Seven Against Mars by Martin Berman-Gorvine

Author:Martin Berman-Gorvine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, historical fantasy, young adult, sci-fi, mars
ISBN: 9781434446978
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2013-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“Explain to me again,” Pete said in a muffled voice, “why this is the best way to travel on Mars?”

Pete and the rest of the would-be rebel army were huddled under a tarpaulin inside a cart drawn by two mules called Azriel and Shimon, bumping along a desert track under a noonday sun. The cover kept away the breeze and made what air there was stifling hot, but was no barrier to windblown grit. Everyone was squeezed in tightly among the bulging duffel-bag-type packs containing their belongings, battered gray canvas ponchos in case of dust storms, and giant jerrycans of water. The fact that the cart was made of aluminum due to the scarcity of wood on Mars made it even more uncomfortable.

“It’s the only way, seeing that our dear leader Ares has nationalized all the mechanical surface transport,” Jack pointed out. “Besides which, it’ll be a little easier to get into the base where my brother is a prisoner if we’re hiding in a mule cart than if we drive right up in a groundcar and ask for him, right?”

“A sort of Trojan mule strategy,” Gun said. “Pity we haven’t got any guys here with the wit of Odysseus.”

“On behalf of myself and the other two male members of the Magnificent Seven, I protest,” Eddie said. “Ow,” he added, as the cart went over a rock and he bumped his head.

“Keep it down back there,” Moishe called back. “We’re coming to a checkpoint.”

“A checkpoint way out here in the desert?” Pete whispered. “This Ares must be one crazy paranoid dude!”

“We’ve been trying to tell you,” Anya whispered back.

The cart bumped to a halt. “Stop right there,” said a grating voice that made the hairs stand up on the back of Rachel’s neck. “Let’s see your papers.”

Now I really do feel at home.

For a few moments everything was quiet. Then they heard footsteps approaching. “Hey, Ryszard, what’s with the freak in the black suit? Carnival come early this year?”

“Nah, it’s just a Jew. Some medieval fossil,” said the first voice.

Rachel’s hot face grew even warmer.

“Oh yeah? Well, I think he’s cruelly mistreating that thistlecat on his head.”

“We do not mistreat our deestelketz, Your Excellency, we herd them and shear them every spring.… Hey, give it back!”

“Keep away,” the soldiers chanted. “Keep the fur away from the nasty smelly Yid.”

“Good thing you’re not one of them, right?” Katie whispered.

Rachel burst into silent, angry tears. Was there nowhere she could escape from the curse of being Jewish? Many science fiction writers were Jews like her, even if they were lucky enough to live in America. Didn’t they all hope that the future would be shiny and clean, free of superstition and unreasoning hate?

“C’mon Anya, let go of my arm and let me go sort those jerks out,” Jack whispered.

“You do that and we’ll never rescue your brother!” Anya whispered back.

Rachel smiled through her tears. Her hero was acting like, well, her hero. Fortunately the soldiers tired of their fun soon enough, and after extracting a hefty bribe from Moishe, let the cart go on its way without a search.

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