Page 51 of The Red Woman on Mars

Vivian swallowed. “After Pippa?”

“That’s right. I was a professor of English Literature. Not a practical bone in my body. But I scraped together all my savings to buy a ticket here and learned, for the first time, how to make a living using my hands.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I gotta tell you, I’m mighty jealous of your position.”

“Of me?” Vivian exclaimed. “Why?”

“I’m stronger than a native-born Martian and that makes me valuable on the job market. But my biological assets have only given me the means to rent a one-bedroom apartment. Yours will give you access to a walled estate.” His lips turned up in a cynical smile. “I hear the Nakamura Estate is stunning. They even have a koi pond. Can you imagine the expense?”

“The Yarrow Estate has a fountain,” Vivian offered. “The spray is taller than a Martian’s head.”

He shook his head. “And here I am bending over backward to conserve every drop of water in this place as if it were a sacred calling.” He glanced at the clock. “Come on, let’s continue the tour.”

As they moved through the rest of the tour, Vivian reflected on Alvin’s words.Didshe have the better deal? Maybe, but in thatmoment, she’d trade almost anything to swap out her current future for a tiny apartment and a manual labor job.

But she wouldn’t trade her parents’ security.

Ren met her on the street outside the greenhouse. Vivian looked around their surroundings, fascinated by how different this neighborhood felt from the others she’d been to. The street facade consisted of a row of gray buildings with wide garage doors and a line of small trucks. The streets were nearly empty of pedestrians. “What other industry is in the district?” she asked Ren. She saw a sign on the building across the wide street and began walking toward it to get a better look.

“All sorts.” Ren caught up to her in a few strides. “Water treatment, air purification, solar cell manufacturing—all the elements for ensuring life is sustained on Mars. The industrial district is the backbone of Arcadia.”

“Martian Collective Sovereignty,” Vivian murmured.

Ren looked taken aback. “Indeed.”

“When I was in the law library the other day, I saw the original Charter of the Planet Mars. Is it true that all Martians must support the essential services, or is that just the idealism of the founders?”

“It’s true.” Ren’s face remained befuddled, but he answered her readily enough. “In a 687-day Martian year, all native-born Martians must volunteer a combined fifty days at the facilities for the production of water, food, air, and energy.”

“Even you?”

“Well … my contributions may be more advisory in nature.”

“Of course,” Vivian said with some disappointment. Even on Mars, it seemed the wealthy found ways to avoid getting their hands dirty. She had reached the sign, lettered in bold on the top of the large door. “Oh—the water treatment plant. I’d love to go inside.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Vivian bit her lip to hide a smile at his carefully neutral expression. “Another day, I mean. When I met Chancellor Hawk, I was surprised to hear them say that there was a water shortage on Catena. Arcadia doesn’t seem to have any problems with water.”

“You met Chancellor Hawk? First the law library and then meeting a foreign politician. You have certainly been getting around, Vivian.” Ren seemed a bit bewildered by the conversation, as if Vivian was not staying in the box he’d put her in. A rebellious part of her enjoyed shocking him … but, no, she didn’t want to drive him away. He was her best option.

“I was with Reverend Adair at the time,” she explained.

“Oh … I suppose that’s alright then.” He took a breath and offered her his arm. “Would you care for a stroll around the district, my lady?”

Vivian let her smile show. He might have a sense of humor after all. “I would love that.”

Roaming the industrial district felt like her textbook coming to life. Every industry she’d read about was represented, each building maximizing the limited square footage by reaching multiple stories into the air. After a walk of a good twenty minutes, they reached a structure labeledTerraforming Research Facility.

In the doorway, Caspian Hayes stepped through, putting a top hat upon his head as he ducked out. He stopped short upon seeing them. “Counselor Nakamura, Miss Bowen, what a pleasant surprise.” He touched a hand to his hat.

“Counselor Hayes, how do you do?” Ren asked stiffly, and Vivian remembered witnessing the disdainful way he and Mitzi King had spoken about Xavier and the Hayes siblings on her second day on Mars. “Vivian and I were just touring the industrial district. It seems she has an interest in Martian Collective Sovereignty.”

“Do you?” Caspian’s eyes brightened. “I’ve been trying to convince the Council to expand the definition to includeterraforming. Unfortunately, without success. The Council does not regard an effort that will benefit our descendants, and not ourselves, as essential to the well-being of all Martians.”

“Surely,” Ren snarled. “Witnessing River Hawk debase themselves in front of the Council to beg us for water is a cautionary tale. We cannot take our staples for granted.”

Vivian wondered what Xavier would say if he were a part of the conversation. Even if Ren and Xavier were political rivals, she suspected Xavier would agree with him on this. She should ask him the next time she saw him.

Her stomach clenched. There wouldn’t be a next time. Xavier had promised as much.