"At that time," said Axel, "we believed--and he did, too--that there would be suffering from lack of water. However, we have been able to distill water for irrigating the garden by using the vacuum of the air locks. There is plenty to drink--if we're careful not to waste it--and for our dehydrated food. We can even do a washing once in a while." He smiled and rubbed his hands over his dirty T-shirt. "Now it is not necessary to reduce the size of the crew because of lack of water." "Why didn't he wait before trying it in the first place?" I asked. "Morrie Grover had to be eliminated," Axel explained. "Spartan gave his reasons. He said there was no prison aboard the ship, hinting that Morrie should be confined. He figured that what had happened once could happen again; that Morrie might very well flip under further pressure." "And was I dangerous or unstable?" I demanded. "Neither," Gail broke in to answer for Axel, "but he considered you expendable and in his way." "You fought for Gail," Axel said. "Spartan wants no interference when he tries to have his way." "He's as crazy as poor Morrie," said Gail. "In a different way," said Axel, "I've known Doc a long time. Went to the moon with him. He's pushed by ambition and the dislike of sharing credit for a job well done. He was very disturbed when the newspapers gave a bigger play to the Loring-Drake wedding than to the objectives of the Mars flight. Spartan wanted to be the only hero." "Isn't that why we're all making this trip? To win credit, fame, glory--or whatever else you want to call it?" "Partly. There is also something else," said Axel. "The old college try," I said. "Just what is the reason for going to Mars? It's costing six billion dollars. We couldn't bring back anything worth that much." "Knowledge," said Gail. "Is it knowledge that'll do any good?" I asked. "We don't know," said Gail. "Remember Columbus? He was tossed into prison. People accused him of ruining the Spanish government through his crazy trips to far-off lands. There wasn't much gold, people said, without realizing that wasn't what really mattered; that the value of the discovery of the new world couldn't be figured in terms of dollars and cents. So will it prove it be, I'm sure, with Mars." "Okay," I said, "suppose the trip is worth it. Why are _we_ going? Particularly if there's no real money in it." "Soldiers don't get rich," said Axel. "And how many of them risk their lives to win wars, or even to save a comrade, or perform other acts of bravery." "Couldn't you call that glory seeking? Selfishness, in other words?" "Do you call martyrs glory seekers because they die for principles and beliefs?" "Not many men--sane ones, that is--become martyrs intentionally," I said.