Mission Mars by Janet L. Cannon Page B

in theapplication video. Still, someday, who knows? The Mars Mikhaylova Ballet School has a nice ring to it.”
    At that point Athanasius came back to the table and plunked down a blue bio-suit boot, scattering slips of paper and stacks of candy. “I bet my first step on Mars,” he said as he sat back down.
    The jovial atmosphere plummeted into silent shock, as if there were a breach in the hull. All the crewmembers stared at Athanasius.
    There was a long silence as all the crew contemplated Athanasius bid.
    After a long and arduous process, the Landing Order and Protocol Committee, after carefully weighing every factor to determine the order each team member would exit the craft after landing on Mars, they’d chosen Athanasius Linden. Dr. Linden, their decree explained, with his many degrees, awards, training, and experience, had a brilliant scientific mind. And he hailed from a country that had donated generously to the mission. Of course, aside from also possessing an eloquence of speech, he was photogenic. And for publicity purposes, that never hurt.
    Finally, Anita asked, “Can you do that?” The shock and the delight in her tone was hard to miss.
    â€œWell, it is his boot,” said Calvin, glancing back at his own hand with a surly smile.
    There was a pause, and then the captain weighed in. “Let’s play some cards.”
    As it turned out, Anita did have the best hand. And she triumphantly clumped around the ship with the one boot on until it was time for sleep-shift.

Week 14 of Manned Mission to Mars
    Everyone kept flicking their eyes at Anita during the game. She wore a constant smile as she played, well aware that everyone was waiting for her to bet the boot. But, she only bet dessert rations and shower time. Of course, no one had thought it necessary to mention in their previous report or video log to the officials back on Earth about what had previously been bet, lost, and won in the last game.
    As the game progressed, the crew began throwing in their most creative high stakes: ‘Personal Weight Allotments’ in future cargo runs from Earth to Mars, ‘Naming Rights to Future Discoveries’, ‘Joy Rides’ in the to-be-assembled rover, currently in storage.
    â€œShall I just bet the shirt off my back?” Calvin finally said as he stared at the ludicrous pot of promises heaped up in the middle of the table.
    â€œStrip poker?” asked Yunhe innocently.
    â€œWe’ve all seen each other naked,” scoffed Katenka.
    â€œBesides, I believe all our indoor clothes are technically the property of Lululemon Athletica, since they paid for them,” noted Eric mildly.
    â€œAnd they are racking up in sweet success with their Mars Mission collection,” added Ranbir.
    Prior to launch, they had all been required to pose in their donated MM indoor wear for photo shoots. And now, each crewmember was forever immortalized in life-sized cardboard cutouts stationed in every Lululemon store.
    â€œWell, what else are you supposed to wear when you ‘exercise like an astronaut’?” grinned Yunhe, referring to the new fitness craze the mission had inspired.
    â€œYes, because a forty-five minute Pilates class is exactly like training 24/7 at the Utah base,” scoffed Anita.
    â€œMeanwhile,” Calvin said, trying to steer the conversation back to the betting pool, “our exosuits were generously donated by Boeing, with no promotional strings attached.”
    â€œExcept they were promised that their research about air pressure would be top priority. And were given a massive tax write off,” pointed out Katenka.
    â€œAh, the crass material world we leave behind us!” Calvin added.
    Katenka raised her reengineered bottle of re-purified water. “To Mars!” she toasted.
    Everyone raised their water bottles. “To Mars!” They all clinked the bottles with as much joy as if they were toasting the New Year with