He frowned at his datapad. "That's... not possible. But according to these readings, yes. It's about a quarter mile farther than when we started."
"A mirage?" Raphael suggested.
"Or a trap," I muttered. "Monica, can you ask the plants anything about this?"
Monica knelt and pressed her hand to the frozen sand beneath our feet. After a moment, she looked up, her face troubled. "There aren't any plants out here to ask. The trees back in the forest are too far away now. But..." She hesitated. "Copernicus is acting strange."
She held up the potted plant she'd brought from the Arboretum. Its copper leaves were trembling, and its glow had dimmed significantly.
"What's wrong with it?" I asked.
"He's thirsty. Really thirsty. Like the air itself is pulling moisture from him." Monica cradled the pot protectively. "I think this desert is more dangerous than it looks."
