June 2001: And the Moon Be Still as Bright Summary

The fourth expedition of Earth men to Mars find themselves landing in a dead sea on a cold Mars night. The crew, consisting of more than twenty men, includes Captain Wilder, archeologist Jeff Spendor, and physician/geologist Hathaway. Spendor, a gentle, quiet man, is attempting to keep the other rowdy crew members from creating a large party. He believes it is only proper to, the first night, be quiet and reflective.

Hathaway reports to Captain Wilder following a sweep of the towns across Mars to find life. He mentioned that many of the towns have been deserted for centuries, but that several towns had inhabitants as recent ago as a week. According to Hathaway, four out of every five cities had recently been wiped out by disease. When asked...