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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13423-0.txt b/13423-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..14511c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/13423-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3640 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13423 *** + +[Frontispiece: "Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into space with +frightful velocity."] + + + +Zarlah The Martian + + +By + + +R. Norman Grisewood + + + +1909 + + + + +_Zarlah, The Martian_ + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE STRANGE SHADOW + + II. THE MARTIAN + + III. THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD + + IV. THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE + + V. THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING + + VI. "AS OTHERS SEE US" + + VII. THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH + + VIII. A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID + + IX. THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE + + X. ZARLAH'S CONFESSION + + XI. THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY + + XII. THE WARNING OF DANGER--THE RACE WITH DEATH + + XIII. THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY + + XIV. HURLED FROM THE MOON + + + + + +ZARLAH, THE MARTIAN. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STRANGE SHADOW. + + +So thrilling were my experiences during that period, so overcrowded with +feverish action and strong emotions was each wonderful moment, and so +entirely changed are the conditions of life as I now find it, that it is +with considerable difficulty that I recall in detail all that happened +prior to my remarkable discovery which opened communication between +Earth and Mars. One says "discovery" advisedly, but let it not be +imagined that communication with the planet Mars was established as a +result of any careful and systematic research, or that I possessed a +subtle genius for astronomical science that was destined to introduce +into society what must eventually revolutionize it. Nothing could be +further from the facts. Into the daily grind of my absolutely uneventful +career, burst the almost terrifying revelations with a suddenness that +stunned me, while I was engaged in experiments of an entirely extraneous +nature. Albeit one wonders that the Martian rays, which have swept our +planet with their searching gaze for so many centuries, were not +discovered long ago. But this is anticipating my story. + +I had reached the age of thirty, when, in the Spring of 19--, I sailed +out of New York harbor on board _La Provence_, en route for Paris. It +was not so much my purpose to seek pleasure as the determination to turn +my eight years of experience in the United States to some avenue of +profitable livelihood, that decided me to make the journey, although I +looked forward with no small degree of pleasant anticipation to meeting +some of my fellow students in the Académie des Sciences in Paris, where +I had received five years of excellent training. + +My trip across and my subsequent arrival in Paris were without any +events of particular interest, and one bright morning in the early +summer I found myself comfortably lodged in the house where I had +previously boarded while a student. Connected with my rooms, which were +at the top of the house, was one of considerable size that I had +formerly used as a laboratory, and this I now set about fitting up to +serve the same purpose. The daylight found its way into the room through +a skylight, and though admirably suited for an artist's studio, it +answered my purpose equally as well. + +I had collected many new instruments and appliances by dint of days +spent in shopping, and was anxious to begin work in earnest, when one +evening, as I glanced through the columns of a newspaper, my attention +was arrested by an article of particular interest. This set forth the +great and increasing demand for a substitute for glass, one which would +answer the purpose in every respect, and at the same time be +indestructible and a good conductor of sound. The article concluded with +an enumeration of the many uses for which such a substitute would be +invaluable, hinting at the enormous financial possibilities which would +be open to the inventor. The more I considered the matter, the more +desirous I became to test several theories which forthwith presented +themselves to my mind, and the next morning found me determined to begin +my experiments at once. In theory, I saw the solution of the problem in +artificially producing increased atomic motion, and with that object in +view I went to work. + +My experiments involved me in weeks of hard work, and it was toward the +end of the summer before I could admit having had any important results. +I now had a substance resembling glass in appearance, though vastly +different in composition, which I made into a film, extremely thin and +highly sensitive to vibrations. Running through this film were slender +wires made of various metals, about one inch apart, which served not +only to give rigidity to the film, but also to conduct a current of +electricity through it, engendering a high state of atomic agitation. +The current was controlled by a small switch placed in a heavy box-like +frame, which bounded the film on its four sides and contained the +batteries, coils, etc. To this were attached four legs, supporting it +about the height of an ordinary table from the floor. The whole device +measured about seven feet square. + +This film substance contained certain elements which I had found to be +necessary to secure the desired intensity of agitation. It had taken me +almost a month to secure the fine quality I desired, and I looked +forward to the test with the feeling that results would prove that I was +nearing the goal, if I had not actually attained it. + +At last the day arrived when my device was ready for the test. I had +worked all the afternoon giving the finishing touches and it had grown +dusk without my realizing it. But everything was now ready, and moving +the switch, I turned the current of electricity through the composition. +Just as I was about to begin my test, I noticed what appeared to be a +faint shadow of a man move across the surface of the film. My first +thought was that someone had entered the room without my knowledge, and +his figure had been reflected on the surface of the film, which was +highly glazed, but a glance around the room assured me that this +explanation was untenable. Moreover, I found, upon further +investigation, that the film was lying in such a position that it would +be impossible to reflect any person in the room. I then examined the +skylight, only to find that, owing to the sharp inclination of the roof, +it would be an utter impossibility for anyone to reach it from the +outside without the aid of a ladder. I investigated this source further, +thinking to find the reflection on the film to be from some street in +the city below, but on account of the extent of the roof, no street was +visible from the skylight. + +Completely baffled, I descended into the room again and turned on the +current. Immediately the shadow appeared on the film, and this time, in +consequence of the room now being quite dark, I noticed that it was +surrounded by a phosphorus-colored glow. The figure was certainly that +of a man, although very faint, and it became evident to me, after +watching it for a while, that he was trying to signal with his arms. + +I now noticed that, in addition to the peculiar light on the film, the +entire surface seemed to vibrate with frequent, but scarcely audible, +humming sounds. Upon turning off the current all disappeared, only to +reappear when I switched it on again. It was evident then that the +phenomenon was caused only when the instrument was charged with +electricity, and consequently was no ordinary reflection, as I had at +first supposed. + +Everything pointed to its being the manifestation of some outside +agency; possibly electrical waves which my apparatus received and in a +measure responded to, coming through the open skylight from--where? The +question reiterated itself in my mind, as I stood gazing perplexedly at +the phenomenon. I might have been satisfied with the supposition that, +unknowingly, I had made an instrument which was capable of receiving +wireless waves from another instrument of similar tone in or near Paris, +if I had had only the humming sounds to contend with, but the shadow +impelled me to look for the reason further than this. I glanced upward, +eagerly seeking some explanation. One star was visible through the open +skylight--Mars. Clear and bright it shone in the inky blackness framed +by the window. + +Once more I climbed to the skylight, feeling that I must seek the +explanation in that direction, when my attention was suddenly turned to +the apparatus below me. The glow was slowly passing off one side of the +film. I hastily descended and examined the batteries, thinking I would +find the cause of this in a failing current, but all was apparently in +perfect order. Still the glow and shadow moved steadily off, growing +fainter every moment, until it disappeared completely. + +With a sudden impulse, born of a weird and almost terrifying thought, I +bent over until my eyes were on a level with the film, then I looked +upward; the star was no longer visible from the position of the +instrument, it had risen above the frame of the window. At once I was +seized with an intense excitement; could it be possible that my +apparatus was responding to waves mysteriously projected from Mars? If +not, why had the glow and shadow faded from the film at the same instant +that Mars disappeared above the window frame? + +Hoping to test this further, I endeavored to move the apparatus to a +position where Mars would again be visible, but alas, I found it much +too heavy. I felt keenly disappointed at the sudden termination of this +strange phenomenon, but, upon reflection, I realized that it was only +the simultaneous disappearance of Mars and the glow on the film that had +caused me to attribute waves to that far source. The more I pondered +upon the matter, the more impossible it seemed, yet, strange to say, the +more convinced I became that the theory was correct. Light-waves, I +argued, unlike the wireless waves in common use, could be received only +when the two objects were in line of vision; but I realized that if they +were of Martian origin they were of remarkable magnification, projected +through space by some unknown and powerful agent, thousands of times +more powerful than electricity as we know it upon Earth. That the shadow +on the film had been that of a Martian, I dared not hope. Though my mind +continually reverted to this wild conjecture, I impatiently put it +aside, as the apparent impossibility of it all would force itself upon +me. + +Nothing further could be done that night, and as I had worked hard all +day preparing for my experiment, without even stopping for meals, I now +felt the effect of the excitement I had undergone and resolved to take a +walk in the cool air, I wanted to think, and, if possible, to plan a +line of action for the morrow which would bring me better results, if my +theory of light-waves should prove to be correct. Needless to say, I +determined to cease my former experiments, and devote all my energy to +ascertaining whether my apparatus was actually responding to Martian +light-waves of remarkable integrity, and if such proved to be the case, +to put every effort into improving the device with the hope of obtaining +their import. I also determined to keep my discovery a secret, at least +for the present. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MARTIAN. + + +I returned to my rooms with a much clearer conception of the conditions +with which I had to cope, if the waves to which my apparatus responded +should prove to be Martian waves. My mind was fully made up to proceed +as if this were an established fact, as, in order to give my best +efforts to improving my apparatus, I felt that I must eliminate all +scepticism. I clearly appreciated the advantage of moving my instrument +outside, where I could command a view of Mars for a much longer time, +but the necessity of being in my laboratory while I was engaged in these +improvements, decided me against any immediate change. + +Accordingly I proceeded the next morning to make the changes I deemed +necessary, being goaded into a fever of haste by a feeling of +suppressed excitement. The composition I had used in the form of a film +I now liquefied, having concluded that in the former condition, although +necessary in my original experiments, it now only retarded the vibration +of the wires. + +That this composition was essential there could be no doubt, as it was +its elements that responded to the agent used on Mars to project the +waves. I therefore liquefied the film substance, being careful in so +doing not to alter its properties. I then procured wires, much thinner +than those I had previously used, and dipped them-into the liquid. After +they had become perfectly dry, I stretched them on the frame as close +together as I could without their coming into contact with one another. +As light-waves are received in hundreds of different vibrations +simultaneously, according to the light or shade of the object projected, +I concluded that each wire should be capable of individual vibration. +The device now resembled a large piece of mosquito netting with the +cross wires removed, the coating of composition on each wire being so +thin that it was hardly discernible. The batteries and coils I +connected as before, taking great care not to change their arrangement. + +My preparations were now completed, and before me stood an instrument as +delicate and sensitive to wave vibrations as I could make it. Raising +one side of the frame a foot higher than the other, in order that the +surface of wires would be squarely facing the star when it appeared +above the casement, I waited impatiently for the moment which should +prove the truth or falsity of my surmises. + +The day had closed, and I spent the remaining time speculating upon the +results of my labors. But even the wildest flights of my imagination did +not picture, in the smallest degree, the wonderful transformation which +my new instrument would make in what had appeared before as a shadow on +the film. Little did I imagine to what an extent the unknown was to be +revealed to me. + +As I stood by the side of the frame all in readiness, Mars appeared, but +it still had a little farther to climb before it would be visible from +the level of the wires. Nevertheless, I turned on the current from the +batteries. All was darkness; never before had darkness seemed to me so +profound, so absolutely appalling. Minutes passed like hours, but still +that ominous darkness reigned. I felt the keen disappointment of +failure; I grew incredulous as the time passed, and found myself +admitting and rehearsing the absurdity of it all. I even blamed myself +for having been so easily deflected from my former experiments, by what +now seemed to be merely an idle fancy. + +Suddenly I bent over the frame and gazed eagerly at the surface of +wires, for there, on the top edge, appeared a touch of the +phosphorus-colored glow. My heart thumped with wild excitement. I +stooped down until my eyes were on the level of the wires, and looking +up toward the window I could just see the rim of Mars appearing above +the casement. A shout of joy burst from my lips at the sight of it, for +it was now beyond all doubt that the phenomenon was attributable to +Mars. Brighter and brighter became the light as it covered the surface +of wires, until all its resemblance to a phosphorus glow had gone, and +it shone with such brilliancy that my eyes, accustomed as they were to +the darkness of the room, quailed before it. Turning away so that my +eyes might gradually become accustomed to the glare, I noticed that in +spite of the brilliant white light on the surface of the wires, the room +was in perfect darkness--the light had no power of illumination! +Impenetrable mystery enshrouded the agent which Mars was employing to +communicate with Earth! + +A curious humming sound issuing from the frame, much louder than I had +noticed the night before, caused me to turn involuntarily, and as I did +so I uttered a cry of wonder at the marvelous vision that met my eyes. +There lay before me, as bright as daylight, a picture that a thousand +times surpassed my highest, wildest hope. The great secret of another +planet was revealed, and I stood motionless, beholding an inhabitant of +a star millions of miles away. + +Among the vast multitude who for centuries have yearned for a glimpse +into the unknown worlds that surround us, I stood alone gazing upon the +image of a Martian. The thought stunned me; I was seized with a wild +impulse to rush out into the street and bring in the throng, that they +might look upon the form of this wonderful being on our sister planet. +But what proof was there to give them that this was so? I would +undoubtedly be ridiculed and accused of trickery. The very fact that had +brought a cry of amazement to my lips--the remarkable brilliancy and +clearness of the image, and the appearance of the Martian himself--would +serve to bring discredit upon anything I might say. Personally I had +ample proof that the image was that of a Martian, but what instant proof +could I give a jeering crowd? I had expected to find in a Martian a +strange grotesque being in appearance, if not in mind, much after the +weird and fierce character so many authors have portrayed him. Judge, +then, my astonishment when I beheld one who, in every particular of form +and feature, resembled the people of Earth. + +He appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, judging by our +earthly standard of time, possessing clear-cut features and dark +complexion. His face, which was clean-shaven, was remarkably handsome, +and his piercing dark eyes, although they enhanced the smile that +greeted my appearance at the instrument, seemed to search into my very +soul and to hold me spellbound with mute challenge. Nor could I, upon +afterthought, remember having shown the common courtesy of returning his +greeting. + +My astonishment was so great that every faculty seemed to leave me, and +I stood transfixed, staring at the image of the Martian without even the +power of thought. Gradually recovering my senses, however, I took note +of the man and his surroundings. He stood in a room of about the same +dimensions as my laboratory, which seemed to be flooded with bright +daylight, though I could not see any windows on three sides of the room +to admit the light, nor any shadows to indicate that the light came from +a window in the fourth. He held in his hands an instrument unknown to +me, and seemed to be perfectly at his ease, showing neither surprise nor +curiosity. Evidently this was not the first time that he had seen an +inhabitant of the Earth. So unconcerned was he and so natural did he +appear, even in the smallest detail of dress, that it was hard to +believe I was not looking at an image of some room and its occupant in +Paris. His close-fitting clothes seemed to be of a dark green material, +and resembled, to some degree, the uniform of an army officer. + +Bending over the instrument he held, he placed his mouth close to the +top of it, and immediately the humming sounds, which I had noticed +before, emanated from the wires of my apparatus. The thought flashed +through my mind that the Martian held in this instrument a means of +communicating sound. If so, what were the words--what language? The +possibility of what I heard being words, made me strain every nerve to +catch the slightest resemblance to such sounds, but alas, with no +success. That they were intended to convey a message, I became fully +convinced, but I could not rest in the belief that this jumble of sounds +was the Martian language. If the Martians themselves resembled, in so +striking a degree, the inhabitants of Earth, I argued, then it was in +the nature of things to expect a language that, in some way, +corresponded to one of our languages. The fault lay in my instrument, I +was sure of that, and in the keen disappointment of my failure to +receive his message and the excitement of the moment, I gave utterance +to an exclamation of despair. Immediately a smile overspread the +Martian's countenance, and, to my great astonishment, he put down the +instrument and clapped his hands by way of showing his approval. + +Before I could recover from my surprise at this new evidence of Martian +familiarity with the customs of Earth, the light suddenly grew dim and +in a few seconds had disappeared completely, leaving the instrument +plunged in darkness. Mars had risen above the frame of the skylight, and +I was no longer in contact with the light-waves. I listened intently, +thinking that if the sound-waves were of the nature of the +electrical-waves we employ in the wireless system, I would still be in +touch with my newly found friend, but I heard no further sound from the +instrument, thus proving that these waves also were projected by the +mysterious agent known only to the Martians. + +I had so much to occupy my mind, with what I had just witnessed, and so +many thoughts rushed in upon me regarding the perfecting of my +instrument so that it might properly respond to the sound-waves, that I +did not experience the disappointment I had felt before at the short +duration of our contact with each other. I was glad of the opportunity +to think; I felt that it was necessary to do so before further action, +if I ever hoped to attain the knowledge of Mars and its inhabitants that +my remarkable discovery had placed within my reach. I determined that on +the morrow, if I did not meet with better results in the sound +vibrations, I would try to communicate with the Martian by writing some +simple sentence in a bold hand, and in as many languages as I could. +This I would expose in front of the instrument, but I placed little hope +in the success of the scheme, for it was not possible that the Martian +language would be identical with any of ours. + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD + + +This thought of communicating with the Martian by writing, did not deter +me from using every effort to perfect my instrument, so that this might +be done verbally, or that at least I might hear a voice and a language +spoken on a world millions of miles away. Accordingly I gave the subject +of sound-waves my best thought, and the next morning I had formulated +clearly laid principles upon which to work. By these I hoped to make an +instrument that would be the means of conversing with a Martian. + +I had come to the conclusion that the jumble of sound was caused by the +prolonged vibration of the wires after each distinct wave from Mars was +received, as the wires of a piano will vibrate long after they have been +touched. With light-waves it was necessary to have a highly sensitive +surface of the composition, capable of responding to many different +vibrations, according to the light or shade of the object projected. +This accounted for the success I met with upon adopting the coated +wires, and I concluded thereupon that they were indispensable. But I now +saw that the presence of wires in the composition, though successful +with light-waves, was inimical to sound-waves, and it became evident +that a firmer but highly sensitive surface was required. The film had +not brought good results, either from sound-waves or light-waves, but, +it will be remembered, there were wires running through it to give it +rigidity, which, although necessary in my original experiments, must be +avoided in connection with sound vibrations. Clearly my new film must +not be rigid. I thereupon made a film of composition, as thin as +possible, and stretched it upon the frame of my instrument, as a +diaphragm behind the wires, hoping that the sound-waves would pass +between the wires, and vibrate the diaphragm, which, being made of +composition, would undoubtedly glow, but not more than the film had +done. This, I concluded, would not interfere with the image on the +wires, owing to the brilliancy of the latter. + +I was now hopeful of success, and anxiously waited for the day to close. +Everything was in readiness by noon, and I had at least eight hours to +wait before Mars would be in a position for wave contact. But now +appeared an adversary with which I had not reckoned. Clouds began to +gather, thin and fleecy at first, but growing heavier as the afternoon +passed, until by evening the heavens were completely obscured. This was +a condition that might last for several days, and the dread of it filled +me with despair. How could I wait for days inactive, without seeing or +even hearing from my friend in Mars? + +It now occurred to me how absolutely absorbed I had become in the +Martian investigation. Ordinarily a sociable person, in the past week I +had become a recluse. College friends that I had seen almost daily since +my return to Paris, I now completely neglected, even shunned, lest they +should call at my rooms some evening when I was in wave contact with +Mars. It also occurred to me that, as surely as my friendship and +necessity for them was declining, in like ratio was increasing an +attachment for an inhabitant of another world. I felt a strange soul +kinship for this Martian, which seemed to spring up the moment I saw his +image portrayed on my instrument. And the feeling was not one of +ordinary friendship. I felt I was drawn to him by some mysterious power, +that gave him the place of a brother in my affections--a power that +seemed to have brought us together, and now united us with a great +common and compelling interest. And yet as I pictured his handsome, +almost beautiful face, there was still another face I had seen--but +where? The Martian had been alone, yet I was conscious of a face that +was wonderfully beautiful, that seemed the goal for which I was +striving. It led me to greater effort after failure; the face which I +yearned to see and yet strangely dreaded seeing. + +It was useless for me to try to understand such thoughts, and to banish +them from my mind was impossible. I was overcome with a sense of +loneliness. Looking at my watch, I found that it was already past the +hour when Mars would be visible through the window on a clear night, +but, alas, the sky showed no signs of clearing; though my instrument +stood ready, it was useless. + +But, obeying some irresistible impulse, I decided to turn on the current +and stand by the instrument in case an opening in the clouds should +occur, for even a moment. I therefore turned the switch that controlled +the current, and immediately, to my astonishment, the surface of wires +became as brilliant as on the previous evening under a clear sky. +Turning away for a moment, to allow my eyes to become accustomed to the +brilliancy, I noticed that the sky was still overcast with heavy rain +clouds. My joy at the discovery that the Martian projecting agent was +not arrested by vapor was unbounded, for it meant that I could be in +wave-contact with Mars every night, during the period that the planet +was visible from Earth. + +I approached the instrument with the intention of at once testing the +diaphragm, but, to my surprise, my Martian friend was not there to greet +me. The room and its furnishings, however, were depicted as clearly as +before, and I now had an opportunity to note the instruments, the large +volumes of books, and the maps of the heavens which hung on the wall. +Everything pointed to this being a fully equipped Martian observatory, +though the instruments were entirely strange to me. I was examining +these latter more closely, when heavy portières parted, and my Martian +friend stepped into the room. So anxious was I to give him a pleasant +greeting, instead of staring at him in a semi-stupefied condition, as I +had done previously, that I forgot, for the moment, my determination to +test my diaphragm at the first opportunity, and greeted him merely with +a smile and a bow. + +My serene demeanor lasted but a moment, for simultaneously with his +bowed response to my greeting, came in a clear voice, with perfect +accent: "Bon soir, Monsieur!" + +I started back, for it seemed as if someone in the room had spoken, but +then I noticed that the Martian held in his hand the instrument I had +seen on the previous evening. Was it possible that this was his voice, +speaking French from a distance of millions of miles as clearly as if he +were in the room? The thing was incredible! How could a Martian know a +language evolved here on Earth? Was the whole thing then a delusion of +an overwrought mind? I stood staring at the instrument in amazement. + +The Martian, now seeing by my actions that his voice had been heard, +raised his instrument and repeated his greeting. The voice rang as +clearly as before; there could be no further doubt; through this +wonderful instrument the Martian's voice was projected, almost +instantaneously to the Earth--millions of miles in a second. The +mysterious power which enabled the Martian to project the waves, +compared with our electricity as the telegraph does with the +stage-coach. Was it strange that I stood aghast, as my mind slowly +comprehended the enormous distance which that voice had traversed almost +instantaneously? + +It was some moments before my amazement permitted me to respond to this +extraordinary salutation, then--my mind still too bewildered properly to +grasp the situation--I mumbled something in English about my great +astonishment at hearing a language of Earth spoken from a distant world. + +The sound of my voice seemed to cause the Martian some surprise, but +immediately his voice issued again in clear tones from the instrument. + +"I greeted you in what I supposed was your native tongue," he said in +perfect English. "Although now we have but one composite language here, +over a thousand years ago we spoke in many languages, as the people of +your planet do at the present time. + +"For more than six hundred years we have been able to observe the +progress of your planet," he went on, "through an instrument by which +light-waves are projected and received, and have found it to be +identical with ours of almost fifteen hundred years ago. By the placards +in the streets of your cities and towns, we discovered that you also +spoke in many tongues, and although the progress was necessarily slow, +our astronomers were, by this means, able to learn the principal +languages of Earth. + +"Anxiously we have watched and waited for the discovery of an instrument +that would respond to our projected light-waves and reveal to you the +inhabitants of your neighboring planet. At last this momentous time has +arrived. I congratulate you upon bringing it about." + +As he spoke, his voice, coming from the diaphragm of my instrument, +sounded as distinct as if he were in the room, and his image, depicted +life-size, made it hard to believe that he was more than a few feet +away. That my informant was, in reality, millions of miles away, my mind +absolutely refused to grasp. + +A thousand questions to put to my Martian acquaintance rushed into my +mind, but alas, in supposing that I could not come in contact with Mars +on account of cloud obscurity, I had lost much of the precious time, and +now the waning light on my instrument warned me that the planet would, +in a few moments, pass out of range. We therefore hastily bade each +other adieu, promising to continue our conversation on the morrow, as +though we had parted at a street corner. The light now faded completely, +and the instrument, that a few moments previously had been animated with +such an exuberance of life and mystery, now stood before me wrapped in +profound darkness and silence. + +How impossible, how inconceivable it all seemed! How the outside world +would scoff if I attempted to explain or publish my discovery! I felt +that the time had not yet come to take anyone into my confidence, and I +determined still to keep all a secret. I was then unaware, however, that +the more I learned of Mars and its people the more closely I would guard +my knowledge. + +Pacing excitedly up and down my laboratory, I spent most of the night in +reviewing what I had heard, and speculating the rare knowledge that the +morrow would bring. The secrets of another world would be unfolded to +me, and the scientific achievements of a people over a thousand years in +advance of us would be mine. What glorious possibilities this disclosed! +What a brilliant future as a scientist such knowledge would assure me! +And in the exuberance of my spirits I little thought that the possession +of this knowledge would come to mean naught to me; for I had yet to +learn that man cannot share the riches of another world without also +becoming a partner in its sorrows and its passions. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE. + + +With a determination of finding a room from which I could command a +longer view of Mars, the next day I visited several studios which were +for rent, and finally succeeded in securing one formerly occupied by a +photographer, which was located on the top floor of a house in the +immediate vicinity of my old rooms. + +The room was large, in fact it occupied the entire top floor of the +building, and this feature pleased me greatly. The only communication +with the house was by a door which had every appearance of an outside +door, so heavy were the hinges and lock. The landlord, in drawing my +attention to this, had smiled and remarked that the former tenant, who +lived in another section of the city, had been very careful always to +leave his studio securely locked. The ceiling of half the room was +entirely of glass, sloping down to the floor at the angle of the roof, +and this was the only means of obtaining air and light. It was +constructed in two sections, which would slide back and forth, for the +purpose of ventilation. This arrangement, I found, would give me an +unobstructed view of Mars for several hours each night. Nothing could be +better adapted to my requirements; I could not be observed by anyone +outside, and I need not fear being overheard while conversing with my +Martian friend. + +I therefore determined to have my instrument moved at once, in order to +be installed in my new quarters that evening. + +I next bought a crate, used for large oil paintings, and upon its +delivery at my old rooms, I immediately commenced packing my instrument +in it. Owing to its great weight this was no easy work, and it would +express the procedure better if I said that I placed the crate around +the instrument. Making sure that it was all covered carefully, I had it +moved to my new quarters and set in place, the impression of the +carriers being that it was a painting which I was very anxious that no +one should see until it was completed. + +As it was now within an hour of the time when I expected Mars to appear, +I decided to leave my books and other belongings at my former rooms +until the next day. I uncovered the instrument, and got everything into +readiness, being careful to see that the batteries were all in place, so +that nothing might occur to interrupt the long talk with the Martian +which I was anticipating. + +Having turned on the current, and opened the sliding section of the +glass roof, I now awaited the appearance of Mars. There occurred to me +question alter question that seemed of sufficient importance to prompt +immediate inquiry, only to be forgotten as others came into my mind; +until the presence of the increasing faint glow on my instrument found +me unprepared with any single question of actual importance. +Consequently I decided to allow my distant informant to continue with +the account of Martian observations of Earth, as being at once the most +instructive and surest way of suggesting important questions. + +As my eyes got accustomed to the brilliancy I saw the Martian waiting +for me, with his instrument in readiness. We greeted each other with the +affection we both now sincerely felt, and though I could not clasp his +hand, I endeavored in every way to show him the brotherly warmth of +feeling I entertained for him. + +It now occurred to me that in the excitement of our first communication +with each other, we had completely overlooked an important +conventionality. I therefore announced that I was known on Earth as +Harold Lonsdale. + +"My name is Almos," he responded, his dark eyes sparkling as he quickly +entered into the spirit of the occasion. "Although it was customary once +for us to have two or three names, we found it in better harmony with +the changed conditions of the present time to have but one. This you +will more easily understand when you have become better acquainted with +this planet and its people." + +"And as I am most anxious to learn more about the conditions of life in +your world," I added, eagerly, "I trust you will continue the account of +Martian observations of Earth, which was barely commenced last evening +when the wave contact ceased. But first let me ask how you located my +whereabouts, for this morning I moved to another section of the city." + +"Ah!" he replied, with a smile, "I was not aware you had moved. +Experience has taught me about where to look for the large city you call +Paris, on the side of Earth that is now exposed to us, and then by +systematic search I soon located the response of your instrument. + +"As our observations of Earth with projected light-rays have been +carried on for seven hundred years, it will be necessary to give you an +outline of our history and the progress of science covering that time. +This will not only be of interest as a forecast of your own world's +future, but will also prove of the greatest value to you, if you decide +to visit this planet, an undertaking which I am convinced lies within +your power." + +His words wrung an exclamation of astonishment from my lips, but, as +though not wishing to be interrupted, he went on: + +"Seven hundred years ago, a power derived from that substance known on +Earth as radium, was discovered on Mars. This power was found to be +capable of projecting light rays almost instantaneously through space +for inconceivable distances, at the same time preserving their integrity +to such a remarkable degree that they would reach the farthest planets +without diffusion or diminution. Thus my image, thrown upon the +instrument before me, is conveyed to Earth in light-waves by this flow +of super-radium with such tremendous speed as to be practically +instantaneous; these are received in your instrument, which is +responsive to the flow of super-radium, in the same condition as when +they left Mars, consequently depicting the image life-size. + +"Having come in contact with another body in the heavens, this +outward-flowing current of super-radium is changed to an inward-flowing +current. In making this change it frees the light-waves it conveyed from +Mars, and retains the light-waves of the objects about it, which is +merely repeating its performance upon leaving Mars. These light-waves of +objects on another globe it now conveys on its return journey to Mars, +entering a receiving instrument and depicting the objects therein +life-size. + +"Possessing rays invisible to the human eye, except when agitated by a +substance of its own nature, daylight on a planet becomes an entirely +unnecessary adjunct to observations made with super-radium, and we are +able to explore the dark side of planets and other heavenly bodies, just +as effectually as those illuminated by the sun. + +"Thus have we, for seven hundred years, been able to study the country, +cities, streets, and people of Earth. And not only did we note a +remarkable similarity in the people, buildings, and scientific progress +to early Martian ages, but, by the advertisements, placards, and other +street signs we were able to learn the principal languages spoken on +your planet, and these were found to correspond in a remarkable degree +to those in use on Mars, before conditions on our planet made the +adoption of a composite language an absolute necessity. And undoubtedly +these same conditions in due time will face the people of Earth." + +I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this prediction, +but Almos at once reassured me by stating that when the time did come, +it would be the beginning of universal peace and happiness on Earth. + +"Am I to understand, then," said I, "that a condition of perfect +happiness prevails on Mars?" + +"Unhappiness is considered a disease with us," Almos rejoined. "It is +heard of, but very rarely, and is treated as a serious malady. But you +will understand these things better as you gradually become acquainted +with the conditions here. You must remember that you are in the position +of a man over fifteen hundred years in advance of his day. + +"Having become convinced, through close observations, that the progress +of Earth was identical with that of Mars, and that Earth, being the +younger planet, was consequently following our lead, we anxiously +watched for the discovery on Earth of the wonderful power that had been +the means of bringing us into such close visual contact with you. When +you discovered radium, we realized that this would eventually lead to +the discovery of the higher power, but we feared that this might not be +for hundreds of years. + +"That communication was possible through the medium of radium and +electricity, we were totally ignorant of. It was the responsive +properties of radium in your instrument, however, that first attracted +my attention while searching over Paris for an object I had previously +been observing. Thereafter my interest in your progress was as great as +your own, and every twenty-four hours, when the eastern hemisphere of +Earth was turned toward Mars, I searched with the radioscope until I got +the response of your instrument. + +"I have kept my success in communicating with Earth a secret, as it +involves an invention of mine which I have not yet made public, and of +which I will now tell you. This invention is the radiphone, through +which we are now conversing, and to which the diaphragm of your +instrument responds, as it doubtless contains radium also. My entire +life has been devoted to the development of Martian-Earthly +communication, and this instrument has been the goal which I have +striven to reach since boyhood, and yet its success in communicating +with Earth came as a great surprise to me." + +So accustomed was I to hear the Martian speak of the most miraculous +occurrences in an ordinary conversational tone, that the idea of there +still remaining something on Mars to be discovered appeared a still +greater wonder. + +"We have made a most important discovery," pursued Almos. "I say 'we,' +as without the response of your instrument the action of a super-radium +current on sound-waves would not have been discovered." + +"I feel that I can hardly share in the honors," I protested modestly. +"Without the super-radium current from Mars, I would still be +experimenting with the hope of finding a substitute for glass." + +I now entered into a full account of the experiments I had conducted, +describing how, quite accidentally, I had made a substance responsive to +the waves from Mars. He was greatly amused upon hearing of my +astonishment at finding that Martians resembled the people on Earth; and +when I drew for him a verbal picture of the ferocious creatures the +inhabitants of Mars were supposed to be, he laughed aloud. + +"We never suspected that the people of Earth did us such a great +injustice," he said, his whole countenance lighting up with good humor. +"I have several volumes here giving accounts of observations of Earth, +some of them written eight hundred years ago. It would perhaps interest +you to hear what the Martian conception of the inhabitants of Earth was +at that time." + +"Indeed it would," I exclaimed, with rising curiosity. + +"Well then," rejoined Almos, bringing one of the books and turning over +the leaves, while a curious smile still played about his mouth, "you +must understand that this was written over a hundred years before +super-radium was discovered, and at that time we had no means of +observing Earth except through the telescope, which showed us the +mountains, seas, and continents, much the same as your telescope must +reveal the physical features of Mars. On the question of whether Earth +is inhabited the author says: + +"'That this planet is inhabited we have no reason to doubt, as it is +known to be enveloped in an atmosphere, and it is now a generally +accepted theory that the changes noticed in its color throughout the +year are the seasonal effects on vegetable matter existing on its +surface.... What the inhabitants are like, however, we can only +surmise, but a study of the conditions under which they live will help +us to picture the wild amphibious creatures they must be. Their planet, +more than half covered with water, and being so many millions of miles +nearer the sun than we are, is almost continually enveloped in heavy +clouds of vapor, which, unless they were half fish, must surely +suffocate them. They doubtless seek the depths of water when these +clouds of thick vapor arise. Upon emerging, however, they have to face +such intense heat as none of us could tolerate a minute and live.... +They are no doubt provided with steel-like skin to resist this +temperature.... That they are of a fierce temperament there can be +little doubt, as their atmosphere, which is twice the weight of ours, is +so overcharged with electricity, owing to the heat and clouds of vapor, +that violent storms are constantly breaking over them, doubtless killing +thousands of them at a time and tending to make the natures of the +survivors as fierce as the elements which surround them.... Their year +is but half as long as ours, and this--impeding the laws of propagation, +thus making impossible the higher order of mankind--would naturally +have the effect of rendering their lives a short, reckless, and +ferocious existence, full of unrestrained cruelty and passions....' + +"And now," continued Almos, with a smile, after closing the volume, "you +see there is no occasion for apologies from you." + +"No," I answered, somewhat dryly. + +"The fact is, my dear fellow," said Almos, laughing and seeming to enjoy +the situation immensely, "the entire solar system is pursuing the same +path; what A thinks of B, B has already thought of A." + +The failing light on my instrument at this moment gave warning of the +passing of Mars out of wave contact, and we were obliged to bid each +other good-bye, Almos promising important revelations on the morrow. + +As I stood for a moment before my instrument, now wrapped in darkness, I +was conscious of a strange feeling that, in bidding Almos adieu, I had +also parted from another inhabitant of Mars. Though well aware that I +had only seen and conversed with Almos, my mind, nevertheless, also +reproduced the likeness of a young girl, wonderfully beautiful. I had +first experienced this mental image immediately after my first +conversation with Almos. At that time I had tried hard to put it from me +as merely a delusion resulting from nervous tension. But I found that +after each interview with Almos, the image became clearer and more +definitely fixed in my mind, until now I firmly believed in the +existence of this beautiful being on Mars, and, remarkable though it +seemed, I could not deny my growing affection for her. I had not +mentioned this mental image to Almos, as I felt convinced that he knew +nothing of it, and therefore would be unable to help me in any way. +Moreover, my training had taught me to seek a scientific reason for +things which might appeal to the superstitious as weird and uncanny. I +was therefore loath to speak of it to Almos, until I had proved beyond +doubt that it was not an hallucination. + +After I had spent many hours in vainly seeking a possible cause for this +mysterious mental image, the realization that I was but the veriest +infant in the wonderful achievements of our sister planet, finally +decided me upon the wiser course of leaving such matters until I had +become better acquainted with Martian inventions and scientific +progress. I therefore looked forward to visiting this wonderful world +with the greatest anticipation, and though I was entirely ignorant of +how this stupendous and seemingly impossible feat should be +accomplished, such was my faith in Almos' superior knowledge of science, +that I did not, for a moment, doubt the possibility of such a thing. +Little did I realize the fearful nature of the journey--the success of +which was based entirely on theories--or I would have shrunk in horror +from such an undertaking. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING. + + +The greater part of the next day was spent in moving the rest of my +belongings to my new quarters and in settling down there. Indeed, so +occupied was I with this task, that the approach of darkness found me +quite unprepared for wave contact with Mars. I had been obliged to take +my instrument apart in order to allow the larger pieces of furniture to +be brought into the room, and it required almost two hours to put it +together again. + +When at last all was in readiness and I had turned on the current, I +found my Martian friend waiting for me. + +"This is to be the last of my narrative," he remarked, after we had +greeted each other. + +"What!" I ejaculated in amazement. + +"You see, my dear fellow," continued Almos, "it was necessary for you +to become gradually acquainted with the advanced contions on Mars, +properly to understand them, and I have tried to school your mind +accordingly. It is essential, however, for you to see these things, +fully to appreciate the advancement of almost twenty centuries, and only +thus can my highest ambition be realized." + +"How is it possible?" + +"When I have told you of several important ways in which life on Mars +differs from that on Earth, you will more readily understand. + +"I have said that unhappiness on Mars is almost unknown. It is only the +presence of ill health that causes unhappiness. If the body can be kept +in a condition of absolutely perfect health--and by that I mean +something far beyond what is considered perfect health on Earth--then +unhappiness is impossible. Its causes, sorrow, jealousy, envy, hatred, +and discontent, are eliminated, and a normal condition of perfect +immunity from wrong-doing and unhappiness exists. + +"It has been discovered on Earth that crime is the result of a diseased +brain, and with us this discovery, in time, developed the fact that +wrong-doing, even in its minor phases, is the result of physical ill +health. Maintain, then, a perfect state of bodily health in a community, +and there is no wrong-doing and consequent unhappiness. + +"The means of obtaining this bodily health was discovered on Mars, in +the form of invisible light rays, almost six hundred years ago, and its +discovery led to a complete transformation in social conditions, +establishing perfect tranquillity and happiness upon the entire globe. + +"Separate governments became intolerable and were abandoned when race +distinction was forgotten, and the people of Mars became as one family, +speaking one tongue. Friendship for one's neighbor was transmuted into +love for one's brother. The pursuit of personal gain was replaced by a +desire to work for the good of all, and now a keen individual sense of +right and duty actuates the entire population, and is paramount in all +things. Duties are performed without other compensation than that which +the fulfillment of something well done brings. + +"It was soon found that the remarkable regenerating properties of these +rays perpetuated life and youth. Not only did they prevent sickness of +any kind, but they rebuilt the tissues of the body as fast as they wore +out, thus making the aging of the body impossible. A child therefore +grows up to full manhood or womanhood and remains in that state of the +body's highest excellence. While the child is developing the rays +stimulate his progress; anything beyond that would be decaying, a +condition the rays prevent." + +Accustomed though I had become to a long recital of the most marvelous +accounts without interrupting, I could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment at the information that Martians enjoy everlasting life. + +Almos received my evident amazement with the quiet smile I had grown +accustomed to observe upon such occasions, and, with a view of +illustrating the point further, said: + +"Although one's actual age becomes a very unimportant matter when, +instead of being limited to sixty or seventy years, it extends over +hundreds of years, I can readily ascertain my age, from the fact that I +was twenty years old at the time these wonderful rays were discovered. I +have lived, then, about six hundred of Earth's years, or three hundred +Martian years." + +"Six hundred years!" I exclaimed, as I looked at the reflection of his +handsome face; his eyes flashing, his cheeks aglow with ruddy health, +his whole countenance animated with the full vigor of manhood. + +"Of course, we do not know how long the effects of regenerating rays +will make it possible to live," pursued Almos, "but in theory, it would +seem that by their daily use perfect health will be assured, and life +itself will continue indefinitely." + +"And death become unknown on Mars!" I added, enthusiastically. + +"Not quite unknown," rejoined Almos. "For lives are sometimes lost in +accidents. Instant death defies all our science, and will not be +conquered. But in accidents, no matter how serious, where a spark of +life remains, we can prevent that from escaping until the body is in a +condition to take care of it. + +"This is accomplished by a device known as a virator, which, though +simple in construction, is the greatest marvel of the age. It consists +of a dome, made of material similar to glass in appearance, but which +differs from anything else known, in that it is absolutely atomless. +This dome fits over the operating table, upon which the patient lies, +with just sufficient room for two persons inside, and is kept at the +temperature of the body. On its top is a small globe made of the same +material, measuring but a few inches in diameter, which is connected +with the large chamber below by a neck or passage about an inch wide. +The patient is placed inside, and there operated upon. If life leaves +the body, either during the operation or after, the spirit ascends +through the narrow passage into the small globe above and is there +retained, as it cannot pass through the material of which the walls of +this chamber are constructed. The body is then kept continually bathed +in the regenerating rays, which not only preserve it as if life were in +it, but actually carry on the process of healing. This continues until +the body is in a perfectly sound and healthy condition again, and well +able to retain life. + +"And now occurs the most wonderful of all. When everything is in +readiness for the spirit to enter the body again, a strong flow of +super-radium is sent through the top globe from an instrument attached. +Passing through the small chamber and down the narrow passage, it +reaches the body, and immediately changes to a return flow. This current +is but momentary; the patient is seen to move, and the body is once more +quickened by the life spark. The flow of super-radium has conveyed the +spirit of the patient from the small chamber above and released it in +the body as it returned, in exactly the same manner as it does with +light-waves or sound-waves." + +"Marvelous!" I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend this +almost miraculous achievement. With such vast scientific resources +nothing seemed impossible to Martians. + +Almos had stopped abruptly. A change came over him. His face paled and +his lips set in a hard, determined expression. Instantly I felt my every +faculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of this +remarkable being. + +Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinated +by a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said: + +"A few words more and we have reached that point at which death may +await the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther. A death that no +scientific knowledge can avert. I have tried to school your mind, to the +end that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, +never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish to +attempt, you must risk alone. + +"Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned the +millions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, +which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live in +another world. Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earth +or Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over. You must consider +the possible consequences ere it be too late." + +"Never!" I cried. "My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I have +proceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal. +Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs me +my life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earth +ever can be." + +"Well, my brave fellow," said Almos, his voice softening, "you must +follow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, for +to-morrow I can be of no assistance to you. Alone you must undertake the +journey." + +I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what I +had said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feeling +now that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, the +facts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom I +fully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, was +inextricably bound with mine. I now decided to do so on the first +opportunity. + +"I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upper +chamber of a virator after it has left the body," pursued Almos, "and as +it is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe the +additions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also my +theories in connection with them. + +"To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected the +receiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface. +This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatus +substituted, from which I have also removed the image surface. Thus we +may have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope to +Earth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projecting +apparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth and +returning into the receiving apparatus. + +"This is exactly the condition that exists in a virator in ordinary use +with these exceptions: the current of super-radium is made to flow +either in or out of the bottom chamber, as well as the top; instead of +being local, the current is between Earth and Mars, and consequently +much more powerful. The currents from both the top and bottom chambers +are controlled by clockwork which I have devised for that purpose, and +in place of an operating table in the virator I have substituted a +couch. + +"And now I enjoin you to summon all your courage, for in this +undertaking nothing but nerves of steel will carry you safely through." + +"I shall faithfully carry out your instructions, Almos," I responded, +trying to appear perfectly calm, though my being fifteen hundred years +behind Martian times never seemed so much a handicap as now. + +"Follow me, then, word for word," resumed Almos. "Understand all I say, +for in the error of a second, the misconception of a word, the hesitancy +of a moment, there is death! + +"To-morrow, when that part of the Earth's surface on which Paris is +situated appears, I shall attach the receiving apparatus of the +radioscope to the lower chamber of the virator, so that the return +current from Earth will flow into it. I shall then set the clockwork to +turn on the current of super-radium in half an hour. In that time my +body must be in a condition to receive your spirit." + +I could not suppress a shudder upon hearing this, but I deemed it best +not to interrupt Almos. + +"Filling a cone with the required amount of chloroform, I shall enter +the virator, and, reclining upon the couch, place the cone over my mouth +and nose. In a few minutes my spirit will have passed into the upper +chamber. + +"By experimenting, I have found that regenerating rays are contained in +super-radium. In fact, my theory is that the regenerating rays and the +invisible rays of super-radium are synonymous. Such being the case, when +the current of super-radium is turned on by the clockwork, it will flow +to Earth and, returning, enter the virator and restore my body to a +normal condition, freeing it from the fumes of chloroform and making it +capable of receiving its new life. + +"The glow of your instrument, in response to the super-radium current, +will warn you that this has taken place, and you must then prepare +yourself for departure. You will not observe any image, owing to my +having removed the lenses of the radioscope, but your instrument will +glow in response to the current. + +"Having prepared a cone of chloroform, you must move a couch directly in +front of your instrument, so that upon lying down your body will obscure +the rays from it. You will thus know that you are in the path of the +super-radium current; this is of the greatest importance as, otherwise, +your spirit would undoubtedly escape upon leaving the body and be lost +forever. + +"After taking every possible precaution to safeguard against any +movement of the body, place the cone securely over your mouth and nose. +Within a short time your spirit will leave the body and will instantly +be caught up by the super-radium current, on its return flow to Mars. +Entering the receiving apparatus and thus passing into the virator, the +flow will come into direct contact with my body, into which it will +discharge your spirit." + +Almos stopped abruptly, consternation written on his face. A moment +later, I realized the cause--the two planets were passing out of wave +contact. At such a critical moment nothing could be more unfortunate, +and I was about hastily to suggest a postponement, when Almos exclaimed: +"It is all right!--I shall leave----" + +Wave contact ceased before he had time to finish the sentence, and I was +left standing before the instrument in a state of irresolution. + +How could I arrive on Mars totally unprepared to meet the conditions? +Upon my regaining consciousness these might present themselves in the +most urgent form, demanding immediate attention and a thorough knowledge +of Martian sciences. Almos' life, indeed, might depend upon just such a +condition. + +Undetermined upon the course I should pursue the next day, my mind +filled with the most formidable fancies of so strange an undertaking, I +at last sought repose, hoping that with the morrow would come clearer +thought. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +"AS OTHERS SEE US." + + +The next morning found me resolved to make the journey to Mars at any +cost. That Almos had intended to say he would leave further +instructions, I had no doubt. The instructions would probably be +written, and placed where I would immediately see them upon regaining +consciousness. In any event, I argued, if, at the usual hour of Martian +contact, my instrument should glow in response to super-radium, it would +clearly be my duty to fulfil my part of the agreement, for the glow +would be proof that Almos had fulfilled his and that his spirit had +passed into the upper chamber of the virator. + +I had purchased the necessary articles for my remarkable journey, and +had taken the precaution to fasten a notice outside my door to the +effect that I would be out during the evening. I could not restrain a +grim smile at the thought of the uncanny literal truth in this +announcement. + +These things done I fell to speculating upon what would be my experience +on Mars if, indeed, I ever reached that planet. For the first hours, try +as I would to check it, there was, at times, a doubt as to the outcome +of this wild soul-adventure. But, strange as it may appear, although I +fully realized the danger attending such an undertaking, the success of +which was based entirely on theories, it did not, in any way, act as a +deterrent. So great was the prize to be attained, that the risk of life +seemed unimportant. Indeed, the first step of the journey to Mars was to +take my life, as we understand the term on Earth, and, having become +reconciled to this, I was not sensible of any danger beyond. So absorbed +was I in these thoughts, that the time passed without my realizing it, +and only the fading daylight warned me of the near approach of the hour +of Martian contact. + +I now made a complete examination of all the batteries and coils of my +instrument, as failure in any of these might result most seriously. +Finding all to be in perfect working order, I next proceeded to arrange +my couch so as to bring it directly between the instrument and the +window. Having thus completed my preparations, possessed by conflicting +emotions, I now waited for the appearance of Mars. + +Early in the day I had arranged my letters and private papers so that in +the event of the worst happening, they could be readily packed, and it +now occurred to me that it would be only proper to leave a word of +explanation with them. I therefore hastily penned a note to a cousin +living in England--my nearest relative--briefly explaining my discovery +of the Martian super-radium current, and also the character of the +adventure in which I was about to participate. This note I placed with +my papers. + +Returning to the instrument, I discovered that Mars was already visible. +Quickly turning on the current and finding no responsive glow, I knew +that Almos was already making the preparations he had described to me. +He had said that within half an hour the clockwork would turn on the +current, and the glow of my instrument would be the signal for my +departure. + +No time was to be lost. Securely fastening the door of my room, I +prepared the cone of chloroform and extinguished the light, in order not +to excite the suspicion of a chance caller during the evening. + +I now sat on the couch awaiting with anxiety the current of super-radium +that would convey me to the far world of my dreams. Minutes seemed like +hours, as I sat in the darkness, with every nerve strained to its +uttermost, awaiting Death. What if Death should refuse to release me! +Millions have been wrapped in Death's cold arms, but no mortal has +returned to give accounting. + +What was that!--A blinding flash made me instantly shield my eyes. Ah! +The glow at last! But such was its dazzling brilliancy that I could not +stand the glare. I had been accustomed to see the glow gradually creep +up the surface of the instrument, slowly growing brighter as the rim of +the star appeared above the window casement, but this time Mars had +risen to full view before the current was turned on by the clockwork. +This was ample proof that everything had happened as Almos had planned. +It was now my turn to act and I must not hesitate. Stretching myself on +the couch so that I came into full contact with the current of +super-radium, I seized the cone saturated with chloroform, and fastened +it securely over my mouth and nose. + +A few moments of a slightly suffocating sensation, then a long, long +fall, gradual at first, then quicker, quicker-- + + * * * * * + +With a feeling of exhilaration, such as I had never before experienced, +I opened my eyes and sprang to my feet. My brain was perfectly clear, +and so active that my mind utterly failed to keep pace with the +multitude of thoughts that were crowded upon it--thoughts that were +strange to my mind, yet perfectly familiar to my brain, if this +paradoxical statement may stand. It seemed as if my mind stood, apart +and marveled at the remarkable activity and knowledge possessed by the +brain--of which knowledge my mind was entirely ignorant. + +I was in another world, millions of miles away from Earth. My mind +realized that something little short of a miracle had happened, and yet +I felt absolutely familiar with all the objects about me. The glass-like +walls that surrounded me, reaching up and forming a dome several feet +above my head; the narrow passage in the center of the dome (just as the +neck of a bottle would appear if viewed from inside), through which the +spirit of Almos had passed to the chamber above; all these were +wonderfully familiar to me. + +I was in the virator, but it was uncomfortable to remain inside, as the +air was oppressively warm. Moreover, dictated my brain, I must prepare +the virator for my return within five hours, and my hand instinctively +grasped a lever in the wall of the apparatus. A door opened and I +stepped out, carefully closing it behind me. Again I was astonished at +my wonderful familiarity with everything. If I had lived on Mars all my +life, I could not have had a more intimate knowledge of my surroundings. +I seemed to know exactly how to proceed, and after attending to several +important details, and carefully noting the temperature of the virator +on a thermometer placed for that purpose, I consulted a chronometer to +ascertain how long it would be safe for me to remain on Mars. I found +that, allowing a half-hour for the process of arrival and the same for +departure, I had just five hours. + +My mind, at first stunned by the new and strange conditions to which it +was subjected, now gradually began to realize its remarkable position in +relation to the brain. + +That the mind and the spirit are one, or so closely related as to be +indistinguishable and inseparable, was now beyond doubt, as I was keenly +aware of all that had happened to me on Earth, showing that my mind not +only existed, but also possessed the same faculty of thought in Almos' +body as it did in mine while on Earth. Here was a positive proof, in +fact a demonstration, of the theory advanced by some scientists, that +the mind is separate and distinct from the brain. + +But the gulf that lies between life and death remained as wide as ever. +Death was still shrouded in mystery, for my mind knew nothing from the +moment it left the body on Earth, until it awakened in the body on Mars. +Flesh and blood, then, were essential to the mind's existence. Mind or +spirit must have expression through some form. Although man may achieve +much by scientific advancement, that to which he has progressed is but +as a grain of sand in the desert, to the wonders that surround him. +Science shall never penetrate the mystery of those things that are +withheld from him. + +The brain of which my mind now took control, acted merely as the +material handle by which the machinery of the body was operated, thus +converting thoughts into actions. But although my mind, having by now +become perfectly familiar with the strange conditions, was able to +record new impressions on the brain, there still existed the impression +of Almos' thoughts. It resembled a book which my mind could instantly +refer to and be guided by, and thus was I in possession of a perfect +knowledge of Mars, its people, and its language. + +I now realized that my first actions, upon becoming conscious, had +simply been carrying out the instructions Almos had left for me. Strange +to the conditions in those first few minutes, I had instinctively done +what the brain dictated. In this remarkable way had Almos completed the +instructions he was about to give me when interrupted by the cessation +of wave contact. + +Having thus arrived at what I felt to be the true relation of my mind +with Almos' body, I now turned my attention to the objects surrounding +me. + +I stood in a room about the size of my laboratory on Earth. There were +no windows to admit light, but the ceiling, which was fully twenty feet +high, emitted a beautifully diffused white light, which filled every +corner of the room, leaving absolutely no shadows. Its effect was that +of daylight, and so closely did it resemble the sky, that, had I not +been supplied with Almos' knowledge of Martian science, I would have +naturally supposed that there was no ceiling to the room. Immediately +upon the question coming into my mind, however, I became aware that the +ceiling was coated with a composition, one of the component parts of +which was radium in a highly developed state. Its action upon the other +elements that composed this substance resulted in a perpetual light +without heat, which was equal in every way to daylight. + +The tourist, finding himself in a new country, has but one thought, one +ambition, that of seeing all he can; yet, strange to say, although a +whole new world lay before me, my first thought was of Mother Earth. A +desire to view my old habitat as Martians see it seemed almost +irresistible. + +To touch the radioscope that was trained on Earth, would result in an +instant change taking place in my body as it lay in the laboratory, and +this would be disastrous. It was only the regenerating properties of the +super-radium current that kept it in a state acceptable to my return, +and the delicate mechanism of this instrument was regulated so as to +keep the current exactly in position, as long as that part of the +Earth's surface was exposed to Mars. To interfere then with this +current, for a moment, would mean certain death. + +Immediately I became conscious of the presence of another instrument, +which was in a room adjoining, and, feeling absolutely familiar with +every inch of the way, I proceeded thence. The room was a small one, +just large enough, indeed, to operate the radioscope, which was exactly +the same as the one in the room I had just quitted. + +With a perfect knowledge of the mechanism of the instrument, I was soon +at work adjusting the projecting and receiving apparatus. An ordinary +telescope was attached to the huge tube of the radioscope, and with +Almos' dexterity I soon located Earth through it, thus sighting the +radioscope for that planet. + +I had now but to turn on the current to see the people on Earth and +watch their doings, as had done Martians for hundreds of years, but, +with my hand on the lever that controlled the current, I paused. + +The sight of Earth, as it appeared through the telescope, was too +beautiful to pass by with a mere glance. Half illuminated, owing to the +greater distance of Mars from the sun and the position of the planets at +that time, Earth appeared about the size the moon looks to the naked +eye. But what a wonderful sight! Bathed in sunlight lay the eastern half +of the continents of North and South America, faintly outlined by the +pale blue of the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. So familiar was +I with the appearance of these two great continents as drawn in an +atlas, that I had difficulty in recognizing them as they now appeared. +Mexico and Central America seemed almost as broad as that part of the +United States from San Francisco to Washington; the whole tapering down +from Canada to Cape Horn almost in the shape of a cone. + +Aeronauts passing over a lake or river are able to see the bottom, owing +to their altitude; this was undoubtedly the explanation of the strange +appearance of the continents of North and South America. On account of +the enormous distance I was away from Earth, the shallow waters appeared +as land, obliterating completely the familiar coast line, and only the +extreme depth of an ocean showed a pale blue. + +Night covered Europe and Africa, which would otherwise have been visible +to me, and the shadow of darkness was steadily creeping across the +Atlantic Ocean, as the Earth revolved upon its axis. I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought that I must cover that enormous +distance ere it revolved too far. + +I now moved the lever that controlled the current, and at once the lens +in the receiving apparatus shone with a brilliant dark blue color. The +current of super-radium had reached Earth and returned in less than a +second, and I saw, beautifully pictured before me, an expanse of ocean +with waves tumbling and tossing so near me that it seemed as if I were +but a few feet above them. + +By diminishing the current I found that the image on the lens grew +smaller, the effect being exactly the same as that from a balloon +rising. The picture at first appeared slanting at an angle of about +thirty degrees, owing to the curvature of the Earth, but by manipulating +a small lever close at hand that operated a mirror in the radioscope, +this defect was corrected. + +After searching about with the current, I at last came upon a large +steamer, evidently an ocean liner. Throwing huge billows aside in clouds +of white spray as she cut through the water, she made a beautiful sight, +and it was with difficulty that I kept her in the field of vision. As I +appeared to be looking straight down upon her decks, it was evident that +she was about in the center of the Earth's surface exposed to Mars. + +I now moved the current in a westerly direction, travelling at what +would be a terrific speed on Earth, until I came to land. Not +recognizing the small coast town that first came in view, I moved up the +coast in a northerly direction, diminishing the current until I could +see a large stretch of country. Toward the northwest a large city +appeared, which I immediately recognized as Washington. Directing the +instrument to that city, I increased the current until the people on the +streets measured two or three feet on the lens of my instrument. Here I +found that the curvature of the Earth resulted in my looking down +obliquely at the objects on its surface, but not at a sufficient angle +to see the faces of those who passed across my lens. + +But now I became aware of a strange condition that, owing to the motion +of the liner at sea, had escaped my notice before. Although I was +looking at the people passing before one of the large government +buildings in Washington, I had to keep regulating the instrument in +order to keep this building in view. Moreover, I discovered that I had +to regulate it as fast as I had done with the ocean liner. In fact, +obviously the liner's speed mattered but little; it was the rate at +which the Earth was revolving upon its axis and journeying around the +sun with which I had to contend. Through the telescope this was not +discernible, but now that I had come into such close visual contact with +the Earth's surface, I realized the terrific speed with which it rushed +through space. Hundreds of miles a minute was the speed my instrument +had to be regulated to, in order to keep an object on Earth in view--the +motion of the liner was insignificant! + +Moving the current eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered that +darkness in no way hindered my view of objects on Earth's surface. The +reproduction on the lens, however, presented quite a different +appearance to that which I had witnessed while observing the part of +Earth illuminated by the sun. The beautiful colors which contributed so +much realism to the picture were now replaced by a sombre gray tone, +greatly resembling a photograph in appearance. + +So absorbed had I become in all that this wonderful instrument revealed +to me of the different phases of life on Earth, that I forgot all else, +until, with a start, I realized that someone was moving about in the +large room which contained the virator that I had recently left. I was +filled with apprehension. Who could it be? And what was the reason of +this unexpected visit? Almos had not warned me against intrusion of any +kind, and I felt that to meet and converse with a Martian, thus +unprepared, would be impossible. In that room, however, were the +instruments that held two lives within their delicate mechanism, and +even now they might have been tampered with enough to cause the most +serious consequences. I must not hesitate a moment longer. Hastening +down the passage that led to the larger room, I pushed aside the heavy +portieres and found myself in the presence of a Martian. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH. + + +My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall, +handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank and +open countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without a +moment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, in +the composite language of Mars, said: + +"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I have +interrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is--" + +"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to see +you at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?" + +Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner that +did not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. In +spite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to face +with an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor did +it require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency, +followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man had +spoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitor +and with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of the +first few moments had passed, that my mind could take control whenever +it exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished, +or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information. +Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced in +answering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there was +no danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personality +in his friend. + +I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars' +greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latest +invention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. A +recognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, Almos' counsel +was sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recital +of this wonderful instrument. + +Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours in +which it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in my +observations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being aware +of the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I, +however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in a +few minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this new +undertaking. + +I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a new +and strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returning +within two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almos +to attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had taken +were too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of this +wonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertainty +which made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent in +another world. If the return current failed to do what was expected of +it, if I had erred in my calculation of the time I could remain on +Mars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the results +would be disastrous. + +I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to my +host that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatory +within two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and, +approaching my visitor, I said: + +"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost, +as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demands +my attention in two hours." + +I held back the portières as Reon passed out, and following him down a +short passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of white +marble. + +A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, and +the dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads of +diamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant did +they appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out what +appeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scattered +here and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of small +canoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland, +reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air. +As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in my +mind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air by +a metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to the +surface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that their +planet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling. +The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of this +immense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was not +a fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existed +at the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before this +discovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having made +the discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off the +planet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling pole +that it was argued that the pole must run through the center of the +planet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which covered +the rest of the surface. + +Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the pole +itself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations were +made as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surface +until the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore was +encountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intense +heat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. This +strange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was found +to possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to the +surface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repelling +force, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this same +force was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity of +an unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole. +The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great as +the specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and by +its use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerial +navigation on Mars had been solved. + +Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this the +moment the question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but, +although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderful +people, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strong +personality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had been +preparing an aerenoid for our use--such was the Martian name for these +airships--was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain that +with the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting of +Almos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicion +of my true personality. + +The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed in +appearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us. +Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer's +portholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, as +it rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for the +purpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal which +the Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two or +more strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight in +their construction was of little importance. While resting on the +ground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor, +thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car the +casing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, until +enough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause the +repelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure, +any desired height could thus be attained. + +The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attain +great speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closed +flush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces of +machinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means of +propulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that I +could not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence of +scientific progress. + +Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed to +produce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rear +half, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, and +tapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern, +where it ended in an opening one inch in diameter. By a chemical +process the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing a +vacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the small +opening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussion +against the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving the +aerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at great +speed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simple +though this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome and +the long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, the +speed thus attained was remarkable. + +Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of the +car afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and we +rose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glide +along without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way through +the many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, coming +from a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate the +observatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed close +by them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfully +beautiful--beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknown +for hundreds of years. + +Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a river +about a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet or +more from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed every +hundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city street +stretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me that +this was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as we +passed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, running +parallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowing +rapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this! + +Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly until +within thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased until +the lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundred +miles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration or +sound. At such a speed it was possible to encircle Mars in seventy +minutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "Midsummer +Night's Dream," who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in forty +minutes. + +On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canals +equally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint gray +light appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crowned +the banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itself +appeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens. +In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and now +it was the middle of the afternoon. + +The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids, +travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, was +obvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than these +magnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planet +with such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source of +great wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of years +old, the method of constructing this gigantic system of canals remains +enshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surrounds +the building of the pyramids in Egypt. + +I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals were +put, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid. +The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not for +the water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles without +propulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving a +lever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In an +instant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending high +into the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks on +either side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I now +realized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat in +appearance. + +Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile a +minute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded down +several branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canal +banks. Higher and higher we ascended until we were about a thousand +feet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed. + +A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye could +reach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marble +buildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees, +could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and beside +sparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities or +towns--not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in any +particular direction. + +No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in our +car was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the light +atmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It was +evidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible under +cover in the daytime. + +Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I was +at once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which was +intensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almost +black. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars were +visible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth with +such brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossible +to look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated the +enormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, which +diffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearance +of the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admiration +until, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come to +rest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a most +palatial building. + +Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attached +to the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty upon +landing, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place at +the levers and joined me. + +There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of the +high-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter class +resembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and it +was evident that all were inside listening to the recital of the +lumaharp. + +As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discover +that the outside walls of this building were entirely covered with +beautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus. +Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it, +too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos. +The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; these +and many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved with +remarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and were +looked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world. + +As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portières, and, +passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be an +immense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting in +groups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlight +streamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolled +back, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that the +Martians were to be found during the heat of the day. + +Rain being unknown, it was necessary to grow the more delicate plants +where they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of the +midday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season. +I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found only +upon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of the +green these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardy +pink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry and +sandy soil. + +Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that I +might reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among the +tall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring the +beautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers also +indigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in the +most cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importance +of saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of the +individual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyable +conversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their names +and the matters of interest to them. All were very enthusiastic about +the lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderful +instrument. + +As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almos +was not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but as +there were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reason +to visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind. + +Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far from +the entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to be +directed back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, every +nerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill the +air. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision of +beautiful flowers--flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves, +and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in a +volume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description. + +As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, a +gradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, its +inventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man of +great learning, but of few words; Sarraccus had won the love and +admiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that had +given the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who had +discovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, been +used by others until many important inventions had developed from it, +such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination without +expenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all of +which, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement of +this great people. + +The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possible +to reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at the +time of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expedited +the movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of every +quarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy and +rapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and towns +were soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained the +ideal, and became a World Beautiful--the magnificent estate of one large +family. + +And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a voice to sing of their +beauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea that +inasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors and +shades of a flower--beauty too rare for the hand of man to +reproduce--there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound or +vibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound. +Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade of +the object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument were +made sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicate +undulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance with +the light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness to +the beauty of the flower, would result. + +After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in the +form of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated in +response to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp will +often be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice, +and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of this +wire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, and it +was only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they were +discovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, and +each was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certain +color. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent every +possible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two large +drums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed in +chambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by the +delicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of the +wind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner of +the large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied the +position of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wall +opposite them. + +The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrown +upon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicate +shade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated in +response to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was the +ineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams of +beauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the hand +of man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anything +that the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of the +field receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yet +simple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? As +different flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the music +change; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would change +again to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life and +beauty. + +For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic power +I was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in the +direction of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understood +and sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemed +to become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surged +through that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, as +other music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I was +sensible of a yearning for a love--a love that was soon forgotten, and I +knew it to be mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgotten +the love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, and +now it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should ever +return to this paradise? + +Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess of +emotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think. +Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arbor +was almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone and +unobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which I +now felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank on +my arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soul +seemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music. + +I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a hand +softly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as the +melody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!" + +The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow. +Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name that +instinctively came to my lips--"Zarlah!" It was as if another man had +spoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held a +prisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose image +I had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah! + +I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination, +and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that this +beautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of the +heart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her. + +What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those first +moments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words, +Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave no +evidence of how I was torn within, I said: + +"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to linger +here?" + +"My studies have brought me here," she answered, gently withdrawing her +hand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes to +mine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you no +experiments at the observatory that demand your attention that you can +afford to linger here, Almos?" + +How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could not +hope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart. +There was uncertainty in the future--perhaps I would never again be +given the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned. + +Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into her +wonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here, +Zarlah, was to think of you." + +A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for some +seconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so I +could not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hear +the wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?" + +"I did," I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered only +of you--the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning in +my heart--it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love for +you, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune of golden moments; +then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowers +direct from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him that +I should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to the +truth that is within the soul." + +I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back the +waves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiant +with the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passed +before me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not the +face of Helen--that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy--have +paled into insignificance beside it? + +For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break that +sacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joy +of feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in my +arms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlah +whispered: + +"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties that +have been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once. +Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits." + +The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a full +realization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah I +was a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me to +return to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense of +duty--her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that I +was not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even the +knowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even if +it were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change of +personality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of how +the change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it; +it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could know +nothing--a spirit even from an alien world. + +Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlah +through this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon was +to wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of my +own hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of which +I had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacred +duty. I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though my +cup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, and +when Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, I +quickly assented with all a lover's eagerness. + +We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, I +saw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merry +party in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends, +I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestly +besought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory. + +A few words of farewell--a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; and +as I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could not +help marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held in +the eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward than +their own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought of +the endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is a +slave to Gold. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID. + + +Reon was at his place by the levers when I stepped into the aerenoid, +and as I closed and fastened the steel door, we slowly rose, and +describing a large circle, sailed toward the canal. As the sun was now +low in the heavens, numerous open aerenoids were to be seen, but these +were soon passed, and within a few minutes we had reached the branch +canal where our speed increased. + +My thoughts were now turned to the long journey before me. So deeply +absorbed had I been in the rapid events since I left the observatory, +that I had given little thought to time. My great happiness at meeting +and being with Zarlah had caused me to forget completely the importance +of returning to the observatory within two hours, and as the thought +now flashed through my mind, I hastily consulted the time. To my great +dismay I found I had but twenty minutes in which to cover quarter of +Mars. This I knew was possible, but it left such a narrow margin that +any delay or accident, en route, would prove disastrous to our plans, +thus bringing fatal consequences. + +We had now reached the large canal in which we had attained such great +speed, and, rising, we proceeded to pass over it. As we crossed the +banks there came a rushing sound from beneath us, as of a mighty gust of +wind, and, looking through one of the small windows in the side of the +car, I saw in the distance a speck, which, in another moment, +disappeared. Our aerenoid now gently rocked with the motion of a boat +that is in the swell of a passing steamer, and I instantly realized that +another aerenoid, travelling at a terrific speed, had passed in the +canal beneath us. + +We had now reached the canal that ran parallel to the one over which we +had just passed. This was in every way similar to the first and was used +by aerenoids going in an opposite direction. Into this canal we turned, +sinking lower as our speed increased, until, when we had reached our +maximum speed, we were travelling not more than thirty feet above the +water. Thus, whenever necessary, we were ready for an instant plunge in +order to reduce our speed, and thus did this simple rule of starting +high and sinking lower as the speed increased make collisions +impossible. + +As it was late in the afternoon when we started, the daylight soon +faded, and in a few minutes we had reached complete darkness, the double +line of lights on the canal banks being our only guide. Anxiously did I +count the minutes as we sped along, but knowing the danger of +distracting Reon's attention, even for a moment, while we were +travelling at such a terrific speed, I kept silent, nor did I allow my +manner to give any evidence of my anxiety. + +I now realized that if I reached the observatory in time, I would owe my +life to Zarlah. Twice had she reminded me of my duties at the +observatory, and had insisted upon my immediate departure, when, under +the influence of her great beauty, I would have lingered until too late. +My mind was fully determined as to how to proceed with regard to +righting the wrong I felt I had done Almos, in confessing to Zarlah my +love for her. I would leave a note for him at the observatory to the +effect that I wished to communicate with him the following evening, when +I would tell him all. + +The hopelessness of my love was plain, for it was Almos whom she loved, +and she believed also that Almos had confessed his love to her; and, +with a lover's conviction that everyone must love the one he loves, I +felt that Almos undoubtedly loved Zarlah. Indeed, it was probably his +affection for her through which I had silently won her confession. Almos +would then have no cause to regret my action, and Zarlah would never +know the strange circumstances that had brought them together. Thus did +I picture in my mind a happy conclusion to my selfish and precipitate +action, which, I had feared at first, must bring overwhelming sorrow and +humiliation into three lives, two of which were dearer to me than any on +Earth. + +I was roused from these meditations by the sudden roar of rushing waters +as, in order to reduce speed, we plunged along the surface of the +canal. We were nearing our destination at last, and my mind at once +reverted to the now imminent danger--that of arriving at the observatory +only to find that the wave contact with Paris had ceased, and I was too +late ever to return to the world from which I had come. In such a case, +I determined to write a brief account of my experiences to Almos, and, +after arranging the current of super-radium so that it would convey my +spirit out of the virator (whither I knew not), I would then enter the +virator and deliver the body to its rightful owner. + +Although I determined upon this course as being clearly my duty, in the +event of my being too late to return to Earth, the desperate nature of +such a proceeding roused me to action. We had now risen from the canal +and were floating slowly in the air at a considerable height. Striving +hard to suppress my agitation, I urged Reon to make more speed, and he +at once responded by increasing the power. As it was now after midnight +in this part of Mars, we were in no danger of encountering small +aerenoids in our flight, and in a few moments, to my great relief, I +distinguished the observatory lying far beneath us. Describing circles +over the building, we slowly descended and in a few seconds we had +reached the balcony. + +Thanking my companion with a hearty handshake (which came perfectly +natural even on Mars), I bade him adieu, and, stepping on to the +balcony, made my way into the observatory with all haste. Everything was +in the condition I had left it, and I was greatly relieved to find that +the necessary time for the process of departure still remained, before +wave contact with Paris ceased. My heart now went out in true gratitude +and love to her who, in the simple desire to do what was right, had +placed duty before her love, and had thus been of such inestimable +service to me. + +Immediately upon my arrival, I had prepared the virator for my journey +back to Earth by substituting the projecting apparatus of the radioscope +for the receiving apparatus. It was only necessary now to start the +clockwork that would shut off the current to earth in half an hour, and +would start the current flowing through the upper chamber of the +virator. + +After having written a brief note to Almos, saying that I wished to +communicate with him the following evening before making another visit, +I made a hasty examination of the current of super-radium which now +flowed through the virator to Earth from the projecting apparatus. The +instant my spirit was released, it would be caught up in this current +and conveyed to my body, where it lay in my rooms in Paris. In half an +hour the clockwork would shut off the current flowing to Earth, and +would then turn on the current which flowed through the upper chamber of +the virator, thus transferring Almos' spirit back to the body, as it lay +in the lower chamber. + +All was in perfect order, but it was not without a feeling of reluctance +and anxiety that I stepped into the virator and, after carefully +fastening the door, prepared the cone of chloroform. I realized that +there were many dangers attending the return journey that were not +present in my journey to Mars. If I had erred in my calculation of the +time the super-radium current could be kept on my body in Paris, or if +my body had moved in that time, it would undoubtedly mean death to me; +and the thought of whether Almos, in such a case, would learn of my +fate on the morrow flashed through my mind. Realizing the danger of such +apprehensions, not only from the loss of valuable time which they +occupied, but also from the fact that they tended to unnerve me at the +moment when hesitation meant death, I quickly fastened the chloroform +cone over my face and inhaled the fumes. + +A moment's consciousness--a flickering light-- + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE. + + +I opened my eyes--it was broad daylight, and for some moments I lay +dreamily surveying the familiar objects in my room, unconscious of all +that had happened to me during the previous night. Then, noticing that I +was fully dressed, a sudden realization of it all came upon me, and, +springing to my feet, I excitedly paced up and down my room, pinching my +arms and legs to make sure that they were in normal condition. +Satisfying myself upon this point, I then looked at the time, and, to my +astonishment, found that it was noon. + +As Mars passed out of wave contact about one o'clock in the morning, I +must have slept eleven hours after the return of my spirit to Earth. I +had greatly feared that even if it were my good fortune ever to regain +consciousness, it would be only to discover that I had lost the use of +my limbs and was powerless to move. That the super-radium current would +preserve my body in such a natural condition as even to induce sleep I +would not have believed possible. Yet there was every indication that I +had awakened from a natural sleep. I felt fresh and full of vigor, and +there on my couch lay the cone which, in my sleep, I had unfastened and, +in turning over, crushed. If I had remained unconscious the entire time +there would not have been this evidence of restlessness, and I +considered it of importance as being proof that my sleep had been +natural. Beyond this, however, I did not consider the removal of the +cone from my face as important, as the chloroform must have completely +evaporated soon after I became unconscious. + +Now that I was once again in my laboratory with the humdrum life of a +matter-of-fact world surging about me, evincing itself by the continual +roar of traffic which reached me through the open window, my remarkable +adventure of the night before seemed like a strange dream. As there was +no tangible proof that I had actually been on Mars, I might have been +led to the conclusion that I had chloroformed myself into +unconsciousness only, and had passed from this state into a deep sleep, +in which I had dreamed my remarkable experiences. But the clearness and +consistency of every detail were amply sufficient to convince me of the +genuineness of my experiences on Mars, and that the characters, so +vividly portrayed in my mind, lived in flesh and blood on a world +millions of miles away. Much more convincing than this, however, was the +moral obligation that I felt incumbent upon me--a duty I owed to +another. No dream could have left me with this keen sense of +responsibility. + +Alas, I knew only too well that I loved, with an impossible love, a +beautiful being of another planet, and that my duty lay in the +renunciation of this love to Almos, its rightful possessor. + +Thus my discovery had not brought me the joy of triumph. The proud +moments in an inventor's career when he holds up to the world the fruit +of his ingenuity and study could not be mine. Indeed, the thought of the +excitement that the news of such easy communication with Mars would +cause, if I demonstrated its truth before reputable scientists, made me +determined to guard the secret of my discovery the more jealously. +Hundreds of instruments similar to mine would be made, and it would soon +become known to all the inhabitants of Mars that they could talk to the +people of Earth, resulting in constant communication from all parts of +both planets. Such an innovation would soon be a regular pastime of the +rich. It would then be impossible for me to visit Mars again, as the +crossing of the currents of super-radium would add a grave danger to +such an undertaking. + +The possibility of my secret becoming known through an accident (someone +breaking into my room or overhearing me talk with Almos) now occurred to +me, and, in the fear of my being separated from Zarlah forever, I +determined upon another visit to Mars that evening. + +I had planned to tell Almos at once of my thoughtless confession of love +to Zarlah, but in an effort to justify my great desire to see her again, +I now saw several important reasons for postponing this. I had given my +promise to Zarlah to be with her the following evening, and it seemed +only honorable for me first to fulfil my promise to her. Moreover, under +the circumstances, it might be embarrassing for Almos to meet her upon +such short notice. When a man takes a step of this kind, he usually has +spent some time in consideration beforehand, how much more necessary, +then, is time for consideration when this step has been taken for him. I +therefore decided to keep my promise to Zarlah and to endeavor to visit +Mars again during the next wave contact. + +I did not regret having left the note for Almos, however, as I had no +means of telling whether the mechanism of the virator had done what was +expected of it, or not. Almos' life depended upon the accurate working +of this mechanism after I had gone, and I was anxious to learn of his +safety. He would also want to learn of my safe arrival before preparing +himself for another undertaking of the kind; to see each other was +therefore necessary. Almos would undoubtedly have warned me of this, had +not the cessation of wave contact prevented him from giving me +instructions. + +It was late in the afternoon when a feeling of intense hunger reminded +me that I had not tasted food for twenty-four hours. I contented myself, +however, with a light meal at a neighboring cafe, knowing the danger of +eating heavily at this time. To my great surprise, I found that this +small amount of food was evidently all my system required. Not only was +my hunger appeased, but, while returning to my rooms, I was conscious of +a strength and vigor which were entirely new to me, and which I now +remembered I had first experienced upon awakening. Could it be that the +super-radium current, possessing the wonderful regenerating rays that +had brought perpetual life to the people of Mars, was gradually working +this change in my body over a distance of millions of miles? Impossible +as this seemed there was no other way of accounting for the remarkable +change which had taken place in my body. + +The intense excitement I experienced at the thought of possessing +perpetual life, health, and youth was but momentary, and I reached my +laboratory with a full realization of the enormous responsibilities +which my discovery was placing upon me. I could no longer keep it +secret; each day that I withheld the knowledge of these rays from my +fellow beings, hundreds, nay thousands, of lives would be laid to my +account. The knowledge had not been given to me that I should guard it +selfishly. The hope that, even though I could never call Zarlah my own, +I might often spend a few happy hours with her in her Martian paradise +was now shattered forever. I must stifle my love or commit a crime +against every living soul on Earth; and as I paced my room in agony, +with my hands pressed to my temples to ease their throbbing, a great cry +of anguish from the multitude in Death's grasp rang through my brain. My +heart was torn asunder by two great conflicting emotions, Love and Duty, +and in this torture of mind and body I moved restlessly back and forth +in my room, until the fading light warned me of the near approach of +wave contact with Mars. + +There was but one course open to me; I would tell Almos of my experience +with the rays, and if he should decide that they were the same as the +regenerating rays, possessing all their properties, and that continual +life was now within reach of the people on Earth, I would make my +discovery public on the morrow. This would be my solemn duty, no matter +what sacrifice it involved, and I could not help feeling that this +second visit to Mars might be the last. + +A hasty examination of my instrument assured me that all was in order, +and, turning on the current, I now watched the surface of wires for the +glow that would signalize the commencement of wave contact. Should this +glow appear without an image of any kind it would have but one +meaning--that the mechanism of the virator had failed to do its work the +night previous, and that disaster had befallen Almos. + +My heart beat fast, therefore, when in a short time a faint glow +appeared on the upper portion of my instrument and rapidly spread until +it covered the entire surface. As it grew brighter I was obliged to turn +away, before I could recognize any image, and, as I stood shielding my +eyes from the strong glare, I felt my heart sink within me. But, before +I could approach the instrument again, I heard my name called in the +clear, ringing tones of Almos' beloved voice. + +I reached the instrument with a bound, and there, standing with his +hands extended toward me and a smile of greeting on his handsome face, I +saw my brave Martian brother. + +"My dear Almos, how glad I am to see you are safe!" I cried, tears of +joy springing to my eyes at finding that the fears of a moment ago were +unfounded. + +"It is entirely due to your forethought in leaving the note, that either +of us are safe," Almos responded. "Had you not done this, disaster to +one or both of us must certainly have resulted, through ignorance of +each other's plans. Let me congratulate you, my brave fellow, for having +so successfully accomplished your remarkable journey. This is the +initial step in the linking together of the destinies of Earth and Mars. + +"But now I should like to hear an account of your experiences here, for +although I have gradually become aware of many impressions you left, I +find it is only of the things suggested by my mind that I can gather +anything." + +"Then it is evident that the brain is merely a book of reference for the +mind," I replied, "as I was not instantly aware of your knowledge of +Martian affairs, but only upon a subject being suggested by my mind, +was the information regarding it available. Thus, the mind is aware of +impressions it has made on the brain, but is totally ignorant of +impressions made by another mind, unless the thought is suggested." + +I now gave Almos a brief description of my journey, explaining that, as +I intended to make another visit to Mars that evening, I would leave the +full account of my experiences until the following night. I was careful +not to make any reference to Zarlah, as I felt that my second meeting +with her would put me in a much better position to approach Almos on +this extremely delicate subject and lay before him my plans. Moreover, I +was anxious that nothing should interfere with those few happy hours to +which I looked forward with such intense desire. + +Almos listened to my narrative with wrapt attention, and not until I +concluded by describing the remarkable effects of the regenerating rays, +did he give utterance to a word. Then, to my amazement, he said: + +"The result is what I fully expected. The proof that the regenerating +rays exist in the super-radium current, lies in the fact that your body +was perfectly preserved for six hours, and there is no reason for +supposing that they differ, in any way, from the rays which preserve +life here for an unlimited time." + +"Then I can no longer keep my discovery a secret," I declared +resolutely. "It becomes my solemn duty at once to make public the +knowledge of these wonderful rays emanating from Mars." + +"What you say is indeed the truth," rejoined Almos. "The time has now +arrived; the existence of a people on Mars, our early history, progress, +and the conditions under which we live at the present day, must now +become known upon Earth; our inventions and scientific advancement must +be made available to Earth's scientists. Since the discovery of the +radioscope, which enabled us to see the people on your planet, Mars has +yearned to give a helping hand to her younger sister. That time has now +come, and before many years the conditions of life on Earth will be +similar to those here. A great work must be accomplished, however, but +the burden of that work rests upon me; when it is finished the goal of +my life has been reached. There are many things that are not clear to +you now, my dear fellow, but there is no time at present for +explanations. In half an hour I shall have prepared for your +visit--remember, no matter what happens, tomorrow all shall be +explained." + +Having thus spoken, his voice and manner evincing great earnestness and +determination, he waved his hand in farewell, and instantly the +instrument was plunged into darkness. + +For some moments I stood motionless under the spell that his remarkable +personality had cast over me, nor did even his abrupt manner appear at +all strange, such perfect harmony of word and action existed in this +Martian genius. Indeed, it seemed a fitting conclusion to all that had +gone before. Speaking rapidly, as though realizing the loss of time in +mere words, his handsome face, strong with determination, holding me +fascinated, he had confessed the ambition nearest and dearest to his +heart--that of giving to Earth the discoveries and inventions of +hundreds of years of advancement in science; all that had resulted in +the longevity, health, peace, and happiness which existed upon Mars. + +Humbled at my own insignificance and full of admiration for this great +character, I turned slowly away, and, procuring a light, commenced to +prepare for my journey. + +My letters and other papers, with a brief note of explanation, still +remained on my desk, and, as my glance fell upon this bundle, I became +conscious of a nervousness, which, although to many would be perfectly +natural at such a time, was entirely strange to me. I had not +experienced the least nervousness on the occasion of my first visit the +night before, yet the mere sight of this package on my desk, with its +note of explanation, now caused me an uneasiness, which, try as I would, +I could not ignore. + +Making the few necessary preparations about my room for the night, I +secured the door with lock and bolt, and, drawing my couch before the +instrument, poured out a glass of wine and lit a cigar, hoping thus to +steady my nerves. + +The day had been warm and close, and a thunderstorm of unusual violence +made the night a wild one. Vivid flashes of lightning that seemed to vie +with each other in intensity, darted from the heavens, accompanied by +deafening crashes of thunder that shook the building to its +foundations, while the shrieking of the wind, as though it were rushing +through the rigging of a ship at sea, added to the noise of the tempest. + +Within a few moments the glow on my instrument would be the signal for +my departure, and, as I prepared the cone of chloroform, I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought of my spirit going out into the fury +of such a storm. It seemed as if Death, in the fear of being driven from +Earth and forever despoiled of his cruel victories, had turned loose the +elements in his fury, and waited without to wreak vengeance on my +audacious spirit as it sped through space. + +An instant an intensely white glare on the surface of wires at this +moment gave evidence of the super-radium current. It was the signal for +my departure, and, with a brief but earnest prayer, I seized the cone, +and, taking my position on the couch, inhaled the fumes of chloroform. + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ZARLAH'S CONFESSION. + + +It was with a feeling of thankfulness that, upon opening my eyes, I +found myself in the virator. The storm, which I had feared might prove +disastrous, had been passed through safely, and now reigned the +wonderful quiet of Mars. The strange uneasiness, which I had experienced +upon my departure from Earth, was forgotten in the anticipation of the +great joy before me, or I would have noticed that the usual calm, ever +characteristic of Almos, was lacking. + +It was already past the hour of my appointment with Zarlah, and, eager +to be with her, I hastily made the necessary preparations for my return +to Earth. Although these consisted merely of changing the current so +that it would flow from the virator to Earth, and adjusting the +clockwork for the hour of departure, I had decided upon the importance +of doing this beforehand, as any mistake made in the haste of departure +would prove fatal to either Almos or myself. + +These preparations attended to, I now made my way to the balcony. I had +relied upon Almos' knowledge to guide me to Zarlah, and, as I reached +the open air, I at once felt his judgment assert itself. Two aerenoids +were moored to the balcony, a large high-speed one of the submarine-boat +type and a small open one. Into the latter I stepped, and, with a +perfect knowledge of its operation, glided out upon the cool night air. + +Gently rising to about three hundred feet, I lay suspended between the +fairyland stretched beneath me and the brilliantly starred heavens. I +was perfectly aware of the direction in which I was to go, but for a few +moments I lay thus suspended, enjoying as could only an inhabitant of +Earth, the strangeness and marvel of it all. + +The little vessel had reached the limit of height to which it was +designed to ascend and, upon realizing this, I became aware that, for +safety, all aerenoids are limited to a certain height by the amount of +repelling metal used in their construction. The high-speed aerenoids, +owing to their build, being better adapted to withstand the atmospheric +conditions at a great altitude, can ascend several thousand feet, but +all are limited to what is considered a safe height for the class to +which they belong. The action of the repelling metal being independent +of the atmosphere, the danger of an aerenoid getting beyond control, and +rising above the envelope of air which surrounds the planet is thus +eliminated. + +As these thoughts came into my mind, I glanced up into the heavens with +its countless stars--one being the world from which I came--when lo! a +remarkable phenomenon met my gaze. In the west hung a crescent moon, +somewhat smaller than Earth's moon, but extremely brilliant, while out +of the east rose another moon at its full. So rapidly did this latter +moon rise, that its journey through the heavens was perceptible, and it +was evident that within an hour it would sink into the western horizon, +having gradually changed its phase to a crescent. In seven hours it +would encircle Mars, and again appear above the eastern horizon. + +My interest in this moon was intensified when I realized that it was +but a few thousand miles distant, and so small, that it would require +but a couple of days' comfortable walking to encircle it. Compared with +my journey from Earth, this few thousand miles seemed but an +insignificant distance, and I immediately thought of the possibility of +reaching it in a high-speed aerenoid to which a sufficient amount of the +repelling metal was attached to overcome the gravity of Mars. But I +instantly was aware of the fact that an attempt to reach this moon had +been made many years previously, and that the intrepid Martians who +undertook the hazardous journey, never returned. Although their aerenoid +carried enough oxygen to supply them for many days after they had left +the atmosphere of Mars, it was decided later that they had been lost in +space, unable either to reach the moon or return to Mars. The gravity of +so small a body would be insufficient to draw them to it, unless they +traveled straight in its direction, and, as the moon was moving rapidly +around Mars, the chances of this were admittedly small. Moreover, once +out of the atmosphere of Mars, it would be impossible to propel the +aerenoid, and, having missed the moon, they would travel on and on +through endless space. Had they reached the moon they could have +returned, as the repelling force on a body with so little gravity, would +be greatly increased, and would have hurled them into the gravity of +Mars again, as soon as they exposed the repelling metal. There could be +no doubt that they had never reached the moon, and their terrible fate +resulted in a safe limitation of this dangerous metal upon all +aerenoids. + +So absorbed had I become in these intensely interesting details supplied +by Almos' knowledge, that time had passed without my realizing it, and, +reproaching myself for having wasted the valuable moments I might have +spent with Zarlah, I now moved the lever at my side and glided gently +forward. + +The moon, however, as it rapidly journeyed across the heavens, seemed to +hold a strange fascination for me, and my gaze constantly reverted to +it. Had I realized that this fascination was caused by the approach of a +terrible danger, I might have paid heed to the warning, but desirous now +to get to my journey's end, which, according to Earth's proverb, should +end in a lover's meeting, I thought only of the time I had lost, and +impatiently put the subject from my mind. + +Moreover, as my meeting with Zarlah drew near, thoughts that were +relevant and of a more serious character filled my mind. My present +visit to her now began to appear most unjustifiable. If I had found +excuse for my action of the previous evening, in the enthusiasm of so +suddenly beholding the object of my adoration, unaccustomed as I was to +my strange position, I had no such excuse now. To appear before her +again as Almos, after having seen my folly and realized the deceit of my +position toward her, would be an act of shameful duplicity. I had not +realized this before, for I had thought only of my great love for her +and the joy of again being with her, but now the crushing force with +which the truth presented itself, caused me to hesitate before taking +another step that I now felt would be impossible to justify before +Almos. In this great uncertainty of mind I glided slowly along. + +The wonderful stillness of the night was broken only by the faint hum of +voices and merry laughter that reached me from below. Glancing down, I +observed numerous open aerenoids floating some two hundred feet beneath +me, while now and then those of the high-speed class appeared, slowly +wending their way toward the canals, to fly to different parts of the +globe. But although I was aware that for convenience of landing it was +customary to travel just high enough to escape the buildings, I +continued on at my present elevation, as I felt the need of deep and +earnest thought, which I realized would be impossible amid the gay +throng nearer the surface. + +As the highest speed attainable by open aerenoids, which were used +mainly for pleasure, was but eight miles an hour, my journey of five +miles gave me ample time for meditation; and when I at last alighted on +the balcony of a small white marble villa, to which I had instinctively +guided my aerenoid, I had fully determined upon what I felt to be the +only honorable course to pursue. This was to confide all in Zarlah, and, +no matter at what cost, to reveal to her the strange conditions that hid +the identity of a being from another world behind that of her friend +Almos. + +Having secured my aerenoid, I stood on the balcony, entranced at the +beauty of the scene before me, which lay bathed in a wonderful +starlight--far more brilliant than the light of the full moon upon +Earth--shed by a myriad of blazing gems in a sky that knew no clouds. A +perfect stillness reigned, save for the rippling laughter of a little +stream, that wended its way through an avenue of trees to a lake of +glistening silver, a short distance beyond. + +"What happiness would be mine in such a paradise, with Zarlah for my +own!" I thought, and a great anguish filled my heart, as I realized the +impossibility of it--and now for the first time I also realized the +impossibility of life without Zarlah. A sudden dread of meeting the one +I loved came upon me--a dread of seeing the light of love in her eyes, +even for an instant, knowing that it was not for me. I felt I could not +bear to behold the look of tenderness in her beautiful face change to +one of hatred, upon learning how she had been deceived; and in my agony +of spirit, I cried in a voice of deep emotion: + +"Ah, Zarlah! I have won you, yet you are not mine! You have loved me, +yet I am not loved!" + +"I am yours, and I love you, Harold," softly protested a voice at my +side. + +With a start I turned and beheld Zarlah, and for a moment I stood as if +gazing at an apparition. + +Realizing my bewilderment, she laid her hand gently upon my arm, and in +a low voice, full of compassion, said: "It is Harold Lonsdale whom I +love!" + +In a delirium of ecstasy I caught the small white hand and pressed it to +my lips. Passing my arm about her I drew her tenderly toward me, gazing +down into her beautiful eyes where lay a world of tenderness and love. +My heart was too full for words--it was all too wonderful to understand; +enough that I knew Zarlah to be wholly mine, and in those few silent +moments of absolute happiness and contentment, the little stream's merry +laughter seemed to swell into the great joyous chorus of all creation, +behind which is the great love principle. + +Together we left the balcony and walked beneath the giant trees toward +the lake, Zarlah relating to me how, through an instrument she +possessed, which transmitted and received thought-waves, she had not +only learned of Almos' communication with Earth, but had descried a +mental picture of the inhabitant of that distant world with whom he had +spoken. + +On the evening of my first communication with Mars, Zarlah was testing +this instrument on Almos' mind, when, to her great astonishment, she +came into thought communication with Earth. As this was the first trial +of the instrument, Almos himself was unaware of the success that had +crowned Zarlah's invention, though he had taken much interest in it, and +had on several occasions given his advice during its construction. +Although this instrument was only capable of transmitting and receiving +thought-waves over a few miles, it was evident that through the medium +of Almos' mind, which was in communication with mine, the thought-waves +were conveyed to Earth by the super-radium current. + +Zarlah had thus learned of my proposed visit to Mars, but had not known +when the attempt was to be made, until, seeing Almos in evident distress +at the recital of the lumaharp, she had feared that the attempt had +proved disastrous. When, however, I evinced my astonishment at seeing +her, she knew instantly that before her stood the personality of the +man from distant Earth, who had been projected to her in mental +pictures, and who was called Harold Lonsdale. When I spoke to her of my +love, she realized that her image had also been projected to my mind, +and, as she listened to my impassioned words, she recognized in them the +thoughts of love that had accompanied the projection of my image. +Indeed, my every thought of Zarlah, during wave contact, had been +projected to her through the medium of this remarkable instrument. + +With a keen desire to see and examine the mechanism, by which thoughts +could be transferred over millions of miles, I said: "But where is this +wonderful instrument of which you speak, Zarlah?" + +We had reached the lake, and now stood on the bank overlooking its +glistening surface. + +A tremor ran through her slight form as she drew closer to me, and said +imploringly: "You must not ask to see it! Oh, Harold! Do you not realize +the grief this instrument has brought into our lives? Have you partaken +of the sweetness so deeply, that you fail to perceive the bitterness +that lies beneath? You can be but a beloved memory to me--the memory of +a lover millions of miles away--but we are separated by that which is +far greater than distance!" + +Her voice died away in a sob, and, as I drew her gently toward me, she +wept bitterly. Thus had I of Earth brought tears into a world that had +not known sorrow for hundreds of years. + +"But, dearest," I argued, tenderly smoothing back the soft brown hair, +and striving to cheer her, "we are now commencing on an era of planet +communication, and it may not be long before a means is discovered of +actually transferring people from one planet to another. Did not +explorers, some years ago, have this in mind, when they attempted to +reach the nearest moon? And even though they failed to reach their goal, +who knows that they were not drawn to some planet that was in opposition +at that time, and are now prepared for a return journey at the next +opposition? With the complete absence of resistance there is in space, +their speed would become terrific--thousands of miles a minute--and at +such a rate it would be possible to reach a planet in opposition, long +before their month's supply of oxygen became exhausted. Heat would not +be generated as there would be no friction until the planet's +atmosphere was reached, but long before this they would have applied +their repelling force, which would reduce their speed, thus enabling +them to sail gently through the atmosphere and alight safely on the +planet's surface." + +Although I had not as much confidence in such an achievement as I sought +to inspire (well knowing the vast difference between a spiritual +transfer and a material one over such a tremendous distance), I wished, +above all, to cheer Zarlah. Indeed, I feared that grief might bring the +most serious consequences on Mars. I was greatly relieved, therefore, +upon observing her countenance light up with a sudden interest, as I +expressed these sanguine predictions as to the future. + +It was not until some hours later, when I was alone, that this incident +caused me much anxiety, as I remembered that, in spite of the keen +interest Zarlah had evinced, she had carefully avoided any allusion to +the subject afterwards. But in the subsequent events of the evening this +escaped my notice, and, glad to observe the soothing effect my words had +upon her, I did not pursue the thought further. + +We had descended by a flight of stone steps to the water's edge, and, +as we stepped upon the narrow strip of pebbly beach, walled in by +cavernous rocks, Zarlah, with great earnestness, exclaimed: "You are +right, dear Harold, we must be hopeful, and not waste the few precious +moments we have together in regrets that are useless. We shall always +love each other, and if we are brave--even unto death--Love will find a +way!" + +Poor Zarlah! Little did I imagine the desperate plan that was already +forming in her mind when she uttered these words, that before the close +of another day would indeed have proved her "brave even unto death." + +Drawing closer to me and turning her beautiful face up to mine, she +said, after a pause, in which she seemed to read my very soul: "Before +me lies a duty, Harold, which with you at my side I have the strength to +perform, but without you the sacrifice is too great." + +"What is it, dearest?" I asked, pressing the little hand I held to my +lips. + +"It is to destroy the wicked instrument of which I have told you. I had +not the courage to do this before, as I feared for your safety in +returning to Earth, and to have destroyed it then would have left me in +fearful suspense. But now I must put away, forever, this awful thing +that possesses the power to reveal the thoughts of my fellow beings, +that its mechanism may never become known and thus prove an eternal +curse to the world." + +With these words, Zarlah disappeared for a moment in the gloom of a cave +nearby, and, returning with a small metal box, said in a voice which +betrayed great emotion: "Take it, Harold, and hurl it far out into the +waters of the lake, where it will sink forever from sight!" + +The earnestness with which Zarlah had spoken of this device, proved how +deeply its existence troubled her conscience, and restrained me from +making any attempt to persuade her from thus severing a connecting +strand between two hearts so widely separated. I therefore took the box +and, with all my strength, hurled it far out into the lake, where it +sank to remain a secret for all time. + +Swiftly flew those precious moments in which Fate had destined that two +hearts from separate worlds should taste of each other's love, and +then--what? Alone in our great love we drank deeply the cup of +happiness, and the hour of parting, ever drawing nearer, seemed but a +cloud on the horizon. At last, yielding to necessity, we retraced our +steps, leaving the scene of our joyous love behind, and the dread of +parting filled our hearts and stifled our words of happiness. + +Strange to say, as I stood in that other world, there surged through my +alien mind some lines of Clinton Scollard's, which I had once learned, +little dreaming of their significance: + + "Lo, it has come, the inevitable hour + When thou and I, beloved one, must part; + When heart be sundered from caressing heart, + And ungloomed skies be turned to dreary gray." + +A silence fell upon us, both dreading to put into words the thoughts we +knew must be spoken. Then, as our hearts beat audibly in the sacred +stillness of night that had fallen about us, Zarlah murmured, clinging +to me in despair, "Oh, Harold, my love, how can we bear the agony of +being parted!" + +"I would give my life to remain with you, dearest!" I answered, pressing +her passionately to me, but in a more soothing tone I added, + +"We must be brave, love, it is but for a day--to-morrow I shall return, +but before my departure from Earth I will speak with Almos, and tell him +that I wish to abandon my body forever and to abide in spirit on Mars. +In a virator constructed with two upper chambers, my spirit could be +retained indefinitely, and I would then see you daily through the medium +of Almos. To-morrow, dearest, I shall return to you with good news." + +"Ah! Harold, you do not see the impossibility of such a thing--you +cannot behold it through a woman's eyes. No, no! I can never see Almos +again! I gave my love to you through his medium, and to see him when you +were absent would be greater agony than I could bear. I must go with +you, Harold, to the world in which you live, where I can have you +always." + +With words of love and assurance I tried to comfort the brave little +heart that beat so loyally for me, and, fearing to leave her in this +unhappy condition, I lingered until barely time remained in which to +reach the observatory before Paris would pass out of wave contact. +Explaining this to Zarlah, we hurried to the villa, and, as we ascended +the steps to the balcony, I beheld a large high-speed aerenoid resting a +short distance from mine. This, Zarlah begged me to take, explaining +that by rising a few hundred feet above the elevation of small +aerenoids, I could safely exceed the customary speed of local traffic. +She explained that her brother had just returned in it from the north, +where he had spent the day in the enjoyment of winter pastimes. + +My heart was too full of the sorrow of parting to be aroused to +enthusiasm at even such a wonder as this, and, realizing that I would be +unaccustomed to an aerenoid that was strange to Almos, I decided to +trust to the smaller one reaching the observatory in time. But not a +moment was to be lost, and, begging Zarlah to be courageous until my +return the following evening, I pressed her to my heart in a last fond +embrace. + +Oh! the agony of that moment, as I felt the slender form in my arms +convulsed with sobs, while I, struggling frantically with the emotions +that tore my heart, whispered words of passionate love; and as at last I +rose in the night air, condemned by Fate to journey millions of miles +from her I adored, my soul cried out in its anguish: + + "'Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire + To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, + Would not we shatter it to bits--and then + Re-mould it nearer to our Heart's Desire?'" + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY. + + +Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at the +observatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoid +my chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, so +depressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought. +Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainly +did I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportation +over millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but one +conclusion--that no material transit over such an enormous distance was +possible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happiness +had been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity of +loneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy which +nothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest pinnacle of +happiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah's +love--a love that I had thought was for Almos--only to be dashed down +into still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as I +realized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through a +thoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony was +shared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine by +the decree of Fate. + +The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddened +me, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of the +observatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact had +ceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfil +my obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted to +visit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris still +existed my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, I +felt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which it +had precipitated me. + +As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe a +high-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos. +What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowing +Almos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of the +sanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when that +dwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as the +observatory conducted by Almos. + +Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with all +haste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portières of the +large room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart to +beat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon. + +For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilingly +advanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present at +Almos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand and +greeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of his +visit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must I +appear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me a +slip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting. + +"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, regarding the virator, +and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I was +just preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?" + +While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over the +instructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I held +in my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort to +appear calm: + +"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept you +waiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will not +detain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindness +from the bottom of my heart." + +So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony, +waved him adieu. + +The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mere +acting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he had +been the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, I +had just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he was +instructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of the +virator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current. +I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case I +arrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderful +forethought--perhaps even a premonition of my late return--he had +requested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do at +a certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferred +to my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wave +contact. + +Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon had +faithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that in +so doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence, +he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment. + +I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for my +safety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and do +precisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit had +arrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, and +dispatch my spirit to Earth. + +Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitement +incident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed once +more in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on my +hands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan--no +matter how hazardous--that would result in my being able to remain on +Mars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and all +solutions were perforce dismissed. + +At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon. +Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes rested +upon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me. +Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, I +uttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticed +the hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions--_it was three +hours before the time for my departure_! + +Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and in +return to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of these +plans, I knew not, but, as I stood staring at the paper in my hand, my +mind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, so +successfully hidden from me. + +Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleeping +chamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that would +explain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was I +disappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "Harold +Lonsdale." Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon after +making the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would then +find the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon's +observation. + +As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelming +gratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, in +this brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noble +character, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had known +was mine, but which otherwise I could never possess. + +Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid the +letter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully. +No other man, living on Earth or Mars, could have done as much for me +as had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given to +me the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind, +trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence in +a mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth of +happiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, and +I longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tell +her of the happiness that was ours. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE WARNING OF DANGER----THE RACE WITH DEATH. + + +Slowly crept the long tedious hours of darkness. The heavy cloud of +despair that had so long hung over me, now being dispelled as if by +magic, I was all impatience. My heart yearned for the moment when, +gazing into the depths of Zarlah's wondrous eyes, I should see +there--not the appealing timid look, full of the dread of hopeless +separation from her lover, that had so wrung my heart at our last +parting--but the radiant happiness of perfect contentment and fulfilled +desire. I had thrown myself on the couch, and, as a miser jealously +counts over his gold, fondling each precious bit with eager fingers, so +I pondered on the happy hours spent with Zarlah, carefully reviewing +each golden moment with its precious burden of Love's confessions. + +Suddenly I sprang to my feet--a piercing, despairing cry of "Harold, my +love, save me! save me!" was ringing in my ears. + +It was Zarlah's voice, and some terrible danger confronted her. + +Rushing into the adjoining room, I glanced anxiously about--all was +still. The numerous books and instruments lay just as I had left them, +and I gradually realized that, tired with the experiences I had lately +undergone, I had unconsciously fallen asleep, and Zarlah's cry for help +was only a dream. + +Although greatly relieved by this discovery, my mind remained in a state +of unrest. I was oppressed with a sense of danger which, in spite of my +endeavor to overcome by occupying my mind with the volumes of Martian +astronomical discoveries, I found to be impossible. Laying aside the +book I had endeavored to read, I started to my feet and paced restlessly +to and fro, but each footfall, echoing in the profound stillness, seemed +to be an appealing cry for help. A premonition that a terrible danger +hung over Zarlah came upon me, and, maddened by the thought that I +remained inactive, whilst yet I might save her, I rushed out upon the +balcony. + +The sun was just rising, but in place of the gray light of dawn on Earth +with its beautifully colored eastern sky, there appeared sharp contrasts +of the blackest darkness and the most brilliant light, in the long +shadows that were cast across the landscape. Without the diffusion of +light which the denser atmosphere of Earth causes, night seemed to +linger on the very footsteps of day. Though the remarkable effect of +this Martian sunrise would have been pleasing under other circumstances, +it now served only to increase my apprehension, warning me that I was in +a strange world, and that I must be prepared to meet extraordinary +emergencies. + +I had but one thought, that of reaching Zarlah as speedily as possible +and saving her from the awful fate which menaced her. What this fate +was, I knew not, but I could feel its presence like the hot breath of +some ferocious beast, as it stands over its prostrate victim. Greatly +did I now deplore the loss of Zarlah's valuable instrument. + +With eager hands I prepared the high-speed aerenoid for the journey, +feeling that I must trust to Almos' knowledge of its operation to carry +me through safely. Though I realized that the danger was increased a +thousand times in an aerenoid capable of such terrific speed, the fear +that even now I might be too late compelled me to make use of it. + +Taking my place in the forward part of the car, I was greatly relieved +to find that my hand instinctively sought the levers, and operated them +with a judicious care that could result only from long experience. + +Rising high enough to avoid small aerenoids, I proceeded at a +considerable speed and soon came within sight of Zarlah's dwelling. The +serene and peaceful appearance of this beautiful white marble villa, as +the morning sun glorified it, quickly dispelled the fears that had +brought me hither at such an early hour, and I gladly attributed them to +overwrought nerves and the loss of a night's sleep. + +Moreover, as I slowly circled over the lake that only a few hours before +Zarlah and I had wistfully gazed upon together as we built a world of +happiness for ourselves, I felt that I was near to her, should the +danger of which I had been forewarned prove real. Here in the scene of +our happiness I would wait through the early hours--the last hours of +our separation. + +Slowly descending, I brought the aerenoid to rest in a spot obscured by +trees from the villa. A few feet away, the little brook sparkled merrily +in the sunlight as it leaped along on its journey to the lake, and, as I +opened the door of the car, its joyous song swelled upon the fragrant +morning air, laughing at my forebodings in this world of peace, as it +had laughed at my despair of the previous night. + +As I stepped out into the warm sunlight and made my way toward the +lake, a great joy filled my heart. It would not be long ere Zarlah +shared with me the happiness of the knowledge that we need never again +be separated. + +"Poor Zarlah!" I murmured, as the memory of our last parting with its +great anguish of a forlorn hope sent a pang to my heart. "The bitterness +in thy cup was indeed great, but it is past. Oh, my beloved, awake to +the light of a new day filled with gladness, and sorrow shall not again +cross thy path!" + +I paused, fancying I heard footsteps, and, glancing back, listened +intently. All was still, and I was just about to proceed when again the +sound came. This time I could not be mistaken; it was the sound of +hurried footsteps some distance off and in the direction of the villa. + +I was still hidden from the villa by the trees, but across the stream, +some thirty yards away, was an opening from which a view of it could be +had. Leaping the stream I hastened thither, anxious to learn the cause +of the untimely activity. Another moment, and I should have been too +late to see a slight figure, laden with what appeared to be wraps and +other travelling equipment, hurry across the balcony and step into the +large high-speed aerenoid that I had observed there the previous +evening. + +It was Zarlah! But what was the reason of this hasty departure at such +an hour? Suddenly a frenzy seized me, and, rushing toward the villa, I +frantically called to her, but it was too late. She had not seen me, +and, before I had taken many steps, the aerenoid rose rapidly to a great +height and disappeared over the trees. + +Not a moment was to be lost. Turning, I dashed wildly back toward the +aerenoid I had so foolishly left in concealment. Reaching the stream, I +stumbled over an entanglement of vines and plunged headlong therein, +only to scramble, dripping and bruised, up the opposite bank and +continue my frantic efforts to reach the aerenoid, before Zarlah's car +had disappeared from sight. What her intention was I knew not, but the +early hour, the haste with which she had departed, and the absence of +her brother, all conspired to arouse the fears that had beset me during +the long hours of the night. + +Arriving at the aerenoid at last, after a journey that seemed to consume +hours, I jumped in and closed the door. Frantically I seized the lever +that controlled the ascension and, pulling it so that the full repelling +power was instantly exposed, the car bounded high into the air with +terrific force. + +The shock hurled me off my feet, but in an instant my eyes were again +fixed upon a mere speck many miles distant, which I knew to be the +aerenoid containing all that life possessed for me. As the car plunged +forward at great speed, the speck disappeared, and I at once realized +that Zarlah had reached a canal, into which she had turned her aerenoid. +It was now impossible for me to see which direction she took, and unless +I arrived at the canal within a few seconds, I felt that all hope of +overtaking her would have vanished, as she would doubtless proceed at +full speed and soon be lost to sight. + +Opening to its fullest extent the valve that controlled the exhaustion +of air in the chamber beneath, the velocity of the car soon became +terrific, and, rising still higher as I sped along, I caught sight of +Zarlah's aerenoid proceeding in a northerly direction. + +With a disregard for all safety I swerved to the north, thus forming the +third side of a triangle, of which the other sides were the course +Zarlah had taken. This movement reduced the distance between the two +aerenoids considerably, and upon turning into the speedway of the canal, +I was greatly relieved to find that I was but a few miles in the rear. +The hope that Zarlah might see the car speeding so close behind her, +flashed through my mind, but instantly I realized the impossibility of +such a thing, for a glance behind, even for a second, while travelling +with such frightful velocity, would entail certain destruction by being +dashed to pieces against the sides of the canal. My only chance lay in +overtaking her and making some signal, and with my free hand I wrenched +at the speed valve, endeavoring to open it wider. + +On we sped in our wild career over the planet's surface. Hundreds of +miles were quickly swept beneath us, but not one foot did I seem to +gain. Vainly did I strive to put from my mind the fears that lurked +there, by seeking a plausible reason for Zarlah's strange action. + +On, on we flew, each aerenoid going at its maximum speed; surely Zarlah +had gone far enough north; she must slacken her speed soon to turn down +a branch canal, and I would then be able to run alongside of her car and +signal my presence. There was a gleam of hope in this, and to it I clung +like a drowning man to a straw. + +The air in the car, which had steadily grown colder, was now biting in +its sharpness, and as I clutched the steering apparatus with numbed +hands, a white object loomed up in the distance and in a second flew +beneath me--another came, then another, and another, and as they +appeared in greater numbers, I observed that they were huge blocks of +ice. The sight filled me with grave apprehension. It was now impossible +to stop our terrific momentum, yet in spite of this great danger, on and +on we sped, still farther north. + +What could be the reason for this perilous journey? Did Zarlah not +realize the danger to which she was exposed, rushing thus madly into the +wilds of the North--the region of the Repelling Pole--without the means +of stopping? + +Suddenly I shrank in horror as a fearful thought entered my mind. My +senses reeled, and a strange sensation swept over me, as of an awful +Presence in the car with me. "No, no," I muttered between clenched +teeth; "it cannot be! She surely realizes that it would be going to a +certain and terrible death!" And as I frantically wrenched at the valve +in an effort to get more speed, a strange hollow voice echoed through my +brain, laughing at my unutterable agony, and crying with fiendish glee, +"Your love has no thought of stopping; she hastens to her bridegroom, +Death!" + +As hot irons scorching the living flesh, the words burned into my +brain, setting it on fire. It was the voice of Death--which voice no +living mortal can mistake--and I recognized it also as the fury of the +storm which was abroad when I departed from Earth, and the echo of the +stream's song of peace in the midst of danger. Had Death thus followed +me from the world in which he thrived to wreak this vengeance upon me, +by tempting my bride into his arms, believing that she hastened to her +love? + +On, on we rushed into the region of the dreaded Pole. All signs of the +canal had disappeared, and before us lay only a vast uninhabitable field +of ice. I stood at the levers, frozen rigid with the intense cold, but +with my eyes ever on the flying object before me, while visions of my +beloved one, now so close to death, passed rapidly through my fevered +brain. As if Death had thus planned to torture me, before tearing my +loved one from my very arms, I seemed to stand impersonally apart and +watch two lovers--Zarlah and myself. Bending over her, I tried to +console her with a false hope--a story of impossible fulfillment. I +succeeded; and now I saw that I had laid the trap which Death had +placed in my hands to draw her toward him, and, with a cry of horror, I +tried to wrench my hand from the lever to which it was frozen, so that I +might shut such a scene from my sight-- + +I realized the meaning of it all now. Zarlah, unable to obtain the +repelling force necessary to carry her off Mars, was rushing toward the +Repelling Pole to be hurled off the planet, risking all in the hope of +being drawn to Earth, which was in opposition. It was a vain hope--alas, +I knew this too well. She was rushing to her death--a death that I had +lured her to, and my hands would be stained with the blood of my +beloved. + +Desperately I wrenched at my frozen hands to free them from the metal to +which they adhered, with a wild idea of smashing the window and calling +loudly to Zarlah. The skin tore from the flesh like paper at the fury of +my efforts, and I freed my hands at last, only to find that my arms hung +lifeless at my side. + +In a frenzy of grief and despair at my utter helplessness, I fell on my +knees, crying aloud, "Oh, my God! Save her from this awful death!" + +A sudden gloom filled the car, and, struggling to my feet, I found that +we had entered the belt of semi-darkness that covers the polar caps in +their winter season. Our doom was near at hand--nothing could save +Zarlah now, and only by swerving my car around instantly and returning +could I preserve myself. But life was nought to me without Zarlah--I +preferred death to such an empty existence. Condemned by Fate to be +separated in life, we would meet death together. + +I could dimly see Zarlah's car outlined against the white snow beyond, +but, even as I stood now helplessly and silently awaiting the end, a +dark line rapidly spread over this field of white. Beyond, all was +black, and as this sharp-cut boundary line rapidly approached Zarlah's +car, my blood froze in my veins, for in this vast area of bare black +rock I recognized the terrible power of the North Repelling Pole. There +was another moment in which my heart refused to beat, then a groan of +great anguish escaped my lips, as Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into +space with frightful velocity. + +Shutting my eyes I awaited death. For an instant it seemed to me that I +heard Zarlah's voice call to me in clear accents, then came a terrific +shock which hurled me to the far end of the aerenoid, amid a confusion +of furniture, books, and instruments that had been torn from their +fastenings. Frozen into a state of utter helplessness, my senses fast +leaving me, I lay unable to extricate myself from the heavy mass. + +In this comatose condition I remained totally ignorant of the lapse of +time, until, feeling the terrible pressure diminish, I opened my eyes +and dreamily beheld the heavy instruments and pieces of furniture move +gently away, and bump against one another as they floated lightly about +within the car. + +Relieved of the great weight, I now breathed more freely. My senses grew +clearer, and soon I became conscious of a loud hissing noise close at +hand. Drowsily I turned my head in the direction of the sound, and +discovered that it came from the door in the side of the aerenoid. In an +instant the full faculty of my senses returned, as with intense horror I +realized the cause--the air of the car was escaping into the void of the +universe without! Desperately I struggled to gain my feet, but being +without weight, the effort resulted only in my drifting helplessly about +the car, until, gasping for air, I realized that the end had come. + +A moment's consciousness of being drawn gently to the floor of the car +again, while the furniture and other articles that had been drifting +about piled lightly upon me without any perceptible weight; a slight +shock, then, as the suffocating sensation became more intense, a +blackness rushed in upon me, and my senses reeled-- + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY. + + +A tall, gaunt figure, swathed in black robes, Stood waiting some +distance from me. I knew that it was Death, for under the hood I beheld +the grinning skull with its sightless eye-holes, and I turned away in +loathsome dread. But even as I did so, the bony arms were stretched out +in welcome, and to them ran a slight girlish form--it was Zarlah! For a +moment I stood paralyzed with horror, then rushing toward the now +retreating figures, I called out wildly, "Zarlah! Zarlah! Flee not with +Death! I am here--your Harold is here!" Suddenly I was seized from +behind; instantly my strength seemed to be sapped from me and I fell +back exhausted, crying in my despair, "Oh, my God! save her! save her!" + +A cool, soft hand was laid upon my burning brow, and a sweet voice +gently murmured, "Poor Harold! If you could only know that God in His +mercy has saved us both!" + +It was the voice of the living, not the dead, and slowly the words +formed a meaning in my confused brain, dragging me from the depths of +unconsciousness to the life that still existed about me, warmed as it +was by the wondrous power of a woman's love. Opening my eyes I beheld +Zarlah bending over me, her beautiful face full of compassionate love. +It seemed as though in a dream my loved one had come to me, and for a +moment I lay peacefully gazing into her face, feeling neither curiosity +nor alarm. Then, as my mind awoke to a realization of all that had +transpired, a sudden bewilderment came upon me, and, clasping the hand +that sought to ease my head, lest the vision should vanish, I cried: + +"Zarlah, my beloved, speak to me! Are we by a miracle saved from the +death that had engulfed us, or is this the strange meeting of our souls +after death?" + +At the sound of my voice, Zarlah clasped her hands in a fervent prayer +of thankfulness, then, burying her face on my shoulder, gave way to a +flood of tears. + +"Oh, Harold, my love!" she sobbed. "Thank God, you have been spared to +me! It is indeed by a miracle that this moon, intercepting our aerenoids +in their wild flight through space, thus brought us together at the +eleventh hour, and laid you helpless and dying at my feet." + +"The _moon_!" I gasped, raising myself and staring out of the window at +my side in astonishment, as my mind gradually comprehended our +hairbreadth escape from death. + +A blazing orb of fire, shining from the intense blackness around it, was +all that met my gaze, and I sank back, exhausted with the effort, into +the arms that awaited me. + +"Tell me more, darling," I said, as a great happiness came over me, and +my heart was filled with the simple desire to hear the gentle voice I +loved. What mattered it to me whether we ever reached Mars or not? The +future held no fears for me now; enough that I had Zarlah, for the walls +of the aerenoid that surrounded us seemed to compass the whole universe. + +"Ah, my love!" sighed Zarlah, bending over me and nervously clasping my +hands in hers, "now that the danger is past and you are restored to me, +the long hours of agony seem like a dream. But, oh, the anguish of that +moment when I beheld another aerenoid lying close to mine, upon the +surface of the moon that had intercepted my journey to Earth! My soul +cried out that in it lay my beloved, suffocating to death. Who else +would have followed me over the dreaded Pole! With wild haste I attached +an oxygen respirator to my mouth, and, releasing the air from the car, +sprang out upon the surface, little suspecting the danger that lurked +there. But so small is the force of gravity upon this moon that I was +without perceptible weight, and the tendency to rise with every step I +took filled me with terror, and I crept upon my hands and knees to the +aerenoid which lay a few yards away. Opening the door, I found you lying +apparently lifeless upon the floor. My heart told me that it was my love +who lay within Death's grasp, and, desperate at the thought that you had +been so near to me, only to be torn away by the hand of Death, I lifted +you up and hastened with you back to the aerenoid I had left. The small +amount of gravity now aided me, and I carried you without feeling the +burden. + +"Filling the car with oxygen and applying regenerating rays, I waited +for a sign of life. Oh, the agony of those moments, as in despair I +frantically called your name! At last the sign came--a quiver of the +lips, a faint breath--and I knew there was hope. Gradually your +breathing became stronger, but a terrible fever raged within you. +Through long, long hours on this strange globe I knelt beside you, +listening to your piercing cries of delirium, as you lived that awful +experience over and over again. Little by little, in the cries of agony +that rent my heart, I learned how you had come to me a moment too late; +how you had followed my aerenoid, and, being unable to stop me, had +rushed to the fate that was mine, to be hurled into space, unprepared +for such a journey; how you had suffocated, and--oh! my love, as you lay +through the long hours, gazing at me with wild unseeing eyes--ever +calling my name--imploring me not to rush to my death--I at last +despaired of your life, and my soul prepared itself to fly with yours to +the life beyond, leaving our bodies clasped in each other's arms, to +circle round the world which had denied us our love until the end of +time! + +"But suddenly the light of reason came into your eyes--your voice lost +its wild accents, and I knew that you had been restored to me. In a few +hours now, Harold, the rays will have completed their work, and you will +be in full possession of your former strength." + +What a happy future we now looked out upon! The danger of our position +upon a heavenly body but a few miles in diameter, with barely enough +gravity to hold us on its surface, was forgotten in the great joy of +being together and feeling that we should never again be parted. + +I related to Zarlah all that had happened since I had left her; how I +had encountered Reon at the observatory and learned of Almos' departure +to Earth, and how I had later discovered the letter in which Almos gave +to us the great happiness we had despaired of ever possessing. And now +the fast encroaching darkness warned us of the approach of a lunar +night. As darkness with us would necessarily mean daylight on that part +of Mars to which we had come opposite in our journey round the planet, I +felt that now had arrived the time for action, as Mars would become +visible. Moreover, as the days and nights of this rapidly moving +satellite were but three and a half hours in duration, I realized that +no time should be lost in making the necessary preparations for our +hazardous journey. But although I was now able to get on my feet and had +the use of my arms, I had not by any means regained all my strength, and +upon laying my plans before Zarlah, she urged me not to undertake such a +journey until the rays had fully restored me. Therefore it was decided +to postpone our attempt to reach Mars until the following night. + +But soon a strange and unforeseen incident warned us of the great danger +to which we were exposed on the surface of this diminutive moon, and +left us no alternative but immediate departure. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HURLED FROM THE MOON. + + +Together we stood gazing in silence out into the abyss over the small +surface of the moon that was visible to us, oppressed with a sense of +awe as the sun dropped from sight, leaving us plunged in darkness. + +Suddenly there appeared from out of the inky blackness of the heavens a +huge crescent, stretching across the sky far above us. The sight of it +fascinated us, and, as we stood lost in admiration at the majestic +proportions of the beautiful arch of light, ever growing in width, we +gradually realized that it was the sun-tipped rim of the planet which +our moon was journeying around--the world from which we had been hurled +and to which we must return. + +A sense of great reverence overpowered me; I realized that we looked +upon sights, and felt great forces never before bared to mortals. +Through my mind ran lines of Addison's ode: + + "The spacious firmament on high + With all the blue ethereal sky, + And spangled heavens, a shining frame, + Their great _Original_ proclaim. + + * * * * * + + Forever singing as they shine + The hand that made us is divine." + +Slowly the light crept over the planet's surface until the huge +illuminated sphere, almost filling the entire heavens, made a scene of +the most exquisite grandeur that human eyes have ever beheld. + +"Dearest!" I exclaimed, with sudden impulse, as a most remarkable and +terrifying fact occurred to me, "wonderful though our deliverance from +death seems to us, it is even more miraculous than we had any conception +of! To meet with this moon in our journey through space, we must have +described an arc, as this satellite never passes over the pole." + +"How can such a thing be possible?" returned Zarlah, in tremulous +accents, drawing closer to me as the awfulness of our narrow escape +appalled her. + +"Ah, my love, we may never know that!" I answered. "The Great Creator of +all these wonders has, indeed, guided us to this haven in our wild +flight through space. We can but theorize that the pole, being several +miles in diameter, hurled us from its edge, the tremendous repelling +force not permitting our aerenoids to proceed over its surface. The +rotary motion of the planet upon its axis would then cause us to +describe a curve in our flight from its surface, as only in the center +of the pole would this rotary motion lose its effect." + +"Oh, Harold," whispered Zarlah, timidly, when I had finished speaking, +"the thought of these terrible things and the sight of this immense +globe hanging over us fill me with dread! Do you think we shall ever +reach our world again? It appears to be so near and yet is so far away +from us. What veritable atoms we are in the glory of this tumultuous +whirl!" + +"I do not think we could possibly miss it, sweetheart," I answered, +cheerfully, as I placed my arm about her and drew her away from the +window which commanded a view of Mars. "Come, let us look out upon the +little globe that supports us; we are entirely missing the beautiful +effect of this grand reflection of light" + +The surface of the moon was now bathed in a beautiful diffused light, +and our surroundings where once more visible. Indeed, many objects, +which we had been unable to see in the dazzling brilliancy of the sun's +light, as it blazed forth from a heaven unsoftened by any atmosphere, +were now clearly revealed. We had approached a window and were looking +at these new objects of interest, when Zarlah suddenly cried in dismay: +"Look, Harold, look! The other aerenoid is moving!" + +Quickly turning my gaze in the direction indicated, I saw the aerenoid +in which I had made the journey from Mars move a space of several yards +with a jerky motion, then, to my intense horror, glide off the surface +of the moon into space. At the same instant, the car in which we stood +rocked as though about to turn over upon its side. + +Not a moment was to be lost! Some unknown force was exerting its +influence over the movable objects on the moon's surface. What this +power was I knew not, but the direction in which the aerenoid had +glided proved it to be other than Mars. Our position was now perilous in +the extreme, for were we suddenly to glide off into space we would +undoubtedly be lost, as it was necessary to have air surrounding us in +order to propel the car. Without an atmosphere we would therefore be +helpless and entirely at the mercy of the unknown and mysterious power. +Indeed, it was evident that only our increased weight had saved us from +immediately following the other aerenoid, and I felt that at any moment +we might do so. Although lacking the power of propulsion, my hope was +that our repelling force, which I knew must be increased to an enormous +extent by the slight gravity on the moon's surface, would hurl us off +that satellite straight upward into the influence of Mars' gravity. + +Seizing the lever, I cried to Zarlah to He on the floor of the car, but +even as she did so, the aerenoid rocked again with still greater +violence--in another moment it would be too late! Thrusting the lever +over, I exposed the full repelling force to the moon's surface. The +shock hurled me to the floor, and so terrific was the force with which +we shot upward, that I was held powerless to move hand or foot. For a +space of time which seemed to me hours I was obliged to remain thus, +contenting myself with calling words of encouragement to my dear one, +whom I greatly feared must have suffered severely from the awful shock. +At last, finding that I could rise, I hastened to her side, and, to my +great relief, discovered that she had entirely escaped injury. + +As it was impossible in any way to control the aerenoid speeding upward +through space, it was useless for me to stand by the levers, and, +assisting Zarlah to rise, we approached a window in the roof of the car +and glanced upward at the planet to which we were rushing. A remarkable +phenomenon met our eyes! Mars appeared to be no longer a sphere--the +great globe that we had beheld from the moon--but instead a huge dome, +which hung over us, ever deepening in the center as we rushed up toward +it. Inconceivable though it seemed, I knew that, to produce such an +effect, we must already have covered more than half the distance +between the two bodies. Upward we shot, and although there was no means +of ascertaining how fast we were travelling, I knew by the rapidly +changing appearance of the dome above us that our speed must be +terrific. + +We had steadily grown lighter, and now we discovered that we were +entirely without weight, and that it required some effort to keep our +feet on the floor of the car. + +Still upward we rushed into the center of the dome which now stretched +down and encircled us on all sides like an immense umbrella, when +suddenly, without the slightest perceptible movement of the car, the +dome appeared to swing around until it lay beneath us, and instantly we +felt our feet settling upon the floor of the car. + +"We are safe from the unknown power now, dearest!" I exclaimed, +anxiously examining the lever that controlled the descent, to make sure +that the repelling metal was fully exposed. "We are dropping upon Mars, +and our repelling metal should soon check our speed." + +"Oh, Harold, my love," sighed Zarlah, timidly clinging to me, her eyes +filled with tears, and a look of great yearning coming into them, "my +heart despairs at the dangers that encompass us! With you as my goal I +knew no fear; but now that I have you, I am a coward. Is our love +forbidden, that we should be thus pursued by these terrible dangers?" + +"Courage, dearest!" I replied, reassuringly. "We shall soon be safe, and +then nothing shall interrupt the happiness for which we have endured so +much." + +I hid from her the anxiety that lurked near my heart, and endeavored to +interest her by advancing several theories upon the phenomenal +appearance of the planet's surface. + +Like a huge cup the land now stretched up and around us, but we were +still descending with frightful velocity. I had noticed that the air in +the car was becoming warmer, and now, filled with apprehension, I +stretched out my hand and touched the wall. Instantly I withdrew it--the +wall was hot! Like a flash the full realization of our terrible danger +burst upon me. I had relied upon the repelling metal to check our +descent before we entered the region of air, and had supposed that we +would float lightly to the ground under perfect control. But now I saw +how foolishly I had erred, in omitting to take into consideration the +terrific momentum we would attain in our journey of six thousand miles +through space. This momentum was now driving us to the ground, in spite +of our strong repelling force, and with such a frightful speed that heat +was being generated by friction with the air as we rushed through it. +The creaking and straining sound coming from the bottom of the aerenoid +was evidence of the fight the repelling metal was making to overcome +this momentum before the surface of Mars was reached, but I shuddered as +I realized what little effect it had upon this gigantic force. + +In a few seconds the air became unbearably hot, and, with a gasp, Zarlah +lay limp in my arms, as she turned her face to me to speak. Laying her +tenderly upon the floor, I hastily wrapped wet blankets around her, and, +dashing water over myself, I staggered across the car to the window +again. We were still descending rapidly, but, as I felt the walls of the +car, I found that they were now cooler, proving that our terrific speed +had been reduced. The increased pressure of my feet upon the floor of +the car was also evidence that our descent was being steadily checked. +A wild hope surged within me that the repelling metal would overcome the +momentum in time to save us from destruction. + +Glancing down, I saw white specks lying far beneath us. My heart stood +still as I realized that these were buildings. We could not be more than +a few miles from the surface, yet down, down we sped. A few moments more +and the buildings became plainly visible, and my heart thumped wildly, +as they seemed to rush up to meet us. We would be dashed to pieces! The +repelling force could not possibly stop us in time! Turning, in despair, +I threw myself down beside Zarlah, and enfolded her in a last embrace. + +Instantly there was a terrific shock--a deafening crash. Then all was +dark, while a flood of water came pouring in upon us. I staggered to my +feet with Zarlah in my arms, only to be thrown to the floor again by an +upward bound of the aerenoid. Sunlight once more filled the car, and, as +I struggled to my feet, a cool breeze wafted in through the shattered +windows. To what further extremes of temperature and mediums were we to +be subjected? + +I was still too dazed by the shock to realize how we had escaped from a +death that seemed inevitable, but I knew that we were flying upward with +the full force of our repelling metal. Tenderly lifting Zarlah to a +safer and more comfortable place, I seized the lever and gradually +decreased the repelling power, until we rested motionless in the air. + +We had already attained a considerable height, and, as I eagerly gazed +down, I beheld far beneath us the glistening surface of a lake. With a +gasp of horror, I realized what a narrow escape had been ours. Into this +lake we had plunged with a velocity sufficient to have dashed us to +pieces had we struck the ground; the damage which the car had sustained +upon striking the water was evidence of this. Our descent being stopped, +the repelling metal, which was fully exposed, had then sent us bounding +into the air again, and in all probability had thus saved us from being +drowned beneath the waters of the lake. + +Death had indeed been close to us many times during our strange +adventure, and now that all the dangers were past, I breathed a +heartfelt prayer of thankfulness for our safe deliverance. + +Freeing Zarlah from the wet blankets I had wrapped around her during +the intense heat, I gazed anxiously down upon the beautiful, unconscious +face. + +"My love! my love!" I murmured, passionately. "How much you have +risked--how much you have suffered for my sake! Oh, cruel the fate that +thus delays our happiness!" + +The sun was setting, and I now realized the importance of descending +nearer to the ground, that I might ascertain our whereabouts, as from +our present altitude, even with Almos' knowledge of Mars, I was unable +to recognize any familiar landmark, and I knew that darkness would soon +be upon us. + +Bending once again over the form of my loved one, I tenderly kissed the +silent lips, but as I did so, her arms closed about my neck, and +dreamily opening her eyes, she smiled up at me as a child awakening from +a peaceful sleep. + +"We are safe now, darling, all the danger is past!" I murmured, and +falling on my knees beside her, I took her up into my arms, with the +prayer that I might ever shield her in the days to come. + +The shadows lengthened; quickly the gloom gathered, and darkness closed +in upon us, but still we remained suspended in the cool night air under +the dome of the starry heavens, unmindful of all in the joy of our great +love; for with the fulfillment of our hearts' long cherished desire, +came the realization that our journey was ended. + + * * * * * + +PARIS, February 17, 19--. + +Six months have elapsed since that memorable evening when Harold and +Zarlah--radiant with their new-found happiness--were portrayed upon the +instrument in Paris at which I anxiously waited, after having exchanged +my existence on Mars for one on Earth. The account of his strange +adventures, which Harold has since given me, I have endeavored to record +in the foregoing pages, as nearly as possible in his own words, trusting +that this narration of the events connected with the opening of +communication between Earth and Mars will prepare the way for the +greater developments soon to be announced by scientists. + +ALMOS. + + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Zarlah the Martian, by R. Norman Grisewood + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13423 *** diff --git a/13423-h/13423-h.htm b/13423-h/13423-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5824949 --- /dev/null +++ b/13423-h/13423-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3680 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of [Zarlah, The Martian, by R. Norman Grisewood. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13423 ***</div> + +<center> +<img src='images/im1_fl.jpg' width='800' alt='"Zarlah"s car was hurled upwards into space with frightful velocity."' +title='"Zarlah"s car was hurled upwards into space with frightful velocity."'> +</center> + +<h4><i>Frontispiece:</i> "Zarlah"s car was hurled upwards into space with frightful velocity." <a href='#Page_172'>(page 172)</a></h4> + +<br /> + +<h1>Zarlah The Martian</h1><a name='Page_2'></a> + + +<h3>By</h3> + + +<h2>R. Norman Grisewood</h2> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h3>1909</h3> + + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<br /> +<a name='Page_4'></a> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_I'><b>CHAPTER I. THE STRANGE SHADOW.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_II'><b>CHAPTER II. THE MARTIAN.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_III'><b>CHAPTER III. THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'><b>CHAPTER IV. THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_V'><b>CHAPTER V. THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'><b>CHAPTER VI. "AS OTHERS SEE US."</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'><b>CHAPTER VII. THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'><b>CHAPTER VIII. A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'><b>CHAPTER IX. THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_X'><b>CHAPTER X.ZARLAH'S CONFESSION.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'><b>CHAPTER XI. THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'><b>CHAPTER XII.THE WARNING OF DANGER——THE RACE WITH DEATH.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'><b>CHAPTER XIII. THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV'><b>CHAPTER XIV. HURLED FROM THE MOON.</b></a></span><br /> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + + +<a name='Page_5'></a> + +<a name='Page_6'></a> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='ZARLAH_THE_MARTIAN'></a><h2><a name='Page_7'></a>ZARLAH, THE MARTIAN.</h2> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_I'></a><h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h2>THE STRANGE SHADOW.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>So thrilling were my experiences during that period, so overcrowded with +feverish action and strong emotions was each wonderful moment, and so +entirely changed are the conditions of life as I now find it, that it is +with considerable difficulty that I recall in detail all that happened +prior to my remarkable discovery which opened communication between +Earth and Mars. One says "discovery" advisedly, but let it not be +imagined that communication with the planet Mars was established as a +result of any careful and systematic research, or that I possessed a +subtle genius for astronomical science that was destined <a name='Page_8'></a>to introduce +into society what must eventually revolutionize it. Nothing could be +further from the facts. Into the daily grind of my absolutely uneventful +career, burst the almost terrifying revelations with a suddenness that +stunned me, while I was engaged in experiments of an entirely extraneous +nature. Albeit one wonders that the Martian rays, which have swept our +planet with their searching gaze for so many centuries, were not +discovered long ago. But this is anticipating my story.</p> + +<p>I had reached the age of thirty, when, in the Spring of 19—, I sailed +out of New York harbor on board <i>La Provence</i>, en route for Paris. It +was not so much my purpose to seek pleasure as the determination to turn +my eight years of experience in the United States to some avenue of +profitable livelihood, that decided me to make the journey, although I +looked forward with no small degree of pleasant anticipation to meeting +some of my fellow students in the Académie des Sciences in Paris, where +I had received five years of excellent training.</p> + +<p>My trip across and my subsequent arrival <a name='Page_9'></a>in Paris were without any +events of particular interest, and one bright morning in the early +summer I found myself comfortably lodged in the house where I had +previously boarded while a student. Connected with my rooms, which were +at the top of the house, was one of considerable size that I had +formerly used as a laboratory, and this I now set about fitting up to +serve the same purpose. The daylight found its way into the room through +a skylight, and though admirably suited for an artist's studio, it +answered my purpose equally as well.</p> + +<p>I had collected many new instruments and appliances by dint of days +spent in shopping, and was anxious to begin work in earnest, when one +evening, as I glanced through the columns of a newspaper, my attention +was arrested by an article of particular interest. This set forth the +great and increasing demand for a substitute for glass, one which would +answer the purpose in every respect, and at the same time be +indestructible and a good conductor of sound. The article concluded with +an enumeration of the many uses for which such a substitute would be +invaluable, <a name='Page_10'></a>hinting at the enormous financial possibilities which would +be open to the inventor. The more I considered the matter, the more +desirous I became to test several theories which forthwith presented +themselves to my mind, and the next morning found me determined to begin +my experiments at once. In theory, I saw the solution of the problem in +artificially producing increased atomic motion, and with that object in +view I went to work.</p> + +<p>My experiments involved me in weeks of hard work, and it was toward the +end of the summer before I could admit having had any important results. +I now had a substance resembling glass in appearance, though vastly +different in composition, which I made into a film, extremely thin and +highly sensitive to vibrations. Running through this film were slender +wires made of various metals, about one inch apart, which served not +only to give rigidity to the film, but also to conduct a current of +electricity through it, engendering a high state of atomic agitation. +The current was controlled by a small switch placed in a heavy box-like +frame, which bounded the film on its four sides and contained the +batteries, <a name='Page_11'></a>coils, etc. To this were attached four legs, supporting it +about the height of an ordinary table from the floor. The whole device +measured about seven feet square.</p> + +<p>This film substance contained certain elements which I had found to be +necessary to secure the desired intensity of agitation. It had taken me +almost a month to secure the fine quality I desired, and I looked +forward to the test with the feeling that results would prove that I was +nearing the goal, if I had not actually attained it.</p> + +<p>At last the day arrived when my device was ready for the test. I had +worked all the afternoon giving the finishing touches and it had grown +dusk without my realizing it. But everything was now ready, and moving +the switch, I turned the current of electricity through the composition. +Just as I was about to begin my test, I noticed what appeared to be a +faint shadow of a man move across the surface of the film. My first +thought was that someone had entered the room without my knowledge, and +his figure had been reflected on the surface of the film, which was +highly glazed, but a glance around the room <a name='Page_12'></a>assured me that this +explanation was untenable. Moreover, I found, upon further +investigation, that the film was lying in such a position that it would +be impossible to reflect any person in the room. I then examined the +skylight, only to find that, owing to the sharp inclination of the roof, +it would be an utter impossibility for anyone to reach it from the +outside without the aid of a ladder. I investigated this source further, +thinking to find the reflection on the film to be from some street in +the city below, but on account of the extent of the roof, no street was +visible from the skylight.</p> + +<p>Completely baffled, I descended into the room again and turned on the +current. Immediately the shadow appeared on the film, and this time, in +consequence of the room now being quite dark, I noticed that it was +surrounded by a phosphorus-colored glow. The figure was certainly that +of a man, although very faint, and it became evident to me, after +watching it for a while, that he was trying to signal with his arms.</p> + +<p>I now noticed that, in addition to the peculiar light on the film, the +entire surface seemed to <a name='Page_13'></a>vibrate with frequent, but scarcely audible, +humming sounds. Upon turning off the current all disappeared, only to +reappear when I switched it on again. It was evident then that the +phenomenon was caused only when the instrument was charged with +electricity, and consequently was no ordinary reflection, as I had at +first supposed.</p> + +<p>Everything pointed to its being the manifestation of some outside +agency; possibly electrical waves which my apparatus received and in a +measure responded to, coming through the open skylight from—where? The +question reiterated itself in my mind, as I stood gazing perplexedly at +the phenomenon. I might have been satisfied with the supposition that, +unknowingly, I had made an instrument which was capable of receiving +wireless waves from another instrument of similar tone in or near Paris, +if I had had only the humming sounds to contend with, but the shadow +impelled me to look for the reason further than this. I glanced upward, +eagerly seeking some explanation. One star was visible through the open +skylight—Mars. Clear and bright it shone in the inky blackness framed +by the window.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_14'></a>Once more I climbed to the skylight, feeling that I must seek the +explanation in that direction, when my attention was suddenly turned to +the apparatus below me. The glow was slowly passing off one side of the +film. I hastily descended and examined the batteries, thinking I would +find the cause of this in a failing current, but all was apparently in +perfect order. Still the glow and shadow moved steadily off, growing +fainter every moment, until it disappeared completely.</p> + +<p>With a sudden impulse, born of a weird and almost terrifying thought, I +bent over until my eyes were on a level with the film, then I looked +upward; the star was no longer visible from the position of the +instrument, it had risen above the frame of the window. At once I was +seized with an intense excitement; could it be possible that my +apparatus was responding to waves mysteriously projected from Mars? If +not, why had the glow and shadow faded from the film at the same instant +that Mars disappeared above the window frame?</p> + +<p>Hoping to test this further, I endeavored to move the apparatus to a +position where Mars would again be visible, but alas, I found it <a name='Page_15'></a>much +too heavy. I felt keenly disappointed at the sudden termination of this +strange phenomenon, but, upon reflection, I realized that it was only +the simultaneous disappearance of Mars and the glow on the film that had +caused me to attribute waves to that far source. The more I pondered +upon the matter, the more impossible it seemed, yet, strange to say, the +more convinced I became that the theory was correct. Light-waves, I +argued, unlike the wireless waves in common use, could be received only +when the two objects were in line of vision; but I realized that if they +were of Martian origin they were of remarkable magnification, projected +through space by some unknown and powerful agent, thousands of times +more powerful than electricity as we know it upon Earth. That the shadow +on the film had been that of a Martian, I dared not hope. Though my mind +continually reverted to this wild conjecture, I impatiently put it +aside, as the apparent impossibility of it all would force itself upon +me.</p> + +<p>Nothing further could be done that night, and as I had worked hard all +day preparing for my experiment, without even stopping for <a name='Page_16'></a>meals, I now +felt the effect of the excitement I had undergone and resolved to take a +walk in the cool air, I wanted to think, and, if possible, to plan a +line of action for the morrow which would bring me better results, if my +theory of light-waves should prove to be correct. Needless to say, I +determined to cease my former experiments, and devote all my energy to +ascertaining whether my apparatus was actually responding to Martian +light-waves of remarkable integrity, and if such proved to be the case, +to put every effort into improving the device with the hope of obtaining +their import. I also determined to keep my discovery a secret, at least +for the present.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_II'></a><h2><a name='Page_17'></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h2>THE MARTIAN.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I returned to my rooms with a much clearer conception of the conditions +with which I had to cope, if the waves to which my apparatus responded +should prove to be Martian waves. My mind was fully made up to proceed +as if this were an established fact, as, in order to give my best +efforts to improving my apparatus, I felt that I must eliminate all +scepticism. I clearly appreciated the advantage of moving my instrument +outside, where I could command a view of Mars for a much longer time, +but the necessity of being in my laboratory while I was engaged in these +improvements, decided me against any immediate change.</p> + +<p>Accordingly I proceeded the next morning to make the changes I deemed +necessary, being <a name='Page_18'></a>goaded into a fever of haste by a feeling of +suppressed excitement. The composition I had used in the form of a film +I now liquefied, having concluded that in the former condition, although +necessary in my original experiments, it now only retarded the vibration +of the wires.</p> + +<p>That this composition was essential there could be no doubt, as it was +its elements that responded to the agent used on Mars to project the +waves. I therefore liquefied the film substance, being careful in so +doing not to alter its properties. I then procured wires, much thinner +than those I had previously used, and dipped them-into the liquid. After +they had become perfectly dry, I stretched them on the frame as close +together as I could without their coming into contact with one another. +As light-waves are received in hundreds of different vibrations +simultaneously, according to the light or shade of the object projected, +I concluded that each wire should be capable of individual vibration. +The device now resembled a large piece of mosquito netting with the +cross wires removed, the coating of composition on each wire being so +thin that it was hardly discernible. The batteries and coils I +<a name='Page_19'></a>connected as before, taking great care not to change their arrangement.</p> + +<p>My preparations were now completed, and before me stood an instrument as +delicate and sensitive to wave vibrations as I could make it. Raising +one side of the frame a foot higher than the other, in order that the +surface of wires would be squarely facing the star when it appeared +above the casement, I waited impatiently for the moment which should +prove the truth or falsity of my surmises.</p> + +<p>The day had closed, and I spent the remaining time speculating upon the +results of my labors. But even the wildest flights of my imagination did +not picture, in the smallest degree, the wonderful transformation which +my new instrument would make in what had appeared before as a shadow on +the film. Little did I imagine to what an extent the unknown was to be +revealed to me.</p> + +<p>As I stood by the side of the frame all in readiness, Mars appeared, but +it still had a little farther to climb before it would be visible from +the level of the wires. Nevertheless, I turned on the current from the +batteries. All was darkness; never before had darkness <a name='Page_20'></a>seemed to me so +profound, so absolutely appalling. Minutes passed like hours, but still +that ominous darkness reigned. I felt the keen disappointment of +failure; I grew incredulous as the time passed, and found myself +admitting and rehearsing the absurdity of it all. I even blamed myself +for having been so easily deflected from my former experiments, by what +now seemed to be merely an idle fancy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I bent over the frame and gazed eagerly at the surface of +wires, for there, on the top edge, appeared a touch of the +phosphorus-colored glow. My heart thumped with wild excitement. I +stooped down until my eyes were on the level of the wires, and looking +up toward the window I could just see the rim of Mars appearing above +the casement. A shout of joy burst from my lips at the sight of it, for +it was now beyond all doubt that the phenomenon was attributable to +Mars. Brighter and brighter became the light as it covered the surface +of wires, until all its resemblance to a phosphorus glow had gone, and +it shone with such brilliancy that my eyes, accustomed as they were to +the darkness of the <a name='Page_21'></a>room, quailed before it. Turning away so that my +eyes might gradually become accustomed to the glare, I noticed that in +spite of the brilliant white light on the surface of the wires, the room +was in perfect darkness—the light had no power of illumination! +Impenetrable mystery enshrouded the agent which Mars was employing to +communicate with Earth!</p> + +<p>A curious humming sound issuing from the frame, much louder than I had +noticed the night before, caused me to turn involuntarily, and as I did +so I uttered a cry of wonder at the marvelous vision that met my eyes. +There lay before me, as bright as daylight, a picture that a thousand +times surpassed my highest, wildest hope. The great secret of another +planet was revealed, and I stood motionless, beholding an inhabitant of +a star millions of miles away.</p> + +<p>Among the vast multitude who for centuries have yearned for a glimpse +into the unknown worlds that surround us, I stood alone gazing upon the +image of a Martian. The thought stunned me; I was seized with a wild +impulse to rush out into the street and bring in the <a name='Page_22'></a>throng, that they +might look upon the form of this wonderful being on our sister planet. +But what proof was there to give them that this was so? I would +undoubtedly be ridiculed and accused of trickery. The very fact that had +brought a cry of amazement to my lips—the remarkable brilliancy and +clearness of the image, and the appearance of the Martian himself—would +serve to bring discredit upon anything I might say. Personally I had +ample proof that the image was that of a Martian, but what instant proof +could I give a jeering crowd? I had expected to find in a Martian a +strange grotesque being in appearance, if not in mind, much after the +weird and fierce character so many authors have portrayed him. Judge, +then, my astonishment when I beheld one who, in every particular of form +and feature, resembled the people of Earth.</p> + +<p>He appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, judging by our +earthly standard of time, possessing clear-cut features and dark +complexion. His face, which was clean-shaven, was remarkably handsome, +and his piercing dark eyes, although they enhanced the smile that +greeted my appearance at the instrument, <a name='Page_23'></a>seemed to search into my very +soul and to hold me spellbound with mute challenge. Nor could I, upon +afterthought, remember having shown the common courtesy of returning his +greeting.</p> + +<p>My astonishment was so great that every faculty seemed to leave me, and +I stood transfixed, staring at the image of the Martian without even the +power of thought. Gradually recovering my senses, however, I took note +of the man and his surroundings. He stood in a room of about the same +dimensions as my laboratory, which seemed to be flooded with bright +daylight, though I could not see any windows on three sides of the room +to admit the light, nor any shadows to indicate that the light came from +a window in the fourth. He held in his hands an instrument unknown to +me, and seemed to be perfectly at his ease, showing neither surprise nor +curiosity. Evidently this was not the first time that he had seen an +inhabitant of the Earth. So unconcerned was he and so natural did he +appear, even in the smallest detail of dress, that it was hard to +believe I was not looking at an image of some room and its occupant in +Paris. His <a name='Page_24'></a>close-fitting clothes seemed to be of a dark green material, +and resembled, to some degree, the uniform of an army officer.</p> + +<p>Bending over the instrument he held, he placed his mouth close to the +top of it, and immediately the humming sounds, which I had noticed +before, emanated from the wires of my apparatus. The thought flashed +through my mind that the Martian held in this instrument a means of +communicating sound. If so, what were the words—what language? The +possibility of what I heard being words, made me strain every nerve to +catch the slightest resemblance to such sounds, but alas, with no +success. That they were intended to convey a message, I became fully +convinced, but I could not rest in the belief that this jumble of sounds +was the Martian language. If the Martians themselves resembled, in so +striking a degree, the inhabitants of Earth, I argued, then it was in +the nature of things to expect a language that, in some way, +corresponded to one of our languages. The fault lay in my instrument, I +was sure of that, and in the keen disappointment of my failure to +receive his message and the excitement of the moment, I <a name='Page_25'></a>gave utterance +to an exclamation of despair. Immediately a smile overspread the +Martian's countenance, and, to my great astonishment, he put down the +instrument and clapped his hands by way of showing his approval.</p> + +<p>Before I could recover from my surprise at this new evidence of Martian +familiarity with the customs of Earth, the light suddenly grew dim and +in a few seconds had disappeared completely, leaving the instrument +plunged in darkness. Mars had risen above the frame of the skylight, and +I was no longer in contact with the light-waves. I listened intently, +thinking that if the sound-waves were of the nature of the +electrical-waves we employ in the wireless system, I would still be in +touch with my newly found friend, but I heard no further sound from the +instrument, thus proving that these waves also were projected by the +mysterious agent known only to the Martians.</p> + +<p>I had so much to occupy my mind, with what I had just witnessed, and so +many thoughts rushed in upon me regarding the perfecting of my +instrument so that it might properly respond to the sound-waves, that I +did not experience the disappointment I had felt before <a name='Page_26'></a>at the short +duration of our contact with each other. I was glad of the opportunity +to think; I felt that it was necessary to do so before further action, +if I ever hoped to attain the knowledge of Mars and its inhabitants that +my remarkable discovery had placed within my reach. I determined that on +the morrow, if I did not meet with better results in the sound +vibrations, I would try to communicate with the Martian by writing some +simple sentence in a bold hand, and in as many languages as I could. +This I would expose in front of the instrument, but I placed little hope +in the success of the scheme, for it was not possible that the Martian +language would be identical with any of ours.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_III'></a><h2><a name='Page_27'></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h2>THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD</h2> +<br /> + +<p>This thought of communicating with the Martian by writing, did not deter +me from using every effort to perfect my instrument, so that this might +be done verbally, or that at least I might hear a voice and a language +spoken on a world millions of miles away. Accordingly I gave the subject +of sound-waves my best thought, and the next morning I had formulated +clearly laid principles upon which to work. By these I hoped to make an +instrument that would be the means of conversing with a Martian.</p> + +<p>I had come to the conclusion that the jumble of sound was caused by the +prolonged vibration of the wires after each distinct wave from Mars was +received, as the wires of a piano will vibrate long after they have been +touched. <a name='Page_28'></a>With light-waves it was necessary to have a highly sensitive +surface of the composition, capable of responding to many different +vibrations, according to the light or shade of the object projected. +This accounted for the success I met with upon adopting the coated +wires, and I concluded thereupon that they were indispensable. But I now +saw that the presence of wires in the composition, though successful +with light-waves, was inimical to sound-waves, and it became evident +that a firmer but highly sensitive surface was required. The film had +not brought good results, either from sound-waves or light-waves, but, +it will be remembered, there were wires running through it to give it +rigidity, which, although necessary in my original experiments, must be +avoided in connection with sound vibrations. Clearly my new film must +not be rigid. I thereupon made a film of composition, as thin as +possible, and stretched it upon the frame of my instrument, as a +diaphragm behind the wires, hoping that the sound-waves would pass +between the wires, and vibrate the diaphragm, which, being made of +composition, would undoubtedly glow, but not more than the film had +done. This, I concluded, <a name='Page_29'></a>would not interfere with the image on the +wires, owing to the brilliancy of the latter.</p> + +<p>I was now hopeful of success, and anxiously waited for the day to close. +Everything was in readiness by noon, and I had at least eight hours to +wait before Mars would be in a position for wave contact. But now +appeared an adversary with which I had not reckoned. Clouds began to +gather, thin and fleecy at first, but growing heavier as the afternoon +passed, until by evening the heavens were completely obscured. This was +a condition that might last for several days, and the dread of it filled +me with despair. How could I wait for days inactive, without seeing or +even hearing from my friend in Mars?</p> + +<p>It now occurred to me how absolutely absorbed I had become in the +Martian investigation. Ordinarily a sociable person, in the past week I +had become a recluse. College friends that I had seen almost daily since +my return to Paris, I now completely neglected, even shunned, lest they +should call at my rooms some evening when I was in wave contact with +Mars. It also occurred to me that, as surely as my friendship and +necessity for them was <a name='Page_30'></a>declining, in like ratio was increasing an +attachment for an inhabitant of another world. I felt a strange soul +kinship for this Martian, which seemed to spring up the moment I saw his +image portrayed on my instrument. And the feeling was not one of +ordinary friendship. I felt I was drawn to him by some mysterious power, +that gave him the place of a brother in my affections—a power that +seemed to have brought us together, and now united us with a great +common and compelling interest. And yet as I pictured his handsome, +almost beautiful face, there was still another face I had seen—but +where? The Martian had been alone, yet I was conscious of a face that +was wonderfully beautiful, that seemed the goal for which I was +striving. It led me to greater effort after failure; the face which I +yearned to see and yet strangely dreaded seeing.</p> + +<p>It was useless for me to try to understand such thoughts, and to banish +them from my mind was impossible. I was overcome with a sense of +loneliness. Looking at my watch, I found that it was already past the +hour when Mars would be visible through the window on a clear night, +but, alas, the sky showed no signs <a name='Page_31'></a>of clearing; though my instrument +stood ready, it was useless.</p> + +<p>But, obeying some irresistible impulse, I decided to turn on the current +and stand by the instrument in case an opening in the clouds should +occur, for even a moment. I therefore turned the switch that controlled +the current, and immediately, to my astonishment, the surface of wires +became as brilliant as on the previous evening under a clear sky. +Turning away for a moment, to allow my eyes to become accustomed to the +brilliancy, I noticed that the sky was still overcast with heavy rain +clouds. My joy at the discovery that the Martian projecting agent was +not arrested by vapor was unbounded, for it meant that I could be in +wave-contact with Mars every night, during the period that the planet +was visible from Earth.</p> + +<p>I approached the instrument with the intention of at once testing the +diaphragm, but, to my surprise, my Martian friend was not there to greet +me. The room and its furnishings, however, were depicted as clearly as +before, and I now had an opportunity to note the instruments, the large +volumes of books, and the <a name='Page_32'></a>maps of the heavens which hung on the wall. +Everything pointed to this being a fully equipped Martian observatory, +though the instruments were entirely strange to me. I was examining +these latter more closely, when heavy portières parted, and my Martian +friend stepped into the room. So anxious was I to give him a pleasant +greeting, instead of staring at him in a semi-stupefied condition, as I +had done previously, that I forgot, for the moment, my determination to +test my diaphragm at the first opportunity, and greeted him merely with +a smile and a bow.</p> + +<p>My serene demeanor lasted but a moment, for simultaneously with his +bowed response to my greeting, came in a clear voice, with perfect +accent: "Bon soir, Monsieur!"</p> + +<p>I started back, for it seemed as if someone in the room had spoken, but +then I noticed that the Martian held in his hand the instrument I had +seen on the previous evening. Was it possible that this was his voice, +speaking French from a distance of millions of miles as clearly as if he +were in the room? The thing was incredible! How could a Martian know a +language evolved here on Earth? Was the <a name='Page_33'></a>whole thing then a delusion of +an overwrought mind? I stood staring at the instrument in amazement.</p> + +<p>The Martian, now seeing by my actions that his voice had been heard, +raised his instrument and repeated his greeting. The voice rang as +clearly as before; there could be no further doubt; through this +wonderful instrument the Martian's voice was projected, almost +instantaneously to the Earth—millions of miles in a second. The +mysterious power which enabled the Martian to project the waves, +compared with our electricity as the telegraph does with the +stage-coach. Was it strange that I stood aghast, as my mind slowly +comprehended the enormous distance which that voice had traversed almost +instantaneously?</p> + +<p>It was some moments before my amazement permitted me to respond to this +extraordinary salutation, then—my mind still too bewildered properly to +grasp the situation—I mumbled something in English about my great +astonishment at hearing a language of Earth spoken from a distant world.</p> + +<p>The sound of my voice seemed to cause the Martian some surprise, but +immediately his <a name='Page_34'></a>voice issued again in clear tones from the instrument.</p> + +<p>"I greeted you in what I supposed was your native tongue," he said in +perfect English. "Although now we have but one composite language here, +over a thousand years ago we spoke in many languages, as the people of +your planet do at the present time.</p> + +<p>"For more than six hundred years we have been able to observe the +progress of your planet," he went on, "through an instrument by which +light-waves are projected and received, and have found it to be +identical with ours of almost fifteen hundred years ago. By the placards +in the streets of your cities and towns, we discovered that you also +spoke in many tongues, and although the progress was necessarily slow, +our astronomers were, by this means, able to learn the principal +languages of Earth.</p> + +<p>"Anxiously we have watched and waited for the discovery of an instrument +that would respond to our projected light-waves and reveal to you the +inhabitants of your neighboring planet. At last this momentous time has +arrived. I congratulate you upon bringing it about."</p> + +<p><a name='Page_35'></a>As he spoke, his voice, coming from the diaphragm of my instrument, +sounded as distinct as if he were in the room, and his image, depicted +life-size, made it hard to believe that he was more than a few feet +away. That my informant was, in reality, millions of miles away, my mind +absolutely refused to grasp.</p> + +<p>A thousand questions to put to my Martian acquaintance rushed into my +mind, but alas, in supposing that I could not come in contact with Mars +on account of cloud obscurity, I had lost much of the precious time, and +now the waning light on my instrument warned me that the planet would, +in a few moments, pass out of range. We therefore hastily bade each +other adieu, promising to continue our conversation on the morrow, as +though we had parted at a street corner. The light now faded completely, +and the instrument, that a few moments previously had been animated with +such an exuberance of life and mystery, now stood before me wrapped in +profound darkness and silence.</p> + +<p>How impossible, how inconceivable it all seemed! How the outside world +would scoff if I attempted to explain or publish my discovery! I felt +that the time had not yet come <a name='Page_36'></a>to take anyone into my confidence, and I +determined still to keep all a secret. I was then unaware, however, that +the more I learned of Mars and its people the more closely I would guard +my knowledge.</p> + +<p>Pacing excitedly up and down my laboratory, I spent most of the night in +reviewing what I had heard, and speculating the rare knowledge that the +morrow would bring. The secrets of another world would be unfolded to +me, and the scientific achievements of a people over a thousand years in +advance of us would be mine. What glorious possibilities this disclosed! +What a brilliant future as a scientist such knowledge would assure me! +And in the exuberance of my spirits I little thought that the possession +of this knowledge would come to mean naught to me; for I had yet to +learn that man cannot share the riches of another world without also +becoming a partner in its sorrows and its passions.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a><h2><a name='Page_37'></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h2>THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>With a determination of finding a room from which I could command a +longer view of Mars, the next day I visited several studios which were +for rent, and finally succeeded in securing one formerly occupied by a +photographer, which was located on the top floor of a house in the +immediate vicinity of my old rooms.</p> + +<p>The room was large, in fact it occupied the entire top floor of the +building, and this feature pleased me greatly. The only communication +with the house was by a door which had every appearance of an outside +door, so heavy were the hinges and lock. The landlord, in drawing my +attention to this, had smiled and remarked that the former tenant, who +lived in another section of the city, had <a name='Page_38'></a>been very careful always to +leave his studio securely locked. The ceiling of half the room was +entirely of glass, sloping down to the floor at the angle of the roof, +and this was the only means of obtaining air and light. It was +constructed in two sections, which would slide back and forth, for the +purpose of ventilation. This arrangement, I found, would give me an +unobstructed view of Mars for several hours each night. Nothing could be +better adapted to my requirements; I could not be observed by anyone +outside, and I need not fear being overheard while conversing with my +Martian friend.</p> + +<p>I therefore determined to have my instrument moved at once, in order to +be installed in my new quarters that evening.</p> + +<p>I next bought a crate, used for large oil paintings, and upon its +delivery at my old rooms, I immediately commenced packing my instrument +in it. Owing to its great weight this was no easy work, and it would +express the procedure better if I said that I placed the crate around +the instrument. Making sure that it was all covered carefully, I had it +moved to my new quarters and set in place, the impression <a name='Page_39'></a>of the +carriers being that it was a painting which I was very anxious that no +one should see until it was completed.</p> + +<p>As it was now within an hour of the time when I expected Mars to appear, +I decided to leave my books and other belongings at my former rooms +until the next day. I uncovered the instrument, and got everything into +readiness, being careful to see that the batteries were all in place, so +that nothing might occur to interrupt the long talk with the Martian +which I was anticipating.</p> + +<p>Having turned on the current, and opened the sliding section of the +glass roof, I now awaited the appearance of Mars. There occurred to me +question alter question that seemed of sufficient importance to prompt +immediate inquiry, only to be forgotten as others came into my mind; +until the presence of the increasing faint glow on my instrument found +me unprepared with any single question of actual importance. +Consequently I decided to allow my distant informant to continue with +the account of Martian observations of Earth, as being at once the most +instructive and surest way of suggesting important questions.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_40'></a>As my eyes got accustomed to the brilliancy I saw the Martian waiting +for me, with his instrument in readiness. We greeted each other with the +affection we both now sincerely felt, and though I could not clasp his +hand, I endeavored in every way to show him the brotherly warmth of +feeling I entertained for him.</p> + +<p>It now occurred to me that in the excitement of our first communication +with each other, we had completely overlooked an important +conventionality. I therefore announced that I was known on Earth as +Harold Lonsdale.</p> + +<p>"My name is Almos," he responded, his dark eyes sparkling as he quickly +entered into the spirit of the occasion. "Although it was customary once +for us to have two or three names, we found it in better harmony with +the changed conditions of the present time to have but one. This you +will more easily understand when you have become better acquainted with +this planet and its people."</p> + +<p>"And as I am most anxious to learn more about the conditions of life in +your world," I added, eagerly, "I trust you will continue the account of +Martian observations of Earth, <a name='Page_41'></a>which was barely commenced last evening +when the wave contact ceased. But first let me ask how you located my +whereabouts, for this morning I moved to another section of the city."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he replied, with a smile, "I was not aware you had moved. +Experience has taught me about where to look for the large city you call +Paris, on the side of Earth that is now exposed to us, and then by +systematic search I soon located the response of your instrument.</p> + +<p>"As our observations of Earth with projected light-rays have been +carried on for seven hundred years, it will be necessary to give you an +outline of our history and the progress of science covering that time. +This will not only be of interest as a forecast of your own world's +future, but will also prove of the greatest value to you, if you decide +to visit this planet, an undertaking which I am convinced lies within +your power."</p> + +<p>His words wrung an exclamation of astonishment from my lips, but, as +though not wishing to be interrupted, he went on:</p> + +<p>"Seven hundred years ago, a power derived from that substance known on +Earth as radium, <a name='Page_42'></a>was discovered on Mars. This power was found to be +capable of projecting light rays almost instantaneously through space +for inconceivable distances, at the same time preserving their integrity +to such a remarkable degree that they would reach the farthest planets +without diffusion or diminution. Thus my image, thrown upon the +instrument before me, is conveyed to Earth in light-waves by this flow +of super-radium with such tremendous speed as to be practically +instantaneous; these are received in your instrument, which is +responsive to the flow of super-radium, in the same condition as when +they left Mars, consequently depicting the image life-size.</p> + +<p>"Having come in contact with another body in the heavens, this +outward-flowing current of super-radium is changed to an inward-flowing +current. In making this change it frees the light-waves it conveyed from +Mars, and retains the light-waves of the objects about it, which is +merely repeating its performance upon leaving Mars. These light-waves of +objects on another globe it now conveys on its return journey to Mars, +entering a receiving instrument and depicting the objects therein +life-size.</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_43'></a>Possessing rays invisible to the human eye, except when agitated by a +substance of its own nature, daylight on a planet becomes an entirely +unnecessary adjunct to observations made with super-radium, and we are +able to explore the dark side of planets and other heavenly bodies, just +as effectually as those illuminated by the sun.</p> + +<p>"Thus have we, for seven hundred years, been able to study the country, +cities, streets, and people of Earth. And not only did we note a +remarkable similarity in the people, buildings, and scientific progress +to early Martian ages, but, by the advertisements, placards, and other +street signs we were able to learn the principal languages spoken on +your planet, and these were found to correspond in a remarkable degree +to those in use on Mars, before conditions on our planet made the +adoption of a composite language an absolute necessity. And undoubtedly +these same conditions in due time will face the people of Earth."</p> + +<p>I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this prediction, +but Almos at once reassured me by stating that when the time did come, +it would be the beginning of universal peace and happiness on Earth.</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_44'></a>Am I to understand, then," said I, "that a condition of perfect +happiness prevails on Mars?"</p> + +<p>"Unhappiness is considered a disease with us," Almos rejoined. "It is +heard of, but very rarely, and is treated as a serious malady. But you +will understand these things better as you gradually become acquainted +with the conditions here. You must remember that you are in the position +of a man over fifteen hundred years in advance of his day.</p> + +<p>"Having become convinced, through close observations, that the progress +of Earth was identical with that of Mars, and that Earth, being the +younger planet, was consequently following our lead, we anxiously +watched for the discovery on Earth of the wonderful power that had been +the means of bringing us into such close visual contact with you. When +you discovered radium, we realized that this would eventually lead to +the discovery of the higher power, but we feared that this might not be +for hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>"That communication was possible through the medium of radium and +electricity, we were totally ignorant of. It was the responsive +<a name='Page_45'></a>properties of radium in your instrument, however, that first attracted +my attention while searching over Paris for an object I had previously +been observing. Thereafter my interest in your progress was as great as +your own, and every twenty-four hours, when the eastern hemisphere of +Earth was turned toward Mars, I searched with the radioscope until I got +the response of your instrument.</p> + +<p>"I have kept my success in communicating with Earth a secret, as it +involves an invention of mine which I have not yet made public, and of +which I will now tell you. This invention is the radiphone, through +which we are now conversing, and to which the diaphragm of your +instrument responds, as it doubtless contains radium also. My entire +life has been devoted to the development of Martian-Earthly +communication, and this instrument has been the goal which I have +striven to reach since boyhood, and yet its success in communicating +with Earth came as a great surprise to me."</p> + +<p>So accustomed was I to hear the Martian speak of the most miraculous +occurrences in an ordinary conversational tone, that the idea <a name='Page_46'></a>of there +still remaining something on Mars to be discovered appeared a still +greater wonder.</p> + +<p>"We have made a most important discovery," pursued Almos. "I say 'we,' +as without the response of your instrument the action of a super-radium +current on sound-waves would not have been discovered."</p> + +<p>"I feel that I can hardly share in the honors," I protested modestly. +"Without the super-radium current from Mars, I would still be +experimenting with the hope of finding a substitute for glass."</p> + +<p>I now entered into a full account of the experiments I had conducted, +describing how, quite accidentally, I had made a substance responsive to +the waves from Mars. He was greatly amused upon hearing of my +astonishment at finding that Martians resembled the people on Earth; and +when I drew for him a verbal picture of the ferocious creatures the +inhabitants of Mars were supposed to be, he laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"We never suspected that the people of Earth did us such a great +injustice," he said, his whole countenance lighting up with good humor. +"I have several volumes here giving <a name='Page_47'></a>accounts of observations of Earth, +some of them written eight hundred years ago. It would perhaps interest +you to hear what the Martian conception of the inhabitants of Earth was +at that time."</p> + +<p>"Indeed it would," I exclaimed, with rising curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Well then," rejoined Almos, bringing one of the books and turning over +the leaves, while a curious smile still played about his mouth, "you +must understand that this was written over a hundred years before +super-radium was discovered, and at that time we had no means of +observing Earth except through the telescope, which showed us the +mountains, seas, and continents, much the same as your telescope must +reveal the physical features of Mars. On the question of whether Earth +is inhabited the author says:</p> + +<p>"'That this planet is inhabited we have no reason to doubt, as it is +known to be enveloped in an atmosphere, and it is now a generally +accepted theory that the changes noticed in its color throughout the +year are the seasonal effects on vegetable matter existing on its +surface.... What the inhabitants are like, <a name='Page_48'></a>however, we can only +surmise, but a study of the conditions under which they live will help +us to picture the wild amphibious creatures they must be. Their planet, +more than half covered with water, and being so many millions of miles +nearer the sun than we are, is almost continually enveloped in heavy +clouds of vapor, which, unless they were half fish, must surely +suffocate them. They doubtless seek the depths of water when these +clouds of thick vapor arise. Upon emerging, however, they have to face +such intense heat as none of us could tolerate a minute and live.... +They are no doubt provided with steel-like skin to resist this +temperature.... That they are of a fierce temperament there can be +little doubt, as their atmosphere, which is twice the weight of ours, is +so overcharged with electricity, owing to the heat and clouds of vapor, +that violent storms are constantly breaking over them, doubtless killing +thousands of them at a time and tending to make the natures of the +survivors as fierce as the elements which surround them.... Their year +is but half as long as ours, and this—impeding the laws of propagation, +thus making impossible the <a name='Page_49'></a>higher order of mankind—would naturally +have the effect of rendering their lives a short, reckless, and +ferocious existence, full of unrestrained cruelty and passions....'</p> + +<p>"And now," continued Almos, with a smile, after closing the volume, "you +see there is no occasion for apologies from you."</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, somewhat dryly.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, my dear fellow," said Almos, laughing and seeming to enjoy +the situation immensely, "the entire solar system is pursuing the same +path; what A thinks of B, B has already thought of A."</p> + +<p>The failing light on my instrument at this moment gave warning of the +passing of Mars out of wave contact, and we were obliged to bid each +other good-bye, Almos promising important revelations on the morrow.</p> + +<p>As I stood for a moment before my instrument, now wrapped in darkness, I +was conscious of a strange feeling that, in bidding Almos adieu, I had +also parted from another inhabitant of Mars. Though well aware that I +had only seen and conversed with Almos, my mind, nevertheless, also +reproduced the likeness of a young girl, wonderfully beautiful. I had +<a name='Page_50'></a>first experienced this mental image immediately after my first +conversation with Almos. At that time I had tried hard to put it from me +as merely a delusion resulting from nervous tension. But I found that +after each interview with Almos, the image became clearer and more +definitely fixed in my mind, until now I firmly believed in the +existence of this beautiful being on Mars, and, remarkable though it +seemed, I could not deny my growing affection for her. I had not +mentioned this mental image to Almos, as I felt convinced that he knew +nothing of it, and therefore would be unable to help me in any way. +Moreover, my training had taught me to seek a scientific reason for +things which might appeal to the superstitious as weird and uncanny. I +was therefore loath to speak of it to Almos, until I had proved beyond +doubt that it was not an hallucination.</p> + +<p>After I had spent many hours in vainly seeking a possible cause for this +mysterious mental image, the realization that I was but the veriest +infant in the wonderful achievements of our sister planet, finally +decided me upon the wiser course of leaving such matters <a name='Page_51'></a>until I had +become better acquainted with Martian inventions and scientific +progress. I therefore looked forward to visiting this wonderful world +with the greatest anticipation, and though I was entirely ignorant of +how this stupendous and seemingly impossible feat should be +accomplished, such was my faith in Almos' superior knowledge of science, +that I did not, for a moment, doubt the possibility of such a thing. +Little did I realize the fearful nature of the journey—the success of +which was based entirely on theories—or I would have shrunk in horror +from such an undertaking.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_V'></a><h2><a name='Page_52'></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h2>THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The greater part of the next day was spent in moving the rest of my +belongings to my new quarters and in settling down there. Indeed, so +occupied was I with this task, that the approach of darkness found me +quite unprepared for wave contact with Mars. I had been obliged to take +my instrument apart in order to allow the larger pieces of furniture to +be brought into the room, and it required almost two hours to put it +together again.</p> + +<p>When at last all was in readiness and I had turned on the current, I +found my Martian friend waiting for me.</p> + +<p>"This is to be the last of my narrative," he remarked, after we had +greeted each other.</p> + +<p>"What!" I ejaculated in amazement.</p> + +<p>"You see, my dear fellow," continued <a name='Page_53'></a>Almos, "it was necessary for you +to become gradually acquainted with the advanced contions on Mars, +properly to understand them, and I have tried to school your mind +accordingly. It is essential, however, for you to see these things, +fully to appreciate the advancement of almost twenty centuries, and only +thus can my highest ambition be realized."</p> + +<p>"How is it possible?"</p> + +<p>"When I have told you of several important ways in which life on Mars +differs from that on Earth, you will more readily understand.</p> + +<p>"I have said that unhappiness on Mars is almost unknown. It is only the +presence of ill health that causes unhappiness. If the body can be kept +in a condition of absolutely perfect health—and by that I mean +something far beyond what is considered perfect health on Earth—then +unhappiness is impossible. Its causes, sorrow, jealousy, envy, hatred, +and discontent, are eliminated, and a normal condition of perfect +immunity from wrong-doing and unhappiness exists.</p> + +<p>"It has been discovered on Earth that crime is the result of a diseased +brain, and with us this discovery, in time, developed the fact that +<a name='Page_54'></a>wrong-doing, even in its minor phases, is the result of physical ill +health. Maintain, then, a perfect state of bodily health in a community, +and there is no wrong-doing and consequent unhappiness.</p> + +<p>"The means of obtaining this bodily health was discovered on Mars, in +the form of invisible light rays, almost six hundred years ago, and its +discovery led to a complete transformation in social conditions, +establishing perfect tranquillity and happiness upon the entire globe.</p> + +<p>"Separate governments became intolerable and were abandoned when race +distinction was forgotten, and the people of Mars became as one family, +speaking one tongue. Friendship for one's neighbor was transmuted into +love for one's brother. The pursuit of personal gain was replaced by a +desire to work for the good of all, and now a keen individual sense of +right and duty actuates the entire population, and is paramount in all +things. Duties are performed without other compensation than that which +the fulfillment of something well done brings.</p> + +<p>"It was soon found that the remarkable regenerating properties of these +rays perpetuated <a name='Page_55'></a>life and youth. Not only did they prevent sickness of +any kind, but they rebuilt the tissues of the body as fast as they wore +out, thus making the aging of the body impossible. A child therefore +grows up to full manhood or womanhood and remains in that state of the +body's highest excellence. While the child is developing the rays +stimulate his progress; anything beyond that would be decaying, a +condition the rays prevent."</p> + +<p>Accustomed though I had become to a long recital of the most marvelous +accounts without interrupting, I could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment at the information that Martians enjoy everlasting life.</p> + +<p>Almos received my evident amazement with the quiet smile I had grown +accustomed to observe upon such occasions, and, with a view of +illustrating the point further, said:</p> + +<p>"Although one's actual age becomes a very unimportant matter when, +instead of being limited to sixty or seventy years, it extends over +hundreds of years, I can readily ascertain my age, from the fact that I +was twenty years old at the time these wonderful rays were discovered. I +have lived, then, about six hundred <a name='Page_56'></a>of Earth's years, or three hundred +Martian years."</p> + +<p>"Six hundred years!" I exclaimed, as I looked at the reflection of his +handsome face; his eyes flashing, his cheeks aglow with ruddy health, +his whole countenance animated with the full vigor of manhood.</p> + +<p>"Of course, we do not know how long the effects of regenerating rays +will make it possible to live," pursued Almos, "but in theory, it would +seem that by their daily use perfect health will be assured, and life +itself will continue indefinitely."</p> + +<p>"And death become unknown on Mars!" I added, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Not quite unknown," rejoined Almos. "For lives are sometimes lost in +accidents. Instant death defies all our science, and will not be +conquered. But in accidents, no matter how serious, where a spark of +life remains, we can prevent that from escaping until the body is in a +condition to take care of it.</p> + +<p>"This is accomplished by a device known as a virator, which, though +simple in construction, is the greatest marvel of the age. It consists +of a dome, made of material similar to <a name='Page_57'></a>glass in appearance, but which +differs from anything else known, in that it is absolutely atomless. +This dome fits over the operating table, upon which the patient lies, +with just sufficient room for two persons inside, and is kept at the +temperature of the body. On its top is a small globe made of the same +material, measuring but a few inches in diameter, which is connected +with the large chamber below by a neck or passage about an inch wide. +The patient is placed inside, and there operated upon. If life leaves +the body, either during the operation or after, the spirit ascends +through the narrow passage into the small globe above and is there +retained, as it cannot pass through the material of which the walls of +this chamber are constructed. The body is then kept continually bathed +in the regenerating rays, which not only preserve it as if life were in +it, but actually carry on the process of healing. This continues until +the body is in a perfectly sound and healthy condition again, and well +able to retain life.</p> + +<p>"And now occurs the most wonderful of all. When everything is in +readiness for the spirit to enter the body again, a strong flow of +super-radium <a name='Page_58'></a>is sent through the top globe from an instrument attached. +Passing through the small chamber and down the narrow passage, it +reaches the body, and immediately changes to a return flow. This current +is but momentary; the patient is seen to move, and the body is once more +quickened by the life spark. The flow of super-radium has conveyed the +spirit of the patient from the small chamber above and released it in +the body as it returned, in exactly the same manner as it does with +light-waves or sound-waves."</p> + +<p>"Marvelous!" I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend this +almost miraculous achievement. With such vast scientific resources +nothing seemed impossible to Martians.</p> + +<p>Almos had stopped abruptly. A change came over him. His face paled and +his lips set in a hard, determined expression. Instantly I felt my every +faculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of this +remarkable being.</p> + +<p>Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinated +by a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said:</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_59'></a>A few words more and we have reached that point at which death may +await the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther. A death that no +scientific knowledge can avert. I have tried to school your mind, to the +end that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, +never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish to +attempt, you must risk alone.</p> + +<p>"Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned the +millions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, +which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live in +another world. Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earth +or Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over. You must consider +the possible consequences ere it be too late."</p> + +<p>"Never!" I cried. "My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I have +proceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal. +Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs me +my life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earth +ever can be."</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_60'></a>Well, my brave fellow," said Almos, his voice softening, "you must +follow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, for +to-morrow I can be of no assistance to you. Alone you must undertake the +journey."</p> + +<p>I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what I +had said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feeling +now that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, the +facts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom I +fully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, was +inextricably bound with mine. I now decided to do so on the first +opportunity.</p> + +<p>"I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upper +chamber of a virator after it has left the body," pursued Almos, "and as +it is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe the +additions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also my +theories in connection with them.</p> + +<p>"To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected the +receiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface. +<a name='Page_61'></a>This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatus +substituted, from which I have also removed the image surface. Thus we +may have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope to +Earth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projecting +apparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth and +returning into the receiving apparatus.</p> + +<p>"This is exactly the condition that exists in a virator in ordinary use +with these exceptions: the current of super-radium is made to flow +either in or out of the bottom chamber, as well as the top; instead of +being local, the current is between Earth and Mars, and consequently +much more powerful. The currents from both the top and bottom chambers +are controlled by clockwork which I have devised for that purpose, and +in place of an operating table in the virator I have substituted a +couch.</p> + +<p>"And now I enjoin you to summon all your courage, for in this +undertaking nothing but nerves of steel will carry you safely through."</p> + +<p>"I shall faithfully carry out your instructions, Almos," I responded, +trying to appear perfectly calm, though my being fifteen hundred <a name='Page_62'></a>years +behind Martian times never seemed so much a handicap as now.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, then, word for word," resumed Almos. "Understand all I say, +for in the error of a second, the misconception of a word, the hesitancy +of a moment, there is death!</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, when that part of the Earth's surface on which Paris is +situated appears, I shall attach the receiving apparatus of the +radioscope to the lower chamber of the virator, so that the return +current from Earth will flow into it. I shall then set the clockwork to +turn on the current of super-radium in half an hour. In that time my +body must be in a condition to receive your spirit."</p> + +<p>I could not suppress a shudder upon hearing this, but I deemed it best +not to interrupt Almos.</p> + +<p>"Filling a cone with the required amount of chloroform, I shall enter +the virator, and, reclining upon the couch, place the cone over my mouth +and nose. In a few minutes my spirit will have passed into the upper +chamber.</p> + +<p>"By experimenting, I have found that regenerating rays are contained in +super-radium. In fact, my theory is that the regenerating rays <a name='Page_63'></a>and the +invisible rays of super-radium are synonymous. Such being the case, when +the current of super-radium is turned on by the clockwork, it will flow +to Earth and, returning, enter the virator and restore my body to a +normal condition, freeing it from the fumes of chloroform and making it +capable of receiving its new life.</p> + +<p>"The glow of your instrument, in response to the super-radium current, +will warn you that this has taken place, and you must then prepare +yourself for departure. You will not observe any image, owing to my +having removed the lenses of the radioscope, but your instrument will +glow in response to the current.</p> + +<p>"Having prepared a cone of chloroform, you must move a couch directly in +front of your instrument, so that upon lying down your body will obscure +the rays from it. You will thus know that you are in the path of the +super-radium current; this is of the greatest importance as, otherwise, +your spirit would undoubtedly escape upon leaving the body and be lost +forever.</p> + +<p>"After taking every possible precaution to <a name='Page_64'></a>safeguard against any +movement of the body, place the cone securely over your mouth and nose. +Within a short time your spirit will leave the body and will instantly +be caught up by the super-radium current, on its return flow to Mars. +Entering the receiving apparatus and thus passing into the virator, the +flow will come into direct contact with my body, into which it will +discharge your spirit."</p> + +<p>Almos stopped abruptly, consternation written on his face. A moment +later, I realized the cause—the two planets were passing out of wave +contact. At such a critical moment nothing could be more unfortunate, +and I was about hastily to suggest a postponement, when Almos exclaimed: +"It is all right!—I shall leave——"</p> + +<p>Wave contact ceased before he had time to finish the sentence, and I was +left standing before the instrument in a state of irresolution.</p> + +<p>How could I arrive on Mars totally unprepared to meet the conditions? +Upon my regaining consciousness these might present themselves in the +most urgent form, demanding immediate attention and a thorough knowledge +<a name='Page_65'></a>of Martian sciences. Almos' life, indeed, might depend upon just such a +condition.</p> + +<p>Undetermined upon the course I should pursue the next day, my mind +filled with the most formidable fancies of so strange an undertaking, I +at last sought repose, hoping that with the morrow would come clearer +thought.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a><h2><a name='Page_66'></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h2>"AS OTHERS SEE US."</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The next morning found me resolved to make the journey to Mars at any +cost. That Almos had intended to say he would leave further +instructions, I had no doubt. The instructions would probably be +written, and placed where I would immediately see them upon regaining +consciousness. In any event, I argued, if, at the usual hour of Martian +contact, my instrument should glow in response to super-radium, it would +clearly be my duty to fulfil my part of the agreement, for the glow +would be proof that Almos had fulfilled his and that his spirit had +passed into the upper chamber of the virator.</p> + +<p>I had purchased the necessary articles for my remarkable journey, and +had taken the precaution to fasten a notice outside my door <a name='Page_67'></a>to the +effect that I would be out during the evening. I could not restrain a +grim smile at the thought of the uncanny literal truth in this +announcement.</p> + +<p>These things done I fell to speculating upon what would be my experience +on Mars if, indeed, I ever reached that planet. For the first hours, try +as I would to check it, there was, at times, a doubt as to the outcome +of this wild soul-adventure. But, strange as it may appear, although I +fully realized the danger attending such an undertaking, the success of +which was based entirely on theories, it did not, in any way, act as a +deterrent. So great was the prize to be attained, that the risk of life +seemed unimportant. Indeed, the first step of the journey to Mars was to +take my life, as we understand the term on Earth, and, having become +reconciled to this, I was not sensible of any danger beyond. So absorbed +was I in these thoughts, that the time passed without my realizing it, +and only the fading daylight warned me of the near approach of the hour +of Martian contact.</p> + +<p>I now made a complete examination of all the batteries and coils of my +instrument, as <a name='Page_68'></a>failure in any of these might result most seriously. +Finding all to be in perfect working order, I next proceeded to arrange +my couch so as to bring it directly between the instrument and the +window. Having thus completed my preparations, possessed by conflicting +emotions, I now waited for the appearance of Mars.</p> + +<p>Early in the day I had arranged my letters and private papers so that in +the event of the worst happening, they could be readily packed, and it +now occurred to me that it would be only proper to leave a word of +explanation with them. I therefore hastily penned a note to a cousin +living in England—my nearest relative—briefly explaining my discovery +of the Martian super-radium current, and also the character of the +adventure in which I was about to participate. This note I placed with +my papers.</p> + +<p>Returning to the instrument, I discovered that Mars was already visible. +Quickly turning on the current and finding no responsive glow, I knew +that Almos was already making the preparations he had described to me. +He had said that within half an hour the clockwork <a name='Page_69'></a>would turn on the +current, and the glow of my instrument would be the signal for my +departure.</p> + +<p>No time was to be lost. Securely fastening the door of my room, I +prepared the cone of chloroform and extinguished the light, in order not +to excite the suspicion of a chance caller during the evening.</p> + +<p>I now sat on the couch awaiting with anxiety the current of super-radium +that would convey me to the far world of my dreams. Minutes seemed like +hours, as I sat in the darkness, with every nerve strained to its +uttermost, awaiting Death. What if Death should refuse to release me! +Millions have been wrapped in Death's cold arms, but no mortal has +returned to give accounting.</p> + +<p>What was that!—A blinding flash made me instantly shield my eyes. Ah! +The glow at last! But such was its dazzling brilliancy that I could not +stand the glare. I had been accustomed to see the glow gradually creep +up the surface of the instrument, slowly growing brighter as the rim of +the star appeared above the window casement, but this time Mars had +risen to full view before the current was <a name='Page_70'></a>turned on by the clockwork. +This was ample proof that everything had happened as Almos had planned. +It was now my turn to act and I must not hesitate. Stretching myself on +the couch so that I came into full contact with the current of +super-radium, I seized the cone saturated with chloroform, and fastened +it securely over my mouth and nose.</p> + +<p>A few moments of a slightly suffocating sensation, then a long, long +fall, gradual at first, then quicker, quicker—</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<p>With a feeling of exhilaration, such as I had never before experienced, +I opened my eyes and sprang to my feet. My brain was perfectly clear, +and so active that my mind utterly failed to keep pace with the +multitude of thoughts that were crowded upon it—thoughts that were +strange to my mind, yet perfectly familiar to my brain, if this +paradoxical statement may stand. It seemed as if my mind stood, apart +and marveled at the remarkable activity and knowledge possessed by the +brain—of which knowledge my mind was entirely ignorant.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_71'></a>I was in another world, millions of miles away from Earth. My mind +realized that something little short of a miracle had happened, and yet +I felt absolutely familiar with all the objects about me. The glass-like +walls that surrounded me, reaching up and forming a dome several feet +above my head; the narrow passage in the center of the dome (just as the +neck of a bottle would appear if viewed from inside), through which the +spirit of Almos had passed to the chamber above; all these were +wonderfully familiar to me.</p> + +<p>I was in the virator, but it was uncomfortable to remain inside, as the +air was oppressively warm. Moreover, dictated my brain, I must prepare +the virator for my return within five hours, and my hand instinctively +grasped a lever in the wall of the apparatus. A door opened and I +stepped out, carefully closing it behind me. Again I was astonished at +my wonderful familiarity with everything. If I had lived on Mars all my +life, I could not have had a more intimate knowledge of my surroundings. +I seemed to know exactly how to proceed, and after attending to several +important details, and carefully noting the temperature of the <a name='Page_72'></a>virator +on a thermometer placed for that purpose, I consulted a chronometer to +ascertain how long it would be safe for me to remain on Mars. I found +that, allowing a half-hour for the process of arrival and the same for +departure, I had just five hours.</p> + +<p>My mind, at first stunned by the new and strange conditions to which it +was subjected, now gradually began to realize its remarkable position in +relation to the brain.</p> + +<p>That the mind and the spirit are one, or so closely related as to be +indistinguishable and inseparable, was now beyond doubt, as I was keenly +aware of all that had happened to me on Earth, showing that my mind not +only existed, but also possessed the same faculty of thought in Almos' +body as it did in mine while on Earth. Here was a positive proof, in +fact a demonstration, of the theory advanced by some scientists, that +the mind is separate and distinct from the brain.</p> + +<p>But the gulf that lies between life and death remained as wide as ever. +Death was still shrouded in mystery, for my mind knew nothing from the +moment it left the body on Earth, until it awakened in the body on Mars. +Flesh <a name='Page_73'></a>and blood, then, were essential to the mind's existence. Mind or +spirit must have expression through some form. Although man may achieve +much by scientific advancement, that to which he has progressed is but +as a grain of sand in the desert, to the wonders that surround him. +Science shall never penetrate the mystery of those things that are +withheld from him.</p> + +<p>The brain of which my mind now took control, acted merely as the +material handle by which the machinery of the body was operated, thus +converting thoughts into actions. But although my mind, having by now +become perfectly familiar with the strange conditions, was able to +record new impressions on the brain, there still existed the impression +of Almos' thoughts. It resembled a book which my mind could instantly +refer to and be guided by, and thus was I in possession of a perfect +knowledge of Mars, its people, and its language.</p> + +<p>I now realized that my first actions, upon becoming conscious, had +simply been carrying out the instructions Almos had left for me. Strange +to the conditions in those first few <a name='Page_74'></a>minutes, I had instinctively done +what the brain dictated. In this remarkable way had Almos completed the +instructions he was about to give me when interrupted by the cessation +of wave contact.</p> + +<p>Having thus arrived at what I felt to be the true relation of my mind +with Almos' body, I now turned my attention to the objects surrounding +me.</p> + +<p>I stood in a room about the size of my laboratory on Earth. There were +no windows to admit light, but the ceiling, which was fully twenty feet +high, emitted a beautifully diffused white light, which filled every +corner of the room, leaving absolutely no shadows. Its effect was that +of daylight, and so closely did it resemble the sky, that, had I not +been supplied with Almos' knowledge of Martian science, I would have +naturally supposed that there was no ceiling to the room. Immediately +upon the question coming into my mind, however, I became aware that the +ceiling was coated with a composition, one of the component parts of +which was radium in a highly developed state. Its action upon the other +elements that composed this substance resulted <a name='Page_75'></a>in a perpetual light +without heat, which was equal in every way to daylight.</p> + +<p>The tourist, finding himself in a new country, has but one thought, one +ambition, that of seeing all he can; yet, strange to say, although a +whole new world lay before me, my first thought was of Mother Earth. A +desire to view my old habitat as Martians see it seemed almost +irresistible.</p> + +<p>To touch the radioscope that was trained on Earth, would result in an +instant change taking place in my body as it lay in the laboratory, and +this would be disastrous. It was only the regenerating properties of the +super-radium current that kept it in a state acceptable to my return, +and the delicate mechanism of this instrument was regulated so as to +keep the current exactly in position, as long as that part of the +Earth's surface was exposed to Mars. To interfere then with this +current, for a moment, would mean certain death.</p> + +<p>Immediately I became conscious of the presence of another instrument, +which was in a room adjoining, and, feeling absolutely familiar with +every inch of the way, I proceeded thence. The room was a small one, +just large <a name='Page_76'></a>enough, indeed, to operate the radioscope, which was exactly +the same as the one in the room I had just quitted.</p> + +<p>With a perfect knowledge of the mechanism of the instrument, I was soon +at work adjusting the projecting and receiving apparatus. An ordinary +telescope was attached to the huge tube of the radioscope, and with +Almos' dexterity I soon located Earth through it, thus sighting the +radioscope for that planet.</p> + +<p>I had now but to turn on the current to see the people on Earth and +watch their doings, as had done Martians for hundreds of years, but, +with my hand on the lever that controlled the current, I paused.</p> + +<p>The sight of Earth, as it appeared through the telescope, was too +beautiful to pass by with a mere glance. Half illuminated, owing to the +greater distance of Mars from the sun and the position of the planets at +that time, Earth appeared about the size the moon looks to the naked +eye. But what a wonderful sight! Bathed in sunlight lay the eastern half +of the continents of North and South America, faintly outlined by the +pale blue of the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. So familiar was +<a name='Page_77'></a>I with the appearance of these two great continents as drawn in an +atlas, that I had difficulty in recognizing them as they now appeared. +Mexico and Central America seemed almost as broad as that part of the +United States from San Francisco to Washington; the whole tapering down +from Canada to Cape Horn almost in the shape of a cone.</p> + +<p>Aeronauts passing over a lake or river are able to see the bottom, owing +to their altitude; this was undoubtedly the explanation of the strange +appearance of the continents of North and South America. On account of +the enormous distance I was away from Earth, the shallow waters appeared +as land, obliterating completely the familiar coast line, and only the +extreme depth of an ocean showed a pale blue.</p> + +<p>Night covered Europe and Africa, which would otherwise have been visible +to me, and the shadow of darkness was steadily creeping across the +Atlantic Ocean, as the Earth revolved upon its axis. I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought that I must cover that enormous +distance ere it revolved too far.</p> + +<p>I now moved the lever that controlled the current, and at once the lens +in the receiving <a name='Page_78'></a>apparatus shone with a brilliant dark blue color. The +current of super-radium had reached Earth and returned in less than a +second, and I saw, beautifully pictured before me, an expanse of ocean +with waves tumbling and tossing so near me that it seemed as if I were +but a few feet above them.</p> + +<p>By diminishing the current I found that the image on the lens grew +smaller, the effect being exactly the same as that from a balloon +rising. The picture at first appeared slanting at an angle of about +thirty degrees, owing to the curvature of the Earth, but by manipulating +a small lever close at hand that operated a mirror in the radioscope, +this defect was corrected.</p> + +<p>After searching about with the current, I at last came upon a large +steamer, evidently an ocean liner. Throwing huge billows aside in clouds +of white spray as she cut through the water, she made a beautiful sight, +and it was with difficulty that I kept her in the field of vision. As I +appeared to be looking straight down upon her decks, it was evident that +she was about in the center of the Earth's surface exposed to Mars.</p> + +<p>I now moved the current in a westerly direction, <a name='Page_79'></a>travelling at what +would be a terrific speed on Earth, until I came to land. Not +recognizing the small coast town that first came in view, I moved up the +coast in a northerly direction, diminishing the current until I could +see a large stretch of country. Toward the northwest a large city +appeared, which I immediately recognized as Washington. Directing the +instrument to that city, I increased the current until the people on the +streets measured two or three feet on the lens of my instrument. Here I +found that the curvature of the Earth resulted in my looking down +obliquely at the objects on its surface, but not at a sufficient angle +to see the faces of those who passed across my lens.</p> + +<p>But now I became aware of a strange condition that, owing to the motion +of the liner at sea, had escaped my notice before. Although I was +looking at the people passing before one of the large government +buildings in Washington, I had to keep regulating the instrument in +order to keep this building in view. Moreover, I discovered that I had +to regulate it as fast as I had done with the ocean liner. In fact, +obviously the liner's speed mattered <a name='Page_80'></a>but little; it was the rate at +which the Earth was revolving upon its axis and journeying around the +sun with which I had to contend. Through the telescope this was not +discernible, but now that I had come into such close visual contact with +the Earth's surface, I realized the terrific speed with which it rushed +through space. Hundreds of miles a minute was the speed my instrument +had to be regulated to, in order to keep an object on Earth in view—the +motion of the liner was insignificant!</p> + +<p>Moving the current eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered that +darkness in no way hindered my view of objects on Earth's surface. The +reproduction on the lens, however, presented quite a different +appearance to that which I had witnessed while observing the part of +Earth illuminated by the sun. The beautiful colors which contributed so +much realism to the picture were now replaced by a sombre gray tone, +greatly resembling a photograph in appearance.</p> + +<p>So absorbed had I become in all that this wonderful instrument revealed +to me of the different phases of life on Earth, that I forgot all else, +until, with a start, I realized that <a name='Page_81'></a>someone was moving about in the +large room which contained the virator that I had recently left. I was +filled with apprehension. Who could it be? And what was the reason of +this unexpected visit? Almos had not warned me against intrusion of any +kind, and I felt that to meet and converse with a Martian, thus +unprepared, would be impossible. In that room, however, were the +instruments that held two lives within their delicate mechanism, and +even now they might have been tampered with enough to cause the most +serious consequences. I must not hesitate a moment longer. Hastening +down the passage that led to the larger room, I pushed aside the heavy +portieres and found myself in the presence of a Martian.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a><h2><a name='Page_82'></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h2>THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall, +handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank and +open countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without a +moment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, in +the composite language of Mars, said:</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I have +interrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is—"</p> + +<p>"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to see +you at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?"</p> + +<p>Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner that +did not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. <a name='Page_83'></a>In +spite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to face +with an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor did +it require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency, +followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man had +spoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitor +and with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of the +first few moments had passed, that my mind could take control whenever +it exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished, +or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information. +Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced in +answering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there was +no danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personality +in his friend.</p> + +<p>I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars' +greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latest +invention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. A +recognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, <a name='Page_84'></a>Almos' counsel +was sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recital +of this wonderful instrument.</p> + +<p>Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours in +which it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in my +observations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being aware +of the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I, +however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in a +few minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this new +undertaking.</p> + +<p>I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a new +and strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returning +within two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almos +to attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had taken +were too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of this +wonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertainty +which made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent in +another world. If the return current failed to do what was expected of +it, if I had erred in my calculation <a name='Page_85'></a>of the time I could remain on +Mars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the results +would be disastrous.</p> + +<p>I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to my +host that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatory +within two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and, +approaching my visitor, I said:</p> + +<p>"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost, +as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demands +my attention in two hours."</p> + +<p>I held back the portières as Reon passed out, and following him down a +short passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of white +marble.</p> + +<p>A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, and +the dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads of +diamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant did +they appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out what +appeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scattered +here and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of <a name='Page_86'></a>small +canoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland, +reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air. +As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in my +mind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air by +a metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to the +surface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that their +planet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling. +The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of this +immense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was not +a fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existed +at the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before this +discovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having made +the discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off the +planet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling pole +that it was argued that the pole must run through the center of the +planet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which covered +the rest of the surface.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_87'></a>Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the pole +itself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations were +made as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surface +until the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore was +encountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intense +heat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. This +strange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was found +to possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to the +surface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repelling +force, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this same +force was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity of +an unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole. +The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great as +the specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and by +its use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerial +navigation on Mars had been solved.</p> + +<p>Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this the +moment the <a name='Page_88'></a>question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but, +although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderful +people, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strong +personality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had been +preparing an aerenoid for our use—such was the Martian name for these +airships—was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain that +with the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting of +Almos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicion +of my true personality.</p> + +<p>The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed in +appearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us. +Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer's +portholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, as +it rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for the +purpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal which +the Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two or +more strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight in +their construction was of <a name='Page_89'></a>little importance. While resting on the +ground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor, +thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car the +casing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, until +enough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause the +repelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure, +any desired height could thus be attained.</p> + +<p>The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attain +great speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closed +flush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces of +machinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means of +propulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that I +could not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence of +scientific progress.</p> + +<p>Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed to +produce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rear +half, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, and +tapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern, +<a name='Page_90'></a>where it ended in an opening one inch in diameter. By a chemical +process the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing a +vacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the small +opening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussion +against the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving the +aerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at great +speed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simple +though this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome and +the long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, the +speed thus attained was remarkable.</p> + +<p>Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of the +car afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and we +rose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glide +along without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way through +the many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, coming +from a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate the +observatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed close +<a name='Page_91'></a>by them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfully +beautiful—beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknown +for hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a river +about a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet or +more from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed every +hundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city street +stretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me that +this was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as we +passed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, running +parallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowing +rapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this!</p> + +<p>Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly until +within thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased until +the lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundred +miles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration or +sound. At such a speed it <a name='Page_92'></a>was possible to encircle Mars in seventy +minutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "Midsummer +Night's Dream," who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in forty +minutes.</p> + +<p>On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canals +equally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint gray +light appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crowned +the banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itself +appeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens. +In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and now +it was the middle of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids, +travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, was +obvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than these +magnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planet +with such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source of +great wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of years +old, the method of constructing <a name='Page_93'></a>this gigantic system of canals remains +enshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surrounds +the building of the pyramids in Egypt.</p> + +<p>I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals were +put, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid. +The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not for +the water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles without +propulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving a +lever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In an +instant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending high +into the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks on +either side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I now +realized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat in +appearance.</p> + +<p>Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile a +minute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded down +several branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canal +banks. Higher <a name='Page_94'></a>and higher we ascended until we were about a thousand +feet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed.</p> + +<p>A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye could +reach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marble +buildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees, +could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and beside +sparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities or +towns—not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in any +particular direction.</p> + +<p>No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in our +car was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the light +atmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It was +evidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible under +cover in the daytime.</p> + +<p>Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I was +at once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which was +intensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almost +black. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars were +<a name='Page_95'></a>visible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth with +such brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossible +to look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated the +enormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, which +diffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearance +of the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admiration +until, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come to +rest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a most +palatial building.</p> + +<p>Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attached +to the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty upon +landing, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place at +the levers and joined me.</p> + +<p>There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of the +high-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter class +resembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and it +was evident that all were inside listening to the recital of the +lumaharp.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_96'></a>As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discover +that the outside walls of this building were entirely covered with +beautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus. +Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it, +too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos. +The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; these +and many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved with +remarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and were +looked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world.</p> + +<p>As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portières, and, +passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be an +immense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting in +groups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlight +streamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolled +back, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that the +Martians were to be found during the heat of the day.</p> + +<p>Rain being unknown, it was necessary to <a name='Page_97'></a>grow the more delicate plants +where they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of the +midday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season. +I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found only +upon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of the +green these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardy +pink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry and +sandy soil.</p> + +<p>Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that I +might reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among the +tall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring the +beautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers also +indigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in the +most cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importance +of saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of the +individual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyable +conversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their names +and the matters of interest to them. <a name='Page_98'></a>All were very enthusiastic about +the lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderful +instrument.</p> + +<p>As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almos +was not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but as +there were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reason +to visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind.</p> + +<p>Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far from +the entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to be +directed back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, every +nerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill the +air. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision of +beautiful flowers—flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves, +and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in a +volume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description.</p> + +<p>As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, a +gradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, its +inventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man of +great learning, but of <a name='Page_99'></a>few words; Sarraccus had won the love and +admiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that had +given the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who had +discovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, been +used by others until many important inventions had developed from it, +such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination without +expenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all of +which, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement of +this great people.</p> + +<p>The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possible +to reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at the +time of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expedited +the movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of every +quarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy and +rapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and towns +were soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained the +ideal, and became a World Beautiful—the magnificent estate of one large +family.</p> + +<p>And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a <a name='Page_100'></a>voice to sing of their +beauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea that +inasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors and +shades of a flower—beauty too rare for the hand of man to +reproduce—there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound or +vibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound. +Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade of +the object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument were +made sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicate +undulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance with +the light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness to +the beauty of the flower, would result.</p> + +<p>After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in the +form of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated in +response to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp will +often be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice, +and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of this +wire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, <a name='Page_101'></a>and it +was only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they were +discovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, and +each was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certain +color. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent every +possible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two large +drums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed in +chambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by the +delicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of the +wind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner of +the large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied the +position of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wall +opposite them.</p> + +<p>The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrown +upon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicate +shade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated in +response to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was the +ineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams of +<a name='Page_102'></a>beauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the hand +of man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anything +that the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of the +field receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yet +simple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? As +different flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the music +change; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would change +again to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life and +beauty.</p> + +<p>For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic power +I was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in the +direction of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understood +and sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemed +to become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surged +through that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, as +other music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I was +sensible of a yearning for a love—a love that was soon forgotten, and I +knew it to be <a name='Page_103'></a>mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgotten +the love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, and +now it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should ever +return to this paradise?</p> + +<p>Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess of +emotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think. +Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arbor +was almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone and +unobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which I +now felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank on +my arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soul +seemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music.</p> + +<p>I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a hand +softly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as the +melody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!"</p> + +<p>The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow. +Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name that +<a name='Page_104'></a>instinctively came to my lips—"Zarlah!" It was as if another man had +spoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held a +prisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose image +I had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah!</p> + +<p>I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination, +and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that this +beautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of the +heart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her.</p> + +<p>What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those first +moments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words, +Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave no +evidence of how I was torn within, I said:</p> + +<p>"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to linger +here?"</p> + +<p>"My studies have brought me here," she answered, gently withdrawing her +hand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes to +mine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you no +experiments <a name='Page_105'></a>at the observatory that demand your attention that you can +afford to linger here, Almos?"</p> + +<p>How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could not +hope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart. +There was uncertainty in the future—perhaps I would never again be +given the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned.</p> + +<p>Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into her +wonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here, +Zarlah, was to think of you."</p> + +<p>A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for some +seconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so I +could not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hear +the wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?"</p> + +<p>"I did," I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered only +of you—the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning in +my heart—it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love for +you, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune <a name='Page_106'></a>of golden moments; +then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowers +direct from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him that +I should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to the +truth that is within the soul."</p> + +<p>I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back the +waves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiant +with the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passed +before me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not the +face of Helen—that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy—have +paled into insignificance beside it?</p> + +<p>For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break that +sacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joy +of feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in my +arms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlah +whispered:</p> + +<p>"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties that +have been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once. +Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits."</p> + +<p><a name='Page_107'></a>The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a full +realization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah I +was a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me to +return to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense of +duty—her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that I +was not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even the +knowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even if +it were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change of +personality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of how +the change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it; +it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could know +nothing—a spirit even from an alien world.</p> + +<p>Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlah +through this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon was +to wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of my +own hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of which +I had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacred +duty. <a name='Page_108'></a>I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though my +cup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, and +when Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, I +quickly assented with all a lover's eagerness.</p> + +<p>We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, I +saw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merry +party in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends, +I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestly +besought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory.</p> + +<p>A few words of farewell—a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; and +as I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could not +help marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held in +the eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward than +their own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought of +the endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is a +slave to Gold.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a><h2><a name='Page_109'></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h2>A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Reon was at his place by the levers when I stepped into the aerenoid, +and as I closed and fastened the steel door, we slowly rose, and +describing a large circle, sailed toward the canal. As the sun was now +low in the heavens, numerous open aerenoids were to be seen, but these +were soon passed, and within a few minutes we had reached the branch +canal where our speed increased.</p> + +<p>My thoughts were now turned to the long journey before me. So deeply +absorbed had I been in the rapid events since I left the observatory, +that I had given little thought to time. My great happiness at meeting +and being with Zarlah had caused me to forget completely the importance +of returning to the observatory within two hours, and as the thought +<a name='Page_110'></a>now flashed through my mind, I hastily consulted the time. To my great +dismay I found I had but twenty minutes in which to cover quarter of +Mars. This I knew was possible, but it left such a narrow margin that +any delay or accident, en route, would prove disastrous to our plans, +thus bringing fatal consequences.</p> + +<p>We had now reached the large canal in which we had attained such great +speed, and, rising, we proceeded to pass over it. As we crossed the +banks there came a rushing sound from beneath us, as of a mighty gust of +wind, and, looking through one of the small windows in the side of the +car, I saw in the distance a speck, which, in another moment, +disappeared. Our aerenoid now gently rocked with the motion of a boat +that is in the swell of a passing steamer, and I instantly realized that +another aerenoid, travelling at a terrific speed, had passed in the +canal beneath us.</p> + +<p>We had now reached the canal that ran parallel to the one over which we +had just passed. This was in every way similar to the first and was used +by aerenoids going in an opposite direction. Into this canal we turned, +<a name='Page_111'></a>sinking lower as our speed increased, until, when we had reached our +maximum speed, we were travelling not more than thirty feet above the +water. Thus, whenever necessary, we were ready for an instant plunge in +order to reduce our speed, and thus did this simple rule of starting +high and sinking lower as the speed increased make collisions +impossible.</p> + +<p>As it was late in the afternoon when we started, the daylight soon +faded, and in a few minutes we had reached complete darkness, the double +line of lights on the canal banks being our only guide. Anxiously did I +count the minutes as we sped along, but knowing the danger of +distracting Reon's attention, even for a moment, while we were +travelling at such a terrific speed, I kept silent, nor did I allow my +manner to give any evidence of my anxiety.</p> + +<p>I now realized that if I reached the observatory in time, I would owe my +life to Zarlah. Twice had she reminded me of my duties at the +observatory, and had insisted upon my immediate departure, when, under +the influence of her great beauty, I would have lingered until too late. +My mind was fully determined as to <a name='Page_112'></a>how to proceed with regard to +righting the wrong I felt I had done Almos, in confessing to Zarlah my +love for her. I would leave a note for him at the observatory to the +effect that I wished to communicate with him the following evening, when +I would tell him all.</p> + +<p>The hopelessness of my love was plain, for it was Almos whom she loved, +and she believed also that Almos had confessed his love to her; and, +with a lover's conviction that everyone must love the one he loves, I +felt that Almos undoubtedly loved Zarlah. Indeed, it was probably his +affection for her through which I had silently won her confession. Almos +would then have no cause to regret my action, and Zarlah would never +know the strange circumstances that had brought them together. Thus did +I picture in my mind a happy conclusion to my selfish and precipitate +action, which, I had feared at first, must bring overwhelming sorrow and +humiliation into three lives, two of which were dearer to me than any on +Earth.</p> + +<p>I was roused from these meditations by the sudden roar of rushing waters +as, in order to reduce speed, we plunged along the surface of <a name='Page_113'></a>the +canal. We were nearing our destination at last, and my mind at once +reverted to the now imminent danger—that of arriving at the observatory +only to find that the wave contact with Paris had ceased, and I was too +late ever to return to the world from which I had come. In such a case, +I determined to write a brief account of my experiences to Almos, and, +after arranging the current of super-radium so that it would convey my +spirit out of the virator (whither I knew not), I would then enter the +virator and deliver the body to its rightful owner.</p> + +<p>Although I determined upon this course as being clearly my duty, in the +event of my being too late to return to Earth, the desperate nature of +such a proceeding roused me to action. We had now risen from the canal +and were floating slowly in the air at a considerable height. Striving +hard to suppress my agitation, I urged Reon to make more speed, and he +at once responded by increasing the power. As it was now after midnight +in this part of Mars, we were in no danger of encountering small +aerenoids in our flight, and in a few moments, to my great relief, I +distinguished the observatory <a name='Page_114'></a>lying far beneath us. Describing circles +over the building, we slowly descended and in a few seconds we had +reached the balcony.</p> + +<p>Thanking my companion with a hearty handshake (which came perfectly +natural even on Mars), I bade him adieu, and, stepping on to the +balcony, made my way into the observatory with all haste. Everything was +in the condition I had left it, and I was greatly relieved to find that +the necessary time for the process of departure still remained, before +wave contact with Paris ceased. My heart now went out in true gratitude +and love to her who, in the simple desire to do what was right, had +placed duty before her love, and had thus been of such inestimable +service to me.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon my arrival, I had prepared the virator for my journey +back to Earth by substituting the projecting apparatus of the radioscope +for the receiving apparatus. It was only necessary now to start the +clockwork that would shut off the current to earth in half an hour, and +would start the current flowing through the upper chamber of the +virator.</p> + +<p>After having written a brief note to Almos, <a name='Page_115'></a>saying that I wished to +communicate with him the following evening before making another visit, +I made a hasty examination of the current of super-radium which now +flowed through the virator to Earth from the projecting apparatus. The +instant my spirit was released, it would be caught up in this current +and conveyed to my body, where it lay in my rooms in Paris. In half an +hour the clockwork would shut off the current flowing to Earth, and +would then turn on the current which flowed through the upper chamber of +the virator, thus transferring Almos' spirit back to the body, as it lay +in the lower chamber.</p> + +<p>All was in perfect order, but it was not without a feeling of reluctance +and anxiety that I stepped into the virator and, after carefully +fastening the door, prepared the cone of chloroform. I realized that +there were many dangers attending the return journey that were not +present in my journey to Mars. If I had erred in my calculation of the +time the super-radium current could be kept on my body in Paris, or if +my body had moved in that time, it would undoubtedly mean death to me; +and the thought of whether Almos, in such a case, <a name='Page_116'></a>would learn of my +fate on the morrow flashed through my mind. Realizing the danger of such +apprehensions, not only from the loss of valuable time which they +occupied, but also from the fact that they tended to unnerve me at the +moment when hesitation meant death, I quickly fastened the chloroform +cone over my face and inhaled the fumes.</p> + +<p>A moment's consciousness—a flickering light—</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a><h2><a name='Page_117'></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h2>THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I opened my eyes—it was broad daylight, and for some moments I lay +dreamily surveying the familiar objects in my room, unconscious of all +that had happened to me during the previous night. Then, noticing that I +was fully dressed, a sudden realization of it all came upon me, and, +springing to my feet, I excitedly paced up and down my room, pinching my +arms and legs to make sure that they were in normal condition. +Satisfying myself upon this point, I then looked at the time, and, to my +astonishment, found that it was noon.</p> + +<p>As Mars passed out of wave contact about one o'clock in the morning, I +must have slept eleven hours after the return of my spirit to Earth. I +had greatly feared that even if it were my good fortune ever to regain +consciousness, <a name='Page_118'></a>it would be only to discover that I had lost the use of +my limbs and was powerless to move. That the super-radium current would +preserve my body in such a natural condition as even to induce sleep I +would not have believed possible. Yet there was every indication that I +had awakened from a natural sleep. I felt fresh and full of vigor, and +there on my couch lay the cone which, in my sleep, I had unfastened and, +in turning over, crushed. If I had remained unconscious the entire time +there would not have been this evidence of restlessness, and I +considered it of importance as being proof that my sleep had been +natural. Beyond this, however, I did not consider the removal of the +cone from my face as important, as the chloroform must have completely +evaporated soon after I became unconscious.</p> + +<p>Now that I was once again in my laboratory with the humdrum life of a +matter-of-fact world surging about me, evincing itself by the continual +roar of traffic which reached me through the open window, my remarkable +adventure of the night before seemed like a strange dream. As there was +no tangible proof that I had actually been on Mars, I might have <a name='Page_119'></a>been +led to the conclusion that I had chloroformed myself into +unconsciousness only, and had passed from this state into a deep sleep, +in which I had dreamed my remarkable experiences. But the clearness and +consistency of every detail were amply sufficient to convince me of the +genuineness of my experiences on Mars, and that the characters, so +vividly portrayed in my mind, lived in flesh and blood on a world +millions of miles away. Much more convincing than this, however, was the +moral obligation that I felt incumbent upon me—a duty I owed to +another. No dream could have left me with this keen sense of +responsibility.</p> + +<p>Alas, I knew only too well that I loved, with an impossible love, a +beautiful being of another planet, and that my duty lay in the +renunciation of this love to Almos, its rightful possessor.</p> + +<p>Thus my discovery had not brought me the joy of triumph. The proud +moments in an inventor's career when he holds up to the world the fruit +of his ingenuity and study could not be mine. Indeed, the thought of the +excitement that the news of such easy communication with Mars would +cause, if I demonstrated <a name='Page_120'></a>its truth before reputable scientists, made me +determined to guard the secret of my discovery the more jealously. +Hundreds of instruments similar to mine would be made, and it would soon +become known to all the inhabitants of Mars that they could talk to the +people of Earth, resulting in constant communication from all parts of +both planets. Such an innovation would soon be a regular pastime of the +rich. It would then be impossible for me to visit Mars again, as the +crossing of the currents of super-radium would add a grave danger to +such an undertaking.</p> + +<p>The possibility of my secret becoming known through an accident (someone +breaking into my room or overhearing me talk with Almos) now occurred to +me, and, in the fear of my being separated from Zarlah forever, I +determined upon another visit to Mars that evening.</p> + +<p>I had planned to tell Almos at once of my thoughtless confession of love +to Zarlah, but in an effort to justify my great desire to see her again, +I now saw several important reasons for postponing this. I had given my +promise to Zarlah to be with her the following evening, <a name='Page_121'></a>and it seemed +only honorable for me first to fulfil my promise to her. Moreover, under +the circumstances, it might be embarrassing for Almos to meet her upon +such short notice. When a man takes a step of this kind, he usually has +spent some time in consideration beforehand, how much more necessary, +then, is time for consideration when this step has been taken for him. I +therefore decided to keep my promise to Zarlah and to endeavor to visit +Mars again during the next wave contact.</p> + +<p>I did not regret having left the note for Almos, however, as I had no +means of telling whether the mechanism of the virator had done what was +expected of it, or not. Almos' life depended upon the accurate working +of this mechanism after I had gone, and I was anxious to learn of his +safety. He would also want to learn of my safe arrival before preparing +himself for another undertaking of the kind; to see each other was +therefore necessary. Almos would undoubtedly have warned me of this, had +not the cessation of wave contact prevented him from giving me +instructions.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when a feeling <a name='Page_122'></a>of intense hunger reminded +me that I had not tasted food for twenty-four hours. I contented myself, +however, with a light meal at a neighboring cafe, knowing the danger of +eating heavily at this time. To my great surprise, I found that this +small amount of food was evidently all my system required. Not only was +my hunger appeased, but, while returning to my rooms, I was conscious of +a strength and vigor which were entirely new to me, and which I now +remembered I had first experienced upon awakening. Could it be that the +super-radium current, possessing the wonderful regenerating rays that +had brought perpetual life to the people of Mars, was gradually working +this change in my body over a distance of millions of miles? Impossible +as this seemed there was no other way of accounting for the remarkable +change which had taken place in my body.</p> + +<p>The intense excitement I experienced at the thought of possessing +perpetual life, health, and youth was but momentary, and I reached my +laboratory with a full realization of the enormous responsibilities +which my discovery was placing upon me. I could no longer keep <a name='Page_123'></a>it +secret; each day that I withheld the knowledge of these rays from my +fellow beings, hundreds, nay thousands, of lives would be laid to my +account. The knowledge had not been given to me that I should guard it +selfishly. The hope that, even though I could never call Zarlah my own, +I might often spend a few happy hours with her in her Martian paradise +was now shattered forever. I must stifle my love or commit a crime +against every living soul on Earth; and as I paced my room in agony, +with my hands pressed to my temples to ease their throbbing, a great cry +of anguish from the multitude in Death's grasp rang through my brain. My +heart was torn asunder by two great conflicting emotions, Love and Duty, +and in this torture of mind and body I moved restlessly back and forth +in my room, until the fading light warned me of the near approach of +wave contact with Mars.</p> + +<p>There was but one course open to me; I would tell Almos of my experience +with the rays, and if he should decide that they were the same as the +regenerating rays, possessing all their properties, and that continual +life was now within reach of the people on Earth, I <a name='Page_124'></a>would make my +discovery public on the morrow. This would be my solemn duty, no matter +what sacrifice it involved, and I could not help feeling that this +second visit to Mars might be the last.</p> + +<p>A hasty examination of my instrument assured me that all was in order, +and, turning on the current, I now watched the surface of wires for the +glow that would signalize the commencement of wave contact. Should this +glow appear without an image of any kind it would have but one +meaning—that the mechanism of the virator had failed to do its work the +night previous, and that disaster had befallen Almos.</p> + +<p>My heart beat fast, therefore, when in a short time a faint glow +appeared on the upper portion of my instrument and rapidly spread until +it covered the entire surface. As it grew brighter I was obliged to turn +away, before I could recognize any image, and, as I stood shielding my +eyes from the strong glare, I felt my heart sink within me. But, before +I could approach the instrument again, I heard my name called in the +clear, ringing tones of Almos' beloved voice.</p> + +<p>I reached the instrument with a bound, and <a name='Page_125'></a>there, standing with his +hands extended toward me and a smile of greeting on his handsome face, I +saw my brave Martian brother.</p> + +<p>"My dear Almos, how glad I am to see you are safe!" I cried, tears of +joy springing to my eyes at finding that the fears of a moment ago were +unfounded.</p> + +<p>"It is entirely due to your forethought in leaving the note, that either +of us are safe," Almos responded. "Had you not done this, disaster to +one or both of us must certainly have resulted, through ignorance of +each other's plans. Let me congratulate you, my brave fellow, for having +so successfully accomplished your remarkable journey. This is the +initial step in the linking together of the destinies of Earth and Mars.</p> + +<p>"But now I should like to hear an account of your experiences here, for +although I have gradually become aware of many impressions you left, I +find it is only of the things suggested by my mind that I can gather +anything."</p> + +<p>"Then it is evident that the brain is merely a book of reference for the +mind," I replied, "as I was not instantly aware of your knowledge of +Martian affairs, but only upon a subject <a name='Page_126'></a>being suggested by my mind, +was the information regarding it available. Thus, the mind is aware of +impressions it has made on the brain, but is totally ignorant of +impressions made by another mind, unless the thought is suggested."</p> + +<p>I now gave Almos a brief description of my journey, explaining that, as +I intended to make another visit to Mars that evening, I would leave the +full account of my experiences until the following night. I was careful +not to make any reference to Zarlah, as I felt that my second meeting +with her would put me in a much better position to approach Almos on +this extremely delicate subject and lay before him my plans. Moreover, I +was anxious that nothing should interfere with those few happy hours to +which I looked forward with such intense desire.</p> + +<p>Almos listened to my narrative with wrapt attention, and not until I +concluded by describing the remarkable effects of the regenerating rays, +did he give utterance to a word. Then, to my amazement, he said:</p> + +<p>"The result is what I fully expected. The proof that the regenerating +rays exist in the <a name='Page_127'></a>super-radium current, lies in the fact that your body +was perfectly preserved for six hours, and there is no reason for +supposing that they differ, in any way, from the rays which preserve +life here for an unlimited time."</p> + +<p>"Then I can no longer keep my discovery a secret," I declared +resolutely. "It becomes my solemn duty at once to make public the +knowledge of these wonderful rays emanating from Mars."</p> + +<p>"What you say is indeed the truth," rejoined Almos. "The time has now +arrived; the existence of a people on Mars, our early history, progress, +and the conditions under which we live at the present day, must now +become known upon Earth; our inventions and scientific advancement must +be made available to Earth's scientists. Since the discovery of the +radioscope, which enabled us to see the people on your planet, Mars has +yearned to give a helping hand to her younger sister. That time has now +come, and before many years the conditions of life on Earth will be +similar to those here. A great work must be accomplished, however, but +the burden of that work rests upon me; when it is finished the goal of +my <a name='Page_128'></a>life has been reached. There are many things that are not clear to +you now, my dear fellow, but there is no time at present for +explanations. In half an hour I shall have prepared for your +visit—remember, no matter what happens, tomorrow all shall be +explained."</p> + +<p>Having thus spoken, his voice and manner evincing great earnestness and +determination, he waved his hand in farewell, and instantly the +instrument was plunged into darkness.</p> + +<p>For some moments I stood motionless under the spell that his remarkable +personality had cast over me, nor did even his abrupt manner appear at +all strange, such perfect harmony of word and action existed in this +Martian genius. Indeed, it seemed a fitting conclusion to all that had +gone before. Speaking rapidly, as though realizing the loss of time in +mere words, his handsome face, strong with determination, holding me +fascinated, he had confessed the ambition nearest and dearest to his +heart—that of giving to Earth the discoveries and inventions of +hundreds of years of advancement in science; all that had resulted in +the longevity, health, peace, and happiness which existed upon Mars.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_129'></a>Humbled at my own insignificance and full of admiration for this great +character, I turned slowly away, and, procuring a light, commenced to +prepare for my journey.</p> + +<p>My letters and other papers, with a brief note of explanation, still +remained on my desk, and, as my glance fell upon this bundle, I became +conscious of a nervousness, which, although to many would be perfectly +natural at such a time, was entirely strange to me. I had not +experienced the least nervousness on the occasion of my first visit the +night before, yet the mere sight of this package on my desk, with its +note of explanation, now caused me an uneasiness, which, try as I would, +I could not ignore.</p> + +<p>Making the few necessary preparations about my room for the night, I +secured the door with lock and bolt, and, drawing my couch before the +instrument, poured out a glass of wine and lit a cigar, hoping thus to +steady my nerves.</p> + +<p>The day had been warm and close, and a thunderstorm of unusual violence +made the night a wild one. Vivid flashes of lightning that seemed to vie +with each other in intensity, darted from the heavens, accompanied by +deafening <a name='Page_130'></a>crashes of thunder that shook the building to its +foundations, while the shrieking of the wind, as though it were rushing +through the rigging of a ship at sea, added to the noise of the tempest.</p> + +<p>Within a few moments the glow on my instrument would be the signal for +my departure, and, as I prepared the cone of chloroform, I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought of my spirit going out into the fury +of such a storm. It seemed as if Death, in the fear of being driven from +Earth and forever despoiled of his cruel victories, had turned loose the +elements in his fury, and waited without to wreak vengeance on my +audacious spirit as it sped through space.</p> + +<p>An instant an intensely white glare on the surface of wires at this +moment gave evidence of the super-radium current. It was the signal for +my departure, and, with a brief but earnest prayer, I seized the cone, +and, taking my position on the couch, inhaled the fumes of chloroform.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<br /> +<br /> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_X'></a><h2><a name='Page_131'></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h2>ZARLAH'S CONFESSION.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was with a feeling of thankfulness that, upon opening my eyes, I +found myself in the virator. The storm, which I had feared might prove +disastrous, had been passed through safely, and now reigned the +wonderful quiet of Mars. The strange uneasiness, which I had experienced +upon my departure from Earth, was forgotten in the anticipation of the +great joy before me, or I would have noticed that the usual calm, ever +characteristic of Almos, was lacking.</p> + +<p>It was already past the hour of my appointment with Zarlah, and, eager +to be with her, I hastily made the necessary preparations for my return +to Earth. Although these consisted merely of changing the current so +that it would flow from the virator to Earth, and adjusting the +clockwork for the hour of departure, I had <a name='Page_132'></a>decided upon the importance +of doing this beforehand, as any mistake made in the haste of departure +would prove fatal to either Almos or myself.</p> + +<p>These preparations attended to, I now made my way to the balcony. I had +relied upon Almos' knowledge to guide me to Zarlah, and, as I reached +the open air, I at once felt his judgment assert itself. Two aerenoids +were moored to the balcony, a large high-speed one of the submarine-boat +type and a small open one. Into the latter I stepped, and, with a +perfect knowledge of its operation, glided out upon the cool night air.</p> + +<p>Gently rising to about three hundred feet, I lay suspended between the +fairyland stretched beneath me and the brilliantly starred heavens. I +was perfectly aware of the direction in which I was to go, but for a few +moments I lay thus suspended, enjoying as could only an inhabitant of +Earth, the strangeness and marvel of it all.</p> + +<p>The little vessel had reached the limit of height to which it was +designed to ascend and, upon realizing this, I became aware that, for +safety, all aerenoids are limited to a certain <a name='Page_133'></a>height by the amount of +repelling metal used in their construction. The high-speed aerenoids, +owing to their build, being better adapted to withstand the atmospheric +conditions at a great altitude, can ascend several thousand feet, but +all are limited to what is considered a safe height for the class to +which they belong. The action of the repelling metal being independent +of the atmosphere, the danger of an aerenoid getting beyond control, and +rising above the envelope of air which surrounds the planet is thus +eliminated.</p> + +<p>As these thoughts came into my mind, I glanced up into the heavens with +its countless stars—one being the world from which I came—when lo! a +remarkable phenomenon met my gaze. In the west hung a crescent moon, +somewhat smaller than Earth's moon, but extremely brilliant, while out +of the east rose another moon at its full. So rapidly did this latter +moon rise, that its journey through the heavens was perceptible, and it +was evident that within an hour it would sink into the western horizon, +having gradually changed its phase to a crescent. In seven hours it +would encircle Mars, and again appear above the eastern horizon.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_134'></a>My interest in this moon was intensified when I realized that it was +but a few thousand miles distant, and so small, that it would require +but a couple of days' comfortable walking to encircle it. Compared with +my journey from Earth, this few thousand miles seemed but an +insignificant distance, and I immediately thought of the possibility of +reaching it in a high-speed aerenoid to which a sufficient amount of the +repelling metal was attached to overcome the gravity of Mars. But I +instantly was aware of the fact that an attempt to reach this moon had +been made many years previously, and that the intrepid Martians who +undertook the hazardous journey, never returned. Although their aerenoid +carried enough oxygen to supply them for many days after they had left +the atmosphere of Mars, it was decided later that they had been lost in +space, unable either to reach the moon or return to Mars. The gravity of +so small a body would be insufficient to draw them to it, unless they +traveled straight in its direction, and, as the moon was moving rapidly +around Mars, the chances of this were admittedly small. Moreover, once +out of the atmosphere of Mars, <a name='Page_135'></a>it would be impossible to propel the +aerenoid, and, having missed the moon, they would travel on and on +through endless space. Had they reached the moon they could have +returned, as the repelling force on a body with so little gravity, would +be greatly increased, and would have hurled them into the gravity of +Mars again, as soon as they exposed the repelling metal. There could be +no doubt that they had never reached the moon, and their terrible fate +resulted in a safe limitation of this dangerous metal upon all +aerenoids.</p> + +<p>So absorbed had I become in these intensely interesting details supplied +by Almos' knowledge, that time had passed without my realizing it, and, +reproaching myself for having wasted the valuable moments I might have +spent with Zarlah, I now moved the lever at my side and glided gently +forward.</p> + +<p>The moon, however, as it rapidly journeyed across the heavens, seemed to +hold a strange fascination for me, and my gaze constantly reverted to +it. Had I realized that this fascination was caused by the approach of a +terrible danger, I might have paid heed to the warning, but desirous now +to get to my journey's end, <a name='Page_136'></a>which, according to Earth's proverb, should +end in a lover's meeting, I thought only of the time I had lost, and +impatiently put the subject from my mind.</p> + +<p>Moreover, as my meeting with Zarlah drew near, thoughts that were +relevant and of a more serious character filled my mind. My present +visit to her now began to appear most unjustifiable. If I had found +excuse for my action of the previous evening, in the enthusiasm of so +suddenly beholding the object of my adoration, unaccustomed as I was to +my strange position, I had no such excuse now. To appear before her +again as Almos, after having seen my folly and realized the deceit of my +position toward her, would be an act of shameful duplicity. I had not +realized this before, for I had thought only of my great love for her +and the joy of again being with her, but now the crushing force with +which the truth presented itself, caused me to hesitate before taking +another step that I now felt would be impossible to justify before +Almos. In this great uncertainty of mind I glided slowly along.</p> + +<p>The wonderful stillness of the night was broken only by the faint hum of +voices and <a name='Page_137'></a>merry laughter that reached me from below. Glancing down, I +observed numerous open aerenoids floating some two hundred feet beneath +me, while now and then those of the high-speed class appeared, slowly +wending their way toward the canals, to fly to different parts of the +globe. But although I was aware that for convenience of landing it was +customary to travel just high enough to escape the buildings, I +continued on at my present elevation, as I felt the need of deep and +earnest thought, which I realized would be impossible amid the gay +throng nearer the surface.</p> + +<p>As the highest speed attainable by open aerenoids, which were used +mainly for pleasure, was but eight miles an hour, my journey of five +miles gave me ample time for meditation; and when I at last alighted on +the balcony of a small white marble villa, to which I had instinctively +guided my aerenoid, I had fully determined upon what I felt to be the +only honorable course to pursue. This was to confide all in Zarlah, and, +no matter at what cost, to reveal to her the strange conditions that hid +the identity of a being from another world behind that of her friend +Almos.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_138'></a>Having secured my aerenoid, I stood on the balcony, entranced at the +beauty of the scene before me, which lay bathed in a wonderful +starlight—far more brilliant than the light of the full moon upon +Earth—shed by a myriad of blazing gems in a sky that knew no clouds. A +perfect stillness reigned, save for the rippling laughter of a little +stream, that wended its way through an avenue of trees to a lake of +glistening silver, a short distance beyond.</p> + +<p>"What happiness would be mine in such a paradise, with Zarlah for my +own!" I thought, and a great anguish filled my heart, as I realized the +impossibility of it—and now for the first time I also realized the +impossibility of life without Zarlah. A sudden dread of meeting the one +I loved came upon me—a dread of seeing the light of love in her eyes, +even for an instant, knowing that it was not for me. I felt I could not +bear to behold the look of tenderness in her beautiful face change to +one of hatred, upon learning how she had been deceived; and in my agony +of spirit, I cried in a voice of deep emotion:</p> + +<p>"Ah, Zarlah! I have won you, yet you are not mine! You have loved me, +yet I am not loved!"</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_139'></a>I am yours, and I love you, Harold," softly protested a voice at my +side.</p> + +<p>With a start I turned and beheld Zarlah, and for a moment I stood as if +gazing at an apparition.</p> + +<p>Realizing my bewilderment, she laid her hand gently upon my arm, and in +a low voice, full of compassion, said: "It is Harold Lonsdale whom I +love!"</p> + +<p>In a delirium of ecstasy I caught the small white hand and pressed it to +my lips. Passing my arm about her I drew her tenderly toward me, gazing +down into her beautiful eyes where lay a world of tenderness and love. +My heart was too full for words—it was all too wonderful to understand; +enough that I knew Zarlah to be wholly mine, and in those few silent +moments of absolute happiness and contentment, the little stream's merry +laughter seemed to swell into the great joyous chorus of all creation, +behind which is the great love principle.</p> + +<p>Together we left the balcony and walked beneath the giant trees toward +the lake, Zarlah relating to me how, through an instrument she +possessed, which transmitted and received thought-waves, she had not +only learned of Almos' communication with Earth, but had <a name='Page_140'></a>descried a +mental picture of the inhabitant of that distant world with whom he had +spoken.</p> + +<p>On the evening of my first communication with Mars, Zarlah was testing +this instrument on Almos' mind, when, to her great astonishment, she +came into thought communication with Earth. As this was the first trial +of the instrument, Almos himself was unaware of the success that had +crowned Zarlah's invention, though he had taken much interest in it, and +had on several occasions given his advice during its construction. +Although this instrument was only capable of transmitting and receiving +thought-waves over a few miles, it was evident that through the medium +of Almos' mind, which was in communication with mine, the thought-waves +were conveyed to Earth by the super-radium current.</p> + +<p>Zarlah had thus learned of my proposed visit to Mars, but had not known +when the attempt was to be made, until, seeing Almos in evident distress +at the recital of the lumaharp, she had feared that the attempt had +proved disastrous. When, however, I evinced my astonishment at seeing +her, she knew instantly that before her stood the personality <a name='Page_141'></a>of the +man from distant Earth, who had been projected to her in mental +pictures, and who was called Harold Lonsdale. When I spoke to her of my +love, she realized that her image had also been projected to my mind, +and, as she listened to my impassioned words, she recognized in them the +thoughts of love that had accompanied the projection of my image. +Indeed, my every thought of Zarlah, during wave contact, had been +projected to her through the medium of this remarkable instrument.</p> + +<p>With a keen desire to see and examine the mechanism, by which thoughts +could be transferred over millions of miles, I said: "But where is this +wonderful instrument of which you speak, Zarlah?"</p> + +<p>We had reached the lake, and now stood on the bank overlooking its +glistening surface.</p> + +<p>A tremor ran through her slight form as she drew closer to me, and said +imploringly: "You must not ask to see it! Oh, Harold! Do you not realize +the grief this instrument has brought into our lives? Have you partaken +of the sweetness so deeply, that you fail to perceive the bitterness +that lies beneath? You can be but a beloved memory to me—the <a name='Page_142'></a>memory of +a lover millions of miles away—but we are separated by that which is +far greater than distance!"</p> + +<p>Her voice died away in a sob, and, as I drew her gently toward me, she +wept bitterly. Thus had I of Earth brought tears into a world that had +not known sorrow for hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>"But, dearest," I argued, tenderly smoothing back the soft brown hair, +and striving to cheer her, "we are now commencing on an era of planet +communication, and it may not be long before a means is discovered of +actually transferring people from one planet to another. Did not +explorers, some years ago, have this in mind, when they attempted to +reach the nearest moon? And even though they failed to reach their goal, +who knows that they were not drawn to some planet that was in opposition +at that time, and are now prepared for a return journey at the next +opposition? With the complete absence of resistance there is in space, +their speed would become terrific—thousands of miles a minute—and at +such a rate it would be possible to reach a planet in opposition, long +before their month's supply of oxygen became exhausted. Heat would not +be <a name='Page_143'></a>generated as there would be no friction until the planet's +atmosphere was reached, but long before this they would have applied +their repelling force, which would reduce their speed, thus enabling +them to sail gently through the atmosphere and alight safely on the +planet's surface."</p> + +<p>Although I had not as much confidence in such an achievement as I sought +to inspire (well knowing the vast difference between a spiritual +transfer and a material one over such a tremendous distance), I wished, +above all, to cheer Zarlah. Indeed, I feared that grief might bring the +most serious consequences on Mars. I was greatly relieved, therefore, +upon observing her countenance light up with a sudden interest, as I +expressed these sanguine predictions as to the future.</p> + +<p>It was not until some hours later, when I was alone, that this incident +caused me much anxiety, as I remembered that, in spite of the keen +interest Zarlah had evinced, she had carefully avoided any allusion to +the subject afterwards. But in the subsequent events of the evening this +escaped my notice, and, glad to observe the soothing effect my words had +upon her, I did not pursue the thought further.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_144'></a>We had descended by a flight of stone steps to the water's edge, and, +as we stepped upon the narrow strip of pebbly beach, walled in by +cavernous rocks, Zarlah, with great earnestness, exclaimed: "You are +right, dear Harold, we must be hopeful, and not waste the few precious +moments we have together in regrets that are useless. We shall always +love each other, and if we are brave—even unto death—Love will find a +way!"</p> + +<p>Poor Zarlah! Little did I imagine the desperate plan that was already +forming in her mind when she uttered these words, that before the close +of another day would indeed have proved her "brave even unto death."</p> + +<p>Drawing closer to me and turning her beautiful face up to mine, she +said, after a pause, in which she seemed to read my very soul: "Before +me lies a duty, Harold, which with you at my side I have the strength to +perform, but without you the sacrifice is too great."</p> + +<p>"What is it, dearest?" I asked, pressing the little hand I held to my +lips.</p> + +<p>"It is to destroy the wicked instrument of which I have told you. I had +not the courage to do this before, as I feared for your safety in +<a name='Page_145'></a>returning to Earth, and to have destroyed it then would have left me in +fearful suspense. But now I must put away, forever, this awful thing +that possesses the power to reveal the thoughts of my fellow beings, +that its mechanism may never become known and thus prove an eternal +curse to the world."</p> + +<p>With these words, Zarlah disappeared for a moment in the gloom of a cave +nearby, and, returning with a small metal box, said in a voice which +betrayed great emotion: "Take it, Harold, and hurl it far out into the +waters of the lake, where it will sink forever from sight!"</p> + +<p>The earnestness with which Zarlah had spoken of this device, proved how +deeply its existence troubled her conscience, and restrained me from +making any attempt to persuade her from thus severing a connecting +strand between two hearts so widely separated. I therefore took the box +and, with all my strength, hurled it far out into the lake, where it +sank to remain a secret for all time.</p> + +<p>Swiftly flew those precious moments in which Fate had destined that two +hearts from separate worlds should taste of each other's love, and +then—what? Alone in our great <a name='Page_146'></a>love we drank deeply the cup of +happiness, and the hour of parting, ever drawing nearer, seemed but a +cloud on the horizon. At last, yielding to necessity, we retraced our +steps, leaving the scene of our joyous love behind, and the dread of +parting filled our hearts and stifled our words of happiness.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, as I stood in that other world, there surged through my +alien mind some lines of Clinton Scollard's, which I had once learned, +little dreaming of their significance:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Lo, it has come, the inevitable hour</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>When thou and I, beloved one, must part;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>When heart be sundered from caressing heart,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And ungloomed skies be turned to dreary gray."</span><br /> + +<p>A silence fell upon us, both dreading to put into words the thoughts we +knew must be spoken. Then, as our hearts beat audibly in the sacred +stillness of night that had fallen about us, Zarlah murmured, clinging +to me in despair, "Oh, Harold, my love, how can we bear the agony of +being parted!"</p> + +<p>"I would give my life to remain with you, dearest!" I answered, pressing +her passionately to me, but in a more soothing tone I added,</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_147'></a>We must be brave, love, it is but for a day—to-morrow I shall return, +but before my departure from Earth I will speak with Almos, and tell him +that I wish to abandon my body forever and to abide in spirit on Mars. +In a virator constructed with two upper chambers, my spirit could be +retained indefinitely, and I would then see you daily through the medium +of Almos. To-morrow, dearest, I shall return to you with good news."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Harold, you do not see the impossibility of such a thing—you +cannot behold it through a woman's eyes. No, no! I can never see Almos +again! I gave my love to you through his medium, and to see him when you +were absent would be greater agony than I could bear. I must go with +you, Harold, to the world in which you live, where I can have you +always."</p> + +<p>With words of love and assurance I tried to comfort the brave little +heart that beat so loyally for me, and, fearing to leave her in this +unhappy condition, I lingered until barely time remained in which to +reach the observatory before Paris would pass out of wave contact. +Explaining this to Zarlah, we hurried to <a name='Page_148'></a>the villa, and, as we ascended +the steps to the balcony, I beheld a large high-speed aerenoid resting a +short distance from mine. This, Zarlah begged me to take, explaining +that by rising a few hundred feet above the elevation of small +aerenoids, I could safely exceed the customary speed of local traffic. +She explained that her brother had just returned in it from the north, +where he had spent the day in the enjoyment of winter pastimes.</p> + +<p>My heart was too full of the sorrow of parting to be aroused to +enthusiasm at even such a wonder as this, and, realizing that I would be +unaccustomed to an aerenoid that was strange to Almos, I decided to +trust to the smaller one reaching the observatory in time. But not a +moment was to be lost, and, begging Zarlah to be courageous until my +return the following evening, I pressed her to my heart in a last fond +embrace.</p> + +<p>Oh! the agony of that moment, as I felt the slender form in my arms +convulsed with sobs, while I, struggling frantically with the emotions +that tore my heart, whispered words of passionate love; and as at last I +rose in the night air, condemned by Fate to journey millions <a name='Page_149'></a>of miles +from her I adored, my soul cried out in its anguish:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"'Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Would not we shatter it to bits—and then</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Re-mould it nearer to our Heart's Desire?'"</span><br /> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a><h2><a name='Page_150'></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h2>THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at the +observatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoid +my chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, so +depressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought. +Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainly +did I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportation +over millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but one +conclusion—that no material transit over such an enormous distance was +possible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happiness +had been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity of +loneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy which +nothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest <a name='Page_151'></a>pinnacle of +happiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah's +love—a love that I had thought was for Almos—only to be dashed down +into still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as I +realized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through a +thoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony was +shared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine by +the decree of Fate.</p> + +<p>The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddened +me, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of the +observatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact had +ceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfil +my obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted to +visit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris still +existed my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, I +felt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which it +had precipitated me.</p> + +<p>As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe a +high-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos. +<a name='Page_152'></a>What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowing +Almos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of the +sanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when that +dwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as the +observatory conducted by Almos.</p> + +<p>Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with all +haste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portières of the +large room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart to +beat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon.</p> + +<p>For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilingly +advanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present at +Almos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand and +greeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of his +visit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must I +appear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me a +slip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting.</p> + +<p>"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, <a name='Page_153'></a>regarding the virator, +and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I was +just preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?"</p> + +<p>While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over the +instructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I held +in my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort to +appear calm:</p> + +<p>"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept you +waiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will not +detain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindness +from the bottom of my heart."</p> + +<p>So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony, +waved him adieu.</p> + +<p>The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mere +acting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he had +been the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, I +had just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he was +instructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of the +<a name='Page_154'></a>virator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current. +I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case I +arrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderful +forethought—perhaps even a premonition of my late return—he had +requested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do at +a certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferred +to my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wave +contact.</p> + +<p>Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon had +faithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that in +so doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence, +he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment.</p> + +<p>I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for my +safety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and do +precisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit had +arrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, and +dispatch my spirit to Earth.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_155'></a>Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitement +incident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed once +more in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on my +hands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan—no +matter how hazardous—that would result in my being able to remain on +Mars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and all +solutions were perforce dismissed.</p> + +<p>At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon. +Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes rested +upon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me. +Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, I +uttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticed +the hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions—<i>it was three +hours before the time for my departure</i>!</p> + +<p>Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and in +return to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of these +plans, I knew not, but, as I stood <a name='Page_156'></a>staring at the paper in my hand, my +mind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, so +successfully hidden from me.</p> + +<p>Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleeping +chamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that would +explain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was I +disappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "Harold +Lonsdale." Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon after +making the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would then +find the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon's +observation.</p> + +<p>As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelming +gratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, in +this brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noble +character, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had known +was mine, but which otherwise I could never possess.</p> + +<p>Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid the +letter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully. +No other man, living on Earth or Mars, <a name='Page_157'></a>could have done as much for me +as had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given to +me the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind, +trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence in +a mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth of +happiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, and +I longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tell +her of the happiness that was ours.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a><h2><a name='Page_158'></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h2>THE WARNING OF DANGER——THE RACE WITH DEATH.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Slowly crept the long tedious hours of darkness. The heavy cloud of +despair that had so long hung over me, now being dispelled as if by +magic, I was all impatience. My heart yearned for the moment when, +gazing into the depths of Zarlah's wondrous eyes, I should see +there—not the appealing timid look, full of the dread of hopeless +separation from her lover, that had so wrung my heart at our last +parting—but the radiant happiness of perfect contentment and fulfilled +desire. I had thrown myself on the couch, and, as a miser jealously +counts over his gold, fondling each precious bit with eager fingers, so +I pondered on the happy hours spent with Zarlah, carefully reviewing +<a name='Page_159'></a>each golden moment with its precious burden of Love's confessions.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I sprang to my feet—a piercing, despairing cry of "Harold, my +love, save me! save me!" was ringing in my ears.</p> + +<p>It was Zarlah's voice, and some terrible danger confronted her.</p> + +<p>Rushing into the adjoining room, I glanced anxiously about—all was +still. The numerous books and instruments lay just as I had left them, +and I gradually realized that, tired with the experiences I had lately +undergone, I had unconsciously fallen asleep, and Zarlah's cry for help +was only a dream.</p> + +<p>Although greatly relieved by this discovery, my mind remained in a state +of unrest. I was oppressed with a sense of danger which, in spite of my +endeavor to overcome by occupying my mind with the volumes of Martian +astronomical discoveries, I found to be impossible. Laying aside the +book I had endeavored to read, I started to my feet and paced restlessly +to and fro, but each footfall, echoing in the profound stillness, seemed +to be an appealing cry for help. A premonition that a terrible danger +hung over Zarlah came upon me, <a name='Page_160'></a>and, maddened by the thought that I +remained inactive, whilst yet I might save her, I rushed out upon the +balcony.</p> + +<p>The sun was just rising, but in place of the gray light of dawn on Earth +with its beautifully colored eastern sky, there appeared sharp contrasts +of the blackest darkness and the most brilliant light, in the long +shadows that were cast across the landscape. Without the diffusion of +light which the denser atmosphere of Earth causes, night seemed to +linger on the very footsteps of day. Though the remarkable effect of +this Martian sunrise would have been pleasing under other circumstances, +it now served only to increase my apprehension, warning me that I was in +a strange world, and that I must be prepared to meet extraordinary +emergencies.</p> + +<p>I had but one thought, that of reaching Zarlah as speedily as possible +and saving her from the awful fate which menaced her. What this fate +was, I knew not, but I could feel its presence like the hot breath of +some ferocious beast, as it stands over its prostrate victim. Greatly +did I now deplore the loss of Zarlah's valuable instrument.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_161'></a>With eager hands I prepared the high-speed aerenoid for the journey, +feeling that I must trust to Almos' knowledge of its operation to carry +me through safely. Though I realized that the danger was increased a +thousand times in an aerenoid capable of such terrific speed, the fear +that even now I might be too late compelled me to make use of it.</p> + +<p>Taking my place in the forward part of the car, I was greatly relieved +to find that my hand instinctively sought the levers, and operated them +with a judicious care that could result only from long experience.</p> + +<p>Rising high enough to avoid small aerenoids, I proceeded at a +considerable speed and soon came within sight of Zarlah's dwelling. The +serene and peaceful appearance of this beautiful white marble villa, as +the morning sun glorified it, quickly dispelled the fears that had +brought me hither at such an early hour, and I gladly attributed them to +overwrought nerves and the loss of a night's sleep.</p> + +<p>Moreover, as I slowly circled over the lake that only a few hours before +Zarlah and I had wistfully gazed upon together as we built a world of +happiness for ourselves, I felt that <a name='Page_162'></a>I was near to her, should the +danger of which I had been forewarned prove real. Here in the scene of +our happiness I would wait through the early hours—the last hours of +our separation.</p> + +<p>Slowly descending, I brought the aerenoid to rest in a spot obscured by +trees from the villa. A few feet away, the little brook sparkled merrily +in the sunlight as it leaped along on its journey to the lake, and, as I +opened the door of the car, its joyous song swelled upon the fragrant +morning air, laughing at my forebodings in this world of peace, as it +had laughed at my despair of the previous night.</p> + +<p>As I stepped out into the warm sunlight and made my way toward the +lake, a great joy filled my heart. It would not be long ere Zarlah +shared with me the happiness of the knowledge that we need never again +be separated.</p> + +<p>"Poor Zarlah!" I murmured, as the memory of our last parting with its +great anguish of a forlorn hope sent a pang to my heart. "The bitterness +in thy cup was indeed great, but it is past. Oh, my beloved, awake to +the light of a new day filled with gladness, and sorrow shall not again +cross thy path!"</p> + +<p><a name='Page_163'></a>I paused, fancying I heard footsteps, and, glancing back, listened +intently. All was still, and I was just about to proceed when again the +sound came. This time I could not be mistaken; it was the sound of +hurried footsteps some distance off and in the direction of the villa.</p> + +<p>I was still hidden from the villa by the trees, but across the stream, +some thirty yards away, was an opening from which a view of it could be +had. Leaping the stream I hastened thither, anxious to learn the cause +of the untimely activity. Another moment, and I should have been too +late to see a slight figure, laden with what appeared to be wraps and +other travelling equipment, hurry across the balcony and step into the +large high-speed aerenoid that I had observed there the previous +evening.</p> + +<p>It was Zarlah! But what was the reason of this hasty departure at such +an hour? Suddenly a frenzy seized me, and, rushing toward the villa, I +frantically called to her, but it was too late. She had not seen me, +and, before I had taken many steps, the aerenoid rose rapidly to a great +height and disappeared over the trees.</p> + +<p>Not a moment was to be lost. Turning, I <a name='Page_164'></a>dashed wildly back toward the +aerenoid I had so foolishly left in concealment. Reaching the stream, I +stumbled over an entanglement of vines and plunged headlong therein, +only to scramble, dripping and bruised, up the opposite bank and +continue my frantic efforts to reach the aerenoid, before Zarlah's car +had disappeared from sight. What her intention was I knew not, but the +early hour, the haste with which she had departed, and the absence of +her brother, all conspired to arouse the fears that had beset me during +the long hours of the night.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the aerenoid at last, after a journey that seemed to consume +hours, I jumped in and closed the door. Frantically I seized the lever +that controlled the ascension and, pulling it so that the full repelling +power was instantly exposed, the car bounded high into the air with +terrific force.</p> + +<p>The shock hurled me off my feet, but in an instant my eyes were again +fixed upon a mere speck many miles distant, which I knew to be the +aerenoid containing all that life possessed for me. As the car plunged +forward at great speed, the speck disappeared, and I at once <a name='Page_165'></a>realized +that Zarlah had reached a canal, into which she had turned her aerenoid. +It was now impossible for me to see which direction she took, and unless +I arrived at the canal within a few seconds, I felt that all hope of +overtaking her would have vanished, as she would doubtless proceed at +full speed and soon be lost to sight.</p> + +<p>Opening to its fullest extent the valve that controlled the exhaustion +of air in the chamber beneath, the velocity of the car soon became +terrific, and, rising still higher as I sped along, I caught sight of +Zarlah's aerenoid proceeding in a northerly direction.</p> + +<p>With a disregard for all safety I swerved to the north, thus forming the +third side of a triangle, of which the other sides were the course +Zarlah had taken. This movement reduced the distance between the two +aerenoids considerably, and upon turning into the speedway of the canal, +I was greatly relieved to find that I was but a few miles in the rear. +The hope that Zarlah might see the car speeding so close behind her, +flashed through my mind, but instantly I realized the impossibility of +such a thing, for a glance behind, even for <a name='Page_166'></a>a second, while travelling +with such frightful velocity, would entail certain destruction by being +dashed to pieces against the sides of the canal. My only chance lay in +overtaking her and making some signal, and with my free hand I wrenched +at the speed valve, endeavoring to open it wider.</p> + +<p>On we sped in our wild career over the planet's surface. Hundreds of +miles were quickly swept beneath us, but not one foot did I seem to +gain. Vainly did I strive to put from my mind the fears that lurked +there, by seeking a plausible reason for Zarlah's strange action.</p> + +<p>On, on we flew, each aerenoid going at its maximum speed; surely Zarlah +had gone far enough north; she must slacken her speed soon to turn down +a branch canal, and I would then be able to run alongside of her car and +signal my presence. There was a gleam of hope in this, and to it I clung +like a drowning man to a straw.</p> + +<p>The air in the car, which had steadily grown colder, was now biting in +its sharpness, and as I clutched the steering apparatus with numbed +hands, a white object loomed up in the distance <a name='Page_167'></a>and in a second flew +beneath me—another came, then another, and another, and as they +appeared in greater numbers, I observed that they were huge blocks of +ice. The sight filled me with grave apprehension. It was now impossible +to stop our terrific momentum, yet in spite of this great danger, on and +on we sped, still farther north.</p> + +<p>What could be the reason for this perilous journey? Did Zarlah not +realize the danger to which she was exposed, rushing thus madly into the +wilds of the North—the region of the Repelling Pole—without the means +of stopping?</p> + +<p>Suddenly I shrank in horror as a fearful thought entered my mind. My +senses reeled, and a strange sensation swept over me, as of an awful +Presence in the car with me. "No, no," I muttered between clenched +teeth; "it cannot be! She surely realizes that it would be going to a +certain and terrible death!" And as I frantically wrenched at the valve +in an effort to get more speed, a strange hollow voice echoed through my +brain, laughing at my unutterable agony, and crying with fiendish glee, +"Your love has no thought of stopping; she hastens to her bridegroom, +Death!"</p> + +<p><a name='Page_168'></a>As hot irons scorching the living flesh, the words burned into my +brain, setting it on fire. It was the voice of Death—which voice no +living mortal can mistake—and I recognized it also as the fury of the +storm which was abroad when I departed from Earth, and the echo of the +stream's song of peace in the midst of danger. Had Death thus followed +me from the world in which he thrived to wreak this vengeance upon me, +by tempting my bride into his arms, believing that she hastened to her +love?</p> + +<p>On, on we rushed into the region of the dreaded Pole. All signs of the +canal had disappeared, and before us lay only a vast uninhabitable field +of ice. I stood at the levers, frozen rigid with the intense cold, but +with my eyes ever on the flying object before me, while visions of my +beloved one, now so close to death, passed rapidly through my fevered +brain. As if Death had thus planned to torture me, before tearing my +loved one from my very arms, I seemed to stand impersonally apart and +watch two lovers—Zarlah and myself. Bending over her, I tried to +console her with a false hope—a story of impossible fulfillment. I +succeeded; and now I saw that I had laid the trap <a name='Page_169'></a>which Death had +placed in my hands to draw her toward him, and, with a cry of horror, I +tried to wrench my hand from the lever to which it was frozen, so that I +might shut such a scene from my sight—</p> + +<p>I realized the meaning of it all now. Zarlah, unable to obtain the +repelling force necessary to carry her off Mars, was rushing toward the +Repelling Pole to be hurled off the planet, risking all in the hope of +being drawn to Earth, which was in opposition. It was a vain hope—alas, +I knew this too well. She was rushing to her death—a death that I had +lured her to, and my hands would be stained with the blood of my +beloved.</p> + +<p>Desperately I wrenched at my frozen hands to free them from the metal to +which they adhered, with a wild idea of smashing the window and calling +loudly to Zarlah. The skin tore from the flesh like paper at the fury of +my efforts, and I freed my hands at last, only to find that my arms hung +lifeless at my side.</p> + +<p>In a frenzy of grief and despair at my utter helplessness, I fell on my +knees, crying aloud, "Oh, my God! Save her from this awful death!"</p> + +<p>A sudden gloom filled the car, and, struggling <a name='Page_170'></a>to my feet, I found that +we had entered the belt of semi-darkness that covers the polar caps in +their winter season. Our doom was near at hand—nothing could save +Zarlah now, and only by swerving my car around instantly and returning +could I preserve myself. But life was nought to me without Zarlah—I +preferred death to such an empty existence. Condemned by Fate to be +separated in life, we would meet death together.</p> + +<p>I could dimly see Zarlah's car outlined against the white snow beyond, +but, even as I stood now helplessly and silently awaiting the end, a +dark line rapidly spread over this field of white. Beyond, all was +black, and as this sharp-cut boundary line rapidly approached Zarlah's +car, my blood froze in my veins, for in this vast area of bare black +rock I recognized the terrible power of the North Repelling Pole. There +was another moment in which my heart refused to beat, then a groan of +great anguish escaped my lips, as Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into +space with frightful velocity.</p> + +<p>Shutting my eyes I awaited death. For an instant it seemed to me that I +heard Zarlah's voice call to me in clear accents, then came a terrific +shock which hurled me to the far end <a name='Page_171'></a>of the aerenoid, amid a confusion +of furniture, books, and instruments that had been torn from their +fastenings. Frozen into a state of utter helplessness, my senses fast +leaving me, I lay unable to extricate myself from the heavy mass.</p> + +<p>In this comatose condition I remained totally ignorant of the lapse of +time, until, feeling the terrible pressure diminish, I opened my eyes +and dreamily beheld the heavy instruments and pieces of furniture move +gently away, and bump against one another as they floated lightly about +within the car.</p> + +<p>Relieved of the great weight, I now breathed more freely. My senses grew +clearer, and soon I became conscious of a loud hissing noise close at +hand. Drowsily I turned my head in the direction of the sound, and +discovered that it came from the door in the side of the aerenoid. In an +instant the full faculty of my senses returned, as with intense horror I +realized the cause—the air of the car was escaping into the void of the +universe without! Desperately I struggled to gain my feet, but being +without weight, the effort resulted only in my drifting helplessly about +the car, until, gasping for air, I realized that the end had come.</p> + +<p>A moment's consciousness of being drawn <a name='Page_172'></a>gently to the floor of the car +again, while the furniture and other articles that had been drifting +about piled lightly upon me without any perceptible weight; a slight +shock, then, as the suffocating sensation became more intense, a +blackness rushed in upon me, and my senses reeled—</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a><h2><a name='Page_173'></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h2>THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A tall, gaunt figure, swathed in black robes, Stood waiting some +distance from me. I knew that it was Death, for under the hood I beheld +the grinning skull with its sightless eye-holes, and I turned away in +loathsome dread. But even as I did so, the bony arms were stretched out +in welcome, and to them ran a slight girlish form—it was Zarlah! For a +moment I stood paralyzed with horror, then rushing toward the now +retreating figures, I called out wildly, "Zarlah! Zarlah! Flee not with +Death! I am here—your Harold is here!" Suddenly I was seized from +behind; instantly my strength seemed to be sapped from me and I fell +back exhausted, crying in my despair, "Oh, my God! save her! save her!"</p> + +<p>A cool, soft hand was laid upon my burning brow, and a sweet voice +gently murmured, "<a name='Page_174'></a>Poor Harold! If you could only know that God in His +mercy has saved us both!"</p> + +<p>It was the voice of the living, not the dead, and slowly the words +formed a meaning in my confused brain, dragging me from the depths of +unconsciousness to the life that still existed about me, warmed as it +was by the wondrous power of a woman's love. Opening my eyes I beheld +Zarlah bending over me, her beautiful face full of compassionate love. +It seemed as though in a dream my loved one had come to me, and for a +moment I lay peacefully gazing into her face, feeling neither curiosity +nor alarm. Then, as my mind awoke to a realization of all that had +transpired, a sudden bewilderment came upon me, and, clasping the hand +that sought to ease my head, lest the vision should vanish, I cried:</p> + +<p>"Zarlah, my beloved, speak to me! Are we by a miracle saved from the +death that had engulfed us, or is this the strange meeting of our souls +after death?"</p> + +<p>At the sound of my voice, Zarlah clasped her hands in a fervent prayer +of thankfulness, then, burying her face on my shoulder, gave way to a +flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_175'></a>Oh, Harold, my love!" she sobbed. "Thank God, you have been spared to +me! It is indeed by a miracle that this moon, intercepting our aerenoids +in their wild flight through space, thus brought us together at the +eleventh hour, and laid you helpless and dying at my feet."</p> + +<p>"The <i>moon</i>!" I gasped, raising myself and staring out of the window at +my side in astonishment, as my mind gradually comprehended our +hairbreadth escape from death.</p> + +<p>A blazing orb of fire, shining from the intense blackness around it, was +all that met my gaze, and I sank back, exhausted with the effort, into +the arms that awaited me.</p> + +<p>"Tell me more, darling," I said, as a great happiness came over me, and +my heart was filled with the simple desire to hear the gentle voice I +loved. What mattered it to me whether we ever reached Mars or not? The +future held no fears for me now; enough that I had Zarlah, for the walls +of the aerenoid that surrounded us seemed to compass the whole universe.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my love!" sighed Zarlah, bending over me and nervously clasping my +hands in hers, "now that the danger is past and you are restored to me, +the long hours of agony seem <a name='Page_176'></a>like a dream. But, oh, the anguish of that +moment when I beheld another aerenoid lying close to mine, upon the +surface of the moon that had intercepted my journey to Earth! My soul +cried out that in it lay my beloved, suffocating to death. Who else +would have followed me over the dreaded Pole! With wild haste I attached +an oxygen respirator to my mouth, and, releasing the air from the car, +sprang out upon the surface, little suspecting the danger that lurked +there. But so small is the force of gravity upon this moon that I was +without perceptible weight, and the tendency to rise with every step I +took filled me with terror, and I crept upon my hands and knees to the +aerenoid which lay a few yards away. Opening the door, I found you lying +apparently lifeless upon the floor. My heart told me that it was my love +who lay within Death's grasp, and, desperate at the thought that you had +been so near to me, only to be torn away by the hand of Death, I lifted +you up and hastened with you back to the aerenoid I had left. The small +amount of gravity now aided me, and I carried you without feeling the +burden.</p> + +<p>"Filling the car with oxygen and applying <a name='Page_177'></a>regenerating rays, I waited +for a sign of life. Oh, the agony of those moments, as in despair I +frantically called your name! At last the sign came—a quiver of the +lips, a faint breath—and I knew there was hope. Gradually your +breathing became stronger, but a terrible fever raged within you. +Through long, long hours on this strange globe I knelt beside you, +listening to your piercing cries of delirium, as you lived that awful +experience over and over again. Little by little, in the cries of agony +that rent my heart, I learned how you had come to me a moment too late; +how you had followed my aerenoid, and, being unable to stop me, had +rushed to the fate that was mine, to be hurled into space, unprepared +for such a journey; how you had suffocated, and—oh! my love, as you lay +through the long hours, gazing at me with wild unseeing eyes—ever +calling my name—imploring me not to rush to my death—I at last +despaired of your life, and my soul prepared itself to fly with yours to +the life beyond, leaving our bodies clasped in each other's arms, to +circle round the world which had denied us our love until the end of +time!</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_178'></a>But suddenly the light of reason came into your eyes—your voice lost +its wild accents, and I knew that you had been restored to me. In a few +hours now, Harold, the rays will have completed their work, and you will +be in full possession of your former strength."</p> + +<p>What a happy future we now looked out upon! The danger of our position +upon a heavenly body but a few miles in diameter, with barely enough +gravity to hold us on its surface, was forgotten in the great joy of +being together and feeling that we should never again be parted.</p> + +<p>I related to Zarlah all that had happened since I had left her; how I +had encountered Reon at the observatory and learned of Almos' departure +to Earth, and how I had later discovered the letter in which Almos gave +to us the great happiness we had despaired of ever possessing. And now +the fast encroaching darkness warned us of the approach of a lunar +night. As darkness with us would necessarily mean daylight on that part +of Mars to which we had come opposite in our journey round the planet, I +felt that now had arrived the time for action, as Mars would become +<a name='Page_179'></a>visible. Moreover, as the days and nights of this rapidly moving +satellite were but three and a half hours in duration, I realized that +no time should be lost in making the necessary preparations for our +hazardous journey. But although I was now able to get on my feet and had +the use of my arms, I had not by any means regained all my strength, and +upon laying my plans before Zarlah, she urged me not to undertake such a +journey until the rays had fully restored me. Therefore it was decided +to postpone our attempt to reach Mars until the following night.</p> + +<p>But soon a strange and unforeseen incident warned us of the great danger +to which we were exposed on the surface of this diminutive moon, and +left us no alternative but immediate departure.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV'></a><h2><a name='Page_180'></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h2>HURLED FROM THE MOON.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Together we stood gazing in silence out into the abyss over the small +surface of the moon that was visible to us, oppressed with a sense of +awe as the sun dropped from sight, leaving us plunged in darkness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there appeared from out of the inky blackness of the heavens a +huge crescent, stretching across the sky far above us. The sight of it +fascinated us, and, as we stood lost in admiration at the majestic +proportions of the beautiful arch of light, ever growing in width, we +gradually realized that it was the sun-tipped rim of the planet which +our moon was journeying around—the world from which we had been hurled +and to which we must return.</p> + +<p>A sense of great reverence overpowered me; <a name='Page_181'></a>I realized that we looked +upon sights, and felt great forces never before bared to mortals. +Through my mind ran lines of Addison's ode:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"The spacious firmament on high</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>With all the blue ethereal sky,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And spangled heavens, a shining frame,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Their great <i>Original</i> proclaim.</span><br /> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Forever singing as they shine</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>The hand that made us is divine."</span><br /> + +<p>Slowly the light crept over the planet's surface until the huge +illuminated sphere, almost filling the entire heavens, made a scene of +the most exquisite grandeur that human eyes have ever beheld.</p> + +<p>"Dearest!" I exclaimed, with sudden impulse, as a most remarkable and +terrifying fact occurred to me, "wonderful though our deliverance from +death seems to us, it is even more miraculous than we had any conception +of! To meet with this moon in our journey through space, we must have +described an arc, as this satellite never passes over the pole."</p> + +<p>"How can such a thing be possible?" returned Zarlah, in tremulous +accents, drawing <a name='Page_182'></a>closer to me as the awfulness of our narrow escape +appalled her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my love, we may never know that!" I answered. "The Great Creator of +all these wonders has, indeed, guided us to this haven in our wild +flight through space. We can but theorize that the pole, being several +miles in diameter, hurled us from its edge, the tremendous repelling +force not permitting our aerenoids to proceed over its surface. The +rotary motion of the planet upon its axis would then cause us to +describe a curve in our flight from its surface, as only in the center +of the pole would this rotary motion lose its effect."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harold," whispered Zarlah, timidly, when I had finished speaking, +"the thought of these terrible things and the sight of this immense +globe hanging over us fill me with dread! Do you think we shall ever +reach our world again? It appears to be so near and yet is so far away +from us. What veritable atoms we are in the glory of this tumultuous +whirl!"</p> + +<p>"I do not think we could possibly miss it, sweetheart," I answered, +cheerfully, as I placed my arm about her and drew her away <a name='Page_183'></a>from the +window which commanded a view of Mars. "Come, let us look out upon the +little globe that supports us; we are entirely missing the beautiful +effect of this grand reflection of light"</p> + +<p>The surface of the moon was now bathed in a beautiful diffused light, +and our surroundings where once more visible. Indeed, many objects, +which we had been unable to see in the dazzling brilliancy of the sun's +light, as it blazed forth from a heaven unsoftened by any atmosphere, +were now clearly revealed. We had approached a window and were looking +at these new objects of interest, when Zarlah suddenly cried in dismay: +"Look, Harold, look! The other aerenoid is moving!"</p> + +<p>Quickly turning my gaze in the direction indicated, I saw the aerenoid +in which I had made the journey from Mars move a space of several yards +with a jerky motion, then, to my intense horror, glide off the surface +of the moon into space. At the same instant, the car in which we stood +rocked as though about to turn over upon its side.</p> + +<p>Not a moment was to be lost! Some unknown force was exerting its +influence over <a name='Page_184'></a>the movable objects on the moon's surface. What this +power was I knew not, but the direction in which the aerenoid had +glided proved it to be other than Mars. Our position was now perilous in +the extreme, for were we suddenly to glide off into space we would +undoubtedly be lost, as it was necessary to have air surrounding us in +order to propel the car. Without an atmosphere we would therefore be +helpless and entirely at the mercy of the unknown and mysterious power. +Indeed, it was evident that only our increased weight had saved us from +immediately following the other aerenoid, and I felt that at any moment +we might do so. Although lacking the power of propulsion, my hope was +that our repelling force, which I knew must be increased to an enormous +extent by the slight gravity on the moon's surface, would hurl us off +that satellite straight upward into the influence of Mars' gravity.</p> + +<p>Seizing the lever, I cried to Zarlah to He on the floor of the car, but +even as she did so, the aerenoid rocked again with still greater +violence—in another moment it would be too late! Thrusting the lever +over, I exposed the <a name='Page_185'></a>full repelling force to the moon's surface. The +shock hurled me to the floor, and so terrific was the force with which +we shot upward, that I was held powerless to move hand or foot. For a +space of time which seemed to me hours I was obliged to remain thus, +contenting myself with calling words of encouragement to my dear one, +whom I greatly feared must have suffered severely from the awful shock. +At last, finding that I could rise, I hastened to her side, and, to my +great relief, discovered that she had entirely escaped injury.</p> + +<p>As it was impossible in any way to control the aerenoid speeding upward +through space, it was useless for me to stand by the levers, and, +assisting Zarlah to rise, we approached a window in the roof of the car +and glanced upward at the planet to which we were rushing. A remarkable +phenomenon met our eyes! Mars appeared to be no longer a sphere—the +great globe that we had beheld from the moon—but instead a huge dome, +which hung over us, ever deepening in the center as we rushed up toward +it. Inconceivable though it seemed, I knew that, to produce such an +effect, we must already have covered more than half the distance +<a name='Page_186'></a>between the two bodies. Upward we shot, and although there was no means +of ascertaining how fast we were travelling, I knew by the rapidly +changing appearance of the dome above us that our speed must be +terrific.</p> + +<p>We had steadily grown lighter, and now we discovered that we were +entirely without weight, and that it required some effort to keep our +feet on the floor of the car.</p> + +<p>Still upward we rushed into the center of the dome which now stretched +down and encircled us on all sides like an immense umbrella, when +suddenly, without the slightest perceptible movement of the car, the +dome appeared to swing around until it lay beneath us, and instantly we +felt our feet settling upon the floor of the car.</p> + +<p>"We are safe from the unknown power now, dearest!" I exclaimed, +anxiously examining the lever that controlled the descent, to make sure +that the repelling metal was fully exposed. "We are dropping upon Mars, +and our repelling metal should soon check our speed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harold, my love," sighed Zarlah, timidly clinging to me, her eyes +filled with tears, and a look of great yearning coming into them, "<a name='Page_187'></a>my +heart despairs at the dangers that encompass us! With you as my goal I +knew no fear; but now that I have you, I am a coward. Is our love +forbidden, that we should be thus pursued by these terrible dangers?"</p> + +<p>"Courage, dearest!" I replied, reassuringly. "We shall soon be safe, and +then nothing shall interrupt the happiness for which we have endured so +much."</p> + +<p>I hid from her the anxiety that lurked near my heart, and endeavored to +interest her by advancing several theories upon the phenomenal +appearance of the planet's surface.</p> + +<p>Like a huge cup the land now stretched up and around us, but we were +still descending with frightful velocity. I had noticed that the air in +the car was becoming warmer, and now, filled with apprehension, I +stretched out my hand and touched the wall. Instantly I withdrew it—the +wall was hot! Like a flash the full realization of our terrible danger +burst upon me. I had relied upon the repelling metal to check our +descent before we entered the region of air, and had supposed that we +would float lightly to the ground under perfect control. But now I saw +how foolishly I had erred, in <a name='Page_188'></a>omitting to take into consideration the +terrific momentum we would attain in our journey of six thousand miles +through space. This momentum was now driving us to the ground, in spite +of our strong repelling force, and with such a frightful speed that heat +was being generated by friction with the air as we rushed through it. +The creaking and straining sound coming from the bottom of the aerenoid +was evidence of the fight the repelling metal was making to overcome +this momentum before the surface of Mars was reached, but I shuddered as +I realized what little effect it had upon this gigantic force.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds the air became unbearably hot, and, with a gasp, Zarlah +lay limp in my arms, as she turned her face to me to speak. Laying her +tenderly upon the floor, I hastily wrapped wet blankets around her, and, +dashing water over myself, I staggered across the car to the window +again. We were still descending rapidly, but, as I felt the walls of the +car, I found that they were now cooler, proving that our terrific speed +had been reduced. The increased pressure of my feet upon the floor of +the car was also evidence that our <a name='Page_189'></a>descent was being steadily checked. +A wild hope surged within me that the repelling metal would overcome the +momentum in time to save us from destruction.</p> + +<p>Glancing down, I saw white specks lying far beneath us. My heart stood +still as I realized that these were buildings. We could not be more than +a few miles from the surface, yet down, down we sped. A few moments more +and the buildings became plainly visible, and my heart thumped wildly, +as they seemed to rush up to meet us. We would be dashed to pieces! The +repelling force could not possibly stop us in time! Turning, in despair, +I threw myself down beside Zarlah, and enfolded her in a last embrace.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a terrific shock—a deafening crash. Then all was +dark, while a flood of water came pouring in upon us. I staggered to my +feet with Zarlah in my arms, only to be thrown to the floor again by an +upward bound of the aerenoid. Sunlight once more filled the car, and, as +I struggled to my feet, a cool breeze wafted in through the shattered +windows. To what further extremes of temperature and mediums were we to +be subjected?</p> + +<p><a name='Page_190'></a>I was still too dazed by the shock to realize how we had escaped from a +death that seemed inevitable, but I knew that we were flying upward with +the full force of our repelling metal. Tenderly lifting Zarlah to a +safer and more comfortable place, I seized the lever and gradually +decreased the repelling power, until we rested motionless in the air.</p> + +<p>We had already attained a considerable height, and, as I eagerly gazed +down, I beheld far beneath us the glistening surface of a lake. With a +gasp of horror, I realized what a narrow escape had been ours. Into this +lake we had plunged with a velocity sufficient to have dashed us to +pieces had we struck the ground; the damage which the car had sustained +upon striking the water was evidence of this. Our descent being stopped, +the repelling metal, which was fully exposed, had then sent us bounding +into the air again, and in all probability had thus saved us from being +drowned beneath the waters of the lake.</p> + +<p>Death had indeed been close to us many times during our strange +adventure, and now that all the dangers were past, I breathed a +heartfelt prayer of thankfulness for our safe deliverance.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_191'></a>Freeing Zarlah from the wet blankets I had wrapped around her during +the intense heat, I gazed anxiously down upon the beautiful, unconscious +face.</p> + +<p>"My love! my love!" I murmured, passionately. "How much you have +risked—how much you have suffered for my sake! Oh, cruel the fate that +thus delays our happiness!"</p> + +<p>The sun was setting, and I now realized the importance of descending +nearer to the ground, that I might ascertain our whereabouts, as from +our present altitude, even with Almos' knowledge of Mars, I was unable +to recognize any familiar landmark, and I knew that darkness would soon +be upon us.</p> + +<p>Bending once again over the form of my loved one, I tenderly kissed the +silent lips, but as I did so, her arms closed about my neck, and +dreamily opening her eyes, she smiled up at me as a child awakening from +a peaceful sleep.</p> + +<p>"We are safe now, darling, all the danger is past!" I murmured, and +falling on my knees beside her, I took her up into my arms, with the +prayer that I might ever shield her in the days to come.</p> + +<p>The shadows lengthened; quickly the gloom gathered, and darkness closed +in upon us, but <a name='Page_192'></a>still we remained suspended in the cool night air under +the dome of the starry heavens, unmindful of all in the joy of our great +love; for with the fulfillment of our hearts' long cherished desire, +came the realization that our journey was ended.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>PARIS, February 17, 19—.</p> + +<p>Six months have elapsed since that memorable evening when Harold and +Zarlah—radiant with their new-found happiness—were portrayed upon the +instrument in Paris at which I anxiously waited, after having exchanged +my existence on Mars for one on Earth. The account of his strange +adventures, which Harold has since given me, I have endeavored to record +in the foregoing pages, as nearly as possible in his own words, trusting +that this narration of the events connected with the opening of +communication between Earth and Mars will prepare the way for the +greater developments soon to be announced by scientists.</p> + +<p>ALMOS.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_END'></a><h2>THE END.</h2> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13423 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/13423-h/images/im1_fl.jpg b/13423-h/images/im1_fl.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f8020c --- /dev/null +++ b/13423-h/images/im1_fl.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13fad73 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13423 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13423) diff --git a/old/13423-8.txt b/old/13423-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a49b78d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13423-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4030 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Zarlah the Martian, by R. Norman Grisewood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Zarlah the Martian + +Author: R. Norman Grisewood + +Release Date: September 10, 2004 [EBook #13423] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZARLAH THE MARTIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Elaine Walker, Frank van Drogen and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into space with +frightful velocity."] + + + +Zarlah The Martian + + +By + + +R. Norman Grisewood + + + +1909 + + + + +_Zarlah, The Martian_ + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE STRANGE SHADOW + + II. THE MARTIAN + + III. THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD + + IV. THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE + + V. THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING + + VI. "AS OTHERS SEE US" + + VII. THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH + + VIII. A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID + + IX. THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE + + X. ZARLAH'S CONFESSION + + XI. THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY + + XII. THE WARNING OF DANGER--THE RACE WITH DEATH + + XIII. THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY + + XIV. HURLED FROM THE MOON + + + + + +ZARLAH, THE MARTIAN. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STRANGE SHADOW. + + +So thrilling were my experiences during that period, so overcrowded with +feverish action and strong emotions was each wonderful moment, and so +entirely changed are the conditions of life as I now find it, that it is +with considerable difficulty that I recall in detail all that happened +prior to my remarkable discovery which opened communication between +Earth and Mars. One says "discovery" advisedly, but let it not be +imagined that communication with the planet Mars was established as a +result of any careful and systematic research, or that I possessed a +subtle genius for astronomical science that was destined to introduce +into society what must eventually revolutionize it. Nothing could be +further from the facts. Into the daily grind of my absolutely uneventful +career, burst the almost terrifying revelations with a suddenness that +stunned me, while I was engaged in experiments of an entirely extraneous +nature. Albeit one wonders that the Martian rays, which have swept our +planet with their searching gaze for so many centuries, were not +discovered long ago. But this is anticipating my story. + +I had reached the age of thirty, when, in the Spring of 19--, I sailed +out of New York harbor on board _La Provence_, en route for Paris. It +was not so much my purpose to seek pleasure as the determination to turn +my eight years of experience in the United States to some avenue of +profitable livelihood, that decided me to make the journey, although I +looked forward with no small degree of pleasant anticipation to meeting +some of my fellow students in the Académie des Sciences in Paris, where +I had received five years of excellent training. + +My trip across and my subsequent arrival in Paris were without any +events of particular interest, and one bright morning in the early +summer I found myself comfortably lodged in the house where I had +previously boarded while a student. Connected with my rooms, which were +at the top of the house, was one of considerable size that I had +formerly used as a laboratory, and this I now set about fitting up to +serve the same purpose. The daylight found its way into the room through +a skylight, and though admirably suited for an artist's studio, it +answered my purpose equally as well. + +I had collected many new instruments and appliances by dint of days +spent in shopping, and was anxious to begin work in earnest, when one +evening, as I glanced through the columns of a newspaper, my attention +was arrested by an article of particular interest. This set forth the +great and increasing demand for a substitute for glass, one which would +answer the purpose in every respect, and at the same time be +indestructible and a good conductor of sound. The article concluded with +an enumeration of the many uses for which such a substitute would be +invaluable, hinting at the enormous financial possibilities which would +be open to the inventor. The more I considered the matter, the more +desirous I became to test several theories which forthwith presented +themselves to my mind, and the next morning found me determined to begin +my experiments at once. In theory, I saw the solution of the problem in +artificially producing increased atomic motion, and with that object in +view I went to work. + +My experiments involved me in weeks of hard work, and it was toward the +end of the summer before I could admit having had any important results. +I now had a substance resembling glass in appearance, though vastly +different in composition, which I made into a film, extremely thin and +highly sensitive to vibrations. Running through this film were slender +wires made of various metals, about one inch apart, which served not +only to give rigidity to the film, but also to conduct a current of +electricity through it, engendering a high state of atomic agitation. +The current was controlled by a small switch placed in a heavy box-like +frame, which bounded the film on its four sides and contained the +batteries, coils, etc. To this were attached four legs, supporting it +about the height of an ordinary table from the floor. The whole device +measured about seven feet square. + +This film substance contained certain elements which I had found to be +necessary to secure the desired intensity of agitation. It had taken me +almost a month to secure the fine quality I desired, and I looked +forward to the test with the feeling that results would prove that I was +nearing the goal, if I had not actually attained it. + +At last the day arrived when my device was ready for the test. I had +worked all the afternoon giving the finishing touches and it had grown +dusk without my realizing it. But everything was now ready, and moving +the switch, I turned the current of electricity through the composition. +Just as I was about to begin my test, I noticed what appeared to be a +faint shadow of a man move across the surface of the film. My first +thought was that someone had entered the room without my knowledge, and +his figure had been reflected on the surface of the film, which was +highly glazed, but a glance around the room assured me that this +explanation was untenable. Moreover, I found, upon further +investigation, that the film was lying in such a position that it would +be impossible to reflect any person in the room. I then examined the +skylight, only to find that, owing to the sharp inclination of the roof, +it would be an utter impossibility for anyone to reach it from the +outside without the aid of a ladder. I investigated this source further, +thinking to find the reflection on the film to be from some street in +the city below, but on account of the extent of the roof, no street was +visible from the skylight. + +Completely baffled, I descended into the room again and turned on the +current. Immediately the shadow appeared on the film, and this time, in +consequence of the room now being quite dark, I noticed that it was +surrounded by a phosphorus-colored glow. The figure was certainly that +of a man, although very faint, and it became evident to me, after +watching it for a while, that he was trying to signal with his arms. + +I now noticed that, in addition to the peculiar light on the film, the +entire surface seemed to vibrate with frequent, but scarcely audible, +humming sounds. Upon turning off the current all disappeared, only to +reappear when I switched it on again. It was evident then that the +phenomenon was caused only when the instrument was charged with +electricity, and consequently was no ordinary reflection, as I had at +first supposed. + +Everything pointed to its being the manifestation of some outside +agency; possibly electrical waves which my apparatus received and in a +measure responded to, coming through the open skylight from--where? The +question reiterated itself in my mind, as I stood gazing perplexedly at +the phenomenon. I might have been satisfied with the supposition that, +unknowingly, I had made an instrument which was capable of receiving +wireless waves from another instrument of similar tone in or near Paris, +if I had had only the humming sounds to contend with, but the shadow +impelled me to look for the reason further than this. I glanced upward, +eagerly seeking some explanation. One star was visible through the open +skylight--Mars. Clear and bright it shone in the inky blackness framed +by the window. + +Once more I climbed to the skylight, feeling that I must seek the +explanation in that direction, when my attention was suddenly turned to +the apparatus below me. The glow was slowly passing off one side of the +film. I hastily descended and examined the batteries, thinking I would +find the cause of this in a failing current, but all was apparently in +perfect order. Still the glow and shadow moved steadily off, growing +fainter every moment, until it disappeared completely. + +With a sudden impulse, born of a weird and almost terrifying thought, I +bent over until my eyes were on a level with the film, then I looked +upward; the star was no longer visible from the position of the +instrument, it had risen above the frame of the window. At once I was +seized with an intense excitement; could it be possible that my +apparatus was responding to waves mysteriously projected from Mars? If +not, why had the glow and shadow faded from the film at the same instant +that Mars disappeared above the window frame? + +Hoping to test this further, I endeavored to move the apparatus to a +position where Mars would again be visible, but alas, I found it much +too heavy. I felt keenly disappointed at the sudden termination of this +strange phenomenon, but, upon reflection, I realized that it was only +the simultaneous disappearance of Mars and the glow on the film that had +caused me to attribute waves to that far source. The more I pondered +upon the matter, the more impossible it seemed, yet, strange to say, the +more convinced I became that the theory was correct. Light-waves, I +argued, unlike the wireless waves in common use, could be received only +when the two objects were in line of vision; but I realized that if they +were of Martian origin they were of remarkable magnification, projected +through space by some unknown and powerful agent, thousands of times +more powerful than electricity as we know it upon Earth. That the shadow +on the film had been that of a Martian, I dared not hope. Though my mind +continually reverted to this wild conjecture, I impatiently put it +aside, as the apparent impossibility of it all would force itself upon +me. + +Nothing further could be done that night, and as I had worked hard all +day preparing for my experiment, without even stopping for meals, I now +felt the effect of the excitement I had undergone and resolved to take a +walk in the cool air, I wanted to think, and, if possible, to plan a +line of action for the morrow which would bring me better results, if my +theory of light-waves should prove to be correct. Needless to say, I +determined to cease my former experiments, and devote all my energy to +ascertaining whether my apparatus was actually responding to Martian +light-waves of remarkable integrity, and if such proved to be the case, +to put every effort into improving the device with the hope of obtaining +their import. I also determined to keep my discovery a secret, at least +for the present. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MARTIAN. + + +I returned to my rooms with a much clearer conception of the conditions +with which I had to cope, if the waves to which my apparatus responded +should prove to be Martian waves. My mind was fully made up to proceed +as if this were an established fact, as, in order to give my best +efforts to improving my apparatus, I felt that I must eliminate all +scepticism. I clearly appreciated the advantage of moving my instrument +outside, where I could command a view of Mars for a much longer time, +but the necessity of being in my laboratory while I was engaged in these +improvements, decided me against any immediate change. + +Accordingly I proceeded the next morning to make the changes I deemed +necessary, being goaded into a fever of haste by a feeling of +suppressed excitement. The composition I had used in the form of a film +I now liquefied, having concluded that in the former condition, although +necessary in my original experiments, it now only retarded the vibration +of the wires. + +That this composition was essential there could be no doubt, as it was +its elements that responded to the agent used on Mars to project the +waves. I therefore liquefied the film substance, being careful in so +doing not to alter its properties. I then procured wires, much thinner +than those I had previously used, and dipped them-into the liquid. After +they had become perfectly dry, I stretched them on the frame as close +together as I could without their coming into contact with one another. +As light-waves are received in hundreds of different vibrations +simultaneously, according to the light or shade of the object projected, +I concluded that each wire should be capable of individual vibration. +The device now resembled a large piece of mosquito netting with the +cross wires removed, the coating of composition on each wire being so +thin that it was hardly discernible. The batteries and coils I +connected as before, taking great care not to change their arrangement. + +My preparations were now completed, and before me stood an instrument as +delicate and sensitive to wave vibrations as I could make it. Raising +one side of the frame a foot higher than the other, in order that the +surface of wires would be squarely facing the star when it appeared +above the casement, I waited impatiently for the moment which should +prove the truth or falsity of my surmises. + +The day had closed, and I spent the remaining time speculating upon the +results of my labors. But even the wildest flights of my imagination did +not picture, in the smallest degree, the wonderful transformation which +my new instrument would make in what had appeared before as a shadow on +the film. Little did I imagine to what an extent the unknown was to be +revealed to me. + +As I stood by the side of the frame all in readiness, Mars appeared, but +it still had a little farther to climb before it would be visible from +the level of the wires. Nevertheless, I turned on the current from the +batteries. All was darkness; never before had darkness seemed to me so +profound, so absolutely appalling. Minutes passed like hours, but still +that ominous darkness reigned. I felt the keen disappointment of +failure; I grew incredulous as the time passed, and found myself +admitting and rehearsing the absurdity of it all. I even blamed myself +for having been so easily deflected from my former experiments, by what +now seemed to be merely an idle fancy. + +Suddenly I bent over the frame and gazed eagerly at the surface of +wires, for there, on the top edge, appeared a touch of the +phosphorus-colored glow. My heart thumped with wild excitement. I +stooped down until my eyes were on the level of the wires, and looking +up toward the window I could just see the rim of Mars appearing above +the casement. A shout of joy burst from my lips at the sight of it, for +it was now beyond all doubt that the phenomenon was attributable to +Mars. Brighter and brighter became the light as it covered the surface +of wires, until all its resemblance to a phosphorus glow had gone, and +it shone with such brilliancy that my eyes, accustomed as they were to +the darkness of the room, quailed before it. Turning away so that my +eyes might gradually become accustomed to the glare, I noticed that in +spite of the brilliant white light on the surface of the wires, the room +was in perfect darkness--the light had no power of illumination! +Impenetrable mystery enshrouded the agent which Mars was employing to +communicate with Earth! + +A curious humming sound issuing from the frame, much louder than I had +noticed the night before, caused me to turn involuntarily, and as I did +so I uttered a cry of wonder at the marvelous vision that met my eyes. +There lay before me, as bright as daylight, a picture that a thousand +times surpassed my highest, wildest hope. The great secret of another +planet was revealed, and I stood motionless, beholding an inhabitant of +a star millions of miles away. + +Among the vast multitude who for centuries have yearned for a glimpse +into the unknown worlds that surround us, I stood alone gazing upon the +image of a Martian. The thought stunned me; I was seized with a wild +impulse to rush out into the street and bring in the throng, that they +might look upon the form of this wonderful being on our sister planet. +But what proof was there to give them that this was so? I would +undoubtedly be ridiculed and accused of trickery. The very fact that had +brought a cry of amazement to my lips--the remarkable brilliancy and +clearness of the image, and the appearance of the Martian himself--would +serve to bring discredit upon anything I might say. Personally I had +ample proof that the image was that of a Martian, but what instant proof +could I give a jeering crowd? I had expected to find in a Martian a +strange grotesque being in appearance, if not in mind, much after the +weird and fierce character so many authors have portrayed him. Judge, +then, my astonishment when I beheld one who, in every particular of form +and feature, resembled the people of Earth. + +He appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, judging by our +earthly standard of time, possessing clear-cut features and dark +complexion. His face, which was clean-shaven, was remarkably handsome, +and his piercing dark eyes, although they enhanced the smile that +greeted my appearance at the instrument, seemed to search into my very +soul and to hold me spellbound with mute challenge. Nor could I, upon +afterthought, remember having shown the common courtesy of returning his +greeting. + +My astonishment was so great that every faculty seemed to leave me, and +I stood transfixed, staring at the image of the Martian without even the +power of thought. Gradually recovering my senses, however, I took note +of the man and his surroundings. He stood in a room of about the same +dimensions as my laboratory, which seemed to be flooded with bright +daylight, though I could not see any windows on three sides of the room +to admit the light, nor any shadows to indicate that the light came from +a window in the fourth. He held in his hands an instrument unknown to +me, and seemed to be perfectly at his ease, showing neither surprise nor +curiosity. Evidently this was not the first time that he had seen an +inhabitant of the Earth. So unconcerned was he and so natural did he +appear, even in the smallest detail of dress, that it was hard to +believe I was not looking at an image of some room and its occupant in +Paris. His close-fitting clothes seemed to be of a dark green material, +and resembled, to some degree, the uniform of an army officer. + +Bending over the instrument he held, he placed his mouth close to the +top of it, and immediately the humming sounds, which I had noticed +before, emanated from the wires of my apparatus. The thought flashed +through my mind that the Martian held in this instrument a means of +communicating sound. If so, what were the words--what language? The +possibility of what I heard being words, made me strain every nerve to +catch the slightest resemblance to such sounds, but alas, with no +success. That they were intended to convey a message, I became fully +convinced, but I could not rest in the belief that this jumble of sounds +was the Martian language. If the Martians themselves resembled, in so +striking a degree, the inhabitants of Earth, I argued, then it was in +the nature of things to expect a language that, in some way, +corresponded to one of our languages. The fault lay in my instrument, I +was sure of that, and in the keen disappointment of my failure to +receive his message and the excitement of the moment, I gave utterance +to an exclamation of despair. Immediately a smile overspread the +Martian's countenance, and, to my great astonishment, he put down the +instrument and clapped his hands by way of showing his approval. + +Before I could recover from my surprise at this new evidence of Martian +familiarity with the customs of Earth, the light suddenly grew dim and +in a few seconds had disappeared completely, leaving the instrument +plunged in darkness. Mars had risen above the frame of the skylight, and +I was no longer in contact with the light-waves. I listened intently, +thinking that if the sound-waves were of the nature of the +electrical-waves we employ in the wireless system, I would still be in +touch with my newly found friend, but I heard no further sound from the +instrument, thus proving that these waves also were projected by the +mysterious agent known only to the Martians. + +I had so much to occupy my mind, with what I had just witnessed, and so +many thoughts rushed in upon me regarding the perfecting of my +instrument so that it might properly respond to the sound-waves, that I +did not experience the disappointment I had felt before at the short +duration of our contact with each other. I was glad of the opportunity +to think; I felt that it was necessary to do so before further action, +if I ever hoped to attain the knowledge of Mars and its inhabitants that +my remarkable discovery had placed within my reach. I determined that on +the morrow, if I did not meet with better results in the sound +vibrations, I would try to communicate with the Martian by writing some +simple sentence in a bold hand, and in as many languages as I could. +This I would expose in front of the instrument, but I placed little hope +in the success of the scheme, for it was not possible that the Martian +language would be identical with any of ours. + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD + + +This thought of communicating with the Martian by writing, did not deter +me from using every effort to perfect my instrument, so that this might +be done verbally, or that at least I might hear a voice and a language +spoken on a world millions of miles away. Accordingly I gave the subject +of sound-waves my best thought, and the next morning I had formulated +clearly laid principles upon which to work. By these I hoped to make an +instrument that would be the means of conversing with a Martian. + +I had come to the conclusion that the jumble of sound was caused by the +prolonged vibration of the wires after each distinct wave from Mars was +received, as the wires of a piano will vibrate long after they have been +touched. With light-waves it was necessary to have a highly sensitive +surface of the composition, capable of responding to many different +vibrations, according to the light or shade of the object projected. +This accounted for the success I met with upon adopting the coated +wires, and I concluded thereupon that they were indispensable. But I now +saw that the presence of wires in the composition, though successful +with light-waves, was inimical to sound-waves, and it became evident +that a firmer but highly sensitive surface was required. The film had +not brought good results, either from sound-waves or light-waves, but, +it will be remembered, there were wires running through it to give it +rigidity, which, although necessary in my original experiments, must be +avoided in connection with sound vibrations. Clearly my new film must +not be rigid. I thereupon made a film of composition, as thin as +possible, and stretched it upon the frame of my instrument, as a +diaphragm behind the wires, hoping that the sound-waves would pass +between the wires, and vibrate the diaphragm, which, being made of +composition, would undoubtedly glow, but not more than the film had +done. This, I concluded, would not interfere with the image on the +wires, owing to the brilliancy of the latter. + +I was now hopeful of success, and anxiously waited for the day to close. +Everything was in readiness by noon, and I had at least eight hours to +wait before Mars would be in a position for wave contact. But now +appeared an adversary with which I had not reckoned. Clouds began to +gather, thin and fleecy at first, but growing heavier as the afternoon +passed, until by evening the heavens were completely obscured. This was +a condition that might last for several days, and the dread of it filled +me with despair. How could I wait for days inactive, without seeing or +even hearing from my friend in Mars? + +It now occurred to me how absolutely absorbed I had become in the +Martian investigation. Ordinarily a sociable person, in the past week I +had become a recluse. College friends that I had seen almost daily since +my return to Paris, I now completely neglected, even shunned, lest they +should call at my rooms some evening when I was in wave contact with +Mars. It also occurred to me that, as surely as my friendship and +necessity for them was declining, in like ratio was increasing an +attachment for an inhabitant of another world. I felt a strange soul +kinship for this Martian, which seemed to spring up the moment I saw his +image portrayed on my instrument. And the feeling was not one of +ordinary friendship. I felt I was drawn to him by some mysterious power, +that gave him the place of a brother in my affections--a power that +seemed to have brought us together, and now united us with a great +common and compelling interest. And yet as I pictured his handsome, +almost beautiful face, there was still another face I had seen--but +where? The Martian had been alone, yet I was conscious of a face that +was wonderfully beautiful, that seemed the goal for which I was +striving. It led me to greater effort after failure; the face which I +yearned to see and yet strangely dreaded seeing. + +It was useless for me to try to understand such thoughts, and to banish +them from my mind was impossible. I was overcome with a sense of +loneliness. Looking at my watch, I found that it was already past the +hour when Mars would be visible through the window on a clear night, +but, alas, the sky showed no signs of clearing; though my instrument +stood ready, it was useless. + +But, obeying some irresistible impulse, I decided to turn on the current +and stand by the instrument in case an opening in the clouds should +occur, for even a moment. I therefore turned the switch that controlled +the current, and immediately, to my astonishment, the surface of wires +became as brilliant as on the previous evening under a clear sky. +Turning away for a moment, to allow my eyes to become accustomed to the +brilliancy, I noticed that the sky was still overcast with heavy rain +clouds. My joy at the discovery that the Martian projecting agent was +not arrested by vapor was unbounded, for it meant that I could be in +wave-contact with Mars every night, during the period that the planet +was visible from Earth. + +I approached the instrument with the intention of at once testing the +diaphragm, but, to my surprise, my Martian friend was not there to greet +me. The room and its furnishings, however, were depicted as clearly as +before, and I now had an opportunity to note the instruments, the large +volumes of books, and the maps of the heavens which hung on the wall. +Everything pointed to this being a fully equipped Martian observatory, +though the instruments were entirely strange to me. I was examining +these latter more closely, when heavy portières parted, and my Martian +friend stepped into the room. So anxious was I to give him a pleasant +greeting, instead of staring at him in a semi-stupefied condition, as I +had done previously, that I forgot, for the moment, my determination to +test my diaphragm at the first opportunity, and greeted him merely with +a smile and a bow. + +My serene demeanor lasted but a moment, for simultaneously with his +bowed response to my greeting, came in a clear voice, with perfect +accent: "Bon soir, Monsieur!" + +I started back, for it seemed as if someone in the room had spoken, but +then I noticed that the Martian held in his hand the instrument I had +seen on the previous evening. Was it possible that this was his voice, +speaking French from a distance of millions of miles as clearly as if he +were in the room? The thing was incredible! How could a Martian know a +language evolved here on Earth? Was the whole thing then a delusion of +an overwrought mind? I stood staring at the instrument in amazement. + +The Martian, now seeing by my actions that his voice had been heard, +raised his instrument and repeated his greeting. The voice rang as +clearly as before; there could be no further doubt; through this +wonderful instrument the Martian's voice was projected, almost +instantaneously to the Earth--millions of miles in a second. The +mysterious power which enabled the Martian to project the waves, +compared with our electricity as the telegraph does with the +stage-coach. Was it strange that I stood aghast, as my mind slowly +comprehended the enormous distance which that voice had traversed almost +instantaneously? + +It was some moments before my amazement permitted me to respond to this +extraordinary salutation, then--my mind still too bewildered properly to +grasp the situation--I mumbled something in English about my great +astonishment at hearing a language of Earth spoken from a distant world. + +The sound of my voice seemed to cause the Martian some surprise, but +immediately his voice issued again in clear tones from the instrument. + +"I greeted you in what I supposed was your native tongue," he said in +perfect English. "Although now we have but one composite language here, +over a thousand years ago we spoke in many languages, as the people of +your planet do at the present time. + +"For more than six hundred years we have been able to observe the +progress of your planet," he went on, "through an instrument by which +light-waves are projected and received, and have found it to be +identical with ours of almost fifteen hundred years ago. By the placards +in the streets of your cities and towns, we discovered that you also +spoke in many tongues, and although the progress was necessarily slow, +our astronomers were, by this means, able to learn the principal +languages of Earth. + +"Anxiously we have watched and waited for the discovery of an instrument +that would respond to our projected light-waves and reveal to you the +inhabitants of your neighboring planet. At last this momentous time has +arrived. I congratulate you upon bringing it about." + +As he spoke, his voice, coming from the diaphragm of my instrument, +sounded as distinct as if he were in the room, and his image, depicted +life-size, made it hard to believe that he was more than a few feet +away. That my informant was, in reality, millions of miles away, my mind +absolutely refused to grasp. + +A thousand questions to put to my Martian acquaintance rushed into my +mind, but alas, in supposing that I could not come in contact with Mars +on account of cloud obscurity, I had lost much of the precious time, and +now the waning light on my instrument warned me that the planet would, +in a few moments, pass out of range. We therefore hastily bade each +other adieu, promising to continue our conversation on the morrow, as +though we had parted at a street corner. The light now faded completely, +and the instrument, that a few moments previously had been animated with +such an exuberance of life and mystery, now stood before me wrapped in +profound darkness and silence. + +How impossible, how inconceivable it all seemed! How the outside world +would scoff if I attempted to explain or publish my discovery! I felt +that the time had not yet come to take anyone into my confidence, and I +determined still to keep all a secret. I was then unaware, however, that +the more I learned of Mars and its people the more closely I would guard +my knowledge. + +Pacing excitedly up and down my laboratory, I spent most of the night in +reviewing what I had heard, and speculating the rare knowledge that the +morrow would bring. The secrets of another world would be unfolded to +me, and the scientific achievements of a people over a thousand years in +advance of us would be mine. What glorious possibilities this disclosed! +What a brilliant future as a scientist such knowledge would assure me! +And in the exuberance of my spirits I little thought that the possession +of this knowledge would come to mean naught to me; for I had yet to +learn that man cannot share the riches of another world without also +becoming a partner in its sorrows and its passions. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE. + + +With a determination of finding a room from which I could command a +longer view of Mars, the next day I visited several studios which were +for rent, and finally succeeded in securing one formerly occupied by a +photographer, which was located on the top floor of a house in the +immediate vicinity of my old rooms. + +The room was large, in fact it occupied the entire top floor of the +building, and this feature pleased me greatly. The only communication +with the house was by a door which had every appearance of an outside +door, so heavy were the hinges and lock. The landlord, in drawing my +attention to this, had smiled and remarked that the former tenant, who +lived in another section of the city, had been very careful always to +leave his studio securely locked. The ceiling of half the room was +entirely of glass, sloping down to the floor at the angle of the roof, +and this was the only means of obtaining air and light. It was +constructed in two sections, which would slide back and forth, for the +purpose of ventilation. This arrangement, I found, would give me an +unobstructed view of Mars for several hours each night. Nothing could be +better adapted to my requirements; I could not be observed by anyone +outside, and I need not fear being overheard while conversing with my +Martian friend. + +I therefore determined to have my instrument moved at once, in order to +be installed in my new quarters that evening. + +I next bought a crate, used for large oil paintings, and upon its +delivery at my old rooms, I immediately commenced packing my instrument +in it. Owing to its great weight this was no easy work, and it would +express the procedure better if I said that I placed the crate around +the instrument. Making sure that it was all covered carefully, I had it +moved to my new quarters and set in place, the impression of the +carriers being that it was a painting which I was very anxious that no +one should see until it was completed. + +As it was now within an hour of the time when I expected Mars to appear, +I decided to leave my books and other belongings at my former rooms +until the next day. I uncovered the instrument, and got everything into +readiness, being careful to see that the batteries were all in place, so +that nothing might occur to interrupt the long talk with the Martian +which I was anticipating. + +Having turned on the current, and opened the sliding section of the +glass roof, I now awaited the appearance of Mars. There occurred to me +question alter question that seemed of sufficient importance to prompt +immediate inquiry, only to be forgotten as others came into my mind; +until the presence of the increasing faint glow on my instrument found +me unprepared with any single question of actual importance. +Consequently I decided to allow my distant informant to continue with +the account of Martian observations of Earth, as being at once the most +instructive and surest way of suggesting important questions. + +As my eyes got accustomed to the brilliancy I saw the Martian waiting +for me, with his instrument in readiness. We greeted each other with the +affection we both now sincerely felt, and though I could not clasp his +hand, I endeavored in every way to show him the brotherly warmth of +feeling I entertained for him. + +It now occurred to me that in the excitement of our first communication +with each other, we had completely overlooked an important +conventionality. I therefore announced that I was known on Earth as +Harold Lonsdale. + +"My name is Almos," he responded, his dark eyes sparkling as he quickly +entered into the spirit of the occasion. "Although it was customary once +for us to have two or three names, we found it in better harmony with +the changed conditions of the present time to have but one. This you +will more easily understand when you have become better acquainted with +this planet and its people." + +"And as I am most anxious to learn more about the conditions of life in +your world," I added, eagerly, "I trust you will continue the account of +Martian observations of Earth, which was barely commenced last evening +when the wave contact ceased. But first let me ask how you located my +whereabouts, for this morning I moved to another section of the city." + +"Ah!" he replied, with a smile, "I was not aware you had moved. +Experience has taught me about where to look for the large city you call +Paris, on the side of Earth that is now exposed to us, and then by +systematic search I soon located the response of your instrument. + +"As our observations of Earth with projected light-rays have been +carried on for seven hundred years, it will be necessary to give you an +outline of our history and the progress of science covering that time. +This will not only be of interest as a forecast of your own world's +future, but will also prove of the greatest value to you, if you decide +to visit this planet, an undertaking which I am convinced lies within +your power." + +His words wrung an exclamation of astonishment from my lips, but, as +though not wishing to be interrupted, he went on: + +"Seven hundred years ago, a power derived from that substance known on +Earth as radium, was discovered on Mars. This power was found to be +capable of projecting light rays almost instantaneously through space +for inconceivable distances, at the same time preserving their integrity +to such a remarkable degree that they would reach the farthest planets +without diffusion or diminution. Thus my image, thrown upon the +instrument before me, is conveyed to Earth in light-waves by this flow +of super-radium with such tremendous speed as to be practically +instantaneous; these are received in your instrument, which is +responsive to the flow of super-radium, in the same condition as when +they left Mars, consequently depicting the image life-size. + +"Having come in contact with another body in the heavens, this +outward-flowing current of super-radium is changed to an inward-flowing +current. In making this change it frees the light-waves it conveyed from +Mars, and retains the light-waves of the objects about it, which is +merely repeating its performance upon leaving Mars. These light-waves of +objects on another globe it now conveys on its return journey to Mars, +entering a receiving instrument and depicting the objects therein +life-size. + +"Possessing rays invisible to the human eye, except when agitated by a +substance of its own nature, daylight on a planet becomes an entirely +unnecessary adjunct to observations made with super-radium, and we are +able to explore the dark side of planets and other heavenly bodies, just +as effectually as those illuminated by the sun. + +"Thus have we, for seven hundred years, been able to study the country, +cities, streets, and people of Earth. And not only did we note a +remarkable similarity in the people, buildings, and scientific progress +to early Martian ages, but, by the advertisements, placards, and other +street signs we were able to learn the principal languages spoken on +your planet, and these were found to correspond in a remarkable degree +to those in use on Mars, before conditions on our planet made the +adoption of a composite language an absolute necessity. And undoubtedly +these same conditions in due time will face the people of Earth." + +I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this prediction, +but Almos at once reassured me by stating that when the time did come, +it would be the beginning of universal peace and happiness on Earth. + +"Am I to understand, then," said I, "that a condition of perfect +happiness prevails on Mars?" + +"Unhappiness is considered a disease with us," Almos rejoined. "It is +heard of, but very rarely, and is treated as a serious malady. But you +will understand these things better as you gradually become acquainted +with the conditions here. You must remember that you are in the position +of a man over fifteen hundred years in advance of his day. + +"Having become convinced, through close observations, that the progress +of Earth was identical with that of Mars, and that Earth, being the +younger planet, was consequently following our lead, we anxiously +watched for the discovery on Earth of the wonderful power that had been +the means of bringing us into such close visual contact with you. When +you discovered radium, we realized that this would eventually lead to +the discovery of the higher power, but we feared that this might not be +for hundreds of years. + +"That communication was possible through the medium of radium and +electricity, we were totally ignorant of. It was the responsive +properties of radium in your instrument, however, that first attracted +my attention while searching over Paris for an object I had previously +been observing. Thereafter my interest in your progress was as great as +your own, and every twenty-four hours, when the eastern hemisphere of +Earth was turned toward Mars, I searched with the radioscope until I got +the response of your instrument. + +"I have kept my success in communicating with Earth a secret, as it +involves an invention of mine which I have not yet made public, and of +which I will now tell you. This invention is the radiphone, through +which we are now conversing, and to which the diaphragm of your +instrument responds, as it doubtless contains radium also. My entire +life has been devoted to the development of Martian-Earthly +communication, and this instrument has been the goal which I have +striven to reach since boyhood, and yet its success in communicating +with Earth came as a great surprise to me." + +So accustomed was I to hear the Martian speak of the most miraculous +occurrences in an ordinary conversational tone, that the idea of there +still remaining something on Mars to be discovered appeared a still +greater wonder. + +"We have made a most important discovery," pursued Almos. "I say 'we,' +as without the response of your instrument the action of a super-radium +current on sound-waves would not have been discovered." + +"I feel that I can hardly share in the honors," I protested modestly. +"Without the super-radium current from Mars, I would still be +experimenting with the hope of finding a substitute for glass." + +I now entered into a full account of the experiments I had conducted, +describing how, quite accidentally, I had made a substance responsive to +the waves from Mars. He was greatly amused upon hearing of my +astonishment at finding that Martians resembled the people on Earth; and +when I drew for him a verbal picture of the ferocious creatures the +inhabitants of Mars were supposed to be, he laughed aloud. + +"We never suspected that the people of Earth did us such a great +injustice," he said, his whole countenance lighting up with good humor. +"I have several volumes here giving accounts of observations of Earth, +some of them written eight hundred years ago. It would perhaps interest +you to hear what the Martian conception of the inhabitants of Earth was +at that time." + +"Indeed it would," I exclaimed, with rising curiosity. + +"Well then," rejoined Almos, bringing one of the books and turning over +the leaves, while a curious smile still played about his mouth, "you +must understand that this was written over a hundred years before +super-radium was discovered, and at that time we had no means of +observing Earth except through the telescope, which showed us the +mountains, seas, and continents, much the same as your telescope must +reveal the physical features of Mars. On the question of whether Earth +is inhabited the author says: + +"'That this planet is inhabited we have no reason to doubt, as it is +known to be enveloped in an atmosphere, and it is now a generally +accepted theory that the changes noticed in its color throughout the +year are the seasonal effects on vegetable matter existing on its +surface.... What the inhabitants are like, however, we can only +surmise, but a study of the conditions under which they live will help +us to picture the wild amphibious creatures they must be. Their planet, +more than half covered with water, and being so many millions of miles +nearer the sun than we are, is almost continually enveloped in heavy +clouds of vapor, which, unless they were half fish, must surely +suffocate them. They doubtless seek the depths of water when these +clouds of thick vapor arise. Upon emerging, however, they have to face +such intense heat as none of us could tolerate a minute and live.... +They are no doubt provided with steel-like skin to resist this +temperature.... That they are of a fierce temperament there can be +little doubt, as their atmosphere, which is twice the weight of ours, is +so overcharged with electricity, owing to the heat and clouds of vapor, +that violent storms are constantly breaking over them, doubtless killing +thousands of them at a time and tending to make the natures of the +survivors as fierce as the elements which surround them.... Their year +is but half as long as ours, and this--impeding the laws of propagation, +thus making impossible the higher order of mankind--would naturally +have the effect of rendering their lives a short, reckless, and +ferocious existence, full of unrestrained cruelty and passions....' + +"And now," continued Almos, with a smile, after closing the volume, "you +see there is no occasion for apologies from you." + +"No," I answered, somewhat dryly. + +"The fact is, my dear fellow," said Almos, laughing and seeming to enjoy +the situation immensely, "the entire solar system is pursuing the same +path; what A thinks of B, B has already thought of A." + +The failing light on my instrument at this moment gave warning of the +passing of Mars out of wave contact, and we were obliged to bid each +other good-bye, Almos promising important revelations on the morrow. + +As I stood for a moment before my instrument, now wrapped in darkness, I +was conscious of a strange feeling that, in bidding Almos adieu, I had +also parted from another inhabitant of Mars. Though well aware that I +had only seen and conversed with Almos, my mind, nevertheless, also +reproduced the likeness of a young girl, wonderfully beautiful. I had +first experienced this mental image immediately after my first +conversation with Almos. At that time I had tried hard to put it from me +as merely a delusion resulting from nervous tension. But I found that +after each interview with Almos, the image became clearer and more +definitely fixed in my mind, until now I firmly believed in the +existence of this beautiful being on Mars, and, remarkable though it +seemed, I could not deny my growing affection for her. I had not +mentioned this mental image to Almos, as I felt convinced that he knew +nothing of it, and therefore would be unable to help me in any way. +Moreover, my training had taught me to seek a scientific reason for +things which might appeal to the superstitious as weird and uncanny. I +was therefore loath to speak of it to Almos, until I had proved beyond +doubt that it was not an hallucination. + +After I had spent many hours in vainly seeking a possible cause for this +mysterious mental image, the realization that I was but the veriest +infant in the wonderful achievements of our sister planet, finally +decided me upon the wiser course of leaving such matters until I had +become better acquainted with Martian inventions and scientific +progress. I therefore looked forward to visiting this wonderful world +with the greatest anticipation, and though I was entirely ignorant of +how this stupendous and seemingly impossible feat should be +accomplished, such was my faith in Almos' superior knowledge of science, +that I did not, for a moment, doubt the possibility of such a thing. +Little did I realize the fearful nature of the journey--the success of +which was based entirely on theories--or I would have shrunk in horror +from such an undertaking. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING. + + +The greater part of the next day was spent in moving the rest of my +belongings to my new quarters and in settling down there. Indeed, so +occupied was I with this task, that the approach of darkness found me +quite unprepared for wave contact with Mars. I had been obliged to take +my instrument apart in order to allow the larger pieces of furniture to +be brought into the room, and it required almost two hours to put it +together again. + +When at last all was in readiness and I had turned on the current, I +found my Martian friend waiting for me. + +"This is to be the last of my narrative," he remarked, after we had +greeted each other. + +"What!" I ejaculated in amazement. + +"You see, my dear fellow," continued Almos, "it was necessary for you +to become gradually acquainted with the advanced contions on Mars, +properly to understand them, and I have tried to school your mind +accordingly. It is essential, however, for you to see these things, +fully to appreciate the advancement of almost twenty centuries, and only +thus can my highest ambition be realized." + +"How is it possible?" + +"When I have told you of several important ways in which life on Mars +differs from that on Earth, you will more readily understand. + +"I have said that unhappiness on Mars is almost unknown. It is only the +presence of ill health that causes unhappiness. If the body can be kept +in a condition of absolutely perfect health--and by that I mean +something far beyond what is considered perfect health on Earth--then +unhappiness is impossible. Its causes, sorrow, jealousy, envy, hatred, +and discontent, are eliminated, and a normal condition of perfect +immunity from wrong-doing and unhappiness exists. + +"It has been discovered on Earth that crime is the result of a diseased +brain, and with us this discovery, in time, developed the fact that +wrong-doing, even in its minor phases, is the result of physical ill +health. Maintain, then, a perfect state of bodily health in a community, +and there is no wrong-doing and consequent unhappiness. + +"The means of obtaining this bodily health was discovered on Mars, in +the form of invisible light rays, almost six hundred years ago, and its +discovery led to a complete transformation in social conditions, +establishing perfect tranquillity and happiness upon the entire globe. + +"Separate governments became intolerable and were abandoned when race +distinction was forgotten, and the people of Mars became as one family, +speaking one tongue. Friendship for one's neighbor was transmuted into +love for one's brother. The pursuit of personal gain was replaced by a +desire to work for the good of all, and now a keen individual sense of +right and duty actuates the entire population, and is paramount in all +things. Duties are performed without other compensation than that which +the fulfillment of something well done brings. + +"It was soon found that the remarkable regenerating properties of these +rays perpetuated life and youth. Not only did they prevent sickness of +any kind, but they rebuilt the tissues of the body as fast as they wore +out, thus making the aging of the body impossible. A child therefore +grows up to full manhood or womanhood and remains in that state of the +body's highest excellence. While the child is developing the rays +stimulate his progress; anything beyond that would be decaying, a +condition the rays prevent." + +Accustomed though I had become to a long recital of the most marvelous +accounts without interrupting, I could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment at the information that Martians enjoy everlasting life. + +Almos received my evident amazement with the quiet smile I had grown +accustomed to observe upon such occasions, and, with a view of +illustrating the point further, said: + +"Although one's actual age becomes a very unimportant matter when, +instead of being limited to sixty or seventy years, it extends over +hundreds of years, I can readily ascertain my age, from the fact that I +was twenty years old at the time these wonderful rays were discovered. I +have lived, then, about six hundred of Earth's years, or three hundred +Martian years." + +"Six hundred years!" I exclaimed, as I looked at the reflection of his +handsome face; his eyes flashing, his cheeks aglow with ruddy health, +his whole countenance animated with the full vigor of manhood. + +"Of course, we do not know how long the effects of regenerating rays +will make it possible to live," pursued Almos, "but in theory, it would +seem that by their daily use perfect health will be assured, and life +itself will continue indefinitely." + +"And death become unknown on Mars!" I added, enthusiastically. + +"Not quite unknown," rejoined Almos. "For lives are sometimes lost in +accidents. Instant death defies all our science, and will not be +conquered. But in accidents, no matter how serious, where a spark of +life remains, we can prevent that from escaping until the body is in a +condition to take care of it. + +"This is accomplished by a device known as a virator, which, though +simple in construction, is the greatest marvel of the age. It consists +of a dome, made of material similar to glass in appearance, but which +differs from anything else known, in that it is absolutely atomless. +This dome fits over the operating table, upon which the patient lies, +with just sufficient room for two persons inside, and is kept at the +temperature of the body. On its top is a small globe made of the same +material, measuring but a few inches in diameter, which is connected +with the large chamber below by a neck or passage about an inch wide. +The patient is placed inside, and there operated upon. If life leaves +the body, either during the operation or after, the spirit ascends +through the narrow passage into the small globe above and is there +retained, as it cannot pass through the material of which the walls of +this chamber are constructed. The body is then kept continually bathed +in the regenerating rays, which not only preserve it as if life were in +it, but actually carry on the process of healing. This continues until +the body is in a perfectly sound and healthy condition again, and well +able to retain life. + +"And now occurs the most wonderful of all. When everything is in +readiness for the spirit to enter the body again, a strong flow of +super-radium is sent through the top globe from an instrument attached. +Passing through the small chamber and down the narrow passage, it +reaches the body, and immediately changes to a return flow. This current +is but momentary; the patient is seen to move, and the body is once more +quickened by the life spark. The flow of super-radium has conveyed the +spirit of the patient from the small chamber above and released it in +the body as it returned, in exactly the same manner as it does with +light-waves or sound-waves." + +"Marvelous!" I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend this +almost miraculous achievement. With such vast scientific resources +nothing seemed impossible to Martians. + +Almos had stopped abruptly. A change came over him. His face paled and +his lips set in a hard, determined expression. Instantly I felt my every +faculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of this +remarkable being. + +Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinated +by a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said: + +"A few words more and we have reached that point at which death may +await the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther. A death that no +scientific knowledge can avert. I have tried to school your mind, to the +end that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, +never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish to +attempt, you must risk alone. + +"Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned the +millions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, +which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live in +another world. Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earth +or Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over. You must consider +the possible consequences ere it be too late." + +"Never!" I cried. "My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I have +proceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal. +Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs me +my life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earth +ever can be." + +"Well, my brave fellow," said Almos, his voice softening, "you must +follow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, for +to-morrow I can be of no assistance to you. Alone you must undertake the +journey." + +I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what I +had said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feeling +now that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, the +facts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom I +fully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, was +inextricably bound with mine. I now decided to do so on the first +opportunity. + +"I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upper +chamber of a virator after it has left the body," pursued Almos, "and as +it is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe the +additions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also my +theories in connection with them. + +"To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected the +receiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface. +This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatus +substituted, from which I have also removed the image surface. Thus we +may have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope to +Earth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projecting +apparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth and +returning into the receiving apparatus. + +"This is exactly the condition that exists in a virator in ordinary use +with these exceptions: the current of super-radium is made to flow +either in or out of the bottom chamber, as well as the top; instead of +being local, the current is between Earth and Mars, and consequently +much more powerful. The currents from both the top and bottom chambers +are controlled by clockwork which I have devised for that purpose, and +in place of an operating table in the virator I have substituted a +couch. + +"And now I enjoin you to summon all your courage, for in this +undertaking nothing but nerves of steel will carry you safely through." + +"I shall faithfully carry out your instructions, Almos," I responded, +trying to appear perfectly calm, though my being fifteen hundred years +behind Martian times never seemed so much a handicap as now. + +"Follow me, then, word for word," resumed Almos. "Understand all I say, +for in the error of a second, the misconception of a word, the hesitancy +of a moment, there is death! + +"To-morrow, when that part of the Earth's surface on which Paris is +situated appears, I shall attach the receiving apparatus of the +radioscope to the lower chamber of the virator, so that the return +current from Earth will flow into it. I shall then set the clockwork to +turn on the current of super-radium in half an hour. In that time my +body must be in a condition to receive your spirit." + +I could not suppress a shudder upon hearing this, but I deemed it best +not to interrupt Almos. + +"Filling a cone with the required amount of chloroform, I shall enter +the virator, and, reclining upon the couch, place the cone over my mouth +and nose. In a few minutes my spirit will have passed into the upper +chamber. + +"By experimenting, I have found that regenerating rays are contained in +super-radium. In fact, my theory is that the regenerating rays and the +invisible rays of super-radium are synonymous. Such being the case, when +the current of super-radium is turned on by the clockwork, it will flow +to Earth and, returning, enter the virator and restore my body to a +normal condition, freeing it from the fumes of chloroform and making it +capable of receiving its new life. + +"The glow of your instrument, in response to the super-radium current, +will warn you that this has taken place, and you must then prepare +yourself for departure. You will not observe any image, owing to my +having removed the lenses of the radioscope, but your instrument will +glow in response to the current. + +"Having prepared a cone of chloroform, you must move a couch directly in +front of your instrument, so that upon lying down your body will obscure +the rays from it. You will thus know that you are in the path of the +super-radium current; this is of the greatest importance as, otherwise, +your spirit would undoubtedly escape upon leaving the body and be lost +forever. + +"After taking every possible precaution to safeguard against any +movement of the body, place the cone securely over your mouth and nose. +Within a short time your spirit will leave the body and will instantly +be caught up by the super-radium current, on its return flow to Mars. +Entering the receiving apparatus and thus passing into the virator, the +flow will come into direct contact with my body, into which it will +discharge your spirit." + +Almos stopped abruptly, consternation written on his face. A moment +later, I realized the cause--the two planets were passing out of wave +contact. At such a critical moment nothing could be more unfortunate, +and I was about hastily to suggest a postponement, when Almos exclaimed: +"It is all right!--I shall leave----" + +Wave contact ceased before he had time to finish the sentence, and I was +left standing before the instrument in a state of irresolution. + +How could I arrive on Mars totally unprepared to meet the conditions? +Upon my regaining consciousness these might present themselves in the +most urgent form, demanding immediate attention and a thorough knowledge +of Martian sciences. Almos' life, indeed, might depend upon just such a +condition. + +Undetermined upon the course I should pursue the next day, my mind +filled with the most formidable fancies of so strange an undertaking, I +at last sought repose, hoping that with the morrow would come clearer +thought. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +"AS OTHERS SEE US." + + +The next morning found me resolved to make the journey to Mars at any +cost. That Almos had intended to say he would leave further +instructions, I had no doubt. The instructions would probably be +written, and placed where I would immediately see them upon regaining +consciousness. In any event, I argued, if, at the usual hour of Martian +contact, my instrument should glow in response to super-radium, it would +clearly be my duty to fulfil my part of the agreement, for the glow +would be proof that Almos had fulfilled his and that his spirit had +passed into the upper chamber of the virator. + +I had purchased the necessary articles for my remarkable journey, and +had taken the precaution to fasten a notice outside my door to the +effect that I would be out during the evening. I could not restrain a +grim smile at the thought of the uncanny literal truth in this +announcement. + +These things done I fell to speculating upon what would be my experience +on Mars if, indeed, I ever reached that planet. For the first hours, try +as I would to check it, there was, at times, a doubt as to the outcome +of this wild soul-adventure. But, strange as it may appear, although I +fully realized the danger attending such an undertaking, the success of +which was based entirely on theories, it did not, in any way, act as a +deterrent. So great was the prize to be attained, that the risk of life +seemed unimportant. Indeed, the first step of the journey to Mars was to +take my life, as we understand the term on Earth, and, having become +reconciled to this, I was not sensible of any danger beyond. So absorbed +was I in these thoughts, that the time passed without my realizing it, +and only the fading daylight warned me of the near approach of the hour +of Martian contact. + +I now made a complete examination of all the batteries and coils of my +instrument, as failure in any of these might result most seriously. +Finding all to be in perfect working order, I next proceeded to arrange +my couch so as to bring it directly between the instrument and the +window. Having thus completed my preparations, possessed by conflicting +emotions, I now waited for the appearance of Mars. + +Early in the day I had arranged my letters and private papers so that in +the event of the worst happening, they could be readily packed, and it +now occurred to me that it would be only proper to leave a word of +explanation with them. I therefore hastily penned a note to a cousin +living in England--my nearest relative--briefly explaining my discovery +of the Martian super-radium current, and also the character of the +adventure in which I was about to participate. This note I placed with +my papers. + +Returning to the instrument, I discovered that Mars was already visible. +Quickly turning on the current and finding no responsive glow, I knew +that Almos was already making the preparations he had described to me. +He had said that within half an hour the clockwork would turn on the +current, and the glow of my instrument would be the signal for my +departure. + +No time was to be lost. Securely fastening the door of my room, I +prepared the cone of chloroform and extinguished the light, in order not +to excite the suspicion of a chance caller during the evening. + +I now sat on the couch awaiting with anxiety the current of super-radium +that would convey me to the far world of my dreams. Minutes seemed like +hours, as I sat in the darkness, with every nerve strained to its +uttermost, awaiting Death. What if Death should refuse to release me! +Millions have been wrapped in Death's cold arms, but no mortal has +returned to give accounting. + +What was that!--A blinding flash made me instantly shield my eyes. Ah! +The glow at last! But such was its dazzling brilliancy that I could not +stand the glare. I had been accustomed to see the glow gradually creep +up the surface of the instrument, slowly growing brighter as the rim of +the star appeared above the window casement, but this time Mars had +risen to full view before the current was turned on by the clockwork. +This was ample proof that everything had happened as Almos had planned. +It was now my turn to act and I must not hesitate. Stretching myself on +the couch so that I came into full contact with the current of +super-radium, I seized the cone saturated with chloroform, and fastened +it securely over my mouth and nose. + +A few moments of a slightly suffocating sensation, then a long, long +fall, gradual at first, then quicker, quicker-- + + * * * * * + +With a feeling of exhilaration, such as I had never before experienced, +I opened my eyes and sprang to my feet. My brain was perfectly clear, +and so active that my mind utterly failed to keep pace with the +multitude of thoughts that were crowded upon it--thoughts that were +strange to my mind, yet perfectly familiar to my brain, if this +paradoxical statement may stand. It seemed as if my mind stood, apart +and marveled at the remarkable activity and knowledge possessed by the +brain--of which knowledge my mind was entirely ignorant. + +I was in another world, millions of miles away from Earth. My mind +realized that something little short of a miracle had happened, and yet +I felt absolutely familiar with all the objects about me. The glass-like +walls that surrounded me, reaching up and forming a dome several feet +above my head; the narrow passage in the center of the dome (just as the +neck of a bottle would appear if viewed from inside), through which the +spirit of Almos had passed to the chamber above; all these were +wonderfully familiar to me. + +I was in the virator, but it was uncomfortable to remain inside, as the +air was oppressively warm. Moreover, dictated my brain, I must prepare +the virator for my return within five hours, and my hand instinctively +grasped a lever in the wall of the apparatus. A door opened and I +stepped out, carefully closing it behind me. Again I was astonished at +my wonderful familiarity with everything. If I had lived on Mars all my +life, I could not have had a more intimate knowledge of my surroundings. +I seemed to know exactly how to proceed, and after attending to several +important details, and carefully noting the temperature of the virator +on a thermometer placed for that purpose, I consulted a chronometer to +ascertain how long it would be safe for me to remain on Mars. I found +that, allowing a half-hour for the process of arrival and the same for +departure, I had just five hours. + +My mind, at first stunned by the new and strange conditions to which it +was subjected, now gradually began to realize its remarkable position in +relation to the brain. + +That the mind and the spirit are one, or so closely related as to be +indistinguishable and inseparable, was now beyond doubt, as I was keenly +aware of all that had happened to me on Earth, showing that my mind not +only existed, but also possessed the same faculty of thought in Almos' +body as it did in mine while on Earth. Here was a positive proof, in +fact a demonstration, of the theory advanced by some scientists, that +the mind is separate and distinct from the brain. + +But the gulf that lies between life and death remained as wide as ever. +Death was still shrouded in mystery, for my mind knew nothing from the +moment it left the body on Earth, until it awakened in the body on Mars. +Flesh and blood, then, were essential to the mind's existence. Mind or +spirit must have expression through some form. Although man may achieve +much by scientific advancement, that to which he has progressed is but +as a grain of sand in the desert, to the wonders that surround him. +Science shall never penetrate the mystery of those things that are +withheld from him. + +The brain of which my mind now took control, acted merely as the +material handle by which the machinery of the body was operated, thus +converting thoughts into actions. But although my mind, having by now +become perfectly familiar with the strange conditions, was able to +record new impressions on the brain, there still existed the impression +of Almos' thoughts. It resembled a book which my mind could instantly +refer to and be guided by, and thus was I in possession of a perfect +knowledge of Mars, its people, and its language. + +I now realized that my first actions, upon becoming conscious, had +simply been carrying out the instructions Almos had left for me. Strange +to the conditions in those first few minutes, I had instinctively done +what the brain dictated. In this remarkable way had Almos completed the +instructions he was about to give me when interrupted by the cessation +of wave contact. + +Having thus arrived at what I felt to be the true relation of my mind +with Almos' body, I now turned my attention to the objects surrounding +me. + +I stood in a room about the size of my laboratory on Earth. There were +no windows to admit light, but the ceiling, which was fully twenty feet +high, emitted a beautifully diffused white light, which filled every +corner of the room, leaving absolutely no shadows. Its effect was that +of daylight, and so closely did it resemble the sky, that, had I not +been supplied with Almos' knowledge of Martian science, I would have +naturally supposed that there was no ceiling to the room. Immediately +upon the question coming into my mind, however, I became aware that the +ceiling was coated with a composition, one of the component parts of +which was radium in a highly developed state. Its action upon the other +elements that composed this substance resulted in a perpetual light +without heat, which was equal in every way to daylight. + +The tourist, finding himself in a new country, has but one thought, one +ambition, that of seeing all he can; yet, strange to say, although a +whole new world lay before me, my first thought was of Mother Earth. A +desire to view my old habitat as Martians see it seemed almost +irresistible. + +To touch the radioscope that was trained on Earth, would result in an +instant change taking place in my body as it lay in the laboratory, and +this would be disastrous. It was only the regenerating properties of the +super-radium current that kept it in a state acceptable to my return, +and the delicate mechanism of this instrument was regulated so as to +keep the current exactly in position, as long as that part of the +Earth's surface was exposed to Mars. To interfere then with this +current, for a moment, would mean certain death. + +Immediately I became conscious of the presence of another instrument, +which was in a room adjoining, and, feeling absolutely familiar with +every inch of the way, I proceeded thence. The room was a small one, +just large enough, indeed, to operate the radioscope, which was exactly +the same as the one in the room I had just quitted. + +With a perfect knowledge of the mechanism of the instrument, I was soon +at work adjusting the projecting and receiving apparatus. An ordinary +telescope was attached to the huge tube of the radioscope, and with +Almos' dexterity I soon located Earth through it, thus sighting the +radioscope for that planet. + +I had now but to turn on the current to see the people on Earth and +watch their doings, as had done Martians for hundreds of years, but, +with my hand on the lever that controlled the current, I paused. + +The sight of Earth, as it appeared through the telescope, was too +beautiful to pass by with a mere glance. Half illuminated, owing to the +greater distance of Mars from the sun and the position of the planets at +that time, Earth appeared about the size the moon looks to the naked +eye. But what a wonderful sight! Bathed in sunlight lay the eastern half +of the continents of North and South America, faintly outlined by the +pale blue of the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. So familiar was +I with the appearance of these two great continents as drawn in an +atlas, that I had difficulty in recognizing them as they now appeared. +Mexico and Central America seemed almost as broad as that part of the +United States from San Francisco to Washington; the whole tapering down +from Canada to Cape Horn almost in the shape of a cone. + +Aeronauts passing over a lake or river are able to see the bottom, owing +to their altitude; this was undoubtedly the explanation of the strange +appearance of the continents of North and South America. On account of +the enormous distance I was away from Earth, the shallow waters appeared +as land, obliterating completely the familiar coast line, and only the +extreme depth of an ocean showed a pale blue. + +Night covered Europe and Africa, which would otherwise have been visible +to me, and the shadow of darkness was steadily creeping across the +Atlantic Ocean, as the Earth revolved upon its axis. I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought that I must cover that enormous +distance ere it revolved too far. + +I now moved the lever that controlled the current, and at once the lens +in the receiving apparatus shone with a brilliant dark blue color. The +current of super-radium had reached Earth and returned in less than a +second, and I saw, beautifully pictured before me, an expanse of ocean +with waves tumbling and tossing so near me that it seemed as if I were +but a few feet above them. + +By diminishing the current I found that the image on the lens grew +smaller, the effect being exactly the same as that from a balloon +rising. The picture at first appeared slanting at an angle of about +thirty degrees, owing to the curvature of the Earth, but by manipulating +a small lever close at hand that operated a mirror in the radioscope, +this defect was corrected. + +After searching about with the current, I at last came upon a large +steamer, evidently an ocean liner. Throwing huge billows aside in clouds +of white spray as she cut through the water, she made a beautiful sight, +and it was with difficulty that I kept her in the field of vision. As I +appeared to be looking straight down upon her decks, it was evident that +she was about in the center of the Earth's surface exposed to Mars. + +I now moved the current in a westerly direction, travelling at what +would be a terrific speed on Earth, until I came to land. Not +recognizing the small coast town that first came in view, I moved up the +coast in a northerly direction, diminishing the current until I could +see a large stretch of country. Toward the northwest a large city +appeared, which I immediately recognized as Washington. Directing the +instrument to that city, I increased the current until the people on the +streets measured two or three feet on the lens of my instrument. Here I +found that the curvature of the Earth resulted in my looking down +obliquely at the objects on its surface, but not at a sufficient angle +to see the faces of those who passed across my lens. + +But now I became aware of a strange condition that, owing to the motion +of the liner at sea, had escaped my notice before. Although I was +looking at the people passing before one of the large government +buildings in Washington, I had to keep regulating the instrument in +order to keep this building in view. Moreover, I discovered that I had +to regulate it as fast as I had done with the ocean liner. In fact, +obviously the liner's speed mattered but little; it was the rate at +which the Earth was revolving upon its axis and journeying around the +sun with which I had to contend. Through the telescope this was not +discernible, but now that I had come into such close visual contact with +the Earth's surface, I realized the terrific speed with which it rushed +through space. Hundreds of miles a minute was the speed my instrument +had to be regulated to, in order to keep an object on Earth in view--the +motion of the liner was insignificant! + +Moving the current eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered that +darkness in no way hindered my view of objects on Earth's surface. The +reproduction on the lens, however, presented quite a different +appearance to that which I had witnessed while observing the part of +Earth illuminated by the sun. The beautiful colors which contributed so +much realism to the picture were now replaced by a sombre gray tone, +greatly resembling a photograph in appearance. + +So absorbed had I become in all that this wonderful instrument revealed +to me of the different phases of life on Earth, that I forgot all else, +until, with a start, I realized that someone was moving about in the +large room which contained the virator that I had recently left. I was +filled with apprehension. Who could it be? And what was the reason of +this unexpected visit? Almos had not warned me against intrusion of any +kind, and I felt that to meet and converse with a Martian, thus +unprepared, would be impossible. In that room, however, were the +instruments that held two lives within their delicate mechanism, and +even now they might have been tampered with enough to cause the most +serious consequences. I must not hesitate a moment longer. Hastening +down the passage that led to the larger room, I pushed aside the heavy +portieres and found myself in the presence of a Martian. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH. + + +My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall, +handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank and +open countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without a +moment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, in +the composite language of Mars, said: + +"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I have +interrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is--" + +"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to see +you at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?" + +Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner that +did not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. In +spite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to face +with an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor did +it require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency, +followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man had +spoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitor +and with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of the +first few moments had passed, that my mind could take control whenever +it exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished, +or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information. +Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced in +answering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there was +no danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personality +in his friend. + +I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars' +greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latest +invention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. A +recognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, Almos' counsel +was sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recital +of this wonderful instrument. + +Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours in +which it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in my +observations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being aware +of the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I, +however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in a +few minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this new +undertaking. + +I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a new +and strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returning +within two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almos +to attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had taken +were too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of this +wonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertainty +which made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent in +another world. If the return current failed to do what was expected of +it, if I had erred in my calculation of the time I could remain on +Mars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the results +would be disastrous. + +I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to my +host that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatory +within two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and, +approaching my visitor, I said: + +"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost, +as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demands +my attention in two hours." + +I held back the portières as Reon passed out, and following him down a +short passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of white +marble. + +A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, and +the dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads of +diamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant did +they appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out what +appeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scattered +here and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of small +canoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland, +reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air. +As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in my +mind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air by +a metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to the +surface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that their +planet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling. +The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of this +immense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was not +a fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existed +at the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before this +discovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having made +the discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off the +planet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling pole +that it was argued that the pole must run through the center of the +planet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which covered +the rest of the surface. + +Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the pole +itself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations were +made as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surface +until the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore was +encountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intense +heat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. This +strange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was found +to possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to the +surface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repelling +force, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this same +force was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity of +an unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole. +The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great as +the specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and by +its use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerial +navigation on Mars had been solved. + +Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this the +moment the question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but, +although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderful +people, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strong +personality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had been +preparing an aerenoid for our use--such was the Martian name for these +airships--was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain that +with the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting of +Almos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicion +of my true personality. + +The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed in +appearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us. +Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer's +portholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, as +it rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for the +purpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal which +the Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two or +more strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight in +their construction was of little importance. While resting on the +ground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor, +thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car the +casing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, until +enough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause the +repelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure, +any desired height could thus be attained. + +The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attain +great speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closed +flush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces of +machinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means of +propulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that I +could not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence of +scientific progress. + +Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed to +produce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rear +half, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, and +tapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern, +where it ended in an opening one inch in diameter. By a chemical +process the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing a +vacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the small +opening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussion +against the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving the +aerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at great +speed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simple +though this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome and +the long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, the +speed thus attained was remarkable. + +Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of the +car afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and we +rose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glide +along without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way through +the many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, coming +from a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate the +observatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed close +by them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfully +beautiful--beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknown +for hundreds of years. + +Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a river +about a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet or +more from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed every +hundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city street +stretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me that +this was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as we +passed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, running +parallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowing +rapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this! + +Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly until +within thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased until +the lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundred +miles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration or +sound. At such a speed it was possible to encircle Mars in seventy +minutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "Midsummer +Night's Dream," who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in forty +minutes. + +On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canals +equally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint gray +light appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crowned +the banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itself +appeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens. +In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and now +it was the middle of the afternoon. + +The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids, +travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, was +obvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than these +magnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planet +with such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source of +great wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of years +old, the method of constructing this gigantic system of canals remains +enshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surrounds +the building of the pyramids in Egypt. + +I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals were +put, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid. +The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not for +the water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles without +propulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving a +lever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In an +instant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending high +into the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks on +either side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I now +realized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat in +appearance. + +Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile a +minute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded down +several branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canal +banks. Higher and higher we ascended until we were about a thousand +feet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed. + +A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye could +reach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marble +buildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees, +could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and beside +sparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities or +towns--not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in any +particular direction. + +No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in our +car was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the light +atmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It was +evidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible under +cover in the daytime. + +Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I was +at once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which was +intensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almost +black. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars were +visible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth with +such brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossible +to look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated the +enormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, which +diffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearance +of the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admiration +until, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come to +rest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a most +palatial building. + +Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attached +to the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty upon +landing, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place at +the levers and joined me. + +There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of the +high-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter class +resembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and it +was evident that all were inside listening to the recital of the +lumaharp. + +As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discover +that the outside walls of this building were entirely covered with +beautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus. +Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it, +too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos. +The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; these +and many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved with +remarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and were +looked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world. + +As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portières, and, +passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be an +immense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting in +groups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlight +streamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolled +back, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that the +Martians were to be found during the heat of the day. + +Rain being unknown, it was necessary to grow the more delicate plants +where they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of the +midday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season. +I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found only +upon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of the +green these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardy +pink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry and +sandy soil. + +Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that I +might reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among the +tall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring the +beautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers also +indigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in the +most cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importance +of saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of the +individual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyable +conversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their names +and the matters of interest to them. All were very enthusiastic about +the lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderful +instrument. + +As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almos +was not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but as +there were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reason +to visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind. + +Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far from +the entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to be +directed back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, every +nerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill the +air. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision of +beautiful flowers--flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves, +and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in a +volume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description. + +As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, a +gradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, its +inventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man of +great learning, but of few words; Sarraccus had won the love and +admiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that had +given the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who had +discovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, been +used by others until many important inventions had developed from it, +such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination without +expenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all of +which, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement of +this great people. + +The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possible +to reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at the +time of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expedited +the movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of every +quarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy and +rapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and towns +were soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained the +ideal, and became a World Beautiful--the magnificent estate of one large +family. + +And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a voice to sing of their +beauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea that +inasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors and +shades of a flower--beauty too rare for the hand of man to +reproduce--there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound or +vibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound. +Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade of +the object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument were +made sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicate +undulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance with +the light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness to +the beauty of the flower, would result. + +After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in the +form of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated in +response to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp will +often be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice, +and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of this +wire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, and it +was only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they were +discovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, and +each was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certain +color. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent every +possible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two large +drums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed in +chambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by the +delicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of the +wind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner of +the large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied the +position of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wall +opposite them. + +The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrown +upon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicate +shade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated in +response to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was the +ineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams of +beauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the hand +of man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anything +that the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of the +field receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yet +simple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? As +different flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the music +change; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would change +again to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life and +beauty. + +For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic power +I was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in the +direction of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understood +and sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemed +to become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surged +through that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, as +other music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I was +sensible of a yearning for a love--a love that was soon forgotten, and I +knew it to be mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgotten +the love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, and +now it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should ever +return to this paradise? + +Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess of +emotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think. +Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arbor +was almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone and +unobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which I +now felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank on +my arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soul +seemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music. + +I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a hand +softly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as the +melody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!" + +The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow. +Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name that +instinctively came to my lips--"Zarlah!" It was as if another man had +spoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held a +prisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose image +I had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah! + +I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination, +and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that this +beautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of the +heart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her. + +What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those first +moments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words, +Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave no +evidence of how I was torn within, I said: + +"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to linger +here?" + +"My studies have brought me here," she answered, gently withdrawing her +hand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes to +mine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you no +experiments at the observatory that demand your attention that you can +afford to linger here, Almos?" + +How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could not +hope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart. +There was uncertainty in the future--perhaps I would never again be +given the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned. + +Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into her +wonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here, +Zarlah, was to think of you." + +A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for some +seconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so I +could not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hear +the wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?" + +"I did," I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered only +of you--the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning in +my heart--it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love for +you, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune of golden moments; +then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowers +direct from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him that +I should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to the +truth that is within the soul." + +I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back the +waves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiant +with the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passed +before me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not the +face of Helen--that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy--have +paled into insignificance beside it? + +For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break that +sacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joy +of feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in my +arms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlah +whispered: + +"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties that +have been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once. +Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits." + +The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a full +realization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah I +was a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me to +return to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense of +duty--her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that I +was not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even the +knowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even if +it were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change of +personality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of how +the change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it; +it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could know +nothing--a spirit even from an alien world. + +Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlah +through this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon was +to wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of my +own hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of which +I had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacred +duty. I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though my +cup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, and +when Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, I +quickly assented with all a lover's eagerness. + +We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, I +saw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merry +party in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends, +I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestly +besought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory. + +A few words of farewell--a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; and +as I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could not +help marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held in +the eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward than +their own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought of +the endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is a +slave to Gold. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID. + + +Reon was at his place by the levers when I stepped into the aerenoid, +and as I closed and fastened the steel door, we slowly rose, and +describing a large circle, sailed toward the canal. As the sun was now +low in the heavens, numerous open aerenoids were to be seen, but these +were soon passed, and within a few minutes we had reached the branch +canal where our speed increased. + +My thoughts were now turned to the long journey before me. So deeply +absorbed had I been in the rapid events since I left the observatory, +that I had given little thought to time. My great happiness at meeting +and being with Zarlah had caused me to forget completely the importance +of returning to the observatory within two hours, and as the thought +now flashed through my mind, I hastily consulted the time. To my great +dismay I found I had but twenty minutes in which to cover quarter of +Mars. This I knew was possible, but it left such a narrow margin that +any delay or accident, en route, would prove disastrous to our plans, +thus bringing fatal consequences. + +We had now reached the large canal in which we had attained such great +speed, and, rising, we proceeded to pass over it. As we crossed the +banks there came a rushing sound from beneath us, as of a mighty gust of +wind, and, looking through one of the small windows in the side of the +car, I saw in the distance a speck, which, in another moment, +disappeared. Our aerenoid now gently rocked with the motion of a boat +that is in the swell of a passing steamer, and I instantly realized that +another aerenoid, travelling at a terrific speed, had passed in the +canal beneath us. + +We had now reached the canal that ran parallel to the one over which we +had just passed. This was in every way similar to the first and was used +by aerenoids going in an opposite direction. Into this canal we turned, +sinking lower as our speed increased, until, when we had reached our +maximum speed, we were travelling not more than thirty feet above the +water. Thus, whenever necessary, we were ready for an instant plunge in +order to reduce our speed, and thus did this simple rule of starting +high and sinking lower as the speed increased make collisions +impossible. + +As it was late in the afternoon when we started, the daylight soon +faded, and in a few minutes we had reached complete darkness, the double +line of lights on the canal banks being our only guide. Anxiously did I +count the minutes as we sped along, but knowing the danger of +distracting Reon's attention, even for a moment, while we were +travelling at such a terrific speed, I kept silent, nor did I allow my +manner to give any evidence of my anxiety. + +I now realized that if I reached the observatory in time, I would owe my +life to Zarlah. Twice had she reminded me of my duties at the +observatory, and had insisted upon my immediate departure, when, under +the influence of her great beauty, I would have lingered until too late. +My mind was fully determined as to how to proceed with regard to +righting the wrong I felt I had done Almos, in confessing to Zarlah my +love for her. I would leave a note for him at the observatory to the +effect that I wished to communicate with him the following evening, when +I would tell him all. + +The hopelessness of my love was plain, for it was Almos whom she loved, +and she believed also that Almos had confessed his love to her; and, +with a lover's conviction that everyone must love the one he loves, I +felt that Almos undoubtedly loved Zarlah. Indeed, it was probably his +affection for her through which I had silently won her confession. Almos +would then have no cause to regret my action, and Zarlah would never +know the strange circumstances that had brought them together. Thus did +I picture in my mind a happy conclusion to my selfish and precipitate +action, which, I had feared at first, must bring overwhelming sorrow and +humiliation into three lives, two of which were dearer to me than any on +Earth. + +I was roused from these meditations by the sudden roar of rushing waters +as, in order to reduce speed, we plunged along the surface of the +canal. We were nearing our destination at last, and my mind at once +reverted to the now imminent danger--that of arriving at the observatory +only to find that the wave contact with Paris had ceased, and I was too +late ever to return to the world from which I had come. In such a case, +I determined to write a brief account of my experiences to Almos, and, +after arranging the current of super-radium so that it would convey my +spirit out of the virator (whither I knew not), I would then enter the +virator and deliver the body to its rightful owner. + +Although I determined upon this course as being clearly my duty, in the +event of my being too late to return to Earth, the desperate nature of +such a proceeding roused me to action. We had now risen from the canal +and were floating slowly in the air at a considerable height. Striving +hard to suppress my agitation, I urged Reon to make more speed, and he +at once responded by increasing the power. As it was now after midnight +in this part of Mars, we were in no danger of encountering small +aerenoids in our flight, and in a few moments, to my great relief, I +distinguished the observatory lying far beneath us. Describing circles +over the building, we slowly descended and in a few seconds we had +reached the balcony. + +Thanking my companion with a hearty handshake (which came perfectly +natural even on Mars), I bade him adieu, and, stepping on to the +balcony, made my way into the observatory with all haste. Everything was +in the condition I had left it, and I was greatly relieved to find that +the necessary time for the process of departure still remained, before +wave contact with Paris ceased. My heart now went out in true gratitude +and love to her who, in the simple desire to do what was right, had +placed duty before her love, and had thus been of such inestimable +service to me. + +Immediately upon my arrival, I had prepared the virator for my journey +back to Earth by substituting the projecting apparatus of the radioscope +for the receiving apparatus. It was only necessary now to start the +clockwork that would shut off the current to earth in half an hour, and +would start the current flowing through the upper chamber of the +virator. + +After having written a brief note to Almos, saying that I wished to +communicate with him the following evening before making another visit, +I made a hasty examination of the current of super-radium which now +flowed through the virator to Earth from the projecting apparatus. The +instant my spirit was released, it would be caught up in this current +and conveyed to my body, where it lay in my rooms in Paris. In half an +hour the clockwork would shut off the current flowing to Earth, and +would then turn on the current which flowed through the upper chamber of +the virator, thus transferring Almos' spirit back to the body, as it lay +in the lower chamber. + +All was in perfect order, but it was not without a feeling of reluctance +and anxiety that I stepped into the virator and, after carefully +fastening the door, prepared the cone of chloroform. I realized that +there were many dangers attending the return journey that were not +present in my journey to Mars. If I had erred in my calculation of the +time the super-radium current could be kept on my body in Paris, or if +my body had moved in that time, it would undoubtedly mean death to me; +and the thought of whether Almos, in such a case, would learn of my +fate on the morrow flashed through my mind. Realizing the danger of such +apprehensions, not only from the loss of valuable time which they +occupied, but also from the fact that they tended to unnerve me at the +moment when hesitation meant death, I quickly fastened the chloroform +cone over my face and inhaled the fumes. + +A moment's consciousness--a flickering light-- + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE. + + +I opened my eyes--it was broad daylight, and for some moments I lay +dreamily surveying the familiar objects in my room, unconscious of all +that had happened to me during the previous night. Then, noticing that I +was fully dressed, a sudden realization of it all came upon me, and, +springing to my feet, I excitedly paced up and down my room, pinching my +arms and legs to make sure that they were in normal condition. +Satisfying myself upon this point, I then looked at the time, and, to my +astonishment, found that it was noon. + +As Mars passed out of wave contact about one o'clock in the morning, I +must have slept eleven hours after the return of my spirit to Earth. I +had greatly feared that even if it were my good fortune ever to regain +consciousness, it would be only to discover that I had lost the use of +my limbs and was powerless to move. That the super-radium current would +preserve my body in such a natural condition as even to induce sleep I +would not have believed possible. Yet there was every indication that I +had awakened from a natural sleep. I felt fresh and full of vigor, and +there on my couch lay the cone which, in my sleep, I had unfastened and, +in turning over, crushed. If I had remained unconscious the entire time +there would not have been this evidence of restlessness, and I +considered it of importance as being proof that my sleep had been +natural. Beyond this, however, I did not consider the removal of the +cone from my face as important, as the chloroform must have completely +evaporated soon after I became unconscious. + +Now that I was once again in my laboratory with the humdrum life of a +matter-of-fact world surging about me, evincing itself by the continual +roar of traffic which reached me through the open window, my remarkable +adventure of the night before seemed like a strange dream. As there was +no tangible proof that I had actually been on Mars, I might have been +led to the conclusion that I had chloroformed myself into +unconsciousness only, and had passed from this state into a deep sleep, +in which I had dreamed my remarkable experiences. But the clearness and +consistency of every detail were amply sufficient to convince me of the +genuineness of my experiences on Mars, and that the characters, so +vividly portrayed in my mind, lived in flesh and blood on a world +millions of miles away. Much more convincing than this, however, was the +moral obligation that I felt incumbent upon me--a duty I owed to +another. No dream could have left me with this keen sense of +responsibility. + +Alas, I knew only too well that I loved, with an impossible love, a +beautiful being of another planet, and that my duty lay in the +renunciation of this love to Almos, its rightful possessor. + +Thus my discovery had not brought me the joy of triumph. The proud +moments in an inventor's career when he holds up to the world the fruit +of his ingenuity and study could not be mine. Indeed, the thought of the +excitement that the news of such easy communication with Mars would +cause, if I demonstrated its truth before reputable scientists, made me +determined to guard the secret of my discovery the more jealously. +Hundreds of instruments similar to mine would be made, and it would soon +become known to all the inhabitants of Mars that they could talk to the +people of Earth, resulting in constant communication from all parts of +both planets. Such an innovation would soon be a regular pastime of the +rich. It would then be impossible for me to visit Mars again, as the +crossing of the currents of super-radium would add a grave danger to +such an undertaking. + +The possibility of my secret becoming known through an accident (someone +breaking into my room or overhearing me talk with Almos) now occurred to +me, and, in the fear of my being separated from Zarlah forever, I +determined upon another visit to Mars that evening. + +I had planned to tell Almos at once of my thoughtless confession of love +to Zarlah, but in an effort to justify my great desire to see her again, +I now saw several important reasons for postponing this. I had given my +promise to Zarlah to be with her the following evening, and it seemed +only honorable for me first to fulfil my promise to her. Moreover, under +the circumstances, it might be embarrassing for Almos to meet her upon +such short notice. When a man takes a step of this kind, he usually has +spent some time in consideration beforehand, how much more necessary, +then, is time for consideration when this step has been taken for him. I +therefore decided to keep my promise to Zarlah and to endeavor to visit +Mars again during the next wave contact. + +I did not regret having left the note for Almos, however, as I had no +means of telling whether the mechanism of the virator had done what was +expected of it, or not. Almos' life depended upon the accurate working +of this mechanism after I had gone, and I was anxious to learn of his +safety. He would also want to learn of my safe arrival before preparing +himself for another undertaking of the kind; to see each other was +therefore necessary. Almos would undoubtedly have warned me of this, had +not the cessation of wave contact prevented him from giving me +instructions. + +It was late in the afternoon when a feeling of intense hunger reminded +me that I had not tasted food for twenty-four hours. I contented myself, +however, with a light meal at a neighboring cafe, knowing the danger of +eating heavily at this time. To my great surprise, I found that this +small amount of food was evidently all my system required. Not only was +my hunger appeased, but, while returning to my rooms, I was conscious of +a strength and vigor which were entirely new to me, and which I now +remembered I had first experienced upon awakening. Could it be that the +super-radium current, possessing the wonderful regenerating rays that +had brought perpetual life to the people of Mars, was gradually working +this change in my body over a distance of millions of miles? Impossible +as this seemed there was no other way of accounting for the remarkable +change which had taken place in my body. + +The intense excitement I experienced at the thought of possessing +perpetual life, health, and youth was but momentary, and I reached my +laboratory with a full realization of the enormous responsibilities +which my discovery was placing upon me. I could no longer keep it +secret; each day that I withheld the knowledge of these rays from my +fellow beings, hundreds, nay thousands, of lives would be laid to my +account. The knowledge had not been given to me that I should guard it +selfishly. The hope that, even though I could never call Zarlah my own, +I might often spend a few happy hours with her in her Martian paradise +was now shattered forever. I must stifle my love or commit a crime +against every living soul on Earth; and as I paced my room in agony, +with my hands pressed to my temples to ease their throbbing, a great cry +of anguish from the multitude in Death's grasp rang through my brain. My +heart was torn asunder by two great conflicting emotions, Love and Duty, +and in this torture of mind and body I moved restlessly back and forth +in my room, until the fading light warned me of the near approach of +wave contact with Mars. + +There was but one course open to me; I would tell Almos of my experience +with the rays, and if he should decide that they were the same as the +regenerating rays, possessing all their properties, and that continual +life was now within reach of the people on Earth, I would make my +discovery public on the morrow. This would be my solemn duty, no matter +what sacrifice it involved, and I could not help feeling that this +second visit to Mars might be the last. + +A hasty examination of my instrument assured me that all was in order, +and, turning on the current, I now watched the surface of wires for the +glow that would signalize the commencement of wave contact. Should this +glow appear without an image of any kind it would have but one +meaning--that the mechanism of the virator had failed to do its work the +night previous, and that disaster had befallen Almos. + +My heart beat fast, therefore, when in a short time a faint glow +appeared on the upper portion of my instrument and rapidly spread until +it covered the entire surface. As it grew brighter I was obliged to turn +away, before I could recognize any image, and, as I stood shielding my +eyes from the strong glare, I felt my heart sink within me. But, before +I could approach the instrument again, I heard my name called in the +clear, ringing tones of Almos' beloved voice. + +I reached the instrument with a bound, and there, standing with his +hands extended toward me and a smile of greeting on his handsome face, I +saw my brave Martian brother. + +"My dear Almos, how glad I am to see you are safe!" I cried, tears of +joy springing to my eyes at finding that the fears of a moment ago were +unfounded. + +"It is entirely due to your forethought in leaving the note, that either +of us are safe," Almos responded. "Had you not done this, disaster to +one or both of us must certainly have resulted, through ignorance of +each other's plans. Let me congratulate you, my brave fellow, for having +so successfully accomplished your remarkable journey. This is the +initial step in the linking together of the destinies of Earth and Mars. + +"But now I should like to hear an account of your experiences here, for +although I have gradually become aware of many impressions you left, I +find it is only of the things suggested by my mind that I can gather +anything." + +"Then it is evident that the brain is merely a book of reference for the +mind," I replied, "as I was not instantly aware of your knowledge of +Martian affairs, but only upon a subject being suggested by my mind, +was the information regarding it available. Thus, the mind is aware of +impressions it has made on the brain, but is totally ignorant of +impressions made by another mind, unless the thought is suggested." + +I now gave Almos a brief description of my journey, explaining that, as +I intended to make another visit to Mars that evening, I would leave the +full account of my experiences until the following night. I was careful +not to make any reference to Zarlah, as I felt that my second meeting +with her would put me in a much better position to approach Almos on +this extremely delicate subject and lay before him my plans. Moreover, I +was anxious that nothing should interfere with those few happy hours to +which I looked forward with such intense desire. + +Almos listened to my narrative with wrapt attention, and not until I +concluded by describing the remarkable effects of the regenerating rays, +did he give utterance to a word. Then, to my amazement, he said: + +"The result is what I fully expected. The proof that the regenerating +rays exist in the super-radium current, lies in the fact that your body +was perfectly preserved for six hours, and there is no reason for +supposing that they differ, in any way, from the rays which preserve +life here for an unlimited time." + +"Then I can no longer keep my discovery a secret," I declared +resolutely. "It becomes my solemn duty at once to make public the +knowledge of these wonderful rays emanating from Mars." + +"What you say is indeed the truth," rejoined Almos. "The time has now +arrived; the existence of a people on Mars, our early history, progress, +and the conditions under which we live at the present day, must now +become known upon Earth; our inventions and scientific advancement must +be made available to Earth's scientists. Since the discovery of the +radioscope, which enabled us to see the people on your planet, Mars has +yearned to give a helping hand to her younger sister. That time has now +come, and before many years the conditions of life on Earth will be +similar to those here. A great work must be accomplished, however, but +the burden of that work rests upon me; when it is finished the goal of +my life has been reached. There are many things that are not clear to +you now, my dear fellow, but there is no time at present for +explanations. In half an hour I shall have prepared for your +visit--remember, no matter what happens, tomorrow all shall be +explained." + +Having thus spoken, his voice and manner evincing great earnestness and +determination, he waved his hand in farewell, and instantly the +instrument was plunged into darkness. + +For some moments I stood motionless under the spell that his remarkable +personality had cast over me, nor did even his abrupt manner appear at +all strange, such perfect harmony of word and action existed in this +Martian genius. Indeed, it seemed a fitting conclusion to all that had +gone before. Speaking rapidly, as though realizing the loss of time in +mere words, his handsome face, strong with determination, holding me +fascinated, he had confessed the ambition nearest and dearest to his +heart--that of giving to Earth the discoveries and inventions of +hundreds of years of advancement in science; all that had resulted in +the longevity, health, peace, and happiness which existed upon Mars. + +Humbled at my own insignificance and full of admiration for this great +character, I turned slowly away, and, procuring a light, commenced to +prepare for my journey. + +My letters and other papers, with a brief note of explanation, still +remained on my desk, and, as my glance fell upon this bundle, I became +conscious of a nervousness, which, although to many would be perfectly +natural at such a time, was entirely strange to me. I had not +experienced the least nervousness on the occasion of my first visit the +night before, yet the mere sight of this package on my desk, with its +note of explanation, now caused me an uneasiness, which, try as I would, +I could not ignore. + +Making the few necessary preparations about my room for the night, I +secured the door with lock and bolt, and, drawing my couch before the +instrument, poured out a glass of wine and lit a cigar, hoping thus to +steady my nerves. + +The day had been warm and close, and a thunderstorm of unusual violence +made the night a wild one. Vivid flashes of lightning that seemed to vie +with each other in intensity, darted from the heavens, accompanied by +deafening crashes of thunder that shook the building to its +foundations, while the shrieking of the wind, as though it were rushing +through the rigging of a ship at sea, added to the noise of the tempest. + +Within a few moments the glow on my instrument would be the signal for +my departure, and, as I prepared the cone of chloroform, I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought of my spirit going out into the fury +of such a storm. It seemed as if Death, in the fear of being driven from +Earth and forever despoiled of his cruel victories, had turned loose the +elements in his fury, and waited without to wreak vengeance on my +audacious spirit as it sped through space. + +An instant an intensely white glare on the surface of wires at this +moment gave evidence of the super-radium current. It was the signal for +my departure, and, with a brief but earnest prayer, I seized the cone, +and, taking my position on the couch, inhaled the fumes of chloroform. + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ZARLAH'S CONFESSION. + + +It was with a feeling of thankfulness that, upon opening my eyes, I +found myself in the virator. The storm, which I had feared might prove +disastrous, had been passed through safely, and now reigned the +wonderful quiet of Mars. The strange uneasiness, which I had experienced +upon my departure from Earth, was forgotten in the anticipation of the +great joy before me, or I would have noticed that the usual calm, ever +characteristic of Almos, was lacking. + +It was already past the hour of my appointment with Zarlah, and, eager +to be with her, I hastily made the necessary preparations for my return +to Earth. Although these consisted merely of changing the current so +that it would flow from the virator to Earth, and adjusting the +clockwork for the hour of departure, I had decided upon the importance +of doing this beforehand, as any mistake made in the haste of departure +would prove fatal to either Almos or myself. + +These preparations attended to, I now made my way to the balcony. I had +relied upon Almos' knowledge to guide me to Zarlah, and, as I reached +the open air, I at once felt his judgment assert itself. Two aerenoids +were moored to the balcony, a large high-speed one of the submarine-boat +type and a small open one. Into the latter I stepped, and, with a +perfect knowledge of its operation, glided out upon the cool night air. + +Gently rising to about three hundred feet, I lay suspended between the +fairyland stretched beneath me and the brilliantly starred heavens. I +was perfectly aware of the direction in which I was to go, but for a few +moments I lay thus suspended, enjoying as could only an inhabitant of +Earth, the strangeness and marvel of it all. + +The little vessel had reached the limit of height to which it was +designed to ascend and, upon realizing this, I became aware that, for +safety, all aerenoids are limited to a certain height by the amount of +repelling metal used in their construction. The high-speed aerenoids, +owing to their build, being better adapted to withstand the atmospheric +conditions at a great altitude, can ascend several thousand feet, but +all are limited to what is considered a safe height for the class to +which they belong. The action of the repelling metal being independent +of the atmosphere, the danger of an aerenoid getting beyond control, and +rising above the envelope of air which surrounds the planet is thus +eliminated. + +As these thoughts came into my mind, I glanced up into the heavens with +its countless stars--one being the world from which I came--when lo! a +remarkable phenomenon met my gaze. In the west hung a crescent moon, +somewhat smaller than Earth's moon, but extremely brilliant, while out +of the east rose another moon at its full. So rapidly did this latter +moon rise, that its journey through the heavens was perceptible, and it +was evident that within an hour it would sink into the western horizon, +having gradually changed its phase to a crescent. In seven hours it +would encircle Mars, and again appear above the eastern horizon. + +My interest in this moon was intensified when I realized that it was +but a few thousand miles distant, and so small, that it would require +but a couple of days' comfortable walking to encircle it. Compared with +my journey from Earth, this few thousand miles seemed but an +insignificant distance, and I immediately thought of the possibility of +reaching it in a high-speed aerenoid to which a sufficient amount of the +repelling metal was attached to overcome the gravity of Mars. But I +instantly was aware of the fact that an attempt to reach this moon had +been made many years previously, and that the intrepid Martians who +undertook the hazardous journey, never returned. Although their aerenoid +carried enough oxygen to supply them for many days after they had left +the atmosphere of Mars, it was decided later that they had been lost in +space, unable either to reach the moon or return to Mars. The gravity of +so small a body would be insufficient to draw them to it, unless they +traveled straight in its direction, and, as the moon was moving rapidly +around Mars, the chances of this were admittedly small. Moreover, once +out of the atmosphere of Mars, it would be impossible to propel the +aerenoid, and, having missed the moon, they would travel on and on +through endless space. Had they reached the moon they could have +returned, as the repelling force on a body with so little gravity, would +be greatly increased, and would have hurled them into the gravity of +Mars again, as soon as they exposed the repelling metal. There could be +no doubt that they had never reached the moon, and their terrible fate +resulted in a safe limitation of this dangerous metal upon all +aerenoids. + +So absorbed had I become in these intensely interesting details supplied +by Almos' knowledge, that time had passed without my realizing it, and, +reproaching myself for having wasted the valuable moments I might have +spent with Zarlah, I now moved the lever at my side and glided gently +forward. + +The moon, however, as it rapidly journeyed across the heavens, seemed to +hold a strange fascination for me, and my gaze constantly reverted to +it. Had I realized that this fascination was caused by the approach of a +terrible danger, I might have paid heed to the warning, but desirous now +to get to my journey's end, which, according to Earth's proverb, should +end in a lover's meeting, I thought only of the time I had lost, and +impatiently put the subject from my mind. + +Moreover, as my meeting with Zarlah drew near, thoughts that were +relevant and of a more serious character filled my mind. My present +visit to her now began to appear most unjustifiable. If I had found +excuse for my action of the previous evening, in the enthusiasm of so +suddenly beholding the object of my adoration, unaccustomed as I was to +my strange position, I had no such excuse now. To appear before her +again as Almos, after having seen my folly and realized the deceit of my +position toward her, would be an act of shameful duplicity. I had not +realized this before, for I had thought only of my great love for her +and the joy of again being with her, but now the crushing force with +which the truth presented itself, caused me to hesitate before taking +another step that I now felt would be impossible to justify before +Almos. In this great uncertainty of mind I glided slowly along. + +The wonderful stillness of the night was broken only by the faint hum of +voices and merry laughter that reached me from below. Glancing down, I +observed numerous open aerenoids floating some two hundred feet beneath +me, while now and then those of the high-speed class appeared, slowly +wending their way toward the canals, to fly to different parts of the +globe. But although I was aware that for convenience of landing it was +customary to travel just high enough to escape the buildings, I +continued on at my present elevation, as I felt the need of deep and +earnest thought, which I realized would be impossible amid the gay +throng nearer the surface. + +As the highest speed attainable by open aerenoids, which were used +mainly for pleasure, was but eight miles an hour, my journey of five +miles gave me ample time for meditation; and when I at last alighted on +the balcony of a small white marble villa, to which I had instinctively +guided my aerenoid, I had fully determined upon what I felt to be the +only honorable course to pursue. This was to confide all in Zarlah, and, +no matter at what cost, to reveal to her the strange conditions that hid +the identity of a being from another world behind that of her friend +Almos. + +Having secured my aerenoid, I stood on the balcony, entranced at the +beauty of the scene before me, which lay bathed in a wonderful +starlight--far more brilliant than the light of the full moon upon +Earth--shed by a myriad of blazing gems in a sky that knew no clouds. A +perfect stillness reigned, save for the rippling laughter of a little +stream, that wended its way through an avenue of trees to a lake of +glistening silver, a short distance beyond. + +"What happiness would be mine in such a paradise, with Zarlah for my +own!" I thought, and a great anguish filled my heart, as I realized the +impossibility of it--and now for the first time I also realized the +impossibility of life without Zarlah. A sudden dread of meeting the one +I loved came upon me--a dread of seeing the light of love in her eyes, +even for an instant, knowing that it was not for me. I felt I could not +bear to behold the look of tenderness in her beautiful face change to +one of hatred, upon learning how she had been deceived; and in my agony +of spirit, I cried in a voice of deep emotion: + +"Ah, Zarlah! I have won you, yet you are not mine! You have loved me, +yet I am not loved!" + +"I am yours, and I love you, Harold," softly protested a voice at my +side. + +With a start I turned and beheld Zarlah, and for a moment I stood as if +gazing at an apparition. + +Realizing my bewilderment, she laid her hand gently upon my arm, and in +a low voice, full of compassion, said: "It is Harold Lonsdale whom I +love!" + +In a delirium of ecstasy I caught the small white hand and pressed it to +my lips. Passing my arm about her I drew her tenderly toward me, gazing +down into her beautiful eyes where lay a world of tenderness and love. +My heart was too full for words--it was all too wonderful to understand; +enough that I knew Zarlah to be wholly mine, and in those few silent +moments of absolute happiness and contentment, the little stream's merry +laughter seemed to swell into the great joyous chorus of all creation, +behind which is the great love principle. + +Together we left the balcony and walked beneath the giant trees toward +the lake, Zarlah relating to me how, through an instrument she +possessed, which transmitted and received thought-waves, she had not +only learned of Almos' communication with Earth, but had descried a +mental picture of the inhabitant of that distant world with whom he had +spoken. + +On the evening of my first communication with Mars, Zarlah was testing +this instrument on Almos' mind, when, to her great astonishment, she +came into thought communication with Earth. As this was the first trial +of the instrument, Almos himself was unaware of the success that had +crowned Zarlah's invention, though he had taken much interest in it, and +had on several occasions given his advice during its construction. +Although this instrument was only capable of transmitting and receiving +thought-waves over a few miles, it was evident that through the medium +of Almos' mind, which was in communication with mine, the thought-waves +were conveyed to Earth by the super-radium current. + +Zarlah had thus learned of my proposed visit to Mars, but had not known +when the attempt was to be made, until, seeing Almos in evident distress +at the recital of the lumaharp, she had feared that the attempt had +proved disastrous. When, however, I evinced my astonishment at seeing +her, she knew instantly that before her stood the personality of the +man from distant Earth, who had been projected to her in mental +pictures, and who was called Harold Lonsdale. When I spoke to her of my +love, she realized that her image had also been projected to my mind, +and, as she listened to my impassioned words, she recognized in them the +thoughts of love that had accompanied the projection of my image. +Indeed, my every thought of Zarlah, during wave contact, had been +projected to her through the medium of this remarkable instrument. + +With a keen desire to see and examine the mechanism, by which thoughts +could be transferred over millions of miles, I said: "But where is this +wonderful instrument of which you speak, Zarlah?" + +We had reached the lake, and now stood on the bank overlooking its +glistening surface. + +A tremor ran through her slight form as she drew closer to me, and said +imploringly: "You must not ask to see it! Oh, Harold! Do you not realize +the grief this instrument has brought into our lives? Have you partaken +of the sweetness so deeply, that you fail to perceive the bitterness +that lies beneath? You can be but a beloved memory to me--the memory of +a lover millions of miles away--but we are separated by that which is +far greater than distance!" + +Her voice died away in a sob, and, as I drew her gently toward me, she +wept bitterly. Thus had I of Earth brought tears into a world that had +not known sorrow for hundreds of years. + +"But, dearest," I argued, tenderly smoothing back the soft brown hair, +and striving to cheer her, "we are now commencing on an era of planet +communication, and it may not be long before a means is discovered of +actually transferring people from one planet to another. Did not +explorers, some years ago, have this in mind, when they attempted to +reach the nearest moon? And even though they failed to reach their goal, +who knows that they were not drawn to some planet that was in opposition +at that time, and are now prepared for a return journey at the next +opposition? With the complete absence of resistance there is in space, +their speed would become terrific--thousands of miles a minute--and at +such a rate it would be possible to reach a planet in opposition, long +before their month's supply of oxygen became exhausted. Heat would not +be generated as there would be no friction until the planet's +atmosphere was reached, but long before this they would have applied +their repelling force, which would reduce their speed, thus enabling +them to sail gently through the atmosphere and alight safely on the +planet's surface." + +Although I had not as much confidence in such an achievement as I sought +to inspire (well knowing the vast difference between a spiritual +transfer and a material one over such a tremendous distance), I wished, +above all, to cheer Zarlah. Indeed, I feared that grief might bring the +most serious consequences on Mars. I was greatly relieved, therefore, +upon observing her countenance light up with a sudden interest, as I +expressed these sanguine predictions as to the future. + +It was not until some hours later, when I was alone, that this incident +caused me much anxiety, as I remembered that, in spite of the keen +interest Zarlah had evinced, she had carefully avoided any allusion to +the subject afterwards. But in the subsequent events of the evening this +escaped my notice, and, glad to observe the soothing effect my words had +upon her, I did not pursue the thought further. + +We had descended by a flight of stone steps to the water's edge, and, +as we stepped upon the narrow strip of pebbly beach, walled in by +cavernous rocks, Zarlah, with great earnestness, exclaimed: "You are +right, dear Harold, we must be hopeful, and not waste the few precious +moments we have together in regrets that are useless. We shall always +love each other, and if we are brave--even unto death--Love will find a +way!" + +Poor Zarlah! Little did I imagine the desperate plan that was already +forming in her mind when she uttered these words, that before the close +of another day would indeed have proved her "brave even unto death." + +Drawing closer to me and turning her beautiful face up to mine, she +said, after a pause, in which she seemed to read my very soul: "Before +me lies a duty, Harold, which with you at my side I have the strength to +perform, but without you the sacrifice is too great." + +"What is it, dearest?" I asked, pressing the little hand I held to my +lips. + +"It is to destroy the wicked instrument of which I have told you. I had +not the courage to do this before, as I feared for your safety in +returning to Earth, and to have destroyed it then would have left me in +fearful suspense. But now I must put away, forever, this awful thing +that possesses the power to reveal the thoughts of my fellow beings, +that its mechanism may never become known and thus prove an eternal +curse to the world." + +With these words, Zarlah disappeared for a moment in the gloom of a cave +nearby, and, returning with a small metal box, said in a voice which +betrayed great emotion: "Take it, Harold, and hurl it far out into the +waters of the lake, where it will sink forever from sight!" + +The earnestness with which Zarlah had spoken of this device, proved how +deeply its existence troubled her conscience, and restrained me from +making any attempt to persuade her from thus severing a connecting +strand between two hearts so widely separated. I therefore took the box +and, with all my strength, hurled it far out into the lake, where it +sank to remain a secret for all time. + +Swiftly flew those precious moments in which Fate had destined that two +hearts from separate worlds should taste of each other's love, and +then--what? Alone in our great love we drank deeply the cup of +happiness, and the hour of parting, ever drawing nearer, seemed but a +cloud on the horizon. At last, yielding to necessity, we retraced our +steps, leaving the scene of our joyous love behind, and the dread of +parting filled our hearts and stifled our words of happiness. + +Strange to say, as I stood in that other world, there surged through my +alien mind some lines of Clinton Scollard's, which I had once learned, +little dreaming of their significance: + + "Lo, it has come, the inevitable hour + When thou and I, beloved one, must part; + When heart be sundered from caressing heart, + And ungloomed skies be turned to dreary gray." + +A silence fell upon us, both dreading to put into words the thoughts we +knew must be spoken. Then, as our hearts beat audibly in the sacred +stillness of night that had fallen about us, Zarlah murmured, clinging +to me in despair, "Oh, Harold, my love, how can we bear the agony of +being parted!" + +"I would give my life to remain with you, dearest!" I answered, pressing +her passionately to me, but in a more soothing tone I added, + +"We must be brave, love, it is but for a day--to-morrow I shall return, +but before my departure from Earth I will speak with Almos, and tell him +that I wish to abandon my body forever and to abide in spirit on Mars. +In a virator constructed with two upper chambers, my spirit could be +retained indefinitely, and I would then see you daily through the medium +of Almos. To-morrow, dearest, I shall return to you with good news." + +"Ah! Harold, you do not see the impossibility of such a thing--you +cannot behold it through a woman's eyes. No, no! I can never see Almos +again! I gave my love to you through his medium, and to see him when you +were absent would be greater agony than I could bear. I must go with +you, Harold, to the world in which you live, where I can have you +always." + +With words of love and assurance I tried to comfort the brave little +heart that beat so loyally for me, and, fearing to leave her in this +unhappy condition, I lingered until barely time remained in which to +reach the observatory before Paris would pass out of wave contact. +Explaining this to Zarlah, we hurried to the villa, and, as we ascended +the steps to the balcony, I beheld a large high-speed aerenoid resting a +short distance from mine. This, Zarlah begged me to take, explaining +that by rising a few hundred feet above the elevation of small +aerenoids, I could safely exceed the customary speed of local traffic. +She explained that her brother had just returned in it from the north, +where he had spent the day in the enjoyment of winter pastimes. + +My heart was too full of the sorrow of parting to be aroused to +enthusiasm at even such a wonder as this, and, realizing that I would be +unaccustomed to an aerenoid that was strange to Almos, I decided to +trust to the smaller one reaching the observatory in time. But not a +moment was to be lost, and, begging Zarlah to be courageous until my +return the following evening, I pressed her to my heart in a last fond +embrace. + +Oh! the agony of that moment, as I felt the slender form in my arms +convulsed with sobs, while I, struggling frantically with the emotions +that tore my heart, whispered words of passionate love; and as at last I +rose in the night air, condemned by Fate to journey millions of miles +from her I adored, my soul cried out in its anguish: + + "'Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire + To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, + Would not we shatter it to bits--and then + Re-mould it nearer to our Heart's Desire?'" + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY. + + +Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at the +observatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoid +my chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, so +depressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought. +Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainly +did I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportation +over millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but one +conclusion--that no material transit over such an enormous distance was +possible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happiness +had been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity of +loneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy which +nothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest pinnacle of +happiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah's +love--a love that I had thought was for Almos--only to be dashed down +into still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as I +realized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through a +thoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony was +shared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine by +the decree of Fate. + +The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddened +me, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of the +observatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact had +ceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfil +my obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted to +visit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris still +existed my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, I +felt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which it +had precipitated me. + +As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe a +high-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos. +What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowing +Almos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of the +sanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when that +dwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as the +observatory conducted by Almos. + +Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with all +haste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portières of the +large room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart to +beat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon. + +For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilingly +advanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present at +Almos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand and +greeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of his +visit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must I +appear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me a +slip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting. + +"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, regarding the virator, +and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I was +just preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?" + +While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over the +instructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I held +in my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort to +appear calm: + +"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept you +waiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will not +detain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindness +from the bottom of my heart." + +So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony, +waved him adieu. + +The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mere +acting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he had +been the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, I +had just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he was +instructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of the +virator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current. +I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case I +arrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderful +forethought--perhaps even a premonition of my late return--he had +requested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do at +a certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferred +to my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wave +contact. + +Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon had +faithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that in +so doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence, +he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment. + +I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for my +safety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and do +precisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit had +arrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, and +dispatch my spirit to Earth. + +Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitement +incident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed once +more in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on my +hands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan--no +matter how hazardous--that would result in my being able to remain on +Mars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and all +solutions were perforce dismissed. + +At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon. +Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes rested +upon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me. +Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, I +uttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticed +the hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions--_it was three +hours before the time for my departure_! + +Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and in +return to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of these +plans, I knew not, but, as I stood staring at the paper in my hand, my +mind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, so +successfully hidden from me. + +Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleeping +chamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that would +explain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was I +disappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "Harold +Lonsdale." Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon after +making the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would then +find the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon's +observation. + +As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelming +gratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, in +this brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noble +character, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had known +was mine, but which otherwise I could never possess. + +Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid the +letter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully. +No other man, living on Earth or Mars, could have done as much for me +as had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given to +me the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind, +trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence in +a mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth of +happiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, and +I longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tell +her of the happiness that was ours. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE WARNING OF DANGER----THE RACE WITH DEATH. + + +Slowly crept the long tedious hours of darkness. The heavy cloud of +despair that had so long hung over me, now being dispelled as if by +magic, I was all impatience. My heart yearned for the moment when, +gazing into the depths of Zarlah's wondrous eyes, I should see +there--not the appealing timid look, full of the dread of hopeless +separation from her lover, that had so wrung my heart at our last +parting--but the radiant happiness of perfect contentment and fulfilled +desire. I had thrown myself on the couch, and, as a miser jealously +counts over his gold, fondling each precious bit with eager fingers, so +I pondered on the happy hours spent with Zarlah, carefully reviewing +each golden moment with its precious burden of Love's confessions. + +Suddenly I sprang to my feet--a piercing, despairing cry of "Harold, my +love, save me! save me!" was ringing in my ears. + +It was Zarlah's voice, and some terrible danger confronted her. + +Rushing into the adjoining room, I glanced anxiously about--all was +still. The numerous books and instruments lay just as I had left them, +and I gradually realized that, tired with the experiences I had lately +undergone, I had unconsciously fallen asleep, and Zarlah's cry for help +was only a dream. + +Although greatly relieved by this discovery, my mind remained in a state +of unrest. I was oppressed with a sense of danger which, in spite of my +endeavor to overcome by occupying my mind with the volumes of Martian +astronomical discoveries, I found to be impossible. Laying aside the +book I had endeavored to read, I started to my feet and paced restlessly +to and fro, but each footfall, echoing in the profound stillness, seemed +to be an appealing cry for help. A premonition that a terrible danger +hung over Zarlah came upon me, and, maddened by the thought that I +remained inactive, whilst yet I might save her, I rushed out upon the +balcony. + +The sun was just rising, but in place of the gray light of dawn on Earth +with its beautifully colored eastern sky, there appeared sharp contrasts +of the blackest darkness and the most brilliant light, in the long +shadows that were cast across the landscape. Without the diffusion of +light which the denser atmosphere of Earth causes, night seemed to +linger on the very footsteps of day. Though the remarkable effect of +this Martian sunrise would have been pleasing under other circumstances, +it now served only to increase my apprehension, warning me that I was in +a strange world, and that I must be prepared to meet extraordinary +emergencies. + +I had but one thought, that of reaching Zarlah as speedily as possible +and saving her from the awful fate which menaced her. What this fate +was, I knew not, but I could feel its presence like the hot breath of +some ferocious beast, as it stands over its prostrate victim. Greatly +did I now deplore the loss of Zarlah's valuable instrument. + +With eager hands I prepared the high-speed aerenoid for the journey, +feeling that I must trust to Almos' knowledge of its operation to carry +me through safely. Though I realized that the danger was increased a +thousand times in an aerenoid capable of such terrific speed, the fear +that even now I might be too late compelled me to make use of it. + +Taking my place in the forward part of the car, I was greatly relieved +to find that my hand instinctively sought the levers, and operated them +with a judicious care that could result only from long experience. + +Rising high enough to avoid small aerenoids, I proceeded at a +considerable speed and soon came within sight of Zarlah's dwelling. The +serene and peaceful appearance of this beautiful white marble villa, as +the morning sun glorified it, quickly dispelled the fears that had +brought me hither at such an early hour, and I gladly attributed them to +overwrought nerves and the loss of a night's sleep. + +Moreover, as I slowly circled over the lake that only a few hours before +Zarlah and I had wistfully gazed upon together as we built a world of +happiness for ourselves, I felt that I was near to her, should the +danger of which I had been forewarned prove real. Here in the scene of +our happiness I would wait through the early hours--the last hours of +our separation. + +Slowly descending, I brought the aerenoid to rest in a spot obscured by +trees from the villa. A few feet away, the little brook sparkled merrily +in the sunlight as it leaped along on its journey to the lake, and, as I +opened the door of the car, its joyous song swelled upon the fragrant +morning air, laughing at my forebodings in this world of peace, as it +had laughed at my despair of the previous night. + +As I stepped out into the warm sunlight and made my way toward the +lake, a great joy filled my heart. It would not be long ere Zarlah +shared with me the happiness of the knowledge that we need never again +be separated. + +"Poor Zarlah!" I murmured, as the memory of our last parting with its +great anguish of a forlorn hope sent a pang to my heart. "The bitterness +in thy cup was indeed great, but it is past. Oh, my beloved, awake to +the light of a new day filled with gladness, and sorrow shall not again +cross thy path!" + +I paused, fancying I heard footsteps, and, glancing back, listened +intently. All was still, and I was just about to proceed when again the +sound came. This time I could not be mistaken; it was the sound of +hurried footsteps some distance off and in the direction of the villa. + +I was still hidden from the villa by the trees, but across the stream, +some thirty yards away, was an opening from which a view of it could be +had. Leaping the stream I hastened thither, anxious to learn the cause +of the untimely activity. Another moment, and I should have been too +late to see a slight figure, laden with what appeared to be wraps and +other travelling equipment, hurry across the balcony and step into the +large high-speed aerenoid that I had observed there the previous +evening. + +It was Zarlah! But what was the reason of this hasty departure at such +an hour? Suddenly a frenzy seized me, and, rushing toward the villa, I +frantically called to her, but it was too late. She had not seen me, +and, before I had taken many steps, the aerenoid rose rapidly to a great +height and disappeared over the trees. + +Not a moment was to be lost. Turning, I dashed wildly back toward the +aerenoid I had so foolishly left in concealment. Reaching the stream, I +stumbled over an entanglement of vines and plunged headlong therein, +only to scramble, dripping and bruised, up the opposite bank and +continue my frantic efforts to reach the aerenoid, before Zarlah's car +had disappeared from sight. What her intention was I knew not, but the +early hour, the haste with which she had departed, and the absence of +her brother, all conspired to arouse the fears that had beset me during +the long hours of the night. + +Arriving at the aerenoid at last, after a journey that seemed to consume +hours, I jumped in and closed the door. Frantically I seized the lever +that controlled the ascension and, pulling it so that the full repelling +power was instantly exposed, the car bounded high into the air with +terrific force. + +The shock hurled me off my feet, but in an instant my eyes were again +fixed upon a mere speck many miles distant, which I knew to be the +aerenoid containing all that life possessed for me. As the car plunged +forward at great speed, the speck disappeared, and I at once realized +that Zarlah had reached a canal, into which she had turned her aerenoid. +It was now impossible for me to see which direction she took, and unless +I arrived at the canal within a few seconds, I felt that all hope of +overtaking her would have vanished, as she would doubtless proceed at +full speed and soon be lost to sight. + +Opening to its fullest extent the valve that controlled the exhaustion +of air in the chamber beneath, the velocity of the car soon became +terrific, and, rising still higher as I sped along, I caught sight of +Zarlah's aerenoid proceeding in a northerly direction. + +With a disregard for all safety I swerved to the north, thus forming the +third side of a triangle, of which the other sides were the course +Zarlah had taken. This movement reduced the distance between the two +aerenoids considerably, and upon turning into the speedway of the canal, +I was greatly relieved to find that I was but a few miles in the rear. +The hope that Zarlah might see the car speeding so close behind her, +flashed through my mind, but instantly I realized the impossibility of +such a thing, for a glance behind, even for a second, while travelling +with such frightful velocity, would entail certain destruction by being +dashed to pieces against the sides of the canal. My only chance lay in +overtaking her and making some signal, and with my free hand I wrenched +at the speed valve, endeavoring to open it wider. + +On we sped in our wild career over the planet's surface. Hundreds of +miles were quickly swept beneath us, but not one foot did I seem to +gain. Vainly did I strive to put from my mind the fears that lurked +there, by seeking a plausible reason for Zarlah's strange action. + +On, on we flew, each aerenoid going at its maximum speed; surely Zarlah +had gone far enough north; she must slacken her speed soon to turn down +a branch canal, and I would then be able to run alongside of her car and +signal my presence. There was a gleam of hope in this, and to it I clung +like a drowning man to a straw. + +The air in the car, which had steadily grown colder, was now biting in +its sharpness, and as I clutched the steering apparatus with numbed +hands, a white object loomed up in the distance and in a second flew +beneath me--another came, then another, and another, and as they +appeared in greater numbers, I observed that they were huge blocks of +ice. The sight filled me with grave apprehension. It was now impossible +to stop our terrific momentum, yet in spite of this great danger, on and +on we sped, still farther north. + +What could be the reason for this perilous journey? Did Zarlah not +realize the danger to which she was exposed, rushing thus madly into the +wilds of the North--the region of the Repelling Pole--without the means +of stopping? + +Suddenly I shrank in horror as a fearful thought entered my mind. My +senses reeled, and a strange sensation swept over me, as of an awful +Presence in the car with me. "No, no," I muttered between clenched +teeth; "it cannot be! She surely realizes that it would be going to a +certain and terrible death!" And as I frantically wrenched at the valve +in an effort to get more speed, a strange hollow voice echoed through my +brain, laughing at my unutterable agony, and crying with fiendish glee, +"Your love has no thought of stopping; she hastens to her bridegroom, +Death!" + +As hot irons scorching the living flesh, the words burned into my +brain, setting it on fire. It was the voice of Death--which voice no +living mortal can mistake--and I recognized it also as the fury of the +storm which was abroad when I departed from Earth, and the echo of the +stream's song of peace in the midst of danger. Had Death thus followed +me from the world in which he thrived to wreak this vengeance upon me, +by tempting my bride into his arms, believing that she hastened to her +love? + +On, on we rushed into the region of the dreaded Pole. All signs of the +canal had disappeared, and before us lay only a vast uninhabitable field +of ice. I stood at the levers, frozen rigid with the intense cold, but +with my eyes ever on the flying object before me, while visions of my +beloved one, now so close to death, passed rapidly through my fevered +brain. As if Death had thus planned to torture me, before tearing my +loved one from my very arms, I seemed to stand impersonally apart and +watch two lovers--Zarlah and myself. Bending over her, I tried to +console her with a false hope--a story of impossible fulfillment. I +succeeded; and now I saw that I had laid the trap which Death had +placed in my hands to draw her toward him, and, with a cry of horror, I +tried to wrench my hand from the lever to which it was frozen, so that I +might shut such a scene from my sight-- + +I realized the meaning of it all now. Zarlah, unable to obtain the +repelling force necessary to carry her off Mars, was rushing toward the +Repelling Pole to be hurled off the planet, risking all in the hope of +being drawn to Earth, which was in opposition. It was a vain hope--alas, +I knew this too well. She was rushing to her death--a death that I had +lured her to, and my hands would be stained with the blood of my +beloved. + +Desperately I wrenched at my frozen hands to free them from the metal to +which they adhered, with a wild idea of smashing the window and calling +loudly to Zarlah. The skin tore from the flesh like paper at the fury of +my efforts, and I freed my hands at last, only to find that my arms hung +lifeless at my side. + +In a frenzy of grief and despair at my utter helplessness, I fell on my +knees, crying aloud, "Oh, my God! Save her from this awful death!" + +A sudden gloom filled the car, and, struggling to my feet, I found that +we had entered the belt of semi-darkness that covers the polar caps in +their winter season. Our doom was near at hand--nothing could save +Zarlah now, and only by swerving my car around instantly and returning +could I preserve myself. But life was nought to me without Zarlah--I +preferred death to such an empty existence. Condemned by Fate to be +separated in life, we would meet death together. + +I could dimly see Zarlah's car outlined against the white snow beyond, +but, even as I stood now helplessly and silently awaiting the end, a +dark line rapidly spread over this field of white. Beyond, all was +black, and as this sharp-cut boundary line rapidly approached Zarlah's +car, my blood froze in my veins, for in this vast area of bare black +rock I recognized the terrible power of the North Repelling Pole. There +was another moment in which my heart refused to beat, then a groan of +great anguish escaped my lips, as Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into +space with frightful velocity. + +Shutting my eyes I awaited death. For an instant it seemed to me that I +heard Zarlah's voice call to me in clear accents, then came a terrific +shock which hurled me to the far end of the aerenoid, amid a confusion +of furniture, books, and instruments that had been torn from their +fastenings. Frozen into a state of utter helplessness, my senses fast +leaving me, I lay unable to extricate myself from the heavy mass. + +In this comatose condition I remained totally ignorant of the lapse of +time, until, feeling the terrible pressure diminish, I opened my eyes +and dreamily beheld the heavy instruments and pieces of furniture move +gently away, and bump against one another as they floated lightly about +within the car. + +Relieved of the great weight, I now breathed more freely. My senses grew +clearer, and soon I became conscious of a loud hissing noise close at +hand. Drowsily I turned my head in the direction of the sound, and +discovered that it came from the door in the side of the aerenoid. In an +instant the full faculty of my senses returned, as with intense horror I +realized the cause--the air of the car was escaping into the void of the +universe without! Desperately I struggled to gain my feet, but being +without weight, the effort resulted only in my drifting helplessly about +the car, until, gasping for air, I realized that the end had come. + +A moment's consciousness of being drawn gently to the floor of the car +again, while the furniture and other articles that had been drifting +about piled lightly upon me without any perceptible weight; a slight +shock, then, as the suffocating sensation became more intense, a +blackness rushed in upon me, and my senses reeled-- + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY. + + +A tall, gaunt figure, swathed in black robes, Stood waiting some +distance from me. I knew that it was Death, for under the hood I beheld +the grinning skull with its sightless eye-holes, and I turned away in +loathsome dread. But even as I did so, the bony arms were stretched out +in welcome, and to them ran a slight girlish form--it was Zarlah! For a +moment I stood paralyzed with horror, then rushing toward the now +retreating figures, I called out wildly, "Zarlah! Zarlah! Flee not with +Death! I am here--your Harold is here!" Suddenly I was seized from +behind; instantly my strength seemed to be sapped from me and I fell +back exhausted, crying in my despair, "Oh, my God! save her! save her!" + +A cool, soft hand was laid upon my burning brow, and a sweet voice +gently murmured, "Poor Harold! If you could only know that God in His +mercy has saved us both!" + +It was the voice of the living, not the dead, and slowly the words +formed a meaning in my confused brain, dragging me from the depths of +unconsciousness to the life that still existed about me, warmed as it +was by the wondrous power of a woman's love. Opening my eyes I beheld +Zarlah bending over me, her beautiful face full of compassionate love. +It seemed as though in a dream my loved one had come to me, and for a +moment I lay peacefully gazing into her face, feeling neither curiosity +nor alarm. Then, as my mind awoke to a realization of all that had +transpired, a sudden bewilderment came upon me, and, clasping the hand +that sought to ease my head, lest the vision should vanish, I cried: + +"Zarlah, my beloved, speak to me! Are we by a miracle saved from the +death that had engulfed us, or is this the strange meeting of our souls +after death?" + +At the sound of my voice, Zarlah clasped her hands in a fervent prayer +of thankfulness, then, burying her face on my shoulder, gave way to a +flood of tears. + +"Oh, Harold, my love!" she sobbed. "Thank God, you have been spared to +me! It is indeed by a miracle that this moon, intercepting our aerenoids +in their wild flight through space, thus brought us together at the +eleventh hour, and laid you helpless and dying at my feet." + +"The _moon_!" I gasped, raising myself and staring out of the window at +my side in astonishment, as my mind gradually comprehended our +hairbreadth escape from death. + +A blazing orb of fire, shining from the intense blackness around it, was +all that met my gaze, and I sank back, exhausted with the effort, into +the arms that awaited me. + +"Tell me more, darling," I said, as a great happiness came over me, and +my heart was filled with the simple desire to hear the gentle voice I +loved. What mattered it to me whether we ever reached Mars or not? The +future held no fears for me now; enough that I had Zarlah, for the walls +of the aerenoid that surrounded us seemed to compass the whole universe. + +"Ah, my love!" sighed Zarlah, bending over me and nervously clasping my +hands in hers, "now that the danger is past and you are restored to me, +the long hours of agony seem like a dream. But, oh, the anguish of that +moment when I beheld another aerenoid lying close to mine, upon the +surface of the moon that had intercepted my journey to Earth! My soul +cried out that in it lay my beloved, suffocating to death. Who else +would have followed me over the dreaded Pole! With wild haste I attached +an oxygen respirator to my mouth, and, releasing the air from the car, +sprang out upon the surface, little suspecting the danger that lurked +there. But so small is the force of gravity upon this moon that I was +without perceptible weight, and the tendency to rise with every step I +took filled me with terror, and I crept upon my hands and knees to the +aerenoid which lay a few yards away. Opening the door, I found you lying +apparently lifeless upon the floor. My heart told me that it was my love +who lay within Death's grasp, and, desperate at the thought that you had +been so near to me, only to be torn away by the hand of Death, I lifted +you up and hastened with you back to the aerenoid I had left. The small +amount of gravity now aided me, and I carried you without feeling the +burden. + +"Filling the car with oxygen and applying regenerating rays, I waited +for a sign of life. Oh, the agony of those moments, as in despair I +frantically called your name! At last the sign came--a quiver of the +lips, a faint breath--and I knew there was hope. Gradually your +breathing became stronger, but a terrible fever raged within you. +Through long, long hours on this strange globe I knelt beside you, +listening to your piercing cries of delirium, as you lived that awful +experience over and over again. Little by little, in the cries of agony +that rent my heart, I learned how you had come to me a moment too late; +how you had followed my aerenoid, and, being unable to stop me, had +rushed to the fate that was mine, to be hurled into space, unprepared +for such a journey; how you had suffocated, and--oh! my love, as you lay +through the long hours, gazing at me with wild unseeing eyes--ever +calling my name--imploring me not to rush to my death--I at last +despaired of your life, and my soul prepared itself to fly with yours to +the life beyond, leaving our bodies clasped in each other's arms, to +circle round the world which had denied us our love until the end of +time! + +"But suddenly the light of reason came into your eyes--your voice lost +its wild accents, and I knew that you had been restored to me. In a few +hours now, Harold, the rays will have completed their work, and you will +be in full possession of your former strength." + +What a happy future we now looked out upon! The danger of our position +upon a heavenly body but a few miles in diameter, with barely enough +gravity to hold us on its surface, was forgotten in the great joy of +being together and feeling that we should never again be parted. + +I related to Zarlah all that had happened since I had left her; how I +had encountered Reon at the observatory and learned of Almos' departure +to Earth, and how I had later discovered the letter in which Almos gave +to us the great happiness we had despaired of ever possessing. And now +the fast encroaching darkness warned us of the approach of a lunar +night. As darkness with us would necessarily mean daylight on that part +of Mars to which we had come opposite in our journey round the planet, I +felt that now had arrived the time for action, as Mars would become +visible. Moreover, as the days and nights of this rapidly moving +satellite were but three and a half hours in duration, I realized that +no time should be lost in making the necessary preparations for our +hazardous journey. But although I was now able to get on my feet and had +the use of my arms, I had not by any means regained all my strength, and +upon laying my plans before Zarlah, she urged me not to undertake such a +journey until the rays had fully restored me. Therefore it was decided +to postpone our attempt to reach Mars until the following night. + +But soon a strange and unforeseen incident warned us of the great danger +to which we were exposed on the surface of this diminutive moon, and +left us no alternative but immediate departure. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HURLED FROM THE MOON. + + +Together we stood gazing in silence out into the abyss over the small +surface of the moon that was visible to us, oppressed with a sense of +awe as the sun dropped from sight, leaving us plunged in darkness. + +Suddenly there appeared from out of the inky blackness of the heavens a +huge crescent, stretching across the sky far above us. The sight of it +fascinated us, and, as we stood lost in admiration at the majestic +proportions of the beautiful arch of light, ever growing in width, we +gradually realized that it was the sun-tipped rim of the planet which +our moon was journeying around--the world from which we had been hurled +and to which we must return. + +A sense of great reverence overpowered me; I realized that we looked +upon sights, and felt great forces never before bared to mortals. +Through my mind ran lines of Addison's ode: + + "The spacious firmament on high + With all the blue ethereal sky, + And spangled heavens, a shining frame, + Their great _Original_ proclaim. + + * * * * * + + Forever singing as they shine + The hand that made us is divine." + +Slowly the light crept over the planet's surface until the huge +illuminated sphere, almost filling the entire heavens, made a scene of +the most exquisite grandeur that human eyes have ever beheld. + +"Dearest!" I exclaimed, with sudden impulse, as a most remarkable and +terrifying fact occurred to me, "wonderful though our deliverance from +death seems to us, it is even more miraculous than we had any conception +of! To meet with this moon in our journey through space, we must have +described an arc, as this satellite never passes over the pole." + +"How can such a thing be possible?" returned Zarlah, in tremulous +accents, drawing closer to me as the awfulness of our narrow escape +appalled her. + +"Ah, my love, we may never know that!" I answered. "The Great Creator of +all these wonders has, indeed, guided us to this haven in our wild +flight through space. We can but theorize that the pole, being several +miles in diameter, hurled us from its edge, the tremendous repelling +force not permitting our aerenoids to proceed over its surface. The +rotary motion of the planet upon its axis would then cause us to +describe a curve in our flight from its surface, as only in the center +of the pole would this rotary motion lose its effect." + +"Oh, Harold," whispered Zarlah, timidly, when I had finished speaking, +"the thought of these terrible things and the sight of this immense +globe hanging over us fill me with dread! Do you think we shall ever +reach our world again? It appears to be so near and yet is so far away +from us. What veritable atoms we are in the glory of this tumultuous +whirl!" + +"I do not think we could possibly miss it, sweetheart," I answered, +cheerfully, as I placed my arm about her and drew her away from the +window which commanded a view of Mars. "Come, let us look out upon the +little globe that supports us; we are entirely missing the beautiful +effect of this grand reflection of light" + +The surface of the moon was now bathed in a beautiful diffused light, +and our surroundings where once more visible. Indeed, many objects, +which we had been unable to see in the dazzling brilliancy of the sun's +light, as it blazed forth from a heaven unsoftened by any atmosphere, +were now clearly revealed. We had approached a window and were looking +at these new objects of interest, when Zarlah suddenly cried in dismay: +"Look, Harold, look! The other aerenoid is moving!" + +Quickly turning my gaze in the direction indicated, I saw the aerenoid +in which I had made the journey from Mars move a space of several yards +with a jerky motion, then, to my intense horror, glide off the surface +of the moon into space. At the same instant, the car in which we stood +rocked as though about to turn over upon its side. + +Not a moment was to be lost! Some unknown force was exerting its +influence over the movable objects on the moon's surface. What this +power was I knew not, but the direction in which the aerenoid had +glided proved it to be other than Mars. Our position was now perilous in +the extreme, for were we suddenly to glide off into space we would +undoubtedly be lost, as it was necessary to have air surrounding us in +order to propel the car. Without an atmosphere we would therefore be +helpless and entirely at the mercy of the unknown and mysterious power. +Indeed, it was evident that only our increased weight had saved us from +immediately following the other aerenoid, and I felt that at any moment +we might do so. Although lacking the power of propulsion, my hope was +that our repelling force, which I knew must be increased to an enormous +extent by the slight gravity on the moon's surface, would hurl us off +that satellite straight upward into the influence of Mars' gravity. + +Seizing the lever, I cried to Zarlah to He on the floor of the car, but +even as she did so, the aerenoid rocked again with still greater +violence--in another moment it would be too late! Thrusting the lever +over, I exposed the full repelling force to the moon's surface. The +shock hurled me to the floor, and so terrific was the force with which +we shot upward, that I was held powerless to move hand or foot. For a +space of time which seemed to me hours I was obliged to remain thus, +contenting myself with calling words of encouragement to my dear one, +whom I greatly feared must have suffered severely from the awful shock. +At last, finding that I could rise, I hastened to her side, and, to my +great relief, discovered that she had entirely escaped injury. + +As it was impossible in any way to control the aerenoid speeding upward +through space, it was useless for me to stand by the levers, and, +assisting Zarlah to rise, we approached a window in the roof of the car +and glanced upward at the planet to which we were rushing. A remarkable +phenomenon met our eyes! Mars appeared to be no longer a sphere--the +great globe that we had beheld from the moon--but instead a huge dome, +which hung over us, ever deepening in the center as we rushed up toward +it. Inconceivable though it seemed, I knew that, to produce such an +effect, we must already have covered more than half the distance +between the two bodies. Upward we shot, and although there was no means +of ascertaining how fast we were travelling, I knew by the rapidly +changing appearance of the dome above us that our speed must be +terrific. + +We had steadily grown lighter, and now we discovered that we were +entirely without weight, and that it required some effort to keep our +feet on the floor of the car. + +Still upward we rushed into the center of the dome which now stretched +down and encircled us on all sides like an immense umbrella, when +suddenly, without the slightest perceptible movement of the car, the +dome appeared to swing around until it lay beneath us, and instantly we +felt our feet settling upon the floor of the car. + +"We are safe from the unknown power now, dearest!" I exclaimed, +anxiously examining the lever that controlled the descent, to make sure +that the repelling metal was fully exposed. "We are dropping upon Mars, +and our repelling metal should soon check our speed." + +"Oh, Harold, my love," sighed Zarlah, timidly clinging to me, her eyes +filled with tears, and a look of great yearning coming into them, "my +heart despairs at the dangers that encompass us! With you as my goal I +knew no fear; but now that I have you, I am a coward. Is our love +forbidden, that we should be thus pursued by these terrible dangers?" + +"Courage, dearest!" I replied, reassuringly. "We shall soon be safe, and +then nothing shall interrupt the happiness for which we have endured so +much." + +I hid from her the anxiety that lurked near my heart, and endeavored to +interest her by advancing several theories upon the phenomenal +appearance of the planet's surface. + +Like a huge cup the land now stretched up and around us, but we were +still descending with frightful velocity. I had noticed that the air in +the car was becoming warmer, and now, filled with apprehension, I +stretched out my hand and touched the wall. Instantly I withdrew it--the +wall was hot! Like a flash the full realization of our terrible danger +burst upon me. I had relied upon the repelling metal to check our +descent before we entered the region of air, and had supposed that we +would float lightly to the ground under perfect control. But now I saw +how foolishly I had erred, in omitting to take into consideration the +terrific momentum we would attain in our journey of six thousand miles +through space. This momentum was now driving us to the ground, in spite +of our strong repelling force, and with such a frightful speed that heat +was being generated by friction with the air as we rushed through it. +The creaking and straining sound coming from the bottom of the aerenoid +was evidence of the fight the repelling metal was making to overcome +this momentum before the surface of Mars was reached, but I shuddered as +I realized what little effect it had upon this gigantic force. + +In a few seconds the air became unbearably hot, and, with a gasp, Zarlah +lay limp in my arms, as she turned her face to me to speak. Laying her +tenderly upon the floor, I hastily wrapped wet blankets around her, and, +dashing water over myself, I staggered across the car to the window +again. We were still descending rapidly, but, as I felt the walls of the +car, I found that they were now cooler, proving that our terrific speed +had been reduced. The increased pressure of my feet upon the floor of +the car was also evidence that our descent was being steadily checked. +A wild hope surged within me that the repelling metal would overcome the +momentum in time to save us from destruction. + +Glancing down, I saw white specks lying far beneath us. My heart stood +still as I realized that these were buildings. We could not be more than +a few miles from the surface, yet down, down we sped. A few moments more +and the buildings became plainly visible, and my heart thumped wildly, +as they seemed to rush up to meet us. We would be dashed to pieces! The +repelling force could not possibly stop us in time! Turning, in despair, +I threw myself down beside Zarlah, and enfolded her in a last embrace. + +Instantly there was a terrific shock--a deafening crash. Then all was +dark, while a flood of water came pouring in upon us. I staggered to my +feet with Zarlah in my arms, only to be thrown to the floor again by an +upward bound of the aerenoid. Sunlight once more filled the car, and, as +I struggled to my feet, a cool breeze wafted in through the shattered +windows. To what further extremes of temperature and mediums were we to +be subjected? + +I was still too dazed by the shock to realize how we had escaped from a +death that seemed inevitable, but I knew that we were flying upward with +the full force of our repelling metal. Tenderly lifting Zarlah to a +safer and more comfortable place, I seized the lever and gradually +decreased the repelling power, until we rested motionless in the air. + +We had already attained a considerable height, and, as I eagerly gazed +down, I beheld far beneath us the glistening surface of a lake. With a +gasp of horror, I realized what a narrow escape had been ours. Into this +lake we had plunged with a velocity sufficient to have dashed us to +pieces had we struck the ground; the damage which the car had sustained +upon striking the water was evidence of this. Our descent being stopped, +the repelling metal, which was fully exposed, had then sent us bounding +into the air again, and in all probability had thus saved us from being +drowned beneath the waters of the lake. + +Death had indeed been close to us many times during our strange +adventure, and now that all the dangers were past, I breathed a +heartfelt prayer of thankfulness for our safe deliverance. + +Freeing Zarlah from the wet blankets I had wrapped around her during +the intense heat, I gazed anxiously down upon the beautiful, unconscious +face. + +"My love! my love!" I murmured, passionately. "How much you have +risked--how much you have suffered for my sake! Oh, cruel the fate that +thus delays our happiness!" + +The sun was setting, and I now realized the importance of descending +nearer to the ground, that I might ascertain our whereabouts, as from +our present altitude, even with Almos' knowledge of Mars, I was unable +to recognize any familiar landmark, and I knew that darkness would soon +be upon us. + +Bending once again over the form of my loved one, I tenderly kissed the +silent lips, but as I did so, her arms closed about my neck, and +dreamily opening her eyes, she smiled up at me as a child awakening from +a peaceful sleep. + +"We are safe now, darling, all the danger is past!" I murmured, and +falling on my knees beside her, I took her up into my arms, with the +prayer that I might ever shield her in the days to come. + +The shadows lengthened; quickly the gloom gathered, and darkness closed +in upon us, but still we remained suspended in the cool night air under +the dome of the starry heavens, unmindful of all in the joy of our great +love; for with the fulfillment of our hearts' long cherished desire, +came the realization that our journey was ended. + + * * * * * + +PARIS, February 17, 19--. + +Six months have elapsed since that memorable evening when Harold and +Zarlah--radiant with their new-found happiness--were portrayed upon the +instrument in Paris at which I anxiously waited, after having exchanged +my existence on Mars for one on Earth. The account of his strange +adventures, which Harold has since given me, I have endeavored to record +in the foregoing pages, as nearly as possible in his own words, trusting +that this narration of the events connected with the opening of +communication between Earth and Mars will prepare the way for the +greater developments soon to be announced by scientists. + +ALMOS. + + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Zarlah the Martian, by R. 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Norman Grisewood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Zarlah the Martian + +Author: R. Norman Grisewood + +Release Date: September 10, 2004 [EBook #13423] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZARLAH THE MARTIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Elaine Walker, Frank van Drogen and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<center> +<img src='images/im1_fl.jpg' width='800' alt='"Zarlah"s car was hurled upwards into space with frightful velocity."' +title='"Zarlah"s car was hurled upwards into space with frightful velocity."'> +</center> + +<h4><i>Frontispiece:</i> "Zarlah"s car was hurled upwards into space with frightful velocity." <a href='#Page_172'>(page 172)</a></h4> + +<br /> + +<h1>Zarlah The Martian</h1><a name='Page_2'></a> + + +<h3>By</h3> + + +<h2>R. Norman Grisewood</h2> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h3>1909</h3> + + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<br /> +<a name='Page_4'></a> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_I'><b>CHAPTER I. THE STRANGE SHADOW.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_II'><b>CHAPTER II. THE MARTIAN.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_III'><b>CHAPTER III. THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_IV'><b>CHAPTER IV. THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_V'><b>CHAPTER V. THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_VI'><b>CHAPTER VI. "AS OTHERS SEE US."</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_VII'><b>CHAPTER VII. THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'><b>CHAPTER VIII. A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_IX'><b>CHAPTER IX. THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_X'><b>CHAPTER X.ZARLAH'S CONFESSION.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XI'><b>CHAPTER XI. THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XII'><b>CHAPTER XII.THE WARNING OF DANGER——THE RACE WITH DEATH.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII'><b>CHAPTER XIII. THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY.</b></a></span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV'><b>CHAPTER XIV. HURLED FROM THE MOON.</b></a></span><br /> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + + +<a name='Page_5'></a> + +<a name='Page_6'></a> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='ZARLAH_THE_MARTIAN'></a><h2><a name='Page_7'></a>ZARLAH, THE MARTIAN.</h2> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_I'></a><h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h2>THE STRANGE SHADOW.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>So thrilling were my experiences during that period, so overcrowded with +feverish action and strong emotions was each wonderful moment, and so +entirely changed are the conditions of life as I now find it, that it is +with considerable difficulty that I recall in detail all that happened +prior to my remarkable discovery which opened communication between +Earth and Mars. One says "discovery" advisedly, but let it not be +imagined that communication with the planet Mars was established as a +result of any careful and systematic research, or that I possessed a +subtle genius for astronomical science that was destined <a name='Page_8'></a>to introduce +into society what must eventually revolutionize it. Nothing could be +further from the facts. Into the daily grind of my absolutely uneventful +career, burst the almost terrifying revelations with a suddenness that +stunned me, while I was engaged in experiments of an entirely extraneous +nature. Albeit one wonders that the Martian rays, which have swept our +planet with their searching gaze for so many centuries, were not +discovered long ago. But this is anticipating my story.</p> + +<p>I had reached the age of thirty, when, in the Spring of 19—, I sailed +out of New York harbor on board <i>La Provence</i>, en route for Paris. It +was not so much my purpose to seek pleasure as the determination to turn +my eight years of experience in the United States to some avenue of +profitable livelihood, that decided me to make the journey, although I +looked forward with no small degree of pleasant anticipation to meeting +some of my fellow students in the Académie des Sciences in Paris, where +I had received five years of excellent training.</p> + +<p>My trip across and my subsequent arrival <a name='Page_9'></a>in Paris were without any +events of particular interest, and one bright morning in the early +summer I found myself comfortably lodged in the house where I had +previously boarded while a student. Connected with my rooms, which were +at the top of the house, was one of considerable size that I had +formerly used as a laboratory, and this I now set about fitting up to +serve the same purpose. The daylight found its way into the room through +a skylight, and though admirably suited for an artist's studio, it +answered my purpose equally as well.</p> + +<p>I had collected many new instruments and appliances by dint of days +spent in shopping, and was anxious to begin work in earnest, when one +evening, as I glanced through the columns of a newspaper, my attention +was arrested by an article of particular interest. This set forth the +great and increasing demand for a substitute for glass, one which would +answer the purpose in every respect, and at the same time be +indestructible and a good conductor of sound. The article concluded with +an enumeration of the many uses for which such a substitute would be +invaluable, <a name='Page_10'></a>hinting at the enormous financial possibilities which would +be open to the inventor. The more I considered the matter, the more +desirous I became to test several theories which forthwith presented +themselves to my mind, and the next morning found me determined to begin +my experiments at once. In theory, I saw the solution of the problem in +artificially producing increased atomic motion, and with that object in +view I went to work.</p> + +<p>My experiments involved me in weeks of hard work, and it was toward the +end of the summer before I could admit having had any important results. +I now had a substance resembling glass in appearance, though vastly +different in composition, which I made into a film, extremely thin and +highly sensitive to vibrations. Running through this film were slender +wires made of various metals, about one inch apart, which served not +only to give rigidity to the film, but also to conduct a current of +electricity through it, engendering a high state of atomic agitation. +The current was controlled by a small switch placed in a heavy box-like +frame, which bounded the film on its four sides and contained the +batteries, <a name='Page_11'></a>coils, etc. To this were attached four legs, supporting it +about the height of an ordinary table from the floor. The whole device +measured about seven feet square.</p> + +<p>This film substance contained certain elements which I had found to be +necessary to secure the desired intensity of agitation. It had taken me +almost a month to secure the fine quality I desired, and I looked +forward to the test with the feeling that results would prove that I was +nearing the goal, if I had not actually attained it.</p> + +<p>At last the day arrived when my device was ready for the test. I had +worked all the afternoon giving the finishing touches and it had grown +dusk without my realizing it. But everything was now ready, and moving +the switch, I turned the current of electricity through the composition. +Just as I was about to begin my test, I noticed what appeared to be a +faint shadow of a man move across the surface of the film. My first +thought was that someone had entered the room without my knowledge, and +his figure had been reflected on the surface of the film, which was +highly glazed, but a glance around the room <a name='Page_12'></a>assured me that this +explanation was untenable. Moreover, I found, upon further +investigation, that the film was lying in such a position that it would +be impossible to reflect any person in the room. I then examined the +skylight, only to find that, owing to the sharp inclination of the roof, +it would be an utter impossibility for anyone to reach it from the +outside without the aid of a ladder. I investigated this source further, +thinking to find the reflection on the film to be from some street in +the city below, but on account of the extent of the roof, no street was +visible from the skylight.</p> + +<p>Completely baffled, I descended into the room again and turned on the +current. Immediately the shadow appeared on the film, and this time, in +consequence of the room now being quite dark, I noticed that it was +surrounded by a phosphorus-colored glow. The figure was certainly that +of a man, although very faint, and it became evident to me, after +watching it for a while, that he was trying to signal with his arms.</p> + +<p>I now noticed that, in addition to the peculiar light on the film, the +entire surface seemed to <a name='Page_13'></a>vibrate with frequent, but scarcely audible, +humming sounds. Upon turning off the current all disappeared, only to +reappear when I switched it on again. It was evident then that the +phenomenon was caused only when the instrument was charged with +electricity, and consequently was no ordinary reflection, as I had at +first supposed.</p> + +<p>Everything pointed to its being the manifestation of some outside +agency; possibly electrical waves which my apparatus received and in a +measure responded to, coming through the open skylight from—where? The +question reiterated itself in my mind, as I stood gazing perplexedly at +the phenomenon. I might have been satisfied with the supposition that, +unknowingly, I had made an instrument which was capable of receiving +wireless waves from another instrument of similar tone in or near Paris, +if I had had only the humming sounds to contend with, but the shadow +impelled me to look for the reason further than this. I glanced upward, +eagerly seeking some explanation. One star was visible through the open +skylight—Mars. Clear and bright it shone in the inky blackness framed +by the window.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_14'></a>Once more I climbed to the skylight, feeling that I must seek the +explanation in that direction, when my attention was suddenly turned to +the apparatus below me. The glow was slowly passing off one side of the +film. I hastily descended and examined the batteries, thinking I would +find the cause of this in a failing current, but all was apparently in +perfect order. Still the glow and shadow moved steadily off, growing +fainter every moment, until it disappeared completely.</p> + +<p>With a sudden impulse, born of a weird and almost terrifying thought, I +bent over until my eyes were on a level with the film, then I looked +upward; the star was no longer visible from the position of the +instrument, it had risen above the frame of the window. At once I was +seized with an intense excitement; could it be possible that my +apparatus was responding to waves mysteriously projected from Mars? If +not, why had the glow and shadow faded from the film at the same instant +that Mars disappeared above the window frame?</p> + +<p>Hoping to test this further, I endeavored to move the apparatus to a +position where Mars would again be visible, but alas, I found it <a name='Page_15'></a>much +too heavy. I felt keenly disappointed at the sudden termination of this +strange phenomenon, but, upon reflection, I realized that it was only +the simultaneous disappearance of Mars and the glow on the film that had +caused me to attribute waves to that far source. The more I pondered +upon the matter, the more impossible it seemed, yet, strange to say, the +more convinced I became that the theory was correct. Light-waves, I +argued, unlike the wireless waves in common use, could be received only +when the two objects were in line of vision; but I realized that if they +were of Martian origin they were of remarkable magnification, projected +through space by some unknown and powerful agent, thousands of times +more powerful than electricity as we know it upon Earth. That the shadow +on the film had been that of a Martian, I dared not hope. Though my mind +continually reverted to this wild conjecture, I impatiently put it +aside, as the apparent impossibility of it all would force itself upon +me.</p> + +<p>Nothing further could be done that night, and as I had worked hard all +day preparing for my experiment, without even stopping for <a name='Page_16'></a>meals, I now +felt the effect of the excitement I had undergone and resolved to take a +walk in the cool air, I wanted to think, and, if possible, to plan a +line of action for the morrow which would bring me better results, if my +theory of light-waves should prove to be correct. Needless to say, I +determined to cease my former experiments, and devote all my energy to +ascertaining whether my apparatus was actually responding to Martian +light-waves of remarkable integrity, and if such proved to be the case, +to put every effort into improving the device with the hope of obtaining +their import. I also determined to keep my discovery a secret, at least +for the present.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_II'></a><h2><a name='Page_17'></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h2>THE MARTIAN.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I returned to my rooms with a much clearer conception of the conditions +with which I had to cope, if the waves to which my apparatus responded +should prove to be Martian waves. My mind was fully made up to proceed +as if this were an established fact, as, in order to give my best +efforts to improving my apparatus, I felt that I must eliminate all +scepticism. I clearly appreciated the advantage of moving my instrument +outside, where I could command a view of Mars for a much longer time, +but the necessity of being in my laboratory while I was engaged in these +improvements, decided me against any immediate change.</p> + +<p>Accordingly I proceeded the next morning to make the changes I deemed +necessary, being <a name='Page_18'></a>goaded into a fever of haste by a feeling of +suppressed excitement. The composition I had used in the form of a film +I now liquefied, having concluded that in the former condition, although +necessary in my original experiments, it now only retarded the vibration +of the wires.</p> + +<p>That this composition was essential there could be no doubt, as it was +its elements that responded to the agent used on Mars to project the +waves. I therefore liquefied the film substance, being careful in so +doing not to alter its properties. I then procured wires, much thinner +than those I had previously used, and dipped them-into the liquid. After +they had become perfectly dry, I stretched them on the frame as close +together as I could without their coming into contact with one another. +As light-waves are received in hundreds of different vibrations +simultaneously, according to the light or shade of the object projected, +I concluded that each wire should be capable of individual vibration. +The device now resembled a large piece of mosquito netting with the +cross wires removed, the coating of composition on each wire being so +thin that it was hardly discernible. The batteries and coils I +<a name='Page_19'></a>connected as before, taking great care not to change their arrangement.</p> + +<p>My preparations were now completed, and before me stood an instrument as +delicate and sensitive to wave vibrations as I could make it. Raising +one side of the frame a foot higher than the other, in order that the +surface of wires would be squarely facing the star when it appeared +above the casement, I waited impatiently for the moment which should +prove the truth or falsity of my surmises.</p> + +<p>The day had closed, and I spent the remaining time speculating upon the +results of my labors. But even the wildest flights of my imagination did +not picture, in the smallest degree, the wonderful transformation which +my new instrument would make in what had appeared before as a shadow on +the film. Little did I imagine to what an extent the unknown was to be +revealed to me.</p> + +<p>As I stood by the side of the frame all in readiness, Mars appeared, but +it still had a little farther to climb before it would be visible from +the level of the wires. Nevertheless, I turned on the current from the +batteries. All was darkness; never before had darkness <a name='Page_20'></a>seemed to me so +profound, so absolutely appalling. Minutes passed like hours, but still +that ominous darkness reigned. I felt the keen disappointment of +failure; I grew incredulous as the time passed, and found myself +admitting and rehearsing the absurdity of it all. I even blamed myself +for having been so easily deflected from my former experiments, by what +now seemed to be merely an idle fancy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I bent over the frame and gazed eagerly at the surface of +wires, for there, on the top edge, appeared a touch of the +phosphorus-colored glow. My heart thumped with wild excitement. I +stooped down until my eyes were on the level of the wires, and looking +up toward the window I could just see the rim of Mars appearing above +the casement. A shout of joy burst from my lips at the sight of it, for +it was now beyond all doubt that the phenomenon was attributable to +Mars. Brighter and brighter became the light as it covered the surface +of wires, until all its resemblance to a phosphorus glow had gone, and +it shone with such brilliancy that my eyes, accustomed as they were to +the darkness of the <a name='Page_21'></a>room, quailed before it. Turning away so that my +eyes might gradually become accustomed to the glare, I noticed that in +spite of the brilliant white light on the surface of the wires, the room +was in perfect darkness—the light had no power of illumination! +Impenetrable mystery enshrouded the agent which Mars was employing to +communicate with Earth!</p> + +<p>A curious humming sound issuing from the frame, much louder than I had +noticed the night before, caused me to turn involuntarily, and as I did +so I uttered a cry of wonder at the marvelous vision that met my eyes. +There lay before me, as bright as daylight, a picture that a thousand +times surpassed my highest, wildest hope. The great secret of another +planet was revealed, and I stood motionless, beholding an inhabitant of +a star millions of miles away.</p> + +<p>Among the vast multitude who for centuries have yearned for a glimpse +into the unknown worlds that surround us, I stood alone gazing upon the +image of a Martian. The thought stunned me; I was seized with a wild +impulse to rush out into the street and bring in the <a name='Page_22'></a>throng, that they +might look upon the form of this wonderful being on our sister planet. +But what proof was there to give them that this was so? I would +undoubtedly be ridiculed and accused of trickery. The very fact that had +brought a cry of amazement to my lips—the remarkable brilliancy and +clearness of the image, and the appearance of the Martian himself—would +serve to bring discredit upon anything I might say. Personally I had +ample proof that the image was that of a Martian, but what instant proof +could I give a jeering crowd? I had expected to find in a Martian a +strange grotesque being in appearance, if not in mind, much after the +weird and fierce character so many authors have portrayed him. Judge, +then, my astonishment when I beheld one who, in every particular of form +and feature, resembled the people of Earth.</p> + +<p>He appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, judging by our +earthly standard of time, possessing clear-cut features and dark +complexion. His face, which was clean-shaven, was remarkably handsome, +and his piercing dark eyes, although they enhanced the smile that +greeted my appearance at the instrument, <a name='Page_23'></a>seemed to search into my very +soul and to hold me spellbound with mute challenge. Nor could I, upon +afterthought, remember having shown the common courtesy of returning his +greeting.</p> + +<p>My astonishment was so great that every faculty seemed to leave me, and +I stood transfixed, staring at the image of the Martian without even the +power of thought. Gradually recovering my senses, however, I took note +of the man and his surroundings. He stood in a room of about the same +dimensions as my laboratory, which seemed to be flooded with bright +daylight, though I could not see any windows on three sides of the room +to admit the light, nor any shadows to indicate that the light came from +a window in the fourth. He held in his hands an instrument unknown to +me, and seemed to be perfectly at his ease, showing neither surprise nor +curiosity. Evidently this was not the first time that he had seen an +inhabitant of the Earth. So unconcerned was he and so natural did he +appear, even in the smallest detail of dress, that it was hard to +believe I was not looking at an image of some room and its occupant in +Paris. His <a name='Page_24'></a>close-fitting clothes seemed to be of a dark green material, +and resembled, to some degree, the uniform of an army officer.</p> + +<p>Bending over the instrument he held, he placed his mouth close to the +top of it, and immediately the humming sounds, which I had noticed +before, emanated from the wires of my apparatus. The thought flashed +through my mind that the Martian held in this instrument a means of +communicating sound. If so, what were the words—what language? The +possibility of what I heard being words, made me strain every nerve to +catch the slightest resemblance to such sounds, but alas, with no +success. That they were intended to convey a message, I became fully +convinced, but I could not rest in the belief that this jumble of sounds +was the Martian language. If the Martians themselves resembled, in so +striking a degree, the inhabitants of Earth, I argued, then it was in +the nature of things to expect a language that, in some way, +corresponded to one of our languages. The fault lay in my instrument, I +was sure of that, and in the keen disappointment of my failure to +receive his message and the excitement of the moment, I <a name='Page_25'></a>gave utterance +to an exclamation of despair. Immediately a smile overspread the +Martian's countenance, and, to my great astonishment, he put down the +instrument and clapped his hands by way of showing his approval.</p> + +<p>Before I could recover from my surprise at this new evidence of Martian +familiarity with the customs of Earth, the light suddenly grew dim and +in a few seconds had disappeared completely, leaving the instrument +plunged in darkness. Mars had risen above the frame of the skylight, and +I was no longer in contact with the light-waves. I listened intently, +thinking that if the sound-waves were of the nature of the +electrical-waves we employ in the wireless system, I would still be in +touch with my newly found friend, but I heard no further sound from the +instrument, thus proving that these waves also were projected by the +mysterious agent known only to the Martians.</p> + +<p>I had so much to occupy my mind, with what I had just witnessed, and so +many thoughts rushed in upon me regarding the perfecting of my +instrument so that it might properly respond to the sound-waves, that I +did not experience the disappointment I had felt before <a name='Page_26'></a>at the short +duration of our contact with each other. I was glad of the opportunity +to think; I felt that it was necessary to do so before further action, +if I ever hoped to attain the knowledge of Mars and its inhabitants that +my remarkable discovery had placed within my reach. I determined that on +the morrow, if I did not meet with better results in the sound +vibrations, I would try to communicate with the Martian by writing some +simple sentence in a bold hand, and in as many languages as I could. +This I would expose in front of the instrument, but I placed little hope +in the success of the scheme, for it was not possible that the Martian +language would be identical with any of ours.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_III'></a><h2><a name='Page_27'></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h2>THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD</h2> +<br /> + +<p>This thought of communicating with the Martian by writing, did not deter +me from using every effort to perfect my instrument, so that this might +be done verbally, or that at least I might hear a voice and a language +spoken on a world millions of miles away. Accordingly I gave the subject +of sound-waves my best thought, and the next morning I had formulated +clearly laid principles upon which to work. By these I hoped to make an +instrument that would be the means of conversing with a Martian.</p> + +<p>I had come to the conclusion that the jumble of sound was caused by the +prolonged vibration of the wires after each distinct wave from Mars was +received, as the wires of a piano will vibrate long after they have been +touched. <a name='Page_28'></a>With light-waves it was necessary to have a highly sensitive +surface of the composition, capable of responding to many different +vibrations, according to the light or shade of the object projected. +This accounted for the success I met with upon adopting the coated +wires, and I concluded thereupon that they were indispensable. But I now +saw that the presence of wires in the composition, though successful +with light-waves, was inimical to sound-waves, and it became evident +that a firmer but highly sensitive surface was required. The film had +not brought good results, either from sound-waves or light-waves, but, +it will be remembered, there were wires running through it to give it +rigidity, which, although necessary in my original experiments, must be +avoided in connection with sound vibrations. Clearly my new film must +not be rigid. I thereupon made a film of composition, as thin as +possible, and stretched it upon the frame of my instrument, as a +diaphragm behind the wires, hoping that the sound-waves would pass +between the wires, and vibrate the diaphragm, which, being made of +composition, would undoubtedly glow, but not more than the film had +done. This, I concluded, <a name='Page_29'></a>would not interfere with the image on the +wires, owing to the brilliancy of the latter.</p> + +<p>I was now hopeful of success, and anxiously waited for the day to close. +Everything was in readiness by noon, and I had at least eight hours to +wait before Mars would be in a position for wave contact. But now +appeared an adversary with which I had not reckoned. Clouds began to +gather, thin and fleecy at first, but growing heavier as the afternoon +passed, until by evening the heavens were completely obscured. This was +a condition that might last for several days, and the dread of it filled +me with despair. How could I wait for days inactive, without seeing or +even hearing from my friend in Mars?</p> + +<p>It now occurred to me how absolutely absorbed I had become in the +Martian investigation. Ordinarily a sociable person, in the past week I +had become a recluse. College friends that I had seen almost daily since +my return to Paris, I now completely neglected, even shunned, lest they +should call at my rooms some evening when I was in wave contact with +Mars. It also occurred to me that, as surely as my friendship and +necessity for them was <a name='Page_30'></a>declining, in like ratio was increasing an +attachment for an inhabitant of another world. I felt a strange soul +kinship for this Martian, which seemed to spring up the moment I saw his +image portrayed on my instrument. And the feeling was not one of +ordinary friendship. I felt I was drawn to him by some mysterious power, +that gave him the place of a brother in my affections—a power that +seemed to have brought us together, and now united us with a great +common and compelling interest. And yet as I pictured his handsome, +almost beautiful face, there was still another face I had seen—but +where? The Martian had been alone, yet I was conscious of a face that +was wonderfully beautiful, that seemed the goal for which I was +striving. It led me to greater effort after failure; the face which I +yearned to see and yet strangely dreaded seeing.</p> + +<p>It was useless for me to try to understand such thoughts, and to banish +them from my mind was impossible. I was overcome with a sense of +loneliness. Looking at my watch, I found that it was already past the +hour when Mars would be visible through the window on a clear night, +but, alas, the sky showed no signs <a name='Page_31'></a>of clearing; though my instrument +stood ready, it was useless.</p> + +<p>But, obeying some irresistible impulse, I decided to turn on the current +and stand by the instrument in case an opening in the clouds should +occur, for even a moment. I therefore turned the switch that controlled +the current, and immediately, to my astonishment, the surface of wires +became as brilliant as on the previous evening under a clear sky. +Turning away for a moment, to allow my eyes to become accustomed to the +brilliancy, I noticed that the sky was still overcast with heavy rain +clouds. My joy at the discovery that the Martian projecting agent was +not arrested by vapor was unbounded, for it meant that I could be in +wave-contact with Mars every night, during the period that the planet +was visible from Earth.</p> + +<p>I approached the instrument with the intention of at once testing the +diaphragm, but, to my surprise, my Martian friend was not there to greet +me. The room and its furnishings, however, were depicted as clearly as +before, and I now had an opportunity to note the instruments, the large +volumes of books, and the <a name='Page_32'></a>maps of the heavens which hung on the wall. +Everything pointed to this being a fully equipped Martian observatory, +though the instruments were entirely strange to me. I was examining +these latter more closely, when heavy portières parted, and my Martian +friend stepped into the room. So anxious was I to give him a pleasant +greeting, instead of staring at him in a semi-stupefied condition, as I +had done previously, that I forgot, for the moment, my determination to +test my diaphragm at the first opportunity, and greeted him merely with +a smile and a bow.</p> + +<p>My serene demeanor lasted but a moment, for simultaneously with his +bowed response to my greeting, came in a clear voice, with perfect +accent: "Bon soir, Monsieur!"</p> + +<p>I started back, for it seemed as if someone in the room had spoken, but +then I noticed that the Martian held in his hand the instrument I had +seen on the previous evening. Was it possible that this was his voice, +speaking French from a distance of millions of miles as clearly as if he +were in the room? The thing was incredible! How could a Martian know a +language evolved here on Earth? Was the <a name='Page_33'></a>whole thing then a delusion of +an overwrought mind? I stood staring at the instrument in amazement.</p> + +<p>The Martian, now seeing by my actions that his voice had been heard, +raised his instrument and repeated his greeting. The voice rang as +clearly as before; there could be no further doubt; through this +wonderful instrument the Martian's voice was projected, almost +instantaneously to the Earth—millions of miles in a second. The +mysterious power which enabled the Martian to project the waves, +compared with our electricity as the telegraph does with the +stage-coach. Was it strange that I stood aghast, as my mind slowly +comprehended the enormous distance which that voice had traversed almost +instantaneously?</p> + +<p>It was some moments before my amazement permitted me to respond to this +extraordinary salutation, then—my mind still too bewildered properly to +grasp the situation—I mumbled something in English about my great +astonishment at hearing a language of Earth spoken from a distant world.</p> + +<p>The sound of my voice seemed to cause the Martian some surprise, but +immediately his <a name='Page_34'></a>voice issued again in clear tones from the instrument.</p> + +<p>"I greeted you in what I supposed was your native tongue," he said in +perfect English. "Although now we have but one composite language here, +over a thousand years ago we spoke in many languages, as the people of +your planet do at the present time.</p> + +<p>"For more than six hundred years we have been able to observe the +progress of your planet," he went on, "through an instrument by which +light-waves are projected and received, and have found it to be +identical with ours of almost fifteen hundred years ago. By the placards +in the streets of your cities and towns, we discovered that you also +spoke in many tongues, and although the progress was necessarily slow, +our astronomers were, by this means, able to learn the principal +languages of Earth.</p> + +<p>"Anxiously we have watched and waited for the discovery of an instrument +that would respond to our projected light-waves and reveal to you the +inhabitants of your neighboring planet. At last this momentous time has +arrived. I congratulate you upon bringing it about."</p> + +<p><a name='Page_35'></a>As he spoke, his voice, coming from the diaphragm of my instrument, +sounded as distinct as if he were in the room, and his image, depicted +life-size, made it hard to believe that he was more than a few feet +away. That my informant was, in reality, millions of miles away, my mind +absolutely refused to grasp.</p> + +<p>A thousand questions to put to my Martian acquaintance rushed into my +mind, but alas, in supposing that I could not come in contact with Mars +on account of cloud obscurity, I had lost much of the precious time, and +now the waning light on my instrument warned me that the planet would, +in a few moments, pass out of range. We therefore hastily bade each +other adieu, promising to continue our conversation on the morrow, as +though we had parted at a street corner. The light now faded completely, +and the instrument, that a few moments previously had been animated with +such an exuberance of life and mystery, now stood before me wrapped in +profound darkness and silence.</p> + +<p>How impossible, how inconceivable it all seemed! How the outside world +would scoff if I attempted to explain or publish my discovery! I felt +that the time had not yet come <a name='Page_36'></a>to take anyone into my confidence, and I +determined still to keep all a secret. I was then unaware, however, that +the more I learned of Mars and its people the more closely I would guard +my knowledge.</p> + +<p>Pacing excitedly up and down my laboratory, I spent most of the night in +reviewing what I had heard, and speculating the rare knowledge that the +morrow would bring. The secrets of another world would be unfolded to +me, and the scientific achievements of a people over a thousand years in +advance of us would be mine. What glorious possibilities this disclosed! +What a brilliant future as a scientist such knowledge would assure me! +And in the exuberance of my spirits I little thought that the possession +of this knowledge would come to mean naught to me; for I had yet to +learn that man cannot share the riches of another world without also +becoming a partner in its sorrows and its passions.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a><h2><a name='Page_37'></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h2>THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>With a determination of finding a room from which I could command a +longer view of Mars, the next day I visited several studios which were +for rent, and finally succeeded in securing one formerly occupied by a +photographer, which was located on the top floor of a house in the +immediate vicinity of my old rooms.</p> + +<p>The room was large, in fact it occupied the entire top floor of the +building, and this feature pleased me greatly. The only communication +with the house was by a door which had every appearance of an outside +door, so heavy were the hinges and lock. The landlord, in drawing my +attention to this, had smiled and remarked that the former tenant, who +lived in another section of the city, had <a name='Page_38'></a>been very careful always to +leave his studio securely locked. The ceiling of half the room was +entirely of glass, sloping down to the floor at the angle of the roof, +and this was the only means of obtaining air and light. It was +constructed in two sections, which would slide back and forth, for the +purpose of ventilation. This arrangement, I found, would give me an +unobstructed view of Mars for several hours each night. Nothing could be +better adapted to my requirements; I could not be observed by anyone +outside, and I need not fear being overheard while conversing with my +Martian friend.</p> + +<p>I therefore determined to have my instrument moved at once, in order to +be installed in my new quarters that evening.</p> + +<p>I next bought a crate, used for large oil paintings, and upon its +delivery at my old rooms, I immediately commenced packing my instrument +in it. Owing to its great weight this was no easy work, and it would +express the procedure better if I said that I placed the crate around +the instrument. Making sure that it was all covered carefully, I had it +moved to my new quarters and set in place, the impression <a name='Page_39'></a>of the +carriers being that it was a painting which I was very anxious that no +one should see until it was completed.</p> + +<p>As it was now within an hour of the time when I expected Mars to appear, +I decided to leave my books and other belongings at my former rooms +until the next day. I uncovered the instrument, and got everything into +readiness, being careful to see that the batteries were all in place, so +that nothing might occur to interrupt the long talk with the Martian +which I was anticipating.</p> + +<p>Having turned on the current, and opened the sliding section of the +glass roof, I now awaited the appearance of Mars. There occurred to me +question alter question that seemed of sufficient importance to prompt +immediate inquiry, only to be forgotten as others came into my mind; +until the presence of the increasing faint glow on my instrument found +me unprepared with any single question of actual importance. +Consequently I decided to allow my distant informant to continue with +the account of Martian observations of Earth, as being at once the most +instructive and surest way of suggesting important questions.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_40'></a>As my eyes got accustomed to the brilliancy I saw the Martian waiting +for me, with his instrument in readiness. We greeted each other with the +affection we both now sincerely felt, and though I could not clasp his +hand, I endeavored in every way to show him the brotherly warmth of +feeling I entertained for him.</p> + +<p>It now occurred to me that in the excitement of our first communication +with each other, we had completely overlooked an important +conventionality. I therefore announced that I was known on Earth as +Harold Lonsdale.</p> + +<p>"My name is Almos," he responded, his dark eyes sparkling as he quickly +entered into the spirit of the occasion. "Although it was customary once +for us to have two or three names, we found it in better harmony with +the changed conditions of the present time to have but one. This you +will more easily understand when you have become better acquainted with +this planet and its people."</p> + +<p>"And as I am most anxious to learn more about the conditions of life in +your world," I added, eagerly, "I trust you will continue the account of +Martian observations of Earth, <a name='Page_41'></a>which was barely commenced last evening +when the wave contact ceased. But first let me ask how you located my +whereabouts, for this morning I moved to another section of the city."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he replied, with a smile, "I was not aware you had moved. +Experience has taught me about where to look for the large city you call +Paris, on the side of Earth that is now exposed to us, and then by +systematic search I soon located the response of your instrument.</p> + +<p>"As our observations of Earth with projected light-rays have been +carried on for seven hundred years, it will be necessary to give you an +outline of our history and the progress of science covering that time. +This will not only be of interest as a forecast of your own world's +future, but will also prove of the greatest value to you, if you decide +to visit this planet, an undertaking which I am convinced lies within +your power."</p> + +<p>His words wrung an exclamation of astonishment from my lips, but, as +though not wishing to be interrupted, he went on:</p> + +<p>"Seven hundred years ago, a power derived from that substance known on +Earth as radium, <a name='Page_42'></a>was discovered on Mars. This power was found to be +capable of projecting light rays almost instantaneously through space +for inconceivable distances, at the same time preserving their integrity +to such a remarkable degree that they would reach the farthest planets +without diffusion or diminution. Thus my image, thrown upon the +instrument before me, is conveyed to Earth in light-waves by this flow +of super-radium with such tremendous speed as to be practically +instantaneous; these are received in your instrument, which is +responsive to the flow of super-radium, in the same condition as when +they left Mars, consequently depicting the image life-size.</p> + +<p>"Having come in contact with another body in the heavens, this +outward-flowing current of super-radium is changed to an inward-flowing +current. In making this change it frees the light-waves it conveyed from +Mars, and retains the light-waves of the objects about it, which is +merely repeating its performance upon leaving Mars. These light-waves of +objects on another globe it now conveys on its return journey to Mars, +entering a receiving instrument and depicting the objects therein +life-size.</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_43'></a>Possessing rays invisible to the human eye, except when agitated by a +substance of its own nature, daylight on a planet becomes an entirely +unnecessary adjunct to observations made with super-radium, and we are +able to explore the dark side of planets and other heavenly bodies, just +as effectually as those illuminated by the sun.</p> + +<p>"Thus have we, for seven hundred years, been able to study the country, +cities, streets, and people of Earth. And not only did we note a +remarkable similarity in the people, buildings, and scientific progress +to early Martian ages, but, by the advertisements, placards, and other +street signs we were able to learn the principal languages spoken on +your planet, and these were found to correspond in a remarkable degree +to those in use on Mars, before conditions on our planet made the +adoption of a composite language an absolute necessity. And undoubtedly +these same conditions in due time will face the people of Earth."</p> + +<p>I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this prediction, +but Almos at once reassured me by stating that when the time did come, +it would be the beginning of universal peace and happiness on Earth.</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_44'></a>Am I to understand, then," said I, "that a condition of perfect +happiness prevails on Mars?"</p> + +<p>"Unhappiness is considered a disease with us," Almos rejoined. "It is +heard of, but very rarely, and is treated as a serious malady. But you +will understand these things better as you gradually become acquainted +with the conditions here. You must remember that you are in the position +of a man over fifteen hundred years in advance of his day.</p> + +<p>"Having become convinced, through close observations, that the progress +of Earth was identical with that of Mars, and that Earth, being the +younger planet, was consequently following our lead, we anxiously +watched for the discovery on Earth of the wonderful power that had been +the means of bringing us into such close visual contact with you. When +you discovered radium, we realized that this would eventually lead to +the discovery of the higher power, but we feared that this might not be +for hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>"That communication was possible through the medium of radium and +electricity, we were totally ignorant of. It was the responsive +<a name='Page_45'></a>properties of radium in your instrument, however, that first attracted +my attention while searching over Paris for an object I had previously +been observing. Thereafter my interest in your progress was as great as +your own, and every twenty-four hours, when the eastern hemisphere of +Earth was turned toward Mars, I searched with the radioscope until I got +the response of your instrument.</p> + +<p>"I have kept my success in communicating with Earth a secret, as it +involves an invention of mine which I have not yet made public, and of +which I will now tell you. This invention is the radiphone, through +which we are now conversing, and to which the diaphragm of your +instrument responds, as it doubtless contains radium also. My entire +life has been devoted to the development of Martian-Earthly +communication, and this instrument has been the goal which I have +striven to reach since boyhood, and yet its success in communicating +with Earth came as a great surprise to me."</p> + +<p>So accustomed was I to hear the Martian speak of the most miraculous +occurrences in an ordinary conversational tone, that the idea <a name='Page_46'></a>of there +still remaining something on Mars to be discovered appeared a still +greater wonder.</p> + +<p>"We have made a most important discovery," pursued Almos. "I say 'we,' +as without the response of your instrument the action of a super-radium +current on sound-waves would not have been discovered."</p> + +<p>"I feel that I can hardly share in the honors," I protested modestly. +"Without the super-radium current from Mars, I would still be +experimenting with the hope of finding a substitute for glass."</p> + +<p>I now entered into a full account of the experiments I had conducted, +describing how, quite accidentally, I had made a substance responsive to +the waves from Mars. He was greatly amused upon hearing of my +astonishment at finding that Martians resembled the people on Earth; and +when I drew for him a verbal picture of the ferocious creatures the +inhabitants of Mars were supposed to be, he laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"We never suspected that the people of Earth did us such a great +injustice," he said, his whole countenance lighting up with good humor. +"I have several volumes here giving <a name='Page_47'></a>accounts of observations of Earth, +some of them written eight hundred years ago. It would perhaps interest +you to hear what the Martian conception of the inhabitants of Earth was +at that time."</p> + +<p>"Indeed it would," I exclaimed, with rising curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Well then," rejoined Almos, bringing one of the books and turning over +the leaves, while a curious smile still played about his mouth, "you +must understand that this was written over a hundred years before +super-radium was discovered, and at that time we had no means of +observing Earth except through the telescope, which showed us the +mountains, seas, and continents, much the same as your telescope must +reveal the physical features of Mars. On the question of whether Earth +is inhabited the author says:</p> + +<p>"'That this planet is inhabited we have no reason to doubt, as it is +known to be enveloped in an atmosphere, and it is now a generally +accepted theory that the changes noticed in its color throughout the +year are the seasonal effects on vegetable matter existing on its +surface.... What the inhabitants are like, <a name='Page_48'></a>however, we can only +surmise, but a study of the conditions under which they live will help +us to picture the wild amphibious creatures they must be. Their planet, +more than half covered with water, and being so many millions of miles +nearer the sun than we are, is almost continually enveloped in heavy +clouds of vapor, which, unless they were half fish, must surely +suffocate them. They doubtless seek the depths of water when these +clouds of thick vapor arise. Upon emerging, however, they have to face +such intense heat as none of us could tolerate a minute and live.... +They are no doubt provided with steel-like skin to resist this +temperature.... That they are of a fierce temperament there can be +little doubt, as their atmosphere, which is twice the weight of ours, is +so overcharged with electricity, owing to the heat and clouds of vapor, +that violent storms are constantly breaking over them, doubtless killing +thousands of them at a time and tending to make the natures of the +survivors as fierce as the elements which surround them.... Their year +is but half as long as ours, and this—impeding the laws of propagation, +thus making impossible the <a name='Page_49'></a>higher order of mankind—would naturally +have the effect of rendering their lives a short, reckless, and +ferocious existence, full of unrestrained cruelty and passions....'</p> + +<p>"And now," continued Almos, with a smile, after closing the volume, "you +see there is no occasion for apologies from you."</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, somewhat dryly.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, my dear fellow," said Almos, laughing and seeming to enjoy +the situation immensely, "the entire solar system is pursuing the same +path; what A thinks of B, B has already thought of A."</p> + +<p>The failing light on my instrument at this moment gave warning of the +passing of Mars out of wave contact, and we were obliged to bid each +other good-bye, Almos promising important revelations on the morrow.</p> + +<p>As I stood for a moment before my instrument, now wrapped in darkness, I +was conscious of a strange feeling that, in bidding Almos adieu, I had +also parted from another inhabitant of Mars. Though well aware that I +had only seen and conversed with Almos, my mind, nevertheless, also +reproduced the likeness of a young girl, wonderfully beautiful. I had +<a name='Page_50'></a>first experienced this mental image immediately after my first +conversation with Almos. At that time I had tried hard to put it from me +as merely a delusion resulting from nervous tension. But I found that +after each interview with Almos, the image became clearer and more +definitely fixed in my mind, until now I firmly believed in the +existence of this beautiful being on Mars, and, remarkable though it +seemed, I could not deny my growing affection for her. I had not +mentioned this mental image to Almos, as I felt convinced that he knew +nothing of it, and therefore would be unable to help me in any way. +Moreover, my training had taught me to seek a scientific reason for +things which might appeal to the superstitious as weird and uncanny. I +was therefore loath to speak of it to Almos, until I had proved beyond +doubt that it was not an hallucination.</p> + +<p>After I had spent many hours in vainly seeking a possible cause for this +mysterious mental image, the realization that I was but the veriest +infant in the wonderful achievements of our sister planet, finally +decided me upon the wiser course of leaving such matters <a name='Page_51'></a>until I had +become better acquainted with Martian inventions and scientific +progress. I therefore looked forward to visiting this wonderful world +with the greatest anticipation, and though I was entirely ignorant of +how this stupendous and seemingly impossible feat should be +accomplished, such was my faith in Almos' superior knowledge of science, +that I did not, for a moment, doubt the possibility of such a thing. +Little did I realize the fearful nature of the journey—the success of +which was based entirely on theories—or I would have shrunk in horror +from such an undertaking.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_V'></a><h2><a name='Page_52'></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h2>THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The greater part of the next day was spent in moving the rest of my +belongings to my new quarters and in settling down there. Indeed, so +occupied was I with this task, that the approach of darkness found me +quite unprepared for wave contact with Mars. I had been obliged to take +my instrument apart in order to allow the larger pieces of furniture to +be brought into the room, and it required almost two hours to put it +together again.</p> + +<p>When at last all was in readiness and I had turned on the current, I +found my Martian friend waiting for me.</p> + +<p>"This is to be the last of my narrative," he remarked, after we had +greeted each other.</p> + +<p>"What!" I ejaculated in amazement.</p> + +<p>"You see, my dear fellow," continued <a name='Page_53'></a>Almos, "it was necessary for you +to become gradually acquainted with the advanced contions on Mars, +properly to understand them, and I have tried to school your mind +accordingly. It is essential, however, for you to see these things, +fully to appreciate the advancement of almost twenty centuries, and only +thus can my highest ambition be realized."</p> + +<p>"How is it possible?"</p> + +<p>"When I have told you of several important ways in which life on Mars +differs from that on Earth, you will more readily understand.</p> + +<p>"I have said that unhappiness on Mars is almost unknown. It is only the +presence of ill health that causes unhappiness. If the body can be kept +in a condition of absolutely perfect health—and by that I mean +something far beyond what is considered perfect health on Earth—then +unhappiness is impossible. Its causes, sorrow, jealousy, envy, hatred, +and discontent, are eliminated, and a normal condition of perfect +immunity from wrong-doing and unhappiness exists.</p> + +<p>"It has been discovered on Earth that crime is the result of a diseased +brain, and with us this discovery, in time, developed the fact that +<a name='Page_54'></a>wrong-doing, even in its minor phases, is the result of physical ill +health. Maintain, then, a perfect state of bodily health in a community, +and there is no wrong-doing and consequent unhappiness.</p> + +<p>"The means of obtaining this bodily health was discovered on Mars, in +the form of invisible light rays, almost six hundred years ago, and its +discovery led to a complete transformation in social conditions, +establishing perfect tranquillity and happiness upon the entire globe.</p> + +<p>"Separate governments became intolerable and were abandoned when race +distinction was forgotten, and the people of Mars became as one family, +speaking one tongue. Friendship for one's neighbor was transmuted into +love for one's brother. The pursuit of personal gain was replaced by a +desire to work for the good of all, and now a keen individual sense of +right and duty actuates the entire population, and is paramount in all +things. Duties are performed without other compensation than that which +the fulfillment of something well done brings.</p> + +<p>"It was soon found that the remarkable regenerating properties of these +rays perpetuated <a name='Page_55'></a>life and youth. Not only did they prevent sickness of +any kind, but they rebuilt the tissues of the body as fast as they wore +out, thus making the aging of the body impossible. A child therefore +grows up to full manhood or womanhood and remains in that state of the +body's highest excellence. While the child is developing the rays +stimulate his progress; anything beyond that would be decaying, a +condition the rays prevent."</p> + +<p>Accustomed though I had become to a long recital of the most marvelous +accounts without interrupting, I could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment at the information that Martians enjoy everlasting life.</p> + +<p>Almos received my evident amazement with the quiet smile I had grown +accustomed to observe upon such occasions, and, with a view of +illustrating the point further, said:</p> + +<p>"Although one's actual age becomes a very unimportant matter when, +instead of being limited to sixty or seventy years, it extends over +hundreds of years, I can readily ascertain my age, from the fact that I +was twenty years old at the time these wonderful rays were discovered. I +have lived, then, about six hundred <a name='Page_56'></a>of Earth's years, or three hundred +Martian years."</p> + +<p>"Six hundred years!" I exclaimed, as I looked at the reflection of his +handsome face; his eyes flashing, his cheeks aglow with ruddy health, +his whole countenance animated with the full vigor of manhood.</p> + +<p>"Of course, we do not know how long the effects of regenerating rays +will make it possible to live," pursued Almos, "but in theory, it would +seem that by their daily use perfect health will be assured, and life +itself will continue indefinitely."</p> + +<p>"And death become unknown on Mars!" I added, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Not quite unknown," rejoined Almos. "For lives are sometimes lost in +accidents. Instant death defies all our science, and will not be +conquered. But in accidents, no matter how serious, where a spark of +life remains, we can prevent that from escaping until the body is in a +condition to take care of it.</p> + +<p>"This is accomplished by a device known as a virator, which, though +simple in construction, is the greatest marvel of the age. It consists +of a dome, made of material similar to <a name='Page_57'></a>glass in appearance, but which +differs from anything else known, in that it is absolutely atomless. +This dome fits over the operating table, upon which the patient lies, +with just sufficient room for two persons inside, and is kept at the +temperature of the body. On its top is a small globe made of the same +material, measuring but a few inches in diameter, which is connected +with the large chamber below by a neck or passage about an inch wide. +The patient is placed inside, and there operated upon. If life leaves +the body, either during the operation or after, the spirit ascends +through the narrow passage into the small globe above and is there +retained, as it cannot pass through the material of which the walls of +this chamber are constructed. The body is then kept continually bathed +in the regenerating rays, which not only preserve it as if life were in +it, but actually carry on the process of healing. This continues until +the body is in a perfectly sound and healthy condition again, and well +able to retain life.</p> + +<p>"And now occurs the most wonderful of all. When everything is in +readiness for the spirit to enter the body again, a strong flow of +super-radium <a name='Page_58'></a>is sent through the top globe from an instrument attached. +Passing through the small chamber and down the narrow passage, it +reaches the body, and immediately changes to a return flow. This current +is but momentary; the patient is seen to move, and the body is once more +quickened by the life spark. The flow of super-radium has conveyed the +spirit of the patient from the small chamber above and released it in +the body as it returned, in exactly the same manner as it does with +light-waves or sound-waves."</p> + +<p>"Marvelous!" I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend this +almost miraculous achievement. With such vast scientific resources +nothing seemed impossible to Martians.</p> + +<p>Almos had stopped abruptly. A change came over him. His face paled and +his lips set in a hard, determined expression. Instantly I felt my every +faculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of this +remarkable being.</p> + +<p>Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinated +by a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said:</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_59'></a>A few words more and we have reached that point at which death may +await the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther. A death that no +scientific knowledge can avert. I have tried to school your mind, to the +end that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, +never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish to +attempt, you must risk alone.</p> + +<p>"Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned the +millions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, +which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live in +another world. Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earth +or Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over. You must consider +the possible consequences ere it be too late."</p> + +<p>"Never!" I cried. "My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I have +proceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal. +Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs me +my life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earth +ever can be."</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_60'></a>Well, my brave fellow," said Almos, his voice softening, "you must +follow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, for +to-morrow I can be of no assistance to you. Alone you must undertake the +journey."</p> + +<p>I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what I +had said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feeling +now that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, the +facts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom I +fully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, was +inextricably bound with mine. I now decided to do so on the first +opportunity.</p> + +<p>"I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upper +chamber of a virator after it has left the body," pursued Almos, "and as +it is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe the +additions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also my +theories in connection with them.</p> + +<p>"To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected the +receiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface. +<a name='Page_61'></a>This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatus +substituted, from which I have also removed the image surface. Thus we +may have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope to +Earth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projecting +apparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth and +returning into the receiving apparatus.</p> + +<p>"This is exactly the condition that exists in a virator in ordinary use +with these exceptions: the current of super-radium is made to flow +either in or out of the bottom chamber, as well as the top; instead of +being local, the current is between Earth and Mars, and consequently +much more powerful. The currents from both the top and bottom chambers +are controlled by clockwork which I have devised for that purpose, and +in place of an operating table in the virator I have substituted a +couch.</p> + +<p>"And now I enjoin you to summon all your courage, for in this +undertaking nothing but nerves of steel will carry you safely through."</p> + +<p>"I shall faithfully carry out your instructions, Almos," I responded, +trying to appear perfectly calm, though my being fifteen hundred <a name='Page_62'></a>years +behind Martian times never seemed so much a handicap as now.</p> + +<p>"Follow me, then, word for word," resumed Almos. "Understand all I say, +for in the error of a second, the misconception of a word, the hesitancy +of a moment, there is death!</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, when that part of the Earth's surface on which Paris is +situated appears, I shall attach the receiving apparatus of the +radioscope to the lower chamber of the virator, so that the return +current from Earth will flow into it. I shall then set the clockwork to +turn on the current of super-radium in half an hour. In that time my +body must be in a condition to receive your spirit."</p> + +<p>I could not suppress a shudder upon hearing this, but I deemed it best +not to interrupt Almos.</p> + +<p>"Filling a cone with the required amount of chloroform, I shall enter +the virator, and, reclining upon the couch, place the cone over my mouth +and nose. In a few minutes my spirit will have passed into the upper +chamber.</p> + +<p>"By experimenting, I have found that regenerating rays are contained in +super-radium. In fact, my theory is that the regenerating rays <a name='Page_63'></a>and the +invisible rays of super-radium are synonymous. Such being the case, when +the current of super-radium is turned on by the clockwork, it will flow +to Earth and, returning, enter the virator and restore my body to a +normal condition, freeing it from the fumes of chloroform and making it +capable of receiving its new life.</p> + +<p>"The glow of your instrument, in response to the super-radium current, +will warn you that this has taken place, and you must then prepare +yourself for departure. You will not observe any image, owing to my +having removed the lenses of the radioscope, but your instrument will +glow in response to the current.</p> + +<p>"Having prepared a cone of chloroform, you must move a couch directly in +front of your instrument, so that upon lying down your body will obscure +the rays from it. You will thus know that you are in the path of the +super-radium current; this is of the greatest importance as, otherwise, +your spirit would undoubtedly escape upon leaving the body and be lost +forever.</p> + +<p>"After taking every possible precaution to <a name='Page_64'></a>safeguard against any +movement of the body, place the cone securely over your mouth and nose. +Within a short time your spirit will leave the body and will instantly +be caught up by the super-radium current, on its return flow to Mars. +Entering the receiving apparatus and thus passing into the virator, the +flow will come into direct contact with my body, into which it will +discharge your spirit."</p> + +<p>Almos stopped abruptly, consternation written on his face. A moment +later, I realized the cause—the two planets were passing out of wave +contact. At such a critical moment nothing could be more unfortunate, +and I was about hastily to suggest a postponement, when Almos exclaimed: +"It is all right!—I shall leave——"</p> + +<p>Wave contact ceased before he had time to finish the sentence, and I was +left standing before the instrument in a state of irresolution.</p> + +<p>How could I arrive on Mars totally unprepared to meet the conditions? +Upon my regaining consciousness these might present themselves in the +most urgent form, demanding immediate attention and a thorough knowledge +<a name='Page_65'></a>of Martian sciences. Almos' life, indeed, might depend upon just such a +condition.</p> + +<p>Undetermined upon the course I should pursue the next day, my mind +filled with the most formidable fancies of so strange an undertaking, I +at last sought repose, hoping that with the morrow would come clearer +thought.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a><h2><a name='Page_66'></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h2>"AS OTHERS SEE US."</h2> +<br /> + +<p>The next morning found me resolved to make the journey to Mars at any +cost. That Almos had intended to say he would leave further +instructions, I had no doubt. The instructions would probably be +written, and placed where I would immediately see them upon regaining +consciousness. In any event, I argued, if, at the usual hour of Martian +contact, my instrument should glow in response to super-radium, it would +clearly be my duty to fulfil my part of the agreement, for the glow +would be proof that Almos had fulfilled his and that his spirit had +passed into the upper chamber of the virator.</p> + +<p>I had purchased the necessary articles for my remarkable journey, and +had taken the precaution to fasten a notice outside my door <a name='Page_67'></a>to the +effect that I would be out during the evening. I could not restrain a +grim smile at the thought of the uncanny literal truth in this +announcement.</p> + +<p>These things done I fell to speculating upon what would be my experience +on Mars if, indeed, I ever reached that planet. For the first hours, try +as I would to check it, there was, at times, a doubt as to the outcome +of this wild soul-adventure. But, strange as it may appear, although I +fully realized the danger attending such an undertaking, the success of +which was based entirely on theories, it did not, in any way, act as a +deterrent. So great was the prize to be attained, that the risk of life +seemed unimportant. Indeed, the first step of the journey to Mars was to +take my life, as we understand the term on Earth, and, having become +reconciled to this, I was not sensible of any danger beyond. So absorbed +was I in these thoughts, that the time passed without my realizing it, +and only the fading daylight warned me of the near approach of the hour +of Martian contact.</p> + +<p>I now made a complete examination of all the batteries and coils of my +instrument, as <a name='Page_68'></a>failure in any of these might result most seriously. +Finding all to be in perfect working order, I next proceeded to arrange +my couch so as to bring it directly between the instrument and the +window. Having thus completed my preparations, possessed by conflicting +emotions, I now waited for the appearance of Mars.</p> + +<p>Early in the day I had arranged my letters and private papers so that in +the event of the worst happening, they could be readily packed, and it +now occurred to me that it would be only proper to leave a word of +explanation with them. I therefore hastily penned a note to a cousin +living in England—my nearest relative—briefly explaining my discovery +of the Martian super-radium current, and also the character of the +adventure in which I was about to participate. This note I placed with +my papers.</p> + +<p>Returning to the instrument, I discovered that Mars was already visible. +Quickly turning on the current and finding no responsive glow, I knew +that Almos was already making the preparations he had described to me. +He had said that within half an hour the clockwork <a name='Page_69'></a>would turn on the +current, and the glow of my instrument would be the signal for my +departure.</p> + +<p>No time was to be lost. Securely fastening the door of my room, I +prepared the cone of chloroform and extinguished the light, in order not +to excite the suspicion of a chance caller during the evening.</p> + +<p>I now sat on the couch awaiting with anxiety the current of super-radium +that would convey me to the far world of my dreams. Minutes seemed like +hours, as I sat in the darkness, with every nerve strained to its +uttermost, awaiting Death. What if Death should refuse to release me! +Millions have been wrapped in Death's cold arms, but no mortal has +returned to give accounting.</p> + +<p>What was that!—A blinding flash made me instantly shield my eyes. Ah! +The glow at last! But such was its dazzling brilliancy that I could not +stand the glare. I had been accustomed to see the glow gradually creep +up the surface of the instrument, slowly growing brighter as the rim of +the star appeared above the window casement, but this time Mars had +risen to full view before the current was <a name='Page_70'></a>turned on by the clockwork. +This was ample proof that everything had happened as Almos had planned. +It was now my turn to act and I must not hesitate. Stretching myself on +the couch so that I came into full contact with the current of +super-radium, I seized the cone saturated with chloroform, and fastened +it securely over my mouth and nose.</p> + +<p>A few moments of a slightly suffocating sensation, then a long, long +fall, gradual at first, then quicker, quicker—</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<p>With a feeling of exhilaration, such as I had never before experienced, +I opened my eyes and sprang to my feet. My brain was perfectly clear, +and so active that my mind utterly failed to keep pace with the +multitude of thoughts that were crowded upon it—thoughts that were +strange to my mind, yet perfectly familiar to my brain, if this +paradoxical statement may stand. It seemed as if my mind stood, apart +and marveled at the remarkable activity and knowledge possessed by the +brain—of which knowledge my mind was entirely ignorant.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_71'></a>I was in another world, millions of miles away from Earth. My mind +realized that something little short of a miracle had happened, and yet +I felt absolutely familiar with all the objects about me. The glass-like +walls that surrounded me, reaching up and forming a dome several feet +above my head; the narrow passage in the center of the dome (just as the +neck of a bottle would appear if viewed from inside), through which the +spirit of Almos had passed to the chamber above; all these were +wonderfully familiar to me.</p> + +<p>I was in the virator, but it was uncomfortable to remain inside, as the +air was oppressively warm. Moreover, dictated my brain, I must prepare +the virator for my return within five hours, and my hand instinctively +grasped a lever in the wall of the apparatus. A door opened and I +stepped out, carefully closing it behind me. Again I was astonished at +my wonderful familiarity with everything. If I had lived on Mars all my +life, I could not have had a more intimate knowledge of my surroundings. +I seemed to know exactly how to proceed, and after attending to several +important details, and carefully noting the temperature of the <a name='Page_72'></a>virator +on a thermometer placed for that purpose, I consulted a chronometer to +ascertain how long it would be safe for me to remain on Mars. I found +that, allowing a half-hour for the process of arrival and the same for +departure, I had just five hours.</p> + +<p>My mind, at first stunned by the new and strange conditions to which it +was subjected, now gradually began to realize its remarkable position in +relation to the brain.</p> + +<p>That the mind and the spirit are one, or so closely related as to be +indistinguishable and inseparable, was now beyond doubt, as I was keenly +aware of all that had happened to me on Earth, showing that my mind not +only existed, but also possessed the same faculty of thought in Almos' +body as it did in mine while on Earth. Here was a positive proof, in +fact a demonstration, of the theory advanced by some scientists, that +the mind is separate and distinct from the brain.</p> + +<p>But the gulf that lies between life and death remained as wide as ever. +Death was still shrouded in mystery, for my mind knew nothing from the +moment it left the body on Earth, until it awakened in the body on Mars. +Flesh <a name='Page_73'></a>and blood, then, were essential to the mind's existence. Mind or +spirit must have expression through some form. Although man may achieve +much by scientific advancement, that to which he has progressed is but +as a grain of sand in the desert, to the wonders that surround him. +Science shall never penetrate the mystery of those things that are +withheld from him.</p> + +<p>The brain of which my mind now took control, acted merely as the +material handle by which the machinery of the body was operated, thus +converting thoughts into actions. But although my mind, having by now +become perfectly familiar with the strange conditions, was able to +record new impressions on the brain, there still existed the impression +of Almos' thoughts. It resembled a book which my mind could instantly +refer to and be guided by, and thus was I in possession of a perfect +knowledge of Mars, its people, and its language.</p> + +<p>I now realized that my first actions, upon becoming conscious, had +simply been carrying out the instructions Almos had left for me. Strange +to the conditions in those first few <a name='Page_74'></a>minutes, I had instinctively done +what the brain dictated. In this remarkable way had Almos completed the +instructions he was about to give me when interrupted by the cessation +of wave contact.</p> + +<p>Having thus arrived at what I felt to be the true relation of my mind +with Almos' body, I now turned my attention to the objects surrounding +me.</p> + +<p>I stood in a room about the size of my laboratory on Earth. There were +no windows to admit light, but the ceiling, which was fully twenty feet +high, emitted a beautifully diffused white light, which filled every +corner of the room, leaving absolutely no shadows. Its effect was that +of daylight, and so closely did it resemble the sky, that, had I not +been supplied with Almos' knowledge of Martian science, I would have +naturally supposed that there was no ceiling to the room. Immediately +upon the question coming into my mind, however, I became aware that the +ceiling was coated with a composition, one of the component parts of +which was radium in a highly developed state. Its action upon the other +elements that composed this substance resulted <a name='Page_75'></a>in a perpetual light +without heat, which was equal in every way to daylight.</p> + +<p>The tourist, finding himself in a new country, has but one thought, one +ambition, that of seeing all he can; yet, strange to say, although a +whole new world lay before me, my first thought was of Mother Earth. A +desire to view my old habitat as Martians see it seemed almost +irresistible.</p> + +<p>To touch the radioscope that was trained on Earth, would result in an +instant change taking place in my body as it lay in the laboratory, and +this would be disastrous. It was only the regenerating properties of the +super-radium current that kept it in a state acceptable to my return, +and the delicate mechanism of this instrument was regulated so as to +keep the current exactly in position, as long as that part of the +Earth's surface was exposed to Mars. To interfere then with this +current, for a moment, would mean certain death.</p> + +<p>Immediately I became conscious of the presence of another instrument, +which was in a room adjoining, and, feeling absolutely familiar with +every inch of the way, I proceeded thence. The room was a small one, +just large <a name='Page_76'></a>enough, indeed, to operate the radioscope, which was exactly +the same as the one in the room I had just quitted.</p> + +<p>With a perfect knowledge of the mechanism of the instrument, I was soon +at work adjusting the projecting and receiving apparatus. An ordinary +telescope was attached to the huge tube of the radioscope, and with +Almos' dexterity I soon located Earth through it, thus sighting the +radioscope for that planet.</p> + +<p>I had now but to turn on the current to see the people on Earth and +watch their doings, as had done Martians for hundreds of years, but, +with my hand on the lever that controlled the current, I paused.</p> + +<p>The sight of Earth, as it appeared through the telescope, was too +beautiful to pass by with a mere glance. Half illuminated, owing to the +greater distance of Mars from the sun and the position of the planets at +that time, Earth appeared about the size the moon looks to the naked +eye. But what a wonderful sight! Bathed in sunlight lay the eastern half +of the continents of North and South America, faintly outlined by the +pale blue of the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. So familiar was +<a name='Page_77'></a>I with the appearance of these two great continents as drawn in an +atlas, that I had difficulty in recognizing them as they now appeared. +Mexico and Central America seemed almost as broad as that part of the +United States from San Francisco to Washington; the whole tapering down +from Canada to Cape Horn almost in the shape of a cone.</p> + +<p>Aeronauts passing over a lake or river are able to see the bottom, owing +to their altitude; this was undoubtedly the explanation of the strange +appearance of the continents of North and South America. On account of +the enormous distance I was away from Earth, the shallow waters appeared +as land, obliterating completely the familiar coast line, and only the +extreme depth of an ocean showed a pale blue.</p> + +<p>Night covered Europe and Africa, which would otherwise have been visible +to me, and the shadow of darkness was steadily creeping across the +Atlantic Ocean, as the Earth revolved upon its axis. I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought that I must cover that enormous +distance ere it revolved too far.</p> + +<p>I now moved the lever that controlled the current, and at once the lens +in the receiving <a name='Page_78'></a>apparatus shone with a brilliant dark blue color. The +current of super-radium had reached Earth and returned in less than a +second, and I saw, beautifully pictured before me, an expanse of ocean +with waves tumbling and tossing so near me that it seemed as if I were +but a few feet above them.</p> + +<p>By diminishing the current I found that the image on the lens grew +smaller, the effect being exactly the same as that from a balloon +rising. The picture at first appeared slanting at an angle of about +thirty degrees, owing to the curvature of the Earth, but by manipulating +a small lever close at hand that operated a mirror in the radioscope, +this defect was corrected.</p> + +<p>After searching about with the current, I at last came upon a large +steamer, evidently an ocean liner. Throwing huge billows aside in clouds +of white spray as she cut through the water, she made a beautiful sight, +and it was with difficulty that I kept her in the field of vision. As I +appeared to be looking straight down upon her decks, it was evident that +she was about in the center of the Earth's surface exposed to Mars.</p> + +<p>I now moved the current in a westerly direction, <a name='Page_79'></a>travelling at what +would be a terrific speed on Earth, until I came to land. Not +recognizing the small coast town that first came in view, I moved up the +coast in a northerly direction, diminishing the current until I could +see a large stretch of country. Toward the northwest a large city +appeared, which I immediately recognized as Washington. Directing the +instrument to that city, I increased the current until the people on the +streets measured two or three feet on the lens of my instrument. Here I +found that the curvature of the Earth resulted in my looking down +obliquely at the objects on its surface, but not at a sufficient angle +to see the faces of those who passed across my lens.</p> + +<p>But now I became aware of a strange condition that, owing to the motion +of the liner at sea, had escaped my notice before. Although I was +looking at the people passing before one of the large government +buildings in Washington, I had to keep regulating the instrument in +order to keep this building in view. Moreover, I discovered that I had +to regulate it as fast as I had done with the ocean liner. In fact, +obviously the liner's speed mattered <a name='Page_80'></a>but little; it was the rate at +which the Earth was revolving upon its axis and journeying around the +sun with which I had to contend. Through the telescope this was not +discernible, but now that I had come into such close visual contact with +the Earth's surface, I realized the terrific speed with which it rushed +through space. Hundreds of miles a minute was the speed my instrument +had to be regulated to, in order to keep an object on Earth in view—the +motion of the liner was insignificant!</p> + +<p>Moving the current eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered that +darkness in no way hindered my view of objects on Earth's surface. The +reproduction on the lens, however, presented quite a different +appearance to that which I had witnessed while observing the part of +Earth illuminated by the sun. The beautiful colors which contributed so +much realism to the picture were now replaced by a sombre gray tone, +greatly resembling a photograph in appearance.</p> + +<p>So absorbed had I become in all that this wonderful instrument revealed +to me of the different phases of life on Earth, that I forgot all else, +until, with a start, I realized that <a name='Page_81'></a>someone was moving about in the +large room which contained the virator that I had recently left. I was +filled with apprehension. Who could it be? And what was the reason of +this unexpected visit? Almos had not warned me against intrusion of any +kind, and I felt that to meet and converse with a Martian, thus +unprepared, would be impossible. In that room, however, were the +instruments that held two lives within their delicate mechanism, and +even now they might have been tampered with enough to cause the most +serious consequences. I must not hesitate a moment longer. Hastening +down the passage that led to the larger room, I pushed aside the heavy +portieres and found myself in the presence of a Martian.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a><h2><a name='Page_82'></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h2>THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall, +handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank and +open countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without a +moment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, in +the composite language of Mars, said:</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I have +interrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is—"</p> + +<p>"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to see +you at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?"</p> + +<p>Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner that +did not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. <a name='Page_83'></a>In +spite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to face +with an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor did +it require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency, +followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man had +spoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitor +and with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of the +first few moments had passed, that my mind could take control whenever +it exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished, +or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information. +Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced in +answering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there was +no danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personality +in his friend.</p> + +<p>I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars' +greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latest +invention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. A +recognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, <a name='Page_84'></a>Almos' counsel +was sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recital +of this wonderful instrument.</p> + +<p>Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours in +which it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in my +observations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being aware +of the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I, +however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in a +few minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this new +undertaking.</p> + +<p>I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a new +and strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returning +within two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almos +to attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had taken +were too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of this +wonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertainty +which made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent in +another world. If the return current failed to do what was expected of +it, if I had erred in my calculation <a name='Page_85'></a>of the time I could remain on +Mars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the results +would be disastrous.</p> + +<p>I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to my +host that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatory +within two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and, +approaching my visitor, I said:</p> + +<p>"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost, +as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demands +my attention in two hours."</p> + +<p>I held back the portières as Reon passed out, and following him down a +short passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of white +marble.</p> + +<p>A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, and +the dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads of +diamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant did +they appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out what +appeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scattered +here and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of <a name='Page_86'></a>small +canoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland, +reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air. +As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in my +mind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air by +a metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to the +surface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that their +planet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling. +The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of this +immense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was not +a fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existed +at the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before this +discovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having made +the discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off the +planet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling pole +that it was argued that the pole must run through the center of the +planet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which covered +the rest of the surface.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_87'></a>Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the pole +itself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations were +made as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surface +until the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore was +encountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intense +heat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. This +strange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was found +to possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to the +surface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repelling +force, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this same +force was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity of +an unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole. +The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great as +the specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and by +its use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerial +navigation on Mars had been solved.</p> + +<p>Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this the +moment the <a name='Page_88'></a>question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but, +although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderful +people, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strong +personality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had been +preparing an aerenoid for our use—such was the Martian name for these +airships—was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain that +with the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting of +Almos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicion +of my true personality.</p> + +<p>The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed in +appearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us. +Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer's +portholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, as +it rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for the +purpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal which +the Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two or +more strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight in +their construction was of <a name='Page_89'></a>little importance. While resting on the +ground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor, +thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car the +casing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, until +enough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause the +repelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure, +any desired height could thus be attained.</p> + +<p>The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attain +great speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closed +flush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces of +machinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means of +propulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that I +could not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence of +scientific progress.</p> + +<p>Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed to +produce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rear +half, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, and +tapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern, +<a name='Page_90'></a>where it ended in an opening one inch in diameter. By a chemical +process the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing a +vacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the small +opening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussion +against the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving the +aerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at great +speed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simple +though this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome and +the long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, the +speed thus attained was remarkable.</p> + +<p>Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of the +car afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and we +rose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glide +along without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way through +the many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, coming +from a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate the +observatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed close +<a name='Page_91'></a>by them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfully +beautiful—beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknown +for hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a river +about a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet or +more from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed every +hundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city street +stretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me that +this was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as we +passed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, running +parallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowing +rapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this!</p> + +<p>Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly until +within thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased until +the lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundred +miles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration or +sound. At such a speed it <a name='Page_92'></a>was possible to encircle Mars in seventy +minutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "Midsummer +Night's Dream," who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in forty +minutes.</p> + +<p>On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canals +equally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint gray +light appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crowned +the banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itself +appeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens. +In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and now +it was the middle of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids, +travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, was +obvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than these +magnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planet +with such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source of +great wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of years +old, the method of constructing <a name='Page_93'></a>this gigantic system of canals remains +enshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surrounds +the building of the pyramids in Egypt.</p> + +<p>I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals were +put, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid. +The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not for +the water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles without +propulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving a +lever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In an +instant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending high +into the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks on +either side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I now +realized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat in +appearance.</p> + +<p>Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile a +minute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded down +several branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canal +banks. Higher <a name='Page_94'></a>and higher we ascended until we were about a thousand +feet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed.</p> + +<p>A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye could +reach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marble +buildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees, +could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and beside +sparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities or +towns—not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in any +particular direction.</p> + +<p>No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in our +car was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the light +atmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It was +evidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible under +cover in the daytime.</p> + +<p>Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I was +at once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which was +intensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almost +black. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars were +<a name='Page_95'></a>visible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth with +such brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossible +to look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated the +enormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, which +diffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearance +of the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admiration +until, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come to +rest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a most +palatial building.</p> + +<p>Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attached +to the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty upon +landing, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place at +the levers and joined me.</p> + +<p>There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of the +high-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter class +resembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and it +was evident that all were inside listening to the recital of the +lumaharp.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_96'></a>As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discover +that the outside walls of this building were entirely covered with +beautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus. +Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it, +too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos. +The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; these +and many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved with +remarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and were +looked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world.</p> + +<p>As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portières, and, +passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be an +immense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting in +groups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlight +streamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolled +back, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that the +Martians were to be found during the heat of the day.</p> + +<p>Rain being unknown, it was necessary to <a name='Page_97'></a>grow the more delicate plants +where they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of the +midday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season. +I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found only +upon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of the +green these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardy +pink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry and +sandy soil.</p> + +<p>Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that I +might reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among the +tall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring the +beautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers also +indigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in the +most cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importance +of saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of the +individual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyable +conversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their names +and the matters of interest to them. <a name='Page_98'></a>All were very enthusiastic about +the lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderful +instrument.</p> + +<p>As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almos +was not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but as +there were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reason +to visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind.</p> + +<p>Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far from +the entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to be +directed back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, every +nerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill the +air. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision of +beautiful flowers—flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves, +and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in a +volume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description.</p> + +<p>As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, a +gradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, its +inventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man of +great learning, but of <a name='Page_99'></a>few words; Sarraccus had won the love and +admiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that had +given the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who had +discovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, been +used by others until many important inventions had developed from it, +such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination without +expenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all of +which, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement of +this great people.</p> + +<p>The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possible +to reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at the +time of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expedited +the movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of every +quarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy and +rapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and towns +were soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained the +ideal, and became a World Beautiful—the magnificent estate of one large +family.</p> + +<p>And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a <a name='Page_100'></a>voice to sing of their +beauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea that +inasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors and +shades of a flower—beauty too rare for the hand of man to +reproduce—there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound or +vibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound. +Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade of +the object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument were +made sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicate +undulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance with +the light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness to +the beauty of the flower, would result.</p> + +<p>After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in the +form of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated in +response to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp will +often be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice, +and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of this +wire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, <a name='Page_101'></a>and it +was only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they were +discovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, and +each was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certain +color. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent every +possible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two large +drums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed in +chambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by the +delicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of the +wind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner of +the large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied the +position of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wall +opposite them.</p> + +<p>The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrown +upon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicate +shade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated in +response to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was the +ineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams of +<a name='Page_102'></a>beauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the hand +of man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anything +that the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of the +field receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yet +simple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? As +different flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the music +change; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would change +again to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life and +beauty.</p> + +<p>For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic power +I was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in the +direction of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understood +and sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemed +to become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surged +through that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, as +other music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I was +sensible of a yearning for a love—a love that was soon forgotten, and I +knew it to be <a name='Page_103'></a>mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgotten +the love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, and +now it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should ever +return to this paradise?</p> + +<p>Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess of +emotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think. +Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arbor +was almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone and +unobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which I +now felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank on +my arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soul +seemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music.</p> + +<p>I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a hand +softly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as the +melody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!"</p> + +<p>The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow. +Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name that +<a name='Page_104'></a>instinctively came to my lips—"Zarlah!" It was as if another man had +spoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held a +prisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose image +I had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah!</p> + +<p>I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination, +and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that this +beautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of the +heart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her.</p> + +<p>What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those first +moments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words, +Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave no +evidence of how I was torn within, I said:</p> + +<p>"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to linger +here?"</p> + +<p>"My studies have brought me here," she answered, gently withdrawing her +hand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes to +mine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you no +experiments <a name='Page_105'></a>at the observatory that demand your attention that you can +afford to linger here, Almos?"</p> + +<p>How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could not +hope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart. +There was uncertainty in the future—perhaps I would never again be +given the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned.</p> + +<p>Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into her +wonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here, +Zarlah, was to think of you."</p> + +<p>A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for some +seconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so I +could not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hear +the wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?"</p> + +<p>"I did," I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered only +of you—the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning in +my heart—it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love for +you, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune <a name='Page_106'></a>of golden moments; +then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowers +direct from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him that +I should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to the +truth that is within the soul."</p> + +<p>I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back the +waves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiant +with the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passed +before me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not the +face of Helen—that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy—have +paled into insignificance beside it?</p> + +<p>For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break that +sacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joy +of feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in my +arms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlah +whispered:</p> + +<p>"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties that +have been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once. +Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits."</p> + +<p><a name='Page_107'></a>The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a full +realization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah I +was a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me to +return to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense of +duty—her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that I +was not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even the +knowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even if +it were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change of +personality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of how +the change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it; +it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could know +nothing—a spirit even from an alien world.</p> + +<p>Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlah +through this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon was +to wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of my +own hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of which +I had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacred +duty. <a name='Page_108'></a>I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though my +cup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, and +when Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, I +quickly assented with all a lover's eagerness.</p> + +<p>We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, I +saw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merry +party in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends, +I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestly +besought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory.</p> + +<p>A few words of farewell—a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; and +as I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could not +help marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held in +the eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward than +their own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought of +the endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is a +slave to Gold.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a><h2><a name='Page_109'></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h2>A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Reon was at his place by the levers when I stepped into the aerenoid, +and as I closed and fastened the steel door, we slowly rose, and +describing a large circle, sailed toward the canal. As the sun was now +low in the heavens, numerous open aerenoids were to be seen, but these +were soon passed, and within a few minutes we had reached the branch +canal where our speed increased.</p> + +<p>My thoughts were now turned to the long journey before me. So deeply +absorbed had I been in the rapid events since I left the observatory, +that I had given little thought to time. My great happiness at meeting +and being with Zarlah had caused me to forget completely the importance +of returning to the observatory within two hours, and as the thought +<a name='Page_110'></a>now flashed through my mind, I hastily consulted the time. To my great +dismay I found I had but twenty minutes in which to cover quarter of +Mars. This I knew was possible, but it left such a narrow margin that +any delay or accident, en route, would prove disastrous to our plans, +thus bringing fatal consequences.</p> + +<p>We had now reached the large canal in which we had attained such great +speed, and, rising, we proceeded to pass over it. As we crossed the +banks there came a rushing sound from beneath us, as of a mighty gust of +wind, and, looking through one of the small windows in the side of the +car, I saw in the distance a speck, which, in another moment, +disappeared. Our aerenoid now gently rocked with the motion of a boat +that is in the swell of a passing steamer, and I instantly realized that +another aerenoid, travelling at a terrific speed, had passed in the +canal beneath us.</p> + +<p>We had now reached the canal that ran parallel to the one over which we +had just passed. This was in every way similar to the first and was used +by aerenoids going in an opposite direction. Into this canal we turned, +<a name='Page_111'></a>sinking lower as our speed increased, until, when we had reached our +maximum speed, we were travelling not more than thirty feet above the +water. Thus, whenever necessary, we were ready for an instant plunge in +order to reduce our speed, and thus did this simple rule of starting +high and sinking lower as the speed increased make collisions +impossible.</p> + +<p>As it was late in the afternoon when we started, the daylight soon +faded, and in a few minutes we had reached complete darkness, the double +line of lights on the canal banks being our only guide. Anxiously did I +count the minutes as we sped along, but knowing the danger of +distracting Reon's attention, even for a moment, while we were +travelling at such a terrific speed, I kept silent, nor did I allow my +manner to give any evidence of my anxiety.</p> + +<p>I now realized that if I reached the observatory in time, I would owe my +life to Zarlah. Twice had she reminded me of my duties at the +observatory, and had insisted upon my immediate departure, when, under +the influence of her great beauty, I would have lingered until too late. +My mind was fully determined as to <a name='Page_112'></a>how to proceed with regard to +righting the wrong I felt I had done Almos, in confessing to Zarlah my +love for her. I would leave a note for him at the observatory to the +effect that I wished to communicate with him the following evening, when +I would tell him all.</p> + +<p>The hopelessness of my love was plain, for it was Almos whom she loved, +and she believed also that Almos had confessed his love to her; and, +with a lover's conviction that everyone must love the one he loves, I +felt that Almos undoubtedly loved Zarlah. Indeed, it was probably his +affection for her through which I had silently won her confession. Almos +would then have no cause to regret my action, and Zarlah would never +know the strange circumstances that had brought them together. Thus did +I picture in my mind a happy conclusion to my selfish and precipitate +action, which, I had feared at first, must bring overwhelming sorrow and +humiliation into three lives, two of which were dearer to me than any on +Earth.</p> + +<p>I was roused from these meditations by the sudden roar of rushing waters +as, in order to reduce speed, we plunged along the surface of <a name='Page_113'></a>the +canal. We were nearing our destination at last, and my mind at once +reverted to the now imminent danger—that of arriving at the observatory +only to find that the wave contact with Paris had ceased, and I was too +late ever to return to the world from which I had come. In such a case, +I determined to write a brief account of my experiences to Almos, and, +after arranging the current of super-radium so that it would convey my +spirit out of the virator (whither I knew not), I would then enter the +virator and deliver the body to its rightful owner.</p> + +<p>Although I determined upon this course as being clearly my duty, in the +event of my being too late to return to Earth, the desperate nature of +such a proceeding roused me to action. We had now risen from the canal +and were floating slowly in the air at a considerable height. Striving +hard to suppress my agitation, I urged Reon to make more speed, and he +at once responded by increasing the power. As it was now after midnight +in this part of Mars, we were in no danger of encountering small +aerenoids in our flight, and in a few moments, to my great relief, I +distinguished the observatory <a name='Page_114'></a>lying far beneath us. Describing circles +over the building, we slowly descended and in a few seconds we had +reached the balcony.</p> + +<p>Thanking my companion with a hearty handshake (which came perfectly +natural even on Mars), I bade him adieu, and, stepping on to the +balcony, made my way into the observatory with all haste. Everything was +in the condition I had left it, and I was greatly relieved to find that +the necessary time for the process of departure still remained, before +wave contact with Paris ceased. My heart now went out in true gratitude +and love to her who, in the simple desire to do what was right, had +placed duty before her love, and had thus been of such inestimable +service to me.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon my arrival, I had prepared the virator for my journey +back to Earth by substituting the projecting apparatus of the radioscope +for the receiving apparatus. It was only necessary now to start the +clockwork that would shut off the current to earth in half an hour, and +would start the current flowing through the upper chamber of the +virator.</p> + +<p>After having written a brief note to Almos, <a name='Page_115'></a>saying that I wished to +communicate with him the following evening before making another visit, +I made a hasty examination of the current of super-radium which now +flowed through the virator to Earth from the projecting apparatus. The +instant my spirit was released, it would be caught up in this current +and conveyed to my body, where it lay in my rooms in Paris. In half an +hour the clockwork would shut off the current flowing to Earth, and +would then turn on the current which flowed through the upper chamber of +the virator, thus transferring Almos' spirit back to the body, as it lay +in the lower chamber.</p> + +<p>All was in perfect order, but it was not without a feeling of reluctance +and anxiety that I stepped into the virator and, after carefully +fastening the door, prepared the cone of chloroform. I realized that +there were many dangers attending the return journey that were not +present in my journey to Mars. If I had erred in my calculation of the +time the super-radium current could be kept on my body in Paris, or if +my body had moved in that time, it would undoubtedly mean death to me; +and the thought of whether Almos, in such a case, <a name='Page_116'></a>would learn of my +fate on the morrow flashed through my mind. Realizing the danger of such +apprehensions, not only from the loss of valuable time which they +occupied, but also from the fact that they tended to unnerve me at the +moment when hesitation meant death, I quickly fastened the chloroform +cone over my face and inhaled the fumes.</p> + +<p>A moment's consciousness—a flickering light—</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a><h2><a name='Page_117'></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h2>THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I opened my eyes—it was broad daylight, and for some moments I lay +dreamily surveying the familiar objects in my room, unconscious of all +that had happened to me during the previous night. Then, noticing that I +was fully dressed, a sudden realization of it all came upon me, and, +springing to my feet, I excitedly paced up and down my room, pinching my +arms and legs to make sure that they were in normal condition. +Satisfying myself upon this point, I then looked at the time, and, to my +astonishment, found that it was noon.</p> + +<p>As Mars passed out of wave contact about one o'clock in the morning, I +must have slept eleven hours after the return of my spirit to Earth. I +had greatly feared that even if it were my good fortune ever to regain +consciousness, <a name='Page_118'></a>it would be only to discover that I had lost the use of +my limbs and was powerless to move. That the super-radium current would +preserve my body in such a natural condition as even to induce sleep I +would not have believed possible. Yet there was every indication that I +had awakened from a natural sleep. I felt fresh and full of vigor, and +there on my couch lay the cone which, in my sleep, I had unfastened and, +in turning over, crushed. If I had remained unconscious the entire time +there would not have been this evidence of restlessness, and I +considered it of importance as being proof that my sleep had been +natural. Beyond this, however, I did not consider the removal of the +cone from my face as important, as the chloroform must have completely +evaporated soon after I became unconscious.</p> + +<p>Now that I was once again in my laboratory with the humdrum life of a +matter-of-fact world surging about me, evincing itself by the continual +roar of traffic which reached me through the open window, my remarkable +adventure of the night before seemed like a strange dream. As there was +no tangible proof that I had actually been on Mars, I might have <a name='Page_119'></a>been +led to the conclusion that I had chloroformed myself into +unconsciousness only, and had passed from this state into a deep sleep, +in which I had dreamed my remarkable experiences. But the clearness and +consistency of every detail were amply sufficient to convince me of the +genuineness of my experiences on Mars, and that the characters, so +vividly portrayed in my mind, lived in flesh and blood on a world +millions of miles away. Much more convincing than this, however, was the +moral obligation that I felt incumbent upon me—a duty I owed to +another. No dream could have left me with this keen sense of +responsibility.</p> + +<p>Alas, I knew only too well that I loved, with an impossible love, a +beautiful being of another planet, and that my duty lay in the +renunciation of this love to Almos, its rightful possessor.</p> + +<p>Thus my discovery had not brought me the joy of triumph. The proud +moments in an inventor's career when he holds up to the world the fruit +of his ingenuity and study could not be mine. Indeed, the thought of the +excitement that the news of such easy communication with Mars would +cause, if I demonstrated <a name='Page_120'></a>its truth before reputable scientists, made me +determined to guard the secret of my discovery the more jealously. +Hundreds of instruments similar to mine would be made, and it would soon +become known to all the inhabitants of Mars that they could talk to the +people of Earth, resulting in constant communication from all parts of +both planets. Such an innovation would soon be a regular pastime of the +rich. It would then be impossible for me to visit Mars again, as the +crossing of the currents of super-radium would add a grave danger to +such an undertaking.</p> + +<p>The possibility of my secret becoming known through an accident (someone +breaking into my room or overhearing me talk with Almos) now occurred to +me, and, in the fear of my being separated from Zarlah forever, I +determined upon another visit to Mars that evening.</p> + +<p>I had planned to tell Almos at once of my thoughtless confession of love +to Zarlah, but in an effort to justify my great desire to see her again, +I now saw several important reasons for postponing this. I had given my +promise to Zarlah to be with her the following evening, <a name='Page_121'></a>and it seemed +only honorable for me first to fulfil my promise to her. Moreover, under +the circumstances, it might be embarrassing for Almos to meet her upon +such short notice. When a man takes a step of this kind, he usually has +spent some time in consideration beforehand, how much more necessary, +then, is time for consideration when this step has been taken for him. I +therefore decided to keep my promise to Zarlah and to endeavor to visit +Mars again during the next wave contact.</p> + +<p>I did not regret having left the note for Almos, however, as I had no +means of telling whether the mechanism of the virator had done what was +expected of it, or not. Almos' life depended upon the accurate working +of this mechanism after I had gone, and I was anxious to learn of his +safety. He would also want to learn of my safe arrival before preparing +himself for another undertaking of the kind; to see each other was +therefore necessary. Almos would undoubtedly have warned me of this, had +not the cessation of wave contact prevented him from giving me +instructions.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when a feeling <a name='Page_122'></a>of intense hunger reminded +me that I had not tasted food for twenty-four hours. I contented myself, +however, with a light meal at a neighboring cafe, knowing the danger of +eating heavily at this time. To my great surprise, I found that this +small amount of food was evidently all my system required. Not only was +my hunger appeased, but, while returning to my rooms, I was conscious of +a strength and vigor which were entirely new to me, and which I now +remembered I had first experienced upon awakening. Could it be that the +super-radium current, possessing the wonderful regenerating rays that +had brought perpetual life to the people of Mars, was gradually working +this change in my body over a distance of millions of miles? Impossible +as this seemed there was no other way of accounting for the remarkable +change which had taken place in my body.</p> + +<p>The intense excitement I experienced at the thought of possessing +perpetual life, health, and youth was but momentary, and I reached my +laboratory with a full realization of the enormous responsibilities +which my discovery was placing upon me. I could no longer keep <a name='Page_123'></a>it +secret; each day that I withheld the knowledge of these rays from my +fellow beings, hundreds, nay thousands, of lives would be laid to my +account. The knowledge had not been given to me that I should guard it +selfishly. The hope that, even though I could never call Zarlah my own, +I might often spend a few happy hours with her in her Martian paradise +was now shattered forever. I must stifle my love or commit a crime +against every living soul on Earth; and as I paced my room in agony, +with my hands pressed to my temples to ease their throbbing, a great cry +of anguish from the multitude in Death's grasp rang through my brain. My +heart was torn asunder by two great conflicting emotions, Love and Duty, +and in this torture of mind and body I moved restlessly back and forth +in my room, until the fading light warned me of the near approach of +wave contact with Mars.</p> + +<p>There was but one course open to me; I would tell Almos of my experience +with the rays, and if he should decide that they were the same as the +regenerating rays, possessing all their properties, and that continual +life was now within reach of the people on Earth, I <a name='Page_124'></a>would make my +discovery public on the morrow. This would be my solemn duty, no matter +what sacrifice it involved, and I could not help feeling that this +second visit to Mars might be the last.</p> + +<p>A hasty examination of my instrument assured me that all was in order, +and, turning on the current, I now watched the surface of wires for the +glow that would signalize the commencement of wave contact. Should this +glow appear without an image of any kind it would have but one +meaning—that the mechanism of the virator had failed to do its work the +night previous, and that disaster had befallen Almos.</p> + +<p>My heart beat fast, therefore, when in a short time a faint glow +appeared on the upper portion of my instrument and rapidly spread until +it covered the entire surface. As it grew brighter I was obliged to turn +away, before I could recognize any image, and, as I stood shielding my +eyes from the strong glare, I felt my heart sink within me. But, before +I could approach the instrument again, I heard my name called in the +clear, ringing tones of Almos' beloved voice.</p> + +<p>I reached the instrument with a bound, and <a name='Page_125'></a>there, standing with his +hands extended toward me and a smile of greeting on his handsome face, I +saw my brave Martian brother.</p> + +<p>"My dear Almos, how glad I am to see you are safe!" I cried, tears of +joy springing to my eyes at finding that the fears of a moment ago were +unfounded.</p> + +<p>"It is entirely due to your forethought in leaving the note, that either +of us are safe," Almos responded. "Had you not done this, disaster to +one or both of us must certainly have resulted, through ignorance of +each other's plans. Let me congratulate you, my brave fellow, for having +so successfully accomplished your remarkable journey. This is the +initial step in the linking together of the destinies of Earth and Mars.</p> + +<p>"But now I should like to hear an account of your experiences here, for +although I have gradually become aware of many impressions you left, I +find it is only of the things suggested by my mind that I can gather +anything."</p> + +<p>"Then it is evident that the brain is merely a book of reference for the +mind," I replied, "as I was not instantly aware of your knowledge of +Martian affairs, but only upon a subject <a name='Page_126'></a>being suggested by my mind, +was the information regarding it available. Thus, the mind is aware of +impressions it has made on the brain, but is totally ignorant of +impressions made by another mind, unless the thought is suggested."</p> + +<p>I now gave Almos a brief description of my journey, explaining that, as +I intended to make another visit to Mars that evening, I would leave the +full account of my experiences until the following night. I was careful +not to make any reference to Zarlah, as I felt that my second meeting +with her would put me in a much better position to approach Almos on +this extremely delicate subject and lay before him my plans. Moreover, I +was anxious that nothing should interfere with those few happy hours to +which I looked forward with such intense desire.</p> + +<p>Almos listened to my narrative with wrapt attention, and not until I +concluded by describing the remarkable effects of the regenerating rays, +did he give utterance to a word. Then, to my amazement, he said:</p> + +<p>"The result is what I fully expected. The proof that the regenerating +rays exist in the <a name='Page_127'></a>super-radium current, lies in the fact that your body +was perfectly preserved for six hours, and there is no reason for +supposing that they differ, in any way, from the rays which preserve +life here for an unlimited time."</p> + +<p>"Then I can no longer keep my discovery a secret," I declared +resolutely. "It becomes my solemn duty at once to make public the +knowledge of these wonderful rays emanating from Mars."</p> + +<p>"What you say is indeed the truth," rejoined Almos. "The time has now +arrived; the existence of a people on Mars, our early history, progress, +and the conditions under which we live at the present day, must now +become known upon Earth; our inventions and scientific advancement must +be made available to Earth's scientists. Since the discovery of the +radioscope, which enabled us to see the people on your planet, Mars has +yearned to give a helping hand to her younger sister. That time has now +come, and before many years the conditions of life on Earth will be +similar to those here. A great work must be accomplished, however, but +the burden of that work rests upon me; when it is finished the goal of +my <a name='Page_128'></a>life has been reached. There are many things that are not clear to +you now, my dear fellow, but there is no time at present for +explanations. In half an hour I shall have prepared for your +visit—remember, no matter what happens, tomorrow all shall be +explained."</p> + +<p>Having thus spoken, his voice and manner evincing great earnestness and +determination, he waved his hand in farewell, and instantly the +instrument was plunged into darkness.</p> + +<p>For some moments I stood motionless under the spell that his remarkable +personality had cast over me, nor did even his abrupt manner appear at +all strange, such perfect harmony of word and action existed in this +Martian genius. Indeed, it seemed a fitting conclusion to all that had +gone before. Speaking rapidly, as though realizing the loss of time in +mere words, his handsome face, strong with determination, holding me +fascinated, he had confessed the ambition nearest and dearest to his +heart—that of giving to Earth the discoveries and inventions of +hundreds of years of advancement in science; all that had resulted in +the longevity, health, peace, and happiness which existed upon Mars.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_129'></a>Humbled at my own insignificance and full of admiration for this great +character, I turned slowly away, and, procuring a light, commenced to +prepare for my journey.</p> + +<p>My letters and other papers, with a brief note of explanation, still +remained on my desk, and, as my glance fell upon this bundle, I became +conscious of a nervousness, which, although to many would be perfectly +natural at such a time, was entirely strange to me. I had not +experienced the least nervousness on the occasion of my first visit the +night before, yet the mere sight of this package on my desk, with its +note of explanation, now caused me an uneasiness, which, try as I would, +I could not ignore.</p> + +<p>Making the few necessary preparations about my room for the night, I +secured the door with lock and bolt, and, drawing my couch before the +instrument, poured out a glass of wine and lit a cigar, hoping thus to +steady my nerves.</p> + +<p>The day had been warm and close, and a thunderstorm of unusual violence +made the night a wild one. Vivid flashes of lightning that seemed to vie +with each other in intensity, darted from the heavens, accompanied by +deafening <a name='Page_130'></a>crashes of thunder that shook the building to its +foundations, while the shrieking of the wind, as though it were rushing +through the rigging of a ship at sea, added to the noise of the tempest.</p> + +<p>Within a few moments the glow on my instrument would be the signal for +my departure, and, as I prepared the cone of chloroform, I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought of my spirit going out into the fury +of such a storm. It seemed as if Death, in the fear of being driven from +Earth and forever despoiled of his cruel victories, had turned loose the +elements in his fury, and waited without to wreak vengeance on my +audacious spirit as it sped through space.</p> + +<p>An instant an intensely white glare on the surface of wires at this +moment gave evidence of the super-radium current. It was the signal for +my departure, and, with a brief but earnest prayer, I seized the cone, +and, taking my position on the couch, inhaled the fumes of chloroform.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<br /> +<br /> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_X'></a><h2><a name='Page_131'></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h2>ZARLAH'S CONFESSION.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>It was with a feeling of thankfulness that, upon opening my eyes, I +found myself in the virator. The storm, which I had feared might prove +disastrous, had been passed through safely, and now reigned the +wonderful quiet of Mars. The strange uneasiness, which I had experienced +upon my departure from Earth, was forgotten in the anticipation of the +great joy before me, or I would have noticed that the usual calm, ever +characteristic of Almos, was lacking.</p> + +<p>It was already past the hour of my appointment with Zarlah, and, eager +to be with her, I hastily made the necessary preparations for my return +to Earth. Although these consisted merely of changing the current so +that it would flow from the virator to Earth, and adjusting the +clockwork for the hour of departure, I had <a name='Page_132'></a>decided upon the importance +of doing this beforehand, as any mistake made in the haste of departure +would prove fatal to either Almos or myself.</p> + +<p>These preparations attended to, I now made my way to the balcony. I had +relied upon Almos' knowledge to guide me to Zarlah, and, as I reached +the open air, I at once felt his judgment assert itself. Two aerenoids +were moored to the balcony, a large high-speed one of the submarine-boat +type and a small open one. Into the latter I stepped, and, with a +perfect knowledge of its operation, glided out upon the cool night air.</p> + +<p>Gently rising to about three hundred feet, I lay suspended between the +fairyland stretched beneath me and the brilliantly starred heavens. I +was perfectly aware of the direction in which I was to go, but for a few +moments I lay thus suspended, enjoying as could only an inhabitant of +Earth, the strangeness and marvel of it all.</p> + +<p>The little vessel had reached the limit of height to which it was +designed to ascend and, upon realizing this, I became aware that, for +safety, all aerenoids are limited to a certain <a name='Page_133'></a>height by the amount of +repelling metal used in their construction. The high-speed aerenoids, +owing to their build, being better adapted to withstand the atmospheric +conditions at a great altitude, can ascend several thousand feet, but +all are limited to what is considered a safe height for the class to +which they belong. The action of the repelling metal being independent +of the atmosphere, the danger of an aerenoid getting beyond control, and +rising above the envelope of air which surrounds the planet is thus +eliminated.</p> + +<p>As these thoughts came into my mind, I glanced up into the heavens with +its countless stars—one being the world from which I came—when lo! a +remarkable phenomenon met my gaze. In the west hung a crescent moon, +somewhat smaller than Earth's moon, but extremely brilliant, while out +of the east rose another moon at its full. So rapidly did this latter +moon rise, that its journey through the heavens was perceptible, and it +was evident that within an hour it would sink into the western horizon, +having gradually changed its phase to a crescent. In seven hours it +would encircle Mars, and again appear above the eastern horizon.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_134'></a>My interest in this moon was intensified when I realized that it was +but a few thousand miles distant, and so small, that it would require +but a couple of days' comfortable walking to encircle it. Compared with +my journey from Earth, this few thousand miles seemed but an +insignificant distance, and I immediately thought of the possibility of +reaching it in a high-speed aerenoid to which a sufficient amount of the +repelling metal was attached to overcome the gravity of Mars. But I +instantly was aware of the fact that an attempt to reach this moon had +been made many years previously, and that the intrepid Martians who +undertook the hazardous journey, never returned. Although their aerenoid +carried enough oxygen to supply them for many days after they had left +the atmosphere of Mars, it was decided later that they had been lost in +space, unable either to reach the moon or return to Mars. The gravity of +so small a body would be insufficient to draw them to it, unless they +traveled straight in its direction, and, as the moon was moving rapidly +around Mars, the chances of this were admittedly small. Moreover, once +out of the atmosphere of Mars, <a name='Page_135'></a>it would be impossible to propel the +aerenoid, and, having missed the moon, they would travel on and on +through endless space. Had they reached the moon they could have +returned, as the repelling force on a body with so little gravity, would +be greatly increased, and would have hurled them into the gravity of +Mars again, as soon as they exposed the repelling metal. There could be +no doubt that they had never reached the moon, and their terrible fate +resulted in a safe limitation of this dangerous metal upon all +aerenoids.</p> + +<p>So absorbed had I become in these intensely interesting details supplied +by Almos' knowledge, that time had passed without my realizing it, and, +reproaching myself for having wasted the valuable moments I might have +spent with Zarlah, I now moved the lever at my side and glided gently +forward.</p> + +<p>The moon, however, as it rapidly journeyed across the heavens, seemed to +hold a strange fascination for me, and my gaze constantly reverted to +it. Had I realized that this fascination was caused by the approach of a +terrible danger, I might have paid heed to the warning, but desirous now +to get to my journey's end, <a name='Page_136'></a>which, according to Earth's proverb, should +end in a lover's meeting, I thought only of the time I had lost, and +impatiently put the subject from my mind.</p> + +<p>Moreover, as my meeting with Zarlah drew near, thoughts that were +relevant and of a more serious character filled my mind. My present +visit to her now began to appear most unjustifiable. If I had found +excuse for my action of the previous evening, in the enthusiasm of so +suddenly beholding the object of my adoration, unaccustomed as I was to +my strange position, I had no such excuse now. To appear before her +again as Almos, after having seen my folly and realized the deceit of my +position toward her, would be an act of shameful duplicity. I had not +realized this before, for I had thought only of my great love for her +and the joy of again being with her, but now the crushing force with +which the truth presented itself, caused me to hesitate before taking +another step that I now felt would be impossible to justify before +Almos. In this great uncertainty of mind I glided slowly along.</p> + +<p>The wonderful stillness of the night was broken only by the faint hum of +voices and <a name='Page_137'></a>merry laughter that reached me from below. Glancing down, I +observed numerous open aerenoids floating some two hundred feet beneath +me, while now and then those of the high-speed class appeared, slowly +wending their way toward the canals, to fly to different parts of the +globe. But although I was aware that for convenience of landing it was +customary to travel just high enough to escape the buildings, I +continued on at my present elevation, as I felt the need of deep and +earnest thought, which I realized would be impossible amid the gay +throng nearer the surface.</p> + +<p>As the highest speed attainable by open aerenoids, which were used +mainly for pleasure, was but eight miles an hour, my journey of five +miles gave me ample time for meditation; and when I at last alighted on +the balcony of a small white marble villa, to which I had instinctively +guided my aerenoid, I had fully determined upon what I felt to be the +only honorable course to pursue. This was to confide all in Zarlah, and, +no matter at what cost, to reveal to her the strange conditions that hid +the identity of a being from another world behind that of her friend +Almos.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_138'></a>Having secured my aerenoid, I stood on the balcony, entranced at the +beauty of the scene before me, which lay bathed in a wonderful +starlight—far more brilliant than the light of the full moon upon +Earth—shed by a myriad of blazing gems in a sky that knew no clouds. A +perfect stillness reigned, save for the rippling laughter of a little +stream, that wended its way through an avenue of trees to a lake of +glistening silver, a short distance beyond.</p> + +<p>"What happiness would be mine in such a paradise, with Zarlah for my +own!" I thought, and a great anguish filled my heart, as I realized the +impossibility of it—and now for the first time I also realized the +impossibility of life without Zarlah. A sudden dread of meeting the one +I loved came upon me—a dread of seeing the light of love in her eyes, +even for an instant, knowing that it was not for me. I felt I could not +bear to behold the look of tenderness in her beautiful face change to +one of hatred, upon learning how she had been deceived; and in my agony +of spirit, I cried in a voice of deep emotion:</p> + +<p>"Ah, Zarlah! I have won you, yet you are not mine! You have loved me, +yet I am not loved!"</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_139'></a>I am yours, and I love you, Harold," softly protested a voice at my +side.</p> + +<p>With a start I turned and beheld Zarlah, and for a moment I stood as if +gazing at an apparition.</p> + +<p>Realizing my bewilderment, she laid her hand gently upon my arm, and in +a low voice, full of compassion, said: "It is Harold Lonsdale whom I +love!"</p> + +<p>In a delirium of ecstasy I caught the small white hand and pressed it to +my lips. Passing my arm about her I drew her tenderly toward me, gazing +down into her beautiful eyes where lay a world of tenderness and love. +My heart was too full for words—it was all too wonderful to understand; +enough that I knew Zarlah to be wholly mine, and in those few silent +moments of absolute happiness and contentment, the little stream's merry +laughter seemed to swell into the great joyous chorus of all creation, +behind which is the great love principle.</p> + +<p>Together we left the balcony and walked beneath the giant trees toward +the lake, Zarlah relating to me how, through an instrument she +possessed, which transmitted and received thought-waves, she had not +only learned of Almos' communication with Earth, but had <a name='Page_140'></a>descried a +mental picture of the inhabitant of that distant world with whom he had +spoken.</p> + +<p>On the evening of my first communication with Mars, Zarlah was testing +this instrument on Almos' mind, when, to her great astonishment, she +came into thought communication with Earth. As this was the first trial +of the instrument, Almos himself was unaware of the success that had +crowned Zarlah's invention, though he had taken much interest in it, and +had on several occasions given his advice during its construction. +Although this instrument was only capable of transmitting and receiving +thought-waves over a few miles, it was evident that through the medium +of Almos' mind, which was in communication with mine, the thought-waves +were conveyed to Earth by the super-radium current.</p> + +<p>Zarlah had thus learned of my proposed visit to Mars, but had not known +when the attempt was to be made, until, seeing Almos in evident distress +at the recital of the lumaharp, she had feared that the attempt had +proved disastrous. When, however, I evinced my astonishment at seeing +her, she knew instantly that before her stood the personality <a name='Page_141'></a>of the +man from distant Earth, who had been projected to her in mental +pictures, and who was called Harold Lonsdale. When I spoke to her of my +love, she realized that her image had also been projected to my mind, +and, as she listened to my impassioned words, she recognized in them the +thoughts of love that had accompanied the projection of my image. +Indeed, my every thought of Zarlah, during wave contact, had been +projected to her through the medium of this remarkable instrument.</p> + +<p>With a keen desire to see and examine the mechanism, by which thoughts +could be transferred over millions of miles, I said: "But where is this +wonderful instrument of which you speak, Zarlah?"</p> + +<p>We had reached the lake, and now stood on the bank overlooking its +glistening surface.</p> + +<p>A tremor ran through her slight form as she drew closer to me, and said +imploringly: "You must not ask to see it! Oh, Harold! Do you not realize +the grief this instrument has brought into our lives? Have you partaken +of the sweetness so deeply, that you fail to perceive the bitterness +that lies beneath? You can be but a beloved memory to me—the <a name='Page_142'></a>memory of +a lover millions of miles away—but we are separated by that which is +far greater than distance!"</p> + +<p>Her voice died away in a sob, and, as I drew her gently toward me, she +wept bitterly. Thus had I of Earth brought tears into a world that had +not known sorrow for hundreds of years.</p> + +<p>"But, dearest," I argued, tenderly smoothing back the soft brown hair, +and striving to cheer her, "we are now commencing on an era of planet +communication, and it may not be long before a means is discovered of +actually transferring people from one planet to another. Did not +explorers, some years ago, have this in mind, when they attempted to +reach the nearest moon? And even though they failed to reach their goal, +who knows that they were not drawn to some planet that was in opposition +at that time, and are now prepared for a return journey at the next +opposition? With the complete absence of resistance there is in space, +their speed would become terrific—thousands of miles a minute—and at +such a rate it would be possible to reach a planet in opposition, long +before their month's supply of oxygen became exhausted. Heat would not +be <a name='Page_143'></a>generated as there would be no friction until the planet's +atmosphere was reached, but long before this they would have applied +their repelling force, which would reduce their speed, thus enabling +them to sail gently through the atmosphere and alight safely on the +planet's surface."</p> + +<p>Although I had not as much confidence in such an achievement as I sought +to inspire (well knowing the vast difference between a spiritual +transfer and a material one over such a tremendous distance), I wished, +above all, to cheer Zarlah. Indeed, I feared that grief might bring the +most serious consequences on Mars. I was greatly relieved, therefore, +upon observing her countenance light up with a sudden interest, as I +expressed these sanguine predictions as to the future.</p> + +<p>It was not until some hours later, when I was alone, that this incident +caused me much anxiety, as I remembered that, in spite of the keen +interest Zarlah had evinced, she had carefully avoided any allusion to +the subject afterwards. But in the subsequent events of the evening this +escaped my notice, and, glad to observe the soothing effect my words had +upon her, I did not pursue the thought further.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_144'></a>We had descended by a flight of stone steps to the water's edge, and, +as we stepped upon the narrow strip of pebbly beach, walled in by +cavernous rocks, Zarlah, with great earnestness, exclaimed: "You are +right, dear Harold, we must be hopeful, and not waste the few precious +moments we have together in regrets that are useless. We shall always +love each other, and if we are brave—even unto death—Love will find a +way!"</p> + +<p>Poor Zarlah! Little did I imagine the desperate plan that was already +forming in her mind when she uttered these words, that before the close +of another day would indeed have proved her "brave even unto death."</p> + +<p>Drawing closer to me and turning her beautiful face up to mine, she +said, after a pause, in which she seemed to read my very soul: "Before +me lies a duty, Harold, which with you at my side I have the strength to +perform, but without you the sacrifice is too great."</p> + +<p>"What is it, dearest?" I asked, pressing the little hand I held to my +lips.</p> + +<p>"It is to destroy the wicked instrument of which I have told you. I had +not the courage to do this before, as I feared for your safety in +<a name='Page_145'></a>returning to Earth, and to have destroyed it then would have left me in +fearful suspense. But now I must put away, forever, this awful thing +that possesses the power to reveal the thoughts of my fellow beings, +that its mechanism may never become known and thus prove an eternal +curse to the world."</p> + +<p>With these words, Zarlah disappeared for a moment in the gloom of a cave +nearby, and, returning with a small metal box, said in a voice which +betrayed great emotion: "Take it, Harold, and hurl it far out into the +waters of the lake, where it will sink forever from sight!"</p> + +<p>The earnestness with which Zarlah had spoken of this device, proved how +deeply its existence troubled her conscience, and restrained me from +making any attempt to persuade her from thus severing a connecting +strand between two hearts so widely separated. I therefore took the box +and, with all my strength, hurled it far out into the lake, where it +sank to remain a secret for all time.</p> + +<p>Swiftly flew those precious moments in which Fate had destined that two +hearts from separate worlds should taste of each other's love, and +then—what? Alone in our great <a name='Page_146'></a>love we drank deeply the cup of +happiness, and the hour of parting, ever drawing nearer, seemed but a +cloud on the horizon. At last, yielding to necessity, we retraced our +steps, leaving the scene of our joyous love behind, and the dread of +parting filled our hearts and stifled our words of happiness.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, as I stood in that other world, there surged through my +alien mind some lines of Clinton Scollard's, which I had once learned, +little dreaming of their significance:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"Lo, it has come, the inevitable hour</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>When thou and I, beloved one, must part;</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>When heart be sundered from caressing heart,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And ungloomed skies be turned to dreary gray."</span><br /> + +<p>A silence fell upon us, both dreading to put into words the thoughts we +knew must be spoken. Then, as our hearts beat audibly in the sacred +stillness of night that had fallen about us, Zarlah murmured, clinging +to me in despair, "Oh, Harold, my love, how can we bear the agony of +being parted!"</p> + +<p>"I would give my life to remain with you, dearest!" I answered, pressing +her passionately to me, but in a more soothing tone I added,</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_147'></a>We must be brave, love, it is but for a day—to-morrow I shall return, +but before my departure from Earth I will speak with Almos, and tell him +that I wish to abandon my body forever and to abide in spirit on Mars. +In a virator constructed with two upper chambers, my spirit could be +retained indefinitely, and I would then see you daily through the medium +of Almos. To-morrow, dearest, I shall return to you with good news."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Harold, you do not see the impossibility of such a thing—you +cannot behold it through a woman's eyes. No, no! I can never see Almos +again! I gave my love to you through his medium, and to see him when you +were absent would be greater agony than I could bear. I must go with +you, Harold, to the world in which you live, where I can have you +always."</p> + +<p>With words of love and assurance I tried to comfort the brave little +heart that beat so loyally for me, and, fearing to leave her in this +unhappy condition, I lingered until barely time remained in which to +reach the observatory before Paris would pass out of wave contact. +Explaining this to Zarlah, we hurried to <a name='Page_148'></a>the villa, and, as we ascended +the steps to the balcony, I beheld a large high-speed aerenoid resting a +short distance from mine. This, Zarlah begged me to take, explaining +that by rising a few hundred feet above the elevation of small +aerenoids, I could safely exceed the customary speed of local traffic. +She explained that her brother had just returned in it from the north, +where he had spent the day in the enjoyment of winter pastimes.</p> + +<p>My heart was too full of the sorrow of parting to be aroused to +enthusiasm at even such a wonder as this, and, realizing that I would be +unaccustomed to an aerenoid that was strange to Almos, I decided to +trust to the smaller one reaching the observatory in time. But not a +moment was to be lost, and, begging Zarlah to be courageous until my +return the following evening, I pressed her to my heart in a last fond +embrace.</p> + +<p>Oh! the agony of that moment, as I felt the slender form in my arms +convulsed with sobs, while I, struggling frantically with the emotions +that tore my heart, whispered words of passionate love; and as at last I +rose in the night air, condemned by Fate to journey millions <a name='Page_149'></a>of miles +from her I adored, my soul cried out in its anguish:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"'Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Would not we shatter it to bits—and then</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Re-mould it nearer to our Heart's Desire?'"</span><br /> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a><h2><a name='Page_150'></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h2>THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at the +observatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoid +my chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, so +depressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought. +Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainly +did I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportation +over millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but one +conclusion—that no material transit over such an enormous distance was +possible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happiness +had been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity of +loneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy which +nothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest <a name='Page_151'></a>pinnacle of +happiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah's +love—a love that I had thought was for Almos—only to be dashed down +into still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as I +realized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through a +thoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony was +shared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine by +the decree of Fate.</p> + +<p>The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddened +me, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of the +observatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact had +ceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfil +my obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted to +visit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris still +existed my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, I +felt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which it +had precipitated me.</p> + +<p>As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe a +high-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos. +<a name='Page_152'></a>What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowing +Almos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of the +sanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when that +dwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as the +observatory conducted by Almos.</p> + +<p>Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with all +haste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portières of the +large room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart to +beat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon.</p> + +<p>For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilingly +advanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present at +Almos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand and +greeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of his +visit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must I +appear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me a +slip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting.</p> + +<p>"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, <a name='Page_153'></a>regarding the virator, +and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I was +just preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?"</p> + +<p>While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over the +instructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I held +in my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort to +appear calm:</p> + +<p>"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept you +waiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will not +detain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindness +from the bottom of my heart."</p> + +<p>So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony, +waved him adieu.</p> + +<p>The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mere +acting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he had +been the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, I +had just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he was +instructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of the +<a name='Page_154'></a>virator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current. +I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case I +arrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderful +forethought—perhaps even a premonition of my late return—he had +requested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do at +a certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferred +to my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wave +contact.</p> + +<p>Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon had +faithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that in +so doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence, +he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment.</p> + +<p>I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for my +safety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and do +precisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit had +arrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, and +dispatch my spirit to Earth.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_155'></a>Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitement +incident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed once +more in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on my +hands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan—no +matter how hazardous—that would result in my being able to remain on +Mars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and all +solutions were perforce dismissed.</p> + +<p>At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon. +Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes rested +upon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me. +Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, I +uttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticed +the hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions—<i>it was three +hours before the time for my departure</i>!</p> + +<p>Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and in +return to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of these +plans, I knew not, but, as I stood <a name='Page_156'></a>staring at the paper in my hand, my +mind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, so +successfully hidden from me.</p> + +<p>Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleeping +chamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that would +explain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was I +disappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "Harold +Lonsdale." Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon after +making the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would then +find the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon's +observation.</p> + +<p>As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelming +gratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, in +this brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noble +character, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had known +was mine, but which otherwise I could never possess.</p> + +<p>Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid the +letter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully. +No other man, living on Earth or Mars, <a name='Page_157'></a>could have done as much for me +as had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given to +me the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind, +trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence in +a mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth of +happiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, and +I longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tell +her of the happiness that was ours.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a><h2><a name='Page_158'></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h2>THE WARNING OF DANGER——THE RACE WITH DEATH.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Slowly crept the long tedious hours of darkness. The heavy cloud of +despair that had so long hung over me, now being dispelled as if by +magic, I was all impatience. My heart yearned for the moment when, +gazing into the depths of Zarlah's wondrous eyes, I should see +there—not the appealing timid look, full of the dread of hopeless +separation from her lover, that had so wrung my heart at our last +parting—but the radiant happiness of perfect contentment and fulfilled +desire. I had thrown myself on the couch, and, as a miser jealously +counts over his gold, fondling each precious bit with eager fingers, so +I pondered on the happy hours spent with Zarlah, carefully reviewing +<a name='Page_159'></a>each golden moment with its precious burden of Love's confessions.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I sprang to my feet—a piercing, despairing cry of "Harold, my +love, save me! save me!" was ringing in my ears.</p> + +<p>It was Zarlah's voice, and some terrible danger confronted her.</p> + +<p>Rushing into the adjoining room, I glanced anxiously about—all was +still. The numerous books and instruments lay just as I had left them, +and I gradually realized that, tired with the experiences I had lately +undergone, I had unconsciously fallen asleep, and Zarlah's cry for help +was only a dream.</p> + +<p>Although greatly relieved by this discovery, my mind remained in a state +of unrest. I was oppressed with a sense of danger which, in spite of my +endeavor to overcome by occupying my mind with the volumes of Martian +astronomical discoveries, I found to be impossible. Laying aside the +book I had endeavored to read, I started to my feet and paced restlessly +to and fro, but each footfall, echoing in the profound stillness, seemed +to be an appealing cry for help. A premonition that a terrible danger +hung over Zarlah came upon me, <a name='Page_160'></a>and, maddened by the thought that I +remained inactive, whilst yet I might save her, I rushed out upon the +balcony.</p> + +<p>The sun was just rising, but in place of the gray light of dawn on Earth +with its beautifully colored eastern sky, there appeared sharp contrasts +of the blackest darkness and the most brilliant light, in the long +shadows that were cast across the landscape. Without the diffusion of +light which the denser atmosphere of Earth causes, night seemed to +linger on the very footsteps of day. Though the remarkable effect of +this Martian sunrise would have been pleasing under other circumstances, +it now served only to increase my apprehension, warning me that I was in +a strange world, and that I must be prepared to meet extraordinary +emergencies.</p> + +<p>I had but one thought, that of reaching Zarlah as speedily as possible +and saving her from the awful fate which menaced her. What this fate +was, I knew not, but I could feel its presence like the hot breath of +some ferocious beast, as it stands over its prostrate victim. Greatly +did I now deplore the loss of Zarlah's valuable instrument.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_161'></a>With eager hands I prepared the high-speed aerenoid for the journey, +feeling that I must trust to Almos' knowledge of its operation to carry +me through safely. Though I realized that the danger was increased a +thousand times in an aerenoid capable of such terrific speed, the fear +that even now I might be too late compelled me to make use of it.</p> + +<p>Taking my place in the forward part of the car, I was greatly relieved +to find that my hand instinctively sought the levers, and operated them +with a judicious care that could result only from long experience.</p> + +<p>Rising high enough to avoid small aerenoids, I proceeded at a +considerable speed and soon came within sight of Zarlah's dwelling. The +serene and peaceful appearance of this beautiful white marble villa, as +the morning sun glorified it, quickly dispelled the fears that had +brought me hither at such an early hour, and I gladly attributed them to +overwrought nerves and the loss of a night's sleep.</p> + +<p>Moreover, as I slowly circled over the lake that only a few hours before +Zarlah and I had wistfully gazed upon together as we built a world of +happiness for ourselves, I felt that <a name='Page_162'></a>I was near to her, should the +danger of which I had been forewarned prove real. Here in the scene of +our happiness I would wait through the early hours—the last hours of +our separation.</p> + +<p>Slowly descending, I brought the aerenoid to rest in a spot obscured by +trees from the villa. A few feet away, the little brook sparkled merrily +in the sunlight as it leaped along on its journey to the lake, and, as I +opened the door of the car, its joyous song swelled upon the fragrant +morning air, laughing at my forebodings in this world of peace, as it +had laughed at my despair of the previous night.</p> + +<p>As I stepped out into the warm sunlight and made my way toward the +lake, a great joy filled my heart. It would not be long ere Zarlah +shared with me the happiness of the knowledge that we need never again +be separated.</p> + +<p>"Poor Zarlah!" I murmured, as the memory of our last parting with its +great anguish of a forlorn hope sent a pang to my heart. "The bitterness +in thy cup was indeed great, but it is past. Oh, my beloved, awake to +the light of a new day filled with gladness, and sorrow shall not again +cross thy path!"</p> + +<p><a name='Page_163'></a>I paused, fancying I heard footsteps, and, glancing back, listened +intently. All was still, and I was just about to proceed when again the +sound came. This time I could not be mistaken; it was the sound of +hurried footsteps some distance off and in the direction of the villa.</p> + +<p>I was still hidden from the villa by the trees, but across the stream, +some thirty yards away, was an opening from which a view of it could be +had. Leaping the stream I hastened thither, anxious to learn the cause +of the untimely activity. Another moment, and I should have been too +late to see a slight figure, laden with what appeared to be wraps and +other travelling equipment, hurry across the balcony and step into the +large high-speed aerenoid that I had observed there the previous +evening.</p> + +<p>It was Zarlah! But what was the reason of this hasty departure at such +an hour? Suddenly a frenzy seized me, and, rushing toward the villa, I +frantically called to her, but it was too late. She had not seen me, +and, before I had taken many steps, the aerenoid rose rapidly to a great +height and disappeared over the trees.</p> + +<p>Not a moment was to be lost. Turning, I <a name='Page_164'></a>dashed wildly back toward the +aerenoid I had so foolishly left in concealment. Reaching the stream, I +stumbled over an entanglement of vines and plunged headlong therein, +only to scramble, dripping and bruised, up the opposite bank and +continue my frantic efforts to reach the aerenoid, before Zarlah's car +had disappeared from sight. What her intention was I knew not, but the +early hour, the haste with which she had departed, and the absence of +her brother, all conspired to arouse the fears that had beset me during +the long hours of the night.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the aerenoid at last, after a journey that seemed to consume +hours, I jumped in and closed the door. Frantically I seized the lever +that controlled the ascension and, pulling it so that the full repelling +power was instantly exposed, the car bounded high into the air with +terrific force.</p> + +<p>The shock hurled me off my feet, but in an instant my eyes were again +fixed upon a mere speck many miles distant, which I knew to be the +aerenoid containing all that life possessed for me. As the car plunged +forward at great speed, the speck disappeared, and I at once <a name='Page_165'></a>realized +that Zarlah had reached a canal, into which she had turned her aerenoid. +It was now impossible for me to see which direction she took, and unless +I arrived at the canal within a few seconds, I felt that all hope of +overtaking her would have vanished, as she would doubtless proceed at +full speed and soon be lost to sight.</p> + +<p>Opening to its fullest extent the valve that controlled the exhaustion +of air in the chamber beneath, the velocity of the car soon became +terrific, and, rising still higher as I sped along, I caught sight of +Zarlah's aerenoid proceeding in a northerly direction.</p> + +<p>With a disregard for all safety I swerved to the north, thus forming the +third side of a triangle, of which the other sides were the course +Zarlah had taken. This movement reduced the distance between the two +aerenoids considerably, and upon turning into the speedway of the canal, +I was greatly relieved to find that I was but a few miles in the rear. +The hope that Zarlah might see the car speeding so close behind her, +flashed through my mind, but instantly I realized the impossibility of +such a thing, for a glance behind, even for <a name='Page_166'></a>a second, while travelling +with such frightful velocity, would entail certain destruction by being +dashed to pieces against the sides of the canal. My only chance lay in +overtaking her and making some signal, and with my free hand I wrenched +at the speed valve, endeavoring to open it wider.</p> + +<p>On we sped in our wild career over the planet's surface. Hundreds of +miles were quickly swept beneath us, but not one foot did I seem to +gain. Vainly did I strive to put from my mind the fears that lurked +there, by seeking a plausible reason for Zarlah's strange action.</p> + +<p>On, on we flew, each aerenoid going at its maximum speed; surely Zarlah +had gone far enough north; she must slacken her speed soon to turn down +a branch canal, and I would then be able to run alongside of her car and +signal my presence. There was a gleam of hope in this, and to it I clung +like a drowning man to a straw.</p> + +<p>The air in the car, which had steadily grown colder, was now biting in +its sharpness, and as I clutched the steering apparatus with numbed +hands, a white object loomed up in the distance <a name='Page_167'></a>and in a second flew +beneath me—another came, then another, and another, and as they +appeared in greater numbers, I observed that they were huge blocks of +ice. The sight filled me with grave apprehension. It was now impossible +to stop our terrific momentum, yet in spite of this great danger, on and +on we sped, still farther north.</p> + +<p>What could be the reason for this perilous journey? Did Zarlah not +realize the danger to which she was exposed, rushing thus madly into the +wilds of the North—the region of the Repelling Pole—without the means +of stopping?</p> + +<p>Suddenly I shrank in horror as a fearful thought entered my mind. My +senses reeled, and a strange sensation swept over me, as of an awful +Presence in the car with me. "No, no," I muttered between clenched +teeth; "it cannot be! She surely realizes that it would be going to a +certain and terrible death!" And as I frantically wrenched at the valve +in an effort to get more speed, a strange hollow voice echoed through my +brain, laughing at my unutterable agony, and crying with fiendish glee, +"Your love has no thought of stopping; she hastens to her bridegroom, +Death!"</p> + +<p><a name='Page_168'></a>As hot irons scorching the living flesh, the words burned into my +brain, setting it on fire. It was the voice of Death—which voice no +living mortal can mistake—and I recognized it also as the fury of the +storm which was abroad when I departed from Earth, and the echo of the +stream's song of peace in the midst of danger. Had Death thus followed +me from the world in which he thrived to wreak this vengeance upon me, +by tempting my bride into his arms, believing that she hastened to her +love?</p> + +<p>On, on we rushed into the region of the dreaded Pole. All signs of the +canal had disappeared, and before us lay only a vast uninhabitable field +of ice. I stood at the levers, frozen rigid with the intense cold, but +with my eyes ever on the flying object before me, while visions of my +beloved one, now so close to death, passed rapidly through my fevered +brain. As if Death had thus planned to torture me, before tearing my +loved one from my very arms, I seemed to stand impersonally apart and +watch two lovers—Zarlah and myself. Bending over her, I tried to +console her with a false hope—a story of impossible fulfillment. I +succeeded; and now I saw that I had laid the trap <a name='Page_169'></a>which Death had +placed in my hands to draw her toward him, and, with a cry of horror, I +tried to wrench my hand from the lever to which it was frozen, so that I +might shut such a scene from my sight—</p> + +<p>I realized the meaning of it all now. Zarlah, unable to obtain the +repelling force necessary to carry her off Mars, was rushing toward the +Repelling Pole to be hurled off the planet, risking all in the hope of +being drawn to Earth, which was in opposition. It was a vain hope—alas, +I knew this too well. She was rushing to her death—a death that I had +lured her to, and my hands would be stained with the blood of my +beloved.</p> + +<p>Desperately I wrenched at my frozen hands to free them from the metal to +which they adhered, with a wild idea of smashing the window and calling +loudly to Zarlah. The skin tore from the flesh like paper at the fury of +my efforts, and I freed my hands at last, only to find that my arms hung +lifeless at my side.</p> + +<p>In a frenzy of grief and despair at my utter helplessness, I fell on my +knees, crying aloud, "Oh, my God! Save her from this awful death!"</p> + +<p>A sudden gloom filled the car, and, struggling <a name='Page_170'></a>to my feet, I found that +we had entered the belt of semi-darkness that covers the polar caps in +their winter season. Our doom was near at hand—nothing could save +Zarlah now, and only by swerving my car around instantly and returning +could I preserve myself. But life was nought to me without Zarlah—I +preferred death to such an empty existence. Condemned by Fate to be +separated in life, we would meet death together.</p> + +<p>I could dimly see Zarlah's car outlined against the white snow beyond, +but, even as I stood now helplessly and silently awaiting the end, a +dark line rapidly spread over this field of white. Beyond, all was +black, and as this sharp-cut boundary line rapidly approached Zarlah's +car, my blood froze in my veins, for in this vast area of bare black +rock I recognized the terrible power of the North Repelling Pole. There +was another moment in which my heart refused to beat, then a groan of +great anguish escaped my lips, as Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into +space with frightful velocity.</p> + +<p>Shutting my eyes I awaited death. For an instant it seemed to me that I +heard Zarlah's voice call to me in clear accents, then came a terrific +shock which hurled me to the far end <a name='Page_171'></a>of the aerenoid, amid a confusion +of furniture, books, and instruments that had been torn from their +fastenings. Frozen into a state of utter helplessness, my senses fast +leaving me, I lay unable to extricate myself from the heavy mass.</p> + +<p>In this comatose condition I remained totally ignorant of the lapse of +time, until, feeling the terrible pressure diminish, I opened my eyes +and dreamily beheld the heavy instruments and pieces of furniture move +gently away, and bump against one another as they floated lightly about +within the car.</p> + +<p>Relieved of the great weight, I now breathed more freely. My senses grew +clearer, and soon I became conscious of a loud hissing noise close at +hand. Drowsily I turned my head in the direction of the sound, and +discovered that it came from the door in the side of the aerenoid. In an +instant the full faculty of my senses returned, as with intense horror I +realized the cause—the air of the car was escaping into the void of the +universe without! Desperately I struggled to gain my feet, but being +without weight, the effort resulted only in my drifting helplessly about +the car, until, gasping for air, I realized that the end had come.</p> + +<p>A moment's consciousness of being drawn <a name='Page_172'></a>gently to the floor of the car +again, while the furniture and other articles that had been drifting +about piled lightly upon me without any perceptible weight; a slight +shock, then, as the suffocating sensation became more intense, a +blackness rushed in upon me, and my senses reeled—</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a><h2><a name='Page_173'></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h2>THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>A tall, gaunt figure, swathed in black robes, Stood waiting some +distance from me. I knew that it was Death, for under the hood I beheld +the grinning skull with its sightless eye-holes, and I turned away in +loathsome dread. But even as I did so, the bony arms were stretched out +in welcome, and to them ran a slight girlish form—it was Zarlah! For a +moment I stood paralyzed with horror, then rushing toward the now +retreating figures, I called out wildly, "Zarlah! Zarlah! Flee not with +Death! I am here—your Harold is here!" Suddenly I was seized from +behind; instantly my strength seemed to be sapped from me and I fell +back exhausted, crying in my despair, "Oh, my God! save her! save her!"</p> + +<p>A cool, soft hand was laid upon my burning brow, and a sweet voice +gently murmured, "<a name='Page_174'></a>Poor Harold! If you could only know that God in His +mercy has saved us both!"</p> + +<p>It was the voice of the living, not the dead, and slowly the words +formed a meaning in my confused brain, dragging me from the depths of +unconsciousness to the life that still existed about me, warmed as it +was by the wondrous power of a woman's love. Opening my eyes I beheld +Zarlah bending over me, her beautiful face full of compassionate love. +It seemed as though in a dream my loved one had come to me, and for a +moment I lay peacefully gazing into her face, feeling neither curiosity +nor alarm. Then, as my mind awoke to a realization of all that had +transpired, a sudden bewilderment came upon me, and, clasping the hand +that sought to ease my head, lest the vision should vanish, I cried:</p> + +<p>"Zarlah, my beloved, speak to me! Are we by a miracle saved from the +death that had engulfed us, or is this the strange meeting of our souls +after death?"</p> + +<p>At the sound of my voice, Zarlah clasped her hands in a fervent prayer +of thankfulness, then, burying her face on my shoulder, gave way to a +flood of tears.</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_175'></a>Oh, Harold, my love!" she sobbed. "Thank God, you have been spared to +me! It is indeed by a miracle that this moon, intercepting our aerenoids +in their wild flight through space, thus brought us together at the +eleventh hour, and laid you helpless and dying at my feet."</p> + +<p>"The <i>moon</i>!" I gasped, raising myself and staring out of the window at +my side in astonishment, as my mind gradually comprehended our +hairbreadth escape from death.</p> + +<p>A blazing orb of fire, shining from the intense blackness around it, was +all that met my gaze, and I sank back, exhausted with the effort, into +the arms that awaited me.</p> + +<p>"Tell me more, darling," I said, as a great happiness came over me, and +my heart was filled with the simple desire to hear the gentle voice I +loved. What mattered it to me whether we ever reached Mars or not? The +future held no fears for me now; enough that I had Zarlah, for the walls +of the aerenoid that surrounded us seemed to compass the whole universe.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my love!" sighed Zarlah, bending over me and nervously clasping my +hands in hers, "now that the danger is past and you are restored to me, +the long hours of agony seem <a name='Page_176'></a>like a dream. But, oh, the anguish of that +moment when I beheld another aerenoid lying close to mine, upon the +surface of the moon that had intercepted my journey to Earth! My soul +cried out that in it lay my beloved, suffocating to death. Who else +would have followed me over the dreaded Pole! With wild haste I attached +an oxygen respirator to my mouth, and, releasing the air from the car, +sprang out upon the surface, little suspecting the danger that lurked +there. But so small is the force of gravity upon this moon that I was +without perceptible weight, and the tendency to rise with every step I +took filled me with terror, and I crept upon my hands and knees to the +aerenoid which lay a few yards away. Opening the door, I found you lying +apparently lifeless upon the floor. My heart told me that it was my love +who lay within Death's grasp, and, desperate at the thought that you had +been so near to me, only to be torn away by the hand of Death, I lifted +you up and hastened with you back to the aerenoid I had left. The small +amount of gravity now aided me, and I carried you without feeling the +burden.</p> + +<p>"Filling the car with oxygen and applying <a name='Page_177'></a>regenerating rays, I waited +for a sign of life. Oh, the agony of those moments, as in despair I +frantically called your name! At last the sign came—a quiver of the +lips, a faint breath—and I knew there was hope. Gradually your +breathing became stronger, but a terrible fever raged within you. +Through long, long hours on this strange globe I knelt beside you, +listening to your piercing cries of delirium, as you lived that awful +experience over and over again. Little by little, in the cries of agony +that rent my heart, I learned how you had come to me a moment too late; +how you had followed my aerenoid, and, being unable to stop me, had +rushed to the fate that was mine, to be hurled into space, unprepared +for such a journey; how you had suffocated, and—oh! my love, as you lay +through the long hours, gazing at me with wild unseeing eyes—ever +calling my name—imploring me not to rush to my death—I at last +despaired of your life, and my soul prepared itself to fly with yours to +the life beyond, leaving our bodies clasped in each other's arms, to +circle round the world which had denied us our love until the end of +time!</p> + +<p>"<a name='Page_178'></a>But suddenly the light of reason came into your eyes—your voice lost +its wild accents, and I knew that you had been restored to me. In a few +hours now, Harold, the rays will have completed their work, and you will +be in full possession of your former strength."</p> + +<p>What a happy future we now looked out upon! The danger of our position +upon a heavenly body but a few miles in diameter, with barely enough +gravity to hold us on its surface, was forgotten in the great joy of +being together and feeling that we should never again be parted.</p> + +<p>I related to Zarlah all that had happened since I had left her; how I +had encountered Reon at the observatory and learned of Almos' departure +to Earth, and how I had later discovered the letter in which Almos gave +to us the great happiness we had despaired of ever possessing. And now +the fast encroaching darkness warned us of the approach of a lunar +night. As darkness with us would necessarily mean daylight on that part +of Mars to which we had come opposite in our journey round the planet, I +felt that now had arrived the time for action, as Mars would become +<a name='Page_179'></a>visible. Moreover, as the days and nights of this rapidly moving +satellite were but three and a half hours in duration, I realized that +no time should be lost in making the necessary preparations for our +hazardous journey. But although I was now able to get on my feet and had +the use of my arms, I had not by any means regained all my strength, and +upon laying my plans before Zarlah, she urged me not to undertake such a +journey until the rays had fully restored me. Therefore it was decided +to postpone our attempt to reach Mars until the following night.</p> + +<p>But soon a strange and unforeseen incident warned us of the great danger +to which we were exposed on the surface of this diminutive moon, and +left us no alternative but immediate departure.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV'></a><h2><a name='Page_180'></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h2>HURLED FROM THE MOON.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Together we stood gazing in silence out into the abyss over the small +surface of the moon that was visible to us, oppressed with a sense of +awe as the sun dropped from sight, leaving us plunged in darkness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there appeared from out of the inky blackness of the heavens a +huge crescent, stretching across the sky far above us. The sight of it +fascinated us, and, as we stood lost in admiration at the majestic +proportions of the beautiful arch of light, ever growing in width, we +gradually realized that it was the sun-tipped rim of the planet which +our moon was journeying around—the world from which we had been hurled +and to which we must return.</p> + +<p>A sense of great reverence overpowered me; <a name='Page_181'></a>I realized that we looked +upon sights, and felt great forces never before bared to mortals. +Through my mind ran lines of Addison's ode:</p> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>"The spacious firmament on high</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>With all the blue ethereal sky,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>And spangled heavens, a shining frame,</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Their great <i>Original</i> proclaim.</span><br /> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>Forever singing as they shine</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>The hand that made us is divine."</span><br /> + +<p>Slowly the light crept over the planet's surface until the huge +illuminated sphere, almost filling the entire heavens, made a scene of +the most exquisite grandeur that human eyes have ever beheld.</p> + +<p>"Dearest!" I exclaimed, with sudden impulse, as a most remarkable and +terrifying fact occurred to me, "wonderful though our deliverance from +death seems to us, it is even more miraculous than we had any conception +of! To meet with this moon in our journey through space, we must have +described an arc, as this satellite never passes over the pole."</p> + +<p>"How can such a thing be possible?" returned Zarlah, in tremulous +accents, drawing <a name='Page_182'></a>closer to me as the awfulness of our narrow escape +appalled her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my love, we may never know that!" I answered. "The Great Creator of +all these wonders has, indeed, guided us to this haven in our wild +flight through space. We can but theorize that the pole, being several +miles in diameter, hurled us from its edge, the tremendous repelling +force not permitting our aerenoids to proceed over its surface. The +rotary motion of the planet upon its axis would then cause us to +describe a curve in our flight from its surface, as only in the center +of the pole would this rotary motion lose its effect."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harold," whispered Zarlah, timidly, when I had finished speaking, +"the thought of these terrible things and the sight of this immense +globe hanging over us fill me with dread! Do you think we shall ever +reach our world again? It appears to be so near and yet is so far away +from us. What veritable atoms we are in the glory of this tumultuous +whirl!"</p> + +<p>"I do not think we could possibly miss it, sweetheart," I answered, +cheerfully, as I placed my arm about her and drew her away <a name='Page_183'></a>from the +window which commanded a view of Mars. "Come, let us look out upon the +little globe that supports us; we are entirely missing the beautiful +effect of this grand reflection of light"</p> + +<p>The surface of the moon was now bathed in a beautiful diffused light, +and our surroundings where once more visible. Indeed, many objects, +which we had been unable to see in the dazzling brilliancy of the sun's +light, as it blazed forth from a heaven unsoftened by any atmosphere, +were now clearly revealed. We had approached a window and were looking +at these new objects of interest, when Zarlah suddenly cried in dismay: +"Look, Harold, look! The other aerenoid is moving!"</p> + +<p>Quickly turning my gaze in the direction indicated, I saw the aerenoid +in which I had made the journey from Mars move a space of several yards +with a jerky motion, then, to my intense horror, glide off the surface +of the moon into space. At the same instant, the car in which we stood +rocked as though about to turn over upon its side.</p> + +<p>Not a moment was to be lost! Some unknown force was exerting its +influence over <a name='Page_184'></a>the movable objects on the moon's surface. What this +power was I knew not, but the direction in which the aerenoid had +glided proved it to be other than Mars. Our position was now perilous in +the extreme, for were we suddenly to glide off into space we would +undoubtedly be lost, as it was necessary to have air surrounding us in +order to propel the car. Without an atmosphere we would therefore be +helpless and entirely at the mercy of the unknown and mysterious power. +Indeed, it was evident that only our increased weight had saved us from +immediately following the other aerenoid, and I felt that at any moment +we might do so. Although lacking the power of propulsion, my hope was +that our repelling force, which I knew must be increased to an enormous +extent by the slight gravity on the moon's surface, would hurl us off +that satellite straight upward into the influence of Mars' gravity.</p> + +<p>Seizing the lever, I cried to Zarlah to He on the floor of the car, but +even as she did so, the aerenoid rocked again with still greater +violence—in another moment it would be too late! Thrusting the lever +over, I exposed the <a name='Page_185'></a>full repelling force to the moon's surface. The +shock hurled me to the floor, and so terrific was the force with which +we shot upward, that I was held powerless to move hand or foot. For a +space of time which seemed to me hours I was obliged to remain thus, +contenting myself with calling words of encouragement to my dear one, +whom I greatly feared must have suffered severely from the awful shock. +At last, finding that I could rise, I hastened to her side, and, to my +great relief, discovered that she had entirely escaped injury.</p> + +<p>As it was impossible in any way to control the aerenoid speeding upward +through space, it was useless for me to stand by the levers, and, +assisting Zarlah to rise, we approached a window in the roof of the car +and glanced upward at the planet to which we were rushing. A remarkable +phenomenon met our eyes! Mars appeared to be no longer a sphere—the +great globe that we had beheld from the moon—but instead a huge dome, +which hung over us, ever deepening in the center as we rushed up toward +it. Inconceivable though it seemed, I knew that, to produce such an +effect, we must already have covered more than half the distance +<a name='Page_186'></a>between the two bodies. Upward we shot, and although there was no means +of ascertaining how fast we were travelling, I knew by the rapidly +changing appearance of the dome above us that our speed must be +terrific.</p> + +<p>We had steadily grown lighter, and now we discovered that we were +entirely without weight, and that it required some effort to keep our +feet on the floor of the car.</p> + +<p>Still upward we rushed into the center of the dome which now stretched +down and encircled us on all sides like an immense umbrella, when +suddenly, without the slightest perceptible movement of the car, the +dome appeared to swing around until it lay beneath us, and instantly we +felt our feet settling upon the floor of the car.</p> + +<p>"We are safe from the unknown power now, dearest!" I exclaimed, +anxiously examining the lever that controlled the descent, to make sure +that the repelling metal was fully exposed. "We are dropping upon Mars, +and our repelling metal should soon check our speed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harold, my love," sighed Zarlah, timidly clinging to me, her eyes +filled with tears, and a look of great yearning coming into them, "<a name='Page_187'></a>my +heart despairs at the dangers that encompass us! With you as my goal I +knew no fear; but now that I have you, I am a coward. Is our love +forbidden, that we should be thus pursued by these terrible dangers?"</p> + +<p>"Courage, dearest!" I replied, reassuringly. "We shall soon be safe, and +then nothing shall interrupt the happiness for which we have endured so +much."</p> + +<p>I hid from her the anxiety that lurked near my heart, and endeavored to +interest her by advancing several theories upon the phenomenal +appearance of the planet's surface.</p> + +<p>Like a huge cup the land now stretched up and around us, but we were +still descending with frightful velocity. I had noticed that the air in +the car was becoming warmer, and now, filled with apprehension, I +stretched out my hand and touched the wall. Instantly I withdrew it—the +wall was hot! Like a flash the full realization of our terrible danger +burst upon me. I had relied upon the repelling metal to check our +descent before we entered the region of air, and had supposed that we +would float lightly to the ground under perfect control. But now I saw +how foolishly I had erred, in <a name='Page_188'></a>omitting to take into consideration the +terrific momentum we would attain in our journey of six thousand miles +through space. This momentum was now driving us to the ground, in spite +of our strong repelling force, and with such a frightful speed that heat +was being generated by friction with the air as we rushed through it. +The creaking and straining sound coming from the bottom of the aerenoid +was evidence of the fight the repelling metal was making to overcome +this momentum before the surface of Mars was reached, but I shuddered as +I realized what little effect it had upon this gigantic force.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds the air became unbearably hot, and, with a gasp, Zarlah +lay limp in my arms, as she turned her face to me to speak. Laying her +tenderly upon the floor, I hastily wrapped wet blankets around her, and, +dashing water over myself, I staggered across the car to the window +again. We were still descending rapidly, but, as I felt the walls of the +car, I found that they were now cooler, proving that our terrific speed +had been reduced. The increased pressure of my feet upon the floor of +the car was also evidence that our <a name='Page_189'></a>descent was being steadily checked. +A wild hope surged within me that the repelling metal would overcome the +momentum in time to save us from destruction.</p> + +<p>Glancing down, I saw white specks lying far beneath us. My heart stood +still as I realized that these were buildings. We could not be more than +a few miles from the surface, yet down, down we sped. A few moments more +and the buildings became plainly visible, and my heart thumped wildly, +as they seemed to rush up to meet us. We would be dashed to pieces! The +repelling force could not possibly stop us in time! Turning, in despair, +I threw myself down beside Zarlah, and enfolded her in a last embrace.</p> + +<p>Instantly there was a terrific shock—a deafening crash. Then all was +dark, while a flood of water came pouring in upon us. I staggered to my +feet with Zarlah in my arms, only to be thrown to the floor again by an +upward bound of the aerenoid. Sunlight once more filled the car, and, as +I struggled to my feet, a cool breeze wafted in through the shattered +windows. To what further extremes of temperature and mediums were we to +be subjected?</p> + +<p><a name='Page_190'></a>I was still too dazed by the shock to realize how we had escaped from a +death that seemed inevitable, but I knew that we were flying upward with +the full force of our repelling metal. Tenderly lifting Zarlah to a +safer and more comfortable place, I seized the lever and gradually +decreased the repelling power, until we rested motionless in the air.</p> + +<p>We had already attained a considerable height, and, as I eagerly gazed +down, I beheld far beneath us the glistening surface of a lake. With a +gasp of horror, I realized what a narrow escape had been ours. Into this +lake we had plunged with a velocity sufficient to have dashed us to +pieces had we struck the ground; the damage which the car had sustained +upon striking the water was evidence of this. Our descent being stopped, +the repelling metal, which was fully exposed, had then sent us bounding +into the air again, and in all probability had thus saved us from being +drowned beneath the waters of the lake.</p> + +<p>Death had indeed been close to us many times during our strange +adventure, and now that all the dangers were past, I breathed a +heartfelt prayer of thankfulness for our safe deliverance.</p> + +<p><a name='Page_191'></a>Freeing Zarlah from the wet blankets I had wrapped around her during +the intense heat, I gazed anxiously down upon the beautiful, unconscious +face.</p> + +<p>"My love! my love!" I murmured, passionately. "How much you have +risked—how much you have suffered for my sake! Oh, cruel the fate that +thus delays our happiness!"</p> + +<p>The sun was setting, and I now realized the importance of descending +nearer to the ground, that I might ascertain our whereabouts, as from +our present altitude, even with Almos' knowledge of Mars, I was unable +to recognize any familiar landmark, and I knew that darkness would soon +be upon us.</p> + +<p>Bending once again over the form of my loved one, I tenderly kissed the +silent lips, but as I did so, her arms closed about my neck, and +dreamily opening her eyes, she smiled up at me as a child awakening from +a peaceful sleep.</p> + +<p>"We are safe now, darling, all the danger is past!" I murmured, and +falling on my knees beside her, I took her up into my arms, with the +prayer that I might ever shield her in the days to come.</p> + +<p>The shadows lengthened; quickly the gloom gathered, and darkness closed +in upon us, but <a name='Page_192'></a>still we remained suspended in the cool night air under +the dome of the starry heavens, unmindful of all in the joy of our great +love; for with the fulfillment of our hearts' long cherished desire, +came the realization that our journey was ended.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>PARIS, February 17, 19—.</p> + +<p>Six months have elapsed since that memorable evening when Harold and +Zarlah—radiant with their new-found happiness—were portrayed upon the +instrument in Paris at which I anxiously waited, after having exchanged +my existence on Mars for one on Earth. The account of his strange +adventures, which Harold has since given me, I have endeavored to record +in the foregoing pages, as nearly as possible in his own words, trusting +that this narration of the events connected with the opening of +communication between Earth and Mars will prepare the way for the +greater developments soon to be announced by scientists.</p> + +<p>ALMOS.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_END'></a><h2>THE END.</h2> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Zarlah the Martian, by R. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Zarlah the Martian + +Author: R. Norman Grisewood + +Release Date: September 10, 2004 [EBook #13423] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZARLAH THE MARTIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Elaine Walker, Frank van Drogen and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into space with +frightful velocity."] + + + +Zarlah The Martian + + +By + + +R. Norman Grisewood + + + +1909 + + + +_Zarlah, The Martian_ + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE STRANGE SHADOW + + II. THE MARTIAN + + III. THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD + + IV. THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE + + V. THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING + + VI. "AS OTHERS SEE US" + + VII. THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH + + VIII. A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID + + IX. THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE + + X. ZARLAH'S CONFESSION + + XI. THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY + + XII. THE WARNING OF DANGER--THE RACE WITH DEATH + + XIII. THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY + + XIV. HURLED FROM THE MOON + + + + + +ZARLAH, THE MARTIAN. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STRANGE SHADOW. + + +So thrilling were my experiences during that period, so overcrowded with +feverish action and strong emotions was each wonderful moment, and so +entirely changed are the conditions of life as I now find it, that it is +with considerable difficulty that I recall in detail all that happened +prior to my remarkable discovery which opened communication between +Earth and Mars. One says "discovery" advisedly, but let it not be +imagined that communication with the planet Mars was established as a +result of any careful and systematic research, or that I possessed a +subtle genius for astronomical science that was destined to introduce +into society what must eventually revolutionize it. Nothing could be +further from the facts. Into the daily grind of my absolutely uneventful +career, burst the almost terrifying revelations with a suddenness that +stunned me, while I was engaged in experiments of an entirely extraneous +nature. Albeit one wonders that the Martian rays, which have swept our +planet with their searching gaze for so many centuries, were not +discovered long ago. But this is anticipating my story. + +I had reached the age of thirty, when, in the Spring of 19--, I sailed +out of New York harbor on board _La Provence_, en route for Paris. It +was not so much my purpose to seek pleasure as the determination to turn +my eight years of experience in the United States to some avenue of +profitable livelihood, that decided me to make the journey, although I +looked forward with no small degree of pleasant anticipation to meeting +some of my fellow students in the Academie des Sciences in Paris, where +I had received five years of excellent training. + +My trip across and my subsequent arrival in Paris were without any +events of particular interest, and one bright morning in the early +summer I found myself comfortably lodged in the house where I had +previously boarded while a student. Connected with my rooms, which were +at the top of the house, was one of considerable size that I had +formerly used as a laboratory, and this I now set about fitting up to +serve the same purpose. The daylight found its way into the room through +a skylight, and though admirably suited for an artist's studio, it +answered my purpose equally as well. + +I had collected many new instruments and appliances by dint of days +spent in shopping, and was anxious to begin work in earnest, when one +evening, as I glanced through the columns of a newspaper, my attention +was arrested by an article of particular interest. This set forth the +great and increasing demand for a substitute for glass, one which would +answer the purpose in every respect, and at the same time be +indestructible and a good conductor of sound. The article concluded with +an enumeration of the many uses for which such a substitute would be +invaluable, hinting at the enormous financial possibilities which would +be open to the inventor. The more I considered the matter, the more +desirous I became to test several theories which forthwith presented +themselves to my mind, and the next morning found me determined to begin +my experiments at once. In theory, I saw the solution of the problem in +artificially producing increased atomic motion, and with that object in +view I went to work. + +My experiments involved me in weeks of hard work, and it was toward the +end of the summer before I could admit having had any important results. +I now had a substance resembling glass in appearance, though vastly +different in composition, which I made into a film, extremely thin and +highly sensitive to vibrations. Running through this film were slender +wires made of various metals, about one inch apart, which served not +only to give rigidity to the film, but also to conduct a current of +electricity through it, engendering a high state of atomic agitation. +The current was controlled by a small switch placed in a heavy box-like +frame, which bounded the film on its four sides and contained the +batteries, coils, etc. To this were attached four legs, supporting it +about the height of an ordinary table from the floor. The whole device +measured about seven feet square. + +This film substance contained certain elements which I had found to be +necessary to secure the desired intensity of agitation. It had taken me +almost a month to secure the fine quality I desired, and I looked +forward to the test with the feeling that results would prove that I was +nearing the goal, if I had not actually attained it. + +At last the day arrived when my device was ready for the test. I had +worked all the afternoon giving the finishing touches and it had grown +dusk without my realizing it. But everything was now ready, and moving +the switch, I turned the current of electricity through the composition. +Just as I was about to begin my test, I noticed what appeared to be a +faint shadow of a man move across the surface of the film. My first +thought was that someone had entered the room without my knowledge, and +his figure had been reflected on the surface of the film, which was +highly glazed, but a glance around the room assured me that this +explanation was untenable. Moreover, I found, upon further +investigation, that the film was lying in such a position that it would +be impossible to reflect any person in the room. I then examined the +skylight, only to find that, owing to the sharp inclination of the roof, +it would be an utter impossibility for anyone to reach it from the +outside without the aid of a ladder. I investigated this source further, +thinking to find the reflection on the film to be from some street in +the city below, but on account of the extent of the roof, no street was +visible from the skylight. + +Completely baffled, I descended into the room again and turned on the +current. Immediately the shadow appeared on the film, and this time, in +consequence of the room now being quite dark, I noticed that it was +surrounded by a phosphorus-colored glow. The figure was certainly that +of a man, although very faint, and it became evident to me, after +watching it for a while, that he was trying to signal with his arms. + +I now noticed that, in addition to the peculiar light on the film, the +entire surface seemed to vibrate with frequent, but scarcely audible, +humming sounds. Upon turning off the current all disappeared, only to +reappear when I switched it on again. It was evident then that the +phenomenon was caused only when the instrument was charged with +electricity, and consequently was no ordinary reflection, as I had at +first supposed. + +Everything pointed to its being the manifestation of some outside +agency; possibly electrical waves which my apparatus received and in a +measure responded to, coming through the open skylight from--where? The +question reiterated itself in my mind, as I stood gazing perplexedly at +the phenomenon. I might have been satisfied with the supposition that, +unknowingly, I had made an instrument which was capable of receiving +wireless waves from another instrument of similar tone in or near Paris, +if I had had only the humming sounds to contend with, but the shadow +impelled me to look for the reason further than this. I glanced upward, +eagerly seeking some explanation. One star was visible through the open +skylight--Mars. Clear and bright it shone in the inky blackness framed +by the window. + +Once more I climbed to the skylight, feeling that I must seek the +explanation in that direction, when my attention was suddenly turned to +the apparatus below me. The glow was slowly passing off one side of the +film. I hastily descended and examined the batteries, thinking I would +find the cause of this in a failing current, but all was apparently in +perfect order. Still the glow and shadow moved steadily off, growing +fainter every moment, until it disappeared completely. + +With a sudden impulse, born of a weird and almost terrifying thought, I +bent over until my eyes were on a level with the film, then I looked +upward; the star was no longer visible from the position of the +instrument, it had risen above the frame of the window. At once I was +seized with an intense excitement; could it be possible that my +apparatus was responding to waves mysteriously projected from Mars? If +not, why had the glow and shadow faded from the film at the same instant +that Mars disappeared above the window frame? + +Hoping to test this further, I endeavored to move the apparatus to a +position where Mars would again be visible, but alas, I found it much +too heavy. I felt keenly disappointed at the sudden termination of this +strange phenomenon, but, upon reflection, I realized that it was only +the simultaneous disappearance of Mars and the glow on the film that had +caused me to attribute waves to that far source. The more I pondered +upon the matter, the more impossible it seemed, yet, strange to say, the +more convinced I became that the theory was correct. Light-waves, I +argued, unlike the wireless waves in common use, could be received only +when the two objects were in line of vision; but I realized that if they +were of Martian origin they were of remarkable magnification, projected +through space by some unknown and powerful agent, thousands of times +more powerful than electricity as we know it upon Earth. That the shadow +on the film had been that of a Martian, I dared not hope. Though my mind +continually reverted to this wild conjecture, I impatiently put it +aside, as the apparent impossibility of it all would force itself upon +me. + +Nothing further could be done that night, and as I had worked hard all +day preparing for my experiment, without even stopping for meals, I now +felt the effect of the excitement I had undergone and resolved to take a +walk in the cool air, I wanted to think, and, if possible, to plan a +line of action for the morrow which would bring me better results, if my +theory of light-waves should prove to be correct. Needless to say, I +determined to cease my former experiments, and devote all my energy to +ascertaining whether my apparatus was actually responding to Martian +light-waves of remarkable integrity, and if such proved to be the case, +to put every effort into improving the device with the hope of obtaining +their import. I also determined to keep my discovery a secret, at least +for the present. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MARTIAN. + + +I returned to my rooms with a much clearer conception of the conditions +with which I had to cope, if the waves to which my apparatus responded +should prove to be Martian waves. My mind was fully made up to proceed +as if this were an established fact, as, in order to give my best +efforts to improving my apparatus, I felt that I must eliminate all +scepticism. I clearly appreciated the advantage of moving my instrument +outside, where I could command a view of Mars for a much longer time, +but the necessity of being in my laboratory while I was engaged in these +improvements, decided me against any immediate change. + +Accordingly I proceeded the next morning to make the changes I deemed +necessary, being goaded into a fever of haste by a feeling of +suppressed excitement. The composition I had used in the form of a film +I now liquefied, having concluded that in the former condition, although +necessary in my original experiments, it now only retarded the vibration +of the wires. + +That this composition was essential there could be no doubt, as it was +its elements that responded to the agent used on Mars to project the +waves. I therefore liquefied the film substance, being careful in so +doing not to alter its properties. I then procured wires, much thinner +than those I had previously used, and dipped them-into the liquid. After +they had become perfectly dry, I stretched them on the frame as close +together as I could without their coming into contact with one another. +As light-waves are received in hundreds of different vibrations +simultaneously, according to the light or shade of the object projected, +I concluded that each wire should be capable of individual vibration. +The device now resembled a large piece of mosquito netting with the +cross wires removed, the coating of composition on each wire being so +thin that it was hardly discernible. The batteries and coils I +connected as before, taking great care not to change their arrangement. + +My preparations were now completed, and before me stood an instrument as +delicate and sensitive to wave vibrations as I could make it. Raising +one side of the frame a foot higher than the other, in order that the +surface of wires would be squarely facing the star when it appeared +above the casement, I waited impatiently for the moment which should +prove the truth or falsity of my surmises. + +The day had closed, and I spent the remaining time speculating upon the +results of my labors. But even the wildest flights of my imagination did +not picture, in the smallest degree, the wonderful transformation which +my new instrument would make in what had appeared before as a shadow on +the film. Little did I imagine to what an extent the unknown was to be +revealed to me. + +As I stood by the side of the frame all in readiness, Mars appeared, but +it still had a little farther to climb before it would be visible from +the level of the wires. Nevertheless, I turned on the current from the +batteries. All was darkness; never before had darkness seemed to me so +profound, so absolutely appalling. Minutes passed like hours, but still +that ominous darkness reigned. I felt the keen disappointment of +failure; I grew incredulous as the time passed, and found myself +admitting and rehearsing the absurdity of it all. I even blamed myself +for having been so easily deflected from my former experiments, by what +now seemed to be merely an idle fancy. + +Suddenly I bent over the frame and gazed eagerly at the surface of +wires, for there, on the top edge, appeared a touch of the +phosphorus-colored glow. My heart thumped with wild excitement. I +stooped down until my eyes were on the level of the wires, and looking +up toward the window I could just see the rim of Mars appearing above +the casement. A shout of joy burst from my lips at the sight of it, for +it was now beyond all doubt that the phenomenon was attributable to +Mars. Brighter and brighter became the light as it covered the surface +of wires, until all its resemblance to a phosphorus glow had gone, and +it shone with such brilliancy that my eyes, accustomed as they were to +the darkness of the room, quailed before it. Turning away so that my +eyes might gradually become accustomed to the glare, I noticed that in +spite of the brilliant white light on the surface of the wires, the room +was in perfect darkness--the light had no power of illumination! +Impenetrable mystery enshrouded the agent which Mars was employing to +communicate with Earth! + +A curious humming sound issuing from the frame, much louder than I had +noticed the night before, caused me to turn involuntarily, and as I did +so I uttered a cry of wonder at the marvelous vision that met my eyes. +There lay before me, as bright as daylight, a picture that a thousand +times surpassed my highest, wildest hope. The great secret of another +planet was revealed, and I stood motionless, beholding an inhabitant of +a star millions of miles away. + +Among the vast multitude who for centuries have yearned for a glimpse +into the unknown worlds that surround us, I stood alone gazing upon the +image of a Martian. The thought stunned me; I was seized with a wild +impulse to rush out into the street and bring in the throng, that they +might look upon the form of this wonderful being on our sister planet. +But what proof was there to give them that this was so? I would +undoubtedly be ridiculed and accused of trickery. The very fact that had +brought a cry of amazement to my lips--the remarkable brilliancy and +clearness of the image, and the appearance of the Martian himself--would +serve to bring discredit upon anything I might say. Personally I had +ample proof that the image was that of a Martian, but what instant proof +could I give a jeering crowd? I had expected to find in a Martian a +strange grotesque being in appearance, if not in mind, much after the +weird and fierce character so many authors have portrayed him. Judge, +then, my astonishment when I beheld one who, in every particular of form +and feature, resembled the people of Earth. + +He appeared to be a man of about forty years of age, judging by our +earthly standard of time, possessing clear-cut features and dark +complexion. His face, which was clean-shaven, was remarkably handsome, +and his piercing dark eyes, although they enhanced the smile that +greeted my appearance at the instrument, seemed to search into my very +soul and to hold me spellbound with mute challenge. Nor could I, upon +afterthought, remember having shown the common courtesy of returning his +greeting. + +My astonishment was so great that every faculty seemed to leave me, and +I stood transfixed, staring at the image of the Martian without even the +power of thought. Gradually recovering my senses, however, I took note +of the man and his surroundings. He stood in a room of about the same +dimensions as my laboratory, which seemed to be flooded with bright +daylight, though I could not see any windows on three sides of the room +to admit the light, nor any shadows to indicate that the light came from +a window in the fourth. He held in his hands an instrument unknown to +me, and seemed to be perfectly at his ease, showing neither surprise nor +curiosity. Evidently this was not the first time that he had seen an +inhabitant of the Earth. So unconcerned was he and so natural did he +appear, even in the smallest detail of dress, that it was hard to +believe I was not looking at an image of some room and its occupant in +Paris. His close-fitting clothes seemed to be of a dark green material, +and resembled, to some degree, the uniform of an army officer. + +Bending over the instrument he held, he placed his mouth close to the +top of it, and immediately the humming sounds, which I had noticed +before, emanated from the wires of my apparatus. The thought flashed +through my mind that the Martian held in this instrument a means of +communicating sound. If so, what were the words--what language? The +possibility of what I heard being words, made me strain every nerve to +catch the slightest resemblance to such sounds, but alas, with no +success. That they were intended to convey a message, I became fully +convinced, but I could not rest in the belief that this jumble of sounds +was the Martian language. If the Martians themselves resembled, in so +striking a degree, the inhabitants of Earth, I argued, then it was in +the nature of things to expect a language that, in some way, +corresponded to one of our languages. The fault lay in my instrument, I +was sure of that, and in the keen disappointment of my failure to +receive his message and the excitement of the moment, I gave utterance +to an exclamation of despair. Immediately a smile overspread the +Martian's countenance, and, to my great astonishment, he put down the +instrument and clapped his hands by way of showing his approval. + +Before I could recover from my surprise at this new evidence of Martian +familiarity with the customs of Earth, the light suddenly grew dim and +in a few seconds had disappeared completely, leaving the instrument +plunged in darkness. Mars had risen above the frame of the skylight, and +I was no longer in contact with the light-waves. I listened intently, +thinking that if the sound-waves were of the nature of the +electrical-waves we employ in the wireless system, I would still be in +touch with my newly found friend, but I heard no further sound from the +instrument, thus proving that these waves also were projected by the +mysterious agent known only to the Martians. + +I had so much to occupy my mind, with what I had just witnessed, and so +many thoughts rushed in upon me regarding the perfecting of my +instrument so that it might properly respond to the sound-waves, that I +did not experience the disappointment I had felt before at the short +duration of our contact with each other. I was glad of the opportunity +to think; I felt that it was necessary to do so before further action, +if I ever hoped to attain the knowledge of Mars and its inhabitants that +my remarkable discovery had placed within my reach. I determined that on +the morrow, if I did not meet with better results in the sound +vibrations, I would try to communicate with the Martian by writing some +simple sentence in a bold hand, and in as many languages as I could. +This I would expose in front of the instrument, but I placed little hope +in the success of the scheme, for it was not possible that the Martian +language would be identical with any of ours. + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE VOICE FROM ANOTHER WORLD + + +This thought of communicating with the Martian by writing, did not deter +me from using every effort to perfect my instrument, so that this might +be done verbally, or that at least I might hear a voice and a language +spoken on a world millions of miles away. Accordingly I gave the subject +of sound-waves my best thought, and the next morning I had formulated +clearly laid principles upon which to work. By these I hoped to make an +instrument that would be the means of conversing with a Martian. + +I had come to the conclusion that the jumble of sound was caused by the +prolonged vibration of the wires after each distinct wave from Mars was +received, as the wires of a piano will vibrate long after they have been +touched. With light-waves it was necessary to have a highly sensitive +surface of the composition, capable of responding to many different +vibrations, according to the light or shade of the object projected. +This accounted for the success I met with upon adopting the coated +wires, and I concluded thereupon that they were indispensable. But I now +saw that the presence of wires in the composition, though successful +with light-waves, was inimical to sound-waves, and it became evident +that a firmer but highly sensitive surface was required. The film had +not brought good results, either from sound-waves or light-waves, but, +it will be remembered, there were wires running through it to give it +rigidity, which, although necessary in my original experiments, must be +avoided in connection with sound vibrations. Clearly my new film must +not be rigid. I thereupon made a film of composition, as thin as +possible, and stretched it upon the frame of my instrument, as a +diaphragm behind the wires, hoping that the sound-waves would pass +between the wires, and vibrate the diaphragm, which, being made of +composition, would undoubtedly glow, but not more than the film had +done. This, I concluded, would not interfere with the image on the +wires, owing to the brilliancy of the latter. + +I was now hopeful of success, and anxiously waited for the day to close. +Everything was in readiness by noon, and I had at least eight hours to +wait before Mars would be in a position for wave contact. But now +appeared an adversary with which I had not reckoned. Clouds began to +gather, thin and fleecy at first, but growing heavier as the afternoon +passed, until by evening the heavens were completely obscured. This was +a condition that might last for several days, and the dread of it filled +me with despair. How could I wait for days inactive, without seeing or +even hearing from my friend in Mars? + +It now occurred to me how absolutely absorbed I had become in the +Martian investigation. Ordinarily a sociable person, in the past week I +had become a recluse. College friends that I had seen almost daily since +my return to Paris, I now completely neglected, even shunned, lest they +should call at my rooms some evening when I was in wave contact with +Mars. It also occurred to me that, as surely as my friendship and +necessity for them was declining, in like ratio was increasing an +attachment for an inhabitant of another world. I felt a strange soul +kinship for this Martian, which seemed to spring up the moment I saw his +image portrayed on my instrument. And the feeling was not one of +ordinary friendship. I felt I was drawn to him by some mysterious power, +that gave him the place of a brother in my affections--a power that +seemed to have brought us together, and now united us with a great +common and compelling interest. And yet as I pictured his handsome, +almost beautiful face, there was still another face I had seen--but +where? The Martian had been alone, yet I was conscious of a face that +was wonderfully beautiful, that seemed the goal for which I was +striving. It led me to greater effort after failure; the face which I +yearned to see and yet strangely dreaded seeing. + +It was useless for me to try to understand such thoughts, and to banish +them from my mind was impossible. I was overcome with a sense of +loneliness. Looking at my watch, I found that it was already past the +hour when Mars would be visible through the window on a clear night, +but, alas, the sky showed no signs of clearing; though my instrument +stood ready, it was useless. + +But, obeying some irresistible impulse, I decided to turn on the current +and stand by the instrument in case an opening in the clouds should +occur, for even a moment. I therefore turned the switch that controlled +the current, and immediately, to my astonishment, the surface of wires +became as brilliant as on the previous evening under a clear sky. +Turning away for a moment, to allow my eyes to become accustomed to the +brilliancy, I noticed that the sky was still overcast with heavy rain +clouds. My joy at the discovery that the Martian projecting agent was +not arrested by vapor was unbounded, for it meant that I could be in +wave-contact with Mars every night, during the period that the planet +was visible from Earth. + +I approached the instrument with the intention of at once testing the +diaphragm, but, to my surprise, my Martian friend was not there to greet +me. The room and its furnishings, however, were depicted as clearly as +before, and I now had an opportunity to note the instruments, the large +volumes of books, and the maps of the heavens which hung on the wall. +Everything pointed to this being a fully equipped Martian observatory, +though the instruments were entirely strange to me. I was examining +these latter more closely, when heavy portieres parted, and my Martian +friend stepped into the room. So anxious was I to give him a pleasant +greeting, instead of staring at him in a semi-stupefied condition, as I +had done previously, that I forgot, for the moment, my determination to +test my diaphragm at the first opportunity, and greeted him merely with +a smile and a bow. + +My serene demeanor lasted but a moment, for simultaneously with his +bowed response to my greeting, came in a clear voice, with perfect +accent: "Bon soir, Monsieur!" + +I started back, for it seemed as if someone in the room had spoken, but +then I noticed that the Martian held in his hand the instrument I had +seen on the previous evening. Was it possible that this was his voice, +speaking French from a distance of millions of miles as clearly as if he +were in the room? The thing was incredible! How could a Martian know a +language evolved here on Earth? Was the whole thing then a delusion of +an overwrought mind? I stood staring at the instrument in amazement. + +The Martian, now seeing by my actions that his voice had been heard, +raised his instrument and repeated his greeting. The voice rang as +clearly as before; there could be no further doubt; through this +wonderful instrument the Martian's voice was projected, almost +instantaneously to the Earth--millions of miles in a second. The +mysterious power which enabled the Martian to project the waves, +compared with our electricity as the telegraph does with the +stage-coach. Was it strange that I stood aghast, as my mind slowly +comprehended the enormous distance which that voice had traversed almost +instantaneously? + +It was some moments before my amazement permitted me to respond to this +extraordinary salutation, then--my mind still too bewildered properly to +grasp the situation--I mumbled something in English about my great +astonishment at hearing a language of Earth spoken from a distant world. + +The sound of my voice seemed to cause the Martian some surprise, but +immediately his voice issued again in clear tones from the instrument. + +"I greeted you in what I supposed was your native tongue," he said in +perfect English. "Although now we have but one composite language here, +over a thousand years ago we spoke in many languages, as the people of +your planet do at the present time. + +"For more than six hundred years we have been able to observe the +progress of your planet," he went on, "through an instrument by which +light-waves are projected and received, and have found it to be +identical with ours of almost fifteen hundred years ago. By the placards +in the streets of your cities and towns, we discovered that you also +spoke in many tongues, and although the progress was necessarily slow, +our astronomers were, by this means, able to learn the principal +languages of Earth. + +"Anxiously we have watched and waited for the discovery of an instrument +that would respond to our projected light-waves and reveal to you the +inhabitants of your neighboring planet. At last this momentous time has +arrived. I congratulate you upon bringing it about." + +As he spoke, his voice, coming from the diaphragm of my instrument, +sounded as distinct as if he were in the room, and his image, depicted +life-size, made it hard to believe that he was more than a few feet +away. That my informant was, in reality, millions of miles away, my mind +absolutely refused to grasp. + +A thousand questions to put to my Martian acquaintance rushed into my +mind, but alas, in supposing that I could not come in contact with Mars +on account of cloud obscurity, I had lost much of the precious time, and +now the waning light on my instrument warned me that the planet would, +in a few moments, pass out of range. We therefore hastily bade each +other adieu, promising to continue our conversation on the morrow, as +though we had parted at a street corner. The light now faded completely, +and the instrument, that a few moments previously had been animated with +such an exuberance of life and mystery, now stood before me wrapped in +profound darkness and silence. + +How impossible, how inconceivable it all seemed! How the outside world +would scoff if I attempted to explain or publish my discovery! I felt +that the time had not yet come to take anyone into my confidence, and I +determined still to keep all a secret. I was then unaware, however, that +the more I learned of Mars and its people the more closely I would guard +my knowledge. + +Pacing excitedly up and down my laboratory, I spent most of the night in +reviewing what I had heard, and speculating the rare knowledge that the +morrow would bring. The secrets of another world would be unfolded to +me, and the scientific achievements of a people over a thousand years in +advance of us would be mine. What glorious possibilities this disclosed! +What a brilliant future as a scientist such knowledge would assure me! +And in the exuberance of my spirits I little thought that the possession +of this knowledge would come to mean naught to me; for I had yet to +learn that man cannot share the riches of another world without also +becoming a partner in its sorrows and its passions. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE STORY OF MARTIAN LIFE. + + +With a determination of finding a room from which I could command a +longer view of Mars, the next day I visited several studios which were +for rent, and finally succeeded in securing one formerly occupied by a +photographer, which was located on the top floor of a house in the +immediate vicinity of my old rooms. + +The room was large, in fact it occupied the entire top floor of the +building, and this feature pleased me greatly. The only communication +with the house was by a door which had every appearance of an outside +door, so heavy were the hinges and lock. The landlord, in drawing my +attention to this, had smiled and remarked that the former tenant, who +lived in another section of the city, had been very careful always to +leave his studio securely locked. The ceiling of half the room was +entirely of glass, sloping down to the floor at the angle of the roof, +and this was the only means of obtaining air and light. It was +constructed in two sections, which would slide back and forth, for the +purpose of ventilation. This arrangement, I found, would give me an +unobstructed view of Mars for several hours each night. Nothing could be +better adapted to my requirements; I could not be observed by anyone +outside, and I need not fear being overheard while conversing with my +Martian friend. + +I therefore determined to have my instrument moved at once, in order to +be installed in my new quarters that evening. + +I next bought a crate, used for large oil paintings, and upon its +delivery at my old rooms, I immediately commenced packing my instrument +in it. Owing to its great weight this was no easy work, and it would +express the procedure better if I said that I placed the crate around +the instrument. Making sure that it was all covered carefully, I had it +moved to my new quarters and set in place, the impression of the +carriers being that it was a painting which I was very anxious that no +one should see until it was completed. + +As it was now within an hour of the time when I expected Mars to appear, +I decided to leave my books and other belongings at my former rooms +until the next day. I uncovered the instrument, and got everything into +readiness, being careful to see that the batteries were all in place, so +that nothing might occur to interrupt the long talk with the Martian +which I was anticipating. + +Having turned on the current, and opened the sliding section of the +glass roof, I now awaited the appearance of Mars. There occurred to me +question alter question that seemed of sufficient importance to prompt +immediate inquiry, only to be forgotten as others came into my mind; +until the presence of the increasing faint glow on my instrument found +me unprepared with any single question of actual importance. +Consequently I decided to allow my distant informant to continue with +the account of Martian observations of Earth, as being at once the most +instructive and surest way of suggesting important questions. + +As my eyes got accustomed to the brilliancy I saw the Martian waiting +for me, with his instrument in readiness. We greeted each other with the +affection we both now sincerely felt, and though I could not clasp his +hand, I endeavored in every way to show him the brotherly warmth of +feeling I entertained for him. + +It now occurred to me that in the excitement of our first communication +with each other, we had completely overlooked an important +conventionality. I therefore announced that I was known on Earth as +Harold Lonsdale. + +"My name is Almos," he responded, his dark eyes sparkling as he quickly +entered into the spirit of the occasion. "Although it was customary once +for us to have two or three names, we found it in better harmony with +the changed conditions of the present time to have but one. This you +will more easily understand when you have become better acquainted with +this planet and its people." + +"And as I am most anxious to learn more about the conditions of life in +your world," I added, eagerly, "I trust you will continue the account of +Martian observations of Earth, which was barely commenced last evening +when the wave contact ceased. But first let me ask how you located my +whereabouts, for this morning I moved to another section of the city." + +"Ah!" he replied, with a smile, "I was not aware you had moved. +Experience has taught me about where to look for the large city you call +Paris, on the side of Earth that is now exposed to us, and then by +systematic search I soon located the response of your instrument. + +"As our observations of Earth with projected light-rays have been +carried on for seven hundred years, it will be necessary to give you an +outline of our history and the progress of science covering that time. +This will not only be of interest as a forecast of your own world's +future, but will also prove of the greatest value to you, if you decide +to visit this planet, an undertaking which I am convinced lies within +your power." + +His words wrung an exclamation of astonishment from my lips, but, as +though not wishing to be interrupted, he went on: + +"Seven hundred years ago, a power derived from that substance known on +Earth as radium, was discovered on Mars. This power was found to be +capable of projecting light rays almost instantaneously through space +for inconceivable distances, at the same time preserving their integrity +to such a remarkable degree that they would reach the farthest planets +without diffusion or diminution. Thus my image, thrown upon the +instrument before me, is conveyed to Earth in light-waves by this flow +of super-radium with such tremendous speed as to be practically +instantaneous; these are received in your instrument, which is +responsive to the flow of super-radium, in the same condition as when +they left Mars, consequently depicting the image life-size. + +"Having come in contact with another body in the heavens, this +outward-flowing current of super-radium is changed to an inward-flowing +current. In making this change it frees the light-waves it conveyed from +Mars, and retains the light-waves of the objects about it, which is +merely repeating its performance upon leaving Mars. These light-waves of +objects on another globe it now conveys on its return journey to Mars, +entering a receiving instrument and depicting the objects therein +life-size. + +"Possessing rays invisible to the human eye, except when agitated by a +substance of its own nature, daylight on a planet becomes an entirely +unnecessary adjunct to observations made with super-radium, and we are +able to explore the dark side of planets and other heavenly bodies, just +as effectually as those illuminated by the sun. + +"Thus have we, for seven hundred years, been able to study the country, +cities, streets, and people of Earth. And not only did we note a +remarkable similarity in the people, buildings, and scientific progress +to early Martian ages, but, by the advertisements, placards, and other +street signs we were able to learn the principal languages spoken on +your planet, and these were found to correspond in a remarkable degree +to those in use on Mars, before conditions on our planet made the +adoption of a composite language an absolute necessity. And undoubtedly +these same conditions in due time will face the people of Earth." + +I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this prediction, +but Almos at once reassured me by stating that when the time did come, +it would be the beginning of universal peace and happiness on Earth. + +"Am I to understand, then," said I, "that a condition of perfect +happiness prevails on Mars?" + +"Unhappiness is considered a disease with us," Almos rejoined. "It is +heard of, but very rarely, and is treated as a serious malady. But you +will understand these things better as you gradually become acquainted +with the conditions here. You must remember that you are in the position +of a man over fifteen hundred years in advance of his day. + +"Having become convinced, through close observations, that the progress +of Earth was identical with that of Mars, and that Earth, being the +younger planet, was consequently following our lead, we anxiously +watched for the discovery on Earth of the wonderful power that had been +the means of bringing us into such close visual contact with you. When +you discovered radium, we realized that this would eventually lead to +the discovery of the higher power, but we feared that this might not be +for hundreds of years. + +"That communication was possible through the medium of radium and +electricity, we were totally ignorant of. It was the responsive +properties of radium in your instrument, however, that first attracted +my attention while searching over Paris for an object I had previously +been observing. Thereafter my interest in your progress was as great as +your own, and every twenty-four hours, when the eastern hemisphere of +Earth was turned toward Mars, I searched with the radioscope until I got +the response of your instrument. + +"I have kept my success in communicating with Earth a secret, as it +involves an invention of mine which I have not yet made public, and of +which I will now tell you. This invention is the radiphone, through +which we are now conversing, and to which the diaphragm of your +instrument responds, as it doubtless contains radium also. My entire +life has been devoted to the development of Martian-Earthly +communication, and this instrument has been the goal which I have +striven to reach since boyhood, and yet its success in communicating +with Earth came as a great surprise to me." + +So accustomed was I to hear the Martian speak of the most miraculous +occurrences in an ordinary conversational tone, that the idea of there +still remaining something on Mars to be discovered appeared a still +greater wonder. + +"We have made a most important discovery," pursued Almos. "I say 'we,' +as without the response of your instrument the action of a super-radium +current on sound-waves would not have been discovered." + +"I feel that I can hardly share in the honors," I protested modestly. +"Without the super-radium current from Mars, I would still be +experimenting with the hope of finding a substitute for glass." + +I now entered into a full account of the experiments I had conducted, +describing how, quite accidentally, I had made a substance responsive to +the waves from Mars. He was greatly amused upon hearing of my +astonishment at finding that Martians resembled the people on Earth; and +when I drew for him a verbal picture of the ferocious creatures the +inhabitants of Mars were supposed to be, he laughed aloud. + +"We never suspected that the people of Earth did us such a great +injustice," he said, his whole countenance lighting up with good humor. +"I have several volumes here giving accounts of observations of Earth, +some of them written eight hundred years ago. It would perhaps interest +you to hear what the Martian conception of the inhabitants of Earth was +at that time." + +"Indeed it would," I exclaimed, with rising curiosity. + +"Well then," rejoined Almos, bringing one of the books and turning over +the leaves, while a curious smile still played about his mouth, "you +must understand that this was written over a hundred years before +super-radium was discovered, and at that time we had no means of +observing Earth except through the telescope, which showed us the +mountains, seas, and continents, much the same as your telescope must +reveal the physical features of Mars. On the question of whether Earth +is inhabited the author says: + +"'That this planet is inhabited we have no reason to doubt, as it is +known to be enveloped in an atmosphere, and it is now a generally +accepted theory that the changes noticed in its color throughout the +year are the seasonal effects on vegetable matter existing on its +surface.... What the inhabitants are like, however, we can only +surmise, but a study of the conditions under which they live will help +us to picture the wild amphibious creatures they must be. Their planet, +more than half covered with water, and being so many millions of miles +nearer the sun than we are, is almost continually enveloped in heavy +clouds of vapor, which, unless they were half fish, must surely +suffocate them. They doubtless seek the depths of water when these +clouds of thick vapor arise. Upon emerging, however, they have to face +such intense heat as none of us could tolerate a minute and live.... +They are no doubt provided with steel-like skin to resist this +temperature.... That they are of a fierce temperament there can be +little doubt, as their atmosphere, which is twice the weight of ours, is +so overcharged with electricity, owing to the heat and clouds of vapor, +that violent storms are constantly breaking over them, doubtless killing +thousands of them at a time and tending to make the natures of the +survivors as fierce as the elements which surround them.... Their year +is but half as long as ours, and this--impeding the laws of propagation, +thus making impossible the higher order of mankind--would naturally +have the effect of rendering their lives a short, reckless, and +ferocious existence, full of unrestrained cruelty and passions....' + +"And now," continued Almos, with a smile, after closing the volume, "you +see there is no occasion for apologies from you." + +"No," I answered, somewhat dryly. + +"The fact is, my dear fellow," said Almos, laughing and seeming to enjoy +the situation immensely, "the entire solar system is pursuing the same +path; what A thinks of B, B has already thought of A." + +The failing light on my instrument at this moment gave warning of the +passing of Mars out of wave contact, and we were obliged to bid each +other good-bye, Almos promising important revelations on the morrow. + +As I stood for a moment before my instrument, now wrapped in darkness, I +was conscious of a strange feeling that, in bidding Almos adieu, I had +also parted from another inhabitant of Mars. Though well aware that I +had only seen and conversed with Almos, my mind, nevertheless, also +reproduced the likeness of a young girl, wonderfully beautiful. I had +first experienced this mental image immediately after my first +conversation with Almos. At that time I had tried hard to put it from me +as merely a delusion resulting from nervous tension. But I found that +after each interview with Almos, the image became clearer and more +definitely fixed in my mind, until now I firmly believed in the +existence of this beautiful being on Mars, and, remarkable though it +seemed, I could not deny my growing affection for her. I had not +mentioned this mental image to Almos, as I felt convinced that he knew +nothing of it, and therefore would be unable to help me in any way. +Moreover, my training had taught me to seek a scientific reason for +things which might appeal to the superstitious as weird and uncanny. I +was therefore loath to speak of it to Almos, until I had proved beyond +doubt that it was not an hallucination. + +After I had spent many hours in vainly seeking a possible cause for this +mysterious mental image, the realization that I was but the veriest +infant in the wonderful achievements of our sister planet, finally +decided me upon the wiser course of leaving such matters until I had +become better acquainted with Martian inventions and scientific +progress. I therefore looked forward to visiting this wonderful world +with the greatest anticipation, and though I was entirely ignorant of +how this stupendous and seemingly impossible feat should be +accomplished, such was my faith in Almos' superior knowledge of science, +that I did not, for a moment, doubt the possibility of such a thing. +Little did I realize the fearful nature of the journey--the success of +which was based entirely on theories--or I would have shrunk in horror +from such an undertaking. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING. + + +The greater part of the next day was spent in moving the rest of my +belongings to my new quarters and in settling down there. Indeed, so +occupied was I with this task, that the approach of darkness found me +quite unprepared for wave contact with Mars. I had been obliged to take +my instrument apart in order to allow the larger pieces of furniture to +be brought into the room, and it required almost two hours to put it +together again. + +When at last all was in readiness and I had turned on the current, I +found my Martian friend waiting for me. + +"This is to be the last of my narrative," he remarked, after we had +greeted each other. + +"What!" I ejaculated in amazement. + +"You see, my dear fellow," continued Almos, "it was necessary for you +to become gradually acquainted with the advanced contions on Mars, +properly to understand them, and I have tried to school your mind +accordingly. It is essential, however, for you to see these things, +fully to appreciate the advancement of almost twenty centuries, and only +thus can my highest ambition be realized." + +"How is it possible?" + +"When I have told you of several important ways in which life on Mars +differs from that on Earth, you will more readily understand. + +"I have said that unhappiness on Mars is almost unknown. It is only the +presence of ill health that causes unhappiness. If the body can be kept +in a condition of absolutely perfect health--and by that I mean +something far beyond what is considered perfect health on Earth--then +unhappiness is impossible. Its causes, sorrow, jealousy, envy, hatred, +and discontent, are eliminated, and a normal condition of perfect +immunity from wrong-doing and unhappiness exists. + +"It has been discovered on Earth that crime is the result of a diseased +brain, and with us this discovery, in time, developed the fact that +wrong-doing, even in its minor phases, is the result of physical ill +health. Maintain, then, a perfect state of bodily health in a community, +and there is no wrong-doing and consequent unhappiness. + +"The means of obtaining this bodily health was discovered on Mars, in +the form of invisible light rays, almost six hundred years ago, and its +discovery led to a complete transformation in social conditions, +establishing perfect tranquillity and happiness upon the entire globe. + +"Separate governments became intolerable and were abandoned when race +distinction was forgotten, and the people of Mars became as one family, +speaking one tongue. Friendship for one's neighbor was transmuted into +love for one's brother. The pursuit of personal gain was replaced by a +desire to work for the good of all, and now a keen individual sense of +right and duty actuates the entire population, and is paramount in all +things. Duties are performed without other compensation than that which +the fulfillment of something well done brings. + +"It was soon found that the remarkable regenerating properties of these +rays perpetuated life and youth. Not only did they prevent sickness of +any kind, but they rebuilt the tissues of the body as fast as they wore +out, thus making the aging of the body impossible. A child therefore +grows up to full manhood or womanhood and remains in that state of the +body's highest excellence. While the child is developing the rays +stimulate his progress; anything beyond that would be decaying, a +condition the rays prevent." + +Accustomed though I had become to a long recital of the most marvelous +accounts without interrupting, I could not suppress an exclamation of +astonishment at the information that Martians enjoy everlasting life. + +Almos received my evident amazement with the quiet smile I had grown +accustomed to observe upon such occasions, and, with a view of +illustrating the point further, said: + +"Although one's actual age becomes a very unimportant matter when, +instead of being limited to sixty or seventy years, it extends over +hundreds of years, I can readily ascertain my age, from the fact that I +was twenty years old at the time these wonderful rays were discovered. I +have lived, then, about six hundred of Earth's years, or three hundred +Martian years." + +"Six hundred years!" I exclaimed, as I looked at the reflection of his +handsome face; his eyes flashing, his cheeks aglow with ruddy health, +his whole countenance animated with the full vigor of manhood. + +"Of course, we do not know how long the effects of regenerating rays +will make it possible to live," pursued Almos, "but in theory, it would +seem that by their daily use perfect health will be assured, and life +itself will continue indefinitely." + +"And death become unknown on Mars!" I added, enthusiastically. + +"Not quite unknown," rejoined Almos. "For lives are sometimes lost in +accidents. Instant death defies all our science, and will not be +conquered. But in accidents, no matter how serious, where a spark of +life remains, we can prevent that from escaping until the body is in a +condition to take care of it. + +"This is accomplished by a device known as a virator, which, though +simple in construction, is the greatest marvel of the age. It consists +of a dome, made of material similar to glass in appearance, but which +differs from anything else known, in that it is absolutely atomless. +This dome fits over the operating table, upon which the patient lies, +with just sufficient room for two persons inside, and is kept at the +temperature of the body. On its top is a small globe made of the same +material, measuring but a few inches in diameter, which is connected +with the large chamber below by a neck or passage about an inch wide. +The patient is placed inside, and there operated upon. If life leaves +the body, either during the operation or after, the spirit ascends +through the narrow passage into the small globe above and is there +retained, as it cannot pass through the material of which the walls of +this chamber are constructed. The body is then kept continually bathed +in the regenerating rays, which not only preserve it as if life were in +it, but actually carry on the process of healing. This continues until +the body is in a perfectly sound and healthy condition again, and well +able to retain life. + +"And now occurs the most wonderful of all. When everything is in +readiness for the spirit to enter the body again, a strong flow of +super-radium is sent through the top globe from an instrument attached. +Passing through the small chamber and down the narrow passage, it +reaches the body, and immediately changes to a return flow. This current +is but momentary; the patient is seen to move, and the body is once more +quickened by the life spark. The flow of super-radium has conveyed the +spirit of the patient from the small chamber above and released it in +the body as it returned, in exactly the same manner as it does with +light-waves or sound-waves." + +"Marvelous!" I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend this +almost miraculous achievement. With such vast scientific resources +nothing seemed impossible to Martians. + +Almos had stopped abruptly. A change came over him. His face paled and +his lips set in a hard, determined expression. Instantly I felt my every +faculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of this +remarkable being. + +Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinated +by a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said: + +"A few words more and we have reached that point at which death may +await the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther. A death that no +scientific knowledge can avert. I have tried to school your mind, to the +end that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, +never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish to +attempt, you must risk alone. + +"Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned the +millions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, +which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live in +another world. Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earth +or Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over. You must consider +the possible consequences ere it be too late." + +"Never!" I cried. "My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I have +proceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal. +Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs me +my life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earth +ever can be." + +"Well, my brave fellow," said Almos, his voice softening, "you must +follow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, for +to-morrow I can be of no assistance to you. Alone you must undertake the +journey." + +I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what I +had said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feeling +now that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, the +facts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom I +fully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, was +inextricably bound with mine. I now decided to do so on the first +opportunity. + +"I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upper +chamber of a virator after it has left the body," pursued Almos, "and as +it is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe the +additions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also my +theories in connection with them. + +"To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected the +receiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface. +This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatus +substituted, from which I have also removed the image surface. Thus we +may have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope to +Earth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projecting +apparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth and +returning into the receiving apparatus. + +"This is exactly the condition that exists in a virator in ordinary use +with these exceptions: the current of super-radium is made to flow +either in or out of the bottom chamber, as well as the top; instead of +being local, the current is between Earth and Mars, and consequently +much more powerful. The currents from both the top and bottom chambers +are controlled by clockwork which I have devised for that purpose, and +in place of an operating table in the virator I have substituted a +couch. + +"And now I enjoin you to summon all your courage, for in this +undertaking nothing but nerves of steel will carry you safely through." + +"I shall faithfully carry out your instructions, Almos," I responded, +trying to appear perfectly calm, though my being fifteen hundred years +behind Martian times never seemed so much a handicap as now. + +"Follow me, then, word for word," resumed Almos. "Understand all I say, +for in the error of a second, the misconception of a word, the hesitancy +of a moment, there is death! + +"To-morrow, when that part of the Earth's surface on which Paris is +situated appears, I shall attach the receiving apparatus of the +radioscope to the lower chamber of the virator, so that the return +current from Earth will flow into it. I shall then set the clockwork to +turn on the current of super-radium in half an hour. In that time my +body must be in a condition to receive your spirit." + +I could not suppress a shudder upon hearing this, but I deemed it best +not to interrupt Almos. + +"Filling a cone with the required amount of chloroform, I shall enter +the virator, and, reclining upon the couch, place the cone over my mouth +and nose. In a few minutes my spirit will have passed into the upper +chamber. + +"By experimenting, I have found that regenerating rays are contained in +super-radium. In fact, my theory is that the regenerating rays and the +invisible rays of super-radium are synonymous. Such being the case, when +the current of super-radium is turned on by the clockwork, it will flow +to Earth and, returning, enter the virator and restore my body to a +normal condition, freeing it from the fumes of chloroform and making it +capable of receiving its new life. + +"The glow of your instrument, in response to the super-radium current, +will warn you that this has taken place, and you must then prepare +yourself for departure. You will not observe any image, owing to my +having removed the lenses of the radioscope, but your instrument will +glow in response to the current. + +"Having prepared a cone of chloroform, you must move a couch directly in +front of your instrument, so that upon lying down your body will obscure +the rays from it. You will thus know that you are in the path of the +super-radium current; this is of the greatest importance as, otherwise, +your spirit would undoubtedly escape upon leaving the body and be lost +forever. + +"After taking every possible precaution to safeguard against any +movement of the body, place the cone securely over your mouth and nose. +Within a short time your spirit will leave the body and will instantly +be caught up by the super-radium current, on its return flow to Mars. +Entering the receiving apparatus and thus passing into the virator, the +flow will come into direct contact with my body, into which it will +discharge your spirit." + +Almos stopped abruptly, consternation written on his face. A moment +later, I realized the cause--the two planets were passing out of wave +contact. At such a critical moment nothing could be more unfortunate, +and I was about hastily to suggest a postponement, when Almos exclaimed: +"It is all right!--I shall leave----" + +Wave contact ceased before he had time to finish the sentence, and I was +left standing before the instrument in a state of irresolution. + +How could I arrive on Mars totally unprepared to meet the conditions? +Upon my regaining consciousness these might present themselves in the +most urgent form, demanding immediate attention and a thorough knowledge +of Martian sciences. Almos' life, indeed, might depend upon just such a +condition. + +Undetermined upon the course I should pursue the next day, my mind +filled with the most formidable fancies of so strange an undertaking, I +at last sought repose, hoping that with the morrow would come clearer +thought. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +"AS OTHERS SEE US." + + +The next morning found me resolved to make the journey to Mars at any +cost. That Almos had intended to say he would leave further +instructions, I had no doubt. The instructions would probably be +written, and placed where I would immediately see them upon regaining +consciousness. In any event, I argued, if, at the usual hour of Martian +contact, my instrument should glow in response to super-radium, it would +clearly be my duty to fulfil my part of the agreement, for the glow +would be proof that Almos had fulfilled his and that his spirit had +passed into the upper chamber of the virator. + +I had purchased the necessary articles for my remarkable journey, and +had taken the precaution to fasten a notice outside my door to the +effect that I would be out during the evening. I could not restrain a +grim smile at the thought of the uncanny literal truth in this +announcement. + +These things done I fell to speculating upon what would be my experience +on Mars if, indeed, I ever reached that planet. For the first hours, try +as I would to check it, there was, at times, a doubt as to the outcome +of this wild soul-adventure. But, strange as it may appear, although I +fully realized the danger attending such an undertaking, the success of +which was based entirely on theories, it did not, in any way, act as a +deterrent. So great was the prize to be attained, that the risk of life +seemed unimportant. Indeed, the first step of the journey to Mars was to +take my life, as we understand the term on Earth, and, having become +reconciled to this, I was not sensible of any danger beyond. So absorbed +was I in these thoughts, that the time passed without my realizing it, +and only the fading daylight warned me of the near approach of the hour +of Martian contact. + +I now made a complete examination of all the batteries and coils of my +instrument, as failure in any of these might result most seriously. +Finding all to be in perfect working order, I next proceeded to arrange +my couch so as to bring it directly between the instrument and the +window. Having thus completed my preparations, possessed by conflicting +emotions, I now waited for the appearance of Mars. + +Early in the day I had arranged my letters and private papers so that in +the event of the worst happening, they could be readily packed, and it +now occurred to me that it would be only proper to leave a word of +explanation with them. I therefore hastily penned a note to a cousin +living in England--my nearest relative--briefly explaining my discovery +of the Martian super-radium current, and also the character of the +adventure in which I was about to participate. This note I placed with +my papers. + +Returning to the instrument, I discovered that Mars was already visible. +Quickly turning on the current and finding no responsive glow, I knew +that Almos was already making the preparations he had described to me. +He had said that within half an hour the clockwork would turn on the +current, and the glow of my instrument would be the signal for my +departure. + +No time was to be lost. Securely fastening the door of my room, I +prepared the cone of chloroform and extinguished the light, in order not +to excite the suspicion of a chance caller during the evening. + +I now sat on the couch awaiting with anxiety the current of super-radium +that would convey me to the far world of my dreams. Minutes seemed like +hours, as I sat in the darkness, with every nerve strained to its +uttermost, awaiting Death. What if Death should refuse to release me! +Millions have been wrapped in Death's cold arms, but no mortal has +returned to give accounting. + +What was that!--A blinding flash made me instantly shield my eyes. Ah! +The glow at last! But such was its dazzling brilliancy that I could not +stand the glare. I had been accustomed to see the glow gradually creep +up the surface of the instrument, slowly growing brighter as the rim of +the star appeared above the window casement, but this time Mars had +risen to full view before the current was turned on by the clockwork. +This was ample proof that everything had happened as Almos had planned. +It was now my turn to act and I must not hesitate. Stretching myself on +the couch so that I came into full contact with the current of +super-radium, I seized the cone saturated with chloroform, and fastened +it securely over my mouth and nose. + +A few moments of a slightly suffocating sensation, then a long, long +fall, gradual at first, then quicker, quicker-- + + * * * * * + +With a feeling of exhilaration, such as I had never before experienced, +I opened my eyes and sprang to my feet. My brain was perfectly clear, +and so active that my mind utterly failed to keep pace with the +multitude of thoughts that were crowded upon it--thoughts that were +strange to my mind, yet perfectly familiar to my brain, if this +paradoxical statement may stand. It seemed as if my mind stood, apart +and marveled at the remarkable activity and knowledge possessed by the +brain--of which knowledge my mind was entirely ignorant. + +I was in another world, millions of miles away from Earth. My mind +realized that something little short of a miracle had happened, and yet +I felt absolutely familiar with all the objects about me. The glass-like +walls that surrounded me, reaching up and forming a dome several feet +above my head; the narrow passage in the center of the dome (just as the +neck of a bottle would appear if viewed from inside), through which the +spirit of Almos had passed to the chamber above; all these were +wonderfully familiar to me. + +I was in the virator, but it was uncomfortable to remain inside, as the +air was oppressively warm. Moreover, dictated my brain, I must prepare +the virator for my return within five hours, and my hand instinctively +grasped a lever in the wall of the apparatus. A door opened and I +stepped out, carefully closing it behind me. Again I was astonished at +my wonderful familiarity with everything. If I had lived on Mars all my +life, I could not have had a more intimate knowledge of my surroundings. +I seemed to know exactly how to proceed, and after attending to several +important details, and carefully noting the temperature of the virator +on a thermometer placed for that purpose, I consulted a chronometer to +ascertain how long it would be safe for me to remain on Mars. I found +that, allowing a half-hour for the process of arrival and the same for +departure, I had just five hours. + +My mind, at first stunned by the new and strange conditions to which it +was subjected, now gradually began to realize its remarkable position in +relation to the brain. + +That the mind and the spirit are one, or so closely related as to be +indistinguishable and inseparable, was now beyond doubt, as I was keenly +aware of all that had happened to me on Earth, showing that my mind not +only existed, but also possessed the same faculty of thought in Almos' +body as it did in mine while on Earth. Here was a positive proof, in +fact a demonstration, of the theory advanced by some scientists, that +the mind is separate and distinct from the brain. + +But the gulf that lies between life and death remained as wide as ever. +Death was still shrouded in mystery, for my mind knew nothing from the +moment it left the body on Earth, until it awakened in the body on Mars. +Flesh and blood, then, were essential to the mind's existence. Mind or +spirit must have expression through some form. Although man may achieve +much by scientific advancement, that to which he has progressed is but +as a grain of sand in the desert, to the wonders that surround him. +Science shall never penetrate the mystery of those things that are +withheld from him. + +The brain of which my mind now took control, acted merely as the +material handle by which the machinery of the body was operated, thus +converting thoughts into actions. But although my mind, having by now +become perfectly familiar with the strange conditions, was able to +record new impressions on the brain, there still existed the impression +of Almos' thoughts. It resembled a book which my mind could instantly +refer to and be guided by, and thus was I in possession of a perfect +knowledge of Mars, its people, and its language. + +I now realized that my first actions, upon becoming conscious, had +simply been carrying out the instructions Almos had left for me. Strange +to the conditions in those first few minutes, I had instinctively done +what the brain dictated. In this remarkable way had Almos completed the +instructions he was about to give me when interrupted by the cessation +of wave contact. + +Having thus arrived at what I felt to be the true relation of my mind +with Almos' body, I now turned my attention to the objects surrounding +me. + +I stood in a room about the size of my laboratory on Earth. There were +no windows to admit light, but the ceiling, which was fully twenty feet +high, emitted a beautifully diffused white light, which filled every +corner of the room, leaving absolutely no shadows. Its effect was that +of daylight, and so closely did it resemble the sky, that, had I not +been supplied with Almos' knowledge of Martian science, I would have +naturally supposed that there was no ceiling to the room. Immediately +upon the question coming into my mind, however, I became aware that the +ceiling was coated with a composition, one of the component parts of +which was radium in a highly developed state. Its action upon the other +elements that composed this substance resulted in a perpetual light +without heat, which was equal in every way to daylight. + +The tourist, finding himself in a new country, has but one thought, one +ambition, that of seeing all he can; yet, strange to say, although a +whole new world lay before me, my first thought was of Mother Earth. A +desire to view my old habitat as Martians see it seemed almost +irresistible. + +To touch the radioscope that was trained on Earth, would result in an +instant change taking place in my body as it lay in the laboratory, and +this would be disastrous. It was only the regenerating properties of the +super-radium current that kept it in a state acceptable to my return, +and the delicate mechanism of this instrument was regulated so as to +keep the current exactly in position, as long as that part of the +Earth's surface was exposed to Mars. To interfere then with this +current, for a moment, would mean certain death. + +Immediately I became conscious of the presence of another instrument, +which was in a room adjoining, and, feeling absolutely familiar with +every inch of the way, I proceeded thence. The room was a small one, +just large enough, indeed, to operate the radioscope, which was exactly +the same as the one in the room I had just quitted. + +With a perfect knowledge of the mechanism of the instrument, I was soon +at work adjusting the projecting and receiving apparatus. An ordinary +telescope was attached to the huge tube of the radioscope, and with +Almos' dexterity I soon located Earth through it, thus sighting the +radioscope for that planet. + +I had now but to turn on the current to see the people on Earth and +watch their doings, as had done Martians for hundreds of years, but, +with my hand on the lever that controlled the current, I paused. + +The sight of Earth, as it appeared through the telescope, was too +beautiful to pass by with a mere glance. Half illuminated, owing to the +greater distance of Mars from the sun and the position of the planets at +that time, Earth appeared about the size the moon looks to the naked +eye. But what a wonderful sight! Bathed in sunlight lay the eastern half +of the continents of North and South America, faintly outlined by the +pale blue of the western portion of the Atlantic Ocean. So familiar was +I with the appearance of these two great continents as drawn in an +atlas, that I had difficulty in recognizing them as they now appeared. +Mexico and Central America seemed almost as broad as that part of the +United States from San Francisco to Washington; the whole tapering down +from Canada to Cape Horn almost in the shape of a cone. + +Aeronauts passing over a lake or river are able to see the bottom, owing +to their altitude; this was undoubtedly the explanation of the strange +appearance of the continents of North and South America. On account of +the enormous distance I was away from Earth, the shallow waters appeared +as land, obliterating completely the familiar coast line, and only the +extreme depth of an ocean showed a pale blue. + +Night covered Europe and Africa, which would otherwise have been visible +to me, and the shadow of darkness was steadily creeping across the +Atlantic Ocean, as the Earth revolved upon its axis. I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought that I must cover that enormous +distance ere it revolved too far. + +I now moved the lever that controlled the current, and at once the lens +in the receiving apparatus shone with a brilliant dark blue color. The +current of super-radium had reached Earth and returned in less than a +second, and I saw, beautifully pictured before me, an expanse of ocean +with waves tumbling and tossing so near me that it seemed as if I were +but a few feet above them. + +By diminishing the current I found that the image on the lens grew +smaller, the effect being exactly the same as that from a balloon +rising. The picture at first appeared slanting at an angle of about +thirty degrees, owing to the curvature of the Earth, but by manipulating +a small lever close at hand that operated a mirror in the radioscope, +this defect was corrected. + +After searching about with the current, I at last came upon a large +steamer, evidently an ocean liner. Throwing huge billows aside in clouds +of white spray as she cut through the water, she made a beautiful sight, +and it was with difficulty that I kept her in the field of vision. As I +appeared to be looking straight down upon her decks, it was evident that +she was about in the center of the Earth's surface exposed to Mars. + +I now moved the current in a westerly direction, travelling at what +would be a terrific speed on Earth, until I came to land. Not +recognizing the small coast town that first came in view, I moved up the +coast in a northerly direction, diminishing the current until I could +see a large stretch of country. Toward the northwest a large city +appeared, which I immediately recognized as Washington. Directing the +instrument to that city, I increased the current until the people on the +streets measured two or three feet on the lens of my instrument. Here I +found that the curvature of the Earth resulted in my looking down +obliquely at the objects on its surface, but not at a sufficient angle +to see the faces of those who passed across my lens. + +But now I became aware of a strange condition that, owing to the motion +of the liner at sea, had escaped my notice before. Although I was +looking at the people passing before one of the large government +buildings in Washington, I had to keep regulating the instrument in +order to keep this building in view. Moreover, I discovered that I had +to regulate it as fast as I had done with the ocean liner. In fact, +obviously the liner's speed mattered but little; it was the rate at +which the Earth was revolving upon its axis and journeying around the +sun with which I had to contend. Through the telescope this was not +discernible, but now that I had come into such close visual contact with +the Earth's surface, I realized the terrific speed with which it rushed +through space. Hundreds of miles a minute was the speed my instrument +had to be regulated to, in order to keep an object on Earth in view--the +motion of the liner was insignificant! + +Moving the current eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, I discovered that +darkness in no way hindered my view of objects on Earth's surface. The +reproduction on the lens, however, presented quite a different +appearance to that which I had witnessed while observing the part of +Earth illuminated by the sun. The beautiful colors which contributed so +much realism to the picture were now replaced by a sombre gray tone, +greatly resembling a photograph in appearance. + +So absorbed had I become in all that this wonderful instrument revealed +to me of the different phases of life on Earth, that I forgot all else, +until, with a start, I realized that someone was moving about in the +large room which contained the virator that I had recently left. I was +filled with apprehension. Who could it be? And what was the reason of +this unexpected visit? Almos had not warned me against intrusion of any +kind, and I felt that to meet and converse with a Martian, thus +unprepared, would be impossible. In that room, however, were the +instruments that held two lives within their delicate mechanism, and +even now they might have been tampered with enough to cause the most +serious consequences. I must not hesitate a moment longer. Hastening +down the passage that led to the larger room, I pushed aside the heavy +portieres and found myself in the presence of a Martian. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH. + + +My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall, +handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank and +open countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without a +moment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, in +the composite language of Mars, said: + +"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I have +interrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is--" + +"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to see +you at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?" + +Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner that +did not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. In +spite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to face +with an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor did +it require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency, +followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man had +spoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitor +and with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of the +first few moments had passed, that my mind could take control whenever +it exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished, +or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information. +Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced in +answering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there was +no danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personality +in his friend. + +I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars' +greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latest +invention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. A +recognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, Almos' counsel +was sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recital +of this wonderful instrument. + +Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours in +which it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in my +observations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being aware +of the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I, +however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in a +few minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this new +undertaking. + +I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a new +and strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returning +within two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almos +to attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had taken +were too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of this +wonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertainty +which made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent in +another world. If the return current failed to do what was expected of +it, if I had erred in my calculation of the time I could remain on +Mars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the results +would be disastrous. + +I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to my +host that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatory +within two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and, +approaching my visitor, I said: + +"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost, +as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demands +my attention in two hours." + +I held back the portieres as Reon passed out, and following him down a +short passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of white +marble. + +A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, and +the dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads of +diamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant did +they appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out what +appeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scattered +here and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of small +canoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland, +reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air. +As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in my +mind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air by +a metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to the +surface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that their +planet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling. +The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of this +immense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was not +a fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existed +at the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before this +discovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having made +the discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off the +planet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling pole +that it was argued that the pole must run through the center of the +planet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which covered +the rest of the surface. + +Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the pole +itself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations were +made as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surface +until the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore was +encountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intense +heat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. This +strange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was found +to possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to the +surface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repelling +force, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this same +force was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity of +an unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole. +The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great as +the specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and by +its use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerial +navigation on Mars had been solved. + +Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this the +moment the question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but, +although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderful +people, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strong +personality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had been +preparing an aerenoid for our use--such was the Martian name for these +airships--was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain that +with the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting of +Almos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicion +of my true personality. + +The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed in +appearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us. +Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer's +portholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, as +it rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for the +purpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal which +the Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two or +more strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight in +their construction was of little importance. While resting on the +ground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor, +thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car the +casing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, until +enough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause the +repelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure, +any desired height could thus be attained. + +The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attain +great speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closed +flush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces of +machinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means of +propulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that I +could not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence of +scientific progress. + +Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed to +produce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rear +half, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, and +tapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern, +where it ended in an opening one inch in diameter. By a chemical +process the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing a +vacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the small +opening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussion +against the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving the +aerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at great +speed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simple +though this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome and +the long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, the +speed thus attained was remarkable. + +Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of the +car afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and we +rose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glide +along without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way through +the many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, coming +from a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate the +observatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed close +by them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfully +beautiful--beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknown +for hundreds of years. + +Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a river +about a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet or +more from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed every +hundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city street +stretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me that +this was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as we +passed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, running +parallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowing +rapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this! + +Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly until +within thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased until +the lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundred +miles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration or +sound. At such a speed it was possible to encircle Mars in seventy +minutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "Midsummer +Night's Dream," who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in forty +minutes. + +On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canals +equally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint gray +light appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crowned +the banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itself +appeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens. +In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and now +it was the middle of the afternoon. + +The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids, +travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, was +obvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than these +magnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planet +with such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source of +great wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of years +old, the method of constructing this gigantic system of canals remains +enshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surrounds +the building of the pyramids in Egypt. + +I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals were +put, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid. +The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not for +the water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles without +propulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving a +lever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In an +instant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending high +into the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks on +either side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I now +realized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat in +appearance. + +Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile a +minute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded down +several branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canal +banks. Higher and higher we ascended until we were about a thousand +feet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed. + +A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye could +reach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marble +buildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees, +could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and beside +sparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities or +towns--not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in any +particular direction. + +No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in our +car was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the light +atmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It was +evidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible under +cover in the daytime. + +Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I was +at once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which was +intensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almost +black. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars were +visible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth with +such brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossible +to look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated the +enormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, which +diffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearance +of the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admiration +until, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come to +rest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a most +palatial building. + +Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attached +to the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty upon +landing, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place at +the levers and joined me. + +There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of the +high-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter class +resembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and it +was evident that all were inside listening to the recital of the +lumaharp. + +As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discover +that the outside walls of this building were entirely covered with +beautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus. +Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it, +too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos. +The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; these +and many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved with +remarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and were +looked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world. + +As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portieres, and, +passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be an +immense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting in +groups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlight +streamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolled +back, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that the +Martians were to be found during the heat of the day. + +Rain being unknown, it was necessary to grow the more delicate plants +where they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of the +midday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season. +I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found only +upon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of the +green these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardy +pink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry and +sandy soil. + +Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that I +might reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among the +tall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring the +beautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers also +indigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in the +most cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importance +of saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of the +individual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyable +conversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their names +and the matters of interest to them. All were very enthusiastic about +the lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderful +instrument. + +As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almos +was not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but as +there were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reason +to visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind. + +Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far from +the entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to be +directed back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, every +nerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill the +air. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision of +beautiful flowers--flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves, +and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in a +volume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description. + +As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, a +gradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, its +inventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man of +great learning, but of few words; Sarraccus had won the love and +admiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that had +given the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who had +discovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, been +used by others until many important inventions had developed from it, +such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination without +expenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all of +which, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement of +this great people. + +The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possible +to reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at the +time of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expedited +the movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of every +quarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy and +rapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and towns +were soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained the +ideal, and became a World Beautiful--the magnificent estate of one large +family. + +And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a voice to sing of their +beauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea that +inasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors and +shades of a flower--beauty too rare for the hand of man to +reproduce--there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound or +vibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound. +Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade of +the object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument were +made sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicate +undulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance with +the light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness to +the beauty of the flower, would result. + +After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in the +form of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated in +response to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp will +often be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice, +and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of this +wire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, and it +was only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they were +discovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, and +each was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certain +color. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent every +possible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two large +drums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed in +chambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by the +delicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of the +wind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner of +the large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied the +position of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wall +opposite them. + +The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrown +upon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicate +shade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated in +response to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was the +ineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams of +beauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the hand +of man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anything +that the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of the +field receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yet +simple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? As +different flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the music +change; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would change +again to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life and +beauty. + +For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic power +I was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in the +direction of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understood +and sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemed +to become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surged +through that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, as +other music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I was +sensible of a yearning for a love--a love that was soon forgotten, and I +knew it to be mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgotten +the love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, and +now it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should ever +return to this paradise? + +Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess of +emotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think. +Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arbor +was almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone and +unobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which I +now felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank on +my arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soul +seemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music. + +I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a hand +softly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as the +melody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!" + +The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow. +Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name that +instinctively came to my lips--"Zarlah!" It was as if another man had +spoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held a +prisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose image +I had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah! + +I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination, +and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that this +beautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of the +heart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her. + +What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those first +moments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words, +Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave no +evidence of how I was torn within, I said: + +"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to linger +here?" + +"My studies have brought me here," she answered, gently withdrawing her +hand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes to +mine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you no +experiments at the observatory that demand your attention that you can +afford to linger here, Almos?" + +How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could not +hope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart. +There was uncertainty in the future--perhaps I would never again be +given the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned. + +Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into her +wonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here, +Zarlah, was to think of you." + +A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for some +seconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so I +could not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hear +the wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?" + +"I did," I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered only +of you--the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning in +my heart--it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love for +you, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune of golden moments; +then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowers +direct from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him that +I should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to the +truth that is within the soul." + +I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back the +waves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiant +with the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passed +before me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not the +face of Helen--that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy--have +paled into insignificance beside it? + +For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break that +sacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joy +of feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in my +arms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlah +whispered: + +"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties that +have been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once. +Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits." + +The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a full +realization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah I +was a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me to +return to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense of +duty--her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that I +was not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even the +knowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even if +it were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change of +personality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of how +the change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it; +it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could know +nothing--a spirit even from an alien world. + +Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlah +through this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon was +to wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of my +own hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of which +I had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacred +duty. I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though my +cup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, and +when Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, I +quickly assented with all a lover's eagerness. + +We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, I +saw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merry +party in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends, +I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestly +besought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory. + +A few words of farewell--a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; and +as I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could not +help marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held in +the eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward than +their own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought of +the endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is a +slave to Gold. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A HUNDRED MILES A MINUTE IN AN AERENOID. + + +Reon was at his place by the levers when I stepped into the aerenoid, +and as I closed and fastened the steel door, we slowly rose, and +describing a large circle, sailed toward the canal. As the sun was now +low in the heavens, numerous open aerenoids were to be seen, but these +were soon passed, and within a few minutes we had reached the branch +canal where our speed increased. + +My thoughts were now turned to the long journey before me. So deeply +absorbed had I been in the rapid events since I left the observatory, +that I had given little thought to time. My great happiness at meeting +and being with Zarlah had caused me to forget completely the importance +of returning to the observatory within two hours, and as the thought +now flashed through my mind, I hastily consulted the time. To my great +dismay I found I had but twenty minutes in which to cover quarter of +Mars. This I knew was possible, but it left such a narrow margin that +any delay or accident, en route, would prove disastrous to our plans, +thus bringing fatal consequences. + +We had now reached the large canal in which we had attained such great +speed, and, rising, we proceeded to pass over it. As we crossed the +banks there came a rushing sound from beneath us, as of a mighty gust of +wind, and, looking through one of the small windows in the side of the +car, I saw in the distance a speck, which, in another moment, +disappeared. Our aerenoid now gently rocked with the motion of a boat +that is in the swell of a passing steamer, and I instantly realized that +another aerenoid, travelling at a terrific speed, had passed in the +canal beneath us. + +We had now reached the canal that ran parallel to the one over which we +had just passed. This was in every way similar to the first and was used +by aerenoids going in an opposite direction. Into this canal we turned, +sinking lower as our speed increased, until, when we had reached our +maximum speed, we were travelling not more than thirty feet above the +water. Thus, whenever necessary, we were ready for an instant plunge in +order to reduce our speed, and thus did this simple rule of starting +high and sinking lower as the speed increased make collisions +impossible. + +As it was late in the afternoon when we started, the daylight soon +faded, and in a few minutes we had reached complete darkness, the double +line of lights on the canal banks being our only guide. Anxiously did I +count the minutes as we sped along, but knowing the danger of +distracting Reon's attention, even for a moment, while we were +travelling at such a terrific speed, I kept silent, nor did I allow my +manner to give any evidence of my anxiety. + +I now realized that if I reached the observatory in time, I would owe my +life to Zarlah. Twice had she reminded me of my duties at the +observatory, and had insisted upon my immediate departure, when, under +the influence of her great beauty, I would have lingered until too late. +My mind was fully determined as to how to proceed with regard to +righting the wrong I felt I had done Almos, in confessing to Zarlah my +love for her. I would leave a note for him at the observatory to the +effect that I wished to communicate with him the following evening, when +I would tell him all. + +The hopelessness of my love was plain, for it was Almos whom she loved, +and she believed also that Almos had confessed his love to her; and, +with a lover's conviction that everyone must love the one he loves, I +felt that Almos undoubtedly loved Zarlah. Indeed, it was probably his +affection for her through which I had silently won her confession. Almos +would then have no cause to regret my action, and Zarlah would never +know the strange circumstances that had brought them together. Thus did +I picture in my mind a happy conclusion to my selfish and precipitate +action, which, I had feared at first, must bring overwhelming sorrow and +humiliation into three lives, two of which were dearer to me than any on +Earth. + +I was roused from these meditations by the sudden roar of rushing waters +as, in order to reduce speed, we plunged along the surface of the +canal. We were nearing our destination at last, and my mind at once +reverted to the now imminent danger--that of arriving at the observatory +only to find that the wave contact with Paris had ceased, and I was too +late ever to return to the world from which I had come. In such a case, +I determined to write a brief account of my experiences to Almos, and, +after arranging the current of super-radium so that it would convey my +spirit out of the virator (whither I knew not), I would then enter the +virator and deliver the body to its rightful owner. + +Although I determined upon this course as being clearly my duty, in the +event of my being too late to return to Earth, the desperate nature of +such a proceeding roused me to action. We had now risen from the canal +and were floating slowly in the air at a considerable height. Striving +hard to suppress my agitation, I urged Reon to make more speed, and he +at once responded by increasing the power. As it was now after midnight +in this part of Mars, we were in no danger of encountering small +aerenoids in our flight, and in a few moments, to my great relief, I +distinguished the observatory lying far beneath us. Describing circles +over the building, we slowly descended and in a few seconds we had +reached the balcony. + +Thanking my companion with a hearty handshake (which came perfectly +natural even on Mars), I bade him adieu, and, stepping on to the +balcony, made my way into the observatory with all haste. Everything was +in the condition I had left it, and I was greatly relieved to find that +the necessary time for the process of departure still remained, before +wave contact with Paris ceased. My heart now went out in true gratitude +and love to her who, in the simple desire to do what was right, had +placed duty before her love, and had thus been of such inestimable +service to me. + +Immediately upon my arrival, I had prepared the virator for my journey +back to Earth by substituting the projecting apparatus of the radioscope +for the receiving apparatus. It was only necessary now to start the +clockwork that would shut off the current to earth in half an hour, and +would start the current flowing through the upper chamber of the +virator. + +After having written a brief note to Almos, saying that I wished to +communicate with him the following evening before making another visit, +I made a hasty examination of the current of super-radium which now +flowed through the virator to Earth from the projecting apparatus. The +instant my spirit was released, it would be caught up in this current +and conveyed to my body, where it lay in my rooms in Paris. In half an +hour the clockwork would shut off the current flowing to Earth, and +would then turn on the current which flowed through the upper chamber of +the virator, thus transferring Almos' spirit back to the body, as it lay +in the lower chamber. + +All was in perfect order, but it was not without a feeling of reluctance +and anxiety that I stepped into the virator and, after carefully +fastening the door, prepared the cone of chloroform. I realized that +there were many dangers attending the return journey that were not +present in my journey to Mars. If I had erred in my calculation of the +time the super-radium current could be kept on my body in Paris, or if +my body had moved in that time, it would undoubtedly mean death to me; +and the thought of whether Almos, in such a case, would learn of my +fate on the morrow flashed through my mind. Realizing the danger of such +apprehensions, not only from the loss of valuable time which they +occupied, but also from the fact that they tended to unnerve me at the +moment when hesitation meant death, I quickly fastened the chloroform +cone over my face and inhaled the fumes. + +A moment's consciousness--a flickering light-- + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE REALIZATION OF A HOPELESS LOVE. + + +I opened my eyes--it was broad daylight, and for some moments I lay +dreamily surveying the familiar objects in my room, unconscious of all +that had happened to me during the previous night. Then, noticing that I +was fully dressed, a sudden realization of it all came upon me, and, +springing to my feet, I excitedly paced up and down my room, pinching my +arms and legs to make sure that they were in normal condition. +Satisfying myself upon this point, I then looked at the time, and, to my +astonishment, found that it was noon. + +As Mars passed out of wave contact about one o'clock in the morning, I +must have slept eleven hours after the return of my spirit to Earth. I +had greatly feared that even if it were my good fortune ever to regain +consciousness, it would be only to discover that I had lost the use of +my limbs and was powerless to move. That the super-radium current would +preserve my body in such a natural condition as even to induce sleep I +would not have believed possible. Yet there was every indication that I +had awakened from a natural sleep. I felt fresh and full of vigor, and +there on my couch lay the cone which, in my sleep, I had unfastened and, +in turning over, crushed. If I had remained unconscious the entire time +there would not have been this evidence of restlessness, and I +considered it of importance as being proof that my sleep had been +natural. Beyond this, however, I did not consider the removal of the +cone from my face as important, as the chloroform must have completely +evaporated soon after I became unconscious. + +Now that I was once again in my laboratory with the humdrum life of a +matter-of-fact world surging about me, evincing itself by the continual +roar of traffic which reached me through the open window, my remarkable +adventure of the night before seemed like a strange dream. As there was +no tangible proof that I had actually been on Mars, I might have been +led to the conclusion that I had chloroformed myself into +unconsciousness only, and had passed from this state into a deep sleep, +in which I had dreamed my remarkable experiences. But the clearness and +consistency of every detail were amply sufficient to convince me of the +genuineness of my experiences on Mars, and that the characters, so +vividly portrayed in my mind, lived in flesh and blood on a world +millions of miles away. Much more convincing than this, however, was the +moral obligation that I felt incumbent upon me--a duty I owed to +another. No dream could have left me with this keen sense of +responsibility. + +Alas, I knew only too well that I loved, with an impossible love, a +beautiful being of another planet, and that my duty lay in the +renunciation of this love to Almos, its rightful possessor. + +Thus my discovery had not brought me the joy of triumph. The proud +moments in an inventor's career when he holds up to the world the fruit +of his ingenuity and study could not be mine. Indeed, the thought of the +excitement that the news of such easy communication with Mars would +cause, if I demonstrated its truth before reputable scientists, made me +determined to guard the secret of my discovery the more jealously. +Hundreds of instruments similar to mine would be made, and it would soon +become known to all the inhabitants of Mars that they could talk to the +people of Earth, resulting in constant communication from all parts of +both planets. Such an innovation would soon be a regular pastime of the +rich. It would then be impossible for me to visit Mars again, as the +crossing of the currents of super-radium would add a grave danger to +such an undertaking. + +The possibility of my secret becoming known through an accident (someone +breaking into my room or overhearing me talk with Almos) now occurred to +me, and, in the fear of my being separated from Zarlah forever, I +determined upon another visit to Mars that evening. + +I had planned to tell Almos at once of my thoughtless confession of love +to Zarlah, but in an effort to justify my great desire to see her again, +I now saw several important reasons for postponing this. I had given my +promise to Zarlah to be with her the following evening, and it seemed +only honorable for me first to fulfil my promise to her. Moreover, under +the circumstances, it might be embarrassing for Almos to meet her upon +such short notice. When a man takes a step of this kind, he usually has +spent some time in consideration beforehand, how much more necessary, +then, is time for consideration when this step has been taken for him. I +therefore decided to keep my promise to Zarlah and to endeavor to visit +Mars again during the next wave contact. + +I did not regret having left the note for Almos, however, as I had no +means of telling whether the mechanism of the virator had done what was +expected of it, or not. Almos' life depended upon the accurate working +of this mechanism after I had gone, and I was anxious to learn of his +safety. He would also want to learn of my safe arrival before preparing +himself for another undertaking of the kind; to see each other was +therefore necessary. Almos would undoubtedly have warned me of this, had +not the cessation of wave contact prevented him from giving me +instructions. + +It was late in the afternoon when a feeling of intense hunger reminded +me that I had not tasted food for twenty-four hours. I contented myself, +however, with a light meal at a neighboring cafe, knowing the danger of +eating heavily at this time. To my great surprise, I found that this +small amount of food was evidently all my system required. Not only was +my hunger appeased, but, while returning to my rooms, I was conscious of +a strength and vigor which were entirely new to me, and which I now +remembered I had first experienced upon awakening. Could it be that the +super-radium current, possessing the wonderful regenerating rays that +had brought perpetual life to the people of Mars, was gradually working +this change in my body over a distance of millions of miles? Impossible +as this seemed there was no other way of accounting for the remarkable +change which had taken place in my body. + +The intense excitement I experienced at the thought of possessing +perpetual life, health, and youth was but momentary, and I reached my +laboratory with a full realization of the enormous responsibilities +which my discovery was placing upon me. I could no longer keep it +secret; each day that I withheld the knowledge of these rays from my +fellow beings, hundreds, nay thousands, of lives would be laid to my +account. The knowledge had not been given to me that I should guard it +selfishly. The hope that, even though I could never call Zarlah my own, +I might often spend a few happy hours with her in her Martian paradise +was now shattered forever. I must stifle my love or commit a crime +against every living soul on Earth; and as I paced my room in agony, +with my hands pressed to my temples to ease their throbbing, a great cry +of anguish from the multitude in Death's grasp rang through my brain. My +heart was torn asunder by two great conflicting emotions, Love and Duty, +and in this torture of mind and body I moved restlessly back and forth +in my room, until the fading light warned me of the near approach of +wave contact with Mars. + +There was but one course open to me; I would tell Almos of my experience +with the rays, and if he should decide that they were the same as the +regenerating rays, possessing all their properties, and that continual +life was now within reach of the people on Earth, I would make my +discovery public on the morrow. This would be my solemn duty, no matter +what sacrifice it involved, and I could not help feeling that this +second visit to Mars might be the last. + +A hasty examination of my instrument assured me that all was in order, +and, turning on the current, I now watched the surface of wires for the +glow that would signalize the commencement of wave contact. Should this +glow appear without an image of any kind it would have but one +meaning--that the mechanism of the virator had failed to do its work the +night previous, and that disaster had befallen Almos. + +My heart beat fast, therefore, when in a short time a faint glow +appeared on the upper portion of my instrument and rapidly spread until +it covered the entire surface. As it grew brighter I was obliged to turn +away, before I could recognize any image, and, as I stood shielding my +eyes from the strong glare, I felt my heart sink within me. But, before +I could approach the instrument again, I heard my name called in the +clear, ringing tones of Almos' beloved voice. + +I reached the instrument with a bound, and there, standing with his +hands extended toward me and a smile of greeting on his handsome face, I +saw my brave Martian brother. + +"My dear Almos, how glad I am to see you are safe!" I cried, tears of +joy springing to my eyes at finding that the fears of a moment ago were +unfounded. + +"It is entirely due to your forethought in leaving the note, that either +of us are safe," Almos responded. "Had you not done this, disaster to +one or both of us must certainly have resulted, through ignorance of +each other's plans. Let me congratulate you, my brave fellow, for having +so successfully accomplished your remarkable journey. This is the +initial step in the linking together of the destinies of Earth and Mars. + +"But now I should like to hear an account of your experiences here, for +although I have gradually become aware of many impressions you left, I +find it is only of the things suggested by my mind that I can gather +anything." + +"Then it is evident that the brain is merely a book of reference for the +mind," I replied, "as I was not instantly aware of your knowledge of +Martian affairs, but only upon a subject being suggested by my mind, +was the information regarding it available. Thus, the mind is aware of +impressions it has made on the brain, but is totally ignorant of +impressions made by another mind, unless the thought is suggested." + +I now gave Almos a brief description of my journey, explaining that, as +I intended to make another visit to Mars that evening, I would leave the +full account of my experiences until the following night. I was careful +not to make any reference to Zarlah, as I felt that my second meeting +with her would put me in a much better position to approach Almos on +this extremely delicate subject and lay before him my plans. Moreover, I +was anxious that nothing should interfere with those few happy hours to +which I looked forward with such intense desire. + +Almos listened to my narrative with wrapt attention, and not until I +concluded by describing the remarkable effects of the regenerating rays, +did he give utterance to a word. Then, to my amazement, he said: + +"The result is what I fully expected. The proof that the regenerating +rays exist in the super-radium current, lies in the fact that your body +was perfectly preserved for six hours, and there is no reason for +supposing that they differ, in any way, from the rays which preserve +life here for an unlimited time." + +"Then I can no longer keep my discovery a secret," I declared +resolutely. "It becomes my solemn duty at once to make public the +knowledge of these wonderful rays emanating from Mars." + +"What you say is indeed the truth," rejoined Almos. "The time has now +arrived; the existence of a people on Mars, our early history, progress, +and the conditions under which we live at the present day, must now +become known upon Earth; our inventions and scientific advancement must +be made available to Earth's scientists. Since the discovery of the +radioscope, which enabled us to see the people on your planet, Mars has +yearned to give a helping hand to her younger sister. That time has now +come, and before many years the conditions of life on Earth will be +similar to those here. A great work must be accomplished, however, but +the burden of that work rests upon me; when it is finished the goal of +my life has been reached. There are many things that are not clear to +you now, my dear fellow, but there is no time at present for +explanations. In half an hour I shall have prepared for your +visit--remember, no matter what happens, tomorrow all shall be +explained." + +Having thus spoken, his voice and manner evincing great earnestness and +determination, he waved his hand in farewell, and instantly the +instrument was plunged into darkness. + +For some moments I stood motionless under the spell that his remarkable +personality had cast over me, nor did even his abrupt manner appear at +all strange, such perfect harmony of word and action existed in this +Martian genius. Indeed, it seemed a fitting conclusion to all that had +gone before. Speaking rapidly, as though realizing the loss of time in +mere words, his handsome face, strong with determination, holding me +fascinated, he had confessed the ambition nearest and dearest to his +heart--that of giving to Earth the discoveries and inventions of +hundreds of years of advancement in science; all that had resulted in +the longevity, health, peace, and happiness which existed upon Mars. + +Humbled at my own insignificance and full of admiration for this great +character, I turned slowly away, and, procuring a light, commenced to +prepare for my journey. + +My letters and other papers, with a brief note of explanation, still +remained on my desk, and, as my glance fell upon this bundle, I became +conscious of a nervousness, which, although to many would be perfectly +natural at such a time, was entirely strange to me. I had not +experienced the least nervousness on the occasion of my first visit the +night before, yet the mere sight of this package on my desk, with its +note of explanation, now caused me an uneasiness, which, try as I would, +I could not ignore. + +Making the few necessary preparations about my room for the night, I +secured the door with lock and bolt, and, drawing my couch before the +instrument, poured out a glass of wine and lit a cigar, hoping thus to +steady my nerves. + +The day had been warm and close, and a thunderstorm of unusual violence +made the night a wild one. Vivid flashes of lightning that seemed to vie +with each other in intensity, darted from the heavens, accompanied by +deafening crashes of thunder that shook the building to its +foundations, while the shrieking of the wind, as though it were rushing +through the rigging of a ship at sea, added to the noise of the tempest. + +Within a few moments the glow on my instrument would be the signal for +my departure, and, as I prepared the cone of chloroform, I could not +suppress a shudder at the thought of my spirit going out into the fury +of such a storm. It seemed as if Death, in the fear of being driven from +Earth and forever despoiled of his cruel victories, had turned loose the +elements in his fury, and waited without to wreak vengeance on my +audacious spirit as it sped through space. + +An instant an intensely white glare on the surface of wires at this +moment gave evidence of the super-radium current. It was the signal for +my departure, and, with a brief but earnest prayer, I seized the cone, +and, taking my position on the couch, inhaled the fumes of chloroform. + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ZARLAH'S CONFESSION. + + +It was with a feeling of thankfulness that, upon opening my eyes, I +found myself in the virator. The storm, which I had feared might prove +disastrous, had been passed through safely, and now reigned the +wonderful quiet of Mars. The strange uneasiness, which I had experienced +upon my departure from Earth, was forgotten in the anticipation of the +great joy before me, or I would have noticed that the usual calm, ever +characteristic of Almos, was lacking. + +It was already past the hour of my appointment with Zarlah, and, eager +to be with her, I hastily made the necessary preparations for my return +to Earth. Although these consisted merely of changing the current so +that it would flow from the virator to Earth, and adjusting the +clockwork for the hour of departure, I had decided upon the importance +of doing this beforehand, as any mistake made in the haste of departure +would prove fatal to either Almos or myself. + +These preparations attended to, I now made my way to the balcony. I had +relied upon Almos' knowledge to guide me to Zarlah, and, as I reached +the open air, I at once felt his judgment assert itself. Two aerenoids +were moored to the balcony, a large high-speed one of the submarine-boat +type and a small open one. Into the latter I stepped, and, with a +perfect knowledge of its operation, glided out upon the cool night air. + +Gently rising to about three hundred feet, I lay suspended between the +fairyland stretched beneath me and the brilliantly starred heavens. I +was perfectly aware of the direction in which I was to go, but for a few +moments I lay thus suspended, enjoying as could only an inhabitant of +Earth, the strangeness and marvel of it all. + +The little vessel had reached the limit of height to which it was +designed to ascend and, upon realizing this, I became aware that, for +safety, all aerenoids are limited to a certain height by the amount of +repelling metal used in their construction. The high-speed aerenoids, +owing to their build, being better adapted to withstand the atmospheric +conditions at a great altitude, can ascend several thousand feet, but +all are limited to what is considered a safe height for the class to +which they belong. The action of the repelling metal being independent +of the atmosphere, the danger of an aerenoid getting beyond control, and +rising above the envelope of air which surrounds the planet is thus +eliminated. + +As these thoughts came into my mind, I glanced up into the heavens with +its countless stars--one being the world from which I came--when lo! a +remarkable phenomenon met my gaze. In the west hung a crescent moon, +somewhat smaller than Earth's moon, but extremely brilliant, while out +of the east rose another moon at its full. So rapidly did this latter +moon rise, that its journey through the heavens was perceptible, and it +was evident that within an hour it would sink into the western horizon, +having gradually changed its phase to a crescent. In seven hours it +would encircle Mars, and again appear above the eastern horizon. + +My interest in this moon was intensified when I realized that it was +but a few thousand miles distant, and so small, that it would require +but a couple of days' comfortable walking to encircle it. Compared with +my journey from Earth, this few thousand miles seemed but an +insignificant distance, and I immediately thought of the possibility of +reaching it in a high-speed aerenoid to which a sufficient amount of the +repelling metal was attached to overcome the gravity of Mars. But I +instantly was aware of the fact that an attempt to reach this moon had +been made many years previously, and that the intrepid Martians who +undertook the hazardous journey, never returned. Although their aerenoid +carried enough oxygen to supply them for many days after they had left +the atmosphere of Mars, it was decided later that they had been lost in +space, unable either to reach the moon or return to Mars. The gravity of +so small a body would be insufficient to draw them to it, unless they +traveled straight in its direction, and, as the moon was moving rapidly +around Mars, the chances of this were admittedly small. Moreover, once +out of the atmosphere of Mars, it would be impossible to propel the +aerenoid, and, having missed the moon, they would travel on and on +through endless space. Had they reached the moon they could have +returned, as the repelling force on a body with so little gravity, would +be greatly increased, and would have hurled them into the gravity of +Mars again, as soon as they exposed the repelling metal. There could be +no doubt that they had never reached the moon, and their terrible fate +resulted in a safe limitation of this dangerous metal upon all +aerenoids. + +So absorbed had I become in these intensely interesting details supplied +by Almos' knowledge, that time had passed without my realizing it, and, +reproaching myself for having wasted the valuable moments I might have +spent with Zarlah, I now moved the lever at my side and glided gently +forward. + +The moon, however, as it rapidly journeyed across the heavens, seemed to +hold a strange fascination for me, and my gaze constantly reverted to +it. Had I realized that this fascination was caused by the approach of a +terrible danger, I might have paid heed to the warning, but desirous now +to get to my journey's end, which, according to Earth's proverb, should +end in a lover's meeting, I thought only of the time I had lost, and +impatiently put the subject from my mind. + +Moreover, as my meeting with Zarlah drew near, thoughts that were +relevant and of a more serious character filled my mind. My present +visit to her now began to appear most unjustifiable. If I had found +excuse for my action of the previous evening, in the enthusiasm of so +suddenly beholding the object of my adoration, unaccustomed as I was to +my strange position, I had no such excuse now. To appear before her +again as Almos, after having seen my folly and realized the deceit of my +position toward her, would be an act of shameful duplicity. I had not +realized this before, for I had thought only of my great love for her +and the joy of again being with her, but now the crushing force with +which the truth presented itself, caused me to hesitate before taking +another step that I now felt would be impossible to justify before +Almos. In this great uncertainty of mind I glided slowly along. + +The wonderful stillness of the night was broken only by the faint hum of +voices and merry laughter that reached me from below. Glancing down, I +observed numerous open aerenoids floating some two hundred feet beneath +me, while now and then those of the high-speed class appeared, slowly +wending their way toward the canals, to fly to different parts of the +globe. But although I was aware that for convenience of landing it was +customary to travel just high enough to escape the buildings, I +continued on at my present elevation, as I felt the need of deep and +earnest thought, which I realized would be impossible amid the gay +throng nearer the surface. + +As the highest speed attainable by open aerenoids, which were used +mainly for pleasure, was but eight miles an hour, my journey of five +miles gave me ample time for meditation; and when I at last alighted on +the balcony of a small white marble villa, to which I had instinctively +guided my aerenoid, I had fully determined upon what I felt to be the +only honorable course to pursue. This was to confide all in Zarlah, and, +no matter at what cost, to reveal to her the strange conditions that hid +the identity of a being from another world behind that of her friend +Almos. + +Having secured my aerenoid, I stood on the balcony, entranced at the +beauty of the scene before me, which lay bathed in a wonderful +starlight--far more brilliant than the light of the full moon upon +Earth--shed by a myriad of blazing gems in a sky that knew no clouds. A +perfect stillness reigned, save for the rippling laughter of a little +stream, that wended its way through an avenue of trees to a lake of +glistening silver, a short distance beyond. + +"What happiness would be mine in such a paradise, with Zarlah for my +own!" I thought, and a great anguish filled my heart, as I realized the +impossibility of it--and now for the first time I also realized the +impossibility of life without Zarlah. A sudden dread of meeting the one +I loved came upon me--a dread of seeing the light of love in her eyes, +even for an instant, knowing that it was not for me. I felt I could not +bear to behold the look of tenderness in her beautiful face change to +one of hatred, upon learning how she had been deceived; and in my agony +of spirit, I cried in a voice of deep emotion: + +"Ah, Zarlah! I have won you, yet you are not mine! You have loved me, +yet I am not loved!" + +"I am yours, and I love you, Harold," softly protested a voice at my +side. + +With a start I turned and beheld Zarlah, and for a moment I stood as if +gazing at an apparition. + +Realizing my bewilderment, she laid her hand gently upon my arm, and in +a low voice, full of compassion, said: "It is Harold Lonsdale whom I +love!" + +In a delirium of ecstasy I caught the small white hand and pressed it to +my lips. Passing my arm about her I drew her tenderly toward me, gazing +down into her beautiful eyes where lay a world of tenderness and love. +My heart was too full for words--it was all too wonderful to understand; +enough that I knew Zarlah to be wholly mine, and in those few silent +moments of absolute happiness and contentment, the little stream's merry +laughter seemed to swell into the great joyous chorus of all creation, +behind which is the great love principle. + +Together we left the balcony and walked beneath the giant trees toward +the lake, Zarlah relating to me how, through an instrument she +possessed, which transmitted and received thought-waves, she had not +only learned of Almos' communication with Earth, but had descried a +mental picture of the inhabitant of that distant world with whom he had +spoken. + +On the evening of my first communication with Mars, Zarlah was testing +this instrument on Almos' mind, when, to her great astonishment, she +came into thought communication with Earth. As this was the first trial +of the instrument, Almos himself was unaware of the success that had +crowned Zarlah's invention, though he had taken much interest in it, and +had on several occasions given his advice during its construction. +Although this instrument was only capable of transmitting and receiving +thought-waves over a few miles, it was evident that through the medium +of Almos' mind, which was in communication with mine, the thought-waves +were conveyed to Earth by the super-radium current. + +Zarlah had thus learned of my proposed visit to Mars, but had not known +when the attempt was to be made, until, seeing Almos in evident distress +at the recital of the lumaharp, she had feared that the attempt had +proved disastrous. When, however, I evinced my astonishment at seeing +her, she knew instantly that before her stood the personality of the +man from distant Earth, who had been projected to her in mental +pictures, and who was called Harold Lonsdale. When I spoke to her of my +love, she realized that her image had also been projected to my mind, +and, as she listened to my impassioned words, she recognized in them the +thoughts of love that had accompanied the projection of my image. +Indeed, my every thought of Zarlah, during wave contact, had been +projected to her through the medium of this remarkable instrument. + +With a keen desire to see and examine the mechanism, by which thoughts +could be transferred over millions of miles, I said: "But where is this +wonderful instrument of which you speak, Zarlah?" + +We had reached the lake, and now stood on the bank overlooking its +glistening surface. + +A tremor ran through her slight form as she drew closer to me, and said +imploringly: "You must not ask to see it! Oh, Harold! Do you not realize +the grief this instrument has brought into our lives? Have you partaken +of the sweetness so deeply, that you fail to perceive the bitterness +that lies beneath? You can be but a beloved memory to me--the memory of +a lover millions of miles away--but we are separated by that which is +far greater than distance!" + +Her voice died away in a sob, and, as I drew her gently toward me, she +wept bitterly. Thus had I of Earth brought tears into a world that had +not known sorrow for hundreds of years. + +"But, dearest," I argued, tenderly smoothing back the soft brown hair, +and striving to cheer her, "we are now commencing on an era of planet +communication, and it may not be long before a means is discovered of +actually transferring people from one planet to another. Did not +explorers, some years ago, have this in mind, when they attempted to +reach the nearest moon? And even though they failed to reach their goal, +who knows that they were not drawn to some planet that was in opposition +at that time, and are now prepared for a return journey at the next +opposition? With the complete absence of resistance there is in space, +their speed would become terrific--thousands of miles a minute--and at +such a rate it would be possible to reach a planet in opposition, long +before their month's supply of oxygen became exhausted. Heat would not +be generated as there would be no friction until the planet's +atmosphere was reached, but long before this they would have applied +their repelling force, which would reduce their speed, thus enabling +them to sail gently through the atmosphere and alight safely on the +planet's surface." + +Although I had not as much confidence in such an achievement as I sought +to inspire (well knowing the vast difference between a spiritual +transfer and a material one over such a tremendous distance), I wished, +above all, to cheer Zarlah. Indeed, I feared that grief might bring the +most serious consequences on Mars. I was greatly relieved, therefore, +upon observing her countenance light up with a sudden interest, as I +expressed these sanguine predictions as to the future. + +It was not until some hours later, when I was alone, that this incident +caused me much anxiety, as I remembered that, in spite of the keen +interest Zarlah had evinced, she had carefully avoided any allusion to +the subject afterwards. But in the subsequent events of the evening this +escaped my notice, and, glad to observe the soothing effect my words had +upon her, I did not pursue the thought further. + +We had descended by a flight of stone steps to the water's edge, and, +as we stepped upon the narrow strip of pebbly beach, walled in by +cavernous rocks, Zarlah, with great earnestness, exclaimed: "You are +right, dear Harold, we must be hopeful, and not waste the few precious +moments we have together in regrets that are useless. We shall always +love each other, and if we are brave--even unto death--Love will find a +way!" + +Poor Zarlah! Little did I imagine the desperate plan that was already +forming in her mind when she uttered these words, that before the close +of another day would indeed have proved her "brave even unto death." + +Drawing closer to me and turning her beautiful face up to mine, she +said, after a pause, in which she seemed to read my very soul: "Before +me lies a duty, Harold, which with you at my side I have the strength to +perform, but without you the sacrifice is too great." + +"What is it, dearest?" I asked, pressing the little hand I held to my +lips. + +"It is to destroy the wicked instrument of which I have told you. I had +not the courage to do this before, as I feared for your safety in +returning to Earth, and to have destroyed it then would have left me in +fearful suspense. But now I must put away, forever, this awful thing +that possesses the power to reveal the thoughts of my fellow beings, +that its mechanism may never become known and thus prove an eternal +curse to the world." + +With these words, Zarlah disappeared for a moment in the gloom of a cave +nearby, and, returning with a small metal box, said in a voice which +betrayed great emotion: "Take it, Harold, and hurl it far out into the +waters of the lake, where it will sink forever from sight!" + +The earnestness with which Zarlah had spoken of this device, proved how +deeply its existence troubled her conscience, and restrained me from +making any attempt to persuade her from thus severing a connecting +strand between two hearts so widely separated. I therefore took the box +and, with all my strength, hurled it far out into the lake, where it +sank to remain a secret for all time. + +Swiftly flew those precious moments in which Fate had destined that two +hearts from separate worlds should taste of each other's love, and +then--what? Alone in our great love we drank deeply the cup of +happiness, and the hour of parting, ever drawing nearer, seemed but a +cloud on the horizon. At last, yielding to necessity, we retraced our +steps, leaving the scene of our joyous love behind, and the dread of +parting filled our hearts and stifled our words of happiness. + +Strange to say, as I stood in that other world, there surged through my +alien mind some lines of Clinton Scollard's, which I had once learned, +little dreaming of their significance: + + "Lo, it has come, the inevitable hour + When thou and I, beloved one, must part; + When heart be sundered from caressing heart, + And ungloomed skies be turned to dreary gray." + +A silence fell upon us, both dreading to put into words the thoughts we +knew must be spoken. Then, as our hearts beat audibly in the sacred +stillness of night that had fallen about us, Zarlah murmured, clinging +to me in despair, "Oh, Harold, my love, how can we bear the agony of +being parted!" + +"I would give my life to remain with you, dearest!" I answered, pressing +her passionately to me, but in a more soothing tone I added, + +"We must be brave, love, it is but for a day--to-morrow I shall return, +but before my departure from Earth I will speak with Almos, and tell him +that I wish to abandon my body forever and to abide in spirit on Mars. +In a virator constructed with two upper chambers, my spirit could be +retained indefinitely, and I would then see you daily through the medium +of Almos. To-morrow, dearest, I shall return to you with good news." + +"Ah! Harold, you do not see the impossibility of such a thing--you +cannot behold it through a woman's eyes. No, no! I can never see Almos +again! I gave my love to you through his medium, and to see him when you +were absent would be greater agony than I could bear. I must go with +you, Harold, to the world in which you live, where I can have you +always." + +With words of love and assurance I tried to comfort the brave little +heart that beat so loyally for me, and, fearing to leave her in this +unhappy condition, I lingered until barely time remained in which to +reach the observatory before Paris would pass out of wave contact. +Explaining this to Zarlah, we hurried to the villa, and, as we ascended +the steps to the balcony, I beheld a large high-speed aerenoid resting a +short distance from mine. This, Zarlah begged me to take, explaining +that by rising a few hundred feet above the elevation of small +aerenoids, I could safely exceed the customary speed of local traffic. +She explained that her brother had just returned in it from the north, +where he had spent the day in the enjoyment of winter pastimes. + +My heart was too full of the sorrow of parting to be aroused to +enthusiasm at even such a wonder as this, and, realizing that I would be +unaccustomed to an aerenoid that was strange to Almos, I decided to +trust to the smaller one reaching the observatory in time. But not a +moment was to be lost, and, begging Zarlah to be courageous until my +return the following evening, I pressed her to my heart in a last fond +embrace. + +Oh! the agony of that moment, as I felt the slender form in my arms +convulsed with sobs, while I, struggling frantically with the emotions +that tore my heart, whispered words of passionate love; and as at last I +rose in the night air, condemned by Fate to journey millions of miles +from her I adored, my soul cried out in its anguish: + + "'Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire + To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, + Would not we shatter it to bits--and then + Re-mould it nearer to our Heart's Desire?'" + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY. + + +Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at the +observatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoid +my chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, so +depressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought. +Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainly +did I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportation +over millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but one +conclusion--that no material transit over such an enormous distance was +possible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happiness +had been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity of +loneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy which +nothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest pinnacle of +happiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah's +love--a love that I had thought was for Almos--only to be dashed down +into still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as I +realized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through a +thoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony was +shared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine by +the decree of Fate. + +The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddened +me, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of the +observatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact had +ceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfil +my obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted to +visit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris still +existed my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, I +felt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which it +had precipitated me. + +As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe a +high-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos. +What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowing +Almos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of the +sanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when that +dwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as the +observatory conducted by Almos. + +Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with all +haste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portieres of the +large room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart to +beat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon. + +For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilingly +advanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present at +Almos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand and +greeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of his +visit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must I +appear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me a +slip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting. + +"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, regarding the virator, +and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I was +just preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?" + +While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over the +instructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I held +in my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort to +appear calm: + +"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept you +waiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will not +detain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindness +from the bottom of my heart." + +So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony, +waved him adieu. + +The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mere +acting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he had +been the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, I +had just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he was +instructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of the +virator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current. +I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case I +arrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderful +forethought--perhaps even a premonition of my late return--he had +requested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do at +a certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferred +to my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wave +contact. + +Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon had +faithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that in +so doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence, +he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment. + +I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for my +safety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and do +precisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit had +arrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, and +dispatch my spirit to Earth. + +Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitement +incident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed once +more in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on my +hands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan--no +matter how hazardous--that would result in my being able to remain on +Mars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and all +solutions were perforce dismissed. + +At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon. +Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes rested +upon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me. +Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, I +uttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticed +the hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions--_it was three +hours before the time for my departure_! + +Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and in +return to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of these +plans, I knew not, but, as I stood staring at the paper in my hand, my +mind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, so +successfully hidden from me. + +Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleeping +chamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that would +explain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was I +disappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "Harold +Lonsdale." Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon after +making the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would then +find the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon's +observation. + +As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelming +gratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, in +this brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noble +character, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had known +was mine, but which otherwise I could never possess. + +Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid the +letter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully. +No other man, living on Earth or Mars, could have done as much for me +as had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given to +me the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind, +trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence in +a mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth of +happiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, and +I longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tell +her of the happiness that was ours. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE WARNING OF DANGER----THE RACE WITH DEATH. + + +Slowly crept the long tedious hours of darkness. The heavy cloud of +despair that had so long hung over me, now being dispelled as if by +magic, I was all impatience. My heart yearned for the moment when, +gazing into the depths of Zarlah's wondrous eyes, I should see +there--not the appealing timid look, full of the dread of hopeless +separation from her lover, that had so wrung my heart at our last +parting--but the radiant happiness of perfect contentment and fulfilled +desire. I had thrown myself on the couch, and, as a miser jealously +counts over his gold, fondling each precious bit with eager fingers, so +I pondered on the happy hours spent with Zarlah, carefully reviewing +each golden moment with its precious burden of Love's confessions. + +Suddenly I sprang to my feet--a piercing, despairing cry of "Harold, my +love, save me! save me!" was ringing in my ears. + +It was Zarlah's voice, and some terrible danger confronted her. + +Rushing into the adjoining room, I glanced anxiously about--all was +still. The numerous books and instruments lay just as I had left them, +and I gradually realized that, tired with the experiences I had lately +undergone, I had unconsciously fallen asleep, and Zarlah's cry for help +was only a dream. + +Although greatly relieved by this discovery, my mind remained in a state +of unrest. I was oppressed with a sense of danger which, in spite of my +endeavor to overcome by occupying my mind with the volumes of Martian +astronomical discoveries, I found to be impossible. Laying aside the +book I had endeavored to read, I started to my feet and paced restlessly +to and fro, but each footfall, echoing in the profound stillness, seemed +to be an appealing cry for help. A premonition that a terrible danger +hung over Zarlah came upon me, and, maddened by the thought that I +remained inactive, whilst yet I might save her, I rushed out upon the +balcony. + +The sun was just rising, but in place of the gray light of dawn on Earth +with its beautifully colored eastern sky, there appeared sharp contrasts +of the blackest darkness and the most brilliant light, in the long +shadows that were cast across the landscape. Without the diffusion of +light which the denser atmosphere of Earth causes, night seemed to +linger on the very footsteps of day. Though the remarkable effect of +this Martian sunrise would have been pleasing under other circumstances, +it now served only to increase my apprehension, warning me that I was in +a strange world, and that I must be prepared to meet extraordinary +emergencies. + +I had but one thought, that of reaching Zarlah as speedily as possible +and saving her from the awful fate which menaced her. What this fate +was, I knew not, but I could feel its presence like the hot breath of +some ferocious beast, as it stands over its prostrate victim. Greatly +did I now deplore the loss of Zarlah's valuable instrument. + +With eager hands I prepared the high-speed aerenoid for the journey, +feeling that I must trust to Almos' knowledge of its operation to carry +me through safely. Though I realized that the danger was increased a +thousand times in an aerenoid capable of such terrific speed, the fear +that even now I might be too late compelled me to make use of it. + +Taking my place in the forward part of the car, I was greatly relieved +to find that my hand instinctively sought the levers, and operated them +with a judicious care that could result only from long experience. + +Rising high enough to avoid small aerenoids, I proceeded at a +considerable speed and soon came within sight of Zarlah's dwelling. The +serene and peaceful appearance of this beautiful white marble villa, as +the morning sun glorified it, quickly dispelled the fears that had +brought me hither at such an early hour, and I gladly attributed them to +overwrought nerves and the loss of a night's sleep. + +Moreover, as I slowly circled over the lake that only a few hours before +Zarlah and I had wistfully gazed upon together as we built a world of +happiness for ourselves, I felt that I was near to her, should the +danger of which I had been forewarned prove real. Here in the scene of +our happiness I would wait through the early hours--the last hours of +our separation. + +Slowly descending, I brought the aerenoid to rest in a spot obscured by +trees from the villa. A few feet away, the little brook sparkled merrily +in the sunlight as it leaped along on its journey to the lake, and, as I +opened the door of the car, its joyous song swelled upon the fragrant +morning air, laughing at my forebodings in this world of peace, as it +had laughed at my despair of the previous night. + +As I stepped out into the warm sunlight and made my way toward the +lake, a great joy filled my heart. It would not be long ere Zarlah +shared with me the happiness of the knowledge that we need never again +be separated. + +"Poor Zarlah!" I murmured, as the memory of our last parting with its +great anguish of a forlorn hope sent a pang to my heart. "The bitterness +in thy cup was indeed great, but it is past. Oh, my beloved, awake to +the light of a new day filled with gladness, and sorrow shall not again +cross thy path!" + +I paused, fancying I heard footsteps, and, glancing back, listened +intently. All was still, and I was just about to proceed when again the +sound came. This time I could not be mistaken; it was the sound of +hurried footsteps some distance off and in the direction of the villa. + +I was still hidden from the villa by the trees, but across the stream, +some thirty yards away, was an opening from which a view of it could be +had. Leaping the stream I hastened thither, anxious to learn the cause +of the untimely activity. Another moment, and I should have been too +late to see a slight figure, laden with what appeared to be wraps and +other travelling equipment, hurry across the balcony and step into the +large high-speed aerenoid that I had observed there the previous +evening. + +It was Zarlah! But what was the reason of this hasty departure at such +an hour? Suddenly a frenzy seized me, and, rushing toward the villa, I +frantically called to her, but it was too late. She had not seen me, +and, before I had taken many steps, the aerenoid rose rapidly to a great +height and disappeared over the trees. + +Not a moment was to be lost. Turning, I dashed wildly back toward the +aerenoid I had so foolishly left in concealment. Reaching the stream, I +stumbled over an entanglement of vines and plunged headlong therein, +only to scramble, dripping and bruised, up the opposite bank and +continue my frantic efforts to reach the aerenoid, before Zarlah's car +had disappeared from sight. What her intention was I knew not, but the +early hour, the haste with which she had departed, and the absence of +her brother, all conspired to arouse the fears that had beset me during +the long hours of the night. + +Arriving at the aerenoid at last, after a journey that seemed to consume +hours, I jumped in and closed the door. Frantically I seized the lever +that controlled the ascension and, pulling it so that the full repelling +power was instantly exposed, the car bounded high into the air with +terrific force. + +The shock hurled me off my feet, but in an instant my eyes were again +fixed upon a mere speck many miles distant, which I knew to be the +aerenoid containing all that life possessed for me. As the car plunged +forward at great speed, the speck disappeared, and I at once realized +that Zarlah had reached a canal, into which she had turned her aerenoid. +It was now impossible for me to see which direction she took, and unless +I arrived at the canal within a few seconds, I felt that all hope of +overtaking her would have vanished, as she would doubtless proceed at +full speed and soon be lost to sight. + +Opening to its fullest extent the valve that controlled the exhaustion +of air in the chamber beneath, the velocity of the car soon became +terrific, and, rising still higher as I sped along, I caught sight of +Zarlah's aerenoid proceeding in a northerly direction. + +With a disregard for all safety I swerved to the north, thus forming the +third side of a triangle, of which the other sides were the course +Zarlah had taken. This movement reduced the distance between the two +aerenoids considerably, and upon turning into the speedway of the canal, +I was greatly relieved to find that I was but a few miles in the rear. +The hope that Zarlah might see the car speeding so close behind her, +flashed through my mind, but instantly I realized the impossibility of +such a thing, for a glance behind, even for a second, while travelling +with such frightful velocity, would entail certain destruction by being +dashed to pieces against the sides of the canal. My only chance lay in +overtaking her and making some signal, and with my free hand I wrenched +at the speed valve, endeavoring to open it wider. + +On we sped in our wild career over the planet's surface. Hundreds of +miles were quickly swept beneath us, but not one foot did I seem to +gain. Vainly did I strive to put from my mind the fears that lurked +there, by seeking a plausible reason for Zarlah's strange action. + +On, on we flew, each aerenoid going at its maximum speed; surely Zarlah +had gone far enough north; she must slacken her speed soon to turn down +a branch canal, and I would then be able to run alongside of her car and +signal my presence. There was a gleam of hope in this, and to it I clung +like a drowning man to a straw. + +The air in the car, which had steadily grown colder, was now biting in +its sharpness, and as I clutched the steering apparatus with numbed +hands, a white object loomed up in the distance and in a second flew +beneath me--another came, then another, and another, and as they +appeared in greater numbers, I observed that they were huge blocks of +ice. The sight filled me with grave apprehension. It was now impossible +to stop our terrific momentum, yet in spite of this great danger, on and +on we sped, still farther north. + +What could be the reason for this perilous journey? Did Zarlah not +realize the danger to which she was exposed, rushing thus madly into the +wilds of the North--the region of the Repelling Pole--without the means +of stopping? + +Suddenly I shrank in horror as a fearful thought entered my mind. My +senses reeled, and a strange sensation swept over me, as of an awful +Presence in the car with me. "No, no," I muttered between clenched +teeth; "it cannot be! She surely realizes that it would be going to a +certain and terrible death!" And as I frantically wrenched at the valve +in an effort to get more speed, a strange hollow voice echoed through my +brain, laughing at my unutterable agony, and crying with fiendish glee, +"Your love has no thought of stopping; she hastens to her bridegroom, +Death!" + +As hot irons scorching the living flesh, the words burned into my +brain, setting it on fire. It was the voice of Death--which voice no +living mortal can mistake--and I recognized it also as the fury of the +storm which was abroad when I departed from Earth, and the echo of the +stream's song of peace in the midst of danger. Had Death thus followed +me from the world in which he thrived to wreak this vengeance upon me, +by tempting my bride into his arms, believing that she hastened to her +love? + +On, on we rushed into the region of the dreaded Pole. All signs of the +canal had disappeared, and before us lay only a vast uninhabitable field +of ice. I stood at the levers, frozen rigid with the intense cold, but +with my eyes ever on the flying object before me, while visions of my +beloved one, now so close to death, passed rapidly through my fevered +brain. As if Death had thus planned to torture me, before tearing my +loved one from my very arms, I seemed to stand impersonally apart and +watch two lovers--Zarlah and myself. Bending over her, I tried to +console her with a false hope--a story of impossible fulfillment. I +succeeded; and now I saw that I had laid the trap which Death had +placed in my hands to draw her toward him, and, with a cry of horror, I +tried to wrench my hand from the lever to which it was frozen, so that I +might shut such a scene from my sight-- + +I realized the meaning of it all now. Zarlah, unable to obtain the +repelling force necessary to carry her off Mars, was rushing toward the +Repelling Pole to be hurled off the planet, risking all in the hope of +being drawn to Earth, which was in opposition. It was a vain hope--alas, +I knew this too well. She was rushing to her death--a death that I had +lured her to, and my hands would be stained with the blood of my +beloved. + +Desperately I wrenched at my frozen hands to free them from the metal to +which they adhered, with a wild idea of smashing the window and calling +loudly to Zarlah. The skin tore from the flesh like paper at the fury of +my efforts, and I freed my hands at last, only to find that my arms hung +lifeless at my side. + +In a frenzy of grief and despair at my utter helplessness, I fell on my +knees, crying aloud, "Oh, my God! Save her from this awful death!" + +A sudden gloom filled the car, and, struggling to my feet, I found that +we had entered the belt of semi-darkness that covers the polar caps in +their winter season. Our doom was near at hand--nothing could save +Zarlah now, and only by swerving my car around instantly and returning +could I preserve myself. But life was nought to me without Zarlah--I +preferred death to such an empty existence. Condemned by Fate to be +separated in life, we would meet death together. + +I could dimly see Zarlah's car outlined against the white snow beyond, +but, even as I stood now helplessly and silently awaiting the end, a +dark line rapidly spread over this field of white. Beyond, all was +black, and as this sharp-cut boundary line rapidly approached Zarlah's +car, my blood froze in my veins, for in this vast area of bare black +rock I recognized the terrible power of the North Repelling Pole. There +was another moment in which my heart refused to beat, then a groan of +great anguish escaped my lips, as Zarlah's car was hurled upwards into +space with frightful velocity. + +Shutting my eyes I awaited death. For an instant it seemed to me that I +heard Zarlah's voice call to me in clear accents, then came a terrific +shock which hurled me to the far end of the aerenoid, amid a confusion +of furniture, books, and instruments that had been torn from their +fastenings. Frozen into a state of utter helplessness, my senses fast +leaving me, I lay unable to extricate myself from the heavy mass. + +In this comatose condition I remained totally ignorant of the lapse of +time, until, feeling the terrible pressure diminish, I opened my eyes +and dreamily beheld the heavy instruments and pieces of furniture move +gently away, and bump against one another as they floated lightly about +within the car. + +Relieved of the great weight, I now breathed more freely. My senses grew +clearer, and soon I became conscious of a loud hissing noise close at +hand. Drowsily I turned my head in the direction of the sound, and +discovered that it came from the door in the side of the aerenoid. In an +instant the full faculty of my senses returned, as with intense horror I +realized the cause--the air of the car was escaping into the void of the +universe without! Desperately I struggled to gain my feet, but being +without weight, the effort resulted only in my drifting helplessly about +the car, until, gasping for air, I realized that the end had come. + +A moment's consciousness of being drawn gently to the floor of the car +again, while the furniture and other articles that had been drifting +about piled lightly upon me without any perceptible weight; a slight +shock, then, as the suffocating sensation became more intense, a +blackness rushed in upon me, and my senses reeled-- + + * * * * * + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE END OF A PERILOUS JOURNEY. + + +A tall, gaunt figure, swathed in black robes, Stood waiting some +distance from me. I knew that it was Death, for under the hood I beheld +the grinning skull with its sightless eye-holes, and I turned away in +loathsome dread. But even as I did so, the bony arms were stretched out +in welcome, and to them ran a slight girlish form--it was Zarlah! For a +moment I stood paralyzed with horror, then rushing toward the now +retreating figures, I called out wildly, "Zarlah! Zarlah! Flee not with +Death! I am here--your Harold is here!" Suddenly I was seized from +behind; instantly my strength seemed to be sapped from me and I fell +back exhausted, crying in my despair, "Oh, my God! save her! save her!" + +A cool, soft hand was laid upon my burning brow, and a sweet voice +gently murmured, "Poor Harold! If you could only know that God in His +mercy has saved us both!" + +It was the voice of the living, not the dead, and slowly the words +formed a meaning in my confused brain, dragging me from the depths of +unconsciousness to the life that still existed about me, warmed as it +was by the wondrous power of a woman's love. Opening my eyes I beheld +Zarlah bending over me, her beautiful face full of compassionate love. +It seemed as though in a dream my loved one had come to me, and for a +moment I lay peacefully gazing into her face, feeling neither curiosity +nor alarm. Then, as my mind awoke to a realization of all that had +transpired, a sudden bewilderment came upon me, and, clasping the hand +that sought to ease my head, lest the vision should vanish, I cried: + +"Zarlah, my beloved, speak to me! Are we by a miracle saved from the +death that had engulfed us, or is this the strange meeting of our souls +after death?" + +At the sound of my voice, Zarlah clasped her hands in a fervent prayer +of thankfulness, then, burying her face on my shoulder, gave way to a +flood of tears. + +"Oh, Harold, my love!" she sobbed. "Thank God, you have been spared to +me! It is indeed by a miracle that this moon, intercepting our aerenoids +in their wild flight through space, thus brought us together at the +eleventh hour, and laid you helpless and dying at my feet." + +"The _moon_!" I gasped, raising myself and staring out of the window at +my side in astonishment, as my mind gradually comprehended our +hairbreadth escape from death. + +A blazing orb of fire, shining from the intense blackness around it, was +all that met my gaze, and I sank back, exhausted with the effort, into +the arms that awaited me. + +"Tell me more, darling," I said, as a great happiness came over me, and +my heart was filled with the simple desire to hear the gentle voice I +loved. What mattered it to me whether we ever reached Mars or not? The +future held no fears for me now; enough that I had Zarlah, for the walls +of the aerenoid that surrounded us seemed to compass the whole universe. + +"Ah, my love!" sighed Zarlah, bending over me and nervously clasping my +hands in hers, "now that the danger is past and you are restored to me, +the long hours of agony seem like a dream. But, oh, the anguish of that +moment when I beheld another aerenoid lying close to mine, upon the +surface of the moon that had intercepted my journey to Earth! My soul +cried out that in it lay my beloved, suffocating to death. Who else +would have followed me over the dreaded Pole! With wild haste I attached +an oxygen respirator to my mouth, and, releasing the air from the car, +sprang out upon the surface, little suspecting the danger that lurked +there. But so small is the force of gravity upon this moon that I was +without perceptible weight, and the tendency to rise with every step I +took filled me with terror, and I crept upon my hands and knees to the +aerenoid which lay a few yards away. Opening the door, I found you lying +apparently lifeless upon the floor. My heart told me that it was my love +who lay within Death's grasp, and, desperate at the thought that you had +been so near to me, only to be torn away by the hand of Death, I lifted +you up and hastened with you back to the aerenoid I had left. The small +amount of gravity now aided me, and I carried you without feeling the +burden. + +"Filling the car with oxygen and applying regenerating rays, I waited +for a sign of life. Oh, the agony of those moments, as in despair I +frantically called your name! At last the sign came--a quiver of the +lips, a faint breath--and I knew there was hope. Gradually your +breathing became stronger, but a terrible fever raged within you. +Through long, long hours on this strange globe I knelt beside you, +listening to your piercing cries of delirium, as you lived that awful +experience over and over again. Little by little, in the cries of agony +that rent my heart, I learned how you had come to me a moment too late; +how you had followed my aerenoid, and, being unable to stop me, had +rushed to the fate that was mine, to be hurled into space, unprepared +for such a journey; how you had suffocated, and--oh! my love, as you lay +through the long hours, gazing at me with wild unseeing eyes--ever +calling my name--imploring me not to rush to my death--I at last +despaired of your life, and my soul prepared itself to fly with yours to +the life beyond, leaving our bodies clasped in each other's arms, to +circle round the world which had denied us our love until the end of +time! + +"But suddenly the light of reason came into your eyes--your voice lost +its wild accents, and I knew that you had been restored to me. In a few +hours now, Harold, the rays will have completed their work, and you will +be in full possession of your former strength." + +What a happy future we now looked out upon! The danger of our position +upon a heavenly body but a few miles in diameter, with barely enough +gravity to hold us on its surface, was forgotten in the great joy of +being together and feeling that we should never again be parted. + +I related to Zarlah all that had happened since I had left her; how I +had encountered Reon at the observatory and learned of Almos' departure +to Earth, and how I had later discovered the letter in which Almos gave +to us the great happiness we had despaired of ever possessing. And now +the fast encroaching darkness warned us of the approach of a lunar +night. As darkness with us would necessarily mean daylight on that part +of Mars to which we had come opposite in our journey round the planet, I +felt that now had arrived the time for action, as Mars would become +visible. Moreover, as the days and nights of this rapidly moving +satellite were but three and a half hours in duration, I realized that +no time should be lost in making the necessary preparations for our +hazardous journey. But although I was now able to get on my feet and had +the use of my arms, I had not by any means regained all my strength, and +upon laying my plans before Zarlah, she urged me not to undertake such a +journey until the rays had fully restored me. Therefore it was decided +to postpone our attempt to reach Mars until the following night. + +But soon a strange and unforeseen incident warned us of the great danger +to which we were exposed on the surface of this diminutive moon, and +left us no alternative but immediate departure. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +HURLED FROM THE MOON. + + +Together we stood gazing in silence out into the abyss over the small +surface of the moon that was visible to us, oppressed with a sense of +awe as the sun dropped from sight, leaving us plunged in darkness. + +Suddenly there appeared from out of the inky blackness of the heavens a +huge crescent, stretching across the sky far above us. The sight of it +fascinated us, and, as we stood lost in admiration at the majestic +proportions of the beautiful arch of light, ever growing in width, we +gradually realized that it was the sun-tipped rim of the planet which +our moon was journeying around--the world from which we had been hurled +and to which we must return. + +A sense of great reverence overpowered me; I realized that we looked +upon sights, and felt great forces never before bared to mortals. +Through my mind ran lines of Addison's ode: + + "The spacious firmament on high + With all the blue ethereal sky, + And spangled heavens, a shining frame, + Their great _Original_ proclaim. + + * * * * * + + Forever singing as they shine + The hand that made us is divine." + +Slowly the light crept over the planet's surface until the huge +illuminated sphere, almost filling the entire heavens, made a scene of +the most exquisite grandeur that human eyes have ever beheld. + +"Dearest!" I exclaimed, with sudden impulse, as a most remarkable and +terrifying fact occurred to me, "wonderful though our deliverance from +death seems to us, it is even more miraculous than we had any conception +of! To meet with this moon in our journey through space, we must have +described an arc, as this satellite never passes over the pole." + +"How can such a thing be possible?" returned Zarlah, in tremulous +accents, drawing closer to me as the awfulness of our narrow escape +appalled her. + +"Ah, my love, we may never know that!" I answered. "The Great Creator of +all these wonders has, indeed, guided us to this haven in our wild +flight through space. We can but theorize that the pole, being several +miles in diameter, hurled us from its edge, the tremendous repelling +force not permitting our aerenoids to proceed over its surface. The +rotary motion of the planet upon its axis would then cause us to +describe a curve in our flight from its surface, as only in the center +of the pole would this rotary motion lose its effect." + +"Oh, Harold," whispered Zarlah, timidly, when I had finished speaking, +"the thought of these terrible things and the sight of this immense +globe hanging over us fill me with dread! Do you think we shall ever +reach our world again? It appears to be so near and yet is so far away +from us. What veritable atoms we are in the glory of this tumultuous +whirl!" + +"I do not think we could possibly miss it, sweetheart," I answered, +cheerfully, as I placed my arm about her and drew her away from the +window which commanded a view of Mars. "Come, let us look out upon the +little globe that supports us; we are entirely missing the beautiful +effect of this grand reflection of light" + +The surface of the moon was now bathed in a beautiful diffused light, +and our surroundings where once more visible. Indeed, many objects, +which we had been unable to see in the dazzling brilliancy of the sun's +light, as it blazed forth from a heaven unsoftened by any atmosphere, +were now clearly revealed. We had approached a window and were looking +at these new objects of interest, when Zarlah suddenly cried in dismay: +"Look, Harold, look! The other aerenoid is moving!" + +Quickly turning my gaze in the direction indicated, I saw the aerenoid +in which I had made the journey from Mars move a space of several yards +with a jerky motion, then, to my intense horror, glide off the surface +of the moon into space. At the same instant, the car in which we stood +rocked as though about to turn over upon its side. + +Not a moment was to be lost! Some unknown force was exerting its +influence over the movable objects on the moon's surface. What this +power was I knew not, but the direction in which the aerenoid had +glided proved it to be other than Mars. Our position was now perilous in +the extreme, for were we suddenly to glide off into space we would +undoubtedly be lost, as it was necessary to have air surrounding us in +order to propel the car. Without an atmosphere we would therefore be +helpless and entirely at the mercy of the unknown and mysterious power. +Indeed, it was evident that only our increased weight had saved us from +immediately following the other aerenoid, and I felt that at any moment +we might do so. Although lacking the power of propulsion, my hope was +that our repelling force, which I knew must be increased to an enormous +extent by the slight gravity on the moon's surface, would hurl us off +that satellite straight upward into the influence of Mars' gravity. + +Seizing the lever, I cried to Zarlah to He on the floor of the car, but +even as she did so, the aerenoid rocked again with still greater +violence--in another moment it would be too late! Thrusting the lever +over, I exposed the full repelling force to the moon's surface. The +shock hurled me to the floor, and so terrific was the force with which +we shot upward, that I was held powerless to move hand or foot. For a +space of time which seemed to me hours I was obliged to remain thus, +contenting myself with calling words of encouragement to my dear one, +whom I greatly feared must have suffered severely from the awful shock. +At last, finding that I could rise, I hastened to her side, and, to my +great relief, discovered that she had entirely escaped injury. + +As it was impossible in any way to control the aerenoid speeding upward +through space, it was useless for me to stand by the levers, and, +assisting Zarlah to rise, we approached a window in the roof of the car +and glanced upward at the planet to which we were rushing. A remarkable +phenomenon met our eyes! Mars appeared to be no longer a sphere--the +great globe that we had beheld from the moon--but instead a huge dome, +which hung over us, ever deepening in the center as we rushed up toward +it. Inconceivable though it seemed, I knew that, to produce such an +effect, we must already have covered more than half the distance +between the two bodies. Upward we shot, and although there was no means +of ascertaining how fast we were travelling, I knew by the rapidly +changing appearance of the dome above us that our speed must be +terrific. + +We had steadily grown lighter, and now we discovered that we were +entirely without weight, and that it required some effort to keep our +feet on the floor of the car. + +Still upward we rushed into the center of the dome which now stretched +down and encircled us on all sides like an immense umbrella, when +suddenly, without the slightest perceptible movement of the car, the +dome appeared to swing around until it lay beneath us, and instantly we +felt our feet settling upon the floor of the car. + +"We are safe from the unknown power now, dearest!" I exclaimed, +anxiously examining the lever that controlled the descent, to make sure +that the repelling metal was fully exposed. "We are dropping upon Mars, +and our repelling metal should soon check our speed." + +"Oh, Harold, my love," sighed Zarlah, timidly clinging to me, her eyes +filled with tears, and a look of great yearning coming into them, "my +heart despairs at the dangers that encompass us! With you as my goal I +knew no fear; but now that I have you, I am a coward. Is our love +forbidden, that we should be thus pursued by these terrible dangers?" + +"Courage, dearest!" I replied, reassuringly. "We shall soon be safe, and +then nothing shall interrupt the happiness for which we have endured so +much." + +I hid from her the anxiety that lurked near my heart, and endeavored to +interest her by advancing several theories upon the phenomenal +appearance of the planet's surface. + +Like a huge cup the land now stretched up and around us, but we were +still descending with frightful velocity. I had noticed that the air in +the car was becoming warmer, and now, filled with apprehension, I +stretched out my hand and touched the wall. Instantly I withdrew it--the +wall was hot! Like a flash the full realization of our terrible danger +burst upon me. I had relied upon the repelling metal to check our +descent before we entered the region of air, and had supposed that we +would float lightly to the ground under perfect control. But now I saw +how foolishly I had erred, in omitting to take into consideration the +terrific momentum we would attain in our journey of six thousand miles +through space. This momentum was now driving us to the ground, in spite +of our strong repelling force, and with such a frightful speed that heat +was being generated by friction with the air as we rushed through it. +The creaking and straining sound coming from the bottom of the aerenoid +was evidence of the fight the repelling metal was making to overcome +this momentum before the surface of Mars was reached, but I shuddered as +I realized what little effect it had upon this gigantic force. + +In a few seconds the air became unbearably hot, and, with a gasp, Zarlah +lay limp in my arms, as she turned her face to me to speak. Laying her +tenderly upon the floor, I hastily wrapped wet blankets around her, and, +dashing water over myself, I staggered across the car to the window +again. We were still descending rapidly, but, as I felt the walls of the +car, I found that they were now cooler, proving that our terrific speed +had been reduced. The increased pressure of my feet upon the floor of +the car was also evidence that our descent was being steadily checked. +A wild hope surged within me that the repelling metal would overcome the +momentum in time to save us from destruction. + +Glancing down, I saw white specks lying far beneath us. My heart stood +still as I realized that these were buildings. We could not be more than +a few miles from the surface, yet down, down we sped. A few moments more +and the buildings became plainly visible, and my heart thumped wildly, +as they seemed to rush up to meet us. We would be dashed to pieces! The +repelling force could not possibly stop us in time! Turning, in despair, +I threw myself down beside Zarlah, and enfolded her in a last embrace. + +Instantly there was a terrific shock--a deafening crash. Then all was +dark, while a flood of water came pouring in upon us. I staggered to my +feet with Zarlah in my arms, only to be thrown to the floor again by an +upward bound of the aerenoid. Sunlight once more filled the car, and, as +I struggled to my feet, a cool breeze wafted in through the shattered +windows. To what further extremes of temperature and mediums were we to +be subjected? + +I was still too dazed by the shock to realize how we had escaped from a +death that seemed inevitable, but I knew that we were flying upward with +the full force of our repelling metal. Tenderly lifting Zarlah to a +safer and more comfortable place, I seized the lever and gradually +decreased the repelling power, until we rested motionless in the air. + +We had already attained a considerable height, and, as I eagerly gazed +down, I beheld far beneath us the glistening surface of a lake. With a +gasp of horror, I realized what a narrow escape had been ours. Into this +lake we had plunged with a velocity sufficient to have dashed us to +pieces had we struck the ground; the damage which the car had sustained +upon striking the water was evidence of this. Our descent being stopped, +the repelling metal, which was fully exposed, had then sent us bounding +into the air again, and in all probability had thus saved us from being +drowned beneath the waters of the lake. + +Death had indeed been close to us many times during our strange +adventure, and now that all the dangers were past, I breathed a +heartfelt prayer of thankfulness for our safe deliverance. + +Freeing Zarlah from the wet blankets I had wrapped around her during +the intense heat, I gazed anxiously down upon the beautiful, unconscious +face. + +"My love! my love!" I murmured, passionately. "How much you have +risked--how much you have suffered for my sake! Oh, cruel the fate that +thus delays our happiness!" + +The sun was setting, and I now realized the importance of descending +nearer to the ground, that I might ascertain our whereabouts, as from +our present altitude, even with Almos' knowledge of Mars, I was unable +to recognize any familiar landmark, and I knew that darkness would soon +be upon us. + +Bending once again over the form of my loved one, I tenderly kissed the +silent lips, but as I did so, her arms closed about my neck, and +dreamily opening her eyes, she smiled up at me as a child awakening from +a peaceful sleep. + +"We are safe now, darling, all the danger is past!" I murmured, and +falling on my knees beside her, I took her up into my arms, with the +prayer that I might ever shield her in the days to come. + +The shadows lengthened; quickly the gloom gathered, and darkness closed +in upon us, but still we remained suspended in the cool night air under +the dome of the starry heavens, unmindful of all in the joy of our great +love; for with the fulfillment of our hearts' long cherished desire, +came the realization that our journey was ended. + + * * * * * + +PARIS, February 17, 19--. + +Six months have elapsed since that memorable evening when Harold and +Zarlah--radiant with their new-found happiness--were portrayed upon the +instrument in Paris at which I anxiously waited, after having exchanged +my existence on Mars for one on Earth. The account of his strange +adventures, which Harold has since given me, I have endeavored to record +in the foregoing pages, as nearly as possible in his own words, trusting +that this narration of the events connected with the opening of +communication between Earth and Mars will prepare the way for the +greater developments soon to be announced by scientists. + +ALMOS. + + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Zarlah the Martian, by R. Norman Grisewood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZARLAH THE MARTIAN *** + +***** This file should be named 13423.txt or 13423.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/4/2/13423/ + +Produced by Elaine Walker, Frank van Drogen and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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