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revolving system； and this the next within； and this the next； and so on；
now if this be so tell me which of these fragmentary orbs is ourswhich of
all these crumbs from the hand of the primordial would be that we stand
upon？〃 And I waited with an anxiety a light manner thinly hid； to hear
his answer。
It came at once。 Laughing as though the question were too trivial；
and more to humour my wayward fancy than aught else； that boy circled
his rosy thumb about a minute and brought it down on the planet Mars！
I started and stared at him； then all of a tremble cried； 〃You trifle with
me！ Choose againthere； see； I will set the symbols and name them to
you anew。 There now； on your soul tell me truly which this planet is； the
one here at our feet？〃 And again the boy shook his head； wondering at
my eagerness； and pointed to Mars； saying gently as he did so the fact was
certain as the day above us； nothing was marvellous but my questioning。
Mars！ oh； dreadful； tremendous； unexpected！ With a cry of affright；
and bringing my fist down on the table till all the cups upon it leapt； I told
him he liedlied like a simpleton whose astronomy was as rotten as his
wit smote the table and scowled at him for a spell； then turned away and
let my chin fall upon my breast and my hands upon my lap。
And yet； and yet； it might be so！ Everything about me was new and
strange； the crisp； thin air I breathed was new； the lukewarm sunshine new；
the sleek； long； ivory faces of the people new！ Yesterdaywas it
yesterday？I was back thereaway in a world that pines to know of other
worlds； and one fantastic wish of mine； backed by a hideous； infernal
chance； had swung back the doors of space and shot meif that boy spoke
trueinto the outer void where never living man had been before： all my
wits about me； all the horrible bathos of my earthly clothing on me； all my
terrestrial hungers in my veins！
I sprang to my feet and swept my hands across my eyes。 Was that a
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dream； or this？ No； no； both were too real。 The hum of my faraway city
still rang in my ears： a swift vision of the girl I had loved； of the men I had
hated； of the things I had hoped for rose before me； still dazing my inner
eye。 And these about me were real people； too； it was real earth； real
skies； trees； and rockshad the infernal gods indeed heard； I asked myself；
the foolish wish that started from my lips in a moment of fierce discontent；
and swept me into another sphere； another existence？ I looked at the boy
as though he could answer that question； but there was nothing in his face
but vacuous wonder； I clapped my hands together and beat my breast； it
was true； my soul within me said it was true； the boy had not lied； the
djins had heard； I was just in the flesh I had； my common human hungers
still unsatisfied where never mortal man had hungered before； and
scarcely knowing whether I feared or not； whether to laugh or cry； but
with all the wonder and terror of that great remove sweeping suddenly
upon me I staggered back to my seat； and dropping my arms upon the
table； leant my head heavily upon them and strove to choke back the
passion which beset me。
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GULLIVER OF MARS
CHAPTER III
It was the light touch of the boy An upon my shoulder which roused
me。 He was bending down； his pretty face full of concernful sympathy；
and in a minute saidknow… ing nothing of my thoughts； of course；
〃It is the wine； stranger； the pink oblivion； it sometimes makes one feel
like that until enough is taken； you stopped just short of what you should
have had； and the next cup would have been delightI should have told
you。〃
〃Ay；〃 I answered； glad he should think so； 〃it was the wine； no doubt；
your quaint drink； sir； tangled up my senses for the moment； but they are
clearer now； and I am eager past expression to learn a little more of this
strange country I have wandered into。〃
〃I would rather；〃 said the boy； relapsing again into his state of kindly
lethargy； 〃that you learnt things as you went； for talking is work； and work
we hate； but today we are all new and fresh； and if ever you are to ask
questions now is certainly the time。 Come with me to the city yonder；
and as we go I will answer the things you wish to know；〃 and I went with
him； for I was humble and amazed； and； in truth； at that moment； had not a
word to say for myself。
All the way from the plain where I had awoke to the walls of the city
stood booths； drinking…places； and gardens divided by labyrinths of canals；
and embowered in shrub… beries that seemed coming into leaf and flower
as we looked； so swift was the process of their growth。 These waterways
were covered with skiffs being pushed and rowed in every direction； the
cheerful rowers calling to each other through the leafy screens separating
one lane from another till the place was full of their happy chirruping。
Every booth and way…side halting…place was thronged with these delicate
and sprightly people； so friendly； so gracious； and withal so pur… poseless。
I began to think we should never reach the town itself； for first my
guide would sit down on a green stream…bank； his feet a…dangle in the
clear water； and bandy wit with a passing boat as though there were
nothing else in the world to think of。 And when I dragged him out of that；
whisper… ing in his ear； 〃The town； my dear boy！ the town！ I am all
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agape to see it；〃 he would saunter reluctantly to a booth a hundred yards
further on and fall to eating strange con… fections or sipping coloured
wines with chance acquaintances； till again I plucked him by the sleeve
and said： 〃Seth； good comradewas it not so you called your city just
now？take me to the gates； and I will be grateful to you；〃 then on again
down a flowery lane； aimless and happy； wasting my time and his； with
placid civility I was led by that simple guide。
Wherever we went the people stared at me； as well they might； as I
walked through them overtopping the tallest by a head or more。 The
drinking…cups paused half…way to their mouths； the jests died away upon
their lips； and the blinking eyes of the drinkers shone with a momentary
sparkle of wonder as their minds reeled down those many… tinted floods to
the realms of oblivion they loved。
I heard men whisper one to another； 〃Who is he？〃； 〃Whence does he
come？〃； 〃Is he a tribute…taker？〃 as I strolled amongst them； my mind still
so thrilled with doubt and wonder that to me they seemed hardly more
than painted puppets； the vistas of their lovely glades and the ivory town
beyond only the fancy of a dream； and their talk as incontinent as the
babble of a stream。
Then happily； as I walked along with bent head brood… ing over the
incredible thing that had happened； my com… panion's shapely legs gave
out； and with a sigh of fatigue he suggested we should take a skiff
amongst the many ly… ing about upon the margins and sail towards the
town； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃the breeze blows thitherward； and 'tis a shame to use
one's limbs when Nature will carry us for nothing！〃
〃But have you a boat of your own hereabouts？〃 I queried； 〃for to tell
the truth I came from home myself somewhat poorly provided with means
to buy or barter； and if your purse be not heavier than mine we must still
do as poor men do。〃
〃Oh！〃 said An； 〃there is no need to think of that； no one here to hire or
hire of； we will just take the first skiff we see that suits us。〃
〃And what if the owner should come along and find his boat gone？〃
〃Why； what should he do but take the next along the bank； and the
master of that the next againhow else could it be？〃 said the Martian； and