Log entry Sol 393
My goal today is to find the extra antenna, if there is one, though there has to be, right? NASA wouldn't have sent us with just one. What if it had broken when the supply probe landed? Yeah, everything is packed carefully, but you just never know.
Log entry Sol 393 (2)
I thought it would be easy to find the antenna. Nope, not a chance. I should have known better. I did find our manifest and NASA did send an extra, no surprise there. However, even though Lewis made us put everything away where it belonged, well, I haven't been sticking with that. What? I've been here a year, things move around. I move things around.
Not sure why I thought it would be so easy. I should know better by now. I've moved and shoved boxes into any available space I could find to clear the floor for my farm and to consolidate what I need daily into an easy-to-access area.
Looks like I'll be running out to the rover to update JPL and then I'll be searching for the rest of the day unless I get lucky and it's in the first box I look in.
Who am I kidding? I'd never be that lucky.
Log entry Sol 393 (3)
I wasn't that lucky, but it took me less time than I thought it would. The antenna was in the third box I opened. Still, pretty damn lucky. Now I just have to install it and hope that that means the messages can come here to the Hab instead of me having to go out to the rover. I can keep going to the rover, that's fine. It's just boring waiting there for messages. At least if I were in the Hab I could get things done in between. It would also be really good for my CO2 filter supply if I don't have to keep going out there. I think I'll fix it and install it before I let JPL know. They'll probably see me with the satellite anyway or with Pathfinder photos. I'm pretty sure they take pictures whenever they can. Nothing like being watched. Never thought I'd have paparazzi trying to snag an elusive pic of me.
[13:31] WATNEY: Antenna replaced, dish installed
[13:43] JPL: We saw, good job. Communications is working on it now.
[13:56] WATNEY: You saw? Ok tinfoil hat needed, you bunch of creepers
[13:57] WATNEY: Joking btw, just in case some stiffs didn't get that.
[13:58] WATNEY: But send foil in the next supply probe, please ;)
[14:11] JPL: You're not half as amusing as you think you are Watney
[14:24] WATNEY: No, I'm twice as amusing as you think I am. You just don't appreciate my wit.
[14:25] WATNEY: Who am I talking to today?
[14:38] JPL: Who do you think? And you're not getting any foil unless you have a valid use for it. Communications says it may be a few hours before they know if they can use the dish
[14:50] WATNEY: Love you too Super Nerd ;) Well if it's going to be a while. I'm not going to keep hanging out in the rover. Nothing to do here. I'll go back to the Hab where I have work to do. I'll check back before I go to bed, and I'll keep an eye on the computer in there. Don't bother sending a reply. I'll let you know when I'm back.
Log entry Sol 393 (4)
So now I'm back in the Hab waiting. I want to check the computer, but I don't. It doesn't matter because it's not like I'm going to lose communication, but it would be so nice to be able to do that from the comfort of home instead of having to put on that damned suit every time I need to talk to someone. I told Beth I was coming back in to do some work. Yeah, I'm not working. There are things I could do but I'm not doing them. I'm wasting time. I have plenty of it to spare. I've been doing laps for nearly an hour now. Every time I get near the computer I turn around and go the other way. It's a great activity but it's not helping. I need to just look and see if it's worked.
Log entry Sol 393 (5)
I finally broke down and checked, nothing yet. I could go back out to the rover for an update but I don't want to get back into my EVA suit. I'll just wait longer.
Log entry Sol 393 (6)
Last log for today. I'm not checking again. I'm going to bed. I'll check in the morning and be ready to head out to the rover.
Log entry Sol 394
IT WORKED! It took longer than I expected. I was sure when I went to bed last night that it wasn't going to happen, but this morning there it was: a message from Beth on my computer.
Watney,
We think the communications have linked to the Hab. Message me when you receive this so we can be sure. Good job fixing and installing the satellite dish. I can't believe you didn't trash it.
Johanssen
Johanssen,
Hope you weren't up all night waiting for me to respond, but you know if you were you can go to bed now. I can't even tell you how happy I am to be able to just walk to the computer to check the mail. Can't wait to be able to get things done while we talk and not just sit and do nothing in the rover. I thought about trashing the damn thing. It deserved it for trying to kill me, but I just couldn't do it.
Watney
Watney,
You're crazy if you think I'd stay up all night just waiting to hear from you. Glad you're happy to stay inside, but you can't become some kind of hermit you know. There are things to do outside and you have to do them. Don't bother with the excuse of the CO2 filters; more are coming in supply probes. Bet you're enjoying sleeping late and not having Lewis threatening to dump you out of bed. Lucky!
Johanssen
Log entry Sol 395
E-mail, I finally have e-mail again. So many emails. Like a major dump. I wonder how long they've been sitting waiting to be sent. I guess since they finally contacted me with Pathfinder or maybe just since we hacked the rover. The first one I clicked on was from my parents. What? Did you expect anything different? Sometimes a guy just needs to hear from his mom, and it's been a long damned time since I've heard from my mom. Way too long.
Mark honey,
I don't know where to start… Hold on darling, just hold on. I know that NASA is doing everything it can to get supplies to you and to help you. Your crew, well all the Ares crews really, are determined to get you help and get you home.
Do you remember the community garden you helped start down the street? They've named it after you. There was an argument that they should change it back when it was announced that you are still alive. They only want to name things after dead people
IDIOTS!
Ignore that, your father typed over my shoulder, though he's not wrong.
Anyway, when they found out about the potatoes and green beans they changed their minds again. So it's now the Mark Watney Community Garden.
You also have a stamp. The post office is in a panic because they made commemorative stamps with your astronaut photo. Now they're trying to get them all back because they only do stamps of dead people, which you are not. Don't worry, someone sent us a set that you can keep.
Dad here, your mother had to answer her phone. You are so grounded, for the rest of your life buddy, when you get back to Earth that is. Potatoes and green beans huh? Didn't think we'd raised a vegetarian but I guess you don't have a choice. Well, no worries I'll take you out for a nice steak dinner, you can skip the baked potato. I love you, son. We'll write again tomorrow.
You are grounded by the way. I'm with your Dad on that, grounded to Earth that is, and maybe grounded to only places that can be reached by car. We'll see how it goes when you get back. Love you, darling. "Talk" to you soon.
Mom
I love my parents and they're not wrong. Those community garden people are idiots. The neighborhood association fought me tooth and nail about even putting that garden in. They just didn't understand why it was needed or think anyone would use it. I had to go door to door to find enough people supporting it to get them to agree. I did a good old-fashioned neighborhood canvassing with a petition. It worked and they finally gave in and let me start planting. About five others who had signed the petition also planted plots in the garden. As it grew, and word spread, the paper wrote a story about it. Then it was featured as a local feel-good story on the news, and they wanted to claim credit for it. You'd think they'd never met my mother. She set the record straight, on camera. It was awesome!
I'm ok with being grounded to Earth. I highly doubt NASA would ever let me fly again anyway. I may not ever be in shape to fly again. It's gonna be a long haul getting back into condition to handle a full G when I've been here for four years and then spend a year traveling back on Hermes. Oh yeah, we can spin up Hermes to more than the quarter g I'm at now, but it's gonna have to be done slowly for me to adjust. That is gonna be a problem for the Ares IV crew and I only just now thought of that. I'm not going to assume that someone else has. I'll bring it up in my next conversation.
Dear Mark,
We here at the University of Chicago wanted to inform you that according to our understanding of colonization, you are now the first colonist of Mars. Planting and harvesting your potatoes has earned you this title.
Congratulations!
Albert W Grimes
President
University of Chicago
So I colonized Mars huh? In your face, Neil Armstrong. Ok, that was a bit much. I mean, the man is a hero. Not only a national hero but a worldwide hero, except for those morons who think the moon landings were faked. I just don't understand how anyone can be that dumb. Do they believe hundreds of thousands of people were in on the conspiracy, but it never came out? Not even if it were only a hundred people.
Hey, my name will now always be in the history books, and not just for not dying when everyone thought I did. Pretty cool!
Mark,
You have amazed the world and become the ultimate model of perseverance. I am incredibly proud to call you an American. Be assured we will do all we can to be sure the funding is provided to support you until Ares IV arrives and to get you home.
Sincerely,
President Charles Young
Well, that was nice. Glad to know the president is on my side. Then again that's one of the reasons I voted for him, due to his support of the space program. It would have been nice if he'd said that he was also trying to make sure there's still funding after Ares IV but I guess he can only guarantee so much at once. Well, when I get back to work I can work on those Congresspeople. That might be my best future: speaking out for the space program.
Watney,
I'm not sure what to say other than I'm sorry. If I had known they weren't taking images of the site I would have made them. I should never have left you. I will do everything I can to make sure we get you back. We have a large team working on every idea we can come up with. Just keep doing what you're doing and know that we're doing everything we can.
Lewis,
She's beating herself up about this even though it's not her fault. I knew she would. Nothing I can say will talk her out of it but I can try.
Lewis,
There's nothing you could have done. It's not your fault. I'm fine. I'll be fine. I'll be home before you know it. Relax, I'm sure you're doing all you can, but you have nothing to make up for, so stop trying. Just relax. You're not going to listen to me, are you? Why do I even ask? I know you won't. Seriously, you had no way of knowing I was alive. I thought I was going to die when that thing hit me. No one could make Sanders do anything. They didn't tell you on purpose. They knew you were grieving, keeping the crew together, trying to keep morale up and come on, you know Sanders knew that you would argue. I'm going to live and make it back just so I can convince you in person that it's not your fault. I'll hound you till the end of your days, or mine, whichever comes first. I might just hire someone to keep hounding you after I die if I go first. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT!
Watney
Watney,
I don't know what to say, man. I'm sorry doesn't seem like nearly enough. It's my fault we left you behind. I said you were dead. I called it. I didn't want to lose Lewis too or anyone else if the MAV tipped but I should have known. We should have found a way to stay. We could have found you and all been together. We could have kept the MAV from tipping. We should have thought of that to begin with. I can't apologize enough. I owe you beers for a lifetime when you get back.
Beck
Yep, saw this coming too. He's never gonna let this go. I understand why but he didn't know. Not sure I can talk him out of feeling this way any more than Lewis. We're all a bunch of hard-headed astronauts.
Beck,
I'm taking you up on that beer offer so don't even think of reneging, but not because it's your fault I'm here. I'm doing it because I'm not gonna turn down an offer of free drinks. Besides after four years here and another nearly year to get home, I'm gonna be a cheap date. A single beer and I'll probably hit the floor. Look, man, you did what you had to do. Everyone else is safe because of you and Lewis. There was no other choice, and you had no way of knowing. I was just unconscious and not dead. Even if any of you had found me, you'd have thought I was dead, lying there with a piece of antenna sticking out of my side, unresponsive. It's not like you could have taken my pulse. I looked dead. I'm sure of it without even seeing what I looked like. Stop blaming yourself. I know, I know you're not going to listen but I had to say it. Looking forward to that first beer. How bout we have it with a big old messy cheeseburger? Yeah, I know, it's fatty and unhealthy, but you know you love to splurge now and then and this deserves it.
Watney
Watney,
Damn man, you needed attention this bad? Really? Living alone on a deserted planet has the attention of the entire world. I know you were hard up for dates here on Earth, but this is a pretty crazy way to get laid. It's gonna be years until you're home. By that time, is it even gonna be worth it?
Kidding! Oh man, I don't know what else to say. I'm so damned glad you're alive, and so damned sorry we left you. I'm also pissed as hell at Sanders. Not much I can do about that now. He's taken care of.
Why the hell is it so hard to figure out what to say right now? When we're hanging out it's easy. Well, that's it I guess. Be a BeeGee man.
Martinez
Did he just? Oh no he didn't! Damn it!
Martinez,
You jackass! Disco?! What the ever-loving Fuck? I'm gonna stay alive because I'm gonna come back and get your ass for that! Next time we karaoke, I'm picking all your songs!
Look, just because you're jealous that I'm gonna get all the girls and you're already tied down for life… lol. Tell that ultra-patient, crazy-to-keep-putting-up-with-you wife of yours I'm gonna be expecting some of her awesome cooking when I get back.
Watney
Watney,
You asked me more than once if I am a supervillain. I see now that was because you are the supervillain and you were covering it up. You "died" and came back like a supervillain. You have a secret hideout. None of us can see what you're doing in the Hab anymore. You have the world working for you. Yes, my friend, I must conclude that you are indeed the supervillain. I am not. However, if you need an evil henchman when you return to Earth I'm willing to take the position.
Vogel
Holy crap he's right! I'm the villain, damn! Or maybe he's still the villain.
Vogel,
I'm not falling for it. You know I'm the superhero, and you left me here so you could go back to Earth to do your evil deeds. It didn't work. I shall return and stop you. Of course, if you want to join the side of good, you can still come work for me.
Watney
Watney,
You'd better come home alive and stop with the dumb shit. If I have to break your mother's heart again or hold her while she freaks out, I'm gonna kill you. This is not what I signed up for.
Your parents are wonderful by the way. They thought they'd lost you and since I lost my parents, so they've kind of adopted me. I'm living about a half-hour from them, teaching at Northwestern. We spend lots of time together, just thought you should know.
Your big "sis"
Rhodes
Rhodes,
This is exactly what you signed up for, sort of. I am sorry, though. I wondered if you were still around. I thought you were going to leave NASA and was curious if you had. Professor huh? Bet you've got tons of students with the hots for you. And I just realized I've never been so glad I didn't sleep with someone. Thanks for that "sis."
Watney
Log entry Sol 395 (2)
Damn it's good to hear from everyone. Nearly as good as actually talking to them. I'm probably going to read all of these emails before bed tonight, maybe tomorrow, and the night after. I'm off to do just that.