CHAPTER XI.
THE DISCOVERY AT THE MARTIAN OBSERVATORY.
Although I well knew the fatal consequences of arriving at theobservatory too late, and realized that in this slow travelling aerenoidmy chances of covering the five miles in time were but slight, sodepressed and desperate was I that I gave the matter little thought.Indeed, my mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of Zarlah. Vainlydid I search Almos' scientific knowledge for a means of transportationover millions of miles of space. All my theories led to but oneconclusion--that no material transit over such an enormous distance waspossible. My heart sank within me as I thought how brief my happinesshad been. But then came the bewildering realization that an eternity ofloneliness would not be too much to pay for the unutterable joy whichnothing could take from me. Raised aloft to the highest pinnacle ofhappiness, I had been permitted to experience the joy of Zarlah'slove--a love that I had thought was for Almos--only to be dashed downinto still deeper despair. Then a great anguish filled my heart as Irealized that before I was alone in my misery, which, through athoughtless action, I had brought upon myself, but now my agony wasshared by a loving and trusting heart that had been joined to mine bythe decree of Fate.
The thought of the unhappiness I had brought into Zarlah's life maddenedme, and when at last the aerenoid rested upon the balcony of theobservatory, I stepped out, caring little whether wave contact hadceased or not. I would enter the virator in any case, and at once fulfilmy obligation to Almos, through whose generosity I had been permitted tovisit this veritable paradise. Then, if wave contact with Paris stillexisted my spirit would return to my body which lay there, but if not, Ifelt that Fate would have thus solved the hopeless tangle into which ithad precipitated me.
As I proceeded across the balcony, I was astonished to observe ahigh-speed aerenoid lying close to the one I knew belonged to Almos.What could it mean! That a visitor would enter the observatory knowingAlmos to be absent, I could not conceive, as I was well aware of thesanctity of a dwelling in the Martian mind, especially when thatdwelling was the theatre of such experiments and observations as theobservatory conducted by Almos.
Greatly perturbed I turned and entered the building, and, with allhaste, proceeded down the corridor. As I reached the portieres of thelarge room, the sound of someone within moving about caused my heart tobeat wildly, and, thrusting aside the curtains, I beheld Reon.
For a moment I was mute with astonishment, then, as he smilinglyadvanced with extended hand, I knew instantly that he was present atAlmos' request. Without further time for thought, I grasped his hand andgreeted him cordially, realizing that no matter what the object of hisvisit was, it was known to Almos, and under no circumstances must Iappear surprised. Without waiting to be questioned, Reon offered me aslip of paper on which I observed Almos' handwriting.
"I carefully followed your instructions, Almos, regarding the virator,and, half an hour later, I turned off the current of super-radium. I wasjust preparing to leave. You are late in returning, are you not?"
While Reon thus spoke, I had gained time to glance hastily over theinstructions that Almos had written upon the slip of paper which I heldin my hand, and I now replied, with every nerve strung in an effort toappear calm:
"I am, Reon, a whole hour late, and very sorry, indeed, to have kept youwaiting so long. But now, my good fellow, you must be off; I will notdetain you a moment longer than it takes to thank you for your kindnessfrom the bottom of my heart."
So saying, I shook his hand warmly, and accompanying him to the balcony,waved him adieu.
The gratitude which I had thus expressed to Reon, was by no means mereacting. My hasty glance at the instructions had convinced me that he hadbeen the means of saving my life. Without noticing the hour mentioned, Ihad just time enough, while Reon was speaking, to note that he wasinstructed to turn on the current from the upper chamber of thevirator, and, half an hour later, to shut off the super-radium current.I felt that Almos had in this way prepared to save my life, in case Iarrived at the observatory too late to return to Earth. With wonderfulforethought--perhaps even a premonition of my late return--he hadrequested Reon to visit the observatory and instructed him what to do ata certain time, with the result that Almos' spirit had been transferredto my body in Paris, before it was lost forever by passing out of wavecontact.
Hastening to the virator, I now examined it, and found that Reon hadfaithfully carried out the instructions, although he was unaware that inso doing he had saved a life, doubtless thinking that in Almos' absence,he had merely attended to the details of an important experiment.
I felt that I could never repay Almos for all he had undertaken for mysafety. The following evening I would enter the virator, and doprecisely as Almos had done on previous evenings. When Almos' spirit hadarrived, he would then change the current to an outflowing one, anddispatch my spirit to Earth.
Although my thoughts of Zarlah had been interrupted by the excitementincident to finding Reon at the observatory, I was soon absorbed oncemore in the subject ever foremost in my mind. With my head resting on myhands, I sat hour after hour, endeavoring to conceive some plan--nomatter how hazardous--that would result in my being able to remain onMars with Zarlah. But the gloom of despair only deepened, and allsolutions were perforce dismissed.
At my feet lay the slip of paper which bore the instructions for Reon.Many times during the long hours of deep thought, had my eyes restedupon it, only to seek a new object as a new problem confronted me.Suddenly, starting to my feet and snatching the paper from the ground, Iuttered an exclamation of astonishment. For the first time, I noticedthe hour at which Reon was to carry out his instructions--_it was threehours before the time for my departure_!
Almos had, then, deliberately planned to take my place on Earth, and inreturn to give me his on Mars. How I had been kept in ignorance of theseplans, I knew not, but, as I stood staring at the paper in my hand, mymind gradually comprehended all that Almos had, until now, sosuccessfully hidden from me.
Impelled by these strange revelations, I hastened to the sleepingchamber, and glanced eagerly around in search of some message that wouldexplain more fully the reason for Almos' departure to Earth. Nor was Idisappointed, for upon the couch lay a letter addressed to "HaroldLonsdale." Almos had naturally supposed that I would retire soon aftermaking the discovery that he had gone to Earth, and that I would thenfind the letter which, in this chamber, was safe from Reon'sobservation.
As I read the contents my eyes filled with tears of overwhelminggratitude, and my heart went out in sincere affection to him who, inthis brief message, which was the sacrifice of a strong and noblecharacter, offered me his life on Mars with the love that he had knownwas mine, but which otherwise I could never possess.
Pacing the room under the influence of strong emotions, I laid theletter down, only to pick it up again and reread its contents carefully.No other man, living on Earth or Mars, could have done as much for meas had Almos this night. He had not only saved my life, but had given tome the thing that was far dearer. It was a princely gift, and my mind,trained as it had been to the cramped confines of a sordid existence ina mercenary world, was slow to comprehend the limitless wealth ofhappiness and love which it bestowed upon me. Sleep was impossible, andI longed for the morning, that I might hasten to my beloved, and tellher of the happiness that was ours.