1899- Journey to Mars

“Shoo!” Bixie said, and gave Dakota a smile.

“By the way, my name’s Dakota. I was named for a brave Sioux warrior named Two Hats. So my name is Dakota Sioux Gostman.”

Dakota turned and flitted through the air across the bridge, checked his momentum with a deft hand to the bulkhead, then launched himself down the hatch below.

“You hear that, Ian?” John Carter said. “A boy named Sue. He’ll have to be plenty tough when he gets of age.”

Ian nodded.

Pat Garrett’s voice intruded into the discussion. They had forgotten about the tall, taciturn man. “Billy. I can’t take much of looking out this window at the Earth. My feet belong on the ground. I’m going below to have a look around. Maybe I can help your Eddie Burroughs.”

“Fine, Pat,” Billy said. “You didn’t know what you were getting yourself in for. We’re going to the Planet Mars.”

“I know. And I’m going below.”

“Suit yourself,” Billy replied.

Bixie turned to Ekka. “Missus. I be shuttin’ my eyes for a bit whilst we be’s floatin’ up here.”

“Go ahead,” Ekka said.

[ 26 ]

Bixie Cottontree sat in a meditative pose in the air—her knees bent and her legs tucked in with her feet folded atop each opposite knee. Her hands rested on her feet with thumb to forefinger as she slowly tumbled about in place.

“What’s she doin’, Momma?” Dakota asked when he returned from the galley. He bore a sack of greens and cooked sausage.

“She’s meditating,” Ekka replied. “Let’s leave her be for a minute.”

“Yes’m.”

Dakota moved to Ian and Carter. “Do you think Mister Avinash can eat some vittles now?”

Avi’s eyes fluttered open. “I’ve been awake all along, Dakota. Reserving my strength. I will eat your vittles. Only, I don’t know what vittles are. We hav

e none on Ceylon.”

“Vittles is food!” Dakota stated.

John Carter held out his hand and took the sack from Dakota. He handed a raw carrot to Avi.

“Thank you,” Avi replied, and took a bite. His eyes lit up.

“Never had a carrot before?” Carter asked.

Avi shook his head.

“Is it good?”

Avi nodded, and smiled.

[ 27 ]

For Bixie meditation was a way of life. She took stock first of her joints, one by one. Her physical form was currently a wreck, and needed food. She noted the boy had entered and she could pick up the smell of twice-cooked sausages mixed in with the tangy scent of fresh spring greens. But the other side called to her, and she had learned early on in life to heed the call whenever it came. She was about to receive a vision, not of the future, but a vision far more powerful—a vision of present time.

She quieted her mind and began the mantra.

“As it be’s above, so it be’s down below,” Bixie stated in her mind.