Short Fiction · Chapter
The Crystal Crypt explained
The last Terran ship leaving Mars is forced to land on Deimos for inspection by Martian authorities, who are searching for three saboteurs who destroyed an entire Martian city.
What happens
The last Terran ship leaving Mars is forced to land on Deimos for inspection by Martian authorities, who are searching for three saboteurs who destroyed an entire Martian city. Among the passengers, Bob Thacher deduces that three individuals—Erick, Jan, and Mara—are the saboteurs. They reveal their story of infiltrating the Martian city disguised as peasants and a priest, carrying a mysterious case containing what appears to be office supplies but is actually the weapon used to destroy the city.
Themes in this chapter
Violence and Consumption
The saboteurs destroyed an entire Martian city and all its inhabitants in a single act of violence, leaving only a depression in the sand.
War and Destruction
The story is set against the backdrop of impending war between Mars and Terra, with the saboteurs' act representing a preemptive strike.
Identity and Transformation
The saboteurs disguise themselves as Martian peasants and a priest to infiltrate the city, highlighting themes of deception and assumed identity.
Characters to notice
- Bob Thacher
A Terran passenger who deduces that Erick, Jan, and Mara are the saboteurs sought by the Martian authorities.
- Ralf Erickson
One of the three saboteurs, disguised as a Martian priest, who carries the case containing the weapon that destroyed a Martian city.
- Mara Gordon
One of the three saboteurs, disguised as a Martian bride, part of the team that destroyed the Martian city.
- Jan
One of the three saboteurs, disguised as a Martian farmer, part of the team that destroyed the Martian city.
- The Leiter
A Martian Provincial Leiter who boards the ship to search for the saboteurs.
Key passages
“Two hours ago a Martian city was destroyed. Nothing remains, only a depression in the sand where the city was. The city and all its people have completely vanished.”
A Martian city and its entire population were annihilated two hours ago, leaving only a hole in the desert.
The Martian Leiter announces the destruction that the saboteurs are accused of.
“I think we'll get past the guards. There should be heavy morning traffic on the road.”
Erick believes they can slip through the checkpoint because the road will be busy with morning travelers.
Erick expresses confidence in their disguise and plan to enter the city.
“You three are the ones the Leiter was after. You are the destroyers, the saboteurs. But their lie detector—Why didn't it trap you?”
Thacher realizes that Erick, Jan, and Mara are the saboteurs and wonders how they evaded the Martian lie detector.
Thacher confronts the saboteurs after the inspection.