It’s wonderful.”“No kidding? You’ve taken it up?”“Through the mountains near base camp. Just for fun. He says it’s a snap here for a unit like that since the atmosphere is so thick, and it’s even more so down here I notice. ‘Here’ being at sea level, or nearly.”“Let me get this straight. You flew his new toy up over base camp?”“Yes. What’s the problem?”“Nothing.” She’s something.Carol and I have taken some time to be alone and explore for a few days. At the moment we are at 31 West and 9 South on a small dune at the base of a tall bluff right where one of the planet’s continents meets the ocean. Majestic. The bluff is one of several that extend as far as the eye can see north and south of us. Our view of the western horizon is clear and magnificent. In the far north the horizon is obscured by clouds or mist or rain.“It’s something here, isn’t it.” She says as a statement, not as a question. I nod, not knowing if she sees me nod, but knowing that she is aware that I agree.
