THE BLUE TREASURE_by Camilla Tamborrino

Many years had passed since the world's population had been decimated and life on Earth had completely changed because of the water shortage. There were no more states and governments, only small communities in constant struggle with each other for the possession of the few resources left on Earth. There were no more buildings, schools, hospitals, everything had been destroyed during the battles and wars.  Everyone’s only thought was survival, even if this meant killing other people.

The only hope left was to look for water on Mars, the only planet where there may be some.A team of volunteers was created that would travel to Mars and try to save the planet Earth. The team was composed of archaeologists, biologists and chemists led by professor Reyes, an ex Us Marine who had become professor of biochemistry at the end of his military service.

After years of research and unfruitful attempts, Captain Reyes and his team were finally ready to leave the Earth and head towards Mars for the most important mission of all times. As soon as they had landed on the Martian soil they begun to drill the ground, because they suspected there could be a net of underground rivers just beneath the surface. But none of them was prepared to what they saw the minute they reached the underground quarries.

After the red dust raised by the diggers settled, the astronauts were shocked to see a large stone staircase. What was a staircase doing on Mars? Wasn’t Mars uninhabited?

Everyone stood motionless, staring blankly at the staircase, until Captain Reyes finally began walking down the stairs without a word. Everyone quietly followed the captain and descended the cave for what seemed an eternity. Once they reached the bottom of the staircase,  they couldn’t quite wrap their minds about what awaited for them in the dusk:  a group of buildings that looked like the Egyptian Pyramids.

Those “Red Pyramids” were the same as those we have on Earth, the only difference was their vibrant scarlet color and the symbols on their walls, that bore some resemblance to hieroglyphics. The astronauts were shocked by this discovery. They walked around the pyramids and behind the largest of them, they found a huge temple carved in stone, with tall columns at its sides. The astronauts went in and, at the feet of  a huge statue, they met a small creature with dry red skin and long arms with bony hands and long nails. The creature was wearing dirty rags covered in red dust, and didn’t seem to notice their presence.

As Captain Reyes slowly stepped forward and touched its back, the creature turned and stood silent for a moment, staring at the astronauts with its small black eyes.  Suddenly it opened his mouth and began to speak.  Everyone was surprised to hear the creature deliver its speech in fluent English: “Humans! We know why you are here! We have been observing you since you left the Earth on your shiny rocket. You are looking for the blue treasure. For a long time, my people has travelled among galaxies in search of water.” Said the creature with an inhuman voice.

“We have already lived on your planet many years before the human race was born. We couldn’t force ourselves to destroy some of our wonderful buildings that you exploit today as a tourist attraction.”

The captain answered: “Why are you telling us all this?” “It is better for you to look for the Blue Treasure somewhere else. Here it's all over now... Go back to where you came from before my people arrive here. They are already on their way, and once they get here they will slay you.”

“Why should I trust you and your words?” said Reyes. The creature started laughing, a high-pitched laughter as dry as the Martian dust: “ I cannot prove my words, but if I were you I would not venture to find out. We will not follow you if you escape now, and won’t hurt you unless you return here again!”.

The astronauts escaped from the temple and in a short time they prepared the spaceship and returned home without water but with the knowledge that we humans are not the only ones in search of the blue treasure that was once so abundant on Earth, but that the foolishness of human kind has wasted away.