A Colony on Mars by Cliff Roehr Read Free Book Online

back on at 0600. Public buildings like the kitchen and your clinic wil have auxiliary lighting that can be turned or off at any hour.” “Where did you hear all this? Tim.” Classes, I have been going to class every day for the last ten days. I have been learning a lot about the living conditions that we wil find there.”
    July 20, 2107: About 1730 they heard a knock on their door, it was Juan and Lupe, “You guys ready yet?” Tim and Carla were dressed in their best civilian clothes, well actually their only civilian clothes, Tim had on his sports coat, shirt tie and slacks and civilian shoes, Carla was wearing her dress. These were the clothes they were wearing when they left Earth, was it just two weeks ago, it seemed like months. Tim said, “You guys shouldn't be doing this, buying our dinner at those prices.” “Don't give it a thought, Tim, you guys signed up for this job for the chance to become mil ionaire's but I was born into money. Those prices don't even seem high to me, we frequently spent that amount for a dinner in a good restaurant in L.A..” Juan had made their reservations at the restaurant and just informed Tim and Carla that they were going to dinner as his guest the day before.
    When they entered through the unmarked door it was like stepping into a different world. There were waiters in tuxedos and white table cloths. The head waiter seated them at a table for four to one side of the room. Their steaks were grilled to perfection and came with al the trimmings. They ate and talked and shared he two bottles of wine they were entitled to. “I wonder why they are so tight with the booze on this ship”, asked Tim. “It is probably because not enough is known about the effects of alcohol consumption in low gravity. We have a hard enough time standing up and not fal ing down in artificial gravity and alcohol could interact with your shots or some of those potent vitamins we take every day. The alcohol could intensify some vitamins that are already at maxim safe dosage levels and it could reduce the effects of other vitamins. There is really so little known that The Company figures it would be safe enough to have two drinks a week but they don't want to be held liable in a law suit if anyone suffers il effects from their shots or vitamins in combination with the alcohol. I intend to look into the matter in depth in my spare time once we are on Mars.” “In the meantime what do they have you doing on this flight, Juan, while the rest of us are attending classes?” “Since I am the only Dr. on board with a degree in space medicine and since I have worked in space on several occasions I am teaching classes on low gravity medicine to the other Dr's.” “I want you as our primary health care provider when we get to Mars, Juan” said Carla. “Not to be, Carla, I wil not have a family practice on Mars, in fact I have never had a family practice anywhere, my specialty is Space Medicine which I am now required to convert over to low gravity medicine. Lupe is my primary and I suggest you make your deal with her. What I wil be doing is taking on cases that are related to our unique environmental issues.” “OK, then Lupe would you consider being our primary health care provider?” “I'd love to Carla, I'l sign you up as soon as we arrive and I begin practice.” That evening Tim enjoyed an excellent USDA prime steak and Carla opted for a Maine Lobster tail. It was not difficult for them to hit upon interesting topics for conversation during the meal. They downed their last bit of wine and called it an evening.
    Juan continued to dine at the restaurant as often as he was allowed to but had different dinner guests on each occasion. The couples would meet periodically to shoot the breeze and update Juan on what was being taught in the Mars construction classes. Tim, had learned how to make Mars cement which was basically just mud made from a certain soil type found in the caverns mixed with surface