“Marvelous!” I gasped, though my mind could only slowly comprehend this almost miraculous achievement.  With such vast scientific resources nothing seemed impossible to Martians.

Almos had stopped abruptly.  A change came over him.  His face paled and his lips set in a hard, determined expression.  Instantly I felt my every faculty strain to the utmost, in response to the new character of this remarkable being.

Speaking slowly and deliberately, his keen eyes holding mine fascinated by a strange fire that seemed kindled within them, he said: 

“A few words more and we have reached that point at which death may await the inhabitant of Earth who would proceed farther.  A death that no scientific knowledge can avert.  I have tried to school your mind, to the end that you may fully understand the nature of a desperate undertaking, never before attempted by any human being, which, if you wish to attempt, you must risk alone.

“Impelled by a motive that I cannot now explain, I have spanned the millions of miles of universe lying between us by a bridge of theories, which, should they prove realities, would enable you to see and live in another world.  Should they prove untenable, however, no power on Earth or Mars can save you; in five hours all would be over.  You must consider the possible consequences ere it be too late.”

“Never!” I cried.  “My dear Almos, I am too vitally interested; I have proceeded too far now to hesitate at any step toward such a goal.  Explain your theories to me, and I will test them, even if it costs me my life, for Mars holds that which is dearer to me than life on Earth ever can be.”

“Well, my brave fellow,” said Almos, his voice softening, “you must follow me closely in all I tell you, and remember every word I say, for to-morrow I can be of no assistance to you.  Alone you must undertake the journey.”

I was glad Almos had not questioned me regarding the import of what I had said in the enthusiasm of the moment, for I could not help feeling now that I had acted unjustly in not confiding in him, at once, the facts regarding the mental image of the beautiful young girl whom I fully believed existed on Mars, and whose destiny, I was certain, was inextricably bound with mine.  I now decided to do so on the first opportunity.

“I have explained to you how the spirit may be retained in the upper chamber of a virator after it has left the body,” pursued Almos, “and as it is this apparatus we shall employ, I have but to describe the additions I have made to it to meet our requirements, and also my theories in connection with them.

“To the lower chamber or dome of a virator I have connected the receiving apparatus of a radioscope, first removing the image surface.  This can be disconnected easily, and the projecting apparatus substituted, from which I have also removed the image surface.  Thus we may have a free current of super-radium flowing from the radioscope to Earth and returning into the virator, and by substituting the projecting apparatus, we have a current flowing from the virator to Earth and returning into the receiving apparatus.