Losing Mars (Saving Mars Series-3) (20 page)

Jessamyn felt his warm breath on her face. “No, I really, really don’t,” she murmured. “I do not worry nearly enough—”

Pavel placed his lips over hers, cutting off her response. He smelled clean and fresh, like the desert at dawn. Jessamyn felt her eyes closing as she leaned into the kiss, warm and tender and—“No,” she said, pulling away. “Fix things now. Kiss later.”

Pavel chuckled and ran the backside of his hand over his mouth. “Fair enough.”

They assessed the oxygen tanks next. Finding everything in working order, they began going down a list of Pavel’s creation, system by system. By day’s end, Pavel and Jessamyn had a very long list of parts that ought to be cleaned or retooled or replaced.

“So, lots to do before Earth catches back up to Mars, eh?” asked Pavel.

“Mmm-hmm,” agreed Jessamyn. “We’d better get back for rations—I mean, for dinner.”

“Look at you, learning to speak like a proper Terran,” joked Pavel.

Jess scowled. “The ‘proper’ in your sentence is disputable. I’m only doing it so I don’t confuse people here.”

“We’re late anyway,” said Pavel. “What do you say to kissing now, rations later?”

A smile returned to Jessamyn’s face. “I could be talked into that. Possibly.”

“I didn’t plan to
talk
you into anything,” said Pavel, closing the space between them.

The demands of the stomach, however, soon trumped the demands of the flesh, and Pavel murmured that they should probably head back to the Gopher Hole.

“Wimp,” Jess whispered. “You have no idea how to go hungry.”

“Guilty,” admitted Pavel, stealing another kiss.

“There’s something you could learn from your friend Renard.”

“What?” asked Pavel, a flicker of something uneasy in his gaze.

“How to go hungry, that’s all.” Jess kissed him again. “You’d make a lousy Marsian.”

Pavel pulled back several inches, a look of concern on his face. “Don’t say that, Jess.”

“You would,” she said, laughing lightly.

Pavel’s dark eyes looked into hers. “You know I want to go to Mars.”

Jessamyn felt a warmth spreading outward from her belly. “I hoped you still did,” she said softly.

“When you go back, I’m going too.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want? It’s a hard life. You can’t even go outside without a helmet—”

“So take me and I’ll do whatever I can to move terraforming along a little quicker.”

Jess laughed. “Oh, Pavel … I am trying … trying to be happy here,” she said softly.

“It’s not your world,” said Pavel. “You’d never be truly happy here. We go and we go together.”

“Deal,” she said.

The two began their walk back home.

He smiled. “You can put in a good word for me. I hear you’re tight with the Secretary General.”

A cloud passed across Jessamyn’s mind. “I hadn’t thought about what MCC might say about you showing up. But they can hardly tell you to get back in the ship and go home once you’re there. Plus, you’re a doctor.”

“Well, not officially.”

“Your abilities to treat patients will still count in your favor.”

Pavel’s capacity as a doctor was much under discussion when the two returned. Brian, Harpreet, and Ethan sat around the rations table enjoying easy conversation.

“Pavel,” said Harpreet. “Jessamyn. Welcome back. Your name has been upon our lips, young man. It seems the pregnant women of Yucca regards you as Gran’s successor when it comes to the delivery of babies,” Harpreet said to Pavel.

Pavel frowned as he drank his medicinal tea for the evening. “Yeah,” he said. “I can’t tell that she ever did much in the way of midwifery, but the women here don’t like giving birth without her. Rather, they
won’t
like it, now that she’s gone.”

Jessamyn shook her head. “Women have been delivering babies on their own for a bazillion annums.”

“I hope I didn’t speak out of turn, Pavel,” said Harpreet, “But when I offered to take Gran’s place, Margareth and Zoe both said they’d prefer you, and I said I thought you’d be honored.”

“Oh,” said Pavel. “Sure.”

“What is with all the women of Yucca having their babies in the same month?” asked Jessamyn.

“That is easily explained,” said Ethan. “The enclave of Yucca placed a ban upon new births for several years. That ban was lifted some nine and one-half months ago.”

“A ban?” asked Jess.

“Yuccans keep careful accounting as to how many mouths can be fed and watered,” explained her brother. “It is truly extraordinary that we have been allowed to live here for this length of time.”

“Not so extraordinary when you look at how many water-creds you earned by those alterations to water reclamation,” said Pavel. “They didn’t so much as blink when Jess joined us. And I don’t think Kip would’ve tipped the scales either. You picked up, what, ten years of water rights for five? That’s still, like, nine years for six of us.”

“Eight years and four months,” Ethan said, correcting Pavel.

“I’m not staying here eight years,” mumbled Jessamyn.

“How are things going with that bonnie new ship?” asked Brian Wallace as he moved from the table to a corner of the couch where he liked to drowse in the evenings. “If I may ask, that is.”

Jessamyn shrugged. “Your cousin gave me a ship that’s going to cost a fortune to get space-worthy.”

Brian straightened himself, chuckling softly. “Ye want to have all the details gone through with a very fine-toothed comb when it comes to me cousin Cam,” he said.

“Apparently,” said Jess. Then, more brightly, she added, “But she’s a beauty, Brian. A real beauty.”

“Well, if ye’ll allow it,” said Brian, “I’d like to apply to finance the repairs and such to the
Red Hope
.”

“Brian Wallace has declared his wish to join us upon a return mission,” said Ethan. “Well, those of us choosing to return. He wishes to offer his services as an ambassador to Mars, representing the interests of Clan Wallace.”

“You do?” asked Jess in surprise. “You want to go to Mars?”

Brian shrugged. “I’d like to get away from Lucca Brezhnaya. I’ve no objection to traveling a hundred million kilometers in pursuit of that goal. And Harpreet’s made me half in love with the place already, with her tales of harmonious living and such.”

Jessamyn grunted. “Things aren’t exactly harmonious at the moment,” she said.

“All the more reason for me to make sure there’s a proper representative on hand, then, to see the interests of Clan Wallace are upheld,” said Brian.

“Cameron put you up to this, didn’t she?” asked Jessamyn, her brows pulling together.

“She might have provided some motivation for me to join yer next voyage, aye,” replied Brian. “But I’d half a mind already to ask for a lift before she said anything to me.”

Jessamyn shrugged. “I’m not objecting.” She felt relieved that she would be able to share the burden of bargaining for Clan Wallace’s interests. Of course, Cameron may have simply taken to heart the odds of her success if Jess had to plead from prison.

Kazuko Zaifa came running down the stairs and into the dwelling. “Oh, good, you’re both back,” she said. Addressing Jessamyn, she said, “The Shirff wants to know if you can fly the Thursday supply run to Baja California because Renard is still on his … journey or whatever it’s called.”

Jess turned to Pavel, mouthing the words, “Come with me?”

Pavel smiled back at her, nodding
yes
.

But Kazuko had a message for Pavel as well. “You’re wanted at Margareth’s—she’s not certain if she’s in labor or not.”

“How can she not know?” asked Jessamyn, frowning in disappointment.

Harpreet laughed.

“Of course,” said Pavel. “If you’ll all excuse me?”

Jess trailed him to his room and up the stairs. “I could pick up some parts for the
Red Hope
while I’m out,” she said.

“I was thinking about that,” said Pavel. “But we’re in no real hurry, and we got lots done today. Maybe it would be better if we waited for the situation with tellurium to settle. I’m still worried our transactions were being traced back in Chicago.”

“Oh,” said Jessamyn. She felt several arguments rising to the surface but reasoned that if she were truly turning a new, more
cautious
leaf, she should probably consider what Pavel suggested.

They had reached the top of the stairs.

“You could come with me now,” said Pavel. “Birth is amazing.”

Jess blanched. “No, thanks. I’m good. Besides, I’ll be getting up to fly in just a few hours if I’m going to stick to Renard’s schedule.”

“Goodbye, then,” said Pavel, grabbing a quick kiss.

Jess hollered after Pavel, “I suppose permission to use Renard’s vehicle is implied in this job?”

“I’d say it is,” answered Pavel. “Just bring it back in one piece.”

Jess flushed as Pavel’s laughter echoed across the desert.

“I’m perfectly capable of doing a quick supply run without incident,” she muttered as she walked back to grab a few hours’ rest.

34

INTELLIGENCE

Gaspar had an uneasy feeling as he walked toward the desert settlement in Renard’s body. It was a feeling he’d tried to talk himself out of several times already. He wasn’t worried about his ability to portray Renard. He’d had ample opportunities to view the young man both in person and on recordings he’d captured. And the body not only fit him well, it felt excellent.

He needn’t have requested a drop-off so close to town after all, he admitted to himself. But after the strain of walking across the desert last time in the old woman’s body, Gaspar had located a nearer place from which to make his walk back to Yucca.

No, his concerns had nothing to do with his portrayal of Renard. What was it then, that sent butterflies fluttering in his stomach and made him clench his hands and press his fingers against his palms—a habit of
Gaspar’s
which he needed to drop in moments—
what was it
?

Gaspar had learned through the years to listen when his sixth sense told him to beware. Very well, he would be extremely wary. He would complain of heat exhaustion, to start with. That ought to keep anyone from worrying about odd behavior should he portray Renard less than perfectly.

He felt his lips draw thin in reaction to the thought of imperfection. “You are Gaspar Bonaparte,” he told himself. “You will
not
slip up.” The words came out a perfect match to Renard’s own vocal rhythms. Everything would be fine. It was probably something left over in Renard’s digestive tract that was upsetting him now.

He saw the first dwelling-hummock which informed him Yucca was near. Recalling his last conversation with Lucca, he listed out his priorities, eager to make good on the trust she’d bestowed. Eager to prove that, as she believed, intelligence of the
highest
quality was gathered without force ever being applied. He arranged his features into a smile, squinting as sunlight reflected off something to his left, nearly blinding him. He glanced over, unable to remember anything that ought to be throwing back sunlight on
that
side of Yucca.

What he saw made him stop in his tracks and then turn, running toward the source of the reflected brightness. What he saw ought to have been impossible. How did anyone in Yucca manage to source an interplanetary vehicle in the handful of days since he’d left and returned?

35

NEVER REALLY KNOW

Pavel was awakened by a very excited Renard.

“Wake up! Wake up!” Renard pulled the thin coverlet off of Pavel. “Now! Wake up!”

Pavel, accustomed to middle-of-the-night wake up calls for small emergencies, was on his feet in seconds. “What’s the nature of the emergency?” He words slurred slightly as groped for his med kit, slipped feet into shoes.

Renard replied, “There’s no emergency, but there’s something you’ve got to see!”

Pavel sank back down onto the bed. “Later.” He snatched the bed cover from off the floor and grunted at Renard: “You. Out of my room. Now.” Pavel had been up until three in the morning before deciding Margareth’s baby was not coming any time soon.

Renard sighed loudly. “Fine. I’ll ask Jessamyn, then.”

That got Pavel’s attention. He unburied his face from his pillow. “Ask Jessamyn
what
?”

“There’s an M-class ship hidden in a crater at the edge of town,” said Renard. “Don’t you think that’s worth getting up for?”

“Didn’t you see it before?” Pavel ran his hands through his hair, trying to remember. “Oh, no. You didn’t. You took off.”

“And I’m back now. So do you mind telling me what that ship is doing here?” asked Renard, sharply.

Pavel shoved his hair out of his eyes. “I need a haircut.”

“I’m not a barber,” snapped Renard. “Come on. Let’s get Jess up. I want you guys to tell me everything.”

Pavel shrugged. “Jess is gone. You forget what day it is today?”

Renard looked puzzled for a moment. “I might’ve gotten a bit overheated out there,” he said at last. “What day is it?”

“Thursday,” said Pavel. “Jess is doing your Baja run. For supplies.”

“Huh,” said Renard. “Thursday already? Maybe I got more sun than I thought. Yeah, I guess someone had to do that run for me, didn’t they?”

“Don’t worry,” said Pavel. “She’ll bring your ship back safe and sound.” Rising, he crossed to the living area and downed a morning cup of tea, wiping the sides of his mouth with his shirtsleeve.

“Let’s check your hydration levels, okay?” asked Pavel. “Just to be safe.”

“Yeah, sure.” Renard extended his arm and Pavel took a few quick measurements.

“You’re down half a liter, man,” he reported back.

Renard gave a characteristic grunt.

“You know better, Renard. See you get over to the Shirff about an extra ration. You need to sip slowly—”

“I know, I know,” said Renard. “City-boy.”

Pavel grinned at the nickname Renard never grew tired of applying. “I’ll take you out to see Jess’s new ride
after
you’ve had a rest and downed at least a liter. Fair enough?”

Renard seemed about to protest, but then he shrugged and turned to go. At the foot of the stairs, he looked back to Pavel. “You’re sure she’s coming right back?”