Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

The Causeway

It was dead of night; but not pitch dark. A big greenish Moon was visible in the western horizon and it was spreading a greenish faint light over the Martian landscape. Like all others, Vasudha was also thinking about the mystery of the third moon. It appeared in the Martian sky only a few days ago. Earlier it looked like a dot; but in the last few days; it was looking like a soccer; it was growing day by day.

Merionne curiously asked about the new moon; and Vézian replied; "It is a planetoid; coming towards the planet at a remarkable speed; I don't know, whether it will collide with Mars or not."

Simple answer; but it did not satisfy Vasudha's thirst. She wanted to know more about the operation Eagle King. So, she looked curiously at Vézian; "Do you have any other query; Captain Vasudha?"

The word 'Captain' sounded sweet in her ears; finally, she had received her long awaited captainship a week ago after Vézian voluntarily gave it up. The man had a strong belief that he would be able to find his sister alive. However, she had no intention to live here alone without Vézian.

"I am asking about the Operation." Vasudha finally asked.

"Yes," Vézian looked cheerful; "Tomorrow we are leaving for the place where we discovered the horse-shoe. According to my calculation; the planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn has already started; and it will last for a month's time. However, I don't know anything about this greenish ball in the sky."

"Are you sure that the magma river will go down and a hidden causeway will appear within it? Can any rock survive in solid state in that magma river?"

"Vasudha, I don't know; we really don't know many things about this planet. There are various rocks in the world; which have various boiling points." Vézian said; "If you like to go, get ready."

They had reached the place, early in the morning. Cosmo-fighter Captain Azora and her five colleagues took their positions. Léal did not leave them alone; he also came to accompany them. Vasudha noticed that Vézian depended more on Léal, than short-tempered Captain Azora.

The place was completely barren and full of rocks and boulders. Steep cliffs overlooking on deep trenches surrounded by glass hills on the opposite side had really created an unnatural beauty. Vasudha had never seen glass hills; when sunrays fell on them, a rainbow like thing was created, but she could not say, what was the exact colour of the rocks. However, those rocks glittered like diamonds and rubies. In daytime, it was impossible to stare at the glasshills for a long time.

Vézian said, "Don't look at the glass hills for a long time, Vasudha; your eyes will start itching. Wear coloured glasses or emission protected contact lenses."

Vasudha put glasses in her eyes; but still she could not stare away from that unearthly beauty. The river below the gorge was not full of water, but full of molten magma of red and yellow colour. Vézian was not wrong; the magma level had fallen many inches in the recent times; both sides of the gorge were bearing the indication of magma flow on their crystalline rocks.

"We need to examine this place carefully; the rocks are not normal rocks." Vasudha said,

"Yes, do it; now you are the captain and I am going to resign as soon as I'll get my sister back." Vézian paused and said,"My family has suffered a lot."

Vasudha remained silent; she had no word to say sorry. She looked away from Vézian and saw, Captain Azora and colleagues were planting a dark green colour tent behind a big red boulder. Léal was helping them in putting the camp.

"This boulder will make our tent hidden from the Martian King and his men." Vasudha said blankly; though she had no exact idea; what to do with a Martian King and his men; she hardly expected the king to remember Volga. Vasudha also thought about Erik; where was he now; was he alive or dead?