April 2000: The Third Expedition
Theshipcamedownfromspace.Itcamefromthestarsandtheblackvelocities,andtheshiningmovements,andthesilentgulfsofspace.Itwasanewship;ithadfireinitsbodyandmeninitsmetalcells,anditmovedwithacleansilence,fieryandwarm.Initwereseventeenmen,indudingacaptain.ThecrowdattheOhiofieldhadshoutedandwavedtheirhandsupintothesunlight,andtherockethadbloomedoutgreatflowersofheatandcolorandrunawayintospaceonthethirdvoyagetoMars!
NowitwasdeceleratingwithmetalefficiencyintheupperMartianatmospheres.Itwasstillathingofbeautyandstrength.Ithadmovedinthemidnightwatersofspacelikeapalesealeviathan;ithadpassedtheancientmoonandthrownitselfonwardintoonenothingnessfollowinganother.Themenwithinithadbeenbattered,thrownabout,sickened,madewellagain,eachinhisturn.Onemanhaddied,butnowtheremainingsixteen,withtheireyesclearintheirheadsandtheirfacespressedtothethickglassports,watchedMarsswingupunderthem.
"Mars!"criedNavigatorLustig.
"GoodoldMars!"saidSamuelHinkston,archaeologist.
"Well,"saidCaptainJohnBlack.
Therocketlandedonalawnofgreengrass.Outside,uponthislawn,stoodanirondeer.FurtheruponthegreenstoodatallbrownVictorianhouse,quietinthesunlight,allcoveredwithscrollsandrococo,itswindowsmadeofblueandpinkandyellowandgreencoloredglass.