"Of course there is a light side to this dark moon, also. Had the ship taken off twelve hours earlier, you would have seen it land on the light side. There is a landing field on both sides of this Moon at which the Martonian freighters stop on each trip. Since this is the dark side we are viewing, you will not be able to see the ship land on the other side where it will go when it leaves from where you now see it."
While he was yet talking, we saw the ship take off and instead of going into space towards Mars, it looked as if he climbed from the bottom to the top of the circle and over it to the other side. As it went over the horizon, it was much like a sun setting, and it vanished.
"Now he is on the light side for he took supplies with him from here to the people there," was the comment.
As if in answer, the pilot of the ship spoke to us at the observatory telling us that he knew we had kept watching him, for he too had his screen on all the time beamed to this Moon. He said that the side he is on now has a temperature at present of about thirty degrees. The inhabitants there are just beginning their day's activities. These people are not as active as those living on the Moon they had just left. They are a slow moving people on that side of this other moon. His ship is nearly unloaded by now and they are about ready to take off again, since there is not much of interest at all on this moon. He adds that the people on the light side of that moon had been transported there some five hundred years before, while the people on the dark side are originals.
"Where did they come from," questioned Dr. Johnston, in surprise.
"From the light side of this Moon," was the reply. "You already know that the people there are adventurous and love to do anything or go anywhere to satisfy their explorers' nature. Whenever the Martonians plan to establish a new outpost in space, these tribes are always eager to go there to maintain the post. As you heard, the post on the Moon you have just seen was established five hundred years ago, at which time one whole tribe was moved there from here. By staying there steadily they have increased their population. Those on the light side have a life span of only about three hundred fifty years, so none of those originally taken there are still living. However, should any of those living there, either on the light side or the dark side, ever desire to come to this Moon or go to Mars, either to visit or to live, they may do so, for one of the Martonian ships would take them. This has always been the Martonian policy. Some have taken advantage of this privilege and come here to stay, but most of them have come now and then merely to visit. The same is true about going to Mars."
Here he turned smiling to our chieftain companion from the light side and said, "Right?"
Our friend smilingly nodded an assent.
His questions along that line answered, Dr. Johnston next wanted to know how far this telescope has penetrated into space.
Here the scientist marked on a blackboard in symbol drawing, indicating that its limits haven't yet been reached and that its power is being steadily increased by new instruments being added onto it.