Another Girl, Another Planet

by Lou Antonelli

  “What do you usually find above graves in a cemetery?”

  She nodded in understanding.

  “I know someone who works in metal,” I said. “See if you can find him. His name is Jake Lingvall.”

  She smiled and hurried back out to her desk. She came back in a minute with a slip of paper.

  * * *

  Sherry found where Jake was working, and I asked him to wait after hours for me. It was another interior remodeling job. I left my office at 5 PM and went straight there. He smiled widely when I arrived.

  “Mister Shuster, what can I do for you?”

  “I need some custom metal work,” I said. “Can you make me an aluminum cross?”

  “How big?”

  “Four feet tall, it’s for a grave. Actually, I need three.”

  He opened his mouth but I stopped him.

  “Don’t ask what these are for.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I grabbed a piece of paper that was nearby. “I want one a normal Latin cross, with these proportions,” I said as I drew out an example. Then I began another drawing. “I want two like this, same height, but with this in the center.”

  He squinted. “I can do that. How soon do you want them?”

  “ASAP. This is important, and I may not have very much time.”

  “I have a shop where I can make them,” he said. “I’ll go start right now. It may take me all night, but I will do it for you, Mister Shuster.”

  I patted his shoulder. “Thanks. I wouldn’t bother you if it wasn’t important.” I picked up and handed him the paper. “Call me as soon as they are ready.”

  He nodded as he glanced at it. “I will.”

  After I left, as I was waiting to take the transport to my apartment, I heard a song playing on the PA system that I thought was especially significant. It seemed to describe what was happening to me. It was creepy. And foreboding, as it later turned out. It was the only charting single Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates had as a solo act.

  When I arrived home, I lay down in bed but didn’t fall asleep for hours. Then I supposed I passed out instead.

  * * *

  The phone rang and woke me up. I rolled over and looked at the clock. It was 5:30 AM. “Jake?”

  “Yes, Mister Shuster. This is Jake. I’m done. The solder is still smoldering. Where do you want them?”

  “Meet me at Airlock Seventeen.”

  I pulled on some clothes and headed out. Jake met me outside the airlock a half hour later.

  “Here you go,” he said. “They’re strong but light.” He pointed. “I put four spikes at the bottom of each so they’re easy to pound into the ground.”

  “Good idea. Do you have something I can wrap them in?”

  He went over to his bag and pulled out a large blue tarpaulin. “This should work.”

  “Help me wrap them.”

  The way we wrapped the large bundle, you couldn’t tell what was inside. Despite the three bulky crosses, the bundle was still light enough for me to carry.

  “Thanks, Jake. I’m really grateful.”

  “That’s okay, Mister Shuster, I owed you one. Call me anytime you need something.” He picked up his bag. “Good luck. Whatever it is.”

  I patted him on the shoulder. “You’ve been a good friend, Jake.”

  The airlock crew had come on duty at 5 AM but it was obvious as they yawned that I was the first person to head out that day. They looked befuddled.

  “Sorry, guys, I couldn’t call ahead. This is a spur of the moment trip.”

  I put on the pressure suit and went outside where a tractor without a trailer sat. I tossed the crosses in the back and headed out. The sun was rising when I arrived at the makeshift cemetery. The terrain and atmosphere on Mars are were quite different from that of Earth, but the length of the day is almost the same, the sun a little dimmer, but quite similar to the way it appeared back home.

  Pulling out the crosses and laying them on the tarp on the sand, I looked around and thought, What a lonely spot.

  I put the cross down for Mark Davis-Seale and pounded it in with a sledgehammer, and then right next to it, over her grave, I hammered in Elena’s.

  Desiree’s grave was off to the side, and I marked it with her cross. When I was done, I looked up to see the sun risen in the sky. Somehow I thought of Easter, then I realized there were three crosses, like on Good Friday.

  My mind was a jumble, and I started to tear up.

  When I get back to the office, I need to write out my resignation, I thought. I’m losing my mind. The strain has been too much.

  I stooped to pick up the tarp, and something small and rectangular fell out of it. I bent down and picked it up. It was one of my business cards. Jake must have taken it with him. I turned it over, and I saw where he had written my phone number.

  My first impulse was to toss it aside, but then I had an idea. The pressure suit had a hard lead pencil in a pocket. I pulled it out and wrote something personal on the back of the card. I walked over and went to where I saw there had been a small opening in a seam on Desiree’s cross. I stuck the card in there so it partially stuck out.

  My sentiment was a quote from that song I heard as I headed out that morning, the lyrics from that Daryl Hall song that seemed to embody what had happened to me.

  I turned and left, driving the tractor back to the dome.

  * * *

  Because I had set off on my special mission so early that morning, I arrived at the office at my usual time. When I walked in, I saw Ambassador Neave talking to Sherry. She turned and looked at me, a hurt look on her face. I knew immediately what had happened.

  “Good morning, Ambassador! It’s great to see you.”

  “Good morning, young man,” he said. “Although I have some rather bad news.”

  “Let me guess. I’m being recalled!”

  “Yes. I’m sorry, but orders from the Space Admin.”

  I patted him on the shoulder. “Then it’s really great to see you! I could use the break.” I gestured. “Come into my office, I can show you where everything is.”

  “You’re taking this rather well.”

  “I’m rather relieved. I’ve been in over my head, I’ll admit that.”

  Neave winked at me. “If you want my opinion, you scrambled some bad eggs that needed to be broken.”

  I sat down. “What, a plot to start a Marxist revolution by infiltrating society with androids copied from murdered young ladies?” I winked back. “That sounds like something out of the National Enquirer.”

  “Quite right, and we’ll never read it, will we?”

  “Ambassador, regardless of who gets the blame or the credit, I’m glad I did what I did, and Kurland was stopped. Can you take over immediately?”

  “Yes. But I don’t want to rush you.”

  “Goodness, no. Let me show you what you need to know, and then I’ll stow my gear in a box. I’m ready to go.”

  Less than an hour later, I walked out of my office. The staff was assembled outside.

  I was somewhat happy that they all seemed sad. I knew I would be missed. “We’re sorry how this all ended,” said Sherry. “You have been the most … interesting administrator we’ve ever had. But you were fun!”

  Bill Bauer stepped forward. “We made you a little gift. It’s a rush job. We hope you like it.” He held out a picture in a base showing the Heinlein cannon, with a cartoon showing me pulling the cord. In the background, Admiral Heinlein was clasping his hands in glee. Below that it read “One big gun salutes another.”

  I looked and realized there was a small figure on the ground obviously meant to represent Kurland.

  “Thanks, guys. I wish I could have stayed! But it wasn’t meant to be.”

  Bauer handed me my memento.

  “I really could have used a bottle of wine instead!” I joked.

  Doc Thompson reached forward. “Oh, we have that, too.”

  He handed me the bottle. I looked at the label. “Hey, th
is is good stuff.”

  “It’s from my personal collection,” he said. He nodded. “You made a big impression here, son. You had more friends than you know.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate that, coming from you.”

  “You are booked on the next Orion,” said Sherry. “It leaves at 6 PM tonight.”

  “Great, I have all day to say my farewells.” I dropped the bottle of wine in the box, and held the memento in one hand.

  I tuned to face everyone; Neave stood in the back.

  “I’m sorry I can’t help any more, but you’re in good hands now. Despite everything that happened, I enjoyed the experience.” I paused. “I feel like a veteran heading home from a war. It was quite an experience, but I wouldn’t do it again!”

  Rather than sad, I was relieved, even calm and collected. I had made it through an epic adventure.

  “Tell them, someday it would be nice to send someone else here with a science background,” said Ma Boozer. “I won’t last forever.”

  “I’ll try, but I doubt they will listen to me.”

  Melanie Whitcher rushed up and hugged me. “Keep in touch!”

  I began to mist up. “Thanks, you guys were all so good to me, even though half the time I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  “Yes, you lunkhead,” Sherry said as she straightened my tie. “Keep in touch.”

  “I’ll do my best, but for now, I plan to rest.” I hunched my shoulders and sighed. “Good luck to you all,” I said. “You’re a great bunch.”

  “You too!” they called.

  “Goodbye, Dave. When I’m back on Earth I’ll look you up, and we can laugh about all this,” said Sherry.

  “I hope so.”

  I turned toward the door and felt exhilarated. It was like a great weight had been lifted from my chest. I took a deep breath and headed out into the corridor. I gave a last wave back at them in the doorway with my free hand as I went around a corner.

  For better or worse, it was over.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  I was surprised at the number of people who telephoned me that day to say they would miss me. The folks from the church, George and Anita Hautula, as well as the androids Axel and Sussudio, came by, and they prayed for me. I’m not a terribly religious man, but I wasn’t going to turn down any potential help.

  Jake called me—said he couldn’t get off from work—and told me how sorry he was to see me go.

  One person I never heard from was Laura.

  Constable Iglyztin called me. “We are going to meet you at the spaceport,” he said. “Officer Jenny and I. Of course, Gunter will be there.”

  Sherry called me one last time. “Are you sure you are going to be all right?” she asked.

  “I think so. I feel like a veteran who survived a war. But even if I never get any credit, I know I did right.”

  “Well, Kurland is in jail,” she said. “I’m impressed. By the way, the U.S. has invaded Grenada.”

  “I’m sure they’ll never say the real reason why,” I said. “But hope they grabbed the androids.”

  “Get some rest on your way back to Earth,” she said, “and good luck.”

  “Thanks.” I hung up the phone.

  I grabbed my one bag and tossed the key on the kitchen counter. I stepped into the corridor.

  “Good riddance, you son-of-a-bitch!” It was the contractor I ruled against in the labor hearing, when I’d first met Jake.

  “Oh, just go ahead and gloat,” I said. “I have an Orion to catch.”

  “You’re damn right, I’ll gloat, you punk. Coming in here and acting like a big shot and throwing your weight around.” He followed me down the hall, sticking his chin out, his eyes on fire.

  “You thought you were such hot shit; you were so smart. You won’t be able to get a hot dog cart in Times Square when you get back.” His hands were balled into fists.

  “I always wanted to sell falafel, really. Have you ever tasted it when it’s fresh? Crisp lettuce. Tahini sauce …”

  “I’ll tell you one fucking thing—”

  I turned on him.

  “You know, you followed me down the hallway and I see you’re alone. What are you going to tell me, huh? You got a gun?” I punched the elevator button with my fist. “I don’t think so. Those permits are hard to get.” I walked toward him. I was twice his size.

  “You’re going to beat me up? Go ahead, take a swing. Get it out of your system. I’d never hit a man half my size.”

  The elevator arrived. “First.”

  I stepped inside and turned to face him. “Come on, step inside with me.” His eyes grew big and he stepped back.

  The door closed and he disappeared from sight.

  He wasn’t the lucky one. I was. Because if we had gotten into a fight, with the way I was all bottled up, I’m sure I would have beaten him to death with my bare hands.

  * * *

  Iglytzin and Jenny were waiting for me at the spaceport. They both looked sad. I almost thought Jenny kept looking at Iglyztin to make sure she had the proper sad human expression.

  “You impressed me with your tenacity,” Iglyztin said. “I respect that.”

  He clasped me in one last big hug.

  “You’re one of the few people I’ve ever known who could crunch me up that way,” I said. “Or ever wanted to. I’m impressed you fooled me into thinking you were a simpler man than you are,” I continued.

  “Still waters run deep,” he said. “Gunter told you how I’ve worked with him over the years.”

  “Yes, and you’re doing a fine job as constable. Is Jackson in jail yet?”

  “No, actually he’s in Gunter’s care.”

  “Huh?”

  “I want first crack at him.” Lielischkies had come up behind them.

  “I thought I smelled those Russian Sobranie cigarettes” I said. “You know those things will kill you.”

  He snorted. “In my business, you’re just as likely to meet a firing squad.”

  “Is that what you have planned for Jackson?”

  “He betrayed my trust. I thought he was, as you say, playing his cards too close to his chest because he was an American, but now I see it was because he was really working for Kurland.”

  He slapped me on my shoulder. “So I want to deal with him myself before turning him over to Americans.”

  I looked at his expression, and chuckled. “I suppose that’s his bad luck, eh?”

  He winked at me. “By the time I am done with him, he will have preferred a firing squad.”

  “I will miss you also, Mister Shuster,” Jenny said, sounding almost sad. If her eyes had been human, I could picture them welling with tears.

  “Jenny, I couldn’t have done it without you,” I said and smiled warmly at her.

  “Do you think they will deactivate all of us androids?”

  Ivan looked at her. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, sir. I am.”

  “Don’t be, Jenny,” I said. “You’ve proven your worth. Even if there is a cutback in androids, there will always be a need for some. Like I said, you proved your worth. Maybe someday you’ll be the first android constable!” I winked at Iglyztin.

  “If you need, I am always willing to testify how much you helped us solve this problem,” I said to her.

  “I do have one question,” she said. “Constable Iglyztin referred yesterday to an incident I don’t recall.”

  “You have a positronic brain. Your memory should be complete and precise,” I said.

  “Yes, but he said I helped you ‘overturn an apple cart.’ I don’t recall ever being involved in overturning a primitive fruit transportation conveyance.”

  Iglytzin looked flustered. Lielischkies and I both laughed.

  When I finally caught my breath, I took Jenny by the shoulder. “It’s an expression called an idiom. Maybe someday when I have time, I will explain it to you.”

  “But you are leaving.”

  “We may meet again. Who�
��s to say?”

  Iglytzin held out his hand. “Good luck, Dave, in whatever you do.”

  Lielischkies did the same. “I knew the day you arrived you were made of special stuff,” he said. “I’m not quite sure what that stuff is …”

  “That’s enough. Stop before you ruin bilateral relations.”

  Jenny held out her hand. I looked at it.

  “Uh-uh. The last thing I want before I leave Mars is a kiss.”

  “A kiss?”

  “Yeah, like this.” And I gave her a neat peck on the cheek.

  “I thought this was a kiss,” she said, and she kissed me on the lips—hard. She pulled back, looked at me and smiled. “Am I right?”

  “Yes, ma’am, you are.”

  The other two men stared at us in shock as she turned me loose.

  I smiled and waved. “And on that note, I say farewell!”

  I didn’t know what they thought was going on, and I would never know what Jenny was thinking, if anything. I never saw any of them, or Mars, again.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  It had only been a few months since I had traveled on an Orion ship going in the other direction, so it was much more familiar to me than on my first voyage. I had stashed the papers recalling me to the space program—“Pending Reassignment”—in my luggage. I ate dinner and then went to one of the lounges, where I sat in a comfortable chair next to a faux window with a landscape of the Manhattan skyline. My stress began to ease, and I was dozing off when I could feel a blanket drawing over me.

  “Let me tuck you in.”

  It was Katya.

  I reached up and held her forearm. “Hey, you bookworm, it’s nice to see you. You’re on this ship?”

  “It’s the same one you arrived on,” she said. “Nice to see you, old friend.”

  “It’s good to see a friendly face,” I said, yawning widely.

  “We can talk later,” she said. “You’re obviously exhausted. Sleep for now.” She tucked in the blanket and stuck a pillow under my head. “Rest. You have your whole life ahead of you.”

  I looked up at her. She smiled at me and said, “You did good.”

  I didn’t know if she knew all that had happened back on Mars, but I was too tired to care. She bent down, kissed me on the cheek, and before I had a chance to think any more about what she said to me I fell dead asleep.