CHAPTER II
The Landing
The next day, at the same hour, I found the Lieutenant sitting in the hot sun on the same bench. I asked him if he would like to walk a couple of blocks further, where it was not so sunny.
"No," he said, "this spot reminds me of a certain parkway in Amboria, a city on Mars, where I used to sit with the most beautiful girl in the Universe. Of course, this place can hardly compare in natural beauty with the one there." Then he stopped talking, and by his rapt expression I judged he was recalling pleasant memories.
My presence had no effect on his concentration; he was, for the time being, in another world. After about fifteen minutes he became conscious of his environment. Opening and rubbing his eyes, he said,
"I am very sorry I stopped talking so abruptly. I suddenly felt as though I were in Amboria again, and Xora was encouraging me to have patience, and not to despair, because she loved me. The realization that I am doomed to remain here on this Earth is bitter; however, I still have hope that Xora and her grandfather will someday rescue me.
"That hope keeps me eternally watching the skies. With their power of thought reading, I am sure that they can locate me here; otherwise I would become insane." Taking a picture from his pocket of a beautiful young girl, with the inscription on thebottom "To Fred from your Xora," he handed it to me. Her beauty was angelic.
The picture was an odd disc of some strange metal or composition, about six inches in diameter and a quarter inch thick. One face of it showed a moving picture of our lieutenant reclining under a tree with her, or promenading, the other side showed the loving facial expressions of the beautiful girl.
By pressing the center spot of the disc, I heard her melodious voice giving him loving messages of encouragement and hope. It was a concentrated record. And took a long time to play it. Fred seemed to be in a state of deep enchantment.
He said, "This picture reminds me constantly that what has happened to me was no dream.
"I am sure I can go back to Amboria, if I can get possession of a plane; but I am known at all airfields, and no one would lend me a plane, or even let me be a passenger. I can't buy one, as my money is tied up. I don't know what to do. I know how to communicate with the Martians by radio, but I would rather wait until I am able to complete all arrangements. They cannot talk to me until I get within reach of their radio waves by airplane."
To solve this problem, I suggested the following:
"If you will give me the complete story of your experiences and grant me permission to publish it, I will lend you enough money to purchase an airplane and transmitter. There is just one condition; the story be worthwhile enough to interest a publisher; the royalties then may cover the loan."
My offer gave him new hope. His face brightened. With youthful enthusiasm he grasped my hand, exclaiming, "Then you do believe that my story is true and that I am sane!" I answered, "Of course I do." This inspired him with greater confidence, and he said, "Now to continue my story." Then he handed me another typewritten chapter.
That evening, I continued to read his adventures. I was no longer skeptical.
The Martian airship was fast nearing its destination. In the lateafternoon when we reached their stratosphere, I began to feel the delicate motion of the ship and the vibration of its motors. Her fast and silent driving power got her into their atmosphere, as their pilot told me it would, without any shock or collision. The large size of the ship helped her to ride out the air pockets more easily and smoothly than our planes. My friends and I did not suffer so much from air sickness, as we used to on our own ships on Earth.
Alongside, above, and below us there was a heavy traffic of planes of all sizes, shapes, and strange designs, flying safely in the air space, criss-crossing each other with the utmost freedom, at different altitudes, and in different directions. We were signaled by uniformed, specially designed planes. These planes, the pilot explained, were directors of air traffic, like our street traffic policemen.
Another thing attracted my attention. All their planes and air ships, both large and small, had a mast jutting from the nose, giving them a resemblance to swordfish. I asked the pilot the purpose of the masts. "They are fog-dispelling masts," he answered. "They shoot out long waves which dispel fogs, and also purify the atmosphere by killing bacteria within their reach. We have them everywhere on Mars. We exterminate all bacteria before they cause diseases in human beings, domestic animals, and in necessary vegetation."
Their leader now came along and told me that they expected to land that evening. "Just as soon as we get beneath the clouds, we shall be above a great water, and you will see one of our oceans."
We were now over the ocean, a large body of dark-blue, turbulent water with many freight ships, going in all directions. They had no smoke-stacks but freight center masts, with one of them sticking out from the bows. I asked the leader about them. He explained, "There are no smoke-stacks, for, as you have already learned, we do not use oil, coal, or gas; that front mast has the same function as the mast on the airship, to dispel fog and kill bacteria. These ships are used for heavy freight transportation between continents. They are thoroughly seaworthy and unsinkable.
"Since the population of our planet is much greater than yours,our production must be greater. Each of our continents has different climate, soil, and natural resources; each produces different necessities. We try to intensify such production at its source in order to produce in equal amount for the consumption of all of us. Nature often does not help us to produce the full quota of our requirements; we then store surpluses in times of plenty to provide for times of scarcity. We equally ration among our races our products and manufactures.
"There is little waste or spoilage in harvesting and distribution, and very little handling. At harvest time or during emergency industrial shortages of help, we call for volunteers. Even our highest Sun-Rank members volunteer. We invariably get more help than we need.
"We manufacture articles at the source of their raw materials, thus saving labor, transportation, distribution and time."
Pointing to what seemed a small island in the middle of the ocean, he said, "This spot is one of our anchored, ocean way stations which we have every thousand square miles, on all our seas. They are used for supply bases, way stations for planes and ships' repair shops, traveler stop-offs, fish canning and storage, and submarine bases. No, not as you are thinking—battleships; our subs are very large peace freight ships.
"The waters as well as the floors of our seas are very fertile and have, along with fish and shell foods, an inexhaustible supply of all kinds of cereals, vegetables, fruits, plus sea forest; there are also minerals and valuable chemicals for industrial and medical uses and for fertilizing purposes. Our submarines, besides being used for transporting these natural elements of the deep, are also used as dredges, planters, cultivators, harvesters, and sawing mills on the floors of three-quarters of our seas and oceans, where pressure is not so strong. Our sea fruits, vegetables, and cereals which we harvest are not only very tasty, but nutritious; the woods we obtain from the trees are some of our best: hard, pliable and resilient. The waters protect them from fires. No doubt your seas also have an abundant supply of all these."
Far away on the horizon we could see a long shore line, with large buildings at equal distances from each other. "These buildings, which you see," the leader pointed out, "are big dams. Theyare on all our shores, spaced at one hundred mile intervals, and are about ten times larger than your biggest dam. They are built to withstand the constant battering of the most powerful waves. Natural wave forces also create our electric light power and energy. Large filters, distilling, sterilizing, and refining plants extract from the sea water salt and other ingredients for our use, the water is then fresh and palatable for our consumption. This water is stored in immense reservoirs and pumped into our homes and to our hot water plants. The hot water and steam in turn are pumped wherever needed. We also use for power, heat, and other purposes powerful volcanic steam from wells drilled deep into the crust of our planet. We don't have to entirely depend on precipitation for our fresh water supply, like you Earth people do, during your frequent drought periods, which create famines for your inhabitants, and the destruction of your vegetations. Neither do we have to create cloud rains, as we have more than enough water for all our necessities. We even have secondary large fresh water reservoirs in our former deserts which have become productive. Our powerful pumps and our permanent automatic systems of cold water sprinklers and hot water and air pipes keep all our croplands, orchards, and in fact all our cultivations fully supplied, and thermostatically heat protected against frosts, snow storms, and freeze-ups.
"The waters of all our fresh water lakes, large and small rivers, and springs are carefully guarded against pollution. They are always fit, and safe for human consumption. We also have many dams on our rivers. We use the abundant forces of nature at our command, of more than is sufficient for our needs, even if Mars' population were doubled.
"Mother Nature is very generous in her abundant and unlimited gifts. We have harnessed only a few of them. Every day we discover new and better elements. From time to time our mode of life improves through their adaptation and reconstruction. Thus we are kept busy creating new occupations and abandoning some of the old and useless ones."
We were speedily nearing land. They flew low, circling around to give us a bird's-eye view of a great stretch of suburban andcity habitations, I would say ten times larger than New York City and its surroundings.
It was a vast area of both natural and artificial gardens landscaped between two wide crystal-clear water rivers, where a large number of ships of all sizes were sailing. This land between the rivers was divided into equal sections within which were square, circular, and other kinds of geometrically shaped courts enclosed with beautiful buildings of diversified types. Some were similar to our Gothic, French, and Italian renaissance; others similar to our Spanish patios and magnificent oriental constructions but including their own predominating gorgeous designs and architectures. All these were fitted into a design most pleasing to the eye. Strange and beautiful, not like the monotony of our architecture with its few variations.
To my pleasant surprise, I saw no sewer polluted, and unsanitary river waters, no mobile traffic, no autos, busses, trolleys, or other moving vehicles. I saw no signs, electric posts, parking meters, water hydrants, telephone wiring, wash lines or vent pipes. There was a total absence of unsightly billboards which clutter up our highways and boulevards.
The air space above roofs was devoid of all obstructions, with the exception of the colored and very visible radio and fog-dispelling, air-purifying, and bacteria-killing masts, which I readily recognized. It was becoming dark as we were nearing our landing. I could see a great number of small luminous bodies, traveling above the surface in different directions, which looked like and reminded me of fireflies. I found out afterwards they were Martians, flying like birds, with large wing attachments on their arms, and red lights on their heads.
We were now approaching one of their large airports outside the city, across one of their rivers, where we were ordered to land and to wheel the ship into a very large building. Nobody was there to meet us because all of us including the Martians, were under strict quarantine.
We again had to undergo the cleansing and disinfecting, but this time more intensified. Their health inspectors and medical specialists began to take all kinds of careful tests to be sure wedid not bring in any diseases or that we did not carry any dangerous microbes. We remained here for three days.
On the last day, after again being thoroughly examined, we were given a clean bill of health. Our airship leader, who, I was told, was a first-degree Sun-Rank member, an important dignitary, and who, I could see, was given honorable recognition and homage by everyone, appointed himself my host. He said the rest of our boys were also being taken as guests by other fellow Martian travelers.
Again cautioning every one of us to try his utmost to control his thoughts, he led me to his private plane. We left the airport for his home. He gave me a parachute and fastened on his arms a pair of folded large snow shoes.
"These are flying wings," he said. "I am putting them on in case of accident. Before we reach my home I want to tell you something that may please you. The medical reports about you and your friends are very satisfactory. After a few months with us, if you follow our health habits, we expect you to become just as healthy and vigorous as any one of our young Martians. But you will never acquire our sixth sense of thought reading and transmission, or our bird-flying motions. But by following our way of living, your life span will be extended far beyond Earth standards, even if it does not reach our span of 300 years.
"Our head examiner said it was safe for us to take you to our homes. If you men desire, you may remain indefinitely among us, and look for wives among our girls. You all are able to rear families of healthy Martians. But after consulting with members of our council, they said that if you decided to remain on Mars, you would first have to deserve and earn the Martian citizenship. They decided if you will help me in my plans for your Earth people you will be elected to honorable citizenship of Mars.
"We are, as you notice, flying very slowly. My home is in the suburbs of the city, near by, about 500 miles distant. My wife and my fourth-generation granddaughter, together with other members of our household are waiting to receive you. I am sure they will find you a welcome guest. I also wish to tell you that we have learned your English language. Every one will be able to converse freely with you. You will feel quite at home. It wouldbe wise if you men learned our Martian language so that you could mingle with other Martians."
While we were flying, I was constantly looking above and below us at the innumerable, beautiful airships of all kinds, designs, and sizes flying in all directions.
Glancing below I was astounded to see a garden of Eden with angel figures winging their way over an oasis of blended color. While he had been talking, my companion was preparing to land on his own landing platform. Attendants were on hand to assist us from the plane. A woman of dignity and beauty and a charming young girl were awaiting our arrival. They seemed from another world. No marks of care and anxiety on their faces. They looked to me like the angels I remembered from childhood on Christmas cards. They were dressed in flowing Roman stolas, that appeared to be of very fine linen, falling to their feet, fastened at the shoulders and upper arms by ornamented atomic battery buttons. They wore beautiful bracelets on their arms. Their stolas, girdled at the waist, were semi-décolleté reflecting their healthy, white skin. Two ribbons running over the shoulders crossed themselves in front and back to reach the girdle belt. On the sides under the arms, the gowns were ornamented and fell in a cascade effect into folds, open from the knees down and trailing on the ground at the back.
Their hair was dressed with wavy small curls in front from ear to ear. In the back it fell in beautiful waves.
The older woman wore an inch wide gold fillet band encircling her head.
They welcomed us in a most friendly manner. Introducing his wife to me as Lady Sylvia Banard and the young lady as Miss Xora Savona, he took hold of his wife's arm, indicating that I do the same with Miss Savona. We followed them into their sumptuous dining room for dinner.
The conversation centered on his adventure to Earth and back again, while all the members of the party kept watching me. I especially noticed the friendly, slightly curious side glances of Xora. Evidently these girls on Mars had some of the nice traits of our girls. At least they were feminine enough to be curious. I had difficulty keeping my mind on the conversation but I rememberedmy manners and tried to join in. After dinner we went into their library, and I remained until I was left alone with Sun-Rank Banard.
One thought was in my mind, which he knew, but he let me question him. "May I ask an important, but perhaps a personal question without offending?"
"I know your question. There is no offense. Ask it."
"You told me that Miss Xora Savona is your grandchild of the fourth generation, so I presume you are over one hundred Earth years old. You and Lady Banard and other Martians of your age look so youthful that, no doubt, you are still virile. How do you people control the overpopulation of Mars?"
He answered, "We limit, and control our birth rate, preventing its overpopulation. Our method of control is very simple. Whereas in many parts of your Earth, with all your preventives, aborti-facients, and your criminal dangerous abortion operations, your population is increasing to a dangerous point of saturation, creating scarcity, undernourishment, famine, and starvation. Chaos will soon overtake you, unless you control these over-birth rates. By our process we control not only the number of coming children, but their sex as well. We can maintain an even balance in sex and also prevent the unfortunates who are not fit to have children from having them. Even with our large population, our planet is as yet hardly half populated. If it were fully populated, our production of all necessities of life would still be more than ample for our needs. In one year, we can produce enough for three years. We always have a generous surplus of everything, because our storage facilities are perfect, and we have no waste.
"We protect our lands against dust storms and other causes of erosion. We do not allow their abandonment; we do not allow any waste. All our soils are constantly analyzed and suitably fertilized to prevent a lack of necessary elements. This treatment results in plants of above-average food value, and of a balanced mineral nutrition, a combination promoting good health.
"The drying up of marshlands and other wastelands plus the perfect irrigation of our deserts has helped us considerably to increase our production, and to almost exterminate pestilent insects.
"Lands not in active production are forested or put to rich grazing use. Our permanent large pumping, drenching, and sprinkling system, with our large sprinkler planes, are used to irrigate our deserts, and other lands suffering from drought and rain scarcity. It is also used in putting out forest fires started either by sun rays or combustion.
"We draw the waters from our great number of immense reserve storage reservoirs, which are directly diverted to them from the run-offs of heavy river water flows. Saving us from overflowing rivers, flood control, levee construction, inundation damage, and disasters, at the same time increasing generating power of our dams. We have an efficient drainage system for our tropical crops in rain-soaked lands, excess waters of which also flow into these reservoirs. Sun rays are available to treat our vegetation, when necessary.
"We limit and regulate agricultural production all over Mars. We have always an overabundance, because we have also completely reclaimed, irrigated, and fertilized our arid areas, distant from our surface water and reservoir supply, by mapping and using their underground water resources; we have converted them into rich productive farm lands. We have also mastered our jungle lands and made them all very productive.
"You are reluctant to ask me a few more questions you feel I may be sensitive about answering. You are puzzled about a fourth generation. Since our generation is thirty Earth years, I would have to be about 150 years old to have a fourth generation grandchild. I am now 175 years old, and Xora is now twenty-six Earth years old, which makes her my fourth generation grandchild. Xora has been appointed as your guide; she will take you tomorrow to her home, where you will meet her family and friends. You will be free to mingle among and closely observe us. You will find out for yourself that we have high standards and happy life.
"'Regnant populi.' The people rule, with a political regime really 'of the people, by the people, and for the people,' through their short term elected representatives; a truly democratic form of government, as defined by your Webster's Dictionary, 'Democracy: Government by the people collectively by elected representatives;political, or social equality,' united for common interests, rights and privileges, in political, economic, and social equality. We have strong doctrines of individual freedom, 'Lalus populi suprema est lex,' the welfare of the people is the supreme law.
"Our government officials are elected for two or five years, depending upon location and departments. They are not allowed to succeed themselves. Dictatorship is non-existent nor would it be tolerated. We have no ruling class. We are ruled by the people. We have no secrecy in our government, nor in our political parties, no party cliques and party discipline. Important decisions are voted for, or against, by all our citizens.
"You are curious and want to know if all Martians live in the same splendor and style as I do. No, they do not. We have ten grades and ten Sun-Rank degrees. Between every grade and every degree there are ten points to be earned. Every one of us must earn all ten points for promotion into the next degree.
"Promotion into the honorable Sun-Ranks is obtained only if we have achieved something outstanding, such as an improvement or invention, a scientific discovery, a disease prevention and cure. These higher advancements are voted upon and approved by our supreme house of council, and are given to us after judgment has been passed by impartial judges of all races from different parts of our planet.
"The type of living quarters of members in the Sun-Rank degrees depends on the degree. The members not only are honored for their attainment, but the higher ranking members are given, for their lifetime or for as long as they desire, mansions in both summer and winter resorts. They have large yachts and planes assigned to them and enjoy comforts and luxuries. They all have their duties to perform during their hours of employment. There is no ostentation in their way of life; for their entertainment, they attend the same theatres and halls as the lowest grade degree members. Stalls, boxes, and the best orchestra seats are always first reserved for the aged, and the next for rank members. Some of them prefer to occupy seats in the balcony with their lower degree families and friends.
"Many of our highest rank members prefer to remain in theirold homes where they began as citizens. Many others go back to them if they are still available. Rank members are not envied. Respect and desire to emulate them spur all of us on.
"I have only reached my Sun-Rank first degree very recently. None of my children have as yet reached my rank. They and their children can visit me for a short time, but it would not be ethical for me to keep them, nor would any of them want to remain in our home permanently.
"The children of our Sun-Rank members, at their maturity, revert to the living standards of our lowest grade degree members.
"Now it's getting late, and no doubt you are bewildered and tired." To an attendant, who suddenly appeared, he said, "Please lead Lieutenant Balmore to his sleeping chamber. Good night."