_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 the bottom "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 late
afternoon 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. They are 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 and city
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 we did 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 would be 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 remembered my 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 their old 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."