Chapter 10

The Book that Saved the Earth

Scene 1

It is the time of twenty-fifth century. The place is of the Museum of Ancient History. It is Dept, of the Twentieth Century on the Planet earth. Historical is sitting on a table. There is a movie projector on the table.

Historian says how a book saved the Earth Historian greets the curiosities of the twentieth century. She states that the twentieth century was often called the Era of the Book. In those days there were books about everything. They taught the people everything. But the strangest thing was that a book saved the Earth.

The book that saved the Earth

The story relates to the Martian invasion of 2014. But it never happened A single book stopped it. It was a noble encyclopedia about rockets and missiles.

Think-Tank shown

The historian then turns on the projector. Spotlight comes on Think- Tank. He has a huge, egg-shaped head. He years a long robe decorated with stars and circles. Apprentice Noodle stands beside him at a switchboard. It is Mars Space Control. Think-Tank is its Commander-in-chief.

Think-Tank and Noodle, his deputy

Noodle greets Think-Tank. He asks for his orders. Think-Tank asks Noodle to let him talk with their manned space probe to the Planet Earth. Think-Tank says they are soon going to take it over. He also asks for his mirror. Think-Tank asks the mirror who is the most gifted being in the land. The mirror replies that he himself is that. He asks if the Martians are not a more handsome race than the ugly Earthlings. He asks Noodle to contact the space probe. They are going to attack the Earth before lunch.

Scene 2

The scene is of Mars Space Control and the Centerville Public Library, Captain Omega stands opening and closing card cataloquee drawers. Lieutenant lot a is up left. Sergeant Oop is at right turtiing the pages of a book.

Talk between Think-Tank and Captain Omega

Noodle tells Think-Tank that he sees the space crew. He asks for making voice contact. Noodle calls for Captain Omega to give them their location. Captain Omega says that they have arrived on Earth without any incident.

About Location

Captain Omega asks Lt lota where they are Lt. lota can't reply She, however, says that there are about two thousand peculiar items (books). And the place must be some storage bam. Oop adds that he has been to seven galaxies. But he has never seen anything like those things. He calls them 'hats Omega asks for Think-Tank's advice. Think-Tank looks at the 'books' He calls them 'eatables and they are in a refreshment stand.

Books as 'sandwiches

Think-Tank says that what they have in their hands are 'sandwiches They are the main food of Earth diet. Think-Tank orders Omega to eat it (book) to confirm. Omega is ready to eat it But he asks Lt lota to eat as he hasn't taken his breakfast yet Wonder at 'sandwiches lota finds it a great honour to be the first Martian to eat a 'sandwich'. She orders Sergeant Oop to eat it. Oop bites on a Corner of the book. He pretends to chew and swallow. Think-Tank asks if it was delicious. Oop says it was. He wonders how the Earth people eat it without water

Think-Tank's version about 'sandwiches'

Noodle informs Think-Tank that a bit of data floated into his mind He tells that the Earthlings did not eat them. But they used them as communication devices. Think-Tank also calls them these as he is never wrong. He orders Omega to listen to them (books).

Opinion about Earthlings

Think-Tank asks Omega if he listens something from them Omega replies that they may not be on the correct frequency Think- Tank calls that the Earthlings have sharper ears.

Sandwiches as eye communication

Noodle says that he has a piece of information in his mind. He says that the Earthlings opened them and watched them Think-Tank adds hat those 'sandwiches are for eye communication. He asks Captain mega to take three sandwiches and tell him.what he sees in them.

Vitamins for increasing intelligence

Omega replies that they have pictures of Earthlings. They have Some sort of code, lines and dots with pictures. Think-Tank asks Omega to take vitamins to increase their intelligence. He asks him to unfold those pictures etc. Omega swallows vitamins

How 'sandwiches mean to Think-Tank

Think-Tank asks Omega to decipher the code in the 'sandwiches Omega reads the nursery rhyme Mistress Mary... Think-Tank wonders how the Earthlings have combined agriculture and mining. They also grow explosives. He asks Noodle to contact their invasion fleet. Noodle replies that they are ready to take over the Earth

Nursery rhyme as 'new information

Think-Tank asks Noodle to tell the invasion fleet to hold. New information has come to him. Think-Tank asks lota to transcribe the information. She reads the nursery rhyme 'Hey diddle.. spoon Oop laughs but Think- Tank asks to stop laughing.

Think-Tank's meaning about Earthlings

Think-Tank says that it is more and more alarming The Earthlings have reached a higher level of civilisation. They have taught their domesticated animals musical culture and space techniques, They may be launching an interplanetary attack of millions of cows. He asks to notify the invasion fleet. No invasion today. He asks Oopto transcribe the next code

Another nursery rhyme as a warning to capture Mars

Oop reads the next nursery rhyme 'Humpty Dumpty again He shows the picture of Humpty Dumpty also. Think-Tank screams. He says that it is he/himself. It is his great and mighty balloon brainy He says that the Earthlings have seen him. They are after him. They are planning to capture him and Mars Central Control

Think-Tank decides to flee Mars

Think-Tank asks Noodle to prepare a space capsule for him. He must escape without delay. They are coming to Mars to capture it. Noodle asks Think-Tank where they shall go. Think- Tank replies they will go a hundred million miles from Mars. It is Alpha Centuri. It is a hundred million miles away.

Historian states how a book saved the world from Martian invasion

Historian chuckles in humour. She says that one dusty old book of nursery rhymes saved the world from a Martian invasion. They resumed contact with Mars in the twenty-fifth century, They became friends. Think-Tank was replaced by Noodle. They taught the Martians the difference between books and sandwiches. They established a model library in their capital city of Marsopolis But the Martians can never read one book.it is Mother Goose.

We hope CBSE/MP Board class 10th English "Foot Print without Feet" Chapter 10 " The Book That Saved The Earth" Notes will help you.

Written By - Swati sharma