Chapter 231 - Sol Three Hundred and Thirty-Five, Gandalf Standing Above the Dunes (1/2)

Chapter 231: Sol Three Hundred and Thirty-Five, Gandalf Standing Above the Dunes

Tomcat suddenly laughed.

“Indeed, a passerby who is preparing to unclog the toilet is suddenly given a decision to save the world. What can he do?”

“If you gave me a howitzer, I might still be able to blast them to kingdom come,” Tang Yue said. “Unfortunately, all I have is a toilet plunger.”

“Then plunge them to kingdom come.”

“What if it doesn’t work?” Tang Yue asked.

“Then use it on yourself.”

…

On the evening of the second sol, the Mars Wanderer suffered its first malfunction.

This damaged and decorated old dog finally couldn’t hold on. Its entire life had been dedicated to the Mars Landing Project. For more than ten years, the Mars Wanderer had been the most able assistant to the expedition team. It had contributed much, but it was already nearing its retirement age.

Its replacement had already been designed. It was a bigger, faster, more advanced, and higher endurance vehicle. It was said that a single charge could allow the vehicle to travel at 45 km/h for two hours. It was far greater than what the Mars Wanderer was capable of. Once the new vehicle arrived, the old vehicle was bound to be abandoned. It was common for people to abandon the old for the new.

Tang Yue had once stroked the Wanderer’s wheels and said poignantly that the pioneers were ultimately buried by history. Who would remember this lonely old dog years into the future?

However, Tom said that it was a good thing.

If people from the future kept remembering them, it meant that they had nothing to look forward to.

We risked our lives to pave the path for future generations, not for them to stand there remembering us.

Tomcat sat in the driver’s compartment as it peeked its head out and asked, “How is it?”

Tang Yue was the one who found the malfunction. It was almost evening and Tang Yue wished to move the Mars Wanderer to somewhere a little more elevated, but when the accelerator was pressed down, a strange, soft sound was heard. It alerted the man and cat as they stopped all their attempts to start it and began doing an inspection.

Tang Yue was crouched beside the Wanderer’s wheel. He had a maintenance panel open in front of him and an open toolbox beside him. “It’s a slight malfunction. The driveshaft is a little loose. Just tightening it will do. It’s not a serious problem. Be it man or machine, problems arise once you grow old…”

Tang Yue used a wrench to hit the Mars Wanderer’s hull and moved away the power cables underneath to glance inside. As a mechanical engineer, repairing the Mars Wanderer was part of his job. He knew the old dog better than anyone.

“Can you fix it before we set off tomorrow morning?” Tomcat sked.

“No problem. I’ve done the checks. There shouldn’t be any malfunctions any time soon.” Tang Yue nodded. “However, we still have a long distance ahead. Let’s hope it can last until we reach our destination… Wanderer o’ Wanderer, we’ll be relying on you to walk out of this desert alive. You must stay reliable. If you want to die, die after you complete the mission.”

Unfortunately, the vehicle couldn’t open its mouth.

Otherwise, it would definitely snap the man’s throat apart.

“We have to avoid complicated terrain, especially steep slopes and cliffs. From the present situation… The transmission drive is very worn out. The Wanderer no longer has the ability to climb up slopes. It’s best we don’t meet that ancient long wall you encountered the last time.” Tang Yue sat on the ground. “Otherwise, we’ll definitely have to get out and push it.”

“Don’t worry. The wall is west of Kunlun Station,” Tomcat said. “We have been heading northeast. It’s impossible we will meet it.”