This is the sixth blog where I will be sharing chapters from my next book. Read the previous chapters here.

My second book in the Outbound series follows Virgil since his adventures in book one, Outbound: Islands In The Void. I will be releasing parts of my next science-fiction novel in draft form hoping to get some feedback from interested readers. You are always welcome to offer comments at: richard@richardandersonauthor.com. 

The supervisor’s station had a small kitchen. In the early afternoon, he realized he hadn’t eaten yet and found a small patio with chairs and a table in the station. There was also a small refrigerator but save for water, it was empty. He pulled a tube from his surface suit labeled ‘Steak Fajitas’ but didn’t bother reading the ingredients. There were no plates or utensils, so he squeezed it directly into his mouth.

“I won’t say ‘I told you so’ about asking you to carry those food tubes with you.”

“Yeah, thanks but you already did. I admit, it didn’t taste bad, and it seems to be sating my hunger.”

After his brief meal, Virgil left the patio and went back to the supervisor’s control station. He continued watching the construction process. Some of the printed column forms had begun to harden. Other robots moved quickly into position and inserted steel cages shaped to fit the contours of the columns inside the surface. The printing tractors moved on to print the forms for the next columns. The insertion of the steel cages triggered the next step.

Pumping trucks approached and filled the void with concrete. Though the columns were massive, they were completed with precision. The tops of each column were perfectly in line with those before it and on grade. The eventual train cars would provide a smooth ride on these tracks. The elevation of the track bed minimized disrupting the surface of Valles Marineris. And on the surface of Mars, the elevated tracks would gracefully glide over the uneven rock-strewn surface. Elevated tracks would also not disturb the toxic regolith below as the future train passed at high speed. Dust storms would not bury the tracks. 

Virgil had yet to see how the columns were bridged. He walked back toward the beginning of the rail project. There other robots were installing the steel beams, mesh, electrical and optical cable connections that spanned the columns. They were followed by ‘form and pour’ tractors that completed the span. Eight tractors each supported a form that telescoped out to span the distance between the columns. The form span, once filled was held in place until sufficiently cured before its tractor moved to the span ahead of the lead tractor. In that way the tractors played ‘leapfrog’ with each other and the rail platform continued to lengthen. 

There was a service ladder built into each column. Virgil climbed to the top of a completed span. The track was being laid on one side, leaving room for a second track on the other side. He assumed that the track would be laid at a future date. Now the impetus was to move the track out onto the regolith as soon as possible and as far as possible. The train’s primary use would be hauling loads of mined regolith to crushing and smelting facilities. 

Construction of the Valles Marineris project depended on developing huge amounts of raw materials. After watching and timing this activity for a couple of hours, Virgil estimated the machines could complete up to two kilometers of track a day on relatively even surface regolith. This pace would greatly increase when the Phoebus Train was completed.  Construction robots, supplies, and water tankers could easily be freighted to the rail head and back as needed. The heavy construction tractors would be kept in constant supply of materials no matter how far afield the railhead was.

***

The rail construction site was near the western end of the enclosed portion of Valles Marineris. Virgil had completed his observation of the railbed construction process and now turned his attention to the east. He wanted to travel the present length of the enclosed space, which at this time was about the same as its width, ten kilometers. That would be a task for the next day. He stood on his elevated position on the rail platform and surveyed the terrain to the east with his enhancement binoculars. There was an unusual-looking rock perched on the top edge of an escarpment. It was not far from his destination at the east end. That would be his target for the next day. He climbed down from the rail platform to the valley floor. 

It was getting late, and he felt hungry. The meager lunch had, among other shortcomings not been calorie-dense. There was an oasis almost a kilometer from his present location. Virgil hoped its kitchen was more completely stocked than the one he had visited for lunch. He looked forward to having what he hoped was a decent dinner and a shower that evening. Thankfully the next oasis did not disappoint. It was fully stocked with fresh frozen entrees, fruit and vegetables. The frozen fruit could be quickly made into smoothies. And there was a collection of wines. He savored dinner as if he were back at the Armenian restaurant at the NASA Administration Hotel.

The next morning after a relatively sumptuous breakfast, he surveyed the land ahead, giving it more scrutiny than he had the night before. The regolith on the escarpment had not been treated. The huge rock looked to be perched right at the edge of the steep face of the escarpment. His binoculars put the distance at 7.35 kilometers. It was a very reasonable objective for the day. He began slowly making his way down the slope he had climbed the day before but in a different place. The ground was unstable, and he continually started small rockslides. Because there was an Earth-like atmosphere within the enclosure tiny dust particles rose and floated in the air from the disturbance. He closed his visor before sensors on his suit detected the toxic dust which stayed suspended for many minutes before settling to the surface. 

This was the beginning of Virgil’s third day in the Valles Marineris enclosure. It would be his longest hike, but he would follow the decontaminated central wash plane avoiding more difficult and mostly untreated ground on each side. At midday, he found an oasis and took the opportunity to vacuum his surface suit and use the sanitary facilities. He shaved and took a shower as he wanted to take all precautions against contamination. It felt good to be clean and out of the surface suit. The kitchen was very limited at this oasis and contained only dehydrated foods. It was a definite downgrade from his last two meals. Virgil boiled water to rehydrate a cup of chili. A kitchen robot at this station, had it been present would be little help.

But there was a pleasant surprise. This kitchen also had a small wine cellar. Apparently, wine was a priority food in these oases. He poured a large glass of cabernet. Its color was remarkedly intense, and he was pleased with its subtle Marineris Valley terroir. Perhaps he should think of it as a mirror. That was something for him to consider later. After a second glass of the wine, he tilted the reclining chair back and took a short nap before resuming his trek. The rest of the distance to the mystery rock could be covered on decontaminated dirt and he briefly considered not wearing his surface suit but reluctantly put it on at Ofelia’s insistence. 

“The helmet too. You can leave the visor up.”

He didn’t bother responding to Ofelia. She always had his interests at heart as they invariably were also her best interests. Still, she could be irritating with what Virgil perceived as controlling behavior. He didn’t need a mother hen. Putting his irritation aside he started out. The effects of the wine were more than he had anticipated, and his progress was slow. After two hours of walking, however, the rock did appear a lot closer and larger than he had imagined. It still took another hour before he arrived at the oasis closest to the massive rock. Once there, he saw it had a small deck with tables and chairs. The location provided a good view of the rock. He sat in a recliner and studied it again with his enhancement binoculars. From this perspective, the rock’s position looked more precarious than he had first observed. It appeared the regolith near its base showed signs of recent movement.

“I think I’ll rest a bit then climb to the top. I’ll eat when I come back down,” Virgil said.

 “I’ve connected with the Oasis computer. It looks like a good place to camp. They do have a full kitchen,” Ofelia said.

“Is it more exciting than lunch?”

“I’m going through the inventory now. There is a selection of frozen foods that looks inviting.”

“I weep with joy. But I think I’ll eat after my climb.”

“Listen, Virgil! You need to rest, hydrate, and eat before you attempt that climb. I still feel the effects of wine indulgence at lunch. Rest and eat the food here. These oasis kitchens seem to be inconsistently stocked. I believe the last people working here were focused on the celebrations to come. They apparently didn’t send the inventory lists for restocking before they left.” 

“Or they sent them up and everyone was already celebrating and didn’t send anything down. Alright, but now I’m beginning to think about the menu back at the hotel.” Virgil felt his mouth suddenly watering. He got up from his recliner walked to the freezer Locker and opened it.

“In another four days, you will again be eating the food in the hotel restaurant my dear. Just power through the misery.”

“There’s not a lot here, but look, there’s frozen cioppino in a bowl complete with heating instructions,” Virgil said.

“My favorite. Be still my heart.”

Virgil placed the bowl in the oven. His dinner was a vegan version of white fish, various shellfish, scallops, and prawns. He believed the tomato base with garlic, peppers, and capers were naturally grown. Under a selection of frozen sandwiches, he found a baguette and his meal was blissfully complete. The mini wine cellar was almost filled. Apparently, the minimum wine inventories were set unusually high to trigger restocking robots. He guessed the workers could tolerate shortages of other foods, but the wine was indispensable. He opened a bottle and poured a glass. The cioppino turned out to be quite good and he savored it between sips of a very dry French-style rose.

Recharged from the dinner but not wanting to overly indulge Virgil left his half-empty glass on the table for later and surveyed the escarpment face for the best route to the top with his enhanced binoculars. He carefully examined the stability of its slope. It would not be an easy climb. The readings placed the top of the escarpment a hundred and two meters above the valley floor. The climb would be exhausting. He hoped the regolith was more stable than the cone he’d attempted to climb. This time there would be no reward if he failed to reach the top and obtain a sample of the mysterious rock.

Virgil began his accent at 1745 hours. He tentatively tested the slope with his foot. It seemed solid enough.

“You’re sure you want to do this Virgil? I have a bad feeling about the slope’s stability. There are robots that could collect a specimen for you later,” Ofelia spoke in his mind.

“It’s a tough climb Ofelia, but what can happen? If I fall, I’ll roll down here to the bottom. At two-fifths gravity, I don’t think my impact at the bottom would be serious.”

“Virgil! I must insist. Don’t make that climb. I have a say in this as I am part of you.”

Virgil ignored Ofelia not because she was wrong, but because he felt her too controlling. He started to climb the slope. After climbing about ten meters up the slope a debilitating pain seared through his head. He fell to his knees.

“Dammit Ofelia! That blow was below the belt!”

“I suppose it was. But only because your head is up your ass. Come back down and your headache will disappear.”

Virgil sat down. “Look, Ofelia… usually I’m afraid to take any risks. I’m considered by others to be too timid when confronted by physical challenges. But I am really interested in that rock. I am fighting my fear to complete this climb. It’s something I must do now before I lose my resolve.”

“You think I am overbearing?”

“Yes!… Please support me in this.”

“You know me as a compassionate person. Please continue your climb. You know your best interests are mine as well,” Ofelia said in his mind.

Despite that affirmation of his wishes, Virgil now wondered if this quest was a good idea. Ofelia was right to be concerned. But he got up and continued. The climb was difficult and took more than an hour. In places, the regolith was so loose that he slipped back and was reduced to crawling on all fours until he reached a more stable area. But he finally reached the summit and stood beside the massive rock. On inspection, it seemed to be mostly of nickel and iron ore. So, he concluded the rock must have come from the Asteroid Belt. Perhaps an inner fragment of a planetesimal shattered a long time ago.

To stop at the very edge of this precipice it must have impacted some distance away, bounced, and rolled with just enough kinetic energy to come to rest at the edge. Quite remarkable. Or perhaps the escarpment, formed by plate tectonics, happened after the meteorite had settled in that place. He stood there for several minutes until his breathing slowed down. Once he caught his breath Virgil removed a rock drill from the tool kit on his waste belt and a sample container from a clip. He then ground and chipped some small pieces from the rock.

The whole process took about fifteen minutes. Leaning against the rock he scanned the view, all 3600 of it. In his imagination, it was filled with meadows and streams, lakes, parks and small forests, orchards and vineyards, birds, butterflies and small animals, and dwellings that didn’t intrude on the beautiful landscape. It was an inspirational vision he hoped one day would be a reality.

Rested, his mission completed he now turned his thoughts to setting up camp in the oasis below and reviewing some technical papers before falling asleep. He slowly started down the slope. But his reflexes were out of sync with the low gravity on Mars. He started down stumbling and slipping, soon causing a rockslide. He moved across the slope trying to stay in control. It wasn’t to be. He tripped forward and tumbled to the bottom of the steep slope.

At the bottom, Virgil, uninjured stood once again, but a rockslide followed with a vengeance knocking him down. The slide undermined the support under the large meteorite. He felt the pounding as the huge stone began crashing and bouncing toward him. He lost his footing and fell, then rolled to the side. The huge rock brushed past him smashing into the flat surface at the bottom of the hill. There it broke through the thin top of a lava tube and fell out of sight followed by most of the rockslide.