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Quest
The Martian raid
"Boozo, get ready! I'll turn on the invisible mode of the ship. We're about to enter the earth's atmosphere," ordered captain Gazoo. "It's the luckiest planet in the entire solar system with temperature perfect for life to exist, water in plenty and in all forms, many green trees which supply oxygen in plenty and a reliable ozone layer which protects them from the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun. Anyway, look out for their spaceships, which they call `aeroplanes'. Remember, being invisible doesn't prevent us from being solid. The earthlings will get suspicious if they discover that they've banged into `nothing'."
Boozo: "Wow! I wish I were born as an earthling. Things are so terrible back at home. All we have is ice in plenty, which we have to constantly melt to get water. Temperature is so low that we are always wrapped up in layers of clothes and carry oxygen cylinders because oxygen is rare."
Gazoo: Are my eyes kidding me or has everything suddenly gone brown and dusty?
Boozo: "The green trees are missing. This looks nothing like the picture of the earth we saw in the library."
Gazoo: "Look at the way man is felling trees to make space for buildings. Little do they realise that trees are their friends, which absorb the toxic carbon dioxide from the air and provide healthy life saving oxygen. They have plenty of oxygen now but if this continues then it'll be impossible for man to survive."
Boozo: "I won't argue on that. Talking of carbon dioxide, look at the way the chimneys of their industries and factories are regurgitating black smoke full of poisonous chemical vapours."
Gazoo: This is what is slowly destroying their protective ozone layer and they call this `development'. Very soon the harmful U-V rays will penetrate through the layer into the earth's atmosphere and cause a sudden rise in temperature which will prove to be deadly for mankind."
Boozo: Man can take care of himself. It is his own wish to remain ignorant about all this. Anyway, look at that ship. It is leaving behind such a beautiful trail in the water."
Gazoo: "That is no beautiful trail. It is oil, which is leaking. This is what causes the death of millions of aquatic animals each year. Man has turned his rivers and seas into garbage yards. It is his responsibility to take care of his underwater friends and preserve these beautiful creations. Moreover, man will himself run out of fresh water in due course of time."
Boozo: If things continue in the same way, then mankind will soon be extinct. We might as well pick up a few specimens for our museum to show our children what man looked like. It'll be a good example to teach them how one can frame his own end."
Gazoo: "Keep your ideas to yourself. I think we should go back. I've suddenly lost my interest in this subject and remember, not a word of this to anyone or we'll both be in hot soup."
Boozo: "Well captain, this visit wasn't a complete waste. At least now we'll be careful about our own planet and try not to waste things. No matter what it is like, it is our own home. It's high time man understood the same thing."
Ruhi Jhunjhunwala, XII
Chennai: Agarwal Vidyalaya Matric H.S. School
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