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diff --git a/26941.txt b/26941.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b067bc --- /dev/null +++ b/26941.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2646 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Wanted--7 Fearless Engineers!, by Warner Van Lorne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wanted--7 Fearless Engineers! + +Author: Warner Van Lorne + +Release Date: October 17, 2008 [EBook #26941] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WANTED--7 FEARLESS ENGINEERS! *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: This civilization was advanced far beyond any the Terrans +had ever seen.] + + + _Wanted-- + 7 Fearless Engineers!_ + + By WARNER VAN LORNE + + _A great civilization's fate lay in Dick Barrow's hands as he led + his courageous fellow engineers into a strange and unknown land. + None of them knew what lay ahead--what dangers awaited them--or what + rewards. But they did not hesitate because the first question asked + them had been: "Are you a brave man?"_ + + + + +CHAPTER I + +_Opportunity_ + + +From where Dick Barrow sat, hundreds of men were visible, occupying +benches in every manner of position. Some stretched at full length, +sleeping in the morning sun after a night in the park. Others sat with +heads hanging; thinking thoughts of their own. + +Depression or recession, it meant the same to all of them. Some didn't +care, but others tried to find any kind of work that would fill their +stomachs with food. + +For three days Dick hadn't eaten a good meal, and felt almost as low as +the derelicts whom he had for companions. He would have enjoyed a smoke, +but turned away as two men dove for a cigarette-butt; discarded by a +passerby. + +Anyone who could afford to buy a newspaper was an aristocrat, and Dick +watched until he saw one discarded. For three days he had been reading +them secondhand, but the only jobs were too far to walk and apply for. + +His eyes stopped at one item in the column and a puzzled frown slowly +puckered his forehead. + + _Wanted: An Engineer. Young man with love for electrical and + mechanical work, who is not afraid of isolation. Have some knowledge + of engineering, but general experience more desirable than + specialized training. Must be willing to leave country, never to + return; for which he will be well remunerated. Have no close family + ties, and willing to submit to certain amount of danger. Will be + isolated with few members of own race, but will have great + opportunity to develop mastery of huge machines. Come prepared to + leave for post immediately, without preparation. Every want will be + taken care of by employers. This position is for lifetime, without + opportunity of turning back after having accepted responsibility. + GREAT OPPORTUNITY! Room 36, 18 W. Morgan Ave., City._ + + * * * * * + +For a long time Dick Barrow gazed at the ad, mentally comparing his own +qualifications for the position--and they _seemed_ to fit! He was not a +graduate engineer, being forced to quit school after two years of study. +Three years later his father died, then Dick lost the job that had kept +them eating regularly. His love of mechanics remained insatiable, and he +constantly hoped for work which would allow him to use his knowledge and +ability. + +He had no relations, and the _only_ girl had forgotten him, when he left +school. He heard that she married a classmate! + +Dick was twenty-seven. Five years had slipped by since he quit school, +and he couldn't remember where they had gone. It was only six months +after his father died that he lost his last regular job. He tried +selling and was a failure. He had been carpenter's helper, plumber's +helper, porter, counter-man and busboy as the months passed, but nothing +steady. For the past two months he had been hunting for work, while his +few dollars dwindled to where he no longer had room rent. Then it was +the park. + +His feet were sore and blistered from holes in his shoes, and he limped +with every step. It took so long to reach the address that there was +little chance of finding the job still open. It was not the first time +he had missed--for the same reason. + + * * * * * + +He found that 18 Morgan Avenue was a dreary structure, appearing as if +it had been standing twenty years too long. The wooden stairs creaked as +he rested his weight on first one sore foot and then the other. Room 36 +was at the top of the five-story building, and it seemed ages before he +reached the doorway. The only sign of furnishing in the room was a hard +bench, occupied by three men. Dick had to stand while his feet tortured +him, but it was hopeful to see men waiting--_the job wasn't filled_! + +Suddenly a door at the opposite side of the room jerked open and a man +dashed through. + +"Get out of here! The man's _insane_!" + +Two of the men followed, but the man who remained on the bench glanced +at Dick, grinned, shrugged his shoulders and entered the door. A moment +later his booming voice could be heard through the thin partition, +although his words were not clear. + +An hour passed while Dick waited. When the man came out, with a smile on +his face, he wished Dick luck and headed for the stairway. + +Barrow felt a queer sensation as he stepped through the inner doorway. A +man faced him in a huge leather chair across the room. At least Dick +thought he was a man. Grotesque in every way, his body was small while +his head was twice as large as normal. He was light complexioned, with +almost white hair thinly covering the top of his enormous head. His +features were finely cut, with large aquiline nose. He was not +repulsive, and smiled in welcome as Dick hesitated at the threshold. +When he spoke his tone was soft and musical. + +"Welcome, stranger. You have come in answer to my advertisement and I +will explain without wasting time. But first tell me about yourself." + +Going over his complete life history, including the two years in +college, Dick came to the lean years when his father died. He hesitated +slightly not proud of this period. + +"Go on, Mr. Barrow. It is not important to have been a success in +business, and I will not consider that in your applications. It isn't +what you _have_ done, but what you _want_ to do, that interests me." + +He spoke with a strange accent, that Dick didn't recognize. But he was +pleasant and made it easy to talk. + +When Barrow finished, by relating the finding of the newspaper and the +long walk to the office, the queer man was smiling. + +"I like your frankness and will tell you about the position, although I +can't reveal the location of your work. It is not on any map, and you +will work among a race such as myself, with no opportunity of leaving +after reaching the destination. + +"You will be given every comfort and advantage among my people, and be +required to work hard in return. There are several machines out of +commission which must be repaired and put to work again. After a few +months your work will be easier, although you must constantly watch all +machinery to see that it is in perfect condition, and does not stop work +for even a moment. + +"My people use mechanics of greater size and development than anything +you have ever seen, and our lives depend on its perfect operation. In +order to accept this position you must be married. Your wife must come +with you, and be willing to accept the same living conditions which are +offered to you. + + * * * * * + +"The man who left this office as you entered has a fiancee and has gone +to talk it over with her. In your instance _I must select your wife_! +You will be the leader of the workmen whom I take back. There will be +only a few people such as yourself, and you can never again see others +of your race. + +"You will have power and wealth among my people, and every type of +entertainment that you desire. But remember that you leave your race +forever, with _no possibility_ of return! If you accept my offer you +must trust entirely in what I say about the future." + +When the man finished speaking Dick was quiet for a long time. +Everything seemed so unreal, so different from what he had expected. He +must be willing to leave everything that he had always known--to enter +an existence which he didn't understand--without chance of return! Yet +he believed every word this man spoke, impossible as it seemed. But +_marriage_ ... with a girl he had never _seen_! + +The man spoke again. "You hesitate about marrying; I can see it in your +eyes. But remember that _she_ must accept without knowing you, and is +taking just as great a chance. This I can say. She will be brilliant, +and I _could not_ trust you to pick out a brilliant woman for your wife. +Love would come first in your eyes. Other things would seem unimportant. +I know that you and the girl I select are apt to fall in love, as I +shall choose a girl suitable to your temperament." + +Dick answered slowly, "I don't know what to say. I will have to live +with her all of my life, and if we are not happy anything you could +offer would mean nothing." + +The smile spread over the strange man's face again. "I wouldn't worry +too much. I believe you could stand a greater chance of happiness if _I_ +do the choosing than if you do it yourself as I can see more of the +future. If you are mutually likable and willing to understand each +other; if you are mentally on the same level, there is little chance of +_not_ falling in love. My race mates in this way, and it works out +better than your haphazard mating." + +When he realized that Dick still hesitated, he was slightly upset. Then +reaching into a leather bag, hung from a strap around his neck, he +stretched forth a handful of bills. + +"Go and get yourself a good meal. It is now morning. When two more +mornings have passed come again. Don't be afraid to use the money for +anything that you desire. This does not mean that I expect you to accept +the offer, but it will allow you to think it over carefully--without +thinking of your _stomach_. Buy clothes, a room to sleep in, anything +else that you want. Be comfortable and do not worry about what you +spend. If you refuse my terms, I will be disappointed, but will not +expect to be repaid." + + * * * * * + +As Dick reached the street he shook his head. It all seemed so +fantastic. But the money in his hand was real money--and there was a lot +of it! Suddenly he realized that people were staring at the handful of +bills, and he hurriedly stuffed them in a pocket. When he was alone for +a moment he stepped into a vacant doorway to count it. + +There were 14 twenties, 10 fifties, and three ten dollar bills in the +lot. Twenty-seven bills in all, representing eight hundred and ten +dollars. Folding the money carefully and placing it in a safe pocket, he +noticed a sign across the street. "SHOES," it said. He glanced at his +own, then limped slowly across when the traffic lights changed. For a +moment he looked in the window, then stepped inside. + +While the shoe clerk was busy he carefully slipped a twenty from the +other bills. It would seem strange if he had too much money with his +feet in such shape. + +The next stop was a restaurant. Then followed a trip to a clothing +store--and he left his old suit behind. With new clothes, shoes, and a +meal beneath his belt, he began to think the offer of the stranger was +far from fantastic. What if he did have to marry a strange girl? At +least they would both have comfort and companionship, wherever they +went. + +Barrow's first appointment was on Tuesday morning, and Friday found him +climbing the same stairs. He watched the papers but there had been no +repetition of the advertisement. Evidently the strange man had all the +applicants he wanted. + +The outer office was empty, but when he opened the inner door, the queer +man was smiling just as Dick remembered him. + +"Come in, Mr. Barrow. I'm glad to see you. I was surprised to hear of +your use of the money, but was pleased rather than disappointed. You did +well." + +For a moment Dick was taken back, then he smiled sheepishly. "I don't +know just what to say, Sir, I did so many things. But I didn't know I +was being watched." + +"Every move you made was watched carefully, and reported to me. I know +where you spent every hour since you left here the other morning. I +wanted to know how you would act with money enough to do as you pleased +for a few days. You acted wisely, and I'm glad that you spent so much of +it on men who need it. You bought twenty-two pairs of shoes, thirty-six +shirts and forty-five suits of underwear. You also bought cheap suits +for nine men and several odd and end accessories as well. + +"Out of the total sum you spent less than one hundred dollars for +yourself, and yet you have only forty-two dollars of the sum I handed +you. The remainder you used for meals and cheap lodging for the men you +have taken care of in the past three days. You have gone through a lot +of money since you were here." + +Dick stammered as he spoke, "I'm sorry, sir, but I thought--" + +"You thought _just right_! I _did_ give you the money to use as you +pleased and I'm proud of the way you spent it. But I want to know the +answer. You must have decided by this time. If the answer is yes, you +will bind yourself to a lifetime of work. If it is no, we will say +goodbye." + +Dick's face lighted with a smile. "The answer is _yes_. I am proud to +leave my future in your hands--even to my marriage. I made up my mind to +do as you desire, and am prepared to leave any time you are ready. I +hope you have hired every one you need and that we will all enjoy our +new work." + +"You're a brave man, Dick Barrow." There was admiration in the voice of +the stranger. "If you remained here I believe you would make your mark +in life, but you will have even greater opportunity where you are going. +I believe your decision will prove to be a happy one. + +"You must stay at a good hotel. Reasonable if you want, although it is +not important. I will send the girl to you within a few days. You will +be married as soon as possible after you meet her. + +"She will bring a letter and will do exactly as you say. I will allow +time for you to get acquainted before I have further orders. From that +time you will obey my orders explicitly and follow every instruction +without question. Every member of the party will take orders from you, +and _you must give them_!" + +Once more Dick was handed a handful of bills as he prepared to leave, +and knew there was even more than the first time. But he would live in +constant dread of meeting the girl he was to marry. As he started to +open the door, the man spoke again. + +"Use the money as you desire. It will be your last chance of spending +any and I want you to enjoy yourself as much as possible during the time +remaining. Do what you like for the men in the park or any others you +wish to help. If you need more money send a messenger to this room, but +don't come yourself. Don't contact me again until my orders require it. +Have a good time." + +Dick felt that he was living a dream, but a very pleasant one. Just one +thought disturbed him. Who the girl would be--and what she would be +like? + + + + +CHAPTER II + +_Out to Sea_ + + +The following morning an advertisement appeared in the papers, under the +heading of help wanted: woman. It was the same address on Morgan Avenue. +His heart sank! The man was _advertising_ for a wife! Now Barrow _knew_ +he was in for a tough streak of luck. He read it carefully. + + _Opportunity for young lady. Must be of age, single, brilliant, with + good family background. Higher education not necessary. Must be + willing to travel long distance. Must not be averse to marriage with + brilliant young man; give up all former associations, with no + possibility of return; live life in small community of own race, + with no possibility of communication with former home. Must be + without close family ties, or relationship. Opportunity to live life + of luxury and ease, with amiable group far from present home and + civilization. Young lady who fits qualifications will not regret + applying for position. Honor, love and security will be her reward. + OPPORTUNITY! Room 36, 18 West Morgan Avenue, City._ + + * * * * * + +While Dick was eating dinner on Tuesday evening, a young lady fell +headlong in front of his table. A moment later she was seated in the +chair opposite his own. Ten minutes later he was ordering her dinner. + +Afterward, as they walked toward a movie, Dick felt as if he was +committing a crime. He was supposed to meet his future wife--and instead +was entertaining this young lady who had fallen into his life. When he +learned that she was staying at the same hotel, they made a date for +breakfast the next morning. + +Dolores Dunbar was good company, and seemed willing to spend most of her +time in Dick's company. He learned that she was as friendless as +himself, and wondered why they couldn't have met before he made the +strange bargain. But as the third day drew to a close she appeared +apprehensive. + +When she kept glancing around, as if expecting someone, Dick became +curious, and felt rather hurt to think she was looking for someone else. +Finally she spoke. + +"I'm sorry, Dick, that I've made use of you the way I have, but I was +ordered to do it. You see, my employer told me to meet you and spend +every possible moment in your company. He also said that I would become +acquainted with someone through you, and that you would know who he was, +when I said I came from the large-headed man on Morgan Avenue--with a +letter." + +For a moment Dick was stunned. Then he laughed, a sickly, half-hearted +laugh. When he found his voice it squeaked. + +"I think we had better go to my room. We have some very private things +to say." + +The queer man had succeeded in their being together for three days +before either knew _they_ were the central figures in the drama. Now +they felt farther apart than at any moment since they had met, but +nervously admitted they had fared better than they expected. + + * * * * * + +They were married in the morning, to keep the agreement, but didn't +consider it part of the bargain to live as man and wife. + +Dick found only one order in the letter, to be at the office at ten +o'clock on Tuesday morning. That left five days to enjoy themselves. + +In spite of the stiffness between them Dick noticed how the light caught +in Dolores' dark hair, and how her brown eyes sparkled at each new +sight. Her head reached just above his shoulder, and he had never danced +with a better partner. She enjoyed his company, and admitted to herself +that he was a perfect gentleman. + +During the five days they saw every good show, and visited every popular +night club. Things they had always wanted to do were packed into the +short time to themselves. Dick hired a car, and they drove for hours +through the country. When Tuesday morning came they were tired, and it +was hard to get up in time to keep the appointment. + +When they opened the door, the big-headed man laughed at their yawns. "I +see that you've either _been_ enjoying yourselves, or have been _trying_ +mighty hard. You can make up your sleep from now on, as it will be a +long time before we reach our destination. How do you like each other +for permanent companions?" + +Their faces grew crimson. Finally Dick found his voice. "I'm perfectly +satisfied, Sir. I think Dolores is very pretty, and is _very_ good +company!" + +He looked the other way to hide his embarrassment, as the girl spoke. + +"I feel the same way. We have enjoyed being together, and perhaps when +we are better acquainted the stiffness will disappear. We both feel odd, +because we were required to marry!" + +The strange man laughed out loud at this. "In other words you _might_ +have fallen in love, if you had been allowed time to do it. But _having_ +to marry creates an entirely different feeling. I believe it will work +out well, even though you feel cheated at the moment. But we haven't any +time to lose. Everyone is at the dock and we sail in two hours. + +"Here are your instructions, Dick. From now on _you_ give the orders, +and I remain in the background. They will all feel more comfortable +under the command of one of their own race. Study everything carefully +on the way to the dock, then give them as your own orders." + +Dick had little time for anything except to look through the sheaf of +papers. On one sheet was a list of seven couples, with stateroom numbers +beside each. His own was on the top, with number three room. This he +dropped in a side pocket where it would be easy to find. The remainder +was in connection with sailing. + +Dick, Dolores and the big-headed man occupied one cab, while the baggage +followed in another. Dolores had obtained quite a wardrobe, much to the +amusement of her employer. But the man spoke only once during the trip. + +"Everyone in the party must consider that they work for you, Dick. You +must hear all complaints and settle all differences. They must not +approach me for any reason. I am known as Morquil, of section one, which +you will understand when we reach our destination." + +The crew was hurrying back and forth on the deck of the small ship, +taking care of last-minute details. A group of people were gathered +beside a huge stack of baggage, and Dick walked toward them without +waiting for the others. + +Dolores went up the gangplank beside Morquil, helping him slightly. He +seemed to have difficulty in supporting his enormous head with the +slight body. + +As Dick reached the group, he read the names from the list in his hand. +"Mr. and Mrs. John McCarthy. You are in stateroom number seven. Take +what baggage you can carry, the rest will be put on board." He called +each name and stateroom; they headed for the ship. John McCarthy he +found was the man he had met in the office, and he _still_ had his +perpetual grin. Evidently his fiancee had agreed to the pact for they +were now man and wife. + +When Dick started toward the ship, after watching the baggage put on +board, he was stopped by a tap on the shoulder. The cab drivers were +still waiting for their money. Morquil had left everything in his hands, +even to paying for the motor trip to the dock. + +It was a strange departure, with only a few people on the dock to say +goodbye. Even they were just neighbors of the passengers. Most of the +women on board were crying as the _Primrose_ nosed out through the +harbor toward the open sea. + + * * * * * + +Dick was still at the rail when the captain approached. "I'm sorry to +bother you, Mr. Barrow, but I must know our destination so I can set the +course." + +The young leader's day dreaming was cut short, to jerk him back to his +duties. He felt that the lives and hopes of everyone on the ship had +been thrust into his hands. + +Even the captain didn't know where they were going. The ship had been +chartered for a voyage of several months, to an unknown destination. He +and the crew were well paid, and didn't care where they went. + +Dick drew a sealed envelope from his pocket, detached a slip of paper +and handed it to the captain. He read the note, then repeated it. "You +are to keep the destination to yourself. No one on the ship is to know +where we are going, and you will not mention it to me again. I hope that +we have good weather, Captain, and a fast trip." + +Barrow felt like a fool. Repeating messages as if they were his +own--without the slightest knowledge of what they were about. _He_ was +supposedly charting the course--and didn't have the slightest idea where +they were going. + +When Dick reached his stateroom (after answering questions from everyone +on board--and telling them nothing) he found Dolores sobbing. She had +kept her smile until the boat sailed. Now she was crying her eyes out. +It was not a new sight, as every woman on the ship seemed occupied in +the same way, with the men trying to comfort them. + +As Dick sat down beside her, he could feel the throb of the diesel +motor. It seemed to carry the rhythm of adventure through the walls of +the cabin, giving the feeling of the unknown. For a long time there was +silence while Dolores held one of Dick's hands for protection. + +"Dick! We only have _one_ cabin! I'm supposed to stay here with you--and +I _hardly know you_! Morquil told me that I must stay here, there are no +extra rooms." + +"I'm sorry, Dolores. We will just have to put up with things as they +are. We've got into this and will have to see it through. After all, we +_are_ man and wife, and the people on board would think it strange if we +didn't occupy the same room. There are two bunks, so I won't have to +sleep on the floor. It will be a long trip, and we might as well enjoy +it as much as possible." + +Days changed into weeks as the ship plowed steadily south. They stopped +at one port for a few hours to refuel, but there was little to see. The +ship was slow and it felt good to walk on land again. But no one spoke +enough English to answer questions. + +It was the only time they sighted land until just before the end of the +trip, when small islands began to slide by. Some within a few hundred +feet, others just visible in the distance. Morquil hadn't appeared on +deck during the entire trip, but now he approached the rail. + +His face lighted with an ethereal glow as he gazed across the blue +water. He looked like a man who was sighting his home after many years +of absence. Dick couldn't help but feel glad for him, while cold chills +of misgiving crept up and down his own spine. Their voyage was ending at +a far different place that he had pictured in his mind, and quite the +opposite of the description which Morquil had given of gigantic +mechanical development. + +They were passing by small south-sea islands, where mechanical equipment +was out of the question. They hardly appeared _habitable_! + +When the captain approached Dick, Morquil joined the conversation. +"_I'll_ give you the directions, Captain. Mr. Barrow is not feeling +well, and I can do it for him. + +"In about an hour we will reach the island, and I will point out the +entrance to the harbor. It is well protected and there is no need to +worry about any storm while we unload." + + * * * * * + +Every inch of space in the ship was packed with supplies. There were +crates of books as well as pieces of machinery. Considerable radio +equipment included assembled sets as well as parts. There were rifles +and even one small cannon. Several crates of chickens and turkeys joined +the other things on the beach. Then to the amazement of the party, a +crate of pigs appeared. + +It required three days to empty the ship, and with each passing hour the +little party grew more apprehensive. It seemed as if they had been +transferred to an island to start a _new_ civilization, instead of a +place where mechanical development was far advanced. Because Dick was +the leader of the party, the others began to look at him with hatred; +Morquil was almost forgotten. + +When the last piece of equipment was covered with heavy tarpaulins, they +constructed a shelter against one side of the pile. It was almost dark +when everything was finished, and the captain decided to wait until the +next day to sail. Everyone was invited on board the _Primrose_, for a +farewell party. + +Dick was forced to call a meeting in the main cabin, to forestall danger +of the party deserting with the ship. Morquil had instructed him +carefully. + +"Friends, we are facing a great adventure. I'm in no different position +than you, except that as leader I am responsible for whatever happens. I +must take all blame for whatever comes, yet know that it will eventually +work out as we expected. + +"You all know that it is forbidden to talk about this trip, or to +surmise our destination. I can assure you that it is done for your +benefit, and later you will appreciate the fact that you did _not_ know +the future. I can't say what the next few days will bring to all of us, +but be assured that everything you have been promised will be fulfilled. + +"At the moment it seems impossible that things can turn out as we +expected, but they _will_! You must simply be patient, and do not lose +faith in this great adventure." + +As Dick finished his speech, Morquil smiled, well satisfied. Dolores +even smiled faintly, although it required effort to overcome her feeling +of disaster. + +The following morning everyone went ashore, and John McCarthy went +around trying to aid Barrow in cheering up the party. He lied like a +trooper, whispering to everyone that he had discovered something that +satisfied _him_ about the marvelous civilization they would reach before +long. + +Word of this reached Morquil, and he hurriedly called Dick and John out +of sound of the others. He appeared almost frightened, and the moment +they were alone, he spoke. + +"What have you learned? I wanted you to know nothing, and it is better +if you are ignorant. Whatever you learned is too much, and may upset the +future." + +John started to laugh, then seeing the expression of agony on the face +of Morquil, he stopped short. "Don't worry. I haven't learned +_anything_! I simply tried to help Dick keep the people satisfied. They +were getting so restless they _needed_ something. In my home town I was +known as a famous liar, and thought my ability might come in handy." + +Slowly the agony disappeared from Morquil's face. "Someday you will +understand how much you have done for me, John. You will never regret +it!" + +The McCarthys remained jovial, and tried to keep up the spirits of the +others as the days of loneliness passed. + + * * * * * + +Philip Jones and his wife were quiet, and waited patiently. Andrew and +Emma Smith had taken over the cooking, and served the meals. George and +Mary Martin were the youngest couple, and Dick doubted whether either of +them was past twenty-one. The others were all nearer thirty. They spent +their time side by side, gazing over the sea, perfectly happy in each +other's company. + +Jerold Brown and Peter Yarbro were constantly fishing, from the +collapsible boat, while their wives played cards. + +One night they were awakened by brilliant flashes of light. Running to +the beach, they watched in amazement. + +They appeared like big guns firing just above the surface of the water, +a few miles away. While they watched they gradually faded out. It was +like a terrific electric storm, and the little party drew close together +for comfort. + +When the lights faded out entirely, Morquil told them to get some sleep. +They would have to move equipment aboard a new ship the following day. + +With the first streak of dawn Dick was back at the edge of the beach, +straining his eyes into the gloom, but it was almost an hour before any +object was visible. + +After breakfast the ship was much plainer. They could see a rounded +hull, like the top of a huge submarine, above the water. One of the +women remarked that she would _stay_ on the island before she'd enter an +undersea ship. The trip on the _Primrose_ was bad enough, but it wasn't +_below_ the surface. + +Morquil called them within the canvas shelter, as if to make a speech. +He held a small ball in one hand, and while they waited for instructions +it landed in their midst. + +A cloud of yellow vapor burst from the object, and everyone in the party +slowly sank to the ground. Morquil joined the others in unconscious +stupor, a victim of his own gas. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +_Strange Destination_ + + +When Dick opened his eyes, there was a feeling of motion to the bed. The +strangeness of the ceiling overhead drew his attention. It was not +canvas, but shiny metal, almost purple in tint. + +Suddenly he sat up. Dolores lay beside him. As his eyes cleared of the +lingering mist, objects in the room became plainer. They were in a +luxuriously equipped cabin. + +Dolores slowly opened her eyes. A moment later she sat up beside him. +Glancing through the porthole, beyond the bed, she turned away with a +groan. + +"We _are_ under water! And deep! I can't see a thing but strange blue +light." + +When Dick joined her, his forehead puckered in a frown. "No, Dolores. It +doesn't look like water, it looks more like--No! _It can't be!_" + +For several minutes there was silence while he gazed through the +opening. Dolores had lost interest in the outside and was examining the +fittings of the cabin. It had everything that could be desired in a +first class hotel room, and many little toilet articles besides. + +Suddenly Dick turned away. "_It's true!_ We're in the air--_or above +it_! Dolores, this ship is an _aircraft_!" + +"Never mind, Dick, this room is _beautiful_! Whether we're flying or +swimming, this is the nicest room I ever had. It has _everything_, and +_look_ at the dressing table!" + +Dick sat down in amazement, a smile slowly spreading over his face. +Dolores was happy--wherever they were. The room was all that mattered. +But he couldn't understand why Morquil had gassed them, and put them on +board unconscious. _He_ would have enjoyed seeing the new ship. + +When a knock sounded at the door, Dolores was unpacking her clothes for +the first time since they left the _Primrose_. Turning the knob, Morquil +stepped in. + +"I'm sorry, Dick, that I had to use gas, but I knew the people would be +afraid of boarding this ship. John McCarthy is down in the power room +already, examining the machines, but some of the others are upset about +the transfer from the island. I hope you don't feel resentful?" + +"No, Morquil. We're satisfied. If you don't believe it--look at Dolores. +She decided to like this room the minute she saw it, and is unpacking +already." + +The worried expression disappeared from the strange man's face. "I had +the cabins equipped for women, as I know they are particular about such +things." + +"Would you like to see the ship? It will be your home for a long time, +and you might as well get acquainted. I'm sorry that no one but myself +understands English, but you will have ample time to learn our language +during the voyage. You must speak it fluently by the time we arrive." + +As they started out, Dolores dropped the dress she was holding, to join +them. Curiosity overcame the desire to straighten out her clothes. + +Entering a wide passage, they turned to the right. It ended abruptly in +a room with several comfortable chairs. Three tables occupied the center +in uneven positions, the underparts filled with metal-covered books. +Two men of Morquil's race looked up at their approach. + +Dick returned their friendly smile. When Dolores smiled they appeared +embarrassed; but truly greatly pleased. Barrow noticed that one of them +was examining a book in English; the illustrations seemed to fascinate +him. + +A narrow passage, beyond the main cabin, led to the control room where +three men sat in swivel chairs. The instrument board was a marvel to +Dick, and he watched for several minutes. It would require months to +understand even a small portion of the gauges. + +The ship was built with two decks, and a large hold beneath the lower +floor which contained the machinery. The strange men were quartered on +the lower level, with the exception of Morquil. His cabin was next to +the one occupied by the Barrows. The McCarthys were on the opposite side +of the passage, in a room slightly smaller than the one allotted to Dick +and his wife. + +The quarters of the remainder of the party were smaller, but still quite +comfortable; all located farther back on the same passage. + + * * * * * + +Morquil was proud of the ship, and displayed each section with pride. He +opened every cupboard door, and showed them through all of the cabins. +They were stopped for a while, when they met Mrs. Yarbro, trying to +dispel her fear of the strange craft. The others appeared to be taking +their new quarters for granted, and settling down for the trip. + +The main cabin was toward the front of the ship, while the dining room +was at the rear; the staterooms on the passage between. One stairway led +to the lower level, from just back of the control room, another from the +dining saloon. A ramp beneath the rear stairway led to the hold of the +ship. When they started down, Dolores returned to her cabin. Her +interest ended on the upper decks. + +Dick spotted John, bending over one of the machines, so engrossed that +he didn't hear their approach. One of the crew stood nearby, watching. + +When McCarthy saw Barrow, he nearly burst with enthusiasm. "This is the +greatest thing I've ever seen! Why, it almost _talks_! Do you know, this +little machine actually picks up the orders from the control room, and +_adjusts every machine down here_! Darned if I don't think it's got a +brain!" + +When Morquil led the way toward the front of the hold, John was still +engrossed in the apparatus. "He will be a valuable man to you, Dick, and +can solve many problems that you would otherwise have to do yourself. He +will make an able assistant." + +Passing by the heavy machinery, they approached an enclosed section, +which appeared to be of recent installation. Stepping through the +doorway, Morquil threw a switch which lighted every corner, then watched +expectantly as Dick examined the strange objects. It appeared to be a +colony of metal beehives, with covered passages between. + +"It is our home, Dick. This room contains everything in miniature that +you will see when we arrive. Each of the smaller domes house thirty +thousand people, the large one three times that number. We are born, +live our lives, and die beneath these metal ceilings. It will be your +job to care for them. + +"Everything beneath these domes is exactly as it is in our cities, +except that the machines are dummies. This model room was installed so +you could study our civilization during the trip. When you arrive you +will be ready to start work. + +"You, and you only will have a key. You may bring any member of your +party here that you desire, but it is not necessary for them to +understand the entire civilization. There are only six cities, including +the large one, where you and John McCarthy will be located. The other +men will each have one dome under their control. + +"It is easy to travel back and forth, and you may gather together at any +time, although each of you will have duties in different sections. While +you are overseeing the work in the smaller cities John can look after +the capital. Upon your arrival in Yorpun you will take complete charge +of all mechanical work. It will be your responsibility from then on." + +As Dick slipped the key in his pocket, he felt the weight of a country +settle slowly on his shoulders. Two hundred and ten thousand +people--entirely dependent upon _his_ control of the machines. + +Where could this settlement be? They had sailed darn near to the end of +the world in the _Primrose_, and now they were going even farther. From +the way the metal domes covered the cities, it might be at the south +pole, and still be habitable. + +By the time they returned to the main cabin, it was dinner time. It was +past mid-day when he regained consciousness, and Dick was hungry. + +Mrs. McCarthy was knitting a sweater for her husband, while three of the +strange men watched in amazement. Her knitting needles seemed to hold +them spellbound. The other members of Dick's party were sitting around +trying to decide what to do. But the sound of the dinner gong, made them +forget their worries. + +Dick had to go down to the hold and call John, who was still watching +the master machine. If he hadn't been dragged away, he would have spent +the night examining the strange device. + +The meal was simple, but they all enjoyed it. It seemed to dispel the +gloom from the party, and they appreciated McCarthy's jokes. There were +fifteen of Morquil's race in the crew, and all but the men at the +controls joined them. + +Knives and forks stood at the places set for the passengers, brought +from the supplies on the _Primrose_, but the crew ate with long narrow +spoons. Table silver was evidently unknown to this race of people. + +After dinner Morquil called them to the main cabin, and for the first +time told about the destination. All that had kept them from losing hope +long before, was his promise of greater comfort and luxury than they +could hope for in their native land. + +"I know that some of you resent the fact that you were unconscious while +put aboard this ship. But I know you would hesitate to come of your own +accord. One woman said that she wouldn't go on an _undersea_ ship, and +she would be more afraid of this. + +"You will be amazed to know that we are now leaving the atmosphere of +the earth that you have always known. _Our destination is on a different +planet!_" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_Morquil's Story_ + + +For a long time there was silence, then Mrs. Jones fainted. McCarthy +took it without flinching, and his wife was satisfied if he was. Dick +had suspected something almost as strange, and did not seem surprised. +Dolores looked at him for guidance. He nodded reassuringly. The others +shut their lips tight, feeling that they had been taken prisoner without +hope of escape. + +After a pause, Morquil continued. Mrs. Jones had recovered her composure +and was staring at him with undisguised dislike. "I'm sorry it had to +happen this way, but I would not have been able to take sufficient +people if you had known where we were going. Some of you might have +come, but I treated every one alike. + +"I also was unconscious from the gas, but the crew revived me. I had to +look after the loading of the supplies, and have the cabins prepared for +you. It was much nicer that way than if you had resisted, and were put +on board by force. + +"I shall start at the beginning of my story, and let you judge for +yourselves as to whether we have done wrong. + +"The existence of my world depends on the perfect operation of machines. +Even our atmosphere is manufactured and kept at proper temperature +within sealed domes, to protect us from the natural gases of the planet. +We live on this planet through necessity--_not desire_! + +"Our race landed there very long ago after escaping from a planet that +was falling into the sun. Their space ship ran short of fuel within the +gravity pull of our present habitation. It was difficult, but they +succeeded in constructing gas-proof shelters, and slowly improved +conditions for living. + +"We never knew what happened to the other space ships from our original +planet, but they may be distributed throughout the universe. Your _own_ +ancestors may be of the same origin as ours. The similarity of our forms +tends to prove it. + +"Eventually metal domes were built, and the race prospered within. But +our lives depend on their being kept in perfect repair. Machines were +built which do practically all of the work in caring for our wants, and +from the first we have adjusted our own gravity; to live normally under +the gigantic pull of the new planet, which to you is Jupiter. + +"Through the ages our lives became easier, and required less manual +work. Machinery did everything we desired. Most of them were +automatically repaired and serviced, while the permanent machines ran on +through the ages without care. As generation after generation lived and +died, under these conditions, we lost most of our former knowledge. + +"When one of the atmospheric machines ceased to operate--we _could not +repair it_! Instead, one of the other machines had to be speeded up, and +the atmosphere pumped into the extra dome. + +"At the height of our mechanical development this space ship was built. +Then the race lost interest and were content to live in ease, without +attempting to reach another planet. Three generations ago our people +discovered the danger. Even our bodies had deteriorated until we _could +not stand hard work_. The machines had begun to break down--we were +headed for extinction! + +"When I was a young man they succeeded in finishing the equipment on +this ship. Three generations had been required to create enough fuel for +only _two voyages_! + +"I was selected as the man to explore the strange world, which we had +been studying with the instruments of our ancestors. We had determined +your exact mechanical development, and knew that you were capable of +furnishing the engineers which meant life or death to our race. + +"It is twenty years since I was left on the small island, and the ship +returned to Jupiter. At that time we decided the date for this trip, to +bring me back. In the meantime I traveled half way around the world in a +small metal boat, before being picked up by a tramp steamer, as I dared +not land near any civilized country. After I reached a settlement I had +to learn your customs and language, and many other things about a +completely alien people. + +"I was furnished with an ample supply of gold, as we knew it was the +metal that you valued highest. This purchased many things that would +otherwise have been impossible to obtain, and also brought me a great +deal of trouble. I was robbed of most of the wealth before I had been in +civilization a year. The fact that a great deal was left on the small +island is all that made my venture possible. + + * * * * * + +"I spent three years in an institution before they decided that I was a +normal human being, and could take care of myself. I dared not tell them +that I came from a different planet, or I would have failed in every +way. I learned many things about the people of your world, but mainly +that gold could buy almost anything. + +"I lived for several years, by working at anything that I could obtain, +trying to find someone who would finance an expedition to the island. No +one would believe me when I said that I knew of a great fortune in gold. +I finally found a man who _did_ believe me, and he received one half of +the gold as reward. It was not until then that I could begin the work +that I started out to do, and nearly ten years had passed. + +"I planned for several years before I dared try to obtain the people I +needed. I studied everything I could about your engineering, and found +that it was not of the same type as our own. For this reason I did not +want a graduate engineer, as he would have to learn everything all over +again in my cities. + +"When I advertised for men, and told you of the wonderful mechanical +development, it was the truth. I did mislead you to a small extent, in +obtaining your promise to come with me, but the existence of my race +depended on your work. My people will give you anything you desire if +you will help them. + +"When we left our cities, we didn't know whether we could even escape +from the planet in this ship. There was no opportunity of testing it, +until we started on the journey. Even the men at the controls had never +handled it. All of their knowledge was obtained by years of practice, +sitting in a stationary ship. + +"When they left me on the island and returned to the planet, they +_hoped_ I could accomplish my purpose, but the chance of success was +pitifully small. + +"I have never enjoyed the comforts of other members of my race, but have +spent my life in an alien universe, carrying around my big head; without +friends or companionship. The gravity within our enclosed cities is +lower than on your planet, making it easy for us to walk. + +"After several years of study and planning, I knew there was only one +way of accomplishing what I went after. It is the way I have done it. No +one would have believed that I came from a strange planet; they would +have thought me out of my mind. If I _had_ persuaded them, I could have +found no recruits for the work, no matter what I offered. I _know_ how +anyone feels about leaving their own planet, where they were born and +brought up. + +"You will find that the machines need work badly. Some of them are +running only because we use several times the normal power to turn them. +Our mining machines have not worked for more than a generation, and the +mines remain idle. The metal supply is running short. + +"The equipment which overcomes gravity, also furnishes us with power. +When weights are lifted, with gravity almost eliminated, then allowed to +sink with the full pull of Jupiter, it creates enormous amounts of +energy for every use. + +"It will be months before we reach our cities, and I hope that by that +time you will feel satisfied with your forced migration. To my race, it +was the only course which would avoid annihilation within a few +generations. + +"At first it will seem terrible to be shut in beneath a metal cover. But +when you become accustomed to it, that feeling disappears. You depend +just as much on a ship at sea or a plane in the air, but never think of +it in the same way. We _must_ trust you, as we will not know whether you +are repairing or destroying our machines until we see the results. + +"You will be given complete power and can draw upon my people for all of +the help you need. You will be even more powerful than the rulers of the +domes. My people decided that you deserved this position, long before we +attempted to reach the earth and bring you back. + +"I came to your country because the mechanical development is greater +than in any other nation. You have greater love for engineering, and +more of you are employed that way. + +"I have told you everything about my home and my people, and leave it up +to you as to the way you will act. We have only done what was necessary +for the survival of our race, and hope that you will forgive us for +stealing you from your own planet. + +"You have complete freedom of the ship, to come and go as you please at +any time. You are now considered part of our own population, and we both +have the same interests. We hope you enjoy it." + + * * * * * + +For a moment Morquil gazed into the faces of the small gathering of +people, then slowly walked from the room. There was complete silence, +broken occasionally by a sigh as some thought of home exerted itself. An +hour passed and they still had not moved. Each seemed to be waiting for +one of the others to break the silence. + +Finally Dick got to his feet. His words came slow, as if carefully +weighed before using; the others listened intently. + +"I know what each of you must be thinking; because I've been thinking +the same thoughts. We are all in the same boat, without chance of +leaving--headed for _Jupiter_! We have seen the last of the world where +we were born. Either we take up our lives in this new existence, or die +out here in space--destroying Morquil's race as well as ourselves. + +"He says they can not survive without our aid. Our own world did not +need us, or give us much for our efforts. If it had we would not be on +this strange space ship. Morquil hired only people who were willing to +leave their homes and friends--and we _applied_ for the work. There +really is not much that we can complain about. + +"For one, I intend to do all that I can to make our future home the +greatest civilization in the universe. Perhaps in the future years it +will be possible for us to pay a short visit to our former planet. +Perhaps our children will follow in our footsteps; enjoying greater +honor, comfort, and luxury than they could possibly have had in our own +world. I received little from my fellow men, and have _already_ received +more from Morquil than I ever had before." + +As Dick sat down, John McCarthy's voice boomed out. "I'll follow Dick! +He's the boss of this party, and if he's satisfied, I am. _Boy!_ We sure +do go places when we get started!" + +The general laugh broke the tension, and each one spoke after a little +hesitation. Each man slowly grasped the gigantic task that was facing +them, and felt honored as a result. + +It was a new world, farther advanced than their former habitation--which +needed _them_ to care for it. It was a big bite to chew--but they would +do it! + +Dick remained in his chair long after the others had gone to their +cabins. His mind dwelled on the complete happiness and satisfaction that +lighted Morquil's face, when informed of their decision. In that moment +he was repaid for a lifetime in a strange world, amongst alien people. +His return to Jupiter would be triumphal, with the earth people as his +friends; come to save his race from extinction! + +Barrow's mind wandered on, to the gigantic task that faced them. His +would be the greatest responsibility, as head of all the domes. The +other men would have a single city to care for. The thought of McCarthy +as his assistant was comforting; he would be a great help. + +The strange race of beings were putting every trust in the +earthmen--putting themselves at the mercy of the seven strangers--and +Dick knew the men would _earn_ that faith! + +He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. + +"Dick, won't you take your wife to her room--she feels sleepy!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +_Voyaging to Another World_ + + +During each waking period, Barrow spent many hours in the room with the +miniature domes. They were beautiful models, which could be opened or +moved as desired, by small levers on the foundation. Wires as fine as +hairs were strung from one spot to another, while metal the size of +thread represented heavy cables. + +Slowly, an understanding of the strange civilization formed in Dick's +mind, and he drew sectional maps of the location of all mechanical +equipment. Other maps pictured the streets, so that it would be easy to +reach any desired destination. When this was done, Morquil sent one of +his men down to make as many copies as desired. Each engineer was to +have a complete set. + +The earthmen had learned to keep track of the time according to the +system on the ship. Each "lix" included the time spent in sleep as well +as one waking period. It was twenty-seven hours in length, but they all +thought of it as a day. + +Each lix was divided into thirty-six "migs." Each mig being just +forty-five minutes in length. They were able to keep track of each mig, +by their watches, although the time pieces were useless for any other +purpose. + +One lix, Dick returned the friendly smile of a member of the crew, and +to his amazement the man spoke. "Chickiboo." For a moment Barrow was +stumped, then realized that it must be a greeting. + +When he was greeted the same way, by a second and then a third man, he +tried to imitate the words. The man from Jupiter was so pleased that he +almost danced, then spoke again. "Gootmording." + +Dick's jaw almost dropped open; the man was trying to speak _English_! + +Suddenly Barrow laughed. Morquil had been instructing his crew in the +strange language, as well as telling them to greet the earthmen in their +own tongue. He must speak about holding classes to learn the language. +They would have to understand it, and the sooner they started the easier +it would be. + +The following lix, Dick stopped on the ramp to the machinery hold to +listen. McCarthy was humming the tune of a song that had been the rage +at home, but the words were "chicki-boo--chicki-boo--chicki-boo." + +Barrow smiled as he approached, but the big Irishman didn't realize the +reason. He was almost bursting with news. + +"I've got it, Dick! I've found the key! Don't laugh, but I've discovered +the working principle of this little machine, and it will lead to the +secret of all others. In a month I'll know how this crate runs." + +"Don't worry, I'm not laughing, John. I think it's great that you've got +this far. I only wish the others would show as much interest. Not one of +them has been down here for more than a few minutes, and they know +little more than when we started." + +"Aw! Don't take it that way, Dick. It isn't their fault. Didn't you ever +see their _wives_? Those women won't let the men out of their sight for +three minutes. Your wife and mine are different--they _trust_ us! If we +tell 'em the ship's okay, it's okay; but _them_--say, they can't tell +their wives anything. The women in their families do _all_ of the +talking." + +Dick laughed, but knew that it was close to the truth. The other men in +the party _were_ tied to their wives' apron strings. Aside from Dolores +and Eileen McCarthy, none of the women trusted the space ship. They were +afraid it might fly to pieces at any moment, although they had overcome +their fear enough to find means of entertainment. + +Small devices in the cabin showed miniature movies, with words in the +tongue of the dome cities. Discovering this created desire to understand +the language, and they eagerly attended the classes. + +One lix Dick found Jerold Brown examining a piece of machinery. A few +lix later Andrew Smith had joined him. Soon every earthman was spending +his time in the machinery hold, with McCarthy acting as instructor. He +would accept no excuse for being late at his classes--and they all +arrived on time! + + * * * * * + +Weeks slipped by as the ship drove on through space. The earthmen +learned to admire the men from Jupiter for their constant good-nature, +although they were slightly childish. + +The crew of engineers were slowly learning the rudiments of Jupiter's +science. Barrow through his study of the domes, and McCarthy through +study of the machines, far surpassed the others. At times both men spent +hours in the model room, at others Dick examined the machines beside the +Irishman. They compared notes until each knew the other's findings. + +Dick took all the men into the model room once every third lix, and +spent four hours instructing them in the civilization. Each man had his +own set of maps, and marked down facts about his future location. Dick +copied their notes on a large map, that covered all the cities. They +used numbers to signify different mechanisms, to make it easier to +describe equipment that was duplicated in more than one dome. + +In a month they were able to carry on light conversation, and from then +on mastery of the language was faster. The women far surpassed the men, +due to desire for entertainment. + +When he was able to question the crew, Dick received a terrible shock. +_They knew less about the ship's operation than his own men!_ They +didn't understand their own equipment! + +The people of the domes were content to enjoy the mechanical wonders of +their ancestors--without bothering about how they ran. They used +equipment for every purpose, without the slightest interest in why it +worked. The earthmen suddenly realized what a gigantic task they faced. +_Seven men_--to rebuild a civilization! + +The men at the controls knew what reaction would take place by movement +of a lever, but _didn't understand why_! Dick became slightly worried +about reaching their destination--it was beyond all reason. Earthmen +wouldn't have attempted to operate equipment they knew nothing about, by +movement of controls to obtain the proper action. + +It was no wonder these people had found it necessary to find engineers +to run their machines! + +Months slipped by as the ship moved steadily toward the giant planet. +Every piece of equipment seemed to be the answer to perfection. This +voyage had taught them more about mechanics than was covered in a +complete engineering course on earth. It was of a far different kind, +with gravity the basis of all operation. Even the space ship employed +some of the same power, drawn from the nearest heavy body, then +amplified until it reached enormous proportions.[1] + +Peter Yarbro was a practical chemist, and spent many hours trying to +analyze the fuel. It was highly inflammable, yet could stand terrific +compression without effect. When it was allowed to expand again, it +reached the flash point immediately, creating enormous amounts of heavy +gas. He believed it might be duplicated from crude oil, properly +refined. + +When Dick learned that there was a history of the space ship, in the +metal books, his curiosity was aroused. He could read the language of +the domes slightly, but not enough to study the intricate explanations. +It was through these books that the dome men had learned to control the +ship, and set the course for any desired planet. + +Morquil's aid was enlisted, to translate the text, and he learned some +amazing facts. A description of the fuel was given, but the base for +manufacture was unknown, being of natural origin on Jupiter. As Morquil +read farther and explained sections that Dick couldn't understand, the +earthman felt uneasy. + +The crew had abandoned all hope of returning to their home planet, the +first time they started from the earth. They didn't understand what it +meant to feel responsible for equipment. They manufactured enough fuel +for two trips, according to the rating of consumption in the books--but +Dick wondered? + +The tanks were filled to capacity before the first trip, and hadn't been +tested since. The happy dome people didn't consider that their ancestors +might have been mistaken, or that actual operation might vary from the +original plan. + + * * * * * + +For the first time in twenty years, the gauges were examined. Barrow and +McCarthy crawled through the dust-coated passage beneath the floor of +the machinery hold. They found a light switch, but the bulbs were so +dust-coated that only a faint glow shed on the surrounding metal. They +sneezed and coughed, as the dust-laden air filled their lungs. + +"Darned if you don't get the craziest ideas, Dick. What good will it do +to know how much 'ship juice' there is, anyway? We can't _make_ it! This +hole wasn't built for self-respecting men to crawl through." + +"I don't know, John, but this trip may not be as easy as it appears. +They've been driving at full force for months, when it seems to me that +less power might carry us when we're not within the pull of some planet. +I want to make _sure_ that there's plenty of fuel. According to the +books, the designers didn't expect the ship to be driven this hard." + +John did a little cussing when they located the gauges, and found them +so thick with grime that they had to be cleaned. He headed back through +the dust for a cloth, with Dick's laugh following. "Alright, alright, +but don't rub it in. Just because you happened to be in front of me, and +there isn't room to pass, don't give you the right to laugh. Some day +you'll be eating your share of dust, and will _I_ laugh! I bet that the +domes are _all_ a mess." + +Dick wrote down the reading of each gauge, as John cleaned the surfaces. +He couldn't understand the strange numerals, and had to go over them +with Morquil. Both men breathed a sigh of relief as they crawled back +through the floor of the hold, and dropped the trap door in place. + + * * * * * + +An hour later Dick began to worry. According to Morquil, the tanks were +_less than one-eighth full_. The big-headed man had gone over the +figures twice, and was showing signs of agitation as he checked them +again at Barrow's request. When he glanced up, Dick knew there was no +mistake. + +"The fuel _is_ low Dick. According to the other trip, the greatest use +of power is at the time we approach the planet, to fight the pull of +gravity. Our trip from earth is only half completed, with the greatest +need of fuel still ahead. You must think my race very stupid not to have +thought of it?" + +It took Dick a long time to answer. His mind was searching frantically +for some solution. It was useless to ask help of the crew--they +couldn't even _think_ scientifically! + +"No, Morquil. I don't think you're stupid, but I do consider your people +very foolish. From the appearance of things _we will never reach the +domes_! + +"Unless something drastic is accomplished, the ship will smash to pieces +on your planet. You don't know _anything_ about the ship's operation, +and we've only studied it for a short time." + +They decided to inform the men immediately but say nothing to the women +for the present. Within an hour of the discovery, Morquil warned the men +at the controls to conserve the power as much as possible. + +Every operation of the ship, was dependent on fuel. The generators for +heat, light and controls, were turned by discharge through the tubes. At +least _one_ blast must be fired at _all times_ to keep the controls +sensitized, and develop power for emergency equipment. The other tubes +were silenced. + +During the rest migs Dick couldn't sleep, but spent every minute talking +to John McCarthy. There _must_ be some solution--_and they had to find +it_! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_An Engineer's Mettle_ + + +In the morning the earthmen were called together. They came with smiling +faces, which slowly changed to apprehension. + +There were many suggestions in as many minutes, but none that gave a +possibility of accomplishing the impossible. They had to stretch the +fuel--_without visible means of stretching it_! + +The women believed the meeting was a routine course in mechanics, and +went on enjoying their entertainment. The men explained they were +bothered by a knotty question about the machinery to account for their +worried concentration. It would have been a terrible handicap if the +women discovered the truth. + +Three lix passed with little change. The fuel had been cut down for a +while, but the ship didn't hold its course. Every tube had been fired to +hold the direct route for Jupiter. They were constantly cutting into the +meager supply that remained--_and had to overcome the deficiency_! + +Due to the slight conservation of fuel the ship had been operating far +below efficiency, and the cold of space began to seep through the walls. +This affected the dome people more than the earthmen, and they suffered +torture. Any change in temperature was unknown to them, they were +chilled at a few degrees below normal heat. + +Suddenly, during dinner on the third evening, Peter Yarbro jumped up +from the table. The other men fastened eager eyes on his face, while the +women watched in amazement. + +He started to speak, then remembered the women, sat down quietly. "I--I +think I've found the answer--to our _problem_! If you will join me in +the hold, when we finish eating, I would like to talk it over with you." + +Mrs. Yarbro was even more amazed. "Peter! I'm surprised at you. Jumping +up from the table so excited, just because you happened to think of the +answer to a _problem_! You ought to be ashamed." + +In spite of his worries Dick lowered his head to hide the smile. If only +Peter's wife knew what that problem was, she might not think it so +strange. + +Hardly a man touched his food, and as soon as they were out of earshot +of the women, he spoke what was in his mind. The crew heard him at the +table and many of them gathered to listen. For the first time in their +lives they were worried. Their lives depended on the earthmen before +they even _reached_ their planet. + +Yarbro hesitated. "I'm not so sure now, that I _have_ found the answer. +When it came to me, I thought it was simple, but now it seems more like +a dream. + +"Since knowing that the fuel was low I've racked my brain for something +that might be used--and it had to be on the ship. Every _other_ man was +looking for a mechanical answer, and my efforts would be of little use. +So I've searched for a chemical. + +"_Water_ is the only liquid in any quantity. I discarded it so many +times that it left a headache, but my search always came back to the +same place. It's the only thing we've got. + +"All other liquids are in too small amounts, even if they could be used, +and the ship is equipped only for chemical fuel--_in liquid form_! + +"At dinner when I became so excited, I thought that water would do the +trick. Now I don't know. It has oxygen in large amounts, which is +vitally needed, but that's the only advantage. + +"Even if we dared try, it might injure the tubes. Still I believe it's +the only chance of salvation. It's the one substance on board, in any +large quantity. What do you think?" + +There wasn't a sound as the minutes passed. Each man searched +frantically for the slightest hope; searched for the _one_ chance in a +thousand! + +Dick finally broke the silence. "What is _your_ plan, Peter? You must +have thought of something?" + +"No, that's just the trouble. I thought that water might mix with the +fuel, even fire with it. It was only a brain storm I'm afraid." + +After a moment Dick spoke again. "It _can't_ be! Since there is no other +substance--_we must use water_! There has to be a way--and _we've got to +find it_! We might as well use up the water and die of thirst, as to +drift around in space until we starve to death, or die in the dive at +Jupiter." + +Twice Mrs. Martin came down the ramp to take her husband to bed, but +Dick sent her away. The men would stay there until they had found a +solution--_they had to_! The fuel was fast disappearing! + + * * * * * + +Morquil still sat in the background. The other men from Jupiter had gone +to their quarters. He could offer no suggestion, but listened carefully +to every word they spoke. Finally he stood up. + +"I hope that you can forgive me. In the last three lixs I have regretted +that I ever saw your earth. It were better that my people die, than for +us to carry people from a happy planet to die in space--because of our +stupidity. We are no better than children without cares or worries. The +men of the crew realized the risk, before they left the domes--but it is +not your fault!" + +"Aw, sit down you big-headed numbskull!" McCarthy's voice boomed out. +"We don't blame _you_! We'll find some way to run this crate, and get +there in one piece. You just made us go to work before we expected. Why! +A problem like this is _simple_ on earth--they'd solve it in _no_ time! +You just go to bed and stop worrying. We'll have everything fixed by +morning." + +Morquil's expression changed slightly, and he almost smiled. He started +for the ramp as if taking the words literally, but half way up he faced +the little gathering again. "Thank you, John. But I haven't forgotten +that you were a famous liar in your home town--and you haven't lost your +ability. Thank you anyway, you're very kind." + +When McCarthy turned toward the others, he looked rather sheepish. But +the forced smiles he received made him feel a lot better. + +Hours passed, while each man told everything he had known about water. +At last Dick stood up. "We've covered every possible reaction, and many +that are seemingly impossible, but have overlooked one very vital point +that will either help or hinder greatly. + +"The fuel is subjected to terrific pressure. Naturally, any water that +was used would receive the same treatment. In the compression chamber +the pressure rises very fast, which must develop high temperature. The +result is that we would not have water--_we'd have steam_! It would be +almost _dry steam_! + +"Water in the liquid form couldn't discharge oxygen fast enough to +affect the fuel, but as steam it might. There is a good chance that +steam may even _increase_ the explosive power to a point that we can't +even imagine. There's only one way to find out--_try it_! + +"Every man here will admit that John has the most practical mechanical +brain. It will be his job to find a means of injecting the water in the +proper amounts. The rest of us can try to find any kinks in the system +that he suggests. He knows every piece of equipment on board, and can +pick whatever is best suited for the purpose." + +As Dick sat down, John got to his feet. "This is one time that I'm ahead +of you. While you've been talking I've been planning a way to do just +that. There's an extra firing tube that can hold the pressure we want. + +"Fuel for all the blasts is compressed in one chamber, then discharged +through any desired tube. If we put the water under the pressure, with +the hydraulic system, and let it seep into the chamber at a set +rate--_it might work_! Valves can control the steam perfectly, and +regulate the flow to whatever is desired. + +"The tube will have to be shut off from the fuel tank every few hours, +to be filled. Preheating the water will develop steam pressure, and it +won't draw enough from the hydraulic system to affect the operation of +the blasts. + +"What do you say, shall we try it? It means shutting off all but the +emergency tube for several hours, and it will be _cold_!" + + * * * * * + +Within five minutes they were hauling the heavy tube from the storage +room. In an hour everything was ready to assemble, and each man knew +exactly what work he was to do. A pipe line was run from the water +tanks, to fill the steam chamber in position. + +Dick was building an electric heating unit to encase the entire tube, +which could be regulated for any desired temperature. + +Half of the rest period had passed when the chamber was finished and +they were ready to cut an opening in the compression unit. Perspiration +poured down the body of every man, but not from the exertion. Each +minute that passed ate deeper into the fuel. If water couldn't replace +the liquid, they were helpless. + +They wanted to install the tube, while the women were asleep. The ship +would be too cold for comfort for a long time after the blasts could be +started again. When the heating units in the hull were shut off it would +become freezing inside. + +Men raced through the ship, stopping at their staterooms on the way. +Dick dropped three extra covers over Dolores without disturbing her, +then slipped into the heaviest clothing that he owned. + +Each man was occupied in his own room, in the same way. Heavy coats were +taken to the men at the controls while the remainder of the crew were +sent to a room with an emergency heating unit. + +In fifteen minutes they were back at the compression chamber, and at the +touch of a button the blasts were silenced from the control room. + +By the time an opening was cut in the heavy tanks, the cold had begun to +creep into the ship. The men worked desperately, and for a while +perspiration dampened their clothing. Then the chill crept deeper--and +they shivered. Their fingers grew numb, and they had to warm them over +a small electric unit, but the opening slowly enlarged beneath their +torches. + +When the tube was fitted into the hole, and the metal began to flow +around the edges, even the torches seemed to throw little heat. Dick +knew his nose was frosted, and warned the others not to touch their nose +or ears. According to John's watch it required three hours to fit the +tube in place. + +When they rang for the power to be turned on, they waited in vain. When +minutes passed without reaction, they glanced at each other in +consternation. Brown and Martin raced up the ramp while the others +waited. Within a few minutes the tubes began to fire and warmth slowly +drove back the numbing cold. + +Water pipes had burst, and they hurried to stop the leaks. The main +tanks were uninjured, as the cold hadn't penetrated the big supplies in +storage. + +Dick suddenly realized that Brown and Martin hadn't returned. When he +reached the upper deck all of the women were gathered near the room +where the crew had been left. The thermometer was only fifty degrees, +even then, and they shivered in heavy coats. + +Every dome man was stretched out on the floor! As Dick stepped within, +his heart almost stopped beating--but they were only unconscious! His +breath escaped in a long sigh, after holding it for almost a minute. + +Brown and Martin were trying to revive the prone forms. The control men +lay beside the others, brought there by the two earthmen. The eyes of +first one then another, slowly opened, and they looked around in +amazement. Cold affected them like an anaesthetic, causing complete +unconsciousness. + +When the ship reached normal warmth, they felt as good as ever. It +hadn't been cold enough to freeze them, in their section, and not a man +was injured. When they understood what happened, the men hurried back to +the controls. + + * * * * * + +The heavy coils were soon fastened around the tube, and it was filled +through a valve on the upper side. A gauge was set to register the +pressure of the vapor within. They decided to raise steam pressure +enough to equal the compression of the fuel. + +It required fifteen minutes for the water to reach the boiling point, +while they nervously held their watches. They could keep track of +minutes and hours, although there was no longer day and night in their +lives. According to their figures, they now ate dinner at three o'clock +in the morning, and went to bed in the early afternoon. + +They held their breath when the steam valve was opened. It moved slowly +under Dick's fingers, while a thousand questions raced through every +mind. + +"Would it silence the blasts? Would it put them out of commission +permanently? Was that moment, and the turning of that valve, the end of +existence for them all?" + +Dick glanced at the gauge on the tube, then jerked the valve shut. The +pressure was still far below that of the fuel. He turned the heating +unit on full, and watched the gauge climb higher. They didn't understand +the numerals of the domed cities, but knew the pressure was getting +terrifically high. + +When he opened the valve again, the steam gauge _did not rise_! It held +almost steady. The hiss of escaping steam, sounded through the heavy +metal faintly. + +The tubes began to fire spasmodically! Dick bit his lips, as he opened +the valve a little wider. John McCarthy wiped the sweat from his +forehead, as every face turned white as chalk. + +_They fired evenly again!!!_ The steam was working through the +mixture--_discharging through the blasts_! + + * * * * * + +They felt their bodies sway under the effects of acceleration and +exultance filled them. There was _some_ reaction, at least! + +Morquil appeared on the ramp, his face lighted by a smile. "_What have +you done?_ The ship is traveling at _almost twice the speed that it was +before_! Is it all right?" + +Dick sat down hard. Not a man in the crowd was able to answer. Success +had left them speechless. Barrow was the first to recover his voice. + +"Are you _sure_?" + +"Yes, Dick! We took three separate observations, and each showed the +same result--almost _double_ normal speed! Does it mean what you wanted? +_Can we reach the domes?_" + +"I hope so, Morquil. If the steam has made _that_ much difference, we'll +get there without trouble. The water must be conserved as much as +possible--and hope that it lasts. Whether it increases the power of the +fuel, or simply creates an additional body to drive against, is not +important. _We're getting there!_" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_Jupiter and Trouble!_ + + +The huge ship circled the planet twice, with the instruments adjusted to +detect the metal of the domes. They spread over many miles of the +surface, yet were like grains of sand on the enormous globe. When the +gauges quivered over a section, hidden beneath the mists, every one +breathed a sigh of relief. + +It would be many hours before the ship was within the cities, but they +were _home_! Every earthman had the same feeling. Jupiter was almost as +much of a home to them as to the natives, even before they had seen it. +They eagerly looked forward to sight of the domes that would be under +their care. + +John McCarthy entered the control room with a big tray of containers. +"Here! It's not liquor, but I'll bet you enjoy it more. There's enough +in each of these to _really_ quench your thirst. I for one, will enjoy +drinking all of the water I want, after five weeks on short rations." + +It seemed impossible that the clouds outside could be deadly. They were +beautiful in the reflected light of the sun, yet those vapors contained +poison that no man could live in. The domes were the only place that +life could exist on the strange planet. + +As they dropped through the heavy mists, it created a feeling of dense +fog. They could see nothing of the surroundings, trusting entirely on +the instruments. It was like groping in the dark, yet the earthmen knew +it had been done before, and the dome men showed no fear. + +When a slight jar shook the ship, they breathed easier. _It had touched +the ground!_ They could feel some effect of the heavy gravity, even +within the insulated hull. The ship slanted down at a steep angle, +sliding forward with its own weight. + +The earthmen didn't understand what was happening, but watched the +actions of the dome men. They were using a different control board now, +beneath the other panel. McCarthy was down in the hold, watching the +action of machines that had been idle until now. + +When they stopped, the mists disappeared from around them. Lights above +outlined a huge metal passage. The ship started forward again and heavy +doors slid back at the approach with bright light appearing beyond. + +They were looking across sun-lit country; the most perfect scene they +had ever witnessed. Strange trees, and growth of every description, +spread in every direction. When the ship slid into the open, they were +beneath one of the domes--enormous beyond their greatest imagination, +and exquisitely beautiful. + +While they watched spellbound, people started across the fields to greet +the expedition. The women were well proportioned, and far different from +the men of the race. Not as tall as the women of earth, or quite as well +built, but their heads were much smaller than the men's. + +All men were dressed in flowing robes, the women in much less clothing. +They wore tight-fitting garments, like bathing suits of metallic cloth. +They were happy and carefree, seemingly without a worry in their lives. +Children came romping across the fields beside their parents. + +Minutes, slipped by, and the people from earth hadn't moved. Sight of +their new home was too wonderful to grasp at once. Instead of the gloomy +metal covering they had expected, the curved surface above was finished +in blue that resembled clear sky at home--as if they had reached the +land of their dreams. + + * * * * * + +When their minds snapped back to reality, the dome men were being +welcomed by friends and relatives. The babble of voices came faintly to +the control room, from the power hull. + +John McCarthy joined them. When the machines stopped, he came up to find +the reason. Now the others watched as he gazed at the beautiful scene +for the first time. Their own amazement was reflected in his eyes. When +he looked up at the curved dome, his wife slipped her arm around him. + +They were disturbed by the crew, returning with their friends to welcome +the engineers. The dome people seemed completely happy. They were like +children greeting their parents, holding the hands of the earth people +and gazing into their faces with adoration. In their minds, the future +was secure, and they no longer had a care in the world. Eileen McCarthy +was so overwhelmed at the reception that she hugged two of the little +women. + +It was like a dream to walk across the heavy carpet of moss. There was +no grass, but the velvet coat of green was quite similar. The trees were +shaped like an inverted bowl, their branches conforming to the curve of +the dome above. They were smaller than the trees of earth, with very +large leaves. + +The eyes of the earth people kept returning to the dome. It was hard to +believe that it was not blue sky, except for giant supports that reached +from the ground to the metal ceiling, hundreds of feet above. + +When Peter Yarbro learned that he was in charge of this agricultural +dome, his pleasure knew no bounds. His wife couldn't wait to see the +home that had been prepared for them--and waiting almost twenty years. + +A circle of buildings formed the foundation of the immense metal +ceiling, as well as housing thousands of inhabitants. The back walls of +the structures were always blank, toward the vapor beyond the miniature +civilization. Each city was a world of its own, with a curved horizon at +the top of the buildings. + +In Yarbro's dome there were few means of travel, as every inch of soil +was cultivated. The dome dwellers were past masters at farming, and +loved this work more than any other type of labor. To them, it was a +pleasure that vied with amusement machines of other cities. + +When Mrs. Yarbro entered her new apartment, thirty stories above the +ground, and stepped to one of the balconies, the view was superb. She +was not interested in the next dome, but wanted to settle her own domain +as soon as possible; completely happy. + +The rest of the party entered an open car, mounted on a single track, +and started for the next city. Every object that moved was operated by +the control of gravity, and could develop enormous speed and power. It +rolled swiftly across the open ground, to enter a tunnel three hundred +feet wide, which carried all of the commerce between the cities. When it +emerged in the next dome, the imitation sky was the same, but only a +small portion of the ground surface was cultivated. + +Small buildings dotted the level floor, which Morquil explained were the +entrances of the mines, unworked for many years. Jerold Brown and his +wife remained in this city, in an apartment as well situated as that of +the Yarbro's, in the first dome. + +Hours passed as they moved from city to city. When they reached the +capitol, only the Barrows, McCarthys and Martins remained of the +original fourteen. The others were in their own domes, settling down to +the new existence. + +Every occupation seemed to have been forgotten by the childish people, +to come and welcome the beings from another planet. They lined every +inch of the way, many deep. + +The main dome was three times the size of the others. Supporting +pillars, one hundred feet in diameter, seemed vague where they touched +the ceiling above. Parks covered most of the ground, dotted here and +there by amusement buildings and theaters. + +Cars whizzed back and forth, as people gathered to see the strangers. +For the first time in generations the amusement buildings were deserted. +Since their arrival, Dick had seen no sign of work, and finally +questioned Morquil. + +"The people work one mig out of each lix, Dick. It is enough to carry on +cultivation of the crops, and keep the amusement buildings running +properly and efficiently." + +Barrow was stunned. The working period would have to be increased to +three immediately, then four and five. They seemed to think that +bringing men from another world would do the work, and were apt to be +disappointed when he started issuing orders. + + * * * * * + +When Dick and his wife were installed in their new home, and the +McCarthys settled in a nearby apartment, Morquil hesitated. The Martins +were anxious to see their own habitation, and looked at the dome man +questioningly. + +He finally spoke with hesitation. "I have bad news for you. The Martins +will have to occupy an apartment in this city for a while. Their dome is +out of order. Trouble developed soon after the ship left here, on this +trip, and over a thousand people were killed. Every other city is +overcrowded with refugees. + +"It started with a strange banging on top of the dome, which kept +increasing. No one knew what the trouble was or how to stop it, so they +waited to see what happened. It didn't sound as if the ceiling was going +to fall--but as if the banging came from _outside_! It was several migs +before they knew the cause. + +"When a large section crashed to the ground, it was a complete surprise, +and caught the inhabitants unprepared. Soon the air was mixing with the +poison gases from outside. People tried to escape, and most of them did. +All except those that fell unconscious from the gas. + +"Before the last of them reached the tunnel, green things dropped to the +ground, and started after those who remained. They had to close the +doors between the cities to keep the creatures from entering this dome. +It is the first time that anything has happened to my people, and we +don't know what it could be." + +For a long time the earthmen remained silent. The troubles of this +civilization had been dumped into their laps already--in the form of a +terrible calamity. It sounded _almost_ as if some kind of life forms had +broken through the domes _from the outside_! Perhaps there was more +danger than could be imagined. One dome had been injured, if not +destroyed, and others might follow! + +A meeting of the earthmen was called immediately, much to their +surprise. Dick dared not let conditions stay as they were, for fear of +future trouble. Action must be taken at once. + +"We don't know what we're facing, but the fate of the race as well as +our own lives, seem to be in danger. The break in the dome might have +been accident, and the moving forms the imagination of fear. But we know +that over a thousand people were killed--whatever caused the trouble!" + +The men went back to their domes to rest, and plan some means of +entering the deserted city, but were disturbed before they had time for +sleep. + +_The agricultural dome had been attacked!_ The pounding had begun within +a short time of their arrival. + +One thing was certain, the injured dome had been _attacked_! It was not +accident that the metal ceiling fell. _There were living beings in the +gases outside their civilization!_ + +The first dome had been attacked just after the space ship left for the +earth, and this attack came just after its return to the domes. There +was little doubt that movement of the ship had disturbed the serenity of +existence. Perhaps the gas creatures hadn't known what was beneath the +metal hives until the ship appeared. + +The banging on the agricultural dome, _had to be stopped_! A hole would +let in the gas! Rifles, that had been brought back on the ship as +curiosities, were given to each earthman. They loaded them carefully +while they searched for some means of reaching the trouble. + +When the leader of the dome heard what they were planning, he showed +them sealed openings to a space between the sections of metal, which +hadn't been used since the city was built. The dome was constructed in +three layers, for insulation, and to give added protection. It was like +a maze, to work their way toward the pounding through the network of +struts. At times they had to crawl on their hands and knees, at others +there were clearly defined passages. + +They were afraid, and not ashamed to show it. They were hunting +creatures which they knew nothing about--didn't even know whether +bullets would affect them! They might face thinking beings, or forms of +life that only wanted to search in the domes for food. It was not a +pleasant thought. + +Every rifle was cocked as they neared the source of the pounding. Every +nerve drawn to the finest point. + +Suddenly Dick stopped. He was ahead of the others and first to glimpse +what they faced. He motioned to use the oxygen masks, as he fastened his +own in place. + +As they crept closer, light glinted on the giant pointed hammer, +operated from beyond the outer layer of metal. It rose and fell at even +intervals, through the rent in the upper surface. The ram had already +crushed through two thicknesses of metal, and was battering at the inner +layer. + +The inside section was more like glass than metal and dim light passed +through, but the outer layers were opaque. When the huge ram disappeared +from the glow of light it left a gaping hole where it had been. It was +of material they had never seen and glistened with a brownish hue. It +appeared to shorten and expand in diameter, each time it struck the +surface. + +For a moment they hesitated, trying to decide the best means of attack. +Whatever animated the ram was above their vision, and they had to be +close to the opening to see it. + +Each time the shiny object descended, the dome vibrated beneath their +feet. As long as the vibration remained they were safe, but when it felt +like a thud--the metal would be cracking! + +Thousands of helpless people were depending on the action of earthmen, +for their future existence. They seemed to think that it was only +necessary to _tell_ their troubles to these amazing strangers, to have +them solved. Stories about the use of water to drive the space ship, had +circulated throughout the cities, crediting the newcomers with +superhuman powers. + +As the little party crept nearer, they separated, to approach the +opening from every direction. Dick was to fire first--if he saw anything +to shoot at! It might be a powerful machine, clamped to the outer +surface, instead of a being that could be injured. The glass globes of +the masks were clouding with moisture, and it was hard to see. + +A thud came, that didn't vibrate quite as much, and the men could feel +the hair on their necks stiffen. It was now or never, and Dick fired +although he was still several feet from the opening. He fired at the +topmost section of the ram, hoping it might stop the hammering for a +moment even if it didn't injure the equipment. Two more shots rang out, +before the object could deliver another blow. + +_It was alive!_ The heavy ram _jumped_ from the shock of the bullets, +curving convulsively to one side of the opening. Then it drew back out +of sight. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_Battle with a Monster_ + + +Minutes passed, while the earthmen hardly dared breathe. Their ebbing +heartbeat seemed to almost echo in their breasts. Then the object +appeared at the opening, hesitated, and was thrust in! + +_The hammer was a head!!!_ It swayed back and forth, like the head of a +huge caterpillar, and every gun fired in unison. Shot after shot pumped +into the head with rapid and unerring accuracy. + +The giant head moved from one side to the other, while two gigantic eyes +peered around. It didn't know enough to draw back from the danger zone, +but muscular reaction finally moved it out of sight. + +Dick crept forward, motioning for the others to wait until he +investigated. There was no need for all of them to enter the danger +zone. + +He turned the flashlight on, that had been strapped to his waist, and +played it around the jagged opening, then climbed to the next level and +searched again. + +When he crawled to the outer surface, the creature was writhing a few +feet away. He motioned, and the other men soon joined him, where they +could watch the creature. + +They were standing almost on the direct center of the dome, where it was +almost flat. The flashlights penetrated the mists enough to mark out the +shape of the attacker, when they were all centered. + +Suddenly they felt sick to their stomachs. + +It _was_ a caterpillar! As loathsome a creature as they could have +imagined with its curled body, and the farthest possible thing from a +human being. A form of life that existed in the poison gases, where men +would die within minutes. The muscles of the creature had to be +terrifically strong, to move against the gravity of the huge globe. + +Even at the center of the dome, they felt less effect of the neutralized +gravity of the interior. It required effort to stand on their feet. Some +effect of the neutralizers in the giant pillars, which eliminated most +of the weight of the dome, enabled them to handle their bodies. + +The creature before them was accustomed to normal gravity of the heavy +planet, and even the metal of the dome was not beyond the pounding of +its hammer. What they had mistaken for a battering ram, was the brown +tip of the mammoth insect. From end to end it measured over sixty feet. +The men finally turned away in disgust, as it writhed in muscular +reaction. + +John McCarthy was climbing into the opening behind the other men, when +he happened to glance back. His flashlight dimly lighted the spot where +the monster had been, and _it was gone_! + +He hesitated with one foot in the air, then realized what had happened. +The movement of the body had moved it farther and farther from the +center of the dome. It had reached a place where the curve was +sufficient to let it slide on the smooth metal. A moment later, a slight +jar was felt through the entire structure--it had slid from the man-made +mound, to crash on the ground below. Memory of that sight made a sober +return to the interior. + +Before they dared rest, metal sheets were carried to the opening and +blocked in place. Then dome men welded them to the solid metal. They +didn't want to see any of those creatures in the cities! + +Twelve hours had passed by the time the opening was sealed, and the +earthmen dragged their tired forms through the maze of supports for the +last time. + +They were almost asleep before they could reach their own apartments, +and tumble onto comfortable beds. They had conquered the first problem. + +Dick was awakened by an excited man, talking faster than he could +understand the new language. When he grasped what the other was saying, +he leaped from bed wide awake. + +_Every dome had been attacked!!!_ The caterpillars were pounding many +spots on each one. They seemed to be trying to get at the creatures that +had destroyed one of their number. + + * * * * * + +In that moment Dick felt like an old man. He thought of the space ship; +the only way of attacking from the outside, and gave that up. There +wasn't enough fuel to handle it, and the blasts might injure the metal +domes. His mind searched frantically for some way of fighting _all_ of +the creatures--and knew it couldn't be done. + +He was racing across the open ground, while thousands of people gazed at +the banging overhead. Suddenly he stopped, then turned back toward his +apartment, running just as hard. There was a system of communication +between the domes--that _sometimes_ worked! It was not efficient, but if +he could get in touch with the others immediately, there was _one_ +chance! + +He tried frantically to get a connection, but it wasn't until one of the +natives helped with the intricate system of signals, that he heard the +voice of Andrew Smith. A few moments later Philip Jones answered, then +Jerold Brown and Peter Yarbro. Each man was given quick, yet explicit, +instruction. + +When Dick turned away from the phone, John McCarthy entered the room, +followed by George Martin. The noise in the city had finally aroused +them from their slumber. + +John started to smile, but the expression on Barrow's face drove all +thought of greeting away. + +"_What is it?_ I thought the people were doing a day's work--but +_you_----!!!" His face turned ashen as he ran to the balcony, George +Martin only a step behind. After gazing up for a moment, McCarthy turned +slowly to face Dick. + +"The worms? It sounds like _hundreds of them_! We better work fast, or +they'll have the whole roof down around our ears." + +"No, John. We can't fight them with guns. _They have attacked every dome +on the planet!_" + +When full realization came to the big Irishman, he sank slowly into a +chair. "Then what? Have you got any plan--or are we helpless?" + +"We've got work to do and plenty of it. There's a slight chance of +saving the cities. I've already instructed the others." + +As the three men raced toward the power plant, Dick explained. John and +George were to do the work, while he traveled from dome to dome to make +sure the people were prepared, and see that the power plants were used +as he intended. + +By the time they reached the entrance of the building, John nodded, and +Barrow turned back as the other men entered the door. The first dome +people that Dick saw were told to remove everyone from the buildings, +and gather them in the open spaces of the parks. _Leaving no one within +any structure!_ + +The expression on his face scared them even more than the pounding of +the worms, and they hurried to obey. + +Dick jumped into the nearest ground car. He couldn't be bothered +traveling on the railroads. This happened to belong to the assistant +head of the dome, whom he dispossessed. It jerked crazily across streets +and parks, while he learned to handle the controls. + +An hour later Dick was back at the powerhouse in the big dome. Every +city was ready. In several places the hammering heads had broken through +the outer layers, and were banging at the translucent inner ceiling. The +creatures _had learned how_ to break through. + +The first worm that attacked, while the space ship was away, either took +its time or didn't realize what was beneath the heavy metal. These +creatures were working in earnest. + +Heavy insulated cables ran from the powerhouse to the nearest metal +pillars, where McCarthy and Martin were working desperately to fasten +them in place. The booming voice of the Irishman had kept the natives +back, although they crowded as close as they dared. They were really +afraid, when the hammering grew plainer with each passing minute. + +When the cables were fastened, John shouted to Dick, who was waiting in +the powerhouse. He pulled a heavy switch, at the end of the wires. + +The city was suddenly in complete darkness, then it flashed bright again +as power flowed back into the thousands of coils in the ceiling +material. Twice more it darkened, when the giant switch was thrown, and +the lights came on again. This time it stayed bright. + +Dick ran to the doorway, and gazed at the dome above. _It was silent!_ +The people were frightened, and moved restlessly about. Twice more he +turned the power into the metal, and after one long darkened period, the +city remained bright. _No sound came from the dome!_ Either the worms +were dead--or frightened away! + +Within a week the doors to the deserted city were opened, and the +earthmen passed through. When they glimpsed the interior, they stopped +in consternation, then started to laugh. + +Huge worms covered the ground, and smaller editions of the same species, +crawled around them. _They were using the dome for a hatching place!_ + +They had only entered it to bring forth their young! It was not _brains_ +that tempted them to attack the city, but the instinct to find a +protected place for their eggs. Since they had broken in, many of the +young had hatched, and were crawling around the ground. + +Sight of the earthmen seemed to excite their feelings, and several of +the creatures started toward them. The men fired carefully, and the +forms squirmed on the ground. The ones that came behind stopped, and +some of the young tried to feed on the remains of their companions. + +The sight was so sickening that the earthmen fired at every living thing +they could see. Several of the wounded creatures crawled up the huge +pillars, to disappear through the opening above, while the men shot at +their disappearing forms. When the last caterpillar lay dead, the entire +area appeared like a battlefield. + +Three days later the gas had been expelled, and the hole in the dome +repaired. The population was returning to their homes, burying the +carcasses in the fields. The city was livable again, and they knew +electric current would stop any future attack of the strange creatures. + + * * * * * + +Ten years later, Dick Barrow sat on the balcony before his apartment. +His son John, eight years old, was playing with Dick McCarthy. While he +watched the boys, his mind swung back to the earth the little group had +left so many years before. + +For three years they had talked of returning to their home planet, and +the evening before the conversation reached a climax. They were starting +in two months. + +It no longer required years to manufacture fuel for one trip. All +machinery was working at top efficiency, and they could turn out enough +of the liquid in a month, to drive the ship back and forth several +times. Crews of workmen had been trained to care for all mechanical +equipment, and there was no longer need for the engineers from the +earth. + +The day the little party (it now consisted of eighteen with the four +children), entered the space ship tears rolled down the cheeks of many +of the crowd. The dome people had learned to almost worship these +members of an alien race, and thought they would never leave. But when +they realized that their leaders were dissatisfied, and wanted to return +to their native planet, they aided in every way they knew how. + +The ship was out of port for less than a week when the people became +restless. They hardly spoke, even at meal time, and for the first time +in ten years there were petty quarrels. + +When Barrow called them to the main cabin, they came grudgingly, then +slowly the expressions changed. Smiles appeared on their faces, and +their heads moved with sheepish nods of assent. + +"We're fools, and you all know it. We were happy in the domes, happier +than we ever were in our lives before. We didn't appreciate it and +longed to return to the earth. We wanted to leave, yet had everything +there to live for. We had comfort, every pleasure, and more friends than +we can possibly have on our own world. _I feel ashamed!_ + +"Right now we _wish_ that we were back in our own apartments, and might +as well admit it. The earth is not what we want, _we want the domes_! +They are _home_!!! + +"The best thing for us to do, now that we are on the way to the earth, +is establish commerce. + +"We can create friendship between the planets, but we are natives of +Jupiter! Our interests will always be with the dome people. We have +almost become part of that race, and they have given us everything in +return. They even gave us our freedom when we wanted it. _We belong +there!_" + +Ten years more passed, and John Barrow was beginning to help with his +father's work. Vacationing in Jupiter's domes had become so popular on +the earth that they were building another city to accommodate the +tourist trade. It was the third to be added to the original six. +Merchant ships were constantly discharging goods from the earth, and +carrying back rare metals. + +Space ships from the earth, designed after the original Jupiter ship, +were searching the little known planets for minerals. Domes were being +built on three of the smaller globes, and pioneering humans migrated to +new worlds. There was danger, yes, but also fame and fortune for the +hardy people who would inhabit them. + +The earth had changed a lot, since the visit of the space ship. They had +adopted the principle of controlling gravity, and tremendous structures +were the result. New buildings were several times as large as the +greatest structure of ten years before. Both planets had benefited from +the friendship, and both were happier as a result. + +As Dick Barrow's mind ran over these facts, he smiled and spoke aloud to +himself. "And all of this in twenty years--it seems incredible!" + +"What did you say, dear?" asked Dolores. + +Dick smiled as he glanced at her. "It's nothing. I was just thinking. +Remember the night you fell in front of my table in the hotel? And I +thought it was _accidental_--you scheming gold-digger!" + +The ruler of the domes ducked when his wife threw her book--but she +didn't throw it very hard. + + +THE END + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This gravity power was derived from huge weights swung on an axis +that could be faced toward any point in the universe, and the slightest +pull resulted in force that was exerted on the fuel. The explosive +mixture remained at constant pressure, creating a smooth driving medium. +Discharge of the fuel under high compression resulted in greater power +than could be obtained in any other way. + +When the fuel shot through the tubes, it exerted force on the gas cloud +that was far above the actual speed of the explosion. The heat of +combustion was reduced, and the ship operated without effect from the +blasts. The tubes were small, yet the power expended was beyond anything +ever accomplished on earth.--Author. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ April 1956 and was + first published in _Amazing Stories_ February 1939. Extensive + research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on + this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical + errors have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Wanted--7 Fearless Engineers!, by Warner Van Lorne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WANTED--7 FEARLESS ENGINEERS! *** + +***** This file should be named 26941.txt or 26941.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/9/4/26941/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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