The story revolves around Bruce, who is part of a group of people on Mars, living in a peaceful and idyllic community. He has been living there for some time, but he still remembers his past life on Earth, where he was part of a group of mountain climbers who were obsessed with conquering the Martian terrain. As Bruce walks through the city, he sees the remnants of the mountain climbers' bodies, tied together with rope and scattered across the landscape. He is shocked and saddened by this discovery, but Helene explains to him that the Martians had created an illusion for them, a dream within a dream, to test their will to conquer. The Martians, who are masters of the mind, had used hypnosis-like suggestion to make the mountain climbers believe in the reality of the Martian terrain and the need to climb it. The mountain was real, but only as a product of the climbers' own psychic drive and the Martians' suggestion. Helene explains that the Martians had been testing humanity for centuries, trying to understand their capacity for destruction and violence. They had created an illusion of a mountain on Mars, which seemed real to the climbers, but was actually just a product of their own minds. Bruce is shocked by this revelation, but he begins to understand the true nature of reality and the power of the human mind. He realizes that the Martians' test was not just about understanding humanity's capacity for destruction, but also about giving them a chance to live decently on Mars. As Bruce walks through the city with Helene, he sees the remnants of the mountain climbers' bodies, but he also sees the beauty and peace of the Martian landscape. He begins to understand that the Martians had created an illusion not just for the climbers, but also for themselves, a way to test humanity's capacity for destruction and violence. The story ends with Bruce walking through the city, surrounded by the peaceful and idyllic scenery of Mars. He is no longer haunted by the memories of his past life on Earth, and he has found a new sense of purpose and meaning in his life on Mars. The theme of the story is the power of the human mind and the capacity for destruction and violence that it holds. The Martians' test was not just about understanding humanity's capacity for destruction, but also about giving them a chance to live decently on Mars. The story suggests that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there is always hope for redemption and a new beginning. The symbolism of the mountain climbers' bodies tied together with rope is significant. It represents the connection between the human mind and the external world, and how our perceptions of reality are shaped by our own psychic drives and the suggestions of others. The rope also represents the bond between the climbers, who were united in their quest for conquest. The story also explores the theme of identity and self-discovery. Bruce's journey is a metaphor for the process of self-discovery, where he must confront his past and his own capacity for destruction in order to find a new sense of purpose and meaning in his life on Mars. Overall, the story is a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, and the power of the human mind to shape our perceptions of reality. It suggests that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there is always hope for redemption and a new beginning.
By Bryce Walton · First published 1986 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy