Travelers of Mars

This was the last rocket ever sent from Earth, and it had successfully reached Mars. The mission aimed to settle humans on the Red Planet, fearing the outbreak of a nuclear war on Earth. Safe housing, gardens, and other necessary infrastructures had already been prepared in advance. Many settlers had already been transported, and this rocket carried twenty-six people, including Joseph, his wife Della, and their two children, George and Allen. As the rocket landed gently on a grassy Martian plain, the tremors of landing quickly faded, and the hatch opened with a soft click.

The settlers jumped onto the green surface, exploring cautiously. While most people walked confidently toward the pre-built settlement, Joseph felt a shiver run through him. The harsh winds and cold climate of Mars seemed dangerous, even life-threatening. “I think we need to go back to Earth. This place isn’t safe,” Joseph said with concern.

“Go back? Are you serious, Joseph?” Della shot back, glaring at him.

“Yes, you don’t understand. We must prepare to return immediately,” he insisted.

Della ignored his warning, urging their children, “George, Allen, come quickly! Let’s head to the settlement.” She led the way while Joseph lingered, torn between following her and voicing his fears.

Inside the settlement, people mingled cheerfully, sitting in shops and exchanging stories, completely oblivious to the danger around them. Joseph wondered how he could convince Della that the environment was unsuitable for humans. Arriving at the home they had purchased for a million dollars, he called out to George, “Listen, son! Don’t go near those ruins. Allen, you too. It’s dangerous there.” George nodded obediently, and they all entered their new house.

Six months passed, and Joseph noted with concern that the vegetables in their garden had an unusual taste and the grass had changed color. “I still think we should go back. This climate will ruin our bodies,” he said gloomily, watching children play football outside.

“I don’t think so,” Della replied carelessly, engrossed in her book.

Suddenly, Allen came running, tears streaming down her face. “Papa! Papa! It’s happening… just like I thought! We’ll never go back home… never!”

Joseph’s heart sank. Through the girl’s sobs, he learned from the radio that a nuclear war had broken out on Earth. Cities were destroyed, communication cut off, and life as they knew it was lost. His first instinct was to scream and scold, but instead, he took a deep breath and held Allen close, calming himself and his family.

Weeks later, Joseph walked through the main market, frustrated by the settlers’ carefree laughter. He shouted, “Stop! I’m warning you for the last time! Go back! This place isn’t safe for humans!” But people laughed, dismissing his concern.

Joseph tried to fix the damaged rocket with George’s help while Della and Allen watched the black mountains across the river. Six years later, another rocket landed on Mars, carrying a message: “The war is over. We have won. Return now, brave settlers of our great nation.”

Soon, soldiers arrived at Colonel Robert Dawson, reporting the desolate state of the settlement. The canals had dried, the buildings charred, and farms and markets ruined. However, they found a group of people with black skin and golden eyes, weak in mind but able to communicate. They wished to stay on Mars, rejecting Earth.

Colonel Dawson was astonished. “These Martians… are they humans?”

“Yes, sir. They must be our own people who survived some catastrophic event,” the soldier replied. “They are peaceful and want to remain here. Perhaps the plague or radiation killed the others on Earth.”

“Prepare to return immediately. This place isn’t habitable,” the Colonel ordered.

Little did they know, the so-called Martians were their own fellow humans, survivors of the nuclear devastation.