The Secrets of Mars

By Andrew Orange

A Thrilling Science Fiction Dystopian Novella You Must Read

Dick, the orphaned son of a Russian military man and his African wife, is studying at a university in Moscow while enjoying a clandestine love affair with Julia, the daughter of a powerful and dangerous man. When their relationship is shattered by the father’s decision to forcibly marry her off, Dick is forced to leave Russia. He accepts an invitation from a mysterious organization called the International Scientific Institute of Space. He soon finds himself in the South Pacific, on the small island of Sidonia where many dangerous secrets are hidden.

"This is the second book I have read by Andrew Orange and I wasn't disappointed. It is a story with a lot of things in it that could actually be true today. .. The ending was unexpected. I enjoyed this book and recommend it."
-- Goodreads Reviewer

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Orange
• Release date: Mar 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9785604538524

Andrew Orange

Greetings!My pen name is Andrew Orange.More info:goodreads.com/Andrew_Orangefacebook.com/AndrewOrange2017buymeacoffee.com/andrew_orange

Book preview

The Secrets of Mars

Andrew Orange

Dick, the orphaned son of a Russian military man and his African wife, is studying at a university in Moscow while enjoying a clandestine love affair with Julia, the daughter of a powerful and dangerous man. When their relationship is shattered by the father’s decision to forcibly marry her off, Dick is forced to leave Russia. He accepts an invitation from a mysterious organization called the International Scientific Institute of Space. He soon finds himself in the South Pacific, on the small island of Sidonia where many dangerous secrets are hidden.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The Secrets of Mars Copyright ©2022 by Andrew Orange.

All rights reserved.

Translated from Russian into English by Andrew Orange

Editors Beth Dorward, Doreen Martens, and Jerry Shaw

Cover Art by Dane Low

eBook ISBN 9785604538524

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

By Andrew Orange

Notes

Chapter 1

Dick opened his eyes and lay motionless for a while. The small room was dark, with a faint light passing through the drawn gray curtain.

What time is it? Trying not to wake Julia, he reached for his wristwatch on the nightstand next to the bed.

Almost seven. Still have time to relax a little longer. Today is Sunday. There are no classes at the university. Well, even if there were some …

He looked at the girl. Julia was sleeping on her back next to him, her breathing even and quiet. Noticing the seductive curves under the white sheet, he felt aroused—and immediately chastised himself.

Stop it! Don’t be such a lustful pig. Think about something spiritual!

He had trouble thinking about spiritual things.

You had your reward last night, he reminded himself. And more than once! On the other hand, when are we going be together again—

A loud bang from the street made him flinch. Julia woke up immediately; her body tensed.

It’s all right, he hastened to tell her. Just a blown tire. In this apartment complex, a lot of people park their cars right in the yard.

It sounded like a shot, or an explosion, Julia said quietly. Her blue eyes looked anxiously at Dick.

I thought that at first, he admitted. But it’s unlikely. Irrational fear. We’re too used to being afraid of everything.

The girl didn’t answer. She straightened her tousled golden hair. What time is it?

About seven. We’re in no rush.

Julia took a deep breath. I have to confess something to you.

Are you pregnant? Dick asked.

No. Julia shook her head. We’ve always used condoms. It’s something else.

I don’t understand.

The problem is my father. You know who he is.

Dick sat up in bed abruptly and felt his fists clenching. Go on.

He found out we’re dating.

But how? We’ve been so careful. At the uni we hardly pay attention to each other. We don’t go anywhere. I’ve always rented out-of-the-way apartments like this, from random internet ads, and only for cash. I didn’t show anybody any documents; I always wore a dark hood and tried to keep my head down to avoid being seen on the surveillance cameras. Of course, the apartment owners understand what we’re doing, but you never can tell who fucks with whom.

It’s good enough for ordinary people. Julia sighed again. My father has access to Moscow’s face recognition system. He’s no fool, and he must have put some of his people in charge of watching me. Besides, Pogromov could have dropped a dime …

Dick was almost feeling physical pain. Julia was right. Her father, Petr Vladimirovich Ringov[1], was anything but a fool. The weak-minded do not reach such heights in the Russian hierarchy.

What does he want? Dick asked.

Me.

In what way?

In a very real one. Julia looked into his eyes. I’ve told you before, my father regards people solely as a way to strengthen his power. I’m not an exception. The only daughter meant to be sacrificed to his idol. He sacrificed my mother and didn’t regret her death at all. Now it’s my turn. Yesterday he called me to the mansion, said I’d disgraced the family honor, become a ‘frat mat for a stinking nigga,’ and whatnot. Of course, that was an act. The point is, we have to split up immediately. Forever and ever. My father has been wanting to marry me off for a long time, but now he’s made up his mind about a suitable candidate.

What a scumbag! How did you answer him?

It might have been stupid of me … The girl closed her eyes. I called him a maniac, a racist, and a fascist bastard. In general, I said the things I had dreamed of telling his KGB ghoul face for years. Even if he is my biological father.

What happened next?

He said he’d kill you. She spoke calmly, but her voice trembled slightly. And that I would marry the one he’d chosen regardless. In the supreme interests of the state, of course.

Dick squeezed the girl’s wrist. She saw beads of sweat on his dark skin and tension in those strong muscles.

Calm down. Julia carefully freed herself and placed her palm on her lover’s bare chest. His heart was beating at a frantic pace. I told my father that I overreacted and would accept my fate, provided that you were not harmed. Otherwise, I told him, I would kill my future husband. I’d stab him, right in bed or something else. Let them do whatever they want to me later. My father agreed to this. You are of no interest to him as such. I also insisted that I’d tell you everything myself, during our last date.

Dick calmed down a little, covered the girl’s hand with his own, and asked, Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?

I didn’t want to spoil our time together. We had a good time drinking, taking a shower—then you pounced on me. You almost broke this wretched bed. Such an alpha male!

I’m sorry, Dick muttered, confused. My heart was full.

Conceit, richer in matter than in words, brags of his substance, not of ornament, Julia recited with irony. Then she continued, "Don’t say sorry. You really are an alpha male. But with the ability to love. It’s a rare combination, but it happens. You are much better than all my previous ‘friends.’ They were so afraid of my father that they couldn’t even fuck me properly. Julia smiled. That’s why I chose you. But you need to know now what’s going on."

We’ve got to get out of here! Dick exclaimed in despair. Out of this city, from this country. I have some cash, five thousand bucks. That will be enough to—

I have twenty thousand dollars in cash, Julia interrupted. And also one million British pounds in my personal account in a London bank. Although it’s not easy to get access to it. It’s not about the money, Dick. If not for my father, we could escape without money. Thank God we’re both adults and healthy. I would marry you, as you wanted. But in this case …. Look, you’re a philologist. You know how this scenario ends.

Real life is not a play.

Life imitates art much more often than art imitates life.

This is not the time to talk about literature and philosophy, Julia. What do you suggest?

First of all, let’s not do anything stupid. Julia sat up in bed and put on the bathrobe spread out on the nearby chair. I must admit that we’re helpless at the moment. Where are we going to escape to? Mars? If we try to hide somewhere, they’ll catch us. Nobody will help us. They will kill you. My father could organize the assassination of the U.S. president if he wanted to. Or blow up those pretentious skyscrapers in New York again. He reminded me of that yesterday.

He suffers from delusions of grandeur.

Unfortunately, no. He really can kill anyone, anywhere. Almost. I know enough about his affairs. My future intended is also not a simple man. Tovarisch Win is one of the highest officials in the Communist Party of China. He’s sixty years old, but as rumors go, he’s in good physical shape. Fucks women every day, has more than a hundred illegitimate children. Now, for some reason, he needs an official wife. And he is interested in Russian territories. He has some kind of joint business with my father in Siberia, with great prospects for China. The Master has personally approved this deal. Nobody cares about our feelings. I will marry this Win ‘voluntarily’ to save your life.

And that’s it? Go down without a fight?

Yes, Julia