1899- Journey to Mars

“None. It’s just...I didn’t want you to start.”

Billy laughed. “Well, this time I’ll whup you for sure if you come out of there before I call you.”

“Yes sir.” Dakota

trotted off.

“Why’d you do that?” Ekka asked.

“Because, I don’t want him to see...what we’re about to do.”

Ekka nodded.

“Where’s Bixie?” Billy asked.

“Right beside yah,” Bixie said. She floated into the cargo bay as if she were performing a part for A Midsummer’s Night Dream—Puck, perhaps.

Bixie hugged a large black kettle in her wiry brown arms. The lid was held in place by the strap of a leather belt.

“What have you done with my cooking pot?” Ekka asked.

“It be best you not know right now,” she said. “Bixie is bein’ ready for Mistah Carter’s war.”

There was a loud clang and the ship shivered.

“We’re stopped,” Billy said. “Dammit, we should have put on our pressure suits.”

“Wait a minute,” Pat Garrett said. “I smell something.”

The crew of the Argent turned from face to face.

“I’m starting to smell it too,” Edgar said.

“Maybe,” Pat began, “it’s coming from out there?”

“They haven’t broken the seal yet,” Billy said. “Any second, though, they will.”

“No suh,” Bixie said. “What you be sniffin’ ain’t comin’ from out theah. It be’s comin’ from in heah.” She gestured to the kettle. “When they comes in heah, you folks best breathe through your mouths and not noses.”

“Uh. Thanks for the warning,” Billy replied.

Another loud clang and long, high whine came from the cargo door.

“Shit,” Ekka said. “Here they come.”

[ 40 ]

As the cargo hatch ramp ratcheted downward, a pair of human hands appeared, followed quickly by the body of a man clambering over into the bay.

“That’s him, all right,” John Carter said.

“Conklin,” Ekka said.

Four more sets of hands appeared and in a moment there were five Dr. Jonathan Conklins in the cargo bay of the Argent. The hatch lowered to the deck beyond and a hundred more waited to enter. None of the five Conklins before the Argent crew were armed.

“Come with me,” the central figure said.

“Where?” Billy asked. “To hell?” He raised his Colt and aimed it at the Conklin, pulled the hammer back until it cocked. Beside him, Pat Garrett did likewise, taking aim at the Conklin opposite him next to the first.