CHAPTER XV
WHAT IS IN A NAME!--THE STORY OF MERNA
Yes, this glorious being was indeed the son whom I had lost on theearth! It would be utterly impossible for me to describe the pathos andaffection of that meeting with one whom I thought had passed for everout of my present life, or the intensity of my emotions and theoverflowing gratitude with which I gazed once more upon the face of mylost loved one, now so unexpectedly and wonderfully restored to me. Suchemotions as I then experienced are beyond description by any pen or anytongue.
Whilst I was thus overwhelmed with emotion, my son exhibited the mostdignified calm; yet his words and sympathy were as tender as those of amother soothing a suffering child. Having at last brought me into acalmer state of mind, he said: "Yes, I, who am now called Merna, amindeed he who was once your son upon the earth; and I am indeed he whoin heart and soul is at this moment as truly and affectionately yourson, though living in another world, possessing another body, and calledby another name!
"Oh, how I have yearned for this meeting, and through what long yearshave I studied and striven to bring it about!"
"You have brought it about, my boy!" I cried in amazement. "Why, how wasthat?"
"It is too long a story to narrate now," he replied, "for we have aduty to perform, and must not stay here. We must now show ourselves tothe people outside, who have long waited to greet you! You shall hearmore to-night; but, in the meantime, do not make known my identity to myold friend, John, until after I have left you. You may tell him then andprepare him for our meeting to-night."
I noticed when he was speaking that sometimes he lapsed into a phrase ortwo of the Martian language, and that his English was spoken as it wouldbe by a foreigner not fully acquainted with our language.
Before we left the pavilion I asked him to tell me what office was heldby the high personage who had occupied the dais on our arrival, and heexplained that "he was Soranho, the present ruler of Mars!"
"Emperor or King?" I inquired.
"We have neither of those dignitaries here," he answered. "He is theChief of the General Council of the entire world of Mars, elected tothat office for a certain term by the whole body of the people. But nowwe must not keep the Chief waiting any longer."
So we passed out together to join the Chief of the Council on the dais,and, standing near it, we saw John and M'Allister, who were gazingaround with intense interest upon the assembled multitude.
The Chief advanced to meet us, and greeted me with even more cordialitythan at first, if that were possible; then he said a few words ofcongratulation to Merna, and conducted us to the front of the dais.
The people were now all massed together before the dais in long parallellines, or ranks, and, as the Chief brought me forward, there came atremendous shout of welcome from the multitude.
The Chief made a brief speech in the Martian language (which of courseneither I nor my two companions understood), in which, as Markafterwards explained to me, he gave a short account of how I had arrivedthere from the earth with my two colleagues--the first inhabitants ofthat world to set foot upon Mars! He told them that my coming was allowing to the devoted love and influence of Merna, who in a former lifeupon the earth had been my son.
What Mark did not tell me was that the Chief had spoken in terms of veryhigh appreciation of the talents Mark had displayed, and of the successwhich had attended his great endeavour to exert his influence over thatimmense distance of space which separated the two worlds, andpractically compel me to obey his wishes by undertaking a journey toMars.
I learnt this afterwards from others, and found that a similar modestyand reticence was a general characteristic of the Martians.
The acclamations of the people at the conclusion of the Chief's speechwere almost deafening, and I frequently distinguished the name of"Merna" amongst their ejaculations. Whatever was the purport of theChief's statement, it undoubtedly afforded the most intense satisfactionto all those who heard it.
The assembly now began to disperse in the most orderly manner, many ofthe people gathering round the _Areonal_, and apparently discussing withinterest its construction and equipment, but none pressed upon ourlittle party. There was neither rude curiosity nor any embarrassingattentions bestowed upon us, such as would have been so unpleasantly inevidence in any similar circumstances upon the earth.
"Merna" asked me to be good enough to excuse him for the present as hehad something to attend to urgently; then he took leave of us for thetime, remarking that we need have no anxiety about the _Areonal_, for itwould be perfectly safe and well looked after.
The Chief, and some of the officials to whom he now introduced us, thenaccompanied us to another pavilion, where we partook of a little lightrefreshment. The chief then took his leave, after promising that weshould meet again to-morrow.
One of the officials informed me that a residence was in readiness forour occupation, and that it was situated within a very short distancefrom where we stood. He asked whether we would proceed there in anelectric carriage, or whether we would prefer to walk; and, as we wishedto get accustomed to walking on our new world, we decided to go on foot.
We saw around us in every direction large numbers of flying machines ofall descriptions, also electric and other motors, which had conveyed thepeople to our landing-place. Most of the motors were very light andelegant in appearance, and those intended for conveying only a singleperson were but little larger than our motor tricycles. There was notthe slightest noise from the machinery, nor any fumes emitted like thosewe had found so great a nuisance on the earth. The Martians hadevidently overcome all such difficulties, if they had ever experiencedthem; and their methods were doubtless far in advance of the use ofevil-smelling petrol.
We noticed that very many of the people were walking in a manner whichsuggested that they had a long journey before them; and, on mentioningthis to the official in attendance, he told us that walking was so easyon Mars, both on account of the small gravitation and the generallylevel surface of the country, that most Martians preferred walkingunless much pressed for time, or the distance to be traversed was verygreat.
Though the sun was shining brilliantly the heat was not at alloppressive. As we passed along we noticed that the buildings all stoodseparate from each other, open spaces or trees, flowers or shrubs beingaround each of them.
We saw no evidence of overcrowding of buildings on small areas of landlike there was in the world we had left. Plenty of air and open spaceseemed to be the general rule, at least upon this part of Mars.
After a very short walk we arrived at our dwelling, an elegant littlebuilding of white stone, and only two storeys in height. There was sucha general appearance of comfort and homeliness about it, both inside andout, that M'Allister exclaimed: "Professor, I never thought coming toMars meant a reception like this. I rather expected to have had a fightwhen we landed!"
John, too, expressed his delight at the kind manner in which we had beenreceived, then asked me, "Who was that splendid young fellow who cameout of the pavilion with me, and stood by my side on the dais?"
"I'll tell you presently, John," I replied, "after we have had somesolid refreshment, and are quite alone."
"One would think there was some mystery about him, Professor, by the wayyou speak," he answered.
"Perhaps there is a little more mystery in the whole affair than youdream of," I remarked.
"Anyhow," said John, "you seem very pleased over it, whatever it may be,Professor; for I never saw you so delighted in your life as you haveappeared during the last hour."
"Yes, John, I am indeed pleased," I replied, "and so will you be whenyou know what I know."
"You quite arouse my curiosity," he said; "still, I suppose I must waita little longer to be enlightened; but we came to Mars to find outsecrets."
Just then we had to cease our conversation, for we were conducted into aroom where we found a most tempting looking repast ready for ourdelectation, and the attendants showed us to our respecti
ve seats.
All the comestibles were fruits, nuts, or vegetables of various kinds,and I saw nothing there in the nature of flesh meat. Some of the fruitsand nuts resembled the products of our own world, especially some of oureastern products; but most of them were entirely unknown to us, thoughthey all looked tempting and good.
We certainly did full justice to them, and were particularly attractedby some large bunches of what were evidently Martian grapes, each grapebeing as large as one of our egg-plums. We tried some of these, andfound them most delicious, as indeed were all the other eatables weconsumed.
Though used to a meat diet, we found this meal most satisfying; thefruits being so refreshing that we had neither desire nor need fordrink, though it stood there ready for us if we wished to take it. Theattendants waited upon us assiduously, bringing us the various dishesin what was apparently their regular order of courses.
Both John and M'Allister appeared to enjoy their first Martian meal asmuch as I did, and when we adjourned to another room at its conclusion,were loud in their expressions of appreciation.
When this topic had died down, I thought the time had arrived to makethe important disclosure of the first results of our visit to the redplanet.
They listened to my story in amazement, and with many exclamations ofsurprise; whilst, as for John, he was almost beside himself with delighton learning that he would once more meet his long-lost friend, and herose and shook hands with me, at the same time warmly congratulating meon my wonderful reunion with my son.
"Professor," said M'Allister, also rising and shaking my hand, "I'm asglad for your sake as if I had found a son of my own!"
I thanked them both very heartily for their kind congratulations. ThenJohn said to me--
"Professor, it is, without exception, the most extraordinary thing Iever heard of in my life; but what strikes me as most singular about itis the strange coincidence connected with your son's name!"
I did not understand this allusion to Mark, so asked what was thestrange coincidence to which he referred.
"Well, Professor," he said, "excuse me if I answer your question byasking another one. How was it you gave your son the name of Mark, andwhat was the particular reason for your doing so?"
"No particular reason, John, so far as I am aware," I replied, "exceptthat it always seemed to me a good, plain, and honest sort of a name."
"Do you know the meaning of the name?" he then asked.
"Well, yes, I think so; for one thing, I believe it means 'polite,'" Isaid; "and another meaning I have read is a 'hammer.' But really, John,I had no thought of meanings at all when I chose that name for him."
"That only makes it all the more strange," John answered. "I have seenthose meanings you mention as attached to the name; but you seem to havequite missed the most important one of all, for I can tell you,Professor, that the name 'Mark' means 'Son of Mars!' Now don't you seethe coincidence, when you find that he really has become a son of Mars!"
"Really, John," I answered, "I assure you that I never heard of thatbefore; the coincidence is, as you say, most singular and extraordinary;but, taking all things into consideration, I am inclined to think theremust be something more than coincidence when they work out like this.You know your Shakespeare, John, and he says most truly: 'There's adivinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.' I will notrepeat the hackneyed phrase about 'more things in heaven and earth----'"
Just then Merna (as I suppose I must now call him, though he will alwaysbe "Mark" to me) arrived amongst us, and I at once introduced him toJohn and M'Allister.
The meeting between the two old friends was delightful to witness, forboth seemed over-joyed; and they had so much to say to each other--somany questions to ask.
When the excitement had passed I asked Mark--you see I cannot helpcalling him by his old name--if he could now furnish me with the furtherinformation he had promised, for I was longing to hear all he had totell.
"Yes," he replied, "I am quite ready, sir;" and then he proceeded togive us details of his life upon Mars. It is too long a story to tellexactly as he told it--and sometimes he was at a loss to express himselfappropriately in English--but, shortly, it was as follows:--
His birth upon Mars, as we found from a comparison of dates, must havefollowed almost immediately after his passing from the earth; and hesaid he thought that his two previous seizures were probably abortiveattempts of his spirit to depart earlier.
His Martian father was the brother of Soranho, the present Chief of theCouncil; both his father and mother, however, had died when Merna wasquite a child, and the Chief had since brought him up like his own son,and was very much attached to him.
When Merna was still very young he was extremely fond of looking at thestars in the clear Martian skies, being especially attracted by theearth, which was a very brilliant star in those skies when the planetwas in the most favourable position for viewing it. He used to watch theearth pass through its various phases, the same as we see Venus; and astime went on he had a strong feeling or intuition that, at some unknownperiod, he had been upon, or in some way connected with, the earth!
This feeling became more and more intense, so that his thoughts wereconstantly directed towards our world, and ultimately he became firmlyconvinced that he had once lived upon the earth.
He told us, amongst other things, that the Martians possess senses andpowers which we do not possess, and know nothing of. For instance, hesaid that any Martian of ordinary intelligence always knew what was inthe mind of any one with whom he was speaking; therefore any attempt toprevaricate or mislead was folly and useless. In some cases this powerextended over a long distance, and the thoughts of others could be readas easily as when they were close at hand. So for this reason, and notonly because it is considered wrong, prevarication is never practised onMars.
Again, a Martian can transmit his thoughts over any distance upon theplanet, and influence thereby any one whom he could influence inordinary conversation.
Some, who had given especial attention to the training and developmentof this faculty, could even transmit their thoughts to other worlds; butthe influence exercised in such cases depended entirely upon whether theinhabitants of other worlds had attained not only a sufficient degree ofintelligence, but also the power to assimilate and make use of suchoutside influences, either consciously or unconsciously.
Having become convinced that he had once lived upon the earth, hisinterest in it was greatly intensified, and he felt a consuming desireto know more. He therefore used his utmost endeavours to train anddevelop his faculties, with a view to finding out something moredefinite. His uncle was informed of his desires in this respect, as wellas of his reasons for them; and he placed Merna under the tuition oftwo Martians who had developed these special faculties to the highestdegree then possible.
After pursuing this course of instruction and training for some time,Merna found that he was gradually becoming more and more acquainted withdetails of his former life, and was also gradually relearning thelanguage he had spoken upon the earth.
Soon he was able to recall from his sub-consciousness the names ofpersons, and also of places and things, with which he had beenacquainted in his previous life; and what he thus learnt he imparted tohis uncle, his two teachers, and to a few other Martians.
The knowledge thus very slowly acquired and gradually built up led to athirst for still further knowledge; so he then tried to transmit histhoughts to the earth, and, if possible, to influence me, his father,whom he felt certain was still living.
He paused in his statement, and then asked me to tell him "When I firstthought of making a trip to Mars, and also whether I had not, longbefore then, constantly been in the habit of thinking about the planet?"
I told him the date when I first made the suggestion of our trip toJohn, and added that he was quite right in supposing I had longpreviously been occupied with thoughts about Mars.
"Yes," he replied, "the date you give is quite correct. I had f
or yearsbeen trying to influence you to take a deep interest in this planet, andafter that to influence you to build a vessel which would bring youhere; and, on the very day you mention, I felt quite certain I hadsucceeded."
"My two friends then joined me in transmitting further influences toenable you to conceive the proper kind of vessel and machinery, and howit should be constructed. These latter influences seem, from what youhave told me, to have been assimilated by John to a larger extent thanby yourself; and this, no doubt, was owing to his higher development ofengineering and mechanical genius. The result, however, has been mostsatisfactory. You, whom I had so long yearned to see, were brought toembark upon this long voyage through space; I knew when you had done so,and also that John and another accompanied you. I also knew exactly whenyou would arrive here, for mentally I saw your chart and knew many ofyour thoughts."
"But," interposed John at this stage, "was it not rather a risky anddangerous experiment to influence inhabitants of another world to makewhat was practically an invasion of Mars? Even if it were possible, weshould be afraid to do such a thing upon our earth, for fear ofdisastrous developments later on."
"There was no danger at all," he replied. "I think you found you couldnot land here just where you pleased!"
"Ah, that we did," said M'Allister; "and we were never so mystified inour lives."
"So, Mark," I said, laughing as I spoke, "that was your work, was it?"
"I certainly helped in doing it," he replied smilingly. "We have themeans of electrifying a very large area of space anywhere, either uponour planet or at any required height above it, in such a manner as toneutralise the power of any vessel that could possibly come here, andthus stop its progress entirely when we so desired. We let you go on ashort distance and then stopped you, again and again; and when westopped you, we took care to arrange the forces so that you could not inany event fall to the planet even if the whole of your machinery failedto act. You were, as you know, compelled to descend exactly where wewished you to; and, in fact, exactly where we had previously decided youshould land!"
"Well," exclaimed M'Allister excitedly, "if this doesn't beat all I everexperienced! To think now that all our movements and impulses have beenengineered and controlled from Mars; not only just recently, but formonths and years past. Mon, it's marvellous!"
"Marvellous to you, no doubt," said Merna, "but only a commonplacehappening here. It is very satisfactory to us that our endeavours toinfluence you to come to this planet have proved successful in the mainessentials. The influence does not, however, appear to have been quiteeffective as regards your steering to the landing-place we had decidedupon. We had hoped there would have been no necessity for interferingwith your movements by means of the electrical waves."
"Well, Merna," I answered, "you certainly succeeded in imbuing me with adesire to land at Sirapion, but my two companions were more attracted bythe 'Gordian Knot'; and it was only because I subordinated my owninclinations to theirs that you were compelled to use force to make usproceed in the right direction. However, it has resulted in our havingone of the most exciting and mystifying experiences of our lives; and,now all has ended happily, I do not think any one of us regrets that theincident occurred."
"Certainly I do not," John remarked.
"Neither do I," said M'Allister; "although I must confess I never feltso entirely beaten in my life."
"Well, now you understand that it had to be done," said Merna. "As Iremarked, there was no danger to us in your coming here; for, if we haddesired it, we could have utterly destroyed your vessel before itreached the planet, just as easily as we stopped your progress; or wecould have destroyed it with equal ease and without any risk toourselves after you had landed."
"My word," said M'Allister, "I'm right glad we did not come here asenemies!"
"Yes," replied Merna; "it was just as well you did not. We do not makewar, but we have full means of protecting ourselves against attack if itshould ever be necessary to do so. So you will understand that noinvasion of Mars from outer space is possible."
I then turned to Merna and said, "There is one question I should like toask you before we part this evening: Can you tell me the meaning of theword 'Tetarta,' which Soranho, your chief, told me was the name by whichyour world is known to its inhabitants?"
"Oh yes, sir," he answered; "'Tetarta' means 'the fourth world,' andthus indicates our position in the solar system. Sometimes, however, thename 'Tetartoecumene' is used; but this does not find generalacceptance amongst us, as it means 'the fourth _inhabited_ world,' andtherefore assumes rather too much.
"We know the earth is inhabited, and have some reason to believe thatVenus is also; but with regard to Mercury we have no knowledge at allupon this point. Mercury, as seen from Mars, is always too close to thesun for us to learn much about it by optical investigation; and we havenever been certain that we have either received influences from there orbeen able to transmit influences to the planet."
"Thank you, Merna," I replied, "that clears up the matter; and it seemsto me that your names are much more appropriate than the one by whichyour world is known to us on the earth; for, on account of its redcolour, we have, as you are aware, named it 'Mars,' after our mythicalgod of war. I gather from what you have told us that war is now quiteunknown upon your planet, so our name is quite inappropriate."
"Yes, that is so, sir," he answered; "and, later on, I hope you willlearn much more concerning our social conditions, and that you will findwe are a fairly developed and civilised people."
He then took leave of us, promising to see us again in the morning forthe purpose of showing us about our new world.
It was now rather late, so, after discussing for a while the events ofthis most exciting day, we retired to rest. My thoughts, however, wereso many and so tumultuous that it is scarcely a matter of wonder that avery long time elapsed before sleep came to me.