H: I don’t understand you.

M: There. That’s better.

H: You do speak English.

M: I do now.

H: That must be the way they spoke to Sam.

M: He’s a friend.

H: This is a wondrous moment.

M: Is it?

H: Yes. My God, you’re a ghost!

M: What? Ghost? You’re a ghost.

H: Me?

M: You.

H: No!

M: Where are you from?

H: Earth.

M: What’s that?

H: It’s a planet. Up there.

M: Planet of ghosts?

H: I’m not a ghost. I’m alive. You’re the one who’s dead. Your people were destroyed by a plague.

M: You must be mad. Don’t you see this city?

H: I see the ruins of the city—dead over 1,000 years.

M: 1,000 years? I live here.

H: Your city’s dead.

M: It’s alive. Don’t you see the carnival lights, the boats, the women? Can’t you see them?

H: No.

M: You don’t see the city, the ocean beyond?

H: There hasn’t been an ocean there for over 40 centuries.

M: This can mean only one thing. It has to do with time. You’re a figment of the past.

H: You are from the past.

M: What year is it?

H: 2007.

M: That means nothing to me. To me, it is the year 4462853 SEC, and you are long dead.

H: But I can feel my heartbeat. Feel. No, never mind. I can feel my own flesh.

M: So do I.

H: And I was hoping finally …

M: Finally what?

H: That I could speak to a Martian—ask him questions.

M: Here I am. Speak to me. Ask. I’ll tell you anything you want to know about my world.

H: Your world is dead.

M: It is your world that is dead.

H: Perhaps you’re right.

M: How can you prove you’re from the future? How do you know these ruins that you see are not the ruins of your own civilization, 100 centuries from now? You cannot know.

H: You’re right. I cannot.

M: What does it matter anyway? Of what importance is it who is past and who is future? What follows will follow, now or in 10,000 years. All that matters is … you see your world and I see mine. Is that not enough, no matter what we each believe?

H: Of course.

M: You look despondent.

H: I guess I am.

M: Why?

H: Because I’d hoped …

M: For what?

H: For this meeting … such a long time. To learn.

M: To learn?

H: Yes, about your people. Your beliefs. The secret of your life on Mars.

M: On Tir.

H: Tir?

M: This is the planet Tir.

H: Ah, yeah. Yes. Tir.

M: Secret? There is no secret. Anyone with eyes can see the way to live.

H: How?

M: By watching life … observing nature and cooperating with it. Making common cause with the process of existence.

H: How?

M: By living life for itself, don’t you see? Deriving pleasure from the gift of pure being.

H: The gift of pure being.

M: Life is its own answer. Accept it and enjoy it day by day. Live as well as possible. Expect no more. Destroy nothing, humble nothing, look for fault in nothing. Leave unsullied and untouched all that is beautiful. Hold that which lives in all reverence. For life is given by the sovereign of our universe—given to be savored, to be luxuriated in, to be respected. But that’s no secret. You’re intelligent. You know as well as I what has to be done. Now I must go. My people are waiting for me.

H: I have people waiting, too.

M: Good. Perhaps we’ll meet again some other night.

H: And I would like to see that carnival of yours.

M: And I would like to see the things you see.

H: Good night … my friend.

M: Good bye.