CHAPTER VII.
THE MELODY OF FLOWERS AND ZARLAH.
My visitor appeared to be a young man of about twenty-five, tall,handsome, broad-shouldered, and fair-complexioned, with that frank andopen countenance which claims the friendship of all men. Without amoment's hesitation he stepped forward with outstretched hand and, inthe composite language of Mars, said:
"Good-evening, Almos. I am afraid this is an intrusion. I haveinterrupted your studies, I know, but the fact is--"
"Not at all, my dear Reon!" I found myself replying. "I am glad to seeyou at any time, and now, how can I be of service to you?"
Although I answered him in the composite language, and in a manner thatdid not excite the slightest suspicion, I did so unconsciously. Inspite of the quandary in which I found myself upon coming face to facewith an inhabitant of Mars, I outwardly remained perfectly calm, nor didit require any effort to appear so. The brain, in such an emergency,followed instinctively its natural habit. It was as if another man hadspoken from within me, one who was perfectly acquainted with the visitorand with Martian affairs. I found, however, when the surprise of thefirst few moments had passed, that my mind could take control wheneverit exerted itself to do so. Thus I was able to say whatever I wished,or, if necessity demanded, draw upon Almos' knowledge for information.Replies came with the ease that Almos himself would have experienced inanswering questions, and I soon found that, with discretion, there wasno danger of my visitor suspecting the remarkable change of personalityin his friend.
I learned that Reon had come with a message from Sarraccus, one of Mars'greatest scientists, who was about to give a demonstration of his latestinvention, a remarkable musical instrument called the lumaharp. Arecognized authority on anything of a scientific nature, Almos' counselwas sought, and it was desired that he should be present at the recitalof this wonderful instrument.
Hastily ascertaining the time, I found that I had only two hours inwhich it would be safe to remain on Mars. So interested had I been in myobservations of Earth, that the time had passed without my being awareof the narrow margin I had left myself in which to see the planet. I,however, informed my visitor that I would be ready to accompany him in afew minutes, and with all haste, prepared myself for this newundertaking.
I realized that once having left the observatory and stepped into a newand strange world, many things might happen to prevent me returningwithin two hours. But besides feeling that I was in duty bound to Almosto attend this demonstration, I also felt that the risks I had takenwere too great to go unrewarded by even a glimpse into the life of thiswonderful planet. The future, too, held that element of uncertaintywhich made me feel that I might pay dearly for the five hours spent inanother world. If the return current failed to do what was expected ofit, if I had erred in my calculation of the time I could remain onMars, or if my room had been broken into and my body moved, the resultswould be disastrous.
I must attend this demonstration at any cost, but I would explain to myhost that it was most urgently necessary to return to the observatorywithin two hours. I was now ready for the strange journey, and,approaching my visitor, I said:
"And now, Reon, I will accompany you, but there is no time to be lost,as an experiment I am conducting with one of these instruments demandsmy attention in two hours."
I held back the portieres as Reon passed out, and following him down ashort passage, we stepped out upon a wide balcony constructed of whitemarble.
A wonderful sight met my astonished gaze. It was a summer evening, andthe dome of the heavens seemed ablaze with the light of myriads ofdiamonds, so countless were the stars to be seen and so brilliant didthey appear in this rarefied atmosphere. Below me stretched out whatappeared to be a magnificent park, with white marble buildings scatteredhere and there, while floating easily in the air were hundreds of smallcanoe-like airships, containing the inhabitants of this fairyland,reclining on cushions and enjoying sailing through the cool night air.As the question of buoyancy of these remarkable airships arose in mymind, I immediately became aware that they were sustained, in the air bya metal which was used in their construction that was repellent to thesurface of Mars. It had been discovered by the Martians that theirplanet, like a magnet, had both the power of attracting and repelling.The north and south poles were found to be the repelling poles of thisimmense magnetic sphere. Nothing could exist on these poles that was nota fixture to the planet's surface, consequently no snow or ice existedat the poles themselves. Many explorers' lives had been lost before thisdiscovery was made; those who succeeded in reaching the pole having madethe discovery too late to save themselves from being hurled off theplanet into space. But so small was the surface of this repelling polethat it was argued that the pole must run through the center of theplanet, to make it equal in mass to the attracting force which coveredthe rest of the surface.
Working on this theory, although it was impossible to reach the poleitself without danger of being hurled off the planet, excavations weremade as near it as possible, and a tunnel was run under the surfaceuntil the desired point was reached. A change from rock to ore wasencountered, with evidences of its having been subjected to intenseheat, and upon penetrating farther, pure metal was discovered. Thisstrange metal, unlike any other metal known to the Martians, was foundto possess a powerful repelling force. And when it was brought to thesurface, it was discovered that it not only retained its repellingforce, as a lodestone retains its attracting power, but that this sameforce was greatly increased, doubtless owing to the close proximity ofan unfriendly element in the surface of the planet away from the pole.The repelling force of this metal was found to be ten times as great asthe specific gravity of a piece of iron of relative proportions, and byits use in the construction of airships, the problem of aerialnavigation on Mars had been solved.
Almos' knowledge of such matters made me instantly aware of all this themoment the question of buoyancy presented itself in my mind, but,although I could not help marveling at the ingenuity of this wonderfulpeople, I outwardly preserved the calm demeanor which Almos' strongpersonality had made a characteristic. Indeed, Reon, who had beenpreparing an aerenoid for our use--such was the Martian name for theseairships--was quite unaware of my astonishment, and it was plain thatwith the exercise of due care, when I spoke without the prompting ofAlmos' knowledge, there was no likelihood of anyone's having a suspicionof my true personality.
The aerenoid in which we were going to make our journey differed inappearance considerably from those which I saw floating about us.Cigar-shaped, with windows in its sides and roof like a steamer'sportholes, it more nearly resembled a submarine boat than an airship, asit rested on a platform built in the side of the balcony for thepurpose. Yet such was the repelling force of this wonderful metal whichthe Martians had discovered, and which I found was attached in two ormore strips to the bottom of the aerenoids, that the matter of weight intheir construction was of little importance. While resting on theground these strips were encased in a material that was a non-conductor,thus neutralizing the repelling force. In order to raise the car thecasing was merely drawn back by means of a controlling lever, untilenough of the metal was exposed to the surface of Mars to cause therepelling force to lift the aerenoid, and by preserving this exposure,any desired height could thus be attained.
The entire design of this aerenoid indicated that it was built to attaingreat speed, and yet as I stepped into it through a door that closedflush with the rounded sides, I was astonished at seeing no traces ofmachinery. Instantly I became aware of the extraordinary means ofpropulsion, however, and so simple, yet so effective, was it, that Icould not restrain a cry of admiration at this new evidence ofscientific progress.
Atmospheric pressure, instead of retarding speed, was employed toproduce it. Under the floor of the car and occupying the entire rearhalf, was a chamber of steel, five or six feet broad at one end, andtapering down with the sides of the aerenoid until it reached the stern,where it ended in an opening one inch in diame
ter. By a chemicalprocess the air in the chamber was exhausted, instantly causing avacuum. Immediately the air outside the car rushed in through the smallopening at the rear end, with such great force as to cause a concussionagainst the forward and broad end of the chamber, thus driving theaerenoid ahead. So quick was this action that, when going at greatspeed, more than one hundred exhaustions would occur in a minute. Simplethough this means of propulsion was, gravity having been overcome andthe long pointed body of the aerenoid offering little resistance, thespeed thus attained was remarkable.
Taking his position at the forward end, where a window in the top of thecar afforded a view ahead, Reon now moved a lever at his side and werose until clear of the observatory building. We then commenced to glidealong without either vibration or sound. Slowly we made our way throughthe many small aerenoids that floated about us, and a soft light, comingfrom a canopy containing the substance used to illuminate theobservatory, clearly revealed the occupants to me, as we passed closeby them. I now noticed that the women were wonderfullybeautiful--beauty that was possible only where sickness had been unknownfor hundreds of years.
Leaving this happy gathering, we passed over what appeared to be a riverabout a mile broad, whose banks rose perpendicularly a hundred feet ormore from the water. These were illuminated with lights, placed everyhundred yards or so, giving it the appearance of a broad city streetstretching as far as the eye could see. At once it occurred to me thatthis was one of the wonderful canals, visible even from Earth, and as wepassed over it I observed another canal, equal in proportions, runningparallel. Although both were on level ground, their waters were flowingrapidly in different directions. What new wonder was this!
Into this second canal our aerenoid now turned, sinking slowly untilwithin thirty feet from the surface. Gradually our speed increased untilthe lights along the banks formed one long unbroken line. One hundredmiles a minute we sped along, and yet without the least vibration orsound. At such a speed it was possible to encircle Mars in seventyminutes, almost, I thought, as rapidly as could Puck in "MidsummerNight's Dream," who boasted of putting a girdle round the Earth in fortyminutes.
On we flew down the walled-in track, passing numerous other canalsequally as broad, flowing into it, until within ten minutes a faint graylight appeared. It was daylight, and in a few moments sunlight crownedthe banks on either side of us. Even as I looked the sun itselfappeared, and in the space of fifty seconds it was high in the heavens.In fifteen minutes we had covered almost a quarter of the globe, and nowit was the middle of the afternoon.
The importance of having speedways in which to confine aerenoids,travelling at the terrific velocity of one hundred miles a minute, wasobvious, and what could be better adapted to the purpose than thesemagnificent waterways, which completely cover the surface of the planetwith such geometrical exactness, that they have always been a source ofgreat wonder to astronomers on Earth. Thousands and thousands of yearsold, the method of constructing this gigantic system of canals remainsenshrouded in the same mystery to the Martians, as that which surroundsthe building of the pyramids in Egypt.
I was now made aware of another valuable use to which the canals wereput, in fact a most important adjunct to the operation of an aerenoid.The checking of such terrific speed would be impossible, were it not forthe water in these canals. We had covered several hundred miles withoutpropulsion, and our speed had not decreased perceptibly, when, moving alever at his side, Reon turned the aerenoid slightly downward. In aninstant we were plunging along the surface of the water, sending highinto the air great clouds of spray, which formed snow-white banks oneither side of the wake, and made a most remarkable picture. I nowrealized why this high-speed aerenoid resembled a submarine boat inappearance.
Gradually our speed was reduced until, moving at not more than a mile aminute, we gently left the surface of the water and proceeded downseveral branch canals. At last we slowly rose above the top of the canalbanks. Higher and higher we ascended until we were about a thousandfeet in the air, and then proceeded at a greatly reduced speed.
A veritable fairyland lay beneath us. Stretching as far as the eye couldreach lay a landscape of pink and green, dotted with white marblebuildings of magnificent architecture. Narrow paths, shaded by trees,could be seen winding in and out over rustic bridges and besidesparkling brooks. But nowhere did there appear either cities ortowns--not even a road was there to indicate a volume of traffic in anyparticular direction.
No small aerenoids were to be seen floating about, and as the air in ourcar was now very close, I realized that in consequence of the lightatmosphere of Mars, the sun's direct rays gave great heat. It wasevidently the custom for Martians to remain as much as possible undercover in the daytime.
Opening the door of the aerenoid to obtain a fresh supply of air, I wasat once struck with the remarkable appearance of the sky, which wasintensely blue in color, but of such a dark shade as to appear almostblack. It presented all the appearance of night, so many stars werevisible and so brightly did they shine, while the sun blazed forth withsuch brilliancy from the surrounding blackness, that it was impossibleto look westward without shading the eyes. I now appreciated theenormous advantage of having an atmosphere as dense as Earth's, whichdiffused the light to a much more comfortable extent. But the appearanceof the Martian sky was magnificent, and I stood lost in admirationuntil, with a hardly perceptible shock, I discovered that we had come torest upon a ledge which projected from the circular balcony of a mostpalatial building.
Jumping out, I moored the aerenoid by means of ropes that were attachedto the balcony for that purpose. I was aware that this was my duty uponlanding, and when I had made everything secure, Reon left his place atthe levers and joined me.
There were numerous other aerenoids moored to the balcony, some of thehigh-speed class similar to ours, and a few of the lighter classresembling rowboats. The balcony was entirely deserted, however, and itwas evident that all were inside listening to the recital of thelumaharp.
As we proceeded across the broad balcony, I was astonished to discoverthat the outside walls of this building were entirely covered withbeautifully carved reliefs, representing the inventions of Sarraccus.Had it been daylight at the observatory, I would have noticed that it,too, was decorated with the wonders of other worlds discovered by Almos.The mountains on Earth, the seas, clouds, volcanoes, and ships; theseand many other objects that do not exist on Mars, were carved withremarkable faithfulness upon the walls of the observatory, and werelooked upon by Martians as the wonders of a strange world.
As at the observatory, the doorway was hung with heavy portieres, and,passing through these, we found ourselves in what appeared to be animmense palm garden, in which Martians were to be seen sitting ingroups, or walking about admiring the plants and flowers. Sunlightstreamed in through the roof, the covering of which had been rolledback, and I became aware that it was in such places as this that theMartians were to be found during the heat of the day.
Rain being unknown, it was necessary to grow the more delicate plantswhere they might be watered regularly and sheltered from the heat of themidday sun, and also from the hot winds that often came at this season.I now realized that the trees that I had noticed were to be found onlyupon the banks of streams and lakes, and that, with the exception of thegreen these afforded, Mars was entirely covered with a small and hardypink flower of the antennaria family, which flourishes in a dry andsandy soil.
Reon now left me, promising to return within an hour, in order that Imight reach the observatory in due time. As I walked slowly among thetall palms, taking a path here and there at random and admiring thebeautiful beds of flowers, some of which I recognized as flowers alsoindigenous to Earth, I noticed that all whom I met greeted me in themost cordial way, some pausing to say a few words. I saw the importanceof saying whatever was prompted by the first appearance of theindividual, and I found that I could thus join in a most enjoyableconversation with these charming people, with a knowledge of their na
mesand the matters of interest to them. All were very enthusiastic aboutthe lumaharp, and I anxiously awaited another number upon this wonderfulinstrument.
As the paths I turned down were all strange to me, I judged that Almoswas not familiar with the interior of this particular building, but asthere were many gardens nearer the observatory, he would have no reasonto visit this one, except on an occasion of this kind.
Not realizing the enormous size of the building, I had wandered far fromthe entrance at which I was to meet Reon, and had decided to ask to bedirected back, when suddenly I stopped, rooted to the ground, everynerve straining to catch a faint melodious sound that seemed to fill theair. No music on Earth could equal it! Before me arose a vision ofbeautiful flowers--flowers that had thoughts as beautiful as themselves,and that through the genius of a man poured forth their souls in avolume of melody, so beautiful as to beggar description.
As Almos was perfectly familiar with this remarkable invention, agradual comprehension of the wonderful genius of Sarraccus, itsinventor, came to me. Tall, calm, and of dignified bearing; a man ofgreat learning, but of few words; Sarraccus had won the love andadmiration of all by his discovery of the regenerating rays that hadgiven the people of Mars perpetual life and health. He it was who haddiscovered super-radium, and this wonderful power had, in time, beenused by others until many important inventions had developed from it,such as the virator, the radioscope, the radiphone, illumination withoutexpenditure of power or material, and several minor inventions, all ofwhich, however, contributed greatly to the comfort and advancement ofthis great people.
The aerenoid, one of his most important inventions, had made it possibleto reach any part of the globe within an hour, and this, coming at thetime of the great change in the social conditions on Mars, had expeditedthe movement to a wonderful extent by bringing the inhabitants of everyquarter of the globe into daily contact with one another. So easy andrapid was this means of transit through the air, that cities and townswere soon abolished, and in the process of time, Mars attained theideal, and became a World Beautiful--the magnificent estate of one largefamily.
And now Sarraccus had given the flowers a voice to sing of theirbeauty. In the mind of this great genius was conceived the idea thatinasmuch as there is ineffable beauty to the eye in the soft colors andshades of a flower--beauty too rare for the hand of man toreproduce--there must also be a corresponding sweetness of sound orvibration, if it were possible to transform its beauty into sound.Light-waves, he reasoned, varying according to the color and shade ofthe object, might be changed into sound-waves, if an instrument weremade sensitive enough to vibrate in response to these extremely delicateundulations of light. The vibrations would then vary in accordance withthe light-waves, and a harmony of sound, corresponding in sweetness tothe beauty of the flower, would result.
After many unsuccessful trials, Sarraccus found a material that, in theform of a fine wire, twenty or thirty feet in length, vibrated inresponse to light of a certain color, as a wire in a piano or harp willoften be attuned sympathetically to a certain note in the human voice,and will vibrate whenever that note is reached. The vibrations of thiswire in response to light, however, were almost imperceptible, and itwas only upon testing with a highly sensitive instrument that they werediscovered. Several wires were then made of different thickness, andeach was found to have a sympathetic vibration to a light of a certaincolor. The quantity of wires was then increased to represent everypossible shade of color, and when these were stretched between two largedrums, a faint sound was detected. The drums were then enclosed inchambers that led into large horns, and thus the sounds caused by thedelicate vibrations of the wires, though as soft as the sighing of thewind, were diffused and augmented so as to reach into every corner ofthe large building. Enclosed in a dark room, the wires occupied theposition of a plate in a camera, a large lens being adjusted in the wallopposite them.
The image of a flower, illuminated by the sun's light, was now thrownupon the wires, and a marvelous melody of sound resulted. Each delicateshade of color in the flower found a sympathetic wire which vibrated inresponse to it, and the harmony produced by all in chorus was theineffably sweet song of Nature. As Nature expressed its dreams ofbeauty in flowers, which in their simplicity and radiance defy the handof man to equal, so did the melody of these flowers far surpass anythingthat the ear of man had ever before heard. Did not the lilies of thefield receive the tribute of Christ? What wonderfully effective yetsimple truth would not He have heard in this surpassing melody? Asdifferent flowers were placed before the instrument, so would the musicchange; often sad and appealing as a whispered prayer, it would changeagain to a joyous triumphal chorus, full of the gladness of life andbeauty.
For a moment I stood spellbound, then by some irresistible, mystic powerI was drawn to it; and eagerly seeking the paths that led in thedirection of the sound, I became aware that as I gradually understoodand sympathized with this compelling cry of Nature, so the melody seemedto become my every hope. Ambition, love, aspiration, and passion surgedthrough that grand symphony. It was heard and understood by the soul, asother music ministers to the ear, and as I eagerly listened I wassensible of a yearning for a love--a love that was soon forgotten, and Iknew it to be mine. In the wonders of this new world I had forgottenthe love that, while on Earth, I had been ready to risk my life for, andnow it was the eleventh hour, and who could say whether I should everreturn to this paradise?
Seeing a little rustic arbor, and being overcome with the excess ofemotion and beauty, I turned my steps thither to rest and think.Situated in a shaded corner of the building, the interior of the arborwas almost in darkness, and I felt that here I would be alone andunobserved. Every instant I grew more sad at heart over the time which Inow felt had been wasted, and as the melody died away, my head sank onmy arms, as I rested them upon the table before me. My Earth-tuned soulseemed still to linger under the spell of the enchanted music.
I had remained thus but a few moments when I became conscious of a handsoftly laid upon my shoulder, and a voice, as sweet and gentle as themelody that had just died away, murmured, "Almos, poor Almos!"
The touch had a healing in it and was as gentle as the fall of snow.Raising my head I started up, giving utterance to the name thatinstinctively came to my lips--"Zarlah!" It was as if another man hadspoken the name while I stood entranced with the small soft hand held aprisoner in both mine, gazing down upon the beautiful being whose imageI had so often seen pictured in my mind. It was Zarlah!
I knew, now, that this beauteous image had not been an hallucination,and by what miracle it had all happened I cared not. Enough that thisbeautiful, radiant woman actually existed, and in one quick bound of theheart, I realized my all-consuming, deathless love for her.
What I might have indiscreetly said in the great emotions of those firstmoments, I know not, but before I could give utterance to further words,Almos' calm demeanor had asserted itself, and in a voice that gave noevidence of how I was torn within, I said:
"How is it, Zarlah, that you find time from your studies to lingerhere?"
"My studies have brought me here," she answered, gently withdrawing herhand and rising as if to go. Then quickly lifting her shining eyes tomine, in a playfully reproachful tone, she said, "And have you noexperiments at the observatory that demand your attention that you canafford to linger here, Almos?"
How beautiful she looked as she stood before me thus! Surely I could nothope for a better time than now to tell her all that was in my heart.There was uncertainty in the future--perhaps I would never again begiven the opportunity to speak that with which my soul burned.
Placing a hand lightly on her shoulder and looking down into herwonderful eyes, I said tenderly, "The reason I have lingered here,Zarlah, was to think of you."
A tremor of her slight form was the only response I received for someseconds that seemed hours to me, then, with her eyes turned away so Icould not read in them my fate, she murmured, "Did you not come to hearthe
wonderful instrument by which Sarraccus gives the flowers a voice?"
"I did," I answered passionately, "and its sweet melody whispered onlyof you--the radiant rose of the spheres. It told me of the yearning inmy heart--it sang of your great beauty, and of my unspeakable love foryou, and sobbed at the time I have wasted, a fortune of golden moments;then, as it died away, it led me to you. Is not this melody of flowersdirect from God's own hand, Zarlah? It must then be decreed by Him thatI should love you, for being truth itself, it can appeal only to thetruth that is within the soul."
I drew her unresisting form toward me, and, gently pushing back thewaves of soft brown hair, I tenderly kissed the beautiful face, radiantwith the light of love. A thought of fabled beauties of Earth passedbefore me. Could any of them compare with my Martian love? Would not theface of Helen--that which "launched a thousand ships" at Troy--havepaled into insignificance beside it?
For some moments we remained thus, neither of us caring to break thatsacred silence which to lovers means infinitely more than words. The joyof feeling that my love was returned, and that she whom I held in myarms was mine, made me forget all else, until, with a little sob, Zarlahwhispered:
"Dearest, in our great happiness, we must not forget the duties thathave been confided to us. You must return to the observatory at once.Come, and I will accompany you to where Reon waits."
The truth of Zarlah's words flashed upon me, and with it a fullrealization of the terrible mistake I had made. In the eyes of Zarlah Iwas a Martian, her life-long friend, Almos, and her anxiety for me toreturn to the observatory was the prompting of her Martian sense ofduty--her sole creed. In what words could I ever hope to explain that Iwas not Almos, when the voice, the manners, the features, and even theknowledge of her affairs were those of her intimate friend? And even ifit were possible to make Zarlah believe in the remarkable change ofpersonality, by explaining in full the weird and uncanny details of howthe change was effected, what happiness could I hope to derive from it;it was Almos she loved, not a strange spirit of whom she could knownothing--a spirit even from an alien world.
Such were the thoughts that filled my mind, as I walked beside Zarlahthrough this more than Edenic garden toward the entrance where Reon wasto wait for me. But, although utterly crushed by the realization of myown hopeless case, I felt that the knowledge of Zarlah's love, of whichI had so wrongly come into possession, had imposed upon me a sacredduty. I therefore gave no outward evidence of my emotions, though mycup of happiness was now changed to one of sorrow and bitterness, andwhen Zarlah proposed that we should meet the following evening, Iquickly assented with all a lover's eagerness.
We had now reached the entrance and, as we stepped out on the balcony, Isaw Reon waiting for me with the aerenoid in readiness. Seeing a merryparty in a large open aerenoid, and knowing them to be Zarlah's friends,I would have escorted her to them, but in a low tone she earnestlybesought me to lose no time in reaching the observatory.
A few words of farewell--a slight pressure of hands, and we parted; andas I walked over to where Reon stood, ready for the journey, I could nothelp marveling at the great sacredness in which all duties are held inthe eyes of the Martians; duties, too, that have no other reward thantheir own fulfillment. A feeling of shame came over me as I thought ofthe endless struggle, selfishness, and crime of another world that is aslave to Gold.