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.