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clue. A flickering light fifteen meters ahead captures his vigilance, and he moves quickly up the pathway toward the source.
    A lone glass panel, adjacent to the door, illuminates the otherwise dark corner of the dome. The small, handsized plate of glass protruding from the shell of the dome serves as a control for the airlock. Lawrence places his right hand on the pane, the control lights up brightly to confirm the request to open the door. He puts his glove on his hand, followed shortly by the locking of his helmet to the shoulders on his blue pressure suit. The door grinds open. The door stops moving just as Lawrence finishes suiting up to go outside.
    A single flickering light, mounted on the ceiling in the airlock is the only means to see within its sealed interior. The inner door closes behind him. Following the routine flush of air out of the airlock, Lawrence takes a step out onto the starlit sand. Lawrence looks up; the stars shine brightly, with so much intensity that for a split-second Lawrence feels as if were looking out the window on the freighter into the vast void of empty space. He squeezes his eyes shut for a brief second to refresh his perception.
    A small rock tumbles down the hillside to his left. “Long!”, Lawrence pulls his lamp from his belt. With a flick of his wrist, the lamp is focused upon the hill. The faint light is scattered along the hillside searching for the source of the movement. Rocks cast faint moving shadows along the hill as the light moves back and forth. Lawrence dashes up the hillside, careful to avoid the jagged rocks that could snag and rip his airtight suit. His lamp rushes left, and then right in his frantic search. Shadows of stealthy movement, barely visible along the edges of his light, taunt him as he pushes the light further and further out.
    Lawrence stops before he ascends farther up the hill. A cold silence regains its hold on the hillside. He looks up the hill, he then looks over toward the dome, and then down the road. A single glowing ember slowly drifts down from somewhere above him, like a burning snow flake. The ember settles directly in front of Lawrence. The glowing orange color captures his attention completely as it comes to rest upon the large rock directly in front of him. The faint light pouring from the burning ember stands out against the stark black of the world around. “ What the…”, Lawrence looks directly above him; only a star-filled sky can be seen above.
    When he returns his curious gaze to the ember, which was lying upon the rock, there is no sign of the once hot ember anywhere. The cold night must have claimed the warmth of the ember, and laid waste to the solitary burning trace. A thin, cold breeze drifts down the hillside; grains of sand dance down the rugged decline, and slowly collect upon his boots.
    Lawrence turns to find Long standing at an arm’s-length behind him. The brightly shining stars above reflect off of Long’s smooth visor; his face is clearly visible from behind this façade of night. His eyes are expressionless; his face is without conviction or elation.
     
Lawrence:

So, what are you up to? Sight-seeing? Get it together and help me move the gear. Cardiff is waiting and could not get a hold of you on the radio… What have you been doing out here?

Long:

Lawrence, we really ought to slow down and enjoy the beautiful night out here. I mean, have you ever seen the stars so bright?

Lawrence:

Uh, yes. They were about that bright all of the way to here. Are you feeling okay?

Long:

When you imagine the final moments of your life, what do you see?

Lawrence:

Okay, you should just go back inside, and I will go ahead and get the gear myself. You definitely need to go and see Mendez.

Long:

I always thought that I would end up living a little longer, but I guess everyone has to pay the piper at some point.

Lawrence:

I already know that I am going to regret asking you this, but what are you talking about Long? Did you