Free Mars by Ben Bova Page B

still wore the sweater and jeans she had arrived in. Her room was neatly arranged, emptied suitcases stacked in the far corner, garment bag hanging behind the door. Her laptop computer was open on the desktop but its screen was dark and silent. There were no pictures on the walls, no personal items in sight.
    Jamie took the chair that stood by the bunk.
    “I’ve told all the others,” Jamie began, “that Dr. Li asked me to stay here at McMurdo to help you and the rest of your group get through your six weeks here as easily and profitably as possible.”
    Joanna went to the desk and sat at the chair behind it, turning the desk into a protective barrier.
    Her face entirely serious, she said, “We can be honest with one another, James.”
    “Jamie.”
    Her lips did not curve up into a smile. Her luminous dark eyes were somber. “You are here to make certain that I get through this part of the training. You have stayed behindbecause I am Alberto Brumado’s daughter and for no other reason.”
    Well, she’s no fool, Jamie said to himself. She’s under no illusions. No pretensions.
    “Dr. Li asked me to remain here,” he said:
    “Because of me.”
    “It was his first big decision as expedition commander.”
    Her eyes would not leave his. “And what about your training? Your own group is going ahead with its regular schedule, is it not?”
    “They’re going to Utah, yes.”
    “And you?”
    Jamie made himself shrug. “I’ve spent most of my summers in New Mexico. Maybe Dr. Li figures I don’t need any more time in the desert.”
    Joanna shook her head. “He asked you to stay here? He himself? Personally?”
    “Yes.”
    “And you agreed to do it?”
    “What choice did I have? Tell Li that I refuse to carry out his first major decision? How would that look on my record?”
    She bit her lower lip. “Yes, he did not give you any real choice at all, did he?”
    “Well, I’m here and you’re here, so we should try to make the best of it.”
    “But you will be throwing away your chance for a position on the mission just for me.”
    “I guess that’s already been decided,” Jamie said, surprised at the obvious bitterness in his voice.
    “I could call my father,” said Joanna, tentatively, her eyes sliding away from his. “I could tell him what Dr. Li has done to you.”
    Jamie tried to probe beneath her words, understand what was churning inside her. She was not angry, yet something was radiating from this elfin woman as she sat behind the desk. Was it fear? Bitterness? A sense of injustice?
    “Are you afraid that the others will think you’re getting special treatment?” he asked.
    “I am getting special treatment!”
    “And you don’t like it?”
    “It could cost you your chance to make the mission.”
    “But it’s important to your father that you go to Mars.” Her eyes went even wider.
    “Is that important to you?” Jamie asked.
    “Important? That I go to Mars?”
    “Right.”
    “Of course it is important! Do you think I am here merely to satisfy my father’s vicarious desires?”
    A part of Jamie’s mind was registering the fact that Joanna was beautiful. Her figure was certainly adult enough; not even the bulky sweater could hide that. It was her face that gave her the lost, defenseless look of a street urchin, vulnerable yet knowing. And that tiny, whispering voice. Her deep brown eyes were large and almost as dark as Jamie’s own.
    Jamie looked into those luminous eyes and saw emotions battling against one another. What is she afraid of? he wondered. She says she doesn’t want to be her father’s pawn, yet she certainly doesn’t want to be left behind. That’s unmistakable. She wants to go to Mars. Badly.
    “I’ll help you,” he said. “That’s my job assignment now.”
    “I will call my father and tell him what Dr. Li has done to you. It is not fair that …”
    Jamie silenced her with an upraised hand. “You don’t want to be causing trouble between Li and your