THE BIG CITY
Finally our day for the trip has arrived. The chieftain came from
his village to go with us. He and two of the white boys will be our
companions on this trip. The others are remaining in camp to await our
return.
Our ship rose into the air with great ease. We are flying according to
the directions being given by the dark chieftain and it isn't long,
flying at an altitude of forty thousand feet in the direction of the
city, when we spotted it.
"Is that the one?" Bob asked.
"Yes," replies our guide.
As we reach the city and circle it for our first view, we might say
it was built half on the light side and half on the dark side of the
Moon. That is, about half of the territory looks like desert, while the
other half is fertile land lying at the foot of and extending quite a
ways up the side of a range of mountains. There are some very large
buildings in both sections while most of the homes seem to be built as
a community in a flat area a short distance away from the base of the
mountain, yet in the dark side. Dr. Johnston estimates that probably
half a million people could be living here.
We want to land but we can't locate an airfield or any place to land,
and the chieftain doesn't know whether there is one here. Since we
haven't seen anything of the kind, we are not too surprised for as
Johnny pointed out, "an airport would mean these people have airplanes.
Maybe they don't even know what such things are; our native friends
didn't seem to. Neither have we seen or heard any planes flying
overhead during all the time we have been here."
"And those people in that city we flew over on the first trip we made,
were all so frightened," cut in Bob. "So maybe we are out of luck as
far as airfields are concerned."
Nevertheless we were disappointed for we had hoped to visit this city,
meet the people living here and learn what we could of their way of
living.
As Bob slowly circles in air, he and George discuss the advisability
of landing out there somewhere on the sands of the desert, as close as
possible to one of those buildings when Johnny suddenly spots a ship
coming from a distance towards the city. Our native friends are as
surprised as we.
It is coming in at a terrific speed, so Bob continues circling to see
where it is going. This is a very large ship, larger than we have
ever seen anywhere and without wings. It resembles somewhat a V2 type
rocket. As it came directly towards us without apparently slowing its
speed we didn't know what to expect, whether it was going to attack us
or what was going to happen. It, too, made a circle, giving us the once
over then turned and began to lower just a little ways outside the city
in the desert area.
Now we know we are not going to be attacked.
Finally it landed and many men got out of it. Three of them are going
to a large building close by while the others are staying by the ship
and watching us. This ship is about seven hundred feet in length.
It is no wonder we did not recognize this for an airfield. The building
towards which the men from the other ship are going is about three
stories high but very large, covering much ground space. The field
just looks like a flat desert area without landing strips, lights, or
markers of any kind and not fenced around in any way.
Bob is circling over the field hoping for some sort of signal to land
but he doesn't know just what. Suddenly our ship lighted up as if we
had crossed a light beam, yet we didn't see any. As we circled again,
the same thing happened, whereupon one of the white boys suggested that
instead of crossing through the light, Bob should turn the ship into
it to see if he could follow it to the ground. This worked splendidly
and we landed safely a short ways from the building which must be their
administration building for several native men are coming out of it
towards us.
These Moonalites too are white and tall like our friends of the valley,
only they are dressed somewhat differently.
It is fortunate for us that we have the two white boys with us, for
these city people seem to talk the same language as they. The boys left
the ship first to meet the airport officials as they approached our
ship and told them who we were and where we had come from. After a few
moments of conversation, the officials come up and shake our hands in a
very firm manner.
The boys must have inquired about the large ship that had landed just
before we did for these airport men are taking us over there now. They
are introducing us to these men, all of whom appear to be scientists,
and telling them that we have come from the Earth.
Besides the men, this ship had also brought in quite a lot of cargo of
different types of materials. On learning where it came from we really
did get a surprise, for this ship had just come in from planet Mars.
The crew members of this Martonian ship are wearing caps similar to
those worn by pilots on Earth; but the insignia on their caps is
outstandingly interesting for it is a heart and a handshake across the
heart. On their uniforms is an insignia of a bullet-type ship.
All of these men are very intelligent looking and well mannered.
They are around six feet seven inches in height. One in the group is
probably about eight feet tall. They are well built in proportion to
their height, eyes just sparkling, very fair-complexioned and have jet
black hair.
Judging by the appearances and behavior of the pilot and crew of this
ship from Mars, we felt like little children, kindergartners. Emanating
from them towards us is no feeling of personal pride nor attainment,
neither is there the slightest indication of hostility but rather a
feeling of warm friendship and joy that we have made the trip here.
These Martonians speak the language of the Moonalites so one of our
white native boys can fill in as interpreter whenever necessary, but we
have been learning from him during all the time we have been here. By
now we are beginning to understand pretty well what is being said. He
too has learned our language even better than we have learned his, so
he often has to ask our questions for us when we are talking with other
people for the first time.
"The people on Mars are built slightly different than you," we are told
in answer to our queries. Their pilot came up and felt our bodies then
indicated with his hands that our lung capacity is again as large as
theirs. He went on to explain, "the atmosphere on our planet is lighter
than that of Earth, so we do not need as large a lung capacity as you
have."
To our astonishment, we were next told that the Martonians knew that we
were on the Moon and when we had landed. They also knew that we would
be at this city at the very time we arrived, for they had instruments
that were able to pick up our radar messages and decode them. And we
have been in regular contact with the Earth.
More astounding information was given us by these men as they told us
a little about the dark moon of our Earth. It is used as a stopping
place for space ships and is much colder than the cold side of this
Moon. After observing it through our little telescope, Dr. Johnston had
estimated it to be about five hundred thousand miles from Earth, but
the Martonians told us, for that is where they stopped on their way in,
that it is seven hundred fifty thousand miles from Earth.
"We have other outposts in space for different purposes, where our
ships stop," commented one of the scientists of the group.
After quite a long visit with these Martonians and when all necessary
details at the airport were completed, we were taken to the other
section of the city where the citizens had been notified of our
presence here. A royal welcome was given us as the entire population
turned out in greeting.
At sunset we joined the citizens in their hour of praise and
thanksgiving for the day; not out of respect for them so much but
because with our whole beings we are intensely grateful for the
friendship and the knowledge that have been so freely and joyously
given us this day.
Later in the evening we were given the greatest surprise of the many
we had received here on the Moon, for we were taken to one of their
many observatories. Within it was housed a telescope which would be
equivalent on Earth to a five thousand inch. This telescope is equipped
with mechanism similar to our radar. It catches the reflections of
heavenly bodies and somehow throws them into this complicated machine
that acts like a primal focus on our telescopes, then angles it off
there onto a large screen in a vast room. The screen is something like
a moving picture screen in the theaters on Earth except it is about one
hundred feet square.
After all introductions were made, the scientists operating the
telescope focused it on planet Mars first and showed us that that
planet is densely inhabited and looks very progressive.
Here a most surprising occurrence was called to our attention for when
he focused Mars on the screen through this big telescope, using a
two-way action which this big fellow has, he also focused us towards
Mars. This means that should we ever succeed in getting there, the
people would know us for they now have a picture of us. This instrument
which appears to be similar to our radar and operates in conjunction
with the telescope also transmits messages and pictures that they
would want to the next planet, especially anything new. And we were
a new situation. Through this same system, we understand, they
transmit information and pictures of the heavenly bodies from their
observatories.
Besides, when any of their ships are in flight from Mars to the Moon,
or vice-versa, they have a picture of the ship's whereabouts. There are
many such ships that land on the Moon from Mars. We have been told on
the average of five to ten a day.
There are also ships from other planets landing here on the Moon
regularly, but thus far we haven't seen any of them.
Next the big telescope was focused on the Earth, and behold, it did
not look like anything on the screen. It is an accepted fact with many
people that we are over-populated in the Earth. The statement has
sometimes been made, this is the reason for wars. Yet comparing the
picture of Mars which we saw on the screen and that of the Earth, Mars
is far more densely populated than we are.
Their buildings, according to the picture, are taller and more majestic
than any we have on Earth.
If there ever were any scientists, all Martonians seem to be
scientists, according to what we can get. And the evidence is
outstanding for this big observatory in which we are observing all this
was their project. It had been transported piece by piece from Mars to
the Moon.
We asked if they ever have any wars or anything like that on Mars?
These men didn't know what the word 'war' was. They didn't understand
the meaning of it for they asked us what it meant.
Dr. Johnston explained it to them.
"No! No!" they answered. "We don't believe in that. We are scientific
people. We are all scientists."
Of course that was kind of a slap in the face to us Earth men, at least
we took it that way. In retaliation Bob asked, "don't you ever get
over-populated? How do you handle that problem?"
"The powers of the Infinite look after that," came the answer right
back. "We don't have to worry about it. All we have to do is to live
with one another for the good of each other."
At this we realized that on their ship or on their persons, we had
not seen a thing that would give any indication or comprehension of a
destructive weapon. Instead, when we were first introduced to these men
at the airport we had noticed in their ship many types of scientific
instruments and much literature of what we considered was on science
because of the sketches and pictures we could see.
In our opinion, this telescope and the whole project is the most
stupendous accomplishment in the field of engineering and science
that a human could ever view. This has given us evidence of their
advancement. In fact, the two hundred inch on Mount Palomar is a toy in
comparison, for this instrument, as stated before, is the equivalent on
Earth to five thousand inches. It measures automatically the distance
of any planet or star, focuses its number on the screen, analyzes the
mineral contents of a planet in quantity and in quality, gives the
amount of water and the amount of land, its vegetation growth and its
deserts, and makes no mistake whatever in regards to inhabitants,
whether there be any or not, or life in any form. The astronomers here
do not spend night after night taking pictures and then trying to
figure them out. It is all done for them mechanically.
They even knew of the war we on Earth have just gone through. They got
the picture of the Earth madness so well that they have a photograph of
it here, showing airplanes flying above the Earth and blowing it up.
As this picture was shown to us one of the scientists said, "the people
on Mars believe that the people on Earth have gone actually insane,
destroying their own homes in that way. That is one of the reasons they
really don't care whether they ever come to Earth with their ships or
not. They feel that people with such destructive natures have nothing
in advancement to teach them."
So that is the kind of an instrument they have here, known to us as a
telescope.
This five thousand inch telescope is very, very powerful. It is not
made of one piece as a reflector, but is made up of many mirrors and
they are not glass. They seem to be metal. Each mirror is set slightly
different, so when all of them are acting as one they focus to this one
big machine which in our system we would call the prime focus, and in
there it really takes on the intensity and the amplification of light;
while at dead center there is an octagon shape mirror or prism that
acts automatically as a spectrum. This seems to be the part that gives
the answer to the contents of a planet simultaneously with the viewing
of it. Around the edge of the mirror are prism type reflectors that
don't reflect to what we would call the prime focus, but instead they
reflect along the edge of the barrel to another instrument which seems
to be wrapped around the barrel on the tube, and that is the part that
measures the distance of any heavenly body. So when the telescope is
focused on a heavenly body, not only does it produce that body in clean
cut markings of it, but it also gives the distance and the contents of
it simultaneously, without an error.
The greatest marvel of all, it penetrates the so-called fog around
planet Venus for it brings any heavenly body so close to one's view
that, regardless of fog, the body itself is clearly visible. And
one thing is definite from what we have seen, Venus too is heavily
inhabited and seems to have more water than any of the others.
It makes us feel as if we are in a dreamland to be seeing these
heavenly bodies with this type of telescope.
After a most interesting and informative evening at the observatory, we
had a few hours rest before morning arrived.
According to arrangements made yesterday, we have returned to the
airport where we are greeted by the pilot and crew members of the
big Martonian ship. In response to our many inquiries concerning
the various instruments we had noticed in their ship, these men had
promised to show us the ship inside and out and to explain the workings
of these instruments.
The ship is some distance across the field from the place of our
meeting but it doesn't take us long to reach it. It is really a giant.
You might call it a floating village for it has everything, the finest
of everything in it.
The ship itself is built of a very light material, yet sturdier than
steel. This material is found on planet Mars and is alloyed with other
material for strength and endurance. It resembles aluminum, as we know
it on Earth.
All of the instruments in the ship are made mostly of silver alloyed
with some other material, but we cannot understand what it is. They are
willing to tell us but we cannot get it. The interior of the ship is
exquisite, surpassing in beauty and comfort our luxury planes of Earth,
yet it is a Martonian freighter bearing some passengers from Mars to
the Moon.
One instrument being explained to us is what we might call an
all-seeing eye which is part of the radar equipment as we know it. This
'eye' can see for five thousand miles ahead and can detect any kind of
storm, any object, or any elemental condition that might be approaching
in space, including heavy fog which it can also penetrate.
There are four engines each of which resembles a machine gun more than
anything else. The jets which are the exhausts are large and these
also resemble the barrel of a gun. The pilot touched a button on the
instrument panel and started the motors. When these were in operation
we could scarcely hear them, they were that quiet. The chamber, which
resembles the chamber of a machine gun, is a large cylinder type, yet
very small in comparison to the rest of the ship. This cylinder, we
are told, contains pellets about half the size of a pea. Once getting
into the main chamber of the engine these pellets explode and propel
the ship. Each one of these cylinders carries enough fuel to propel the
ship for three rounds trips from Mars to the Moon and back. Yet the
weight of the fuel for all four engines, according to our weight, would
not be more than five hundred pounds.
We were curious to know if these weren't some sort of atomic power
pellets, telling them that on Earth we have just come into some
knowledge of atomic power.
They understood our questioning and indicated in the affirmative
endeavoring to give us a full explanation of the combustive action and
its resultant power, but we were unable to completely understand the
details. From what we could get, the action within this chamber is
similar to the cyclotron, very small but powerful.
Then Bob wanted to know if they used all four engines all the time
while travelling.
"Yes," answered the pilot.
Then he called our attention underneath the ship where there are what
we would call stabilizers, six of them in all, that permit the ship to
stand in space.
After thus looking over the ship, our friends asked if we would like to
take a little flight in this giant.
George eagerly accepted the invitation for all of us including our
Moonalite companions, for we have been wanting to do that very thing
ever since we first saw the ship land in this city on the Moon.
We are in the air now and the takeoff was so smooth that we didn't
realize we were leaving the ground. One outstanding fact we notice,
there isn't any vibration like most ships have. It is just like
gliding. There were some heavy clouds drifting over the airport and
the pilot pulled right into them. We felt no effect within the ship
whatever and we have come out of the clouds directly over the city.
We have lowered over the city to within five hundred feet, then we went
back up to fifteen hundred feet. Turns were executed so easily that
we did not realize they were being made. The pilot isn't wearing any
headgear and he tells us that none of their pilots wear such things,
explaining they observe and fly only by their instruments at all times.
At fifteen hundred feet altitude the ship was stopped. As she is
hovering in space, these propellers or stabilizers underneath the ship
are operating, but we can't hear them.
Now they have opened up a hatch, as we might call it, from within. This
hatch is square and around it are four chairs on each side. We were all
invited to be seated in these chairs. The hatch itself is a box-like
affair containing a set of adjustable lenses operated on the same
principle as that used in focusing binoculars. These are large enough
so that all who may be seated in the chairs around the hatch can see
through it equally well.
As the ship remains suspended in air, we are shown a panorama of the
whole city. It has been brought right up to us, you might say. So clear
is the view that one of the men spotted someone he knew coming out of
a building and called him by name to us. We can see the people on the
street as though we were looking at them out of a second story window.
Our Martonian friends tell us that all their ships have this apparatus,
and should they come into a strange place, this is the way they would
observe it first before landing. They would definitely know from this
altitude whether the people they were about to meet would be friendly
towards them or not. Beneath the ship is a little apparatus, with a
receiver in the ship. This they now turn on and through it we can hear
people talking and what they are saying.
For instance, there is a man on the street talking and pointing to the
ship. We see this through the hatch, while through the receiver we hear
what he is saying. We do not understand his words, but the pilot does.
"But," George wanted to know, "how about a place whose people you would
not understand?"
One of the scientists answered, "that is easy. It matters not what the
language, we would study the vibration of their sound. For the sound of
everything carries its own vibration in different pitches for different
meanings. Here we have another machine that does that work for us,"
and he turned on this other machine. Then he gave us a sort of lesson
as to its workings and the interpretation of them.
It operates similar to the graph machines we have on Earth. To
demonstrate, he selected an individual who was talking to another on
the street. We saw the man through the hatch, heard his voice through
the receiver and watched the machine registering the pitches of sound.
One of the Moonalite boys with us understood the language so he chalked
down in his own way the words heard through the receiver. We compared
the written words with the graph made by this machine on the pitch
basis and they were identical.
This machine is so fine in its performance that while they are
travelling, should the ship produce in any part of it a strange
vibration that is not supposed to be there, it also registers that and
shows where it is. This makes the ships almost foolproof.
If there happens to be a meteor encountered in travelling, the machine
warns them of its approach. It seems to be built to distinguish between
various types of vibrations and to give the answer as to what they
might be. When it warns them of meteors, the pilot immediately throws
the repulsing power of the ship into operation, for the body of the
ship is equipped with such a power, and since all meteors have a
certain amount of metal in them, this power repulses them. According to
our informer, the nearest a meteor has ever come to one of these ships
was within two hundred fifty miles.
In case of trouble, a picture can be sent from the ship by means of
another apparatus they are showing us, to the nearest stopping station
or to the planet of the emergency. In other words, the intricate
machinery within this big Martonian ship was more than our minds could
fathom.
They even have an emergency water-maker. It seems that this water-maker
catches the air or atmosphere, similar to a ventilator and then
condenses the air into fresh water.
This ship has enough electrical power, when all its engines are going,
to illuminate a city as large as New York and make it look like
daylight.
They do not know its speed for they have never had it fully open. The
highest speed they had ever reached was one million, nine hundred
thousand miles per hour, and they said it could do better than that.
Such speed was unbelievable to us. Bob commented that he wondered how
they or the ship could stand that speed.
They just laughed in a good natured way and closed the hatch. They
were started upward. In less than no time, it seemed, we reached an
altitude, according to their instruments, of five hundred miles. Then
they opened her up for speed and we were travelling one and a half
million miles per hour, according to their instruments, and it didn't
even feel like we were moving. It was only when they started slowing
up to come back for landing that we noticed a feeling of a little
pressure, like something was pressing against us, but very lightly,
just enough to feel it. It didn't seem to be the speed. It seemed that
it was the reaction of coming into heavier pressure the nearer we got
to the Moon. Yet the pilot said he felt nothing. So it must have been
our imaginations, knowing that we were coming down.
After landing, the pilot told us that if we had a ship that gets to
the Moon, we needn't worry about getting any farther, for they would
take us in their ships to their own planet Mars, or to any other planet
which we would be privileged to visit.
"How will you know when we will be here and wanting to go on from
here," inquired Bob. "We have no way of contacting you and just now we
have no idea when our next trip to the Moon will be." We didn't quite
understand what he had meant when he said they could take us in their
ships anywhere we 'would be privileged to visit', for we thought we
could go anywhere we desired to go, if we had transportation to get
us there. However, we didn't ask at this time because we figured that
information would be given more fully on our next trip to the Moon, at
which time we would be planning to visit others of our neighbors in
space.
"You can bring your ship here and then go to the observatory," he
suggested. "They will let us know."
"Will you men be our pilots?" George questioned. "You see we feel that
we know you now while anyone else would be strangers."
"That makes no difference," came from our friend, "all the other crews
are the same as we. You would not be strangers to them for they already
know of you on Mars. Remember, they have your picture there."
Then they explained that for such a purpose they might have a special
ship to carry us, which would be a passenger ship instead of a
freighter as theirs is; especially if it was a scientific expedition,
since they have special ships for that type of trip which are equipped
with regular laboratories for testing anything and everything,
regardless of where it is found.
Next we wanted to know what such an expedition would cost and how long
it would take.
They didn't understand the word 'cost', so we explained it through our
Moonalite interpreter.
"There is no cost. This service is rendered for the good of the Supreme
Intelligence's children, in honor of the Supreme Intelligence," was
the astounding reply. "As to the length of time necessary for such a
trip, that depends upon how many places you would be permitted to visit
and how long you want to stay, for we know no time but eternity within
which is nothing but service."
During our conversation their ship was being loaded with materials
of the Moon. This is now completed, so we shook hands with the pilot
and members of the crew and they have departed. They were not a bit
inquisitive in reference to our ship. Really it is very crude alongside
of theirs.
From the airport we are being taken to the city. The vehicle in which
we are riding has no wheels but glides just above the ground. It makes
no noise and has no vibration whatever. What the power of motivation
is, we have no idea, but it certainly is a pleasure to ride in. Today
the top of the vehicle has been slipped back that we might enjoy our
surroundings unobstructed and to the fullest.
All the buildings in this city are built of coral-like stone and of
very artistic design.
We have left our vehicle and are strolling through a part of the trade
center of the city. The people we have encountered here seem to have
been well schooled, very much after the Martonian style, courteous,
kind, ready to serve anywhere and everywhere. And they are very
intelligent.
Their writing, as we have observed it on picturesque cards in their
shop windows, resembles in a large degree our Oriental type of Earth.
Food seems to be very plentiful everywhere. We passed one bakery, we
call it a bakery although it had other things, because we saw a person
walk in to buy bread. It was baked for him right there while he waited.
They didn't use fire to bake it. They seemed to utilize light as
energy, for dough was placed in a case of glass before our eyes and we
watched it bake. It took about three minutes. The bread was somewhat of
a brown color.
When we had our feast during a reception which they had arranged
for us, we ate some of this same kind of bread, yet it didn't taste
like any bread we have known. The flavor was between an oatmeal and
cornbread. We never did find out what grain it was made of. There was
a considerable amount of different kinds of meat, yet nothing like we
had on Earth. We have been told that some of this meat and part of the
food as a whole came from planet Mars on freighters such as we have
recently flown in and described; that the Moon produces enough food to
take care of its own, but that the people here like to have different
varieties than they can get on the Moon, so they get much from Mars.
Thus far on this trip we have seen nothing to indicate what medium of
exchange is used for services rendered, so we ask.
They make us understand that they have none, except good will exchange.
The people in this city worship and have the same custom of living as
the white tribespeople in the valley whom we met first.
During the evening we were taken to an amusement place. The
entertainment was carried on in a manner of human talents of life which
were not only amusing, but very educating. In this educational field
of amusement was explained, as well as acted, the laws that govern all
things in their relationship to form life and how they work, so often
independent of the human mind. Their houses of amusement are like dream
places, more of a fairytale type. Once in them we lost ourselves; we
were completely taken up by the grandeur of the place and beauty of the
play.
The following day we were taken to one of the manufacturing centers.
The people come here, tell what they need and it is made for them in
these places on the good will service basis.
There is no smoke anywhere. They do not seem to use fire that produces
fumes of any kind.
As we have said previously, this city was built half on the light side
and half on the dark side. The dark side is much cooler at all times
than the light side. They seem to have harnessed up volcanic heat to
keep the temperature comfortable, when necessary, since the volcanic
rock which is so plentiful on the Moon, contains an energy or heat of
some sort. They also use this energy in their manufacturing and for
many other purposes.
We have not seen any horses or anything like a privately owned vehicle
but they do have transportation that also seems to be operating by
means of a volcanic power. This is a community affair. No charges of
any kind are made. It is all based on service. The vehicles look a
little bit in shape like rocket ships. They seem to glide in space
about three feet above the surface of the ground. They can be lowered
to the ground or go higher if necessary.
The lighting system is one vast light towering about five hundred feet
above the city, which illuminates the city as daylight, acting as the
sun. Homes and buildings have the same kind of a light, only small. It
is all done by a mineral which they mine on the Moon. We didn't learn
the name of this mineral.
For homes or office use a small piece of this mineral is mounted on a
very exquisite form, like a lamp, and it glows in the dark producing
a light equivalent to daylight. Its glow is not discernible in the
daylight. Most of the people have one illuminating their homes all the
time, also their places of business, for it seems to be perpetual. When
darkness is desired during the nights, a shield is put over the light.
Most of their yardage is sent in from Mars, yet a lot of their clothing
comes in made up ready to wear. Here again we must give credit to the
Martonians for the fine texture of cloth, exquisite designs and their
remarkable styling, for the clothes are not a burden to the people who
wear them. They are light but warm, cover well yet are not clumsy. Men
and women alike wear blouses or coats with collars that are not tight
around the neck, loose yet very decorative. Dresses for women are
styled to form, very artistically and fitted to each individuality. It
really makes the people be people, not flashy. They are sensible, yet
exquisite.
Everyone seems to know everyone else. There are no strangers. Even we
were not strangers.
In this section the Moon is very rich in gems, so everybody is well
supplied with beautiful gems, that on Earth would be priceless since
men commercialize everything there.
We also learned that the span of life on the Moon is from seventy-five
years to two hundred years. Age begins around one hundred fifty
years. On Mars the span of life is from five hundred to one thousand
years. Seven hundred fifty is the average aging period there but many
Martonians don't even age at that time.
After completing this trip around the city, we start back to the
airport. On the way we were taken to what on Earth would be called a
power plant. On the roof of this power plant there are some gadgets
that resemble parasols and others shaped like horseshoes. These are
very large in size. Some of the parasols are inverted and we are told
by one of the scientists of the Moon who is escorting us through the
plant that these gadgets act as condensers, drawing out of space what
we call static electricity. They call it energy. The power from this
plant is used for no other purpose than alloying metals and research
work, since they have plenty of power from the stones to supply all
the needs of the city, as we have mentioned before. In fact they were
experimenting at this very time with the idea of drawing more power out
of space.
We were told that this experimental power plant was brought to the Moon
from Mars. It is built in the wide open section on the light side. It
seems the light area of this city is used mostly for the airfield,
experimental stations, the big observatory and some of the large
factories, while the dark area in the foothills and up the sides of the
mountains is mostly the trade centers, residential section and outlying
agriculture district.
While in the other half of the city we had looked about to see if there
were any radio stations, but we saw nothing anywhere that looked like
one. So now we asked if they didn't have radio in the city and where
their stations were.
Our guide answered that they had no need for anything of that kind.
They have a better system than radio, which is the same as the
Martonian ship had, and each home was equipped with it.
Finally we arrived at the airport just in time to see the big ship take
off for Mars. The crew shook hands with us again and made us understand
that they would be looking for us at some future day. Then off they
went.
Before we could get from the spot where their ship had taken off, to
our ship, which was about one thousand yards distant, they were out of
sight. While we were standing around our ship, getting ready to take
off, one of the men from the observatory came to us and asked us to go
with him to the observatory.
This we did.
About twenty minutes elapsed between the time the big ship had left
the field and our arrival at the observatory. As we entered this vast
structure, the scientist in charge of operating the big telescope
focused this instrument on the dark moon and on the screen we saw the
ship that we had just seen leave here, already landing there. The part
it was landing on, as we could see, must have been very cold and it
seemed that something was falling which looked to us as if it was snow.
Dr. Johnston asked if it was snow.
The answer was given in the affirmative.
Then Bob wanted to know, "why do they land there? Are there any
inhabitants there or is it just a landing place for some reason,"
because during our flight in the Martonian ship we had been told that
the ship could make it straight through to Mars without stopping.
In response to Bob's query, the scientist did something to the
telescope that seemed to draw the Moon right in, for behold we saw
people gather around the ship after it landed and start unloading
parcels, as well as loading others. They were small people averaging
about four feet in height and well built in proportion to their
height. They were wearing heavy clothing, something like our Eskimos
wear. These people seemed to be white. The scientist explained to us
that these were sturdy people and very brilliant, with a life span of
five hundred years. He said that these people raise hardly no food
because of the intense cold of their Moon homeland; but that it is all
delivered to them by Martonian ships from Mars and from this Moon.
However, they do have plenty of wild life there, should they ever run
short of other food.
Dr. Johnston wanted to know how people living in such a cold place
manage to keep warm: what system of heating is used.
To answer this question another section of this dark moon is
brought into view upon the screen and here is shown a heating unit
for community service. This was located quite a distance from any
settlement, yet as it was explained to us, heat was piped to each
dwelling from this central unit.
We immediately thought of the atomic power, or as known on the Earth,
the atomic pile, about which Dr. Johnston was well informed. So he
inquired further in reference to it; if the power used for heating
there is similar to what we have on Earth, but which so far we have
never used in this manner.
Our scientist friend seemed to understand the information which Dr.
Johnston was seeking, for his answer was, "what you Earth men have now
is very dangerous to work with, for you really haven't got anything
except wild, uncontrolled power. Your job is taming this power down so
that it will not be injurious to anyone. You will have to get another
element to do this with, as we have done. Then you will be able to use
it so well that even a child can handle it without any harm. You have
some of that element on Earth, but you have not yet found it. It is
through the proper use of this power that the dwellings on the dark
moon are being heated."
"Of course there is a light side to this dark moon, also. Had the ship
taken off twelve hours earlier, you would have seen it land on the
light side. There is a landing field on both sides of this Moon at
which the Martonian freighters stop on each trip. Since this is the
dark side we are viewing, you will not be able to see the ship land on
the other side where it will go when it leaves from where you now see
it."
While he was yet talking, we saw the ship take off and instead of going
into space towards Mars, it looked as if he climbed from the bottom to
the top of the circle and over it to the other side. As it went over
the horizon, it was much like a sun setting, and it vanished.
"Now he is on the light side for he took supplies with him from here to
the people there," was the comment.
As if in answer, the pilot of the ship spoke to us at the observatory
telling us that he knew we had kept watching him, for he too had his
screen on all the time beamed to this Moon. He said that the side he
is on now has a temperature at present of about thirty degrees. The
inhabitants there are just beginning their day's activities. These
people are not as active as those living on the Moon they had just
left. They are a slow moving people on that side of this other moon.
His ship is nearly unloaded by now and they are about ready to take off
again, since there is not much of interest at all on this moon. He adds
that the people on the light side of that moon had been transported
there some five hundred years before, while the people on the dark side
are originals.
"Where did they come from," questioned Dr. Johnston, in surprise.
"From the light side of this Moon," was the reply. "You already know
that the people there are adventurous and love to do anything or go
anywhere to satisfy their explorers' nature. Whenever the Martonians
plan to establish a new outpost in space, these tribes are always
eager to go there to maintain the post. As you heard, the post on the
Moon you have just seen was established five hundred years ago, at
which time one whole tribe was moved there from here. By staying there
steadily they have increased their population. Those on the light side
have a life span of only about three hundred fifty years, so none of
those originally taken there are still living. However, should any of
those living there, either on the light side or the dark side, ever
desire to come to this Moon or go to Mars, either to visit or to live,
they may do so, for one of the Martonian ships would take them. This
has always been the Martonian policy. Some have taken advantage of this
privilege and come here to stay, but most of them have come now and
then merely to visit. The same is true about going to Mars."
Here he turned smiling to our chieftain companion from the light side
and said, "Right?"
Our friend smilingly nodded an assent.
His questions along that line answered, Dr. Johnston next wanted to
know how far this telescope has penetrated into space.
Here the scientist marked on a blackboard in symbol drawing, indicating
that its limits haven't yet been reached and that its power is being
steadily increased by new instruments being added onto it.
"From what you have seen and explored, are all planets of all systems
outside of our own system, as well as within it, inhabited?" broke in
George.
"Yes," was the prompt reply, "of trillions upon trillions of planets
known to us now, we know of no planet anywhere that is not partially,
if not densely inhabited. In our own system, planet Venus is fifty
thousand years ahead of Earth and twenty thousand years ahead of Mars
in advancement. Your Earth, being the third nearest planet to the sun,
is one of the oldest planets in our system."
"If that is true and the Earth is so old, why haven't we got the things
that the Martonians have?" queried Bob, still fascinated by what he had
seen of their space ships.
"You did have them at one time," was the amazing reply, "for there
have been many civilizations on the Earth. The present civilization is
beginning to realize the possibilities of a better life than they now
have, and are striving to bring these possibilities into fulfillment,
yet the people are going about it in the wrong way. There is no segment
of society upon the Earth planet at present who lives according to the
primal purpose of its Creator by which all inhabitants of other planets
have learned to live thereby advancing towards greater perfection. No
group of humanity can ever attain the heights through a destructive
procedure, that it is possible to attain, for destruction finally leads
to annihilation of all humanity."
"If the Earth planet could talk, it could tell an amazing story about
the Atlanteans, the Lemurians, as you know them on Earth and other
civilizations that preceded them. They all attained great heights of
development, some greater than others. But in the end they wound up in
annihilation. For after attaining certain heights they all resorted to
using their knowledge and their wonderful machinery towards destroying
one another. It seemed as though they could not keep from being
selfish and greedy for power. When these traits once became rooted in
the family life of the planet, that civilization was on the way to
annihilation."
"This instrument will bring back the past of millions of years and
show you what has been," he continued as he switched on an entirely
different instrument.
Sure enough, he showed us for a fleeting minute what Lemuria looked
like in her highest attainment, also Atlantea and the Roman Empire.
"There were others that preceded these, all with still higher
attainments than these you have seen, but to be able to show you just
what did take place we will have to go to another building where we
have different instruments than we have here."
"This is known as 'The House of Records'," our guide remarked as we
approached another building located just a short distance from the
observatory. "It too belongs to planet Mars, and the purpose of its
being on the Moon is, that in case the big telescope which we have
just left, runs across something not known before, it could be checked
to this building to get a correct answer. This is more like a branch
building on the Moon, since the Martonians have a vaster building,
of vaster records of a total system, as well as other systems, which
they keep on their planet. The Earth men tried to do the same thing,
but only in the field of literature. They did have a marvelous
record at one time in the Library of Alexandria, but selfishness and
dogmatic minds destroyed it. Even now, because of the force of such
characteristics, the Earth man is walking the path of civilizations
that have preceded him and have gone into oblivion."
Within the House of Records is a large machine that looks similar to
a moving picture machine. Before starting the machine in operation
our host explained, "through this machine you will be shown what
man should do. On the screen you will see a picture of a race of
civilization that preceded all these other civilizations on the Earth,
but did not go through the channel of destruction as the others have.
This race is known as the Triterian race. The only symbol that you
have on Earth today of this civilization is a deity called Triton,
worshipped by one of your tribes who picture the deity half man and
half fish, symbolizing master men over all elements of nature. This
race transported itself from Earth to other planets in space ships
at a time when they knew the Earth would have to be evacuated, since
the section of land which they dwelled upon would be flooded and that
way put to rest, while other new lands would come up from beneath the
waters. Being masters of nature's elements, and knowing what was about
to happen, instead of staying and being destroyed on the Earth, they
evacuated themselves to other planets."
"One of these days," he continued, "there will be a civilization who
will witness the rise of those lands that are now under water and
Triteria will be discovered, as far as her cities are concerned, like
so many cities of recent civilizations are being discovered by Earth
men in these days. Since the Triterian race left the Earth to the
present day, there has been an added amount of growth to the Earth
in the neighborhood of one hundred foot thickness. The Earth is much
heavier now than it was then."
"Preceding the Triterians were races of greater achievement yet.
There were twenty-four different civilizations prior to the Triton
civilization that did not destroy themselves as Lemuria and Atlantea
did."
"It is only since Lemuria and Atlantea that destruction on Earth by the
hands of civilization itself has been taking place. That is the great
reason why the Earth people are so far behind the others, even though
their planet is the third oldest in the system. Mars, for example, is
younger than the Earth and yet the people there are thirty thousand
years ahead of you on Earth in development. This is because Mars has
only had two such destructions which were caused by the hands of their
civilizations."
"Now it looks like the Earth is going to have another destruction, for
the present civilization is getting very smart, developing fast in the
mechanical field but without wisdom in the way of living. Instead of
having wisdom, egotistic exaltation has taken a lead, and it is that
very thing that destroyed Atlantea."
"The people on Venus are still farther ahead of those on Mars for they
have had no such destruction at any time. When civilizations come and
then destroy themselves, the following civilization must start from
nothing again. Whereby, if they do not destroy themselves but continue
the progress in a balanced state, they can then do the same thing that
the Triterians have done; for a man is not only a man of a particular
planet, in reality he is a dweller in the Universe. He can go to any
planet at will, providing he attains that which he inherited at birth."
Without pride of personality but more as a matter of fact, he added, "I
am a member of the Triterian race. There is a universal law that a man
can go on forever, as he is, providing he learns and lives as he was
meant to."
"You have a book of guidance on Earth in which you are told that man
was given dominion over all things, including his own planet. The only
race that accepted that statement and lived it, was the Triton Race.
As a result they never knew a mortal death, for death to us is nothing
more than a wrong application of knowledge and the lack of much more
knowledge through it, which brings on confusion, and confusion is
destructive."
"Doesn't age have something to do with it?" inquired Johnny.
"No. That is a wrong concept. Your book of guidance tells you that as
death came by man, so must life come by man, which means, if man has
the right concept of life and its purpose, death would not be known to
him, nor age. For man is nothing but a thought in action and thoughts
are never old. They are constantly being replaced by new ones. This is
progress. There is nothing in this universe that dies or ever did die,
as you people know death. All there is, is a constant change, which
is constant newness, and that knows neither age nor death. Its law is
countless action, everlasting progress. You were given dominion over
all things upon Earth, including Earth itself. This did not mean the
Earth alone, but it meant all earths, which are planets, which then
means that humanity is universal and not planetary or earthly."
Here he quoted the statements made by Jesus, 'I am in the world but
not of it' also 'in my Father's house are many mansions' adding "when
the Earthly man learns this well, and lives it, he will be like the
Triterians. He will not be looking forth to death, but rather have
everlasting life, and youth rather than age. That is what the people on
these other planets have learned. They are not altogether perfect, but
they have learned that much, and that is why they are so much further
ahead of Earth's people. When the Earth's people learn this, they will
not be destroyed nor annihilated from the Earth. But if they continue
in the channel in which they are now moving, they will experience the
same fate that others have."
And this seems to be the philosophy of the people on the Moon and on
Mars, as we figured it out.
Now the machine has been switched on and on the screen we are viewing
the picture of the Triton race. They were very tall, handsome people.
We would judge the average was six feet tall or a little better and
well built in proportion to their height; almost like one. Most of them
were brunette but here and there we could see one who was more of a
blonde. By their expressions we could see they were very intelligent.
They did very little work, what we would call labor of any kind. They
had machines to do everything for them. We might say that all the work
they did each day, which the machines could not do, at best was two
hours. The machines did the rest of the work.
Their buildings, homes, and cities in general seemed to possess
something that a man can dream of but seldom at any time realize.
They really were masters over nature, as we could easily see. We could
almost write a volume telling what we have seen on the screen.
As we watched this picture and its full import dawned upon us, we
wanted to know how they can reproduce these happenings of millions of
years in the past.
The reply was, "past is present, and present is also past. Nothing
that ever was, is, or will be, can ever be erased from the archives
of eternity. It is always present and whenever the proper conditions
prevail, reproduction can take place. This machine is a proper
condition that can reproduce things as you are seeing them, so that
by studying the reproduction we can know what happened in the past
and why it happened. This way mistakes can be detected. Since all
forms and all things are nothing but various rates of actions, which
are sometimes called vibrations, they remain in the vastness of space
forever."
"For an example," and here he switched to another scene, the Earth, the
recent war which we have gone through and the conditions we are going
through now, "this is picked right out of space. Once it is picked, an
indelible picture is made of it by this machine. This can be done not
only of the Earth, but by this same method we scan all interstellar
space, which includes all actions within it, involving trillions upon
trillions of systems of planets as well, and the activities upon them."
Again he referred to our book of guidance in which is the promise that
the Book of Remembrance shall be opened unto everyone.
"Someday," he said, "a race will rise upon the Earth that will live as
people should live, and in time they probably will get such a machine
as this one, which reveals all the past; or, should they be worthy of
it, they will be given one by the Martonians who already have them."
Engrossed in the workings and revelations given by this apparatus,
George wanted to know if the other planets have machines like this one.
"No," was the answer, "we are the only ones who have it, for we are
not as developed as the people on the other planets. Those living on
Venus, Jupiter, and all the other planets in our system are still
better developed than we are. They use their consciousness instead of a
machine to accomplish the same things, and even better."
After all this we are becoming anxious to return to our ship, for while
we grasped a lot of what we have seen, there were some things that were
puzzling us and which we wanted to think out. Since all this was being
given us with the aid of an interpreter, we could not very well expect
to get them clearer than they already had been given us. Finally we
suggested that we had better return to the airfield and get started
back to where we had come from.
On the way to the airport, our host asked us to stop into the
observatory once more.
To oblige him, we did.
There he flashed on the screen of the big telescope for us and here
we saw the Martonian ship which was by this time approaching Mars at
a terrific speed that registered in the observatory a speed of one
million, nine hundred thousand miles per hour.
The pilot knew when this happened and he spoke to us, saying, "haven't
you yet started back? You must like our school system."
Of course this was in a sort of joking manner, but there was more truth
in his words than you realize. We have been in this city two full days,
where with the friendship and cooperation of all, we have learned more
here than we ever thought we would. By ourselves we could not have
learned as much in years as has been given us in these two days.
Finally we started for our ship. On arriving at the airport, we find
that the maintenance men of the field have our ship ready for us. We
looked it over, checking on everything and saw that it was all in
first class shape. Then we took off.
We circled the city twice and started back towards our landing place on
the plateau. Once in the air, we contacted the Earth through our radar
system and told them that we would have quite a message to send after
landing back at our original place. In the meantime we would keep in
contact with them steadily, giving them a bird's-eye view of what we
are seeing.
The answer from the Earth came with great delight and we were told that
all radio stations would be broadcasting our message direct from us as
we were giving it.
Always desiring to fly over new territory, George asked the colored
chieftain if he knew of any other section of the Moon over which we
could return instead of the way we had come.
He said there were a large village he had heard about, located about
five hundred miles south of the line we went over and we could fly back
that way if we wanted to.
We decided that would be interesting since we wanted to cover as
much of the Moon as possible. Sure enough, there was a village and
the people living there spotted us coming in. When we got within one
thousand feet of the ground our temperature graph indicated a heat of
one hundred forty degrees. We figured that on the ground it must have
been one hundred sixty degrees or over. Johnny spotted what could have
been a landing field, but there was nothing to indicate that it was.
Bob asked the chieftain and he didn't know.
With our glasses we are able to clearly see the people on the streets.
They are dark, much darker than our chieftain friend, and very tall.
We would judge the population of this village to be about two thousand,
or less.
The territory looks quite barren and rough. The valley in which this
village is located is very hilly, surrounded by mountains.
The white boys told us that at one time they had heard of this village
and that everybody living in it has what we would call a cave. For
forty hours every day, when the heat is at its peak, the temperature
here reached around one hundred eighty degrees Fahrenheit, and that is
when the villagers go into their caves. This village really is located
within a big crater, not exactly like other craters, for it isn't
round. Instead, it is a valley crater.
Dr. Johnston asked, "how do these people live? What do they live on?"
"According to the story told to us, the Martonian ships bring their
necessities in during the cool of the night. That is why the landing
field is there. In exchange they take a certain kind of crystal that
is mined in this territory and is used for many things on planet Mars,
like glass to look through," answered our native friend.
From this explanation, Dr. Johnston figured he must have meant fine
glass like lenses on machines of Martonian make, including the big
telescope.
Still curious, George questioned him further, trying to get a better
understanding as to what kind of crystal it was.
Here the chieftain interrupted and succeeded in conveying to us that it
was very large in size, varying from twenty-four inches to fifty inches
in diameter, according to indication he made with his hands.
Then George wanted to know how thick it was.
Here too there was a variation for it was in different thicknesses.
The larger ones would be about five feet thick. By signs, he indicated
that it was so pure, so clear, that if you were going toward one, you
wouldn't know it was there until you hit it.
There still remained five hundred miles from this point to our landing
place over a southern route, and it was all hot and rough country, very
much of a desert right on through.
Believe me, we certainly were grateful for having planted that flag of
all nations as we had when we first arrived on the Moon, for we spotted
it first. Then we knew we were close to our landing place. The nearer
we came to our landing field, the cooler the temperature registered. We
knew then that we would not be venturing out to the south exploring it,
on foot especially, for that heat was more than we cared to take on a
hike, even if we did have plenty of oxygen to use for breathing.
All this time we have been in constant contact with the Earth giving
them a word picture of our experiences and views of the Moon as we saw
it.
After landing and being greeted by our native friends who had remained
behind while we were gone on our trip, we radared a two hour message to
the Earth in reference to what we have seen on the Moon, the people we
have met and their friendliness towards us, their beautiful cities, the
big telescope, the Martonian ship and the type of people who live on
Mars, according to the crew members of the big ship and the scientists
we have met from there.
We received an answer from the Earth saying that the people there had
heard our report with a tremendous surprise. Thousands and thousands
of people were rejoicing over this great news, while other thousands
were wondering how much truth there was in it. Every radio station was
jammed with calls from people who wanted to know when they could make a
trip to the Moon, when the next ship is going there, and all sorts of
things. All were wishing us happy returning, that nothing would happen
to us on the way back. Now their big question on Earth is: how soon are
we coming back?
We can't answer that one for them because we don't know yet. There is
still a lot more of the Moon we would like to explore before returning
to Earth.
Sure enough, we no more than finished sending our message and had
broken contact with the Earth when the white chieftain arrived on
the scene with a group of his tribesmen and told us that if we were
interested in exploring to the northeast, he would like to go with us
on the trip.
Bob asked him why he would choose the northeast.
He replied that he knew there was something there, but he never had
been able to get up there. Once in a great while someone wandered into
his village saying that he had come from a long distance and from that
direction.
So Bob told him we would fly over that way the next day and take him
with us.
The villagers had prepared a large supply of food in native dishes
which they had sent with their leader and his companions. So that
evening we all feasted in picnic style on the ground alongside of our
ship. Of course, among our supplies we still had much canned and dried
food which we had brought with us from the Earth, but we have used
comparatively very little of it since landing here on the Moon because
all these natives have been so good to us. Also this native food is
really good, and feasting with these people is a real delight for they
are so enthusiastic and joyous in all that they do.
While eating and having such a wonderful time, we expressed the
wish that we had some way by which we could send the voice of the
chieftains, as well as pictures of them and their people to the Earth,
for we would like to have all of our Earthly friends enjoy these
experiences with us. But up till now all messages have been sent by
code.
Johnny, a very brilliant young chap, suddenly got an idea and decided
to see what he could do about it. Leaving us to continue our eating and
merry-making, he went within the ship to work out his idea, which he
said had come to him at the observatory. It was something in connection
with the workings of the big telescope as he had seen it, but he didn't
tell us more than that.
During the course of the evening, the white chieftain showed us some
magic tricks, in the way of entertaining us. These were different from
anything we had ever seen on Earth. We called them tricks, but he
claimed they were genuine since he possessed powers which we Earth men
did not understand. Afterward some of the natives danced a very cute
little dance to the accompaniment of chanting.
Johnny missed all this entertainment because he was busy inside the
ship. At this point he came out and informed us that he had hooked up
the radio broadcasting set in a new way with the radar. He asked us to
be quiet for a little while as he was going to try the test. First he
sent a radar signal to the Earth indicating what he was about to do and
asking them to give close attention for this experiment was something
entirely different than anything he had ever heard of being tried
before. Then he began to speak through the microphone.
Quickly the Earth radared back, saying they have heard his voice
clearly and could understand his words.
That turned the trick.
At this, he told his listeners on Earth that he was going to put on the
chieftain of the white tribe from the dark side of the Moon.
They radared back asking him to hold off the experiment for fifteen
minutes. This would give them time to alert all radio stations of the
world that they too might be on the beam and broadcast directly to the
peoples of the world what we were sending from their Moon, which they
had so long considered dead and uninhabitable.
When we realized what had just been done, what our brilliant companion
and copilot had accomplished in this field, our rejoicing knew no
bounds. But, being Earthmen, we wished for still more. Now that we were
going to be able to send our Moon friends' voices through space and
have them heard on Earth, we wanted to also send their pictures, but we
doubted whether the small televising instruments we had with us would
send pictures from here to the Earth.
After fifteen minutes were up, contact was again established with the
Earth and the white chieftain was introduced. He spoke in his native
tongue to the peoples of the world. When he got through talking,
we asked him if his dancers would dance and chant as they had when
entertaining us earlier in the evening.
This they did.
After they finished, the black chieftain who had accompanied us on our
trip, was introduced and he, too, talked in his native tongue to the
peoples of the Earth.
Then each one of us talked to our Earth friends in our language,
which they understood. We told them of our plans for the next day
when we were going to make a flight over the northeast territory, and
we promised, since this was a success thus far, that we would try to
broadcast on our flight and give a description of the territory.
The Earth station with which our contact was made wanted to know
the exact time we were expecting to take off on this trip so they
could have all connections completed and ready for a round-the-world
broadcast of our trip direct from us.
They also told us that since the people on Earth have heard the
natives on the Moon actually talking to them over their radios, they no
longer doubt our findings. Further, they informed us that they tried
the television screens in different ways while they were receiving
our messages and they had succeeded partially in screening the white
chieftain and the dancers, not enough to know what this chieftain
looked like, but just a form which was descriptive, as we had given
before of his gown which he was wearing, and what appeared to be the
magic stone we had told them he had hanging on a gold chain from his
neck. They said the picture wasn't anything to brag about but yet
it was sufficient to prove our messages true. And they added that
the people on Earth were really excited. They seemed to be living in
another world right now.
After this was over and contact with the Earth had been broken, we
continued visiting with our friends, telling them a little about
living on the Earth and questioning them about many things concerning
conditions upon the Moon. This lasted until most of the long Moon night
was gone. Finally we went to sleep for the few remaining hours.
While the rest of us see to all the final preparations before leaving,
Johnny contacts the Earth, alerting them to the fact that we will be
taking off in about an hour. He tells them he will try to keep the
same connection while flying that he had last night and will keep our
televising set on also, in hopes they can see for themselves to at
least a small degree what the Moon surface looks like.
All weather conditions are fine. In fact, the weather has been perfect
for flying ever since we arrived here.