Robert Silverberg - Lost Race of Mars

“Of course not, Dad,” Jim insisted.

“It’s the absolute truth", agreed Sally.

“All right,” their father said. “I believe you. If I can’t trust my own son and daughter to tell the truth, who can I trust? We’ll get in touch with Mr. Frahm right away.”

“Mr. Frahm? The colony director?” Jim said.

“Who else? He’s been telling me ever since we got here that it’s impossible for any very complicated life to exist in the desert. He should be the first to know.”

He reached for the phone and dialed a number. “Mr. Frahm? Roy Chambers here. Yes, the children are back. And I’m sorry for any trouble they caused. But—yes, I know. Would it be all right if I brought them over to see you now? They’ve made quite a surprising discovery out there, it seems. I know it’s late, but this is really important. Yes—thanks. Thanks very much.

We’ll be right over.”

Fifteen minutes later Jim and Sally and their father were in the office of George Frahm, president of the Colony Council and Director of the Mars Colony. Mr. Frahm was a big, rugged-looking man, entirely bald, with piercing eyes and a booming, commanding voice.

Mr. Frahm glared coldly across his desk at Jim and Sally. They squirmed uncomfortably.

“So these are the troublemakers,” he said unpleasantly. “The sightseers who took a little trip into the desert. I hope you’re planning to discipline them properly, Chambers. We can’t have children doing as they please in this colony. And I don’t want your youngsters to set a bad example for our own children.”

Dr. Chambers nodded. He hardly seemed to be listening. “Yes, of course, sir. Jim, tell Mr.

Frahm what you and Sally discovered today.”

“We found a cave, you see,” Jim began nervously. “The Old Martians live there. They—”

“What’s this?” Frahm snapped. “Chambers, if this is what you dragged me up here for—”

“Please, sir. Listen to them. I believe they are telling the truth.”

Mr. Frahm continued to scowl and grimace while Jim and Sally told the story of the Old Martian cave as they had done for their parents. They got as far as telling about the plants that manufactured oxygen when the director shook his head. “I think I’ve heard about enough, Chambers. These children of yours have very vivid imaginations, I’ll admit. But, really, to think that I’m going to swallow a story about fantastic caves and little gnomes—”

“My son and daughter were raised to tell the truth,” Dr. Chambers said. There was a touch of anger in his voice.

“You would believe them, Chambers. Your whole scientific reputation is staked on finding the Old Martians alive somewhere.”

Controlling himself with an effort, Dr. Chambers answered, “I don’t think personal matters ought to be brought into this, Frahm. My children have made a major discovery. The least you could do is hear them out.”

“Very well,” Mr. Frahm said. “You say you’ve discovered a cave full of Old Martians. If you aren’t playing us all for fools, you’ve made a tremendous find. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Tomorrow morning, Dr. Chambers, you and I and your children will make a little trip to this cave, eh? And if the Old Martians are really there, I’ll offer a full and sincere apology. But if it turns out there is not cave, we’re going to have trouble.”

“I’m afraid we can’t take you, sir,” Jim said.

“Oh? And why not?” the director asked in a heavy voice.

“The Old Martians told us that they didn’t want to have any contact with human beings, you see. They’re very shy and very much afraid of us.”

“Besides,” Sally chimed in, “the entrance to the cave is hidden tele— telepathically. It can’t be found unless the Martians want someone to find it. If we went back ourselves they might let us see the entrance, but if we bring you and our father, they’re certain not to unhide it.”

Director Frahm’s face had turned very red. “They don’t want any contact with human beings, eh? And they hide themselves away by mental telepathy? Really, Dr. Chambers. I’m a fairly patient man, but I don’t see how I can listen to all this nonsense any longer.”

“It isn’t nonsense!” Jim protested.

“Quiet, Jim,” Dr. Chambers warned. “Mr. Frahm, I’ll personally vouch for the fact that Jim and Sally are telling the truth—for whatever my voucher may be worth to you right now.”

“If they’re telling the truth, let them produce these Old Martians of theirs,” Mr. Frahm said.

“But we told you that’s impossible,” Sally insisted.

Mr. Frahm laughed, nastily. “In that case I don’t see how this concerns me. Martians who can’t be produced aren’t any different from Martians who don’t exist, so far as I see.” He stood up. “It’s Sunday night, and I usually spend Sundays with my family. Will you excuse me now, Dr. Chambers? I think I’ve given quite enough time to this fable.”

“I’m sorry if we’ve wasted you time,” Dr. Chambers said.

“In the future, Dr. Chambers, will you try to prevent your children from making unauthorized exploration trips? We can’t keep wasting time and man power to rescue them. And you might teach them to keep their negotiations under control, too. Good night.”

“Good night, sir.”

When they were outside the colony director’s office, Jim exclaimed, “Golly! He was really sore, wasn’t he?”

“And I don’t think he believed a word we were saying, either,” Sally put in. “Dad, what are we going to do now?”

“I’m not sure,” Dr. Chambers answered sadly. “I’ve wasted Mr. Frahm’s time today. He isn’t going to have nice things to say next time the Earth government wants to send a research man up here. And I can’t say I blame him for doubting your story.”

“ You believe us, don’t you, Dad?” Jim asked.

“Yes, I believe you,” Dr. Chambers replied. “Let’s get along home now and see if we can figure out where to go from here.”

The story spread around the colony rapidly. Next morning, when Jim and Sally reported to school, they were greeted with sly giggles and sarcastic remarks by their classmates.

“Here come the explorers,” Ted Navarra called out.

“Did you bring any Old Martians to school with you?” Don Bruce asked.

“Tell us all about it,” Judy Domanig urged. “Tell us about the little green men you found in the desert.”

“They weren’t green,” Jim answered angrily. “They were gray.”

Sally nudged him sharply in the ribs. “Don’t pay any attention to them!” she whispered.

“They’re only trying to tease us and make us angry!”

The day at school seemed very long. Even some of the teachers glanced at Jim and Sally with amusement. It was a miserable day for the Chambers children.

It was the same way that night when the whole family went to the mess hall for dinner.

People at other tables could be heard chuckling over the wild story. There were plenty of whispered comments. And, her and there, were some people who were not so amused by the escapade. They kept telling each other that the Chamberses were being fed and housed for an entire year at the public’s expense. They were annoyed to think that public money should be wasted that way.

When they had returned to their own dwelling, it was time for a family conference. The situation was serious.

Dr. Chambers said, “We’re in an awkward fix. You two have discovered something big, only you can’t prove it—and nobody believes you. This makes us the laughingstock of the colony.

There’s pressure building up on high colony levels to have us sent home on the rocket that leaves at the end of this month. The argument is that the colony can’t afford to support such wild research projects.”