Galea's Race
Before snow melt fled Olympus Mons, to water the jungles of Mariner Canyon, and fill the Chrysetic Sea, the face of Mars was harsh. She was not, however, unforgiving. Even early settlers knew Mars disguised treasures in turmoil.
Our story begins with celebration and revelry. Richard Cromer, the wealthiest merchant baron of the day, stood to give a final toast.
“Once again we congratulate Galea on her stunning victory in today’s race. I don’t think a man alive could best her!” Cheers, and jeers alike, rose from the intoxicated crowd.
In a dark corner, two young lovers broke their embrace when the spotlight turned to illuminate Galea. She looked toward the small platform at the front of the room, and nodded her thanks. Embarrassment flooded her face as laughter filled the room.
“Galea forgive the intrusion. Caedyn is a fine young man, and lucky to catch one such as you. But delay no longer,” he waved his arms wide and invited her to the stage. “I have something to impart.”
On stage, before the crowd, Galea and Cromer greeted one another. Cromer raised a hand to still the crowd for an announcement.
“Crossing the barren lands between Elysium and Hellas as a young trader was dangerous. During one crossing, my wife and I met with great misfortune. Our infant daughter was stolen from camp by nomadic colonists.”
“Imagine our shock and surprise when today’s victory was claimed by Galea. This young woman bears such a striking similarity to my own wife. Looking at her is like looking twenty years into the past. With her permission, I had the doctor test our blood, and a match was found. Mars has returned my lost daughter to me!” Tears welled in his eyes, and he embraced the young woman with a hug.
Richard composed himself, and turned back to the crowd. “Because my wife and I are too old to bear an heir, Galea will help carry on my line. As a member of the Cromer family, she will stop winning races. Her next accomplishment will be to marry.” The crowd was as shocked as the young woman on stage.
“Nothing will stop me from racing!” Galea refused on the spot in front of the crowd gathered. Arms crossed in objection, Galea said “I will not marry unless the man can beat me in a race.” Thinking herself clever, she also extended the terms of the challenge to the relatively few men on the planet. “If a man enters the race, and loses, he will forfeit his freedom and work your mines. A death sentence on this harsh planet.” She spat the last phrase at Cromer like a curse.
The merchant baron exclaimed, “This is a slap in the face to being welcomed into our large and wealthy empire.”
“If you will have no part in my terms, then I will have no part of your empire,” Galea scolded him. “Do you believe I grew up with the luxuries and shelter to which you are accustomed? I won’t miss them when I flee across the horizon. And you would have a very hard time tracking me down. I’m the fastest and best survivalist among the tribe of herders that raised me while roaming the planet.”
So the merchant agreed and concluded his toast by announcing the next race which would determine the man Galea would marry.
She glanced at Caedyn. He looked heartbroken, shocked, and betrayed. “I’m sorry,” was all she mouthed. But he turned and slipped out of the commotion of men that clambered to enter the race. Each one hoping they could lay claim to the merchant’s empire.
The day of the big race riders assembled from all across Mars. It was one of the largest races the merchant ever hosted. Many nomadic herders the girl grew up with registered to compete. Along with many older men who felt this was their last chance to get something out of their harsh Martian life. It was clear many of the riders were very green. They demonstrated how little they knew of riding, and even less they knew about surviving in the still harsh early-terraformed environment.
With an explosion that echoed deep into the Hellas bowl, the race began. Leaders moved to the front of the pack. The young woman Galea was among them. New riders fell from their mount’s saddles and tumbled, face first into rust colored rocks. Caedyn overcame several riders and closed the gap with the pack kicking up a dust storm of their own. Glancing over her shoulder, Galea was surprised to see the young man running the race against her!
Scattered along the upper rim of Hellas were deep wells where riders stop to feed and water their mounts. Even fewer exist on the wide open plains where nomads, miners, and traders venture to carve a life out of the treacherous terrain. Galea and Caedyn were among a group of riders which stopped to rest their mounts.
She begged him to drop out of the race. She cried that she didn’t want to see him thrown into the mines. It was well known that anyone who worked there would die after a few months of hard labor in the extreme conditions. Caedyn refused her wish and said, “I would rather die than to live without you by my side Galea. I could not bear to watch another man become your husband.”
The thought of marrying against her consent tore apart the young girl’s heart again. She sprinted for her riding mount. In her saddle, Galea began to feel woozy and fell over. As she tumbled from her mount, Caedyn rushed to her side. He caught her, and begged her forgiveness.
He whispered, “The drug I put in your drink will only slow you a short time. It will not harm you in any way.” He gently positioned her by the well, under a shade tree. Then Caedyn bolted for his own mount and rode off into a fierce dust storm which formed on the horizon.
In time Galea regained her balance and focus. She rode hard along the race route. She passed other men and their mounts as she climbed back up through the ranks. The men cursed and shouted at her as she passed them. None of them behave like fine gentlemen she would ever want to marry!
The face of Elysium Planitia was blocked from view by the swelling terraforming storm. Many riders were forced to end their race. They lacked the skills necessary to survive a storm that strong. Preference was given to live a few months longer in the mines, than to die in the wilderness that day.
For the few who knew this route well, an old habitat bubble was their reward for perseverance. A small group of riders took shelter together inside a structure which the first colonists erected. Those space faring adventurers lived in the domes when they first arrived on the planet.
The clear shell kept out the wind, dust, and ice but presented a greater threat. The old outpost’s electrical and life support systems were down. The small herd of riders and mounts could stay out of the storm for a short while. But they would soon be forced to move on when the habitat ran low on breathable oxygen.
Under the protective dome, rather than confront Caedyn about poisoning her water at the well, Galea simply avoided him. This hurt them both immensely. They wore the pain of their crushed hearts on their faces. Each glance at one another tears them apart a little more.
The storm raged on around the aging dome, and the riders were all very uncomfortable. The cold, thin air forced them to breathe shallowly. And there was no water or food for nourishment. Rather than let up, the storm intensified, and they were all worried about what little good air they had running out.
Caedyn slipped away as the riders bedded down. He crept into tight crawl spaces, and between ancient mechanisms, to repair the habitat. In the restored comfort of the dome the riders, including Galea, became complacent. Upon waking they waited out the storm as they rested and regained strength. Most planned to leave as soon as the storm broke. But as night closed around the shelter, they fell asleep again, and missed a break in the storm.
The only person who did not break their vigil was Caedyn. He did not rest or diminish his pursuit of Galea’s hand in marriage.
When the girl awoke, she was shocked to see Caedyn’s gear and mount gone! She realized her own lazy mistake and readied to leave immediately.
The race continued and Galea made extraordinarily good time. She managed to pass the few riders who left the habitat before her. In the distance she made out the silhouette of Caedyn pushing his mount to the breaking point.
Galea judged that she can catch him easily. Her mount was strong. Her skills were refined. And she knew the terrain well. She glanced over her shoulder to find the race course was empty. Every rider, it seemed, had given up the chance to rule the merchant baron’s empire and win her hand in marriage. Galea slowed her mount as she approached a well exposed to the elements.
Once refreshed, she turned to mount her creature when the cry of a baby entered her ears. Galea looked around, but saw no other riders in the vicinity. There were no trader caravans or other people in this dangerous stretch between outposts. She and Caedyn were the only living souls this far out along the Elysium Rim.
Galea shrugged off the sound, and began to mount again. The wind shifted and carried the babies cry louder and more clearly that time. She turned her mount, and moved toward the sound. In a stand of brush, Galea found a small baby wrapped in her dead mother’s arms. They were covered with sand and ice rime from the storm. The baby miraculously survived.
The young woman climbed down. She pried the dead arms away from the child, rescued the orphan, and mounted her creature with care. They continued together along the race course at a pace of ease and comfort.
Galea emerged from the dark night, and entered the light at the edge of the celebration dinner. The crowd gasped and parted as she walked to the stage. Her merchant father stood there with Caedyn, the winner of the race.
Before everyone, she unwrapped the bundle to reveal the small baby. Its skin was red and damaged from lack of water, and the sand-rime storm it survived. The merchant baron called for his aide to care for the child.
Richard Cromer hugged his daughter. He welcomed her home and said, “We were all so worried you had died in the storm Galea. It would be a profound tragedy if we lost you all over again.”
“As a child, I was raised to survive and even thrive in the harshest conditions. I knew, no matter what the planet threw across the path of the race, I would be fine,” Galea boasted.
“I am proud to announce the winner of this race to be young Caedyn,” and with that Cromer placed the young lover’s hands together in a single clasp. The crowd cheered and music erupted as the reunited lovers embraced and kissed.
Caedyn leaned closed to his bride-to-be and whispered. She nodded emphatically, and they turned to the merchant baron together. While their words were still covered by the sound of celebratory music, the couple made a final deal with the old trader and his wife.
His hand rose once more, and Richard Cromer silenced the music. The crowd waited for more joyful news. However, his face was ashen white and solemn. “As you recall, each racer risked their personal freedom to enter the competition. A lifetime spent in service, as long as that might prove to be, below Mars’ surface in the harsh mines. The caravan is scheduled to depart at the break of dawn for different mines within my empire.”
The crowd grew sombre and bleak. Heads turned down. Women embraced men who cried into their perfumed shoulders. Some in the crowd jeered. They shouted how unfair and cruel the punishment was for a simple race.
The merchant nodded his understanding and agreement. He raised his other hand to quiet the crowd.
“As their first act as part of this family, the new heirs of my empire have consulted with me on a decree. To celebrate their love, and the promise of a great future, they forgive each racer’s punishment!” The excited crowd began the celebration with renewed excitement and joy.
In the end, Caedyn won the hand of Galea in marriage. Together they ruled the growing empire with compassion and generosity. In their happiness together, they forgave the wager of men who foolishly entered the race. A lifetime of love spread out before them, and they freed the colonists from work in the deadly mines.
THE END