After meeting the Broker, we got herded into five red buses, and the electric motors whirred as we took off. Sitting next to a window and beside Riya, I got a chance to do some sightseeing. The main road was paved, but most side roads were graveled, like back home, and the trucks moving on them kicked up dust clouds.

Ares Central was the biggest city on Mars, although tiny compared to Earth's overcrowded mega-cities. The city surrounded the space elevator terminal, which, for some reason, had to be on the equator — something about physics. Just about everyone coming or going passed through here.

Near the space elevator were mainly big warehouses. Men and loader-bots scurried about, moving around gray plas-steel crates like squirrels with acorns. I supposed most off-world freight went through here, too.

Most of the buildings had reddish-brown adobe-type walls with arched plas-steel supports, some fairly big. But when I saw one being built, I understood why. A big moving nozzle on a bridge crane squirted out adobe goo like a giant 3D printer. Must be how they built things around here.

I saw dome-roofed houses made of the same stuff, most with gardens behind, but we never drove among them. Instead, we stopped at a boxy multi-story building with a front door overhang. Must be where they'd put us up. Riya and I shared a little dorm-like room on the third floor with communal facilities down the hallway.  

After dinner, when the sun hung low, I got an itching to look around. We weren't supposed to leave the premises, but since when did I follow rules?

"No, thank you," Riya said with a yawn when I invited her to go along. "I am going to bed early, so I will be rested when I meet my new husband."

Didn't know what that meant. Might be she hooked men fast.

Sneaking like a barnyard fox, I slipped outside into the twilight. The setting sun painted a right pretty picture across the high clouds — my first Martian sunset.

There wasn't much happening as I walked along the street. Crossed paths with a few Martians, and they seemed friendly enough. Most of them were men, like the brochure said, and some of them did the wandering eye thing as I passed — had to admit, it made me feel good, but I wasn't looking for any attention.

After a ways, I came to a well-lit tavern called the Red Dawn Pub. It was built in the same adobe-style as the other buildings, except for big front picture windows. I peeked inside.

Now, I ain't the kind of gal who normally walks into bars alone, but this joint seemed safe. The people inside, working men and women I gathered, looked like they were having a good time drinking, socializing, and playing bar games. Weren't crowded, but not sparse either. I had a few credits to spend and a cold beer sounded good, so I wandered in the open door.

It had a classic pub feel, more family like than some of the sleazy places back home. A square-shaped polished fake-wood bar surrounded with padded stools took up the middle space. Inside the square, a couple white-aproned bartenders filled drinks, while a cute barmaid with a tray held high shuffled drinks out to the crowd. Several round tables with chairs took up most of the remaining floor space. In the back, people lined up to play on two old-fashioned dart boards.

I never go looking for trouble — okay, maybe sometimes I do — but trouble's always looking for me.

Working my way around the tables, I caught a tall, blonde-haired man eyeing me up. Before I could move away, he put a hand against the wall by the front window, blocking my path. Another hand blocked by retreat, pinning me in. He had a rugged, muscular handsomeness by some standards, but totally lacked in the charm department. 

"Hey, darling," he said with alcohol enhanced bravado. Two henchmen dudes with mindless grins took positions beside him. "You're new here, aren't you? Let me show you around?"

"No, thanks," I answered, returning a glare as my heart rate went up. "I'll find my own way."

A shifty grin formed on his lips. "You'll like it. I promise."

When he reached a hand toward my cheek, I swatted it away. "I ain't that desperate, slick."

One cohort snickered, but clamped his mouth shut when Slick shot him the evil eye.

"Don't you know who I am?" he spat at me, literally.

"Oh, oh, let me guess. A human participation award? Why God gave us a middle finger? Am I gettin' warm?"

Why did my mouth do that?

"Real funny. I am Damion Barnes, and you best remember that. My father runs the Mars Land Bank, and—"

"That supposed to mean somethin'?" I said, interrupting his spiel with an eye roll. "The last low-life who cornered me like this got kneed where it hurts. Thought you should know."

I grunted as this low-life grabbed my shoulders and pushed me hard against the wall. Gritting teeth, he moved his snarling face closer, almost touching nose-to-nose. But his breath reminded me of a chicken coop that needed cleaning. If I had any sense, I would have been scared, but mostly I was pissed off.

"Good God," I said, scrunching my face, "use some mouthwash or somethin'."

"You need to learn some manners, twat," he growled, drawing blue eyes to narrow slits.

I was about to make good on my kneeing threat when another voice said, "Let her be."

Damion swung around to meet the challenger, a lanky, dark-haired man with a thin mustache and narrowed eyes. He was about my age, or a little older, I reckoned. "This isn't any of your business," Damion hissed.

"It is now," the man said, folding his arms. "That's no way to treat a lady."

Damion took a step forward toward the man, puffing up like a rooster. "You can't take me."

"Maybe, maybe not," he replied with a shrug. "But do you think your rich daddy's going to like you being in a pub brawl?"

By now, we were drawing a crowd. Damion huffed as he glanced around at the onlookers, then back at little 'ol me. "You're not worth it."

I couldn't resist a final taunt. Holding up a hand, I wiggled my fingers and said in a sweet voice, "Ba-bye, slick."

"This isn't over," Damion snarled, then stomped out of the tavern with his companions. Seeing the situation resolved, the crowd dispersed.

My rescuer came closer and put on a half grin, with greenish-hazel eyes that were nothing but warm. If I was looking for a man to court me, he would be on the list. But I ain't.

"Sorry about that," he said, extending a hand. "My name is Walt."

"Mavis," I said, putting my hand in his for a gentle shake. "Thank ya' much for standin' up for me, but I hope I didn't get you in trouble."

Walt shrugged. "It's nothing. He'll probably forget all about it by morning." He released my hand. "Did you just get in with all the other women?"

"Yeah. And it didn't take me long to find trouble."

"Well, welcome to Mars, Mavis. Let me buy you your first drink?"

"Okay."

Taking seats on the bar stools, Walt held up two fingers to a bartender. "Two Martian specials, please."

Without words, the bartender poured a bottled amber liquid into shot glasses and slid them over to us.

"What's this?" I asked, wrinkling my forehead.

"Martian whiskey," Walt answered. "Liquid therapy."

After we clinked glasses, I took a sip, and the alcoholic vapors tickled my nose. "This got a mighty kick."

"Good for whatever ails you."

Together, we threw back the drinks. I puckered up as the heat flowed down my throat and then spread through my whole body. It was like the moonshine back home, but a whole lot smoother. "This is good."

"Tell me if I am wrong, Mavis," he said, smirking as he put down the shot glass. "But I'm thinking your tongue gets you into trouble sometimes?"

"Maybe a time or two," I answered with a shrug, under-counting by a lot. "And maybe I could have handled Damion better."

"Maybe, but no matter. Have you met your new husband yet?"

"Oh, I ain't getting' hitched. Got other plans."

Walt grinned. "You didn't read the contract, did you?"

"Nobody reads the fine print." Suddenly, my eyes shot full open. "What do you mean?"

"They choose a husband for you. It's an arranged marriage, and you're legally obligated."

A panic tornado stirred up my gut. Now, it all made sense — Pa setting this up, all the personal questions on the form, and what the other gals implied. "Oh, hell no! I ain't gonna be some mail-order bride." I jumped off the stool. "Thanks again for rescuing me and the drink, Walt, but I gotta go clear this up."

No, no, no... This couldn't be. Standing outside the tavern under the stars, tingles crawled down my spine as I shuffled through the emigration contract on my com-viewer. Like most legal documents, it went on forever. But there it was under the section called responsibilities — 'Upon arrival, the emigrant shall within two days enter into legal matrimony with a Martian man selected to be most compatible.'

"Nope. Ain't gonna happen," I muttered to myself. 

Surely, they couldn't make me marry someone? I scrolled on to the penalties section and read, 'Failure by the emigrant to comply with contract provisions will result in civil and criminal penalties.'

Great.

I shook my fist at the sky. "Damn ya, Pa!"

There seemed only one real option for me — get the hell out of Dodge.

Heart pounding a million beats per minute, I rushed back to the dorm building, raced up the stairs, and switched on the light as I entered my room. Zipping open my bag, I crammed all my stuff inside.

"What are you doing, Mavis?" Riya asked from her bed, sleep still in her eyes.

"Fixin' to skedaddle," I replied. "Did you know they were gonna hitch us up?"

"It is in the contract. We all knew."

"We ain't some breedin' livestock," I ranted. Putting hands on my hips, I glared at Riya. "And you're just gonna let 'em?"

The hurt in Riya's young eyes cut into my heart. "Mavis, you don't know what it was like in Mumbai. The famines, the gangs..." a shiver cut off her words and she wrapped arms around herself. "I had to get away. Whatever husband they pick for me will be better."

Guilt didn't set well in my gut. This was survival for her, and maybe most of the gals. "I'm sorry, Riya, but this ain't for me. A pleasure meetin' ya."

"Fare well, my friend," she said with a genuine smile.

After a tearful hug, I snuck out the door and tip-toed down the dim stairway. But when I opened the lobby door, looking back to make sure I wasn't followed, I ran smack dab into the Broker. He was twice my size, so it was an abrupt stop.

"Where do you think you're going, girlie?" He growled, looking all mean like.

"I ain't marryin' nobody."

He poked a fat finger into my chest, snarling, "Yes, you are! You signed the contract, girl, and we paid big money to bring you here."

Standing tall, I folded my arms and struck a defiant pose. "You can't make me!"

Right away, I knew I shouldn't have said that. With a fierce growl, the Brocker slung me over his shoulder like a sack of chicken feed, then he hauled me up upstairs. All my kicking and cussing didn't make a difference. Riya nearly jumped out of bed as he shoved the dorm room door open, banging it against the backstop.

I grunted as he threw me down on my bed. Leaning over, he glared at me and yelled, "You're getting married tomorrow, even if we have to hog-tie your arse!" Then he stomped out, slamming the door behind him, followed by a click.

"Are you all right, Mavis?" Riya said, wide-eyed.

I sat up and smoothed my t-shirt. "The Broker didn't much 'preciate me leavin' like that."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Nobody gonna make me get hitched."

First, I checked the door. Locked from the outside — figured as much. Then I gazed out the window. It was dark outside with like a billion stars twinkling in the sky. A grin came to me as my mind schemed.

Turning to Riya, I asked, "Can I borrow your sheets?"

"What?"

*****

I waited until midnight to make my escape. The moon Deimos outshined the stars, but not nearly as bright as Earth's moon. No time for stargazing. After giving Riya another goodbye hug, I tossed my bag out the little window, then shimmied through and climbed down the tied sheets rope. Graceful, I wasn't — banging my knees and elbows into the rough wall while mumbling a few choice words.

The makeshift rope didn't reach all the way to the ground, but with Mars' lower gravity, I figured I could jump the last bit. An odd feeling it was falling slow, and I stuck the landing like a pro gymnast.

After I waved goodbye to Riya and she hauled the sheets back up, a troubling question occurred to me — now what? Not like I knew anyone around here. Maybe I hadn't thought this all the way through.

Rounding behind the building, a shuffling noise made me jerk, and with my heart pitter-patting away, I hugged the wall within the darkest shadows. Someone else was escaping the same way I did, draping tied sheets from a second-floor window. Was it another gal not wanting to get hitched like me?

The mystery person reached the ground, then looked back and forth like an escaping prisoner. I tip-toed closer in the darkness to see who it was. But this wasn't one of the gals.

"Walt, what are you doin' here?" I said, breaking the quietness.

With a yelp, Walt just about jumped out of his skin like he saw a ghost. After staring a bit, he said, "Mavis, is that you?"