Dream Thief by Stephen Lawhead

exciting business. I wish I could go back myself; but … duties, you know."
    He looked a little awkwardly at the director. Ari noticed his discomfort and came to his aid. “Oh, Daddy. Terraforming is
your
great mania, it isn't everyone's. Quit badgering him about it. I'm sure Spencer has better things to do than to go roaming about on a dusty old rock. I know I do.”
    The director clucked his tongue. “Such a worrisome girl. Well, I won't press you for an answer. Dr. Reston. But I hope you'll think it over. The Martian experience
is
truly fantastic.”
    “I will think it over. And thank you both for a most enjoyable lunch. It was really very nice.”
    “I'm glad you could join us. I always like to get better acquainted with my colleagues. Well, good-bye.”
    “Good afternoon,” said Ari. They turned and strolled arm-in-arm off along the main axial. Spence watched them go and then started back along the tube to the lab.
    Tickler was waiting for him when he returned. The fussy assistant appeared miffed about something; he gave Spence a series of sideways glances which Spence figured were supposed to represent disapproval. Spence happily ignored the vague reproofs—after all, he had just eaten lunch with the director. There was nothing which could even remotely threaten his self-esteem at that moment.
    “Well, Tickler, how are we coming along this afternoon? Are we ready for tonight's session? I plan to increase the electroencephamine quotient by another five percent. I would like to test the scanner before we run the experiment.”
    “I haven't forgotten,” Tickler said. He nodded toward the control room and Spence saw that they had a visitor. “Perhaps you will remember assigning me to secure our new assistant.”
    “So soon? You certainly didn't waste a minute. Very well, let's meet him.” He motioned to the cadet who sat watching them through the control window. The young man got up and came to stand beside Tickler.
    Spence offered his hand to the short young assistant. “I see that you have already met Dr. Tickler. If I know him he's probably put you to work already. I'm Dr. Reston.”
    “Yes—we've already met,” replied the stranger as they shook hands. Spence looked at him a little closer; though the cadet seemed familiar, he could not place him.
    “I'm sorry…”
    “I don't expect you'd remember,” said the cadet. “I bumped into you in the garden concourse one day a week or so ago.”
    “Kurt, wasn't it?” He did remember the incident.
    “That's right. Kurt Millen. First year. D-level; sector 1.”
    “Well, very good to have you aboard. I hope we can make this an interesting assignment for you.”
    “I take it you approve of my choice?” asked Tickler. Spence did not see the queer smirk which accompanied the question or he might have had second thoughts.
    Instead he said, “Yes, yes. I think Kurt will do just fine. He can begin by helping you ready the scanner test while I prepare the encephamine.”
    The shift proceeded uninterrupted, and as he worked Spence thought again of his talk with Ari and embarrassed himself with the warm feelings which accompanied those thoughts.
There is something about that girl,
he told himself.
Be careful,
his cautious inner voice replied.
    THE GOLDEN MIST HAD vanished in the empty howl of frigid winds roaring down from untold heights. The lush, green valley withered and turned brown. The whitened wisps of dried grass and the petals of tiny yellow flowers flurried around him in the savagely gusting wind.
    He shivered and wrapped his arms tightly across his chest in an effort to keep warm. He stared down at his feet and saw that he stood upon hard, barren ground. Around him he saw the sparkling glint of diamonds glittering in the icy glare of a harsh, violent moon.
    They were his tears—frozen where they had fallen. The hard earth would not receive them.
    Spence turned and lurched away, and he was instantly standing on a vast open plain under a great