AS A chemist, Vogel knew how to make a bomb. In fact, much of his training was to avoid making them by mistake.
It just has to last long enough for me to get to safety. And where will that “safety” be? Not a damn clue.
I’ve gutted that poor rover so much, it looks like I parked it in a bad part of town.
You may wonder why I’m not in the Hab right now. Because I fled in terror, that’s why! And I’m not sure what the hell to do next.
That’s what smelting is, really. Removing oxygen to get pure metal. Most people don’t know it, but there’s a ridiculous amount of oxygen on the moon. You just need a shitload of energy to get it.
I thought I was far enough from the explosion but no, not even close. Chunks of twisted metal bashed my boulder while smaller bits of wreckage rained from above. “Oh, right,” I said. I’d forgotten to account for the other explosive in there: the hydrogen fuel-cell battery. All that hydrogen had met the oxygen at high temperature and they’d had a brief chat.
Godspeed, little taters.
I’m not good with people. Sometimes I’m difficult. I wish people would just tell me.
The Ares Program. Mankind reaching out to Mars to send people to another planet for the very first time and expand the horizons of humanity blah, blah, blah.
Have you told anyone else?” “Who would I tell?” “I don’t know,” Venkat said. “Friends?” “I don’t have any of those.” “Okay, keep it under your hat.” “I don’t wear a hat.” “It’s just an expression.” “Really?” Rich said. “It’s a stupid expression.” “Rich, you’re being difficult.” “Ah. Thanks.
I have to face facts. I’m done prepping the rover. I don’t “feel” like I’m done.
Well,” he said. “It was funded by New Zealand. But the idea was to provide power for Africa.” “Why would New Zealand pay a bunch of money to help Africa?” I asked. “Because we’re nice,” Redell said. “Wow,” I said. “I know New Zealand is pretty cool but – ” “And it was going to be a New Zealand–owned company that charged for the power,” Redell said. “There it is.
I can’t see you having any control if you did that,” Lewis said. “You’d be eyeballing the intercept and using a thrust vector you can barely control.” “I admit it’s fatally dangerous,” Watney said. “But consider this: I’d get to fly around like Iron Man.
There’s one in each arm, one in each leg, one in my “gentlemen’s equipment,” and two that disappear under my thigh. I’m guessing one of them is up where the sun doesn’t shine.
With both of the trailer’s airlock doors open I was able to get the first battery in. After playing real-life Tetris for a while I found a way to get the first battery out of the way enough to let the second battery in.
A frumpy Midwestern woman giggled at her window and turned to me. “Isn’t it amazing?! We’re on the moon!
Important note: Do not pee in a graywater-reuse shower.
I was there every day and my sparkling personality was hard to forget.
I haven’t been this excited about a “yes” since prom night!
Okay, enough self-pity. I’m not doomed. Things will just be harder than planned. I have all I need to survive.