to..."
CHAPTER 27
OPHIR PLANUM
APRIL 9, 2013 02:12 MLT
IT WAS THE middle of the night at Mars Base 1, and only one member of the crew was awake. Four months had passed since the wedding, allowing plenty of time for research and rethinking. In the solitude of her cabin, Rebecca stared at the medical records displayed on her laptop. Their message was dismal.