Dr. Adam Twardowski is an astrobiologist and a massive Ray Bradbury fan. You could say his fandom has an invisible hand in his work. So on the afternoon of his lecture where he is to convince the world of life on Mars, not unlike the tan, leathery creatures chronicled in the Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. However, to his horror, one misplaced semi-colon in his data collecting program has voided the data. The Devil comes to him while he is having a fit in the bathroom, while the smarmy scholars wait in the ballroom. He looks like Ray Bradbury and offers him a trade for his soul. He wants life on Mars to be true, look just like Ray Bradbury's rendition, a trip to Mars, and 50 lbs as he is a scant and scrawny man. The stipulations are, he will never see home again and must spend eternity with a bunch of Martians who are huge fans of Bradbury. Only they slightly mispronounce everything. Eternal torment for the poor scientist. But, a feeling of renewed hope.
As for the 50 lbs, he arrives on Mars with a £50 bill.
I love Ray Bradbury!
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