Elong Way Home
This is a short piece written as homework for the Coventry Writers’ Group. The theme was ‘Mars’.
This seems especially topical right now. 😁
Elong Way Home
I stare as the rocket ship blasts its way into orbit. Horror washes over me.
They’ve gone.
I am now the only human being on the planet Mars.
In the film The Martian, Matt Damon’s character is left behind after his crewmates believed he was killed.
Yet nothing like that happened here.
I was out in the rover, chatting to my crewmates over a working radio link.
The radio went quiet, but I thought nothing of it. I’ll admit that small talk isn’t my thing, and after one-too-many political discussions, we’ve only been speaking when necessary.
There had been no indication that they were planning to leave.
I drive back to the main habitat. Somebody has added angled lines to the large letter X on the side of it. Yeah, very funny guys.
My wrist computer vibrates. A message from Earth.
A screen shot from a poll on X – how ironic.
Two options.
1) Bring him back.
2) Leave the tosser behind.
98.2% in favour of two.
Screw you I shout, before raising my arm straight, palm down, and saluting the vanishing ship.
It seems that paying for the trip isn’t enough to buy me loyalty.
Another vibration. This time a text message.
“Sorry Elon, the polls don’t lie – ditch you or I’ll never serve a fourth term. You’re fired, Donald.”
