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〃It matters nothing；〃 said the man； as if he were asleep。
〃Ay； but by the stars it does； for it will vex the quiet repose of your
soul tomorrow if your heirs should swear they could not find them。〃
〃It matters nothing；〃 muttered the will…wrapped visionary。
〃It will matter something if I take you at your word。 Come； friend
Purple…jerkin； will you take the council with your legs and run while there
is yet time； or stand up to be thrown at？〃
〃I stand here immoveable in the confidence of my initia… tion。〃
〃Then； by thunder； I will initiate you into the mysteries of a javelin…
end； and your blood be on your head。〃
The Martians were all craning their necks in hushed eagerness as I
turned to the casting…place； and； poising the javelin； faced the magician。
Would he run at the last moment？ I half hoped so； for a minute I gave
him the chance； then； as he showed no sign of wavering； I drew my hand
back； shook the javelin back till it bent like a reed； and hurled it at him。
The Martians' heads turned as though all on one pivot as the spear sped
through the air； expecting no doubt to see it recoil as others had done。
But it took him full in the centre of his chest； and with a wild wave of
arms and a flutter of purple raiment sent him backwards； and down； and
over and over in a shapeless heap of limbs and flying raiment； while a low
murmur of awed surprise rose from the spectators。 They crowded round
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him in a dense ring； as An came flitting to me with a startled face。
〃Oh； stranger；〃 she burst out； 〃you have surely killed him！〃 but more
astounded I had broken down his guard than grieved at his injury。
〃No；〃 I answered smilingly； 〃a sore chest he may have tomorrow； but
dead he is not； for I turned the lance…point back as I spun it； and it was the
butt…end I threw at him！〃
〃It was none the less wonderful； I thought you were a common man； a
prince mayhap； come but from over the hills； but now something tells me
you are more than that；〃 and she lapsed into thoughtful silence for a time。
Neither of us were wishful to go back amongst those who were raising
the bruised magician to his legs； but wandered away instead through the
deepening twilight towards the city over meadows whose damp； soft
fragrance loaded the air with sleepy pleasure； neither of us saying a word
till the dusk deepened and the quick night descended； while we came
amongst the gardened houses； the thousand lights of an unreal city rising
like a jewelled bank before us； and there An said she would leave me for a
time； meet… ing me again in the palace square later on； 〃To see Princess
Heru read the destinies of the year。〃
〃What！〃 I exclaimed； 〃more magic？ I have been brought up on more
substantial mental stuff than this。〃
〃Nevertheless； I would advise you to come to the square；〃 persisted
my companion。 〃It affects us all； andwho knows？ may affect you
more than any。〃
Therein poor An was unconsciously wearing the cloak of prophesy
herself； and； shrugging my shoulders good… humouredly； I kissed her chin；
little realising； as I let her fingers slip from mine； that I should see her no
more。
Turning back alone； through the city； through ways twinkling with
myriad lights as little lamps began to blink out amongst garlands and
flower…decked booths on every hand； I walked on； lost in varying thoughts；
until； fairly tired and hungry； I found myself outside a stall where many
Martians stood eating and drinking to their hearts' content。 I was known
to none of them； and； forgetting past experience； was looking on rather
enviously； when there came a touch upon my arm； and
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〃Are you hungry； sir？〃 asked a bystander。
〃Ay；〃 I said； 〃hungry； good friend； and with all the zest which an
empty purse lends to that condition。〃
〃Then here is what you need； sir； even from here the wine smells good；
and the fried fruit would make a mouse's eye twinkle。 Why do you
wait？〃
〃Why wait？ Why； because though the rich man's dinner goes in at his
mouth； the poor man must often be content to dine through his nose。 I
tell you I have nothing to get me a meal with。〃
The stranger seemed to speculate on this for a time； and then he said；
〃I cannot fathom your meaning； sir。 Buying and selling； gold and money；
all these have no mean… ing to me。 Surely the twin blessings of an
appetite and food abundant ready and free before you are enough。〃
〃What！ free is itfree like the breakfast served out this morning？〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said the youth； with mild depreci… ation； 〃everything
here is free。 Everything is his who will take it； without exception。
What else is the good of a co… herent society and a Government if it cannot
provide you with so rudimentary a thing as a meal？〃
Whereat joyfully I undid my belt； and； without nicely examining the
argument； marched into the booth； and there put Martian hospitality to the
test； eating and drinking； but this time with growing wisdom； till I was a
new man； and then； paying my leaving with a wave of the hand to the
yellow…girted one who dispensed the common provender； I sauntered on
again； caring little or nothing which way the road went； and soon across
the current of my medita… tions a peal of laughter broke； accompanied by
the piping of a flute somewhere close at hand； and the next minute I found
myself amid a ring of light…hearted roisterers who were linking hands for a
dance to the music a curly… headed fellow was making close by。
They made me join them！ One rosey…faced damsel at the hither end
of the chain drew up to me； and； without a word； slipped her soft； baby
fingers into my hand； on the other side another came with melting eyes；
breath like a bed of violets； and banked…up fun puckering her dainty mouth。
What could I do but give her a hand as well？ The flute began to gurgle
anew； like a drinking spout in spring… time； and away we went； faster and
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faster each minute； the boys and girls swinging themselves in time to the
tune； and capering presently till their tender feet were twinkling over the
ground in gay confusion。 Faster and faster till； as the infection of the
dance spread even to the outside groups； I capered too。 My word！ if they
could have seen me that night from the deck of the old Carolina； how they
would have laughedsword swinging； coat…tails flying faster and faster；
round and round we went； till limbs could stand no more； the gasping
piper blew himself quite out； and the dance ended as abruptly as it
commenced； the dancers melting away to join others or casting themselves
panting on the turf。
Certainly these Martian girls were blessed with an in… gratiating
simplicity。 My new friend of the violet…scented breath hung back a little；
then after looking at me de… murely for a minute or two； like a child that
chooses a new playmate； came softly up； and； standing on tiptoe； kissed
me on the cheek。 It was not unpleasant； so I turned the other； whereon；
guessing my meaning； without the smallest hesitation； she reached up
again； and pressed her pretty mouth to my bronzed skin a second time。
Then； with a little sigh of satisfaction； she ran an arm through mine； saying；
〃Comrade； from what country have you come？ I never saw one quite like
you before。〃
〃From what country had I come？〃 Again the frown dropped down
upon my forehead。 Was I dreamingwas I mad？ Where indeed had I
come from？ I stared back over my shoulder； and there； as if in answer to
my thought there； where the black tracery of flowering shrubs waved in
the soft night wind； over a gap in the crumbling ivory ramparts； the sky
was brightening。 As I looked into the centre of that glow； a planet；
magnified b