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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:20 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:20 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30214-0.txt b/30214-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d28d01 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3110 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30214 *** + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Astounding Stories October 1931. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration: At this the titanic thing went wholly, + colossally mad.] + + + The Red Hell of Jupiter + + _A Complete Novelette_ + + + + + By Paul Ernst + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I + +_The Red Spot_ + +[Sidenote: What is the mystery centered in Jupiter's famous "Red +Spot"? Two fighting Earthmen, caught by the "Pipe-men" like their +vanished comrades, soon find out.] + + +Commander Stone, grizzled chief of the Planetary Exploration Forces, +acknowledged Captain Brand Bowen's salute and beckoned him to take a +seat. + +Brand, youngest officer of the division to wear the triple-V for +distinguished service, sat down and stared curiously at his superior. +He hadn't the remotest idea why he had been recalled from leave: but +that it was on a matter of some importance he was sure. He hunched his +big shoulders and awaited orders. + +"Captain Bowen," said Stone. "I want you to go to Jupiter as soon as +you can arrange to do so, fly low over the red area in the southern +hemisphere, and come back here with some sort of report as to what's +wrong with that infernal death spot." + +He tapped his radio stylus thoughtfully against the edge of his desk. + +"As you perhaps know, I detailed a ship to explore the red spot about +a year ago. It never came back. I sent another ship, with two good men +in it, to check up on the disappearance of the first. That ship, too, +never came back. Almost with the second of its arrival at the edge of +the red area all radio communication with it was cut off. It was never +heard from again. Two weeks ago I sent Journeyman there. Now _he_ has +been swallowed up in a mysterious silence." + +An exclamation burst from Brand's lips. Sub-Commander Journeyman! +Senior officer under Stone, ablest man in the expeditionary forces, +and Brand's oldest friend! + +Stone nodded comprehension of the stricken look on Brand's face. "I +know how friendly you two were," he said soberly. "That's why I chose +you to go and find out, if you can, what happened to him and the other +two ships." + +Brand's chin sank to rest on the stiff high collar of his uniform. + +"Journeyman!" he mused. "Why, he was like an older brother to me. And +now ... he's gone." + + * * * * * + +There was silence in Commander Stone's sanctum for a time. Then Brand +raised his head. + +"Did you have any radio reports at all from any of the three ships +concerning the nature of the red spot?" he inquired. + +"None that gave definite information," replied Stone. "From each of +the three ships we received reports right up to the instant when the +red area was approached. From each of the three came a vague +description of the peculiarity of the ground ahead of them: it seems +to glitter with a queer metallic sheen. Then, from each of the three, +as they passed over the boundary--nothing! All radio communication +ceased as abruptly as though they'd been stricken dead." + +He stared at Brand. "That's all I can tell you, little enough, God +knows. Something ominous and strange is contained in that red spot: +but what its nature may be, we cannot even guess. I want you to go +there and find out." + +Brand's determined jaw jutted out, and his lips thinned to a +purposeful line. He stood to attention. + +"I'll be leaving to-night, sir. Or sooner if you like. I could go this +afternoon: in an hour--" + +"To-night is soon enough," said Stone with a smile. "Now, who do you +want to accompany you?" + +Brand thought a moment. On so long a journey as a trip to Jupiter +there was only room in a space ship--what with supplies and all--for +one other man. It behooved him to pick his companion carefully. + +"I'd like Dex Harlow," he said at last. "He's been to Jupiter before, +working with me in plotting the northern hemisphere. He's a good man." + +"He is," agreed Stone, nodding approval of Brand's choice. "I'll have +him report to you at once." + +He rose and held out his hand. "I'm relying on you, Captain Bowen," he +said. "I won't give any direct orders: use your own discretion. But I +would advise you not to try to land in the red area. Simply fly low +over it, and see what you can discern from the air. Good-by, and good +luck." + +Brand saluted, and went out, to go to his own quarters and make the +few preparations necessary for his sudden emergency flight. + + * * * * * + +The work of exploring the planets that swung with Earth around the sun +was still a new branch of the service. Less than ten years ago, it had +been, when Ansen devised his first crude atomic motor. + +At once, with the introduction of this tremendous new motive power, +men had begun to build space ships and explore the sky. And, as so +often happens with a new invention, the thing had grown rather beyond +itself. + +Everywhere amateur space flyers launched forth into the heavens to try +their new celestial wings. Everywhere young and old enthusiasts set +Ansen motors into clumsily insulated shells and started for Mars or +the moon or Venus. + +The resultant loss of life, as might have been foreseen, was +appalling. Eager but inexperienced explorers edged over onto the wrong +side of Mercury and were burned to cinders. They set forth in ships +that were badly insulated, and froze in the absolute zero of space. +They learned the atomic motor controls too hastily, ran out of +supplies or lost their courses, and wandered far out into space--stiff +corpses in coffins that were to be buried only in time's infinity. + +To stop the foolish waste of life, the Earth Government stepped in. It +was decreed that no space ship might be owned or built privately. It +was further decreed that those who felt an urge to explore must join +the regular service and do so under efficient supervision. And there +was created the Government bureau designated as the Planetary +Exploration Control Board, which was headed by Commander Stone. + + * * * * * + +Under this Board the exploration of the planets was undertaken +methodically and efficiently, with a minimum of lives sacrificed. + +Mercury was charted, tested for essential minerals, and found to be a +valueless rock heap too near the sun to support life. + +Venus was visited and explored segment by segment; and friendly +relations were established with the rather stupid but peaceable people +found there. + +Mars was mapped. Here the explorers had lingered a long time: and all +over this planet's surface were found remnants of a vast and intricate +civilization--from the canals that laced its surface, to great cities +with mighty buildings still standing. But of life there was none. The +atmosphere was too rare to support it; and the theory was that it had +constantly thinned through thousands of years till the last Martian +had gasped and died in air too attenuated to support life even in +creatures that must have grown greater and greater chested in eons of +adaptation. + +Then Jupiter had been reached: and here the methodical planet by +planet work promised to be checked for a long time to come. Jupiter, +with its mighty surface area, was going to take some exploring! It +would be years before it could be plotted even superficially. + + * * * * * + +Brand had been to Jupiter on four different trips; and, as he walked +toward his quarters from Stone's office, he reviewed what he had +learned on those trips. + +Jupiter, as he knew it, was a vast globe of vague horror and sharp +contrasts. + +Distant from the sun as it was, it received little solar heat. But, +with so great a mass, it had cooled off much more slowly than any of +the other planets known, and had immense internal heat. This meant +that the air--which closely approximated Earth's air in density--was +cool a few hundred yards up from the surface of the planet, and dankly +hot close to the ground. The result, as the cold air constantly sank +into the warm, was a thick steamy blanket of fog that covered +everything perpetually. + +Because of the recent cooling, life was not far advanced on Jupiter. +Too short a time ago the sphere had been but a blazing mass. Tropical +marshes prevailed, crisscrossed by mighty rivers at warmer than blood +heat. Giant, hideous fernlike growths crowded one another in an +everlasting jungle. And among the distorted trees, from the blanket of +soft white fog that hid all from sight, could be heard constantly an +ear-splitting chorus of screams and bellows and whistling snarls. It +made the blood run cold just to listen--and to speculate on what +gigantic but tiny-brained monsters made them. + +Now and then, when Brand had been flying dangerously low over the +surface, a wind had risen strong enough to dispel the fog banks for an +instant; and he had caught a flash of Jovian life. Just a flash, for +example, of a monstrous lizard-like thing too great to support its own +bulk: or a creature all neck and tail, with ridges of scale on its +armored hide and a small serpentine head weaving back and forth among +the jungle growths. + + * * * * * + +Occasionally he had landed--always staying close to the space ship, +for Jupiter's gravity made movement a slow and laborious process, and +he didn't want to be caught too far from security. At such times he +might hear a crashing and splashing and see a reptilian head loom +gigantically at him through the fog. Then he would discharge the +deadly explosive gun which was Earth's latest weapon, and the creature +would crash to the ground. The chorus of hissings and bellowings would +increase as he hastened slowly and laboriously back to the ship, +indicating that other unseen monsters of the steamy jungle had flocked +to tear the dead giant to pieces and bolt it down. + +Oh, Jupiter was a nice planet! mused Brand. A sweet place--if one +happened to be a two-hundred-foot snake or something! + +He had always thought the entire globe was in that new, raw, marshy +state. But he had worked only in one comparatively small area of the +northern hemisphere; had never been within thirty thousand miles of +the red spot. What might lie in that ominous crimson patch, he could +not even guess. However, he reflected, he was soon to find out, though +he might never live to tell about it. + +Shrugging his shoulders, he turned into the fifty story building in +which was his modest apartment. There he found, written by the +automatic stylus on his radio pad, the message: "Be with you at seven +o'clock. Best regards, and I hope you strangle. Dex Harlow." + + * * * * * + +Dex Harlow was a six-foot Senior Lieutenant who had been on many an +out-of-the-way exploratory trip. Like Brand he was just under thirty +and perpetually thirsting for the bizarre in life. He was a walking +document of planetary activity. He was still baked a brick red from a +trip to Mercury a year before: he had a scar on his forehead, the +result of jumping forty feet one day on the moon when he'd meant to +jump only twenty; he was minus a finger which had been irreparably +frost-bitten on Mars; and he had a crumpled nose that was the outcome +of a brush with a ten-foot bandit on Venus who'd tried to kill him for +his explosive gun and supply of glass, dyite-containing cartridges. + +He clutched Brand's fingers in a bone-mangling grip, and threw his hat +into a far corner. + +"You're a fine friend!" he growled cheerfully. "Here I'm having a +first rate time for myself, swimming and planing along the Riviera, +with two more weeks leave ahead of me--and I get a call from the Old +Man to report to you. What excuse have you for your crime?" + +"A junket to Jupiter," said Brand. "Would you call that a good +excuse?" + +"Jupiter!" exclaimed Dex. "Wouldn't you know it? Of course you'd have +to pick a spot four hundred million miles away from all that grand +swimming I was having!" + +"Would you like to go back on leave, and have me choose someone else?" +inquired Brand solemnly. + +"Well, no," said Dex hastily. "Now that I'm here, I suppose I might as +well go through with it." + +Brand laughed. "Try and get you out of it! I know your attitude toward +a real jaunt. And it's a real jaunt we've got ahead of us, too, old +boy. We're going to the red spot. Immediately." + + * * * * * + +Dex's sandy eyebrows shot up. "The red spot! That's where Coblenz and +Heiroy were lost!" + +"And Journeyman," added Brand. "He's the latest victim of whatever's +in the hell-hole." + +Dex whistled. "Journeyman too! Well, all I've got to say is that +whatever's there must be strong medicine. Journeyman was a damn fine +man, and as brave as they come. Have you any idea what it's all +about?" + +"Not an idea. Nobody has. We're to go and find out--if we can. Are you +all ready?" + +"All ready," said Dex. + +"So am I. We'll start at eleven o'clock in one of the Old Man's best +cruisers. Meanwhile, we might as well go and hunt up a dinner +somewhere, to fortify us against the synthetic pork chops and bread +we'll be swallowing for the next fortnight." + +They went out; and at ten minutes of eleven reported at the great +space ship hangars north of New York, with their luggage, a +conspicuous item of which was a chess board to help while away the +long, long days of spacial travel. Brand then paused a little while +for a final check-up on directions. + +They clambered into the tiny control room and shut the hermetically +sealed trap-door. Brand threw the control switch and precisely at +eleven o'clock the conical shell of metal shot heavenward, gathering +such speed that it was soon invisible to human eyes. He set their +course toward the blazing speck that was Jupiter, four hundred million +miles away; and then reported their start by radio to Commander +Stone's night operator. + +The investigatory expedition to the ominous red spot of the giant of +the solar system was on. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +_The Pipe-like Men_ + + +Brand began to slacken speed on the morning of the thirteenth day +(morning, of course, being a technical term: there are no horizons in +space for the sun to rise over). Jupiter was still an immense distance +off; but it took a great while to slow the momentum of the space ship, +which, in the frictionless emptiness of space, had been traveling +faster and faster for nearly three hundred hours. + +Behind them was the distant ball of sun, so far off that it looked no +larger than a red-hot penny. Before them was the gigantic disk of +Jupiter, given a white tinge by the perpetual fog blankets, its +outlines softened by its thick layer of atmosphere and cloud banks. +Two of its nine satellites were in sight at the moment, with a third +edging over the western rim. + +"Makes you think you're drunk and seeing triple, doesn't it?" +commented Dex, who was staring out the thick glass panel beside Brand. +"Nine moons! Almost enough for one planet!" + +Brand nodded abstractly, and concentrated on the control board. +Rapidly the ship rocketed down toward the surface. The disk became a +whirling, gigantic plate; and then an endless plain, with cloud +formations beginning to take on definite outline. + +"About to enter Jupiter's atmosphere." Brand spoke into the radio +transmitter. Over the invisible thread of radio connection between the +space ship and Earth, four hundred million miles behind, flashed the +message. + +"All right. For God's sake, be careful," came the answer, minutes +later. "Say something at least every half hour, to let us know +communication is unbroken. We will sound at ten second intervals." + +The sounding began: _peep_, a shrill little piping noise like the +fiddle of a cricket. Ten seconds later it came again: _peep_. +Thereafter, intermittently, it keened through the control room--a +homely, comforting sound to let them know that there was a distant +thread between them and Earth. + + * * * * * + +Lower the shell rocketed. The endless plain slowly ceased its rushing +underneath them as they entered the planet's atmosphere and began to +be pulled around with it in its revolution. Far to the west a faint +red glow illumined the sky. + +The two men looked at each other, grimly, soberly. + +"We're here," said Dex, flexing the muscles of his powerful arms. + +"We are," said Brand, patting the gun in his holster. + +The rapid dusk of the giant planet began to close in on them. The thin +sunlight darkened; and with its lowering, the red spot of Jupiter +glared more luridly ahead of them. Silently the two men gazed at it, +and wondered what it held. + +They shot the space ship toward it, and halted a few hundred miles +away. Watery white light from the satellites, "that jitter around in +the sky like a bunch of damned waterbugs," as Dex put it, was now the +sole illumination. + +They hung motionless in their space shell, to wait through the +five-hour Jovian night for the succeeding five hours of daylight to +illumine a slow cruise over the red area that, in less than a year, +had swallowed up three of Earth's space ships. And ever as they +waited, dozing a little, speculating as to the nature of the danger +they faced, the peep, peep of the radio shrilled in their ears to tell +them that there was still a connection--though a very tenuous +one--with their mother planet. + + * * * * * + +"Red spot ten miles away," said Brand in the transmitter. "We're +approaching it slowly." + +The tiny sun had leaped up over Jupiter's horizon; and with its +appearance they had sent the ship planing toward their mysterious +destination. Beneath them the fog banks were thinning, and ahead of +them were no clouds. For some reason there was a clarity unusual to +Jupiter's atmosphere in the air above the red section. + +"Red spot one mile ahead, altitude forty thousand feet," reported +Brand. + +He and Dex peered intently through the port glass panel. Ahead and far +below, their eyes caught an odd metallic sheen. It was as though the +ground there were carpeted with polished steel that reflected red +firelight. + +Tense, filled with an excitement that set their pulses pounding +wildly, they angled slowly down, nearer to the edge of the vast +crimson area, closer to the ground. The radio keened its monotonous +signal. + +Brand crawled to the transmitter, laboriously, for his body tipped the +scales here at nearly four hundred pounds. + +"We can see the metallic glitter that Journeyman spoke of," he said. +"No sign of life of any kind, though. The red glow seems to flicker a +little." + +Closer the ship floated. Closer. To right and left of them for vast +distances stretched the red area. Ahead of them for hundreds of miles +they knew it extended. + +"We're right on it now," called Brand. "Right on it--we're going over +the edge--we're--" + +Next instant he was sprawling on the floor, with Dex rolling +helplessly on top of him, while the space ship bounced up twenty +thousand feet as though propelled by a giant sling. + + * * * * * + +The peep, peep of the radio signalling stopped. The space ship rolled +helplessly for a moment, then resumed an even keel. Brand and Dex +gazed at each other. + +"What the hell?" said Dex. + +He started to get to his feet, put all his strength into the task of +moving his Jupiter-weighted body, and crashed against the top of the +control room. + +"Say!" he sputtered, rubbing his head. "Say, what _is_ this?" + +Brand, profiting by his mistake, rose more cautiously, shut off the +atomic motor, and approached a glass panel again. "God knows what it +is," he said with a shrug. "Somehow, with our passing into the red +area, the pull of gravity has been reduced by about ten, that's all." + +"Oh, so that's all, is it? Well, what's happened to old Jupe's +gravity?" + +Again Brand shrugged. "I haven't any idea. Your guess is as good as +mine." + +He peered down through the panel, and stiffened in surprise. + +"Dex!" he cried. "We're moving! And the motor is shut off!" + +"We're drawing down closer to the ground, too," announced Dex, +pointing to their altimeter. "Our altitude has been reduced five +thousand feet in the last two minutes." + +Quickly Brand turned on the motor in reverse. The space ship, as the +rushing, reddish ground beneath indicated, continued to glide forward +as though pulled by an invisible rope. He turned on full power. The +ship's progress was checked a little. A very little! And the metallic +red surface under them grew nearer as they steadily lost altitude. + +"Something seems to have got us by the nose," said Dex. "We're on our +way to the center of the red spot, I guess--to find whatever it was +that Journeyman found. And the radio communication his been broken +somehow...." + +Wordlessly, they stared out the panel, while the shell, quivering with +the strain of the atomic motor's fight against whatever unseen force +it was that relentlessly drew them forward, bore them swiftly toward +the heart of the vast crimson area. + + * * * * * + +"Look!" cried Brand. + +For over an hour the ship had been propelled swiftly, irresistibly +toward the center of the red spot. It had been up about forty thousand +feet. Now, with a jerk that sent both men reeling, it had been drawn +down to within fifteen thousand feet of the surface; and the sight +that was now becoming more and more visible was incredible. + +Beneath was a vast, orderly checkerboard. Every alternate square was +covered by what seemed a jointless metal plate. The open squares, +plainly land under cultivation, were surrounded by gleaming fences +that hooked each metal square with every other one of its kind as +batteries are wired in series. Over these open squares progressed +tiny, two legged figures, for the most part following gigantic +shapeless animals like figures out of a dream. Ahead suddenly appeared +the spires and towers of an enormous city! + +Metropolis and cultivated land! It was as unbelievable, on that raw +new planet, as such a sight would have been could a traveler in time +have observed it in the midst of a dim Pleistocene panorama of young +Earth. + +It was instantly apparent that the city was their destination. Rapidly +the little ship was rushed toward it; and, realizing at last the +futility of its laboring, Brand cut off the atomic motor and let the +shell drift. + +Over a group of squat square buildings their ship passed, decreasing +speed and drifting lower with every moment. The lofty structures that +were the nucleus of the strange city loomed closer. Now they were +soaring slowly down a wide thoroughfare; and now, at last, they +hovered above a great open square that was thronged with figures. + +Lower they dropped. Lower. And then they settled with a slight jar on +a surface made of reddish metal; and the figures rushed to surround +them. + + * * * * * + +Looking out the glass panel at these figures, both Brand and Dex +exclaimed aloud and covered their eyes for a moment to shut out the +hideous sight of them. Now they examined them closely. + +Manlike they were: and yet like no human being conceivable to an Earth +mind. They were tremendously tall--twelve feet at least--but as thin +as so many animated poles. Their two legs were scarce four inches +through, taper-less, boneless, like lengths of pipe; and like two +flexible pipes they were joined to a slightly larger pipe of a torso +that could not have been more than a foot in diameter. There were four +arms, a pair on each side of the cylindrical body, that weaved feebly +about like lengths of rubber hose. + +Set directly on the pipe-like body, as a pumpkin might be balanced on +a pole, was a perfectly round cranium in which were glassy, staring +eyes, with dull pupils like those of a sick dog. The nose was but a +tab of flesh. The mouth was a minute, circular thing, soft and flabby +looking, which opened and shut regularly with the creature's +breathing. It resembled the snout-like mouth of a fish, of the sucker +variety; and fish-like, too, was the smooth and slimy skin that +covered the beanpole body. + + * * * * * + +Hundreds of the repulsive things, there were. And all of them shoved +and crowded, as a disorderly mob on Earth might do, to get close to +the Earthmen's ship. Their big dull eyes peered in through the glass +panels, and their hands--mere round blobs of gristle in the palms of +which were set single sucker disks--pattered against the metal hull of +the shell. + +"God!" said Brand with a shudder. "Fancy these things feeling over +your body...." + +"They're hostile, whatever they are," said Dex. "Look out: that one's +pointing something at you!" + +One of the slender, tottering creatures had raised an arm and leveled +at Brand something that looked rather like an elongated, old-fashioned +flashlight. Brand involuntarily ducked. The clear glass panel between +them and the mob outside gave him a queasy feeling of being exposed to +whatever missile might lurk in the thing's tube. + +"What do we do now?" demanded Dex with a shaky laugh. "You're chief of +this expedition. I'm waiting for orders." + +"We wait right here," replied Brand. "We're safe in the shell till +we're starved out. At least they can't get in to attack us." + +But it developed that, while the slimy looking things might not be +able to get in, they had ways of reaching the Earthmen just the same! + + * * * * * + +The creature with the gun-like tube extended it somewhat further +toward Brand. + +Brand felt a sharp, unpleasant tingle shoot through his body, as +though he had received an electric shock. He winced, and cried out at +the sudden pain of it. + +"What's the matter--" Dex began. But hardly had the words left his +mouth when he, too, felt the shock. A couple of good, hearty Earth +oaths exploded from his lips. + +The repulsive creature outside made an authoritative gesture. He +seemed to be beckoning to them, his huge dull eyes glaring +threateningly at the same moment. + +"Our beanpole friend is suggesting that we get out of the shell and +stay awhile," said Dex with grim humor. "They seem anxious to +entertain us--_ouch!_" + +As the two men made no move to obey the beckoning gesture, the +creature had raised the tube again; and again the sharp, unpleasant +shock shot through them. + +"What the devil are we going to do?" exclaimed Brand. "If we go out in +that mob of nightmare things--it's going to be messy. As long as we +stay in the shell we have some measure of protection." + +"Not much protection when they can sting us through metal and glass at +will," growled Dex. "Do you suppose they can turn the juice on harder? +Or is that bee-sting their best effort?" + +As though in direct answer to his words, the blob-like face of the +being who seemed in authority convulsed with anger and he raised the +tube again. This time the shock that came from it was sufficient to +throw the two men to the floor. + +"Well, we can't stay in the ship, that's certain," said Brand. "I +guess there's only one thing to do." + +Dex nodded. "Climb out of here and take as many of these skinny +horrors with us into hell as we can," he agreed. + +Once more the shock stung them, as a reminder not to keep their +captors waiting. With their shoulders bunched for abrupt action, and +their guns in hand, the two men walked to the trap-door of the ship. +They threw the heavy bolts, drew a deep breath--and flung open the +door to charge unexpectedly toward the thickest mass of creatures that +surrounded the ship! + + * * * * * + +In a measure their charge was successful. Its very suddenness caught +some of the tall monstrosities off guard. Half a dozen of them stopped +the fragile glass bullets to writhe in horrible death on the red metal +paving of the square. But that didn't last long. + +In less than a minute, thin, clammy arms were winding around the +Earthmen's wrists, and their guns were wrenched from them. And then +started a hand-to-hand encounter that was all the more hideous for +being so unlike any fighting that might have occurred on Earth. + +With a furious growl Dex charged the nearest creature, whose huge +round head swayed on its stalk of a body fully six feet above his own +head. He gathered the long thin legs in a football grip, and sent the +thing crashing full length on its back. The great head thumped +resoundingly against the metal paving, and the creature lay +motionless. + +For an instant Dex could only stare at the thing. It had been so easy, +like overcoming a child. But even as that thought crossed his mind, +two of the tall thin figures closed in behind him. Four pairs of arms +wound around him, feebly but tenaciously, like wet seaweed. + +They began to constrict and wind tighter around him. He tore at them, +dislodged all but two. His sturdy Earth leg went back to sweep the +stalk-like legs of his attackers from under them. One of the things +went down, to twist weakly in a laborious attempt to rise again. But +the other, by sheer force of height and reach, began to bear Dex down. + +Savagely he laced out with his fists, battering the pulpy face that +was pressing down close to his. The big eyes blinked shut, but the +four hose-like arms did not relax their clasp. Dex's hands sought +fiercely for the thing's throat. But it had no throat: the head, set +directly on the thin shoulders, defied all throttling attempts. + + * * * * * + +Then, just as Dex was feeling that the end had come, he felt the +creature wrench from him, and saw it slide in a tangle of arms and +legs over the smooth metal pavement. He got shakily to his feet, to +see Brand standing over him and flailing out with his fists at an ever +tightening circle of towering figures. + +"Thanks," panted Dex. And he began again, tripping the twelve-foot +things in order to get them down within reach, battering at the great +pulpy heads, fighting blindly in that expressed craving to take as +many of the creatures into hell with him as he could manage. Beside +him fought Brand, steadily, coolly, grim of jaw and unblinking of eye. + +Already the struggle had gone on far longer than they had dreamed it +might. For some reason the grotesque creatures delayed killing them. +That they could do so any time they pleased, was certain: if the +monsters could reach them with their shock-tubes through the double +insulated hull of the space ship, they could certainly kill them out +in the open. + +Yet they made no move to do so. The deadly tubes were not used. The +screeching gargoyles, instead, devoted all their efforts to merely +hurling their attenuated bodies on the two men as though they wished +to capture them alive. + +Finally, however, the nature of the battle changed. The tallest of the +attackers opened his tiny mouth and piped a signal. The ring of +weaving tall bodies surrounding the two opened and became a U. The +creatures in the curve of the U raised their shock-tubes and, with +none of their own kind behind the victims to share in its discharge, +released whatever power it was that lurked in them. + +The shock was terrific. Without the glass and metal of the ship to +protect them, out in the open and defenceless, Brand and Dex got some +indication of its real power. + +Writhing and twitching, feeling as though pierced by millions of red +hot needles, they went down. A swarm of pipe-like bodies smothered +them, and the fight was over. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +_The Coming of Greca_ + + +The numbing shock from the tubes left the Earthmen's bodies almost +paralyzed for a time; but their brains were unfogged enough for them +to observe only too clearly all that went on from the point of their +capture. + +They were bound hand and foot. At a piping cry from the leader, +several of the gangling figures picked them up in reedy arms and began +to walk across the square, away from the ship. Brand noticed that his +bearers' arms trembled with his weight: and sensed the flabbiness of +the substance that took the place in them of good solid muscle. +Physically these things were soft and ineffectual indeed. They had +only the ominous tubes with which to fight. + +The eery procession, with the bound Earthmen carried in the lead, +wound toward a great building fringing the square. In through the high +arched entrance of this building they went, and up a sloping incline +to its tower-top. Here, in a huge bare room, the two were +unceremoniously dumped to the floor. + +While three of the things stood guard with the mysterious tubes, +another unbound them. A whole shower of high pitched, piping syllables +was hurled at them, speech which sounded threatening and contemptuous +but was otherwise, of course, entirely unintelligible, and then the +creatures withdrew. The heavy metal door was slammed shut, and they +were alone. + +Brand drew a long breath, and began to feel himself all over for +broken bones. He found none; he was still nerve-wracked from that last +terrific shock, but otherwise whole and well. + +"Are you hurt, Dex?" he asked solicitously. + +"I guess not," replied Dex, getting uncertainly to his feet. "And I'm +wondering why. It seems to me the brutes were uncommonly considerate +of us--and I'm betting the reason is one we won't like!" + +Brand shrugged. "I guess we'll find out their intentions soon enough. +Let's see what our surroundings look like." + +They walked to the nearest window-aperture, and gazed out on a +startling and marvelous scene. + + * * * * * + +Beneath their high tower window, extending as far as the eye could +reach, lay the city, lit by the reddish glare of the peculiar metal +with which its streets were paved. For the most part the metropolis +consisted of perfectly square buildings pierced by many windows to +indicate that each housed a large number of inmates. But here and +there grotesque turrets lanced the sky, and symbolic domes arched +above the surrounding flat metal roofs. + +One building in particular they noticed. This was an enormous +structure in the shape of a half-globe that reared its spherical +height less than an eighth of a mile from the building they were in. +It was situated off to their right at the foot of a vast, high-walled +enclosure whose near end seemed to be formed by the right wall of +their prison. They could only see it by leaning far out of the +window; and it would not have come to their attention at all had they +not heard it first--or, rather, heard the sound of something within +it: for from it came a curious whining hum that never varied in +intensity, something like the hum of a gigantic dynamo, only greater +and of a more penetrating pitch. + +"Sounds as though it might be some sort of central power station," +said Brand. "But what could it supply power for?" + +"Give it up," said Dex. "For their damned shock-tubes, perhaps, among +other things--" + +He broke off abruptly as a sound of sliding bolts came from the +doorway. The two men whirled around to face the door, their fists +doubling instinctively against whatever new danger might threaten +them. + + * * * * * + +The door was opened and two of their ugly, towering enemies came in, +their tubes held conspicuously before them. Behind came another +figure; and at sight of this one, so plainly not of the race of +Jupiter, the Earthmen gasped with wonder. + +They saw a girl who might have come from Earth, save that she was +taller than most Earth women--of a regal height that reached only an +inch or two below Brand's own six foot one. She was beautifully +formed, and had wavy dark hair and clear light blue eyes. A sort of +sandal covered each small bare foot; and a gauzy tunic, reaching from +above the knee to the shoulder, only half shielded her lovely figure. + +She was bearing a metal container in which was a mess of stuff +evidently intended as food. The guards halted and stepped aside to let +her pass into the room. Then they backed out, constantly keeping Dex +and Brand covered with the tubes, and closed and barred the door. + +The girl smiled graciously at the admiration in the eyes of both the +men--a message needing no inter-planetary interpretation. She +advanced, and held the metal container toward them. + +"Eat," she said softly. "It is good food, and life giving." + + * * * * * + +For an instant Brand was dumbfounded. For here was language he could +understand--which was incredible on this far-flung globe. Then he +suddenly comprehended why her sentences were so intelligible. + +She was versed in mental telepathy. And versed to a high degree! He'd +had some experience with telepathy on Venus; but theirs was a crude +thought-speech compared to the fluency possessed by the beautiful girl +before him. + +"Who are you?" he asked wonderingly. + +"I am Greca"--it was very hard to grasp names or abstract terms--"of +the fourth satellite." + +"Then you are not of these monsters of Jupiter?" + +"Oh, no! I am their captive, as are all my people. We are but slaves +of the tall ones." + +Brand glanced at Dex. "Here's a chance to get some information, +perhaps," he murmured. + +Dex nodded; but meanwhile the girl had caught his thought. She +smiled--a tragic, wistful smile. + +"I shall be happy to tell you anything in my power to tell," she +informed him. "But you must be quick. I can only remain with you a +little while." + +She sat down on the floor with them--the few bench-like things +obviously used by the tall creatures as chairs were too high for +them--and with the informality of adversity the three captives began +to talk. Swiftly Brand got a little knowledge of Greca's position on +Jupiter, and of the racial history that led up to it. + + * * * * * + +Four of the nine satellites of Jupiter were now the home of living +beings. But two only, at the dawn of history as Greca knew it, had +been originally inhabited. These were the fourth and the second. + +On the fourth there dwelt a race, "like me," as Greca put it--a +kindly, gentle people content to live and let live. + +On the second had been a race of immensely tall, but attenuated and +physically feeble things with great heads and huge dull eyes and +characters distinguished mainly for cold-blooded savagery. + +The inhabitants of the fourth satellite had remained in ignorance of +the monsters on the second till one day "many, many ages ago," a fleet +of clumsy ships appeared on the fourth satellite. From the ships had +poured thousands of pipe-like creatures, armed with horrible rods of +metal that killed instantly and without a sound. The things, it +seemed, had crowded over the limits of their own globe, and had been +forced to find more territory. + +They had made captive the entire population of the satellite. +Then--for like all dangerous vermin they multiplied rapidly--they had +overflowed to the first and fifth satellites--the others were +uninhabitable--and finally to the dangerous surface of Jupiter itself. +Everywhere they had gone, they had taken droves of Greca's people to +be their slaves, "and the source of their food," added Greca, with a +shudder; a statement that was at the moment unintelligible to the two +men. + + * * * * * + +Brand stared sympathetically at her. "They treat them very badly?" he +asked gently. + +"Terribly! Terribly!" said Greca, shuddering again. + +"But you seem quite privileged," he could not help saying. + +She shook her dainty head pathetically. "I am of high rank among my +people. I am a priestess of our religion, which is the religion of The +Great White One who rules all the sky everywhere. The Rogans" (it was +the best translation Brand could make of her mental term for the slimy +tall things that held them captive) "--the Rogans hold my fate over +the heads of my race. Should they rebel, I would be thrown to the +monster in the pen. Of course the Rogans could crush any revolt with +their terrible tubes, but they do not want to kill their slaves if +they can help it. They find it more effective to hold their +priestesses in hostage." + +Brand turned from personal history to more vital subjects. + +"Why," he asked Greca, "are the shining red squares of metal laid +everywhere over this empire of the Rogans?" + +"To make things light," was the reply. "When the Rogans first came to +this mighty sphere, they could hardly move. Things are so heavy here, +somehow. So their first thought was to drive my enslaved people to the +casting and laying of the metal squares and the metal beams that +connect them, in order to make things weigh less." + +"But how do the plates function?" + + * * * * * + +Greca did not know this, save vaguely. She tried to express her little +knowledge of the scientific achievements of the savage Rogans. After +some moments Brand turned to Dex and said: + +"As near as I can get it, the Rogans, by this peculiar red metal +alloy, manage to trap and divert the permanent lines of force, the +magnetic field, of Jupiter itself. So the whole red spot is highly +magnetized, which somehow upsets natural gravitational attraction. I +suppose it is responsible for the discoloration of the ground, too." + +He turned to question the girl further about this, but she had got +nervously to her feet already. + +"I'll be taken away soon," she said. "I was brought in here only to +urge you to eat the food. I must be interpreter, since the Rogans +speak not with the mind, and I know their hateful tongue." + +"Why are they so anxious for us to eat?" demanded Dex with an uneasy +frown. + +"So you will be strong, and endure for a long time the--the ordeal +they have in store for you," faltered the girl at last. "They intend +to force from you the secret of the power that drove your ship here, +so they too may have command of space." + +"But I don't understand," frowned Brand. "They must already have a +means of space navigation. They came here to Jupiter from the +satellites." + +"Their vessels are crude, clumsy things. The journey from the nearest +satellite is the limit of their flying range. They have nothing like +your wonderful little ships, and they want to know how to build and +power them." + + * * * * * + +She gazed sorrowfully at them and went on: "You see, yours is the +fourth space ship to visit their kingdom; and that makes them fearful +because it shows they are vulnerable to invasion. They want to stop +that by invading your planet first. Besides their fear, there is their +greed. Their looking-tubes reveal that yours is a fruitful and lovely +sphere, and they are insatiable in their lust for new territories. +Thus they plan to go to your planet as soon as they are able, and kill +or enslave all the people there as they have killed and enslaved my +race." + +"They'll have a job on their hands trying to do that!" declared Dex +stoutly. + +But Brand paled. "They can do it!" he snapped. "Look at those +death-tubes of theirs. We have no arms to compete with that." He +turned to Greca. "So the Rogans plan to force the secret of our motors +from us by torture?" + +She nodded, and caught his hand in hers. + +"Yes. They will do with you as they did with the six who came before +you--and who died before surrendering the secret." + +"So! We know now what happened to Journeyman and the others!" burst +out Dex. "I'll see 'em in hell before I'll talk!" + +"And me," nodded Brand. "But that doesn't cure the situation. As long +as ships disappear in this red inferno, so long will the Old Man keep +sending others to find out what's wrong. The Rogans will capture them +as easily as they captured us. And eventually someone will happen +along who'll weaken under torture. Then--" + + * * * * * + +He stopped. A dread vision filled his mind of Earth depopulated by the +feebly ferocious Rogans, of rank on rank of Earth's vast armies +falling in stricken rows at the shock of the Rogans' tubes. + +Greca caught the vision. She nodded. "Yes, that is what would happen +if they found ways of reaching your globe." + +"But, God, Brand, we can't allow that!" cried Dex. "We've got to find +a way to spike the guns of these walking gas-pipes, somehow!" + +Brand sighed heavily. "We are two against hundreds of thousands. We +are bare-handed, and the Rogans have those damned tubes. Anyway, we +are on the verge of death at this very moment. What under heaven can +we do to spike their guns?" + +He was silent a moment: and in the silence the steady hum from the +domed building outside came to his ears. + +"What's in that big, round topped building, Greca?" he asked quietly. + +"I do not know, exactly," replied the girl. "There is some sort of +machinery in it, and to it go connecting beams from all the square +metal plates everywhere. That is all I know." + +Brand started to question her further, but her time was up. The two +guards poked their loathsome pumpkin heads in the doorway and +contemptuously beckoned her out. She answered resignedly, in the +piping Rogan tongue, and went with them. But she turned to wave shyly, +commiseratingly at the two men; and the expression in her clear blue +eyes as they rested on Brand made his heart contract and then leap on +with a mighty bound. + +"We have in ally in her," murmured Brand. "Though God only knows if +that will mean anything to us...." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_In the Tower_ + + +"What I can't figure out," said Dex, striding up and down the big bare +room, "is why we're needed to tell them about the atomic motor. +They've got our ship, and three others besides. I should think they +could learn about the motor just by taking it apart and studying it." + +Brand grinned mirthlessly, recalling the three years of intensive +study it had taken him to learn the refinements of atomic motive +power. "If you'd ever qualified as a space navigator, Dex, you'd know +better. The Rogans are an advanced race; their control of polar +magnetism and the marvelously high-powered telescopes Greca mentions +prove that; but I doubt if they could ever analyze that atomic motor +with no hint as to how it works." + +Silence descended on them again, in which each was lost in his own +thoughts. + +How many hours had passed, the Earthmen did not know. They had spent +the time in fruitless planning to escape from their tower room and go +back to the ship again. Though how they could get away in the ship +when the Rogans seemed able to propel it where-ever they wished +against the utmost power of their motor, they did not attempt to +consider. + +One of Jupiter's short nights had passed, however--a night weirdly +made as light as day by red glares from the plates, which seemed to +store up sunlight, among their other functions--and the tiny sun had +risen to slant into their window at a sharp angle. + +Suddenly they heard the familiar drawing of the great bolts outside +their door. It was opened, and a dozen or more of the Rogans came in, +with Greca cowering piteously in their midst and attempting to +communicate her distress to Brand. + + * * * * * + +At the head of the little band of Rogans was one the prisoners had not +seen before. He was of great height, fully two feet taller than the +others; and he carried himself with an air that proclaimed his +importance. + +The tall one turned to Greca and addressed a few high-pitched, squeaky +words to her. She shook her head; whereupon, at a hissed command, two +of the Rogans caught her by the wrists and dragged her forward. + +"They have come to question you," Greca lamented to Brand. "And they +want to do it through me. But I will not! I will not!" + +Brand smiled at her though his lips were pale. + +"You are powerless to struggle," he said. "Do as they ask. You cannot +help us by refusing, and, in any case, I can promise that they won't +learn anything from us." + +The tall Rogan teetered up to the prisoners on his gangling legs, and +stared icily at them. Crouched beside him, her lovely body all one +mute appeal to the Earthmen to forgive her for the part she was forced +to play, was Greca. + +At length the Rogan leader spoke. He addressed his sibilant words to +Greca, though his stony eyes were kept intently on the Earthmen. + +"He says," exclaimed Greca telepathically, "to inform you first that +he is head of all the Rogan race on this globe, and that all on this +globe must do as he commands." + +Brand nodded to show he understood the message. + +"He says he is going to ask you a few questions, and that you are to +answer truthfully if you value your lives:" + +"First, he wants to know what the people of your world are like. Are +they all the same as you?" + + * * * * * + +Dex started to reply to that; but Brand flung him a warning look. +"Tell him we are the least of the Earth people," he answered steadily. +"Tell him we are of an inferior race. Most of those on Earth are +giants five times as large as we are, and many times more powerful." + +Greca relayed the message in the whistling, piping Rogan tongue. The +tall one stared, then hissed another sentence to the beautiful +interpreter. + +"He wants to know," said Greca, "if there are cities on your globe as +large and complete as this one." + +"There are cities on Earth that make this look like a--a--" Brand cast +about for understandable similes--"like a collection of animal +burrows." + +"He says to describe your planet's war weapons," was the next +interpretation. And here Brand let himself go. + +With flights of fancy he hadn't known he was capable of, he described +great airships, steered automatically and bristling with guns that +discharged explosives powerful enough to kill everything within a +range of a thousand miles. He told of billions of thirty-foot giants +sheathed in an alloy that would make them invulnerable to any feeble +rays the Rogans might have developed. He touched on the certain +wholesale death that must overtake any hostile force that tried to +invade the planet. + +"The Rogan shock-tubes are toys compared with the ray-weapons of +Earth," he concluded. "We have arms that can nullify the effects of +yours and kill at the same instant. We have--" + +But here the Rogan leader turned impatiently away. Greca had been +translating sentence by sentence. Now the tall one barked out a few +syllables in a squeaky voice. + +"He says he knows you are lying," sighed Greca. "For if you on Earth +have tubes more effective than theirs why weren't you equipped with +them on your expedition here to the red kingdom?" + +Brand bit his lips. "Check," he muttered. "The brute has a brain in +that ugly head." + + * * * * * + +The Rogan leader spoke for a long time then; and at each singsong +word, Greca quivered as though lashed by a whip. At length she turned +to Brand. + +"He has been telling what his hordes can do, answering your boasts +with boasts of his own. His words are awful! I won't tell you all he +said. I will only say that he is convinced his shock-tubes are +superior to any Earth arms, and that he states he will now illustrate +their power to you to quell your insolence. I don't know what he means +by that...." + +But she and the Earthmen were soon to find out. + +The Rogan leader stepped to the window and arrogantly beckoned Brand +and Dex to join him there. They did; and the leader gazed out and down +as though searching for something. + +He pointed. The two Earthmen followed his leveled arm with their eyes +and saw, a hundred yards or so away, a bent and dreary figure trudging +down the metal paving of the street. It was a figure like those to be +seen on Earth, which placed it as belonging to Greca's race. + +The tall leader drew forth one of the shock-tubes. Seen near at hand, +it was observed to be bafflingly simple in appearance. It seemed +devoid of all mechanism--simply a tube of reddish metal with a sort of +handle formed of a coil of heavy wire. + +The Rogan pointed the tube at the distant figure. + +Greca screamed, and screamed again. Coincident with her cry, as though +the sound of it had felled him, the distant slave dropped to the +pavement. + + * * * * * + +That was all. The tube had merely been pointed: as far as Brand could +see, the Rogan's "hand" had not moved on the barrel of the tube, nor +even constricted about the coil of wire that formed its handle. Yet +that distant figure had dropped. Furthermore, fumes of greasy black +smoke now began to arise from the huddled body; and in less than +thirty seconds there was left no trace of it on the gleaming metal +pavement. + +"So that's what those things are like at full power!" breathed Dex. +"My God!" + +The Rogan leader spoke a few words. Greca, huddled despairingly on the +floor, crushed by this brutal annihilation of one of her country-men +before her very eyes, did not translate. But translation was +unnecessary. The Rogan's icy, triumphant eyes, the very posture of +his grotesque body, spoke for him. + +"That," he was certainly saying, "is what will happen to any on your +helpless planet who dare oppose the Rogan will!" + +He whipped out a command to the terror-stricken girl. She rose from +her crouching position on the floor; and at length formulated the +Rogan's last order: + +"You will explain the working of the engine that drove your space ship +here." + +Dex laughed. It was a short bark of sound, totally devoid of humor, +but very full of defiance. Brand thrust his hands into the pockets of +his tunic, spread his legs apart, and began to whistle. + + * * * * * + +A quiver that might have been of anger touched the Rogan leader's +repulsive little mouth. He glared balefully at the uncowed Earthmen +and spoke again, evidently repeating his command. The two turned their +backs to him to indicate their refusal to obey. + +At that, the tall leader pointed to Dex. In an instant three of the +guards had wound their double pairs of arms around his struggling +body. Brand sprang to help him, but a touch of the mysterious +discharge from the leader's tube sent him writhing to the floor. + +"It's no use, Brand," said Dex steadily. He too had stopped +struggling, and now stood quietly in the slimy coils of his captors' +arms. "I might as well go along with them and get it over with. I +probably won't see you again. Good luck!" + +He was borne out of the room. The Rogan leader turned to Brand and +spoke. + +"He says that if your comrade does not tell him what he wants to know, +your turn will come next," sobbed Greca. "Oh! Why does not The Great +White One strike these monsters to the dust!" + +She ran to Brand and pressed her satiny cheek to his. Then she was +dragged roughly away. + +The great door clanged shut. The heavy outer fastenings clicked into +place. Dex had gone to experience whatever it was that Journeyman and +the rest had experienced in this red hell. And Brand was left behind +to reflect on what dread torments this might comprise; and to pray +desperately that no matter what might be done to his shrinking body he +would be strong enough to refuse to betray his planet. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +_The Torture Chamber_ + + +Swiftly Dex was carried down the long ramp to the ground floor, the +arms of his captors gripping him with painful tightness. Heading the +procession was the immensely tall, gangling Rogan leader, clutching +Greca by the wrist and dragging her indifferently along to be his +mouthpiece. + +They did not stop at the street level; they continued on down another +ramp, around a bend, descending an even steeper incline toward the +bowels of Jupiter. Their descent ended at last before a huge metal +barrier which, at a signal from the leader, drew smoothly up into the +ceiling to disclose a gigantic, red-lit chamber underlying the +foundations of the building. + +In fear and awe, Dex gazed around that huge room. + +It resembled in part a nightmare rearrangement of such a laboratory as +might be found on Earth; and in part a torture chamber such as the +most ferocious of savages might have devised had they been +scientifically equipped to add contrivances of supercivilization to +the furthering of their primitive lust for cruelty. + +There were great benches--head-high to the Earthman--to accommodate +the height of the Rogan workmen. There were numberless metal +instruments, and glass coils, and enormous retorts; and in one corner +an orange colored flame burnt steadily on a naked metal plate, seeming +to have no fuel or other source of being. + +There was a long rack of cruelly pointed and twisted instruments. +Under this was a row of long, delicate pincers, with coils on the +handles to indicate that they might be heated to fiendish precision of +temperatures. There were gleaming metal racks with calibrated +slide-rods and spring dials to denote just what pull was being exerted +on whatever unhappy creature might be stretched taut on them. There +were tiny cones of metal whose warped, baked appearance testified that +they were little portable furnaces that could be placed on any desired +portion of the anatomy, to slowly bake the selected disk of flesh +beneath them. + + * * * * * + +Dex shuddered; and a low moan came from Greca, whose clear blue eyes +had rested on the contents of this vast room before in her capacity as +hostage and interpreter for the inhuman Rogans. + +And now another sense of Dex's began to register perception on his +brain. + +A peculiar odor came to his nostrils. It was a musky, fetid odor, like +that to be smelled in an animal cage; but it was sharper, more acrid +than anything he had ever smelled on Earth. It smelled--ah, he had +it!--_reptilian_. As though somewhere nearby a dozen titanic serpents +were coiled ready to spring! + +Looking about, Dex saw a six-foot square door of bars in one wall of +the laboratory--like the barred entrance to a prison cell. It was from +the interstices of this door that the odor seemed to emanate; but he +had no chance to make sure, for now the Rogan leader approached him. + +"I will first show you," he said, through his mouthpiece, Greca, "what +happens to those who oppose our orders. We have a slave who tried to +run away into the surrounding jungles three suns ago...." + +A man was dragged into the chamber. He was slightly taller and more +stockily muscled than an Earthman might be; but otherwise, in facial +conformation and general appearance, he might have come here straight +from New York City. Dex felt a great pang of sympathy for him. He was +so plainly one of humankind, despite the fact that he had been born on +a sphere four hundred million miles from Dex's. + +The fellow was paralyzed with horror. His eyes, wide and glazed, +darted about the torture room like those of a trapped animal. And yet +he made no move to break away from the clutch of the two Rogans who +held him. He knew he was helpless, that wild-eyed glance told Dex. +Knew it so thoroughly that not even his wildest terror could inspire +him to try to make a break for freedom, or strike back at the +implacable Rogan will. + + * * * * * + +At a nod from the leader, the man was stripped to the waist. Here Dex +started in amazement. The man's broad chest was seamed and +crisscrossed by literally hundreds of tiny lateral scars, some long +healed, and some fresh incisions. + +He was dragged to a metal plate set upright in the wall, and secured +to it by straps of metal. Evidently the miserable being knew what this +portended, for he began to scream--a monotonous, high-pitched shriek +that didn't stop till he was out of breath. + +The Rogan leader stared at him icily, then depressed a small lever set +in the wall beside him. The plate against which the captive was bound +began to shine softly with a blue light. The slave twisted in his +bonds, screaming again. Rhythmic shudders jerked at his limbs. His +lips turned greenish white. The shudders grew more pronounced till it +seemed as though he were afflicted with a sort of horrible St. Vitus +dance. Then the tall Rogan pulled back the lever. The slave hung away +from his supporting shackles, limp and unconscious. + +Dex moistened his lips. An electric shock? No, it was something more +terrible than that. Some other manifestation of the magnetic power the +Rogans had harnessed--a current, perhaps, that depolarized partly the +atoms of the body structure? He could only guess. But the convulsed +face of the unfortunate victim showed that the torment, whatever it +was, was devilish to the last degree! + +"That will be the next to the last fate reserved for you," the Rogan +informed Dex, through Greca. "Death follows soon after that--but not +too soon for you to see and feel what waits for you behind the barred +door!" And he nodded toward the cage-entrance affair, from which came +the musky, reptilian stench. + +"Now that you have seen something of what will happen to you if you +refuse to tell us what we want to know, we shall proceed," said the +leader. + + * * * * * + +He pointed toward one of the gargantuan work benches, and two of the +Rogans slid down from it a contrivance that looked familiar to Dex. An +instant's scrutiny showed him why it was familiar: it was a partly +dismantled atomic motor. + +In spite of the ordeal that faced him, Dex felt a thrill of elation +as he looked at the motor. In its scattered state, it told a mute +story: a story of long and intensive study by the Rogans, which had +yielded them no results! Only too obviously, the intricate secret of +atomic power had not let itself be solved. + +On the heels of the elation that filled his heart, came a sickening +realization of his dilemma. He could not have told the Rogans what +they wanted to know even if he had wished to! He himself didn't know +the principles of the atomic engine. As Brand had remarked, he was no +space navigator; he was simply a prosaic lieutenant, competent only at +fighting, not at all versed in science. + +He knew, though, that it would do no good to assert his ignorance to +the Rogans. They simply wouldn't believe him. + +"You will rebuild this engine for us," ordered the tall leader, +"showing us the purpose of each part, and how the power is extracted +from the fuel. After that you will set it running for us, and instruct +us in its control." + +Dex braced himself. His final moment had come. + +By way of indicating his refusal he looked away from the dismantled +motor and said nothing. The Rogan repeated his command. Dex made no +move. Then the leader acted. + +He said something to the Rogan guards who had been standing by all +this while, alert against an outbreak from their prisoner. Dex was +caught up, carried to one of the metal racks, and thrown down on its +calibrated bed. Loops of metal, like handcuffs, were snapped around +his wrists and ankles; and a metal hoop was clamped over his throat, +pinning him to the torture rack. Resistance would have been useless, +and Dex submitted quietly. + + * * * * * + +The contrivance, with him on it, was wheeled toward the barred door. +It was halted at a spot marked on the floor, about thirty feet from +the bars. The Rogan leader stepped alongside the rack, with Greca +trembling beside him. + +Dex closed his eyes for a moment, grimly marshaling strength of will +to go through the trial that was just beginning. + +The Rogan leader depressed another lever in the rock wall. The barred +door slid slowly up, to reveal the receding darknesses of some great +cave, or room, that adjoined the laboratory. Dex rolled his eyes so +that he could watch the doorway; and, in a cold perspiration, waited +for whatever might appear. + +It was not long in coming! + +The reptilian smell suddenly grew stronger. There was a booming hiss, +a savage bellowing. A clattering of vast scales rattled out as some +body weighing many tons was dragged over rock flooring. Then, before +Dex's staring eyes appeared a huge, wedge-shaped head, at sight of +which he bit his lips to keep from crying aloud. + +Often enough he had seen one of those terrific heads looming in the +fog of the northern hemisphere of Jupiter. He did not know the genus +of the vast monster that bore it, but he did know it for the fiercest +of the lizard giants that roamed the Jovian jungles. A creature larger +than a terrestrial whale, with great long neck and heavy long tail +dragging yards behind it, it would find the puny bulk of a man nothing +but a morsel in its jaws! + +Again the gigantic thing hissed and bellowed. And then its huge head +came through the six-foot door and its neck uncoiled to send the +gaping jaws within a foot of Dex. There it struggled to reach him, +prevented by the small doorway that restrained the bulk of its +enormous body, its head only inches away from the cleverly measured +spot to which the metal rack had been wheeled. + + * * * * * + +Dex stared, hypnotized, into the dull, stony eyes of the beast, +gasping for breath in the stench of its exhalations. The jaws snapped +shut, fanning his cheek. He fought for self-control. Steady! Steady! +The slimy Rogans had no intention of feeding him to the thing yet. Not +till they had made more determined efforts to wring from him the +secret of the motor. They were just prefacing actual physical torture +with hellish mental torture, that was all. + +That he was right in his guess was proved in a few moments. He heard a +louder hiss from the great lizard so near him. Opening his eyes, he +saw the Rogan leader in the process of forcing the serpentine neck to +withdraw foot by foot back into the doorway, using his shock-tube as a +sort of distant prod. + +The monster swayed its ugly flat head back and forth, hissing +deafeningly at the sting of the tube, now and again lunging with its +vast unseen body at the too narrow entrance that kept it from entering +the laboratory. Dex could hear the foundation walls of the building +creak at the onslaught of that tremendous weight. + +If it would only break through! he thought savagely. But it wasn't +going to. In a short while it was cowed by the deadly tube, and +withdrew its head awkwardly from the chamber. The barred door slid +down into place: and the Rogan leader once more turned his attention +to his prisoner. + +"You will be wheeled within reach of the creature as the last step of +your fate," Dex was informed. "Meanwhile, we shall start with +something less deadly...." + +A cogged wheel beside him was turning a notch. Dex felt the sliding +bed of the rack crawl slightly under him. Intolerable tension was +suddenly placed on his arms and legs. The leader stared at a spring +dial; and moved the wheel another notch. The rack expanded again, +stretching Dex's body till his joints cracked. + +"You will tell us what we want to know," said the Rogan, glaring +coldly down at him. + +Dex compressed his lips stubbornly. He couldn't tell them if he wanted +to, and, by God, he wouldn't if he could. + +Another notch, the wheel was turned; and in spite of himself a groan +escaped Dex's lips. One more notch, while the metal slide-rods beneath +him lengthened a fraction of an inch.... + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_The Inquisition_ + + +Blind, animal fear caught Dex and shook him in its grip. Then rage +filled his heart, driving out the fear as a gale dissipates fog. With +pain-dimmed eyes he glared at the gangling, hateful figure that gazed +down on him with icy eyes. If he could only blast that monstrous, +physically feeble but mentally ferocious thing to bits! Annihilate it! +Blow it to the four corners of Jupiter! And all the other Rogans with +it! + +And with this thought he suddenly saw, through the red mists of rage, +the shock-tube that was dangling indifferently from the Rogan leader's +hand. + +Instantly the red mists began to clear away. Another change took place +in the tortured lieutenant's mind. The blind hot rage faded into more +deadly, cold wrath. A plan began to bud into thought. It was a futile +plan, really. It could not possibly accomplish anything vital. But it +_might_ give him a chance for a little revenge before his life was +snuffed out--might give him a chance to strike a blow for the dead +Journeyman and the other gallant explorers who had perished here in +this chamber before him. + +He closed his eyes to hide the hate and calculation in them. The tall +Rogan leaned lower over the rack. + +"You are ready to do as I command?" he demanded. + +"Yes," whispered Dex. "Yes." + +In the beautiful Greca's eyes, as she translated his assent, was +horror. But then, faintly, her mind caught the thought that lay +beneath the Earthman's apparent surrender. She veiled her own eyes +with long lashes, lest they betray the captive's plan to the alert +Rogan. Her lips moved silently; perhaps she was praying to her Great +White One. + + * * * * * + +"Release him," the Rogan ordered, triumph in his bird-like, shrill +voice. The metal hoops were unfastened. Dex stretched his outraged +body, wincing with the pain of movement; then felt life and strength +returning to him. + +"Come with us to the motor," commanded the Rogan, his dull eyes +glinting in anticipation of learning the coveted secret that should +add one more planet to the Rogan's tyranny. + +Dex walked to the dismantled atomic engine with him. He walked slowly, +pretending more stiffness and weakness than he really owned to. No use +in letting his captors know that his resilient muscles were so quickly +throwing off the torment of the rack. + +As he walked he kept his gaze covertly on that shock-tube that dangled +in the leader's grasp. The rest of the guard had none; they had laid +their weapons down on a far bench on their entrance to the chamber, +depending on the one with which their leader was armed. + +Eagerly the Rogans crowded around Dex and the motor that had thus far +baffled them. They bent down from their twelve-foot heights to bring +their staring goggle-eyes closer to the lesson in atomic motive power, +till Dex was in a sort of small dome of Rogans, with their long, +pipe-like legs forming the wall around him, and their thin torsos +inclining forward to make a curved ceiling over him. + +The Rogan leader drew Greca within the circle to interpret the +Earthman's explanations. + +Dex moved a trifle, to bring himself nearer the tall leader. Again he +glanced covertly at the shock-tube. + +"The first thing to tell about our motor," said Dex, stalling for +time, "is that it utilizes the breaking up of the atom as its source +of power." + + * * * * * + +He edged closer to the Rogan leader. + +"You see those electrodes?" he said, pointing to two copper castings +in a chamber between the fuel tank and the small but enormously +powerful turbine that whirled with the released atomic energy. The +Rogan leader blinked assent. His small, horrible mouth was pursed with +his concentration of thought. + +"The electrodes partially break down the atoms of fuel passing from +the tank," explained Dex, desperately attempting scientific +phraseology for a matter as far over his head as the remote stars. He +raised his hand a trifle, bringing it nearer the Rogan's tube.... + +"Is that the outlet from the tank?" inquired the Rogan, pointing with +the tube, and so raising it out of Dex's reach. + +"Yes," mumbled Dex, sick with disappointment: he'd been on the point +of leaping for the weapon. He sidled close again. Greca bit her lips +lest she cry out with suspense. + +"The partially disintegrated atoms pass into the turbine chamber," he +went on, "and are there completely broken down by heat, which has been +generated by the explosive energy of the atoms passing in before +them." + +"I warn you to speak true," said the leader, suddenly removing his +gaze from the specimen motor and staring icily down at Dex. Dex's hand +dropped abruptly from its place near the tube. Again his fingers had +come within a foot of it. + + * * * * * + +"We will get ahead faster," piped the Rogan, an edge of suspicion +sounding in his shrill voice, "if I conduct the explanation. I will +ask questions for you to answer. What is the fuel used?" + +"Powdered zinc," Dex answered promptly. No harm in admitting that. The +Rogans must already know it; zinc was common to Jupiter, as Earth +spectroscopes had showed long since; and they had no doubt analyzed it +by now. The chances were that the leader was merely testing him, to +see if he were sincere in his ostensible surrender. + +That his guess was right, he read in the fishy, dull eyes. The Rogan +leader nodded at his answer, and some of the lurking suspicion in his +gaze died down. + +"How is it prepared?" + +Now this marked the beginning of the end, Dex knew. The preparation of +the powdered metal was half the secret of atomic power--and Dex hadn't +the faintest idea what it was! This questions-and-answers affair was +going to pin him down in short order! + +"How is it prepared?" repeated the Rogan leader inexorably. "Tell us, +or--" + +But at that instant Dex attained his objective. + +Once more his hand had crawled slowly toward the tube--till, once +more, it was within reach. Then, more bold as his position grew more +desperate, he straightened up--and, with a lightning move, had +wrenched it from the sucker-disk that held it! + +He shouted his triumph. He had it! _Now_ let the devils put him back +on the torture bed if they could! _Now_ let them try to make him +betray his planet! + + * * * * * + +There was an alarmed squeak from the Rogan leader, and in an instant +the huge laboratory was in an uproar. The Rogan guards whipped their +hose-like arms toward the Earthman. Dex, with a sweep of his hands, +knocked the pipe-stem legs of two of the guards from under them, +leaped over their bodies, and stood at bay in a corner--guarding the +bench on which the guards had laid their tubes when they filed into +the laboratory. + +The air resounded with the shrill calls of the excited Rogans. Then +they began to close in on him, all the while eyeing the tube in his +hand with terror written large on their hideous faces. + +Dex's eyes blazed with the light of vengeful exultation. For the death +of Journeyman and the rest, for the coming inevitable death of himself +and Brand, he was going to pay--at least in part--with the captured +tube of death in his hand! It was a lovely thought, and for a few +seconds he delayed acting in order to savor it. + +Then, with a smile of pure happiness, he leveled the tube at the +nearest Rogan in order to shrivel him to nothingness as he had seen +the slave shrivelled in the street. + +The Rogan did not fall! Full in the face of the death tube he teetered +forward, his arms reaching savagely toward the Earthman. + +Dex stared incredulously. Cold fear crept into his heart. He pointed +the tube more accurately, and squeezed harder on the coil handle. +Still nothing happened. The Rogans warily drew closer. + + * * * * * + +Perspiration began to trickle down Dex's cheeks. In God's name, why +didn't the tube work? He had thought all he had to do was point it and +squeeze down on the handle. But evidently there was more to the trick +than that! + +He groaned. He had staged all this elaborate play for a weapon as +useless to his untrained mind as one of Earth's explosive guns, with +the safety-lock clamped on, would have been to an abysmal Venusian +savage! + +By now the nearest Rogan was within reaching distance of him. One of +its two pairs of slimy arms uncoiled toward him. The other pair +strained to reach around him and get to the weapons on the bench by +his side. + +With a cry, Dex dashed the useless shock-tube down on the reaching +arms. As long as he didn't know how to work it anyway, he might as +well use it as a club. + +The Rogan squeaked with pain; the arms recoiled. Dex jerked the tube +back over his shoulder for another blow.... + +There was a shriek from the doomed wretch fastened to the metal plate. +The slave that had been tortured before Dex's eyes as an object +lesson! He had been returned to consciousness a short time since, and +had been writhing and shuddering against the plate. + +Dex flashed a glance at him over his shoulder, as he shrieked, and +cried aloud himself at what he saw. + + * * * * * + +The tortured slave was rapidly disappearing! Another shriek left his +lips, to be broken off halfway. In an instant nothing was left of the +struggling body but a wisp of greasy black smoke! + +Dex stared stupidly at the tube in his hand. Then, as a squeak of +agony sounded from a Rogan in front of him, his mind grasped what had +happened. Somehow its mechanism had been jarred into functioning when +he dashed it against the groping arm. In some way its death dealing +power had been unleashed. With a cry of exultation, Dex began to use +it! + +The Rogan in front of him, squealing, collapsed on the floor, +dwindling swiftly into nothingness. Dex turned the mysterious death +against another teetering creature. It too went up in oleaginous +smoke. + +The Rogan leader came next. Dex whirled the tube in his direction, and +saw him go down. Then he sprang to annihilate still another grotesque +monster who had almost reached the bench on which were the other +tubes. He shouted and raved as this fourth Rogan crumbled. Torture +him, would they! Plan to capture Earth, would they! He'd kill off the +whole damned population with this tube! + +The Rogan survivors, squeaking in panic, gave over their attempts to +retrieve the tubes. They dove for various hiding places--under +benches, behind retorts, anywhere to get away from the terror running +amuck in their midst. And after them sprang Dex, mad with his sudden +miraculous success, to ferret them out one by one and blow them into +hell with their own horrible death-engine. + + * * * * * + +In his ecstasy of rage, Dex overlooked the Rogan leader. He had seen +that attenuated monstrosity go down, and had assumed he was dead. But +such was not the case. In the corner Dex had vacated when he sprang +after the fleeing guard, the tall leader twisted feebly and sat up. + +One of his four arms was missing, a smoking stump showing where the +annihilating ray from the tube had blasted it off at the shoulder. But +he was far from being dead. With cold purpose in his great staring +eyes, he moved snakily toward the bench Dex had now left unguarded. + +The Earthman got another Rogan; whirled to track down still another. +Promptly the leader sank motionless to the floor. The Rogan leader +continued his crawling. He reached the bench, fumbled up and along its +surface for the nearest tube. + +Dex, unconscious of the sure fate gathering behind him to strike him +down, dashed past a great glass tank behind which Greca was huddling +in mortal fear, and charged down on two more of the squeaking guards. + +Then, suddenly, some sixth sense warned him that something was wrong. +He whirled toward the corner he had left. + +The Rogan leader, two of his surviving arms propping feebly against +the bench, was pointing a shock-tube squarely at him! + + * * * * * + +Dex fell to the floor to escape the first discharge of the tube, and +leveled his own. He felt the thing grow hot in his hand, saw a +blinding blue-white fire leap into being in the space between them as +the rays from the two tubes met and absorbed each other. He shifted, +to get out of the line and blast the creature he had too hastily +reckoned as dead. But he was not quick enough. A fraction before him, +the Rogan leader shifted. + +Dex felt a terrible burning sensation all over his body, as the ray +from his tube met the conflicting ray less squarely, and allowed a +little of it to reach him. He shrieked as the slave had shrieked when +he felt the annihilating current from the plate sweeping through his +body. + +A black fog seemed to close in around the Earthman's senses. He +crashed to the floor, with a glimpse of the leering triumph on the +Rogan's face as the last picture to stamp itself in his failing +consciousness. + +The tall Rogan, obviously in great agony from his blasted arm, +squeaked a faint command. The four guards who were left issued +fearfully from their hiding places and came to him. + +He pointed his tube at Dex Harlow, lying unconscious on the floor. +There he hesitated an instant, his soft little mouth slobbering in his +rage and pain. Then he let the tube sink slowly off its line. + +He gave another command. The four guards picked the Earthman up and +carried him to the metal torture-plate on which the slave had met his +death. The tall leader's eyes gleamed with vicious hatred as the limp +body was fastened to the metal. + +Mouthing and squealing with the pain of his seared arm-stump, he +wobbled toward the lever, a mere turn of which would readily convert +the plate into a bed of agony. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_In the Power-House_ + + +Alone in the prison room, after Dex had been dragged away to be +subjected to the Rogan inquisition, Brand gnawed at his fingers and +paced distractedly up and down the stone flooring. For a while he had +no coherent thought at all; only the realization that his turn came +next, and that the Rogans would leave no refinement of torment untried +in their effort to wring from him the secret of the atomic engine. + +He went to the window, and absent-mindedly stared out. The whining +hum from the great domed building off to the right, like the +high-pitched droning of a swarm of gargantuan bees, came to his ears. +He listened more intently, and leaned out of the window to look at the +building. + +Under that dome, it came to him again, was, in all probability, the +mainspring of the Rogan mechanical power. If only he could get in +there and look around! He might do some important damage; he might be +able to harass the enemy materially before the time came for him to +die. + +He leaned farther out of the window, and examined the hundred feet or +so of sheer wall beneath him. He saw, scrutinizing it intently, that +the stone blocks that composed it were not smooth cut, but rough hewn, +with the marks of the cutters' chisels plainly in evidence. Also there +was a considerable ridge between each layer of blocks where the +Rogans' mortar had squeezed out in the process of laying the wall. + +Never in sanity would a man have thought of the thing Brand considered +then. To attempt to clamber down that blank wall, with only the slight +roughness of the protruding layers of mortar to hang on to, was +palpable suicide! + + * * * * * + +Brand shrugged. He observed that to a man already condemned to death, +the facing of probable suicide shouldn't mean much. + +With scarcely an increase in the beating of his heart, he swung one +leg out over the broad sill. If he fell, he escaped an infinitely +worse death; if he didn't fall, he might somehow win his way into that +domed building whence the hum came. + +Cautiously, clutching at the rough stone with finger tips that in a +moment or two became raw and bleeding masses, he began his slow +descent. As he worked his way down, he slanted to the right, toward +the near wall of the retaining yard whose end was formed by the round +structure that was his goal. + +Beneath him and to the left the broad street swarmed with figures: the +tall ones of the Rogans and the shorter, sturdier ones of slaves. Any +one of those dozens of grotesque pedestrians might glance up, see him, +and pick him off with the deadly tubes. Under his fingers the mortar +crumbled and left him hanging, more than once, by one hand. For fully +five minutes his life hung by a thread apt to be severed at any time. +But--he made it. Helped by the decreased gravity of the red spot, and +released from inhibiting fear by the fact that he was already, +figuratively, a dead man, he performed the incredible. + +With a last slithering step downward, he landed lightly on the near +wall of the enclosure, and started along its broad top toward his +objective. + +Now he was in plain sight of any one who might be looking out the +windows of the tower building or from the dome ahead of him; but this +was a chance he had to take, and at least he was concealed from the +swarms in the street. Making no effort to hide himself by crawling +along the top of the wall, he straightened up and began to run toward +the giant dome. + + * * * * * + +Hardly had he gone a dozen steps when he suddenly understood the +meaning of the high-walled enclosure to his right! + +Off in a far corner rose a slate colored mound that at first glance he +had taken for a great heap of inanimate dirt. The mound began to move +toward him--and metamorphosed into an animal, a thing that made Brand +blink his eyes to see if he were dreaming, and then stop, appalled, +to look at it. + +He saw a body that dwarfed the high retaining walls to comparative +insignificance. It had a tree-like tail that dragged behind it; and a +thirty-foot, serpentine neck at the end of which was a head like a sugar +barrel that split into cavernous jaws lined with backward-pointing +teeth. Two eyes were set wide apart in the enormous head, eyes that were +dead and cold and dull, yet glinting with senseless ferocity. It was the +sort of thing one sees in delirium. + +With increasing energy the creature made for him, till finally it was +approaching his sector of the wall at a lumbering run that was rapid +for all its ungainliness. + +It was apparent at a glance that the snaky neck, perched atop the +lofty shoulder structure, would raise the head with its gaping jaws to +his level on the wall! Brand ran. And after him thudded the gigantic +lizard, its neck arching up and along the wall to reach him. + +A scant five yards ahead of the snapping jaws, Brand reached his goal, +the dome, and clambered over its curved, metal roof away from the +monster's maw. + +He stopped to pant for breath and wipe the sweat from his streaming +face. "Thank God it didn't get me," he breathed, looking back at the +bellowing terror that had pursued him. "Wonder why it's there? It's +too ferocious to be tamed and used in any way: it must be kept as a +threat to hold the slaves in hand. It certainly looks well fed...." + +He shuddered; then he began to explore the dome of the building for a +means of entrance. + + * * * * * + +There was no opening in the roof. A solid sheet of reddish metal, like +a titanic half-eggshell, it glittered under him in an unbroken piece. + +He crept down its increasingly precipitous edge till he reached a sort +of cornice that formed a jutting circle of stone around it. There he +leaned far over and saw, about ten feet below him, a round opening +like a big port-hole. From it were streaming waves of warm, foul air, +from which he judged it to be a ventilator outlet. + +He scrambled over the edge of the cornice, hung at arm's length, and +swung himself down into the opening. And there, perched high up under +the roof, he looked down at an enigmatic, eery scene. + +That the structure was indeed a strange sort of power-house was +instantly made evident. But what curious, mysterious, and yet +bewilderingly simple machinery it held! + +In the center was a titanic coil of reddish metal formed by a single +cable nearly a yard through. Around this, at the four corners of the +compass, were set coils that were identical in structure but a trifle +smaller. From the smaller coils to the larger streamed, unceasingly, +blue waves of light like lightning bolts. + +Along a large arc of the wall was a stone slab set with an endless +array of switches and insulated control-buttons. Gauges and indicators +of all kinds, whose purpose could not even be guessed at, were lined +above and below, all throbbing rhythmically to the leap of the +electric-blue rays between the monster coils. + + * * * * * + +Almost under Brand's perch a great square beam of metal came through +the building wall from outside, to be split into multitudinous smaller +beams that were hooked up with the bases of the coils. Across from +him, disappearing out through the opposite wall, was an identical +beam. + +"The terminals for the metal plate system that extends over the whole +red spot," murmured Brand. "This building _is_ important. But what can +I do to throw sand in the gears before I'm caught and killed...?" + +He surveyed the great round room below him more thoroughly. Now he +saw, right in the center of the huge control board, a solitary lever, +that seemed a sort of parent to all the other levers and switches. It +was flanked by a perfect army of gauges and indicators; and was +covered by a glass bell which was securely bolted to the rock slab. + +"That looks interesting," Brand told himself. "I'd like to see that +closer, if I can climb down from here without being observed.... +Why"--he broke off--"where is everybody!" + +For the first time, in the excitement and concentration of his +purpose, the emptiness of the place struck him. There was no sign of +light in the great building--no workmen or slaves anywhere. There was +just the great coils, with the streamers of blue light bridging them +and emitting the high-pitched, monotonous hum audible outside the +dome, and the complicated control board with its quivering indicator +needles and mysterious levers. That was all. + +"Must be out to lunch," muttered Brand, his eyes going fascinatedly +toward that solitary, parent lever under its glass bell. "Well, it +gives me a chance to try some experiments, anyway." + + * * * * * + +It was about fifty feet from his perch to the floor; but a few feet to +one side was a metal beam that extended up to help support the trussed +weight of the roof. He jumped for this, and quickly slid down it. + +He started on a run for the control board; but almost immediately he +stopped warily to listen: it seemed to him that he had caught, +faintly, the squeaking, high tones of Rogan conversation. + +Miraculously, the sound seemed to come from a blank wall to his left. +He crept forward to investigate.... + +The mystery was solved before he had gone very far. There was an +opening in the wall leading off to an annex of some kind outside the +dome building. The opening was concealed by a set-back, so that at +first glance it had seemed part of the wall itself. From this opening +drifted the chatter of Rogans. + +Brand stole closer, finally venturing to peer into the room beyond +from an angle where he himself could not be seen. And he found that +his whimsical reference to "lunch" had contained a ghastly element of +fact! + +In that annex were several dozen of the teetering, attenuated Rogans, +and an equal number of slaves. And the relation of the slaves and the +Rogans was one that made Brand's skin crawl. + +Each Rogan had stripped the tunic from the chest of his slave. Now, as +Brand watched, each drew a keen blade from his belt, and made a +shallow gash in the shrinking flesh. There were a few stifled +screams--some of the slaves were women--but for the most part the +slashing was endured in stoical silence. When red drops began to ooze +forth, the Rogans stooped and applied their horrible little mouths to +the incisions.... + +"The slimy devils!" Brand whispered hoarsely, at sight of that +dreadful feeding. "The inhuman, monstrous vermin!" + +But now one or two of the Rogans had begun to utter squeaks of +satiation; and Brand hastened away from there and toward the control +board again. He hadn't an idea of what he might accomplish when he +reached it; he didn't know but that a touch of the significant looking +parent-lever might blast him to bits; but he did know that he was +going to raise absolute hell with something, somewhere, if he possibly +could. + + * * * * * + +Swiftly he approached the great master-lever, protected by its bell of +glass. (At least it looked like glass, for it was crystal clear and +reflected gleamingly the blue light from the nearby coils). He tapped +it experimentally with his knuckles.... + +At once pandemonium reigned in the great vaulted building. There was a +siren-like screaming from a device he noticed for the first time +attached under the domed roof. A clanging alarm split the air from +half a dozen gongs set around the upper walls. + +Squealing shouts sounded behind Brand. He whirled, and saw the Rogans, +interrupted in their terrible meal, pouring in from the annex and +racing toward him. Rage and fear distorted their hideous faces as they +pointed first to the big lever and then at the escaped Earthman. They +redoubled their efforts to get at him, their long unsteady legs +covering the distance in great bounds. + +Brand swore. Was he to be caught again before he had accomplished a +certain thing? When he had already managed to win clear to his +objective? + +He hammered at the glass bell with his fists, but realized with the +first blow that he was only wasting time trying to crack it +bare-handed. He glanced quickly about and saw a metal bar propped up +against the control board near him. + + * * * * * + +He sprang for it, grasped it as a club, and returned to the glass +bell. Raising his arms high, he brought the thick metal bar down on +the glass with all his strength. + +With a force that almost wrenched his arms from their sockets, the bar +rebounded from the glass bell, leaving it uncracked. + +"Unbreakable!" groaned Brand. + +Desperately he tried again, whirling the bar high over his head and +bringing it smashing down. The result was the same as before as far as +breaking the bell was concerned. But--a little trickle of crushed rock +came from around the bolts in the slab to which the bell was fastened. + +A third time be brought the bar down. The glass bell sagged a bit sway +from the slab.... + +He had no chance for more assaults on it. The nearest Rogans had +leaped for him. Slimy arms were coiling around him, while the +loathsome sucker-disks tore at his unprotected face and throat. + +Savagely Brand lashed out with the bar. It caved in a pair of the +long, skinny legs, bringing a bloated round head down within reach. He +smashed it with the bar, exulting grimly as the blow crumpled bone and +flesh almost down to the little mouth which was yet carmine from its +recent feeding. + +The process seemed a sound one to Brand, unable as he was to reach the +Rogans' heads that towered six feet above his own. Methodically, +swinging the bar with the weight of his body behind it, he repeated +the example. First a crash of the bar against a pair of legs, then the +crushing in of the Rogan's head when he toppled with agonized squeals +to the floor. + +Again and again he crushed the life out of a Rogan with his one-two +swing of the deadly bar. They were thinning down, now. They were +wavering in their charges against the comparatively insignificant +being from another planet who was defending himself so fiercely. + + * * * * * + +Finally one of their number turned and ran toward an exit, waving his +four arms and adding his high-pitched alarms to the incessant ringing +of the gongs and shrieks of the warning siren up under the roof. The +rest rushed the Earthman in a body. + +Steadily, almost joyfully, Brand fought on. He had expected to be +annihilated by one of the Rogan shock-tubes long before now; but as +yet there was no sign of any. Either these Rogan workmen were not +privileged to carry the terrible things, or they were too occupied to +think of going and getting them; anyhow, Brand was left free to wield +his bar and continue crushing out the lives of the two-legged vermin +that attacked him. + +With almost a shock of surprise, he saw finally that he had battered +their number down to three. At that he took the offensive himself. He +rammed the bluntly pointed end of the bar almost through one writhing +torso, broke the back of a second with a whistling blow, and tripped +and exterminated the third almost in as many seconds. The creatures, +without their death-tubes, were as helpless as crippled rats! + +Panting, he turned again toward the loosened glass bell, and battered +at it with the precious bar. Gradually the bolts that held it to the +stone slab were wrenched out, till only one supported it. But at this +point, from half a dozen set-back doorways, streams of infuriated +Rogans began pouring into the building and toward him. + +The one that had fled had come back with help. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_Tremendous Odds_ + + +Like living spokes of a half-wheel, with the Earthman as the hub, the +Rogans converged toward Brand, a howling roar outside indicating that +there were hundreds more waiting to jam into the dome as soon as they +were able. There were still no shock-tubes in evidence: evidently the +worker who had gone for help had gathered the first Rogan citizens he +had encountered on the streets. But the very numbers of the mob +spelled defeat for Brand. + +However, there was still the great lever behind him to yank away from +its switch-socket. The glass bell was almost off now. With a last mad +blow, he knocked loose the remaining bolt that held it. The bell +clattered to the floor. + +A concerted shriek came from the crowding Rogans as they saw the +Earthman's hand close on the lever. Whatever effect the throwing of +that master-switch could have, there was no doubt that they were +extremely anxious to prevent it! + +And now, in the rear of the crowding columns, appeared Rogans taller +than the others, with an authoritative air, who waved before them, +eager to unleash their power, batteries of the death-tubes. + +Resigning himself to annihilation in the next instant, Brand pulled +down hard on the lever. + + * * * * * + +The effect wrought by the throwing of that great switch was almost +indescribable. + +In a flash, as though all had been struck at once by a giant's hand, +every Rogan in the mob shot toward the floor, long thin legs caving +under him as if turned to water. Writhing feebly, they endeavored to +get up, but could not; and, still weakly ferocious, began to creep +toward the Earthman like huge-headed worms. + +Brand himself had been thrown to the floor with the falling of that +switch. He had felt as though an invisible ocean had been poured on +him, weighting him down intolerably. To move arms or legs required +enormous effort; and to get up on his feet again was like rising under +a two-hundred-pound pack. + +The movement of the switch, he saw, had cut off the gravity reducing +apparatus of the Rogans--whatever that might consist of. They were +now, abruptly, subjected to the full force of gravity exerted by +Jupiter's great mass. They could no more stand erect on their +tottering, lofty legs than they could fly. + +But, though greatly handicapped by the gravity pull, they were still +not entirely helpless. Like huge, long insects they continued to worm +their way toward Brand, using their four arms and their boneless legs +to help urge them over the flooring. And in their rear the Rogan +guards struggled to lift their tubes and level them at the escaped +prisoner. + +Prompt to avoid that, Brand went down on his hands and knees. Thus he +was shielded by the foremost crawling Rogans: the ones in the rear, +with the tubes, could not raise themselves high enough to bore down +over their fellows' heads at the Earthman. + +Squatting on his knees, Brand awaited the first resolute crawlers. +And, on his knees, whirling the now thrice weighty bar at heads that +were conveniently low enough to be accessible, he began his last +stand. + + * * * * * + +On the Rogans came, evidently determined, at any sacrifice of life, to +get the Earthman away from that vital control board. And to right and +left, crouching low to escape the tubes of the guards slowly crawling +forward from the rear, Brand laid about him with the bar. + +He got a little sick at the havoc he was wreaking on these +slow-moving, gravity-crippled things: but remembrance of their grisly +feeding habits, and the torture they must by now have inflicted on +Dex, kept him flailing down on soft heads with undiminished effort. + +With the gravity pull what it was, the Earthman was immeasurably +stronger than any individual Rogan. For a time the contest was all in +his favor. It was like killing slugs in a rose garden! + +Nevertheless, these slugs were, after all, twelve feet long and +possessed of intelligence, besides being hundreds in number. After a +while the tide of battle began to turn in their favor. + +Brand began to feel his arms ache burningly with the sustained effort +of wielding a weapon that now weighed about twenty-five pounds. He +knew he couldn't keep up the terrific strain much longer. And, in +addition, he could see that the armed Rogans in the rear were steadily +forging ahead among the unarmed attackers, till they soon must be in a +position to blast him with their weapons. + +Brand brought down his bar, with failing force but still deadly +effect, on the loathsome face of the nearest Rogan, grunting with +satisfaction as he saw it crumple into a shapeless mass. He thrust it, +spear-like, into another face, and another. + +Then, abruptly, he found himself weaponless. + +Raising it high to bring it down on an attacker who was almost about +to seize him, he felt the metal bar turn white hot, and dropped it +with a cry as it seared the skin from the palms of his hands. Some +Rogan guard in the rear had managed to train his tube on the bar; and +in the instant of its rising had almost melted it. + + * * * * * + +Weaponless and helpless, Brand crawled slowly back before the +tortuously advancing mob, keeping close enough to them to be shielded +from the tubes of the rear guards. Without his club he knew the end +was a matter of seconds. + +He had an impulse to leap full into the mass of repulsive, crawling +bodies and die fighting as his fists battered at the gruesome faces. +But a second impulse, and a stronger one, was the blind instinct to +preserve his life as long as possible. + +Hesitantly, almost reluctantly, acting on the primitive instinct of +self-preservation, he continued to back away from the advancing horde; +away from the switch and toward the rear of the dome. + +With the instant of his withdrawal, a Rogan turned toward the lever to +push it back up into contact and release the red kingdom from the +burden of Jupiter's unendurable gravity. And now ensued a curious +struggle. The lever, placed for the convenience of creatures twelve +feet or more tall, was about five feet from the floor. And the Rogan +couldn't reach it! + + * * * * * + +Stubbornly he heaved and writhed in an effort to raise his +inordinately heavy body from the floor to a point where one of the +weaving arms could reach the switch. But the pipe-stem legs would not +bear its weight. Each time it nearly reached the lever, only to fall +feebly back again in a snarl of tangled limbs. + +Meanwhile, Brand had flashed a quick look back over his shoulder to +see, in the wall behind him, a metal door he hadn't noticed before. He +found time for a flashing instant to wonder why there were no Rogans +entering from that doorway, too; but it was a vain wonder, and it +faded from his mind as the ever advancing, groping monsters before him +kept crowding him back. + +Instinctively he changed his course a trifle, to edge toward the +metal door. Perhaps, behind it, there was sanctuary for a few moments. +Perhaps he could force it open, spring out, and bar it again in the +faces of the pursuing mob. It sounded improbable, but at least it +offered him a slim chance where before no chance had seemed possible. + +He reached the door at last, fumbled behind him and felt, high over +his head, a massive sliding bolt. + + * * * * * + +In the spot Brand had left, the struggle to throw the gravity-lever +back into closed contact position went on. The Rogan who was +fruitlessly trying to reach up to it paused and said something to one +near him. That one halted, and began to crawl toward him. + +The two of them tried to reach it, one bracing the other and helping +him pry his body up from the implacable pull of Jupiter's uninsulated +mass. The top Rogan reached a little higher. The flesh sucker-disk +that served as a hand almost grasped the lever, but failed by only a +few inches. + +A third Rogan crawled up. And now, with two arching their backs to +help the other, the thing was done. The hose-like, groping arm went up +and pushed the lever back into place. + +The blue streamer began to hum and crackle from coil to coil again. +The invisible weight that pressed down was released as once more the +giant planet's gravity was nullified. The Rogans got eagerly to their +feet and began to race toward Brand in their normal long bounds. + +Brand, just cautiously rising, when the power went back on, found +himself leaping five feet into the air with the excess of his muscular +effort. And in that leap he saw the Rogans in the rear straighten up +and point their tubes. However, also in that leap, his fumbling hand +shot back the bolt that securely shut the metal door. + +With a shout of defiance he jumped out of the door and slammed it shut +after him, feeling it grow searing hot an instant later under the +impact of the rays from the tubes that had been trained on him. + +A stinging shock reached him through the metal, flinging him to the +ground. He rolled out of its range and leaped to his feet to race away +from there. Then, with a gasp, he flattened his body back against the +wall of the dome building. + +He was in the enclosure that held the gigantic, lizard-like thing that +had nearly got him on his escape from the tower room. + +He wheeled frantically to go back and face the Rogan death-tubes. +Anything rather than wait while that mammoth heap of tiny-brained +ferocity ran him down and tore him to shreds! But even as he turned, +he heard the bolt shoot home on the inside of the door; heard vengeful +squeals of triumph from his pursuers. + + * * * * * + +At the other end of the enclosure, near the foot of the tower +building, the great lizard eyed him unblinkingly, its tremendous jaws +gaping to reveal a cavernous mouth that was hideously lined with +bright orange colored membrane. Then, squatting lower with every step +it took, like a mountainous cat about to spring on its prey, it began +to stalk on its tree-like legs toward the tiny creature that had +leaped into its yard with it. + +Brand whirled this way and that, mechanically seeking a way out. There +was none. The walls of the great enclosure were not like the wall of +the tower. Here were no rough hewn stones, with protruding ridges of +mortar set between. These walls were as smooth as glass, and just as +smooth was the curved wall of the dome building behind him. + +The monstrous beast stalked nearer, almost on its belly now. As it +advanced, the great tail stirred up a cloud of reddish dust, and left +behind it a round deep depression in a surface already crisscrossed +with a multitude of similar depressions. A bellowing hiss came from +its gaping mouth, and it increased its pace to a thunderous, waddling +rush. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_Into the Enclosure_ + + +In the torture chamber Dex wavered slowly back to consciousness to get +the growing impression that he was being immersed in a bath of liquid +fire. Burning, intolerable pain assailed him with increasing intensity +as his senses clarified. + +At last he groaned and opened his eyes, for the moment not knowing +where he was nor how he had come to be there. He saw strange torture +instruments and tall monstrosities with pumpkin-shaped heads +surrounding him closely in a semicircle, and staring at him out of +great, dull eyes. + +Remembrance came back with a rush, and he gathered his muscles to +spring at the hateful figures. But he could not move. At waist and +throat, at wrists and ankles, were hoops of metal. He closed his eyes +again while the burning waves of invisible fire shot through him +recurrently from head to foot. + +Dully he wondered that he was still alive. His last recollection had +been of the Rogan leader pointing his shock-tube full at him, his +shapeless countenance working with murderous fury. However, alive he +was; and most unenviably so! + +His hands, circumscribed to a few inches of movement by the bonds on +his wrists, felt the smooth substance at his back. And with a thrill +of horror he realized his position: he was crucified against the metal +slab on which the slave had writhed in agony a short half hour ago. + +Again he strained and tugged, vainly, to get free. Off to one side, +pressed back against a huge glass experimental tank, he saw the +beautiful Greca, her eyes wide with horror; and caught her frantic +pleading message to her "Great White One." + + * * * * * + +The Rogan leader, squealing and grimacing, advanced toward the victim +on the metal plate. One of the long arms went out and a sucker-disk +was pressed to Dex's cheek. Dex quivered at the loathsome contact of +that soft and slimy substance; then set his jaws to keep from groaning +as the disk was jerked away, to carry with it a fragment of skin and +flesh. + +Gingerly, the tall leader felt the twitching, blackened stump of his +blasted arm. Dex grinned mirthlessly at that: he'd struck one or two +blows in his own defense, anyhow! + +At sight of the Earthman's grin, an expression of defiance and grim +joy that needed no interpreting to be understandable, the Rogan leader +fairly danced with rage. His long arm went out to the switch beside +the plate, and pulled it down another notch--just a little, not nearly +to the current that had torn at the slave. + +At the increased torment resulting from that slight movement of the +regulating lever, Dex yelled aloud in spite of all his will power. It +seemed as though his whole body were about to burst into +self-generated flame. Every cell and fiber of him seemed on the verge +of flying apart. He could feel his eyes start from his head, could +feel every hair on his scalp stand up as though discharging electric +sparks. + +A minute or two of that and he would go mad! He cried out again, and +twisted helplessly in his bonds. And then the terrible torture +stopped. + +The Rogan had not touched the switch--yet whatever sort of current it +was that charged the plate was abruptly clicked off, as though someone +at a distance had cut a wire or thrown a master-switch. + + * * * * * + +Simultaneously with its ceasing, an invisible, crushing sea seemed to +envelope everything. Dex felt his body sag against his metal bonds as +if it had been changed to lead. + +Before him the Rogans, who had been crowding closer to watch +gloatingly each grimace he made, shot doorward as though their +pipe-stem legs had been swept from under them. The leader fell on the +stump of his seared arm and, a deafening squeal of rage and pain came +from his little mouth. His tube fell from his grasp and rolled over +the floor half a dozen yards away from him. + +Amazed, observing the stricken creatures only dimly through a haze of +pain, Dex saw them struggle vainly to get up again, and heard them +chattering excitedly to themselves. For the moment, in the face of +this queer phenomenon, the prisoner seemed to be forgotten. And Dex +was quick to seize the momentary advantage. + +"Greca!" he called. "The tube! There--on the floor!" + +The girl raised her head quickly, and followed his imploring gaze. +Laboriously she started for the tube. At the same instant the Rogan +leader began to feel around him for his lost weapon. Not finding it, +he raised his head and glanced about for it. He saw the girl making +her way toward it and, with a squeak of terror, began to crawl toward +it himself. + + * * * * * + +He was not quick enough. The girl, though not nearly as active under +the increased pull of gravity as a person of Earth might be, was yet +more agile than the Rogans. And she was the faster mover in this +tortuous, snail-like race. While the Rogan leader was still several +feet away, she retrieved the shock-tube. + +"Kill him!" begged Dex. "And all the rest of the filthy creatures!" + +With feminine horror of the thing that faced her, Greca hesitated an +instant--a hesitation almost long enough to be fatal. Then, just as +the Rogan leader was reaching savagely out for her, she leveled the +tube at him and turned it to its full power. + +One last thin squeal came from the Rogan's mouth, a squeal that +cracked abruptly at its height. What had been its gangling body +drifted up in inky smoke. + +"The others!" called Dex. "Quick! Before they get their weapons--" + +Greca swept the death-tube in a short arc in front of her, over the +bodies of the remaining Rogans, as if spraying plants with a hose. One +after another, toppling in swift succession like grotesque falling +dominoes, the creatures sagged to the floor and melted away. That one +small part of Jupiter's red spot, at least, was cleared of Rogan +population. + + * * * * * + +Long shudders racked Greca's body, and her lips were a bloodless line +in her pallid face. But she did not go into womanly hysterics or swoon +at the slaughter it had been her lot to inflict. Moving as quickly as +she could, she went to the metal slab and began, with shaking fingers, +to undo the fastenings that held Dex prisoner. + +"Good girl," said Dex, patting her satiny bare shoulder as he stood +free again. "You're a sport and a gentleman. You don't understand the +terms? They're Earth words, Greca, that carry the highest praise a man +can give a woman. But let's get out of here before another gang comes +and takes us again. Where can we hide?" + +"I don't know any hiding places," confessed Greca despairingly. "The +Rogans swarm everywhere. We will be seen the moment we try to leave +here." + +"Well, we'll hunt for a hole, anyway," said Dex. He essayed to walk. +What with the tendency of his muscles to jerk and collapse with the +aftermath of the torture he had endured, and the sudden and +inexplicable increase in gravity that bore him down, he made heavy +going of it. "First we'll go up and get Brand." + +"Yes, yes," said Greca, a soft glow in her clear blue eyes. "Let us go +quickly." + +She started toward the door, panting with the effort of moving. But +Dex halted an instant, to stoop and pick up another of the tubes. + +"We might as well have one of these apiece," he said. "You've proved +you have the grit to use one; and maybe the dirty rats will think +twice about rushing us if we each have a load of death in our hands." + + * * * * * + +They made their way out of the torture laboratory, and up the incline +to the street level. And it was just as they reached this that the +burden of gravity under which they staggered was lifted from their +shoulders as quickly as it had descended on them. + +Dex raised his arms just in time to fend his body from a collision +with the wall in front of him. "Now what!" he exclaimed. + +Greca lifted her hand for silence, inclined her head, and listened +intently. As she did so, Dex heard the same noise her quick ears had +caught an instant before his: a distant pandemonium of ringing gongs +and siren shrieks, and squealing cries of a multitude of agitated +Rogans. + +"What the devil--" began Dex. But again Greca raised her hand to +silence him, and listened once more. As she listened, her sea-blue +eyes grew wider and wider with horror. Then, frantically, she began to +race down a long corridor away from the street door. + +Dex hastened to follow her. "What is it?" he demanded, when he had +caught up to her flying little feet. "This is not the way up to the +room where Brand--" + +"Your friend is not there," she interrupted. She explained swiftly, +distractedly: "From the shouts of the Rogans I learn that he got into +the great dome building, somehow, and then was driven into the pen of +the...." + +Dex could not get the next term she used. But her telepathic message +of the peril she mentioned formed in his mind clearly enough. + +He got a flashing brain picture of a great, high-walled yard with a +monster in it of the kind he had caught a close-range glimpse a short +while before. Also, he saw a blurred, tiny figure, running from wall +to wall, that was Greca's imagining of Brand and his efforts to escape +the enormous beast. + +"Good heavens!" groaned Dex. "Penned in with one of the things they +showed me while I was stretched on the rack! Are you sure, Greca?" + +She nodded, and tried to run faster. "This way," she gasped, turning +down a passage to the left that ended in a massive metal door. "This +leads to the enclosure. Oh, if only we can be in time!" + +Her slim fingers tore at a massive bolt that secured the door. "Here," +said Dex, wrenching it open for her. And they stepped out into thin +sunlight, onto a hard surface of reddish ground that was crisscrossed +with innumerable rounded furrows like the tracks old-fashioned, +fifty-passenger airplane wheels used to make on soft landing fields. + + * * * * * + +Greca shrieked, and pointed to the far end of the enclosure. Down +there, flattened against the wall of the dome building, was Brand. And +waddling toward him with a tread that caused the ground to quiver, was +a mate to the hideous creature the Rogans had used to terrify Dex in +the torture chamber. + +Dex leveled the tube he was carrying, swore, hit it frenziedly against +his hand. "How do you work this damned thing, Greca--Oh! Like that! +There--see if _that_ puts a sting in your hide!" + +The distant monster stopped its advance toward Brand. A raw white spot +as big as a dinner plate leaped into being on one of its enormous hind +legs. It whirled with an ear-splitting hiss, to see what thing was +causing such pain in its rear. The frightful head whipped back at the +end of the long neck, to nuzzle at the seared spot. Then the giant +lizard turned toward Brand again. + +A second time Dex pressed the central coil that formed the handle of +the tube, as Greca had showed him how to do. A second time the ray +shot down the field to flick a chunk of flesh weighing many pounds +from the monster's flank. And this time it definitely abandoned the +quarry behind it. With a scream like the keening of a dozen steam +whistles, it charged back over its tracks toward the distant pigmies +that were inflicting such exasperating punishment on it. + +Dex swept the tube before him in a short half-circle. A smoking gash +appeared suddenly in the vast fore-quarters of the monster. It +stopped abruptly, its clawed feet plowing along the ground with the +force of its momentum. An instant it stood there. Then, with its head +swinging from side to side and lowered so that its looped neck dragged +on the reddish, dusty ground, it began to back away from the source of +its hurt, bellowing and hissing its rage and bewilderment. + +"Brand!" shouted Dex. "This end! Run, while I hold the thing off!" + +Brand began to race down the long enclosure, ten feet to a leap. The +great lizard darted after him, like a cat after an escaping mouse; but +a flick of the tube sent it bellowing and screaming back to its +corner. + +"Dex!" gasped Brand. "Thank God!" + +For a moment he leaned, white and shaken, against the wall. Then Greca +caught his hand in both of hers, and Dex put his arm supportingly +around his shoulder. They retreated back through the doorway behind +them, and slid the bolt across the metal door. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +_The "Tank Scheme"_ + + +"Thank God you came when you did," repeated Brand. Then, with a moment +in which, figuratively, to get his feet back on earth, the wonder of +Dex's appearance struck him. + +"How did you manage to get away?" he asked. "I was sure--I +thought--when they dragged you out of the tower room I wouldn't see +you again--" + +Rapidly Dex gave an account of his ordeal in the torture chamber, +telling Brand in a few words how he had attempted to win free of the +Rogans, how he had almost succeeded, only to be caught again and +clamped to the death-plate on the wall. + +"But just as the big fellow was about to cook me for good and all," he +concluded, "something happened to the current, and to the gravity at +the same time--" + +"That was when I pulled the lever in the dome building!" exclaimed +Brand. + +He told of what had befallen him in the Rogan power-house. "That +lever, Dex!" he said swiftly. "It's the keynote of the whole business. +It absolutely controls the pull of gravity, and Lord knows what else +besides. If we could only get at it again! Perhaps we could not only +shut it off so that Jupiter's pull would function again, but also +reverse the process so its gravity would be _increased_! Think what +that would mean! Every Rogan in the red empire stretched out and +immovable, possibly crushed in by his own weight!" + +"It's a wonderful thought," sighed Dex; while Greca's eyes glowed with +a sudden hope for her enslaved race, "but I don't see how we could +ever--" + +He stopped; and glanced in alarm down the passage behind them. Greca +and Brand, hearing the same soft noise, whirled to look, too. + + * * * * * + +Far down the passage, just sneaking around the bend, was a group of +Rogan guards, each armed with a death-tube. + +"Back to the pen!" cried Brand. + +He slid the bolt, and jerked the door open. They rushed into the +walled enclosure again, the slamming of the door behind them cutting +off the enraged squeals of the Rogans. + +"This isn't going to mean anything but a short delay, I'm afraid," +said Brand, clenching his fists in an agony of futility. "They'll be +in here in a minute, and get us like trapped rats." + +"Not before we get a lot of them," said Dex grimly. + +"But that isn't enough, man! We don't want to die, no matter how +decently we do it. We've won free, and stayed free this long; now, +somehow, we've got to reach our ship and get back to Earth to warn +them of the danger that hides here for our planet!" + +He strode tensely up and down, smacking his fist into his palm. "The +lever!" he exclaimed. "That lever! It's our only answer! If we could +get to it.... But how can we? We couldn't break into the dome, now the +Rogans are on the watch for us, with anything less than a charge of +explosives. Or a tank. God, how I'd like to have an old-fashioned, +fifty-ton army tank here now!" + +Greca exclaimed aloud as Brand's fleeting mental picture of one of +Earth's unwieldy, long-discarded war tanks registered on her brain. + +"There is the great beast there," she said hesitantly, pointing a slim +forefinger at the huge lizard that had backed into a far corner and +was regarding them out of dull, savage eyes. Then she shook her head. +"But that is impossible. Impossible!" + + * * * * * + +The men stared at her, with dawning realization in their minds. Then +they gazed at each other. + +"Of course," said Brand. "Of course! Greca, you're marvelous! Wish we +had a tank? Why, we've got one! A four-legged mountain of meat that +ought to be able to plow through the side of that dome like a +battering ram through cardboard!" + +"But it's not possible," replied Greca, her head dropping dejectedly. +"My people, as driven slaves, till the fields with great animals that +were trapped in the surrounding jungles. They harness other great +animals to haul burdens. But none of the beasts are like _this_ one. +This kind cannot be tamed or harnessed. It is too ferocious. It is +used only as a scourge of fear, to crush us into complete submission." + +"Can't be tamed?" Brand said. "We'll see about that! Come on, Dex." + +"Just a minute," said Dex. He flattened against the wall, motioning +them to do the same. Then he leveled his tube at the door. + +Slowly, cautiously, the door began to swing back; and the Rogan that +Dex had heard fumbling with the bolt stuck his huge head out to locate +the escaped prisoners. + +Dex pressed the release coil of his tube. Without a sound, the Rogan +slumped to the ground, a smoking cavity in its shoulders at the spot +where its head had been set. In an instant the body, too, disappeared; +an upward coiling wisp of black smoke marking its vanishing. + +Another Rogan, tiptoeing out, met the same fate; and another. And then +the door was banged shut again, and the bolt ground into place on the +inside. + +"That'll teach 'em to be careful how they try to rush us from _that_ +door," said Dex, through set teeth. "Now let's see if that tank scheme +of ours can be worked." + + * * * * * + +He picked up a tube dropped by one of the Rogans, and handed it to +Brand; showing him which coil to press to get full force, as Greca had +in turn informed him. + +"Down the field," commanded Brand. "We'll go about thirty yards apart, +and try to herd this brute back through the walls of the dome +building. Once it's inside, we'll try to rush to the lever before the +Rogans can down us, and jam the thing past its terminal peg and into +reverse action. I don't know that there _is_ a reverse to it--but we +can try. + +"Greca dear,"--the girl started at the warmth of his thought, and a +faint pink rose to her pale cheeks--"you'd better stay by my side. +Your place as hostage-priestess of your people wouldn't save you if +those devils catch you now. Besides, you can keep your tube leveled at +the doorway as we go, and discourage any Rogans who might pluck up +courage to try coming out again." + +They started down the field toward the nightmare thing that snarled +and hissed in its corner. On one side of the big enclosure walked +Brand, with Greca close beside him, glancing continuously over her +shoulder at the rear door, and holding her tube in readiness to check +any charge the Rogans might attempt to make from the tower building. +On the other side, keeping an equal pace, advanced Dex. + +With tubes of death as whips, and with death for themselves set as the +stake for which they gambled, they went about their attempt to drive +the brainless monster before them through the solid wall of the dome +building. And there followed what was probably the strangest animal +act the universe has ever witnessed. + + * * * * * + +The first thing to do was to rout the enormous lizard out of the +corner where sullen fear had sent it squatting. Dex contrived to do +that by standing next to the wall at its side, and sending a searing +ray that just touched the scaly, tremendously thick hide. The monster +bellowed deafeningly, and, with a spot smoking on its flank, waddled +sideways to the center of the field. Its head and swaying long neck +faced the Earthmen and its back was against the wall of the dome +building. To that extent, at least, they had the creature placed; but +they soon found that the struggle had only just begun. + +Brand got far enough around to focus his tube on the tip of the huge +tail, in an effort to swing the gigantic thing about. There was an +unearthly shriek from the colossal beast, and a foot and a half of its +tail disappeared. + +"Careful," called Dex, his jaw set and grim as the monster lashed out +in its wrath. "If you bore in too long with that tube there'll be +nothing left of our tank but a cloud of smoke." + +Brand nodded, wordlessly, walking on the balls of his feet like a +boxer, holding himself ready to swerve the thing should it charge +them. Which--next instant--it did! + +With a whistling bellow it gathered its tons of weight and thundered +with incredible quickness at the gnats that were stinging its flanks +and tail. + +Desperately Brand played the tube across the vast chest, scoring a +smouldering gash in the scale-covered flesh just above the gash Dex +had seared a few moments before. + +"Sorry, old fellow," Brand muttered to the screaming beast. "We hate +to bait you like this, but it has to be done. Come on, now, through +that wall behind you, and give us a chance at the lever." + + * * * * * + +But through the wall behind it the vast creature, not unnaturally, +refused to go! It darted from side to side. Backward and forward. Up +to the wall, only to back bewilderedly away from it. And constantly +the tubes flicked their blistering, maddening rays along its monstrous +sides and tail, as the Earthmen tried to guide it into the wall. + +"Hope there's enough left of it to do the trick," said Brand, +white-lipped. The monster was smoking in a dozen spots now, and +several of the hump-like scales on its back had been burned away till +the vast spine looked like a giant saw that was missing a third of its +teeth. "God, I'm thinking we'll kill it before we can drive it through +that wall!" + +Greca nodded soberly, keeping her eyes on the distant door to their +rear. Twice that door had been opened, and twice she had directed the +death rays into its opening to mow down the gangling figures behind +it. But she had said nothing of this to her man. He was busy enough +with his own task! + +"The door to the dome--" Dex shouted suddenly. + +But Brand merely nodded, even as a discharge from his tube annihilated +the Rogan that had appeared in the doorway before them. He had seen +that door stealthily opening even before Dex had. + +"It had better be soon, Dex!" he called. "Rogans in front of +us--Rogans behind us--and--look out! On your side of the fence, +there!" + +Dex whirled in time to pick off a grotesque, pipe-like figure that had +suddenly appeared on the broad wall of the enclosure. Then he turned +to the frenzied problem of driving the monster through the building +wall. + +"The thing's going mad, Brand!" he cried, his voice high-pitched and +brittle. "Watch out!" + + * * * * * + +It was only too evident that his statement was true. The baited +monster, harried blindly this way and that, hounded against the blank +wall behind it by something that bit chunks of living flesh out of its +legs and sides, was losing whatever instinctive mental balance it had +ever had. Its dimly functioning brain, probably no larger than a +walnut in that gigantic skull, ceased more and more to guide it. + +With a rasping scream that set the Earthmen's teeth on edge, it +charged for the wall on Dex's side. Dex just managed to swerve it with +a blast from the tube so prolonged that half its great lower jaw fell +away. + +At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad! It whirled +toward Brand, jerking around again as a searing on that side jarred +its dull sensory nerves, then headed at last straight toward the stone +wall of the dome building. + +With the rays from both tubes flicking it like monstrous spurs, it +charged insanely toward the bulge of the circular wall. With all its +tons and tons of weight it crashed against the stonework. There was a +thunderous crackling noise, and the wall sagged in perceptibly, while +the metal roof bent to accommodate the new curvature of its supporting +beams. + +The monstrous lizard, jerked off its huge legs by the impact, +staggered up and retreated toward the two men. But again the maddening +pain in its hindquarters sent it careening toward the building wall. +This time it raised high up on its hind legs in a blind effort to +climb over it. "God, it must be five stories tall!" ejaculated Brand. +Thunderingly its forelegs came down on the edge of the roof. + + * * * * * + +There was another deafening crash of stone and shrieking of torn +metal. Just under the cornice, the wall sagged away from the roof and +the top rows of heavy stone blocks slithered inward. + +"Again!" shouted Brand. + +His tube was pointing almost continuously now at the metal door +leading from the dome building. The Rogans inside, at the shocks that +were battering down a section of their great building, were all trying +to get out to the yard at once. In a stream they rushed for the +doorway. And in loathsome heaps they fell at the impact of the ray +and shriveled to nothingness on the bombarded threshold. + +"Once more--" Brand repeated, his voice hoarse and tense. + +And as though the monster heard and understood, it rushed again with +all its vast weight and force against the wall in a mad effort to +escape the things that were blasting the living flesh from its +colossal framework. + +This charge was the last. With a roaring crash a section of the +building thirty yards across went back and down, leaving the massive +roof to sag threateningly on its battered truss-work. + + * * * * * + +It was as though the side of an ant-heap had been ripped away. Inside +the domed building hundreds of Rogans ran this way and that on their +elongated legs, squealing in their staccato, high-pitched tongue. + +With blind fury the mad monster charged in through the gaping hole it +had battered for itself. In all directions the Rogans scattered. Then +an authoritative tall figure with a tube in each of its four +sucker-disks, whipped out a command and pointed to the great coils +which lay immediately in the berserk monster's path. + +The command restored some sort of order. Losing their fear of the +beast in their greater fear of the damage it might do, the Rogans +massed to stop it before it could demolish the Rogan heart of power. + +At this point Brand saw an opening of the kind he had been praying +for. The Rogans had retreated before the terrific charge of the +monster in such a way that the space between its vast bulk and the +control board was clear. + +"After me!" he shouted to Dex. "One of us has got to reach that lever +while the creature's still there to shield us!" + +The two Earthmen dashed through the jagged hole in the wall and raced +to the control board just as the huge lizard, a smoking mass, sank to +the floor. Brand gazed almost fearfully at the lever-slot. + +Was there a reverse to the gravity-control action? There was room in +the slot for the lever to be pulled down below the neutral point, if +that meant anything.... + + * * * * * + +Behind them the great bulk of the dead lizard was disappearing with +incredible quickness under the rays of the tubes directed on it. Now +the pumpkin-shaped heads on the opposite side were visible through a +fleeting glimpse of a skeleton that was like the framework of a +skyscraper. And now the colossal bones themselves were melting, while +over everything hung a pall of greasy black smoke. + +"Hurry, for God's sake!" gasped Dex. + +Brand threw down the lever till it stuck. At once that invisible ocean +poured crushingly over them, throwing them to their knees and sweeping +the Rogans flat on their hideous faces just as half a hundred tubes +were flashing down to point at the Earthmen. + +"More--if you can!" grated Dex, whirling this way and that and +spraying the massed Rogans with his death-dealing tube. Dozens went up +in smoke under that discharge; but other dozens remained to raise +themselves laboriously and slowly level their suddenly ponderous +weapons at the Earthmen. + +Brand set his jaw and threw all his weight on the lever. It bent a +little, caught at the neutral point--and then jammed down an +appreciable distance beyond it. + + * * * * * + +Instantly the blue streamers, that had stopped their humming progress +from coil to coil with the movement of the switch to neutral, started +again in reversed direction. And instantly the invisible ocean pressed +down with appalling, devastating force. + +Greca and Brand and Dex were flattened to the floor as if by blankets +of lead. And the scattered Rogans about them ceased all movement +whatever. + +"Oh," sobbed Greca, fighting for breath. "Oh!" + +"We can't stand this," panted Dex. "We've fixed the Rogans, all right. +But we've fixed ourselves, too! That lever has to go up a bit." + +Brand nodded, finding his head almost too heavy for his neck to move. +Sweat beaded his forehead--sweat that trickled heavily off his face +like drops of liquid metal. + +With a tremendous struggle he got to his knees beneath the +master-switch. There he found it impossible to raise his arms; but, +leaning back against the control board and so getting a little +support, he contrived to lift his body up enough to touch the +down-slanting lever with his head and move it back along its slot a +fraction of an inch. The giant coils hummed a note lower; and some of +the smashing weight was relieved. + +"That does it, I think," Brand panted, his voice husky with exhaustion +and triumph. + +He began to crawl laboriously toward the nearest street exit. "On our +way!" he said vibrantly. "To the space ship! We leave for Earth at +once!" + + * * * * * + +Slowly, fighting the sagging weight of their bodies, the two Earthmen +inched their way to the street, helping Greca as they went. Among the +sprawled forms of the Rogans they crept, with great dull eyes rolling +helplessly to observe their progress, and with feeble squeals of rage +and fear and malediction following their slow path. + +On the street a strange and terrible sight met their eyes. + +Strewn over the metal paving like wheat stalks crushed flat by a +hurricane, were thousands of Rogans. Not a muscle of their pipe-like +arms or legs could they move. But the gravity that crushed them +rigidly to the ground did not quite hold motionless the shorter and +more sturdily built slaves. + +Among the thousands of squealing, panting Rogans that lay as though +paralyzed on the metal paving, crawled equal thousands of Greca's +enslaved people. Their eyes flamed with fanatic hate. And +methodically--not knowing what had caused their loathed masters to be +stricken helpless, and not caring as long as they _were_ helpless--the +slaves were seeking out the shock-tubes that here and there had fallen +from the clutch of Rogan guards. Already many had found them; and +everywhere gangling, slimy bodies were melting in oily black smoke +that almost instantly vanished in thin air. + +As it was in these streets and in the great square in the center of +which rested the Earthmen's ship, just so, they knew, was it being +repeated all over the red empire. Slowly crawling, fiercely exulting +slaves were exterminating the tyrannous things that had held them so +long in dreadful bondage! Before the sun should set on another +flashing Jovian day there would be no Rogan left in the red spot. + + * * * * * + +"And so it ends," said Brand with a great sigh. He moved over beside +Greca, and touched her lovely bare shoulders. They were shaking +convulsively, those shoulders; and she had buried her face in her +hands to keep from gazing at the ghastly carnage. + +Brand pressed her to him. "It's terrible--yes. But think what it +means! The knell of all the Rogans been sounded to-day. As soon as +the secret of these death-tubes has been analyzed by our science and +provided against, my friend and I will return from Earth with a force +that shall clear the universe of the slimy devils. Meanwhile, your +people are safe here; with the gravity what it is, no Rogan attacking +hordes can land." + +They crawled tortuously over the square to the space ship. Brand +turned again to Greca; and now in his eyes was a look that needed no +language of mind or tongue for its complete expression. + +"Will you come to Earth with me, Greca, and stay by my side till we +return to set your people in power again?" + +Greca shook her head, slowly, reluctantly. "My people need leaders +now. I must stay and help direct them in their new freedom. But +you--you'll come back with the others from Earth?" + +"Try and stop him!" grinned Dex. "And try and stop me, too! From what +I know now of the way they grow 'em on your satellite"--his eyes +rested on Greca's beauty with an admiration that turned her to rosy +confusion--"I'd say I'd found the ideal spot to settle down in!" + +Brand laughed. "He's answered for me too. And now, a salute that is +used on Earth to express a promise...." He kissed her--to her utter +astonishment and perplexity, but to her dawning pleasure. "Good-by for +a little while." + +The two Earthmen hoisted themselves heavily over the sill of the +control room of their ship, and crawled inside. + +They secured the trap-door, and turned on the air-rectifiers. Brand +moved to the controls, waved to Greca, who was smiling at him through +the glass panel, and pointed the ship on its triumphant, four hundred +million mile journey home. + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Hell of Jupiter, by Paul Ernst + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30214 *** diff --git a/30214-h/30214-h.htm b/30214-h/30214-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb0441a --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/30214-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3334 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Red Hell of Jupiter, by Paul Ernst + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.sidenote { + width: 30%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + + +.caption {font-weight: bold; font-size:smaller;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft1 { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30214 ***</div> + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Astounding Stories October 1931. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. </p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 360px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="360" height="539" alt="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="600" height="361" alt="At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad." /> +<span class="caption">At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad.</span> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h1>The Red Hell of Jupiter</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h4><i>A Complete Novelette</i></h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>By Paul Ernst</h2> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h2><i>The Red Spot</i></h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_c.jpg" alt="C" width="46" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ommander Stone, grizzled chief of the Planetary Exploration Forces, +acknowledged Captain Brand Bowen's salute and beckoned him to take a +seat.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What is the mystery centered in Jupiter's famous "Red +Spot"? Two fighting Earthmen, caught by the "Pipe-men" like their +vanished comrades, soon find out.</div> + +<p>Brand, youngest officer of the division to wear the triple-V for +distinguished service, sat down and stared curiously at his superior. +He hadn't the remotest idea why he had been recalled from leave: but +that it was on a matter of some importance he was sure. He hunched his +big shoulders and awaited orders.</p> + +<p>"Captain Bowen," said Stone. "I want you to go to Jupiter as soon as +you can arrange to do so, fly low over the red area in the southern +hemisphere, and come back here with some sort of report as to what's +wrong with that infernal death spot."</p> + +<p>He tapped his radio stylus thoughtfully against the edge of his desk.</p> + +<p>"As you perhaps know, I detailed a ship to explore the red spot about +a year ago. It never came back. I sent another ship, with two good men +in it, to check up on the disappearance of the first. That ship, too, +never came back. Almost with the second of its arrival at the edge of +the red area all radio communication with it was cut off. It was never +heard from again. Two weeks ago I sent Journeyman there. Now <i>he</i> has +been swallowed up in a mysterious silence."</p> + +<p>An exclamation burst from Brand's lips. Sub-Commander Journeyman! +Senior officer under Stone, ablest man in the expeditionary forces, +and Brand's oldest friend!</p> + +<p>Stone nodded comprehension of the stricken look on Brand's face. "I +know how friendly you two were," he said soberly. "That's why I chose +you to go and find out, if you can, what happened to him and the other +two ships."</p> + +<p>Brand's chin sank to rest on the stiff high collar of his uniform.</p> + +<p>"Journeyman!" he mused. "Why, he was like an older brother to me. And +now ... he's gone."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was silence in Commander Stone's sanctum for a time. Then Brand +raised his head.</p> + +<p>"Did you have any radio reports at all from any of the three ships +concerning the nature of the red spot?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"None that gave definite information," replied Stone. "From each of +the three ships we received reports right up to the instant when the +red area was approached. From each of the three came a vague +description of the peculiarity of the ground ahead of them: it seems +to glitter with a queer metallic sheen. Then, from each of the three, +as they passed over the boundary—nothing! All radio communication +ceased as abruptly as though they'd been stricken dead."</p> + +<p>He stared at Brand. "That's all I can tell you, little enough, God +knows. Something ominous and strange is contained in that red spot: +but what its nature may be, we cannot even guess. I want you to go +there and find out."</p> + +<p>Brand's determined jaw jutted out, and his lips thinned to a +purposeful line. He stood to attention.</p> + +<p>"I'll be leaving to-night, sir. Or sooner if you like. I could go this +afternoon: in an hour—"</p> + +<p>"To-night is soon enough," said Stone with a smile. "Now, who do you +want to accompany you?"</p> + +<p>Brand thought a moment. On so long a journey as a trip to Jupiter +there was only room in a space ship—what with supplies and all—for +one other man. It behooved him to pick his companion carefully.</p> + +<p>"I'd like Dex Harlow," he said at last. "He's been to Jupiter before, +working with me in plotting the northern hemisphere. He's a good man."</p> + +<p>"He is," agreed Stone, nodding approval of Brand's choice. "I'll have +him report to you at once."</p> + +<p>He rose and held out his hand. "I'm relying on you, Captain Bowen," he +said. "I won't give any direct orders: use your own discretion. But I +would advise you not to try to land in the red area. Simply fly low +over it, and see what you can discern from the air. Good-by, and good +luck."</p> + +<p>Brand saluted, and went out, to go to his own quarters and make the +few preparations necessary for his sudden emergency flight.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he work of exploring the planets that swung with Earth around the sun +was still a new branch of the service. Less than ten years ago, it had +been, when Ansen devised his first crude atomic motor.</p> + +<p>At once, with the introduction of this tremendous new motive power, +men had begun to build space ships and explore the sky. And, as so +often happens with a new invention, the thing had grown rather beyond +itself.</p> + +<p>Everywhere amateur space flyers launched forth into the heavens to try +their new celestial wings. Everywhere young and old enthusiasts set +Ansen motors into clumsily insulated shells and started for Mars or +the moon or Venus.</p> + +<p>The resultant loss of life, as might have been foreseen, was +appalling. Eager but inexperienced explorers edged over onto the wrong +side of Mercury and were burned to cinders. They set forth in ships +that were badly insulated, and froze in the absolute zero of space. +They learned the atomic motor controls too hastily, ran out of +supplies or lost their courses, and wandered far out into space—stiff +corpses in coffins that were to be buried only in time's infinity.</p> + +<p>To stop the foolish waste of life, the Earth Government stepped in. It +was decreed that no space ship might be owned or built privately. It +was further decreed that those who felt an urge to explore must join +the regular service and do so under efficient supervision. And there +was created the Government bureau designated as the Planetary +Exploration Control Board, which was headed by Commander Stone.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_u.jpg" alt="U" width="49" height="50" /></div> + +<p>nder this Board the exploration of the planets was undertaken +methodically and efficiently, with a minimum of lives sacrificed.</p> + +<p>Mercury was charted, tested for essential minerals, and found to be a +valueless rock heap too near the sun to support life.</p> + +<p>Venus was visited and explored segment by segment; and friendly +relations were established with the rather stupid but peaceable people +found there.</p> + +<p>Mars was mapped. Here the explorers had lingered a long time: and all +over this planet's surface were found remnants of a vast and intricate +civilization—from the canals that laced its surface, to great cities +with mighty buildings still standing. But of life there was none. The +atmosphere was too rare to support it; and the theory was that it had +constantly thinned through thousands of years till the last Martian +had gasped and died in air too attenuated to support life even in +creatures that must have grown greater and greater chested in eons of +adaptation.</p> + +<p>Then Jupiter had been reached: and here the methodical planet by +planet work promised to be checked for a long time to come. Jupiter, +with its mighty surface area, was going to take some exploring! It +would be years before it could be plotted even superficially.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>rand had been to Jupiter on four different trips; and, as he walked +toward his quarters from Stone's office, he reviewed what he had +learned on those trips.</p> + +<p>Jupiter, as he knew it, was a vast globe of vague horror and sharp +contrasts.</p> + +<p>Distant from the sun as it was, it received little solar heat. But, +with so great a mass, it had cooled off much more slowly than any of +the other planets known, and had immense internal heat. This meant +that the air—which closely approximated Earth's air in density—was +cool a few hundred yards up from the surface of the planet, and dankly +hot close to the ground. The result, as the cold air constantly sank +into the warm, was a thick steamy blanket of fog that covered +everything perpetually.</p> + +<p>Because of the recent cooling, life was not far advanced on Jupiter. +Too short a time ago the sphere had been but a blazing mass. Tropical +marshes prevailed, crisscrossed by mighty rivers at warmer than blood +heat. Giant, hideous fernlike growths crowded one another in an +everlasting jungle. And among the distorted trees, from the blanket of +soft white fog that hid all from sight, could be heard constantly an +ear-splitting chorus of screams and bellows and whistling snarls. It +made the blood run cold just to listen—and to speculate on what +gigantic but tiny-brained monsters made them.</p> + +<p>Now and then, when Brand had been flying dangerously low over the +surface, a wind had risen strong enough to dispel the fog banks for an +instant; and he had caught a flash of Jovian life. Just a flash, for +example, of a monstrous lizard-like thing too great to support its own +bulk: or a creature all neck and tail, with ridges of scale on its +armored hide and a small serpentine head weaving back and forth among +the jungle growths.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_o.jpg" alt="O" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ccasionally he had landed—always staying close to the space ship, +for Jupiter's gravity made movement a slow and laborious process, and +he didn't want to be caught too far from security. At such times he +might hear a crashing and splashing and see a reptilian head loom +gigantically at him through the fog. Then he would discharge the +deadly explosive gun which was Earth's latest weapon, and the creature +would crash to the ground. The chorus of hissings and bellowings would +increase as he hastened slowly and laboriously back to the ship, +indicating that other unseen monsters of the steamy jungle had flocked +to tear the dead giant to pieces and bolt it down.</p> + +<p>Oh, Jupiter was a nice planet! mused Brand. A sweet place—if one +happened to be a two-hundred-foot snake or something!</p> + +<p>He had always thought the entire globe was in that new, raw, marshy +state. But he had worked only in one comparatively small area of the +northern hemisphere; had never been within thirty thousand miles of +the red spot. What might lie in that ominous crimson patch, he could +not even guess. However, he reflected, he was soon to find out, though +he might never live to tell about it.</p> + +<p>Shrugging his shoulders, he turned into the fifty story building in +which was his modest apartment. There he found, written by the +automatic stylus on his radio pad, the message: "Be with you at seven +o'clock. Best regards, and I hope you strangle. Dex Harlow."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex Harlow was a six-foot Senior Lieutenant who had been on many an +out-of-the-way exploratory trip. Like Brand he was just under thirty +and perpetually thirsting for the bizarre in life. He was a walking +document of planetary activity. He was still baked a brick red from a +trip to Mercury a year before: he had a scar on his forehead, the +result of jumping forty feet one day on the moon when he'd meant to +jump only twenty; he was minus a finger which had been irreparably +frost-bitten on Mars; and he had a crumpled nose that was the outcome +of a brush with a ten-foot bandit on Venus who'd tried to kill him for +his explosive gun and supply of glass, dyite-containing cartridges.</p> + +<p>He clutched Brand's fingers in a bone-mangling grip, and threw his hat +into a far corner.</p> + +<p>"You're a fine friend!" he growled cheerfully. "Here I'm having a +first rate time for myself, swimming and planing along the Riviera, +with two more weeks leave ahead of me—and I get a call from the Old +Man to report to you. What excuse have you for your crime?"</p> + +<p>"A junket to Jupiter," said Brand. "Would you call that a good +excuse?"</p> + +<p>"Jupiter!" exclaimed Dex. "Wouldn't you know it? Of course you'd have +to pick a spot four hundred million miles away from all that grand +swimming I was having!"</p> + +<p>"Would you like to go back on leave, and have me choose someone else?" +inquired Brand solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Well, no," said Dex hastily. "Now that I'm here, I suppose I might as +well go through with it."</p> + +<p>Brand laughed. "Try and get you out of it! I know your attitude toward +a real jaunt. And it's a real jaunt we've got ahead of us, too, old +boy. We're going to the red spot. Immediately."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex's sandy eyebrows shot up. "The red spot! That's where Coblenz and +Heiroy were lost!"</p> + +<p>"And Journeyman," added Brand. "He's the latest victim of whatever's +in the hell-hole."</p> + +<p>Dex whistled. "Journeyman too! Well, all I've got to say is that +whatever's there must be strong medicine. Journeyman was a damn fine +man, and as brave as they come. Have you any idea what it's all +about?"</p> + +<p>"Not an idea. Nobody has. We're to go and find out—if we can. Are you +all ready?"</p> + +<p>"All ready," said Dex.</p> + +<p>"So am I. We'll start at eleven o'clock in one of the Old Man's best +cruisers. Meanwhile, we might as well go and hunt up a dinner +somewhere, to fortify us against the synthetic pork chops and bread +we'll be swallowing for the next fortnight."</p> + +<p>They went out; and at ten minutes of eleven reported at the great +space ship hangars north of New York, with their luggage, a +conspicuous item of which was a chess board to help while away the +long, long days of spacial travel. Brand then paused a little while +for a final check-up on directions.</p> + +<p>They clambered into the tiny control room and shut the hermetically +sealed trap-door. Brand threw the control switch and precisely at +eleven o'clock the conical shell of metal shot heavenward, gathering +such speed that it was soon invisible to human eyes. He set their +course toward the blazing speck that was Jupiter, four hundred million +miles away; and then reported their start by radio to Commander +Stone's night operator.</p> + +<p>The investigatory expedition to the ominous red spot of the giant of +the solar system was on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h2><i>The Pipe-like Men</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> +<p>rand began to slacken speed on the morning of the thirteenth day +(morning, of course, being a technical term: there are no horizons in +space for the sun to rise over). Jupiter was still an immense distance +off; but it took a great while to slow the momentum of the space ship, +which, in the frictionless emptiness of space, had been traveling +faster and faster for nearly three hundred hours.</p> + +<p>Behind them was the distant ball of sun, so far off that it looked no +larger than a red-hot penny. Before them was the gigantic disk of +Jupiter, given a white tinge by the perpetual fog blankets, its +outlines softened by its thick layer of atmosphere and cloud banks. +Two of its nine satellites were in sight at the moment, with a third +edging over the western rim.</p> + +<p>"Makes you think you're drunk and seeing triple, doesn't it?" +commented Dex, who was staring out the thick glass panel beside Brand. +"Nine moons! Almost enough for one planet!"</p> + +<p>Brand nodded abstractly, and concentrated on the control board. +Rapidly the ship rocketed down toward the surface. The disk became a +whirling, gigantic plate; and then an endless plain, with cloud +formations beginning to take on definite outline.</p> + +<p>"About to enter Jupiter's atmosphere." Brand spoke into the radio +transmitter. Over the invisible thread of radio connection between the +space ship and Earth, four hundred million miles behind, flashed the +message.</p> + +<p>"All right. For God's sake, be careful," came the answer, minutes +later. "Say something at least every half hour, to let us know +communication is unbroken. We will sound at ten second intervals."</p> + +<p>The sounding began: <i>peep</i>, a shrill little piping noise like the +fiddle of a cricket. Ten seconds later it came again: <i>peep</i>. +Thereafter, intermittently, it keened through the control room—a +homely, comforting sound to let them know that there was a distant +thread between them and Earth.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ower the shell rocketed. The endless plain slowly ceased its rushing +underneath them as they entered the planet's atmosphere and began to +be pulled around with it in its revolution. Far to the west a faint +red glow illumined the sky.</p> + +<p>The two men looked at each other, grimly, soberly.</p> + +<p>"We're here," said Dex, flexing the muscles of his powerful arms.</p> + +<p>"We are," said Brand, patting the gun in his holster.</p> + +<p>The rapid dusk of the giant planet began to close in on them. The thin +sunlight darkened; and with its lowering, the red spot of Jupiter +glared more luridly ahead of them. Silently the two men gazed at it, +and wondered what it held.</p> + +<p>They shot the space ship toward it, and halted a few hundred miles +away. Watery white light from the satellites, "that jitter around in +the sky like a bunch of damned waterbugs," as Dex put it, was now the +sole illumination.</p> + +<p>They hung motionless in their space shell, to wait through the +five-hour Jovian night for the succeeding five hours of daylight to +illumine a slow cruise over the red area that, in less than a year, +had swallowed up three of Earth's space ships. And ever as they +waited, dozing a little, speculating as to the nature of the danger +they faced, the peep, peep of the radio shrilled in their ears to tell +them that there was still a connection—though a very tenuous +one—with their mother planet.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_r1.jpg" alt="R" width="58" height="53" /></div> + +<p>ed spot ten miles away," said Brand in the transmitter. "We're +approaching it slowly."</p> + +<p>The tiny sun had leaped up over Jupiter's horizon; and with its +appearance they had sent the ship planing toward their mysterious +destination. Beneath them the fog banks were thinning, and ahead of +them were no clouds. For some reason there was a clarity unusual to +Jupiter's atmosphere in the air above the red section.</p> + +<p>"Red spot one mile ahead, altitude forty thousand feet," reported +Brand.</p> + +<p>He and Dex peered intently through the port glass panel. Ahead and far +below, their eyes caught an odd metallic sheen. It was as though the +ground there were carpeted with polished steel that reflected red +firelight.</p> + +<p>Tense, filled with an excitement that set their pulses pounding +wildly, they angled slowly down, nearer to the edge of the vast +crimson area, closer to the ground. The radio keened its monotonous +signal.</p> + +<p>Brand crawled to the transmitter, laboriously, for his body tipped the +scales here at nearly four hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>"We can see the metallic glitter that Journeyman spoke of," he said. +"No sign of life of any kind, though. The red glow seems to flicker a +little."</p> + +<p>Closer the ship floated. Closer. To right and left of them for vast +distances stretched the red area. Ahead of them for hundreds of miles +they knew it extended.</p> + +<p>"We're right on it now," called Brand. "Right on it—we're going over +the edge—we're—"</p> + +<p>Next instant he was sprawling on the floor, with Dex rolling +helplessly on top of him, while the space ship bounced up twenty +thousand feet as though propelled by a giant sling.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he peep, peep of the radio signalling stopped. The space ship rolled +helplessly for a moment, then resumed an even keel. Brand and Dex +gazed at each other.</p> + +<p>"What the hell?" said Dex.</p> + +<p>He started to get to his feet, put all his strength into the task of +moving his Jupiter-weighted body, and crashed against the top of the +control room.</p> + +<p>"Say!" he sputtered, rubbing his head. "Say, what <i>is</i> this?"</p> + +<p>Brand, profiting by his mistake, rose more cautiously, shut off the +atomic motor, and approached a glass panel again. "God knows what it +is," he said with a shrug. "Somehow, with our passing into the red +area, the pull of gravity has been reduced by about ten, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so that's all, is it? Well, what's happened to old Jupe's +gravity?"</p> + +<p>Again Brand shrugged. "I haven't any idea. Your guess is as good as +mine."</p> + +<p>He peered down through the panel, and stiffened in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Dex!" he cried. "We're moving! And the motor is shut off!"</p> + +<p>"We're drawing down closer to the ground, too," announced Dex, +pointing to their altimeter. "Our altitude has been reduced five +thousand feet in the last two minutes."</p> + +<p>Quickly Brand turned on the motor in reverse. The space ship, as the +rushing, reddish ground beneath indicated, continued to glide forward +as though pulled by an invisible rope. He turned on full power. The +ship's progress was checked a little. A very little! And the metallic +red surface under them grew nearer as they steadily lost altitude.</p> + +<p>"Something seems to have got us by the nose," said Dex. "We're on our +way to the center of the red spot, I guess—to find whatever it was +that Journeyman found. And the radio communication his been broken +somehow...."</p> + +<p>Wordlessly, they stared out the panel, while the shell, quivering with +the strain of the atomic motor's fight against whatever unseen force +it was that relentlessly drew them forward, bore them swiftly toward +the heart of the vast crimson area.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_l1.jpg" alt="L" width="50" height="57" /></div> + +<p>ook!" cried Brand.</p> + +<p>For over an hour the ship had been propelled swiftly, irresistibly +toward the center of the red spot. It had been up about forty thousand +feet. Now, with a jerk that sent both men reeling, it had been drawn +down to within fifteen thousand feet of the surface; and the sight +that was now becoming more and more visible was incredible.</p> + +<p>Beneath was a vast, orderly checkerboard. Every alternate square was +covered by what seemed a jointless metal plate. The open squares, +plainly land under cultivation, were surrounded by gleaming fences +that hooked each metal square with every other one of its kind as +batteries are wired in series. Over these open squares progressed +tiny, two legged figures, for the most part following gigantic +shapeless animals like figures out of a dream. Ahead suddenly appeared +the spires and towers of an enormous city!</p> + +<p>Metropolis and cultivated land! It was as unbelievable, on that raw +new planet, as such a sight would have been could a traveler in time +have observed it in the midst of a dim Pleistocene panorama of young +Earth.</p> + +<p>It was instantly apparent that the city was their destination. Rapidly +the little ship was rushed toward it; and, realizing at last the +futility of its laboring, Brand cut off the atomic motor and let the +shell drift.</p> + +<p>Over a group of squat square buildings their ship passed, decreasing +speed and drifting lower with every moment. The lofty structures that +were the nucleus of the strange city loomed closer. Now they were +soaring slowly down a wide thoroughfare; and now, at last, they +hovered above a great open square that was thronged with figures.</p> + +<p>Lower they dropped. Lower. And then they settled with a slight jar on +a surface made of reddish metal; and the figures rushed to surround +them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ooking out the glass panel at these figures, both Brand and Dex +exclaimed aloud and covered their eyes for a moment to shut out the +hideous sight of them. Now they examined them closely.</p> + +<p>Manlike they were: and yet like no human being conceivable to an Earth +mind. They were tremendously tall—twelve feet at least—but as thin +as so many animated poles. Their two legs were scarce four inches +through, taper-less, boneless, like lengths of pipe; and like two +flexible pipes they were joined to a slightly larger pipe of a torso +that could not have been more than a foot in diameter. There were four +arms, a pair on each side of the cylindrical body, that weaved feebly +about like lengths of rubber hose.</p> + +<p>Set directly on the pipe-like body, as a pumpkin might be balanced on +a pole, was a perfectly round cranium in which were glassy, staring +eyes, with dull pupils like those of a sick dog. The nose was but a +tab of flesh. The mouth was a minute, circular thing, soft and flabby +looking, which opened and shut regularly with the creature's +breathing. It resembled the snout-like mouth of a fish, of the sucker +variety; and fish-like, too, was the smooth and slimy skin that +covered the beanpole body.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>undreds of the repulsive things, there were. And all of them shoved +and crowded, as a disorderly mob on Earth might do, to get close to +the Earthmen's ship. Their big dull eyes peered in through the glass +panels, and their hands—mere round blobs of gristle in the palms of +which were set single sucker disks—pattered against the metal hull of +the shell.</p> + +<p>"God!" said Brand with a shudder. "Fancy these things feeling over +your body...."</p> + +<p>"They're hostile, whatever they are," said Dex. "Look out: that one's +pointing something at you!"</p> + +<p>One of the slender, tottering creatures had raised an arm and leveled +at Brand something that looked rather like an elongated, old-fashioned +flashlight. Brand involuntarily ducked. The clear glass panel between +them and the mob outside gave him a queasy feeling of being exposed to +whatever missile might lurk in the thing's tube.</p> + +<p>"What do we do now?" demanded Dex with a shaky laugh. "You're chief of +this expedition. I'm waiting for orders."</p> + +<p>"We wait right here," replied Brand. "We're safe in the shell till +we're starved out. At least they can't get in to attack us."</p> + +<p>But it developed that, while the slimy looking things might not be +able to get in, they had ways of reaching the Earthmen just the same!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he creature with the gun-like tube extended it somewhat further +toward Brand.</p> + +<p>Brand felt a sharp, unpleasant tingle shoot through his body, as +though he had received an electric shock. He winced, and cried out at +the sudden pain of it.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter—" Dex began. But hardly had the words left his +mouth when he, too, felt the shock. A couple of good, hearty Earth +oaths exploded from his lips.</p> + +<p>The repulsive creature outside made an authoritative gesture. He +seemed to be beckoning to them, his huge dull eyes glaring +threateningly at the same moment.</p> + +<p>"Our beanpole friend is suggesting that we get out of the shell and +stay awhile," said Dex with grim humor. "They seem anxious to +entertain us—<i>ouch!</i>"</p> + +<p>As the two men made no move to obey the beckoning gesture, the +creature had raised the tube again; and again the sharp, unpleasant +shock shot through them.</p> + +<p>"What the devil are we going to do?" exclaimed Brand. "If we go out in +that mob of nightmare things—it's going to be messy. As long as we +stay in the shell we have some measure of protection."</p> + +<p>"Not much protection when they can sting us through metal and glass at +will," growled Dex. "Do you suppose they can turn the juice on harder? +Or is that bee-sting their best effort?"</p> + +<p>As though in direct answer to his words, the blob-like face of the +being who seemed in authority convulsed with anger and he raised the +tube again. This time the shock that came from it was sufficient to +throw the two men to the floor.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't stay in the ship, that's certain," said Brand. "I +guess there's only one thing to do."</p> + +<p>Dex nodded. "Climb out of here and take as many of these skinny +horrors with us into hell as we can," he agreed.</p> + +<p>Once more the shock stung them, as a reminder not to keep their +captors waiting. With their shoulders bunched for abrupt action, and +their guns in hand, the two men walked to the trap-door of the ship. +They threw the heavy bolts, drew a deep breath—and flung open the +door to charge unexpectedly toward the thickest mass of creatures that +surrounded the ship!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>n a measure their charge was successful. Its very suddenness caught +some of the tall monstrosities off guard. Half a dozen of them stopped +the fragile glass bullets to writhe in horrible death on the red metal +paving of the square. But that didn't last long.</p> + +<p>In less than a minute, thin, clammy arms were winding around the +Earthmen's wrists, and their guns were wrenched from them. And then +started a hand-to-hand encounter that was all the more hideous for +being so unlike any fighting that might have occurred on Earth.</p> + +<p>With a furious growl Dex charged the nearest creature, whose huge +round head swayed on its stalk of a body fully six feet above his own +head. He gathered the long thin legs in a football grip, and sent the +thing crashing full length on its back. The great head thumped +resoundingly against the metal paving, and the creature lay +motionless.</p> + +<p>For an instant Dex could only stare at the thing. It had been so easy, +like overcoming a child. But even as that thought crossed his mind, +two of the tall thin figures closed in behind him. Four pairs of arms +wound around him, feebly but tenaciously, like wet seaweed.</p> + +<p>They began to constrict and wind tighter around him. He tore at them, +dislodged all but two. His sturdy Earth leg went back to sweep the +stalk-like legs of his attackers from under them. One of the things +went down, to twist weakly in a laborious attempt to rise again. But +the other, by sheer force of height and reach, began to bear Dex down.</p> + +<p>Savagely he laced out with his fists, battering the pulpy face that +was pressing down close to his. The big eyes blinked shut, but the +four hose-like arms did not relax their clasp. Dex's hands sought +fiercely for the thing's throat. But it had no throat: the head, set +directly on the thin shoulders, defied all throttling attempts.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>hen, just as Dex was feeling that the end had come, he felt the +creature wrench from him, and saw it slide in a tangle of arms and +legs over the smooth metal pavement. He got shakily to his feet, to +see Brand standing over him and flailing out with his fists at an ever +tightening circle of towering figures.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," panted Dex. And he began again, tripping the twelve-foot +things in order to get them down within reach, battering at the great +pulpy heads, fighting blindly in that expressed craving to take as +many of the creatures into hell with him as he could manage. Beside +him fought Brand, steadily, coolly, grim of jaw and unblinking of eye.</p> + +<p>Already the struggle had gone on far longer than they had dreamed it +might. For some reason the grotesque creatures delayed killing them. +That they could do so any time they pleased, was certain: if the +monsters could reach them with their shock-tubes through the double +insulated hull of the space ship, they could certainly kill them out +in the open.</p> + +<p>Yet they made no move to do so. The deadly tubes were not used. The +screeching gargoyles, instead, devoted all their efforts to merely +hurling their attenuated bodies on the two men as though they wished +to capture them alive.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, the nature of the battle changed. The tallest of the +attackers opened his tiny mouth and piped a signal. The ring of +weaving tall bodies surrounding the two opened and became a U. The +creatures in the curve of the U raised their shock-tubes and, with +none of their own kind behind the victims to share in its discharge, +released whatever power it was that lurked in them.</p> + +<p>The shock was terrific. Without the glass and metal of the ship to +protect them, out in the open and defenceless, Brand and Dex got some +indication of its real power.</p> + +<p>Writhing and twitching, feeling as though pierced by millions of red +hot needles, they went down. A swarm of pipe-like bodies smothered +them, and the fight was over.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h2><i>The Coming of Greca</i></h2> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he numbing shock from the tubes left the Earthmen's bodies almost +paralyzed for a time; but their brains were unfogged enough for them +to observe only too clearly all that went on from the point of their +capture.</p> + +<p>They were bound hand and foot. At a piping cry from the leader, +several of the gangling figures picked them up in reedy arms and began +to walk across the square, away from the ship. Brand noticed that his +bearers' arms trembled with his weight: and sensed the flabbiness of +the substance that took the place in them of good solid muscle. +Physically these things were soft and ineffectual indeed. They had +only the ominous tubes with which to fight.</p> + +<p>The eery procession, with the bound Earthmen carried in the lead, +wound toward a great building fringing the square. In through the high +arched entrance of this building they went, and up a sloping incline +to its tower-top. Here, in a huge bare room, the two were +unceremoniously dumped to the floor.</p> + +<p>While three of the things stood guard with the mysterious tubes, +another unbound them. A whole shower of high pitched, piping syllables +was hurled at them, speech which sounded threatening and contemptuous +but was otherwise, of course, entirely unintelligible, and then the +creatures withdrew. The heavy metal door was slammed shut, and they +were alone.</p> + +<p>Brand drew a long breath, and began to feel himself all over for +broken bones. He found none; he was still nerve-wracked from that last +terrific shock, but otherwise whole and well.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Dex?" he asked solicitously.</p> + +<p>"I guess not," replied Dex, getting uncertainly to his feet. "And I'm +wondering why. It seems to me the brutes were uncommonly considerate +of us—and I'm betting the reason is one we won't like!"</p> + +<p>Brand shrugged. "I guess we'll find out their intentions soon enough. +Let's see what our surroundings look like."</p> + +<p>They walked to the nearest window-aperture, and gazed out on a +startling and marvelous scene.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>eneath their high tower window, extending as far as the eye could +reach, lay the city, lit by the reddish glare of the peculiar metal +with which its streets were paved. For the most part the metropolis +consisted of perfectly square buildings pierced by many windows to +indicate that each housed a large number of inmates. But here and +there grotesque turrets lanced the sky, and symbolic domes arched +above the surrounding flat metal roofs.</p> + +<p>One building in particular they noticed. This was an enormous +structure in the shape of a half-globe that reared its spherical +height less than an eighth of a mile from the building they were in. +It was situated off to their right at the foot of a vast, high-walled +enclosure whose near end seemed to be formed by the right wall of +their prison. They could only see it by leaning far out of the +window; and it would not have come to their attention at all had they +not heard it first—or, rather, heard the sound of something within +it: for from it came a curious whining hum that never varied in +intensity, something like the hum of a gigantic dynamo, only greater +and of a more penetrating pitch.</p> + +<p>"Sounds as though it might be some sort of central power station," +said Brand. "But what could it supply power for?"</p> + +<p>"Give it up," said Dex. "For their damned shock-tubes, perhaps, among +other things—"</p> + +<p>He broke off abruptly as a sound of sliding bolts came from the +doorway. The two men whirled around to face the door, their fists +doubling instinctively against whatever new danger might threaten +them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he door was opened and two of their ugly, towering enemies came in, +their tubes held conspicuously before them. Behind came another +figure; and at sight of this one, so plainly not of the race of +Jupiter, the Earthmen gasped with wonder.</p> + +<p>They saw a girl who might have come from Earth, save that she was +taller than most Earth women—of a regal height that reached only an +inch or two below Brand's own six foot one. She was beautifully +formed, and had wavy dark hair and clear light blue eyes. A sort of +sandal covered each small bare foot; and a gauzy tunic, reaching from +above the knee to the shoulder, only half shielded her lovely figure.</p> + +<p>She was bearing a metal container in which was a mess of stuff +evidently intended as food. The guards halted and stepped aside to let +her pass into the room. Then they backed out, constantly keeping Dex +and Brand covered with the tubes, and closed and barred the door.</p> + +<p>The girl smiled graciously at the admiration in the eyes of both the +men—a message needing no inter-planetary interpretation. She +advanced, and held the metal container toward them.</p> + +<p>"Eat," she said softly. "It is good food, and life giving."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>or an instant Brand was dumbfounded. For here was language he could +understand—which was incredible on this far-flung globe. Then he +suddenly comprehended why her sentences were so intelligible.</p> + +<p>She was versed in mental telepathy. And versed to a high degree! He'd +had some experience with telepathy on Venus; but theirs was a crude +thought-speech compared to the fluency possessed by the beautiful girl +before him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"I am Greca"—it was very hard to grasp names or abstract terms—"of +the fourth satellite."</p> + +<p>"Then you are not of these monsters of Jupiter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! I am their captive, as are all my people. We are but slaves +of the tall ones."</p> + +<p>Brand glanced at Dex. "Here's a chance to get some information, +perhaps," he murmured.</p> + +<p>Dex nodded; but meanwhile the girl had caught his thought. She +smiled—a tragic, wistful smile.</p> + +<p>"I shall be happy to tell you anything in my power to tell," she +informed him. "But you must be quick. I can only remain with you a +little while."</p> + +<p>She sat down on the floor with them—the few bench-like things +obviously used by the tall creatures as chairs were too high for +them—and with the informality of adversity the three captives began +to talk. Swiftly Brand got a little knowledge of Greca's position on +Jupiter, and of the racial history that led up to it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>our of the nine satellites of Jupiter were now the home of living +beings. But two only, at the dawn of history as Greca knew it, had +been originally inhabited. These were the fourth and the second.</p> + +<p>On the fourth there dwelt a race, "like me," as Greca put it—a +kindly, gentle people content to live and let live.</p> + +<p>On the second had been a race of immensely tall, but attenuated and +physically feeble things with great heads and huge dull eyes and +characters distinguished mainly for cold-blooded savagery.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of the fourth satellite had remained in ignorance of +the monsters on the second till one day "many, many ages ago," a fleet +of clumsy ships appeared on the fourth satellite. From the ships had +poured thousands of pipe-like creatures, armed with horrible rods of +metal that killed instantly and without a sound. The things, it +seemed, had crowded over the limits of their own globe, and had been +forced to find more territory.</p> + +<p>They had made captive the entire population of the satellite. +Then—for like all dangerous vermin they multiplied rapidly—they had +overflowed to the first and fifth satellites—the others were +uninhabitable—and finally to the dangerous surface of Jupiter itself. +Everywhere they had gone, they had taken droves of Greca's people to +be their slaves, "and the source of their food," added Greca, with a +shudder; a statement that was at the moment unintelligible to the two +men.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>rand stared sympathetically at her. "They treat them very badly?" he +asked gently.</p> + +<p>"Terribly! Terribly!" said Greca, shuddering again.</p> + +<p>"But you seem quite privileged," he could not help saying.</p> + +<p>She shook her dainty head pathetically. "I am of high rank among my +people. I am a priestess of our religion, which is the religion of The +Great White One who rules all the sky everywhere. The Rogans" (it was +the best translation Brand could make of her mental term for the slimy +tall things that held them captive) "—the Rogans hold my fate over +the heads of my race. Should they rebel, I would be thrown to the +monster in the pen. Of course the Rogans could crush any revolt with +their terrible tubes, but they do not want to kill their slaves if +they can help it. They find it more effective to hold their +priestesses in hostage."</p> + +<p>Brand turned from personal history to more vital subjects.</p> + +<p>"Why," he asked Greca, "are the shining red squares of metal laid +everywhere over this empire of the Rogans?"</p> + +<p>"To make things light," was the reply. "When the Rogans first came to +this mighty sphere, they could hardly move. Things are so heavy here, +somehow. So their first thought was to drive my enslaved people to the +casting and laying of the metal squares and the metal beams that +connect them, in order to make things weigh less."</p> + +<p>"But how do the plates function?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_g.jpg" alt="G" width="50" height="50" /></div> +<p>reca did not know this, save vaguely. She tried to express her little +knowledge of the scientific achievements of the savage Rogans. After +some moments Brand turned to Dex and said:</p> + +<p>"As near as I can get it, the Rogans, by this peculiar red metal +alloy, manage to trap and divert the permanent lines of force, the +magnetic field, of Jupiter itself. So the whole red spot is highly +magnetized, which somehow upsets natural gravitational attraction. I +suppose it is responsible for the discoloration of the ground, too."</p> + +<p>He turned to question the girl further about this, but she had got +nervously to her feet already.</p> + +<p>"I'll be taken away soon," she said. "I was brought in here only to +urge you to eat the food. I must be interpreter, since the Rogans +speak not with the mind, and I know their hateful tongue."</p> + +<p>"Why are they so anxious for us to eat?" demanded Dex with an uneasy +frown.</p> + +<p>"So you will be strong, and endure for a long time the—the ordeal +they have in store for you," faltered the girl at last. "They intend +to force from you the secret of the power that drove your ship here, +so they too may have command of space."</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand," frowned Brand. "They must already have a +means of space navigation. They came here to Jupiter from the +satellites."</p> + +<p>"Their vessels are crude, clumsy things. The journey from the nearest +satellite is the limit of their flying range. They have nothing like +your wonderful little ships, and they want to know how to build and +power them."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he gazed sorrowfully at them and went on: "You see, yours is the +fourth space ship to visit their kingdom; and that makes them fearful +because it shows they are vulnerable to invasion. They want to stop +that by invading your planet first. Besides their fear, there is their +greed. Their looking-tubes reveal that yours is a fruitful and lovely +sphere, and they are insatiable in their lust for new territories. +Thus they plan to go to your planet as soon as they are able, and kill +or enslave all the people there as they have killed and enslaved my +race."</p> + +<p>"They'll have a job on their hands trying to do that!" declared Dex +stoutly.</p> + +<p>But Brand paled. "They can do it!" he snapped. "Look at those +death-tubes of theirs. We have no arms to compete with that." He +turned to Greca. "So the Rogans plan to force the secret of our motors +from us by torture?"</p> + +<p>She nodded, and caught his hand in hers.</p> + +<p>"Yes. They will do with you as they did with the six who came before +you—and who died before surrendering the secret."</p> + +<p>"So! We know now what happened to Journeyman and the others!" burst +out Dex. "I'll see 'em in hell before I'll talk!"</p> + +<p>"And me," nodded Brand. "But that doesn't cure the situation. As long +as ships disappear in this red inferno, so long will the Old Man keep +sending others to find out what's wrong. The Rogans will capture them +as easily as they captured us. And eventually someone will happen +along who'll weaken under torture. Then—"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e stopped. A dread vision filled his mind of Earth depopulated by the +feebly ferocious Rogans, of rank on rank of Earth's vast armies +falling in stricken rows at the shock of the Rogans' tubes.</p> + +<p>Greca caught the vision. She nodded. "Yes, that is what would happen +if they found ways of reaching your globe."</p> + +<p>"But, God, Brand, we can't allow that!" cried Dex. "We've got to find +a way to spike the guns of these walking gas-pipes, somehow!"</p> + +<p>Brand sighed heavily. "We are two against hundreds of thousands. We +are bare-handed, and the Rogans have those damned tubes. Anyway, we +are on the verge of death at this very moment. What under heaven can +we do to spike their guns?"</p> + +<p>He was silent a moment: and in the silence the steady hum from the +domed building outside came to his ears.</p> + +<p>"What's in that big, round topped building, Greca?" he asked quietly.</p> + +<p>"I do not know, exactly," replied the girl. "There is some sort of +machinery in it, and to it go connecting beams from all the square +metal plates everywhere. That is all I know."</p> + +<p>Brand started to question her further, but her time was up. The two +guards poked their loathsome pumpkin heads in the doorway and +contemptuously beckoned her out. She answered resignedly, in the +piping Rogan tongue, and went with them. But she turned to wave shyly, +commiseratingly at the two men; and the expression in her clear blue +eyes as they rested on Brand made his heart contract and then leap on +with a mighty bound.</p> + +<p>"We have in ally in her," murmured Brand. "Though God only knows if +that will mean anything to us...."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h2><i>In the Tower</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_w1.jpg" alt="W" width="78" height="54" /></div> +<p>hat I can't figure out," said Dex, striding up and down the big bare +room, "is why we're needed to tell them about the atomic motor. +They've got our ship, and three others besides. I should think they +could learn about the motor just by taking it apart and studying it."</p> + +<p>Brand grinned mirthlessly, recalling the three years of intensive +study it had taken him to learn the refinements of atomic motive +power. "If you'd ever qualified as a space navigator, Dex, you'd know +better. The Rogans are an advanced race; their control of polar +magnetism and the marvelously high-powered telescopes Greca mentions +prove that; but I doubt if they could ever analyze that atomic motor +with no hint as to how it works."</p> + +<p>Silence descended on them again, in which each was lost in his own +thoughts.</p> + +<p>How many hours had passed, the Earthmen did not know. They had spent +the time in fruitless planning to escape from their tower room and go +back to the ship again. Though how they could get away in the ship +when the Rogans seemed able to propel it where-ever they wished +against the utmost power of their motor, they did not attempt to +consider.</p> + +<p>One of Jupiter's short nights had passed, however—a night weirdly +made as light as day by red glares from the plates, which seemed to +store up sunlight, among their other functions—and the tiny sun had +risen to slant into their window at a sharp angle.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they heard the familiar drawing of the great bolts outside +their door. It was opened, and a dozen or more of the Rogans came in, +with Greca cowering piteously in their midst and attempting to +communicate her distress to Brand.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>t the head of the little band of Rogans was one the prisoners had not +seen before. He was of great height, fully two feet taller than the +others; and he carried himself with an air that proclaimed his +importance.</p> + +<p>The tall one turned to Greca and addressed a few high-pitched, squeaky +words to her. She shook her head; whereupon, at a hissed command, two +of the Rogans caught her by the wrists and dragged her forward.</p> + +<p>"They have come to question you," Greca lamented to Brand. "And they +want to do it through me. But I will not! I will not!"</p> + +<p>Brand smiled at her though his lips were pale.</p> + +<p>"You are powerless to struggle," he said. "Do as they ask. You cannot +help us by refusing, and, in any case, I can promise that they won't +learn anything from us."</p> + +<p>The tall Rogan teetered up to the prisoners on his gangling legs, and +stared icily at them. Crouched beside him, her lovely body all one +mute appeal to the Earthmen to forgive her for the part she was forced +to play, was Greca.</p> + +<p>At length the Rogan leader spoke. He addressed his sibilant words to +Greca, though his stony eyes were kept intently on the Earthmen.</p> + +<p>"He says," exclaimed Greca telepathically, "to inform you first that +he is head of all the Rogan race on this globe, and that all on this +globe must do as he commands."</p> + +<p>Brand nodded to show he understood the message.</p> + +<p>"He says he is going to ask you a few questions, and that you are to +answer truthfully if you value your lives:"</p> + +<p>"First, he wants to know what the people of your world are like. Are +they all the same as you?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex started to reply to that; but Brand flung him a warning look. +"Tell him we are the least of the Earth people," he answered steadily. +"Tell him we are of an inferior race. Most of those on Earth are +giants five times as large as we are, and many times more powerful."</p> + +<p>Greca relayed the message in the whistling, piping Rogan tongue. The +tall one stared, then hissed another sentence to the beautiful +interpreter.</p> + +<p>"He wants to know," said Greca, "if there are cities on your globe as +large and complete as this one."</p> + +<p>"There are cities on Earth that make this look like a—a—" Brand cast +about for understandable similes—"like a collection of animal +burrows."</p> + +<p>"He says to describe your planet's war weapons," was the next +interpretation. And here Brand let himself go.</p> + +<p>With flights of fancy he hadn't known he was capable of, he described +great airships, steered automatically and bristling with guns that +discharged explosives powerful enough to kill everything within a +range of a thousand miles. He told of billions of thirty-foot giants +sheathed in an alloy that would make them invulnerable to any feeble +rays the Rogans might have developed. He touched on the certain +wholesale death that must overtake any hostile force that tried to +invade the planet.</p> + +<p>"The Rogan shock-tubes are toys compared with the ray-weapons of +Earth," he concluded. "We have arms that can nullify the effects of +yours and kill at the same instant. We have—"</p> + +<p>But here the Rogan leader turned impatiently away. Greca had been +translating sentence by sentence. Now the tall one barked out a few +syllables in a squeaky voice.</p> + +<p>"He says he knows you are lying," sighed Greca. "For if you on Earth +have tubes more effective than theirs why weren't you equipped with +them on your expedition here to the red kingdom?"</p> + +<p>Brand bit his lips. "Check," he muttered. "The brute has a brain in +that ugly head."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he Rogan leader spoke for a long time then; and at each singsong +word, Greca quivered as though lashed by a whip. At length she turned +to Brand.</p> + +<p>"He has been telling what his hordes can do, answering your boasts +with boasts of his own. His words are awful! I won't tell you all he +said. I will only say that he is convinced his shock-tubes are +superior to any Earth arms, and that he states he will now illustrate +their power to you to quell your insolence. I don't know what he means +by that...."</p> + +<p>But she and the Earthmen were soon to find out.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader stepped to the window and arrogantly beckoned Brand +and Dex to join him there. They did; and the leader gazed out and down +as though searching for something.</p> + +<p>He pointed. The two Earthmen followed his leveled arm with their eyes +and saw, a hundred yards or so away, a bent and dreary figure trudging +down the metal paving of the street. It was a figure like those to be +seen on Earth, which placed it as belonging to Greca's race.</p> + +<p>The tall leader drew forth one of the shock-tubes. Seen near at hand, +it was observed to be bafflingly simple in appearance. It seemed +devoid of all mechanism—simply a tube of reddish metal with a sort of +handle formed of a coil of heavy wire.</p> + +<p>The Rogan pointed the tube at the distant figure.</p> + +<p>Greca screamed, and screamed again. Coincident with her cry, as though +the sound of it had felled him, the distant slave dropped to the +pavement.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>hat was all. The tube had merely been pointed: as far as Brand could +see, the Rogan's "hand" had not moved on the barrel of the tube, nor +even constricted about the coil of wire that formed its handle. Yet +that distant figure had dropped. Furthermore, fumes of greasy black +smoke now began to arise from the huddled body; and in less than +thirty seconds there was left no trace of it on the gleaming metal +pavement.</p> + +<p>"So that's what those things are like at full power!" breathed Dex. +"My God!"</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader spoke a few words. Greca, huddled despairingly on the +floor, crushed by this brutal annihilation of one of her country-men +before her very eyes, did not translate. But translation was +unnecessary. The Rogan's icy, triumphant eyes, the very posture of +his grotesque body, spoke for him.</p> + +<p>"That," he was certainly saying, "is what will happen to any on your +helpless planet who dare oppose the Rogan will!"</p> + +<p>He whipped out a command to the terror-stricken girl. She rose from +her crouching position on the floor; and at length formulated the +Rogan's last order:</p> + +<p>"You will explain the working of the engine that drove your space ship +here."</p> + +<p>Dex laughed. It was a short bark of sound, totally devoid of humor, +but very full of defiance. Brand thrust his hands into the pockets of +his tunic, spread his legs apart, and began to whistle.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p> quiver that might have been of anger touched the Rogan leader's +repulsive little mouth. He glared balefully at the uncowed Earthmen +and spoke again, evidently repeating his command. The two turned their +backs to him to indicate their refusal to obey.</p> + +<p>At that, the tall leader pointed to Dex. In an instant three of the +guards had wound their double pairs of arms around his struggling +body. Brand sprang to help him, but a touch of the mysterious +discharge from the leader's tube sent him writhing to the floor.</p> + +<p>"It's no use, Brand," said Dex steadily. He too had stopped +struggling, and now stood quietly in the slimy coils of his captors' +arms. "I might as well go along with them and get it over with. I +probably won't see you again. Good luck!"</p> + +<p>He was borne out of the room. The Rogan leader turned to Brand and +spoke.</p> + +<p>"He says that if your comrade does not tell him what he wants to know, +your turn will come next," sobbed Greca. "Oh! Why does not The Great +White One strike these monsters to the dust!"</p> + +<p>She ran to Brand and pressed her satiny cheek to his. Then she was +dragged roughly away.</p> + +<p>The great door clanged shut. The heavy outer fastenings clicked into +place. Dex had gone to experience whatever it was that Journeyman and +the rest had experienced in this red hell. And Brand was left behind +to reflect on what dread torments this might comprise; and to pray +desperately that no matter what might be done to his shrinking body he +would be strong enough to refuse to betray his planet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h2><i>The Torture Chamber</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> +<p>wiftly Dex was carried down the long ramp to the ground floor, the +arms of his captors gripping him with painful tightness. Heading the +procession was the immensely tall, gangling Rogan leader, clutching +Greca by the wrist and dragging her indifferently along to be his +mouthpiece.</p> + +<p>They did not stop at the street level; they continued on down another +ramp, around a bend, descending an even steeper incline toward the +bowels of Jupiter. Their descent ended at last before a huge metal +barrier which, at a signal from the leader, drew smoothly up into the +ceiling to disclose a gigantic, red-lit chamber underlying the +foundations of the building.</p> + +<p>In fear and awe, Dex gazed around that huge room.</p> + +<p>It resembled in part a nightmare rearrangement of such a laboratory as +might be found on Earth; and in part a torture chamber such as the +most ferocious of savages might have devised had they been +scientifically equipped to add contrivances of supercivilization to +the furthering of their primitive lust for cruelty.</p> + +<p>There were great benches—head-high to the Earthman—to accommodate +the height of the Rogan workmen. There were numberless metal +instruments, and glass coils, and enormous retorts; and in one corner +an orange colored flame burnt steadily on a naked metal plate, seeming +to have no fuel or other source of being.</p> + +<p>There was a long rack of cruelly pointed and twisted instruments. +Under this was a row of long, delicate pincers, with coils on the +handles to indicate that they might be heated to fiendish precision of +temperatures. There were gleaming metal racks with calibrated +slide-rods and spring dials to denote just what pull was being exerted +on whatever unhappy creature might be stretched taut on them. There +were tiny cones of metal whose warped, baked appearance testified that +they were little portable furnaces that could be placed on any desired +portion of the anatomy, to slowly bake the selected disk of flesh +beneath them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex shuddered; and a low moan came from Greca, whose clear blue eyes +had rested on the contents of this vast room before in her capacity as +hostage and interpreter for the inhuman Rogans.</p> + +<p>And now another sense of Dex's began to register perception on his +brain.</p> + +<p>A peculiar odor came to his nostrils. It was a musky, fetid odor, like +that to be smelled in an animal cage; but it was sharper, more acrid +than anything he had ever smelled on Earth. It smelled—ah, he had +it!—<i>reptilian</i>. As though somewhere nearby a dozen titanic serpents +were coiled ready to spring!</p> + +<p>Looking about, Dex saw a six-foot square door of bars in one wall of +the laboratory—like the barred entrance to a prison cell. It was from +the interstices of this door that the odor seemed to emanate; but he +had no chance to make sure, for now the Rogan leader approached him.</p> + +<p>"I will first show you," he said, through his mouthpiece, Greca, "what +happens to those who oppose our orders. We have a slave who tried to +run away into the surrounding jungles three suns ago...."</p> + +<p>A man was dragged into the chamber. He was slightly taller and more +stockily muscled than an Earthman might be; but otherwise, in facial +conformation and general appearance, he might have come here straight +from New York City. Dex felt a great pang of sympathy for him. He was +so plainly one of humankind, despite the fact that he had been born on +a sphere four hundred million miles from Dex's.</p> + +<p>The fellow was paralyzed with horror. His eyes, wide and glazed, +darted about the torture room like those of a trapped animal. And yet +he made no move to break away from the clutch of the two Rogans who +held him. He knew he was helpless, that wild-eyed glance told Dex. +Knew it so thoroughly that not even his wildest terror could inspire +him to try to make a break for freedom, or strike back at the +implacable Rogan will.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>t a nod from the leader, the man was stripped to the waist. Here Dex +started in amazement. The man's broad chest was seamed and +crisscrossed by literally hundreds of tiny lateral scars, some long +healed, and some fresh incisions.</p> + +<p>He was dragged to a metal plate set upright in the wall, and secured +to it by straps of metal. Evidently the miserable being knew what this +portended, for he began to scream—a monotonous, high-pitched shriek +that didn't stop till he was out of breath.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader stared at him icily, then depressed a small lever set +in the wall beside him. The plate against which the captive was bound +began to shine softly with a blue light. The slave twisted in his +bonds, screaming again. Rhythmic shudders jerked at his limbs. His +lips turned greenish white. The shudders grew more pronounced till it +seemed as though he were afflicted with a sort of horrible St. Vitus +dance. Then the tall Rogan pulled back the lever. The slave hung away +from his supporting shackles, limp and unconscious.</p> + +<p>Dex moistened his lips. An electric shock? No, it was something more +terrible than that. Some other manifestation of the magnetic power the +Rogans had harnessed—a current, perhaps, that depolarized partly the +atoms of the body structure? He could only guess. But the convulsed +face of the unfortunate victim showed that the torment, whatever it +was, was devilish to the last degree!</p> + +<p>"That will be the next to the last fate reserved for you," the Rogan +informed Dex, through Greca. "Death follows soon after that—but not +too soon for you to see and feel what waits for you behind the barred +door!" And he nodded toward the cage-entrance affair, from which came +the musky, reptilian stench.</p> + +<p>"Now that you have seen something of what will happen to you if you +refuse to tell us what we want to know, we shall proceed," said the +leader.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e pointed toward one of the gargantuan work benches, and two of the +Rogans slid down from it a contrivance that looked familiar to Dex. An +instant's scrutiny showed him why it was familiar: it was a partly +dismantled atomic motor.</p> + +<p>In spite of the ordeal that faced him, Dex felt a thrill of elation +as he looked at the motor. In its scattered state, it told a mute +story: a story of long and intensive study by the Rogans, which had +yielded them no results! Only too obviously, the intricate secret of +atomic power had not let itself be solved.</p> + +<p>On the heels of the elation that filled his heart, came a sickening +realization of his dilemma. He could not have told the Rogans what +they wanted to know even if he had wished to! He himself didn't know +the principles of the atomic engine. As Brand had remarked, he was no +space navigator; he was simply a prosaic lieutenant, competent only at +fighting, not at all versed in science.</p> + +<p>He knew, though, that it would do no good to assert his ignorance to +the Rogans. They simply wouldn't believe him.</p> + +<p>"You will rebuild this engine for us," ordered the tall leader, +"showing us the purpose of each part, and how the power is extracted +from the fuel. After that you will set it running for us, and instruct +us in its control."</p> + +<p>Dex braced himself. His final moment had come.</p> + +<p>By way of indicating his refusal he looked away from the dismantled +motor and said nothing. The Rogan repeated his command. Dex made no +move. Then the leader acted.</p> + +<p>He said something to the Rogan guards who had been standing by all +this while, alert against an outbreak from their prisoner. Dex was +caught up, carried to one of the metal racks, and thrown down on its +calibrated bed. Loops of metal, like handcuffs, were snapped around +his wrists and ankles; and a metal hoop was clamped over his throat, +pinning him to the torture rack. Resistance would have been useless, +and Dex submitted quietly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he contrivance, with him on it, was wheeled toward the barred door. +It was halted at a spot marked on the floor, about thirty feet from +the bars. The Rogan leader stepped alongside the rack, with Greca +trembling beside him.</p> + +<p>Dex closed his eyes for a moment, grimly marshaling strength of will +to go through the trial that was just beginning.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader depressed another lever in the rock wall. The barred +door slid slowly up, to reveal the receding darknesses of some great +cave, or room, that adjoined the laboratory. Dex rolled his eyes so +that he could watch the doorway; and, in a cold perspiration, waited +for whatever might appear.</p> + +<p>It was not long in coming!</p> + +<p>The reptilian smell suddenly grew stronger. There was a booming hiss, +a savage bellowing. A clattering of vast scales rattled out as some +body weighing many tons was dragged over rock flooring. Then, before +Dex's staring eyes appeared a huge, wedge-shaped head, at sight of +which he bit his lips to keep from crying aloud.</p> + +<p>Often enough he had seen one of those terrific heads looming in the +fog of the northern hemisphere of Jupiter. He did not know the genus +of the vast monster that bore it, but he did know it for the fiercest +of the lizard giants that roamed the Jovian jungles. A creature larger +than a terrestrial whale, with great long neck and heavy long tail +dragging yards behind it, it would find the puny bulk of a man nothing +but a morsel in its jaws!</p> + +<p>Again the gigantic thing hissed and bellowed. And then its huge head +came through the six-foot door and its neck uncoiled to send the +gaping jaws within a foot of Dex. There it struggled to reach him, +prevented by the small doorway that restrained the bulk of its +enormous body, its head only inches away from the cleverly measured +spot to which the metal rack had been wheeled.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex stared, hypnotized, into the dull, stony eyes of the beast, +gasping for breath in the stench of its exhalations. The jaws snapped +shut, fanning his cheek. He fought for self-control. Steady! Steady! +The slimy Rogans had no intention of feeding him to the thing yet. Not +till they had made more determined efforts to wring from him the +secret of the motor. They were just prefacing actual physical torture +with hellish mental torture, that was all.</p> + +<p>That he was right in his guess was proved in a few moments. He heard a +louder hiss from the great lizard so near him. Opening his eyes, he +saw the Rogan leader in the process of forcing the serpentine neck to +withdraw foot by foot back into the doorway, using his shock-tube as a +sort of distant prod.</p> + +<p>The monster swayed its ugly flat head back and forth, hissing +deafeningly at the sting of the tube, now and again lunging with its +vast unseen body at the too narrow entrance that kept it from entering +the laboratory. Dex could hear the foundation walls of the building +creak at the onslaught of that tremendous weight.</p> + +<p>If it would only break through! he thought savagely. But it wasn't +going to. In a short while it was cowed by the deadly tube, and +withdrew its head awkwardly from the chamber. The barred door slid +down into place: and the Rogan leader once more turned his attention +to his prisoner.</p> + +<p>"You will be wheeled within reach of the creature as the last step of +your fate," Dex was informed. "Meanwhile, we shall start with +something less deadly...."</p> + +<p>A cogged wheel beside him was turning a notch. Dex felt the sliding +bed of the rack crawl slightly under him. Intolerable tension was +suddenly placed on his arms and legs. The leader stared at a spring +dial; and moved the wheel another notch. The rack expanded again, +stretching Dex's body till his joints cracked.</p> + +<p>"You will tell us what we want to know," said the Rogan, glaring +coldly down at him.</p> + +<p>Dex compressed his lips stubbornly. He couldn't tell them if he wanted +to, and, by God, he wouldn't if he could.</p> + +<p>Another notch, the wheel was turned; and in spite of himself a groan +escaped Dex's lips. One more notch, while the metal slide-rods beneath +him lengthened a fraction of an inch....</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h2><i>The Inquisition</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> +<p>lind, animal fear caught Dex and shook him in its grip. Then rage +filled his heart, driving out the fear as a gale dissipates fog. With +pain-dimmed eyes he glared at the gangling, hateful figure that gazed +down on him with icy eyes. If he could only blast that monstrous, +physically feeble but mentally ferocious thing to bits! Annihilate it! +Blow it to the four corners of Jupiter! And all the other Rogans with +it!</p> + +<p>And with this thought he suddenly saw, through the red mists of rage, +the shock-tube that was dangling indifferently from the Rogan leader's +hand.</p> + +<p>Instantly the red mists began to clear away. Another change took place +in the tortured lieutenant's mind. The blind hot rage faded into more +deadly, cold wrath. A plan began to bud into thought. It was a futile +plan, really. It could not possibly accomplish anything vital. But it +<i>might</i> give him a chance for a little revenge before his life was +snuffed out—might give him a chance to strike a blow for the dead +Journeyman and the other gallant explorers who had perished here in +this chamber before him.</p> + +<p>He closed his eyes to hide the hate and calculation in them. The tall +Rogan leaned lower over the rack.</p> + +<p>"You are ready to do as I command?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes," whispered Dex. "Yes."</p> + +<p>In the beautiful Greca's eyes, as she translated his assent, was +horror. But then, faintly, her mind caught the thought that lay +beneath the Earthman's apparent surrender. She veiled her own eyes +with long lashes, lest they betray the captive's plan to the alert +Rogan. Her lips moved silently; perhaps she was praying to her Great +White One.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_r1.jpg" alt="R" width="58" height="53" /></div> + +<p>elease him," the Rogan ordered, triumph in his bird-like, shrill +voice. The metal hoops were unfastened. Dex stretched his outraged +body, wincing with the pain of movement; then felt life and strength +returning to him.</p> + +<p>"Come with us to the motor," commanded the Rogan, his dull eyes +glinting in anticipation of learning the coveted secret that should +add one more planet to the Rogan's tyranny.</p> + +<p>Dex walked to the dismantled atomic engine with him. He walked slowly, +pretending more stiffness and weakness than he really owned to. No use +in letting his captors know that his resilient muscles were so quickly +throwing off the torment of the rack.</p> + +<p>As he walked he kept his gaze covertly on that shock-tube that dangled +in the leader's grasp. The rest of the guard had none; they had laid +their weapons down on a far bench on their entrance to the chamber, +depending on the one with which their leader was armed.</p> + +<p>Eagerly the Rogans crowded around Dex and the motor that had thus far +baffled them. They bent down from their twelve-foot heights to bring +their staring goggle-eyes closer to the lesson in atomic motive power, +till Dex was in a sort of small dome of Rogans, with their long, +pipe-like legs forming the wall around him, and their thin torsos +inclining forward to make a curved ceiling over him.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader drew Greca within the circle to interpret the +Earthman's explanations.</p> + +<p>Dex moved a trifle, to bring himself nearer the tall leader. Again he +glanced covertly at the shock-tube.</p> + +<p>"The first thing to tell about our motor," said Dex, stalling for +time, "is that it utilizes the breaking up of the atom as its source +of power."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e edged closer to the Rogan leader.</p> + +<p>"You see those electrodes?" he said, pointing to two copper castings +in a chamber between the fuel tank and the small but enormously +powerful turbine that whirled with the released atomic energy. The +Rogan leader blinked assent. His small, horrible mouth was pursed with +his concentration of thought.</p> + +<p>"The electrodes partially break down the atoms of fuel passing from +the tank," explained Dex, desperately attempting scientific +phraseology for a matter as far over his head as the remote stars. He +raised his hand a trifle, bringing it nearer the Rogan's tube....</p> + +<p>"Is that the outlet from the tank?" inquired the Rogan, pointing with +the tube, and so raising it out of Dex's reach.</p> + +<p>"Yes," mumbled Dex, sick with disappointment: he'd been on the point +of leaping for the weapon. He sidled close again. Greca bit her lips +lest she cry out with suspense.</p> + +<p>"The partially disintegrated atoms pass into the turbine chamber," he +went on, "and are there completely broken down by heat, which has been +generated by the explosive energy of the atoms passing in before +them."</p> + +<p>"I warn you to speak true," said the leader, suddenly removing his +gaze from the specimen motor and staring icily down at Dex. Dex's hand +dropped abruptly from its place near the tube. Again his fingers had +come within a foot of it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_w1.jpg" alt="W" width="78" height="54" /></div> + +<p>e will get ahead faster," piped the Rogan, an edge of suspicion +sounding in his shrill voice, "if I conduct the explanation. I will +ask questions for you to answer. What is the fuel used?"</p> + +<p>"Powdered zinc," Dex answered promptly. No harm in admitting that. The +Rogans must already know it; zinc was common to Jupiter, as Earth +spectroscopes had showed long since; and they had no doubt analyzed it +by now. The chances were that the leader was merely testing him, to +see if he were sincere in his ostensible surrender.</p> + +<p>That his guess was right, he read in the fishy, dull eyes. The Rogan +leader nodded at his answer, and some of the lurking suspicion in his +gaze died down.</p> + +<p>"How is it prepared?"</p> + +<p>Now this marked the beginning of the end, Dex knew. The preparation of +the powdered metal was half the secret of atomic power—and Dex hadn't +the faintest idea what it was! This questions-and-answers affair was +going to pin him down in short order!</p> + +<p>"How is it prepared?" repeated the Rogan leader inexorably. "Tell us, +or—"</p> + +<p>But at that instant Dex attained his objective.</p> + +<p>Once more his hand had crawled slowly toward the tube—till, once +more, it was within reach. Then, more bold as his position grew more +desperate, he straightened up—and, with a lightning move, had +wrenched it from the sucker-disk that held it!</p> + +<p>He shouted his triumph. He had it! <i>Now</i> let the devils put him back +on the torture bed if they could! <i>Now</i> let them try to make him +betray his planet!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was an alarmed squeak from the Rogan leader, and in an instant +the huge laboratory was in an uproar. The Rogan guards whipped their +hose-like arms toward the Earthman. Dex, with a sweep of his hands, +knocked the pipe-stem legs of two of the guards from under them, +leaped over their bodies, and stood at bay in a corner—guarding the +bench on which the guards had laid their tubes when they filed into +the laboratory.</p> + +<p>The air resounded with the shrill calls of the excited Rogans. Then +they began to close in on him, all the while eyeing the tube in his +hand with terror written large on their hideous faces.</p> + +<p>Dex's eyes blazed with the light of vengeful exultation. For the death +of Journeyman and the rest, for the coming inevitable death of himself +and Brand, he was going to pay—at least in part—with the captured +tube of death in his hand! It was a lovely thought, and for a few +seconds he delayed acting in order to savor it.</p> + +<p>Then, with a smile of pure happiness, he leveled the tube at the +nearest Rogan in order to shrivel him to nothingness as he had seen +the slave shrivelled in the street.</p> + +<p>The Rogan did not fall! Full in the face of the death tube he teetered +forward, his arms reaching savagely toward the Earthman.</p> + +<p>Dex stared incredulously. Cold fear crept into his heart. He pointed +the tube more accurately, and squeezed harder on the coil handle. +Still nothing happened. The Rogans warily drew closer.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_p.jpg" alt="P" width="46" height="50" /></div> + +<p>erspiration began to trickle down Dex's cheeks. In God's name, why +didn't the tube work? He had thought all he had to do was point it and +squeeze down on the handle. But evidently there was more to the trick +than that!</p> + +<p>He groaned. He had staged all this elaborate play for a weapon as +useless to his untrained mind as one of Earth's explosive guns, with +the safety-lock clamped on, would have been to an abysmal Venusian +savage!</p> + +<p>By now the nearest Rogan was within reaching distance of him. One of +its two pairs of slimy arms uncoiled toward him. The other pair +strained to reach around him and get to the weapons on the bench by +his side.</p> + +<p>With a cry, Dex dashed the useless shock-tube down on the reaching +arms. As long as he didn't know how to work it anyway, he might as +well use it as a club.</p> + +<p>The Rogan squeaked with pain; the arms recoiled. Dex jerked the tube +back over his shoulder for another blow....</p> + +<p>There was a shriek from the doomed wretch fastened to the metal plate. +The slave that had been tortured before Dex's eyes as an object +lesson! He had been returned to consciousness a short time since, and +had been writhing and shuddering against the plate.</p> + +<p>Dex flashed a glance at him over his shoulder, as he shrieked, and +cried aloud himself at what he saw.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he tortured slave was rapidly disappearing! Another shriek left his +lips, to be broken off halfway. In an instant nothing was left of the +struggling body but a wisp of greasy black smoke!</p> + +<p>Dex stared stupidly at the tube in his hand. Then, as a squeak of +agony sounded from a Rogan in front of him, his mind grasped what had +happened. Somehow its mechanism had been jarred into functioning when +he dashed it against the groping arm. In some way its death dealing +power had been unleashed. With a cry of exultation, Dex began to use +it!</p> + +<p>The Rogan in front of him, squealing, collapsed on the floor, +dwindling swiftly into nothingness. Dex turned the mysterious death +against another teetering creature. It too went up in oleaginous +smoke.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader came next. Dex whirled the tube in his direction, and +saw him go down. Then he sprang to annihilate still another grotesque +monster who had almost reached the bench on which were the other +tubes. He shouted and raved as this fourth Rogan crumbled. Torture +him, would they! Plan to capture Earth, would they! He'd kill off the +whole damned population with this tube!</p> + +<p>The Rogan survivors, squeaking in panic, gave over their attempts to +retrieve the tubes. They dove for various hiding places—under +benches, behind retorts, anywhere to get away from the terror running +amuck in their midst. And after them sprang Dex, mad with his sudden +miraculous success, to ferret them out one by one and blow them into +hell with their own horrible death-engine.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>n his ecstasy of rage, Dex overlooked the Rogan leader. He had seen +that attenuated monstrosity go down, and had assumed he was dead. But +such was not the case. In the corner Dex had vacated when he sprang +after the fleeing guard, the tall leader twisted feebly and sat up.</p> + +<p>One of his four arms was missing, a smoking stump showing where the +annihilating ray from the tube had blasted it off at the shoulder. But +he was far from being dead. With cold purpose in his great staring +eyes, he moved snakily toward the bench Dex had now left unguarded.</p> + +<p>The Earthman got another Rogan; whirled to track down still another. +Promptly the leader sank motionless to the floor. The Rogan leader +continued his crawling. He reached the bench, fumbled up and along its +surface for the nearest tube.</p> + +<p>Dex, unconscious of the sure fate gathering behind him to strike him +down, dashed past a great glass tank behind which Greca was huddling +in mortal fear, and charged down on two more of the squeaking guards.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, some sixth sense warned him that something was wrong. +He whirled toward the corner he had left.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader, two of his surviving arms propping feebly against +the bench, was pointing a shock-tube squarely at him!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex fell to the floor to escape the first discharge of the tube, and +leveled his own. He felt the thing grow hot in his hand, saw a +blinding blue-white fire leap into being in the space between them as +the rays from the two tubes met and absorbed each other. He shifted, +to get out of the line and blast the creature he had too hastily +reckoned as dead. But he was not quick enough. A fraction before him, +the Rogan leader shifted.</p> + +<p>Dex felt a terrible burning sensation all over his body, as the ray +from his tube met the conflicting ray less squarely, and allowed a +little of it to reach him. He shrieked as the slave had shrieked when +he felt the annihilating current from the plate sweeping through his +body.</p> + +<p>A black fog seemed to close in around the Earthman's senses. He +crashed to the floor, with a glimpse of the leering triumph on the +Rogan's face as the last picture to stamp itself in his failing +consciousness.</p> + +<p>The tall Rogan, obviously in great agony from his blasted arm, +squeaked a faint command. The four guards who were left issued +fearfully from their hiding places and came to him.</p> + +<p>He pointed his tube at Dex Harlow, lying unconscious on the floor. +There he hesitated an instant, his soft little mouth slobbering in his +rage and pain. Then he let the tube sink slowly off its line.</p> + +<p>He gave another command. The four guards picked the Earthman up and +carried him to the metal torture-plate on which the slave had met his +death. The tall leader's eyes gleamed with vicious hatred as the limp +body was fastened to the metal.</p> + +<p>Mouthing and squealing with the pain of his seared arm-stump, he +wobbled toward the lever, a mere turn of which would readily convert +the plate into a bed of agony.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h2><i>In the Power-House</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> +<p>lone in the prison room, after Dex had been dragged away to be +subjected to the Rogan inquisition, Brand gnawed at his fingers and +paced distractedly up and down the stone flooring. For a while he had +no coherent thought at all; only the realization that his turn came +next, and that the Rogans would leave no refinement of torment untried +in their effort to wring from him the secret of the atomic engine.</p> + +<p>He went to the window, and absent-mindedly stared out. The whining +hum from the great domed building off to the right, like the +high-pitched droning of a swarm of gargantuan bees, came to his ears. +He listened more intently, and leaned out of the window to look at the +building.</p> + +<p>Under that dome, it came to him again, was, in all probability, the +mainspring of the Rogan mechanical power. If only he could get in +there and look around! He might do some important damage; he might be +able to harass the enemy materially before the time came for him to +die.</p> + +<p>He leaned farther out of the window, and examined the hundred feet or +so of sheer wall beneath him. He saw, scrutinizing it intently, that +the stone blocks that composed it were not smooth cut, but rough hewn, +with the marks of the cutters' chisels plainly in evidence. Also there +was a considerable ridge between each layer of blocks where the +Rogans' mortar had squeezed out in the process of laying the wall.</p> + +<p>Never in sanity would a man have thought of the thing Brand considered +then. To attempt to clamber down that blank wall, with only the slight +roughness of the protruding layers of mortar to hang on to, was +palpable suicide!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>rand shrugged. He observed that to a man already condemned to death, +the facing of probable suicide shouldn't mean much.</p> + +<p>With scarcely an increase in the beating of his heart, he swung one +leg out over the broad sill. If he fell, he escaped an infinitely +worse death; if he didn't fall, he might somehow win his way into that +domed building whence the hum came.</p> + +<p>Cautiously, clutching at the rough stone with finger tips that in a +moment or two became raw and bleeding masses, he began his slow +descent. As he worked his way down, he slanted to the right, toward +the near wall of the retaining yard whose end was formed by the round +structure that was his goal.</p> + +<p>Beneath him and to the left the broad street swarmed with figures: the +tall ones of the Rogans and the shorter, sturdier ones of slaves. Any +one of those dozens of grotesque pedestrians might glance up, see him, +and pick him off with the deadly tubes. Under his fingers the mortar +crumbled and left him hanging, more than once, by one hand. For fully +five minutes his life hung by a thread apt to be severed at any time. +But—he made it. Helped by the decreased gravity of the red spot, and +released from inhibiting fear by the fact that he was already, +figuratively, a dead man, he performed the incredible.</p> + +<p>With a last slithering step downward, he landed lightly on the near +wall of the enclosure, and started along its broad top toward his +objective.</p> + +<p>Now he was in plain sight of any one who might be looking out the +windows of the tower building or from the dome ahead of him; but this +was a chance he had to take, and at least he was concealed from the +swarms in the street. Making no effort to hide himself by crawling +along the top of the wall, he straightened up and began to run toward +the giant dome.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ardly had he gone a dozen steps when he suddenly understood the +meaning of the high-walled enclosure to his right!</p> + +<p>Off in a far corner rose a slate colored mound that at first glance he +had taken for a great heap of inanimate dirt. The mound began to move +toward him—and metamorphosed into an animal, a thing that made Brand +blink his eyes to see if he were dreaming, and then stop, appalled, +to look at it.</p> + +<p>He saw a body that dwarfed the high retaining walls to comparative +insignificance. It had a tree-like tail that dragged behind it; and a +thirty-foot, serpentine neck at the end of which was a head like a +sugar barrel that split into cavernous jaws lined with +backward-pointing teeth. Two eyes were set wide apart in the enormous +head, eyes that were dead and cold and dull, yet glinting with +senseless ferocity. It was the sort of thing one sees in delirium.</p> + +<p>With increasing energy the creature made for him, till finally it was +approaching his sector of the wall at a lumbering run that was rapid +for all its ungainliness.</p> + +<p>It was apparent at a glance that the snaky neck, perched atop the +lofty shoulder structure, would raise the head with its gaping jaws to +his level on the wall! Brand ran. And after him thudded the gigantic +lizard, its neck arching up and along the wall to reach him.</p> + +<p>A scant five yards ahead of the snapping jaws, Brand reached his goal, +the dome, and clambered over its curved, metal roof away from the +monster's maw.</p> + +<p>He stopped to pant for breath and wipe the sweat from his streaming +face. "Thank God it didn't get me," he breathed, looking back at the +bellowing terror that had pursued him. "Wonder why it's there? It's +too ferocious to be tamed and used in any way: it must be kept as a +threat to hold the slaves in hand. It certainly looks well fed...."</p> + +<p>He shuddered; then he began to explore the dome of the building for a +means of entrance.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was no opening in the roof. A solid sheet of reddish metal, like +a titanic half-eggshell, it glittered under him in an unbroken piece.</p> + +<p>He crept down its increasingly precipitous edge till he reached a sort +of cornice that formed a jutting circle of stone around it. There he +leaned far over and saw, about ten feet below him, a round opening +like a big port-hole. From it were streaming waves of warm, foul air, +from which he judged it to be a ventilator outlet.</p> + +<p>He scrambled over the edge of the cornice, hung at arm's length, and +swung himself down into the opening. And there, perched high up under +the roof, he looked down at an enigmatic, eery scene.</p> + +<p>That the structure was indeed a strange sort of power-house was +instantly made evident. But what curious, mysterious, and yet +bewilderingly simple machinery it held!</p> + +<p>In the center was a titanic coil of reddish metal formed by a single +cable nearly a yard through. Around this, at the four corners of the +compass, were set coils that were identical in structure but a trifle +smaller. From the smaller coils to the larger streamed, unceasingly, +blue waves of light like lightning bolts.</p> + +<p>Along a large arc of the wall was a stone slab set with an endless +array of switches and insulated control-buttons. Gauges and indicators +of all kinds, whose purpose could not even be guessed at, were lined +above and below, all throbbing rhythmically to the leap of the +electric-blue rays between the monster coils.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>lmost under Brand's perch a great square beam of metal came through +the building wall from outside, to be split into multitudinous smaller +beams that were hooked up with the bases of the coils. Across from +him, disappearing out through the opposite wall, was an identical +beam.</p> + +<p>"The terminals for the metal plate system that extends over the whole +red spot," murmured Brand. "This building <i>is</i> important. But what can +I do to throw sand in the gears before I'm caught and killed...?"</p> + +<p>He surveyed the great round room below him more thoroughly. Now he +saw, right in the center of the huge control board, a solitary lever, +that seemed a sort of parent to all the other levers and switches. It +was flanked by a perfect army of gauges and indicators; and was +covered by a glass bell which was securely bolted to the rock slab.</p> + +<p>"That looks interesting," Brand told himself. "I'd like to see that +closer, if I can climb down from here without being observed.... +Why"—he broke off—"where is everybody!"</p> + +<p>For the first time, in the excitement and concentration of his +purpose, the emptiness of the place struck him. There was no sign of +light in the great building—no workmen or slaves anywhere. There was +just the great coils, with the streamers of blue light bridging them +and emitting the high-pitched, monotonous hum audible outside the +dome, and the complicated control board with its quivering indicator +needles and mysterious levers. That was all.</p> + +<p>"Must be out to lunch," muttered Brand, his eyes going fascinatedly +toward that solitary, parent lever under its glass bell. "Well, it +gives me a chance to try some experiments, anyway."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>t was about fifty feet from his perch to the floor; but a few feet to +one side was a metal beam that extended up to help support the trussed +weight of the roof. He jumped for this, and quickly slid down it.</p> + +<p>He started on a run for the control board; but almost immediately he +stopped warily to listen: it seemed to him that he had caught, +faintly, the squeaking, high tones of Rogan conversation.</p> + +<p>Miraculously, the sound seemed to come from a blank wall to his left. +He crept forward to investigate....</p> + +<p>The mystery was solved before he had gone very far. There was an +opening in the wall leading off to an annex of some kind outside the +dome building. The opening was concealed by a set-back, so that at +first glance it had seemed part of the wall itself. From this opening +drifted the chatter of Rogans.</p> + +<p>Brand stole closer, finally venturing to peer into the room beyond +from an angle where he himself could not be seen. And he found that +his whimsical reference to "lunch" had contained a ghastly element of +fact!</p> + +<p>In that annex were several dozen of the teetering, attenuated Rogans, +and an equal number of slaves. And the relation of the slaves and the +Rogans was one that made Brand's skin crawl.</p> + +<p>Each Rogan had stripped the tunic from the chest of his slave. Now, as +Brand watched, each drew a keen blade from his belt, and made a +shallow gash in the shrinking flesh. There were a few stifled +screams—some of the slaves were women—but for the most part the +slashing was endured in stoical silence. When red drops began to ooze +forth, the Rogans stooped and applied their horrible little mouths to +the incisions....</p> + +<p>"The slimy devils!" Brand whispered hoarsely, at sight of that +dreadful feeding. "The inhuman, monstrous vermin!"</p> + +<p>But now one or two of the Rogans had begun to utter squeaks of +satiation; and Brand hastened away from there and toward the control +board again. He hadn't an idea of what he might accomplish when he +reached it; he didn't know but that a touch of the significant looking +parent-lever might blast him to bits; but he did know that he was +going to raise absolute hell with something, somewhere, if he possibly +could.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>wiftly he approached the great master-lever, protected by its bell of +glass. (At least it looked like glass, for it was crystal clear and +reflected gleamingly the blue light from the nearby coils). He tapped +it experimentally with his knuckles....</p> + +<p>At once pandemonium reigned in the great vaulted building. There was a +siren-like screaming from a device he noticed for the first time +attached under the domed roof. A clanging alarm split the air from +half a dozen gongs set around the upper walls.</p> + +<p>Squealing shouts sounded behind Brand. He whirled, and saw the Rogans, +interrupted in their terrible meal, pouring in from the annex and +racing toward him. Rage and fear distorted their hideous faces as they +pointed first to the big lever and then at the escaped Earthman. They +redoubled their efforts to get at him, their long unsteady legs +covering the distance in great bounds.</p> + +<p>Brand swore. Was he to be caught again before he had accomplished a +certain thing? When he had already managed to win clear to his +objective?</p> + +<p>He hammered at the glass bell with his fists, but realized with the +first blow that he was only wasting time trying to crack it +bare-handed. He glanced quickly about and saw a metal bar propped up +against the control board near him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e sprang for it, grasped it as a club, and returned to the glass +bell. Raising his arms high, he brought the thick metal bar down on +the glass with all his strength.</p> + +<p>With a force that almost wrenched his arms from their sockets, the bar +rebounded from the glass bell, leaving it uncracked.</p> + +<p>"Unbreakable!" groaned Brand.</p> + +<p>Desperately he tried again, whirling the bar high over his head and +bringing it smashing down. The result was the same as before as far as +breaking the bell was concerned. But—a little trickle of crushed rock +came from around the bolts in the slab to which the bell was fastened.</p> + +<p>A third time be brought the bar down. The glass bell sagged a bit sway +from the slab....</p> + +<p>He had no chance for more assaults on it. The nearest Rogans had +leaped for him. Slimy arms were coiling around him, while the +loathsome sucker-disks tore at his unprotected face and throat.</p> + +<p>Savagely Brand lashed out with the bar. It caved in a pair of the +long, skinny legs, bringing a bloated round head down within reach. He +smashed it with the bar, exulting grimly as the blow crumpled bone and +flesh almost down to the little mouth which was yet carmine from its +recent feeding.</p> + +<p>The process seemed a sound one to Brand, unable as he was to reach the +Rogans' heads that towered six feet above his own. Methodically, +swinging the bar with the weight of his body behind it, he repeated +the example. First a crash of the bar against a pair of legs, then the +crushing in of the Rogan's head when he toppled with agonized squeals +to the floor.</p> + +<p>Again and again he crushed the life out of a Rogan with his one-two +swing of the deadly bar. They were thinning down, now. They were +wavering in their charges against the comparatively insignificant +being from another planet who was defending himself so fiercely.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>inally one of their number turned and ran toward an exit, waving his +four arms and adding his high-pitched alarms to the incessant ringing +of the gongs and shrieks of the warning siren up under the roof. The +rest rushed the Earthman in a body.</p> + +<p>Steadily, almost joyfully, Brand fought on. He had expected to be +annihilated by one of the Rogan shock-tubes long before now; but as +yet there was no sign of any. Either these Rogan workmen were not +privileged to carry the terrible things, or they were too occupied to +think of going and getting them; anyhow, Brand was left free to wield +his bar and continue crushing out the lives of the two-legged vermin +that attacked him.</p> + +<p>With almost a shock of surprise, he saw finally that he had battered +their number down to three. At that he took the offensive himself. He +rammed the bluntly pointed end of the bar almost through one writhing +torso, broke the back of a second with a whistling blow, and tripped +and exterminated the third almost in as many seconds. The creatures, +without their death-tubes, were as helpless as crippled rats!</p> + +<p>Panting, he turned again toward the loosened glass bell, and battered +at it with the precious bar. Gradually the bolts that held it to the +stone slab were wrenched out, till only one supported it. But at this +point, from half a dozen set-back doorways, streams of infuriated +Rogans began pouring into the building and toward him.</p> + +<p>The one that had fled had come back with help.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h2><i>Tremendous Odds</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> +<p>ike living spokes of a half-wheel, with the Earthman as the hub, the +Rogans converged toward Brand, a howling roar outside indicating that +there were hundreds more waiting to jam into the dome as soon as they +were able. There were still no shock-tubes in evidence: evidently the +worker who had gone for help had gathered the first Rogan citizens he +had encountered on the streets. But the very numbers of the mob +spelled defeat for Brand.</p> + +<p>However, there was still the great lever behind him to yank away from +its switch-socket. The glass bell was almost off now. With a last mad +blow, he knocked loose the remaining bolt that held it. The bell +clattered to the floor.</p> + +<p>A concerted shriek came from the crowding Rogans as they saw the +Earthman's hand close on the lever. Whatever effect the throwing of +that master-switch could have, there was no doubt that they were +extremely anxious to prevent it!</p> + +<p>And now, in the rear of the crowding columns, appeared Rogans taller +than the others, with an authoritative air, who waved before them, +eager to unleash their power, batteries of the death-tubes.</p> + +<p>Resigning himself to annihilation in the next instant, Brand pulled +down hard on the lever.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he effect wrought by the throwing of that great switch was almost +indescribable.</p> + +<p>In a flash, as though all had been struck at once by a giant's hand, +every Rogan in the mob shot toward the floor, long thin legs caving +under him as if turned to water. Writhing feebly, they endeavored to +get up, but could not; and, still weakly ferocious, began to creep +toward the Earthman like huge-headed worms.</p> + +<p>Brand himself had been thrown to the floor with the falling of that +switch. He had felt as though an invisible ocean had been poured on +him, weighting him down intolerably. To move arms or legs required +enormous effort; and to get up on his feet again was like rising under +a two-hundred-pound pack.</p> + +<p>The movement of the switch, he saw, had cut off the gravity reducing +apparatus of the Rogans—whatever that might consist of. They were +now, abruptly, subjected to the full force of gravity exerted by +Jupiter's great mass. They could no more stand erect on their +tottering, lofty legs than they could fly.</p> + +<p>But, though greatly handicapped by the gravity pull, they were still +not entirely helpless. Like huge, long insects they continued to worm +their way toward Brand, using their four arms and their boneless legs +to help urge them over the flooring. And in their rear the Rogan +guards struggled to lift their tubes and level them at the escaped +prisoner.</p> + +<p>Prompt to avoid that, Brand went down on his hands and knees. Thus he +was shielded by the foremost crawling Rogans: the ones in the rear, +with the tubes, could not raise themselves high enough to bore down +over their fellows' heads at the Earthman.</p> + +<p>Squatting on his knees, Brand awaited the first resolute crawlers. +And, on his knees, whirling the now thrice weighty bar at heads that +were conveniently low enough to be accessible, he began his last +stand.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_o.jpg" alt="O" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>n the Rogans came, evidently determined, at any sacrifice of life, to +get the Earthman away from that vital control board. And to right and +left, crouching low to escape the tubes of the guards slowly crawling +forward from the rear, Brand laid about him with the bar.</p> + +<p>He got a little sick at the havoc he was wreaking on these +slow-moving, gravity-crippled things: but remembrance of their grisly +feeding habits, and the torture they must by now have inflicted on +Dex, kept him flailing down on soft heads with undiminished effort.</p> + +<p>With the gravity pull what it was, the Earthman was immeasurably +stronger than any individual Rogan. For a time the contest was all in +his favor. It was like killing slugs in a rose garden!</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, these slugs were, after all, twelve feet long and +possessed of intelligence, besides being hundreds in number. After a +while the tide of battle began to turn in their favor.</p> + +<p>Brand began to feel his arms ache burningly with the sustained effort +of wielding a weapon that now weighed about twenty-five pounds. He +knew he couldn't keep up the terrific strain much longer. And, in +addition, he could see that the armed Rogans in the rear were steadily +forging ahead among the unarmed attackers, till they soon must be in a +position to blast him with their weapons.</p> + +<p>Brand brought down his bar, with failing force but still deadly +effect, on the loathsome face of the nearest Rogan, grunting with +satisfaction as he saw it crumple into a shapeless mass. He thrust it, +spear-like, into another face, and another.</p> + +<p>Then, abruptly, he found himself weaponless.</p> + +<p>Raising it high to bring it down on an attacker who was almost about +to seize him, he felt the metal bar turn white hot, and dropped it +with a cry as it seared the skin from the palms of his hands. Some +Rogan guard in the rear had managed to train his tube on the bar; and +in the instant of its rising had almost melted it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_w.jpg" alt="W" width="65" height="50" /></div> + +<p>eaponless and helpless, Brand crawled slowly back before the +tortuously advancing mob, keeping close enough to them to be shielded +from the tubes of the rear guards. Without his club he knew the end +was a matter of seconds.</p> + +<p>He had an impulse to leap full into the mass of repulsive, crawling +bodies and die fighting as his fists battered at the gruesome faces. +But a second impulse, and a stronger one, was the blind instinct to +preserve his life as long as possible.</p> + +<p>Hesitantly, almost reluctantly, acting on the primitive instinct of +self-preservation, he continued to back away from the advancing horde; +away from the switch and toward the rear of the dome.</p> + +<p>With the instant of his withdrawal, a Rogan turned toward the lever to +push it back up into contact and release the red kingdom from the +burden of Jupiter's unendurable gravity. And now ensued a curious +struggle. The lever, placed for the convenience of creatures twelve +feet or more tall, was about five feet from the floor. And the Rogan +couldn't reach it!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>tubbornly he heaved and writhed in an effort to raise his +inordinately heavy body from the floor to a point where one of the +weaving arms could reach the switch. But the pipe-stem legs would not +bear its weight. Each time it nearly reached the lever, only to fall +feebly back again in a snarl of tangled limbs.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Brand had flashed a quick look back over his shoulder to +see, in the wall behind him, a metal door he hadn't noticed before. He +found time for a flashing instant to wonder why there were no Rogans +entering from that doorway, too; but it was a vain wonder, and it +faded from his mind as the ever advancing, groping monsters before him +kept crowding him back.</p> + +<p>Instinctively he changed his course a trifle, to edge toward the +metal door. Perhaps, behind it, there was sanctuary for a few moments. +Perhaps he could force it open, spring out, and bar it again in the +faces of the pursuing mob. It sounded improbable, but at least it +offered him a slim chance where before no chance had seemed possible.</p> + +<p>He reached the door at last, fumbled behind him and felt, high over +his head, a massive sliding bolt.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>n the spot Brand had left, the struggle to throw the gravity-lever +back into closed contact position went on. The Rogan who was +fruitlessly trying to reach up to it paused and said something to one +near him. That one halted, and began to crawl toward him.</p> + +<p>The two of them tried to reach it, one bracing the other and helping +him pry his body up from the implacable pull of Jupiter's uninsulated +mass. The top Rogan reached a little higher. The flesh sucker-disk +that served as a hand almost grasped the lever, but failed by only a +few inches.</p> + +<p>A third Rogan crawled up. And now, with two arching their backs to +help the other, the thing was done. The hose-like, groping arm went up +and pushed the lever back into place.</p> + +<p>The blue streamer began to hum and crackle from coil to coil again. +The invisible weight that pressed down was released as once more the +giant planet's gravity was nullified. The Rogans got eagerly to their +feet and began to race toward Brand in their normal long bounds.</p> + +<p>Brand, just cautiously rising, when the power went back on, found +himself leaping five feet into the air with the excess of his muscular +effort. And in that leap he saw the Rogans in the rear straighten up +and point their tubes. However, also in that leap, his fumbling hand +shot back the bolt that securely shut the metal door.</p> + +<p>With a shout of defiance he jumped out of the door and slammed it shut +after him, feeling it grow searing hot an instant later under the +impact of the rays from the tubes that had been trained on him.</p> + +<p>A stinging shock reached him through the metal, flinging him to the +ground. He rolled out of its range and leaped to his feet to race away +from there. Then, with a gasp, he flattened his body back against the +wall of the dome building.</p> + +<p>He was in the enclosure that held the gigantic, lizard-like thing that +had nearly got him on his escape from the tower room.</p> + +<p>He wheeled frantically to go back and face the Rogan death-tubes. +Anything rather than wait while that mammoth heap of tiny-brained +ferocity ran him down and tore him to shreds! But even as he turned, +he heard the bolt shoot home on the inside of the door; heard vengeful +squeals of triumph from his pursuers.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>t the other end of the enclosure, near the foot of the tower +building, the great lizard eyed him unblinkingly, its tremendous jaws +gaping to reveal a cavernous mouth that was hideously lined with +bright orange colored membrane. Then, squatting lower with every step +it took, like a mountainous cat about to spring on its prey, it began +to stalk on its tree-like legs toward the tiny creature that had +leaped into its yard with it.</p> + +<p>Brand whirled this way and that, mechanically seeking a way out. There +was none. The walls of the great enclosure were not like the wall of +the tower. Here were no rough hewn stones, with protruding ridges of +mortar set between. These walls were as smooth as glass, and just as +smooth was the curved wall of the dome building behind him.</p> + +<p>The monstrous beast stalked nearer, almost on its belly now. As it +advanced, the great tail stirred up a cloud of reddish dust, and left +behind it a round deep depression in a surface already crisscrossed +with a multitude of similar depressions. A bellowing hiss came from +its gaping mouth, and it increased its pace to a thunderous, waddling +rush.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h2><i>Into the Enclosure</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> +<p>n the torture chamber Dex wavered slowly back to consciousness to get +the growing impression that he was being immersed in a bath of liquid +fire. Burning, intolerable pain assailed him with increasing intensity +as his senses clarified.</p> + +<p>At last he groaned and opened his eyes, for the moment not knowing +where he was nor how he had come to be there. He saw strange torture +instruments and tall monstrosities with pumpkin-shaped heads +surrounding him closely in a semicircle, and staring at him out of +great, dull eyes.</p> + +<p>Remembrance came back with a rush, and he gathered his muscles to +spring at the hateful figures. But he could not move. At waist and +throat, at wrists and ankles, were hoops of metal. He closed his eyes +again while the burning waves of invisible fire shot through him +recurrently from head to foot.</p> + +<p>Dully he wondered that he was still alive. His last recollection had +been of the Rogan leader pointing his shock-tube full at him, his +shapeless countenance working with murderous fury. However, alive he +was; and most unenviably so!</p> + +<p>His hands, circumscribed to a few inches of movement by the bonds on +his wrists, felt the smooth substance at his back. And with a thrill +of horror he realized his position: he was crucified against the metal +slab on which the slave had writhed in agony a short half hour ago.</p> + +<p>Again he strained and tugged, vainly, to get free. Off to one side, +pressed back against a huge glass experimental tank, he saw the +beautiful Greca, her eyes wide with horror; and caught her frantic +pleading message to her "Great White One."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he Rogan leader, squealing and grimacing, advanced toward the victim +on the metal plate. One of the long arms went out and a sucker-disk +was pressed to Dex's cheek. Dex quivered at the loathsome contact of +that soft and slimy substance; then set his jaws to keep from groaning +as the disk was jerked away, to carry with it a fragment of skin and +flesh.</p> + +<p>Gingerly, the tall leader felt the twitching, blackened stump of his +blasted arm. Dex grinned mirthlessly at that: he'd struck one or two +blows in his own defense, anyhow!</p> + +<p>At sight of the Earthman's grin, an expression of defiance and grim +joy that needed no interpreting to be understandable, the Rogan leader +fairly danced with rage. His long arm went out to the switch beside +the plate, and pulled it down another notch—just a little, not nearly +to the current that had torn at the slave.</p> + +<p>At the increased torment resulting from that slight movement of the +regulating lever, Dex yelled aloud in spite of all his will power. It +seemed as though his whole body were about to burst into +self-generated flame. Every cell and fiber of him seemed on the verge +of flying apart. He could feel his eyes start from his head, could +feel every hair on his scalp stand up as though discharging electric +sparks.</p> + +<p>A minute or two of that and he would go mad! He cried out again, and +twisted helplessly in his bonds. And then the terrible torture +stopped.</p> + +<p>The Rogan had not touched the switch—yet whatever sort of current it +was that charged the plate was abruptly clicked off, as though someone +at a distance had cut a wire or thrown a master-switch.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>imultaneously with its ceasing, an invisible, crushing sea seemed to +envelope everything. Dex felt his body sag against his metal bonds as +if it had been changed to lead.</p> + +<p>Before him the Rogans, who had been crowding closer to watch +gloatingly each grimace he made, shot doorward as though their +pipe-stem legs had been swept from under them. The leader fell on the +stump of his seared arm and, a deafening squeal of rage and pain came +from his little mouth. His tube fell from his grasp and rolled over +the floor half a dozen yards away from him.</p> + +<p>Amazed, observing the stricken creatures only dimly through a haze of +pain, Dex saw them struggle vainly to get up again, and heard them +chattering excitedly to themselves. For the moment, in the face of +this queer phenomenon, the prisoner seemed to be forgotten. And Dex +was quick to seize the momentary advantage.</p> + +<p>"Greca!" he called. "The tube! There—on the floor!"</p> + +<p>The girl raised her head quickly, and followed his imploring gaze. +Laboriously she started for the tube. At the same instant the Rogan +leader began to feel around him for his lost weapon. Not finding it, +he raised his head and glanced about for it. He saw the girl making +her way toward it and, with a squeak of terror, began to crawl toward +it himself.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e was not quick enough. The girl, though not nearly as active under +the increased pull of gravity as a person of Earth might be, was yet +more agile than the Rogans. And she was the faster mover in this +tortuous, snail-like race. While the Rogan leader was still several +feet away, she retrieved the shock-tube.</p> + +<p>"Kill him!" begged Dex. "And all the rest of the filthy creatures!"</p> + +<p>With feminine horror of the thing that faced her, Greca hesitated an +instant—a hesitation almost long enough to be fatal. Then, just as +the Rogan leader was reaching savagely out for her, she leveled the +tube at him and turned it to its full power.</p> + +<p>One last thin squeal came from the Rogan's mouth, a squeal that +cracked abruptly at its height. What had been its gangling body +drifted up in inky smoke.</p> + +<p>"The others!" called Dex. "Quick! Before they get their weapons—"</p> + +<p>Greca swept the death-tube in a short arc in front of her, over the +bodies of the remaining Rogans, as if spraying plants with a hose. One +after another, toppling in swift succession like grotesque falling +dominoes, the creatures sagged to the floor and melted away. That one +small part of Jupiter's red spot, at least, was cleared of Rogan +population.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ong shudders racked Greca's body, and her lips were a bloodless line +in her pallid face. But she did not go into womanly hysterics or swoon +at the slaughter it had been her lot to inflict. Moving as quickly as +she could, she went to the metal slab and began, with shaking fingers, +to undo the fastenings that held Dex prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Good girl," said Dex, patting her satiny bare shoulder as he stood +free again. "You're a sport and a gentleman. You don't understand the +terms? They're Earth words, Greca, that carry the highest praise a man +can give a woman. But let's get out of here before another gang comes +and takes us again. Where can we hide?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know any hiding places," confessed Greca despairingly. "The +Rogans swarm everywhere. We will be seen the moment we try to leave +here."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll hunt for a hole, anyway," said Dex. He essayed to walk. +What with the tendency of his muscles to jerk and collapse with the +aftermath of the torture he had endured, and the sudden and +inexplicable increase in gravity that bore him down, he made heavy +going of it. "First we'll go up and get Brand."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Greca, a soft glow in her clear blue eyes. "Let us go +quickly."</p> + +<p>She started toward the door, panting with the effort of moving. But +Dex halted an instant, to stoop and pick up another of the tubes.</p> + +<p>"We might as well have one of these apiece," he said. "You've proved +you have the grit to use one; and maybe the dirty rats will think +twice about rushing us if we each have a load of death in our hands."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>hey made their way out of the torture laboratory, and up the incline +to the street level. And it was just as they reached this that the +burden of gravity under which they staggered was lifted from their +shoulders as quickly as it had descended on them.</p> + +<p>Dex raised his arms just in time to fend his body from a collision +with the wall in front of him. "Now what!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Greca lifted her hand for silence, inclined her head, and listened +intently. As she did so, Dex heard the same noise her quick ears had +caught an instant before his: a distant pandemonium of ringing gongs +and siren shrieks, and squealing cries of a multitude of agitated +Rogans.</p> + +<p>"What the devil—" began Dex. But again Greca raised her hand to +silence him, and listened once more. As she listened, her sea-blue +eyes grew wider and wider with horror. Then, frantically, she began to +race down a long corridor away from the street door.</p> + +<p>Dex hastened to follow her. "What is it?" he demanded, when he had +caught up to her flying little feet. "This is not the way up to the +room where Brand—"</p> + +<p>"Your friend is not there," she interrupted. She explained swiftly, +distractedly: "From the shouts of the Rogans I learn that he got into +the great dome building, somehow, and then was driven into the pen of +the...."</p> + +<p>Dex could not get the next term she used. But her telepathic message +of the peril she mentioned formed in his mind clearly enough.</p> + +<p>He got a flashing brain picture of a great, high-walled yard with a +monster in it of the kind he had caught a close-range glimpse a short +while before. Also, he saw a blurred, tiny figure, running from wall +to wall, that was Greca's imagining of Brand and his efforts to escape +the enormous beast.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" groaned Dex. "Penned in with one of the things they +showed me while I was stretched on the rack! Are you sure, Greca?"</p> + +<p>She nodded, and tried to run faster. "This way," she gasped, turning +down a passage to the left that ended in a massive metal door. "This +leads to the enclosure. Oh, if only we can be in time!"</p> + +<p>Her slim fingers tore at a massive bolt that secured the door. "Here," +said Dex, wrenching it open for her. And they stepped out into thin +sunlight, onto a hard surface of reddish ground that was crisscrossed +with innumerable rounded furrows like the tracks old-fashioned, +fifty-passenger airplane wheels used to make on soft landing fields.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_g.jpg" alt="G" width="50" height="50" /></div> +<p>reca shrieked, and pointed to the far end of the enclosure. Down +there, flattened against the wall of the dome building, was Brand. And +waddling toward him with a tread that caused the ground to quiver, was +a mate to the hideous creature the Rogans had used to terrify Dex in +the torture chamber.</p> + +<p>Dex leveled the tube he was carrying, swore, hit it frenziedly against +his hand. "How do you work this damned thing, Greca—Oh! Like that! +There—see if <i>that</i> puts a sting in your hide!"</p> + +<p>The distant monster stopped its advance toward Brand. A raw white spot +as big as a dinner plate leaped into being on one of its enormous hind +legs. It whirled with an ear-splitting hiss, to see what thing was +causing such pain in its rear. The frightful head whipped back at the +end of the long neck, to nuzzle at the seared spot. Then the giant +lizard turned toward Brand again.</p> + +<p>A second time Dex pressed the central coil that formed the handle of +the tube, as Greca had showed him how to do. A second time the ray +shot down the field to flick a chunk of flesh weighing many pounds +from the monster's flank. And this time it definitely abandoned the +quarry behind it. With a scream like the keening of a dozen steam +whistles, it charged back over its tracks toward the distant pigmies +that were inflicting such exasperating punishment on it.</p> + +<p>Dex swept the tube before him in a short half-circle. A smoking gash +appeared suddenly in the vast fore-quarters of the monster. It +stopped abruptly, its clawed feet plowing along the ground with the +force of its momentum. An instant it stood there. Then, with its head +swinging from side to side and lowered so that its looped neck dragged +on the reddish, dusty ground, it began to back away from the source of +its hurt, bellowing and hissing its rage and bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"Brand!" shouted Dex. "This end! Run, while I hold the thing off!"</p> + +<p>Brand began to race down the long enclosure, ten feet to a leap. The +great lizard darted after him, like a cat after an escaping mouse; but +a flick of the tube sent it bellowing and screaming back to its +corner.</p> + +<p>"Dex!" gasped Brand. "Thank God!"</p> + +<p>For a moment he leaned, white and shaken, against the wall. Then Greca +caught his hand in both of hers, and Dex put his arm supportingly +around his shoulder. They retreated back through the doorway behind +them, and slid the bolt across the metal door.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h2><i>The "Tank Scheme"</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_t1.jpg" alt="T" width="64" height="54" /></div> +<p>hank God you came when you did," repeated Brand. Then, with a moment +in which, figuratively, to get his feet back on earth, the wonder of +Dex's appearance struck him.</p> + +<p>"How did you manage to get away?" he asked. "I was sure—I +thought—when they dragged you out of the tower room I wouldn't see +you again—"</p> + +<p>Rapidly Dex gave an account of his ordeal in the torture chamber, +telling Brand in a few words how he had attempted to win free of the +Rogans, how he had almost succeeded, only to be caught again and +clamped to the death-plate on the wall.</p> + +<p>"But just as the big fellow was about to cook me for good and all," he +concluded, "something happened to the current, and to the gravity at +the same time—"</p> + +<p>"That was when I pulled the lever in the dome building!" exclaimed +Brand.</p> + +<p>He told of what had befallen him in the Rogan power-house. "That +lever, Dex!" he said swiftly. "It's the keynote of the whole business. +It absolutely controls the pull of gravity, and Lord knows what else +besides. If we could only get at it again! Perhaps we could not only +shut it off so that Jupiter's pull would function again, but also +reverse the process so its gravity would be <i>increased</i>! Think what +that would mean! Every Rogan in the red empire stretched out and +immovable, possibly crushed in by his own weight!"</p> + +<p>"It's a wonderful thought," sighed Dex; while Greca's eyes glowed with +a sudden hope for her enslaved race, "but I don't see how we could +ever—"</p> + +<p>He stopped; and glanced in alarm down the passage behind them. Greca +and Brand, hearing the same soft noise, whirled to look, too.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ar down the passage, just sneaking around the bend, was a group of +Rogan guards, each armed with a death-tube.</p> + +<p>"Back to the pen!" cried Brand.</p> + +<p>He slid the bolt, and jerked the door open. They rushed into the +walled enclosure again, the slamming of the door behind them cutting +off the enraged squeals of the Rogans.</p> + +<p>"This isn't going to mean anything but a short delay, I'm afraid," +said Brand, clenching his fists in an agony of futility. "They'll be +in here in a minute, and get us like trapped rats."</p> + +<p>"Not before we get a lot of them," said Dex grimly.</p> + +<p>"But that isn't enough, man! We don't want to die, no matter how +decently we do it. We've won free, and stayed free this long; now, +somehow, we've got to reach our ship and get back to Earth to warn +them of the danger that hides here for our planet!"</p> + +<p>He strode tensely up and down, smacking his fist into his palm. "The +lever!" he exclaimed. "That lever! It's our only answer! If we could +get to it.... But how can we? We couldn't break into the dome, now the +Rogans are on the watch for us, with anything less than a charge of +explosives. Or a tank. God, how I'd like to have an old-fashioned, +fifty-ton army tank here now!"</p> + +<p>Greca exclaimed aloud as Brand's fleeting mental picture of one of +Earth's unwieldy, long-discarded war tanks registered on her brain.</p> + +<p>"There is the great beast there," she said hesitantly, pointing a slim +forefinger at the huge lizard that had backed into a far corner and +was regarding them out of dull, savage eyes. Then she shook her head. +"But that is impossible. Impossible!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he men stared at her, with dawning realization in their minds. Then +they gazed at each other.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Brand. "Of course! Greca, you're marvelous! Wish we +had a tank? Why, we've got one! A four-legged mountain of meat that +ought to be able to plow through the side of that dome like a +battering ram through cardboard!"</p> + +<p>"But it's not possible," replied Greca, her head dropping dejectedly. +"My people, as driven slaves, till the fields with great animals that +were trapped in the surrounding jungles. They harness other great +animals to haul burdens. But none of the beasts are like <i>this</i> one. +This kind cannot be tamed or harnessed. It is too ferocious. It is +used only as a scourge of fear, to crush us into complete submission."</p> + +<p>"Can't be tamed?" Brand said. "We'll see about that! Come on, Dex."</p> + +<p>"Just a minute," said Dex. He flattened against the wall, motioning +them to do the same. Then he leveled his tube at the door.</p> + +<p>Slowly, cautiously, the door began to swing back; and the Rogan that +Dex had heard fumbling with the bolt stuck his huge head out to locate +the escaped prisoners.</p> + +<p>Dex pressed the release coil of his tube. Without a sound, the Rogan +slumped to the ground, a smoking cavity in its shoulders at the spot +where its head had been set. In an instant the body, too, disappeared; +an upward coiling wisp of black smoke marking its vanishing.</p> + +<p>Another Rogan, tiptoeing out, met the same fate; and another. And then +the door was banged shut again, and the bolt ground into place on the +inside.</p> + +<p>"That'll teach 'em to be careful how they try to rush us from <i>that</i> +door," said Dex, through set teeth. "Now let's see if that tank scheme +of ours can be worked."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e picked up a tube dropped by one of the Rogans, and handed it to +Brand; showing him which coil to press to get full force, as Greca had +in turn informed him.</p> + +<p>"Down the field," commanded Brand. "We'll go about thirty yards apart, +and try to herd this brute back through the walls of the dome +building. Once it's inside, we'll try to rush to the lever before the +Rogans can down us, and jam the thing past its terminal peg and into +reverse action. I don't know that there <i>is</i> a reverse to it—but we +can try.</p> + +<p>"Greca dear,"—the girl started at the warmth of his thought, and a +faint pink rose to her pale cheeks—"you'd better stay by my side. +Your place as hostage-priestess of your people wouldn't save you if +those devils catch you now. Besides, you can keep your tube leveled at +the doorway as we go, and discourage any Rogans who might pluck up +courage to try coming out again."</p> + +<p>They started down the field toward the nightmare thing that snarled +and hissed in its corner. On one side of the big enclosure walked +Brand, with Greca close beside him, glancing continuously over her +shoulder at the rear door, and holding her tube in readiness to check +any charge the Rogans might attempt to make from the tower building. +On the other side, keeping an equal pace, advanced Dex.</p> + +<p>With tubes of death as whips, and with death for themselves set as the +stake for which they gambled, they went about their attempt to drive +the brainless monster before them through the solid wall of the dome +building. And there followed what was probably the strangest animal +act the universe has ever witnessed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he first thing to do was to rout the enormous lizard out of the +corner where sullen fear had sent it squatting. Dex contrived to do +that by standing next to the wall at its side, and sending a searing +ray that just touched the scaly, tremendously thick hide. The monster +bellowed deafeningly, and, with a spot smoking on its flank, waddled +sideways to the center of the field. Its head and swaying long neck +faced the Earthmen and its back was against the wall of the dome +building. To that extent, at least, they had the creature placed; but +they soon found that the struggle had only just begun.</p> + +<p>Brand got far enough around to focus his tube on the tip of the huge +tail, in an effort to swing the gigantic thing about. There was an +unearthly shriek from the colossal beast, and a foot and a half of its +tail disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Careful," called Dex, his jaw set and grim as the monster lashed out +in its wrath. "If you bore in too long with that tube there'll be +nothing left of our tank but a cloud of smoke."</p> + +<p>Brand nodded, wordlessly, walking on the balls of his feet like a +boxer, holding himself ready to swerve the thing should it charge +them. Which—next instant—it did!</p> + +<p>With a whistling bellow it gathered its tons of weight and thundered +with incredible quickness at the gnats that were stinging its flanks +and tail.</p> + +<p>Desperately Brand played the tube across the vast chest, scoring a +smouldering gash in the scale-covered flesh just above the gash Dex +had seared a few moments before.</p> + +<p>"Sorry, old fellow," Brand muttered to the screaming beast. "We hate +to bait you like this, but it has to be done. Come on, now, through +that wall behind you, and give us a chance at the lever."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ut through the wall behind it the vast creature, not unnaturally, +refused to go! It darted from side to side. Backward and forward. Up +to the wall, only to back bewilderedly away from it. And constantly +the tubes flicked their blistering, maddening rays along its monstrous +sides and tail, as the Earthmen tried to guide it into the wall.</p> + +<p>"Hope there's enough left of it to do the trick," said Brand, +white-lipped. The monster was smoking in a dozen spots now, and +several of the hump-like scales on its back had been burned away till +the vast spine looked like a giant saw that was missing a third of its +teeth. "God, I'm thinking we'll kill it before we can drive it through +that wall!"</p> + +<p>Greca nodded soberly, keeping her eyes on the distant door to their +rear. Twice that door had been opened, and twice she had directed the +death rays into its opening to mow down the gangling figures behind +it. But she had said nothing of this to her man. He was busy enough +with his own task!</p> + +<p>"The door to the dome—" Dex shouted suddenly.</p> + +<p>But Brand merely nodded, even as a discharge from his tube annihilated +the Rogan that had appeared in the doorway before them. He had seen +that door stealthily opening even before Dex had.</p> + +<p>"It had better be soon, Dex!" he called. "Rogans in front of +us—Rogans behind us—and—look out! On your side of the fence, +there!"</p> + +<p>Dex whirled in time to pick off a grotesque, pipe-like figure that had +suddenly appeared on the broad wall of the enclosure. Then he turned +to the frenzied problem of driving the monster through the building +wall.</p> + +<p>"The thing's going mad, Brand!" he cried, his voice high-pitched and +brittle. "Watch out!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>t was only too evident that his statement was true. The baited +monster, harried blindly this way and that, hounded against the blank +wall behind it by something that bit chunks of living flesh out of its +legs and sides, was losing whatever instinctive mental balance it had +ever had. Its dimly functioning brain, probably no larger than a +walnut in that gigantic skull, ceased more and more to guide it.</p> + +<p>With a rasping scream that set the Earthmen's teeth on edge, it +charged for the wall on Dex's side. Dex just managed to swerve it with +a blast from the tube so prolonged that half its great lower jaw fell +away.</p> + +<p>At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad! It whirled +toward Brand, jerking around again as a searing on that side jarred +its dull sensory nerves, then headed at last straight toward the stone +wall of the dome building.</p> + +<p>With the rays from both tubes flicking it like monstrous spurs, it +charged insanely toward the bulge of the circular wall. With all its +tons and tons of weight it crashed against the stonework. There was a +thunderous crackling noise, and the wall sagged in perceptibly, while +the metal roof bent to accommodate the new curvature of its supporting +beams.</p> + +<p>The monstrous lizard, jerked off its huge legs by the impact, +staggered up and retreated toward the two men. But again the maddening +pain in its hindquarters sent it careening toward the building wall. +This time it raised high up on its hind legs in a blind effort to +climb over it. "God, it must be five stories tall!" ejaculated Brand. +Thunderingly its forelegs came down on the edge of the roof.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was another deafening crash of stone and shrieking of torn +metal. Just under the cornice, the wall sagged away from the roof and +the top rows of heavy stone blocks slithered inward.</p> + +<p>"Again!" shouted Brand.</p> + +<p>His tube was pointing almost continuously now at the metal door +leading from the dome building. The Rogans inside, at the shocks that +were battering down a section of their great building, were all trying +to get out to the yard at once. In a stream they rushed for the +doorway. And in loathsome heaps they fell at the impact of the ray +and shriveled to nothingness on the bombarded threshold.</p> + +<p>"Once more—" Brand repeated, his voice hoarse and tense.</p> + +<p>And as though the monster heard and understood, it rushed again with +all its vast weight and force against the wall in a mad effort to +escape the things that were blasting the living flesh from its +colossal framework.</p> + +<p>This charge was the last. With a roaring crash a section of the +building thirty yards across went back and down, leaving the massive +roof to sag threateningly on its battered truss-work.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>t was as though the side of an ant-heap had been ripped away. Inside +the domed building hundreds of Rogans ran this way and that on their +elongated legs, squealing in their staccato, high-pitched tongue.</p> + +<p>With blind fury the mad monster charged in through the gaping hole it +had battered for itself. In all directions the Rogans scattered. Then +an authoritative tall figure with a tube in each of its four +sucker-disks, whipped out a command and pointed to the great coils +which lay immediately in the berserk monster's path.</p> + +<p>The command restored some sort of order. Losing their fear of the +beast in their greater fear of the damage it might do, the Rogans +massed to stop it before it could demolish the Rogan heart of power.</p> + +<p>At this point Brand saw an opening of the kind he had been praying +for. The Rogans had retreated before the terrific charge of the +monster in such a way that the space between its vast bulk and the +control board was clear.</p> + +<p>"After me!" he shouted to Dex. "One of us has got to reach that lever +while the creature's still there to shield us!"</p> + +<p>The two Earthmen dashed through the jagged hole in the wall and raced +to the control board just as the huge lizard, a smoking mass, sank to +the floor. Brand gazed almost fearfully at the lever-slot.</p> + +<p>Was there a reverse to the gravity-control action? There was room in +the slot for the lever to be pulled down below the neutral point, if +that meant anything....</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ehind them the great bulk of the dead lizard was disappearing with +incredible quickness under the rays of the tubes directed on it. Now +the pumpkin-shaped heads on the opposite side were visible through a +fleeting glimpse of a skeleton that was like the framework of a +skyscraper. And now the colossal bones themselves were melting, while +over everything hung a pall of greasy black smoke.</p> + +<p>"Hurry, for God's sake!" gasped Dex.</p> + +<p>Brand threw down the lever till it stuck. At once that invisible ocean +poured crushingly over them, throwing them to their knees and sweeping +the Rogans flat on their hideous faces just as half a hundred tubes +were flashing down to point at the Earthmen.</p> + +<p>"More—if you can!" grated Dex, whirling this way and that and +spraying the massed Rogans with his death-dealing tube. Dozens went up +in smoke under that discharge; but other dozens remained to raise +themselves laboriously and slowly level their suddenly ponderous +weapons at the Earthmen.</p> + +<p>Brand set his jaw and threw all his weight on the lever. It bent a +little, caught at the neutral point—and then jammed down an +appreciable distance beyond it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>nstantly the blue streamers, that had stopped their humming progress +from coil to coil with the movement of the switch to neutral, started +again in reversed direction. And instantly the invisible ocean pressed +down with appalling, devastating force.</p> + +<p>Greca and Brand and Dex were flattened to the floor as if by blankets +of lead. And the scattered Rogans about them ceased all movement +whatever.</p> + +<p>"Oh," sobbed Greca, fighting for breath. "Oh!"</p> + +<p>"We can't stand this," panted Dex. "We've fixed the Rogans, all right. +But we've fixed ourselves, too! That lever has to go up a bit."</p> + +<p>Brand nodded, finding his head almost too heavy for his neck to move. +Sweat beaded his forehead—sweat that trickled heavily off his face +like drops of liquid metal.</p> + +<p>With a tremendous struggle he got to his knees beneath the +master-switch. There he found it impossible to raise his arms; but, +leaning back against the control board and so getting a little +support, he contrived to lift his body up enough to touch the +down-slanting lever with his head and move it back along its slot a +fraction of an inch. The giant coils hummed a note lower; and some of +the smashing weight was relieved.</p> + +<p>"That does it, I think," Brand panted, his voice husky with exhaustion +and triumph.</p> + +<p>He began to crawl laboriously toward the nearest street exit. "On our +way!" he said vibrantly. "To the space ship! We leave for Earth at +once!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>lowly, fighting the sagging weight of their bodies, the two Earthmen +inched their way to the street, helping Greca as they went. Among the +sprawled forms of the Rogans they crept, with great dull eyes rolling +helplessly to observe their progress, and with feeble squeals of rage +and fear and malediction following their slow path.</p> + +<p>On the street a strange and terrible sight met their eyes.</p> + +<p>Strewn over the metal paving like wheat stalks crushed flat by a +hurricane, were thousands of Rogans. Not a muscle of their pipe-like +arms or legs could they move. But the gravity that crushed them +rigidly to the ground did not quite hold motionless the shorter and +more sturdily built slaves.</p> + +<p>Among the thousands of squealing, panting Rogans that lay as though +paralyzed on the metal paving, crawled equal thousands of Greca's +enslaved people. Their eyes flamed with fanatic hate. And +methodically—not knowing what had caused their loathed masters to be +stricken helpless, and not caring as long as they <i>were</i> helpless—the +slaves were seeking out the shock-tubes that here and there had fallen +from the clutch of Rogan guards. Already many had found them; and +everywhere gangling, slimy bodies were melting in oily black smoke +that almost instantly vanished in thin air.</p> + +<p>As it was in these streets and in the great square in the center of +which rested the Earthmen's ship, just so, they knew, was it being +repeated all over the red empire. Slowly crawling, fiercely exulting +slaves were exterminating the tyrannous things that had held them so +long in dreadful bondage! Before the sun should set on another +flashing Jovian day there would be no Rogan left in the red spot.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_a1.jpg" alt="A" width="56" height="52" /></div> + +<p>nd so it ends," said Brand with a great sigh. He moved over beside +Greca, and touched her lovely bare shoulders. They were shaking +convulsively, those shoulders; and she had buried her face in her +hands to keep from gazing at the ghastly carnage.</p> + +<p>Brand pressed her to him. "It's terrible—yes. But think what it +means! The knell of all the Rogans been sounded to-day. As soon as +the secret of these death-tubes has been analyzed by our science and +provided against, my friend and I will return from Earth with a force +that shall clear the universe of the slimy devils. Meanwhile, your +people are safe here; with the gravity what it is, no Rogan attacking +hordes can land."</p> + +<p>They crawled tortuously over the square to the space ship. Brand +turned again to Greca; and now in his eyes was a look that needed no +language of mind or tongue for its complete expression.</p> + +<p>"Will you come to Earth with me, Greca, and stay by my side till we +return to set your people in power again?"</p> + +<p>Greca shook her head, slowly, reluctantly. "My people need leaders +now. I must stay and help direct them in their new freedom. But +you—you'll come back with the others from Earth?"</p> + +<p>"Try and stop him!" grinned Dex. "And try and stop me, too! From what +I know now of the way they grow 'em on your satellite"—his eyes +rested on Greca's beauty with an admiration that turned her to rosy +confusion—"I'd say I'd found the ideal spot to settle down in!"</p> + +<p>Brand laughed. "He's answered for me too. And now, a salute that is +used on Earth to express a promise...." He kissed her—to her utter +astonishment and perplexity, but to her dawning pleasure. "Good-by for +a little while."</p> + +<p>The two Earthmen hoisted themselves heavily over the sill of the +control room of their ship, and crawled inside.</p> + +<p>They secured the trap-door, and turned on the air-rectifiers. Brand +moved to the controls, waved to Greca, who was smiling at him through +the glass panel, and pointed the ship on its triumphant, four hundred +million mile journey home.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30214 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30214-h/images/cover.jpg b/30214-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8549c94 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_001.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..201a2ed --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_001.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_a.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa86591 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_a.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_a1.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_a1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd340f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_a1.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_b.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a769002 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_b.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_c.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_c.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..75c583a --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_c.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_d.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_d.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c80263 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_d.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_f.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_f.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ed7f74 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_f.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_g.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_g.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d58db2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_g.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_h.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_h.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6d0e81 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_h.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_i.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbd5c4e --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_i.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_l.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_l.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d7a06f --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_l.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_l1.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_l1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a8d3af --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_l1.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_o.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_o.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..45d6c7e --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_o.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_p.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_p.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..15782c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_p.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_r1.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_r1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3541f18 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_r1.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_s.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_s.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c25f47f --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_s.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_t.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_t.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c51d25a --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_t.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_t1.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_t1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..69db93a --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_t1.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_u.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_u.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dfb002 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_u.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_w.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_w.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..61a4298 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_w.jpg diff --git a/30214-h/images/image_w1.jpg b/30214-h/images/image_w1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c79e73 --- /dev/null +++ b/30214-h/images/image_w1.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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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: The Red Hell of Jupiter + +Author: Paul Ernst + +Release Date: October 8, 2009 [EBook #30214] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED HELL OF JUPITER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Astounding Stories October 1931. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. </p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 360px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="360" height="539" alt="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="600" height="361" alt="At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad." /> +<span class="caption">At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad.</span> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h1>The Red Hell of Jupiter</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h4><i>A Complete Novelette</i></h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>By Paul Ernst</h2> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h2><i>The Red Spot</i></h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_c.jpg" alt="C" width="46" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ommander Stone, grizzled chief of the Planetary Exploration Forces, +acknowledged Captain Brand Bowen's salute and beckoned him to take a +seat.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What is the mystery centered in Jupiter's famous "Red +Spot"? Two fighting Earthmen, caught by the "Pipe-men" like their +vanished comrades, soon find out.</div> + +<p>Brand, youngest officer of the division to wear the triple-V for +distinguished service, sat down and stared curiously at his superior. +He hadn't the remotest idea why he had been recalled from leave: but +that it was on a matter of some importance he was sure. He hunched his +big shoulders and awaited orders.</p> + +<p>"Captain Bowen," said Stone. "I want you to go to Jupiter as soon as +you can arrange to do so, fly low over the red area in the southern +hemisphere, and come back here with some sort of report as to what's +wrong with that infernal death spot."</p> + +<p>He tapped his radio stylus thoughtfully against the edge of his desk.</p> + +<p>"As you perhaps know, I detailed a ship to explore the red spot about +a year ago. It never came back. I sent another ship, with two good men +in it, to check up on the disappearance of the first. That ship, too, +never came back. Almost with the second of its arrival at the edge of +the red area all radio communication with it was cut off. It was never +heard from again. Two weeks ago I sent Journeyman there. Now <i>he</i> has +been swallowed up in a mysterious silence."</p> + +<p>An exclamation burst from Brand's lips. Sub-Commander Journeyman! +Senior officer under Stone, ablest man in the expeditionary forces, +and Brand's oldest friend!</p> + +<p>Stone nodded comprehension of the stricken look on Brand's face. "I +know how friendly you two were," he said soberly. "That's why I chose +you to go and find out, if you can, what happened to him and the other +two ships."</p> + +<p>Brand's chin sank to rest on the stiff high collar of his uniform.</p> + +<p>"Journeyman!" he mused. "Why, he was like an older brother to me. And +now ... he's gone."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was silence in Commander Stone's sanctum for a time. Then Brand +raised his head.</p> + +<p>"Did you have any radio reports at all from any of the three ships +concerning the nature of the red spot?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"None that gave definite information," replied Stone. "From each of +the three ships we received reports right up to the instant when the +red area was approached. From each of the three came a vague +description of the peculiarity of the ground ahead of them: it seems +to glitter with a queer metallic sheen. Then, from each of the three, +as they passed over the boundary—nothing! All radio communication +ceased as abruptly as though they'd been stricken dead."</p> + +<p>He stared at Brand. "That's all I can tell you, little enough, God +knows. Something ominous and strange is contained in that red spot: +but what its nature may be, we cannot even guess. I want you to go +there and find out."</p> + +<p>Brand's determined jaw jutted out, and his lips thinned to a +purposeful line. He stood to attention.</p> + +<p>"I'll be leaving to-night, sir. Or sooner if you like. I could go this +afternoon: in an hour—"</p> + +<p>"To-night is soon enough," said Stone with a smile. "Now, who do you +want to accompany you?"</p> + +<p>Brand thought a moment. On so long a journey as a trip to Jupiter +there was only room in a space ship—what with supplies and all—for +one other man. It behooved him to pick his companion carefully.</p> + +<p>"I'd like Dex Harlow," he said at last. "He's been to Jupiter before, +working with me in plotting the northern hemisphere. He's a good man."</p> + +<p>"He is," agreed Stone, nodding approval of Brand's choice. "I'll have +him report to you at once."</p> + +<p>He rose and held out his hand. "I'm relying on you, Captain Bowen," he +said. "I won't give any direct orders: use your own discretion. But I +would advise you not to try to land in the red area. Simply fly low +over it, and see what you can discern from the air. Good-by, and good +luck."</p> + +<p>Brand saluted, and went out, to go to his own quarters and make the +few preparations necessary for his sudden emergency flight.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he work of exploring the planets that swung with Earth around the sun +was still a new branch of the service. Less than ten years ago, it had +been, when Ansen devised his first crude atomic motor.</p> + +<p>At once, with the introduction of this tremendous new motive power, +men had begun to build space ships and explore the sky. And, as so +often happens with a new invention, the thing had grown rather beyond +itself.</p> + +<p>Everywhere amateur space flyers launched forth into the heavens to try +their new celestial wings. Everywhere young and old enthusiasts set +Ansen motors into clumsily insulated shells and started for Mars or +the moon or Venus.</p> + +<p>The resultant loss of life, as might have been foreseen, was +appalling. Eager but inexperienced explorers edged over onto the wrong +side of Mercury and were burned to cinders. They set forth in ships +that were badly insulated, and froze in the absolute zero of space. +They learned the atomic motor controls too hastily, ran out of +supplies or lost their courses, and wandered far out into space—stiff +corpses in coffins that were to be buried only in time's infinity.</p> + +<p>To stop the foolish waste of life, the Earth Government stepped in. It +was decreed that no space ship might be owned or built privately. It +was further decreed that those who felt an urge to explore must join +the regular service and do so under efficient supervision. And there +was created the Government bureau designated as the Planetary +Exploration Control Board, which was headed by Commander Stone.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_u.jpg" alt="U" width="49" height="50" /></div> + +<p>nder this Board the exploration of the planets was undertaken +methodically and efficiently, with a minimum of lives sacrificed.</p> + +<p>Mercury was charted, tested for essential minerals, and found to be a +valueless rock heap too near the sun to support life.</p> + +<p>Venus was visited and explored segment by segment; and friendly +relations were established with the rather stupid but peaceable people +found there.</p> + +<p>Mars was mapped. Here the explorers had lingered a long time: and all +over this planet's surface were found remnants of a vast and intricate +civilization—from the canals that laced its surface, to great cities +with mighty buildings still standing. But of life there was none. The +atmosphere was too rare to support it; and the theory was that it had +constantly thinned through thousands of years till the last Martian +had gasped and died in air too attenuated to support life even in +creatures that must have grown greater and greater chested in eons of +adaptation.</p> + +<p>Then Jupiter had been reached: and here the methodical planet by +planet work promised to be checked for a long time to come. Jupiter, +with its mighty surface area, was going to take some exploring! It +would be years before it could be plotted even superficially.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>rand had been to Jupiter on four different trips; and, as he walked +toward his quarters from Stone's office, he reviewed what he had +learned on those trips.</p> + +<p>Jupiter, as he knew it, was a vast globe of vague horror and sharp +contrasts.</p> + +<p>Distant from the sun as it was, it received little solar heat. But, +with so great a mass, it had cooled off much more slowly than any of +the other planets known, and had immense internal heat. This meant +that the air—which closely approximated Earth's air in density—was +cool a few hundred yards up from the surface of the planet, and dankly +hot close to the ground. The result, as the cold air constantly sank +into the warm, was a thick steamy blanket of fog that covered +everything perpetually.</p> + +<p>Because of the recent cooling, life was not far advanced on Jupiter. +Too short a time ago the sphere had been but a blazing mass. Tropical +marshes prevailed, crisscrossed by mighty rivers at warmer than blood +heat. Giant, hideous fernlike growths crowded one another in an +everlasting jungle. And among the distorted trees, from the blanket of +soft white fog that hid all from sight, could be heard constantly an +ear-splitting chorus of screams and bellows and whistling snarls. It +made the blood run cold just to listen—and to speculate on what +gigantic but tiny-brained monsters made them.</p> + +<p>Now and then, when Brand had been flying dangerously low over the +surface, a wind had risen strong enough to dispel the fog banks for an +instant; and he had caught a flash of Jovian life. Just a flash, for +example, of a monstrous lizard-like thing too great to support its own +bulk: or a creature all neck and tail, with ridges of scale on its +armored hide and a small serpentine head weaving back and forth among +the jungle growths.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_o.jpg" alt="O" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ccasionally he had landed—always staying close to the space ship, +for Jupiter's gravity made movement a slow and laborious process, and +he didn't want to be caught too far from security. At such times he +might hear a crashing and splashing and see a reptilian head loom +gigantically at him through the fog. Then he would discharge the +deadly explosive gun which was Earth's latest weapon, and the creature +would crash to the ground. The chorus of hissings and bellowings would +increase as he hastened slowly and laboriously back to the ship, +indicating that other unseen monsters of the steamy jungle had flocked +to tear the dead giant to pieces and bolt it down.</p> + +<p>Oh, Jupiter was a nice planet! mused Brand. A sweet place—if one +happened to be a two-hundred-foot snake or something!</p> + +<p>He had always thought the entire globe was in that new, raw, marshy +state. But he had worked only in one comparatively small area of the +northern hemisphere; had never been within thirty thousand miles of +the red spot. What might lie in that ominous crimson patch, he could +not even guess. However, he reflected, he was soon to find out, though +he might never live to tell about it.</p> + +<p>Shrugging his shoulders, he turned into the fifty story building in +which was his modest apartment. There he found, written by the +automatic stylus on his radio pad, the message: "Be with you at seven +o'clock. Best regards, and I hope you strangle. Dex Harlow."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex Harlow was a six-foot Senior Lieutenant who had been on many an +out-of-the-way exploratory trip. Like Brand he was just under thirty +and perpetually thirsting for the bizarre in life. He was a walking +document of planetary activity. He was still baked a brick red from a +trip to Mercury a year before: he had a scar on his forehead, the +result of jumping forty feet one day on the moon when he'd meant to +jump only twenty; he was minus a finger which had been irreparably +frost-bitten on Mars; and he had a crumpled nose that was the outcome +of a brush with a ten-foot bandit on Venus who'd tried to kill him for +his explosive gun and supply of glass, dyite-containing cartridges.</p> + +<p>He clutched Brand's fingers in a bone-mangling grip, and threw his hat +into a far corner.</p> + +<p>"You're a fine friend!" he growled cheerfully. "Here I'm having a +first rate time for myself, swimming and planing along the Riviera, +with two more weeks leave ahead of me—and I get a call from the Old +Man to report to you. What excuse have you for your crime?"</p> + +<p>"A junket to Jupiter," said Brand. "Would you call that a good +excuse?"</p> + +<p>"Jupiter!" exclaimed Dex. "Wouldn't you know it? Of course you'd have +to pick a spot four hundred million miles away from all that grand +swimming I was having!"</p> + +<p>"Would you like to go back on leave, and have me choose someone else?" +inquired Brand solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Well, no," said Dex hastily. "Now that I'm here, I suppose I might as +well go through with it."</p> + +<p>Brand laughed. "Try and get you out of it! I know your attitude toward +a real jaunt. And it's a real jaunt we've got ahead of us, too, old +boy. We're going to the red spot. Immediately."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex's sandy eyebrows shot up. "The red spot! That's where Coblenz and +Heiroy were lost!"</p> + +<p>"And Journeyman," added Brand. "He's the latest victim of whatever's +in the hell-hole."</p> + +<p>Dex whistled. "Journeyman too! Well, all I've got to say is that +whatever's there must be strong medicine. Journeyman was a damn fine +man, and as brave as they come. Have you any idea what it's all +about?"</p> + +<p>"Not an idea. Nobody has. We're to go and find out—if we can. Are you +all ready?"</p> + +<p>"All ready," said Dex.</p> + +<p>"So am I. We'll start at eleven o'clock in one of the Old Man's best +cruisers. Meanwhile, we might as well go and hunt up a dinner +somewhere, to fortify us against the synthetic pork chops and bread +we'll be swallowing for the next fortnight."</p> + +<p>They went out; and at ten minutes of eleven reported at the great +space ship hangars north of New York, with their luggage, a +conspicuous item of which was a chess board to help while away the +long, long days of spacial travel. Brand then paused a little while +for a final check-up on directions.</p> + +<p>They clambered into the tiny control room and shut the hermetically +sealed trap-door. Brand threw the control switch and precisely at +eleven o'clock the conical shell of metal shot heavenward, gathering +such speed that it was soon invisible to human eyes. He set their +course toward the blazing speck that was Jupiter, four hundred million +miles away; and then reported their start by radio to Commander +Stone's night operator.</p> + +<p>The investigatory expedition to the ominous red spot of the giant of +the solar system was on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h2><i>The Pipe-like Men</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> +<p>rand began to slacken speed on the morning of the thirteenth day +(morning, of course, being a technical term: there are no horizons in +space for the sun to rise over). Jupiter was still an immense distance +off; but it took a great while to slow the momentum of the space ship, +which, in the frictionless emptiness of space, had been traveling +faster and faster for nearly three hundred hours.</p> + +<p>Behind them was the distant ball of sun, so far off that it looked no +larger than a red-hot penny. Before them was the gigantic disk of +Jupiter, given a white tinge by the perpetual fog blankets, its +outlines softened by its thick layer of atmosphere and cloud banks. +Two of its nine satellites were in sight at the moment, with a third +edging over the western rim.</p> + +<p>"Makes you think you're drunk and seeing triple, doesn't it?" +commented Dex, who was staring out the thick glass panel beside Brand. +"Nine moons! Almost enough for one planet!"</p> + +<p>Brand nodded abstractly, and concentrated on the control board. +Rapidly the ship rocketed down toward the surface. The disk became a +whirling, gigantic plate; and then an endless plain, with cloud +formations beginning to take on definite outline.</p> + +<p>"About to enter Jupiter's atmosphere." Brand spoke into the radio +transmitter. Over the invisible thread of radio connection between the +space ship and Earth, four hundred million miles behind, flashed the +message.</p> + +<p>"All right. For God's sake, be careful," came the answer, minutes +later. "Say something at least every half hour, to let us know +communication is unbroken. We will sound at ten second intervals."</p> + +<p>The sounding began: <i>peep</i>, a shrill little piping noise like the +fiddle of a cricket. Ten seconds later it came again: <i>peep</i>. +Thereafter, intermittently, it keened through the control room—a +homely, comforting sound to let them know that there was a distant +thread between them and Earth.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ower the shell rocketed. The endless plain slowly ceased its rushing +underneath them as they entered the planet's atmosphere and began to +be pulled around with it in its revolution. Far to the west a faint +red glow illumined the sky.</p> + +<p>The two men looked at each other, grimly, soberly.</p> + +<p>"We're here," said Dex, flexing the muscles of his powerful arms.</p> + +<p>"We are," said Brand, patting the gun in his holster.</p> + +<p>The rapid dusk of the giant planet began to close in on them. The thin +sunlight darkened; and with its lowering, the red spot of Jupiter +glared more luridly ahead of them. Silently the two men gazed at it, +and wondered what it held.</p> + +<p>They shot the space ship toward it, and halted a few hundred miles +away. Watery white light from the satellites, "that jitter around in +the sky like a bunch of damned waterbugs," as Dex put it, was now the +sole illumination.</p> + +<p>They hung motionless in their space shell, to wait through the +five-hour Jovian night for the succeeding five hours of daylight to +illumine a slow cruise over the red area that, in less than a year, +had swallowed up three of Earth's space ships. And ever as they +waited, dozing a little, speculating as to the nature of the danger +they faced, the peep, peep of the radio shrilled in their ears to tell +them that there was still a connection—though a very tenuous +one—with their mother planet.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_r1.jpg" alt="R" width="58" height="53" /></div> + +<p>ed spot ten miles away," said Brand in the transmitter. "We're +approaching it slowly."</p> + +<p>The tiny sun had leaped up over Jupiter's horizon; and with its +appearance they had sent the ship planing toward their mysterious +destination. Beneath them the fog banks were thinning, and ahead of +them were no clouds. For some reason there was a clarity unusual to +Jupiter's atmosphere in the air above the red section.</p> + +<p>"Red spot one mile ahead, altitude forty thousand feet," reported +Brand.</p> + +<p>He and Dex peered intently through the port glass panel. Ahead and far +below, their eyes caught an odd metallic sheen. It was as though the +ground there were carpeted with polished steel that reflected red +firelight.</p> + +<p>Tense, filled with an excitement that set their pulses pounding +wildly, they angled slowly down, nearer to the edge of the vast +crimson area, closer to the ground. The radio keened its monotonous +signal.</p> + +<p>Brand crawled to the transmitter, laboriously, for his body tipped the +scales here at nearly four hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>"We can see the metallic glitter that Journeyman spoke of," he said. +"No sign of life of any kind, though. The red glow seems to flicker a +little."</p> + +<p>Closer the ship floated. Closer. To right and left of them for vast +distances stretched the red area. Ahead of them for hundreds of miles +they knew it extended.</p> + +<p>"We're right on it now," called Brand. "Right on it—we're going over +the edge—we're—"</p> + +<p>Next instant he was sprawling on the floor, with Dex rolling +helplessly on top of him, while the space ship bounced up twenty +thousand feet as though propelled by a giant sling.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he peep, peep of the radio signalling stopped. The space ship rolled +helplessly for a moment, then resumed an even keel. Brand and Dex +gazed at each other.</p> + +<p>"What the hell?" said Dex.</p> + +<p>He started to get to his feet, put all his strength into the task of +moving his Jupiter-weighted body, and crashed against the top of the +control room.</p> + +<p>"Say!" he sputtered, rubbing his head. "Say, what <i>is</i> this?"</p> + +<p>Brand, profiting by his mistake, rose more cautiously, shut off the +atomic motor, and approached a glass panel again. "God knows what it +is," he said with a shrug. "Somehow, with our passing into the red +area, the pull of gravity has been reduced by about ten, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so that's all, is it? Well, what's happened to old Jupe's +gravity?"</p> + +<p>Again Brand shrugged. "I haven't any idea. Your guess is as good as +mine."</p> + +<p>He peered down through the panel, and stiffened in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Dex!" he cried. "We're moving! And the motor is shut off!"</p> + +<p>"We're drawing down closer to the ground, too," announced Dex, +pointing to their altimeter. "Our altitude has been reduced five +thousand feet in the last two minutes."</p> + +<p>Quickly Brand turned on the motor in reverse. The space ship, as the +rushing, reddish ground beneath indicated, continued to glide forward +as though pulled by an invisible rope. He turned on full power. The +ship's progress was checked a little. A very little! And the metallic +red surface under them grew nearer as they steadily lost altitude.</p> + +<p>"Something seems to have got us by the nose," said Dex. "We're on our +way to the center of the red spot, I guess—to find whatever it was +that Journeyman found. And the radio communication his been broken +somehow...."</p> + +<p>Wordlessly, they stared out the panel, while the shell, quivering with +the strain of the atomic motor's fight against whatever unseen force +it was that relentlessly drew them forward, bore them swiftly toward +the heart of the vast crimson area.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_l1.jpg" alt="L" width="50" height="57" /></div> + +<p>ook!" cried Brand.</p> + +<p>For over an hour the ship had been propelled swiftly, irresistibly +toward the center of the red spot. It had been up about forty thousand +feet. Now, with a jerk that sent both men reeling, it had been drawn +down to within fifteen thousand feet of the surface; and the sight +that was now becoming more and more visible was incredible.</p> + +<p>Beneath was a vast, orderly checkerboard. Every alternate square was +covered by what seemed a jointless metal plate. The open squares, +plainly land under cultivation, were surrounded by gleaming fences +that hooked each metal square with every other one of its kind as +batteries are wired in series. Over these open squares progressed +tiny, two legged figures, for the most part following gigantic +shapeless animals like figures out of a dream. Ahead suddenly appeared +the spires and towers of an enormous city!</p> + +<p>Metropolis and cultivated land! It was as unbelievable, on that raw +new planet, as such a sight would have been could a traveler in time +have observed it in the midst of a dim Pleistocene panorama of young +Earth.</p> + +<p>It was instantly apparent that the city was their destination. Rapidly +the little ship was rushed toward it; and, realizing at last the +futility of its laboring, Brand cut off the atomic motor and let the +shell drift.</p> + +<p>Over a group of squat square buildings their ship passed, decreasing +speed and drifting lower with every moment. The lofty structures that +were the nucleus of the strange city loomed closer. Now they were +soaring slowly down a wide thoroughfare; and now, at last, they +hovered above a great open square that was thronged with figures.</p> + +<p>Lower they dropped. Lower. And then they settled with a slight jar on +a surface made of reddish metal; and the figures rushed to surround +them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ooking out the glass panel at these figures, both Brand and Dex +exclaimed aloud and covered their eyes for a moment to shut out the +hideous sight of them. Now they examined them closely.</p> + +<p>Manlike they were: and yet like no human being conceivable to an Earth +mind. They were tremendously tall—twelve feet at least—but as thin +as so many animated poles. Their two legs were scarce four inches +through, taper-less, boneless, like lengths of pipe; and like two +flexible pipes they were joined to a slightly larger pipe of a torso +that could not have been more than a foot in diameter. There were four +arms, a pair on each side of the cylindrical body, that weaved feebly +about like lengths of rubber hose.</p> + +<p>Set directly on the pipe-like body, as a pumpkin might be balanced on +a pole, was a perfectly round cranium in which were glassy, staring +eyes, with dull pupils like those of a sick dog. The nose was but a +tab of flesh. The mouth was a minute, circular thing, soft and flabby +looking, which opened and shut regularly with the creature's +breathing. It resembled the snout-like mouth of a fish, of the sucker +variety; and fish-like, too, was the smooth and slimy skin that +covered the beanpole body.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>undreds of the repulsive things, there were. And all of them shoved +and crowded, as a disorderly mob on Earth might do, to get close to +the Earthmen's ship. Their big dull eyes peered in through the glass +panels, and their hands—mere round blobs of gristle in the palms of +which were set single sucker disks—pattered against the metal hull of +the shell.</p> + +<p>"God!" said Brand with a shudder. "Fancy these things feeling over +your body...."</p> + +<p>"They're hostile, whatever they are," said Dex. "Look out: that one's +pointing something at you!"</p> + +<p>One of the slender, tottering creatures had raised an arm and leveled +at Brand something that looked rather like an elongated, old-fashioned +flashlight. Brand involuntarily ducked. The clear glass panel between +them and the mob outside gave him a queasy feeling of being exposed to +whatever missile might lurk in the thing's tube.</p> + +<p>"What do we do now?" demanded Dex with a shaky laugh. "You're chief of +this expedition. I'm waiting for orders."</p> + +<p>"We wait right here," replied Brand. "We're safe in the shell till +we're starved out. At least they can't get in to attack us."</p> + +<p>But it developed that, while the slimy looking things might not be +able to get in, they had ways of reaching the Earthmen just the same!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he creature with the gun-like tube extended it somewhat further +toward Brand.</p> + +<p>Brand felt a sharp, unpleasant tingle shoot through his body, as +though he had received an electric shock. He winced, and cried out at +the sudden pain of it.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter—" Dex began. But hardly had the words left his +mouth when he, too, felt the shock. A couple of good, hearty Earth +oaths exploded from his lips.</p> + +<p>The repulsive creature outside made an authoritative gesture. He +seemed to be beckoning to them, his huge dull eyes glaring +threateningly at the same moment.</p> + +<p>"Our beanpole friend is suggesting that we get out of the shell and +stay awhile," said Dex with grim humor. "They seem anxious to +entertain us—<i>ouch!</i>"</p> + +<p>As the two men made no move to obey the beckoning gesture, the +creature had raised the tube again; and again the sharp, unpleasant +shock shot through them.</p> + +<p>"What the devil are we going to do?" exclaimed Brand. "If we go out in +that mob of nightmare things—it's going to be messy. As long as we +stay in the shell we have some measure of protection."</p> + +<p>"Not much protection when they can sting us through metal and glass at +will," growled Dex. "Do you suppose they can turn the juice on harder? +Or is that bee-sting their best effort?"</p> + +<p>As though in direct answer to his words, the blob-like face of the +being who seemed in authority convulsed with anger and he raised the +tube again. This time the shock that came from it was sufficient to +throw the two men to the floor.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't stay in the ship, that's certain," said Brand. "I +guess there's only one thing to do."</p> + +<p>Dex nodded. "Climb out of here and take as many of these skinny +horrors with us into hell as we can," he agreed.</p> + +<p>Once more the shock stung them, as a reminder not to keep their +captors waiting. With their shoulders bunched for abrupt action, and +their guns in hand, the two men walked to the trap-door of the ship. +They threw the heavy bolts, drew a deep breath—and flung open the +door to charge unexpectedly toward the thickest mass of creatures that +surrounded the ship!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>n a measure their charge was successful. Its very suddenness caught +some of the tall monstrosities off guard. Half a dozen of them stopped +the fragile glass bullets to writhe in horrible death on the red metal +paving of the square. But that didn't last long.</p> + +<p>In less than a minute, thin, clammy arms were winding around the +Earthmen's wrists, and their guns were wrenched from them. And then +started a hand-to-hand encounter that was all the more hideous for +being so unlike any fighting that might have occurred on Earth.</p> + +<p>With a furious growl Dex charged the nearest creature, whose huge +round head swayed on its stalk of a body fully six feet above his own +head. He gathered the long thin legs in a football grip, and sent the +thing crashing full length on its back. The great head thumped +resoundingly against the metal paving, and the creature lay +motionless.</p> + +<p>For an instant Dex could only stare at the thing. It had been so easy, +like overcoming a child. But even as that thought crossed his mind, +two of the tall thin figures closed in behind him. Four pairs of arms +wound around him, feebly but tenaciously, like wet seaweed.</p> + +<p>They began to constrict and wind tighter around him. He tore at them, +dislodged all but two. His sturdy Earth leg went back to sweep the +stalk-like legs of his attackers from under them. One of the things +went down, to twist weakly in a laborious attempt to rise again. But +the other, by sheer force of height and reach, began to bear Dex down.</p> + +<p>Savagely he laced out with his fists, battering the pulpy face that +was pressing down close to his. The big eyes blinked shut, but the +four hose-like arms did not relax their clasp. Dex's hands sought +fiercely for the thing's throat. But it had no throat: the head, set +directly on the thin shoulders, defied all throttling attempts.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>hen, just as Dex was feeling that the end had come, he felt the +creature wrench from him, and saw it slide in a tangle of arms and +legs over the smooth metal pavement. He got shakily to his feet, to +see Brand standing over him and flailing out with his fists at an ever +tightening circle of towering figures.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," panted Dex. And he began again, tripping the twelve-foot +things in order to get them down within reach, battering at the great +pulpy heads, fighting blindly in that expressed craving to take as +many of the creatures into hell with him as he could manage. Beside +him fought Brand, steadily, coolly, grim of jaw and unblinking of eye.</p> + +<p>Already the struggle had gone on far longer than they had dreamed it +might. For some reason the grotesque creatures delayed killing them. +That they could do so any time they pleased, was certain: if the +monsters could reach them with their shock-tubes through the double +insulated hull of the space ship, they could certainly kill them out +in the open.</p> + +<p>Yet they made no move to do so. The deadly tubes were not used. The +screeching gargoyles, instead, devoted all their efforts to merely +hurling their attenuated bodies on the two men as though they wished +to capture them alive.</p> + +<p>Finally, however, the nature of the battle changed. The tallest of the +attackers opened his tiny mouth and piped a signal. The ring of +weaving tall bodies surrounding the two opened and became a U. The +creatures in the curve of the U raised their shock-tubes and, with +none of their own kind behind the victims to share in its discharge, +released whatever power it was that lurked in them.</p> + +<p>The shock was terrific. Without the glass and metal of the ship to +protect them, out in the open and defenceless, Brand and Dex got some +indication of its real power.</p> + +<p>Writhing and twitching, feeling as though pierced by millions of red +hot needles, they went down. A swarm of pipe-like bodies smothered +them, and the fight was over.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h2><i>The Coming of Greca</i></h2> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he numbing shock from the tubes left the Earthmen's bodies almost +paralyzed for a time; but their brains were unfogged enough for them +to observe only too clearly all that went on from the point of their +capture.</p> + +<p>They were bound hand and foot. At a piping cry from the leader, +several of the gangling figures picked them up in reedy arms and began +to walk across the square, away from the ship. Brand noticed that his +bearers' arms trembled with his weight: and sensed the flabbiness of +the substance that took the place in them of good solid muscle. +Physically these things were soft and ineffectual indeed. They had +only the ominous tubes with which to fight.</p> + +<p>The eery procession, with the bound Earthmen carried in the lead, +wound toward a great building fringing the square. In through the high +arched entrance of this building they went, and up a sloping incline +to its tower-top. Here, in a huge bare room, the two were +unceremoniously dumped to the floor.</p> + +<p>While three of the things stood guard with the mysterious tubes, +another unbound them. A whole shower of high pitched, piping syllables +was hurled at them, speech which sounded threatening and contemptuous +but was otherwise, of course, entirely unintelligible, and then the +creatures withdrew. The heavy metal door was slammed shut, and they +were alone.</p> + +<p>Brand drew a long breath, and began to feel himself all over for +broken bones. He found none; he was still nerve-wracked from that last +terrific shock, but otherwise whole and well.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Dex?" he asked solicitously.</p> + +<p>"I guess not," replied Dex, getting uncertainly to his feet. "And I'm +wondering why. It seems to me the brutes were uncommonly considerate +of us—and I'm betting the reason is one we won't like!"</p> + +<p>Brand shrugged. "I guess we'll find out their intentions soon enough. +Let's see what our surroundings look like."</p> + +<p>They walked to the nearest window-aperture, and gazed out on a +startling and marvelous scene.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>eneath their high tower window, extending as far as the eye could +reach, lay the city, lit by the reddish glare of the peculiar metal +with which its streets were paved. For the most part the metropolis +consisted of perfectly square buildings pierced by many windows to +indicate that each housed a large number of inmates. But here and +there grotesque turrets lanced the sky, and symbolic domes arched +above the surrounding flat metal roofs.</p> + +<p>One building in particular they noticed. This was an enormous +structure in the shape of a half-globe that reared its spherical +height less than an eighth of a mile from the building they were in. +It was situated off to their right at the foot of a vast, high-walled +enclosure whose near end seemed to be formed by the right wall of +their prison. They could only see it by leaning far out of the +window; and it would not have come to their attention at all had they +not heard it first—or, rather, heard the sound of something within +it: for from it came a curious whining hum that never varied in +intensity, something like the hum of a gigantic dynamo, only greater +and of a more penetrating pitch.</p> + +<p>"Sounds as though it might be some sort of central power station," +said Brand. "But what could it supply power for?"</p> + +<p>"Give it up," said Dex. "For their damned shock-tubes, perhaps, among +other things—"</p> + +<p>He broke off abruptly as a sound of sliding bolts came from the +doorway. The two men whirled around to face the door, their fists +doubling instinctively against whatever new danger might threaten +them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he door was opened and two of their ugly, towering enemies came in, +their tubes held conspicuously before them. Behind came another +figure; and at sight of this one, so plainly not of the race of +Jupiter, the Earthmen gasped with wonder.</p> + +<p>They saw a girl who might have come from Earth, save that she was +taller than most Earth women—of a regal height that reached only an +inch or two below Brand's own six foot one. She was beautifully +formed, and had wavy dark hair and clear light blue eyes. A sort of +sandal covered each small bare foot; and a gauzy tunic, reaching from +above the knee to the shoulder, only half shielded her lovely figure.</p> + +<p>She was bearing a metal container in which was a mess of stuff +evidently intended as food. The guards halted and stepped aside to let +her pass into the room. Then they backed out, constantly keeping Dex +and Brand covered with the tubes, and closed and barred the door.</p> + +<p>The girl smiled graciously at the admiration in the eyes of both the +men—a message needing no inter-planetary interpretation. She +advanced, and held the metal container toward them.</p> + +<p>"Eat," she said softly. "It is good food, and life giving."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>or an instant Brand was dumbfounded. For here was language he could +understand—which was incredible on this far-flung globe. Then he +suddenly comprehended why her sentences were so intelligible.</p> + +<p>She was versed in mental telepathy. And versed to a high degree! He'd +had some experience with telepathy on Venus; but theirs was a crude +thought-speech compared to the fluency possessed by the beautiful girl +before him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"I am Greca"—it was very hard to grasp names or abstract terms—"of +the fourth satellite."</p> + +<p>"Then you are not of these monsters of Jupiter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! I am their captive, as are all my people. We are but slaves +of the tall ones."</p> + +<p>Brand glanced at Dex. "Here's a chance to get some information, +perhaps," he murmured.</p> + +<p>Dex nodded; but meanwhile the girl had caught his thought. She +smiled—a tragic, wistful smile.</p> + +<p>"I shall be happy to tell you anything in my power to tell," she +informed him. "But you must be quick. I can only remain with you a +little while."</p> + +<p>She sat down on the floor with them—the few bench-like things +obviously used by the tall creatures as chairs were too high for +them—and with the informality of adversity the three captives began +to talk. Swiftly Brand got a little knowledge of Greca's position on +Jupiter, and of the racial history that led up to it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>our of the nine satellites of Jupiter were now the home of living +beings. But two only, at the dawn of history as Greca knew it, had +been originally inhabited. These were the fourth and the second.</p> + +<p>On the fourth there dwelt a race, "like me," as Greca put it—a +kindly, gentle people content to live and let live.</p> + +<p>On the second had been a race of immensely tall, but attenuated and +physically feeble things with great heads and huge dull eyes and +characters distinguished mainly for cold-blooded savagery.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of the fourth satellite had remained in ignorance of +the monsters on the second till one day "many, many ages ago," a fleet +of clumsy ships appeared on the fourth satellite. From the ships had +poured thousands of pipe-like creatures, armed with horrible rods of +metal that killed instantly and without a sound. The things, it +seemed, had crowded over the limits of their own globe, and had been +forced to find more territory.</p> + +<p>They had made captive the entire population of the satellite. +Then—for like all dangerous vermin they multiplied rapidly—they had +overflowed to the first and fifth satellites—the others were +uninhabitable—and finally to the dangerous surface of Jupiter itself. +Everywhere they had gone, they had taken droves of Greca's people to +be their slaves, "and the source of their food," added Greca, with a +shudder; a statement that was at the moment unintelligible to the two +men.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>rand stared sympathetically at her. "They treat them very badly?" he +asked gently.</p> + +<p>"Terribly! Terribly!" said Greca, shuddering again.</p> + +<p>"But you seem quite privileged," he could not help saying.</p> + +<p>She shook her dainty head pathetically. "I am of high rank among my +people. I am a priestess of our religion, which is the religion of The +Great White One who rules all the sky everywhere. The Rogans" (it was +the best translation Brand could make of her mental term for the slimy +tall things that held them captive) "—the Rogans hold my fate over +the heads of my race. Should they rebel, I would be thrown to the +monster in the pen. Of course the Rogans could crush any revolt with +their terrible tubes, but they do not want to kill their slaves if +they can help it. They find it more effective to hold their +priestesses in hostage."</p> + +<p>Brand turned from personal history to more vital subjects.</p> + +<p>"Why," he asked Greca, "are the shining red squares of metal laid +everywhere over this empire of the Rogans?"</p> + +<p>"To make things light," was the reply. "When the Rogans first came to +this mighty sphere, they could hardly move. Things are so heavy here, +somehow. So their first thought was to drive my enslaved people to the +casting and laying of the metal squares and the metal beams that +connect them, in order to make things weigh less."</p> + +<p>"But how do the plates function?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_g.jpg" alt="G" width="50" height="50" /></div> +<p>reca did not know this, save vaguely. She tried to express her little +knowledge of the scientific achievements of the savage Rogans. After +some moments Brand turned to Dex and said:</p> + +<p>"As near as I can get it, the Rogans, by this peculiar red metal +alloy, manage to trap and divert the permanent lines of force, the +magnetic field, of Jupiter itself. So the whole red spot is highly +magnetized, which somehow upsets natural gravitational attraction. I +suppose it is responsible for the discoloration of the ground, too."</p> + +<p>He turned to question the girl further about this, but she had got +nervously to her feet already.</p> + +<p>"I'll be taken away soon," she said. "I was brought in here only to +urge you to eat the food. I must be interpreter, since the Rogans +speak not with the mind, and I know their hateful tongue."</p> + +<p>"Why are they so anxious for us to eat?" demanded Dex with an uneasy +frown.</p> + +<p>"So you will be strong, and endure for a long time the—the ordeal +they have in store for you," faltered the girl at last. "They intend +to force from you the secret of the power that drove your ship here, +so they too may have command of space."</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand," frowned Brand. "They must already have a +means of space navigation. They came here to Jupiter from the +satellites."</p> + +<p>"Their vessels are crude, clumsy things. The journey from the nearest +satellite is the limit of their flying range. They have nothing like +your wonderful little ships, and they want to know how to build and +power them."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he gazed sorrowfully at them and went on: "You see, yours is the +fourth space ship to visit their kingdom; and that makes them fearful +because it shows they are vulnerable to invasion. They want to stop +that by invading your planet first. Besides their fear, there is their +greed. Their looking-tubes reveal that yours is a fruitful and lovely +sphere, and they are insatiable in their lust for new territories. +Thus they plan to go to your planet as soon as they are able, and kill +or enslave all the people there as they have killed and enslaved my +race."</p> + +<p>"They'll have a job on their hands trying to do that!" declared Dex +stoutly.</p> + +<p>But Brand paled. "They can do it!" he snapped. "Look at those +death-tubes of theirs. We have no arms to compete with that." He +turned to Greca. "So the Rogans plan to force the secret of our motors +from us by torture?"</p> + +<p>She nodded, and caught his hand in hers.</p> + +<p>"Yes. They will do with you as they did with the six who came before +you—and who died before surrendering the secret."</p> + +<p>"So! We know now what happened to Journeyman and the others!" burst +out Dex. "I'll see 'em in hell before I'll talk!"</p> + +<p>"And me," nodded Brand. "But that doesn't cure the situation. As long +as ships disappear in this red inferno, so long will the Old Man keep +sending others to find out what's wrong. The Rogans will capture them +as easily as they captured us. And eventually someone will happen +along who'll weaken under torture. Then—"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e stopped. A dread vision filled his mind of Earth depopulated by the +feebly ferocious Rogans, of rank on rank of Earth's vast armies +falling in stricken rows at the shock of the Rogans' tubes.</p> + +<p>Greca caught the vision. She nodded. "Yes, that is what would happen +if they found ways of reaching your globe."</p> + +<p>"But, God, Brand, we can't allow that!" cried Dex. "We've got to find +a way to spike the guns of these walking gas-pipes, somehow!"</p> + +<p>Brand sighed heavily. "We are two against hundreds of thousands. We +are bare-handed, and the Rogans have those damned tubes. Anyway, we +are on the verge of death at this very moment. What under heaven can +we do to spike their guns?"</p> + +<p>He was silent a moment: and in the silence the steady hum from the +domed building outside came to his ears.</p> + +<p>"What's in that big, round topped building, Greca?" he asked quietly.</p> + +<p>"I do not know, exactly," replied the girl. "There is some sort of +machinery in it, and to it go connecting beams from all the square +metal plates everywhere. That is all I know."</p> + +<p>Brand started to question her further, but her time was up. The two +guards poked their loathsome pumpkin heads in the doorway and +contemptuously beckoned her out. She answered resignedly, in the +piping Rogan tongue, and went with them. But she turned to wave shyly, +commiseratingly at the two men; and the expression in her clear blue +eyes as they rested on Brand made his heart contract and then leap on +with a mighty bound.</p> + +<p>"We have in ally in her," murmured Brand. "Though God only knows if +that will mean anything to us...."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h2><i>In the Tower</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_w1.jpg" alt="W" width="78" height="54" /></div> +<p>hat I can't figure out," said Dex, striding up and down the big bare +room, "is why we're needed to tell them about the atomic motor. +They've got our ship, and three others besides. I should think they +could learn about the motor just by taking it apart and studying it."</p> + +<p>Brand grinned mirthlessly, recalling the three years of intensive +study it had taken him to learn the refinements of atomic motive +power. "If you'd ever qualified as a space navigator, Dex, you'd know +better. The Rogans are an advanced race; their control of polar +magnetism and the marvelously high-powered telescopes Greca mentions +prove that; but I doubt if they could ever analyze that atomic motor +with no hint as to how it works."</p> + +<p>Silence descended on them again, in which each was lost in his own +thoughts.</p> + +<p>How many hours had passed, the Earthmen did not know. They had spent +the time in fruitless planning to escape from their tower room and go +back to the ship again. Though how they could get away in the ship +when the Rogans seemed able to propel it where-ever they wished +against the utmost power of their motor, they did not attempt to +consider.</p> + +<p>One of Jupiter's short nights had passed, however—a night weirdly +made as light as day by red glares from the plates, which seemed to +store up sunlight, among their other functions—and the tiny sun had +risen to slant into their window at a sharp angle.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they heard the familiar drawing of the great bolts outside +their door. It was opened, and a dozen or more of the Rogans came in, +with Greca cowering piteously in their midst and attempting to +communicate her distress to Brand.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>t the head of the little band of Rogans was one the prisoners had not +seen before. He was of great height, fully two feet taller than the +others; and he carried himself with an air that proclaimed his +importance.</p> + +<p>The tall one turned to Greca and addressed a few high-pitched, squeaky +words to her. She shook her head; whereupon, at a hissed command, two +of the Rogans caught her by the wrists and dragged her forward.</p> + +<p>"They have come to question you," Greca lamented to Brand. "And they +want to do it through me. But I will not! I will not!"</p> + +<p>Brand smiled at her though his lips were pale.</p> + +<p>"You are powerless to struggle," he said. "Do as they ask. You cannot +help us by refusing, and, in any case, I can promise that they won't +learn anything from us."</p> + +<p>The tall Rogan teetered up to the prisoners on his gangling legs, and +stared icily at them. Crouched beside him, her lovely body all one +mute appeal to the Earthmen to forgive her for the part she was forced +to play, was Greca.</p> + +<p>At length the Rogan leader spoke. He addressed his sibilant words to +Greca, though his stony eyes were kept intently on the Earthmen.</p> + +<p>"He says," exclaimed Greca telepathically, "to inform you first that +he is head of all the Rogan race on this globe, and that all on this +globe must do as he commands."</p> + +<p>Brand nodded to show he understood the message.</p> + +<p>"He says he is going to ask you a few questions, and that you are to +answer truthfully if you value your lives:"</p> + +<p>"First, he wants to know what the people of your world are like. Are +they all the same as you?"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex started to reply to that; but Brand flung him a warning look. +"Tell him we are the least of the Earth people," he answered steadily. +"Tell him we are of an inferior race. Most of those on Earth are +giants five times as large as we are, and many times more powerful."</p> + +<p>Greca relayed the message in the whistling, piping Rogan tongue. The +tall one stared, then hissed another sentence to the beautiful +interpreter.</p> + +<p>"He wants to know," said Greca, "if there are cities on your globe as +large and complete as this one."</p> + +<p>"There are cities on Earth that make this look like a—a—" Brand cast +about for understandable similes—"like a collection of animal +burrows."</p> + +<p>"He says to describe your planet's war weapons," was the next +interpretation. And here Brand let himself go.</p> + +<p>With flights of fancy he hadn't known he was capable of, he described +great airships, steered automatically and bristling with guns that +discharged explosives powerful enough to kill everything within a +range of a thousand miles. He told of billions of thirty-foot giants +sheathed in an alloy that would make them invulnerable to any feeble +rays the Rogans might have developed. He touched on the certain +wholesale death that must overtake any hostile force that tried to +invade the planet.</p> + +<p>"The Rogan shock-tubes are toys compared with the ray-weapons of +Earth," he concluded. "We have arms that can nullify the effects of +yours and kill at the same instant. We have—"</p> + +<p>But here the Rogan leader turned impatiently away. Greca had been +translating sentence by sentence. Now the tall one barked out a few +syllables in a squeaky voice.</p> + +<p>"He says he knows you are lying," sighed Greca. "For if you on Earth +have tubes more effective than theirs why weren't you equipped with +them on your expedition here to the red kingdom?"</p> + +<p>Brand bit his lips. "Check," he muttered. "The brute has a brain in +that ugly head."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he Rogan leader spoke for a long time then; and at each singsong +word, Greca quivered as though lashed by a whip. At length she turned +to Brand.</p> + +<p>"He has been telling what his hordes can do, answering your boasts +with boasts of his own. His words are awful! I won't tell you all he +said. I will only say that he is convinced his shock-tubes are +superior to any Earth arms, and that he states he will now illustrate +their power to you to quell your insolence. I don't know what he means +by that...."</p> + +<p>But she and the Earthmen were soon to find out.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader stepped to the window and arrogantly beckoned Brand +and Dex to join him there. They did; and the leader gazed out and down +as though searching for something.</p> + +<p>He pointed. The two Earthmen followed his leveled arm with their eyes +and saw, a hundred yards or so away, a bent and dreary figure trudging +down the metal paving of the street. It was a figure like those to be +seen on Earth, which placed it as belonging to Greca's race.</p> + +<p>The tall leader drew forth one of the shock-tubes. Seen near at hand, +it was observed to be bafflingly simple in appearance. It seemed +devoid of all mechanism—simply a tube of reddish metal with a sort of +handle formed of a coil of heavy wire.</p> + +<p>The Rogan pointed the tube at the distant figure.</p> + +<p>Greca screamed, and screamed again. Coincident with her cry, as though +the sound of it had felled him, the distant slave dropped to the +pavement.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>hat was all. The tube had merely been pointed: as far as Brand could +see, the Rogan's "hand" had not moved on the barrel of the tube, nor +even constricted about the coil of wire that formed its handle. Yet +that distant figure had dropped. Furthermore, fumes of greasy black +smoke now began to arise from the huddled body; and in less than +thirty seconds there was left no trace of it on the gleaming metal +pavement.</p> + +<p>"So that's what those things are like at full power!" breathed Dex. +"My God!"</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader spoke a few words. Greca, huddled despairingly on the +floor, crushed by this brutal annihilation of one of her country-men +before her very eyes, did not translate. But translation was +unnecessary. The Rogan's icy, triumphant eyes, the very posture of +his grotesque body, spoke for him.</p> + +<p>"That," he was certainly saying, "is what will happen to any on your +helpless planet who dare oppose the Rogan will!"</p> + +<p>He whipped out a command to the terror-stricken girl. She rose from +her crouching position on the floor; and at length formulated the +Rogan's last order:</p> + +<p>"You will explain the working of the engine that drove your space ship +here."</p> + +<p>Dex laughed. It was a short bark of sound, totally devoid of humor, +but very full of defiance. Brand thrust his hands into the pockets of +his tunic, spread his legs apart, and began to whistle.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p> quiver that might have been of anger touched the Rogan leader's +repulsive little mouth. He glared balefully at the uncowed Earthmen +and spoke again, evidently repeating his command. The two turned their +backs to him to indicate their refusal to obey.</p> + +<p>At that, the tall leader pointed to Dex. In an instant three of the +guards had wound their double pairs of arms around his struggling +body. Brand sprang to help him, but a touch of the mysterious +discharge from the leader's tube sent him writhing to the floor.</p> + +<p>"It's no use, Brand," said Dex steadily. He too had stopped +struggling, and now stood quietly in the slimy coils of his captors' +arms. "I might as well go along with them and get it over with. I +probably won't see you again. Good luck!"</p> + +<p>He was borne out of the room. The Rogan leader turned to Brand and +spoke.</p> + +<p>"He says that if your comrade does not tell him what he wants to know, +your turn will come next," sobbed Greca. "Oh! Why does not The Great +White One strike these monsters to the dust!"</p> + +<p>She ran to Brand and pressed her satiny cheek to his. Then she was +dragged roughly away.</p> + +<p>The great door clanged shut. The heavy outer fastenings clicked into +place. Dex had gone to experience whatever it was that Journeyman and +the rest had experienced in this red hell. And Brand was left behind +to reflect on what dread torments this might comprise; and to pray +desperately that no matter what might be done to his shrinking body he +would be strong enough to refuse to betray his planet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h2><i>The Torture Chamber</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> +<p>wiftly Dex was carried down the long ramp to the ground floor, the +arms of his captors gripping him with painful tightness. Heading the +procession was the immensely tall, gangling Rogan leader, clutching +Greca by the wrist and dragging her indifferently along to be his +mouthpiece.</p> + +<p>They did not stop at the street level; they continued on down another +ramp, around a bend, descending an even steeper incline toward the +bowels of Jupiter. Their descent ended at last before a huge metal +barrier which, at a signal from the leader, drew smoothly up into the +ceiling to disclose a gigantic, red-lit chamber underlying the +foundations of the building.</p> + +<p>In fear and awe, Dex gazed around that huge room.</p> + +<p>It resembled in part a nightmare rearrangement of such a laboratory as +might be found on Earth; and in part a torture chamber such as the +most ferocious of savages might have devised had they been +scientifically equipped to add contrivances of supercivilization to +the furthering of their primitive lust for cruelty.</p> + +<p>There were great benches—head-high to the Earthman—to accommodate +the height of the Rogan workmen. There were numberless metal +instruments, and glass coils, and enormous retorts; and in one corner +an orange colored flame burnt steadily on a naked metal plate, seeming +to have no fuel or other source of being.</p> + +<p>There was a long rack of cruelly pointed and twisted instruments. +Under this was a row of long, delicate pincers, with coils on the +handles to indicate that they might be heated to fiendish precision of +temperatures. There were gleaming metal racks with calibrated +slide-rods and spring dials to denote just what pull was being exerted +on whatever unhappy creature might be stretched taut on them. There +were tiny cones of metal whose warped, baked appearance testified that +they were little portable furnaces that could be placed on any desired +portion of the anatomy, to slowly bake the selected disk of flesh +beneath them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex shuddered; and a low moan came from Greca, whose clear blue eyes +had rested on the contents of this vast room before in her capacity as +hostage and interpreter for the inhuman Rogans.</p> + +<p>And now another sense of Dex's began to register perception on his +brain.</p> + +<p>A peculiar odor came to his nostrils. It was a musky, fetid odor, like +that to be smelled in an animal cage; but it was sharper, more acrid +than anything he had ever smelled on Earth. It smelled—ah, he had +it!—<i>reptilian</i>. As though somewhere nearby a dozen titanic serpents +were coiled ready to spring!</p> + +<p>Looking about, Dex saw a six-foot square door of bars in one wall of +the laboratory—like the barred entrance to a prison cell. It was from +the interstices of this door that the odor seemed to emanate; but he +had no chance to make sure, for now the Rogan leader approached him.</p> + +<p>"I will first show you," he said, through his mouthpiece, Greca, "what +happens to those who oppose our orders. We have a slave who tried to +run away into the surrounding jungles three suns ago...."</p> + +<p>A man was dragged into the chamber. He was slightly taller and more +stockily muscled than an Earthman might be; but otherwise, in facial +conformation and general appearance, he might have come here straight +from New York City. Dex felt a great pang of sympathy for him. He was +so plainly one of humankind, despite the fact that he had been born on +a sphere four hundred million miles from Dex's.</p> + +<p>The fellow was paralyzed with horror. His eyes, wide and glazed, +darted about the torture room like those of a trapped animal. And yet +he made no move to break away from the clutch of the two Rogans who +held him. He knew he was helpless, that wild-eyed glance told Dex. +Knew it so thoroughly that not even his wildest terror could inspire +him to try to make a break for freedom, or strike back at the +implacable Rogan will.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>t a nod from the leader, the man was stripped to the waist. Here Dex +started in amazement. The man's broad chest was seamed and +crisscrossed by literally hundreds of tiny lateral scars, some long +healed, and some fresh incisions.</p> + +<p>He was dragged to a metal plate set upright in the wall, and secured +to it by straps of metal. Evidently the miserable being knew what this +portended, for he began to scream—a monotonous, high-pitched shriek +that didn't stop till he was out of breath.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader stared at him icily, then depressed a small lever set +in the wall beside him. The plate against which the captive was bound +began to shine softly with a blue light. The slave twisted in his +bonds, screaming again. Rhythmic shudders jerked at his limbs. His +lips turned greenish white. The shudders grew more pronounced till it +seemed as though he were afflicted with a sort of horrible St. Vitus +dance. Then the tall Rogan pulled back the lever. The slave hung away +from his supporting shackles, limp and unconscious.</p> + +<p>Dex moistened his lips. An electric shock? No, it was something more +terrible than that. Some other manifestation of the magnetic power the +Rogans had harnessed—a current, perhaps, that depolarized partly the +atoms of the body structure? He could only guess. But the convulsed +face of the unfortunate victim showed that the torment, whatever it +was, was devilish to the last degree!</p> + +<p>"That will be the next to the last fate reserved for you," the Rogan +informed Dex, through Greca. "Death follows soon after that—but not +too soon for you to see and feel what waits for you behind the barred +door!" And he nodded toward the cage-entrance affair, from which came +the musky, reptilian stench.</p> + +<p>"Now that you have seen something of what will happen to you if you +refuse to tell us what we want to know, we shall proceed," said the +leader.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e pointed toward one of the gargantuan work benches, and two of the +Rogans slid down from it a contrivance that looked familiar to Dex. An +instant's scrutiny showed him why it was familiar: it was a partly +dismantled atomic motor.</p> + +<p>In spite of the ordeal that faced him, Dex felt a thrill of elation +as he looked at the motor. In its scattered state, it told a mute +story: a story of long and intensive study by the Rogans, which had +yielded them no results! Only too obviously, the intricate secret of +atomic power had not let itself be solved.</p> + +<p>On the heels of the elation that filled his heart, came a sickening +realization of his dilemma. He could not have told the Rogans what +they wanted to know even if he had wished to! He himself didn't know +the principles of the atomic engine. As Brand had remarked, he was no +space navigator; he was simply a prosaic lieutenant, competent only at +fighting, not at all versed in science.</p> + +<p>He knew, though, that it would do no good to assert his ignorance to +the Rogans. They simply wouldn't believe him.</p> + +<p>"You will rebuild this engine for us," ordered the tall leader, +"showing us the purpose of each part, and how the power is extracted +from the fuel. After that you will set it running for us, and instruct +us in its control."</p> + +<p>Dex braced himself. His final moment had come.</p> + +<p>By way of indicating his refusal he looked away from the dismantled +motor and said nothing. The Rogan repeated his command. Dex made no +move. Then the leader acted.</p> + +<p>He said something to the Rogan guards who had been standing by all +this while, alert against an outbreak from their prisoner. Dex was +caught up, carried to one of the metal racks, and thrown down on its +calibrated bed. Loops of metal, like handcuffs, were snapped around +his wrists and ankles; and a metal hoop was clamped over his throat, +pinning him to the torture rack. Resistance would have been useless, +and Dex submitted quietly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he contrivance, with him on it, was wheeled toward the barred door. +It was halted at a spot marked on the floor, about thirty feet from +the bars. The Rogan leader stepped alongside the rack, with Greca +trembling beside him.</p> + +<p>Dex closed his eyes for a moment, grimly marshaling strength of will +to go through the trial that was just beginning.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader depressed another lever in the rock wall. The barred +door slid slowly up, to reveal the receding darknesses of some great +cave, or room, that adjoined the laboratory. Dex rolled his eyes so +that he could watch the doorway; and, in a cold perspiration, waited +for whatever might appear.</p> + +<p>It was not long in coming!</p> + +<p>The reptilian smell suddenly grew stronger. There was a booming hiss, +a savage bellowing. A clattering of vast scales rattled out as some +body weighing many tons was dragged over rock flooring. Then, before +Dex's staring eyes appeared a huge, wedge-shaped head, at sight of +which he bit his lips to keep from crying aloud.</p> + +<p>Often enough he had seen one of those terrific heads looming in the +fog of the northern hemisphere of Jupiter. He did not know the genus +of the vast monster that bore it, but he did know it for the fiercest +of the lizard giants that roamed the Jovian jungles. A creature larger +than a terrestrial whale, with great long neck and heavy long tail +dragging yards behind it, it would find the puny bulk of a man nothing +but a morsel in its jaws!</p> + +<p>Again the gigantic thing hissed and bellowed. And then its huge head +came through the six-foot door and its neck uncoiled to send the +gaping jaws within a foot of Dex. There it struggled to reach him, +prevented by the small doorway that restrained the bulk of its +enormous body, its head only inches away from the cleverly measured +spot to which the metal rack had been wheeled.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex stared, hypnotized, into the dull, stony eyes of the beast, +gasping for breath in the stench of its exhalations. The jaws snapped +shut, fanning his cheek. He fought for self-control. Steady! Steady! +The slimy Rogans had no intention of feeding him to the thing yet. Not +till they had made more determined efforts to wring from him the +secret of the motor. They were just prefacing actual physical torture +with hellish mental torture, that was all.</p> + +<p>That he was right in his guess was proved in a few moments. He heard a +louder hiss from the great lizard so near him. Opening his eyes, he +saw the Rogan leader in the process of forcing the serpentine neck to +withdraw foot by foot back into the doorway, using his shock-tube as a +sort of distant prod.</p> + +<p>The monster swayed its ugly flat head back and forth, hissing +deafeningly at the sting of the tube, now and again lunging with its +vast unseen body at the too narrow entrance that kept it from entering +the laboratory. Dex could hear the foundation walls of the building +creak at the onslaught of that tremendous weight.</p> + +<p>If it would only break through! he thought savagely. But it wasn't +going to. In a short while it was cowed by the deadly tube, and +withdrew its head awkwardly from the chamber. The barred door slid +down into place: and the Rogan leader once more turned his attention +to his prisoner.</p> + +<p>"You will be wheeled within reach of the creature as the last step of +your fate," Dex was informed. "Meanwhile, we shall start with +something less deadly...."</p> + +<p>A cogged wheel beside him was turning a notch. Dex felt the sliding +bed of the rack crawl slightly under him. Intolerable tension was +suddenly placed on his arms and legs. The leader stared at a spring +dial; and moved the wheel another notch. The rack expanded again, +stretching Dex's body till his joints cracked.</p> + +<p>"You will tell us what we want to know," said the Rogan, glaring +coldly down at him.</p> + +<p>Dex compressed his lips stubbornly. He couldn't tell them if he wanted +to, and, by God, he wouldn't if he could.</p> + +<p>Another notch, the wheel was turned; and in spite of himself a groan +escaped Dex's lips. One more notch, while the metal slide-rods beneath +him lengthened a fraction of an inch....</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h2><i>The Inquisition</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> +<p>lind, animal fear caught Dex and shook him in its grip. Then rage +filled his heart, driving out the fear as a gale dissipates fog. With +pain-dimmed eyes he glared at the gangling, hateful figure that gazed +down on him with icy eyes. If he could only blast that monstrous, +physically feeble but mentally ferocious thing to bits! Annihilate it! +Blow it to the four corners of Jupiter! And all the other Rogans with +it!</p> + +<p>And with this thought he suddenly saw, through the red mists of rage, +the shock-tube that was dangling indifferently from the Rogan leader's +hand.</p> + +<p>Instantly the red mists began to clear away. Another change took place +in the tortured lieutenant's mind. The blind hot rage faded into more +deadly, cold wrath. A plan began to bud into thought. It was a futile +plan, really. It could not possibly accomplish anything vital. But it +<i>might</i> give him a chance for a little revenge before his life was +snuffed out—might give him a chance to strike a blow for the dead +Journeyman and the other gallant explorers who had perished here in +this chamber before him.</p> + +<p>He closed his eyes to hide the hate and calculation in them. The tall +Rogan leaned lower over the rack.</p> + +<p>"You are ready to do as I command?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Yes," whispered Dex. "Yes."</p> + +<p>In the beautiful Greca's eyes, as she translated his assent, was +horror. But then, faintly, her mind caught the thought that lay +beneath the Earthman's apparent surrender. She veiled her own eyes +with long lashes, lest they betray the captive's plan to the alert +Rogan. Her lips moved silently; perhaps she was praying to her Great +White One.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_r1.jpg" alt="R" width="58" height="53" /></div> + +<p>elease him," the Rogan ordered, triumph in his bird-like, shrill +voice. The metal hoops were unfastened. Dex stretched his outraged +body, wincing with the pain of movement; then felt life and strength +returning to him.</p> + +<p>"Come with us to the motor," commanded the Rogan, his dull eyes +glinting in anticipation of learning the coveted secret that should +add one more planet to the Rogan's tyranny.</p> + +<p>Dex walked to the dismantled atomic engine with him. He walked slowly, +pretending more stiffness and weakness than he really owned to. No use +in letting his captors know that his resilient muscles were so quickly +throwing off the torment of the rack.</p> + +<p>As he walked he kept his gaze covertly on that shock-tube that dangled +in the leader's grasp. The rest of the guard had none; they had laid +their weapons down on a far bench on their entrance to the chamber, +depending on the one with which their leader was armed.</p> + +<p>Eagerly the Rogans crowded around Dex and the motor that had thus far +baffled them. They bent down from their twelve-foot heights to bring +their staring goggle-eyes closer to the lesson in atomic motive power, +till Dex was in a sort of small dome of Rogans, with their long, +pipe-like legs forming the wall around him, and their thin torsos +inclining forward to make a curved ceiling over him.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader drew Greca within the circle to interpret the +Earthman's explanations.</p> + +<p>Dex moved a trifle, to bring himself nearer the tall leader. Again he +glanced covertly at the shock-tube.</p> + +<p>"The first thing to tell about our motor," said Dex, stalling for +time, "is that it utilizes the breaking up of the atom as its source +of power."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e edged closer to the Rogan leader.</p> + +<p>"You see those electrodes?" he said, pointing to two copper castings +in a chamber between the fuel tank and the small but enormously +powerful turbine that whirled with the released atomic energy. The +Rogan leader blinked assent. His small, horrible mouth was pursed with +his concentration of thought.</p> + +<p>"The electrodes partially break down the atoms of fuel passing from +the tank," explained Dex, desperately attempting scientific +phraseology for a matter as far over his head as the remote stars. He +raised his hand a trifle, bringing it nearer the Rogan's tube....</p> + +<p>"Is that the outlet from the tank?" inquired the Rogan, pointing with +the tube, and so raising it out of Dex's reach.</p> + +<p>"Yes," mumbled Dex, sick with disappointment: he'd been on the point +of leaping for the weapon. He sidled close again. Greca bit her lips +lest she cry out with suspense.</p> + +<p>"The partially disintegrated atoms pass into the turbine chamber," he +went on, "and are there completely broken down by heat, which has been +generated by the explosive energy of the atoms passing in before +them."</p> + +<p>"I warn you to speak true," said the leader, suddenly removing his +gaze from the specimen motor and staring icily down at Dex. Dex's hand +dropped abruptly from its place near the tube. Again his fingers had +come within a foot of it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_w1.jpg" alt="W" width="78" height="54" /></div> + +<p>e will get ahead faster," piped the Rogan, an edge of suspicion +sounding in his shrill voice, "if I conduct the explanation. I will +ask questions for you to answer. What is the fuel used?"</p> + +<p>"Powdered zinc," Dex answered promptly. No harm in admitting that. The +Rogans must already know it; zinc was common to Jupiter, as Earth +spectroscopes had showed long since; and they had no doubt analyzed it +by now. The chances were that the leader was merely testing him, to +see if he were sincere in his ostensible surrender.</p> + +<p>That his guess was right, he read in the fishy, dull eyes. The Rogan +leader nodded at his answer, and some of the lurking suspicion in his +gaze died down.</p> + +<p>"How is it prepared?"</p> + +<p>Now this marked the beginning of the end, Dex knew. The preparation of +the powdered metal was half the secret of atomic power—and Dex hadn't +the faintest idea what it was! This questions-and-answers affair was +going to pin him down in short order!</p> + +<p>"How is it prepared?" repeated the Rogan leader inexorably. "Tell us, +or—"</p> + +<p>But at that instant Dex attained his objective.</p> + +<p>Once more his hand had crawled slowly toward the tube—till, once +more, it was within reach. Then, more bold as his position grew more +desperate, he straightened up—and, with a lightning move, had +wrenched it from the sucker-disk that held it!</p> + +<p>He shouted his triumph. He had it! <i>Now</i> let the devils put him back +on the torture bed if they could! <i>Now</i> let them try to make him +betray his planet!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was an alarmed squeak from the Rogan leader, and in an instant +the huge laboratory was in an uproar. The Rogan guards whipped their +hose-like arms toward the Earthman. Dex, with a sweep of his hands, +knocked the pipe-stem legs of two of the guards from under them, +leaped over their bodies, and stood at bay in a corner—guarding the +bench on which the guards had laid their tubes when they filed into +the laboratory.</p> + +<p>The air resounded with the shrill calls of the excited Rogans. Then +they began to close in on him, all the while eyeing the tube in his +hand with terror written large on their hideous faces.</p> + +<p>Dex's eyes blazed with the light of vengeful exultation. For the death +of Journeyman and the rest, for the coming inevitable death of himself +and Brand, he was going to pay—at least in part—with the captured +tube of death in his hand! It was a lovely thought, and for a few +seconds he delayed acting in order to savor it.</p> + +<p>Then, with a smile of pure happiness, he leveled the tube at the +nearest Rogan in order to shrivel him to nothingness as he had seen +the slave shrivelled in the street.</p> + +<p>The Rogan did not fall! Full in the face of the death tube he teetered +forward, his arms reaching savagely toward the Earthman.</p> + +<p>Dex stared incredulously. Cold fear crept into his heart. He pointed +the tube more accurately, and squeezed harder on the coil handle. +Still nothing happened. The Rogans warily drew closer.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_p.jpg" alt="P" width="46" height="50" /></div> + +<p>erspiration began to trickle down Dex's cheeks. In God's name, why +didn't the tube work? He had thought all he had to do was point it and +squeeze down on the handle. But evidently there was more to the trick +than that!</p> + +<p>He groaned. He had staged all this elaborate play for a weapon as +useless to his untrained mind as one of Earth's explosive guns, with +the safety-lock clamped on, would have been to an abysmal Venusian +savage!</p> + +<p>By now the nearest Rogan was within reaching distance of him. One of +its two pairs of slimy arms uncoiled toward him. The other pair +strained to reach around him and get to the weapons on the bench by +his side.</p> + +<p>With a cry, Dex dashed the useless shock-tube down on the reaching +arms. As long as he didn't know how to work it anyway, he might as +well use it as a club.</p> + +<p>The Rogan squeaked with pain; the arms recoiled. Dex jerked the tube +back over his shoulder for another blow....</p> + +<p>There was a shriek from the doomed wretch fastened to the metal plate. +The slave that had been tortured before Dex's eyes as an object +lesson! He had been returned to consciousness a short time since, and +had been writhing and shuddering against the plate.</p> + +<p>Dex flashed a glance at him over his shoulder, as he shrieked, and +cried aloud himself at what he saw.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he tortured slave was rapidly disappearing! Another shriek left his +lips, to be broken off halfway. In an instant nothing was left of the +struggling body but a wisp of greasy black smoke!</p> + +<p>Dex stared stupidly at the tube in his hand. Then, as a squeak of +agony sounded from a Rogan in front of him, his mind grasped what had +happened. Somehow its mechanism had been jarred into functioning when +he dashed it against the groping arm. In some way its death dealing +power had been unleashed. With a cry of exultation, Dex began to use +it!</p> + +<p>The Rogan in front of him, squealing, collapsed on the floor, +dwindling swiftly into nothingness. Dex turned the mysterious death +against another teetering creature. It too went up in oleaginous +smoke.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader came next. Dex whirled the tube in his direction, and +saw him go down. Then he sprang to annihilate still another grotesque +monster who had almost reached the bench on which were the other +tubes. He shouted and raved as this fourth Rogan crumbled. Torture +him, would they! Plan to capture Earth, would they! He'd kill off the +whole damned population with this tube!</p> + +<p>The Rogan survivors, squeaking in panic, gave over their attempts to +retrieve the tubes. They dove for various hiding places—under +benches, behind retorts, anywhere to get away from the terror running +amuck in their midst. And after them sprang Dex, mad with his sudden +miraculous success, to ferret them out one by one and blow them into +hell with their own horrible death-engine.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>n his ecstasy of rage, Dex overlooked the Rogan leader. He had seen +that attenuated monstrosity go down, and had assumed he was dead. But +such was not the case. In the corner Dex had vacated when he sprang +after the fleeing guard, the tall leader twisted feebly and sat up.</p> + +<p>One of his four arms was missing, a smoking stump showing where the +annihilating ray from the tube had blasted it off at the shoulder. But +he was far from being dead. With cold purpose in his great staring +eyes, he moved snakily toward the bench Dex had now left unguarded.</p> + +<p>The Earthman got another Rogan; whirled to track down still another. +Promptly the leader sank motionless to the floor. The Rogan leader +continued his crawling. He reached the bench, fumbled up and along its +surface for the nearest tube.</p> + +<p>Dex, unconscious of the sure fate gathering behind him to strike him +down, dashed past a great glass tank behind which Greca was huddling +in mortal fear, and charged down on two more of the squeaking guards.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, some sixth sense warned him that something was wrong. +He whirled toward the corner he had left.</p> + +<p>The Rogan leader, two of his surviving arms propping feebly against +the bench, was pointing a shock-tube squarely at him!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_d.jpg" alt="D" width="57" height="56" /></div> + +<p>ex fell to the floor to escape the first discharge of the tube, and +leveled his own. He felt the thing grow hot in his hand, saw a +blinding blue-white fire leap into being in the space between them as +the rays from the two tubes met and absorbed each other. He shifted, +to get out of the line and blast the creature he had too hastily +reckoned as dead. But he was not quick enough. A fraction before him, +the Rogan leader shifted.</p> + +<p>Dex felt a terrible burning sensation all over his body, as the ray +from his tube met the conflicting ray less squarely, and allowed a +little of it to reach him. He shrieked as the slave had shrieked when +he felt the annihilating current from the plate sweeping through his +body.</p> + +<p>A black fog seemed to close in around the Earthman's senses. He +crashed to the floor, with a glimpse of the leering triumph on the +Rogan's face as the last picture to stamp itself in his failing +consciousness.</p> + +<p>The tall Rogan, obviously in great agony from his blasted arm, +squeaked a faint command. The four guards who were left issued +fearfully from their hiding places and came to him.</p> + +<p>He pointed his tube at Dex Harlow, lying unconscious on the floor. +There he hesitated an instant, his soft little mouth slobbering in his +rage and pain. Then he let the tube sink slowly off its line.</p> + +<p>He gave another command. The four guards picked the Earthman up and +carried him to the metal torture-plate on which the slave had met his +death. The tall leader's eyes gleamed with vicious hatred as the limp +body was fastened to the metal.</p> + +<p>Mouthing and squealing with the pain of his seared arm-stump, he +wobbled toward the lever, a mere turn of which would readily convert +the plate into a bed of agony.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h2><i>In the Power-House</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> +<p>lone in the prison room, after Dex had been dragged away to be +subjected to the Rogan inquisition, Brand gnawed at his fingers and +paced distractedly up and down the stone flooring. For a while he had +no coherent thought at all; only the realization that his turn came +next, and that the Rogans would leave no refinement of torment untried +in their effort to wring from him the secret of the atomic engine.</p> + +<p>He went to the window, and absent-mindedly stared out. The whining +hum from the great domed building off to the right, like the +high-pitched droning of a swarm of gargantuan bees, came to his ears. +He listened more intently, and leaned out of the window to look at the +building.</p> + +<p>Under that dome, it came to him again, was, in all probability, the +mainspring of the Rogan mechanical power. If only he could get in +there and look around! He might do some important damage; he might be +able to harass the enemy materially before the time came for him to +die.</p> + +<p>He leaned farther out of the window, and examined the hundred feet or +so of sheer wall beneath him. He saw, scrutinizing it intently, that +the stone blocks that composed it were not smooth cut, but rough hewn, +with the marks of the cutters' chisels plainly in evidence. Also there +was a considerable ridge between each layer of blocks where the +Rogans' mortar had squeezed out in the process of laying the wall.</p> + +<p>Never in sanity would a man have thought of the thing Brand considered +then. To attempt to clamber down that blank wall, with only the slight +roughness of the protruding layers of mortar to hang on to, was +palpable suicide!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>rand shrugged. He observed that to a man already condemned to death, +the facing of probable suicide shouldn't mean much.</p> + +<p>With scarcely an increase in the beating of his heart, he swung one +leg out over the broad sill. If he fell, he escaped an infinitely +worse death; if he didn't fall, he might somehow win his way into that +domed building whence the hum came.</p> + +<p>Cautiously, clutching at the rough stone with finger tips that in a +moment or two became raw and bleeding masses, he began his slow +descent. As he worked his way down, he slanted to the right, toward +the near wall of the retaining yard whose end was formed by the round +structure that was his goal.</p> + +<p>Beneath him and to the left the broad street swarmed with figures: the +tall ones of the Rogans and the shorter, sturdier ones of slaves. Any +one of those dozens of grotesque pedestrians might glance up, see him, +and pick him off with the deadly tubes. Under his fingers the mortar +crumbled and left him hanging, more than once, by one hand. For fully +five minutes his life hung by a thread apt to be severed at any time. +But—he made it. Helped by the decreased gravity of the red spot, and +released from inhibiting fear by the fact that he was already, +figuratively, a dead man, he performed the incredible.</p> + +<p>With a last slithering step downward, he landed lightly on the near +wall of the enclosure, and started along its broad top toward his +objective.</p> + +<p>Now he was in plain sight of any one who might be looking out the +windows of the tower building or from the dome ahead of him; but this +was a chance he had to take, and at least he was concealed from the +swarms in the street. Making no effort to hide himself by crawling +along the top of the wall, he straightened up and began to run toward +the giant dome.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ardly had he gone a dozen steps when he suddenly understood the +meaning of the high-walled enclosure to his right!</p> + +<p>Off in a far corner rose a slate colored mound that at first glance he +had taken for a great heap of inanimate dirt. The mound began to move +toward him—and metamorphosed into an animal, a thing that made Brand +blink his eyes to see if he were dreaming, and then stop, appalled, +to look at it.</p> + +<p>He saw a body that dwarfed the high retaining walls to comparative +insignificance. It had a tree-like tail that dragged behind it; and a +thirty-foot, serpentine neck at the end of which was a head like a +sugar barrel that split into cavernous jaws lined with +backward-pointing teeth. Two eyes were set wide apart in the enormous +head, eyes that were dead and cold and dull, yet glinting with +senseless ferocity. It was the sort of thing one sees in delirium.</p> + +<p>With increasing energy the creature made for him, till finally it was +approaching his sector of the wall at a lumbering run that was rapid +for all its ungainliness.</p> + +<p>It was apparent at a glance that the snaky neck, perched atop the +lofty shoulder structure, would raise the head with its gaping jaws to +his level on the wall! Brand ran. And after him thudded the gigantic +lizard, its neck arching up and along the wall to reach him.</p> + +<p>A scant five yards ahead of the snapping jaws, Brand reached his goal, +the dome, and clambered over its curved, metal roof away from the +monster's maw.</p> + +<p>He stopped to pant for breath and wipe the sweat from his streaming +face. "Thank God it didn't get me," he breathed, looking back at the +bellowing terror that had pursued him. "Wonder why it's there? It's +too ferocious to be tamed and used in any way: it must be kept as a +threat to hold the slaves in hand. It certainly looks well fed...."</p> + +<p>He shuddered; then he began to explore the dome of the building for a +means of entrance.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was no opening in the roof. A solid sheet of reddish metal, like +a titanic half-eggshell, it glittered under him in an unbroken piece.</p> + +<p>He crept down its increasingly precipitous edge till he reached a sort +of cornice that formed a jutting circle of stone around it. There he +leaned far over and saw, about ten feet below him, a round opening +like a big port-hole. From it were streaming waves of warm, foul air, +from which he judged it to be a ventilator outlet.</p> + +<p>He scrambled over the edge of the cornice, hung at arm's length, and +swung himself down into the opening. And there, perched high up under +the roof, he looked down at an enigmatic, eery scene.</p> + +<p>That the structure was indeed a strange sort of power-house was +instantly made evident. But what curious, mysterious, and yet +bewilderingly simple machinery it held!</p> + +<p>In the center was a titanic coil of reddish metal formed by a single +cable nearly a yard through. Around this, at the four corners of the +compass, were set coils that were identical in structure but a trifle +smaller. From the smaller coils to the larger streamed, unceasingly, +blue waves of light like lightning bolts.</p> + +<p>Along a large arc of the wall was a stone slab set with an endless +array of switches and insulated control-buttons. Gauges and indicators +of all kinds, whose purpose could not even be guessed at, were lined +above and below, all throbbing rhythmically to the leap of the +electric-blue rays between the monster coils.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>lmost under Brand's perch a great square beam of metal came through +the building wall from outside, to be split into multitudinous smaller +beams that were hooked up with the bases of the coils. Across from +him, disappearing out through the opposite wall, was an identical +beam.</p> + +<p>"The terminals for the metal plate system that extends over the whole +red spot," murmured Brand. "This building <i>is</i> important. But what can +I do to throw sand in the gears before I'm caught and killed...?"</p> + +<p>He surveyed the great round room below him more thoroughly. Now he +saw, right in the center of the huge control board, a solitary lever, +that seemed a sort of parent to all the other levers and switches. It +was flanked by a perfect army of gauges and indicators; and was +covered by a glass bell which was securely bolted to the rock slab.</p> + +<p>"That looks interesting," Brand told himself. "I'd like to see that +closer, if I can climb down from here without being observed.... +Why"—he broke off—"where is everybody!"</p> + +<p>For the first time, in the excitement and concentration of his +purpose, the emptiness of the place struck him. There was no sign of +light in the great building—no workmen or slaves anywhere. There was +just the great coils, with the streamers of blue light bridging them +and emitting the high-pitched, monotonous hum audible outside the +dome, and the complicated control board with its quivering indicator +needles and mysterious levers. That was all.</p> + +<p>"Must be out to lunch," muttered Brand, his eyes going fascinatedly +toward that solitary, parent lever under its glass bell. "Well, it +gives me a chance to try some experiments, anyway."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>t was about fifty feet from his perch to the floor; but a few feet to +one side was a metal beam that extended up to help support the trussed +weight of the roof. He jumped for this, and quickly slid down it.</p> + +<p>He started on a run for the control board; but almost immediately he +stopped warily to listen: it seemed to him that he had caught, +faintly, the squeaking, high tones of Rogan conversation.</p> + +<p>Miraculously, the sound seemed to come from a blank wall to his left. +He crept forward to investigate....</p> + +<p>The mystery was solved before he had gone very far. There was an +opening in the wall leading off to an annex of some kind outside the +dome building. The opening was concealed by a set-back, so that at +first glance it had seemed part of the wall itself. From this opening +drifted the chatter of Rogans.</p> + +<p>Brand stole closer, finally venturing to peer into the room beyond +from an angle where he himself could not be seen. And he found that +his whimsical reference to "lunch" had contained a ghastly element of +fact!</p> + +<p>In that annex were several dozen of the teetering, attenuated Rogans, +and an equal number of slaves. And the relation of the slaves and the +Rogans was one that made Brand's skin crawl.</p> + +<p>Each Rogan had stripped the tunic from the chest of his slave. Now, as +Brand watched, each drew a keen blade from his belt, and made a +shallow gash in the shrinking flesh. There were a few stifled +screams—some of the slaves were women—but for the most part the +slashing was endured in stoical silence. When red drops began to ooze +forth, the Rogans stooped and applied their horrible little mouths to +the incisions....</p> + +<p>"The slimy devils!" Brand whispered hoarsely, at sight of that +dreadful feeding. "The inhuman, monstrous vermin!"</p> + +<p>But now one or two of the Rogans had begun to utter squeaks of +satiation; and Brand hastened away from there and toward the control +board again. He hadn't an idea of what he might accomplish when he +reached it; he didn't know but that a touch of the significant looking +parent-lever might blast him to bits; but he did know that he was +going to raise absolute hell with something, somewhere, if he possibly +could.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>wiftly he approached the great master-lever, protected by its bell of +glass. (At least it looked like glass, for it was crystal clear and +reflected gleamingly the blue light from the nearby coils). He tapped +it experimentally with his knuckles....</p> + +<p>At once pandemonium reigned in the great vaulted building. There was a +siren-like screaming from a device he noticed for the first time +attached under the domed roof. A clanging alarm split the air from +half a dozen gongs set around the upper walls.</p> + +<p>Squealing shouts sounded behind Brand. He whirled, and saw the Rogans, +interrupted in their terrible meal, pouring in from the annex and +racing toward him. Rage and fear distorted their hideous faces as they +pointed first to the big lever and then at the escaped Earthman. They +redoubled their efforts to get at him, their long unsteady legs +covering the distance in great bounds.</p> + +<p>Brand swore. Was he to be caught again before he had accomplished a +certain thing? When he had already managed to win clear to his +objective?</p> + +<p>He hammered at the glass bell with his fists, but realized with the +first blow that he was only wasting time trying to crack it +bare-handed. He glanced quickly about and saw a metal bar propped up +against the control board near him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e sprang for it, grasped it as a club, and returned to the glass +bell. Raising his arms high, he brought the thick metal bar down on +the glass with all his strength.</p> + +<p>With a force that almost wrenched his arms from their sockets, the bar +rebounded from the glass bell, leaving it uncracked.</p> + +<p>"Unbreakable!" groaned Brand.</p> + +<p>Desperately he tried again, whirling the bar high over his head and +bringing it smashing down. The result was the same as before as far as +breaking the bell was concerned. But—a little trickle of crushed rock +came from around the bolts in the slab to which the bell was fastened.</p> + +<p>A third time be brought the bar down. The glass bell sagged a bit sway +from the slab....</p> + +<p>He had no chance for more assaults on it. The nearest Rogans had +leaped for him. Slimy arms were coiling around him, while the +loathsome sucker-disks tore at his unprotected face and throat.</p> + +<p>Savagely Brand lashed out with the bar. It caved in a pair of the +long, skinny legs, bringing a bloated round head down within reach. He +smashed it with the bar, exulting grimly as the blow crumpled bone and +flesh almost down to the little mouth which was yet carmine from its +recent feeding.</p> + +<p>The process seemed a sound one to Brand, unable as he was to reach the +Rogans' heads that towered six feet above his own. Methodically, +swinging the bar with the weight of his body behind it, he repeated +the example. First a crash of the bar against a pair of legs, then the +crushing in of the Rogan's head when he toppled with agonized squeals +to the floor.</p> + +<p>Again and again he crushed the life out of a Rogan with his one-two +swing of the deadly bar. They were thinning down, now. They were +wavering in their charges against the comparatively insignificant +being from another planet who was defending himself so fiercely.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>inally one of their number turned and ran toward an exit, waving his +four arms and adding his high-pitched alarms to the incessant ringing +of the gongs and shrieks of the warning siren up under the roof. The +rest rushed the Earthman in a body.</p> + +<p>Steadily, almost joyfully, Brand fought on. He had expected to be +annihilated by one of the Rogan shock-tubes long before now; but as +yet there was no sign of any. Either these Rogan workmen were not +privileged to carry the terrible things, or they were too occupied to +think of going and getting them; anyhow, Brand was left free to wield +his bar and continue crushing out the lives of the two-legged vermin +that attacked him.</p> + +<p>With almost a shock of surprise, he saw finally that he had battered +their number down to three. At that he took the offensive himself. He +rammed the bluntly pointed end of the bar almost through one writhing +torso, broke the back of a second with a whistling blow, and tripped +and exterminated the third almost in as many seconds. The creatures, +without their death-tubes, were as helpless as crippled rats!</p> + +<p>Panting, he turned again toward the loosened glass bell, and battered +at it with the precious bar. Gradually the bolts that held it to the +stone slab were wrenched out, till only one supported it. But at this +point, from half a dozen set-back doorways, streams of infuriated +Rogans began pouring into the building and toward him.</p> + +<p>The one that had fled had come back with help.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h2><i>Tremendous Odds</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> +<p>ike living spokes of a half-wheel, with the Earthman as the hub, the +Rogans converged toward Brand, a howling roar outside indicating that +there were hundreds more waiting to jam into the dome as soon as they +were able. There were still no shock-tubes in evidence: evidently the +worker who had gone for help had gathered the first Rogan citizens he +had encountered on the streets. But the very numbers of the mob +spelled defeat for Brand.</p> + +<p>However, there was still the great lever behind him to yank away from +its switch-socket. The glass bell was almost off now. With a last mad +blow, he knocked loose the remaining bolt that held it. The bell +clattered to the floor.</p> + +<p>A concerted shriek came from the crowding Rogans as they saw the +Earthman's hand close on the lever. Whatever effect the throwing of +that master-switch could have, there was no doubt that they were +extremely anxious to prevent it!</p> + +<p>And now, in the rear of the crowding columns, appeared Rogans taller +than the others, with an authoritative air, who waved before them, +eager to unleash their power, batteries of the death-tubes.</p> + +<p>Resigning himself to annihilation in the next instant, Brand pulled +down hard on the lever.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he effect wrought by the throwing of that great switch was almost +indescribable.</p> + +<p>In a flash, as though all had been struck at once by a giant's hand, +every Rogan in the mob shot toward the floor, long thin legs caving +under him as if turned to water. Writhing feebly, they endeavored to +get up, but could not; and, still weakly ferocious, began to creep +toward the Earthman like huge-headed worms.</p> + +<p>Brand himself had been thrown to the floor with the falling of that +switch. He had felt as though an invisible ocean had been poured on +him, weighting him down intolerably. To move arms or legs required +enormous effort; and to get up on his feet again was like rising under +a two-hundred-pound pack.</p> + +<p>The movement of the switch, he saw, had cut off the gravity reducing +apparatus of the Rogans—whatever that might consist of. They were +now, abruptly, subjected to the full force of gravity exerted by +Jupiter's great mass. They could no more stand erect on their +tottering, lofty legs than they could fly.</p> + +<p>But, though greatly handicapped by the gravity pull, they were still +not entirely helpless. Like huge, long insects they continued to worm +their way toward Brand, using their four arms and their boneless legs +to help urge them over the flooring. And in their rear the Rogan +guards struggled to lift their tubes and level them at the escaped +prisoner.</p> + +<p>Prompt to avoid that, Brand went down on his hands and knees. Thus he +was shielded by the foremost crawling Rogans: the ones in the rear, +with the tubes, could not raise themselves high enough to bore down +over their fellows' heads at the Earthman.</p> + +<p>Squatting on his knees, Brand awaited the first resolute crawlers. +And, on his knees, whirling the now thrice weighty bar at heads that +were conveniently low enough to be accessible, he began his last +stand.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_o.jpg" alt="O" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>n the Rogans came, evidently determined, at any sacrifice of life, to +get the Earthman away from that vital control board. And to right and +left, crouching low to escape the tubes of the guards slowly crawling +forward from the rear, Brand laid about him with the bar.</p> + +<p>He got a little sick at the havoc he was wreaking on these +slow-moving, gravity-crippled things: but remembrance of their grisly +feeding habits, and the torture they must by now have inflicted on +Dex, kept him flailing down on soft heads with undiminished effort.</p> + +<p>With the gravity pull what it was, the Earthman was immeasurably +stronger than any individual Rogan. For a time the contest was all in +his favor. It was like killing slugs in a rose garden!</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, these slugs were, after all, twelve feet long and +possessed of intelligence, besides being hundreds in number. After a +while the tide of battle began to turn in their favor.</p> + +<p>Brand began to feel his arms ache burningly with the sustained effort +of wielding a weapon that now weighed about twenty-five pounds. He +knew he couldn't keep up the terrific strain much longer. And, in +addition, he could see that the armed Rogans in the rear were steadily +forging ahead among the unarmed attackers, till they soon must be in a +position to blast him with their weapons.</p> + +<p>Brand brought down his bar, with failing force but still deadly +effect, on the loathsome face of the nearest Rogan, grunting with +satisfaction as he saw it crumple into a shapeless mass. He thrust it, +spear-like, into another face, and another.</p> + +<p>Then, abruptly, he found himself weaponless.</p> + +<p>Raising it high to bring it down on an attacker who was almost about +to seize him, he felt the metal bar turn white hot, and dropped it +with a cry as it seared the skin from the palms of his hands. Some +Rogan guard in the rear had managed to train his tube on the bar; and +in the instant of its rising had almost melted it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_w.jpg" alt="W" width="65" height="50" /></div> + +<p>eaponless and helpless, Brand crawled slowly back before the +tortuously advancing mob, keeping close enough to them to be shielded +from the tubes of the rear guards. Without his club he knew the end +was a matter of seconds.</p> + +<p>He had an impulse to leap full into the mass of repulsive, crawling +bodies and die fighting as his fists battered at the gruesome faces. +But a second impulse, and a stronger one, was the blind instinct to +preserve his life as long as possible.</p> + +<p>Hesitantly, almost reluctantly, acting on the primitive instinct of +self-preservation, he continued to back away from the advancing horde; +away from the switch and toward the rear of the dome.</p> + +<p>With the instant of his withdrawal, a Rogan turned toward the lever to +push it back up into contact and release the red kingdom from the +burden of Jupiter's unendurable gravity. And now ensued a curious +struggle. The lever, placed for the convenience of creatures twelve +feet or more tall, was about five feet from the floor. And the Rogan +couldn't reach it!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>tubbornly he heaved and writhed in an effort to raise his +inordinately heavy body from the floor to a point where one of the +weaving arms could reach the switch. But the pipe-stem legs would not +bear its weight. Each time it nearly reached the lever, only to fall +feebly back again in a snarl of tangled limbs.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Brand had flashed a quick look back over his shoulder to +see, in the wall behind him, a metal door he hadn't noticed before. He +found time for a flashing instant to wonder why there were no Rogans +entering from that doorway, too; but it was a vain wonder, and it +faded from his mind as the ever advancing, groping monsters before him +kept crowding him back.</p> + +<p>Instinctively he changed his course a trifle, to edge toward the +metal door. Perhaps, behind it, there was sanctuary for a few moments. +Perhaps he could force it open, spring out, and bar it again in the +faces of the pursuing mob. It sounded improbable, but at least it +offered him a slim chance where before no chance had seemed possible.</p> + +<p>He reached the door at last, fumbled behind him and felt, high over +his head, a massive sliding bolt.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>n the spot Brand had left, the struggle to throw the gravity-lever +back into closed contact position went on. The Rogan who was +fruitlessly trying to reach up to it paused and said something to one +near him. That one halted, and began to crawl toward him.</p> + +<p>The two of them tried to reach it, one bracing the other and helping +him pry his body up from the implacable pull of Jupiter's uninsulated +mass. The top Rogan reached a little higher. The flesh sucker-disk +that served as a hand almost grasped the lever, but failed by only a +few inches.</p> + +<p>A third Rogan crawled up. And now, with two arching their backs to +help the other, the thing was done. The hose-like, groping arm went up +and pushed the lever back into place.</p> + +<p>The blue streamer began to hum and crackle from coil to coil again. +The invisible weight that pressed down was released as once more the +giant planet's gravity was nullified. The Rogans got eagerly to their +feet and began to race toward Brand in their normal long bounds.</p> + +<p>Brand, just cautiously rising, when the power went back on, found +himself leaping five feet into the air with the excess of his muscular +effort. And in that leap he saw the Rogans in the rear straighten up +and point their tubes. However, also in that leap, his fumbling hand +shot back the bolt that securely shut the metal door.</p> + +<p>With a shout of defiance he jumped out of the door and slammed it shut +after him, feeling it grow searing hot an instant later under the +impact of the rays from the tubes that had been trained on him.</p> + +<p>A stinging shock reached him through the metal, flinging him to the +ground. He rolled out of its range and leaped to his feet to race away +from there. Then, with a gasp, he flattened his body back against the +wall of the dome building.</p> + +<p>He was in the enclosure that held the gigantic, lizard-like thing that +had nearly got him on his escape from the tower room.</p> + +<p>He wheeled frantically to go back and face the Rogan death-tubes. +Anything rather than wait while that mammoth heap of tiny-brained +ferocity ran him down and tore him to shreds! But even as he turned, +he heard the bolt shoot home on the inside of the door; heard vengeful +squeals of triumph from his pursuers.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="51" height="50" /></div> + +<p>t the other end of the enclosure, near the foot of the tower +building, the great lizard eyed him unblinkingly, its tremendous jaws +gaping to reveal a cavernous mouth that was hideously lined with +bright orange colored membrane. Then, squatting lower with every step +it took, like a mountainous cat about to spring on its prey, it began +to stalk on its tree-like legs toward the tiny creature that had +leaped into its yard with it.</p> + +<p>Brand whirled this way and that, mechanically seeking a way out. There +was none. The walls of the great enclosure were not like the wall of +the tower. Here were no rough hewn stones, with protruding ridges of +mortar set between. These walls were as smooth as glass, and just as +smooth was the curved wall of the dome building behind him.</p> + +<p>The monstrous beast stalked nearer, almost on its belly now. As it +advanced, the great tail stirred up a cloud of reddish dust, and left +behind it a round deep depression in a surface already crisscrossed +with a multitude of similar depressions. A bellowing hiss came from +its gaping mouth, and it increased its pace to a thunderous, waddling +rush.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h2><i>Into the Enclosure</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> +<p>n the torture chamber Dex wavered slowly back to consciousness to get +the growing impression that he was being immersed in a bath of liquid +fire. Burning, intolerable pain assailed him with increasing intensity +as his senses clarified.</p> + +<p>At last he groaned and opened his eyes, for the moment not knowing +where he was nor how he had come to be there. He saw strange torture +instruments and tall monstrosities with pumpkin-shaped heads +surrounding him closely in a semicircle, and staring at him out of +great, dull eyes.</p> + +<p>Remembrance came back with a rush, and he gathered his muscles to +spring at the hateful figures. But he could not move. At waist and +throat, at wrists and ankles, were hoops of metal. He closed his eyes +again while the burning waves of invisible fire shot through him +recurrently from head to foot.</p> + +<p>Dully he wondered that he was still alive. His last recollection had +been of the Rogan leader pointing his shock-tube full at him, his +shapeless countenance working with murderous fury. However, alive he +was; and most unenviably so!</p> + +<p>His hands, circumscribed to a few inches of movement by the bonds on +his wrists, felt the smooth substance at his back. And with a thrill +of horror he realized his position: he was crucified against the metal +slab on which the slave had writhed in agony a short half hour ago.</p> + +<p>Again he strained and tugged, vainly, to get free. Off to one side, +pressed back against a huge glass experimental tank, he saw the +beautiful Greca, her eyes wide with horror; and caught her frantic +pleading message to her "Great White One."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he Rogan leader, squealing and grimacing, advanced toward the victim +on the metal plate. One of the long arms went out and a sucker-disk +was pressed to Dex's cheek. Dex quivered at the loathsome contact of +that soft and slimy substance; then set his jaws to keep from groaning +as the disk was jerked away, to carry with it a fragment of skin and +flesh.</p> + +<p>Gingerly, the tall leader felt the twitching, blackened stump of his +blasted arm. Dex grinned mirthlessly at that: he'd struck one or two +blows in his own defense, anyhow!</p> + +<p>At sight of the Earthman's grin, an expression of defiance and grim +joy that needed no interpreting to be understandable, the Rogan leader +fairly danced with rage. His long arm went out to the switch beside +the plate, and pulled it down another notch—just a little, not nearly +to the current that had torn at the slave.</p> + +<p>At the increased torment resulting from that slight movement of the +regulating lever, Dex yelled aloud in spite of all his will power. It +seemed as though his whole body were about to burst into +self-generated flame. Every cell and fiber of him seemed on the verge +of flying apart. He could feel his eyes start from his head, could +feel every hair on his scalp stand up as though discharging electric +sparks.</p> + +<p>A minute or two of that and he would go mad! He cried out again, and +twisted helplessly in his bonds. And then the terrible torture +stopped.</p> + +<p>The Rogan had not touched the switch—yet whatever sort of current it +was that charged the plate was abruptly clicked off, as though someone +at a distance had cut a wire or thrown a master-switch.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>imultaneously with its ceasing, an invisible, crushing sea seemed to +envelope everything. Dex felt his body sag against his metal bonds as +if it had been changed to lead.</p> + +<p>Before him the Rogans, who had been crowding closer to watch +gloatingly each grimace he made, shot doorward as though their +pipe-stem legs had been swept from under them. The leader fell on the +stump of his seared arm and, a deafening squeal of rage and pain came +from his little mouth. His tube fell from his grasp and rolled over +the floor half a dozen yards away from him.</p> + +<p>Amazed, observing the stricken creatures only dimly through a haze of +pain, Dex saw them struggle vainly to get up again, and heard them +chattering excitedly to themselves. For the moment, in the face of +this queer phenomenon, the prisoner seemed to be forgotten. And Dex +was quick to seize the momentary advantage.</p> + +<p>"Greca!" he called. "The tube! There—on the floor!"</p> + +<p>The girl raised her head quickly, and followed his imploring gaze. +Laboriously she started for the tube. At the same instant the Rogan +leader began to feel around him for his lost weapon. Not finding it, +he raised his head and glanced about for it. He saw the girl making +her way toward it and, with a squeak of terror, began to crawl toward +it himself.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e was not quick enough. The girl, though not nearly as active under +the increased pull of gravity as a person of Earth might be, was yet +more agile than the Rogans. And she was the faster mover in this +tortuous, snail-like race. While the Rogan leader was still several +feet away, she retrieved the shock-tube.</p> + +<p>"Kill him!" begged Dex. "And all the rest of the filthy creatures!"</p> + +<p>With feminine horror of the thing that faced her, Greca hesitated an +instant—a hesitation almost long enough to be fatal. Then, just as +the Rogan leader was reaching savagely out for her, she leveled the +tube at him and turned it to its full power.</p> + +<p>One last thin squeal came from the Rogan's mouth, a squeal that +cracked abruptly at its height. What had been its gangling body +drifted up in inky smoke.</p> + +<p>"The others!" called Dex. "Quick! Before they get their weapons—"</p> + +<p>Greca swept the death-tube in a short arc in front of her, over the +bodies of the remaining Rogans, as if spraying plants with a hose. One +after another, toppling in swift succession like grotesque falling +dominoes, the creatures sagged to the floor and melted away. That one +small part of Jupiter's red spot, at least, was cleared of Rogan +population.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_l.jpg" alt="L" width="33" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ong shudders racked Greca's body, and her lips were a bloodless line +in her pallid face. But she did not go into womanly hysterics or swoon +at the slaughter it had been her lot to inflict. Moving as quickly as +she could, she went to the metal slab and began, with shaking fingers, +to undo the fastenings that held Dex prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Good girl," said Dex, patting her satiny bare shoulder as he stood +free again. "You're a sport and a gentleman. You don't understand the +terms? They're Earth words, Greca, that carry the highest praise a man +can give a woman. But let's get out of here before another gang comes +and takes us again. Where can we hide?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know any hiding places," confessed Greca despairingly. "The +Rogans swarm everywhere. We will be seen the moment we try to leave +here."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll hunt for a hole, anyway," said Dex. He essayed to walk. +What with the tendency of his muscles to jerk and collapse with the +aftermath of the torture he had endured, and the sudden and +inexplicable increase in gravity that bore him down, he made heavy +going of it. "First we'll go up and get Brand."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Greca, a soft glow in her clear blue eyes. "Let us go +quickly."</p> + +<p>She started toward the door, panting with the effort of moving. But +Dex halted an instant, to stoop and pick up another of the tubes.</p> + +<p>"We might as well have one of these apiece," he said. "You've proved +you have the grit to use one; and maybe the dirty rats will think +twice about rushing us if we each have a load of death in our hands."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>hey made their way out of the torture laboratory, and up the incline +to the street level. And it was just as they reached this that the +burden of gravity under which they staggered was lifted from their +shoulders as quickly as it had descended on them.</p> + +<p>Dex raised his arms just in time to fend his body from a collision +with the wall in front of him. "Now what!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Greca lifted her hand for silence, inclined her head, and listened +intently. As she did so, Dex heard the same noise her quick ears had +caught an instant before his: a distant pandemonium of ringing gongs +and siren shrieks, and squealing cries of a multitude of agitated +Rogans.</p> + +<p>"What the devil—" began Dex. But again Greca raised her hand to +silence him, and listened once more. As she listened, her sea-blue +eyes grew wider and wider with horror. Then, frantically, she began to +race down a long corridor away from the street door.</p> + +<p>Dex hastened to follow her. "What is it?" he demanded, when he had +caught up to her flying little feet. "This is not the way up to the +room where Brand—"</p> + +<p>"Your friend is not there," she interrupted. She explained swiftly, +distractedly: "From the shouts of the Rogans I learn that he got into +the great dome building, somehow, and then was driven into the pen of +the...."</p> + +<p>Dex could not get the next term she used. But her telepathic message +of the peril she mentioned formed in his mind clearly enough.</p> + +<p>He got a flashing brain picture of a great, high-walled yard with a +monster in it of the kind he had caught a close-range glimpse a short +while before. Also, he saw a blurred, tiny figure, running from wall +to wall, that was Greca's imagining of Brand and his efforts to escape +the enormous beast.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" groaned Dex. "Penned in with one of the things they +showed me while I was stretched on the rack! Are you sure, Greca?"</p> + +<p>She nodded, and tried to run faster. "This way," she gasped, turning +down a passage to the left that ended in a massive metal door. "This +leads to the enclosure. Oh, if only we can be in time!"</p> + +<p>Her slim fingers tore at a massive bolt that secured the door. "Here," +said Dex, wrenching it open for her. And they stepped out into thin +sunlight, onto a hard surface of reddish ground that was crisscrossed +with innumerable rounded furrows like the tracks old-fashioned, +fifty-passenger airplane wheels used to make on soft landing fields.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_g.jpg" alt="G" width="50" height="50" /></div> +<p>reca shrieked, and pointed to the far end of the enclosure. Down +there, flattened against the wall of the dome building, was Brand. And +waddling toward him with a tread that caused the ground to quiver, was +a mate to the hideous creature the Rogans had used to terrify Dex in +the torture chamber.</p> + +<p>Dex leveled the tube he was carrying, swore, hit it frenziedly against +his hand. "How do you work this damned thing, Greca—Oh! Like that! +There—see if <i>that</i> puts a sting in your hide!"</p> + +<p>The distant monster stopped its advance toward Brand. A raw white spot +as big as a dinner plate leaped into being on one of its enormous hind +legs. It whirled with an ear-splitting hiss, to see what thing was +causing such pain in its rear. The frightful head whipped back at the +end of the long neck, to nuzzle at the seared spot. Then the giant +lizard turned toward Brand again.</p> + +<p>A second time Dex pressed the central coil that formed the handle of +the tube, as Greca had showed him how to do. A second time the ray +shot down the field to flick a chunk of flesh weighing many pounds +from the monster's flank. And this time it definitely abandoned the +quarry behind it. With a scream like the keening of a dozen steam +whistles, it charged back over its tracks toward the distant pigmies +that were inflicting such exasperating punishment on it.</p> + +<p>Dex swept the tube before him in a short half-circle. A smoking gash +appeared suddenly in the vast fore-quarters of the monster. It +stopped abruptly, its clawed feet plowing along the ground with the +force of its momentum. An instant it stood there. Then, with its head +swinging from side to side and lowered so that its looped neck dragged +on the reddish, dusty ground, it began to back away from the source of +its hurt, bellowing and hissing its rage and bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"Brand!" shouted Dex. "This end! Run, while I hold the thing off!"</p> + +<p>Brand began to race down the long enclosure, ten feet to a leap. The +great lizard darted after him, like a cat after an escaping mouse; but +a flick of the tube sent it bellowing and screaming back to its +corner.</p> + +<p>"Dex!" gasped Brand. "Thank God!"</p> + +<p>For a moment he leaned, white and shaken, against the wall. Then Greca +caught his hand in both of hers, and Dex put his arm supportingly +around his shoulder. They retreated back through the doorway behind +them, and slid the bolt across the metal door.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h2><i>The "Tank Scheme"</i></h2> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_t1.jpg" alt="T" width="64" height="54" /></div> +<p>hank God you came when you did," repeated Brand. Then, with a moment +in which, figuratively, to get his feet back on earth, the wonder of +Dex's appearance struck him.</p> + +<p>"How did you manage to get away?" he asked. "I was sure—I +thought—when they dragged you out of the tower room I wouldn't see +you again—"</p> + +<p>Rapidly Dex gave an account of his ordeal in the torture chamber, +telling Brand in a few words how he had attempted to win free of the +Rogans, how he had almost succeeded, only to be caught again and +clamped to the death-plate on the wall.</p> + +<p>"But just as the big fellow was about to cook me for good and all," he +concluded, "something happened to the current, and to the gravity at +the same time—"</p> + +<p>"That was when I pulled the lever in the dome building!" exclaimed +Brand.</p> + +<p>He told of what had befallen him in the Rogan power-house. "That +lever, Dex!" he said swiftly. "It's the keynote of the whole business. +It absolutely controls the pull of gravity, and Lord knows what else +besides. If we could only get at it again! Perhaps we could not only +shut it off so that Jupiter's pull would function again, but also +reverse the process so its gravity would be <i>increased</i>! Think what +that would mean! Every Rogan in the red empire stretched out and +immovable, possibly crushed in by his own weight!"</p> + +<p>"It's a wonderful thought," sighed Dex; while Greca's eyes glowed with +a sudden hope for her enslaved race, "but I don't see how we could +ever—"</p> + +<p>He stopped; and glanced in alarm down the passage behind them. Greca +and Brand, hearing the same soft noise, whirled to look, too.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_f.jpg" alt="F" width="43" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ar down the passage, just sneaking around the bend, was a group of +Rogan guards, each armed with a death-tube.</p> + +<p>"Back to the pen!" cried Brand.</p> + +<p>He slid the bolt, and jerked the door open. They rushed into the +walled enclosure again, the slamming of the door behind them cutting +off the enraged squeals of the Rogans.</p> + +<p>"This isn't going to mean anything but a short delay, I'm afraid," +said Brand, clenching his fists in an agony of futility. "They'll be +in here in a minute, and get us like trapped rats."</p> + +<p>"Not before we get a lot of them," said Dex grimly.</p> + +<p>"But that isn't enough, man! We don't want to die, no matter how +decently we do it. We've won free, and stayed free this long; now, +somehow, we've got to reach our ship and get back to Earth to warn +them of the danger that hides here for our planet!"</p> + +<p>He strode tensely up and down, smacking his fist into his palm. "The +lever!" he exclaimed. "That lever! It's our only answer! If we could +get to it.... But how can we? We couldn't break into the dome, now the +Rogans are on the watch for us, with anything less than a charge of +explosives. Or a tank. God, how I'd like to have an old-fashioned, +fifty-ton army tank here now!"</p> + +<p>Greca exclaimed aloud as Brand's fleeting mental picture of one of +Earth's unwieldy, long-discarded war tanks registered on her brain.</p> + +<p>"There is the great beast there," she said hesitantly, pointing a slim +forefinger at the huge lizard that had backed into a far corner and +was regarding them out of dull, savage eyes. Then she shook her head. +"But that is impossible. Impossible!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he men stared at her, with dawning realization in their minds. Then +they gazed at each other.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Brand. "Of course! Greca, you're marvelous! Wish we +had a tank? Why, we've got one! A four-legged mountain of meat that +ought to be able to plow through the side of that dome like a +battering ram through cardboard!"</p> + +<p>"But it's not possible," replied Greca, her head dropping dejectedly. +"My people, as driven slaves, till the fields with great animals that +were trapped in the surrounding jungles. They harness other great +animals to haul burdens. But none of the beasts are like <i>this</i> one. +This kind cannot be tamed or harnessed. It is too ferocious. It is +used only as a scourge of fear, to crush us into complete submission."</p> + +<p>"Can't be tamed?" Brand said. "We'll see about that! Come on, Dex."</p> + +<p>"Just a minute," said Dex. He flattened against the wall, motioning +them to do the same. Then he leveled his tube at the door.</p> + +<p>Slowly, cautiously, the door began to swing back; and the Rogan that +Dex had heard fumbling with the bolt stuck his huge head out to locate +the escaped prisoners.</p> + +<p>Dex pressed the release coil of his tube. Without a sound, the Rogan +slumped to the ground, a smoking cavity in its shoulders at the spot +where its head had been set. In an instant the body, too, disappeared; +an upward coiling wisp of black smoke marking its vanishing.</p> + +<p>Another Rogan, tiptoeing out, met the same fate; and another. And then +the door was banged shut again, and the bolt ground into place on the +inside.</p> + +<p>"That'll teach 'em to be careful how they try to rush us from <i>that</i> +door," said Dex, through set teeth. "Now let's see if that tank scheme +of ours can be worked."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> + +<p>e picked up a tube dropped by one of the Rogans, and handed it to +Brand; showing him which coil to press to get full force, as Greca had +in turn informed him.</p> + +<p>"Down the field," commanded Brand. "We'll go about thirty yards apart, +and try to herd this brute back through the walls of the dome +building. Once it's inside, we'll try to rush to the lever before the +Rogans can down us, and jam the thing past its terminal peg and into +reverse action. I don't know that there <i>is</i> a reverse to it—but we +can try.</p> + +<p>"Greca dear,"—the girl started at the warmth of his thought, and a +faint pink rose to her pale cheeks—"you'd better stay by my side. +Your place as hostage-priestess of your people wouldn't save you if +those devils catch you now. Besides, you can keep your tube leveled at +the doorway as we go, and discourage any Rogans who might pluck up +courage to try coming out again."</p> + +<p>They started down the field toward the nightmare thing that snarled +and hissed in its corner. On one side of the big enclosure walked +Brand, with Greca close beside him, glancing continuously over her +shoulder at the rear door, and holding her tube in readiness to check +any charge the Rogans might attempt to make from the tower building. +On the other side, keeping an equal pace, advanced Dex.</p> + +<p>With tubes of death as whips, and with death for themselves set as the +stake for which they gambled, they went about their attempt to drive +the brainless monster before them through the solid wall of the dome +building. And there followed what was probably the strangest animal +act the universe has ever witnessed.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>he first thing to do was to rout the enormous lizard out of the +corner where sullen fear had sent it squatting. Dex contrived to do +that by standing next to the wall at its side, and sending a searing +ray that just touched the scaly, tremendously thick hide. The monster +bellowed deafeningly, and, with a spot smoking on its flank, waddled +sideways to the center of the field. Its head and swaying long neck +faced the Earthmen and its back was against the wall of the dome +building. To that extent, at least, they had the creature placed; but +they soon found that the struggle had only just begun.</p> + +<p>Brand got far enough around to focus his tube on the tip of the huge +tail, in an effort to swing the gigantic thing about. There was an +unearthly shriek from the colossal beast, and a foot and a half of its +tail disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Careful," called Dex, his jaw set and grim as the monster lashed out +in its wrath. "If you bore in too long with that tube there'll be +nothing left of our tank but a cloud of smoke."</p> + +<p>Brand nodded, wordlessly, walking on the balls of his feet like a +boxer, holding himself ready to swerve the thing should it charge +them. Which—next instant—it did!</p> + +<p>With a whistling bellow it gathered its tons of weight and thundered +with incredible quickness at the gnats that were stinging its flanks +and tail.</p> + +<p>Desperately Brand played the tube across the vast chest, scoring a +smouldering gash in the scale-covered flesh just above the gash Dex +had seared a few moments before.</p> + +<p>"Sorry, old fellow," Brand muttered to the screaming beast. "We hate +to bait you like this, but it has to be done. Come on, now, through +that wall behind you, and give us a chance at the lever."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ut through the wall behind it the vast creature, not unnaturally, +refused to go! It darted from side to side. Backward and forward. Up +to the wall, only to back bewilderedly away from it. And constantly +the tubes flicked their blistering, maddening rays along its monstrous +sides and tail, as the Earthmen tried to guide it into the wall.</p> + +<p>"Hope there's enough left of it to do the trick," said Brand, +white-lipped. The monster was smoking in a dozen spots now, and +several of the hump-like scales on its back had been burned away till +the vast spine looked like a giant saw that was missing a third of its +teeth. "God, I'm thinking we'll kill it before we can drive it through +that wall!"</p> + +<p>Greca nodded soberly, keeping her eyes on the distant door to their +rear. Twice that door had been opened, and twice she had directed the +death rays into its opening to mow down the gangling figures behind +it. But she had said nothing of this to her man. He was busy enough +with his own task!</p> + +<p>"The door to the dome—" Dex shouted suddenly.</p> + +<p>But Brand merely nodded, even as a discharge from his tube annihilated +the Rogan that had appeared in the doorway before them. He had seen +that door stealthily opening even before Dex had.</p> + +<p>"It had better be soon, Dex!" he called. "Rogans in front of +us—Rogans behind us—and—look out! On your side of the fence, +there!"</p> + +<p>Dex whirled in time to pick off a grotesque, pipe-like figure that had +suddenly appeared on the broad wall of the enclosure. Then he turned +to the frenzied problem of driving the monster through the building +wall.</p> + +<p>"The thing's going mad, Brand!" he cried, his voice high-pitched and +brittle. "Watch out!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>t was only too evident that his statement was true. The baited +monster, harried blindly this way and that, hounded against the blank +wall behind it by something that bit chunks of living flesh out of its +legs and sides, was losing whatever instinctive mental balance it had +ever had. Its dimly functioning brain, probably no larger than a +walnut in that gigantic skull, ceased more and more to guide it.</p> + +<p>With a rasping scream that set the Earthmen's teeth on edge, it +charged for the wall on Dex's side. Dex just managed to swerve it with +a blast from the tube so prolonged that half its great lower jaw fell +away.</p> + +<p>At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad! It whirled +toward Brand, jerking around again as a searing on that side jarred +its dull sensory nerves, then headed at last straight toward the stone +wall of the dome building.</p> + +<p>With the rays from both tubes flicking it like monstrous spurs, it +charged insanely toward the bulge of the circular wall. With all its +tons and tons of weight it crashed against the stonework. There was a +thunderous crackling noise, and the wall sagged in perceptibly, while +the metal roof bent to accommodate the new curvature of its supporting +beams.</p> + +<p>The monstrous lizard, jerked off its huge legs by the impact, +staggered up and retreated toward the two men. But again the maddening +pain in its hindquarters sent it careening toward the building wall. +This time it raised high up on its hind legs in a blind effort to +climb over it. "God, it must be five stories tall!" ejaculated Brand. +Thunderingly its forelegs came down on the edge of the roof.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="55" height="50" /></div> + +<p>here was another deafening crash of stone and shrieking of torn +metal. Just under the cornice, the wall sagged away from the roof and +the top rows of heavy stone blocks slithered inward.</p> + +<p>"Again!" shouted Brand.</p> + +<p>His tube was pointing almost continuously now at the metal door +leading from the dome building. The Rogans inside, at the shocks that +were battering down a section of their great building, were all trying +to get out to the yard at once. In a stream they rushed for the +doorway. And in loathsome heaps they fell at the impact of the ray +and shriveled to nothingness on the bombarded threshold.</p> + +<p>"Once more—" Brand repeated, his voice hoarse and tense.</p> + +<p>And as though the monster heard and understood, it rushed again with +all its vast weight and force against the wall in a mad effort to +escape the things that were blasting the living flesh from its +colossal framework.</p> + +<p>This charge was the last. With a roaring crash a section of the +building thirty yards across went back and down, leaving the massive +roof to sag threateningly on its battered truss-work.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>t was as though the side of an ant-heap had been ripped away. Inside +the domed building hundreds of Rogans ran this way and that on their +elongated legs, squealing in their staccato, high-pitched tongue.</p> + +<p>With blind fury the mad monster charged in through the gaping hole it +had battered for itself. In all directions the Rogans scattered. Then +an authoritative tall figure with a tube in each of its four +sucker-disks, whipped out a command and pointed to the great coils +which lay immediately in the berserk monster's path.</p> + +<p>The command restored some sort of order. Losing their fear of the +beast in their greater fear of the damage it might do, the Rogans +massed to stop it before it could demolish the Rogan heart of power.</p> + +<p>At this point Brand saw an opening of the kind he had been praying +for. The Rogans had retreated before the terrific charge of the +monster in such a way that the space between its vast bulk and the +control board was clear.</p> + +<p>"After me!" he shouted to Dex. "One of us has got to reach that lever +while the creature's still there to shield us!"</p> + +<p>The two Earthmen dashed through the jagged hole in the wall and raced +to the control board just as the huge lizard, a smoking mass, sank to +the floor. Brand gazed almost fearfully at the lever-slot.</p> + +<p>Was there a reverse to the gravity-control action? There was room in +the slot for the lever to be pulled down below the neutral point, if +that meant anything....</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_b.jpg" alt="B" width="42" height="50" /></div> + +<p>ehind them the great bulk of the dead lizard was disappearing with +incredible quickness under the rays of the tubes directed on it. Now +the pumpkin-shaped heads on the opposite side were visible through a +fleeting glimpse of a skeleton that was like the framework of a +skyscraper. And now the colossal bones themselves were melting, while +over everything hung a pall of greasy black smoke.</p> + +<p>"Hurry, for God's sake!" gasped Dex.</p> + +<p>Brand threw down the lever till it stuck. At once that invisible ocean +poured crushingly over them, throwing them to their knees and sweeping +the Rogans flat on their hideous faces just as half a hundred tubes +were flashing down to point at the Earthmen.</p> + +<p>"More—if you can!" grated Dex, whirling this way and that and +spraying the massed Rogans with his death-dealing tube. Dozens went up +in smoke under that discharge; but other dozens remained to raise +themselves laboriously and slowly level their suddenly ponderous +weapons at the Earthmen.</p> + +<p>Brand set his jaw and threw all his weight on the lever. It bent a +little, caught at the neutral point—and then jammed down an +appreciable distance beyond it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="25" height="50" /></div> + + +<p>nstantly the blue streamers, that had stopped their humming progress +from coil to coil with the movement of the switch to neutral, started +again in reversed direction. And instantly the invisible ocean pressed +down with appalling, devastating force.</p> + +<p>Greca and Brand and Dex were flattened to the floor as if by blankets +of lead. And the scattered Rogans about them ceased all movement +whatever.</p> + +<p>"Oh," sobbed Greca, fighting for breath. "Oh!"</p> + +<p>"We can't stand this," panted Dex. "We've fixed the Rogans, all right. +But we've fixed ourselves, too! That lever has to go up a bit."</p> + +<p>Brand nodded, finding his head almost too heavy for his neck to move. +Sweat beaded his forehead—sweat that trickled heavily off his face +like drops of liquid metal.</p> + +<p>With a tremendous struggle he got to his knees beneath the +master-switch. There he found it impossible to raise his arms; but, +leaning back against the control board and so getting a little +support, he contrived to lift his body up enough to touch the +down-slanting lever with his head and move it back along its slot a +fraction of an inch. The giant coils hummed a note lower; and some of +the smashing weight was relieved.</p> + +<p>"That does it, I think," Brand panted, his voice husky with exhaustion +and triumph.</p> + +<p>He began to crawl laboriously toward the nearest street exit. "On our +way!" he said vibrantly. "To the space ship! We leave for Earth at +once!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_s.jpg" alt="S" width="36" height="50" /></div> + +<p>lowly, fighting the sagging weight of their bodies, the two Earthmen +inched their way to the street, helping Greca as they went. Among the +sprawled forms of the Rogans they crept, with great dull eyes rolling +helplessly to observe their progress, and with feeble squeals of rage +and fear and malediction following their slow path.</p> + +<p>On the street a strange and terrible sight met their eyes.</p> + +<p>Strewn over the metal paving like wheat stalks crushed flat by a +hurricane, were thousands of Rogans. Not a muscle of their pipe-like +arms or legs could they move. But the gravity that crushed them +rigidly to the ground did not quite hold motionless the shorter and +more sturdily built slaves.</p> + +<p>Among the thousands of squealing, panting Rogans that lay as though +paralyzed on the metal paving, crawled equal thousands of Greca's +enslaved people. Their eyes flamed with fanatic hate. And +methodically—not knowing what had caused their loathed masters to be +stricken helpless, and not caring as long as they <i>were</i> helpless—the +slaves were seeking out the shock-tubes that here and there had fallen +from the clutch of Rogan guards. Already many had found them; and +everywhere gangling, slimy bodies were melting in oily black smoke +that almost instantly vanished in thin air.</p> + +<p>As it was in these streets and in the great square in the center of +which rested the Earthmen's ship, just so, they knew, was it being +repeated all over the red empire. Slowly crawling, fiercely exulting +slaves were exterminating the tyrannous things that had held them so +long in dreadful bondage! Before the sun should set on another +flashing Jovian day there would be no Rogan left in the red spot.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft1"><img src="images/image_a1.jpg" alt="A" width="56" height="52" /></div> + +<p>nd so it ends," said Brand with a great sigh. He moved over beside +Greca, and touched her lovely bare shoulders. They were shaking +convulsively, those shoulders; and she had buried her face in her +hands to keep from gazing at the ghastly carnage.</p> + +<p>Brand pressed her to him. "It's terrible—yes. But think what it +means! The knell of all the Rogans been sounded to-day. As soon as +the secret of these death-tubes has been analyzed by our science and +provided against, my friend and I will return from Earth with a force +that shall clear the universe of the slimy devils. Meanwhile, your +people are safe here; with the gravity what it is, no Rogan attacking +hordes can land."</p> + +<p>They crawled tortuously over the square to the space ship. Brand +turned again to Greca; and now in his eyes was a look that needed no +language of mind or tongue for its complete expression.</p> + +<p>"Will you come to Earth with me, Greca, and stay by my side till we +return to set your people in power again?"</p> + +<p>Greca shook her head, slowly, reluctantly. "My people need leaders +now. I must stay and help direct them in their new freedom. But +you—you'll come back with the others from Earth?"</p> + +<p>"Try and stop him!" grinned Dex. "And try and stop me, too! From what +I know now of the way they grow 'em on your satellite"—his eyes +rested on Greca's beauty with an admiration that turned her to rosy +confusion—"I'd say I'd found the ideal spot to settle down in!"</p> + +<p>Brand laughed. "He's answered for me too. And now, a salute that is +used on Earth to express a promise...." He kissed her—to her utter +astonishment and perplexity, but to her dawning pleasure. "Good-by for +a little while."</p> + +<p>The two Earthmen hoisted themselves heavily over the sill of the +control room of their ship, and crawled inside.</p> + +<p>They secured the trap-door, and turned on the air-rectifiers. Brand +moved to the controls, waved to Greca, who was smiling at him through +the glass panel, and pointed the ship on its triumphant, four hundred +million mile journey home.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Hell of Jupiter, by Paul Ernst + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED HELL OF JUPITER *** + +***** This file should be named 30214-h.htm or 30214-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/2/1/30214/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://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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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: The Red Hell of Jupiter + +Author: Paul Ernst + +Release Date: October 8, 2009 [EBook #30214] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED HELL OF JUPITER *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Astounding Stories October 1931. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + [Illustration: At this the titanic thing went wholly, + colossally mad.] + + + The Red Hell of Jupiter + + _A Complete Novelette_ + + + + + By Paul Ernst + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I + +_The Red Spot_ + +[Sidenote: What is the mystery centered in Jupiter's famous "Red +Spot"? Two fighting Earthmen, caught by the "Pipe-men" like their +vanished comrades, soon find out.] + + +Commander Stone, grizzled chief of the Planetary Exploration Forces, +acknowledged Captain Brand Bowen's salute and beckoned him to take a +seat. + +Brand, youngest officer of the division to wear the triple-V for +distinguished service, sat down and stared curiously at his superior. +He hadn't the remotest idea why he had been recalled from leave: but +that it was on a matter of some importance he was sure. He hunched his +big shoulders and awaited orders. + +"Captain Bowen," said Stone. "I want you to go to Jupiter as soon as +you can arrange to do so, fly low over the red area in the southern +hemisphere, and come back here with some sort of report as to what's +wrong with that infernal death spot." + +He tapped his radio stylus thoughtfully against the edge of his desk. + +"As you perhaps know, I detailed a ship to explore the red spot about +a year ago. It never came back. I sent another ship, with two good men +in it, to check up on the disappearance of the first. That ship, too, +never came back. Almost with the second of its arrival at the edge of +the red area all radio communication with it was cut off. It was never +heard from again. Two weeks ago I sent Journeyman there. Now _he_ has +been swallowed up in a mysterious silence." + +An exclamation burst from Brand's lips. Sub-Commander Journeyman! +Senior officer under Stone, ablest man in the expeditionary forces, +and Brand's oldest friend! + +Stone nodded comprehension of the stricken look on Brand's face. "I +know how friendly you two were," he said soberly. "That's why I chose +you to go and find out, if you can, what happened to him and the other +two ships." + +Brand's chin sank to rest on the stiff high collar of his uniform. + +"Journeyman!" he mused. "Why, he was like an older brother to me. And +now ... he's gone." + + * * * * * + +There was silence in Commander Stone's sanctum for a time. Then Brand +raised his head. + +"Did you have any radio reports at all from any of the three ships +concerning the nature of the red spot?" he inquired. + +"None that gave definite information," replied Stone. "From each of +the three ships we received reports right up to the instant when the +red area was approached. From each of the three came a vague +description of the peculiarity of the ground ahead of them: it seems +to glitter with a queer metallic sheen. Then, from each of the three, +as they passed over the boundary--nothing! All radio communication +ceased as abruptly as though they'd been stricken dead." + +He stared at Brand. "That's all I can tell you, little enough, God +knows. Something ominous and strange is contained in that red spot: +but what its nature may be, we cannot even guess. I want you to go +there and find out." + +Brand's determined jaw jutted out, and his lips thinned to a +purposeful line. He stood to attention. + +"I'll be leaving to-night, sir. Or sooner if you like. I could go this +afternoon: in an hour--" + +"To-night is soon enough," said Stone with a smile. "Now, who do you +want to accompany you?" + +Brand thought a moment. On so long a journey as a trip to Jupiter +there was only room in a space ship--what with supplies and all--for +one other man. It behooved him to pick his companion carefully. + +"I'd like Dex Harlow," he said at last. "He's been to Jupiter before, +working with me in plotting the northern hemisphere. He's a good man." + +"He is," agreed Stone, nodding approval of Brand's choice. "I'll have +him report to you at once." + +He rose and held out his hand. "I'm relying on you, Captain Bowen," he +said. "I won't give any direct orders: use your own discretion. But I +would advise you not to try to land in the red area. Simply fly low +over it, and see what you can discern from the air. Good-by, and good +luck." + +Brand saluted, and went out, to go to his own quarters and make the +few preparations necessary for his sudden emergency flight. + + * * * * * + +The work of exploring the planets that swung with Earth around the sun +was still a new branch of the service. Less than ten years ago, it had +been, when Ansen devised his first crude atomic motor. + +At once, with the introduction of this tremendous new motive power, +men had begun to build space ships and explore the sky. And, as so +often happens with a new invention, the thing had grown rather beyond +itself. + +Everywhere amateur space flyers launched forth into the heavens to try +their new celestial wings. Everywhere young and old enthusiasts set +Ansen motors into clumsily insulated shells and started for Mars or +the moon or Venus. + +The resultant loss of life, as might have been foreseen, was +appalling. Eager but inexperienced explorers edged over onto the wrong +side of Mercury and were burned to cinders. They set forth in ships +that were badly insulated, and froze in the absolute zero of space. +They learned the atomic motor controls too hastily, ran out of +supplies or lost their courses, and wandered far out into space--stiff +corpses in coffins that were to be buried only in time's infinity. + +To stop the foolish waste of life, the Earth Government stepped in. It +was decreed that no space ship might be owned or built privately. It +was further decreed that those who felt an urge to explore must join +the regular service and do so under efficient supervision. And there +was created the Government bureau designated as the Planetary +Exploration Control Board, which was headed by Commander Stone. + + * * * * * + +Under this Board the exploration of the planets was undertaken +methodically and efficiently, with a minimum of lives sacrificed. + +Mercury was charted, tested for essential minerals, and found to be a +valueless rock heap too near the sun to support life. + +Venus was visited and explored segment by segment; and friendly +relations were established with the rather stupid but peaceable people +found there. + +Mars was mapped. Here the explorers had lingered a long time: and all +over this planet's surface were found remnants of a vast and intricate +civilization--from the canals that laced its surface, to great cities +with mighty buildings still standing. But of life there was none. The +atmosphere was too rare to support it; and the theory was that it had +constantly thinned through thousands of years till the last Martian +had gasped and died in air too attenuated to support life even in +creatures that must have grown greater and greater chested in eons of +adaptation. + +Then Jupiter had been reached: and here the methodical planet by +planet work promised to be checked for a long time to come. Jupiter, +with its mighty surface area, was going to take some exploring! It +would be years before it could be plotted even superficially. + + * * * * * + +Brand had been to Jupiter on four different trips; and, as he walked +toward his quarters from Stone's office, he reviewed what he had +learned on those trips. + +Jupiter, as he knew it, was a vast globe of vague horror and sharp +contrasts. + +Distant from the sun as it was, it received little solar heat. But, +with so great a mass, it had cooled off much more slowly than any of +the other planets known, and had immense internal heat. This meant +that the air--which closely approximated Earth's air in density--was +cool a few hundred yards up from the surface of the planet, and dankly +hot close to the ground. The result, as the cold air constantly sank +into the warm, was a thick steamy blanket of fog that covered +everything perpetually. + +Because of the recent cooling, life was not far advanced on Jupiter. +Too short a time ago the sphere had been but a blazing mass. Tropical +marshes prevailed, crisscrossed by mighty rivers at warmer than blood +heat. Giant, hideous fernlike growths crowded one another in an +everlasting jungle. And among the distorted trees, from the blanket of +soft white fog that hid all from sight, could be heard constantly an +ear-splitting chorus of screams and bellows and whistling snarls. It +made the blood run cold just to listen--and to speculate on what +gigantic but tiny-brained monsters made them. + +Now and then, when Brand had been flying dangerously low over the +surface, a wind had risen strong enough to dispel the fog banks for an +instant; and he had caught a flash of Jovian life. Just a flash, for +example, of a monstrous lizard-like thing too great to support its own +bulk: or a creature all neck and tail, with ridges of scale on its +armored hide and a small serpentine head weaving back and forth among +the jungle growths. + + * * * * * + +Occasionally he had landed--always staying close to the space ship, +for Jupiter's gravity made movement a slow and laborious process, and +he didn't want to be caught too far from security. At such times he +might hear a crashing and splashing and see a reptilian head loom +gigantically at him through the fog. Then he would discharge the +deadly explosive gun which was Earth's latest weapon, and the creature +would crash to the ground. The chorus of hissings and bellowings would +increase as he hastened slowly and laboriously back to the ship, +indicating that other unseen monsters of the steamy jungle had flocked +to tear the dead giant to pieces and bolt it down. + +Oh, Jupiter was a nice planet! mused Brand. A sweet place--if one +happened to be a two-hundred-foot snake or something! + +He had always thought the entire globe was in that new, raw, marshy +state. But he had worked only in one comparatively small area of the +northern hemisphere; had never been within thirty thousand miles of +the red spot. What might lie in that ominous crimson patch, he could +not even guess. However, he reflected, he was soon to find out, though +he might never live to tell about it. + +Shrugging his shoulders, he turned into the fifty story building in +which was his modest apartment. There he found, written by the +automatic stylus on his radio pad, the message: "Be with you at seven +o'clock. Best regards, and I hope you strangle. Dex Harlow." + + * * * * * + +Dex Harlow was a six-foot Senior Lieutenant who had been on many an +out-of-the-way exploratory trip. Like Brand he was just under thirty +and perpetually thirsting for the bizarre in life. He was a walking +document of planetary activity. He was still baked a brick red from a +trip to Mercury a year before: he had a scar on his forehead, the +result of jumping forty feet one day on the moon when he'd meant to +jump only twenty; he was minus a finger which had been irreparably +frost-bitten on Mars; and he had a crumpled nose that was the outcome +of a brush with a ten-foot bandit on Venus who'd tried to kill him for +his explosive gun and supply of glass, dyite-containing cartridges. + +He clutched Brand's fingers in a bone-mangling grip, and threw his hat +into a far corner. + +"You're a fine friend!" he growled cheerfully. "Here I'm having a +first rate time for myself, swimming and planing along the Riviera, +with two more weeks leave ahead of me--and I get a call from the Old +Man to report to you. What excuse have you for your crime?" + +"A junket to Jupiter," said Brand. "Would you call that a good +excuse?" + +"Jupiter!" exclaimed Dex. "Wouldn't you know it? Of course you'd have +to pick a spot four hundred million miles away from all that grand +swimming I was having!" + +"Would you like to go back on leave, and have me choose someone else?" +inquired Brand solemnly. + +"Well, no," said Dex hastily. "Now that I'm here, I suppose I might as +well go through with it." + +Brand laughed. "Try and get you out of it! I know your attitude toward +a real jaunt. And it's a real jaunt we've got ahead of us, too, old +boy. We're going to the red spot. Immediately." + + * * * * * + +Dex's sandy eyebrows shot up. "The red spot! That's where Coblenz and +Heiroy were lost!" + +"And Journeyman," added Brand. "He's the latest victim of whatever's +in the hell-hole." + +Dex whistled. "Journeyman too! Well, all I've got to say is that +whatever's there must be strong medicine. Journeyman was a damn fine +man, and as brave as they come. Have you any idea what it's all +about?" + +"Not an idea. Nobody has. We're to go and find out--if we can. Are you +all ready?" + +"All ready," said Dex. + +"So am I. We'll start at eleven o'clock in one of the Old Man's best +cruisers. Meanwhile, we might as well go and hunt up a dinner +somewhere, to fortify us against the synthetic pork chops and bread +we'll be swallowing for the next fortnight." + +They went out; and at ten minutes of eleven reported at the great +space ship hangars north of New York, with their luggage, a +conspicuous item of which was a chess board to help while away the +long, long days of spacial travel. Brand then paused a little while +for a final check-up on directions. + +They clambered into the tiny control room and shut the hermetically +sealed trap-door. Brand threw the control switch and precisely at +eleven o'clock the conical shell of metal shot heavenward, gathering +such speed that it was soon invisible to human eyes. He set their +course toward the blazing speck that was Jupiter, four hundred million +miles away; and then reported their start by radio to Commander +Stone's night operator. + +The investigatory expedition to the ominous red spot of the giant of +the solar system was on. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +_The Pipe-like Men_ + + +Brand began to slacken speed on the morning of the thirteenth day +(morning, of course, being a technical term: there are no horizons in +space for the sun to rise over). Jupiter was still an immense distance +off; but it took a great while to slow the momentum of the space ship, +which, in the frictionless emptiness of space, had been traveling +faster and faster for nearly three hundred hours. + +Behind them was the distant ball of sun, so far off that it looked no +larger than a red-hot penny. Before them was the gigantic disk of +Jupiter, given a white tinge by the perpetual fog blankets, its +outlines softened by its thick layer of atmosphere and cloud banks. +Two of its nine satellites were in sight at the moment, with a third +edging over the western rim. + +"Makes you think you're drunk and seeing triple, doesn't it?" +commented Dex, who was staring out the thick glass panel beside Brand. +"Nine moons! Almost enough for one planet!" + +Brand nodded abstractly, and concentrated on the control board. +Rapidly the ship rocketed down toward the surface. The disk became a +whirling, gigantic plate; and then an endless plain, with cloud +formations beginning to take on definite outline. + +"About to enter Jupiter's atmosphere." Brand spoke into the radio +transmitter. Over the invisible thread of radio connection between the +space ship and Earth, four hundred million miles behind, flashed the +message. + +"All right. For God's sake, be careful," came the answer, minutes +later. "Say something at least every half hour, to let us know +communication is unbroken. We will sound at ten second intervals." + +The sounding began: _peep_, a shrill little piping noise like the +fiddle of a cricket. Ten seconds later it came again: _peep_. +Thereafter, intermittently, it keened through the control room--a +homely, comforting sound to let them know that there was a distant +thread between them and Earth. + + * * * * * + +Lower the shell rocketed. The endless plain slowly ceased its rushing +underneath them as they entered the planet's atmosphere and began to +be pulled around with it in its revolution. Far to the west a faint +red glow illumined the sky. + +The two men looked at each other, grimly, soberly. + +"We're here," said Dex, flexing the muscles of his powerful arms. + +"We are," said Brand, patting the gun in his holster. + +The rapid dusk of the giant planet began to close in on them. The thin +sunlight darkened; and with its lowering, the red spot of Jupiter +glared more luridly ahead of them. Silently the two men gazed at it, +and wondered what it held. + +They shot the space ship toward it, and halted a few hundred miles +away. Watery white light from the satellites, "that jitter around in +the sky like a bunch of damned waterbugs," as Dex put it, was now the +sole illumination. + +They hung motionless in their space shell, to wait through the +five-hour Jovian night for the succeeding five hours of daylight to +illumine a slow cruise over the red area that, in less than a year, +had swallowed up three of Earth's space ships. And ever as they +waited, dozing a little, speculating as to the nature of the danger +they faced, the peep, peep of the radio shrilled in their ears to tell +them that there was still a connection--though a very tenuous +one--with their mother planet. + + * * * * * + +"Red spot ten miles away," said Brand in the transmitter. "We're +approaching it slowly." + +The tiny sun had leaped up over Jupiter's horizon; and with its +appearance they had sent the ship planing toward their mysterious +destination. Beneath them the fog banks were thinning, and ahead of +them were no clouds. For some reason there was a clarity unusual to +Jupiter's atmosphere in the air above the red section. + +"Red spot one mile ahead, altitude forty thousand feet," reported +Brand. + +He and Dex peered intently through the port glass panel. Ahead and far +below, their eyes caught an odd metallic sheen. It was as though the +ground there were carpeted with polished steel that reflected red +firelight. + +Tense, filled with an excitement that set their pulses pounding +wildly, they angled slowly down, nearer to the edge of the vast +crimson area, closer to the ground. The radio keened its monotonous +signal. + +Brand crawled to the transmitter, laboriously, for his body tipped the +scales here at nearly four hundred pounds. + +"We can see the metallic glitter that Journeyman spoke of," he said. +"No sign of life of any kind, though. The red glow seems to flicker a +little." + +Closer the ship floated. Closer. To right and left of them for vast +distances stretched the red area. Ahead of them for hundreds of miles +they knew it extended. + +"We're right on it now," called Brand. "Right on it--we're going over +the edge--we're--" + +Next instant he was sprawling on the floor, with Dex rolling +helplessly on top of him, while the space ship bounced up twenty +thousand feet as though propelled by a giant sling. + + * * * * * + +The peep, peep of the radio signalling stopped. The space ship rolled +helplessly for a moment, then resumed an even keel. Brand and Dex +gazed at each other. + +"What the hell?" said Dex. + +He started to get to his feet, put all his strength into the task of +moving his Jupiter-weighted body, and crashed against the top of the +control room. + +"Say!" he sputtered, rubbing his head. "Say, what _is_ this?" + +Brand, profiting by his mistake, rose more cautiously, shut off the +atomic motor, and approached a glass panel again. "God knows what it +is," he said with a shrug. "Somehow, with our passing into the red +area, the pull of gravity has been reduced by about ten, that's all." + +"Oh, so that's all, is it? Well, what's happened to old Jupe's +gravity?" + +Again Brand shrugged. "I haven't any idea. Your guess is as good as +mine." + +He peered down through the panel, and stiffened in surprise. + +"Dex!" he cried. "We're moving! And the motor is shut off!" + +"We're drawing down closer to the ground, too," announced Dex, +pointing to their altimeter. "Our altitude has been reduced five +thousand feet in the last two minutes." + +Quickly Brand turned on the motor in reverse. The space ship, as the +rushing, reddish ground beneath indicated, continued to glide forward +as though pulled by an invisible rope. He turned on full power. The +ship's progress was checked a little. A very little! And the metallic +red surface under them grew nearer as they steadily lost altitude. + +"Something seems to have got us by the nose," said Dex. "We're on our +way to the center of the red spot, I guess--to find whatever it was +that Journeyman found. And the radio communication his been broken +somehow...." + +Wordlessly, they stared out the panel, while the shell, quivering with +the strain of the atomic motor's fight against whatever unseen force +it was that relentlessly drew them forward, bore them swiftly toward +the heart of the vast crimson area. + + * * * * * + +"Look!" cried Brand. + +For over an hour the ship had been propelled swiftly, irresistibly +toward the center of the red spot. It had been up about forty thousand +feet. Now, with a jerk that sent both men reeling, it had been drawn +down to within fifteen thousand feet of the surface; and the sight +that was now becoming more and more visible was incredible. + +Beneath was a vast, orderly checkerboard. Every alternate square was +covered by what seemed a jointless metal plate. The open squares, +plainly land under cultivation, were surrounded by gleaming fences +that hooked each metal square with every other one of its kind as +batteries are wired in series. Over these open squares progressed +tiny, two legged figures, for the most part following gigantic +shapeless animals like figures out of a dream. Ahead suddenly appeared +the spires and towers of an enormous city! + +Metropolis and cultivated land! It was as unbelievable, on that raw +new planet, as such a sight would have been could a traveler in time +have observed it in the midst of a dim Pleistocene panorama of young +Earth. + +It was instantly apparent that the city was their destination. Rapidly +the little ship was rushed toward it; and, realizing at last the +futility of its laboring, Brand cut off the atomic motor and let the +shell drift. + +Over a group of squat square buildings their ship passed, decreasing +speed and drifting lower with every moment. The lofty structures that +were the nucleus of the strange city loomed closer. Now they were +soaring slowly down a wide thoroughfare; and now, at last, they +hovered above a great open square that was thronged with figures. + +Lower they dropped. Lower. And then they settled with a slight jar on +a surface made of reddish metal; and the figures rushed to surround +them. + + * * * * * + +Looking out the glass panel at these figures, both Brand and Dex +exclaimed aloud and covered their eyes for a moment to shut out the +hideous sight of them. Now they examined them closely. + +Manlike they were: and yet like no human being conceivable to an Earth +mind. They were tremendously tall--twelve feet at least--but as thin +as so many animated poles. Their two legs were scarce four inches +through, taper-less, boneless, like lengths of pipe; and like two +flexible pipes they were joined to a slightly larger pipe of a torso +that could not have been more than a foot in diameter. There were four +arms, a pair on each side of the cylindrical body, that weaved feebly +about like lengths of rubber hose. + +Set directly on the pipe-like body, as a pumpkin might be balanced on +a pole, was a perfectly round cranium in which were glassy, staring +eyes, with dull pupils like those of a sick dog. The nose was but a +tab of flesh. The mouth was a minute, circular thing, soft and flabby +looking, which opened and shut regularly with the creature's +breathing. It resembled the snout-like mouth of a fish, of the sucker +variety; and fish-like, too, was the smooth and slimy skin that +covered the beanpole body. + + * * * * * + +Hundreds of the repulsive things, there were. And all of them shoved +and crowded, as a disorderly mob on Earth might do, to get close to +the Earthmen's ship. Their big dull eyes peered in through the glass +panels, and their hands--mere round blobs of gristle in the palms of +which were set single sucker disks--pattered against the metal hull of +the shell. + +"God!" said Brand with a shudder. "Fancy these things feeling over +your body...." + +"They're hostile, whatever they are," said Dex. "Look out: that one's +pointing something at you!" + +One of the slender, tottering creatures had raised an arm and leveled +at Brand something that looked rather like an elongated, old-fashioned +flashlight. Brand involuntarily ducked. The clear glass panel between +them and the mob outside gave him a queasy feeling of being exposed to +whatever missile might lurk in the thing's tube. + +"What do we do now?" demanded Dex with a shaky laugh. "You're chief of +this expedition. I'm waiting for orders." + +"We wait right here," replied Brand. "We're safe in the shell till +we're starved out. At least they can't get in to attack us." + +But it developed that, while the slimy looking things might not be +able to get in, they had ways of reaching the Earthmen just the same! + + * * * * * + +The creature with the gun-like tube extended it somewhat further +toward Brand. + +Brand felt a sharp, unpleasant tingle shoot through his body, as +though he had received an electric shock. He winced, and cried out at +the sudden pain of it. + +"What's the matter--" Dex began. But hardly had the words left his +mouth when he, too, felt the shock. A couple of good, hearty Earth +oaths exploded from his lips. + +The repulsive creature outside made an authoritative gesture. He +seemed to be beckoning to them, his huge dull eyes glaring +threateningly at the same moment. + +"Our beanpole friend is suggesting that we get out of the shell and +stay awhile," said Dex with grim humor. "They seem anxious to +entertain us--_ouch!_" + +As the two men made no move to obey the beckoning gesture, the +creature had raised the tube again; and again the sharp, unpleasant +shock shot through them. + +"What the devil are we going to do?" exclaimed Brand. "If we go out in +that mob of nightmare things--it's going to be messy. As long as we +stay in the shell we have some measure of protection." + +"Not much protection when they can sting us through metal and glass at +will," growled Dex. "Do you suppose they can turn the juice on harder? +Or is that bee-sting their best effort?" + +As though in direct answer to his words, the blob-like face of the +being who seemed in authority convulsed with anger and he raised the +tube again. This time the shock that came from it was sufficient to +throw the two men to the floor. + +"Well, we can't stay in the ship, that's certain," said Brand. "I +guess there's only one thing to do." + +Dex nodded. "Climb out of here and take as many of these skinny +horrors with us into hell as we can," he agreed. + +Once more the shock stung them, as a reminder not to keep their +captors waiting. With their shoulders bunched for abrupt action, and +their guns in hand, the two men walked to the trap-door of the ship. +They threw the heavy bolts, drew a deep breath--and flung open the +door to charge unexpectedly toward the thickest mass of creatures that +surrounded the ship! + + * * * * * + +In a measure their charge was successful. Its very suddenness caught +some of the tall monstrosities off guard. Half a dozen of them stopped +the fragile glass bullets to writhe in horrible death on the red metal +paving of the square. But that didn't last long. + +In less than a minute, thin, clammy arms were winding around the +Earthmen's wrists, and their guns were wrenched from them. And then +started a hand-to-hand encounter that was all the more hideous for +being so unlike any fighting that might have occurred on Earth. + +With a furious growl Dex charged the nearest creature, whose huge +round head swayed on its stalk of a body fully six feet above his own +head. He gathered the long thin legs in a football grip, and sent the +thing crashing full length on its back. The great head thumped +resoundingly against the metal paving, and the creature lay +motionless. + +For an instant Dex could only stare at the thing. It had been so easy, +like overcoming a child. But even as that thought crossed his mind, +two of the tall thin figures closed in behind him. Four pairs of arms +wound around him, feebly but tenaciously, like wet seaweed. + +They began to constrict and wind tighter around him. He tore at them, +dislodged all but two. His sturdy Earth leg went back to sweep the +stalk-like legs of his attackers from under them. One of the things +went down, to twist weakly in a laborious attempt to rise again. But +the other, by sheer force of height and reach, began to bear Dex down. + +Savagely he laced out with his fists, battering the pulpy face that +was pressing down close to his. The big eyes blinked shut, but the +four hose-like arms did not relax their clasp. Dex's hands sought +fiercely for the thing's throat. But it had no throat: the head, set +directly on the thin shoulders, defied all throttling attempts. + + * * * * * + +Then, just as Dex was feeling that the end had come, he felt the +creature wrench from him, and saw it slide in a tangle of arms and +legs over the smooth metal pavement. He got shakily to his feet, to +see Brand standing over him and flailing out with his fists at an ever +tightening circle of towering figures. + +"Thanks," panted Dex. And he began again, tripping the twelve-foot +things in order to get them down within reach, battering at the great +pulpy heads, fighting blindly in that expressed craving to take as +many of the creatures into hell with him as he could manage. Beside +him fought Brand, steadily, coolly, grim of jaw and unblinking of eye. + +Already the struggle had gone on far longer than they had dreamed it +might. For some reason the grotesque creatures delayed killing them. +That they could do so any time they pleased, was certain: if the +monsters could reach them with their shock-tubes through the double +insulated hull of the space ship, they could certainly kill them out +in the open. + +Yet they made no move to do so. The deadly tubes were not used. The +screeching gargoyles, instead, devoted all their efforts to merely +hurling their attenuated bodies on the two men as though they wished +to capture them alive. + +Finally, however, the nature of the battle changed. The tallest of the +attackers opened his tiny mouth and piped a signal. The ring of +weaving tall bodies surrounding the two opened and became a U. The +creatures in the curve of the U raised their shock-tubes and, with +none of their own kind behind the victims to share in its discharge, +released whatever power it was that lurked in them. + +The shock was terrific. Without the glass and metal of the ship to +protect them, out in the open and defenceless, Brand and Dex got some +indication of its real power. + +Writhing and twitching, feeling as though pierced by millions of red +hot needles, they went down. A swarm of pipe-like bodies smothered +them, and the fight was over. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +_The Coming of Greca_ + + +The numbing shock from the tubes left the Earthmen's bodies almost +paralyzed for a time; but their brains were unfogged enough for them +to observe only too clearly all that went on from the point of their +capture. + +They were bound hand and foot. At a piping cry from the leader, +several of the gangling figures picked them up in reedy arms and began +to walk across the square, away from the ship. Brand noticed that his +bearers' arms trembled with his weight: and sensed the flabbiness of +the substance that took the place in them of good solid muscle. +Physically these things were soft and ineffectual indeed. They had +only the ominous tubes with which to fight. + +The eery procession, with the bound Earthmen carried in the lead, +wound toward a great building fringing the square. In through the high +arched entrance of this building they went, and up a sloping incline +to its tower-top. Here, in a huge bare room, the two were +unceremoniously dumped to the floor. + +While three of the things stood guard with the mysterious tubes, +another unbound them. A whole shower of high pitched, piping syllables +was hurled at them, speech which sounded threatening and contemptuous +but was otherwise, of course, entirely unintelligible, and then the +creatures withdrew. The heavy metal door was slammed shut, and they +were alone. + +Brand drew a long breath, and began to feel himself all over for +broken bones. He found none; he was still nerve-wracked from that last +terrific shock, but otherwise whole and well. + +"Are you hurt, Dex?" he asked solicitously. + +"I guess not," replied Dex, getting uncertainly to his feet. "And I'm +wondering why. It seems to me the brutes were uncommonly considerate +of us--and I'm betting the reason is one we won't like!" + +Brand shrugged. "I guess we'll find out their intentions soon enough. +Let's see what our surroundings look like." + +They walked to the nearest window-aperture, and gazed out on a +startling and marvelous scene. + + * * * * * + +Beneath their high tower window, extending as far as the eye could +reach, lay the city, lit by the reddish glare of the peculiar metal +with which its streets were paved. For the most part the metropolis +consisted of perfectly square buildings pierced by many windows to +indicate that each housed a large number of inmates. But here and +there grotesque turrets lanced the sky, and symbolic domes arched +above the surrounding flat metal roofs. + +One building in particular they noticed. This was an enormous +structure in the shape of a half-globe that reared its spherical +height less than an eighth of a mile from the building they were in. +It was situated off to their right at the foot of a vast, high-walled +enclosure whose near end seemed to be formed by the right wall of +their prison. They could only see it by leaning far out of the +window; and it would not have come to their attention at all had they +not heard it first--or, rather, heard the sound of something within +it: for from it came a curious whining hum that never varied in +intensity, something like the hum of a gigantic dynamo, only greater +and of a more penetrating pitch. + +"Sounds as though it might be some sort of central power station," +said Brand. "But what could it supply power for?" + +"Give it up," said Dex. "For their damned shock-tubes, perhaps, among +other things--" + +He broke off abruptly as a sound of sliding bolts came from the +doorway. The two men whirled around to face the door, their fists +doubling instinctively against whatever new danger might threaten +them. + + * * * * * + +The door was opened and two of their ugly, towering enemies came in, +their tubes held conspicuously before them. Behind came another +figure; and at sight of this one, so plainly not of the race of +Jupiter, the Earthmen gasped with wonder. + +They saw a girl who might have come from Earth, save that she was +taller than most Earth women--of a regal height that reached only an +inch or two below Brand's own six foot one. She was beautifully +formed, and had wavy dark hair and clear light blue eyes. A sort of +sandal covered each small bare foot; and a gauzy tunic, reaching from +above the knee to the shoulder, only half shielded her lovely figure. + +She was bearing a metal container in which was a mess of stuff +evidently intended as food. The guards halted and stepped aside to let +her pass into the room. Then they backed out, constantly keeping Dex +and Brand covered with the tubes, and closed and barred the door. + +The girl smiled graciously at the admiration in the eyes of both the +men--a message needing no inter-planetary interpretation. She +advanced, and held the metal container toward them. + +"Eat," she said softly. "It is good food, and life giving." + + * * * * * + +For an instant Brand was dumbfounded. For here was language he could +understand--which was incredible on this far-flung globe. Then he +suddenly comprehended why her sentences were so intelligible. + +She was versed in mental telepathy. And versed to a high degree! He'd +had some experience with telepathy on Venus; but theirs was a crude +thought-speech compared to the fluency possessed by the beautiful girl +before him. + +"Who are you?" he asked wonderingly. + +"I am Greca"--it was very hard to grasp names or abstract terms--"of +the fourth satellite." + +"Then you are not of these monsters of Jupiter?" + +"Oh, no! I am their captive, as are all my people. We are but slaves +of the tall ones." + +Brand glanced at Dex. "Here's a chance to get some information, +perhaps," he murmured. + +Dex nodded; but meanwhile the girl had caught his thought. She +smiled--a tragic, wistful smile. + +"I shall be happy to tell you anything in my power to tell," she +informed him. "But you must be quick. I can only remain with you a +little while." + +She sat down on the floor with them--the few bench-like things +obviously used by the tall creatures as chairs were too high for +them--and with the informality of adversity the three captives began +to talk. Swiftly Brand got a little knowledge of Greca's position on +Jupiter, and of the racial history that led up to it. + + * * * * * + +Four of the nine satellites of Jupiter were now the home of living +beings. But two only, at the dawn of history as Greca knew it, had +been originally inhabited. These were the fourth and the second. + +On the fourth there dwelt a race, "like me," as Greca put it--a +kindly, gentle people content to live and let live. + +On the second had been a race of immensely tall, but attenuated and +physically feeble things with great heads and huge dull eyes and +characters distinguished mainly for cold-blooded savagery. + +The inhabitants of the fourth satellite had remained in ignorance of +the monsters on the second till one day "many, many ages ago," a fleet +of clumsy ships appeared on the fourth satellite. From the ships had +poured thousands of pipe-like creatures, armed with horrible rods of +metal that killed instantly and without a sound. The things, it +seemed, had crowded over the limits of their own globe, and had been +forced to find more territory. + +They had made captive the entire population of the satellite. +Then--for like all dangerous vermin they multiplied rapidly--they had +overflowed to the first and fifth satellites--the others were +uninhabitable--and finally to the dangerous surface of Jupiter itself. +Everywhere they had gone, they had taken droves of Greca's people to +be their slaves, "and the source of their food," added Greca, with a +shudder; a statement that was at the moment unintelligible to the two +men. + + * * * * * + +Brand stared sympathetically at her. "They treat them very badly?" he +asked gently. + +"Terribly! Terribly!" said Greca, shuddering again. + +"But you seem quite privileged," he could not help saying. + +She shook her dainty head pathetically. "I am of high rank among my +people. I am a priestess of our religion, which is the religion of The +Great White One who rules all the sky everywhere. The Rogans" (it was +the best translation Brand could make of her mental term for the slimy +tall things that held them captive) "--the Rogans hold my fate over +the heads of my race. Should they rebel, I would be thrown to the +monster in the pen. Of course the Rogans could crush any revolt with +their terrible tubes, but they do not want to kill their slaves if +they can help it. They find it more effective to hold their +priestesses in hostage." + +Brand turned from personal history to more vital subjects. + +"Why," he asked Greca, "are the shining red squares of metal laid +everywhere over this empire of the Rogans?" + +"To make things light," was the reply. "When the Rogans first came to +this mighty sphere, they could hardly move. Things are so heavy here, +somehow. So their first thought was to drive my enslaved people to the +casting and laying of the metal squares and the metal beams that +connect them, in order to make things weigh less." + +"But how do the plates function?" + + * * * * * + +Greca did not know this, save vaguely. She tried to express her little +knowledge of the scientific achievements of the savage Rogans. After +some moments Brand turned to Dex and said: + +"As near as I can get it, the Rogans, by this peculiar red metal +alloy, manage to trap and divert the permanent lines of force, the +magnetic field, of Jupiter itself. So the whole red spot is highly +magnetized, which somehow upsets natural gravitational attraction. I +suppose it is responsible for the discoloration of the ground, too." + +He turned to question the girl further about this, but she had got +nervously to her feet already. + +"I'll be taken away soon," she said. "I was brought in here only to +urge you to eat the food. I must be interpreter, since the Rogans +speak not with the mind, and I know their hateful tongue." + +"Why are they so anxious for us to eat?" demanded Dex with an uneasy +frown. + +"So you will be strong, and endure for a long time the--the ordeal +they have in store for you," faltered the girl at last. "They intend +to force from you the secret of the power that drove your ship here, +so they too may have command of space." + +"But I don't understand," frowned Brand. "They must already have a +means of space navigation. They came here to Jupiter from the +satellites." + +"Their vessels are crude, clumsy things. The journey from the nearest +satellite is the limit of their flying range. They have nothing like +your wonderful little ships, and they want to know how to build and +power them." + + * * * * * + +She gazed sorrowfully at them and went on: "You see, yours is the +fourth space ship to visit their kingdom; and that makes them fearful +because it shows they are vulnerable to invasion. They want to stop +that by invading your planet first. Besides their fear, there is their +greed. Their looking-tubes reveal that yours is a fruitful and lovely +sphere, and they are insatiable in their lust for new territories. +Thus they plan to go to your planet as soon as they are able, and kill +or enslave all the people there as they have killed and enslaved my +race." + +"They'll have a job on their hands trying to do that!" declared Dex +stoutly. + +But Brand paled. "They can do it!" he snapped. "Look at those +death-tubes of theirs. We have no arms to compete with that." He +turned to Greca. "So the Rogans plan to force the secret of our motors +from us by torture?" + +She nodded, and caught his hand in hers. + +"Yes. They will do with you as they did with the six who came before +you--and who died before surrendering the secret." + +"So! We know now what happened to Journeyman and the others!" burst +out Dex. "I'll see 'em in hell before I'll talk!" + +"And me," nodded Brand. "But that doesn't cure the situation. As long +as ships disappear in this red inferno, so long will the Old Man keep +sending others to find out what's wrong. The Rogans will capture them +as easily as they captured us. And eventually someone will happen +along who'll weaken under torture. Then--" + + * * * * * + +He stopped. A dread vision filled his mind of Earth depopulated by the +feebly ferocious Rogans, of rank on rank of Earth's vast armies +falling in stricken rows at the shock of the Rogans' tubes. + +Greca caught the vision. She nodded. "Yes, that is what would happen +if they found ways of reaching your globe." + +"But, God, Brand, we can't allow that!" cried Dex. "We've got to find +a way to spike the guns of these walking gas-pipes, somehow!" + +Brand sighed heavily. "We are two against hundreds of thousands. We +are bare-handed, and the Rogans have those damned tubes. Anyway, we +are on the verge of death at this very moment. What under heaven can +we do to spike their guns?" + +He was silent a moment: and in the silence the steady hum from the +domed building outside came to his ears. + +"What's in that big, round topped building, Greca?" he asked quietly. + +"I do not know, exactly," replied the girl. "There is some sort of +machinery in it, and to it go connecting beams from all the square +metal plates everywhere. That is all I know." + +Brand started to question her further, but her time was up. The two +guards poked their loathsome pumpkin heads in the doorway and +contemptuously beckoned her out. She answered resignedly, in the +piping Rogan tongue, and went with them. But she turned to wave shyly, +commiseratingly at the two men; and the expression in her clear blue +eyes as they rested on Brand made his heart contract and then leap on +with a mighty bound. + +"We have in ally in her," murmured Brand. "Though God only knows if +that will mean anything to us...." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_In the Tower_ + + +"What I can't figure out," said Dex, striding up and down the big bare +room, "is why we're needed to tell them about the atomic motor. +They've got our ship, and three others besides. I should think they +could learn about the motor just by taking it apart and studying it." + +Brand grinned mirthlessly, recalling the three years of intensive +study it had taken him to learn the refinements of atomic motive +power. "If you'd ever qualified as a space navigator, Dex, you'd know +better. The Rogans are an advanced race; their control of polar +magnetism and the marvelously high-powered telescopes Greca mentions +prove that; but I doubt if they could ever analyze that atomic motor +with no hint as to how it works." + +Silence descended on them again, in which each was lost in his own +thoughts. + +How many hours had passed, the Earthmen did not know. They had spent +the time in fruitless planning to escape from their tower room and go +back to the ship again. Though how they could get away in the ship +when the Rogans seemed able to propel it where-ever they wished +against the utmost power of their motor, they did not attempt to +consider. + +One of Jupiter's short nights had passed, however--a night weirdly +made as light as day by red glares from the plates, which seemed to +store up sunlight, among their other functions--and the tiny sun had +risen to slant into their window at a sharp angle. + +Suddenly they heard the familiar drawing of the great bolts outside +their door. It was opened, and a dozen or more of the Rogans came in, +with Greca cowering piteously in their midst and attempting to +communicate her distress to Brand. + + * * * * * + +At the head of the little band of Rogans was one the prisoners had not +seen before. He was of great height, fully two feet taller than the +others; and he carried himself with an air that proclaimed his +importance. + +The tall one turned to Greca and addressed a few high-pitched, squeaky +words to her. She shook her head; whereupon, at a hissed command, two +of the Rogans caught her by the wrists and dragged her forward. + +"They have come to question you," Greca lamented to Brand. "And they +want to do it through me. But I will not! I will not!" + +Brand smiled at her though his lips were pale. + +"You are powerless to struggle," he said. "Do as they ask. You cannot +help us by refusing, and, in any case, I can promise that they won't +learn anything from us." + +The tall Rogan teetered up to the prisoners on his gangling legs, and +stared icily at them. Crouched beside him, her lovely body all one +mute appeal to the Earthmen to forgive her for the part she was forced +to play, was Greca. + +At length the Rogan leader spoke. He addressed his sibilant words to +Greca, though his stony eyes were kept intently on the Earthmen. + +"He says," exclaimed Greca telepathically, "to inform you first that +he is head of all the Rogan race on this globe, and that all on this +globe must do as he commands." + +Brand nodded to show he understood the message. + +"He says he is going to ask you a few questions, and that you are to +answer truthfully if you value your lives:" + +"First, he wants to know what the people of your world are like. Are +they all the same as you?" + + * * * * * + +Dex started to reply to that; but Brand flung him a warning look. +"Tell him we are the least of the Earth people," he answered steadily. +"Tell him we are of an inferior race. Most of those on Earth are +giants five times as large as we are, and many times more powerful." + +Greca relayed the message in the whistling, piping Rogan tongue. The +tall one stared, then hissed another sentence to the beautiful +interpreter. + +"He wants to know," said Greca, "if there are cities on your globe as +large and complete as this one." + +"There are cities on Earth that make this look like a--a--" Brand cast +about for understandable similes--"like a collection of animal +burrows." + +"He says to describe your planet's war weapons," was the next +interpretation. And here Brand let himself go. + +With flights of fancy he hadn't known he was capable of, he described +great airships, steered automatically and bristling with guns that +discharged explosives powerful enough to kill everything within a +range of a thousand miles. He told of billions of thirty-foot giants +sheathed in an alloy that would make them invulnerable to any feeble +rays the Rogans might have developed. He touched on the certain +wholesale death that must overtake any hostile force that tried to +invade the planet. + +"The Rogan shock-tubes are toys compared with the ray-weapons of +Earth," he concluded. "We have arms that can nullify the effects of +yours and kill at the same instant. We have--" + +But here the Rogan leader turned impatiently away. Greca had been +translating sentence by sentence. Now the tall one barked out a few +syllables in a squeaky voice. + +"He says he knows you are lying," sighed Greca. "For if you on Earth +have tubes more effective than theirs why weren't you equipped with +them on your expedition here to the red kingdom?" + +Brand bit his lips. "Check," he muttered. "The brute has a brain in +that ugly head." + + * * * * * + +The Rogan leader spoke for a long time then; and at each singsong +word, Greca quivered as though lashed by a whip. At length she turned +to Brand. + +"He has been telling what his hordes can do, answering your boasts +with boasts of his own. His words are awful! I won't tell you all he +said. I will only say that he is convinced his shock-tubes are +superior to any Earth arms, and that he states he will now illustrate +their power to you to quell your insolence. I don't know what he means +by that...." + +But she and the Earthmen were soon to find out. + +The Rogan leader stepped to the window and arrogantly beckoned Brand +and Dex to join him there. They did; and the leader gazed out and down +as though searching for something. + +He pointed. The two Earthmen followed his leveled arm with their eyes +and saw, a hundred yards or so away, a bent and dreary figure trudging +down the metal paving of the street. It was a figure like those to be +seen on Earth, which placed it as belonging to Greca's race. + +The tall leader drew forth one of the shock-tubes. Seen near at hand, +it was observed to be bafflingly simple in appearance. It seemed +devoid of all mechanism--simply a tube of reddish metal with a sort of +handle formed of a coil of heavy wire. + +The Rogan pointed the tube at the distant figure. + +Greca screamed, and screamed again. Coincident with her cry, as though +the sound of it had felled him, the distant slave dropped to the +pavement. + + * * * * * + +That was all. The tube had merely been pointed: as far as Brand could +see, the Rogan's "hand" had not moved on the barrel of the tube, nor +even constricted about the coil of wire that formed its handle. Yet +that distant figure had dropped. Furthermore, fumes of greasy black +smoke now began to arise from the huddled body; and in less than +thirty seconds there was left no trace of it on the gleaming metal +pavement. + +"So that's what those things are like at full power!" breathed Dex. +"My God!" + +The Rogan leader spoke a few words. Greca, huddled despairingly on the +floor, crushed by this brutal annihilation of one of her country-men +before her very eyes, did not translate. But translation was +unnecessary. The Rogan's icy, triumphant eyes, the very posture of +his grotesque body, spoke for him. + +"That," he was certainly saying, "is what will happen to any on your +helpless planet who dare oppose the Rogan will!" + +He whipped out a command to the terror-stricken girl. She rose from +her crouching position on the floor; and at length formulated the +Rogan's last order: + +"You will explain the working of the engine that drove your space ship +here." + +Dex laughed. It was a short bark of sound, totally devoid of humor, +but very full of defiance. Brand thrust his hands into the pockets of +his tunic, spread his legs apart, and began to whistle. + + * * * * * + +A quiver that might have been of anger touched the Rogan leader's +repulsive little mouth. He glared balefully at the uncowed Earthmen +and spoke again, evidently repeating his command. The two turned their +backs to him to indicate their refusal to obey. + +At that, the tall leader pointed to Dex. In an instant three of the +guards had wound their double pairs of arms around his struggling +body. Brand sprang to help him, but a touch of the mysterious +discharge from the leader's tube sent him writhing to the floor. + +"It's no use, Brand," said Dex steadily. He too had stopped +struggling, and now stood quietly in the slimy coils of his captors' +arms. "I might as well go along with them and get it over with. I +probably won't see you again. Good luck!" + +He was borne out of the room. The Rogan leader turned to Brand and +spoke. + +"He says that if your comrade does not tell him what he wants to know, +your turn will come next," sobbed Greca. "Oh! Why does not The Great +White One strike these monsters to the dust!" + +She ran to Brand and pressed her satiny cheek to his. Then she was +dragged roughly away. + +The great door clanged shut. The heavy outer fastenings clicked into +place. Dex had gone to experience whatever it was that Journeyman and +the rest had experienced in this red hell. And Brand was left behind +to reflect on what dread torments this might comprise; and to pray +desperately that no matter what might be done to his shrinking body he +would be strong enough to refuse to betray his planet. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +_The Torture Chamber_ + + +Swiftly Dex was carried down the long ramp to the ground floor, the +arms of his captors gripping him with painful tightness. Heading the +procession was the immensely tall, gangling Rogan leader, clutching +Greca by the wrist and dragging her indifferently along to be his +mouthpiece. + +They did not stop at the street level; they continued on down another +ramp, around a bend, descending an even steeper incline toward the +bowels of Jupiter. Their descent ended at last before a huge metal +barrier which, at a signal from the leader, drew smoothly up into the +ceiling to disclose a gigantic, red-lit chamber underlying the +foundations of the building. + +In fear and awe, Dex gazed around that huge room. + +It resembled in part a nightmare rearrangement of such a laboratory as +might be found on Earth; and in part a torture chamber such as the +most ferocious of savages might have devised had they been +scientifically equipped to add contrivances of supercivilization to +the furthering of their primitive lust for cruelty. + +There were great benches--head-high to the Earthman--to accommodate +the height of the Rogan workmen. There were numberless metal +instruments, and glass coils, and enormous retorts; and in one corner +an orange colored flame burnt steadily on a naked metal plate, seeming +to have no fuel or other source of being. + +There was a long rack of cruelly pointed and twisted instruments. +Under this was a row of long, delicate pincers, with coils on the +handles to indicate that they might be heated to fiendish precision of +temperatures. There were gleaming metal racks with calibrated +slide-rods and spring dials to denote just what pull was being exerted +on whatever unhappy creature might be stretched taut on them. There +were tiny cones of metal whose warped, baked appearance testified that +they were little portable furnaces that could be placed on any desired +portion of the anatomy, to slowly bake the selected disk of flesh +beneath them. + + * * * * * + +Dex shuddered; and a low moan came from Greca, whose clear blue eyes +had rested on the contents of this vast room before in her capacity as +hostage and interpreter for the inhuman Rogans. + +And now another sense of Dex's began to register perception on his +brain. + +A peculiar odor came to his nostrils. It was a musky, fetid odor, like +that to be smelled in an animal cage; but it was sharper, more acrid +than anything he had ever smelled on Earth. It smelled--ah, he had +it!--_reptilian_. As though somewhere nearby a dozen titanic serpents +were coiled ready to spring! + +Looking about, Dex saw a six-foot square door of bars in one wall of +the laboratory--like the barred entrance to a prison cell. It was from +the interstices of this door that the odor seemed to emanate; but he +had no chance to make sure, for now the Rogan leader approached him. + +"I will first show you," he said, through his mouthpiece, Greca, "what +happens to those who oppose our orders. We have a slave who tried to +run away into the surrounding jungles three suns ago...." + +A man was dragged into the chamber. He was slightly taller and more +stockily muscled than an Earthman might be; but otherwise, in facial +conformation and general appearance, he might have come here straight +from New York City. Dex felt a great pang of sympathy for him. He was +so plainly one of humankind, despite the fact that he had been born on +a sphere four hundred million miles from Dex's. + +The fellow was paralyzed with horror. His eyes, wide and glazed, +darted about the torture room like those of a trapped animal. And yet +he made no move to break away from the clutch of the two Rogans who +held him. He knew he was helpless, that wild-eyed glance told Dex. +Knew it so thoroughly that not even his wildest terror could inspire +him to try to make a break for freedom, or strike back at the +implacable Rogan will. + + * * * * * + +At a nod from the leader, the man was stripped to the waist. Here Dex +started in amazement. The man's broad chest was seamed and +crisscrossed by literally hundreds of tiny lateral scars, some long +healed, and some fresh incisions. + +He was dragged to a metal plate set upright in the wall, and secured +to it by straps of metal. Evidently the miserable being knew what this +portended, for he began to scream--a monotonous, high-pitched shriek +that didn't stop till he was out of breath. + +The Rogan leader stared at him icily, then depressed a small lever set +in the wall beside him. The plate against which the captive was bound +began to shine softly with a blue light. The slave twisted in his +bonds, screaming again. Rhythmic shudders jerked at his limbs. His +lips turned greenish white. The shudders grew more pronounced till it +seemed as though he were afflicted with a sort of horrible St. Vitus +dance. Then the tall Rogan pulled back the lever. The slave hung away +from his supporting shackles, limp and unconscious. + +Dex moistened his lips. An electric shock? No, it was something more +terrible than that. Some other manifestation of the magnetic power the +Rogans had harnessed--a current, perhaps, that depolarized partly the +atoms of the body structure? He could only guess. But the convulsed +face of the unfortunate victim showed that the torment, whatever it +was, was devilish to the last degree! + +"That will be the next to the last fate reserved for you," the Rogan +informed Dex, through Greca. "Death follows soon after that--but not +too soon for you to see and feel what waits for you behind the barred +door!" And he nodded toward the cage-entrance affair, from which came +the musky, reptilian stench. + +"Now that you have seen something of what will happen to you if you +refuse to tell us what we want to know, we shall proceed," said the +leader. + + * * * * * + +He pointed toward one of the gargantuan work benches, and two of the +Rogans slid down from it a contrivance that looked familiar to Dex. An +instant's scrutiny showed him why it was familiar: it was a partly +dismantled atomic motor. + +In spite of the ordeal that faced him, Dex felt a thrill of elation +as he looked at the motor. In its scattered state, it told a mute +story: a story of long and intensive study by the Rogans, which had +yielded them no results! Only too obviously, the intricate secret of +atomic power had not let itself be solved. + +On the heels of the elation that filled his heart, came a sickening +realization of his dilemma. He could not have told the Rogans what +they wanted to know even if he had wished to! He himself didn't know +the principles of the atomic engine. As Brand had remarked, he was no +space navigator; he was simply a prosaic lieutenant, competent only at +fighting, not at all versed in science. + +He knew, though, that it would do no good to assert his ignorance to +the Rogans. They simply wouldn't believe him. + +"You will rebuild this engine for us," ordered the tall leader, +"showing us the purpose of each part, and how the power is extracted +from the fuel. After that you will set it running for us, and instruct +us in its control." + +Dex braced himself. His final moment had come. + +By way of indicating his refusal he looked away from the dismantled +motor and said nothing. The Rogan repeated his command. Dex made no +move. Then the leader acted. + +He said something to the Rogan guards who had been standing by all +this while, alert against an outbreak from their prisoner. Dex was +caught up, carried to one of the metal racks, and thrown down on its +calibrated bed. Loops of metal, like handcuffs, were snapped around +his wrists and ankles; and a metal hoop was clamped over his throat, +pinning him to the torture rack. Resistance would have been useless, +and Dex submitted quietly. + + * * * * * + +The contrivance, with him on it, was wheeled toward the barred door. +It was halted at a spot marked on the floor, about thirty feet from +the bars. The Rogan leader stepped alongside the rack, with Greca +trembling beside him. + +Dex closed his eyes for a moment, grimly marshaling strength of will +to go through the trial that was just beginning. + +The Rogan leader depressed another lever in the rock wall. The barred +door slid slowly up, to reveal the receding darknesses of some great +cave, or room, that adjoined the laboratory. Dex rolled his eyes so +that he could watch the doorway; and, in a cold perspiration, waited +for whatever might appear. + +It was not long in coming! + +The reptilian smell suddenly grew stronger. There was a booming hiss, +a savage bellowing. A clattering of vast scales rattled out as some +body weighing many tons was dragged over rock flooring. Then, before +Dex's staring eyes appeared a huge, wedge-shaped head, at sight of +which he bit his lips to keep from crying aloud. + +Often enough he had seen one of those terrific heads looming in the +fog of the northern hemisphere of Jupiter. He did not know the genus +of the vast monster that bore it, but he did know it for the fiercest +of the lizard giants that roamed the Jovian jungles. A creature larger +than a terrestrial whale, with great long neck and heavy long tail +dragging yards behind it, it would find the puny bulk of a man nothing +but a morsel in its jaws! + +Again the gigantic thing hissed and bellowed. And then its huge head +came through the six-foot door and its neck uncoiled to send the +gaping jaws within a foot of Dex. There it struggled to reach him, +prevented by the small doorway that restrained the bulk of its +enormous body, its head only inches away from the cleverly measured +spot to which the metal rack had been wheeled. + + * * * * * + +Dex stared, hypnotized, into the dull, stony eyes of the beast, +gasping for breath in the stench of its exhalations. The jaws snapped +shut, fanning his cheek. He fought for self-control. Steady! Steady! +The slimy Rogans had no intention of feeding him to the thing yet. Not +till they had made more determined efforts to wring from him the +secret of the motor. They were just prefacing actual physical torture +with hellish mental torture, that was all. + +That he was right in his guess was proved in a few moments. He heard a +louder hiss from the great lizard so near him. Opening his eyes, he +saw the Rogan leader in the process of forcing the serpentine neck to +withdraw foot by foot back into the doorway, using his shock-tube as a +sort of distant prod. + +The monster swayed its ugly flat head back and forth, hissing +deafeningly at the sting of the tube, now and again lunging with its +vast unseen body at the too narrow entrance that kept it from entering +the laboratory. Dex could hear the foundation walls of the building +creak at the onslaught of that tremendous weight. + +If it would only break through! he thought savagely. But it wasn't +going to. In a short while it was cowed by the deadly tube, and +withdrew its head awkwardly from the chamber. The barred door slid +down into place: and the Rogan leader once more turned his attention +to his prisoner. + +"You will be wheeled within reach of the creature as the last step of +your fate," Dex was informed. "Meanwhile, we shall start with +something less deadly...." + +A cogged wheel beside him was turning a notch. Dex felt the sliding +bed of the rack crawl slightly under him. Intolerable tension was +suddenly placed on his arms and legs. The leader stared at a spring +dial; and moved the wheel another notch. The rack expanded again, +stretching Dex's body till his joints cracked. + +"You will tell us what we want to know," said the Rogan, glaring +coldly down at him. + +Dex compressed his lips stubbornly. He couldn't tell them if he wanted +to, and, by God, he wouldn't if he could. + +Another notch, the wheel was turned; and in spite of himself a groan +escaped Dex's lips. One more notch, while the metal slide-rods beneath +him lengthened a fraction of an inch.... + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_The Inquisition_ + + +Blind, animal fear caught Dex and shook him in its grip. Then rage +filled his heart, driving out the fear as a gale dissipates fog. With +pain-dimmed eyes he glared at the gangling, hateful figure that gazed +down on him with icy eyes. If he could only blast that monstrous, +physically feeble but mentally ferocious thing to bits! Annihilate it! +Blow it to the four corners of Jupiter! And all the other Rogans with +it! + +And with this thought he suddenly saw, through the red mists of rage, +the shock-tube that was dangling indifferently from the Rogan leader's +hand. + +Instantly the red mists began to clear away. Another change took place +in the tortured lieutenant's mind. The blind hot rage faded into more +deadly, cold wrath. A plan began to bud into thought. It was a futile +plan, really. It could not possibly accomplish anything vital. But it +_might_ give him a chance for a little revenge before his life was +snuffed out--might give him a chance to strike a blow for the dead +Journeyman and the other gallant explorers who had perished here in +this chamber before him. + +He closed his eyes to hide the hate and calculation in them. The tall +Rogan leaned lower over the rack. + +"You are ready to do as I command?" he demanded. + +"Yes," whispered Dex. "Yes." + +In the beautiful Greca's eyes, as she translated his assent, was +horror. But then, faintly, her mind caught the thought that lay +beneath the Earthman's apparent surrender. She veiled her own eyes +with long lashes, lest they betray the captive's plan to the alert +Rogan. Her lips moved silently; perhaps she was praying to her Great +White One. + + * * * * * + +"Release him," the Rogan ordered, triumph in his bird-like, shrill +voice. The metal hoops were unfastened. Dex stretched his outraged +body, wincing with the pain of movement; then felt life and strength +returning to him. + +"Come with us to the motor," commanded the Rogan, his dull eyes +glinting in anticipation of learning the coveted secret that should +add one more planet to the Rogan's tyranny. + +Dex walked to the dismantled atomic engine with him. He walked slowly, +pretending more stiffness and weakness than he really owned to. No use +in letting his captors know that his resilient muscles were so quickly +throwing off the torment of the rack. + +As he walked he kept his gaze covertly on that shock-tube that dangled +in the leader's grasp. The rest of the guard had none; they had laid +their weapons down on a far bench on their entrance to the chamber, +depending on the one with which their leader was armed. + +Eagerly the Rogans crowded around Dex and the motor that had thus far +baffled them. They bent down from their twelve-foot heights to bring +their staring goggle-eyes closer to the lesson in atomic motive power, +till Dex was in a sort of small dome of Rogans, with their long, +pipe-like legs forming the wall around him, and their thin torsos +inclining forward to make a curved ceiling over him. + +The Rogan leader drew Greca within the circle to interpret the +Earthman's explanations. + +Dex moved a trifle, to bring himself nearer the tall leader. Again he +glanced covertly at the shock-tube. + +"The first thing to tell about our motor," said Dex, stalling for +time, "is that it utilizes the breaking up of the atom as its source +of power." + + * * * * * + +He edged closer to the Rogan leader. + +"You see those electrodes?" he said, pointing to two copper castings +in a chamber between the fuel tank and the small but enormously +powerful turbine that whirled with the released atomic energy. The +Rogan leader blinked assent. His small, horrible mouth was pursed with +his concentration of thought. + +"The electrodes partially break down the atoms of fuel passing from +the tank," explained Dex, desperately attempting scientific +phraseology for a matter as far over his head as the remote stars. He +raised his hand a trifle, bringing it nearer the Rogan's tube.... + +"Is that the outlet from the tank?" inquired the Rogan, pointing with +the tube, and so raising it out of Dex's reach. + +"Yes," mumbled Dex, sick with disappointment: he'd been on the point +of leaping for the weapon. He sidled close again. Greca bit her lips +lest she cry out with suspense. + +"The partially disintegrated atoms pass into the turbine chamber," he +went on, "and are there completely broken down by heat, which has been +generated by the explosive energy of the atoms passing in before +them." + +"I warn you to speak true," said the leader, suddenly removing his +gaze from the specimen motor and staring icily down at Dex. Dex's hand +dropped abruptly from its place near the tube. Again his fingers had +come within a foot of it. + + * * * * * + +"We will get ahead faster," piped the Rogan, an edge of suspicion +sounding in his shrill voice, "if I conduct the explanation. I will +ask questions for you to answer. What is the fuel used?" + +"Powdered zinc," Dex answered promptly. No harm in admitting that. The +Rogans must already know it; zinc was common to Jupiter, as Earth +spectroscopes had showed long since; and they had no doubt analyzed it +by now. The chances were that the leader was merely testing him, to +see if he were sincere in his ostensible surrender. + +That his guess was right, he read in the fishy, dull eyes. The Rogan +leader nodded at his answer, and some of the lurking suspicion in his +gaze died down. + +"How is it prepared?" + +Now this marked the beginning of the end, Dex knew. The preparation of +the powdered metal was half the secret of atomic power--and Dex hadn't +the faintest idea what it was! This questions-and-answers affair was +going to pin him down in short order! + +"How is it prepared?" repeated the Rogan leader inexorably. "Tell us, +or--" + +But at that instant Dex attained his objective. + +Once more his hand had crawled slowly toward the tube--till, once +more, it was within reach. Then, more bold as his position grew more +desperate, he straightened up--and, with a lightning move, had +wrenched it from the sucker-disk that held it! + +He shouted his triumph. He had it! _Now_ let the devils put him back +on the torture bed if they could! _Now_ let them try to make him +betray his planet! + + * * * * * + +There was an alarmed squeak from the Rogan leader, and in an instant +the huge laboratory was in an uproar. The Rogan guards whipped their +hose-like arms toward the Earthman. Dex, with a sweep of his hands, +knocked the pipe-stem legs of two of the guards from under them, +leaped over their bodies, and stood at bay in a corner--guarding the +bench on which the guards had laid their tubes when they filed into +the laboratory. + +The air resounded with the shrill calls of the excited Rogans. Then +they began to close in on him, all the while eyeing the tube in his +hand with terror written large on their hideous faces. + +Dex's eyes blazed with the light of vengeful exultation. For the death +of Journeyman and the rest, for the coming inevitable death of himself +and Brand, he was going to pay--at least in part--with the captured +tube of death in his hand! It was a lovely thought, and for a few +seconds he delayed acting in order to savor it. + +Then, with a smile of pure happiness, he leveled the tube at the +nearest Rogan in order to shrivel him to nothingness as he had seen +the slave shrivelled in the street. + +The Rogan did not fall! Full in the face of the death tube he teetered +forward, his arms reaching savagely toward the Earthman. + +Dex stared incredulously. Cold fear crept into his heart. He pointed +the tube more accurately, and squeezed harder on the coil handle. +Still nothing happened. The Rogans warily drew closer. + + * * * * * + +Perspiration began to trickle down Dex's cheeks. In God's name, why +didn't the tube work? He had thought all he had to do was point it and +squeeze down on the handle. But evidently there was more to the trick +than that! + +He groaned. He had staged all this elaborate play for a weapon as +useless to his untrained mind as one of Earth's explosive guns, with +the safety-lock clamped on, would have been to an abysmal Venusian +savage! + +By now the nearest Rogan was within reaching distance of him. One of +its two pairs of slimy arms uncoiled toward him. The other pair +strained to reach around him and get to the weapons on the bench by +his side. + +With a cry, Dex dashed the useless shock-tube down on the reaching +arms. As long as he didn't know how to work it anyway, he might as +well use it as a club. + +The Rogan squeaked with pain; the arms recoiled. Dex jerked the tube +back over his shoulder for another blow.... + +There was a shriek from the doomed wretch fastened to the metal plate. +The slave that had been tortured before Dex's eyes as an object +lesson! He had been returned to consciousness a short time since, and +had been writhing and shuddering against the plate. + +Dex flashed a glance at him over his shoulder, as he shrieked, and +cried aloud himself at what he saw. + + * * * * * + +The tortured slave was rapidly disappearing! Another shriek left his +lips, to be broken off halfway. In an instant nothing was left of the +struggling body but a wisp of greasy black smoke! + +Dex stared stupidly at the tube in his hand. Then, as a squeak of +agony sounded from a Rogan in front of him, his mind grasped what had +happened. Somehow its mechanism had been jarred into functioning when +he dashed it against the groping arm. In some way its death dealing +power had been unleashed. With a cry of exultation, Dex began to use +it! + +The Rogan in front of him, squealing, collapsed on the floor, +dwindling swiftly into nothingness. Dex turned the mysterious death +against another teetering creature. It too went up in oleaginous +smoke. + +The Rogan leader came next. Dex whirled the tube in his direction, and +saw him go down. Then he sprang to annihilate still another grotesque +monster who had almost reached the bench on which were the other +tubes. He shouted and raved as this fourth Rogan crumbled. Torture +him, would they! Plan to capture Earth, would they! He'd kill off the +whole damned population with this tube! + +The Rogan survivors, squeaking in panic, gave over their attempts to +retrieve the tubes. They dove for various hiding places--under +benches, behind retorts, anywhere to get away from the terror running +amuck in their midst. And after them sprang Dex, mad with his sudden +miraculous success, to ferret them out one by one and blow them into +hell with their own horrible death-engine. + + * * * * * + +In his ecstasy of rage, Dex overlooked the Rogan leader. He had seen +that attenuated monstrosity go down, and had assumed he was dead. But +such was not the case. In the corner Dex had vacated when he sprang +after the fleeing guard, the tall leader twisted feebly and sat up. + +One of his four arms was missing, a smoking stump showing where the +annihilating ray from the tube had blasted it off at the shoulder. But +he was far from being dead. With cold purpose in his great staring +eyes, he moved snakily toward the bench Dex had now left unguarded. + +The Earthman got another Rogan; whirled to track down still another. +Promptly the leader sank motionless to the floor. The Rogan leader +continued his crawling. He reached the bench, fumbled up and along its +surface for the nearest tube. + +Dex, unconscious of the sure fate gathering behind him to strike him +down, dashed past a great glass tank behind which Greca was huddling +in mortal fear, and charged down on two more of the squeaking guards. + +Then, suddenly, some sixth sense warned him that something was wrong. +He whirled toward the corner he had left. + +The Rogan leader, two of his surviving arms propping feebly against +the bench, was pointing a shock-tube squarely at him! + + * * * * * + +Dex fell to the floor to escape the first discharge of the tube, and +leveled his own. He felt the thing grow hot in his hand, saw a +blinding blue-white fire leap into being in the space between them as +the rays from the two tubes met and absorbed each other. He shifted, +to get out of the line and blast the creature he had too hastily +reckoned as dead. But he was not quick enough. A fraction before him, +the Rogan leader shifted. + +Dex felt a terrible burning sensation all over his body, as the ray +from his tube met the conflicting ray less squarely, and allowed a +little of it to reach him. He shrieked as the slave had shrieked when +he felt the annihilating current from the plate sweeping through his +body. + +A black fog seemed to close in around the Earthman's senses. He +crashed to the floor, with a glimpse of the leering triumph on the +Rogan's face as the last picture to stamp itself in his failing +consciousness. + +The tall Rogan, obviously in great agony from his blasted arm, +squeaked a faint command. The four guards who were left issued +fearfully from their hiding places and came to him. + +He pointed his tube at Dex Harlow, lying unconscious on the floor. +There he hesitated an instant, his soft little mouth slobbering in his +rage and pain. Then he let the tube sink slowly off its line. + +He gave another command. The four guards picked the Earthman up and +carried him to the metal torture-plate on which the slave had met his +death. The tall leader's eyes gleamed with vicious hatred as the limp +body was fastened to the metal. + +Mouthing and squealing with the pain of his seared arm-stump, he +wobbled toward the lever, a mere turn of which would readily convert +the plate into a bed of agony. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_In the Power-House_ + + +Alone in the prison room, after Dex had been dragged away to be +subjected to the Rogan inquisition, Brand gnawed at his fingers and +paced distractedly up and down the stone flooring. For a while he had +no coherent thought at all; only the realization that his turn came +next, and that the Rogans would leave no refinement of torment untried +in their effort to wring from him the secret of the atomic engine. + +He went to the window, and absent-mindedly stared out. The whining +hum from the great domed building off to the right, like the +high-pitched droning of a swarm of gargantuan bees, came to his ears. +He listened more intently, and leaned out of the window to look at the +building. + +Under that dome, it came to him again, was, in all probability, the +mainspring of the Rogan mechanical power. If only he could get in +there and look around! He might do some important damage; he might be +able to harass the enemy materially before the time came for him to +die. + +He leaned farther out of the window, and examined the hundred feet or +so of sheer wall beneath him. He saw, scrutinizing it intently, that +the stone blocks that composed it were not smooth cut, but rough hewn, +with the marks of the cutters' chisels plainly in evidence. Also there +was a considerable ridge between each layer of blocks where the +Rogans' mortar had squeezed out in the process of laying the wall. + +Never in sanity would a man have thought of the thing Brand considered +then. To attempt to clamber down that blank wall, with only the slight +roughness of the protruding layers of mortar to hang on to, was +palpable suicide! + + * * * * * + +Brand shrugged. He observed that to a man already condemned to death, +the facing of probable suicide shouldn't mean much. + +With scarcely an increase in the beating of his heart, he swung one +leg out over the broad sill. If he fell, he escaped an infinitely +worse death; if he didn't fall, he might somehow win his way into that +domed building whence the hum came. + +Cautiously, clutching at the rough stone with finger tips that in a +moment or two became raw and bleeding masses, he began his slow +descent. As he worked his way down, he slanted to the right, toward +the near wall of the retaining yard whose end was formed by the round +structure that was his goal. + +Beneath him and to the left the broad street swarmed with figures: the +tall ones of the Rogans and the shorter, sturdier ones of slaves. Any +one of those dozens of grotesque pedestrians might glance up, see him, +and pick him off with the deadly tubes. Under his fingers the mortar +crumbled and left him hanging, more than once, by one hand. For fully +five minutes his life hung by a thread apt to be severed at any time. +But--he made it. Helped by the decreased gravity of the red spot, and +released from inhibiting fear by the fact that he was already, +figuratively, a dead man, he performed the incredible. + +With a last slithering step downward, he landed lightly on the near +wall of the enclosure, and started along its broad top toward his +objective. + +Now he was in plain sight of any one who might be looking out the +windows of the tower building or from the dome ahead of him; but this +was a chance he had to take, and at least he was concealed from the +swarms in the street. Making no effort to hide himself by crawling +along the top of the wall, he straightened up and began to run toward +the giant dome. + + * * * * * + +Hardly had he gone a dozen steps when he suddenly understood the +meaning of the high-walled enclosure to his right! + +Off in a far corner rose a slate colored mound that at first glance he +had taken for a great heap of inanimate dirt. The mound began to move +toward him--and metamorphosed into an animal, a thing that made Brand +blink his eyes to see if he were dreaming, and then stop, appalled, +to look at it. + +He saw a body that dwarfed the high retaining walls to comparative +insignificance. It had a tree-like tail that dragged behind it; and a +thirty-foot, serpentine neck at the end of which was a head like a sugar +barrel that split into cavernous jaws lined with backward-pointing +teeth. Two eyes were set wide apart in the enormous head, eyes that were +dead and cold and dull, yet glinting with senseless ferocity. It was the +sort of thing one sees in delirium. + +With increasing energy the creature made for him, till finally it was +approaching his sector of the wall at a lumbering run that was rapid +for all its ungainliness. + +It was apparent at a glance that the snaky neck, perched atop the +lofty shoulder structure, would raise the head with its gaping jaws to +his level on the wall! Brand ran. And after him thudded the gigantic +lizard, its neck arching up and along the wall to reach him. + +A scant five yards ahead of the snapping jaws, Brand reached his goal, +the dome, and clambered over its curved, metal roof away from the +monster's maw. + +He stopped to pant for breath and wipe the sweat from his streaming +face. "Thank God it didn't get me," he breathed, looking back at the +bellowing terror that had pursued him. "Wonder why it's there? It's +too ferocious to be tamed and used in any way: it must be kept as a +threat to hold the slaves in hand. It certainly looks well fed...." + +He shuddered; then he began to explore the dome of the building for a +means of entrance. + + * * * * * + +There was no opening in the roof. A solid sheet of reddish metal, like +a titanic half-eggshell, it glittered under him in an unbroken piece. + +He crept down its increasingly precipitous edge till he reached a sort +of cornice that formed a jutting circle of stone around it. There he +leaned far over and saw, about ten feet below him, a round opening +like a big port-hole. From it were streaming waves of warm, foul air, +from which he judged it to be a ventilator outlet. + +He scrambled over the edge of the cornice, hung at arm's length, and +swung himself down into the opening. And there, perched high up under +the roof, he looked down at an enigmatic, eery scene. + +That the structure was indeed a strange sort of power-house was +instantly made evident. But what curious, mysterious, and yet +bewilderingly simple machinery it held! + +In the center was a titanic coil of reddish metal formed by a single +cable nearly a yard through. Around this, at the four corners of the +compass, were set coils that were identical in structure but a trifle +smaller. From the smaller coils to the larger streamed, unceasingly, +blue waves of light like lightning bolts. + +Along a large arc of the wall was a stone slab set with an endless +array of switches and insulated control-buttons. Gauges and indicators +of all kinds, whose purpose could not even be guessed at, were lined +above and below, all throbbing rhythmically to the leap of the +electric-blue rays between the monster coils. + + * * * * * + +Almost under Brand's perch a great square beam of metal came through +the building wall from outside, to be split into multitudinous smaller +beams that were hooked up with the bases of the coils. Across from +him, disappearing out through the opposite wall, was an identical +beam. + +"The terminals for the metal plate system that extends over the whole +red spot," murmured Brand. "This building _is_ important. But what can +I do to throw sand in the gears before I'm caught and killed...?" + +He surveyed the great round room below him more thoroughly. Now he +saw, right in the center of the huge control board, a solitary lever, +that seemed a sort of parent to all the other levers and switches. It +was flanked by a perfect army of gauges and indicators; and was +covered by a glass bell which was securely bolted to the rock slab. + +"That looks interesting," Brand told himself. "I'd like to see that +closer, if I can climb down from here without being observed.... +Why"--he broke off--"where is everybody!" + +For the first time, in the excitement and concentration of his +purpose, the emptiness of the place struck him. There was no sign of +light in the great building--no workmen or slaves anywhere. There was +just the great coils, with the streamers of blue light bridging them +and emitting the high-pitched, monotonous hum audible outside the +dome, and the complicated control board with its quivering indicator +needles and mysterious levers. That was all. + +"Must be out to lunch," muttered Brand, his eyes going fascinatedly +toward that solitary, parent lever under its glass bell. "Well, it +gives me a chance to try some experiments, anyway." + + * * * * * + +It was about fifty feet from his perch to the floor; but a few feet to +one side was a metal beam that extended up to help support the trussed +weight of the roof. He jumped for this, and quickly slid down it. + +He started on a run for the control board; but almost immediately he +stopped warily to listen: it seemed to him that he had caught, +faintly, the squeaking, high tones of Rogan conversation. + +Miraculously, the sound seemed to come from a blank wall to his left. +He crept forward to investigate.... + +The mystery was solved before he had gone very far. There was an +opening in the wall leading off to an annex of some kind outside the +dome building. The opening was concealed by a set-back, so that at +first glance it had seemed part of the wall itself. From this opening +drifted the chatter of Rogans. + +Brand stole closer, finally venturing to peer into the room beyond +from an angle where he himself could not be seen. And he found that +his whimsical reference to "lunch" had contained a ghastly element of +fact! + +In that annex were several dozen of the teetering, attenuated Rogans, +and an equal number of slaves. And the relation of the slaves and the +Rogans was one that made Brand's skin crawl. + +Each Rogan had stripped the tunic from the chest of his slave. Now, as +Brand watched, each drew a keen blade from his belt, and made a +shallow gash in the shrinking flesh. There were a few stifled +screams--some of the slaves were women--but for the most part the +slashing was endured in stoical silence. When red drops began to ooze +forth, the Rogans stooped and applied their horrible little mouths to +the incisions.... + +"The slimy devils!" Brand whispered hoarsely, at sight of that +dreadful feeding. "The inhuman, monstrous vermin!" + +But now one or two of the Rogans had begun to utter squeaks of +satiation; and Brand hastened away from there and toward the control +board again. He hadn't an idea of what he might accomplish when he +reached it; he didn't know but that a touch of the significant looking +parent-lever might blast him to bits; but he did know that he was +going to raise absolute hell with something, somewhere, if he possibly +could. + + * * * * * + +Swiftly he approached the great master-lever, protected by its bell of +glass. (At least it looked like glass, for it was crystal clear and +reflected gleamingly the blue light from the nearby coils). He tapped +it experimentally with his knuckles.... + +At once pandemonium reigned in the great vaulted building. There was a +siren-like screaming from a device he noticed for the first time +attached under the domed roof. A clanging alarm split the air from +half a dozen gongs set around the upper walls. + +Squealing shouts sounded behind Brand. He whirled, and saw the Rogans, +interrupted in their terrible meal, pouring in from the annex and +racing toward him. Rage and fear distorted their hideous faces as they +pointed first to the big lever and then at the escaped Earthman. They +redoubled their efforts to get at him, their long unsteady legs +covering the distance in great bounds. + +Brand swore. Was he to be caught again before he had accomplished a +certain thing? When he had already managed to win clear to his +objective? + +He hammered at the glass bell with his fists, but realized with the +first blow that he was only wasting time trying to crack it +bare-handed. He glanced quickly about and saw a metal bar propped up +against the control board near him. + + * * * * * + +He sprang for it, grasped it as a club, and returned to the glass +bell. Raising his arms high, he brought the thick metal bar down on +the glass with all his strength. + +With a force that almost wrenched his arms from their sockets, the bar +rebounded from the glass bell, leaving it uncracked. + +"Unbreakable!" groaned Brand. + +Desperately he tried again, whirling the bar high over his head and +bringing it smashing down. The result was the same as before as far as +breaking the bell was concerned. But--a little trickle of crushed rock +came from around the bolts in the slab to which the bell was fastened. + +A third time be brought the bar down. The glass bell sagged a bit sway +from the slab.... + +He had no chance for more assaults on it. The nearest Rogans had +leaped for him. Slimy arms were coiling around him, while the +loathsome sucker-disks tore at his unprotected face and throat. + +Savagely Brand lashed out with the bar. It caved in a pair of the +long, skinny legs, bringing a bloated round head down within reach. He +smashed it with the bar, exulting grimly as the blow crumpled bone and +flesh almost down to the little mouth which was yet carmine from its +recent feeding. + +The process seemed a sound one to Brand, unable as he was to reach the +Rogans' heads that towered six feet above his own. Methodically, +swinging the bar with the weight of his body behind it, he repeated +the example. First a crash of the bar against a pair of legs, then the +crushing in of the Rogan's head when he toppled with agonized squeals +to the floor. + +Again and again he crushed the life out of a Rogan with his one-two +swing of the deadly bar. They were thinning down, now. They were +wavering in their charges against the comparatively insignificant +being from another planet who was defending himself so fiercely. + + * * * * * + +Finally one of their number turned and ran toward an exit, waving his +four arms and adding his high-pitched alarms to the incessant ringing +of the gongs and shrieks of the warning siren up under the roof. The +rest rushed the Earthman in a body. + +Steadily, almost joyfully, Brand fought on. He had expected to be +annihilated by one of the Rogan shock-tubes long before now; but as +yet there was no sign of any. Either these Rogan workmen were not +privileged to carry the terrible things, or they were too occupied to +think of going and getting them; anyhow, Brand was left free to wield +his bar and continue crushing out the lives of the two-legged vermin +that attacked him. + +With almost a shock of surprise, he saw finally that he had battered +their number down to three. At that he took the offensive himself. He +rammed the bluntly pointed end of the bar almost through one writhing +torso, broke the back of a second with a whistling blow, and tripped +and exterminated the third almost in as many seconds. The creatures, +without their death-tubes, were as helpless as crippled rats! + +Panting, he turned again toward the loosened glass bell, and battered +at it with the precious bar. Gradually the bolts that held it to the +stone slab were wrenched out, till only one supported it. But at this +point, from half a dozen set-back doorways, streams of infuriated +Rogans began pouring into the building and toward him. + +The one that had fled had come back with help. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_Tremendous Odds_ + + +Like living spokes of a half-wheel, with the Earthman as the hub, the +Rogans converged toward Brand, a howling roar outside indicating that +there were hundreds more waiting to jam into the dome as soon as they +were able. There were still no shock-tubes in evidence: evidently the +worker who had gone for help had gathered the first Rogan citizens he +had encountered on the streets. But the very numbers of the mob +spelled defeat for Brand. + +However, there was still the great lever behind him to yank away from +its switch-socket. The glass bell was almost off now. With a last mad +blow, he knocked loose the remaining bolt that held it. The bell +clattered to the floor. + +A concerted shriek came from the crowding Rogans as they saw the +Earthman's hand close on the lever. Whatever effect the throwing of +that master-switch could have, there was no doubt that they were +extremely anxious to prevent it! + +And now, in the rear of the crowding columns, appeared Rogans taller +than the others, with an authoritative air, who waved before them, +eager to unleash their power, batteries of the death-tubes. + +Resigning himself to annihilation in the next instant, Brand pulled +down hard on the lever. + + * * * * * + +The effect wrought by the throwing of that great switch was almost +indescribable. + +In a flash, as though all had been struck at once by a giant's hand, +every Rogan in the mob shot toward the floor, long thin legs caving +under him as if turned to water. Writhing feebly, they endeavored to +get up, but could not; and, still weakly ferocious, began to creep +toward the Earthman like huge-headed worms. + +Brand himself had been thrown to the floor with the falling of that +switch. He had felt as though an invisible ocean had been poured on +him, weighting him down intolerably. To move arms or legs required +enormous effort; and to get up on his feet again was like rising under +a two-hundred-pound pack. + +The movement of the switch, he saw, had cut off the gravity reducing +apparatus of the Rogans--whatever that might consist of. They were +now, abruptly, subjected to the full force of gravity exerted by +Jupiter's great mass. They could no more stand erect on their +tottering, lofty legs than they could fly. + +But, though greatly handicapped by the gravity pull, they were still +not entirely helpless. Like huge, long insects they continued to worm +their way toward Brand, using their four arms and their boneless legs +to help urge them over the flooring. And in their rear the Rogan +guards struggled to lift their tubes and level them at the escaped +prisoner. + +Prompt to avoid that, Brand went down on his hands and knees. Thus he +was shielded by the foremost crawling Rogans: the ones in the rear, +with the tubes, could not raise themselves high enough to bore down +over their fellows' heads at the Earthman. + +Squatting on his knees, Brand awaited the first resolute crawlers. +And, on his knees, whirling the now thrice weighty bar at heads that +were conveniently low enough to be accessible, he began his last +stand. + + * * * * * + +On the Rogans came, evidently determined, at any sacrifice of life, to +get the Earthman away from that vital control board. And to right and +left, crouching low to escape the tubes of the guards slowly crawling +forward from the rear, Brand laid about him with the bar. + +He got a little sick at the havoc he was wreaking on these +slow-moving, gravity-crippled things: but remembrance of their grisly +feeding habits, and the torture they must by now have inflicted on +Dex, kept him flailing down on soft heads with undiminished effort. + +With the gravity pull what it was, the Earthman was immeasurably +stronger than any individual Rogan. For a time the contest was all in +his favor. It was like killing slugs in a rose garden! + +Nevertheless, these slugs were, after all, twelve feet long and +possessed of intelligence, besides being hundreds in number. After a +while the tide of battle began to turn in their favor. + +Brand began to feel his arms ache burningly with the sustained effort +of wielding a weapon that now weighed about twenty-five pounds. He +knew he couldn't keep up the terrific strain much longer. And, in +addition, he could see that the armed Rogans in the rear were steadily +forging ahead among the unarmed attackers, till they soon must be in a +position to blast him with their weapons. + +Brand brought down his bar, with failing force but still deadly +effect, on the loathsome face of the nearest Rogan, grunting with +satisfaction as he saw it crumple into a shapeless mass. He thrust it, +spear-like, into another face, and another. + +Then, abruptly, he found himself weaponless. + +Raising it high to bring it down on an attacker who was almost about +to seize him, he felt the metal bar turn white hot, and dropped it +with a cry as it seared the skin from the palms of his hands. Some +Rogan guard in the rear had managed to train his tube on the bar; and +in the instant of its rising had almost melted it. + + * * * * * + +Weaponless and helpless, Brand crawled slowly back before the +tortuously advancing mob, keeping close enough to them to be shielded +from the tubes of the rear guards. Without his club he knew the end +was a matter of seconds. + +He had an impulse to leap full into the mass of repulsive, crawling +bodies and die fighting as his fists battered at the gruesome faces. +But a second impulse, and a stronger one, was the blind instinct to +preserve his life as long as possible. + +Hesitantly, almost reluctantly, acting on the primitive instinct of +self-preservation, he continued to back away from the advancing horde; +away from the switch and toward the rear of the dome. + +With the instant of his withdrawal, a Rogan turned toward the lever to +push it back up into contact and release the red kingdom from the +burden of Jupiter's unendurable gravity. And now ensued a curious +struggle. The lever, placed for the convenience of creatures twelve +feet or more tall, was about five feet from the floor. And the Rogan +couldn't reach it! + + * * * * * + +Stubbornly he heaved and writhed in an effort to raise his +inordinately heavy body from the floor to a point where one of the +weaving arms could reach the switch. But the pipe-stem legs would not +bear its weight. Each time it nearly reached the lever, only to fall +feebly back again in a snarl of tangled limbs. + +Meanwhile, Brand had flashed a quick look back over his shoulder to +see, in the wall behind him, a metal door he hadn't noticed before. He +found time for a flashing instant to wonder why there were no Rogans +entering from that doorway, too; but it was a vain wonder, and it +faded from his mind as the ever advancing, groping monsters before him +kept crowding him back. + +Instinctively he changed his course a trifle, to edge toward the +metal door. Perhaps, behind it, there was sanctuary for a few moments. +Perhaps he could force it open, spring out, and bar it again in the +faces of the pursuing mob. It sounded improbable, but at least it +offered him a slim chance where before no chance had seemed possible. + +He reached the door at last, fumbled behind him and felt, high over +his head, a massive sliding bolt. + + * * * * * + +In the spot Brand had left, the struggle to throw the gravity-lever +back into closed contact position went on. The Rogan who was +fruitlessly trying to reach up to it paused and said something to one +near him. That one halted, and began to crawl toward him. + +The two of them tried to reach it, one bracing the other and helping +him pry his body up from the implacable pull of Jupiter's uninsulated +mass. The top Rogan reached a little higher. The flesh sucker-disk +that served as a hand almost grasped the lever, but failed by only a +few inches. + +A third Rogan crawled up. And now, with two arching their backs to +help the other, the thing was done. The hose-like, groping arm went up +and pushed the lever back into place. + +The blue streamer began to hum and crackle from coil to coil again. +The invisible weight that pressed down was released as once more the +giant planet's gravity was nullified. The Rogans got eagerly to their +feet and began to race toward Brand in their normal long bounds. + +Brand, just cautiously rising, when the power went back on, found +himself leaping five feet into the air with the excess of his muscular +effort. And in that leap he saw the Rogans in the rear straighten up +and point their tubes. However, also in that leap, his fumbling hand +shot back the bolt that securely shut the metal door. + +With a shout of defiance he jumped out of the door and slammed it shut +after him, feeling it grow searing hot an instant later under the +impact of the rays from the tubes that had been trained on him. + +A stinging shock reached him through the metal, flinging him to the +ground. He rolled out of its range and leaped to his feet to race away +from there. Then, with a gasp, he flattened his body back against the +wall of the dome building. + +He was in the enclosure that held the gigantic, lizard-like thing that +had nearly got him on his escape from the tower room. + +He wheeled frantically to go back and face the Rogan death-tubes. +Anything rather than wait while that mammoth heap of tiny-brained +ferocity ran him down and tore him to shreds! But even as he turned, +he heard the bolt shoot home on the inside of the door; heard vengeful +squeals of triumph from his pursuers. + + * * * * * + +At the other end of the enclosure, near the foot of the tower +building, the great lizard eyed him unblinkingly, its tremendous jaws +gaping to reveal a cavernous mouth that was hideously lined with +bright orange colored membrane. Then, squatting lower with every step +it took, like a mountainous cat about to spring on its prey, it began +to stalk on its tree-like legs toward the tiny creature that had +leaped into its yard with it. + +Brand whirled this way and that, mechanically seeking a way out. There +was none. The walls of the great enclosure were not like the wall of +the tower. Here were no rough hewn stones, with protruding ridges of +mortar set between. These walls were as smooth as glass, and just as +smooth was the curved wall of the dome building behind him. + +The monstrous beast stalked nearer, almost on its belly now. As it +advanced, the great tail stirred up a cloud of reddish dust, and left +behind it a round deep depression in a surface already crisscrossed +with a multitude of similar depressions. A bellowing hiss came from +its gaping mouth, and it increased its pace to a thunderous, waddling +rush. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_Into the Enclosure_ + + +In the torture chamber Dex wavered slowly back to consciousness to get +the growing impression that he was being immersed in a bath of liquid +fire. Burning, intolerable pain assailed him with increasing intensity +as his senses clarified. + +At last he groaned and opened his eyes, for the moment not knowing +where he was nor how he had come to be there. He saw strange torture +instruments and tall monstrosities with pumpkin-shaped heads +surrounding him closely in a semicircle, and staring at him out of +great, dull eyes. + +Remembrance came back with a rush, and he gathered his muscles to +spring at the hateful figures. But he could not move. At waist and +throat, at wrists and ankles, were hoops of metal. He closed his eyes +again while the burning waves of invisible fire shot through him +recurrently from head to foot. + +Dully he wondered that he was still alive. His last recollection had +been of the Rogan leader pointing his shock-tube full at him, his +shapeless countenance working with murderous fury. However, alive he +was; and most unenviably so! + +His hands, circumscribed to a few inches of movement by the bonds on +his wrists, felt the smooth substance at his back. And with a thrill +of horror he realized his position: he was crucified against the metal +slab on which the slave had writhed in agony a short half hour ago. + +Again he strained and tugged, vainly, to get free. Off to one side, +pressed back against a huge glass experimental tank, he saw the +beautiful Greca, her eyes wide with horror; and caught her frantic +pleading message to her "Great White One." + + * * * * * + +The Rogan leader, squealing and grimacing, advanced toward the victim +on the metal plate. One of the long arms went out and a sucker-disk +was pressed to Dex's cheek. Dex quivered at the loathsome contact of +that soft and slimy substance; then set his jaws to keep from groaning +as the disk was jerked away, to carry with it a fragment of skin and +flesh. + +Gingerly, the tall leader felt the twitching, blackened stump of his +blasted arm. Dex grinned mirthlessly at that: he'd struck one or two +blows in his own defense, anyhow! + +At sight of the Earthman's grin, an expression of defiance and grim +joy that needed no interpreting to be understandable, the Rogan leader +fairly danced with rage. His long arm went out to the switch beside +the plate, and pulled it down another notch--just a little, not nearly +to the current that had torn at the slave. + +At the increased torment resulting from that slight movement of the +regulating lever, Dex yelled aloud in spite of all his will power. It +seemed as though his whole body were about to burst into +self-generated flame. Every cell and fiber of him seemed on the verge +of flying apart. He could feel his eyes start from his head, could +feel every hair on his scalp stand up as though discharging electric +sparks. + +A minute or two of that and he would go mad! He cried out again, and +twisted helplessly in his bonds. And then the terrible torture +stopped. + +The Rogan had not touched the switch--yet whatever sort of current it +was that charged the plate was abruptly clicked off, as though someone +at a distance had cut a wire or thrown a master-switch. + + * * * * * + +Simultaneously with its ceasing, an invisible, crushing sea seemed to +envelope everything. Dex felt his body sag against his metal bonds as +if it had been changed to lead. + +Before him the Rogans, who had been crowding closer to watch +gloatingly each grimace he made, shot doorward as though their +pipe-stem legs had been swept from under them. The leader fell on the +stump of his seared arm and, a deafening squeal of rage and pain came +from his little mouth. His tube fell from his grasp and rolled over +the floor half a dozen yards away from him. + +Amazed, observing the stricken creatures only dimly through a haze of +pain, Dex saw them struggle vainly to get up again, and heard them +chattering excitedly to themselves. For the moment, in the face of +this queer phenomenon, the prisoner seemed to be forgotten. And Dex +was quick to seize the momentary advantage. + +"Greca!" he called. "The tube! There--on the floor!" + +The girl raised her head quickly, and followed his imploring gaze. +Laboriously she started for the tube. At the same instant the Rogan +leader began to feel around him for his lost weapon. Not finding it, +he raised his head and glanced about for it. He saw the girl making +her way toward it and, with a squeak of terror, began to crawl toward +it himself. + + * * * * * + +He was not quick enough. The girl, though not nearly as active under +the increased pull of gravity as a person of Earth might be, was yet +more agile than the Rogans. And she was the faster mover in this +tortuous, snail-like race. While the Rogan leader was still several +feet away, she retrieved the shock-tube. + +"Kill him!" begged Dex. "And all the rest of the filthy creatures!" + +With feminine horror of the thing that faced her, Greca hesitated an +instant--a hesitation almost long enough to be fatal. Then, just as +the Rogan leader was reaching savagely out for her, she leveled the +tube at him and turned it to its full power. + +One last thin squeal came from the Rogan's mouth, a squeal that +cracked abruptly at its height. What had been its gangling body +drifted up in inky smoke. + +"The others!" called Dex. "Quick! Before they get their weapons--" + +Greca swept the death-tube in a short arc in front of her, over the +bodies of the remaining Rogans, as if spraying plants with a hose. One +after another, toppling in swift succession like grotesque falling +dominoes, the creatures sagged to the floor and melted away. That one +small part of Jupiter's red spot, at least, was cleared of Rogan +population. + + * * * * * + +Long shudders racked Greca's body, and her lips were a bloodless line +in her pallid face. But she did not go into womanly hysterics or swoon +at the slaughter it had been her lot to inflict. Moving as quickly as +she could, she went to the metal slab and began, with shaking fingers, +to undo the fastenings that held Dex prisoner. + +"Good girl," said Dex, patting her satiny bare shoulder as he stood +free again. "You're a sport and a gentleman. You don't understand the +terms? They're Earth words, Greca, that carry the highest praise a man +can give a woman. But let's get out of here before another gang comes +and takes us again. Where can we hide?" + +"I don't know any hiding places," confessed Greca despairingly. "The +Rogans swarm everywhere. We will be seen the moment we try to leave +here." + +"Well, we'll hunt for a hole, anyway," said Dex. He essayed to walk. +What with the tendency of his muscles to jerk and collapse with the +aftermath of the torture he had endured, and the sudden and +inexplicable increase in gravity that bore him down, he made heavy +going of it. "First we'll go up and get Brand." + +"Yes, yes," said Greca, a soft glow in her clear blue eyes. "Let us go +quickly." + +She started toward the door, panting with the effort of moving. But +Dex halted an instant, to stoop and pick up another of the tubes. + +"We might as well have one of these apiece," he said. "You've proved +you have the grit to use one; and maybe the dirty rats will think +twice about rushing us if we each have a load of death in our hands." + + * * * * * + +They made their way out of the torture laboratory, and up the incline +to the street level. And it was just as they reached this that the +burden of gravity under which they staggered was lifted from their +shoulders as quickly as it had descended on them. + +Dex raised his arms just in time to fend his body from a collision +with the wall in front of him. "Now what!" he exclaimed. + +Greca lifted her hand for silence, inclined her head, and listened +intently. As she did so, Dex heard the same noise her quick ears had +caught an instant before his: a distant pandemonium of ringing gongs +and siren shrieks, and squealing cries of a multitude of agitated +Rogans. + +"What the devil--" began Dex. But again Greca raised her hand to +silence him, and listened once more. As she listened, her sea-blue +eyes grew wider and wider with horror. Then, frantically, she began to +race down a long corridor away from the street door. + +Dex hastened to follow her. "What is it?" he demanded, when he had +caught up to her flying little feet. "This is not the way up to the +room where Brand--" + +"Your friend is not there," she interrupted. She explained swiftly, +distractedly: "From the shouts of the Rogans I learn that he got into +the great dome building, somehow, and then was driven into the pen of +the...." + +Dex could not get the next term she used. But her telepathic message +of the peril she mentioned formed in his mind clearly enough. + +He got a flashing brain picture of a great, high-walled yard with a +monster in it of the kind he had caught a close-range glimpse a short +while before. Also, he saw a blurred, tiny figure, running from wall +to wall, that was Greca's imagining of Brand and his efforts to escape +the enormous beast. + +"Good heavens!" groaned Dex. "Penned in with one of the things they +showed me while I was stretched on the rack! Are you sure, Greca?" + +She nodded, and tried to run faster. "This way," she gasped, turning +down a passage to the left that ended in a massive metal door. "This +leads to the enclosure. Oh, if only we can be in time!" + +Her slim fingers tore at a massive bolt that secured the door. "Here," +said Dex, wrenching it open for her. And they stepped out into thin +sunlight, onto a hard surface of reddish ground that was crisscrossed +with innumerable rounded furrows like the tracks old-fashioned, +fifty-passenger airplane wheels used to make on soft landing fields. + + * * * * * + +Greca shrieked, and pointed to the far end of the enclosure. Down +there, flattened against the wall of the dome building, was Brand. And +waddling toward him with a tread that caused the ground to quiver, was +a mate to the hideous creature the Rogans had used to terrify Dex in +the torture chamber. + +Dex leveled the tube he was carrying, swore, hit it frenziedly against +his hand. "How do you work this damned thing, Greca--Oh! Like that! +There--see if _that_ puts a sting in your hide!" + +The distant monster stopped its advance toward Brand. A raw white spot +as big as a dinner plate leaped into being on one of its enormous hind +legs. It whirled with an ear-splitting hiss, to see what thing was +causing such pain in its rear. The frightful head whipped back at the +end of the long neck, to nuzzle at the seared spot. Then the giant +lizard turned toward Brand again. + +A second time Dex pressed the central coil that formed the handle of +the tube, as Greca had showed him how to do. A second time the ray +shot down the field to flick a chunk of flesh weighing many pounds +from the monster's flank. And this time it definitely abandoned the +quarry behind it. With a scream like the keening of a dozen steam +whistles, it charged back over its tracks toward the distant pigmies +that were inflicting such exasperating punishment on it. + +Dex swept the tube before him in a short half-circle. A smoking gash +appeared suddenly in the vast fore-quarters of the monster. It +stopped abruptly, its clawed feet plowing along the ground with the +force of its momentum. An instant it stood there. Then, with its head +swinging from side to side and lowered so that its looped neck dragged +on the reddish, dusty ground, it began to back away from the source of +its hurt, bellowing and hissing its rage and bewilderment. + +"Brand!" shouted Dex. "This end! Run, while I hold the thing off!" + +Brand began to race down the long enclosure, ten feet to a leap. The +great lizard darted after him, like a cat after an escaping mouse; but +a flick of the tube sent it bellowing and screaming back to its +corner. + +"Dex!" gasped Brand. "Thank God!" + +For a moment he leaned, white and shaken, against the wall. Then Greca +caught his hand in both of hers, and Dex put his arm supportingly +around his shoulder. They retreated back through the doorway behind +them, and slid the bolt across the metal door. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +_The "Tank Scheme"_ + + +"Thank God you came when you did," repeated Brand. Then, with a moment +in which, figuratively, to get his feet back on earth, the wonder of +Dex's appearance struck him. + +"How did you manage to get away?" he asked. "I was sure--I +thought--when they dragged you out of the tower room I wouldn't see +you again--" + +Rapidly Dex gave an account of his ordeal in the torture chamber, +telling Brand in a few words how he had attempted to win free of the +Rogans, how he had almost succeeded, only to be caught again and +clamped to the death-plate on the wall. + +"But just as the big fellow was about to cook me for good and all," he +concluded, "something happened to the current, and to the gravity at +the same time--" + +"That was when I pulled the lever in the dome building!" exclaimed +Brand. + +He told of what had befallen him in the Rogan power-house. "That +lever, Dex!" he said swiftly. "It's the keynote of the whole business. +It absolutely controls the pull of gravity, and Lord knows what else +besides. If we could only get at it again! Perhaps we could not only +shut it off so that Jupiter's pull would function again, but also +reverse the process so its gravity would be _increased_! Think what +that would mean! Every Rogan in the red empire stretched out and +immovable, possibly crushed in by his own weight!" + +"It's a wonderful thought," sighed Dex; while Greca's eyes glowed with +a sudden hope for her enslaved race, "but I don't see how we could +ever--" + +He stopped; and glanced in alarm down the passage behind them. Greca +and Brand, hearing the same soft noise, whirled to look, too. + + * * * * * + +Far down the passage, just sneaking around the bend, was a group of +Rogan guards, each armed with a death-tube. + +"Back to the pen!" cried Brand. + +He slid the bolt, and jerked the door open. They rushed into the +walled enclosure again, the slamming of the door behind them cutting +off the enraged squeals of the Rogans. + +"This isn't going to mean anything but a short delay, I'm afraid," +said Brand, clenching his fists in an agony of futility. "They'll be +in here in a minute, and get us like trapped rats." + +"Not before we get a lot of them," said Dex grimly. + +"But that isn't enough, man! We don't want to die, no matter how +decently we do it. We've won free, and stayed free this long; now, +somehow, we've got to reach our ship and get back to Earth to warn +them of the danger that hides here for our planet!" + +He strode tensely up and down, smacking his fist into his palm. "The +lever!" he exclaimed. "That lever! It's our only answer! If we could +get to it.... But how can we? We couldn't break into the dome, now the +Rogans are on the watch for us, with anything less than a charge of +explosives. Or a tank. God, how I'd like to have an old-fashioned, +fifty-ton army tank here now!" + +Greca exclaimed aloud as Brand's fleeting mental picture of one of +Earth's unwieldy, long-discarded war tanks registered on her brain. + +"There is the great beast there," she said hesitantly, pointing a slim +forefinger at the huge lizard that had backed into a far corner and +was regarding them out of dull, savage eyes. Then she shook her head. +"But that is impossible. Impossible!" + + * * * * * + +The men stared at her, with dawning realization in their minds. Then +they gazed at each other. + +"Of course," said Brand. "Of course! Greca, you're marvelous! Wish we +had a tank? Why, we've got one! A four-legged mountain of meat that +ought to be able to plow through the side of that dome like a +battering ram through cardboard!" + +"But it's not possible," replied Greca, her head dropping dejectedly. +"My people, as driven slaves, till the fields with great animals that +were trapped in the surrounding jungles. They harness other great +animals to haul burdens. But none of the beasts are like _this_ one. +This kind cannot be tamed or harnessed. It is too ferocious. It is +used only as a scourge of fear, to crush us into complete submission." + +"Can't be tamed?" Brand said. "We'll see about that! Come on, Dex." + +"Just a minute," said Dex. He flattened against the wall, motioning +them to do the same. Then he leveled his tube at the door. + +Slowly, cautiously, the door began to swing back; and the Rogan that +Dex had heard fumbling with the bolt stuck his huge head out to locate +the escaped prisoners. + +Dex pressed the release coil of his tube. Without a sound, the Rogan +slumped to the ground, a smoking cavity in its shoulders at the spot +where its head had been set. In an instant the body, too, disappeared; +an upward coiling wisp of black smoke marking its vanishing. + +Another Rogan, tiptoeing out, met the same fate; and another. And then +the door was banged shut again, and the bolt ground into place on the +inside. + +"That'll teach 'em to be careful how they try to rush us from _that_ +door," said Dex, through set teeth. "Now let's see if that tank scheme +of ours can be worked." + + * * * * * + +He picked up a tube dropped by one of the Rogans, and handed it to +Brand; showing him which coil to press to get full force, as Greca had +in turn informed him. + +"Down the field," commanded Brand. "We'll go about thirty yards apart, +and try to herd this brute back through the walls of the dome +building. Once it's inside, we'll try to rush to the lever before the +Rogans can down us, and jam the thing past its terminal peg and into +reverse action. I don't know that there _is_ a reverse to it--but we +can try. + +"Greca dear,"--the girl started at the warmth of his thought, and a +faint pink rose to her pale cheeks--"you'd better stay by my side. +Your place as hostage-priestess of your people wouldn't save you if +those devils catch you now. Besides, you can keep your tube leveled at +the doorway as we go, and discourage any Rogans who might pluck up +courage to try coming out again." + +They started down the field toward the nightmare thing that snarled +and hissed in its corner. On one side of the big enclosure walked +Brand, with Greca close beside him, glancing continuously over her +shoulder at the rear door, and holding her tube in readiness to check +any charge the Rogans might attempt to make from the tower building. +On the other side, keeping an equal pace, advanced Dex. + +With tubes of death as whips, and with death for themselves set as the +stake for which they gambled, they went about their attempt to drive +the brainless monster before them through the solid wall of the dome +building. And there followed what was probably the strangest animal +act the universe has ever witnessed. + + * * * * * + +The first thing to do was to rout the enormous lizard out of the +corner where sullen fear had sent it squatting. Dex contrived to do +that by standing next to the wall at its side, and sending a searing +ray that just touched the scaly, tremendously thick hide. The monster +bellowed deafeningly, and, with a spot smoking on its flank, waddled +sideways to the center of the field. Its head and swaying long neck +faced the Earthmen and its back was against the wall of the dome +building. To that extent, at least, they had the creature placed; but +they soon found that the struggle had only just begun. + +Brand got far enough around to focus his tube on the tip of the huge +tail, in an effort to swing the gigantic thing about. There was an +unearthly shriek from the colossal beast, and a foot and a half of its +tail disappeared. + +"Careful," called Dex, his jaw set and grim as the monster lashed out +in its wrath. "If you bore in too long with that tube there'll be +nothing left of our tank but a cloud of smoke." + +Brand nodded, wordlessly, walking on the balls of his feet like a +boxer, holding himself ready to swerve the thing should it charge +them. Which--next instant--it did! + +With a whistling bellow it gathered its tons of weight and thundered +with incredible quickness at the gnats that were stinging its flanks +and tail. + +Desperately Brand played the tube across the vast chest, scoring a +smouldering gash in the scale-covered flesh just above the gash Dex +had seared a few moments before. + +"Sorry, old fellow," Brand muttered to the screaming beast. "We hate +to bait you like this, but it has to be done. Come on, now, through +that wall behind you, and give us a chance at the lever." + + * * * * * + +But through the wall behind it the vast creature, not unnaturally, +refused to go! It darted from side to side. Backward and forward. Up +to the wall, only to back bewilderedly away from it. And constantly +the tubes flicked their blistering, maddening rays along its monstrous +sides and tail, as the Earthmen tried to guide it into the wall. + +"Hope there's enough left of it to do the trick," said Brand, +white-lipped. The monster was smoking in a dozen spots now, and +several of the hump-like scales on its back had been burned away till +the vast spine looked like a giant saw that was missing a third of its +teeth. "God, I'm thinking we'll kill it before we can drive it through +that wall!" + +Greca nodded soberly, keeping her eyes on the distant door to their +rear. Twice that door had been opened, and twice she had directed the +death rays into its opening to mow down the gangling figures behind +it. But she had said nothing of this to her man. He was busy enough +with his own task! + +"The door to the dome--" Dex shouted suddenly. + +But Brand merely nodded, even as a discharge from his tube annihilated +the Rogan that had appeared in the doorway before them. He had seen +that door stealthily opening even before Dex had. + +"It had better be soon, Dex!" he called. "Rogans in front of +us--Rogans behind us--and--look out! On your side of the fence, +there!" + +Dex whirled in time to pick off a grotesque, pipe-like figure that had +suddenly appeared on the broad wall of the enclosure. Then he turned +to the frenzied problem of driving the monster through the building +wall. + +"The thing's going mad, Brand!" he cried, his voice high-pitched and +brittle. "Watch out!" + + * * * * * + +It was only too evident that his statement was true. The baited +monster, harried blindly this way and that, hounded against the blank +wall behind it by something that bit chunks of living flesh out of its +legs and sides, was losing whatever instinctive mental balance it had +ever had. Its dimly functioning brain, probably no larger than a +walnut in that gigantic skull, ceased more and more to guide it. + +With a rasping scream that set the Earthmen's teeth on edge, it +charged for the wall on Dex's side. Dex just managed to swerve it with +a blast from the tube so prolonged that half its great lower jaw fell +away. + +At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad! It whirled +toward Brand, jerking around again as a searing on that side jarred +its dull sensory nerves, then headed at last straight toward the stone +wall of the dome building. + +With the rays from both tubes flicking it like monstrous spurs, it +charged insanely toward the bulge of the circular wall. With all its +tons and tons of weight it crashed against the stonework. There was a +thunderous crackling noise, and the wall sagged in perceptibly, while +the metal roof bent to accommodate the new curvature of its supporting +beams. + +The monstrous lizard, jerked off its huge legs by the impact, +staggered up and retreated toward the two men. But again the maddening +pain in its hindquarters sent it careening toward the building wall. +This time it raised high up on its hind legs in a blind effort to +climb over it. "God, it must be five stories tall!" ejaculated Brand. +Thunderingly its forelegs came down on the edge of the roof. + + * * * * * + +There was another deafening crash of stone and shrieking of torn +metal. Just under the cornice, the wall sagged away from the roof and +the top rows of heavy stone blocks slithered inward. + +"Again!" shouted Brand. + +His tube was pointing almost continuously now at the metal door +leading from the dome building. The Rogans inside, at the shocks that +were battering down a section of their great building, were all trying +to get out to the yard at once. In a stream they rushed for the +doorway. And in loathsome heaps they fell at the impact of the ray +and shriveled to nothingness on the bombarded threshold. + +"Once more--" Brand repeated, his voice hoarse and tense. + +And as though the monster heard and understood, it rushed again with +all its vast weight and force against the wall in a mad effort to +escape the things that were blasting the living flesh from its +colossal framework. + +This charge was the last. With a roaring crash a section of the +building thirty yards across went back and down, leaving the massive +roof to sag threateningly on its battered truss-work. + + * * * * * + +It was as though the side of an ant-heap had been ripped away. Inside +the domed building hundreds of Rogans ran this way and that on their +elongated legs, squealing in their staccato, high-pitched tongue. + +With blind fury the mad monster charged in through the gaping hole it +had battered for itself. In all directions the Rogans scattered. Then +an authoritative tall figure with a tube in each of its four +sucker-disks, whipped out a command and pointed to the great coils +which lay immediately in the berserk monster's path. + +The command restored some sort of order. Losing their fear of the +beast in their greater fear of the damage it might do, the Rogans +massed to stop it before it could demolish the Rogan heart of power. + +At this point Brand saw an opening of the kind he had been praying +for. The Rogans had retreated before the terrific charge of the +monster in such a way that the space between its vast bulk and the +control board was clear. + +"After me!" he shouted to Dex. "One of us has got to reach that lever +while the creature's still there to shield us!" + +The two Earthmen dashed through the jagged hole in the wall and raced +to the control board just as the huge lizard, a smoking mass, sank to +the floor. Brand gazed almost fearfully at the lever-slot. + +Was there a reverse to the gravity-control action? There was room in +the slot for the lever to be pulled down below the neutral point, if +that meant anything.... + + * * * * * + +Behind them the great bulk of the dead lizard was disappearing with +incredible quickness under the rays of the tubes directed on it. Now +the pumpkin-shaped heads on the opposite side were visible through a +fleeting glimpse of a skeleton that was like the framework of a +skyscraper. And now the colossal bones themselves were melting, while +over everything hung a pall of greasy black smoke. + +"Hurry, for God's sake!" gasped Dex. + +Brand threw down the lever till it stuck. At once that invisible ocean +poured crushingly over them, throwing them to their knees and sweeping +the Rogans flat on their hideous faces just as half a hundred tubes +were flashing down to point at the Earthmen. + +"More--if you can!" grated Dex, whirling this way and that and +spraying the massed Rogans with his death-dealing tube. Dozens went up +in smoke under that discharge; but other dozens remained to raise +themselves laboriously and slowly level their suddenly ponderous +weapons at the Earthmen. + +Brand set his jaw and threw all his weight on the lever. It bent a +little, caught at the neutral point--and then jammed down an +appreciable distance beyond it. + + * * * * * + +Instantly the blue streamers, that had stopped their humming progress +from coil to coil with the movement of the switch to neutral, started +again in reversed direction. And instantly the invisible ocean pressed +down with appalling, devastating force. + +Greca and Brand and Dex were flattened to the floor as if by blankets +of lead. And the scattered Rogans about them ceased all movement +whatever. + +"Oh," sobbed Greca, fighting for breath. "Oh!" + +"We can't stand this," panted Dex. "We've fixed the Rogans, all right. +But we've fixed ourselves, too! That lever has to go up a bit." + +Brand nodded, finding his head almost too heavy for his neck to move. +Sweat beaded his forehead--sweat that trickled heavily off his face +like drops of liquid metal. + +With a tremendous struggle he got to his knees beneath the +master-switch. There he found it impossible to raise his arms; but, +leaning back against the control board and so getting a little +support, he contrived to lift his body up enough to touch the +down-slanting lever with his head and move it back along its slot a +fraction of an inch. The giant coils hummed a note lower; and some of +the smashing weight was relieved. + +"That does it, I think," Brand panted, his voice husky with exhaustion +and triumph. + +He began to crawl laboriously toward the nearest street exit. "On our +way!" he said vibrantly. "To the space ship! We leave for Earth at +once!" + + * * * * * + +Slowly, fighting the sagging weight of their bodies, the two Earthmen +inched their way to the street, helping Greca as they went. Among the +sprawled forms of the Rogans they crept, with great dull eyes rolling +helplessly to observe their progress, and with feeble squeals of rage +and fear and malediction following their slow path. + +On the street a strange and terrible sight met their eyes. + +Strewn over the metal paving like wheat stalks crushed flat by a +hurricane, were thousands of Rogans. Not a muscle of their pipe-like +arms or legs could they move. But the gravity that crushed them +rigidly to the ground did not quite hold motionless the shorter and +more sturdily built slaves. + +Among the thousands of squealing, panting Rogans that lay as though +paralyzed on the metal paving, crawled equal thousands of Greca's +enslaved people. Their eyes flamed with fanatic hate. And +methodically--not knowing what had caused their loathed masters to be +stricken helpless, and not caring as long as they _were_ helpless--the +slaves were seeking out the shock-tubes that here and there had fallen +from the clutch of Rogan guards. Already many had found them; and +everywhere gangling, slimy bodies were melting in oily black smoke +that almost instantly vanished in thin air. + +As it was in these streets and in the great square in the center of +which rested the Earthmen's ship, just so, they knew, was it being +repeated all over the red empire. Slowly crawling, fiercely exulting +slaves were exterminating the tyrannous things that had held them so +long in dreadful bondage! Before the sun should set on another +flashing Jovian day there would be no Rogan left in the red spot. + + * * * * * + +"And so it ends," said Brand with a great sigh. He moved over beside +Greca, and touched her lovely bare shoulders. They were shaking +convulsively, those shoulders; and she had buried her face in her +hands to keep from gazing at the ghastly carnage. + +Brand pressed her to him. "It's terrible--yes. But think what it +means! The knell of all the Rogans been sounded to-day. As soon as +the secret of these death-tubes has been analyzed by our science and +provided against, my friend and I will return from Earth with a force +that shall clear the universe of the slimy devils. Meanwhile, your +people are safe here; with the gravity what it is, no Rogan attacking +hordes can land." + +They crawled tortuously over the square to the space ship. Brand +turned again to Greca; and now in his eyes was a look that needed no +language of mind or tongue for its complete expression. + +"Will you come to Earth with me, Greca, and stay by my side till we +return to set your people in power again?" + +Greca shook her head, slowly, reluctantly. "My people need leaders +now. I must stay and help direct them in their new freedom. But +you--you'll come back with the others from Earth?" + +"Try and stop him!" grinned Dex. "And try and stop me, too! From what +I know now of the way they grow 'em on your satellite"--his eyes +rested on Greca's beauty with an admiration that turned her to rosy +confusion--"I'd say I'd found the ideal spot to settle down in!" + +Brand laughed. "He's answered for me too. And now, a salute that is +used on Earth to express a promise...." He kissed her--to her utter +astonishment and perplexity, but to her dawning pleasure. "Good-by for +a little while." + +The two Earthmen hoisted themselves heavily over the sill of the +control room of their ship, and crawled inside. + +They secured the trap-door, and turned on the air-rectifiers. Brand +moved to the controls, waved to Greca, who was smiling at him through +the glass panel, and pointed the ship on its triumphant, four hundred +million mile journey home. + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Hell of Jupiter, by Paul Ernst + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED HELL OF JUPITER *** + +***** This file should be named 30214.txt or 30214.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/2/1/30214/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://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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