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more uncertainty, getting to discover new creatures every day.” Mary smiles at me warmly, and this time I do feel reassurance.
    “But how can a frozen brain learn?” I wonder aloud, more to myself than anyone else.
    “It’s probably easier to think of it as a very, very deep hibernation. Our bodies weren’t completely frozen, but cooled to the point of near inactivity. So while we were blissfully unaware, we learned what takes most people years to acquire. It’s also why they chose such young subjects; there was no real way to determine how much aging would occur over the long term. But as you can see—” Mary spins as if she’s modeling a new outfit. I can’t help but laugh.
    As soon as the shock fades away, I’m ready to leave. Mary directs me to the exit of the ship.
     

 
    Chapter 3
     
    As soon as I am outside, I see that a folding table has been set up. The girl behind it gives me a great big nauseating smile. “Please take a map and handbook and have a seat while waiting for the next shuttle.” She gestures to the stacks in front of her.
    “Thanks.”
    I grab both and begin studying the map. It’s pretty easy to read. There’s color coding, and everything is laid out on a grid. I safely presume that we are on the part labeled ‘ Airfield ’. It’s to the north of everything else on the map. Underneath are warehouses and manufacturing plants. I wonder if they’re being used, or if they’re just for future need. After the plants come various labs, offices and a hospital. I have to laugh; there is even a beauty parlor, right next to the barbershop. They figured – correctly – that the majority of the girls would be unhappy and unwilling to go back to their natural, highlight-free hair colors.
    Then I groan. Next are the dining halls, recreation halls and the dorms. Men are in one building, and women are in the other. I guess I’ll have a roommate again. I just worry that my luck has run out; I’ve already had one bearable roommate. Hoping for another good one is probably pressing my luck.
    I notice the bottom of the map is labeled ‘ Married Housing ’. So much for being told there’s no pressure to procreate. I guess if you want your own space you have to get hitched.
    I look around me. The airfield is huge. I can just make out its edges and can see that there are trees, but I can’t tell much else. I lament the acres of undiscovered land that had simply been turned into blacktop and prevents me from getting a peek at what I am to explore. Funny; watching trees get chopped down on Earth never caused me much grief. I guess there’s more of an explorer in me than I ever knew. There are several other large ships parked on the blacktop. I wonder when they had all arrived.
    I listen to see if I can hear any of the local wildlife. I can’t, but I do hear a shuttle approaching. I turn and see what looks like a golf cart built for six moving in my direction. There is even a canopy on it to shade its occupants from the sun. As it gets closer, I realize it’s not just a canopy, but a solar panel. Maybe we’ll actually be successful this time in our attempts to live green.
    “Hi; I’m Olive. I’ll be one of the administrators here, but today I’m your tour guide,” the shuttle girl pleasantly announces in a single breath. “Jane, is there anyone else on their way down, or is it just these three?”
    The girl at the folding table shakes her head.
    “Okay, if the three of you can climb in, I’ll give you a tour of the base and then help you get settled.”
    We climb on board, and Olive restarts the cart. At first there isn’t much to see; just large buildings with more pavement – the warehouses. They go on for what seems like miles. I notice the roofs are lined with combinations of solar panels and wind turbines. Again I find myself encouraged by the attempts at green energy.
    As we approach the labs and offices, the pavement disappears and is replaced by dusty brown dirt surrounding