THE CRYSTAL CRYPT

THE CRYSTAL CRYPT

"Notice", Inner-Flight ship! Attention! You are instructed to land at the Control Station on Deimos for inspection. Attention! You need to land immediately!"

The harsh sound of the speaker echoed through the halls of the massive ship. The passengers exchanged uneasy glances, whispering and looking out the port windows at the tiny spot below—the dot of rock that was the Martian checkpoint, Deimos.

"What's going on?" an anxious passenger asked one of the pilots, rushing through the ship to check the escape lock.

"We have to land. Stay seated," the pilot continued.

"Land? But why?" They all exchanged glances. Hovering above the bulging Inner-Flight ship were three slim Martian pursuit crafts, ready and vigilant for any emergency. As the Inner-Flight ship got ready to land, the pursuit ships descended, keeping a short distance away.

"There's something happening," a woman passenger said anxiously. "Oh man, I thought we were finally done with those Martians. What now?"

"I don't blame them for giving us one last check," a heavyset businessman said to his friend. "After all, we're the last ship leaving Mars for Earth. We're really lucky they’re even letting us go."

"You really think there will be a war?" a young man asked the girl sitting next to him. "Those Martians wouldn't dare fight, not with our weapons and our production capabilities. We could handle Mars in a month. It's just talk."

The girl looked at him. "Don't be so confident. Mars is in a tough spot. They'll fight hard. I've been on Mars for three years." She shivered. "Thank goodness I'm leaving. If—"

"Get ready to land!" the pilot's voice came over the intercom. The ship started to lower gradually, heading toward the small emergency field on the rarely visited moon. Down, down the ship descended. There was a grinding noise, followed by a jarring jolt. Then, silence.

"We've arrived," the heavyset businessman said. "They better not mess with us! Terra will tear them apart if they break any Space Article."

"Please stay in your seats," the pilot's voice said. "No one is allowed to leave the ship, according to the Martian authorities. We need to stay here."

A restless energy filled the ship. Some of the passengers started to read anxiously, while others gazed out at the empty field, tense and on edge, observing as three Martian pursuit ships landed and released groups of armed men.

The Martian soldiers were quickly crossing the field, running toward them at full speed.

This Inner-Flight spaceship was the last passenger vessel to leave Mars for Earth. All the other ships had left a long time ago, returning to safety before the conflict broke out. The passengers were the very last to leave, the final group of Earthlings departing the bleak red planet—businesspeople, expatriates, tourists, and anyone else who hadn’t already gone home.

"What do you think they want?" the young man asked the girl. "It's tough to understand Martians, right? First, they gave the ship clearance and let us take off, and now they're radioing us to land again. By the way, I'm Thacher, Bob Thacher. Since we're going to be here for a bit—"

The port lock opened. Conversations stopped suddenly as everyone turned. A black-clad Martian official, a Province Leiter, stood silhouetted against the dull sunlight, scanning the ship. Behind him, a few Martian soldiers stood by, their weapons at the ready.

"This won’t take long," the leader said, stepping onto the ship, the soldiers following him. "You’ll be able to continue your trip soon."

An audible sigh of relief spread among the passengers.

"Look at him," the girl whispered to Thacher. "I can't stand those black uniforms!"

"He's just a local leader," Thacher said. "Don't worry."

The Leiter paused for a moment, hands on his hips, scanning the crowd with a blank expression. "I've ordered your ship to be grounded so we can inspect everyone on board," he said. "You Terrans are the last to leave our planet. Most of you are typical and harmless—I’m not interested in you. I’m focused on finding three saboteurs, three Terrans, two men and a woman, who carried out an astonishing act of destruction and violence. They’re believed to have escaped to this ship."

Murmurs of surprise and anger spread everywhere. The leader signaled the soldiers to follow him down the aisle.

"Two hours ago, a Martian city was wiped out. Nothing is left, just a depression in the sand where the city used to be. The city and all its inhabitants have completely disappeared. An entire city destroyed in an instant! Mars won’t rest until the saboteurs are caught. And we know they’re on this ship."

"It's impossible," said the heavyset businessman. "There aren't any saboteurs here."

"We'll start with you," the leader said to him, walking up next to the man's seat. One of the soldiers handed the leader a square metal box. "This will quickly tell us if you’re being honest. Stand up. Get on your feet."

The man stood up slowly, blushing. "Look here—"

"Are you part of the city's destruction? Respond!"

The man swallowed, frustrated. "I don't know anything about any city being destroyed. And also—"

"He is telling the truth," the metal box said in a flat tone.

"Next person." The leader moved down the aisle.

A thin, bald man stood up nervously. "No, sir," he said. "I don't know anything about it."

"He is telling the truth," the box confirmed.

"Next person! Get up!"

One person after another stood up, answered, and then sat down again, relieved. Eventually, only a few people remained who hadn't been questioned. The Leiter paused, looking at them intently.

"Only five left. The three have to be among you. We’ve narrowed it down." His hand moved to his belt. Something flashed, a rod of pale fire. He raised the rod, pointing it steadily at the five people. "Okay, the first one of you. What do you know about this destruction? Are you involved in the destruction of our city?"

"No, not at all," the man said softly.

"Yeah, he's telling the truth," the box said.

"Next!"

"Nothing—I know nothing. I had nothing to do with it."

"True," the box replied.

The ship was quiet. Three people were left, a middle-aged man and his wife, along with their son, a boy of around twelve. They stood in the corner, pale-faced as they stared at the Leiter and the rod in his dark fingers.

"It has to be you," the Leiter snapped, moving closer to them. The Martian soldiers raised their weapons. "It has to be you. You there, the boy. What do you know about the destruction of our city? Answer!"

The boy shook his head. "Nothing," he whispered.

The box was quiet for a moment. "He's telling the truth," it said hesitantly.

"Next up!"

"Nothing," the woman whispered. "Nothing."

"The truth."

"Next!"

"I didn't have anything to do with blowing up your city," the man said. "You're just wasting your time."

"It’s the truth," the box said.

For a long time, the Leiter stood there, fiddling with his rod. Finally, he tucked it back into his belt and signaled to the soldiers to head toward the exit lock.

"You can go on your trip," he said. He followed the soldiers. At the hatch, he paused and looked back at the passengers, his expression serious. "You can leave— But Mars won’t let her enemies get away. The three saboteurs will be caught, I promise you." He rubbed his dark jaw thoughtfully. "It’s odd. I was sure they were on this ship."

Again he looked coldly around at the Terrans.

"Maybe I was mistaken. Fine, let's move on! But keep in mind: the three of them will be caught, even if it takes forever. Mars will find them and make them pay! I swear it!"

For a long time, nobody said anything. The ship moved slowly through space again, its engines firing steadily and calmly, taking the passengers back to their own planet, back home. Behind them, Deimos and the red planet that was Mars got farther and farther away with each passing moment, disappearing and fading into the distance.

A sigh of relief went through the passengers. "What a bunch of nonsense that was," one complained.

"Barbarians!" a woman exclaimed.

A few of them stood up, walking out into the aisle, heading toward the lounge and the cocktail bar. Next to Thacher, the girl got to her feet, wrapping her jacket around her shoulders.

"Pardon me," she said, walking past him.

"Heading to the bar?" Thacher asked. "Do you mind if I join?"

"I guess not."

They followed the others into the lounge, walking together up the aisle. "You know," Thacher said, "I still don't even know your name."

"I'm Mara Gordon."

"Mara? That's a cool name. Which part of Earth are you from? North America? New York?"

"I've been in New York," Mara said. "New York is really beautiful." She was slim and attractive, with a cascade of dark hair flowing down her neck, nestled against her leather jacket.

They walked into the lounge and paused, unsure of what to do.

"Let’s sit at a table," Mara suggested, glancing around at the people at the bar, mostly guys. "Maybe that table over there."

"But someone's already there," Thacher said. The heavy-set businessman had sat down at the table and placed his sample case on the floor. "Do we want to sit with him?"

"Oh, it's fine," Mara said, walking over to the table. "Can we sit here?" she asked the man.

The man looked up, half-getting up. "It's a pleasure," he said softly. He watched Thacher closely. "But a friend of mine will be here shortly."

"I'm sure there's enough space for all of us," Mara said. She sat down, and Thacher helped her with her chair. He sat down as well, quickly glancing up at Mara and the businessman. They were looking at each other as if something had passed between them. The man was middle-aged, with a flushed face and tired, gray eyes. His hands were mottled with prominent veins. At that moment, he was tapping his fingers nervously.

"My name's Thacher," Thacher said to him, extending his hand. "Bob Thacher. Since we're going to be together for a while, we might as well get to know each other."

The man looked at him closely. Gradually, his hand extended. "Why not? I'm Erickson. Ralf Erickson."

"Erickson?" Thacher smiled. "You seem like a sales guy to me." He gestured toward the sample case on the floor. "Am I right?"

The man named Erickson began to respond, but at that moment, there was a commotion. A slim man, around thirty years old, approached the table, his eyes shining as he looked down at them warmly. "Well, we're on our way," he said to Erickson.

"Hello, Mara." He quickly pulled out a chair and sat down, folding his hands on the table in front of him. He noticed Thacher and leaned back slightly. "Excuse me," he said softly.

"Bob Thacher is my name," Thacher said. "I hope I'm not interrupting." He looked around at the three of them: Mara, who was alert and watching him closely, heavy-set Erickson with his blank expression, and this person. "Hey, do you three know each other?" he asked abruptly.

It was silent.

The robot attendant glided over silently, ready to take their orders. Erickson shook himself awake. "Let's see," he said softly. "What do you want, Mara?"

"Whiskey with water."

"Is that you, Jan?"

The slender, cheerful guy smiled. "Same here."

"Thatcher?"

"Gin & tonic."

"Whiskey and water for me too," Erickson said. The robot attendant left and quickly came back with the drinks, placing them on the table. Each picked up their drink. "Well," Erickson said, raising his glass. "To our shared success."

All drank, Thacher and the three of them—big guy Erickson, Mara, her eyes anxious and watchful, and Jan, who had just arrived. Once more, a glance exchanged between Mara and Erickson, a glance so quick that he wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t been staring right at her.

"What line do you represent, Mr. Erickson?" Thacher asked.

Erickson looked at him, then down at the sample case on the floor. He grunted. "Well, as you can see, I'm a salesman."

Thacher smiled. "I knew it! You can always spot a salesperson right away by their sample case. A salesperson always has to carry something to show. What are you into, sir?"

Erickson stopped for a moment. He wet his thick lips, his eyes dull and heavy, like a toad's. Finally, he wiped his mouth with his hand and bent down, picking up the sample case. He placed it on the table in front of him.

"Well?" he said. "Maybe we could even show Mr. Thacher."

They all looked down at the sample case. It looked like a regular leather case, with a metal handle and a snap lock. "I'm getting curious," Thacher said. "What's in there? You all seem so tense. Diamonds? Stolen jewels?"

Jan laughed harshly, without any joy. "Erick, put it down. We're not far enough away yet."

"Nonsense," Erick said. "We're leaving, Jan."

"Please," Mara whispered. "Hold on, Erick."

"Wait? Why? What for? You're so used to—"

"Erick," Mara said. She nodded toward Thacher. "We don't know him, Erick. Please!"

"He's from Earth, right?" Erickson said. "All people from Earth are united during these times." He suddenly struggled with the lock on the case. "Yes, Mr. Thacher. I'm a salesman. We're all salesmen, the three of us."

"Then you guys know each other."

"Yeah." Erickson nodded. His two companions sat stiffly, looking down. "Yeah, we do. Here, let me show you our line."

He opened the case. From it, he took a letter opener, a pencil sharpener, a glass globe paperweight, a box of thumbtacks, a stapler, some paper clips, a plastic ashtray, and a few things that Thacher couldn't identify. He lined the objects up in front of him on the tabletop. Then he closed the sample case.

"I guess you're in office supplies," Thacher said. He ran his finger over the letter knife. "Nice quality steel. Looks like it's Swedish steel to me."

Erickson nodded, looking at Thacher's face. "Not exactly an impressive business, is it? Office supplies. Ashtrays, paper clips." He smiled.

"Oh—" Thacher shrugged. "Why not? They're essential in today's business world. The only thing I'm curious about—"

"What's that?"

"Well, I’m curious how you’d manage to find enough customers on Mars to make it worth your time." He paused, looking at the glass paperweight. He picked it up, held it to the light, and stared at the scene inside until Erickson took it from him and put it back in the sample case. "And another thing, if you three know each other, why did you sit separately when you boarded?"

They glanced at him quickly.

"And why didn’t you guys talk to each other until we left Deimos?" He leaned towards Erickson, smiling at him. "Two men and a woman. Three of you. Sitting separately on the ship. Not saying a word, not until we passed the check station. I keep thinking about what the Martian said. Three saboteurs. A woman and two men."

Erickson put everything back in the sample case. He was smiling, but his face had turned chalk white. Mara looked down, playing with a drop of water on the edge of her glass. Jan nervously clenched his hands together, blinking rapidly.

"You three are who the Leiter was after," Thacher said quietly. "You’re the ones causing trouble, the saboteurs. But their lie detector—how did it not catch you? How did you get past that? And now you're safe, outside the checkpoint." He smiled, looking around at them. "I can't believe it! I truly thought you were a salesman, Erickson. You really had me fooled."

Erickson relaxed a bit. "Well, Mr. Thacher, it's for a good reason. I'm sure you don't have any affection for Mars, either. No Earthling does. And I see you're leaving with the rest of us."

"True," Thacher said. "You must definitely have an interesting story to share, the three of you." He looked around the table.

"We still have about an hour of travel left. Sometimes this Mars-Terra trip gets boring. There’s nothing to see or do except sit and hang out in the lounge.” He lifted his gaze slowly. “Any chance you’d want to tell a story to keep us awake?”

Jan and Mara looked at Erickson. "Go ahead," Jan said. "He knows who we are. Just tell him the rest of the story."

"You might as well," Mara said.

Jan let out a sudden sigh, a sigh of relief. "Let’s be honest, get this weight off our shoulders. I’m tired of sneaking around, slipping—"

"Sure," Erickson said casually. "Why not?" He leaned back in his chair, unbuttoning his vest. "Of course, Mr. Thacher. I'd be happy to tell you a story. And I'm sure it will be interesting enough to keep you awake."

They sprinted through the fields of dead trees, jumping over the dry Martian ground, moving quietly together. They climbed a small hill and crossed a narrow ridge. Suddenly, Erick halted, throwing himself down flat on the ground. The others followed suit, pressing against the soil, panting for air.

"Be quiet," Erick whispered. He lifted himself slightly. "No noise. There will be Leiters close by from now on. We can't afford to take any risks."

Between the three people lying in the grove of dead trees and the City was a barren, flat stretch of desert, over a mile of scorched sand. No trees or bushes disturbed the smooth, dry surface. Only an occasional wind, a dry wind swirling and twisting, stirred the sand into small ridges. A faint scent reached them, a harsh smell of heat and sand, carried by the wind.

Erick pointed. "Look. The city— there it is."

They stared, still catching their breath from their run through the trees. The City was near, closer than they had ever seen it before. They had never been this close in the past. Terrans were never allowed near the great Martian cities, the hubs of Martian life. Even in regular times, when there was no threat of impending war, the Martians cleverly kept all Terrans away from their strongholds, partly out of fear and partly due to a deep, instinctive hostility towards the white-skinned visitors whose business efforts had earned them both respect and disdain throughout the entire system.

"How does it look to you?" Erick asked.

The City was massive, far bigger than they had envisioned from the drawings and models they had carefully examined back in New York, at the War Ministry Office. It was immense and harsh, with black towers piercing the sky, incredibly slender columns of old metal, which had withstood wind and sunlight for centuries. Surrounding the City was a wall of stone, red stone, huge bricks that had been transported and assembled by slaves of the early Martian dynasties, under the lash of the first great Kings of Mars.

An ancient, sun-baked city, located in the middle of a barren plain, beyond groves of dead trees, a city rarely seen by Earthlings—but a city that every military office on Earth studied on maps and charts. A city that housed, despite its old stone and outdated towers, the ruling group of all Mars, the Council of Senior Leiters, men in black who governed with an iron fist.

The Senior Leiters, twelve passionate and dedicated men, black priests, but priests wielding glowing rods of fire, lie detectors, rocket ships, interspace cannons, and many more things that the Terran Senate could only guess about. The Senior Leiters and their subordinate Province Leiters—Erick and the two behind him stifled a shiver.

"We need to be careful," Erick said again. "We'll be passing among them soon. If they figure out who we are or what we're here for—"

He opened the case he was carrying and took a quick look inside. Then he closed it again, holding onto the handle tightly. "Let's go," he said. He got up slowly. "You two stand next to me. I want to make sure you look how you’re supposed to."

Mara and Jan moved swiftly ahead. Erick examined them closely as the three of them strolled down the slope, onto the plain, heading towards the towering black spires of the City.

"Jan," Erick said. "Grab her hand! Remember, you're going to marry her; she's your bride. And Martian peasants really value their brides."

Jan wore the short pants and jacket of a Martian farmer, a knotted rope around his waist, and a hat on his head to shield himself from the sun. His skin was dark, dyed to a nearly bronze hue.

"You look great," Erick said to him. He glanced at Mara. Her black hair was tied up in a knot, looped through a hollowed-out yuke bone. Her skin was dark, too, and marked with colorful ceremonial paint, green and orange stripes across her cheeks. Earrings were threaded through her ears. On her feet were tiny slippers made of perruh hide, laced around her ankles, and she wore long, see-through Martian pants with a bright sash tied around her waist. Between her small breasts, a chain of stone beads rested, good-luck charms for the upcoming wedding.

"Okay," Erick said. He wore the flowing grey robe of a Martian priest, the dirty robes that were meant to stay on him his whole life, to be buried with him when he died. "I think we can get by the guards. There should be a lot of traffic on the road this morning."

They continued walking, the hard sand crunching under their feet. In the distance, they could see small figures moving, people heading toward the City—farmers, peasants, and merchants, bringing their crops and goods to market.

"Check out the cart!" Mara exclaimed.

They were getting close to a narrow path, with two tracks worn into the sand. A Martian hufa was pulling the cart, its large sides sweaty, its tongue hanging out. The cart was stacked high with bales of cloth, rough country fabric, hand-dipped. A hunched farmer urged the hufa forward.

"And there." She pointed, grinning.

A group of merchants on small animals were moving behind the cart, Martians in long robes with their faces covered by sand masks. Each animal carried a pack, carefully secured with rope. Beyond the merchants, trudging along were peasants and farmers in a never-ending line, some on carts or animals, but mostly walking.

Mara, Jan, and Erick lined up with the crowd, slipping in behind the merchants. No one paid attention to them; no one glanced up or acknowledged their presence. The march carried on as usual. Neither Jan nor Mara spoke to each other. They walked slightly behind Erick, who moved with a sense of dignity, reflecting his role.

Once he slowed down, pointing up at the sky. "Look," he whispered, in the Martian hill dialect. "Do you see that?"

Two black dots moved in circles slowly. They were Martian patrol ships, the military keeping an eye out for any signs of unusual activity. War was on the verge of breaking out with Earth. Any day, at almost any moment.

"We'll make it just in time," Erick said. "Tomorrow will be too late. The last ship will have already left Mars."

"I hope nothing holds us back," Mara said. "I want to get home once we're done."

Half an hour passed. They approached the City, the wall getting bigger as they walked, rising higher and higher until it seemed to block out the sky. A massive wall, a wall of ancient stone that had endured the wind and sun for centuries. A group of Martian soldiers stood at the entrance, at the single passage-gate cut into the rock, which led to the City. As each person passed through, the soldiers inspected him, poking at his clothes and checking his belongings.

Erick tightened up. The line had almost come to a standstill. "It'll be our turn soon," he said quietly. "Stay ready."

"Let's hope no Leiters show up," Jan said. "The soldiers aren't that bad."

Mara was looking up at the wall and the towers beyond. The ground shook and vibrated beneath her feet. She could see flames flickering up from the towers, from the deep underground factories and forges of the City. The air was heavy with soot particles. Mara rubbed her mouth, coughing.

"Here they come," Erick said quietly.

The merchants had been checked and given the go-ahead to go through the dark gate, the entrance in the wall to the City. They and their quiet animals had already vanished inside. The leader of the group of soldiers was signaling impatiently to Erick, urging him to move on.

"Come on!" he said. "Hurry up, old man."

Erick moved forward slowly, his arms wrapped around himself, staring at the ground.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" the soldier asked, hands on his hips, gun hanging loosely at his waist. Most of the soldiers were hanging out, leaning against the wall, some even squatting in the shade. Flies crawled on the face of one who had dozed off, his gun lying on the ground next to him.

"My business?" Erick whispered. "I’m a village priest."

"Why do you want to go into the City?"

"I need to bring these two people before the magistrate to get them married." He pointed to Mara and Jan, who were standing a bit behind him. "That is the law set by the Leiters."

The soldier laughed. He walked around Erick. "What's in that bag you're carrying?"

"Laundry. We're staying overnight."

"Which village are you from?"

"Kranos."

"Kranos?" The soldier glanced at a friend. "Have you ever heard of Kranos?"

"A messy pig pen. I saw it once on a hunting trip."

The leader of the soldiers nodded to Jan and Mara. The two of them moved forward, their hands linked, standing close together. One of the soldiers placed his hand on Mara's bare shoulder, turning her around.

"Nice little wife you're getting," he said. "Good and solid-looking." He winked, grinning suggestively.

Jan looked at him with sulky resentment. The soldiers burst out laughing. "Okay," the leader said to Erick. "You guys can go through."

Erick took a small pouch from his robes and handed the soldier a coin. Then the three of them entered the dark tunnel that served as the entrance, passing through the wall of stone, into the City beyond.

They were in the city!

"Now," Erick whispered. "Let's go."

Around them, the city roared and cracked, the sound of a thousand vents and machines shaking the ground beneath their feet. Erick led Mara and Jan into a corner by a row of brick warehouses. People were everywhere, rushing back and forth, shouting over the noise—merchants, peddlers, soldiers, street vendors. Erick bent down and opened the case he was carrying. From it, he quickly pulled out three small coils of fine metal, intricate meshed wires and vanes crafted into a small cone. Jan picked one up, and Mara grabbed another. Erick tucked the last cone into his robe and snapped the case shut again.

"Now remember, the coils need to be buried so that the line goes right through the center of the City. We have to divide the main area into three parts, where the most buildings are. Don’t forget the maps! Pay close attention to the alleys and streets. Try not to talk to anyone unless you have to. Each of you has enough Martian money to get out of trouble. Be especially careful of pickpockets, and for heaven's sake, don’t get lost."

Erick stopped talking. Two officers in black uniforms were walking along the inside of the wall, casually strolling with their hands behind their backs. They spotted the three people standing in the corner by the warehouses and halted.

"Go," Erick said quietly. "And be back here by sundown." He smiled faintly. "Or don't come back at all."

Each went off in a different direction, walking fast without looking back. The Leiters watched them leave. "The little bride was really beautiful," one Leiter said. "Those hill folks have a touch of nobility in their blood, dating back to the old times."

"A very lucky young peasant to have her," the other said. They continued on. Erick watched them, still smiling a bit. Then he joined the bustling crowd of people that continuously flowed through the streets of the City.

At dusk, they met outside the gate. The sun was about to set, and the air had turned cold and sharp. It sliced through their clothing like knives.

Mara snuggled against Jan, shivering and rubbing her exposed arms.

"Well?" Erick asked. "Did you both succeed?"

Around them, peasants and merchants were streaming out of the entrance, leaving the City to head back to their farms and villages, beginning the long journey across the plain toward the hills in the distance. None of them noticed the cold girl, the young man, and the old priest standing by the wall.

"Mine's set up," Jan said. "On the other side of the city, at the far edge. Buried by a well."

"Mine's in the industrial section," Mara whispered, her teeth chattering. "Jan, give me something to cover up! I'm freezing."

"Good," Erick said. "Then the three coils should split the center perfectly, if the models are accurate." He looked up at the darkening sky. Already, stars were starting to appear. Two dots, the evening patrol, moved slowly toward the horizon. "Let's hurry. It won't be long."

They fell in line with the Martians walking down the road, away from the City. Behind them, the City was fading into the dark hues of night, its black towers vanishing into the shadows.

They walked quietly with the locals until the flat ridge of dead trees appeared on the horizon. Then they left the road and veered off, heading toward the trees.

"Almost time!" Erick said. He quickened his pace, glancing back at Jan and Mara with impatience.

"Let's go!"

They rushed through the dim light, tripping over rocks and fallen branches as they climbed the ridge. At the top, Erick stopped, standing with his hands on his hips and looking back.

"Look," he whispered. "The City. The last time we'll ever see it like this."

"Can I sit down?" Mara asked. "My feet hurt."

Jan tugged on Erick's sleeve. "Come on, Erick! We don’t have much time." He chuckled anxiously. "If everything goes well, we'll be able to look at it—forever."

"But not like this," Erick murmured. He squatted down and opened his case. He pulled out some tubes and wiring and put them together on the ground, at the top of the ridge. A small pyramid of wire and plastic formed, shaped by his skilled hands.

At last, he huffed and stood up. "Okay."

"Is it aimed straight at the City?" Mara asked nervously, glancing down at the pyramid.

Erick nodded. "Yeah, it's positioned according—" He stopped, suddenly tensing up. "Get back! It's time! Hurry!"

Jan ran down the far side of the slope, away from the City, dragging Mara along with him. Erick hurried after them, still glancing back at the distant spires, nearly swallowed by the night sky.

"Down."

Jan lay back, with Mara next to him, her shaking body pressed against his. Erick settled into the sand and dead branches, still trying to catch a glimpse. "I want to see it," he whispered. "A miracle. I want to see—"

A flash, a blinding burst of purple light, lit up the sky. Erick covered his eyes with his hands. The flash turned white, growing larger and expanding. Suddenly, there was a roar, and a fierce hot wind rushed past him, knocking him face-first into the sand. The hot dry wind licked at them, searing their skin, crackling pieces of branches into flames. Mara and Jan shut their eyes, pressing tightly together.

"God—" Erick whispered.

The storm had moved on. They slowly opened their eyes. The sky was still ablaze with fire, a swirling cloud of sparks that was starting to fade with the night breeze. Erick stood up shakily, helping Jan and Mara to get up. The three of them stood there, silently staring across the dark wasteland, the black plain, without a word.

The city was gone.

At last, Erick turned away. "That part's done," he said. "Now onto the rest! Help me out, Jan. There'll be a thousand patrol ships around here any minute."

"I see one already," Mara said, pointing up. A spot blinked in the sky, a quickly moving spot. "They're coming, Erick." There was a pulse of cold fear in her voice.

"I know." Erick and Jan crouched on the ground around the pile of tubes and plastic, pulling it apart. The heap was stuck together like molten glass. Erick tore the pieces away with shaking hands. From the remnants of the pile, he pulled out something, holding it high, trying to see it in the darkness. Jan and Mara leaned in to get a better look, both staring up intently, almost holding their breath.

"There it is," Erick said. "Right there!"

In his hand was a globe, a small clear glass globe. Inside the glass, something was moving, something tiny and delicate, spires almost too small to see, microscopic, a complex network swimming within the hollow glass globe. A network of spires. A City.

Erick placed the globe in the case and shut it with a snap. "Let's go," he said. They started jogging back through the trees, retracing their steps. "We'll change in the car," he added as they ran. "I think we should keep these clothes on until we're actually in the car. We could still run into someone."

"I'll be glad to put my own clothes on again," Jan said. "I feel weird in these tiny pants."

"How do you think I feel?" Mara gasped. "I'm freezing in this, whatever there is of it."

"All young Martian brides dress that way," Erick said, holding the case tightly as they ran. "I think it looks great."

"Thanks," Mara said, "but it's cold."

"What do you think they'll think?" Jan asked. "They'll probably think the City was destroyed, right? That's for sure."

"Yeah," Erick said. "They'll definitely think it was blown up. We can count on that. And it’ll be really important to us that they believe it!"

"The car should be around here somewhere," Mara said, slowing down.

"No. A bit further," Erick said. "Beyond that little hill over there. In the valley, by the trees. It's so hard to figure out where we are."

"Should I light something?" Jan asked.

"No. There might be patrols nearby who—"

He stopped suddenly. Jan and Mara paused next to him. "What—" Mara started.

A light shimmered. Something moved in the dark. There was a noise.

"Quick!" Erick gasped. He dropped it, tossing the case far away into the bushes. He stood up straight, tense.

A figure emerged from the darkness, followed by more figures—men, soldiers in uniforms. The light suddenly flashed on, blinding them. Erick shut his eyes. The light moved away from him, illuminating Mara and Jan, who stood silently together, holding hands. Then it swept down to the ground and around in a circle.

A leader stepped forward, a tall figure in black, with his soldiers close behind him, their guns ready. "You three," the leader said. "Who are you? Don't move. Stay right where you are."

He approached Erick, staring at him closely, his tough Martian face blank. He circled around Erick, inspecting his robes and sleeves.

"Please—" Erick started in a shaky voice, but the Leiter interrupted him.

"I'll handle the talking. Who are you three? What are you doing here? Go ahead, speak up."

"We—we're going back to our village," Erick mumbled, looking down, his hands clasped. "We were in the City, and now we're headed home."

One of the soldiers spoke into a microphone. He turned it off and put it away.

"Come with me," the leader said. "We're taking you in. Hurry up."

"In? Back to the city?"

One of the soldiers laughed. "The City is gone," he said. "Everything that's left fits in the palm of your hand."

"But what happened?" Mara asked.

"No one knows. Come on, let’s get moving!"

There was a noise. A soldier rushed out of the darkness. “A Senior Leader,” he said. “Coming this way.” He vanished again.

"A Senior" Leader." The soldiers stood waiting, at attention with respect. A moment later, the Senior Leader stepped into the light, an old man dressed in black, his face thin and weathered like a bird's, with bright, alert eyes. He glanced from Erick to Jan.

"Who are these people?" he asked.

"Residents heading back home."

"No, they aren't. They don't stand like villagers. Villagers slump—poor diet, bad food. These people are not villagers. I come from the hills myself, and I know."

He stepped closer to Erick, studying his face intently. "Who are you? Look at his chin—he never shaved with a sharp stone! Something's off here."

In his hand, a rod of pale fire lit up. "The City is gone, and with it at least half the Leiter Council. This is really strange—a flash, then heat, and wind. But it wasn't fission. I'm confused. Suddenly, the City has disappeared. All that's left is a dip in the sand."

"We'll take them in," the other Leiter said. "Soldiers, surround them. Make sure that—"

"Run!" Erick shouted. He swung his arm, knocking the rod from the Senior Leiter's hand. Everyone was running, soldiers yelling, shining their lights, bumping into one another in the dark. Erick fell to his knees, desperately searching through the bushes. His fingers found the handle of the case, and he sprang up. In Terran, he called out to Mara and Jan.

"Hurry! To the car! Run!" He took off, down the slope, tripping through the darkness. He could hear soldiers behind him, soldiers sprinting and falling. A body smashed into him and he swung out. Somewhere behind him, there was a hiss, and a part of the slope burst into flames. The Leiter's rod—

"Erick," Mara shouted from the darkness. He rushed toward her. Suddenly, he slipped, falling on a stone. Confusion and chaos. The sound of excited voices.

"Erick, is that you?" Jan grabbed him, helping him up. "The car's over here. Where's Mara?"

"I'm here," Mara called out. "Over here, by the car."

A light flashed. A tree erupted into flames, and Erick felt the burn of the heat on his face. He and Jan moved toward the girl. Mara's hand found his in the darkness.

"Now the car," Erick said. "If they haven't gotten to it." He slid down the slope into the ravine, fumbling in the darkness, reaching and grabbing the handle of the case. Reaching, reaching—

He touched something cold and smooth. Metal, a metal door handle. Relief washed over him. "I found it! Jan, get in. Mara, hurry up." He shoved Jan past him into the car. Mara slipped in after Jan, her small, agile body cramming in beside him.

"Stop!" a voice yelled from above. "There's no point in hiding in that ravine. We’ll find you! Come up and—"

The sound of voices was overwhelmed by the roar of the car's engine. A moment later, they shot into the darkness, the car lifting into the air. Treelines snapped and cracked beneath them as Erick swerved the car from side to side, dodging the reaching beams of pale light from below, the last desperate attempts from the two Leiters and their soldiers.

Then they took off, above the trees, high in the sky, picking up speed with each moment, leaving the group of Martians far behind.

"Heading to Marsport," Jan said to Erick. "Right?"

Erick nodded. "Yeah. We'll land outside the field, in the hills. We can change back into our regular clothes there, our casual clothes. Damn it—we'll be lucky if we make it in time for the ship."

"The last ship," Mara whispered, her chest rising and falling. "What if we don't make it there in time?"

Erick looked down at the leather case in his lap. "We need to get there," he murmured. "We have to!"

For a long time, there was silence. Thacher stared at Erickson. The older man leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his drink. Mara and Jan were quiet.

"So you didn't destroy the City," Thacher said. "You didn't destroy it at all. You just made it smaller and put it in a glass globe, as a paperweight. And now you’re salespeople again, with a briefcase of office supplies!"

Erickson smiled. He opened the briefcase and reached in to pull out the glass globe paperweight. He held it up, gazing into it. "Yeah, we took the City from the Martians. That's how we tricked the lie detector. It was true that we didn’t know anything about a destroyed City."

"But why?" Thacher asked. "Why steal a city? Why not just bomb it?"

"Ransom," Mara said eagerly, staring into the globe, her dark eyes shining. "Their biggest city, half of their Council—in Erick's hands!"

"Mars will have to do what Terra says," Erickson said. "Now Terra can really push her commercial agenda. Maybe there won't even be a war. Perhaps Terra will get what she wants without having to fight." Still smiling, he placed the globe back into the briefcase and locked it.

"Quite a story," Thacher said. "What an incredible process, shrinking everything down— A whole City shrunk to microscopic size. Amazing. No wonder you managed to get away. With that kind of boldness, no one could hope to catch you."

He looked down at the briefcase on the floor. Beneath them, the jets hummed and vibrated steadily as the ship traveled through space toward distant Earth.

"We still have a long way to go," Jan said. "You've heard our story, Thacher. Why not share yours? What kind of work are you in? What's your business?"

"Yeah," Mara said. "What do you do?"

"What should I do?" Thacher said. "Well, if you want, I can show you." He reached into his coat and pulled out something. Something that sparkled and shone, something slender. A rod of bright light.

The three stared at it. A feeling of sickening shock washed over them gradually.

Thacher held the rod loosely and calmly, pointing it at Erickson. "We knew you three were on this ship," he said. "There was no doubt about that. But we didn’t know what happened to the City. My theory was that the City wasn’t destroyed at all, but that something else happened to it. Council instruments detected a sudden loss of mass in that area, a decrease equal to the mass of the City. Somehow, the City had been taken away, not destroyed. But I couldn’t convince the other Council leaders of this. I had to follow you on my own."

Thacher turned slightly, nodding to the guys sitting at the bar. The guys immediately stood up and headed over to the table.

"A really intriguing process you have. Mars will gain a lot from it. Maybe it will even shift things in our favor. When we get back to Marsport, I want to start working on it right away. And now, if you could please hand me the briefcase—"