Arthur Zagat - The Golden Age of Science Fiction Volume IX

“Well, what is to be done now, John?” I asked; “we have tried two courses without any effect!”

“I would suggest, Professor, that we should go up higher,” he replied, “so as to enable us to try again from another altitude, then, perhaps, we may pass above the obstacle.”

“A good thought that, John!” I cried. So up we went, the machinery working all right now, and our spirits rose as we soared higher; but, alas! after rising a few hundred yards, the machines began to slow down, and soon stopped altogether.

“The de’il himself must be taking a hand in this business!” exclaimed M’Allister, “for this beats the worst experience I ever had! We can’t go up, we can’t go down, and we can’t go forward! Whatever can we do, Professor? You’re a scientific man; can’t you suggest something which might help?”

“It’s a profound mystery to me, M’Allister,” I replied, “but we certainly do not want to remain hung up in space, so I suggest you should try several different courses. Surely, in some direction we shall find a way out of this, and get to our destination.”

This plan was tried, M’Allister doggedly setting his course first in one direction, then in another, and trying to put on enough power to force the vessel along; but time after time we came to a standstill after moving very slowly for a short distance.

“It looks as though we were to be hung up here indefinitely,” said John. “We do not seem able to get through this mysterious obstacle, whatever it may be, or whatever course we may try.”

“Oh, we’ve not tried all points yet,” I said. “We must not give up now we have got so close to the object of our trip. Take a fresh course, M’Allister.”

He took a fresh course, and another after that, but with exactly the same result.

I had never seen M’Allister in such a perturbed state before; he actually trembled all over with the intensity of his feelings, and his face had an expression of grim determination such as I should imagine might be seen on the face of a soldier at bay with his back to a wall, and fighting for his life against overwhelming numbers of assailants.

“My word!” he exclaimed, “yon’s Mars, and here’s us, but it doesn’t seem as if we should ever come together. Losh mon, bonnie Scotland for ever! Here goes for another try!” and he switched on the current again with a vicious pull.

We watched the machines with intense anxiety, wondering whether this new course would be any better than the others we had tried—whether the machines would keep moving, or slow down and stop as before.

No, we kept moving; and soon it was evident we were gaining speed rapidly.

“Hurrah, hurrah!” I cried in exultation. “We are doing it this time. Slow down, M’Allister, we are going too fast now!”

“Scotland for ever!” he shrieked. “That did it, Professor!”

Strangely enough, John, usually the most excitable member of our party, was the calmest of the three, and simply remarked quietly, “We’ve done it this time.”

Yes, we had indeed done it this time, but our attention had been so taken up with our anxious watching of the machines that none of us had noticed the direction we were taking.

We had passed entirely through the last remnant of the sand clouds, and it was now beautifully clear, the thin air enabling us to see over a very large area of country. For the first time since leaving the earth I now opened one of the doors very slightly indeed, and tested the effect of the real Martian atmosphere.

It seemed to us rather sharp, with a taste something like that of a tonic medicine, but we were all able to breathe it without any serious inconvenience, though at first it made us gasp.

Being assured there was no danger, I stepped out on to the platform and looked down, then started back in utter astonishment, exclaiming to the others, “Why, look! look! See where we are!”

On hearing my excited exclamation, John and M’Allister at once stepped on to the platform and, having looked down, were as much surprised as I was, for lo! we were heading direct for the very spot which I had previously told them it was my fancy to land upon, and we were not three miles away from it. We also saw a large town or city close by our proposed landing-place.

“One would almost imagine you were a magician, Professor,” said John, “and that this affair was all your work, and intended to secure a landing only where you thought proper.”

“No, John,” I answered, “I had nothing to do with our coming to this spot, and it is still a mystery to me how it was we were not able to continue on our original course. The Gordian Knot was too much for us after all.”

“Well,” John said, “it does not matter so long as we succeed in landing somewhere.

“By Jove!” he exclaimed suddenly, “look through the glass over there,” pointing forwards as he spoke. “I can see enormous crowds of people evidently watching our vessel.”

It really was so, for, as we drew nearer and nearer, we could plainly see an enormous multitude of people who seemed to be drawn up along the four sides of an immense square open space, and they were all looking upwards towards the Areonal.

“Go and have a wash,” I said to M’Allister, who had become quite grimy from the perspiration occasioned by his exciting work just previously. “We will see to the machines, if necessary. You must not descend amongst such an assembly of the natives with dirty hands and face.”

“No,” he replied, “Kenneth M’Allister will not disgrace old Scotland by doing such a thing as that.”

“Look sharp, then, M’Allister,” John called after him; then, peeping down again, he pointed to the farther side of the square, saying, “Look, Professor, I can see some pavilions over there, and a large daïs affair, with a canopy over it! Look at the flags and banners too!” he cried; “and there seems to be a large number of officials round the daïs. Perhaps that’s the Emperor of Mars sitting there!”

“I doubt that, John,” I replied; “but probably he is some very important personage. How singular,” I added, “that this spot which I selected should be the only one toward which we were able to steer our vessel!”

“Well, we shall soon know something about that, I expect,” replied John.

“Heh, mon!” exclaimed M’Allister, who had now rejoined us, looking spick and span, and with his face shining from the fresh application of soap and water, “I believe they are all down there watching for our arrival.”

“It really looks like it,” I said; “but how could they have known we were coming? So many scores of thousands could not have been gathered together at a few minutes’ notice. Well, you can see to the machines, and take us gently down into that square.”

“Professor,” remarked John, “those people are not the big, ugly giants, nor the strange animals which some of our folks have imagined the inhabitants of Mars to be. They appear a bit tall; but, so far as I can see from here with the glass, they are a fairly good-looking lot. They seem quite friendly too,” he added, “and we shall not require those guns after all.”

“No, certainly not,” I replied, for now we were close enough to see that the people were waving their hands towards us, and that children were waving bright-coloured flags. Just then a welcoming shout came up to us from below, and we made friendly signs to the people in response. Then they cheered us again and again, so we knew we could safely descend amongst them.

With skilful manoeuvring M’Allister soon brought our vessel down near the centre of the square, and we were all ready to step out. John judiciously, but rather reluctantly, ceased smoking and put away his pipe, not knowing what kind of reception he might have if he appeared amongst these strangers with a pipe in his mouth.