CHAPTER I

Our Coming World

On my dailyafternoon strolls on West Riverside Drive Parkway, between 85th and 87th Streets in New York, I noticed a young man about thirty years old sitting alone, always on the same bench, for long periods looking up into the sky or fumbling in his brief case and reading his diary and papers. Most of the time he seemed to me to be in a disconsolate mood.

I sat down beside him, but his manner did not encourage conversation. Every day afterward I sat down on the bench near him and finally, with a great deal of tact, I began to talk to him. He gradually seemed to gain confidence in me. After a couple of weeks of daily meetings I felt by his actions that he was looking forward to my presence each day.

One day, seeming to feel somewhat communicative he apologized for his former rudeness and said, "My name is Fred Balmore. I'm reticent but it isn't because I don't like to talk to strangers. On the contrary, I would only be too glad to tell anyone my story who would help and believe me. My parents, my lifelong friends, the National Geographic Society, everyone hearing or reading my story seem to think I am insane. But somehow, I feel you'll understand.

"My parents had me examined by alienists and I was confined for a short time in an insane asylum in an effort to cure my—," the young man hesitated for a moment, "what they called mydelusions. I am sure if I tell you my story, you'll have a hard time believing me too.

"I have inherited a large amount of money. The executors of my grandfather's estate stopped my allowance because they think I'm not mentally responsible. I am anxious to purchase an aeroplane, but my pilot's license has been revoked. I went to a government airfield and, without permission, jumped into one of the bombers standing idle; before I had a chance to take it off the ground, I was caught, forcibly removed, and sent to an insane asylum."

I asked him why he had been so rash and he answered, "When you hear my story, you will understand my purpose.

"By the way, my superior in the air corps also has the idea I am insane. He believes we cracked up somewhere and that I in some manner was saved, and so reported it to the War Department, who officially notified families of my crew members of their death."

His intelligent conversation and calm demeanor convinced me of his sanity. He was obviously anxious to explain and justify his actions to me. As a writer I was naturally interested. I encouraged him to tell his strange story which follows.

"Before entering the army I had just graduated from a well-known eastern college, with a degree in journalism. I became very adept in taking down notes and lectures in shorthand. This was to be a great help to me afterward.

"I am a Lieutenant in the air force, and was the pilot of one of our latest and largest B-29 bombers—never mind its number. The government might not want me to tell my story but my conscience is clear. I feel free to tell you what happened to me, as there are no military secrets involved. You say you are an author. I am sure you will be very much interested and perhaps you will write and publish my story."

Taking from his brief case a bulky typewritten diary he gave it to me to read. That evening I settled into a comfortable chair with no inkling of what this diary would mean to me. This is what I read:

On a day known to only a few, I was ordered to prepare my ship for flight early the following morning. Ten educated boys of excellent background had been chosen for my crew. Each wasable to speak another language beside English. Their families had come from various European countries. I, with my crew, was to take this ship, fly it over the Pacific, deliver it to the command on one of our airfields in Japan and wait there for further instructions. I was given a supply of silver dollars and five dollar gold pieces to use, if by accident we should land in Asia among the Asiatic tribes.

Early on the appointed day, fully equipped with oxygen tanks, breathing pressure suits and ammunition, with our guns ready for action and our instruments, including the secret mechanism in our radio transmitter in good order, we took off. We flew fast, upward to the highest possible altitude of the stratosphere, to make a speedy passage across.

After flying rapidly and smoothly for some time, when we were at about the middle of the Pacific, we suddenly felt our ship was being pulled higher and higher from the earth into and above the atmosphere. Our altimeter without reason was fast rising. We could not understand why such a phenomenon.

Looking up, we perceived an immensely large plane of a very strange design, nearly twenty times larger than our own. Hovering in the distance right over us, it covered us like a large, dark cloud.

Too far away to get any help, and thinking that this was a new kind of enemy plane, we, according to orders, destroyed certain secret mechanisms including our high frequency radio transmitter. Then, we used all the force of our powerful motors in an attempt at a nose dive. But even with the strong gravitational pull of the earth, we could not shake ourselves loose from the upward attraction. I ordered our guns manned to shoot it out. But a loud voice called out to us to desist, that this was not an enemy plane. At the same time, all our motors and instruments stopped, and we ourselves became as if paralyzed.

We were fully conscious. We could hear, talk, think, see. We could feel our ship was gradually being pulled up to this plane, and finally absorbed into her through a large opening in her belly. Our plane was anchored within. Then a voice, calling me by rank and name in perfect English, told me that our captors were going to free our bodies from the paralyzing rays and that we would suffer no aftereffects. We immediately regained our power ofmotion. The same voice ordered us to come out of our plane as it was going to be cleansed and thoroughly disinfected. We were to disrobe entirely and enter into their body cleansing room. We had no alternative but to follow the voice's instructions. We put our clothes into what seemed to be disinfecting closets, and went into a steam room where we were sprayed with a disinfecting shower. After a thorough bath and cleansing each one of us was given by an attendant a full set of under- and over-garments of styles comparable to the ancient Roman or Greek; two pieces of underwear, a soft silky, loose fitting sleeveless undershirt, and above knee length drawers; clinging socks of the same material up to the middle of calf; shoes, leather laced Roman style up to middle of calf. One loose over-garment, similar to a very soft linen material, like a Roman tunica, open at the neck, girded at the waist, reaching to the knees, with above elbow sleeves. Another over-garment was similar to the Roman dalmatica; it was a soft rayon fabric, open at the neck, reaching to just below the knees, with wide elbow sleeves; ornamented with one inch purple or lavender bands around its neck, sleeves and bottom edges; with a belt at the waist.

All garments and shoes were fastened with detachable buttons. The attendant told us they were heat and fresh air dispenser atomic batteries. They supplied the exact required degree of necessary body air conditioning in all kinds of weather. The fibrous materials of these garments were not only fresh air and heat radiation conductors, but were also fire-proof.

Our attendant also gave us a one inch lavender ribbon for our heads. He showed us how to wear it, as he did, tied with a small knot at the back. Some of the boys were smiling a little; I think the attendant sensed their amusement. "You look quite handsome now," he joked.

He told us all clothing was worn only once. The same applied to household linens. Clothing and linens were worn, then sent back to the factory to be crushed into pulp and made over again. "We don't consider laundries sanitary," he said.

Over-garments like the stolla, tunica and the dalmatica were worn for one week, or less; when soiled, they were also fabricated over again. But all garments, new or worn, were sun rayed anddisinfected every day before being worn. Our own clothes, which by this time were also disinfected and sun-ray sterilized, were stored away, excepting my log book papers, diary books and shorthand notebooks. Our clothes were to be given to us when we returned to earth. We were relieved at the time to learn our stay was to be only temporary.

After dressing, he again assured us that our captors were friendly and that we must not be afraid; they had a motive for their actions which they would fully explain to our satisfaction. Later we consulted among ourselves and decided that since we were entirely at the mercy of these strange men, we had no choice but to obey.

He then guided us into an antechamber where he told us to leave our firearms, parachutes, breathing suits, and other accoutrements. Then mentioned us to follow him. He assured us our property would be held safely and returned to us. The attendant puzzled me by anticipating my wish in suggesting that I take out my pencil and notebook from the disinfector and take them along so that I could take down notes on what took place. Then, with great ceremony, he ushered us into a large, high ceilinged, beautifully decorated sunlit room, where about fifty men were seated, all dressed in Roman style. They wore their hair cut short, with a mass of short, wavy curls around the ears, bound around with a one inch lavender ribbon. They were all clean shaven, with hair parted on the right or left side. Facing us at the far end of the room, standing near a large desk, was their leader, who wore a distinctive over-garment called the toga; a loose, long, sleeveless wrapper, gracefully thrown over the left shoulder and arm, girdled around the waist, decorated at the edges with a filet of gold. He also wore a one inch wide gold filet ribbon around his head. With great courtesy he bowed low to us and greeted each of us by our full name.

"We welcome you to our ship," he began, "even though you may be unwilling guests at this moment. But after you have heard our reasons for capturing you, and see what we want to show you, you will only be too glad that we took these means to get you here.

"We are Martians from the planet Mars, which is today about fifty-eight million miles away from your earth. Since this is theday of the year when our two worlds are the closest together, we planned to use it in some way to contact you. We wanted to land on your globe and deliver our message, but its invincible gravitational attraction is so powerful that once we landed, we could not, under any circumstances, overcome and detach ourselves from it. Therefore, we have brought you into our orbit, and we shall now explain our reasons.

"On Mars we received all your radio waves. We heard all the languages used on your earth. But try as we would, we were not able to send our radio waves to your earth. There is a strange, strong interference. Your earth has a protective shell of electrically charged gases, some sixty miles thick, clinging to it. This shell seriously disturbs the travels of our radio waves in your atmosphere. It prevented us from making communications. That is one of the reasons we captured your plane; we wished to analyze your radio transmitter and find the metal or element which would help us pierce through.

"We knew about your orders to destroy your secret mechanisms and transmitter; we would have deterred you, but you were too quick for us. Even this action does not discourage us. We shall capture another plane in the same way we have captured yours—or perhaps you will help us to obtain a transmitter, after you understand our purpose. We aim to send radio messages to your Earth people. After you gentlemen have seen the way we live, you may help us by becoming friendly ambassadors to your own people.

"We are now taking you to our planet to show you our way of life. You may stay with us as long as you like—see everything, learn everything." Then the speaker turned to me with a smile, "You were perplexed when our attendant told you to take along your pencil and notebook; he read your thoughts and anticipated your wish.

"I want to warn you, that we have a sixth sense, the faculty of reading, receiving, and transmitting thought waves, even over long distances. This faculty is very highly developed in us. You people of the Earth also possess it, but in a limited subconscious and dormant state; you may develop it in the future. We can read your thoughts, and we ask that you please try your best to controlthem so as not to offend us. We have long ago, through training, learned to control our thoughts and minds, the guiding spirits of our actions.

"You will be surprised to learn how great our knowledge is of Earth people. Each language is clear to us, because we read the thoughts of your inhabitants. Our television cabinets are so perfect that we can see everywhere on earth. We clearly hear all that is being said. Through constant evolution, we have developed in ourselves an acute mental receptive faculty of hypermnesis, extraordinary power of quick mental absorption, and a sharp lasting memory. It is very easy for us to learn any of your languages.

"We would certainly like to send you television pictures showing how we live, but television receives the same interference as our radio waves. You are surprised at the natural forces we command, no doubt. We'll try to explain. As a pilot you have studied astronomy. You know that our planet—

'Mars is the most interesting object in the heavens for your scientists, because it is the one and only world where they appear to have found direct evidence of life and because some astronomers have held the opinion that it provides evidence for the existence on it of intelligent beings.'[2]'Our planet revolves in an orbit, that is outside the orbit of the earth, its mean distance from the sun being a little more than one and one-half times that of the earth.'[3]'The distance of Mars from the sun varies by more than twenty-six million miles. It requires a period of a little short of two years for Mars to complete one revolution in its orbit.'[4]'The diameter of Mars is about 4,215 miles, only a little more than half that of the earth. Its weight is rather more than one-tenth of the weight of the earth.'[5]'The rotation period is about twenty-four hours, thirty-seven and one-half minutes.'[6]'Length of the Martian year is 687 days.'[7]'Our seasons are nearly twice as long as yours.''They found that the vast extent of our continent was furrowed upon every side by a network of numerous lines or fine stripes.'[8]'That traversed the planet for long distances in regular lines and extended for thousands of miles; the breadth of some may be as great as one or two hundred miles; of others, not more than twenty miles.'[9]'The channels intersected one another at all possible angles:[10]and these channels were truly great furrows or depressions in the surface of the Planet, destined for the passage of water.[11]Some of these channels run straight and double paralleling others with absolute geometrical precision, as if they were the work of rule or compass.'[12]'They found that many of the canals converged to dusky patches at their junctions, the so-called oasis, and passed from one oasis to another in an absolutely unswerving direction,[13]proving that they have pumping systems, on a scale far surpassing any of the works of man, and this in itself, presupposes an advanced type of intelligence.'[14]

'Our planet revolves in an orbit, that is outside the orbit of the earth, its mean distance from the sun being a little more than one and one-half times that of the earth.'[3]

'The distance of Mars from the sun varies by more than twenty-six million miles. It requires a period of a little short of two years for Mars to complete one revolution in its orbit.'[4]

'The diameter of Mars is about 4,215 miles, only a little more than half that of the earth. Its weight is rather more than one-tenth of the weight of the earth.'[5]

'The rotation period is about twenty-four hours, thirty-seven and one-half minutes.'[6]

'Length of the Martian year is 687 days.'[7]

'Our seasons are nearly twice as long as yours.'

'They found that the vast extent of our continent was furrowed upon every side by a network of numerous lines or fine stripes.'[8]

'That traversed the planet for long distances in regular lines and extended for thousands of miles; the breadth of some may be as great as one or two hundred miles; of others, not more than twenty miles.'[9]

'The channels intersected one another at all possible angles:[10]and these channels were truly great furrows or depressions in the surface of the Planet, destined for the passage of water.[11]Some of these channels run straight and double paralleling others with absolute geometrical precision, as if they were the work of rule or compass.'[12]

'They found that many of the canals converged to dusky patches at their junctions, the so-called oasis, and passed from one oasis to another in an absolutely unswerving direction,[13]proving that they have pumping systems, on a scale far surpassing any of the works of man, and this in itself, presupposes an advanced type of intelligence.'[14]

"This is a description of our planet; you will see for yourselves that your astronomers were right in their surmise.

"Since you Earth people discovered radio, we receive your world space echo waves within three minutes. Our thought reading and our remote reading faculty control and our television are so powerful that we can see and read from here, your books,newspapers and periodicals. We know what is in your concrete and steel safes. We pierce through your earth's surface within your deepest caves and mines. To our consternation we see a terrible picture of Earth man's treatment of his fellow human beings. Frequently his selfishness and ruthless brutality lead to pestilence, famine and destruction. He seems to be heading toward the extinction of the little civilization he has gained.

"Our women and children are not allowed to see some of your horrible scenes. We are certainly very happy on our planet Mars; we are grateful we do not have to struggle through the ordeals of the men on earth. We feel it is not necessary for you to continue so.

"Since what is happening on your earth has become intolerable to us, we have decided on action. We see only total annihilation for your good people if the others are allowed to continue in their present behavior patterns. You now are able to understand our objectives are not aggressive but humanitarian. We would like to act as advisors to those people of earth who are capable of change, feel the need of change but are at a loss where to start.

"But, you must be hungry. We have an insulated room, adjoining this one. Here no one can read your thoughts or hear your conversation. That is where we hold our own secret conferences, there you may adjourn for an hour for food, refreshment, and consultation among yourselves. When you have finished, I will be waiting for you."

I had been taking down his comments. I knew then I was entering into a new world.

We were led into an adjoining room of about 30′ by 60′, where a table was placed and set for us. In front of each of our eleven chairs was a place card with the name of each of us. An attendant served us all kinds of tasty foods from heavy, solid gold and silver tureens and platters. Food and service were of the best. When we had finished our excellent meal, the attendant told us that he was leaving, and that we could shut the door and safely converse among ourselves.

You can imagine our feelings. Our senses were overcome. It was unbelievable.

Our conference was brief. Confident that for the time being we were the friendly guest-prisoners of these strange people of another planet, we decided to conduct ourselves as correctly as possible and to gain information which might benefit our own people.

When we opened the door, the attendant, who was waiting for us, led us back to the assembly room. All the men present rose from their chairs and greeted us as we passed, with deep bows. We again stood in front of their leader. He also bowed, and begged us to sit down, and said, "I hope you gentlemen have confidence in us now, and believe in our sincerity, and fully understand the purpose of our action."

Addressing himself to me, he continued, "I am aware that you wish to ask me many questions. I know them as I read your thoughts; I shall endeavor to anticipate a few of them.

"You are surprised that our airship which is traveling so fast, or rather I should say falling or being attracted towards our planet Mars, is going so smoothly that it seems as if we were motionless. As a matter of fact, we are traveling at the rate of 20,000 miles per minute in the ether of vacuum of space where all atmosphere is totally absent. We are in a void without air pressure or friction. Our speed has no effect on our motion nor does it cause damage to our ship. Flying time from your atmosphere to ours is nearly forty-eight hours. We expect to land on Mars tomorrow night.

"You are also wondering at our appearance. Because we have the reputation among you of being warlike, you Earth people were led to think that we were of abnormal physical size. You are surprised to find us not very much unlike yourselves in looks and stature. What is your opinion of our appearance?"

After carefully looking the men over and contrasting them with ourselves, who were considered on Earth as good athletic and handsome fellows, I answered him. "Frankly," I said, "Your men are as like us as our high bred champion race horses in their prime are like the nags that pull our junk wagons. The other difference between us seems to be, the extramuscular development of your shoulders and arms plus an apparently longer arm reach than we have."

I had to give them credit for their white clear skin, their regular features, their vigor, and their erect posture. Their proud, but frank and gentle appearance exuded powerful heavenly personality. There were among them many men with deep sky-blue and grass-green skin, colored men, who also were the same fine specimens of manhood.

Then their leader answered, "There is nothing superhuman or supernatural about us. We as yet have not reached perfection. From what we have observed of Earth men, I would say we are more healthy, virile, better developed physically, also mentally. I mean no offense, our intellectual force is much more advanced than Earth men. But you still have a chance eventually to reach our development, if you will only seize the opportunity."

"You will notice among us Martians something else which will surprise you. Look us over. How old do you think he is?" the leader asked, pointing to their youngest, an erect young man.

"Why," I replied, "I should say about 25 years old."

They all laughed.

"No," he said. "This one, who is our youngest, is now 100 Earth years old. You will notice that none of us have any gray hair, wrinkles, or false teeth; those few of us with false teeth acquired them by accidentally breaking their own. None of us use eye glasses or hearing aids. There are no bald-headed men on Mars. Our old people reach the age of 150 Martian years or 300 Earth years.

"Our women, even those past middle age, retain their natural color texture, youthful figures, velvety skin and texture of their soft, youthful hair.

"Due to our planet's distance from the sun, our seasons and years are double yours. Our minimum life span, according to natural phenomenon is 200 Earth years. Because of our careful way of life, we have extended it to 300 years. Since Earth is so near to the sun, your year and seasons are half the length of ours; the hypothesis is that your minimum life span should be at least 100 to 150 Earth years, providing you lead a natural life, similar to ours.

"Your perverted actions and corrupt standards of living diminished your life span to nearly half of what it should be. Yourhabits have made your bodies fertile ground for diseases which deprive you of vitality, consume your life, and, by transmission, attack your progeny. Thus large numbers of you are destroyed within half, or less, of your allotted period of life.

"Our long life has evolved from thousands of years of constant improvement in our way of living. Some of the causes for our prolonged youth and vigor are freedom from fear, no worry and no misery. Our entire life is based on the principles of love, peace, and common brotherhood. By periodic physical and dental examinations of everyone and proper treatment afterwards, we are constantly preventing as well as curing injuries and diseases. These examinations and treatments are compulsory and take place weekly or more often, as the cases demand. We are also encouraged to participate in healthy exercise daily. Since we understand its importance, we have real enjoyment of our own participating in games and other forms of exercise.

"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the invention of flying machines, our ancestors felt that they should be able to train themselves to fly like birds. They started intensive arm and shoulder exercise to develop a very swift whole arm movement, similar to that of birds. Since water swimming could easily be learned by special arm and leg movements, there was no reason why they couldn't adapt themselves to fly in the air with arm-attached wings. It took many generations of training muscle and bone before they could overcome the disadvantage of weight and lack of bird body buoyancy; however, they succeeded in mastering flying. That is why we have longer arms and more muscular and bone development of our shoulders and arms than you Earth men.

"Health exercises, health rays, diets, and body massages, have kept us young looking, healthy, and vigorous and have kept our body weight very near to normal even in the aged. We prohibit the use of habit-forming foods, tobacco, drugs, and beverages other than low alcoholic beers and wines in limited quantities. Too many of you on Earth carry to extremes a commonplace habit, until it becomes a menace to your health."

I was disappointed at the ban on smoking because we had plenty of cigarettes and were craving a smoke. He immediatelyunderstood and said, "We will put no restrictions upon your desire to smoke as long as your cigarettes last. We do not smoke because we do not allow contamination of our fresh air with smoke, no matter how harmless. Self-control is a nerve and emotion tonic and exercise; smoking is a nerve stimulator and pacifier, and dulling them. In time a craving for the stimulant is created, contributing gradually to their weakening. It is a strong habit-forming pastime. We do not need it as we have no nerve tension.

"We lead a well regulated life. Our bodies and nerves get the full rest they require nightly. All our activities cease at 9:00 p.m. and everyone must be in bed by 11:00 p.m. week days. Naturally, exceptions are made for doctors, hospital personnel and workers in necessary utilities."

It was getting late; the meeting broke up. All the Martians present began mingling among us, trying to put us at our ease. After we had been served with refreshments, they began to leave. We were left nearly alone with their leader. He said kindly, "You gentlemen must be tired. Our attendant will lead you to your sleeping quarters." Then he bowed to me and said, "Good night." When I offered to shake hands, he politely refused, remarking, "We do not shake hands; it is not customary with us nor is it sanitary. Hand holding and fondling is done only within our intimate family circle. I am glad to know that Earth people are gradually adopting a practice which is old among us and universal—that of using the self-opening door, thereby doing away with unsanitary door handles."

We went outside and up a stairway to our sleeping quarters. Our attendant assured us that the beds and bedding were sun health rayed and sterilized, a daily precaution practiced everywhere. New night garments, as well as underclothing for our next day's use were laid out for us on chairs. The bed linens and night garments were as white as ours, but softer, and they felt like pure silk. The attendant then pulled out metal beds and springs with mattresses, pillows, and blankets from a wall closet. The mattresses and pillows were of a spongy rubber substance, and felt soft and comfortable.

After making our beds and placing pitchers of water for us on a small table, the attendant wished us a good night's sleep. Beforeretiring I wrote in my diary, in detail about what happened to us that day.

After a good night's sleep, we awoke, eager to see what the new day would bring. The attendant brought in the clothes allotted to us, pressed and ready for wear. A hot and cold, scented, sterilized water shower gave us an exhilarating body cleansing. We dressed and were led into a breakfast room, where it was ready for us. Afterward, we were taken on a tour of their ship. Some of us took the opportunity of looking out through space, admiring the grand sights of the universe and pointing out many known stars, even a tiny one far away, our own former home, the Earth.

I went, notebook in hand, with their leader, to look over the intricate instruments and machinery, and the general construction of their immense airship. The ship was now falling fast, attracted by the gravitational pull of the planet Mars. It seemed to me motionless. Her pilot told me that when we were about a million miles away from Mars, he would put a brake on her speed and come to a dead stop before he slowly entered her stratosphere. "Then I will put our motors to work when we travel in our atmosphere, you will feel nearly the same motion that you do in your own planes."

When I asked him what kind of gas he used, he answered, "We use atomic energy; some machines and motors use ocean-wave electric energy, others use concentrated sun-ray energy. We use no gas, oil, or coal, even though we have them in great abundance. Their fumes, gases, and smoke would pollute our fresh air. Furthermore, coal mining is hazardous and we do not want to endanger the lives of our potential miners."

This is only the beginning, the first chapter of my strange story which I wrote on my return. There are a great many details I would like to give you; but since I want to finish as quickly as possible, I am omitting description and details of minor matters. Tomorrow I will give you my second chapter, a bird's-eye view of a city on Mars.

FOOTNOTES:[1]Nevada State Journal, Editorial, January 26, 1946.[2]LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS, H. Spencer Jones, Macmillan Co., 1940, N.Y., p. 200.[3]Ibid., p. 200.[4]Ibid., p. 200.[5]Ibid., p. 200.[6]Ibid., p. 204.[7]Ibid., p. 213.[8]Ibid., p. 207.[9]Ibid., p. 208.[10]Ibid., p. 208.[11]Ibid., pp. 208-9.[12]Ibid., p. 210.[13]Ibid., pp. 217-18.[14]Ibid., p. 218.

[1]Nevada State Journal, Editorial, January 26, 1946.

[2]LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS, H. Spencer Jones, Macmillan Co., 1940, N.Y., p. 200.

[3]Ibid., p. 200.

[4]Ibid., p. 200.

[5]Ibid., p. 200.

[6]Ibid., p. 204.

[7]Ibid., p. 213.

[8]Ibid., p. 207.

[9]Ibid., p. 208.

[10]Ibid., p. 208.

[11]Ibid., pp. 208-9.

[12]Ibid., p. 210.

[13]Ibid., pp. 217-18.

[14]Ibid., p. 218.

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