The Truth About Mars
An Eyewitness Account
2
An Astral Flight Through Space
Now I will contact my Martian guide and take an astral
flight through space, and see just how it is that man lives on the red planet. Almost immediately a very distinguished
looking man stands before me; he is Nur El, a man of high position and esteem from one of the Martian cities.
He is dressed in a very brilliant red suit. The coat is long, almost to the knees, with loose fitting pantaloons.
On his head is a red hat with a square shaped brim that is turned up on four sides.
Our trip there is a matter
of split seconds as no craft is used or needed. Arriving on the surface of Mars, we are at once aware of the extremely
rugged terrain, rocky hills and sandy wastes, that stretches out endlessly around us. There are many peculiar
whirling dust clouds all about. Nur El explains that the ionosphere is very thin which leaves the surface almost
unprotected from the various beta, gamma and cosmic rays. This high concentration of rays ionizes the very rare
and gaseous atmosphere and together with the thermal currents, creates terrific dust storms. There is also a very
thinly divided dust layer on the ionosphere which helps create the reddish appearance of the planet. There are
also a number of volcanos, three of which are of major size; one of these was just barely visible on the horizon
trailing a thin wisp of smoke from its truncated cone.
It was also explained that
as Mars has only seven degrees axis inclination there is not much of a seasonal change. Water is very scarce on
this arid planet; most of the precipitation falls at the poles. Vegetation is also scarce. There are a few varieties
of prickly-cacti looking plants. Also near the polar ice caps, grows a very luxuriant green alga-like plant that
follows the melting snow line. This spongy growth often attains a height (or depth) of forty to fifty feet. It
appears and disappears with the season as it grows tremendously rapidly, and it also disintegrates very fast.
There are also a number
of species of lizards*, reptiles* (see note at end) and of some insects whose hard shells have enabled them to
weather the extreme atmospheric conditions and among them are giant
ants which walk semi-erect on the two hind feet. The guide tells me
these are mutants which were accidently produced from a small ant in
an atomic experiment ages ago. They are similar to humans in a very
low state of intelligence and at one time it became necessary to make
war on them, as they became so numerous and large. These strange ant creatures average two to four feet in height
and live in rocky caves.
We did not tarry long on
the surface I followed my guide to a rather strange looking rock. Then, taking a small whistle from his coat pocket,
he blew one note and although I heard nothing, the rock
immediately swung open disclosing a car-like elevator. We entered
and, after the door closed, I had the familiar dropping sensation of
our own modern elevators. The trip down took but a few seconds, and, upon stopping, I stepped forth into what
was my first glimpse of a Martian city.
 |
| View of a street in one of the Martian underground cities, which are inside the metal tubes that have been constructed one mile below the surface of the planet. |
I was immediately impressed
by the soft white light that seemed to come from everywhere. We were standing near the entrance of a
large tube. On Mars the cities are all underground and are connected
together by huge oval metal tubes from three to five hundred feet in
diameter. There are monorail cars as long as our pullman trains which
glide silently and very swiftly from one city to another. The bottoms
of these immense tubes are used for parks, growing foodstuffs and
innumerable small manufacturing plants.
Because of the great distances
between the cities, these tubes have been built only partially submerged. There are emergency air locks and bulkheads
at the ends where they connect to the domes; other safety and precautionary measures are used to protect the cities
and tunnels in case of breakdowns or outside attack. It is these tubes which have confused the astronomers on
the earth. Some believe them to be canals. There are also other theories. The shifting desert sands often cover
or uncover them which leads to further confusion inasmuch as they seem to appeal' and disappear.
Turning about and looking
down into the city is an unforgettable
experience. Like all cities on Mars, it is built on the floor of a
huge metal dome. These domes are sometimes four or five miles in
diameter, and up to three thousand feet high. They are constructed of
huge curved trusses of a whitish metal, seemingly of a magnesium
compound.
These trusses are covered
with a metal top and bottom and the space in between filled with a plastic foam similar to the
construction of the houses. This also gives added protection from the
various cosmic rays as well as sealing in the precious air supply.
Underneath the roof is an inner shell or a second false shell which is
composed of sheets of pale blue plastic. This is suspended from
brackets from the dome at a distance of about six feet; in this space
are the many thousands of fluorescent tubes which make up the lighting
system and they reflect downward the soft radiant light which I first
noticed. I was told this light is very similar to a modified sunlight, and is very healthful and stimulating to
plant life, as well as to the people. As these domes are built in the bottom of excavations, the sands soon drift
over them and cover them up, giving added protection from the strong surface rays.
