We showed our astonishment.

  “And why not?” he continued. “Why should animals be denied the right of speech? Naturally, their intelligence is not equal to the thinking mind of man, but it is far better that they understand what is expected of them.”

  “How can you kill them then? It seems horrible to me to think of eating their flesh,” observed Elsie Rollins.

  The man smiled. “We do not eat their flesh, Miss Rollins! That is, civilized man does not. We know that fruits and vegetables are quite as strength giving as meat. No, our muti are raised only for the milk they give. And when that supply is gone the animal is simply done away with in a manner that gives no pain. They know this, and understand that we treat them no differently than we treat ourselves!”

  “You mean that when age comes you kill the old?”

  “Is not that the better way? The aged are only a burden to themselves as well as to others. Their value to the state is nil. Only we do not kill! We go to sleep. We have discovered a ray that destroys animal life, dissolving the compounds that make up our bodies. This ray turned upon us does away with the body completely, the chemical compounds returning to their former state. There is no pain, no suffering. Only a last sweet sleep.”

  “And the soul?”

  “Goes to its appointed place. Of that we do not pretend to know anything.”

  I could not but think how pleasant such an end would be. No suffering, no funeral, no grave, no tombstone.

  “I would like to die that way,” sighed the Professor. I saw that Elsie Rollins was trying to break the spell that these thoughts had wrapped about us. Our host was quick to see this, and he now suggested that we return to the atol, where we could comfortably discuss life on Abrui.

  “You will notice,” he said, “that the ceilings of the rooms we have passed through are all of glass. It is so on Abrui. Every house is but one floor in height. The light from the two suns of the planet shines upon these roofs, giving daylight to the rooms. Again we use radium, which, being a phosphorescent element, takes into itself the sunlight thus distributed, responds to it, and at night re-dispenses it, so that at all times we have an even glow of light. We find that people living under this light are greatly benefited. Disease is therefore completely done away with. It took many years to discover this use of radium, for radium in its raw state, as you must know, does bodily harm to anyone exposed to it. We also have the means of shutting this light off at will.”

  We had now returned to the “living room.” The golden slave appeared, and was arranging several couches into a small circle, and we were invited to take our places there. Tor, the youth, had thrown himself on the floor on a pile of cushions, while our host drew up a chair that was standing near. My shoulder pained again and I appreciated the relief of repose.

  At a word from his master the slave left the room and shortly returned, carrying a small black leather-bound book. Miss Rollins exclaimed, “The diary of Dana Gleason!” It was handed to her.

  “Perhaps you will read a few of its entries for us; they may prove of interest,” said Sa Dak. She was already skimming the pages.

  “Why, here,” she said, “is the date on which Uncle Ezra first approached Dana with the proposition of his taking the trip to Mars!”

  “Read it,” said the Professor. Since entering the Yodverl, Rollins seemed a different man. He had gotten a new interest. He seemed younger and brighter. He was happy, perhaps for the first time since that fateful night.

  The young woman acquiesced and commenced to read in a clear voice.

  THE DIARY

  “Today fate came to me in the guise of Science. At first, when Professor Ezra Rollins spoke of a trip to Mars, I thought him crazed yet as he talked, his face alight with the fire of his passion, I realized how earnest and intense he was. He left me with my mind in a whirl. Shall I take this one chance in a million? Can I do it? Would Dad have done it? Had the Professor only known me for what I am, he would never have come to me, but haven’t I proved myself equal to any man? Why can’t I do this?

  “I am sure Dad would have done it and he would have expected me to do it. To remain here on Earth can mean but one thing for me—exposure. Howard Courtland will keep his promise, even though I put the world between us, and I, born of woman though I am, cannot and will not give up the heritage my father has given me. No man shall force me to admit that I am a woman-thing even though I was born with the body of one …”

  Miss Rollins looked up in wonder. Her face had gone white as she read and a low groan from the Professor showed that he understood. “Dana Gleason, a woman!” the three of us exclaimed in one breath, and turned to our host.

  He smiled somewhat sadly and there was sorrow in his eyes. “True, I had forgotten that you believed Dana Gleason a man. I am not certain, but I believe her father hated women and was resolved to raise his daughter as a son. This Courtland of whom she speaks had discovered the truth and would have disclosed her secret, thinking he could make her his wife. Dana Gleason is an attractive woman.”

  “A woman,” mused Miss Rollins. “Then,” and her eyes brightened, “that explains many things I could never understand. Did … did Dick … Richard Dorr accompany her … knowing?”

  “Yes, he knew.”

  “Read, Elsie, read what happened aboard the rocket,” said the Professor impatiently.

  “I do not feel quite right about reading this,” she said.

  The silver man shrugged his shoulders. “Dana wrote the story of her own experiences, and I fear I could not do the tale justice. I am certain she would have no objection to your reading it.”

  None of us thought to ask how he had obtained the little book.

  Throwing aside her qualms, Miss Rollins hastily turned the page.

  “Aboard the Rocket,” it read.

  “Mars is due ahead and Earth is behind us. For the first time, Man has stepped into the great, unexplored vacuity—space. It takes time for one to collect one’s thoughts out here. Already forty-eight hours have passed and I can only now bring myself to write. Writing in this diary has become such a fixed habit with me, that to neglect it is like neglecting a dear friend.

  “When I climbed the ladder for the last time I hardly expected what next took place, although I had looked for Richard Dorr among the friends that bade me good-bye. Six days before he had addressed me in an odd manner, believing that I, who had given my word, would back out before the moment of departure. I could not imagine what had made him think such a thing, knowing me as he did.

  “The day had passed and at last I was ready to leave, forgetting Dorr entirely in my concern for the rocket. After a few more words and a warm handclasp the Professor backed out, and I was ready to swing the great door that would seal me within, when suddenly Richard Dorr appeared at the aperture. In surprise I cried out for him to go back, for only a few minutes would elapse before I should be hurled on my way. Instead of obeying, he came toward me. ‘For God’s sake,’ I cried, ‘go, the minutes are precious.’ He still came on with a smile on his face. Then he had his hand on the door and made ready to push it to. ‘What are you doing?’ I demanded.

  “‘I am going with you!’ he said quietly.

  “I must have lost my head then, for I was commanding him to leave, even while I was fastening the bolts and pulling and adjusting the levers into place.

  “‘What? Would you have me killed by the moving machinery?’ he questioned and there was a twinkle in his eyes.

  “I could say nothing, and then all conversation was cut short. Rollins had pulled the lever, without taking into consideration the fact that his friend was within. The shock of the explosion was terrific and we were both thrown off our feet. I had been thrown to the floor in a corner and a great pressure seemed pushing down upon me, so that I felt I should be crushed. It was almost impossible to take a breath, so tightly were my lungs compressed, and my ribs seemed strained to a breaking point—then a darkness swept over me. It was several minutes before I came to, feeling bruised and sore in all my body. Painfully I tried to sit up. I had known that something of this sort would happen, caused by the great shock of shooting the rocket, but I had not been prepared for anything as bad as this.

  “Looking about I saw Dorr quite close to me. He was coming out of his stupor. I managed to sit up and he did likewise. Later he admitted that he had believed all the oxygen in the chamber had been forced out, leaving us without air to breathe. Everything was working smoothly, however.

  “As we left Earth we had both slipped to the rear of the chamber as Earth’s gravity tried to retain its hold upon us. That, too, passed, and we knew that strange sense of having practically no weight. We both started to our feet, and were unprepared for what followed. We were suddenly plunging toward the ceiling as easily as feathers. By putting out a hand against the ceiling we pushed ourselves downward to the floor and so gained our feet. Grasping one of the handrails, we managed to keep there. Then by planting our feet firmly and using a swaying motion we were able to walk upright. I could foresee funny experiences to come.

  “‘Well,’ I observed quite superfluously, ‘we are on our way, out of Earth’s orbit.’

  “Dorr shrugged his broad shoulders, and going into the bathroom, returned with a bottle of iodine and quietly painted a slight scratch on his hand.

  “‘How did you fare?’ he questioned, holding out the bottle.

  “Impatiently I brushed it aside. ‘Now tell me, why have you come?’ I demanded.

  “‘And if my reason does not suit, will you open the door and ask me to step “out?”’ he queried with a grin.

  “I could not help but laugh at such an idea, but I waited for my answer.

  “‘Oh, I merely figured that two heads’ll be better than one, Dana Gleason,’ he answered.

  “‘And the true reason? Surely had Professor Rollins known of your aspiration, he would not have had to seek me out. Kindly explain!’

  “He lifted his eyes to mine. They were hard-looking eyes. ‘Less than six days ago I had no thought of this. I was heartily contented with my corner of the world. I did not then, nor do I now, approve of you or anyone else making this hazardous trip. One can die much more easily at home. However, that is neither here nor there. Professor Rollins is a friend of mine, one of the finest men, with one of the finest brains in this world. I admire his courage just as I admire your courage, and it is in the interest of Rollins that I decided at the last moment to accompany you!’

  “I was still not satisfied, for I knew that Dorr was not speaking the truth, and I could not be content until I was sure of his real purpose. ‘Had Professor Rollins felt that it would take two men to make this trip, we would have recruited another,’ I stated.

  “He answered in a resigned tone. ‘I have told you why, but since you require more … let us suppose that you do reach Mars. You are certain to find strange conditions there, perhaps wild beasts, wild men or … a dead world of nothing! True, you have considered all that, prepared for it, but you have forgotten one thing in your enthusiasm, Dana Gleason … are you able to cope with these adversities? Are you … are you … ?’

  “‘Man enough?’ I put in.

  “‘That’s just it … are you man enough, Dana Gleason?’

  “It dawned upon me what Dorr was driving at. Somehow he, like Howard Courtland, had learned the truth. He knew me to be a woman! He nodded as he saw that realization in my eyes. ‘Just that. Oh, yes, I know your records … I know all your courageous deeds, your researches, your science, your war experiences, your bravery. Yes, I know all that, but with it all … you are a woman. You are brave, strong, great-willed, yet you are at a disadvantage, and you are attempting a tremendous thing. How stupendous neither of us can guess. So I came, you see, with no ulterior motive. I simply came in the interest of my friend, Professor Rollins …’

  “I couldn’t speak for several moments, and when I did it was in a trembling voice. ‘And knowing this … you didn’t go to the Professor and tell him the truth? He would not have let me go, then …’

  “‘And break his heart? No, I saw that you were really going through with his plans and were the person for it. Henceforth, you may look upon me as your bodyguard!’

  “‘How heroic,’ I said with a curl of my lip.

  “‘No, rather like a fool, I should say.’ I liked his easy manner.

  “‘Then, you count us both fools?’

  “A smile came to his bronzed face. Impulsively I held out my hand and we gave a hearty handclasp. Together we would see our foolishness through.

  “The room was quiet but for the hum of the electric motors and our voices. We are in a perfectly sealed chamber, where no sound can penetrate. We hear nothing of the timed explosions that are now taking place according to schedule, shooting us onward across space. I examined the various meters that showed our rate of velocity and our mileage. The oxygen gauge, the water gauge, and the electrical instruments showed everything to be working in proper order.”

  VIEWING THE VOID

  “I was now prepared to visit the lookouts, and invited Dorr to accompany me. We crept down the short passage and faced the windows. At first we could see nothing. We were in an inky blackness, for since there is nothing to reflect the rays of the sun, they travel onward to more distant bodies. Then far off we began to distinguish the things we call stars. Their brilliancy was almost blinding, for here there is nothing to affect their rays. Overhead the Milky Way glistened, and we saw the light of more stars than we had ever seen upon Earth. Directly behind us lay the sun, a great flaming ball that was blinding. A little to the left, appearing as large though not as bright as old Sol, was Mother Earth. Near her hovered the good old moon, now only a darker blot against the dark side of the planet. In several directions, above and below, we could see the brilliant stars. They did not twinkle, but looked clearly back at us.

  “After about an hour of this we returned to our quarters and I proceeded to take Dorr on a tour of inspection of our quarters. Then finding we were hungry we sought food. There were enough fresh foods to last perhaps three weeks—if the refrigeration held out. And there was a quantity of perishable foods that would hold without refrigeration for a while. We dined on a young fried broiler that I knew thoughtful little Elsie Rollins had prepared for me. I found a number of jars of jam just as thoughtfully placed there for me. What wonder would be reflected in her brown eyes if she knew that the ‘hero’ she has been worshipping all these months was of her own sex. Had I been of different stuff I would have confided in her all my hopes and desires, my joys and disappointments, but I am not womanish or mannish enough either to indulge in such a pastime. Never having had a confidant, I should not know how to confide. Only this little book knows me for what I am. How the devotees of the daily papers would revel if they could read this volume! How anxiously they used to seek ‘copy’ from Dad and me. I only trust that Mars knows nothing of yellow journalism.”

  So ended that entry. The next was made three days later.

  “Seventy-two hours have passed. I can’t count by days, for day and night are all one to us. Even in our lookout there is no change in that darkness about us. We eat, sleep, and awake by the clock. Several meteorites passed a few hours ago—great masses falling, ever falling. Do they ever reach ‘bottom’? In the lookout I feel as if I were trespassing upon the domain of the One who controls this great illimitable sameness.

  “Dick and I share alike in all the chores aboard our ‘ship.’ We have arranged to take turns at arranging meals, each vying to make his or her meal the most appetizing, and at the same time conserving the fresh foods. Of dishwashing we make a great ado, jealously attempting to prove our individual superiority in the feat. We are both reading the heavy books with which Professor Rollins so thoroughly stocked the cupboards—books that teach us even more about what we are to expect on Mars. When the hour grows late and we are weary, the pillows and coverlets are brought from their places. We lie down after first removing our boots and loosing our belts and collars. We sleep thus fully clothed, for as Dick says, ‘One can never tell what pranks the Void might play upon us, and we want at least to be dressed and ready.’ Then, smoking our last cigarettes, we toss a coin to see who is to turn out the light. We leave only a small light burning in a shaded reading lamp for an emergency.

  “How thankful I am that Richard Dorr elected to join me. How dreary the hours would have been alone. And it is surprising how much fun can be had in our tight quarters. How surprised our friends, with whom we have gained reputations for being staid and serious, would be. Yet it is through the means of play that we forget the vastness outside and the meagerness of our chance to live!

  “Our instruments show that we are now traveling at the rate of fifty thousand miles per hour! We are already seven million and two hundred thousand miles from Earth. In another twenty-four hours we shall be traveling several thousand miles faster, for as each magazine of powder is shot and its gas ejected we gain velocity. Sitting down with a paper and pencil I calculated that we should average sixty thousand miles per hour throughout the entire trip of thirty-four million miles, which is the present distance of Mars from Earth. It will, therefore, take us exactly twenty-three days thirteen hours and a fraction to reach the red planet. Professor Rollins had computed that it would take us at least thirty-five days, but of course he was not able to judge just how swiftly the rocket could travel!”

  The next entry was made ten days later.

  “In approximately nine days more we shall land upon Mars, if we do land. Never have we allowed ourselves to forget that word ‘if.’ These days have been pleasant in the company of Richard Dorr. He has proven himself a perfect companion. He is a well-versed man with a fine working knowledge of people. His love for his work helping the natives of Africa was sincere. What a pity that it is all over and that such a man is lost to Earth. I, who have led such a worthless indolent life, seeking only my own pleasure, pitting my own strength and mind against that of man, proving to myself that nothing is impossible to me, am a poor sort of a person beside this man, who has always given himself in behalf of his fellow men. I see now that I have shirked my duty as a woman in the guise of a hater of that sex. And what crude stuff I am made of compared to this man who gave up his life work in the interest of a friend.