When Sun-Rank Banard concluded his lecture, it left all of us facing a gloomy aspect, we were thoughtful for a few minutes. It took time for his remarks to penetrate. One doesn't change one's ideas, learned since childhood, in a few moments. But most of us realized the truth of his remarks, and on the way out, our conversations with each other proved that he had presented his points fairly convincingly and very logically.
We quickly made our farewells and prepared to depart. I shall long remember my Martian friends, their sincere hospitality, and the delight they took in offering their best to us. I hated to leave Lieutenant Balmore. We had come a long way together since that chance meeting on the park bench. I realized I might never see him again since it was his and his crew's intentions to remain permanently on Mars.
FOOTNOTES:
[42] World Almanac, 1949, p. 268.
[43] Editorial, Reno Evening Gazette, Feb. 16, 1949.
[44] Nevada State Journal, Nov. 23, 1946, Merry-Go-Round, by Drew Pearson.
[45] Reno Evening Gazette, Dec. 26, 1950.
CHAPTER X
Nonproducers
After a very friendly parting with all our friends, we embarked on the Martian airship and were on our way to earth. We at once made a visit to our own plane which we found in perfect condition.