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with that
weight.”
    “And we may learn nothing without it.”
    “You’ll learn nothing if you’re dead,”
Markus said contemptuously.
    Beckman glanced thoughtfully at Markus. The
CIA agent wore expensive light green hiking clothes, a broad brimmed hat and
brown boots, all smart choices for the climate. So far, he seemed unaffected by
the heat and humidity, a tribute to his good physical condition and the small
size of his pack, which was filled with a minimum of food, water and
ammunition. He travelled light, to conserve his strength and to allow him to
move fast should the need arise. A small prismatic compass hung from his belt,
and a plastic coated map was folded into his breast pocket for easy access,
while his MP5 submachine gun was clipped to a chest harness to keep his hands
free. Beckman had no doubt Markus could hike to the ship by himself, and might
even have preferred to go solo.
    Dr McInness gave Markus an indignant look.
“We may not get another chance like this for a thousand years. This is
important … for the whole human race.”
    Steamer watched McInness thoughtfully, then
reluctantly spoke up. “Major, I don’t know nothing about science, and shit like
that, but I’ll carry something for him.”
    Dr McInness looked up at the massive
soldier with surprise. Steamer was already weighed down with predator missiles.
“Thank you.”
    Tucker turned his head away and whispered
to his large friend, “Are you out of your freaking mind?”
    “You heard him, man,” Steamer replied in an
equally low voice, “It’s once in a thousand years.”
    Tucker’s eyes narrowed, then he whispered.
“Bullshit, you’re just trying to win the bet.”
    Steamer looked shocked, “That hurts, man,
that really hurts.”
    Virus and Timer exchanged looks, then Timer
sighed and raised his hand. “I’ll take something.”
    “Me too,” Virus added.
    Nuke winced, testing the weight of his
pack. “Not me, man, I’ve got enough shit to carry.”
    Markus looked alarmed. “Major, your people
are already carrying heavy loads. The extra weight will slow us down.”
    Beckman hid the fact that Markus’ constant
uninvited advice was starting to irritate him. “One item each. No more. If
anyone falls behind, you dump it. Clear?”
    There were nods from the soldiers, while
Markus shook his head in disgust.
    Dr McInness slipped out of his pack, then
gratefully began handing out his equipment. Most of the instruments ran on
lithium batteries, but there was also a small photovoltaic collector to provide
a trickle of solar power. Hooper shrugged and reached for Dr McInness’ Geiger
counter.
    “I’d like to keep that with me,” the
scientist said putting the radiation detector back in his pack. He planned to
make regular radiation readings as they approached the crash site, and so it
was the one instrument he would be using constantly over the next few days.
“Here, I won’t be needing this for a while,” he said, handing the heavier
optical emission spectrometer to the sergeant.
    Hooper shrugged and took the slightly
larger unit. To him, the metal boxes all looked similar. Seeing Hooper stow the
instrument in his pack, Tucker relented and relieved the scientist of another
white metal box whose purpose eluded him.
    Beckman took the last item, finding Dr
McInness’ pack had deflated to three quarters its previous size. “Are we done?”
    Dr McInness smiled, his face having cooled
from purple to bright red. “Yes, thank you, Major.” The scientist looked at the
soldiers who were resealing their packs, paying him little attention. “Thank
you. All of you.”
    Beckman clicked his radio, “OK Cougar,
we’re moving.”
     
    * * * *
     
    I’m dead
without water , Laura thought from her refuge high
among the tree tops.
    She well knew the risks of dying a deranged
dehydrated death under the brutal southern sun. That knowledge and her growing
thirst drove her to action. She climbed down the rope ladder, pausing while
still