Amazing Stories — page 77: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

te natural or supernatural explanations to account mee ror at; haven’t actually sent out all that stuff, have you?” “No need to,” was his reply. “We are going there to find things out first hand.” “When?” I asked. “In about fifteen days,’ Hargraves informed me. “Listen to this.” I sat on the steps of the observ- ing ladder while he read the message he received. It ran as follows: “Since receiving your first signal, we have been considering which would be the best method of learning all we can from you, as well as instructing you in all the things that we think will be of value to you. It has been decided that the best method will be for you to visit us during the coming con- junction of your planet. To this effect we will send you one of our space machines to bring you to this planet. As you probably know, we are not able to withstand the extra strain to which our bodies are subjected on the Earth, so that we are not able to stay for any length of time. Moreover, we do not wish to run the risk of bringing disease back to our planet again, so we believe it will be best for you to come here with our representatives in the machine that will be sent for you. You will understand, we feel sure, that it is necessary for us to safeguard the health of this planet above all things, hence you will not feel that you are subjected to indignities, if special precautions are taken for our protection. “The constitution of the atmospheres of the two planets is nearly identical, so that you will suffer no inconveniences in that respect though the pressure will have to be increased for you. We will supply you with protective coverings in which the pressure can be kept suitable to your well-being. We would like to obtain as comprehensive a collection of your books on social, engineering and scientific subjects as possible. If you can obtain these for us, let us know.” (Hargraves informed them that this could be done.) “Tf you consent, the machine will leave here as soon as it is equipped and should arrive at its des- tination in fifteen days’ time. We desire you to be prepared by then, as it is not advisable that our envoy stay on the Earth any length of time. If these arrangements are suitable for you, let us know. We will resume in five minutes.” When Mars is in opposition to the Earth, the Earth is in conjunction with the sun to observers on Mars. At this juncture Hargraves sent the message sig- nifying our assent to the Martian plans. During the interval that had to elapse until our message was received, the following came through: “You may wonder whether we have visited the Earth throughout the ages that have passed since our first experience there. We have, several times, but we found the conditions not ripe for any attempt to communicate with you. Consternation and terror was manifested by those that saw us even one hun- dred years ago, our year being equal to 687 of your days, 669 of ours; since then, however, you have evidently made rapid progress. your recent advancement shows that your men of science, at least, are breaking away from the savage superstition that always surrounds a race in its development. You have learned, we believe, the great lesson that, because a thing or phenomenon is not understood, it is not necessary to call in un- The rapidity of. glide, the machine gm ater in as Then came a brief pause followed by: “Your acceptance of our offer has been received. It will be as well for you to prepare a store of pro- visions to last you at least fifty days, in case that the food which we can supply proves unsuitable for you. In case you have perishable supplies, we will pro- vide methods of preserving them. Our machine will ‘land’ on the water of the landlocked bay due south of your observatory, unless you inform us that it is inadvisable. It will aid the pilot if you mark your position with a large white banner with a black circle upon it. Kindly be prepared to board the machine at once. Unless you have some important question to put to us, or information to give us, this will be the last time we will communicate with you, until we see you here on this planet. We will close this communication by wishing you an inter- esting and profitable voyage to this parent planet of yours.” ‘Well, old man, what do you think of that?” said Hargraves, as he concluded reading the messages, ‘ “T don’t know what to think of it,” I replied. “It seems more like a dream than reality. I'll believe it to be true when the Martians arrive.” “I feel somewhat like that myself,’ said my com- panion. “It does seem too remarkable to be true. However, I guess we had better send a wire to Washington for those books, if they are to be here in time. We have plenty to do before we leave. Now, then, who are to be the other two that will accompany us?” “I would like to take my wife along. I am sure she would like to go,” I said. ‘We should take a THE RETURN OF THE MARTIANS 1 —~ as a — member of the gentler sex along with us, anyhow, don’t you think so?” “Of course, she must come along with us,” was Hargrave’s comment. ‘Who else?” “Nay. That is up to you,” I replied. “I suppose that one of the Washington people should go. They made this thing possible.” “I think that I will leave it to Smythe to select the fourth member. I'll wire him right away,” said Hargraves. The following days kept us busily employed, for there were many preparations to be made. My wife had agreed to accompany us after only a moment’s hesitation, and many of her suggestions were exceed- ingly useful to us. The books arrived from Wash- ington with a day to spare. There were nine large crates of them. I wondered if there would be room for them all in the space flyer. The fourth member of our party was Dr. Smythe himself. He decided to accompany us as soon as he read Hargrave’s telegram. He had taken the greatest interest in Hargraves’ work and read the Martian language as well as the discoverer of the library could. He would be an exceedingly useful member of the party. CHAPTER IV Be ATURALLY we were all on the qui vive on the day that the Martians were expected, and never before were the heavens watched with greater excitement. a dark speck was sighted in the blue which rapidly became larger, revealing it to be a machine—evi dently the one we expected. After a long spir: Ba a oe na ah Re See ete At about three o’clock, |