The Holes Around Mars

by Jerome Bixby

"Its mass must be on the order of—"

Squawk.

"—process of making the holes slowed it, so that now it travels just fast enough—"

Squawk.

"—maintain its orbit and penetrate occasional objects such as—"

Squawk.

"—and sand dunes—"

Squawk.

"My God, I know it's a mathematical monstrosity," Allenby snarled. "I didn't put it there!"

Squawk.