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of its million or so ravines. It took weeks to locate them.”
    “Survivors?”
    “Actually, yes. A Ganny managed to seal himself in a maintenance locker. He was nearly dead when we discovered him. Had enough air but was freezing. The name was Foyle. I’ll never forget him. I swear he was stiff as a board when we took him to our ship.” Alex laughed. “They told me the Gannys were tough, but ...”
    “I wonder how she got to Mars?” said Mary.
    Alex shrugged. “Ask her.”
    When the waitress returned with Mary’s coffee Alex repeated Mary’s question. And the waitress laughed. “Na mysteries there, Ioguy. Company Gee took the soup. No workees. Hopped a freight cuz I cookit good. Worked alawayseer.”
    Mary nodded but her glazed eyes looked confused.
    The woman saw Mary’s expression and explained: “Ooo, Pardon the speech. I falls intoit when a gobber or a miner’s around.” She giggled at Alex. “Work on Ganny is dryin’ up, miss,” she explained. “The corpers... the corporation is takin’ the water runs from us. I hitched a ride on a freighter as cook and landed here. No lookin’ back. Right?” She gave Mary a brave smile.
    Mary smiled and looked at Alex. “That’s our motto, I guess.”

6 Professor Baltadonis hadn’t left the base. The next day, when Mary and Alex rose late and ambled over to see how the repairs were going, he was there waiting for them.
    Alex was wiping sleep from his eyes when he spotted the Professor next to a fire locker. He was talking on a phone and didn’t see Alex and Mary approach.
    Alex thought of sneaking past Johnny but suppressed the impulse. Acting impulsively hadn’t done them much good of late, and though he would be loath to admit it, he was beginning to develop a fondness for the old gent.
    But he was still wary of the man and of taking him with them to Earth. It was Alex’s theory that Jupiter’s Red Spot harbored a Reef of Life, and he alone had managed to prove it. He had no interest in sharing his discovery with anyone other than Mary Seventeen.
    Professor Baltadonis saw them approaching. He smiled cheerfully and waved.
    “Hello,” he shouted. “I knew you’d be here sooner or later!”
    Alex offered the Professor a friendly smile.
    “Just checking on the work,” he said. “We’re still eager to get to Earth.”
    Johnny laughed. “It’s ready. Didn’t they tell you?” Then the Professor pointed to several black bags piled next to him. “And ... I guess ... I’m ready too.”
    Mary laughed at the expression that came over Alex’s face. She could tell what he was thinking, and the expression didn’t match.
    Alex took a deep breath. There was a loud clanging sound coming from somewhere down the passageway that led to the other ship’s bays.
    The Professor sensed Alex’s annoyance. “I’m sorry you hit Isidis this month. It’s generally quieter.”
    “Why’s that?” asked Alex.
    “The summer storms are pretty dependable. You’ve seen what they’re like. Sand storms make it a good time to hunker in and do the repair work. That’s why all the clatter.”
    Alex nodded and picked up two of Johnny’s bags. “We can talk in the ship.”
    Johnny picked up the rest of his gear and followed Alex through the cargo hatch and onto the ramp that led to Diver .
    Mary tagged along behind. That morning she’d chosen to wear a thin white pantsuit. She looked exceptionally inviting to two workmen standing near the entrance to the ship’s bay. Alex and the Professor were barely noticeable beside her in their blue unifleece coveralls.
    Alex heard a loud comment about Mary’s lips and looked over at the two men.
    Mary was perfect, and Alex knew that men are compelled to look. Still, he felt the urge to challenge them.
    One of the workmen saw the look in his eyes and nudged the other. But the man continued his commentary just loud enough for everyone to hear.
    Mary was used to catcalls, too, and she hated them. She didn’t see them as compliments