Abel was out of the hospital and back home. Home was a natural cave, the front of which was a common area for the settlement. It had been sealed off with a hard plastic material impregnated with water which stopped high energy particles but allowed a diffuse light to enter, especially at sunset. The high arch of the cave in the atrium gave a feeling of openness in contrast to the windowless rooms that were more common.
Several families occupied the cave with the Jackson family. It was not unusual on Mars for more than one family to share a homestead and work together to provide the food and materials to keep the settlement going. It was more like a neighborhood than a commune. Each family owned their own quarters and were paid for any work they did in the settlement. The settlement was run as a business, trading goods with other settlements. Individuals also traded their expertise with other individuals and settlements. Abel was at the head of the council that made up the limited government of the Candor settlement.
Abel sat in the fading light reading the two lists John had prepared for him. Those with the knowledge to modify the EV protocols and those with the opportunity to do so. Abel marked three names that were on both lists. Only one he did not know. The other two he could not believe would be the type to commit such a crime.
Marta, Abel’s wife, entered. She had been working in the greenhouse since the loss of Rothmeyer. Before his destruction, the robot had been given a set list of duties including the greenhouse but families were allowed to reserve his “spare” time for their own uses, just as Abel and John had done. The robot had essentially been a shared resource.
The greenhouse, another shared resource, was set in the side of the hill. This provided a large area for sunlight, which supplemented the artificial lighting, to enter through the same plastic material that was used in the atrium. Marta, and others, usually worked in the early morning, taking a midday break and then working again from afternoon until dusk to cultivate the plants and repair any of the automated equipment used to keep the greenhouse running. They worked as needed.
“Hi honey,” said Abel as she entered. “How was work?”
“Everything was fine sweetheart,” she said. “Some pruning, some re-potting and that was it. What are you reading there?”
“Oh this, these are lists that John prepared, I believe I mentioned them?”
“Yes dear, you did. So, anyone stand out?”
“A couple of people I wouldn't suspect and one person I don't know.”
“Their names?” asked Marta somewhat impatiently.
“Oh, Albert Dixon, Joseph Johnstone, I know; and the one I don't know, Maxim Rodrigue.”
“I see what you mean. We've known Al and Joe forever, I can't imagine they would do such a thing. They would never try to harm anyone intentionally. But I'm like you, I don't know the other person at all.”
“Well, I'm going to turn these names over to Daniel when he gets here tomorrow and let him do the investigating, I'm not qualified.”
“You're also not healthy enough yet to go running around trying to piece together this puzzle.”
She kissed him on the forehead. “You rest here dear I'm going to get dinner ready.”
Abel was left alone to watch the deepening of the sunset. Passing from Martian pink to a deep blue.
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