Via Kalium

The van was similar to a Ford Winstar - the kind that Dan's paparazzi colleagues were accustomed to pursuit, in the demand for newsflash photos - with a slight higher ceiling and a dark grey painting. The windows had darkened glass, preventing them from being see-through from the outside.

- A star gazer...! - said Dan with a fake cynical modulation - it isn't quite what you'd expect from a lawyer.
- You surely know that people usually aren't quite what they seem to be. So, and you, Mr. Medetre, what do you do when you feel like an alien to everybody else, simply... displaced ? How do you placate your sense of inadequacy ? Surely it isn't star watching...
He paused for an instant, before answering. The conversation was getting to an unbelievably deep level. In any other day it would seem out of context.
- Well, my day job is journalism. And out of work... I guess I'm a journalist too. I kind of like a roaming life, always in a search for something. You never know how tomorrow can be. And I can maintain my freedom of thought.

The car left the main road and took a bumpier detour way. The driver did the turns in a jilted manner, as if he was nervous.
- You speak more like a philosopher. A man in search for the truth. I can only think that you are on the right career. Is that wandering spirit what brings you to this part of the country, Mr. Medetre ?
- Actually, no. I came here to meet my sister. I haven't seen her for quite a while, so I thought I could pay her a visit.
- A soft spot in a seemingly hard shell, no? Isn't she a bit grown up to have her older brother acting like a babysitter?
Dan laughed with the unexpected comment.
- I'm starting to like lawyers.

Madam Colta ignored the comment and leaned her head to the window, her eyes fixed at the sky. Then she pointed to a dot far away.
- Over there is the constellation of Taurus. The legend has it that a group of stars in Taurus take their name, Pleiades, from the offspring of the mighty Atlas. There were seven daughters and an older brother, named Hyas, who was killed by a lion in combat. Hyas' sisters, the Hyades, when they learned of the grieving news, cried and mourned him indefinitely; Zeus pitied them and converted the girls into stars. Thus, Pleiades can also be called Hyades, which in turn comes from the name Hyas.
- I'm impressed. I'm probably going to buy an astronomy book and start...

He was cut off mid sentence. The car driver, who was wearing sunglasses, ("At night ?", thought Dan), and hardly spoke during the trip, leaned back, turned slightly and said in a monotone voice:
- Madam Colta, we're arriving at Uhra town, as you requested.
He sounded like the Terminator.
- Thank you, Jim. - she replied - Mr. Medetre, I hope you don't surprise you sister, arriving in an unplanned way.
- I guess she's at the station. I can always say I took the touristic tour.
The "geology guy", who had earlier commented on the cliff, and was sitting behind, began to grab his luggage.
- This is my stop, too. Mrs Colta, you seem to have fallen of the sky. Fortunately, I don't have many cases. Nothing like traveling light.
- Thank you. I've been more than flattered tonight. It's a pity the circumstances, though.

The shades of buildings were now visible, after the sets of trees that were appearing at road side. The car turned left beyond the first group of houses, and stopped.
Dan, and the other man, who was named Eliah Pecora, stepped out of the car and said farewell. The van drove away rapidly.

- And now I have to go to the station and hope that my sister is still there - said Dan.
- The station is in the other side of the town. I have a house a couple of blocks from here, so I won't go that far, but I can lead you to it. You can follow me and you'll arrive there in no time - answered Pecora, helpful.
- Thanks.
The two men walked further into the city, with the feeling that something wasn't right. The street lights were intermittent. Some buildings had light, but most of them were in the dark.
- Did you noticed ? - said Pecora - You don't hear anything. I mean, I know this town is small, but it's all so quiet that I can hear myself breath. It's so weird.
- You're right. It's not natural. And what's this smell ? It's kind of salty, no ?
The ground was all granulated; it felt like walking on sand.

Suddenly Eliah realized something, halted, and kneeled:
- Do you have a lighter ? Something to give light... - he asked.
- I have my watch. It gives a pretty good light. What's happening ?
Dan detached his wrist watch and handed it to Eliah.
- Look, the ground, it's all greyish - Eliah was completely puzzled - Now I know what these flakes are. I guess this substance was in that abominable crater too.
- Tell me. Tell me what is it - said Dan, wondering.
- It's potassium. Potassium, or more appropriately, potassium chloride is all around in the land. This is why the soil is all grainy. Potassium's natural colour is white, but it oxidizes in reaction with air, turning grey.
- Potassium in the ground ? Why ?
- I haven't the slightest clue!