Special Effects: Red Earth

Slowly, with his hands above his head, Stubbs rose to his feet and stepped down into the trench.

"Now listen Tucker," he said, "We're supposed to be friends, right? This is some kind of joke, isn't it?"

"No," said Tucker "This is not a joke."

"Why are you doing this? You've got to tell me. Tucker! We're Pathfinders right, buddy? You wouldn't kill a fellow Pathfinder, would you?"

"I hate you," said Tucker.

"Why? What have I done?"

"Nothing," said Tucker, "Its what you are."

"But I'm just another man, like you. Sure, I'm not the same skin colour, but that's nothing. We're both humans, together on a new planet. Look! There's plenty of room for all of us! You don't have to kill me! I can go away, up the valley. You'll never see me again."

"You're better off dead," said Tucker.

"But why?"

"Because of what you are!"

"If you're talking about my rank as Corporal, I can't help that. It was given to me by the military."

"No," said Tucker.

"What then?"

Tucker's eyes flickered slightly, looking at Stubbs's chest. The thin gold chain. The tiny silver cross caught the sun. Sparkled like a star.

Stubbs lowered one of his hands and held the cross in his fist.

"Its because of this, isn't it?" he said.

Tucker said yes with his eyes.

"God will protect me,"said Stubbs.

Tucker levelled the gun at Stubb's face and squeezed the trigger. His hand was shaking badly and sweat was beginning to appear all over his face.

"Your God won't protect you from ..." he began to say, but he couldn't finish. His whole body was trembling