The air space above roofs was devoid of all obstructions, with the exception of the colored and very visible radio and fog-dispelling, air-purifying, and bacteria-killing masts, which I readily recognized. It was becoming dark as we were nearing our landing. I could see a great number of small luminous bodies, traveling above the surface in different directions, which looked like and reminded me of fireflies. I found out afterwards they were Martians, flying like birds, with large wing attachments on their arms, and red lights on their heads.
We were now approaching one of their large airports outside the city, across one of their rivers, where we were ordered to land and to wheel the ship into a very large building. Nobody was there to meet us because all of us including the Martians, were under strict quarantine.
We again had to undergo the cleansing and disinfecting, but this time more intensified. Their health inspectors and medical specialists began to take all kinds of careful tests to be sure we did not bring in any diseases or that we did not carry any dangerous microbes. We remained here for three days.
On the last day, after again being thoroughly examined, we were given a clean bill of health. Our airship leader, who, I was told, was a first-degree Sun-Rank member, an important dignitary, and who, I could see, was given honorable recognition and homage by everyone, appointed himself my host. He said the rest of our boys were also being taken as guests by other fellow Martian travelers.
Again cautioning every one of us to try his utmost to control his thoughts, he led me to his private plane. We left the airport for his home. He gave me a parachute and fastened on his arms a pair of folded large snow shoes.
"These are flying wings," he said. "I am putting them on in case of accident. Before we reach my home I want to tell you something that may please you. The medical reports about you and your friends are very satisfactory. After a few months with us, if you follow our health habits, we expect you to become just as healthy and vigorous as any one of our young Martians. But you will never acquire our sixth sense of thought reading and transmission, or our bird-flying motions. But by following our way of living, your life span will be extended far beyond Earth standards, even if it does not reach our span of 300 years.
"Our head examiner said it was safe for us to take you to our homes. If you men desire, you may remain indefinitely among us, and look for wives among our girls. You all are able to rear families of healthy Martians. But after consulting with members of our council, they said that if you decided to remain on Mars, you would first have to deserve and earn the Martian citizenship. They decided if you will help me in my plans for your Earth people you will be elected to honorable citizenship of Mars.
"We are, as you notice, flying very slowly. My home is in the suburbs of the city, near by, about 500 miles distant. My wife and my fourth-generation granddaughter, together with other members of our household are waiting to receive you. I am sure they will find you a welcome guest. I also wish to tell you that we have learned your English language. Every one will be able to converse freely with you. You will feel quite at home. It would be wise if you men learned our Martian language so that you could mingle with other Martians."
While we were flying, I was constantly looking above and below us at the innumerable, beautiful airships of all kinds, designs, and sizes flying in all directions.
Glancing below I was astounded to see a garden of Eden with angel figures winging their way over an oasis of blended color. While he had been talking, my companion was preparing to land on his own landing platform. Attendants were on hand to assist us from the plane. A woman of dignity and beauty and a charming young girl were awaiting our arrival. They seemed from another world. No marks of care and anxiety on their faces. They looked to me like the angels I remembered from childhood on Christmas cards. They were dressed in flowing Roman stolas, that appeared to be of very fine linen, falling to their feet, fastened at the shoulders and upper arms by ornamented atomic battery buttons. They wore beautiful bracelets on their arms. Their stolas, girdled at the waist, were semi-décolleté reflecting their healthy, white skin. Two ribbons running over the shoulders crossed themselves in front and back to reach the girdle belt. On the sides under the arms, the gowns were ornamented and fell in a cascade effect into folds, open from the knees down and trailing on the ground at the back.