August 1999: The Summer Night Summary

As Martians gather in hundreds of marble amphitheaters across Mars to hear musicians play, as they often do, the stars and the moons of Mars glow over their heads, the canals filled with green wine, and silver pools of water abound. Lovers join one another, whispering, and children play in the streets peacefully. As one woman begins to sing, the audience stirs, hearing a beautiful song of another language. The musicians, playing the melodic tune, are unable to remember how they know the music, and find themselves bewildered and nearly unable to stop. The audience, feeling a chill through the air, leaves the theater as the woman runs from the stage, frightened at the words she has sung. Across Mars, similar incidents occur. Young children recite rhymes in another language, not understanding how or why their thoughts...