CHAPTER XXVII
A FAREWELL BANQUET AND A PAINFUL PARTING
The time was nigh at hand when we must think about our arrangements forreturning to the earth, and, as it drew nearer and nearer, I became muchtroubled. I felt that it would be endangering Merna's dear life to takehim to England, for our terrestrial microbes would probably prove fatalto a Martian, so it was impossible to suggest it to him; at the sametime I felt that I could not again part with my newly-found son, who wasnow all in all to me.
Pondering over the matter, I wondered whether the Martians would allowme to stay with them and end my days on Mars with my beloved son.
Just then Soranho came to see me, and we sat awhile talking together.Presently he said, quietly, "Mr. Poynders, you would I know desire tostay here with your son, but are doubtful about mentioning the matter tome. Doubt no longer, my dear sir! We shall be proud and happy to haveyou with us; and I am quite sure that I am fulfilling the wishes of ourpeople when I now cordially invite you, in their name, to make your homewith us!"
Thus the Martian intuition had solved my difficulty; and, ferventlythanking Soranho, I told him I gratefully accepted his kind invitationand would remain upon Mars, although parting with my two old friendswould be a hard task for me.
It had been decided that we should leave on the 1st of December, thatbeing the latest possible date, as the earth was moving so rapidly awayfrom Mars that each day's delay would mean a longer journey. As it was,we should have about 215,000,000 miles to travel before we could reachour destination; and, as that would require at least 108 days, we couldnot arrive in England before the 18th of March 1910; probably it wouldbe a day or two later, as our course would take us so near the sun.
When John and M'Allister came in I went to the receptacle where my chartwas kept and brought it out. Placing it on the table, I carefullyexplained what would be required, and gave them full instructions forsetting and keeping their proper course, so as to head off the earth onits journey. These instructions I had also written out in readiness, sothat each might know and be able to act in an emergency.
Then came the most difficult part of my task, and, in hesitating wordsand rather disjointed sentences, I announced to them my decision toremain on the planet. John and M'Allister were very much moved; but, asthey saw the matter was really settled, they soon desisted from theirattempts to dissuade me.
During the day we received from Soranho an invitation, in the name ofthe whole people of Mars, to attend a banquet on the day before ourdeparture to enable them to bid us adieu.
This we, of course, accepted; and when we arrived at the place indicatedwe found that it was the largest hall in Sirapion, the immense buildingbeing crowded with Martians from all parts of the planet.
After the banquet Soranho rose and announced that their friends from theearth would be leaving next day, and he trusted that all who could doso would attend at our point of departure to give us a hearty send-off.
He then dwelt upon the pleasure which our visit and company had affordedthem, and said the good wishes of the whole people would go with us;adding that we might feel assured that anything which the Martian nationcould do, by means of transmitted influences, to aid in the advancementof our world would be most cheerfully and willingly done.
Then he went on to make the announcement that, finding I had a strongdesire to stay with them and with my newly-found son, he had invited me,in their name, to do so.
This announcement was received with tremendous enthusiasm: the wholecompany spontaneously rising to their feet, with repeated acclamationsand expressions of satisfaction.
I then rose to express my heartfelt thanks for their kindness, sayingthat for many years of my life upon the earth I had loved to study theirplanet; and now that I had spent some time upon it and been therecipient of so much kindness and goodwill from all whom I had met, Iloved both their world and their people; and in deciding to accept theinvitation so cordially given in their name I trusted they would alwaysfind me a good citizen of Tetarta.
Merna translated this speech to them, and there ensued another scene ofindescribable enthusiasm.
John followed with a very feeling expression of his gratitude for thewelcome and kindness he had received as a stranger from another world.
Then came M'Allister's turn, and his speech was a characteristic one.
Turning to Soranho, he said: "Mon!--no, I should say 'Chief!'--I thankyou and all the people for the delightful time we have had upon Mars,and can only say I'm very sorry to leave you. But I have an old wife ofmy own in the world far across space over yonder, and away up in bonnieScotland. She will be looking for my return home; so, much as I shouldlike to stay longer with you, I cannot keep from going to her. Thank youall, and God bless you!"
I do not know how Merna managed to translate this speech, but itevidently gave the audience as much satisfaction as the others had done.
So, with many hearty handshakes and expressions of goodwill, we left thehall at the conclusion of the proceedings and returned to our home,where John and M'Allister were to sleep for the last time.
The next morning we sat discussing the final arrangements for theirdeparture, as they would start on their return journey in two hours'time.
John and M'Allister were both much affected at my decision to stay uponMars (or Tetarta, as it will be to me in future), for they did not likethe idea of leaving me behind, and made some further attempt to induceme to change my mind on the subject. I felt, however, that they werereally convinced I was doing the best thing possible in thecircumstances, and had no hope that I would accede to their request.
I told them my decision was unalterable, and that, as we all felt thepoignancy of the parting, it would be better to take leave of each othernow, rather than in public when they boarded the _Areonal_.
As they rose to say farewell I said, "John, my dear fellow, I have kepta record of all our doings since we left old England, thinking that, ifpublished, it might prove of some interest to my countrymen.
"I have a few words to add to it, and also a letter to enclose for youto take to my solicitors; but Merna will hand the packet to you when youactually start. I know you will carry out my wishes and see the bookthrough the press, although I have mentioned the tobacco andlaughing-gas incident!"
John smiled and promised to do as I wished; then rising, I said, "Sonow, dear friends, a last and long good-bye to each other. We have beenclose friends for many years and have many pleasant memories of thetimes we have spent together; but, remember, our thoughts may stillunite us, though sundered by many million miles of space, and dwellingupon different worlds!
"When I was on the earth I was living upon a star of the heavens; here,upon Tetarta, I am still upon a star of the heavens, but also along withthe only living being to whom I have been united by ties of blood andloving kinship.
"It is, as Merna once said, only a change of dwelling-places, and ourkindly Martian friends are delighted to keep me here. It is hard to partfrom you, but do not wonder if I say--'Here I will live! here I willdie!'"
Then with many, many a lingering handshake and words of mutual love andaffection, we old friends bade each other an eternal adieu.
As he reached the doorway M'Allister--as truehearted a Scot as ever hiscountry produced--turned towards me, and with upraised hand, glisteningeyes, and lips quivering, exclaimed, "Mon, you are doing the rightthing, but I never thought I would feel a parting with an old friend somuch as I do this! God bless you, Professor!"