1899- Journey to Mars

Guthrie said, “I believe so. Our enemies have moved thirty-seven per cent closer, and from my calculations they will attack us before we land on the red planet.”

Everyone looked at each other. John Carter asked, “How many did you see?”

“Twenty-one hundred.”

“Great horny toads,” said Garrett.

“No Master Garrett, they were not horned toads, they were singleships. I am not certain how you gathered such faulty information from my words.” Guthrie turned to Ekka, “Am I having a short in my electronics and talking wrongly, but hearing what I think I said?”

Ekka said, “Pat was using his phrase as an exclamation, not as a literal meaning.”

“I have adjusted my phrenic capacitors to this. Thank you Ekka.” Guthrie turned to Garret, “Forgive me Pat, and I agree, that number of singleships is a great horny toads amount of the enemy.”

Pat looked at Ian and said, “There’s not enough liquor on this boat...”

Guthrie said, “But there may be a way to reduce, or even eliminate their numbers.”

Billy said, “How?”

“I think that, when the great horny toad numbers–“

“He’s here to torment me, isn’t he?” Pat mumbled.

Guthrie continued, “–get within range, I could attach cables to myself while on the external surface of the Argent and have the cables connected to the power grid of the transmogrifier, thus amplifying my capacity to electrify the entire number of singleships in one instant.”

John said, “Wouldn’t that destroy you?”

“No, Captain Carter. I would merely be the conduit through which the energy passes.”

Everyone looked at each other. Bixie ignored them and moved beside Edgar to watch the red planet through the window.

Billy said, “For that to happen we will need to slow our speed. That way we can set our trap and let them catch us before we begin our descent.”

“Yes.”

Billy looked at Ekka. Ekka nodded. Billy said, “Unless there are objections, we are going to slow the Argent and see if we can fry those demons while they are still in the ether.”

Ian pulled a small silver flask from somewhere in his kilt and unscrewed the cap. “Its a bonnie plan I’m thinkin’.” He took a swig and passed the bottle around. Even Edgar took a sip. Everyone seemed upbeat about things now.

Guthrie said, “I will arrange the cables and equipment.”

Billy said, “And we are slowing our horses right now.” He moved to the controls and delicately slid the levers to alter their speed through the ether.

John Carter said to Billy, “We will make ready in case this doesn’t work.”

Billy pointed to the pistols he wore, “That, amigo, is the only way to be.”

[ 58 ]

John, Ian, and Pat helped Guthrie arrange and connect the large electrical cables to the outlet box for the transmogrifier. John put on a spacesuit to help drag the cables through the hatch as Guthrie magnetized his feet to hold himself on the hull of the Argent.

When John pulled himself into the ether and felt his own magnetic boots anchor him to the ship’s surface, he chanced a look around. Mars was enormous, looming like a red-orange entity off the nose of the Argent. The polar caps showed as glowing white against the reddish surface, and pale green streaked the surface of the planet in lines that, he knew, followed the canals. When he turned to look behind the ship, John felt his scalp tighten. The singleships were clearly visible and closer than he would have thought. There were so many!

Guthrie touched his head to John’s helmet. “John, if you would be so kind as to attach the cables to my heels, I would be most appreciative.”

John snapped out of his stare and went to work. He had Guthrie hooked up and ready to go in seconds. He touched his helmet to Guthrie’s head and said, “You’re ready. Good luck. I’ll flip the current on as soon as I secure the hatch.”

“Thank you,” Guthrie said, then he turned his attention to the singleships that filled the night sky above the Argent.