BLUE DUST
The blue dust that moved over the surface of the yellow sands gave the illusion of huge lakes that could be jumped in and be cooled; or just swim for the sake of swimming. The three surviving astronauts watched as the mirage swirled around them.
The last hope for finding water was miles away. The base of the distant red cliffs held the last hope. Alien birds were seen there through high powered binoculars. The birds could be seen dipping their beaks downward and holding their heads upwards only to repeat the action.
“ Tom, it has to be. A water hole on this God forsaken planet. Can we make it?”
“ The alternative isn’t an option Jim. And the Captain looks like a ghost already. He’ll never make it to the cliffs. Best hope is to get him under an outcropping and hope he’s still with us when we get back.” The men from earth wished it so but knew it to be a lie.
“ If we get back.”
“ Stow that negative shit Jim. We’re getting to that water hole and bringing back water for the Captain. Then we can see about rehabbing the ship into something livable.”
“ Let’s do it.”
“ I’m going to fill the Captain in on the plan. We’ll push out then. Nothing to be gained on waiting.”
***
The walk was Hell. Yellow cutting sand worked into the astronauts boots and dug against blisters and cut into flesh. With each step the cliffs seemed to push further into the horizon. After six hours two of the surviving earthmen were crawling. Crow like birds circled above them. Harbingers of a horrid death to come.
***
The captain , near death, crawled from beneath the overhanging rocks and watched as peaceful natives filled pottery with what before had looked like blue sand. The tall fair skinned indigenous people watched the captain carefully until an elder motioned for a woman to approach him with water. The captain drank slowly still uncertain as to the possibility his mind was playing a cruel trick. The water was cool and the woman smiled showing her good intentions.
Carried to a nearby village the captain was given his own small , stone constructed house. Villagers came by often throughout the day with food and drink. Even the village chief stopped daily with gifts that included a small herd of goat like animals.
***
Within days the captain was working his small farm and constructing a fence and barn. He thought often of his men and hoped they had been found by the friendly natives.
***
Some miles away the bleached bones of Jim and Tom lay scattered just yards from the red mountains. There was no water. The crow like birds had left long ago.
end
