Read Online Casserine by Bernard Lee DeLeo - Free Book Online Page B

surface covering Casserine seems to be just as it looks, granular and mountainous, with very little vegetation. The readings we get of the atmosphere tell us there should be large bodies of water. The humidity stays around seventy-five to ninety-five percent here, and yet no real rain, and no large standing bodies of water. We would like to know where all the moisture goes.”
    “I’ve wondered about that,” Adrian put in, finally giving up her trivial pursuit. “The air stays almost like a heavy mist most of the time, and yet as you say, it collects no where. Jake and I have dug into the surface a bit, and it feels and looks very moist after you get below the granular hard pack above.”
    “It sounds crazy, Colonel,” Jake added, “but Casserine seems to absorb everything, including power and moisture. We put a container outside for a day, and when we check on it, its full of water, and yet nothing on the ground around it shows any sign of water.”
    “That brings me to what we would like on your little excursions. We have scanned and mapped the surface all around the planet. We want you to use the guidance system on the rover to go to three areas where we show readings of vast caverns beneath the surface. I brought you discs to feed into the rover’s control guidance system, which will allow you to journey right to the spots we think might be the most accessible.”
    “Accessible to where we are, or accessible to what you want checked?” Adrian asked.
    “Both, Lieutenant,” Risling replied. “Each area has a mountainous surface, and yet we show hollow areas below the surface. We have scanned the areas numerous times, always with the same readings. You two will have to use common sense and good judgment. I do not want anything to happen to either of you, but we have plans to colonize Casserine possibly. We have developed improved gravity suits to ease the period of adjustment to Casserine’s gravity. They incorporate much the same shielding as the rover, and we can use the suits in conjunction with living quarters we can gradually adjust too.”
    “I never would have figured anyone would be interested in this place,” Jake said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “It presents a whole new set of problems.”
    “With implementation, or your urge to be alone,” Risling chuckled. “Yes, I am well aware of how you feel about this place from the questioning I have included in your psych evaluations. I can count on you to honestly evaluate this, can’t I Jake?”
    “Yes Sir,” Jake said without hesitation. “I was just thinking of the logistics of your suggestions, and the fact Adrian and I might want to have a family, and.”
    “Jake?” Adrian squealed. “You’ve really had a thought like that by yourself?”
    “I am not totally oblivious to the normal course of life, Tonto,” Jake grinned at her as she came over and sat on his lap. She put her arms around his neck and clung to him with a fervor he returned.
    “Well, it would seem I have two motivated explorers after all,” Risling said, smiling at the two, “instead of the hermits I feared would hold back my idea.”
    “Colonel,” Adrian said turning to look at Risling, “Jake doesn’t have the mindset or the imagination to be anything but motivated.”
    “Oh thanks, Adrian,” Jake said, putting a neck pinch in place with his hand that immediately had her squirming. “From now on, if I want a character reference from you, I’ll tweak those little elf-like ears of yours.”
    “Okay, you two,” Risling said. “Quit fooling around, and help me get out of this chair, and back onto the blessed craft which will take me out of this planetary torture chamber.”
    “Are you going to do something, or are you just going to stand there shaking your head?” Adrian asked him as she hung suspended upside down, looking at a disbelieving Jake through the open window of the rover. He could see she had taken off and ran one side up a rock outcropping and