The Next Time We Die Read online

transmitted.

  The roustabout shook his fist at the native crouched under the car.

  "You got us this time," he yelled. "But we'll be back again. You can'tlick us. We'll get you if it takes another million years." The drivethat had brought _homo sapiens_ up from the mud flats was in his voice.

  His head began to swim. He took another deep breath. Beside him, thegirl lay completely silent. Only her eyes showed that she knew what hadhappened.

  McLean looked at her. There was still something that he wanted to say.His mind was fogging and he had difficulty in finding the words.

  "The next time through, I want to meet you earlier," he said at last. "Iwant us to have the chance we missed this trip, of a home and a bunchof--" He coughed. "And a bunch of kids," he ended.

  The girl said nothing. She was beyond the ability to speak. But sheunderstood him. The glow that came into her eyes made them as beautiful,and as full of promise, as the skies of Earth.

  McLean quietly laid down.

  The returning tribesmen danced their wild victory dance around the twohumans. Level and bare, the endless sands of Mars stretched far away.