His breath catches against the lump in his throat. Little by little, the grief ekes out a slow retreat, open wonder taking its place as he stares over the landscape.

"Jesus."

Sometimes he'd look around the Milliways grounds, or at all the people who'd never even heard of a Front or a Tail, and think, it's like being on another planet. He'd been trying to prepare himself for the eventual trip to Barsoom, but to have it happen so suddenly? There's no time to brace himself. And for once, he's glad of it.

Curtis wipes his eyes again with the back of his free hand, the two moons blurring before he can blink the last of the tears away. He pushes one foot against the ground a little as he prepares to turn, the better to take in the view -- and stifles a yelp as he launches himself two feet into the air.