He could not understand Blumberg. Eagerly he looked into the face of the pale young man, and indicated the fourth little circle. "Mars," said Edgar. "Mars!" he cried jubilantly. He pointed his finger at himself. "I am man of Mars," he said. There was silence in the room, while they both stared at him. Then the big man began to laugh. His body shook, and his red cheeks jumped up and down. "So you are a Martian--eh?" "Yes--a Martian." Blumberg was still laughing. "That oughta go big in the show--huh, Edgar?" he said. "Yes, sir," said the young man. "If you live on Mars, what're you doing here?" The Martian had been expecting this question. "They send me away to Earth." "Why did they send you away to Earth?" CHAPTER V. Blumberg Promises The Martian began to speak slowly, carefully. Through long days and nights he had rehearsed his story, knowing he would have to tell it. The pale young man helped him often, at points where he lacked words.... He told of the scarcity of water on Mars--of how there was only a little, that had to be preserved carefully. Here Blumberg interrupted. "How much water has this chap been drinking?" "Less than a cup, sir--in almost ten days," said Edgar. "The attendant was telling me ..." Blumberg grunted. "Go on!" he said. He told of the social order of Mars--of the three great classes: the Aristocrats, the Scientists, and the Workers. The Aristocrats, he explained, were the rulers, who utilized the knowledge of the Scientists and the energy of the Workers to build up a State for themselves. He told how, once a year, the water rushed down the canals from the melting polar ice caps, spreading vegetation over the face of the planet, and of how quickly this precious water disappeared, evaporated by the ever-shining sun, until there was none left for the thirsty plants, and they died. Thus, every year the famine was worse on Mars, and more Workers died. He told how he, and other Scientists, had wanted to spread oil on the canals to stop evaporation, and of how the Aristocrats had forbidden them to do it. He told of the plan he had conceived to control the waters at the head of the canals when the ice melted in the spring, so as to force the Aristocrats to come to terms. And finally, he told of their premature discovery of his plan; of their great anger and fear; of their determination to punish him as no man had ever been punished before; of his banishment from the very world in which he lived. There was a long silence when he had finished. At last Blumberg coughed, and shook himself. "That's a fine story," he grumbled, "but you left somethin' out.... What I wanta know is: how did you get _here_?" "In a space traveller," said the Martian. "What's that?"