The converter had been designed with one function: to turn ferrous
oxide, plain old rusted iron, into its components. In the force of its
ray, the oxide became free oxygen and molten iron. And the blood of a
human being is made up of, amongst other things, tiny cells which have
the presence of oxidized iron to thank for their bright red color.
When we got to Baxter, he was long past screaming. You can't make much
noise when you're a solid blister, ten feet in diameter.
* * * * *
"Hey, Jery," said Ted, on the rocket back to Earth. "How come you and
Snow fell in love so quick, hey?"
I looked from Snow, seated beside me on the lounge, my arm across her
shoulders, to the viewport, through which I could see the dwindling red
globe that was Mars.
"Well," I said, trying to think of an answer.
Across from us, squatting happily on a specially provided stool, was
Clatclit. As ambassador-elect of the Sugarfoot Nation to Earth, and
the first extraterrestrial permitted to land on our home planet, he
was mighty proud of his upcoming honor. Clatclit the sugarfoot clacked
something.