A small group of men whom our host introduced as the leader, or head
of Mars, and some of his assistants, met us at the ship, greeting us
enthusiastically. Then we were taken to a slightly elevated platform
from which the leader spoke in his native tongue to the people gathered
there. In his speech, according to our scientist host, the leader told
the people that we were the first visitors from their sister planet,
Earth, to ever come to planet Mars and that we have left our ship on
the Moon.
When he got through speaking, the applauding and cheering was beyond
description.
After this was over, a vehicle which resembled somewhat a beautiful
yacht was brought alongside of the platform and we were invited to get
in. The leader and his assistants as well as our host on this trip
joined us. This vehicle has no wheels, yet it glides very smoothly over
the Mars earth without making any sort of noise. It feels as though we
are riding on the wings of a bird.
The atmospheric pressure here is lighter than that of Earth but heavier
than the Moon's, but we don't realize any difference since we have been
on the Moon so long and have become accustomed to the pressure there.
The general appearance of the ground here is very much like that of
Earth. This particular spot reminds us of the flat lands of Kansas
for the only hills we see are far in the distance. The surface of the
ground, with the exception of this wide highway over which we are
travelling, is covered with a fine covering of green grassy growth with
large patches here and there of beautifully colored flowers.
The distance from the airport to the city proper is quite short but the
beauty along the way has been sublime. Conversation was unnecessary, so
there was none. The beauty of the surroundings filled us completely.
Now we have reached the city and are stopping in front of a magnificent
building towering a thousand feet into the air. Incredible as it may
sound, this building appears to be made of pearls. We are spellbound by
its grandeur.
As we leave our vehicle and enter the building, our host informs us
that this is what we would call a civic center or community social
center. Banquets and ceremonies of all sorts are held here and
entertainments of all types. There are no business offices of any kind
within it, but there are several floors devoted entirely to interesting
displays of educational value and art.
Inside we were taken into a room and onto what appeared to be a
platform that elevated us to a higher floor. From here we were taken
into a very large banquet hall in which, as we later learned, one
hundred thousand people could be seated at the same time. The ceiling
structure of this large banquet hall has a sort of an interlocking
system, thus permitting the elimination of supporters throughout the
room, which would otherwise have been necessary in a building of this
size.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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