The Holes Around Mars [Paperback]

Allenby, in command of the Mars I, was first to set foot outside the ship. He took his one small step for man -- and found himself staring at the rock in front of him. It was about five feet high. Ordinary granite -- no special shape -- and several inches below its summit, running straight through it in a northeasterly direction, was a neatly round four-inch hole.

He made a pun and grunted.

Well, I'll be, said Janus, our photographer. A hole.

In a rock, added Gonzales, our botanist.

Round, said Randolph, our biologist.

An artifact, finished Allenby softly.

Before we were done we'd found similar holes all over the surface of the planet.