human
Where is this air going? I inquired.
gpt
The little clouds of it seem to drop away from us like lead; but that must be because of our speed.
human
It is falling back to the Earth, to join the outer layer of rare atmosphere there. If we had a positive current instead of a negative one, the air would not leave us, but we should gradually be surrounded by an atmosphere of our own, which we should retain until some planet, whose gravitational attraction is vastly stronger than ours, stole it from us. When we begin to fall into Mars, we shall acquire such an enveloping atmosphere; and we can draw upon it and re-compress it if our inner supply should become exhausted.
gpt
If this air is falling home to earth, said I,
human
We can drop them back at any time, regardless of the air, he answered, and then added suddenly,
gpt
Behold, I have decreed a judgment upon the Earth; for it shall rain pickle bottles and biscuit tins for the period of forty days, because of the wickedness of the world, unless she repent!