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n。 We were well past the gravitational pull of the Moon。 How incredible it was to see that satellite up close。 For those moments of the flyby； I was a child again； staring up through a clear winter's sky and wondering； What's it like up there？ Now I knew； and it was giving me the chills。 I was actually sick from the sight of it； as if it were too much to take in； as if I were Moses approaching the burning bush。 But； of course； I was wrong。 That would e later。
〃We were in deep space。 Mars was beckoning us like a red titan。 We slept like dead men。 We were told that would happen on a mission of almost three years。 Day fatigue sets in。 Because we were hooked up to Mission Control； you knew just when we were awake and when we were asleep。 The funny thing was that I never dreamed。 I know I've said this over and over to the psychiatrists and they don't believe me because the hard medical evidence refutes it。 They told me your readouts showed I had REM every night cycle。 They insisted I dreamed； that I just never remembered my dreams。 Well； I may have had rapid eye movement； but I tell you that I did not dream。 I have always remembered my dreams； ever since I was a little boy。 And I think now that one reason I didn't dream was because I felt as if I was dreaming while I was awake。
〃Another thing is that the psychiatrists said I talk altogether too much about dreams。 They say I'm fixated on dreams。 But in the scheme of what happened to me up there； I'm convinced that not dreaming is significant； even if no one else does。 I know they think I'm lying or； at least； delusional about what happened during the event。 Otherwise I wouldn't still be here； and you wouldn't continue to interrogate me。 I know what you're like。 You hate a mystery； you'll tear apart heaven and earth to solve it。〃
The Hero abruptly began to laugh； continuing in a crescendo。 Through his tears he gasped； 〃Heaven and earth； that's very； very funny。 I don't know what's e over me。 Before I lifted off； I never had much of a sense of humor。 Who knows； perhaps being suspended between heaven and a living hell will do that for you。〃
Mars felt he had to pierce the encroaching silence before it got impenetrable。 〃What happened to Gregor？〃 he said。
〃No names！〃 the Hero shouted。 He was extremely agitated。 〃Goddamnit； I told you！ I warned you！ But you're a thick son…uvabiteh； you never listen！ Now fuck off！〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 Mars said。 〃I apologize。 I forgot。〃
〃Like hell you did。'' The Hero turned away； began an inprehensible conversation of clicks with Arbat。
Mars looked at Lara。 Her face was calm； firm。 Did he see the hint of a rebuke in her expression？
He tried again。 ''What should we call your partner who died？ Odysseus； did you hear me？〃
〃Menelaus；〃 the Hero said； without turning away from Arbat。
〃All right。 What happened to Menelaus？〃
〃He died；〃 the Hero said suddenly。 〃He was outside。 We were both suited up； although I was still inside the vehicle。 It was a typical EVA； planned way in advance。 Everything was fine。 Until 。 。 。〃He was silent for a long time。 〃What I think happened was that we encountered some kind of storm in the form of a shower of tiny particles； like minuscule meteors。 I heard a hollow sound； like someone throwing a handful of sand at the vehicle's hull。 Then I heard his voice。 It was already breaking up； and I knew it was an emergency。 I put on my helmet； got out of the airlock as quickly as I could。
〃What I saw 。 。 。 his helmet had been pierced by the burst of cosmic storm。 We were hanging in darkness； but there was this light all around。 I don't mean starlight； that's separate and distinct。 I saw what had happened to him in the illumination of this 。 。 。 light between the stars。 His visor had been riddled by the sand of space or of a far distant world。 Who knows the truth？ We never will； that's for certain。
〃All the atmosphere； the pressure； had been sucked out of his EVA suit in the time it took me to get to him。 He was hanging there； at the end of his umbilical。 The expulsion from inside his suit had created a force； and he was spinning； spinning。 His eyes were staring straight ahead； and he was 。。。 I don't know how to say this properly because it was so horrible 。。。 he was smiling； as if in defiance of the bruises and contusions that puckered his face like the seas of the Moon。 Then I had him； stopped his spinning and drew him back toward the vehicle。 I knew he was dead。 I knew there was nothing I could do for him。
〃Then I got a good look at his face。 It was as if； I don't know； something had blasted his eyes。 At first I assumed some of the cosmic sand had penetrated him。 But then I knew that couldn't be because only his eyes were affected。〃
Silence again； and Mars was obliged to say； 〃What happened to Menelaus's eyes？ What did you see there？〃
The Hero put his head down。 〃What's the use of going on？ You won't believe me because your forensic evidence contradicts my story。〃
〃No。 The evidence doesn't corroborate what you've told us。 That isn't the same thing。 Forensics on Menelaus were utterly inconclusive。 The truth is； we could tell nothing from his corpse。 It was as if it had been wiped clean of evidence。 How did he die； what happened to cause his suit to malfunction…or yours； format matter…what happened to him during those crucial minutes when he was on the EVA； when you were struggling to get to him？ Of one thing we're sure： there was an interplanetary disturbance of some sort。 Our telemetry went down during the event。 We had no monitoring capability。 We don't know。〃
The Hero raised himself up in his wheelchair。 ''I've told you what happened。〃
〃Yes；〃 Mars said slowly。 〃You have。〃
〃But no one believes me。〃
〃Frankly； what you've told us makes belief somewhat difficult。〃 Mars nodded。 〃Yes。 There are some who think you're lying； or have misremembered； or are delusional。〃
The Hero's eyes locked on Mars's。 〃Are you one of those？〃
He knew this was a crucial moment。 There es a time in every interrogation when the pendulum begins to swing the other way； when psychologically an enemy can be transformed into a friend。 This moment es for many reasons： the subject wants an end to isolation； or he can no longer distinguish the truth from fantasy； or his disorientation has bee so acute he cannot properly recognize his own emotions。 The Hero was far stronger and smarter man the average subject。 In his case； he had asked the fatal question because Mars had allowed him to see partway inside of him。 The Hero required a kindred spirit； someone beyond either Lara or Arbat； who were both inplete entities； though in totally different ways。
Mars knew immediately that the Hero would sense a lie。 He was vulnerable； but that only made him doubly dangerous。 Mars would not fall into the trap that had destroyed many an interrogator： mistaking vulnerability for weakness。
Mars said； 〃The truth is； I don't know what to believe。 The forensics are useless； and those of us who stubbornly cling to scientific principles are； I think； missing the point。〃 He left his hands open and palms up as a subtle reinforcement。 〃I don't believe you're lying。 What reason would you have to do so？ And the chances of you misrememberin