Chapter – 7
The room was dark. If Mary hadn’t been led to her chair, she never would have found it. She hadn’t been told what was going to happen, but she did know that someone would be answering all her questions soon.
She sat uncomfortably, shaking a little from the cold. This place was unpleasant, a military bunker from what she could tell. Everyone here was strict, polished to a shine, stern and emotionless. Mary hated it here. If it weren’t for Mitch, she would feel completely alone. The soldier had made a point of keeping her company, which she appreciated. He was a polite man, one she felt safe with. She hadn’t seen his companion since they arrived.
A door behind her opened, and someone entered. The light was blinding, and she looked around startled. She was relieved to see Mitch’s outline coming towards her. Once close enough, she could see a small smile on his face. He knelt next to her.
“You okay?” he asked, attempting to sound calm.
“I’m fine,” Mary lied. “What are you doing here? I thought someone was supposed to talk to me about the attack. Is it supposed to be you?” She asked the question hopefully.
“No. I’m only here to get you ready.”
“For what?”
Mitch looked grim. “You will be speaking with the Terran president.”
“President Schulz!” Mary exclaimed. The man had been the Terran president for almost twenty years, even back on Earth for a time.
Mitch rested a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ve spoken to him before. He’s just a man who made difficult choices. There is nothing to fear.”
Mary wasn’t at all convinced, and Mitch could see that.
“Just trust me,” he said. “Now, I have to go. Good luck.” With a smile, he turned and left.
Mary suppressed the urge to call after him. Mitch was a devoted man. He wouldn’t stay a second longer than he was allowed, no matter how much he wanted to. The door was soon closed, and once again, Mary sat in the dark. She didn’t wait long. Again the room was flooded with light, as one of the walls lit up. To her amazement, the video static composing the giant screen soon dissipated to reveal a face.
“Mary Tanaka!” the voice boomed. “It’s an honour to finally meet you.”
Mary straightened herself in her chair after recovering from the shock.
“President Schulz. The honour is mine.” The words were automatic.
The man’s stern face gave away a smile. He looked very sharp for his age. His white hair and lined skin resonated with wisdom and power.
“I apologize we couldn't meet in person. I had hoped to shake the hand of the woman who brought Mars to life.”
Mary smiled excitedly at the comment, but couldn’t find the words to respond.
Schulz ignored her awkward silence and continued. “I’m told you don’t understand the situation. To be frank, the entire Terran population has been kept in the dark about this.”
“I…don’t understand. What's going on?”
Schulz sighed.
“Mary, we have been in a dire political situation for the last three weeks, ever since you televised your scientific discoveries. The Terran population of this planet has been on the brink of war with the Martians.”
Mary’s insides turned to ice. “Sir…what are you talking about?”
The president’s face looked very grim as he continued.
“Ever since your apple tree was announced, the Martians have been…radical. Three of the Great Gardens started sending us threats of violence within hours.”
The president nodded to someone off screen, and the video feed switched to the face of a Martian woman. She looked angry, reading from paper in her hand. Her voice was powerful and her expression dangerous.
“The existence of Martian life is sacred," she said. "Life was only meant to exist on this planet with us Martians as its protectors and guardians. For generations our people have performed that labour, and have been expanding the Great Gardens inch by inch. Our progression is our duty to this planet, a duty that will not be cheated or tarnished. The creation of this apple tree is an unnatural monstrosity to our way of life, and it will not be tolerated. The Great Garden of Arboleda demands that this tree’s location be announced so it may be wiped from the face of Mars. We also demand that all research pertaining to its creation be destroyed. Mary Tanaka is never permitted on our lands again. To refuse these demands…would be a mistake.”
The video ended, and Schulz’s face reappeared.
“We informed them that your research would not only be protected at all costs, but also continued. War was declared with the bombing of the Terran Science Institute. The Great Gardens of Treu and Divinity have since began to mobilize. Trade and communication has been lost with five more gardens. Even individual Martians from the more peaceful groups have issued threats. Some Martians interpret their writings differently and don't want war, but we don’t know how long that will last.”
Mary couldn’t think of anything to say. This information was too much. She had imagined a global celebration because of her discovery, to have her name known to every Martian in a positive way. The leaders of the Great Gardens, however, used her name with disgust.
“Why was I not told?”
“We didn’t want panic. We believed the three Great Gardens issuing threats were exaggerating. Unfortunately, they were not. You, and your surviving team are to continue your research. Your work is too important to surrender. The mass starvations, dust storms, droughts, will all continue unless you succeed.”
“What about the Terran public? Shouldn’t they know they’re at war?”
“That's been done. There's no going back now.”
Mary looked down at her hands, then planted her face in them. She had started a war over a simple apple tree, growing peacefully in the Martian wastelands. She began to tremble, on the verge of tears.
“Tanaka, the Terran people need this. We need your work. The Martians do too, no matter how wildly they deny it. Now, sit up and give me an answer.” His voice was stern.
Mary forced herself to sit up straight and look into the president’s eyes.
“Yes sir. Whatever it takes…”
__________
Mary stood calmly at a window overlooking the planet Mars. It was a beautiful place, the red wastelands, the glowing cities, the green patches of the Great Gardens. It was so unlike Earth. Water didn’t separate continents here. Continents separated water. The population was small, and most land was unclaimed. The day Mary’s work was complete, Mars would be better than Earth ever was. This was the hope all Terrans shared. She had been working in space for months now, a place the Martians couldn’t reach her.
She lifted her right hand, observing the pearls in it. She awoke this morning to find the top most pearl had become silver. She also felt different towards them. They was no longer something in need of protection. They were in need of freedom. She couldn’t explain why.
Stepping away from the window, she moved to the nearby airlock. Setting the pearls on the airlock floor, she sealed it and set a countdown. She whispered a quiet goodbye as the pearls vanished into space.
***
My eyes opened, and I took a sharp, shuddering breath. I began shivering, my body numb with cold. I felt on the brink of death. My eyes started to water, and I couldn't move.
I looked at my right hand, and saw the silver pearls still clutched tightly in it. It didn’t matter how much control I regained in the time that passed. Somehow, I just couldn’t let go.
How horrifying.