New Lead

Abstract

Sanjay Rao ran his fingers through corkscrews of salt-and-pepper hair. “We aren’t getting anywhere,” he groused. Jeremy Belton snorted. “By now, Sable could be anywhere from the air outposts of Venus to the Titan settlements.” “Could be, but I don’t think so. I think he’s still right here on Ares firma. One thing we’re good at is watching traffic on and off world. If he launched, even without traffic control registry, we would know it. No, he’s got to be here somewhere.” Rao looked toward the horizon. A breeze feathered his hair. In the distance, the suburbs of New Tucson gave way to vermillion hills. Farther north spread Solis Planum, the plains of the Sun. Rao had always considered the name appropriate. Clear skies usually graced those golden flatlands, along with the occasional dust storm, reminders of Mars’ pre-terraformed days. Now, forests grew along the northern edge of Solis Planum, along the rainy corridor set up by Valles Marineris and the Nereidum Mountains to the east.