As he turned and followed the fence toward the spaceport's office buildings he heard the faint sounds behind him.
A whisper of movement across the red sand.
An animal?
He glanced uneasily at the tiny lights from the office buildings. In the thin atmosphere, light carried a long distance and was deceptive. The lights seemed near but he knew he still had a fifteen minute walk ahead of him.
Once more he heard the indefinable sound behind him.
His imagination?
A Martian?
An Earthman, a sound of harsh breathing informed him.
He leaped to one side as the sounds neared his back.