Space Case

“Exercise”

The excerpt from the handbook preceding Chapter 12 describes the importance of exercising for both physical and mental health while on the moon.

“Lunar Day 189, Smack in the Middle of the Night”

Dash, who can’t sleep, decides that maybe exercise will help him relax instead of lying awake thinking about all of the different threads of his investigation. In the gym, he finds Chang Hi-Tech doing an impressive workout with the resistance bands. Dash is a little nervous, but Chang invites him to do a head-to-head cardio workout on the treadmills using the virtual reality program.

As the head-to-head begins, Dash starts asking Chang about his relationship with Dr. Holtz. The sudden arrival, virtually, of predatory dinosaurs, surprises Dash, and Chang explains that the dinosaurs are there for “motivation to run faster” (207). Dash does not like this aspect of the program, but he continues running with Chang so that he can keep prying about Chang’s past. Chang explains that while he was upset at the time about the stolen idea, he assumes that Dr. Holtz genuinely didn’t do it on purpose, and that he has long since moved on.

The conversation takes a turn when Chang begins explaining to Dash how Dr.