Professor Lowell’s charts, they have not been seen by our astronomers; but perhaps during the present near approach of Mars to the earth some of our keen-sighted observers who possess large instruments may see and take note of many more of these dark rounded spots, as they are very numerous, and new towns are in course of development.”
During the spring and summer a large number of the people find employment in the regions near the poles, especially those whose work is connected with the canal system and who have to see that the water from the melting snow-caps is turned into the proper channels and everything connected therewith kept in good working condition. All these workers, however, migrate to warmer latitudes as the very long and dreary winter approaches.
I have just received some interesting and very unexpected news which, as some writer says, “gives me furiously to think.”
John and M’Allister came to me asking anxiously whether I had fixed the date for our departure.
I replied that we should probably keep to our original programme and leave about the beginning of December, but asked John why he was so anxious to know?
“Well, Professor,” he answered, “there is more than one reason for my question. I do not think our stay should be prolonged. Haven’t you noticed any change in us?”
I replied that “I had not seen any particular change or alteration in them, except that in build and general appearance they were becoming more like the Martians.”
“Yes, Professor,” exclaimed John, “that’s just it. I don’t know whether it is the Martian air or the Martian food, or the combination of both, but we certainly are becoming more like Martians every day. Our eyes are becoming luminous, our complexions and features are changing, and, by Jove! if I haven’t grown nearly two inches since we came here! If I go on like this I shall soon be such a giant that I shall not care to go back at all.”
“Really, John,” I said, “is it so bad as that? Now I come to look at you critically you certainly do look taller; and I can see a little luminosity in M’Allister’s eyes, and rather more in yours. I suppose, being the youngest, you are more susceptible than M’Allister or myself.”
“Yes, I think that must be the case, Professor,” remarked John.
“However,” I added, looking at him and smiling, “you told me there were more reasons than one, so I suppose you have kept the weightiest reason to the last.”
“Well, I don’t know about its being the weightiest reason,” he answered, “but we shall require nearly four months to accomplish our journey to England after we leave here, and I reckon that by that time my stock of tobacco will be pretty nearly used up. I have given a lot away to our Martian friends, and I’ve tried some of the native growth; it’s rather decent stuff, but not a patch upon my mixture.”
I burst out laughing in such a hearty fashion that it set them off too, as I remarked, “Ah, John, I had a shrewd idea that there was something more behind your anxiety than the fact that you were becoming Martianised.”
“Heh, John,” exclaimed M’Allister, touching him playfully on the shoulder, “the Professor had you all right that time, I’m thinking!” John blushed up to the eyes, and said no more.
Ultimately it was agreed that it would be well to leave Mars on the 1st December, according to terrestrial reckoning.
So that matter was settled; but, just after they had left, Merna and Eleeta came in, both looking very glowing and happy.
After the usual greetings and a few casual remarks, Merna announced that he and Eleeta were to be united in the coming autumn.
I was a little surprised at the suddenness of the announcement, but at the same time exceedingly pleased; so, embracing them, I congratulated them heartily and wished them every happiness; then they left to tell some one else the news.
But, as I have said, these things “gave me to think.”
CHAPTER XXVI
WE WITNESS SOME WONDERFUL AERIAL EVOLUTIONS AND LISTEN TO MARVELLOUS MUSIC
Wherever we went we found new subjects for wonder and admiration, and fresh proofs of the high state of civilisation and development attained by the Martians. We had seen many evidences of their genius in engineering and mechanical undertakings, but we found that they excelled in every art and science, and their achievements made terrestrial accomplishments appear poor and even paltry by comparison. Whether we examined their sculpture, paintings, pictures, or photographs—which latter they take direct and at one operation, with all the natural tints—or whether we listened to music, our verdict was perforce the same—“We had not previously known anything to equal it.”
We have all become fairly accustomed to seeing numerous air-ships moving in all directions across the sky in the daytime, but it still seems strange to us to see the lights of the air-ships flitting about the nocturnal sky.
I mentioned this to Merna, and he remarked that no doubt it did seem rather strange to us, adding that my mention of air-ships was singularly apropos of what was then in his mind, for he was just about to inform us that an interesting aerial display had been arranged and was to take place that evening, with the view of affording us some idea of Martian out-door entertainments.
We all expressed our thanks, and our appreciation of the kindness we were receiving from the Martian nation; and I ventured to suggest that probably we were indebted to him for a considerable proportion of it.
He answered that it was true he had taken some share in this affair and in a few of the arrangements for the functions we had already attended, but that many others had done the same, for it was natural to the Martians to do all in their power when any help was needed. As we were strangers from another world they all vied with each other in making suggestions and arrangements which would afford us pleasure, or help to enable us to see all that was possible in their world.
We were fully aware that this was the case, for we were received with kindness and welcome wherever we went.
Merna’s affection for me seemed unbounded, and his love was shown in every action. Yet, like all the other Martians, he was never obtrusively demonstrative, everything being done in a quiet and natural manner. When on the earth his disposition had been very pleasing, but now his Martian nature seemed to have endowed him with a capacity for loving far transcending that of his human nature.
He was the same towards John, and we often spoke about it in Merna’s absence, whilst M’Allister had become as much attached to him as we were.
Just before sunset Merna rejoined us, and we passed out of the city into the open country to a spot not far from the place where we had landed from the Areonal. Here we found a large concourse of people assembled, and their numbers were being added to by fresh arrivals every minute. On looking upwards we saw air-ships speeding towards us from every quarter. Some brought passengers and landed them, but it was evident that most of the air- ships were about to take part in the display, as they remained up in the air instead of coming down to the ground.
We met many Martians whom we knew, and were introduced to others, so the time passed quickly in interesting conversation.
As soon as darkness fell Merna informed us that the display was about to commence, adding that he had purposely refrained from giving us any inkling of its nature, as he thought the unexpected would afford us greater pleasure.
We were gazing upwards at the vast assemblage of air-ships, which were lit up by the ordinary lamps used when travelling at night, when suddenly the whole sky became brilliant with the glow of countless thousands of coloured lights, and the air-ships began to move into their allotted positions.
Every ship—and there was a very large number of them—was covered all over with electric lamps. Some of the ships had all red lights, others all blue, others yellow, and so on through the whole range of tints known to us, besides many tints which we had never seen before.
