They also told us that since the people on Earth have heard the natives on the Moon actually talking to them over their radios, they no longer doubt our findings. Further, they informed us that they tried the television screens in different ways while they were receiving our messages and they had succeeded partially in screening the white chieftain and the dancers, not enough to know what this chieftain looked like, but just a form which was descriptive, as we had given before of his gown which he was wearing, and what appeared to be the magic stone we had told them he had hanging on a gold chain from his neck. They said the picture wasn't anything to brag about but yet it was sufficient to prove our messages true. And they added that the people on Earth were really excited. They seemed to be living in another world right now.
After this was over and contact with the Earth had been broken, we continued visiting with our friends, telling them a little about living on the Earth and questioning them about many things concerning conditions upon the Moon. This lasted until most of the long Moon night was gone. Finally we went to sleep for the few remaining hours.
While the rest of us see to all the final preparations before leaving, Johnny contacts the Earth, alerting them to the fact that we will be taking off in about an hour. He tells them he will try to keep the same connection while flying that he had last night and will keep our televising set on also, in hopes they can see for themselves to at least a small degree what the Moon surface looks like.
All weather conditions are fine. In fact, the weather has been perfect for flying ever since we arrived here.
Chapter VI
THE TERMINAL CITY
After rising into the air, Bob circled our field while Johnny called the Earth. Contact has been made and Johnny is describing our trip to the people on Earth, giving them a bird's-eye view of the Moon as we fly over it.
"We are straightening out in the same direction we took on our first flight from here. We have crossed the brush-forest and are heading up the valley. The little fishing lake is like a large mirror reflecting skyward. Our friends in the village waved in greeting to us as we flew over their homes towards the mountain range lying a short distance beyond. Extending from about half way up these mountains into the snowclad peaks is a heavy growth of timber. It looks as if there could be rather large trees growing here instead of the brush growth of the forest in the warmer section."
"We have flown five hundred miles straight north from the light side into the dark side, flying over the top of the Moon, as it were. The mountains have grown constantly higher and more rugged the deeper we penetrated into the dark area, until Bob had to rise to forty thousand feet for safe flying."
"A deep valley lies below us, flanked on either side by ridges of snowcapped mountains towering to an elevation of thirty-two thousand feet. These peaks are bleak and uninviting, yet could easily be a challenge to the adventurous mountain climber, much like the Himalayan Mountains of Earth. We have been unable to sight villages or settlements of any kind for a long time now and the valley below gives us the feeling of unexplored territory, as though no man had yet penetrated its vastness."