PIRATIANS BEGONE

Chapter 17

Here the ship healer asked:

"And has this singular mode of traveling become popular, Harod?"

"For long distances east and west it is often resorted to. But I presumeyou are asking yourself whether you could introduce it on the earth.When you return and begin to think it over you will probably see so manypractical difficulties in the way that you will not attempt it. You musthave patience. All these things will come to your race in time

The ship healer and I looked in the direction indicated and speedily realizedthat the superiority of the dwellers on Mars extended to the sense ofsight, for we could see nothing. But we were sailing so swiftly that theshore we were approaching was before very long brought within our visionalso, and among the alert crew, who were now preparing to bring thevessel into its harbor, there could be none so interested in what was tocome as the ship healer and myself. We were to see what had been accomplishedby a race of whose perfections we had been hearing so much.

As we effected a landing and walked up the streets of the city, we werenot nearly so much impressed with the size and beauty of the buildingsand the appearance of the people as we were by the spirit of absolutepeace and quiet which prevailed. With perfect skill, and without noiseor bustle, the ship was brought to its dock and the crew went ashore.The screams and calls, the rattle of vehicles and the babel of sounds wehad been accustomed to on such occasions, were all missing. The silenceand order were almost oppressive because they were so strange. But therewas no lack of activity among the immense creatures who thronged aroundus. Everyone was busy, knowing apparently just what to do withoutdirection from others, and just the best way to do it. Beings with lungspowerful enough to wake the mountain echoes went about with mild andtuneful voices, and, though each one seemed possessed of a giant'sstrength, no severe labor was required of any.

The streets and walks were paved with a soft material, yielding slightlyto pressure, but so firm and tough that it showed no sign of wear, anideal pavement, over which the wheels rolled as noiselessly as theywould over a velvet carpet. It was, moreover, laid in beautiful patternsof the most varied colors. The vehicles, of which there were many kindsfor different uses, were so faultlessly made that they moved with theutmost quiet and apparent ease, the power that propelled them beinginvisible. There were no tracks or wires, but all were guided in anydirection and with any speed at the pleasure of the riders.

Harod led me from the vessel, and another stalwart son of Mars tookcharge of the ship healer. After walking a few steps up the street we allstepped into an empty carriage without saying as much as "by yourleave," Harod touched a button, and we were off.

"This," said Harod, "is one of the best illustrations of the mannerin which we are applying electricity. You saw them also unloading theheavy freight from the boat by the same power. So all our work is done.No fleshly limb is strained, no conscious life is burdened, by anyof the labor of our complex society. This subtle force is so wellcontrolled and its laws are so thoroughly understood that it is equal toevery demand."

"I am entranced, Harod," said the ship healer, "with everything I see. ButI would like to ask if you own this comfortable carriage and had it sentto the wharf to meet you."

"I own it," our friend replied, "just as I own the street we are ridingover or the house I live in. I own this or any other vehicle wheneverI desire to use it. You saw a great number of carriages near the wharf,and there are several over on that corner. Anyone is at perfect libertyto appropriate one to his own use at any time, and when he is through hemerely leaves it at a convenient place by the roadside for some one elseto take."

"I should think they would be stolen," said I.

Harod laughed at my ignorance and answered: "Why, who is there tosteal when everybody, either friend or stranger, can use them as oftenand as long as he likes?"

The talk promised to grow more interesting still, but now our attentionwas turned to the delightful scene through which we were passing. Itwill be utterly impossible to describe the beauty of the landscape,where nature and art seemed to be striving to outdo each other. Beforereaching land I had imagined that the houses, if they were to beproportioned to the inhabitants, must pierce the sky. But we weresurprised to find that they were all comparatively low, of not morethan two or three stories. And all, even those near the wharf, weresurrounded with ample grounds. Some of the houses were larger thanothers, some more ornate than their neighbors, and the architecturevaried as much as the size and arrangement of the grounds. But all werebeautiful beyond description. One thing that appeared very strange to uswas that the prevailing color of the vegetation was red, althoughthat shade did not predominate as much as green does on the earth. Forinstance, after we had admired a stretch of lawn brilliant as a crimsonsky, we would come to another which would surprise and please us with alovely shade of blue. Still another was green, and then one glowed witha variety of colors, whose combination showed a most refined taste. Aswith the grass, so it was with the foliage of the trees. The richesttints of our autumnal forests were here present in permanence, but witha much greater wealth of coloring. Flowers, too, of every hue and formwere to be seen on all sides, and their appearance was so perfectlynatural that if they had been set with design then the art itself hadconcealed the art of their arrangement.

With all this mass of color there were no unpleasant contrasts, nodiscordant tones. As, amid the bustle of the landing place, our ears hadnot been shocked with rude noises, so now we received through our eyesonly a delightful sense of quiet beauty.

Riding, now slowly and now more rapidly, through such a scene, we couldthink of nothing better to question our friend about, so the ship healerfound his voice and said:

"This far surpasses our anticipations, Harod, and I am sure thisplace must be exceptional, even on Mars. I suppose it is a resort wheresome of your wealthy people have built themselves homes in which toenjoy their leisure months."

"Nothing of the kind," replied Harod. "These people live here allthe year, they are not wealthy, and there is nothing to distinguish thiscity above others."