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me.'
    Mango took off to the trees, muttering things about babies, parental responsibilities, and bananas. Not necessarily in that order. Skye got out of the pool in Base Three, dressed and went home.

Chapter 19
    'L ike old times,' said Max Morgan.
    'I still hate the boring bits,' said Rocky Ramshorn, his hands waving expertly over the controls on Big Bird.  'Nothing to do but eat, sleep and kick back. Missing Amethyst and the kids already. You the same missing yours?'
    'Yeah. But this is just a part of our lives. This is only my second flight back to Moon for the helium. It should last us a year if we're careful with it.'
    'That depends if we go to war or not. You realize you, me and every other pilot will be right in the middle of it all?'
    Morgan said, 'I suspect it will be a very quick war if it happens. And not in a good way.'
    'At least we'll be ready for them. We saw that recording on the ship's computer. Those poor devils knew nothing about it until it was too late. I want to take out at least one ship before...'
    Rocky didn't finish his sentence. He didn't have to.
    Changing the topic of conversation, Morgan said, 'I'll go see how the others are.'
    One section of Big Bird had been turned into accommodation for the gas extraction crew, the rest modified to take the airtight tanks for the gas. There were six in the crew, all men. Two were playing chess, one reading a rare, beaten up paperback book, and the other three were playing cards.
    'Nice work if you can get it,' said Morgan.
    'Not to mention a break from the families.' John Mantle was an affable, laid back man in his forties. He was in charge of the crew and responsible for the extraction. 'Everything ok at your end?'
    'Sweet at the moment. Ten days to fill the tanks?'
    'All being well. We have some maintenance to do first. Replace a few parts, that sort of thing. If that goes ok, it should take about six or seven days to extract the helium.'
    'Sooner we get back, the better.' Max turned to the man with the book. 'Interesting?'
    'Not bad. I waited nearly a year to get my hands on this. One hundred and ninety three books on Mars and by that I mean proper books like this one, not those digital nonsense. Here smell that.'
    'What?'
    Mantle said, 'Richie. Leave the man alone. He doesn't want to smell your old book.'
    Richie insisted. 'Go on. Smell it.'
    Morgan sighed. 'Anything for a quiet life.' He took the book and sniffed it. 'Sort of musty smelling. Like the inside of an old space boot.'
    'Know what that smell is? History. You are holding a copy that's one hundred and thirty years old. Lots of people reading it, holding it, loving it.'
    Morgan considered that. 'I'm not much of a reader. On the computer, sometimes. I listen to music the most.' He looked at the book, with its stains and creases. It was something worth keeping from the past. 'Jules Verne. A journey to the centre of the Earth.'
    'Verne was way ahead of his time. And never out of print, more than a hundred years after he died in nineteen hundred and five.'
    'Mind if I borrow it after you?'
    Richie smiled as if he had help make another convert. 'I've almost finished. Maybe an hour and it's yours.'
    'Thanks. Right. I'd better get back and make sure Rocky hasn't taken any detours.'

Chapter 20
    F awn Dillow knocked on her father's door.
    'A nice surprise,' said Lance Dillow. 'On your own?'
    'Yes,' said Fawn, 'I wanted a chat.'
    'Sounds ominous? Fancy a beer?'
    'If you're having one. I still can't get used to you drinking the stuff.'
    'As long as I'm not breaking any laws.' He got them a beer each and they sat facing each other. 'What's on your mind?'
    Fawn sipped her beer, washing her mouth with the odd brew. 'It doesn't get easier to drink. Dad. I'm having trouble thinking straight. Living on a knife edge, thinking we could be attacked at any time. I'm finding it hard to concentrate.'
    'Still working with Breezy and Stella?'
    Fawn said, 'Mostly with Skye. I'm giving her a hand on the propulsion system.