during september alice and her father had remained ralph's guests, extending their stay at his urgent request. james 212b 422 made a most satisfactory chaperon. if they visited one of the great historical museums he always managed to disappear in search of some exhibit, leaving the other two to sit on a bench to wait his return, which was often delayed purposely.
but to his daughter and the scientist time had become of little importance and though the engineer was sometimes gone an hour, when he returned he would find them still sitting on the bench, sometimes deep in conversation, sometimes absorbed in a silence that meant more than any words could express.
together they were blissfully happy, apart they were wretchedly lonely.
ralph, it appeared, had completely forgotten numerous of his lectures in which he had labeled love as "nothing but a perfumed animal instinct." no lover more abject than he now, none more humble in the presence of his divinity. during those weeks they had arrived at a mutual understanding.
all the world knew and rejoiced in their happiness. ralph had always been extremely popular with the people. even the planet governor himself had been moved[pg 141] to privately express his approval. many times had the scientist worried him. ralph had so often been restive under the restraints which must of necessity be imposed upon one so important to the earth's progress. and now, with this new influence to hold him, the governor felt that the task of keeping ralph contented had been lifted from the official's already over-burdened shoulders.
all the world rejoiced—all but two, and for them the knowledge of the two lovers' happiness was gall and wormwood.
one was roused to fury, the other plunged in despair.
to fernand the scientist was one hitherto unforeseen obstacle to be removed from his path in his conquest of alice. to the martian, knowing beforehand that his passion was hopeless, the knowledge that she loved another was, nevertheless, a bitter blow. before, at least, she had been heartfree. wretched as he had been, bitter as he had been against the laws that made such a union impossible, there had been the barren comfort of the fact that she belonged to no one else. now, even that was taken from him, and he felt that he could bear no more.
in his desperation he made up his mind to leave earth, and immediately booked his passage to mars. but on the very eve of his departure he found himself unable to make the decision that would separate him from her forever, and the next inter-planetary liner, which left earth for mars, carried, not himself, but this code letter to his best friend on his distant planet.
new york, september 20, 2660.
to rrananolh ak 42,
although i am booked on the terrestrial which departs tomorrow, i have cancelled my reservation and conse[pg 142]quently will not arrive on mars november 31st as planned. i do not know whether i shall take passage on the next transport or not. in fact, i don't know what i shall do. i am mad with despair and anguish. a thousand times over have i wished that i had never come to this planet!
i have not told you before, but as perhaps you have guessed from my previous letters, i am in love with a terrestrial woman. never mind her name. i loved her from the first moment i saw her. you, who have never visited the earth, can hardly understand. it does not matter.
i have tried in every way to free myself from this mad infatuation, but it is hopeless. chemicals and radio-treatments seem but to accentuate my longing for that which is forever beyond my reach. i thought at first that i could conquer myself, but i know now that i cannot, and the knowledge is driving me to madness.
she has never known, and i think no one else here does. i have told none but you, my friend. always i feared that in some way i might betray myself to her. there are times now when i wish that i had.
and yet—to have her suffer as i am suffering—i could not have borne that.
i will, i suppose, go the way of all martians who have had the misfortune to care for a terrestrial. a little listadinide injected under the skin will free me from an existence which has become a daily torture unless i find a way to evade the harsh laws.
please hand the enclosed documents to my second. if i do not see you again do not grieve for me, but remember our friendship, and think sometimes of your unhappy friend.
llysanorh'
[pg 143]
long after his missive had gone, he sat rigid, motionless, by the window with unseeing eyes fixed on the city below him. at last he rose with a sigh and left the room. was there no way out of such misery? was there no straw he could grasp?
of a very different caliber was an epistle sent by fernand 60o 10 to his friend paul 9b 1261.
new york, sept. 28th, 2660.
dear paul:
you have heard the gossip, but don't fear my having a broken heart. i am not easily downed, and i have a card or two yet to play in this game.
fact is, alice is as hard to conquer as a steelonium wall is to break through. that, however, is to my liking, my dear paul. i love obstacles, particularly when the goal is as pretty as alice. i have never wanted her more than now that she has thrown me down. perhaps if she had ever encouraged me i would not have cared a rap for her. but—this opposition inflames me! now i will have her. i will have her, and she shall love me, mark my words.
i have mentioned to you before the ridiculous martian, llysanorh', i believe. it is very amusing to see him staring at alice with adoration in those enormous eyes of his. i really believe he is in love with her, but these martians are so self-controlled it is hard to tell anything about them.
if alice had fallen in love with this lanky, seven-foot llysanorh' she would have been lost to me, and to all the rest of the world. that fellow certainly can be sugary when he wants to. however, she really imagines that she's in love with this crazy scientist, and right now i'm de[pg 144]cidedly de trop. that worries me very little, i assure you. she will soon learn to love me once i can get her away from him. and i am going to provide for that.
everything has been arranged, and i am only awaiting my opportunity. if i am successful, i will take her out into space for a few months. my machine is in readiness. it is the latest type, and the finest i have ever seen. provisions, books, reels for the hypnobioscope, instruments, etc., in fact, everything you can think of is on board. i have even provided a well trained maid. i can assure you alice won't find it lonesome. besides, i flatter myself that i can be very entertaining.
before i close i must ask you to attend to several matters for me, as per enclosed rolls. you will understand everything better after you read the instructions. i do not expect to be away more than three months at the latest, and you will see from the gray document that i empower you to take charge of my affairs. i will send you a message from on board the machine if all goes well.
until then,
fernand.
it was the night of the full moon. there was a faint touch of crispness in the early autumn breeze that now and again gently ruffled the waters of the ocean. a thousand stars danced lightly in the sky and were reflected in the undulating waves below. and in the moonlit path over the waters hovered an aerocab gleaming silvery white in the radiance.
the cab was far from new york, away from the beaten traffic. occasionally other aircraft came into view but always at a distance.
[pg 145]
to alice and ralph this solitude was paradise. night after night they hired an aerocab and flew to this lonely airway, where seated side by side, with only the driver for a chaperon, they were absolutely happy.
the driver was a silent man who, as long as he was well paid for his time, was content to describe endless circles indefinitely.
on this particular evening alice seemed, to ralph, more lovely than he had ever before seen her. in the caressing light of the mellow moon her flowerlike face glowed with a new radiance, and her dark eyes, shadowed with long curling lashes, were mistily tender.
between these two there was no need for words. so perfectly were their thoughts attuned that each knew what the other felt.
and so, presently, their hands stole out and met, and clasped. and it seemed to both that heaven could hold no greater happiness than this, until, with one accord, they turned their faces to each other, and their lips met. to them nothing existed beyond themselves and their love.
the voice of another aerocab driver hailing them made them realize that there were still ties that bound them to earth, and they moved apart a little self-consciously, as a cab drew alongside their own.
"having some trouble with my motor," called the newcomer. "could you let me have a few copper connectors to repair the damage?"
"sure," returned their driver, and the two cabs came together and were made fast.
ralph, seeing that his man could attend to the matter, turned away from them towards alice, and again drew[pg 146] her hand into his own, where it snuggled confidingly.
quite suddenly he was aware of a sickish, sweet odor, which almost instantly became suffocating. he was conscious of the pressure of alice's fingers and then blackness overwhelmed him.
