Upon returning to the ship Johnny radared to the Earth that we would be starting home the following day.
They radared back, saying, the sooner, the better since they were worried about us and wondering whether we will be able to make the trip back safely, reminding us that the major success of this trip was the returning back. They also told us that the whole world was eagerly awaiting our arrival home.
After breaking contact with the Earth and getting everything in readiness for our return trip early the next morning, we were preparing to take our delayed rest when our radio and radar sets went into operation automatically.
Chapter VII
MARS
Mars was calling to invite us to visit their planet. We were told they knew of our condition and that we would be in need of fuel if we used much more of what we now have. If we wished to accept their invitation at this time, they would instruct the Moonalites right in this vicinity to look after our ship while we were away and they would send a ship from their planet to our landing field here on the Moon to pick us up.
This was indeed a surprise beyond our greatest hopes and an invitation we certainly do want to accept.
Johnny replied that we would like, more than anything else, to come to planet Mars but he must first contact the Earth and tell them of this unexpected trip, since he had just told them we were starting Earthward in the morning.
This he did.
The Earth people were overjoyed about our making a trip to Mars and they told us such a visit at this time would make our trip a far greater success than had been anticipated.