“That's the idea. Unfortunately we don't have enough materials,” Mario answered. He patted Wanda as he finished his massage.
She looked up and smiled at him. “My hero,” she said with a smile.
“Awe shucks ma'am twernt nothin,” Mario answered.
Wanda chuckled. “Stick to Italian you greasy meatball. Disney has the rights to Goofy remember?” she teased. The others laughed. Mario shook his head. So much for the western cowboy approach he thought wryly.
“I brought along a pipe maker and the plans to modify the brick maker,” Luigi said as the chuckles ended. The group sobered and stared at Luigi.
Mario gave him a look. “Doesn't amount to a hill of beans without supporting structure. We need rebar inside to make it work. The duracrete is great under compression, but sucks for tensile stress,” he waved dismissively.
Luigi sighed. “Yeah, and we can do a couple pounds of steel wire a month. At that rate it will be decades to make enough to do a pipeline. What about plastic?” he asked.
Mario grimaced and shook his head. “Not nearly enough. I think we need to hit Doc Zubrin up, see if he can ship out a hose or two we can use. Maybe some pumps. We can lay it on the surface then bury it with loose soil,” Mario said sitting down next to Wanda.
Luigi rubbed his chin. Betsy got up and got herself a drink. “Yeah. May have to go that route,” he finally sighed.
“Wanda are there any other water deposits closer?” Betsy asked hugging her mug with both hands as she took a sip. She looked at her sister in law as she shook her head.
“No, we double checked with the ground penetrating radar last year. The two k spot is the closest,” she replied.
“What if we combine the three ideas?” Joyce asked slowly.
“Combine them?” Mario asked looking at her.
“Well, you have what, three flats of left over bricks, plus that new form, if we also made some plastic ones...” She shrugged. Mario shook his head. “Messy. We would get maybe a couple hundred meters,” he answered. Luigi shook his head then started to brighten.
“I think he just got an idea, his light bulb just went on,” Betsy observed dryly.
Luigi smiled. “Yeah, what about if we make a water truck?” He looked over to Mario who started to smile.
“You mean use the wheels from the habs, some of the suspension, make a fiberglass hull... crap we might be able to snag a tank from the industrial plant if that doesn't work...” He started to look thoughtful.
“Yeah, it's better than nothing I guess,” Joyce answered as the silence started to get awkward. Mario chuckled.
“Since Wanda is going on this next road trip, do you want to give me a hand with the design?” Mario asked Luigi.
Luigi chuckled. “Let’s try the fiberglass out on that airship first. We don't have an autoclave big enough, so maybe recycling a tank is better...” He smiled as they left the others behind. Toshi looked around.
“Well, it's something I guess,” Wanda sighed.
...*...*...*...*...
Tess sighed as Mario sat back. "Whatcha doin hon?" Wanda came in and kissed him on the cheek.
He chuckled. "I'd hug you but..." He held up resin covered hands.
She grimaced and shook her head firmly no. "No thanks, I don't need that on me; this is my last good uniform." Which was true. They were all looking a little worn. She'd have to get onto Mario and Luigi about making textiles, even if it was nylon or polyester. She shivered at the idea of letting Mario loose in polyester.
He chuckled. "We're trying out the autoclave with some fiberglass," Mario explained as Tess finished up.
"Is ready," Tess said. She picked up the piece and slid it into the chamber.
"Fiberglass?" Wanda asked.
"Yeah, we can make fiberglass with the glass works. Only problem is it takes an autoclave to cure the resin properly," Mario explained.
Wanda kissed his cheek then rubbed his shoulders. "Fiberglass huh? Is there any chance you can make a hot tub?" she asked suggestively. Tess looked up and then looked thoughtful. She smiled but Mario was shaking his head.
Her face fell. "We don't have an autoclave big enough. Not yet at least," he said as she pouted. He grimaced.
"Nothing you two intrepid engineers can't handle right?" Joyce teased as she came in chewing on a carrot.
Tess chuckled as she shut the door and locked it down. "Is possible, we can see. Maybe brick..." she suggested.
Mario grimaced. "I'd hate to do that with a brick structure, the constant heat and overpressure..." He waved.
She nodded. "Da, good point. Must be metal," she replied. "Whole Mars is iron. Will take time to make steel." She waved as they exited.
"Right, I'm going to get cleaned up," Mario sighed.
“They are off to the canyon tomorrow right?” Joyce asked.
Mario nodded. “Yeah. She's excited.” He smiled. “Mission control had to order her back when she and Waldecker got to the mouth. Both of them were pretty put out about that,” he chuckled. Joyce nodded.
...*...*...*...*...
Wanda looked up at the cliff face and whistled softly. “Nice view huh?” Bruce asked.
“I love it. You can just imagine where the water level was.” She pointed to the signs of the river.
“Yeah, it cut right through this canyon like the grand canyon back home right?” Mary asked.
“Yeah, looks that way.” Wanda looked around.
“I don't see any fossils,” Mary observed, sounding disappointed.
“Yeah, I was hoping for something too,” Bruce replied.
“We've seen signs of what appears to be fossilized coral, but the scientists back home are split down the middle on it. The floor fights are getting ugly,” Wanda sighed.
Doctor Hotamba nodded. “Yes, is getting nasty.” He smiled perfect white teeth. “I almost got my nose flattened in an argument,” he chuckled.
Wanda giggled. “Yeah, I can believe it.” She shook her head.
“So, we're going to drive down the rest of the Marines canyon then go back and check out some of the side chasms and gorges right?” Doctor Hotamba asked.
Wanda nodded. “That's the plan. Weather, supplies, and the sun permitting of course,” Bruce responded with his own nod.
Doctor Hotamba smiled again. “Good, we may find some unique specimens in the side canyons if they are properly sheltered from the wind and weather.” He looked at Mary. “You see, part of the problem with finding clear evidence of life or the lack there of is the weather and erosion. We cannot be sure,” he sighed and shrugged helplessly. Wanda nodded.
“Yes, nothing like a dino fossil has jumped out at us yet. Everything looks small, like coral or single cell life forms, but natural weather, geologic, and erosive patterns can explain it as well. We don't have anything that is conclusive,” she said in disgust. She shook her head.
“It must be frustrating,” Mary murmured sympathetically. The two scientists nodded.
“Yes.Yes it is,” Wanda sighed.
...*...*...*...*...
Doctor Hotamba looked out over the cliff edge then back to Mr. Treadwell and grinned. "Is no problem, thirty, maybe forty meters." He clipped into the safety line then started to lower himself down.
"Are you sure about this Doctor?" Wanda asked.
"Is no problem, I did it when I was a child. I be back in a moment." Hotamba huffed as he climbed down the line. "I must swing around outcrop." He huffed a bit.
"We can't see you anymore, that cell is overhanging you," Wanda called. She felt a little concern; he was out of sight and hanging over the edge of the cliff face.
"Yeah I know. There are some interesting formations under it; it looks like a good snapshot for the time line... There is a seam of rare metal as well, sparkles. Gold? Or Pyrax? I am not sure." The Doctor swung his pick ax. "I have a sample, I'm going to move over to the left and see if I can get a hand hold." He swung the line back and forth.
"Careful, that safety line is stron
g, but you’re out on a single line," Wanda cautioned.
"Is okay," The Doctor huffed. "I see something, I got hand hold."
He tapped for a few moments. "I took pictures, but I am not sure they will come out, I am very close. It looks like a line of quartz. If it is we can prove that gold and quartz are together on more than Earth! So exciting!" He tapped some more. "Okay, I'm going to swing to other side." He panted and let go. Wanda watched as the line swung back and forth.
"Something is wrong look at the line near the rock," Mr. Treadwell cautioned, voice tight with concern.
"Get back up here, something’s wrong with your line," Wanda called. "Did you hear me?"
"Almost got it...” The Doctor called.
"Forget it, your line is abrading!" Treadwell called urgently. The line jerked.
"That rock spur your hanging under is acting like a saw blade, every time you swing you cut your own line! Get out of there Sadnire!" Wanda replied urgently.
"What?" Sadnire asked. "I don't see it. I am going for it. We won’t have another chance." He started to swing again.
"No it's not worth it!" Wanda called. Suddenly the line went slack and they heard him scream. "No!" Wanda rushed to the precipice. They could see his line dangling. They heard the scream cut off with a watery thud and loud hiss after a moment.
"Sadnire! SADNIRE!" Wanda and Treadwell called.
"He's gone," Bruce Treadwell replied shaken. He looked over the cliff. "There is so much dust at the bottom; he must have hit full force to have kicked up that much," Treadwell replied, trying to keep his voice level and professional.
"Shut up, I think I can hear something," Wanda raised her hand to her helmet.
"Yeah, I hear it too, groaning and hissing," Mrs. Treadwell replied.
"We've got to get down there." Wanda started to scramble for the line.
"Are you nuts? You saw what happened to him! Go down there and the rocks will cut the line!" Bruce Treadwell held her arm.
"We've got to try!" Wanda half crazed replied.
"All right, two lines and the winch." Treadwell pulled the line out of the winch. "Pull forward dear, right to the edge." Carefully Mrs. Treadwell pulled the rover right up the edge until the winch was overhanging the void below.
"The groaning stopped," Mrs. Treadwell said softly.
Wanda didn't even look up. "Gotta get down there." She attached the safety line to her harness. They didn't have any telemetry from his suit; it must have been knocked out by the fall.
"Okay, I have it." Treadwell snapped the clip of the winch to her. "We'll lower you down as far as we can so your line will be slack and not get ripped. I'm attaching a second safety line from the winch hook to you and to the frame." He fed the line through the hook then clipped it to the small D ring at her back.
"Gotcha." Wanda gave a thumbs up.
"Good luck honey," Mrs. Treadwell called. Wanda nodded. Carefully they lowered her over the side.
"Can't this thing go any faster?" Wanda urged.
"Not if you don't want to go splat at the bottom," Treadwell cautioned.
"Right." Wanda looked down. "Oh crap." She closed her eyes.
"What?" What's wrong?" Mrs. Treadwell asked urgently.
"I looked down," Wanda sighed.
"Almost there," Treadwell replied.
"Yeah, the dust is starting to dissipate a little. Oh my god there he is..." Wanda cried. "No, oh no, his helmet is breached," she said, knowing the truth of it now. She started to sob.
...*...*...*...*...
"It looks like his legs and neck were broken in the fall. The groaning you heard was both him and the face plate seals giving away. It wasn't pretty," Mr. Treadwell replied as they returned to base. The body was wrapped in a tarp on the back deck. Wanda stared out at the landscape.
"Yeah." Mrs. Treadwell replied. She patted Wanda's leg. "Nothing you could do, nothing any of us could have done," she replied.
...*...*...*...*...
"Ladies and gentlemen breaking news from Mars, Sadnire Hotamba, thirty four year old South African Geologist is dead. We take you live to Mission control for the press conference...”
Mario clicked the TV off. "Damn," he sighed. He like the rest of the crew had liked Hotamba; he had been a welcome addition to the team. And now he was gone.
"Are you going to do the eulogy?" Wanda asked softly.
"No, that's on Luigi's plate. I don't envy him at all for it," Mario replied. He shook his head sadly.
"Yeah." Wanda hugged him. "You know it could have been me right?" she whispered. She shivered.
"Yeah. I know. It could have been me during the radiation, or when Toshi got pinned, you can't go there and play the what if game, it doesn't bring anything except more tears and fears." Mario sighed patting her arm. She nodded and hugged herself to her husband.
"Think you could reach your welder?" she asked.
He rubbed her back. "What for?" he asked curious.
"Weld us together like this. I don't want to leave."
He chuckled softly. "I think your taking the whole joined at the hip expression a bit too literal dear. Besides, I gotta pee," he said. She giggled at that, squeezing him tighter. "Not funny, I really gotta go!" he said sounding desperate. She laughed softly.
...*...*...*...*...
They stood around the grave site and tried not to look lost. The Treadwell’s were there, looking solemn. Hotamba's body was in a body bag and plastic coffin hanging over the six foot trench by slings. It swung gently in the wind. Mario looked around to the others, then out to the landscape. Wanda had set up cameras to allow the people back home to witness the event.
Luigi sighed. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to lay to rest our fallen comrade. He has given his last measure of life and devotion in exploring this wondrous world...." Luigi started the sermon quietly. Mario stood quietly. He felt something in his right hand. He looked down to see Wanda had managed to grab his hand with hers. She squeezed. He returned the squeeze gently.
When the sermon was over Luigi stepped back. Mario gave another squeeze then let go. He stepped forward to the motor. "We thank you our brother for your gentle spirit. May we meet again someday." Mario touched the button and the slings lowered the coffin into the depth. As the onlookers separated into knots to file back to the base Wanda used the remote to turn the cameras off.
...*...*...*...*...
"A week ago the family of Doctor Hotamba released a video he had made in the case of his death. Here are his words on that very subject." The screen changed to the chocolate scientist.
"I do not want anyone to fear for me, I want you to know I will meet this challenge and do my best to overcome it. However if the worst happens, if I die, I wish you all to know how proud I am to be an African." The young man grinned.
"Do not give up on your dreams, look at where I am! We can do it just like any American, European, or Asian, we can touch the stars!" he said, flashing his white pearly teeth. He sobered. "Mother, I know you had deep regrets over my joining the program, and fears that my death may happen. I don't want you to be bitter, remember, I embraced my life and lived it to the fullest. To my teammates, I know you, and love you like brothers and sisters. Keep reaching for the stars." He finished and the screen faded out. Wanda folded into Mario's arms with a sob. He felt his cheeks wet and rested his cheek on her hair. He looked over to see Luigi comforting Betsy. He sighed.
"You gotta admit, the boy had style," he rumbled softly. Luigi nodded.
· Chapter 19
New Beginnings:
Mario looked at the door and sighed. "Sorry you’re not the one delivering?" Wanda teased hugging him from behind.
He chuckled. "We'll have our turn. I'm just glad I am not in the spotlight," Mario replied.
"Did you see Luigi when Betsy's water broke? He went so pale I thought he was going to faint!" Joyce chuckled.
"Da," Tess snickered. "Sergei did the same." She gave her husband an amused look. He smiled as he cra
dled Piotr. The boy was asleep in his arms as he rocked. "Is good we have rocker. Was godsend when teething," Tess said looking at them.
Wanda smiled. "Well, we didn't have any vodka, so it was the next best thing." Mario smiled.
"Vodka?" Sergei asked looking up. "For parent or child?" His eyes twinkled.
"Both," Mario answered with a soft chuckle.
"Da, was times I wished for drink or two," Sergei chuckled softly.
"At least he has graduated to sleeping all night and to a child's bed," Wanda replied.
"Yeah, it freed up the crib just in time," Joyce laughed softly.
"So when is it your turn?" Wanda turned on her with a smile. Toshi grinned.
"Oh, we'll get around to it. I want to get the space port and Mars international finished first." She grinned at Toshi. "I'm still not sure about having little Toshi's or Joyce's running around, it could be disastrous," he teased.
Joyce smiled. "We'll cope," she replied.
"Yeah, that we will," he replied, rubbing her shoulder. They heard Betsy's loud groan then the angry cry of a newborn.
"Looks like all is well." Mario sat back. "My first nephew. Now I have to practice at being an uncle," he grinned, stretching and cracking his knuckles. Wanda chuckled.
The door opened and Luigi lunged out. "It's a boy!" He ducked back in and slammed the door waking Piotr.
Mario chuckled. "Yup, little bro is going to have his hands full!" Wanda shook her head and put her finger to her lips. She pointed to Sergei trying to get Piotr back to sleep. Mario smiled as they tip toed away to peek.
"Nathanial Sadnire Irons?" Wanda asked Betsy as she nursed a few days later. Betsy and Luigi had held off on a name for a while.
Betsy nodded. "For my dad and well, Sadnire." She looked back down at the baby. "He will never get to meet either of them, but he can carry their names." Mario nodded as he and Luigi came in. Luigi was looking a bit haggard.
"Long nights?" Wanda teased.
"Yeah, he hasn't gotten on a schedule yet," Betsy replied. "He should settle down soon enough. I'm not looking forward to teething though." Betsy looked down and smiled softly.
First Steps (Founding of the Federation) Page 39
