diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:16 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:16 -0700 |
| commit | 0f9cc3d504170e5a31f8954737b8d60253afcbfd (patch) | |
| tree | 1f0c03f7053c095547806856e04e8881138ef652 /30691-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '30691-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/30691-h.htm | 13914 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/295.jpg | bin | 0 -> 48138 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/310.jpg | bin | 0 -> 48176 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/311.jpg | bin | 0 -> 49567 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/336.jpg | bin | 0 -> 59281 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/354.jpg | bin | 0 -> 50138 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/370.jpg | bin | 0 -> 55584 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/371.jpg | bin | 0 -> 51762 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/421.jpg | bin | 0 -> 54413 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 30691-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 38878 bytes |
10 files changed, 13914 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/30691-h/30691-h.htm b/30691-h/30691-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e761afd --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/30691-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13914 @@ +<!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"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>Astounding Stories of Super-Science, December 1930</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; text-indent: 0; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + .ad1 {text-decoration: underline} + .adbox {border: 5px double black; text-align: center; font-size: larger; padding: 9px;} + .adbox p {text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:0.9em; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .center, .center p{text-align: center;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .hang1st {padding-left: 3em;} + .larger {font-size: large;} + .padtop {margin-top: 2em;} + .sidebarright {border: 1px solid black; font-size: smaller; text-indent: 0; margin: 9px; padding: 9px; float: right; clear: right; width: 50%;} + .sidebarright p {margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em;} + .smaller {font-size: small;} + .toc_desc {padding-bottom: 1em;} + .trnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 5% 1em 5%; font-size: small; padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; border: dotted 1px gray;} + blockquote {display: block; margin: .75em 5%; font-size: 90%;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + h2 + p {text-align: center;} + hr.invis {margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + i em {font-style: normal;} + img {border: none;} + ins {text-decoration: none; border: none;} + p.dropcap:first-letter{padding-top: .07em;} + p.dropcap:first-letter, p.dropcapq span.drop{float: left; margin-right: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + p.dropcapq small {float: left; font-weight: bold; width: auto;} + p.dropcapq span.drop{padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;} + p.ralign {text-align: right;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em; clear: both;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + .smcaplc {text-transform: lowercase; font-variant: small-caps;} + hr.mini {width: 20%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both; margin: 1em auto;} + hr.tb {border: none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 33%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + p.cg {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: left; width: 101%;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Astounding Stories of Super-Science, +December 1930, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Astounding Stories of Super-Science, December 1930 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: December 17, 2009 [EBook #30691] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASTOUNDING STORIES, DEC. 1930 *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' title="ASTOUNDING STORIES OF SUPER-SCIENCE" width='360' height='547' /><br /> +</div> +<h1>ASTOUNDING STORIES OF SUPER-SCIENCE</h1> +<p class='center smaller padtop'><i>On Sale the First Thursday of Each Month</i></p> +<table summary="masthead2" width="100%"> + <col width="30%" /> + <col width="40%" /> + <col width="30%" /> + <tr> + <td align="left">W. M. CLAYTON, Publisher</td> + <td class="center">HARRY BATES, Editor</td> + <td align="right">DR. DOUGLAS M. DOLD, Consulting Editor</td> + </tr> +</table> +<blockquote class="smaller"> +<p>The Clayton Standard on a Magazine Guarantees</p> +<p><i>That</i> the stories therein are clean, interesting, vivid, by leading writers of the day and +purchased under conditions approved by the Authors’ League of America;</p> +<p><i>That</i> such magazines are manufactured in Union shops by American workmen;</p> +<p><i>That</i> each newsdealer and agent is insured a fair profit;</p> +<p><i>That</i> an intelligent censorship guards their advertising pages.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div class="center"> +<p><i>The other Clayton magazines are</i>:</p> +<p>ACE-HIGH MAGAZINE, RANCH ROMANCES, COWBOY STORIES, CLUES, FIVE NOVELS +MONTHLY, ALL STAR DETECTIVE STORIES, RANGELAND LOVE STORY MAGAZINE, +WESTERN ADVENTURES, and WESTERN LOVE STORIES.</p> +</div></blockquote> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='center'><i>More than Two Million Copies Required to Supply the Monthly Demand for Clayton Magazines.</i></p> +<hr class='mini' /> +<div style="margin-bottom:1em"> +<table summary="masthead" width="100%"> + <col width="30%" /> + <col width="45%" /> + <col width="25%" /> + <tr> + <td align="left">VOL. IV, No. 3</td> + <td class="center larger">CONTENTS</td> + <td align="right">DECEMBER, 1930</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<table summary="TOC" width="100%"> + <col width="45%" /> + <col width="45%" /> + <col width="10%" /> + <tr> + <td>COVER DESIGN</td> + <td>H. W. WESSOLOWSKI</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>Painted in Oils from a Scene in “The Ape-Men of Xlotli.”</i></td> + </tr> + +<tr><td>SLAVES OF THE DUST</td><td>SOPHIE WENZEL ELLIS</td><td align="right"><a href="#SLAVES_OF_THE_DUST_BY_SOPHIE_WENZEL_ELLIS">295</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>Fate’s Retribution Was Adequate. There Emerged a Rat with a Man’s Head and Face.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td>THE PIRATE PLANET</td><td>CHARLES W. DIFFIN</td><td align="right"><a href="#THE_PIRATE_PLANET__PART_TWO_OF_A_FOURPART_NOVEL__BY_CHARLES_W_DIFFIN">310</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>It is War. Interplanetary War. And on Far-Distant Venus Two Fighting Earthlings +Stand Up Against a Whole Planet Run Amuck.</i> (Part Two of a Four-Part +Novel.)</td></tr> + +<tr><td>THE SEA TERROR</td><td>CAPTAIN S. P. MEEK</td><td align="right"><a href="#THE_SEA_TERROR_BY_CAPTAIN_S_P_MEEK">336</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>The Trail of Mystery Gold Leads Carnes and Dr. Bird to a Tremendous Monster of +the Deep.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td>GRAY DENIM</td><td>HARL VINCENT</td><td align="right"><a href="#GRAY_DENIM_BY_HARL_VINCENT">354</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>The Blood of the Van Dorn’s Ran in Karl’s Veins. He Rode the Skies Like an Avenging +God.</i></td></tr> + +<tr><td>THE APE-MEN OF XLOTLI</td><td>DAVID R. SPARKS</td><td align="right"><a href="#THE_APEMEN_OF_XLOTLI_BY_DAVID_R_SPARKS">370</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>A Beautiful Face in the Depths of a Geyser—and Kirby Plunges into a Desperate Mid-Earth +Conflict with the Dreadful Feathered Serpent.</i> (A Complete Novelette.)</td></tr> + +<tr><td>THE READERS’ CORNER</td><td>ALL OF US</td><td align="right"><a href="#linki_9">421</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="toc_desc hang1st"><i>A Meeting place for Readers of Astounding Stories.</i></td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="smaller"> +<table summary="masthead" width="100%"> + <col width="55%" /> + <col width="35%" /> + <tr> + <td align="left">Single Copies, 20 Cents (In Canada, 25 Cents)</td> + <td align="right">Yearly Subscription, $2.00</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class='padtop'>Issued monthly by Readers’ Guild, Inc., 80 Lafayette St., New York, N.Y. W. M. Clayton, President; +Francis P. Pace, Secretary. Entered as second-class matter December 7, 1929, at the Post Office at +New York. N.Y., under Act of March 3. 1879. Title registered as a Trade Mark in the U.S. Patent Office. +Member Newsstand Group—Men’s List. For advertising rates address E. R. Crow & Co., Inc., 25 Vanderbilt +Ave., New York; or 225 North Michigan Ave., Chicago.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span> +<a name='SLAVES_OF_THE_DUST_BY_SOPHIE_WENZEL_ELLIS' id='SLAVES_OF_THE_DUST_BY_SOPHIE_WENZEL_ELLIS'></a> +<h2>Slaves of the Dust</h2> +<p><i>By Sophie Wenzel Ellis</i></p> +</div> +<blockquote> +<p><i>It’s a poor science that would hide +from us the great, deep, sacred infinitude +of Nescience, whither we can +never penetrate, on which all science +swims as mere superficial film.</i></p> +<p class='ralign'>—<i>Carlyle</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/295.jpg' alt='' title='' width='478' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +<i>Sir Basil showed his teeth in his ugly smile. “A creator is never merciful.”</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> two <i>batalões</i> turned from +the open waters of the lower +Tapajos River into the <i>igarapé</i>, +the lily-smothered shallows that +often mark an Indian +settlement +in the jungles of +Brazil. One of the two half-breed +rubber-gatherers suddenly stopped his +<i>batalõe</i> by thrusting a paddle against a +giant clump of lilies. In a corruption +of the Tupi dialect, he called over to +the white man occupying the other +frail craft.</p> +<p class='sidebarright'>Fate’s retribution was adequate. There +emerged a rat with a man’s head and face.</p> +<p>“We dare go no farther, master. The +country of the Ungapuks is bewitched. +It is too dangerous.”</p> +<p>Fearfully he +stared over his +shoulder toward a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span> +spot in the slimy water where a dim +bulk moved, which was only an alligator +hunting for his breakfast.</p> +<p>Hale Oakham, as long and lanky and +level-eyed as Charles Lindbergh, ran +despairing fingers through his damp +hair and groaned.</p> +<p>“But how can I find this jungle village +without a guide?”</p> +<p>The <i>caboclo</i> shrugged. “The village +will find you. It is bewitched, +master. But you will soon see the path +through the <i>matto</i>.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you stay by me until time to +land? I don’t like the looks of these +alligators.”</p> +<p>“It is better for a white man to face +an alligator than for a <i>caboclo</i> to face +an Ungapuk. Once they used to kill +and eat us for our strength. Now—” +Again his shrug was eloquent.</p> +<p>“Now?” Hale prompted impatiently.</p> +<p>“The white god who put a spell on +these one-time cannibals will bewitch +us and make us wash and rejoice when +it is time to die.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> shuddered and spat at a cayman +that was lumbering away from +his <i>batalõe.</i></p> +<p>Hale Oakham laughed, a hearty boyish +laugh for a rather learned young +professor.</p> +<p>“Is that all they do to you?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“No. All who enter this magic +<i>matto</i> die soon, rejoicing. Before the +last breath comes, it is said their bodies +turn into a handful of silver dust—poof!—like +that.” He snapped his +dirty fingers. “Then the life that +leaves them goes into rocks that walk.”</p> +<p>Hale sighed resignedly. There +wasn’t any use to argue.</p> +<p>“Unload your <i>batalõe</i>,” he ordered +testily, “and get your filthy carcasses +away.”</p> +<p>The half-breeds obeyed readily. As +the departing <i>batalõe</i> turned from the +<i>igarapé</i> into the open water of the +river, the young man repressed a sudden +lifting of his scalp. He was in for +it now!</p> +<p>His long body sprawled out in the +<i>batalõe</i>, he paddled about aimlessly for +several minutes until he found an aisle +through the jungle—the path that led +to the jungle village which he was visiting +in the name of science, and for a +certain award.</p> +<p>Before plunging into that waiting +tangle where life and death carried on +a visible, unceasing struggle, he hesitated. +Instinctively he shrank from +losing himself in that mad green world.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> had first heard of the Ungapuks +at the convention of the Nescience +Club in New York, that body of +scientists, near-scientists and adventurers +linked together for the purpose +of awarding the yearly Woolman +prizes for the most spectacular addition +of empiric facts to various +branches of science. One of the members +of the club, an explorer, had told +a wild yarn about a tribe of Brazilian +Indians, headed by Sir Basil Addington, +an English scientist, who was conducting +secret experiments in biochemistry +in his jungle laboratory. The explorer +had said that the scientist, half-crazed +by a powerful narcotic, had +seemingly discovered some secret of +life which enabled him to produce +monsters in his laboratory and to +change the physical characteristics of +the Ungapuk Indians, who, in five +years, had been transformed from cannibals +into cultured men and women.</p> +<p>And now Hale Oakham, hoping to +win one of the Woolman prizes, was +here in the country of the Ungapuks, +entering the jungle path that lead to +the unknown.</p> +<p>Fifty feet from the <i>igarapé</i>, the path +curved sharply away from a giant tree. +Hale approached the bend with his +hand on his gun. Just before he +reached it, he stopped suddenly to listen.</p> +<p>A woman’s voice had suddenly +broken forth in a wild, incredibly +sweet song. Hale stood entranced, +drinking in the heady sounds that +stirred his emotions like <i>masata</i>, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span> +jungle intoxicant. The singer approached +the bend in the path, while +the young man waited eagerly.</p> +<p>The first sight of her made him gasp. +He had expected to see an Indian girl. +No sane traveler would imagine a +white woman in the Amazon jungle, +with skin as amazingly pale as the +great, fleshy victoria regia lilies in the +<i>igarapé</i>.</p> +<p>When she saw Hale, she stopped instantly. +With a quick, practiced twist, +she reached for the bow flung across +her shoulders and fitted a barbed arrow +to the string.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>She</span> was a beautiful barbarian, +standing quivering before him. In +the thick dull gold braids hanging over +her bare shoulders flamed two enormous +scarlet flowers, no redder than +her own lips pouted in alarm. There +was a savage brevity to her clothing, +which consisted only of a short skirt +of rough native grass and breastplates +of beaten gold, held in place by strings +of colored seeds.</p> +<p>The girl held out an imperious hand +and, in perfect English, said:</p> +<p>“Go back!”</p> +<p>Hale drew his long body up to its +slim height, folded his arms, and gave +her his most winning smile. His insolence +added to his wholesome good +looks.</p> +<p>“Why?” he exclaimed. “I’ve come +a couple of thousand miles to call on +you.”</p> +<p>He saw that the eyes which held his +levelly were pure and limpid, and of an +astonishing orchid-blue.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” Her throaty, vibrant +voice was a thing of the flesh, +whipping Hale’s senses to sudden madness.</p> +<p>“I’m Hale Oakham,” he said, a little +tremulously, “a lone, would-be scientist +knocking about the jungle. Won’t +you tell me your name?”</p> +<p>She nodded gravely. “I am Aña. I, +too, am white.” Her rich voice was +quietly proud. “Come; I’ll see if Aimu +will receive you.”</p> +<p>With surprising, childlike trust, +she held out her little hand to him. +The gesture was so delightfully natural +that Hale, grinning boyishly, took +her hand and held it as they walked +down the jungle path.</p> +<p>“Sing for me,” he demanded abruptly. +“Sing the song you sang just +now.”</p> +<p>“That?” asked the girl, turning the +virgin-blue fire of her eyes on him. +“That was my death-song that I practice +each day. Perhaps soon I shall be +released from this.” She passed her +hands over her beautiful, half-clothed +body.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale’s</span> warm glance swept over +her. “Do you want to die?”</p> +<p>“Yes; don’t you? But you do not, +or you would not have retreated from +my poisoned arrow.”</p> +<p>“No, Aña; I want to live.”</p> +<p>“To live—and be a slave of <i>this</i>?” +Again her hand went over her slim +body. “A slave of a pile of flesh that +you must feed and protect from the +agonies that attack it on every side? +Bah! But I am hoping that my turn +will come next.”</p> +<p>“Your turn for what, Aña?”</p> +<p>“To enter the Room of Release. Perhaps, +if Aimu approves of you, you, +too, may taste of death.” Her gentle +smile was beatific.</p> +<p>“Do you speak of Sir Basil Addington?”</p> +<p>“He was called that once, before he +came to us. Now he has no name. We +can find none holy enough for him; +and so we call him Aimu, which means +good friend.” Her beautiful face was +sweet with reverence.</p> +<p>And now, in the distance, Hale saw +that the path led into a large clearing. +He slowed his pace, for he wanted to +know this lovely girl better before he +joined the Ungapuks.</p> +<p>“Who are you, Aña?” he asked suddenly, +bending closer to the crinkled, +dull-gold hair.</p> +<p>“I am Aña, a white woman.” She +looked at him frankly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298' name='page_298'></a>298</span></div> +<p>“But who are your parents, and how +did you get among the Ungapuks?”</p> +<p>Aña’s red lips curved into a dewy +smile. “I thought all white men were +wise, like Aimu. But you are stupid. +How do you think a white woman +could appear in a tribe of Indians who +live in the jungle, many weeks’ journey +from what you call civilization?”</p> +<p>Hale looked a little blank and more +than a little disconcerted.</p> +<p>“I suppose I am stupid,” he said +dryly. “But tell me, Aña, how did you +get here?”</p> +<p>“Why,” she exclaimed, “he made +me!”</p> +<p>“Made you? Good Lord! What do +you mean?”</p> +<p>“Just what I said, Hale Oakham. If +he can take a few grains of dust and +make a shoot that will grow into a +giant tree like yonder monster itauba, +don’t you think he can create a small +white girl like me?” Her orchid-blue +eyes glowed innocently into his.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> eager questions that he would +have asked froze upon his lips, for +a party of Indians approached.</p> +<p>The six nearly naked red men came +close and surveyed him, toying nervously +with their primitive, feather-decorated +weapons.</p> +<p>A tall, handsome young fellow who +possessed something of the picturesque +perfection of the North American +plains’ Indian stepped forward and, in +perfect English, said:</p> +<p>“Good morning, white stranger. +What is it you wish of the Ungapuks?”</p> +<p>“I came to see your white <i>cacique</i>,” +said Hale.</p> +<p>“Aimu? What is it you wish of +Aimu? He is ours, white stranger.”</p> +<p>“Yes, he is yours. I come as a friend, +perhaps to help him in his great work.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps!” The young Indian folded +his bronze, muscular arms over his +broad chest and continued his cool survey +of Hale. “White men before you +have come: spies and thieves. Some +we poisoned with curari. Others Aimu +took into the Room of Release.”</p> +<p>He turned to Aña, who was still +standing by Hale, and his expression +softened.</p> +<p>“What shall we do with him, Aña?” +he asked the question, a fleeting look +of hunger swept his fine, flashing eyes.</p> +<p>Aña flushed beautifully, and, moving +closer to Hale, with an impulsive, almost +childish gesture, slipped her arm +through his.</p> +<p>“Let us take him to our village, +Unani Assu!” she suggested. “I like +him.”</p> +<p>It was Hale’s turn to flush, which he +did like a schoolboy.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Unani Assu’s</span> brows drew together +in a scowl. The hand +holding his blow-pipe jerked convulsively.</p> +<p>“Aña! Come away!” he growled. +“You mustn’t touch a stranger!”</p> +<p>Aña’s blue eyes stretched with astonishment. +“But I like to touch him, +Unani Assu!”</p> +<p>The tall Indian, with a half comical +gesture of despair, said:</p> +<p>“Don’t misunderstand her, stranger. +She is young, very young, ah! And +she has known only the reborn men of +the Ungapuks.”</p> +<p>He stepped firmly over to Aña, and, +taking the girl by the arm, drew her +away.</p> +<p>“Run ahead,” he commanded, “and +tell Aimu that we come.”</p> +<p>Aña, her feathered bamboo anklets +clicking together, sped away.</p> +<p>Unani Assu bowed courteously to +Hale.</p> +<p>“Come, stranger. If you are an enemy, +it is you who must fear.” He +motioned for him to proceed down the +jungle path.</p> +<p>The path ended at a clearing studded +with <i>moloccas</i>, the Indian grass huts +made of plaited straw. Altogether the +scene was peaceful and sane and far +removed from the strange tales that +Hale had heard concerning the Ungapuks.</p> +<p>Hale was conducted to a long, low +stone building, where, in the doorway, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299' name='page_299'></a>299</span> +stood a tall and emaciated white man.</p> +<p>“Aimu!” said the Indians reverently, +and bowed themselves.</p> +<p>Over the bare, brown backs, the +white man looked at Hale.</p> +<p>“Sir Basil Addington?” asked the +young man.</p> +<p>“Yes. You are welcome. Come in.”</p> +<p>Hale entered the building.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> was in a book-filled study, furnished +with hand-made chairs +and a desk. Sir Basil asked him to be +seated. He offered the young man +long, brown native cigarettes and a +very good drink made from yucca.</p> +<p>After several minutes of conversation, +Sir Basil suddenly changed his +manner.</p> +<p>“And now,” he shot out, eyeing the +young man through narrowed lids, +“will you please state the purpose of +this visit?”</p> +<p>Hale looked squarely at his questioner. +“Frankly, Sir Basil, I have +called on you because I am so intensely +interested in your work among the +Ungapuks that I wish to offer my services.”</p> +<p>He gave in detail his family history, +his education, and his experience as a +teacher and a scientist.</p> +<p>Sir Basil tapped his teeth thoughtfully +with a pencil.</p> +<p>“But why do you think you can be +of assistance to me?”</p> +<p>“That, of course, is for you to decide.”</p> +<p>Hale thought that the scientist +looked like a huge, starved crow in his +loose-fitting coat. He was so fleshless +that, when the light fell strongly on +his face as it now did, the bones of his +head and hands showed through the +skin with horrible clearness.</p> +<p>Hale, under Sir Basil’s scrutiny, decided +instantly that he did not like +him.</p> +<p>“I need a helper,” the scientist went +on, with the air of talking to himself. +“A white assistant who neither loves +nor fears me. Unani Assu is good +enough in his way, but I need a helper +who has had technical training.” Suddenly +he wheeled on Hale and asked +sharply, “How are your nerves, young +man?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale</span> started, but managed to answer +calmly. “Excellent. My +war record isn’t half bad, and that was +surely backed with good nerves.”</p> +<p>“And you say you have no close relatives, +no ties of any sort to interfere +with work that is dangerous—and +something else?”</p> +<p>“Not a soul would care if I passed +out to-day, Sir Basil.”</p> +<p>“Good! And now tell me this: are +you one of those scientists whose minds +are so mechanical, so mathematically +made, as it were, that your entire outlook +on science is based on old, established +beliefs, or do you belong to that +rare but modern type of trained +thinker and dreamer who refuse to +permit yesterday’s convictions to influence +to-day’s visions?”</p> +<p>Hale smiled quietly. “I recently +lost my chair in a famous university +because of my so-called unscientific +teachings regarding ether-drift.”</p> +<p>Expressing himself in purely scientific +terms, he went into an elaboration +of his revolutionary theory. When he +had finished, Sir Basil reached out his +clawlike hand to him.</p> +<p>“Good!” he approved. “You have +dared to think originally. Now listen +to my theory of mind-electrons which +has grown into the established fact that +I have discovered the secret of life and +death.”</p> +<p>The long, thin hands reached into a +pocket for a box of pills. He swallowed +one greedily, and immediately +his emaciated face seemed charged +with new virility.</p> +<p>He spoke out suddenly. “Our world, +you know, is made up of three powers: +matter, energy and what you call +life. I might really say that there are +but two powers, for matter, in its last +analysis, is a form of energy. And +what is life? You can’t call it a form +of energy, for every inorganic atom has +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300' name='page_300'></a>300</span> +energy without having life. Life, Mr. +Oakham, is mind or consciousness.”</p> +<p>He began pacing the floor restlessly. +“Everything that lives has this consciousness, +and I say this in defiance +of some fixed scientific views. The +amoeba in a stagnant pool, a thallophyte +on a bit of old bread, any of the +myriads of trees and plants that you +see in the jungle all have consciousness +as well as you. And why?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> brought his fist down upon the +table. “Because they issue from +the same source as you and I, the almighty +mind, eternal, indestructible, +which has permitted itself to be enslaved +by matter. You are Hale Oakham. +I am Basil Addington, yet we +are one and the same. Let me illustrate.”</p> +<p>He seized a glass and poured it full +of <i>masata</i>. “Look! Two portions of +<i>masata</i>. But I pour what is in the glass +back into the bottle. The molecules +cohere and the two portions become +one again. Some day you and I—our +individual consciousnesses—will flow +back to the Whole. That sounds mystical, +but listen.</p> +<p>“We scientists hold that the electron +explains nearly all the physical and +chemical phenomena. I go further and +say that it explains <i>all</i>. Matter, electricity, +light, heat, magnetism—all can +be reduced to the ultimate unit. So, +Mr. Oakham, I am going to make clear +to you how life itself is electronic.”</p> +<p>His long finger touched Hale’s arm. +“You, I, yonder mosquito on your +sleeve, even one of the germs that is +causing my malaria, all being individual +living things, are the ultimate units +of what I shall personify as the Mind. +When I say <i>you</i> I do not speak of that +mound of flesh in which you exist, and +which can be reduced to the same familiar +basic elements and compounds +as make up inorganic structures; I +speak of your mind, your consciousness—for +that is the real you. Are you +following me?”</p> +<p>“Perfectly, Sir Basil.” Hale reached +for another drink. “But do you mean +to say that you and I are no more than +a mosquito, a malaria protozoan, or +even one of those trees in the jungle?”</p> +<p>Sir Basil’s dry skin slipped back into +a long smile. “Startling, isn’t it? +You, I, and all other living organisms +are nothing but matter, energy and +consciousness. You and I have a +larger share of consciousness, because +our organic structure permits the mind-electrons +greater freedom over the matter +than composes our bodies. We are +more acutely aware of the universe +about us, have a greater facility for enjoyment +and suffering, a more intricate +brain and nervous system. Yet when +our bodies die and our consciousness is +released, the mind-electrons enslaved +by our atoms go back to the elemental +Whole. This holds good for the +protozoan, the tree, the man—for all +things that live.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale</span> was drinking again. “You +mean, Sir Basil, that there is a +sort of war waged against what you +personify as the Mind by matter; that +matter is constantly seeking to enslave +mind-electrons, so that it may become +an organism which, for awhile, may enjoy +what we call life?”</p> +<p>Sir Basil pushed back his tufted hair +and looked happy. “Yes! And it’s Nature’s +supreme blunder! In the end, +the Mind always conquers and gains +its release, yet the eternal chain of enslavement +goes on and on, and will +continue to go on as long as there is a +living organism in the world to bind +mind to matter.”</p> +<p>Hale was excited now, as much from +the fiery intoxicant as from the scientist’s +weird revelation. “I get you,” he +said, rather inelegantly for a professor. +“You mean that if every living +thing in the world should pass out, +every man, every plant, every animal, +even down to microscopic infusoria, +the Mind would collect all its electrons, +and through some more jealous +law of, er, cohesion hold these electrons +inviolate from matter and energy?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301' name='page_301'></a>301</span></div> +<p>“Right! And again, as in the beginning, +the Mind would rule supreme. +By what I have proved, you and I and +all other creatures that now have life +may, as separate unfleshed electrons, +enjoy eternal consciousness as a part +of the Mind.” A new passion leaped +to his dark eyes. “When I have finished +my mission, no more need we be +slaves of the dust, subject to all the +frightful sufferings of this dunghill +of flesh.”</p> +<p>He brought his fist down upon his +skinny leg with a resounding blow.</p> +<p>“But you cannot reduce your theory +to fact, Sir Basil!”</p> +<p>“No?” Again came that frightful +grin to his cadaverous face. “Can you +withstand shock?”</p> +<p>“If you mean shock to the eye, let +me remind you that I served two years +in the big fight.”</p> +<p>“Then come to my laboratory. Better +take another drink.”</p> +<p>While Hale helped himself again +from the <i>masata</i> bottle, Sir Basil swallowed +another pellet.</p> +<p>Then the two went into the adjoining +apartment.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Sir</span> Basil, his hand over the doorknob, +paused.</p> +<p>“Before we go in,” he said, “I want +you to remember that we call natural +that which is characteristic of the physical +world. Everything alive in this +laboratory was produced by nature. I +merely made available the materials, +or, rather, I made the conditions under +which matter was able to enslave mind-electrons.”</p> +<p>He opened the door, slipped his body +through, and, with his ugly, teeth-revealing +grin, gestured for Hale to follow +him.</p> +<p>Hale steeled himself and looked +around half fearfully. The first glance +took in a large and well-equipped +laboratory, somewhat fetid with animal +odors. The second lingered here and +there on cages, aquariums, incubators, +and other containers where creatures +moved.</p> +<p>Suddenly, as something scuttled +across the floor and disappeared into +a hole in the wall, Hale cried out and +covered his eyes with a hand.</p> +<p>Sir Basil laughed aloud. “Why +didn’t you examine it closer?”</p> +<p>Hale looked nauseated. “My God, +Sir Basil! A rat with a man’s head and +face!”</p> +<p>Sir Basil’s voice was sharp, decisive. +“Before you leave this laboratory, +you’re going to come out of your foolish +belief that man is a creature apart +from other living organisms. You—the +conscious you—is no greater, no +more important in the final balance +than the spark of consciousness in that +rat. When your body and the rat’s +body give up their atoms to nature’s +laboratory, the little enslaved mind-electron +that is you and the one that +is the rat will be identical.”</p> +<p>Again Hale shivered and turned +away from that cold, too-thin face.</p> +<p>The scientist was speaking. “Step +around to all those cages and pens. I +want you to see all my slaves of the +dust.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> long before Hale had encircled +the room, he was so disturbed +at what he saw that he could +scarcely complete his frightful inspection. +In every enclosure he viewed a +monstrosity that in some way resembled +a human. Every reptile, every insect, +every queer, misshapen animal not +only looked human in some shocking +manner, but also seemed to possess human +characteristics. It seemed as +though some demented creator with a +perverted sense of humor had attempted +to mock man by calling forth monsters +in his image.</p> +<p>At last the young man cried out: +“How did you breed these freaks?”</p> +<p>“They are not freaks, and I did not +breed them. They are nature’s parentless +products whose basic elements +were brought together in this laboratory, +and, by a scientific reproduction +of the functions of creation, endowed +with the life principle, which is merely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302' name='page_302'></a>302</span> +mind-electrons.” He smoothed his long +tuft of hair nervously. “Would you +like to see how life springs from a +wedding of matter, energy, and consciousness?”</p> +<p>“I suspect I can stand anything +now,” Hale admitted.</p> +<p>“Then come and peep into a very remarkable +group of apparatus I have +developed, where you can watch atoms +building molecules and molecules +building living organisms.”</p> +<p>“You say I can see atoms?”</p> +<p>“Not directly, of course. The light +waves will forever prevent us from +actually seeing the atom. But I have +perfected a system of photography +which magnifies particles smaller than +light waves, and, separating their images +from the light waves, renders detail +clear in the moving pictures.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> went to a huge machine or +series of machines which took up +all the center floor space of the laboratory, +where he busied himself in an +intricate network of wires, mirrors, +electrodes, ray projectors, and traveling +metal compartments. Presently he +called out to Hale.</p> +<p>“Let me remind you, Oakham, that +while any scientist can break up any +of the various proteid molecules which +are the basis of all living cells, animal +and vegetable, no scientist before me +has been able to compound the atoms +and build them into a proteid molecule.”</p> +<p>He bared his teeth in the smile that +Hale hated.</p> +<p>“I am proud to tell you that the proteid +molecule can be built up only +when the third element of nature’s +trinity is added—the mind-electron. I +have found a means of capturing the +mind-electron and of bringing it in +contact with proteid elements. And +now it is possible to bring forth life +in the laboratory. Come closer and +watch proteid forming protoplasm, +protoplasm forming a cell, and the cell +evolving into—well, what do you want, +an animal, plant, or an insect?”</p> +<p>Hale had fallen under the scientist’s +spell. He did not feel foolish when he +said:</p> +<p>“Let’s have a rat!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale</span> became so absorbed in the +wonders of the laboratory that +when lunch time came, Sir Basil had +food brought to them. While they +were eating a very good vegetable stew, +farina, and luscious tropical fruits, a +sudden, agonized scream rang out, followed +by other screams and wails.</p> +<p>Sir Basil opened the door and looked +out. Aña came running forward. Her +blue eyes were flooded with tears.</p> +<p>“Oh, Aimu!” she moaned. “A tree +fell on Unani Assu.”</p> +<p>She buried her beautiful face in her +hands and sobbed aloud.</p> +<p>Sir Basil frowned heavily.</p> +<p>“I can’t lose Unani Assu yet,” he declared. +“He is a wonderful help +around the laboratory. Is he dead?”</p> +<p>“No. We should rejoice if his time +of release had come. But his legs, +Aimu! No one wants to suffer and be +crippled.”</p> +<p>Even in her distress, the girl’s voice +was rich and vibrant, and every tone +moved Hale curiously.</p> +<p>“Hurry!” cried the scientist. “Have +them bring him here before he dies.”</p> +<p>The girl leaped to her feet and sped +away.</p> +<p>“Come, Oakham,” continued Sir Basil. +“Here is a rare opportunity for +you to see how completely I have mastered +the laws that govern organic matter. +Help me prepare.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>For</span> several minutes, Hale worked +under the scientist’s sharply spoken +directions. By the time the injured +man was brought to the laboratory, +Sir Basil was ready for him.</p> +<p>Unani Assu was still conscious, but +his pale face indicated that he had lost +much blood. When the improvised +stretcher was lowered to the floor, Sir +Basil sent all the Indians away.</p> +<p>Unani Assu opened his eyes and +called feebly, “Aña!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_303' name='page_303'></a>303</span></div> +<p>“Be still!” ordered Sir Basil. “Aña +is not here.”</p> +<p>“Please!” gasped the dying man. “I +want her—my Aña!”</p> +<p>Sir Basil sucked in his breath sharply. +“What’s this? Have you been +making love to Aña again, after my +warning to you?”</p> +<p>The sufferer stirred uneasily. “No!” +he panted. “But perhaps my hour of +release has come, and I want to look +at her—once more.”</p> +<p>The scientist smiled unpleasantly as +he eyed the magnificent body which +looked like a broken statue in bronze.</p> +<p>“Some human characteristics are +strange,” he muttered. “In spite of +everything I do, this fellow continues +to love Aña: Aña whom I intend for +myself.”</p> +<p>He stepped to the apparatus and +swiftly changed one of the adjustments.</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” he resumed, with a gleam +in his eyes that chilled Hale, “this will +forever cure him.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> another moment, the still, half-dead +body was lifted and gently +slipped into a compartment.</p> +<p>Before Hale’s horrified gaze fastened +on the eye-piece which revealed +moving pictures of every process that +went on within, Unani Assu’s body was +reduced almost instantly to a fine, silvery +dust.</p> +<p>“Good God!” he cried. “You have +killed him.”</p> +<p>The scientist’s teeth showed in his +wide smile. “Think so? Does a woman +destroy a dress when she rips it up to +make it over?”</p> +<p>“Do you mean me to understand that +you can reduce a living body to its +basic elements and then rebuild these +elements into a remade man?”</p> +<p>“Watch!” warned the scientist.</p> +<p>Hale looked again and saw the silver +dust that was once a living body +being whirled into a tiny, grublike +thing. He saw the grub expand into an +embryo, and the embryo develop into +a foetus. From now on the development +was slower, and he often stopped +to talk with Sir Basil.</p> +<p>Once he asked: “If this man had +died naturally, could you have brought +him back to life?”</p> +<p>Sir Basil shook his head. “No. +When once the mind-electron is completely +freed from its enslavement by +matter, it is forever beyond recall by +the body it has just vacated. Like +atomic electrons, whose equilibrium +disturbed break away from their planetary +system and go dashing off into +space, only to be drawn into another +planetary system, the mind-electron +may be enslaved almost immediately by +extraneous matter. Had Unani Assu +died, his liberated mind-electron might +at once have been captured by a jungle +flower going to seed. Immediately a +new seed would be started. And now +the former Unani Assu would be a +seed of a jungle flower, later to find +new life as a plant.”</p> +<p>Suddenly the scientist threw up his +hand and cried: “You see? The Mind +will be eternally enslaved as long as +there is life! Oh, for the time of deliverance!” +He gazed fanatically into +space, as though he dreamed magnificently.</p> +<p>Hale observed him thoughtfully. +When that great brain weakened, the +consequences would be frightful.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Sir Basil,</span> as though he had made +a sudden decision, went over to +that part of his machine which he +called the molecule-disintegrator.</p> +<p>“Oakham!” he called out. “I have +taken you partly into my confidence. +Now I want to show you something. +Come here.”</p> +<p>Hale obeyed with misgivings. The +scientist pointed out the window to a +group of Indians, anxious relatives of +Unani Assu.</p> +<p>“Watch!” he ordered.</p> +<p>Turning one of the projectors on the +machine toward the window, he sighted +carefully and pressed a button.</p> +<p>Immediately one of the Indians fell +to the ground and struggled. His companions +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304' name='page_304'></a>304</span> +began dancing around him in +evident joy. Faintly to the laboratory +came a familiar chant, which Hale recognized as +Aña’s death song.</p> +<table summary=''><tr><td> +<p class='cg'>Dust to dust<br /> +Mind to Mind—<br /> +He will shed his body<br /> +As the green snake sheds his skin.</p> +</td></tr></table> +<p>As Hale watched, the struggling Indian’s +body seemed to shrink, and then, +instantly, it disappeared.</p> +<p>“Watch them scatter the dust!” said +the scientist.</p> +<p>One of the Indians stooped and blew +upon the grass.</p> +<p>“What have you done!” Hale +gasped. “You’ve killed this one. Oh, +I see now! These poor devils are totally +ignorant that you are killing them +for practice. They worship you while +you turn them to—silver dust!” He +turned angrily on the scientist as +though he longed to strike him.</p> +<p>“Keep cool, young man!” Sir Basil +held up his fleshless hand. “There is +no death! Change, yes; but no permanent +blotting out of consciousness. +Can’t you see the horror of it as nature +works? When your time for release +comes, as it inevitably will, your mind-electron +might find new enslavement in +a worm!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale’s</span> reply came hotly. “If that +is true, why do you murder these +poor devils deliberately!”</p> +<p>“My dear Oakham, perhaps you are +not so brilliant as I had hoped! All +that I have done thus far is only child’s +play, in preparation for my real work. +Haven’t you guessed by now what I +am getting ready to do?”</p> +<p>“No; I’m a poor guesser.”</p> +<p>The scientist made a gesture of mock +despair. “Then let me tell you. The +molecule-disintegrator is active only +on organic structures. When I concentrate +it so”—he reached out again, +sighted the projector on some point beyond +the window and pressed a button—“one +single living organism passes +out. See that jupati tree by the rock +disappear?”</p> +<p>Before Hale’s eyes, the tall, slender +tree melted into air.</p> +<p>“But,” continued Sir Basil, “if I +should <i>broadcast</i> my molecule-disintegrator +on electron magnetic waves, +destruction would pass out in all directions, +following the curve of the earth’s +surface, penetrating earth, air, water.” +He wet his lips carefully. “You understand?”</p> +<p>Hale stiffened suddenly. “I understand. +No life could survive these vibrations +of destruction? Through +every corner of the earth where life +lurks, they would reach?”</p> +<p>“Yes!” cried Sir Basil. “There +would be not a blade of grass, not a +living spore, not a hidden egg! Think +of it, Oakham! No more would the +clean air and the sweet earth reek with +life, and at last the ultimate mind-electron +would be released forever.”</p> +<p>He was breathing fast, and his emaciated +face burned with two red spots.</p> +<p>Hale thought rapidly. He was convinced +now that the fate of all life +lay within that diabolical network of +chemical apparatus.</p> +<p>At last he said: “And what of you +and I, Sir Basil? Shall we, too, be +caught in this wholesale destruction?”</p> +<p>“Not immediately,” replied the scientist. +“Of course, I want to remain +in the flesh long enough to be sure that +my purpose has been accomplished. I +have provided a way for my own +safety. If you desire, you may remain +with me.” He smiled craftily. “I have +planned to keep Aña also, the woman +whom I called into life and made as I +wished.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>His</span> words pounded against Hale’s +tortured ears with almost physical +force. With a supreme effort, the +young man controlled his rage and despair. +Aña needed him too much now +for him to risk defeat by showing his +emotions.</p> +<p>To Sir Basil he said: “But if all life +disappears from the earth, what shall +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305' name='page_305'></a>305</span> +we do for food—you, Aña, and I?”</p> +<p>Sir Basil lifted his brows. “You +don’t think I overlooked that, do you? +What is food? Various combinations +of the basic elements. I who have conquered +the atom need never worry +about starving to death.”</p> +<p>All this time, the machinery had +been humming, and now the humming +changed its note to a shrill whistle. Sir +Basil went to the eye-piece and looked +into it. Opening a door in the machinery, +he disappeared inside. He came +out soon, flushed and evidently elated.</p> +<p>“Bring the stretcher, Oakham,” he +ordered.</p> +<p>Hale brought the stretcher, placing it +close to the machine. Then Sir Basil +opened a metal door and gently eased +out a human body.</p> +<p>It was Unani Assu, unconscious but +alive and breathing. Hale, helping the +scientist to get the man on the +stretcher, noticed that the crushed legs +were perfectly healed. Together they +bore him to a long seat. The Indian’s +eyes were still closed, but his even +breathing indicated that he was only +sleeping.</p> +<p>Suddenly Hale pointed a finger and +cried out. “My God, Sir Basil, look at +his hands and feet!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Unani Assu,</span> still lying like a recumbent +bronze statue sculptured +by a master, was perfect from shoulder +to wrist, from thigh to ankle. But, +somewhere in that diabolical machine +through which he had passed, his hands +and feet had undergone a hideous metamorphism +which had transformed them +from the well-formed extremities of a +splendid young Indian into the hairy +paws of a giant rat!</p> +<p>Hale turned away his head, sick with +disgust.</p> +<p>Sir Basil cut the silence triumphantly:</p> +<p>“Now he’ll never again face Aña with +love in his eyes!”</p> +<p>“What!” broke in Hale. “Did you +plan this monstrous thing?”</p> +<p>“Of course! I told you I should forever +cure him of his mad infatuation.”</p> +<p>“But why didn’t you kill him, as +you killed the others? It would have +been the most merciful way.”</p> +<p>Sir Basil showed his teeth in his ugly +smile. “A creator is never merciful.”</p> +<p>A quiver passed through the Indian’s +body and presently, he sighed deeply +and opened his eyes. He seemed dazed, +puzzled. He looked from Hale to the +scientist, and turned seeking eyes to +other parts of the laboratory.</p> +<p>“Aña!” he called weakly. “Where is +Aña?”</p> +<p>He pulled himself a little unsteadily +to his feet—to the spatulated, hairy <i>rodent</i> +feet that had come out of the +life-machine. Staggering, he would +have fallen, had he not thrown out his +arm to steady himself. Instinctively +he tried to grasp something for support, +and then, for the first time, he +discovered his deformity.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale</span> was never to forget that expression +of horror and disgust +that swept over the Indian’s face as he +spread open his revolting extremities +and stared at them.</p> +<p>A sudden, wild roar of despair rang +through the room. “Aimu! My hands!”</p> +<p>The scientist smiled with evident +amusement. “You are a grotesque +sight, Unani Assu. Do you want to +see Aña now?”</p> +<p>The fright and horror faded from +the Indian’s face, for now he glared +with hate into the mad, mocking eyes.</p> +<p>“You did it!” the Indian ground out. +“You’ve made me into a thing from +which Aña will run screaming.”</p> +<p>Through the quiet rage of the perfectly +spoken English ran a thread of +sorrow. “Aimu, whom we considered +too holy to name!”</p> +<p>Choking, he hobbled away to the +door, which he unbolted. As he passed +out into the open, Sir Basil went over +to the machine and began sighting the +projector which cast forth the ray of +destruction.</p> +<p>“No!” cried Hale. “You’ve done +enough murder for to-day.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306' name='page_306'></a>306</span></div> +<p>The scientist paused. “I was trying +to be merciful. And then, I wonder +if it is safe to let him go, hating me? +Oh, well!” He shrugged his narrow +shoulders. “I seldom leave the laboratory, +and certainly nothing can harm +me here.” He touched the death-projector +significantly.</p> +<p>Hale made a mental decision. “I +must find out how the damned thing +works and put it out of commission.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>With</span> this determination uppermost +in his mind, he assumed a +more intense interest in the strange +laboratory. For the next two days, he +assisted Sir Basil so assiduously that +he learned much about the operation of +the life-machine. And gradually he +stopped being horrified as the fascination +of producing life in the laboratory +grew upon him.</p> +<p>After he had assisted the scientist +in building living organisms from basic +elements, he ceased to cringe when he +remembered that perhaps it was true +that Aña was created in the mysterious +life-machine.</p> +<p>Once the scientist declared, “She is +untainted with inheritance. She is the +perfect mate that I called into life so +that before I pass from the flesh I may +taste that one human emotion I’ve +never experienced—love.”</p> +<p>That very night Hale kept a secret +tryst with Aña after the village slept. +Sweet, virginal Aña, who knew less of +the world than a civilized child of +twelve—what a sensation she would +create in New York with her beauty, +her culture, her natural fascination! +With her in his arms and an orange +tropical moon hanging low in the hot, +black sky, he ceased to care that she +had no ancestors, for now his one passionate +desire was to save her from +Sir Basil and to hold her forever for +himself.</p> +<p>He might have been content to go +on like this for months, tampering with +creation in the day time, courting Aña +in secret at night, had not Unani Assu +come back for revenge.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>On</span> the fourth night after Unani +Assu had disappeared into the +jungle, Hale went to the <i>igarapé</i> to +meet Aña. He had gone only half the +distance when he encountered her, running +frantically up the path toward +him.</p> +<p>“Hale!” she gasped, falling into his +opened arms, where she lay panting and +exhausted.</p> +<p>Hale gently patted the long braids, +shimmering in silver tangles under the +moonlight, and, crushing the soft little +trembling body close, he murmured:</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, darling?”</p> +<p>She dug her face deeper into the +bend of his arm. “Oh, Hale! I saw +Unani Assu a few minutes ago.” For +several moments she was unable to go +on, for sudden sobs cut off her breath. +“It’s terrible, Hale, what Aimu did to +his hands and feet, but what Unani’s +going to do to Aimu is still more terrible.”</p> +<p>Hale placed his hand gently under +her chin and tilted up her small, pale, +tear-drenched face.</p> +<p>“Be calm, Aña, and tell me plainly.”</p> +<p>Still clinging to him, she went on. +“He told me that Aimu is a devil, +Hale. He showed me his hands and +asked me if I could ever get used to +them and be—his squaw.” The round +gold breastplates and the necklace of +painted seeds clinked together over +her panting bosom. “I told him about +you, Hale. And then he seemed to go +mad. He said he’d kill Aimu to-night.”</p> +<p>“But, Aña! Why did he let you go, +knowing that you would give the +alarm?”</p> +<p>“He didn’t let me go.” Her petaled +lips parted in a faint smile. “I escaped. +Unani Assu tied me to a tree by the +<i>igarapé</i>. Because he doesn’t ... hate +me, he could not bear to tie me too +tightly.”</p> +<p>“Then he must be close to the laboratory +now. If he breaks in upon Aimu—oh, +my God!”</p> +<p>Hale remembered the death-projector. +If Sir Basil were in danger of attack, +he would not hesitate to touch the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307' name='page_307'></a>307</span> +waiting button that would broadcast +death throughout the world.</p> +<p>He seized Aña’s little hand and cried +out: “Run, Aña! The only safe place +now is Aimu’s laboratory. Run!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>As</span> they dashed on madly, Hale +opened wide his nostrils to scent +the heavy, flower-laden air of the +jungle. Any moment all this sweet, rich +life might vanish instantly. He had a +horrible vision of a world devoid of +life, a world of bare rocks, dry sand, +odorless, dead waters. For it was life +that greened the landscape, roughened +the stones with moss and lichen, thickened +the ocean with ooze, and turned +the dry sand into loam—life that +swarmed underfoot, overhead, all +around!</p> +<p>And now, just as they reached the +laboratory door, panting and frantic, a +hoarse shriek broke forth. Dragging +Aña after him, Hale dashed forward, +conscious of two masculine voices +raised in passion.</p> +<p>The door to the room where the life-machine +performed its vile work was +locked. Hale pounded against it and +called out to Sir Basil, but only curses +and the sound of tumbling bodies came +from beyond the door. Although originally +the door had been thick and +strong, the destructive forces of the +tropics had pitted and rotted the wood. +A few blows of Hale’s shoulder broke +it down.</p> +<p>Under the brilliant electric light, Sir +Basil and Unani Assu were fighting +upon the blood-spattered floor. The +struggle was uneven: the scientist’s +emaciated body was no match for the +splendid strength of the young Indian.</p> +<p>“Help Aimu!” cried Aña, pushing +Hale forward.</p> +<p>Aimu was being choked to death.</p> +<p>Hale acted fantastically but efficiently. +Catching up a bottle of ammonia, +he moistened a handkerchief +and clapped it against Unani Assu’s +nose. Instantly the Indian choked, released +Sir Basil, and fell back, gasping +for breath.</p> +<p>Hale thrust the handkerchief into +his pocket.</p> +<p>“Get out!” he ordered Unani Assu. +“Quick!” He threatened him with the +ammonia bottle.</p> +<p>But Unani Assu was not looking at +the bottle. “Aimu!” he screamed, +pointing.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>When</span> Hale saw and understood, +he leaped across the room to +plant his body in front of Aña; for +Sir Basil was behind the life-machine, +reaching for the controls of the ray +projector.</p> +<p>Suddenly, from behind Hale, a silver +streak shot across the room. Sir Basil +groaned and sank to the floor of the +laboratory.</p> +<p>A keen-bladed dissecting knife, +thrown by Aña, stuck out from his left +breast.</p> +<p>Aña ran forward, sobbing wildly. +“Oh, Aimu! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean +for it to strike you there. Only your +hand, Aimu! I didn’t want Hale to +die, Aimu. I didn’t—oh!”</p> +<p>She was on her knees by the scientist’s +side, his head held in her slender +arms.</p> +<p>“He’s breathing!” she rejoiced. “Some +<i>masata</i>, Hale, quick!”</p> +<p>Hale found a bottle of good brandy +which he had contributed from his +own supplies. Soon Sir Basil gasped +and opened his eyes. He stared about +him wildly, then gasped:</p> +<p>“I’m dying, Hale Oakham! Quick, +the life-machine, before my mind-electron +escapes.”</p> +<p>He tried to pull his body up, but fell +back, weak and panting.</p> +<p>Hale hesitated, looking doubtfully at +Aña.</p> +<p>“For God’s sake, quick!” screamed +Sir Basil. “I’m dying, I say! I must +have—rebirth. Lift me to the disintegrator. +Hurry!...” His voice +trailed off faintly.</p> +<p>“He is dying,” snapped Hale. “We +might as well try it.” He jerked open +the door to the disintegrator. “Here, +Unani Assu! Lend a hand!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_308' name='page_308'></a>308</span></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Instantly</span> the Indian came forward, +a peculiar, pleased expression +on his handsome face. In a moment, +Sir Basil’s body was inside, and the +machine began its weird humming, the +humming that indicated the transformation +of a human body into dust.</p> +<p>“Now!” cried Unani Assu exultingly, +going behind the machine. “I have +helped him enough to understand that +if one changes this—and this—and +this”—he made some rapid adjustments +on the machine—“something that is not +pleasant will happen.”</p> +<p>“Stop!” cried Hale. “What did you +change?”</p> +<p>The Indian laughed mockingly. +“Wouldn’t you like to know? But, yet, +you should not worry. You have no +cause to love him, have you?”</p> +<p>“I can’t be a traitor, Unani Assu! +Arrange the machine as it was originally, +and I give you my word of honor +than when Sir Basil comes out, I’ll +wreck the damned thing beyond repair. +See, Unani Assu? You and I together +will smash it.”</p> +<p>The Indian folded his arms so that +the repulsive things that should have +been hands were hidden.</p> +<p>“It’s too late now,” he admitted, +shaking his head. “Yet I’ve done no +more to him than he did to me.”</p> +<p>Hale went to the eye-piece in the +machine and started to look inside. +Unani Assu stepped forward, tapped +him on the shoulder, and, fingering significantly +the dissecting knife which +he had picked up, said:</p> +<p>“I am operating the machine. Will +you sit over there by Aña and wait? +It won’t be long. And, white stranger, +remember this: I am your friend. I +am turned against none but our common +enemy.” He pointed significantly +to the machine.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Two</span> hours passed, long, silent +hours for the watchers in the +laboratory. Aña fell asleep, in a sweet, +childish bundle upon the piled cushions, +her golden hair, still decorated +with the red flowers which she always +wore, crushed and withered now. Several +times Hale caught Unani Assu +gazing at her sadly, and his own look +saddened when it rested on the Indian’s +strong, outraged body.</p> +<p>The humming of the machine +changed to a whistle. Placing his fingers +on his lips in a signal of quiet, +Unani Assu whispered:</p> +<p>“Let Aña sleep. She mustn’t see +this.”</p> +<p>Opening a door in the machine, his +handsome face lighted with a grim +smile, he whispered exultingly:</p> +<p>“Watch!”</p> +<p>A scuttling sound issued forth and +then, half drunkenly, an enormous rat +tumbled out—one of those horrible rats +with the hairless, humanlike faces that +had so frequently come from the life-machine.</p> +<p>Hale could not crush back the cry +that issued from his throat.</p> +<p>“Where is Sir Basil?” he gasped.</p> +<p>“There!” cried the Indian, pointing +to the kicking rat, which was fast gaining +strength.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale</span> staggered back. “No! You +don’t mean it, do you?”</p> +<p>Unani Assu turned the rat over with +a contemptuous toe. “Yes, I mean it. +Behold Aimu, the man who thought +himself creator and destroyer—the man +who said that a human being was no +higher than a rat! Perhaps he was +right, for see this thing that was once +a man!”</p> +<p>Hale buried his face in his hands. +“Kill it, Unani Assu! Kill it!”</p> +<p>Unani Assu’s low laugh was metallic. +“You kill it.”</p> +<p>Hale uncovered his face. “Open the +disintegrator.” Gingerly he reached +for the rat’s tail.</p> +<p>But his hand never touched the animal. +The hairless face turned for a +second, and the little, beady eyes +blinked up at Hale with an expression +that his fevered imagination thought +almost human. Then, like a dark +shadow, the rat dashed away. Once +around the room it scampered, hunting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309' name='page_309'></a>309</span> +for an exit. Hale started in pursuit. +He was almost upon the animal again, +when, leaping up from his grasp, it +landed on a low shelf where chemicals +were stored. Several bottles fell, filling +the room with fumes.</p> +<p>Another bottle fell, and, suddenly, +amid a thunderous roar, the ceiling and +walls began falling. Some highly explosive +chemical had been stored in one +of the bottles.</p> +<p>Hale was thrown violently against +the couch. His hand touched Aña’s +body. One last shred of consciousness +enabled him to pick her up and drag +her out. In the open, he fell, aware, +before blackness descended, that +flames leaped high over the laboratory +building and that Unani Assu lay dead +within.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Hale</span> and Aña, leaning over the +deck-rail of a small steam +launch, gazed into the dark waters of +the Amazon.</p> +<p>“We ought to reach Para by morning,” +said Hale, “and then, dearest, +we’re off for New York!”</p> +<p>Aña, wearing one of the first civilized +dresses she had ever donned, and +looking as smart as any débutante, +slipped her little hand into her husband’s.</p> +<p>“Isn’t it a shame, Hale,” she moaned, +“that the fire burned all the animals +and insects, the machinery, and even +your notes?” Her beautiful face saddened. +“Just one or two specimens +might have been proof enough for your +What-You-Call-It Club!”</p> +<p>“The Nescience Club, darling. No, +I can’t expect to win the Woolman +prize, but I’ve won a prize worth far +more.” He squeezed her little hand +and looked devotedly into her blue +eyes. “And, Aña, I’ve reasoned out +something concerning mind-electrons +which even Sir Basil overlooked.”</p> +<p>“What is it, Hale?”</p> +<p>“He maintained that matter seeks always +to enslave mind-electrons, but I +am convinced that mind-electrons seek +to enslave matter. Understand? It’s +creation, Aña! Had Sir Basil succeeded +in broadcasting death throughout +the world, the freed mind-electrons, as +in the beginning, would have started +again to vitalize inorganic atoms. And, +in a few million years, which is no time +to the Mind, the world would be humming +with a new civilization. Large +thought, eh, sweetheart?”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='A_SIGNAL_TO_THE_MOON' id='A_SIGNAL_TO_THE_MOON'></a> +<h2>A SIGNAL TO THE MOON</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> idea of a radio signal to the moon +may sound fantastic, but is easily within +the range of possibility, says Dr. A. Hoyt +Taylor, Chief of the Radio Division of the +United States Naval Research Laboratories +at Washington, who plans such an attempt +in the near future.</p> +<p>“We have reason to expect a good chance +of getting the signal back in a time interval +of slightly less than three seconds,” said Dr. +Taylor.</p> +<p>To be exact, a radio signal should be reflected +back to earth in a time interval of +2.8 seconds, this being the necessary elapsed +time for it to carry the 250,000 miles to the +moon and return at its speed of 300,000 kilometers, +or 186,000 miles per second.</p> +<p>The signal would be very weak, Dr. Taylor +points out, but not impossible of detection +with the present refinement of receiving instruments, +provided no great absorption took +place in interstellar space.</p> +<p>A high frequency wave will be used, as +such a wave penetrates readily the earth’s +atmosphere and probably goes far beyond. +The frequency of the wave will range between +20,000 and 30,000 kilocycles. Twenty +kilowats of power will be used, enough to +furnish current for about forty flatirons.</p> +<p>The value of a radio signal to the moon +lies in the confirmation of whether there is +or not heavy absorption of waves in the +upper levels of our own atmosphere. If successful +it would indicate a reasonably good +reflection coefficient at the surface of the +moon—the power of the moon’s surface to +act as a joint agent in the perfection of the +signal.</p> +<p>The signal might have some bearing also +on whether the moon has an atmosphere—something +pretty much settled already by +astronomical observation. It would also lead +to the possibility of fairly accurate determination +of wave velocity in free space, all of interest +to science, either confirming existing +theories or establishing new ones.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_310' name='page_310'></a>310</span> +<a name='THE_PIRATE_PLANET__PART_TWO_OF_A_FOURPART_NOVEL__BY_CHARLES_W_DIFFIN' id='THE_PIRATE_PLANET__PART_TWO_OF_A_FOURPART_NOVEL__BY_CHARLES_W_DIFFIN'></a> +<h2>The Pirate Planet<br /><br /><span class='smcaplc'>PART TWO OF A FOUR-PART NOVEL</span></h2> +<p><i>By Charles W. Diffin</i></p> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/310.jpg' alt='' title='' width='483' height='500' /><br /> +</div> +<h3>WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A flash</span> of light on Venus!—and +at Maricopa Flying Field Lieutenant +McGuire +and Captain +Blake laugh at +its possible meaning +until the radio’s +weird call +and the sight of a giant ship in the +night sky prove their wildest thoughts +are facts. “Big as an ocean liner,” it +hangs in midair, then turns and shoots +upward at incredible speed until it disappears +entirely, in space!</p> +<p class='sidebarright'>It is war. Interplanetary war. And on +far distant Venus two fighting Earthlings +stand up against a whole planet run +amuck.</p> +<p>McGuire goes +to Mount Lawson +observatory, and +there he sees the +flash on Venus repeated. +Professor +Sykes, who had observed the first flash, +confirms it and sees still more. He sees +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_311' name='page_311'></a>311</span> +the enveloping clouds of Venus torn +asunder, and beneath them an identifying +mark, a continent shaped like +the letter “L.”</p> +<p>And then the great ship comes again. +It hovers above the observatory and +settles slowly down.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/311.jpg' alt='' title='' width='390' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Hold them off as long as you can!”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Back at Maricopa Field, Captain +Blake has tested a new plane for altitude, +and is now prepared to interview +the stranger in the higher levels. McGuire’s +frantic phone call sends him +out into the night with the 91st Squadron +of planes in support. It is their +last flight, for all but Blake. The invader +smothers them in a great sphere +of gas, but Blake, with his oxygen +flasks, flies through to crash beside the +observatory. Only Blake survives to +see the enemy land, while strange man-shapes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_312' name='page_312'></a>312</span> +loot the buildings and carry off +McGuire and Sykes.</p> +<p>A bombardment with giant shells +dispels the last doubt of the earth +being under attack. The flashes from +Venus at regular intervals spout death +and destruction upon the earth; a +mammoth gun, sunk into the planet itself, +bears once upon the earth at every +revolution, until the changing position +of the globes take the target out of +range.</p> +<p>In less than a year and a half the +planets must meet again. It is war to +the death; a united world against an +enemy unknown—an enemy who has +conquered space. And there is less +than a year and a half in which to prepare!</p> +<p>Far out in the blackness of space +McGuire and Sykes are captives in the +giant ship. Their stupor leaves them; +they find themselves immersed in +clouds. The clouds part; their ship +drops through; and below them is a +strange continent shaped like the letter +“L.” Captives of inhuman but man-shaped +things, they are landing upon +a strange globe—upon the planet +Venus itself!</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Miles</span> underneath the great +ship, from which Lieutenant +McGuire and Professor +Sykes were now watching +through a floor-window of thick glass, +was a glittering expanse of water—a +great ocean. The flickering gold expanse +that reflected back the color of +the sunlit clouds passed to one side +as the ship took its station above the +island, a continent in size, that had +shown by its shape like a sharply +formed “L” an identifying mark to the +astronomer.</p> +<p>They were high in the air; the thick +clouds that surrounded this new world +were miles from its surface, and the +things of the world that awaited were +tiny and blurred.</p> +<p>Airships passed and repassed far below. +Large, some of them—as bulky +as the transport they were on; others +were small flashing cylinders, but all +went swiftly on their way.</p> +<p>It must have come—some ethereal +vibration to warn others from the +path—for layer after layer of craft +were cleared for the descent. A brilliant +light flashed into view, a dazzling +pin-point on the shore below, and +the great ship fell suddenly beneath +them. Swiftly it dropped down the +pathway of light; on even keel it fell +down and still down, till McGuire, despite +his experience in the air, was sick +and giddy.</p> +<p>The light blinked out at their approach. +It was some minutes before +the watching eyes recovered from the +brilliance to see what mysteries might +await, and then the surface was close +and the range of vision small.</p> +<p>A vast open space—a great court +paved with blocks of black and white—a +landing field, perhaps, for about it +in regular spacing other huge cylinders +were moored. Directly beneath in +a clear space was a giant cradle of +curved arms; it was a mammoth structure, +and the men knew at a glance +that this was the bed where their great +ship would lie.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> smooth pavement seemed +slowly rising to meet them as +their ship settled close. Now the +cradle was below, its arms curved and +waiting. The ship entered their grasp, +and the arms widened, then closed to +draw the monster to its rest. Their +motion ceased. They were finally, beyond +the last faint doubt, at anchor +on a distant world.</p> +<p>A shrill cackle of sound recalled +them from the thrill of this adventure, +and the attenuated and lanky figure, +with its ashen, blotchy face that glared +at them from the doorway, reminded +them that this excursion into space was +none of their desire. They were prisoners—captives +from a foreign land.</p> +<p>A long hand moved its sinuous +fingers to motion them to follow, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_313' name='page_313'></a>313</span> +McGuire regarded his companion with +a hopeless look and a despondent +shrug of his shoulders.</p> +<p>“No use putting up a fight,” he said; +“I guess we’d better be good.”</p> +<p>He followed where the figure was +stepping through a doorway into a +corridor beyond. They moved, silent +and depressed, along the dimly lighted +way; the touch of cold metal walls was +as chilling to their spirits as to their +flesh.</p> +<p>But the mood could not last: the +first ray of light from the outside +world sent shivers of anticipation +along their spines. They were landing, +in very fact, upon a new world; their +feet were to walk where never man +had stood; their eyes would see what +mortal eyes had never visioned.</p> +<p>Fears were forgotten, and the men +clung to each other not for the human +touch but because of an ecstasy of intoxicating, +soul-filling joy in the sheer +thrill of adventure.</p> +<p>They were gripping each other’s +hand, round-eyed as a couple of children, +as they stepped forward into the +light.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Before</span> them was a scene whose +blazing beauty of color struck +them to frozen silence; their exclamations +of wonder died unspoken on +their lips. They were in a city of the +stars, and to their eyes it seemed as if +all the brilliance of the heavens had +been gathered for its building.</p> +<p>The spacious, open court itself stood +high in the air among the masses of +masonry, and beyond were countless +structures. Some towered skyward; +others were lower; and all were topped +with bulbous towers and graceful +minarets that made a forest of gleaming +opal light. Opalescence everywhere!—it +flashed in red and gold and +delicate blues from every wall and cornice +and roof.</p> +<p>“Quartz?” marveled Sykes after one +long drawn breath. “Quartz or glass?—what +are they made of? It is fairyland!”</p> +<p>A jewelled city! Garish, it might +have been, and tawdry, in the full light +of the sun. But on these weirdly unreal +structures the sun’s rays never +shone; they were illumined only by the +soft golden glow that diffused across +this world from the cloud masses far +above.</p> +<p>McGuire looked up at that uniform, +glowing, golden mass that paled toward +the horizon and faded to the gray +of banked clouds. His eyes came slowly +back to the ramp that led downward +to the checkered black and white of +the court. Beyond an open portion +the pavement was solidly massed with +people.</p> +<p>“People!—we might as well call +them that,” McGuire had told Sykes; +“they are people of a sort, I suppose. +We’ll have to give them credit for +brains: they’ve beaten us a hundred +years in their inventions.”</p> +<p>He was trying to see everything, understand +everything, at once. There +was not time to single out the new +impressions that were crowding upon +him. The air—it was warm to the point +of discomfort; it explained the loose, +light garments of the people; it came +to the two men laden with strange +scents and stranger sounds.</p> +<p>McGuire’s eyes held with hungry +curiosity upon the dwellers in this +other world; he stared at the gaping +throng from which came a bedlam of +shrill cries. Lean colorless hands gesticulated +wildly and pointed with long +fingers at the two men.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> din ceased abruptly at a sharp, +whistled order from their captor. +He stood aside with a guard that had +followed from the ship, and he motioned +the two before him down the +gangway. It was the same scarlet one +who had faced them before, the one +whom McGuire had attacked in a +frenzy of furious fighting, only to go +down to blackness and defeat before +the slim cylinder of steel and its hissing +gas. And the slanting eyes stared +wickedly in cold triumph as he ordered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_314' name='page_314'></a>314</span> +them to go before him in his +march of victory.</p> +<p>McGuire passed down toward the +masses of color that were the ones who +waited. There were many in the dull +red of the ship’s crew; others in sky-blue, +in gold and pink and combinations +of brilliance that blended their +loose garments to kaleidoscopic hues. +But the figures were similar in one unvarying +respect: they were repulsive +and ghastly, and their faces showed +bright blotches of blood vessels and +blue markings of veins through their +parchment-gray skins.</p> +<p>The crowd parted to a narrow, living +lane, and lean fingers clutched writhingly +to touch them as they passed between +the solid ranks.</p> +<p>McGuire had only a vague impression +of a great building beyond, of +lower stories decorated in barbaric colors, +of towers above in strange forms +of the crystal, colorful beauty they +had seen. He walked toward it unseeing; +his thoughts were only of the +creatures round about.</p> +<p>“What damned beasts!” he said. +Then, like his companion, he set his +teeth to restrain all show of feeling as +they made their way through the lane +of incredible living things.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> followed their captor +through a doorway into an empty +room—empty save for one blue-clad +individual who stood beside an instrument +board let into the wall. Beyond +was a long wall, where circular openings +yawned huge and black.</p> +<p>The one at the instrument panel received +a curt order: the weird voice +of the man in red repeated a word that +stood out above his curious, wordless +tone. “Torg,” he said, and again McGuire +heard him repeat the syllable.</p> +<p>The operator touched here and there +among his instruments, and tiny lights +flashed; he threw a switch, and from +one of the black openings like a deep +cave came a rushing roar of sound. It +dropped to silence as the end of a cylindrical +car protruded into the room. +A door in the metal car opened, and +their guard hustled them roughly inside. +The one in red followed while +behind him the door clanged shut.</p> +<p>Inside the car was light, a diffused +radiance from no apparent source, the +whole air was glowing about them. +And beneath their feet the car moved +slowly but with a constant acceleration +that built up to tremendous speed. +Then that slackened, and Sykes and +McGuire clung to each other for support +while the car that had been shot +like a projectile came to rest.</p> +<p>“Whew!” breathed the lieutenant; +“that was quick delivery.” Sykes made +no reply, and McGuire, too, fell silent +to study the tremendous room into +which they were led. Here, seemingly, +was the stage for their next experience.</p> +<p>A vast open hall with a floor of glass +that was like obsidion, empty but for +carved benches about the walls; there +was room here for a mighty concourse +of people. The walls, like those they +had seen, were decorated crudely in +glaring colors, and embellished with +grotesque designs that proclaimed +loudly the inexpert touch of the +draughtsman. Yet, above them, the +ceiling sprang lightly into vaulted, +sweeping curves. McGuire’s training +had held little of architecture, yet even +he felt the beauty of line and airy +gracefulness of treatment in the structure +itself.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> contrast between the flaunting +colors and the finished artistry +that lay beneath must have struck a +discordant note to the scientist. He +leaned closer to whisper.</p> +<p>“It is all wrong some way—the +whole world! Beauty and refinement—then +crude vulgarity, as incongruous +as the people themselves—they do not +belong here.”</p> +<p>“Neither do we,” was McGuire’s +reply; “it looks like a tough spot that +we’re in.”</p> +<p>He was watching toward a high, +arched entrance across the room. A +platform before it was raised some six +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_315' name='page_315'></a>315</span> +feet above the floor, and on this were +seats—ornate chairs, done in sweeping +scrolls of scarlet and gold. A massive +seat in the center was like the fantastic +throne of a child’s fairy tale. From +the corridor beyond that entrance +came a stir and rustling that rivetted +the man’s attention.</p> +<p>A trumpet peal, vibrant and peculiar, +blared forth from the ceiling overhead, +and the red figures of the guards stood +at rigid attention with lean arms held +stiffly before them. The one in scarlet +took the same attitude, then dropped +his hands to motion the two men to +give the same salute.</p> +<p>“You go to hell,” said Lieutenant +McGuire in his gentlest tones. And +the scarlet figure’s thin lips were snarling +as he turned to whip his arms up +to their position. The first of a procession +of figures was entering through +the arch.</p> +<p>Sykes, the scientist, was paying +little attention. “It isn’t true,” he was +muttering aloud; “it can’t be true. +Venus! Twenty-six million miles at +inferior conjunction!”</p> +<p>He seemed lost in silent communion +with his own thoughts; then: “But I +said there was every probability of +life; I pointed out the similarities—”</p> +<p>“Hush!” warned McGuire. The eyes +of the scarlet man were sending +wicked looks in their direction. Tall +forms were advancing through the +arch. They, too, were robed in scarlet, +and behind them others followed.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> trumpet peal from the dome +above held now on a long-drawn, +single note, while the scarlet men +strode in silence across the dais and +parted to form two lines. An inverted +“V” that faced the entrance—they +were an assembly of rigid, blazing +statues whose arms were extended +like those on the floor below.</p> +<p>The vibrant tone from on high +changed to a crashing blare that +shrieked discordantly to send quivering +protest through every nerve of the +waiting men. Those about them were +shouting, and again the name of Torg +was heard, as, in the high arch, another +character appeared to play his part in +a strange drama.</p> +<p>Thin like his companions, yet even +taller than them, he wore the same brilliant +robes and, an additional mark of +distinction, a head-dress of polished +gold. He acknowledged the salute with +a quick raising of his own arms, then +came swiftly forward and took his +place upon the massive throne.</p> +<p>Not till he was seated did the others +on the platform relax their rigid pose +and seat themselves in the semicircle +of chairs. And not till then did they +so much as glance at the men waiting +there before them—the two Earth-men, +standing in silent, impassive contemplation +of the brilliant scene and with +their arms held quiet at their sides. +Then every eye turned full upon the +captives, and if McGuire had seen +deadly malevolence in the face of their +captor he found it a hundred-fold in +the inhuman faces that looked down +upon them now.</p> +<p>The inquiring mind of Professor +Sykes did not fail to note the character +of their reception. “But why,” he +asked in whispers of his fellow-prisoner, +“—why this open hatred of us? +What possible animus can they have +against the earth or its people?”</p> +<p>The figure on the throne voiced a +curt order; the one who had brought +them stepped forward. His voice was +raised in the same discordant, singing +tone that leaped and wandered from +note to note. It conveyed ideas—that +was apparent; it was a language that +he spoke. And the central figure above +nodded a brief assent as he finished.</p> +<p>Their captor took an arm of each in +his long fingers and pushed them +roughly forward to stand alone before +the battery of hard eyes.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Now</span> the crowned figure addressed +them directly. His voice quavered +sharply in what seemed an interrogation. +The men looked blankly at +each other.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_316' name='page_316'></a>316</span></div> +<p>Again the voice questioned them impatiently. +Sykes and McGuire were +silent. Then the young flyer took an +involuntary step forward and looked +squarely at the owner of the harsh +voice.</p> +<p>“We don’t know what you are saying,” +he began, “and I suppose that +our lingo makes no sense to you—” +He paused in helpless wonderment as +to what he could say. Then—</p> +<p>“But what the devil is it all about?” +he demanded explosively. “Why all +the dirty looks? You’ve got us here as +prisoners—now what do you expect us +to do? Whatever it is, you’ll have to +quit singing it and talk something we +can understand.”</p> +<p>He knew his words were useless, but +this reception was getting on his +nerves—and his arm still tingled +where the scarlet one had gripped him.</p> +<p>It seemed, though, that his meaning +was not entirely lost. His words meant +nothing to them, but his tone must +have carried its own message. There +were sharp exclamations from the +seated circle. The one who had brought +them sprang forward with outstretched, +clutching hands; his face +was a blood-red blotch. McGuire was +waiting in crouching tenseness that +made the red one pause.</p> +<p>“You touch me again,” said the waiting +man, “and I’ll knock you into an +outside loop.”</p> +<p>The attacker’s indecision was ended +by a loud order from above. McGuire +turned as if he had been spoken to by +the leader on the throne. The thin +figure was leaning far forward; his +eye were boring into those of the lieutenant, +and he held the motionless pose +for many minutes. To the angry man, +staring back and upward, there came a +peculiar optical illusion.</p> +<p>The evil face was vanishing in a +shifting cloud that dissolved and reformed, +as he watched, into pictures. +He knew it was not there, the thing he +saw; he knew he was regarding something +as intangible as thought; but he +got the significance of every detail.</p> +<p>He saw himself and Professor +Sykes; they were being crushed like +ants beneath a tremendous heel; he +knew that the foot that could grind +out their lives was that of the one on +the throne.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> cloud-stuff melted to new +forms that grew clearer to show +him the earth. A distorted Earth—and +he knew the distortion came from the +mind of the being before him who had +never seen the earth at first hand; yet +he knew it for his own world. It was +turning in space; he saw oceans and +continents; and before his mental gaze +he saw the land swarming with these +creatures of Venus. The one before +him was in command; he was seated +on an enormous throne; there were +Earth people like Sykes and himself +who crept humbly before him, while +fleets of great Venusian ships hovered +overhead.</p> +<p>The message was plain—plain as if +written in words of fire in the brain of +the man. McGuire knew that these +creatures intended that the vision +should be true—they meant to conquer +the earth. The slim, khaki-clad figure +of Lieutenant McGuire quivered with +the strength of his refusal to accept +the truth of what he saw. He shook +his head to clear it of these thought +wraiths.</p> +<p>“Not—in—a—million—years!” he +said, and he put behind his words all +the mental force at his command. “Try +that, old top, and they’ll give you the +fight of your life—” He checked his +words as he saw plainly that the thin +cruel face that stared and stared was +getting nothing from his reply.</p> +<p>“Now what do you think about +that?” he demanded of Professor +Sykes. “He got an idea across to me—some +form of telepathy. I saw his +mind, or I saw what he wanted me to +see of it. It’s taps, he says, for us, and +then they think they’re going across +and annex the world.”</p> +<p>He glanced upward again and +laughed loudly for the benefit of those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_317' name='page_317'></a>317</span> +who were watching him so closely. +“Fine chance!” he said; “a fat chance!” +But in the deeper recesses of his mind +he was shaken.</p> +<p>For themselves there was no hope. +Well, that was all in a lifetime. But +the other—the conquest of the earth—he +had to try with all his power of will +to keep from his mind the pictures of +destruction these beastly things could +bring about.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> chief of this strange council +made a gesture of contempt with +the grotesque hands that were so translucent +yet ashy-pale against his scarlet +robe, and the down-drawn thin lips +reflected the thoughts that prompted +it. The open opposition of Lieutenant +McGuire failed to impress him, it +seemed. At a word the one who had +brought them sprang forward.</p> +<p>He addressed himself to the circle +of men, and he harangued them mightily +in harsh discordance. He pointed +one lean hand at the two captives, +then beat it upon his own chest. “They +are mine,” he was saying, as the men +knew plainly. And they realized as if +the weird talk came like words to their +ears that this monster was demanding +that the captives be given him.</p> +<p>An exchange of dismayed glances, +and “Not so good!” said McGuire under +his breath; “Simon Legree is asking +for his slaves. Mean, ugly devil, +that boy!”</p> +<p>The lean figures on the platform +were bending forward, an expression +of mirth—distorted, animal smiles—upon +their flabby lips. They represented +to the humans, so helpless before +them, a race of thinking things in +whom no last vestige of kindness or +decency remained. But was there an +exception? One of the circle was +standing; the one beside them was sullenly +silent as the other on the platform +addressed their ruler.</p> +<p>He spoke at some length, not with +the fire and vehemence of the one who +had claimed them, but more quietly +and dispassionately, and his cold eyes, +when they rested on those of McGuire +and Sykes, seemed more crafty than +actively ablaze with malevolent ill-will. +Plainly it was the councilor now, addressing +his superior. His inhuman +voice was silenced by a reply from the +one on the throne.</p> +<p>He motioned—this gold-crowned +figure of personified evil—toward the +two men, and his hand swept on toward +the one who had spoken. He intoned +a command in harsh gutturals +that ended in a sibilant shriek. And +the two standing silent and hopeless +exchanged looks of despair.</p> +<p>They were being delivered to this +other—that much was plain—but that +it boded anything but captivity and +torment they could not believe. That +last phrase was too eloquent of hissing +hate.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> creature rose, tall and ungainly, +from his throne; amid the +salutations of his followers he turned +and vanished through the arch. The +others of his council followed, all but +the one. He motioned to the two men +to come with him, and the sullen one +who had demanded the men for himself +obeyed an order from this councilor +who was his superior.</p> +<p>He snapped an order, and four of his +men ranged themselves about the captives +as a guard. Thin metal cords +were whipped about the wrists of each; +their hands were tied. The wire cut +like a knife-edge if they strained +against it.</p> +<p>The new director of their destinies +was vanishing through an exit at one +side of the great hall; their guard +hustled them after. A corridor opened +before them to end in a gold-lit portal; +it was daylight out beyond where a +street was filled with hurrying figures +in many colors. With quavering +shrieks they scattered like frightened +fowls as an airship descended between +the tall buildings that reflected its +passing in opalescent hues.</p> +<p>It was a small craft compared with +the one that had brought them, and it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_318' name='page_318'></a>318</span> +swept down to settle lightly upon the +street with no least regard for those +who might be crushed by its descent. +Consideration for their fellows did not +appear as a marked characteristic of +this strange people, McGuire observed +thoughtfully. They swarmed in endless +droves, these multicolored beings +who made of the thoroughfare an ever-changing +kaleidoscope—and what was +a life or two, more or less, among so +many? He found no comfort for themselves +in the thought.</p> +<p>Shoulder to shoulder, the two followed +where the scarlet figure of the +councilor moved toward the waiting +ship. Only the professor paid further +heed to their surroundings; he marveled +aloud at the numbers of the +people.</p> +<p>“Hundreds of them,” he said; “thousands! +They are swarming everywhere +like rats. Horrible!” His eyes passed +on to the buildings in their glory of +delicate hues, as he added, “And the +contrast they make with their surroundings! +It is all wrong some way; +I wish I knew—”</p> +<p>They were in the ship when McGuire +replied. “I hope we live long +enough to satisfy your curiosity,” he +said grimly.</p> +<p>The ship was rising beneath them; +the opal and quartz of the city’s walls +were flashing swiftly down.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> were in a cabin at the very +nose of the ship, seated on metal +chairs, their hands unshackled and +free. Their scarlet guardian reclined +at ease somewhat to one side, but despite +his apparent disregard his cold +eyes seldom left the faces of the two +men.</p> +<p>Windows closed them in; windows +on each side, in front, above them, and +even in the floor beneath. It was a +room for observation whose metal-latticed +walls served only as a framework +for the glass. And there was +much to be observed.</p> +<p>The golden radiance of sunlit clouds +was warm above. They rose toward it, +until, high over the buildings’ tallest +spires, there spread on every hand the +bewildering beauty of that forest of +minarets and sloping roofs and towers, +whose many facets made glorious +blendings of soft color. Aircraft at +many levels swept in uniform directions +throughout the sky. The ship +they were in hung quiet for a time, +then rose to a higher level to join the +current of transportation that flowed +into the south.</p> +<p>“We will call it south,” said Professor +Sykes. “The sun-glow, you will +observe, is not directly overhead; the +sun is sinking; it is past their noon. +What is the length of their day? Ah, +this interesting—interesting!” The +certain fate they had foreseen was forgotten; +it is not often given to an astronomer +to check at first hand his +own indefinite observations.</p> +<p>“Look!” McGuire exclaimed. “Open +country! The city is ending!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Ahead</span> and below them the buildings +were smaller and scattered. +Their new master was watching with +closest scrutiny the excitement of the +men; he whispered an order into a +nearby tube, and the ship slowly +slanted toward the ground. He was +studying these new specimens, as McGuire +observed, but the lieutenant paid +little attention; his eyes were too thoroughly +occupied in resolving into recognizable +units the picture that flowed +past them so quickly. He was accustomed, +this pilot of the army air service, +to reading clearly the map that +spreads beneath a plane, but now he +was looking at an unfamiliar chart.</p> +<p>“Fields,” he said, and pointed to +squared areas of pale reds and blues; +“though what it is, heaven knows. And +the trees!—if that’s what they are.” +The ship went downward where an +area of tropical denseness made a +tangled mass of color and shadow.</p> +<p>“Trees!” Lieutenant McGuire had +exclaimed, but these forests were of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_319' name='page_319'></a>319</span> +tree-forms in weirdest shapes and hues. +They grew to towering heights, and +their branches and leaves that swayed +and dipped in the slow-moving air +were of delicate pastel shades.</p> +<p>“No sunlight,” said the Professor excitedly; +“they have no direct rays of +the sun. The clouds act as a screen +and filter out actinic rays.”</p> +<p>McGuire did not reply. He was +watching the countless dots of color +that were people—people who swarmed +here as they had in the city; people +working at these great groves, crouching +lower in the fields as the ship +swept close; people everywhere in +teeming thousands. And like the vegetation +about them, they, too, were tall +and thin, attenuated of form and with +skin like blood-stained ash.</p> +<p>“They need the sun,” Sykes was repeating; +“both vegetable and animal +life. The plants are deficient in chlorophyl—see +the pale green of the +leaves!—and the people need vitamins. +Yet they evidently have electric +power in abundance. I could tell +them of lamps—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>His</span> comments ceased as McGuire +lurched heavily against him. +The flyer had taken note of the tense, +attentive attitude of the one in scarlet; +the man was leaning forward, his eyes +focused directly upon the scientist’s +face; he seemed absorbing both words +and emotions.</p> +<p>How much could he comprehend? +What power had he to vision the idea-pictures +in the other’s mind? McGuire +could not know. But “Sorry!” he told +Sykes; “that was clumsy of me.” And +he added in a whisper, “Keep your +thoughts to yourself; I think this bird +is getting them.”</p> +<p>Buildings flashed under them, not +massed solidly as in the city, yet +spaced close to one another as if every +foot of ground not devoted to their +incredible agriculture were needed to +house the inhabitants. The ground +about them was alive with an equally +incredible humanity that swarmed over +all this world in appalling profusion.</p> +<p>Their horrid flesh! Their hideous +features! And their number! McGuire +had a sudden, sickening thought. +They were larvae, these crawling +hordes—vile worm-things that infested +a beautiful world—that bred here in +millions, their numbers limited only +by the space for their bodies and the +food for their stomachs. And he, McGuire, +a <i>man</i>—he and this other man +with his clear-thinking scientific brain +were prisoners to this horde; captives, +to be used or butchered by those vile, +crawling things!</p> +<p>And again it was this world of contrast +that drove home the conviction +with its sickening certainty. A world +of beauty, of delicate colors, of sweeping +oceans and gleaming shores and +towering cities with their grace and +beauty and elfin splendor yet a world +that shuddered beneath this devouring +plague of grublike men.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> swept past cities and towns +and over many miles of open land +before their craft swung eastward toward +the dark horizon. The master +gave another order into the speaking +tube and their ship shot forward, faster +and yet faster, with a speed that +pressed them heavily into their seats. +Behind them was the glory of the sunlit +clouds; ahead the gloomy gray-black +masses that must make a stygian +night sky over this lonely world—a +world cut off by that vaporous shell +from all communion with the stars.</p> +<p>They were over the water; before +them a dark ocean reached out in forbidding +emptiness to a darker horizon. +Ahead, the only broken line in the vast +level expanse was a mountain rising +abruptly from the sea. It was a volcanic +cone surmounting an island; the +sunlight’s glow reflected from behind +them against the sombre mass that +lifted toward the clouds. Their ship +was high enough to clear it, but instead +it swung, as McGuire watched, +toward the south.</p> +<p>The island drifted past, and again +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_320' name='page_320'></a>320</span> +they were on their course. But to the +flyer there were significant facts that +could not pass unobserved. Their own +ship had swung in a great circle to +avoid this mountain. And all through +the skies were others that did the same. +The air above and about the grim sentinel +peak was devoid of flying shapes.</p> +<p>McGuire caught the eyes of the +councilor, their keeper. “What is +that?” he asked, though he knew the +words were lost on the other. He nodded +his head toward the distant peak, +and his question was plainly in regard +to the island. And for the first time +since their coming to this wild world, +he saw, flashing across the features of +one of these men, a trace of emotion +that could only be construed as fear.</p> +<p>The slitted cat eyes lost their look +of complacent superiority. They +widened involuntarily, and the face +was drained of its blotched color. +There was fear, terror unmistakable, +though it showed for but an instant. +He had control of his features almost +at once, but the flyer had read their +story.</p> +<p>Here was something that gave pause +to this race of conquering vermin; a +place in the expanse of this vast sea +that brought panic to their hearts. And +there came to him, as he stowed the +remembrance away in his mind, the +first glow of hope. These things could +fear a mountain; it might be that they +could be brought to fear a man.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> sky was clearing rapidly of +traffic and the mountain of his +speculations was lost astern, when another +island came slanting swiftly up +to meet them as their ship swept down +from the heights. It was a tiny speck +in the ocean’s expanse, a speck that resolved +itself into the squared fields of +colored growth, orchards whose brilliant, +strange fruits glowed crimson in +the last light of day, and enormous +trees, beyond which appeared a house.</p> +<p>A palace, McGuire concluded, when +he saw clearly the many-storied pile. +Like the buildings they had seen, this +also constructed of opalescent quartz. +There were windows that glowed +warmly in the dusk. A sudden wave +of loneliness, almost unbearable, swept +over the man.</p> +<p>Windows and gleaming lights, the +good sounds of Earth; home!... And +his ears, as he stepped out into the cool +air, were assailed with the strange +cackle and calling of weird folk; the +air brought him scents, from the open +ground beyond, of fruits and vegetation +like none he had ever known; and +the earth, the homeland of his vain imaginings, +was millions of empty miles +away....</p> +<p>The leader stopped, and McGuire +looked dispiritedly at the unfamiliar +landscape under dusky lowering skies. +Trees towered high in the air—trees +grotesque and weird by all Earth +standards—whose limbs were pale +green shadows in the last light of day. +The foliage, too, seemed bleached and +drained of color, but among the leaves +were flashes of brilliance where night-blooming +flowers burst open like star-shells +to fill the air with heavy scents.</p> +<p>Between the men and the forest +growth was a row of denser vegetation, +great ferns twenty feet and more in +height, and among them at regular intervals +stood plants of another growth—each +a tremendous pod held in air on +a thick stalk. Tendrils coiled themselves +like giant springs beside each +pod, tendrils as thick as a man’s wrist. +The great pods were ranged in a line +that extended as far as McGuire could +see in the dim light.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>His</span> shoulders drooped as the +guard herded him and his companion +toward the building beyond. He +must not be cast down—he would not! +Who knew how much of such feeling +was read by these keen-eyed observers? +And the only thought with +which he could fill his mind, the one +forlorn ghost of a hope that he could +cling to, was that of an island, a volcanic +peak that rose from dark waters +to point upward toward the heights.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_321' name='page_321'></a>321</span></div> +<p>The guard of four was clustered +about; the figures were waiting now in +the gathering dark—waiting, while the +one in scarlet listened and spoke alternately +into a jeweled instrument that +hung by a slender chain about his neck. +He raised one lean hand to motion the +stirring guards to silence, listened +again intently into the instrument, +then pointed that hand toward the +cloud-filled sky, while he craned his +thin neck to look above him.</p> +<p>The men’s eyes followed the pointing +hand to see only the sullen black +of unlit clouds. The last distant aircraft +had vanished from the skies; not +a ship was in the air—only the enveloping +blanket of high-flung vapor that +blocked out all traces of the heavens. +And then!—</p> +<p>The cloud banks high in the skies +flashed suddenly to dazzling, rolling +flame. The ground under their feet +was shaken as by a distant earthquake, +while, above, the terrible fire spread, a +swift, flashing conflagration that ate +up the masses of clouds.</p> +<p>“What in thunder—” McGuire began; +then stopped as he caught, in the +light from above, the reflection of +fierce exultation in the eyes of the +scarlet one. The evil, gloating message +of those eyes needed no words to +explain its meaning. That this cataclysm +was self-made by these beings, +McGuire knew, and he knew that in +some way it meant menace to him and +his.</p> +<p>Yet he groped in thought for some +definite meaning. No menace could +this be to himself personally, for he +and Sykes stood there safe in the company +of the councilor himself. Then +the threat of this flaming blast must be +directed toward the earth!</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> fire vanished, and once more, +as Professor Sykes had seen on +that night so long ago, the blanket of +clouds was broken. McGuire followed +the gaze of the scientist whose keen +eyes were probing in these brief moments +into the depths of star-lit space.</p> +<p>“There—there!” Sykes exclaimed in +awe-struck tones. His hand was pointing +outward through the space where +flames had cleared the sky. A star +was shining in the heavens with a +glory that surpassed all others. It outshone +all neighboring stars, and it sent +its light down through the vast empty +reaches of space, a silent message to +two humans, despondent and heartsick, +who stared with aching eyes.</p> +<p>Lieutenant McGuire did not hear his +friend’s whispered words. No need to +name that distant world—it was Earth! +Earth!... And it was calling to its +own....</p> +<p>There was a flying-field—so plain before +his mental eyes; men in khaki and +leather who moved and talked and +spoke of familiar things ... and the +thunder of motors ... and roaring +planes....</p> +<p>Some far recess within his deeper +self responded strangely. What now +of threats and these brute-things that +threatened?—he was one with this picture +he had visioned. He was himself; +he was a man of that distant world of +men; they would show these vile +things how men could meet menace—or +death.... His shoulders were +back and unconsciously he stood erect.</p> +<p>The scarlet figure was close beside +them in the dusk, his voice vibrant +with a quality which should have +struck fear to his captives’ hearts as he +ordered them on. But the look in his +crafty eyes changed to one of puzzled +wonder at sight of the men.</p> +<p>Hands on each other’s shoulders, +they stood there in the gathering dark, +where grotesque trees arched twistingly +overhead. Their moment of depression +had passed; Earth had called, and +they had heard it, each after his own +fashion. But to each the call had been +one of clear courage. No longer cast +off and forlorn, they were one with +their own world.</p> +<p>“Down,” said Professor Sykes with +a whimsical smile; “down, but not +out!” And the lieutenant responded +in kind.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_322' name='page_322'></a>322</span></div> +<p>“Are we down-hearted?” he demanded +loudly. And the two turned +as one man to grin at the scarlet one +as they thundered. “N-o-o!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Two</span> men grinned in derision at +the horrible, man-shaped thing +that held their destinies in his lean, +inhuman hands!—but they turned +abruptly away to look again above +them where that bright star still shone +through an opening in the clouds.</p> +<p>“The earth! Home!” It seemed as +if they could never tear their eyes +away from the sight.</p> +<p>Their captor whistled an order, and +the guard of four tugged vainly at the +two, who resisted that they might gaze +upon their own world until the closing +clouds should blot it from sight. A +cry from one of the red guards roused +them.</p> +<p>The dark was closing in fast, and +their surroundings were dim. Vaguely, +McGuire felt more than saw one of the +red figures whirled into the air. He +sensed a movement in the jungle darkness +where were groves of weird trees +and the tangle of huge vegetable +growths. What it was he could not +say, but he felt the guard who clutched +at him quiver in terror.</p> +<p>Their leader snatched at the instrument +that hung about his neck and put +it to his lips; he whistled an order, +sharp and shrill. Blazing light that +seemed to flame in the air was the response; +the air was aglow with an all-pervading +brilliance like that in the +car that had whirled them from the +landing field. The light was everywhere, +and the building before them +was surrounded by a dazzling envelope +of luminosity.</p> +<p>Whatever of motion or menace there +had been ceased abruptly. Their guard, +three now in number instead of four, +seized them roughly and hustled them +toward an open door. No time, as they +passed, for more than fleeting impressions: +a hall of warm, glowing light—a +passage that branched off—and, at +the end, a room into which they were +thrown, while a metal door clanged +behind them.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>These</span> were no gentle hands that +hurled the men staggering through +the doorway, and Professor Sykes fell +headlong upon the glassy floor. He +sprang to his feet, his face aflame with +anger. “The miserable beasts!” he +shouted.</p> +<p>“Take it easy,” admonished the flyer. +“We’re in the hoose-gow; no use of +getting all fussed up if they don’t behave +like perfect gentlemen.</p> +<p>“There’s a bunk in the corner,” he +said, and pointed to a woven hammock +that was covered with soft cloths; “and +here’s another that I can sling. Twin +beds! What more do you want?”</p> +<p>He opened a door and the splash of +falling water came to them. A fountain +cascaded to the ceiling to fall +splashing upon a floor of inlaid, glassy +tile. McGuire whistled.</p> +<p>“Room and bath,” he said. “And you +complained of the service!”</p> +<p>“I have an idea,” he told the scientist, +“that our scarlet friend who owns +this place intends to treat us decently, +even though his helpers are a bit rough. +My hunch is that he wants to get some +information out of us. That old bird +back there in the council chamber told +me as plain as day that they think they +are going to conquer the earth. Maybe +that’s why we are here—as exhibits +A and B, for them to study and learn +how to lick us.”</p> +<p>“You are talking what I would have +termed nonsense a month ago,” replied +Sykes, “but now—well, I am afraid you +are right. And,” he said slowly, “I +fear that they are equally correct. +They have conquered space; they have +ships propelled by some unknown +power; they have gas weapons, as you +and I have reason to know. And they +have all the beastly ferocity to carry +such a plan through to success. But +I wonder what that sky-splitting blast +meant.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_323' name='page_323'></a>323</span></div> +<p>“Bombardment,” the flyer told him; +“bombardment of the earth as sure as +you’re alive.”</p> +<p>“More nonsense,” said Sykes; “and +probably correct.... Well, what are +we to do?—sit tight and give them as +little information as we can? or—” +His question ended unfinished; the +alternative, it seemed, was not plain to +him.</p> +<p>“There’s only one answer,” said McGuire. +“We must get away; escape +somehow.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Professor Sykes’</span> eyes showed +his appreciation of a spirit that +could still dare to hope, but he asked +dejectedly: “Escape? Good idea. But +where to?”</p> +<p>“I have an idea,” the flyer said +slowly. “An idea about an island.” He +told the professor what he had observed—the +fact that there was one +spot of land on this globe from which +the traffic of these monsters of Venus +steered clear. This, he explained, must +have some significance.</p> +<p>“Whatever is there, God only +knows,” he admitted, “but it is something +these devils don’t like a little bit. +It might be interesting to learn more. +We’ll make a break for it; find a boat. +No, we probably can’t do it, but we can +make a try. Now what is our first +step, I wonder.”</p> +<p>“Our first step,” said Professor Sykes, +measuring his words as if he might be +working out some astronomical calculation, +“is into the inverted shower-bath, +if you feel as hot as I do. And +our next step, when all is quiet for the +night, is through the window I see beyond. +I can see the branches of one of +those undernourished trees from here.”</p> +<p>“Last one in is a lop-eared Venusian!” +said McGuire, throwing off his +jacket. And in that strange room in +a strange world, under the shadow of +death and of tortures unknown, the +two men stripped with all the care-free +abandon of a couple of schoolboys +racing to be first in the old swimming +hole.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was some time later when the door +opened and a long red hand pushed +a tray of food into the room. The +tray was of unbreakable crystal—he +rattled it heedlessly upon the floor—and +it held crystal dishes of unknown +foods.</p> +<p>They were sampling them all when +Sykes remarked plaintively, “I would +like to know what under heaven I am +eating.”</p> +<p>“I’ve wished to know that in lots of +restaurants,” McGuire replied. “I +remember a place down on—” He +stopped abruptly, then chewed in +silence upon a fruit like a striped pepper +that stung his mouth and tongue +while he scarcely felt it. References +to Earth things plainly were to be +avoided: the visions they brought before +one’s eyes were unnerving.</p> +<p>They made a pretence of sleeping in +case they were being observed, and it +was some hours later when the two +stood quietly beside the open window. +As Sykes had seen, there were branches +of a pale, twisted tree-growth close +outside. McGuire tried his weight +upon them, then swung himself out, +hand over hand, upon the branch that +bent low beneath him. Sykes was close +behind when he clambered to the +ground to stand for some minutes, +listening silently in the dark.</p> +<p>“Too easy!” the lieutenant whispered. +“They are too foxy to leave a +gateway like that—but here we are. +The shore is off in this direction.”</p> +<p>The dark of a night unrelieved by a +single star was about them as they +moved noiselessly away. They followed +open ground at first. The building +that had been their brief prison +was upon their right; beyond and at +the left was where the ship landed—it +was gone now—and beyond that the +wall of vegetation.</p> +<p>And again, in the dark, McGuire had +an uncanny sense of motion. Soft +bodies were slipping quietly one upon +another; something that lived was +there beyond them in the night. No +sound or sign of life came from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_324' name='page_324'></a>324</span> +house; no guard had been posted; and +McGuire stopped again, before plunging +into the tangled growth, to whisper, +“Too easy, Sykes! There’s something +about this—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> had pushed aside the fronds +of a giant fern; a cautious step +beyond his hands touched a slippery, +pliant vine. And his whisper ended as +he felt the thing turn and twist beneath +his hand. It was alive!—writhing!—cold +as the body of a monster +snake, and just as vicious and savage +in the way that it whipped down and +about him in the gloom of the starless +night.</p> +<p>The thing was alive! It threw its +coils around his body in an embrace +that left him breathless; a slender +tendril was tightening about his neck; +his hands and arms were bound.</p> +<p>His ankle was grasped as he was +whirled aloft—a human hand that +gripped him this time—and Sykes, forgetting +discretion and the need for +silence, was shouting in the darkness +that gave no clue to their opponent. +“Hang on!” he yelled. “I’ve got you, +Mac!”</p> +<p>His shouts were cut short by another +serpent shape that thrashed him and +smashed the softer growing things to +earth that it might wrap this man, too, +in its deadly coils.</p> +<p>McGuire felt his companion’s hold +loosen as he was lifted from the +ground; there were other arms flailing +about him—living, coiling things that +seemed to fight one with another for +this prize. Abruptly, blindingly, the +scene was vividly etched before him: +the strange trees, the ferns, the writhing +and darting serpent-arms! They +were illumined in a dazzling, white +light!</p> +<p>He was in the air, clutched strangely +in constricting arms; an odor of rotted +flesh was in his nostrils, sickening, +suffocating! Beyond and almost beneath +him a cauldron of green gaped +open, and he saw within it a pool of +thick liquid that eddied and steamed +to give off the stench of putrescence.</p> +<p>All this in an instant of vision—and +in that instant he knew the death they +courted. It was a giant pod that held +that pool—one of the growths he had +seen ranged out like a line of sentinels. +But the terrible tendrils that had been +coiled and at rest were wrapped about +him now, drawing him to that reeking +pool of death and the waiting thick +lips that would close above him. Sykes, +too! The tendrils that had clutched +him were whisking his helpless body +where another gaping mouth was +open—</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>And</span> then, in the blazing light that +was more brilliant than any light +of day in this world, the hold about +McGuire relaxed. He saw, as he fell, +the thick, green lips snap shut; and the +arms that had held him pulled back +into harmless, tight-wound coils.</p> +<p>Their bodies crashed to earth where +a great fern bent beneath them +to cushion their fall. And the men lay +silent and gasping for great choking +breaths, while from the building beyond +came the cackle and shrieking of +man-things in manifest enjoyment of +the frustrated plans.</p> +<p>It was the laughter that determined +McGuire.</p> +<p>“Damn the plants!” he said between +hoarse breaths. “Man-eating plants—but +they’re—better—than—those +devils! And there’s only—one line of +them: I saw them here before. Shall +we go on?—make a break for it?”</p> +<p>Sykes rolled to the shelter of an +arching frond and, without a word, +went crawling away. McGuire was behind +him, and the two, as they came to +open ground, sprang to their feet and +ran on through the weird orchard +where tree trunks made dim, twisting +lines. They ran blindly and helplessly +toward the outer dark that promised +temporary shelter.</p> +<p>A hopeless attempt: both men, knew +the futility of it, while they stumbled +onward through the dark. Behind +them the night was hideous with noise +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_325' name='page_325'></a>325</span> +as the great palace gave forth an +eruption of shrieking, inhuman forms +that scattered with whistling and wailing +calls in all directions.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A mile</span> or more of groping, hopeless +flight, till a yellow gleam +shone among the trees to guide them. +A building, beyond a clearing, gave a +bright illumination to the black night.</p> +<p>“We’ve run in a circle,” choked McGuire, +his voice weak and uncertain +with exhaustion. “Like a couple of +fools!—”</p> +<p>He waited until the heavy breathing +that shook his body might be controlled, +then corrected himself. “No—this +is another—a new one—see the +towers! And listen—it’s a radio station!”</p> +<p>The slender frameworks that towered +high in air glowed like flame—a +warning to the ships whose lights +showed now and then far overhead. +And, clear and distinct, there came to +the listening men the steady, crackling +hiss of an uninterrupted signal.</p> +<p>Against the lighted building moving +figures showed momentarily, and McGuire +pulled his friend into the safe +concealment of a tangle of growth, +while the group of yelling things sped +past.</p> +<p>“Come on,” he told Sykes; “we can’t +get away—not a chance! Let’s have a +look at this place, and perhaps—well, +I have an idea!” He slipped silently, +cautiously on, where a forest of jungle +ferns gave promise of safe passage.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Some</span> warning had been sounded; +the occupants of the building +were scattered to aid in the man-hunt. +Only one was left in the room where +two Earth-men peeped in at the door.</p> +<p>The figure was seated upon an insulated +platform, and his long hands +manipulated keys and levers on a table +before him. McGuire and Sykes stared +amazedly at this broadcasting station +whose air was filled with a pandemonium +of crashing sound from some +distant room, but McGuire was concerned +mainly with the motion of a +lean, blood-red hand that swung an object +like a pointer in free-running +sweeps above a dial on the table. And +he detected a variation in the din from +beyond as the pointer moved swiftly.</p> +<p>Here was the control board for those +messages he had heard; this was the +instrument that varied the sending +mechanism to produce the wailing +wireless cries that made words in some +far-distant ears. McGuire, as he +slipped into the room and crept within +leaping distance of the grotesque thing +so like yet unlike a man, was as silent +as the nameless, writhing horror that +had seized them in the dark. He +sprang, and the two came crashing to +the floor.</p> +<p>Lean arms came quickly about him +to clutch and tear at his face, but the +flyer had an arm free, and one blow +ended the battle. The man of Venus +relaxed to a huddle of purple and yellow +cloth from which a ghastly face +protruded. McGuire leaped to his feet +and sprang to the place where the other +had been.</p> +<p>“Hold them off as long as you can!” +he shouted to Sykes, and his hand +closed upon the pointer.</p> +<p>Did this station send where he was +hoping? Was this the station that had +communicated with the ship that had +hovered above their flying field in that +far-off land? He did not know, but it +was a powerful station, and there was +a chance—</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> moved the pointer frantically +here and there, swung it to one +side and another; then found at last +a point on the outside of the strange +design beneath his hand where the +pointer could rest while the crashing +crackle of sound was stilled.</p> +<p>And now he swung the pointer—upon +the plate—anywhere!—and the +noise from beyond told instantly of +the current’s passage. He held it an +instant, then pushed it back to the +silent spot—a dash! A quick return +that flashed back again to bring silence—a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_326' name='page_326'></a>326</span> +dot! More dashes and dots ... and +McGuire thanked a kindly heaven that +had permitted him to learn the +language of the air, while he cursed his +slowness in sending.</p> +<p>Would it reach? Would there be +anyone to hear? No certainty; he +could only flash the wild Morse symbols +out into the night. He must try +to get word to them—warn them! And +“Blake,” he called, and spelled out the +name of their field, “warning—Venus—”</p> +<p>“Hold them!” he yelled to Sykes at +the sound of rushing feet. “Keep them +off as long as you can!”</p> +<p>“... Prepare—for invasion. Blake, +this is McGuire....” Over and over, +he worked the swinging pointer into +symbols that might in some way, by +some fortunate chance, help that helpless +people to resist the horror that lay +ahead.</p> +<p>And while heavy bodies crashed +against the door that Sykes was holding, +there came from some deep-hidden well +of memory an inspiration. There was +a man he had once met—a man who +had confided wondrous things; and +now, with the knowledge of these +others who had conquered space, he +could believe wholly what he had +laughed and joked about before. That +man, too, had claimed to have travelled +far from the earth; he had invented a +machine; his name—</p> +<p>The pointer was swinging in frenzied +haste to spell over and over the +name of a man, and the name, too, of +a forgotten place in the mountains of +Nevada. It was repeating the message; +then finished in one long crashing wail +as a cloud of vapor shot about McGuire +and his hand upon the pointer went +suddenly limp.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Captain Blake’s</span> game of solitaire +had become an obsession. +He drove himself to the utmost in the +line of duty, and, through the day, the +demands of the flying field filled his +mind to forgetfulness. And for the +rest, he forced his mind to concentrate +upon the turn of the cards. He could +not read—and he must not think!—so +he sat through long evenings trying +vainly to forget.</p> +<p>He looked up with an expressionless +face as Colonel Boynton entered the +room. The colonel saw the cards and +nodded.</p> +<p>“Does that help?” he asked, and +added without waiting for an answer, +“I don’t like cards, but I find my +mathematics works well.... My old +problems—I can concentrate on them, +and stop this eternal, damnable thinking, +thinking—”</p> +<p>There was something of the same +look forming about the eyes of both—that +look that told of men who +struggled gamely under the sentence +of death, refusing to think or to fear, +and waiting, waiting, impotently. +Blake looked at the colonel with a +carefully emotionless gaze. “It’s hell +in the big towns, I hear.”</p> +<p>The Colonel nodded. “Can’t blame +them much, if that’s what appeals to +them. A year and a half!—and they’ve +got to forget it. Why not crowd all +the recklessness and excesses they can +into the time that is left?—poor devils! +But for the most part the world is wagging +along, and people are going +through the familiar motions.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Blake, “I used to wonder +at times how a man might feel if +he were facing execution. Now we all +know. Just going dumbly along, feeling +as little as we can, thinking of anything, +everything—except the one +thing. They’ve turned to using dope, +a lot of them, I hear. Maybe it helps; +nobody cares much. Only a year and +a half.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> raised his face from which all +expression was consciously +erased. “Any possible hope?” he asked. +“Or do we take it when it comes and +fight with what we’ve got as long as +we can? There was some talk in the +papers of an invention—Bureau of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_327' name='page_327'></a>327</span> +Standards cooperating with the big +General Committee to investigate. +Anything come of it?”</p> +<p>“A thousand of them,” said the +colonel, “all futile. No, we can’t expect +much from those things. Though +there’s a whisper that came to me from +Washington. General Clinton—you +may remember him; he was here when +the thing first broke—says that some +scientist, a real one, not another of +these half-baked geniuses, has worked +out a transformation of some kind. It +was too deep for me, but it is based +upon changing hydrogen into helium, +I think. Liberates some perfectly tremendous +amount of power. The general +had it all down pat—”</p> +<p>He stopped speaking at the change +in Captain Blake’s face. The careful +repression of all emotions was gone; +the face was suddenly alive—</p> +<p>“I know,” he said sharply; “I remember +something of the theory. +There is a difference in the atoms or +their protons—the liberation of an +electron from each atom—matter actually +transformed into energy; theoretical, +what I have read. But—but—Oh +my God, Boynton, do you mean that +they’ve got it?—that it will drive us +through space?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> colonel drove one fist into the +palm of his other hand. “Fool! +Idiot!” he exclaimed, and it was evident +that the epithets were intended +for himself.</p> +<p>“I had forgotten that you had been +trained along that line. The general +wants a man to work with them, somewhat +as a liason officer to link the +army requirements closely with their +developments; we are hoping to work +out a space ship, of course. You are +just the man; I will radio him this +minute. Be ready to leave—” The +slamming of the door marked a hurried +exit toward the radio room.</p> +<p>And abruptly, stifflingly, Captain +Blake dared to hope. “Scientists will +come through with something, some +new method of propulsion. All the +world is looking to them!” His +thoughts were leaping from one possibility +to another. “Some miracle of +power that will drive a fleet through +space as they have done, to battle with +the enemy on his own ground—”</p> +<p>Could he help? Was there one little +thing that he could do to apply their +knowledge to practical ends? The +thought thrilled him with overpowering +emotion an hour later as he felt +the lift of the plane beneath him.</p> +<p>“Report to General Clinton,” the +colonel’s reply had said. “Captain +Blake will be assigned to special duty.” +He opened the throttle to his ship’s +best cruising speed, but his spirit was +soaring ahead to urge on the swift +scout ship whose wings drove steadily +into the gathering dusk.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>And</span> then, after long hours, Washington! +Brief words with many +men—and discouragement! The seat of +government of the United States was +a city of despondent men, weary, hopeless, +but fighting. There was a look of +strain on every face; the eyes told a +story of sleepless nights and futile +thinking and planning. Blake’s elation +was short lived.</p> +<p>He was sent to New York and on +into the state, where the laboratories +of a great electrical company had +turned their equipment from commercial +purposes to those of war. Here, +surely, one might find fuel to feed the +dying embers of hope; the new development +must give greater promise than +General Clinton had intimated.</p> +<p>“Nothing you can do as yet,” he was +told, when he had stated his mission. +“It is still experimental, but we have +worked out the transformation on a +small scale, and harnessed the power.”</p> +<p>Captain Blake was in no mood for +temporizing; he was tired with being +put off. He stared belligerently at the +chief of this department.</p> +<p>“Power—hell!” he said. “We’ve got +power now. How will you apply it? +How will we use it for travelling +through space?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_328' name='page_328'></a>328</span></div> +<p>The great man of science was unmoved +by the outburst. “That is poppycock,” +he replied; “the unscientific +twaddle of the sensational press. We +are practical men here; we are working +to give you men who do the fighting +better ships and better arms. But +you will use them right here on Earth.”</p> +<p>The calm assurance of this man who +spoke with a voice of such confidence +and authority left the flyer speechless. +His brain sent a chaos of profane and +violent expletives to the lips that dared +not frame them. There was no adequate +reply.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Blake</span> jammed his hat upon his +head and walked blindly from the +room. Heedless of the protests of +those he jostled on the street he went +raging on, but some subconscious urge +directed his steps. He found himself +at the railway. There was a station, +and a grilled window where he was +asking for a ticket back to Washington. +And on the following day—</p> +<p>“There is nothing I can do,” he told +General Clinton. “It is hopeless. I +ask to be relieved.”</p> +<p>“Why?” The general snapped the +question at him. What kind of man +was this that Boynton had sent him?</p> +<p>“They are fools,” said Blake bluntly, +“pompous, well-meaning fools! +They are planning better motors, more +power”—he laughed harshly—“and +they think that with them we can attack +ships that are independent of the +air.”</p> +<p>“Still,” asked General Clinton coldly, +“for what purpose do you wish to +be relieved? What do you intend to +do?”</p> +<p>“Return to the field,” said Captain +Blake, “to work, and put my planes and +personnel in the best possible condition; +then, when the time comes, go up +and fight like hell.”</p> +<p>An unusual phrasing of a request +when one is addressing one’s commander; +but the older man threw back +his shoulders, that were bending under +responsibilities too great for one +man to bear, and took a long breath +that relaxed his face and seemed to +bring relief.</p> +<p>“You’ve got the right idea,”—he +spoke slowly and thoughtfully—“the +right philosophy. It is all we have left—to +fight like hell when the time +comes. Give my regards to Colonel +Boynton; he sent me a good man after +all.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Another</span> long flight, westward +this time, and, despite the failure +of his hopes and of his errand, Blake +was flying with a mind at peace. “It is +all we have left,” the general had said. +Well, it was good to face facts, to admit +them—and that was that! There +was no use of thinking or worrying.... +He lifted the ship to a higher level +and glanced at his compass. There +were clouds up ahead, and he drove +still higher into the night, until he was +above them.</p> +<p>And again his peace of mind was not +to last.</p> +<p>It was night when he swung the ship +over his home port and signalled for +a landing. A flood of light swept out +across the field to guide him down. He +went directly to the colonel’s quarters +but found him gone.</p> +<p>“In the radio room, I think,” an orderly +told him.</p> +<p>Colonel Boynton was listening intently +in the silent room; he scowled +with annoyance at the disturbance of +Blake’s coming; then, seeing who it +was, he motioned quickly for the captain +to listen in.</p> +<p>“Good Lord, Blake,” he told the captain +in an excited whisper; “I’m glad +you’re here. Another ship had been +sighted; she’s been all over the earth; +just scouting and mapping, probably. +And there have been signals the same +as before—the same until just now. +Listen!—it’s talking Morse!—it’s been +calling for you!”</p> +<p>He thrust a head set into Blake’s +hands, then reached for some papers. +“Poor reception, but there’s what we’ve +got,” he said.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_329' name='page_329'></a>329</span></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> paper held the merest fragments +of messages that the +operator had deciphered. Blake examined +them curiously while he listened +at the silent receiver.</p> +<p>“Maricopa”—the message, whatever +it was, was meant for them, but there +were only parts of words and disjointed +phrases that the man had written +down—“Venus attacking Earth ... +Captain Blake ... Sykes and....”</p> +<p>At the name of Sykes, Blake dropped +the paper.</p> +<p>“What does this mean?” he demanded. +“Sykes!—why Sykes was the +astronomer who was captured with +McGuire!”</p> +<p>“Listen! Listen!” The colonel’s voice +was almost shrill with excitement.</p> +<p>The night was whispering faintly +the merest echo of a signal from a station +far away, but it resolved itself +into broken fragments of sound that +were long and short in duration, and +the fragments joined to form letters +in the Morse code.</p> +<p>“See Winslow,” it told them, and repeated +the message: “See Winslow at +Sierra....” Some distant storm crashed +and rattled for breathless minutes. +“Blake see Winslow. This is McGuire, +Blake. Winslow can help—”</p> +<p>The message ended abruptly. One +long, wailing note; then again the +night was voiceless ... and in the radio +room at Maricopa Flying Field two +men stood speechless, unbreathing, to +stare at each other with incredulous +eyes, as might men who had seen a +phantom—a ghost that spoke to them +and called them by name.</p> +<p>“McGuire—is—alive!” stammered +Blake. “They’ve taken him—there!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Colonel Boynton</span> was considering, +weighing all the possibilities, +and his voice, when he answered, +had the ring of conviction.</p> +<p>“That was no hoax,” he agreed; +“that quavering tone could never be +faked. That message was sent from the +same station we heard before. Yes, +McGuire is alive—or was up to the +end of that sending.... But, who the +devil is Winslow?”</p> +<p>Blake shook his head despairingly. +“I don’t know,” he said. “And it seems +as if I should—”</p> +<p>It was hours later, far into the night, +when he sprang from out of a half-conscious +doze to find himself in the +middle of the floor with the voice of +McGuire ringing clearly in his ears. A +buried memory had returned to the +level of his conscious mind. He +rushed over to the colonel’s quarters.</p> +<p>“I’ve got it,” he shouted to that officer +whose head was projecting from +an upper window. “I remember! McGuire +told me about this Winslow—some +hermit that he ran across. He +has some invention—some machine—said +he had been to the moon. I always +thought Mac half believed him. We’ll +go over Mac’s things and find the address.”</p> +<p>“Do you think—do you suppose—?” +began Colonel Boynton doubtfully.</p> +<p>“I don’t dare to think,” Blake responded. +“God only knows if we dare +hope; but Mac—Mac’s got a level +head; he wouldn’t send us unless he +knew! Good Lord, man!” he exclaimed, +“Mac radioed us from Venus; +is there anything impossible after +that?”</p> +<p>“Wait there,” said Colonel Boynton; +“I’ll be right down—”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Lieutenant McGuire</span> awoke, +as he had on other occasions, to +the smell of sickly-sweet fumes and +the stifling pressure of a mask held +over his nose and mouth. He struggled +to free himself, and the mask was +removed. Another of the man-creatures +whom McGuire had not seen +before helped him to sit up.</p> +<p>A group of the attenuated figures, +with their blood-and-ashes faces, regarded +him curiously. The one who +had helped him arise forced the others +to stand back, and he gave McGuire a +drink of yellow fluid from a crystal +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_330' name='page_330'></a>330</span> +goblet. The dazed man gulped it down +to feel a following surge of warmth +and life that pulsed through his paralyzed +body. The figures before him +came sharply from the haze that had +enveloped them. A window high above +admitted a golden light that meant another +day, but it brought no cheer or +encouragement to the flyer. McGuire +felt crushed and hopeless in the knowledge +that his life must still go on.</p> +<p>If only that sleep could have continued—carried +him out to the deeper +sleep of death! What hope for them +here? Not a chance! And then he remembered +Sykes; he mustn’t desert +Sykes. He looked about him to see the +same prison room from which he and +Sykes had escaped. The body of the +scientist was motionless on the hammock-bed +across the room; an occasional +deep-drawn breath showed that +the man still lived.</p> +<p>No, he must not leave Sykes, even if +he had the means of death. They +would fight it through together, and +perhaps—perhaps—they might yet be +of service, might find some way to +avert the catastrophe that threatened +their world. Hopeless? Beyond doubt. +But he must hope—and fight!</p> +<p>The leader had watched the light of +understanding as it returned to the +flyer’s eyes. He motioned now to the +others, and McGuire was picked up +bodily by four of them and carried +from the room.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>McGuire’s</span> mind was alert once +more; he was eager to learn +what he could of this place that was +to be their prison, but he saw little. A +glory of blending colors beyond, where +the golden light from without shone +through opal walls—then he found +himself upon a narrow table where +straps of metal were thrown quickly +about to bind him fast. He was tied +hand and foot to the table that moved +forward on smooth rollers to a waiting +lift.</p> +<p>What next? he questioned. Not +death, for they had been too careful to +keep him alive, these repulsive things +that stared at him with such cold +malevolence. Then what? And McGuire +found himself with unpleasant +recollections of others he had seen +strapped in similar fashion to an operating +table.</p> +<p>The lift that he had thought would +rise fell smoothly, instead, to stop at +some point far below ground where +the table with its helpless burden was +rolled into a great room.</p> +<p>He could move his head, and McGuire +turned and twisted to look at the +maze of instruments that filled the +room—a super-laboratory for experiments +of which he dared not think.</p> +<p>“Whoever says I’m not scared to +death is a liar,” he whispered to himself, +but he continued to look and wonder +as he was wheeled before a gleaming +machine of many coils and shining, +metal parts. A smooth sheet of +metal stood vertically beyond him; +painted a grayish-white, he saw; but he +could not imagine its use. A throng +of people, seated in the room, turned +blood-red faces toward the bound man +and the metal sheet.</p> +<p>“Looks as if we were about to put +on a show of some kind,” he told himself, +“and I am cast for a leading role.” +He watched as best he could from his +bound position while a tall figure in +robes of lustreless black appeared to +stand beside him.</p> +<p>The newcomer regarded him with a +face that was devoid of all emotion. +McGuire felt the lack of the customary +expression of hatred; there was not +even that; and he knew he was nothing +more than a strange animal, bound, and +helpless, ready for this weird creature’s +experiments. The one in black +held a pencil whose tip was a tiny, brilliant +light.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Abruptly</span> the room plunged to +darkness, where the only visible +thing was this one point of light. +Ceaselessly it waved back and forth +before his eyes; he followed it in a +pattern of strange design; it approached +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_331' name='page_331'></a>331</span> +and receded. Again and +again the motion was repeated, until +McGuire felt himself sinking—sinking—into +a passive state of lethargy. His +muscles relaxed; his mind was at rest; +there seemed nothing in the entire universe +of being but the single point of +light that drew him on and on ... till +something whispered from the far +reaches of black space....</p> +<p>It came to him, an insistent call. It +was asking about the earth—his own +world. <i>What of Earth’s armies and +their means of defense?</i> Vaguely he +sensed the demand, and without conscious +volition he responded. He pictured +the world he had known; how +plainly he saw the wide field at Maricopa, +and the sweeping flight of a +squadron of planes! <i>Yes—yes! How +high could they ascend?</i> From one of +the planes he saw the world below; the +ships were near their ceiling; this +was the limit of their climb. <i>And did +they fight with gas? What of their +deadliness?</i> And again he was seated +in a plane, and he was firing tiny bullets +from a tiny gun. No. They did +not use gas. <i>But on the ground below—what +fortifications? What means of +defense?</i></p> +<p>McGuire’s mind was no longer his +own; he could only respond to that invisible +questioner, that insistent demand +from out of the depths where he +was floating. And yet there was something +within him that protested, that +clamored at his mind and brain.</p> +<p>Fortifications! They must know +about fortifications—anti-aircraft guns—means +for combatting aerial attack. +Yes, he knew, and he must explain—and +the thing within him pounded in +the back of his brain to draw him back +to himself.</p> +<p>He saw a battery of anti-aircraft +guns in operation; the guns were firing; +shells were bursting in little +plumes of smoke high in the air. And +that self within him was shouting now, +hammering at him; “You are seeing it,” +it told him; “it is there before you on +the screen. Stop! Stop!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>And</span> for an instant McGuire had +the strange experience of witnessing +his own thoughts. Memories, +mental records of past experience, +were flashing through his mind; mock +battles, and the batteries were firing! +And, before him, on the metal screen, +there glowed a vivid picture of the +same thing. Men were serving the +guns with sure swiftness; the bursts +were high in the air—in a flash of +understanding Lieutenant McGuire knew +that he was giving his country’s secrets +to the enemy. And in that same instant +he felt himself swept upward +from the depths of that darkness +where he had drifted. He was himself +again, bound and helpless before +an infernal contrivance of these devil-creatures. +They had read his thoughts; +the machine beside him had projected +them upon the screen for all to see; a +steady clicking might mean their +reproduction in motion pictures for +later study! He, Lieutenant McGuire, +was a traitor against his will!</p> +<p>The screen was blank, and the lights +of the room came on to show the thin +lips that smiled complacently in a cruel +and evil face.</p> +<p>McGuire glared back into that face, +and he tried with all the mental force +that he could concentrate to get across +to the exultant one the fact that they +had not wholly conquered him. This +much they had got—but no more!</p> +<p>The thin-lipped one had an instrument +in his hand, and McGuire felt +the prick of a needle plunged into his +arm. He tried to move his head and +found himself powerless. And now, in +the darkness of the room where all +lights were again extinguished, the +helpless man was fighting the most +horrible of battles, and the battleground +was within his own mind. He +was two selves, and he fought and +struggled with all his consciousness to +keep those memories from flooding +him.</p> +<p>With one part of himself he knew +what it meant: a sure knowledge given +these invaders of what they must prepare +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_332' name='page_332'></a>332</span> +to meet; he was betraying his +country; the whole of humanity! And +that raging, raving self was powerless +to check the flow of memory pictures +that went endlessly through his mind +and out upon the screen beyond....</p> +<p>He had no sense of time; he was +limp and exhausted with his fruitless +struggle when he felt himself released +from the bondage of the metal straps +and placed again in the hammock in +his room. And he could only look +wanly and hopelessly after the figure +of Professor Sykes, carried by barbarous +figures to the same ordeal.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Sleep</span>, through the long night, restored +both McGuire and his companion +to normal strength. The flyer +was seated with his head bowed low in +his cupped hands. His words seemed +wrung from an agony of spirit. “So +that’s what they brought us here for,” +he said harshly; “that’s why they’re +keeping us alive!”</p> +<p>Professor Sykes walked back and +forth in their bare room while he shook +his impotent fists in the air.</p> +<p>“I told them everything,” he exploded; +“everything!” Their astronomical +knowledge must be limited; under +this blanket of clouds they can see +nothing, and from their ships they +could make approximations only.</p> +<p>“And I have told them—the earth, +and its days and seasons—its orbital +velocity and motion—its relation to +the orbit of this accursed planet. +They had documents from the observatory +and I explained them; I corrected +their time of firing their big gun on its +equatorial position. Oh, there is little +I left untold—damn them!”</p> +<p>“I wish to heaven,” said the flyer +savagely, “that we had known; we +would have jumped out of their beastly +ship somehow ten thousand feet up, +and we would have taken our information +with us.”</p> +<p>Sykes nodded agreement. “Well,” +he asked, “how about to-morrow, and +the next day, and the next? They will +want more facts; they will pump the +last drop of information from us. Are +we going to allow it?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>McGuire’s</span> tone was dry. “You +know the answer to that as well +as I do. We have just two alternatives; +either we get out of here—find +some place to hide in, then find some +way to put a crimp in their plans; or +we get out of here for good. It’s +twenty feet, not twenty thousand, from +that window to the ground, but I +think a head-first dive would do it.”</p> +<p>Sykes did not reply at once; he +seemed to be weighing some problem +in his mind.</p> +<p>“I would prefer the water,” he said +at last. “If we <i>can</i> get away and reach +the shore, and if there is not a possibility +of escape—which I must admit I +consider highly improbable—well, we +can always swim out as far as we can +go, and the result will be certain.</p> +<p>“This other is so messy.” The man +had stopped his ceaseless pacing, and +he even managed a cheerful smile at +the lieutenant. “And, remember, it +might only cripple us and leave us +helpless in their hands.”</p> +<p>“Sounds all right to me,” McGuire +agreed, and there was a tone of finality +in his voice as he added: “They’ve +made us do that traitor act for the +last time, anyway.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Daylight</span> comes slowly through +cloud-filled skies; the window of +the room where the fountain sprayed +ceaselessly was showing the first hint +of gold in the eastern sky. Above was +the utter darkness of the cloud-wrapped +night as the two men swung +noiselessly out into the grotesque +branches of a tree to make their way +into the gloom below. There, under +the cover of great leaves, they +crouched in silence, while the darkness +about them faded and a sound of +subdued whistling noises came to them +from the night.</p> +<p>A wheel creaked, and in the dim +light two figures appeared tugging at +a cart upon which was a cage of woven +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_333' name='page_333'></a>333</span> +wire. Beyond them, against the +darker background of denser growth, +tentacles coiled and twisted above the +row of guardian plants that surrounded +the house.</p> +<p>One of the ghostly forms reached +within the cage and brought forth a +struggling object that whimpered in +fear. The low whine came distinctly +to the hidden men. They saw a vague +black thing tossed through the air and +toward the deadly plants; they heard +the swishing of pliant tentacles and +the yelping cry of a frightened animal. +And the cry rose to a shriek that ended +with the gulping splash of thick liquid.</p> +<p>The giant pod next in line was open—they +could see it dimly—and its tentacles +were writhing convulsively, +hungrily, across the ground. Another +animal was taken from the cage and +thrown to the waiting, serpent forms +that closed about and whirled it high +in air. Another—and another! The +yelps of terror grew faint in the distance +as the monsters passed on in +their gruesome work. And the two +men, palpitant with memories of their +own experience, were limp and sick +with horror.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> the growing light they saw more +plainly the fleshy, pliant arms that +whipped through the air or felt searchingly +along the ground. No hope there +for bird or beast that passed by in the +night; nor for men, as they knew too +well. But now, as the golden light +increased, the arms drew back to form +again the tight-wound coils that flattened +themselves beside the monstrous +pods whose lips were closing. Locked +within them were the pools of liquid +that could dissolve a living body into +food for these vampires of the vegetable +world.</p> +<p>“Damnable!” breathed Sykes in a +savage whisper. “Utterly damnable! +And this world is peopled with such +monsters!”</p> +<p>The last deadly arm was tightly +coiled when the men stole off through +the lush growth that reached even +above their heads. McGuire remembered +the outlines he had seen from +the air and led the way where, if no +better concealment could be found, the +ocean waited with promise of rest and +release from their inhuman captors.</p> +<p>They counted on an hour’s start—it +would be that long before their jailer +would come with their morning meal +and give the alarm—and now they +went swiftly and silently through the +stillness of a strange world. The air +that flicked misty-wet across their +faces was heavy and heady with the +perfume of night-blooming plants. +Crimson blossoms flung wide their +odorous petals, and the first golden +light was filtered through tremendous +tree-growths of pale lavenders and +grays to show as unreal colors in the +vegetation close about them.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> found no guards; the isolation +of this island made the land +itself their prison, and the men ran at +full speed through every open space, +knowing as they ran that there was no +refuge for them—only the ocean waiting +at the last. But their flight was +not unobserved.</p> +<p>A great bird rose screaming from a +tangle of vines; its heavy, flapping +wings flashed red against the pale +trees. A pandemonium of shrieking +cries echoed its alarm as other birds +took flight; the forest about them was +in an uproar of harsh cries. And faintly, +from far in the rear, came a babel +of shrill calls—weird, inhuman!—the +voices of the men-things of Venus.</p> +<p>“It’s all off,” said McGuire sharply; +“they’ll be on our trail now!” He +plunged through where the trees were +more open, and Sykes was beside him +as they ran with a burst of speed toward +a hilltop beyond.</p> +<p>They paused, panting, upon the +crest. A wide expanse of foliage in +delicate shadings swept out before +them to wave gently in a sea of color +under the morning breeze, and beyond +was another sea that beckoned with +white breakers on a rocky shore.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_334' name='page_334'></a>334</span></div> +<p>“The ocean!” gasped Sykes, and +pointed a trembling hand toward their +goal. “But—I had no idea—that suicide—was—such +hard work!”</p> +<p>The tall figure of Lieutenant McGuire +turned to the shorter, breathless +man, and he gripped hard at one of his +hands.</p> +<p>“Sykes,” he said, “I’ll never get another +chance to say it—but you’re one +good scout!... Come on!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>McGuire</span> fought to force his way +through jungle growth, while +screaming birds marked where they +went. The sounds of their pursuers +were close behind them when the two +tore their way through the last snarled +tangle of pale vine to stand on a sheer +bluff, where, below, deep waters +crashed against a rocky wall. They +staggered with weariness and gulped +sobbingly of the morning air. McGuire +could have sworn he was exhausted +beyond any further effort, yet +from somewhere he summoned energy +to spring savagely upon a tall, blood-red +figure whose purpling face rose +suddenly to confront them.</p> +<p>One hand closed upon the metal tube +that the other hand raised, and, with +his final reserve of strength, the flyer +wrapped an arm about the tall body and +rushed it stumblingly toward the cliff. +To be balked now!—to be brought back +to that intolerable prison and the unthinkable +role of traitor! The khaki-clad +figure wrenched furiously at the +deadly tube as they struggled and +swayed on the edge of the cliff.</p> +<p>He freed his arm quickly, and, regardless +of the clawing thing that tore +at his face and eyes, he launched one +long swing for the horrible face above +him. He saw the awkward fall of a +lean body, and he swayed helplessly +out to follow when the grip of Sykes’ +hand pulled him back and up to momentary +safety.</p> +<p>McGuire’s mind held only the desire +to kill, and he would have begun +a staggering rush toward the shrieking +mob that broke from the cover behind +them, had not Sykes held him fast. At +sight of the weapon, their own gas projector, +still clutched in the flyer’s hand, +the pursuers halted. Their long arms +pointed and their shrill calls joined in +a chorus that quavered and fell uncertainly.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>One</span>, braver than the rest, dashed +forward and discharged his +weapon. The spurting gas failed to +reach its intended victims; it blew +gently back toward the others who fled +quickly to either side. Above the +trees a giant ship nosed swiftly down, +and McGuire pointed to it grimly and +in silence. The men before them were +massed now for a rush.</p> +<p>“This is the end,” said the flyer +softly. “I wonder how this devilish +thing works; there’s a trigger here. I +will give them a shot with the wind +helping, then we’ll jump for it.”</p> +<p>The ship was above them as the slim +figure of Lieutenant McGuire threw +itself a score of paces toward the +waiting group. From the metal tube +there shot a stream of pale vapor that +swept downward upon the others who +ran in panic from its touch.</p> +<p>Then back—and a grip of a hand!—and +two Earth-men who threw themselves +out and downward from a sheer +rock wall to the cool embrace of deep +water.</p> +<p>They came to the top, battered from +their fall, but able to dive under a wave +and emerge again near one another.</p> +<p>“Swim!” urged Sykes. “Swim out! +They may get us here—recover our +bodies—resuscitate us. And that +wouldn’t do!”</p> +<p>Another wave, and the two men were +swimming beyond it; swimming feebly +but steadily out from shore, while +above them a great cylinder of shining +metal swept past in a circling flight. +They kept on while their eyes, from +the wave tops, saw it turn and come +slowly back in a long smooth descent.</p> +<p>It was a hundred feet above the water +a short way out at sea, and the +two men made feeble motions with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_335' name='page_335'></a>335</span> +arms and legs, while their eyes exchanged +glances of dismay.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A door</span> had opened in the round +under-surface, and a figure, whose +gas-suit made it a bloated caricature of +a man, was lowered from beneath in a +sling. From the stern of the ship +gaseous vapor belched downward to +spread upon the surface of the water. +The wind was bringing the misty cloud +toward them. “The gas!” said McGuire +despairingly. “It will knock us out, +and then that devil will get us! +They’ll take us back! Our last chance—gone!”</p> +<p>“God help us!” said Sykes weakly. +“We can’t—even—die—” His feeble +strokes stopped, and he sank beneath +the water. McGuire’s last picture as +he too sank and the waters closed over +his head, was the shining ship hovering +beyond.</p> +<p>He wondered only vaguely at the +sudden whirling of water around him. +A solid something was rising beneath +his dragging feet; a firm, solid support +that raised him again to the surface. +He realized dimly the air about him, +the sodden form of Professor Sykes +some few feet distant. His numbed +brain was trying to comprehend what +else the eyes beheld.</p> +<p>A metal surface beneath them rose +higher, shining wet, above the water; +a metal tube raised suddenly from its +shield, to swing in quick aim upon the +enemy ship approaching from above.</p> +<p>His eyes moved to the ship, and to +the man-thing below in the sling. +Its clothes were a mass of flame, and +the figure itself was falling headlong +through the air. Above the blazing +body was the metal of the ship itself, +and it sagged and melted to a liquid +fire that poured, splashing and hissing, +to the waters beneath. In the wild +panic the great shape threw itself into +the air; it swept out and up in curving +flight to plunge headlong into the +depths....</p> +<p>The gas was drifting close, as McGuire +saw an opening in the structure +beside him. The voice of a man, human, +kindly, befriending, said something +of “hurry” and “gas,” and “lift +them carefully but make haste.” The +white faces of men were blurred and +indistinct as McGuire felt himself lowered +into a cool room and laid, with +the unconscious form of Sykes, upon a +floor.</p> +<p>He tried to remember. He had gone +down in the water—Sykes had +drowned, and he himself—he was tired—tired. +“And this,”—the thought +seemed a certainty in his mind—“this +is death. How—very—peculiar—” He +was trying to twist his lips to a weak +laugh as the lighted ports in the wall +beside him changed from gold to green, +then black—and a rushing of torn +waters was in his ears....</p> +<p class='center'>(<i>To be continued</i>)</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='adbox'><span class="larger">ASTOUNDING STORIES<br /></span> +<i>Appears on Newsstands</i><br /> +THE FIRST THURSDAY IN EACH MONTH</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_336' name='page_336'></a>336</span> +<a name='THE_SEA_TERROR_BY_CAPTAIN_S_P_MEEK' id='THE_SEA_TERROR_BY_CAPTAIN_S_P_MEEK'></a> +<h2>The Sea Terror</h2> +<p><i>By Captain S. P. Meek</i></p> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/336.jpg' alt='' title='' width='478' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“<i>The mass hung over the ship.</i>”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>I</span><span class='dcap'> beg</span> your pardon, sir. I’m looking +for Dr. Bird.”</p> +<p>The famous Bureau of Standards +scientist appraised the +speaker rapidly. Keen blue eyes stared +questioningly at him from a mahogany +brown face, criss-crossed with a thousand +tiny wrinkles. +The tattooed +anchor on his +hand and the ill-fitting +blue serge +suit smacked of the sea while the +squareness of his shoulders and the direct +gaze of his eye spoke eloquently +of authority.</p> +<p class='sidebarright'>The trail of mystery gold leads Carnes +and Dr. Bird to a tremendous monster of +the deep.</p> +<p>“I’m Dr. Bird, Captain. What can I +do for you?”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Doctor, but I’m not a +captain. My name +is Mitchell and I +am, or was, the +first mate of the +<i>Arethusa</i>.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_337' name='page_337'></a>337</span></div> +<p>“The <i>Arethusa</i>!” Operative Carnes +of the United States Secret Service +sprang to his feet. “You said the <i>Arethusa</i>? +There <i>were</i> no survivors!”</p> +<p>“I believe that I am the only one.”</p> +<p>“Where have you been hiding and +why haven’t you reported the fact of +your rescue to the proper authorities? +Tell the truth; I’m a federal officer!”</p> +<p>Carnes flashed the gold badge of the +Secret Service and an expression of +anger crossed Mitchell’s face.</p> +<p>“If I had wished to talk to an officer +I could have found plenty in New +York,” he said shortly. “I came to +Washington in order to tell my story to +Dr. Bird.”</p> +<p>The seaman and the detective glared +at one another for a moment and then +Dr. Bird intervened.</p> +<p>“Pipe down, Carnes,” he said softly. +“Mr. Mitchell undoubtedly has reasons, +excellent reasons, for his actions. Sit +down, Mr. Mitchell, and have a cigar.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Mitchell</span> accepted the cigar +which the doctor proferred and +took a chair. He lighted the weed and +after another glance of hostility toward +the detective he pointedly ignored him +and addressed his remarks to Dr. Bird.</p> +<p>“I have no objection to telling you +why I haven’t spoken earlier, Doctor,” +he said. “When the <i>Arethusa</i> sank, I +must have hit my head on something, +for the next thing I knew, I was in the +Marine Hospital in New York. I had +been picked up unconscious by a fishing +boat and brought in, and I lay there +a week before I knew anything. When +I knew what I was doing I heard about +the loss of my ship and was told that +there were no survivors, and I didn’t +know what to do. The story I had to +tell was so weird and improbable that +I hesitated to speak to anyone about it. +I was not sure at first that it was not a +trick of a disordered brain, but since +my head has cleared I am convinced of +the truth of it ... and yet I know that +it <i>can’t</i> be so. I have read about you +and some of the things you have done, +and so as soon as I was able to travel I +came here to tell you about it. You +will be better able to judge than I, +whether what I tell you really happened +or was only a vision.”</p> +<p>Dr. Bird leaned back in his chair and +put the tips of his fingers together. +Long, tapering fingers they were, sensitive +and well shaped, though sadly +marred by acid stains. It was in his +hands alone that Dr. Bird showed the +genius in his make-up, the artistry +which inspired him to produce those +miracles of experimentation which had +made his name a household word in the +realm of science. Aside from those +hands he more resembled a pugilist +than a scientist. A heavy shock of unruly +black hair surmounted a face with +beetling black brows and a prognathous +jaw. His enormous head, with a +breadth and height of forehead which +were amazing, rose from a pillar-like +neck which sprang from a pair of massive +shoulders and the arching chest +of the trained athlete. Dr. Bird stood +six feet two inches in his socks, and +weighed over two hundred stripped. As +he leaned back a curious glitter, which +Carnes had learned to associate with +keen interest, showed for an instant in +his eyes.</p> +<p>“I will be glad to hear your story, +Mr. Mitchell,” he said softly. “Tell it +in your own way and try not to omit +any detail, no matter how trivial it may +be.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> seaman nodded and sat silent +for a moment as though marshaling +his thoughts.</p> +<p>“The story really starts the afternoon +of May 12th,” he said, “although I +didn’t realize the importance of the +first incident at the time. We were +steaming along at good speed, hoping +to make New York before too late for +quarantine, when a hail came from the +forward lookout. I was on watch and I +went forward to see what was the matter. +The lookout was Louis Green, an +able bodied seaman and a good one, but +a confirmed drunkard. I asked him +what the trouble was and he turned toward +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_338' name='page_338'></a>338</span> +me a face that was haggard with +terror.</p> +<p>“‘I’ve seen a sea serpent, Mr. Mitchell,’ +he said.</p> +<p>“‘Nonsense!’ I replied sharply. +‘You’ve been drinking again.’</p> +<p>“He swore that he hadn’t and I asked +him to describe what he had seen. His +teeth were chattering so that he could +hardly speak, but he gasped out a story +about seeing a monstrous head, a half +mile across, he said, with a long snake +body stretching out over the sea until +the end of it was lost on the horizon. I +turned my glass in the direction he +pointed and of course there was nothing +to be seen. The man’s condition +was such as to make him worse than +useless as a lookout, so I relieved him +and ordered him below. I took it for a +touch of delirium tremens.</p> +<p>“We were bucking a head wind, although +not a very stiff one, and we +didn’t make port until after dark, so we +anchored at quarantine, just off Staten +Island, in forty fathoms of water, and +Captain Murphy radioed for a Coast +Guard boat to come out and lay by us +for the night. As you have probably +heard, we were carrying four millions +in bar gold consigned to the Federal +Reserve Bank of New York from the +Bank of England.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dr. Bird</span> and Carnes nodded. The +inexplicable loss of the <i>Arethusa</i> +had occupied much space in the papers +ten days earlier.</p> +<p>“The cutter came out, signalled, and +dropped anchor about three hundred +yards away. So far, everything was +exactly as it should be. I walked to the +stern of the boat and looked out across +the Atlantic and then I realized that +Green wasn’t the only one who could +see things. The wind had fallen and +it was getting pretty dark, but not too +dark to see things a pretty good distance +away. As I looked I saw, or +thought I saw, a huge black leathery +mass come to the surface a mile or so +away. There were two things on it that +looked like eyes, and I had a feeling as +though some malignant thing was staring +at me. I rubbed my eyes and +looked again, but the vision persisted, +and I went forward to get a glass. +When I came back the thing, whatever +it was, had disappeared, but the water +where it had been was boiling as +though there were a great spring or +something of the sort under the surface.</p> +<p>“I trained my glass on the disturbed +area, and I will take my oath that I saw +a huge body like a snake emerge from +the water. It lay in long undulations +on the waves, and moved with them as +though it were floating. It was quite a +bit nearer than the first thing had been +and I could see it plainly with the +glass. I would judge it to be fifteen or +twenty feet thick, and it actually +seemed to disappear in the distance as +Green had described it. The sight of +the thing sent shivers up and down my +spine, and I gave a hoarse shout. The +lookout hurried to my side and asked +me what the trouble was. I pointed and +handed him the glass. He looked +through it and handed it back to me +with a curious expression.</p> +<p>“‘I can’t see nothing, sir,’ he said.</p> +<p>“I took the glass from him and tried +to level it but my hands were trembling +so that I was forced to rest it on the +rail. The lookout was right. There +was absolutely nothing to be seen and +the peculiar appearance of the sea had +subsided to normal. The lookout was +staring at me rather curiously and I +knew that he was thinking the same +thing about me as I had thought about +Green in the afternoon. I made some +kind of an excuse and went below to +pull myself together. I caught a +glimpse of myself in the glass. I was +as white as a sheet, and the sweat was +running off my face in drops.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>I</span><span class='dcap'> shook</span> myself together after a +fashion and managed to persuade +myself that the whole thing was just a +trick of my mind, inspired by Green’s +vivid description of his delirious vision +of the afternoon. Eight bells struck, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_339' name='page_339'></a>339</span> +and when Mr. Fulton, the junior officer, +relieved me, I laid down and tried to +quiet myself. I didn’t have much luck. +Just before I took the deck again at +midnight I slipped down to the forecastle +to see how Green was coming +along. He was lying in his bunk, wide +awake, with staring eyes.</p> +<p>“‘How are you feeling now, Green?’ +I asked.</p> +<p>“He looked up at me with an expression +of a man who has looked death in +the face.</p> +<p>“‘Ain’t there no chance of dockin’ +to-night, Mr. Mitchell?’ he asked.</p> +<p>“‘Of course not,’ I said rather sharply. +‘What’s the matter with you? Are +you afraid your sea serpent will get +us?’</p> +<p>“‘He’ll get us if we stay out here to-night, +sir,’ he replied with an air of +conviction. ‘I saw the horrible mouth +on him, large enough to bite this ship +in half; and it had a beak like a bird, +like a bloody parrot, sir. I saw its +horrible body, too, with great black +ulcers on the under side of it where the +sharks had been after it. For all the +shark takes a man now and then, he’s +the seaman’s friend, sir, because he +kills off the sea serpents who would +take ship and all.’</p> +<p>“‘Nonsense, Green!’ I said sharply. +‘Don’t talk any more such foolishness +or I’ll have you ironed. You’ve been +drinking so much that you are seeing +things, and I won’t have the crew disturbed +by your crazy talk.’</p> +<p>“‘You won’t think it’s talk when +those big eyes stare into yours to-night, +Mr. Mitchell, and that body twists +around you and squeezes the life out of +you. I don’t care whether you iron me +or not; I know that I’m doomed and so +is everyone else; but I won’t talk about +it, sir. The crew might as well rest +easy while they can, for there’s no +escape if we have to stay out here +to-night.’</p> +<p>“‘Well, be sure you keep a tight +mouth then,’ I said, and left rather hurriedly. +I was in a cold sweat, for his +air of conviction, together with what I +had seen, had shaken me pretty badly. +I heard the watch changing up above, +and knew there would be men in the +forecastle in a minute. I didn’t want +to face them right then.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>M</span><span class='dcap'>r. Fulton</span> reported everything +quiet when I went on +deck to relieve him, and although I surveyed +the water through a night glass +for as far as I could see, there was +nothing out of the way. The Coast +Guard’s lights were shining less than a +quarter of a mile away, and things +looked peaceful enough. The wind had +gone down with the sun; the sea was +almost glassy, and there was a bright +moon.</p> +<p>“After going around the ship, I relieved +all of the watch except two men +for lookouts, and sent them below to +get a good night’s sleep. If I hadn’t +done that, some of them might be alive +now.</p> +<p>“I paced the deck for an hour trying +to quiet my nerves, but really getting +more nervous every minute. Three bells +struck and I walked forward and leaned +on the rail to watch the water. I saw +a peculiar swirl as though some large +body were coming to the surface from +below, and then I saw—it.</p> +<p>“Dr. Bird, I take a drink once in a +while when I am on shore, but never at +sea and never in excess, and I know it +wasn’t a vision of drink delirium. I +felt perfectly normal aside from my +nervousness, and I don’t think it was +fever. Either I saw it or I am insane, +for it is as vivid to me as though I were +standing on the <i>Arethusa’s</i> deck and +that monstrous horror was rising once +more before my eyes.”</p> +<p>The seaman’s face had become drawn +and white as he talked, and drops of +sweat were trickling from his chin. +Carnes sat forward absorbed in his narrative +while Dr. Bird sat back with a +glitter in his black eyes and an expression +of great attention on his face.</p> +<p>“Go on, Mr. Mitchell,” the doctor +said soothingly. “Tell me just what +you saw.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_340' name='page_340'></a>340</span></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Mitchell</span> shuddered and glanced +quickly around the laboratory +as though to assure himself that he +was safe within four walls.</p> +<p>“From the surface of the sea,” he +went on, “rose a massive body, black, +and of the appearance of wet leather. +It must have been a couple of hundred +yards across, although the size of objects +is often magnified by moonlight +and my terror may have added to its +size. In the midst of it were two great +discs, thirty feet across, which glowed +red with the reflected moonlight. It +stared for a moment and then rose +higher until it towered above the ship; +and then I saw, or thought I saw, a +huge gaping beak like a parrot’s. It +was as Green had described it, large +enough to bite the <i>Arethusa</i> in half, +and she was a ship of three thousand +tons.</p> +<p>“I was frozen with horror and +couldn’t move or cry out. As I watched, +I saw the long snake-like body emerge +from the water, and the estimate I had +made of the size in the afternoon +seemed pitifully inadequate. Presently +a second and a third snake arose +from the water, and then more, until +the whole sea and the air above it +seemed a writhing mass of huge +snakes. I remember wondering why +the watch of the Coast Guard cutter +didn’t sound an alarm, and then I +realized that the thing had arisen on +our port side and the cutter was on the +starboard.</p> +<p>“The mass of snakes writhed backward +and forward, and then two of +them rose in the air and hung over the +ship. I could see the under side and +I saw what Green had called the scars +where the sharks had attacked. They +were great cup-shaped depressions +with vile white edges, and they did +resemble huge sores or ulcers. They +wavered over the ship for an instant, +and then both of them dropped down +on the deck.</p> +<p>“I found my voice and I think that +I gave a yell, but even as I opened my +mouth, I realized the futility of it. +The <i>Arethusa</i> was sucked down into +the sea as though it had been a tiny +chip. I saw the water rising to the +rail, and I think I cried out again. +The ship tilted and I felt myself falling. +The next thing I knew was when +I was in the hospital and was told that +I had been raving for a week. I was +afraid to tell my story for fear I would +be put in an asylum, so I kept a tight +tongue in my head until I was discharged.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dr. Bird</span> mused for a moment as +the seaman’s voice stopped.</p> +<p>“You cried out all right, Mr. Mitchell,” +he said. “You gave two distinct +shouts, both of which were heard by +the watch on the <i>Wren</i>, the Coast +Guard cutter. They reported that at +1:30, the <i>Arethusa</i> sank without warning. +As soon as he heard your shouts, +the watch gave the alarm and the crew +piled on deck. The <i>Arethusa</i> was gone +completely and the <i>Wren</i> was tossing +about like ‘a chip in a whirlpool’ as +they graphically described it. The +<i>Wren</i> had steam up and they fought +the waves and steamed over your anchoring +ground looking for survivors, +but they found none. The sea gradually +subsided and they did the only +thing they could do—dropped a buoy, +to guide the salvage people, and +radioed for assistance. The <i>Robin</i> +came out and joined them, and both +cutters stood by until daylight, but +nothing unusual was seen. The insurance +people are trying to salvage the +wreck now, but so far they have made +little headway.”</p> +<p>“That brings me to the rest of the +story, the part that made me decide to +come to you, Doctor,” said the seaman. +“Did you see what happened to the +divers yesterday?”</p> +<p>Dr. Bird nodded.</p> +<p>“I saw a brief account of it,” he said. +“It seems that two of them were lost +through their lines getting fouled and +their air connections severed in some +way. I don’t believe the bodies have +been recovered yet.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_341' name='page_341'></a>341</span></div> +<p>“They never will be recovered, Doctor. +I was discharged from the hospital +yesterday and the papers were +just out with an account of it. I went +down to the dock where the <i>John +MacLean</i>, the salvage ship, ties up, +and I talked to Captain Starley who +commands it. I have known him casually +for some years, although not intimately, +and he gave me a few more +details than the press got. He didn’t +connect me up at first with the Mitchell +who was reported lost on the <i>Arethusa</i>.</p> +<p>“The first man to go down from the +<i>MacLean</i> was Charley Melrose, an expert +diver. He went down in a pressure +outfit to the bottom and started to +work. Everything was going along +fine until the telephone suddenly rang +and the man who answered it heard +him say, ‘Raise me, for God’s sake! +Hurry!’ The signal for raising was +given, but they hadn’t got him more +than thirty feet from the bottom before +there came a tug on the line and +he was gone! The air line, the lifting +cable and the telephone cord floated +free and were reeled in. Melrose had +been plucked off the end of that line +as you or I would pluck off a grape.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dr. Bird</span> leaned forward with the +curious glitter again in his eye.</p> +<p>“Go on,” he said tersely.</p> +<p>“Blake, the other diver, donned a +suit and insisted on being lowered at +once. Starley tried to dissuade him +but he insisted on going down. They +lowered him over the side with a +twelve-foot steel-shod pike in his hand. +He never got to the bottom. He had +not been lowered more than a hundred +feet when a scream came over the +telephone, and again there was a jerk +on the lines which threatened to wreck +the reel—and the line came aboard +with no diver on the end of it. At the +same time, Starley told me, the sea +boiled and churned as though the +whole bottom were coming up, and his +ship was tossed about as though it +were in a violent storm, although it +was calm enough for forty fathom salvage +work and that is pretty quiet, you +know. Half the time his screws were +out of water and he had a hard time to +keep from being capsized. He fought +his way out of the disturbed area, and +as soon as he did, it started to quiet +down, and in ten minutes it was calm +again.</p> +<p>“Starley was pretty badly shaken +and besides he had lost both of his +divers, so he came in and I saw him at +the dock. When I heard his yarn, I +took him into my confidence and told +him what I had seen and that I proposed +coming to you and asking your +advice. I was afraid until I heard his +story that it was merely a vision that +I had had, but it certainly was no +vision that plucked those two divers +off their lines.”</p> +<p>“Has Captain Starley told that +story to anyone else yet?”</p> +<p>“No, Doctor, he hasn’t. He promised +not to talk until after I had seen you. +I’ll vouch for him; he’ll keep his word +through anything; and he is keeping +his whole crew on board until he hears +from me.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dr. Bird</span> sprang to his feet.</p> +<p>“Mr. Mitchell,” he said energetically, +“you have shown excellent +judgment. Wire Captain Starley that +you have seen me and that he is to +hold his crew on board and to talk to +no one until I get there. Carnes, telephone +the Chief of Naval Operations +and ask him to receive me in conference +at once. Have him get the Secretary +of the Navy in, too, if he is available. +When you have finished that, +telephone Bolton that you will be +away from Washington indefinitely.”</p> +<p>“I’ll telephone Admiral Buck for +you, Doctor, but I don’t dare telephone +any such message to Bolton; he’d take +my head off. He has been running the +whole service ragged lately, and this +is my first afternoon off duty in a +fortnight.”</p> +<p>“What’s the trouble, a flood of new +counterfeits?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_342' name='page_342'></a>342</span></div> +<p>“No, the counterfeit division is getting +along all right. In point of fact, +they have lent us a dozen men. The +trouble is a sudden big increase in +Communist activity throughout the +country, with the Young Labor party +behind it. Bolton has been pretty +jumpy since that Stokowski affair last +August and he is afraid of another +attempt of some sort on the President.”</p> +<p>“The Young Labor party? I thought +that gang was bankrupt and out of +business, since the Coast Guard broke +up their alien smuggling scheme.”</p> +<p>“They were down and out for a +while, but they are in funds again—and +how! They must have three or +four millions at least.”</p> +<p>“Where did they get it?”</p> +<p>“That’s what we have been trying to +find out. The leaders have presented +bars of gold to a dozen banks throughout +the country and demanded specie. +The banks shipped the gold to the +mint and it was good gold, nine hundred +and twenty-five fine. What we +are trying to find out is how that gold +got into the United States.”</p> +<p>“A shipment of that size should be +easy to trace.”</p> +<p>“It would seem so, but it hasn’t +been. We have accounted for every +pound of every shipment that has +come in through a port of entry, and +we have checked almost that close on +the output of every mine in the United +States. If the gold came from Russia, +it would have had to cross Europe, and +we can’t get any trace of it from +abroad. It looks as though they were +<i>making</i> it.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dr. Bird</span> rubbed his head thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Possible, but hardly probable,” he +said. “How much did you say they +had?”</p> +<p>“Over three millions in thirty-pound +bars. Each bar shows signs of having +a mint mark chiselled off, but that +don’t help much for they have done +too good a job. It has us pretty well +bluffed.”</p> +<p>Again Dr. Bird rubbed his head.</p> +<p>“Telephone Admiral Buck, and then +phone Bolton and tell him exactly +what I told you to: that you will +be away indefinitely. When he gets +through exploding, tell him that you +are going with me and that possibly, +just barely possibly, we might be on +the trail of that gold shipment.”</p> +<p>“On the trail of the gold!” gasped +Carnes. “Surely, Doctor, you don’t +think—”</p> +<p>“Once in a while, old dear,” replied +the Doctor with a chuckle, “which is +more than anyone in the Secret Service +does. You might tell Bolton that +I said that, but hang up quickly if you +do. I don’t want the wires of my telephone +melted off. No, Carnesy, I have +no miraculous inspiration as to where +that gold is coming from; I just have +a plain old-fashioned hunch, and that +hunch is that we are going to have lots +of fun and more than our share of +danger before we see Washington +again. After you get through bearding +Bolton in his den, you might call +the Chief of the Air Corps and ask +him to have a bomber held at Langley +Field subject to my orders. If he +squawks any, I’ll talk to him.”</p> +<p>He turned to a telephone which +stood on his desk and lifted the receiver.</p> +<p>“Get Mr. Lambertson on the wire,” +he said. “He is the chief technician +of the Pyrex Glass Works at Corning, +New Jersey.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> <i>U.S.S. Minneconsin</i> steamed +out of New York harbor and +headed down toward the lower bay. +On her forward deck rested a huge +globe. The bottom quarter of the +sphere was made of some dark opaque +substance but the upper portion was +transparent as crystal. Through the +walls could be seen a quantity of apparatus +resting on the opaque bottom +portion. Two mechanics from the Bureau +of Standards were making final +adjustments of one of the pieces of +apparatus, which resembled a tank +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_343' name='page_343'></a>343</span> +fitted with a piston geared to an electric +motor. From the tank, tubes ran +to four hollow pipes, an inch and a +half in diameter, which ran through +the skin and extended thirty inches +from the outer skin of the twenty-foot +sphere. Dr. Bird stood near talking +with the executive officer of the ship +and from time to time giving a brief +word of direction to the mechanics.</p> +<p>“It’s safer than you might think, +Commander,” he said. “In the first +place, that globe is not made of ordinary +glass; it is made of vitrilene, a +new semi-malleable glass which was +developed at the Bureau and which is +being made on an experimental scale +for us by the Pyrex people. It is much +stronger than ordinary glass, and is +not sensitive to shock. It is also perfectly +transparent to ultra-violet light, +being superior even to rock crystal or +fused quartz in that respect. The +walls, as you have noticed, are four +inches thick, and I have calculated that +the ball will stand a uniform external +pressure of thirty-five hundred atmospheres, +the pressure which would be +encountered at a depth of about twenty +miles. I believe that it will stand a +squeeze of six thousand tons without +buckling, and it is impossible to fracture +it by shock. It could be dropped +from the top of the Woolworth Building, +and it would just bounce.”</p> +<p>“It seems incredible that it could +stand such a pressure as you have +named.”</p> +<p>“My figures are conservative ones. +Lambertson calculated them even higher, +but we allowed for the fact that +this is the first large mass of the material +to be cast, and lowered them.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>B</span><span class='dcap'>ut</span> suppose your lifting cable +should break?” objected the +naval officer. “The outfit weighs a +good many tons.”</p> +<p>“You notice that the lower quarter is +made of lead. The specific gravity of +the entire globe when sealed up tight +with two men in it is only a little more +than unity. In the water its weight +is so little that a three-inch manilla +hawser would raise it, let alone a steel +cable. I have another safety device. +Granted that the cable should snap, I +can detach the lead from it and it +would shoot to the surface like a +rocket.”</p> +<p>“How long can you remain under +water in it?”</p> +<p>“A week, if necessary. I have an +oxygen tank and a carbon dioxide removing +apparatus which will keep the +air in good condition. The globe is +electrically lighted, and can be heated +if necessary. Should my telephone +line become fouled and broken, I have +a radio set which will enable me to +communicate with you. I can’t see +that it is especially dangerous; not +nearly as much so as a submarine.”</p> +<p>“What is your object in going down, +if I may ask?”</p> +<p>“To take pictures and to explore the +wreck if we can. The globe is equipped +with huge floodlights and excellent +cameras. The salvage people are having +a little trouble and we are trying +to help them out.”</p> +<p>“You mentioned exploring. Can you +leave the globe while it is under +water?”</p> +<p>“Yes. There is a locking device for +doing so. A man in a diving suit can +enter the lock and fill it with water. +Once the external pressure is released +he can open the outer door and step +out. Coming back, he seals the outer +door and the man inside blows out the +lock and compressed air and then the +inner door can be opened. It is the +same principle as a torpedo tube.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A jangle</span> of bells interrupted +them and the <i>Minneconsin</i> +slowed down. Commander Lawrence +stepped to the rail and gave a sharp +order to the navigating officer on the +bridge. The bells jangled again and +the ship’s engines stopped.</p> +<p>“We are almost over the buoy, Doctor,” +he said.</p> +<p>Dr. Bird nodded and spoke to the +two mechanics. With a few final +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_344' name='page_344'></a>344</span> +touches to the apparatus they emerged +from the globe and Dr. Bird entered.</p> +<p>“Come on, Carnes,” he called. “No +backing out at the last minute.”</p> +<p>Carnes stepped forward with a sickly +smile and joined the Doctor in the +huge sphere.</p> +<p>“All right, boys; close her up.”</p> +<p>The mechanics swung the outer door +into place with a crane. Both the edge +of the door and the surface against +which it fitted had been ground flat +and were in addition faced with soft +rubber. Bolts were fastened in the +door which passed through holes in the +main sphere, and Dr. Bird spun nuts +onto them and tightened them with a +heavy wrench. He and Carnes lifted +the smaller inner door into place and +bolted it tight. Dr. Bird stepped to +the telephone.</p> +<p>“Lower away,” he directed.</p> +<p>From a boom attached to the <i>Minneconsin’s</i> +forward fighting top, a huge +steel cable swung down, and the latch +at the end of the cable was closed over +a vitrilene ring which was fastened to +the top of the sphere. The cable tightened +and the globe with the two men +in it was lifted over the side of the +battleship and lowered gently into the +water. Carnes involuntarily ducked +and threw up his hand as the waters +closed over them. Dr. Bird laughed.</p> +<p>“Look up, Carnes,” he said.</p> +<p>Carnes gasped as he looked up and +saw the surface of the water above +him. Dr. Bird laughed again and +turned to the telephone.</p> +<p>“Lower away,” he said. “Everything +is tight.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> globe descended into the +depths of the sea. Darker and +darker it grew until only a faint twilight +glow filled the sphere. A dark +bulk loomed before them. Dr. Bird +snapped on one of his huge floodlights +and pointed.</p> +<p>“The <i>Arethusa</i>,” he said.</p> +<p>The ill-fated vessel lay on her side +with a huge jagged hole torn in her +fabric amidships.</p> +<p>“That’s where her boilers burst,” +explained the Doctor. “Luckily we +have a hard bottom to deal with. Let’s +see if we can locate any of Mitchell’s +sea serpents.”</p> +<p>He turned on other flood lights and +swept the bottom of the sea with them. +The huge beams bored out into the +water for a quarter of a mile, but nothing +unusual was to be seen. Dr. Bird +turned his attention again to the wreck.</p> +<p>“Things look normal from this side,” +he said after a prolonged scrutiny. +“I’ll have the <i>Minneconsin</i> steam +around it while we look it over.”</p> +<p>In response to his telephone orders +the ship above them swung around the +wreck in a circle, and Carnes and the +Doctor viewed each side in turn. But +nothing of a suspicious nature made +its appearance. The sphere stopped +opposite the hole in the side and +Dr. Bird turned to Carnes.</p> +<p>“I’m going to put on a diving suit +and explore that wreck,” he said. “If +there ever was any danger, it isn’t apparent +now; and I can’t find out anything +until I get inside.”</p> +<p>“Don’t do it, Doctor!” cried Carnes. +“Remember what happened to the +other divers!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>W</span><span class='dcap'>e</span> don’t know what happened +to them, Carnes. No matter +what it was, there is no danger apparent +right now, and I’ve got to get into +that ship before I can get any real information. +We could have lowered an +under-sea camera and learned as much +as we have so far.”</p> +<p>“Let me go instead of you, Doctor.”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry to refuse you, old dear, +but frankly, I wouldn’t trust your +judgment as to what you had seen if +you went alone; and we can’t both go.”</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>“If we both went, who would work +the air to let us back in? No, this is +a one-man job and I’m the one to do it. +While I am gone, keep a sharp lookout, +and if you see anything unusual call +me at once.”</p> +<p>“How can I call you?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_345' name='page_345'></a>345</span></div> +<p>“On this small radio phone. A pair +of receivers tuned to the right wave-length +are in my diving helmet, and I +will be able to hear you although I +can’t reply. I won’t be gone long: +I have only a small air tank, large +enough to keep me going for thirty +minutes. Now help me into my suit +and keep a sharp watch. A timely +warning may save my life if anything +happens.”</p> +<p>With Carnes’ assistance, Dr. Bird +donned a deep-sea diving outfit and +screwed down the helmet. He crawled +through the inner door into the lock +and lifted the inner door into place. +Carnes fastened the door with nuts +and the Doctor opened a pair of +valves in the outer door and filled the +lock with water. He removed the +outer door; and, taking in one hand +a steel-shod twelve-foot pike with a +hook on the end, and in the other a +waterproof flashlight, he sallied forth. +As he left the shell he paused for a +moment, and then returned and picked +up the heavy wrench with which he +had removed the nuts holding the outer +door into place. He fastened the tool +to the belt of his suit. Then, with a +wave of his hand toward the detective, +he approached the hulk.</p> +<p>The hole in the side was too high +for him to reach, but he hooked the +end of his pike in one of the joints of +the <i>Arethusa’s</i> plates and climbed +slowly and painfully up the side of the +vessel. As he disappeared into the +hull, Carnes realized with a sudden +start that he had been watching his +friend and neglecting the duty imposed +on him of keeping a sharp +watch. He turned quickly to the floodlights +and searched the sea bottom.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Nothing</span> appeared, and the minutes +moved as slowly as hours +should. Carnes felt that he had been +submerged alone for weeks, and his +nerves grew so tense that he felt that +he would scream in another instant. +A sudden thought sobered him like a +dash of cold water. If he screamed, +Dr. Bird would take it for an alarm +signal and possibly be afraid to emerge +from the vessel. His watch showed +him that the Doctor had been gone for +twenty-five minutes and he moved +slowly to the radio transmitter.</p> +<p>“Dr. Bird,” he said slowly and distinctly, +“you have been gone nearly +thirty minutes. Nothing alarming has +appeared but I will feel better when I +see you coming back.”</p> +<p>He glued his eyes on the opening in +the ship’s side and waited. Five minutes +passed, and then ten, with no +signs of the Doctor. Carnes moved +again to the receiver.</p> +<p>“It has been over half an hour. Doctor,” +he cried in a pleading voice. “If +you are all right, for God’s sake show +yourself. I am frantic with worry.”</p> +<p>Another five minutes passed, and the +sweat dripped in a steady stream from +the detective’s chin. Suddenly he gave +a sob of relief and sank back against +the side of the globe. A bulky figure +showed at the edge of the hole, and +Dr. Bird climbed slowly and heavily +out of the hold and dropped to the +sea bottom. He lay prone for a moment +before he rose and made his way +with evident effort toward the sphere. +He entered the compartment and with +a heroic effort lifted the outer door +into place, and feebly and with fumbling +fingers placed nuts on the bolts. +His hands wandered uncertainly toward +the valves and closed the upper +one. He waved his hand toward Carnes +and sank in a heap on the floor of the +lock.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>With</span> trembling hands Carnes +connected the air and opened +the valve. Air flowed into the lock +and the water was gradually forced +out. When the lock was empty, he +waited for Dr. Bird to close the outer +valve but the Doctor did not move. +Carnes tore at the bolts which held +the inner door and threw his weight +against it. It held against his assault, +and he thought frantically. An inspiration +came to him, and he disconnected +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_346' name='page_346'></a>346</span> +the air valve. With a whistling +rush, the air from the lock rushed into +the sphere and he forced open the +inner door. A stream of sea water +drove against his feet through the open +valve, and he reached for the valve to +close it. The force of the water held +it open for a moment, but he threw +every ounce of his strength into the +effort. The valve slowly closed.</p> +<p>It was beyond his strength to haul +the heavy Doctor with his pressure +diving suit through the restricted confines +of the inner door, so Carnes +wormed his way into the lock and with +trembling fingers unscrewed the helmet +of the Doctor’s diving suit. The +helmet clanged to the floor and Carnes +scooped up his hands full of water and +dashed it into the Doctor’s face. There +was no response and he was at his +wit’s end. He sprang for the radio to +order the sphere hauled up when his +glance fell on the oxygen tank. It +took him only a moment to connect a +rubber hose to the tank, and in a few +seconds a blast of the life-giving gas +was blowing into the scientist’s face. +Dr. Bird gave a convulsive gasp or +two and opened his eyes.</p> +<p>“Shut off the juice, Carnes,” he said +faintly. “Too much of that’s bad.”</p> +<p>Carnes shut off the oxygen and Dr. +Bird struggled to a sitting position +and inhaled deep breaths.</p> +<p>“That was a narrow squeak, old +dear,” he said faintly. “Give me a hand +and I’ll climb in.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>With</span> the detective’s aid he +climbed into the sphere and +Carnes fastened the inner door. Slowly +the Doctor rid himself of the diving +suit and lay prone on the floor, his +breath still coming in gasps.</p> +<p>“Thanks for your warning about the +time, Carnes,” he said. “I knew that +my air supply was running short but +I was caught down there and couldn’t +readily free myself. I thought for a +while that my time had come, but it +wasn’t so written. By the looks of +things, I freed myself just in time.”</p> +<p>“Did you find out anything?” asked +the detective eagerly.</p> +<p>“I did,” replied Dr. Bird grimly. +“For one thing, the gold is no longer +in the hold of the <i>Arethusa</i>.”</p> +<p>“It’s gone?”</p> +<p>“Clean as a whistle, every bar of it. +A hole has been cut in the vault around +the combination, and the bars slid back +and the door opened. The gold has +been stolen.”</p> +<p>“Might it not have been stolen before +the vessel sank?”</p> +<p>“The idea occurred to me of course, +and I examined things pretty carefully. +I know that the theft occurred +after the vessel sank.”</p> +<p>“How could you tell?”</p> +<p>“For one thing, the hole was cut +with an under-water cutting torch. +For the second, look here.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> Doctor rolled up his trousers +and showed the detective his leg. +Carnes cried out as he saw huge purple +welts on it.</p> +<p>“What caused that?” he cried.</p> +<p>“As I entered the vault, I stepped +full into a steel bear trap which was +set there for the purpose of catching +and holding anyone who entered. Someone +has visited the <i>Arethusa</i>, since she +sank, and looted her, and also arranged +so that any diver who got as far as the +vault would never return to the surface +to tell of it. Luckily for myself, I carried +a heavy wrench and was able to +free myself. Most divers don’t carry +such a thing.”</p> +<p>“But who could have done it?”</p> +<p>“That’s what we have got to find out, +and we aren’t going to do it down +here. Give the word to have us hauled +up; and, Carnes, don’t mention anything +about the looting of the vessel. +Allow it to be understood that I +couldn’t get into the hold. We’ll head +back for New York at once. I want to +have a few small changes made in this +sphere before we use it again. While +I am doing that, I want you to get hold +of the Coast Guard or the Immigration +Service or whoever it is that has the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_347' name='page_347'></a>347</span> +complete records in that case of alien +smuggling, by the Young Labor party. +When you get the information, report +to me and we’ll go over it. You might +also drop a hint to Captain Starley +that will stop all further attempts at +salvage operations for a few days. +Tell him that I’ll arrange to have a +Coast Guard cutter guard the locality +of the wreck.”</p> +<p>“Won’t that be rather risky for the +cutter?”</p> +<p>“I think not. The gold is gone and +there is no reason to apprehend any +further danger in that locality, at least +for the present.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> nine o’clock next morning Carnes +and Dr. Bird sat in the office +of Lieutenant Commander Minden of +the United States Coast Guard, listening +intently to the history of the alien +smuggling case. Commander Minden +was saying:</p> +<p>“Their boats would load up and +clear ostensibly for Rio de Janeiro or +some other South American port, but +once they were in the Atlantic, they +would alter their course and head from +the Massachusetts coast. Of course, +we had no right to interfere with them +on the high seas, and they never came +closer than fifty miles of our coast line. +When they got that close, they would +cruise slowly back and forth for a few +days and then steam away south to the +port they had cleared for. When they +got there, of course there were no passengers +on board.</p> +<p>“We patrolled the coast carefully +while they were around but we never +got any indication of any landing of +aliens and yet we knew they were being +landed in some way. We drew +lines so close that a cork couldn’t get +by without being seen and we even had +the air patrolled, but with no results. +Eventually the air patrol was the thing +that gave them away.</p> +<p>“They had been operating so successfully +that they evidently got careless +and started a load off late in the +night so they didn’t reach the coast by +dawn. A Navy plane was flying along +the coast-line about twelve miles off +when they spotted a submarine running +parallel with the coast, headed +north. It didn’t look like an American +craft and they went on and radioed +Washington and found that we had no +under-sea craft in that neighborhood. +They returned to their patrol and followed +the sub for a matter of thirty +or forty miles up the coast, and then +it turned in right toward the shore. +The shore line there is rocky, and, at +the point where the sub was heading, +it falls sheer about two hundred +fathoms. The sub ran right at the +cliff and disappeared from view.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Lieutenant Commander +Minden</span> paused impressively. +Carnes and Dr. Bird set forward in +their chairs, for it was evident that the +crux of the story was at hand.</p> +<p>“When the plane reported what they +had seen, we knew how those aliens +were being landed. The point where +the sub went in gave us a good idea of +the location of their base and we threw +a cordon of men around and searched. +A Navy sub was sent to the scene and +they reported that there was a tunnel +opening into the rock, about a hundred +fathoms under water, running for they +had no idea how far under the land. +They stayed to guard the hole while +we combed the land. It took us a week +to locate the place, but we traced some +truck loads of food and finally found +it. This tunnel ran under the land for +a mile and then ended in a large cave +underground. The Young Labor party +had established a regular receiving +depot there, and took the aliens from +the sub and kept them for a day or +two until they had a chance to load +them into trucks and run them into +Boston or some other town in the +night.</p> +<p>“Once we had the place spotted, we +sent a gang in and captured the whole +works without any trouble. The underground +cavern had no natural opening +to the surface, but one had been made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_348' name='page_348'></a>348</span> +by blasting. We captured the whole +lot and then sealed the end of the hole +with rock and concrete. That was the +end of the affair.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Commander; you have +given us a very graphic description of +it. I suppose you could find the entrance +which was sealed up?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>E</span><span class='dcap'>asily</span>. I led the raiding party. +I forgot to mention one blunder +we made. Evidently some word of +our plans leaked out, for the sub which +was guarding the outer end of the tunnel +was called away by a radio message +supposed to be from the Navy Department. +It had gone only a short distance, +however, when the commander +smelled a rat and made his way back. +He was too late. He was just in time +to see the sub emerge from the hole +and head into the open sea. He gave +chase, but the other sub was faster +than the Navy boat and it got clear +away. The leader of the gang must +have been on it, for we didn’t get him.”</p> +<p>“Who was the leader?”</p> +<p>“From some records we captured, his +name was Ivan Saranoff. I never saw +him.”</p> +<p>“Saranoff?” said Dr. Bird thoughtfully. +“The name seems familiar. +Where have I—Thunder! I know +now. He was at one time a member of +the faculty of St. Petersburg. He was +one of the leading biologists of his +time. Carnes, we’ve found our man.”</p> +<p>“If you are thinking of Saranoff, I +am afraid you are mistaken, Doctor,” +said Commander Minden. “Neither he +nor his submarine have ever been heard +of since and it has been generally conceded +that they were lost at sea. We +had some pretty rough weather just +after that affair.”</p> +<p>“Rough weather doesn’t mean much +to a sub, Commander. I expect that +he’s our man. At any rate, the place +we want to go is the end of that +tunnel.”</p> +<p>“I’m at your service, Doctor.”</p> +<p>“Carnes, get the location of that tunnel +entrance from Commander Minden +and order the <i>Minneconsin</i> to proceed +north along the coast to that vicinity +and stand by for radio orders. I am +going to telephone Mitchell Field and +get a plane. We have no time to lose.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> plane from Mitchell Field +roared down to a landing, and +Carnes, Dr. Bird and Commander Minden +dismounted from the rear cockpit +and looked around. They had landed +in a smooth field at the base of a rise +almost rugged enough to be called a +mountain. A group of three men were +standing near them as they got out of +the plane. One of the men approached.</p> +<p>“Dr. Bird?” asked the newcomer. +“I am Tom Harron, United States +Marshal. These two men are deputies. +I understand that I am to report to +you for orders.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad to know you, Mr. Harron. +This is Operative Carnes of the Secret +Service and Commander Minden of the +Coast Guard. We are going to explore +an underground cavern that is located +in this vicinity.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean the one where they +used to smuggle aliens? That is closed +up. I was in charge of that work and +we closed it tight as a drum two years +ago.”</p> +<p>“Can you find the entrance?”</p> +<p>“Sure. It isn’t over a mile from +here.”</p> +<p>“Lead the way, then. We want to +take a look at it.”</p> +<p>The marshal led the way toward the +eminence and took a path which led +up a gully in its side. He paused for +a moment to take his bearings and then +turned sharply to his left and climbed +part way up the side of the ravine.</p> +<p>“Here it is,” he announced. An expression +of astonishment crossed his +face and he examined the ground +closely. “By Golly, Doc,” he went on +as he straightened up, “this place has +been opened since I left it!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dr. Bird</span> hurried forward and +joined him. The heavy stone and +concrete with which the entrance to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_349' name='page_349'></a>349</span> +the cavern had been sealed were undisturbed, +but in the side of the hill was +set a steel door beside the concrete. +There was no sign of a keyhole or +other means of entering it.</p> +<p>“Was this steel door part of your +work?” asked Carnes.</p> +<p>“No, sir, it wasn’t. We sealed it +solid. That door has been put there +since.”</p> +<p>Dr. Bird closely examined the structure. +He tapped it and went around +the edges and then straightened up +and took a small pocket compass from +his pocket and opened the case. The +needle swung crazily for a moment and +then pointed straight toward the door.</p> +<p>“A magnetic lock,” he exclaimed. +“If we could find the power line it +would be easy to force, but finding that +line might take us a week. At any +rate, we have found out what we were +after. This is their base from which +they are operating. Mr. Harron, I +want you to station a guard armed +with rifles at this door day and night +until I personally relieve you. Remember, +until I relieve you, in person. +Verbal or written orders don’t go. +Capture or kill anyone who tries to +enter or leave the cavern through this +entrance. Just now we’ll find that cavern +more vulnerable from the sea end, +and that is where I mean to attack. +We’ll force that door and explore from +this end later. Commander Minden, +you may stay here with Mr. Harron, +if you like, or you may come with +Carnes and me. We are going on board +the <i>Minneconsin</i>.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> Mitchell Field plane roared +to a take-off and bore south along +the coast. Half an hour of flying +brought them in view of the battleship +steaming at full speed up the coast. +Dr. Bird radioed instructions to the +ship, and an hour later a launch picked +them up from the beach and took them +out. As soon as they were on board +they resumed their progress, and in +two hours the peak that Dr. Bird had +marked as a landmark was opposite.</p> +<p>“Steam in as close to the shore as +you can safely,” he said, “and then +lower us. Once we are down, you will +be guided by our telephoned instructions. +Come on, Carnes, let’s go.”</p> +<p>The detective followed him into the +sphere as the <i>Minneconsin</i> edged up +toward the shore. The huge ball was +lifted from the deck and lowered gently +into two hundred fathoms of water. +It was pitch dark at that depth, and +Dr. Bird switched on one floodlight +and studied the cliff which rose a hundred +yards from them.</p> +<p>“We have missed the place, Carnes,” +he said. “We’ll have them pull us up +a few hundred feet and then steam +along the coast.”</p> +<p>He turned to the telephone and the +sphere rose while the battleship +steamed slowly ahead, the vitrilene +ball following in her wake. For a +quarter of a mile they continued on +their way, and then Dr. Bird halted +the ship.</p> +<p>“What depth are we?” he asked. +“Eighty fathoms? All right, lower us, +please.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> ball sank until it rested on the +sea bottom, and Dr. Bird turned on +two additional floodlights and studied +the surroundings. The bed of the +ocean was literally covered with lobster +and crab shell, with the bones of fish +scattered here and there among them. +A few bones of land animals were +mixed with the debris and Carnes gave +a gasp as Dr. Bird pointed out to him a +diving helmet.</p> +<p>“We are on the right track,” said the +scientist grimly. He stepped to the +telephone and ordered the sphere +raised to one hundred fathoms. The +ship moved forward along the coast +until Dr. Bird again stepped to the +telephone and halted it. Before them +yawned the entrance to the underground +tunnel. It was about two hundred +feet high and three hundred +across, and their most powerful beams +would not penetrate to the end of it. +A pile of debris could be seen on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_350' name='page_350'></a>350</span> +floor of the tunnel and Carnes fancied +that he could see another diving helmet +among the litter. Dr. Bird pointed +toward the side of the cavern.</p> +<p>“See those floodlights fastened to +the cliff so that their beams will sweep +across the mouth of the tunnel when +they are lighted?” he said. “Apparently +the cave is used as a prison and +the light beams are the bars. The +creature is not at home just now or +the bars would be up. My God! Look +at that, Carnes!”</p> +<p>Carnes stared and echoed the Doctor’s +cry of surprise. Clinging to a +shelf of rock which extended out from +the wall of the cavern and half hidden +among the seaweed was a huge marine +creature. It looked like a huge black +slug with rudimentary eyes and mouth. +The thing was fifty feet in length and +fully fifteen feet in diameter. It hung +there, moving sluggishly as though +breathing, and rudimentary tentacles +projecting from one end moved in the +water.</p> +<p>“What is it, Doctor?” asked Carnes +in a voice of awe.</p> +<p>“It is a typical trochosphere of the +giant octopus, the devil fish of Indian +Ocean legend, multiplied a thousand +times,” he replied. “When the octopus +lays its eggs, they hatch out into the +larval form. The free swimming larva +is known as a trochosphere, and I am +positive that that is what we see; but +look at the size of the thing! Man +alive, if that ever developed, I can’t +conceive of its dimensions!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>I</span><span class='dcap'> have</span> seen pictures of a huge +octopus pulling down a ship,” +said Carnes, “but I always fancied they +were imaginary.”</p> +<p>“They are. This monstrosity before +us is no product of nature. A dozen +of them would depopulate the seas in +a year. It is a hideous parody of +nature conceived in the brain of a madman +and produced by some glandular +disturbance. Saranoff spent years in +glandular experimentation, and no +doubt he has managed to stimulate the +thyroid of a normal octopus and produce +a giant. I fancy that the immediate +parent of the thing before us +was of normal size, and so, probably, +are its brothers and sisters. The +phenomenon of giantism of this nature +occurs in alternate generations and +then only in rare instances. Its grandparent +may not be far away, however. +I wish it was safe to use a submarine +to explore that cavern.”</p> +<p>“Why isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Any creature powerful enough to +pull the <i>Arethusa</i> under water would +crush a frail submarine without effort. +Anyway, a Navy sub isn’t built for +under-water exploration like this ball +is. The window space is quite limited +and they aren’t equipped with powerful +floodlights. I would like to be able +to reach that thing and destroy it, but +it can wait until later. The best thing +we can do is to put out our lights and +wait.”</p> +<p>His hand sought the light switch, +and the globe became dark. Only a +tiny glimmer of light came down to +them from the surface, a hundred +fathoms above. In the darkness they +stared into the depths of the sea.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>For</span> an hour they waited and then +Dr. Bird grasped Carnes by the +shoulder and pointed. Far in the distance +could be seen a tiny point of +light. It wavered and winked and at +times disappeared, but it was gradually +approaching them. Dr. Bird stepped +to the telephone and the <i>Minneconsin</i> +moved a hundred yards further from +the shore. The light disappeared again +as though hidden by some opaque body. +Their eyes had become accustomed to +the dim light and they could dimly see +a long snake-like body approach the +globe and then suddenly withdraw.</p> +<p>The light appeared again only a few +hundred yards away. The water +swirled and the sphere swayed drunkenly +as some gigantic body moved past +it with express train speed and entered +the mouth of the cavern. The light +turned toward them and they could see +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_351' name='page_351'></a>351</span> +the dim outlines of a small submarine +on which it was mounted. Another +rush of water came as the object which +had entered the cave started to leave it, +and the light swung around. It bore +on a huge black body, and was reflected +with a red glow from huge eyes, and +the creature backed again into the cave. +Back and forth across the mouth of the +cavern the light played, and the watchers +caught a glimpse of a huge parrot +beak which could have engulfed a +freight car. From the cavern projected +twisting tentacles of gargantuan dimensions, +and red eyes, thirty feet in +diameter, glared balefully at them. For +several minutes the light of the submarine +played across the mouth of the +cave, and then the floodlights on the +cliff sprang into full glow and bathed +the ball and the mouth of the tunnel in +a flood of light.</p> +<p>Before their horrified gaze was an +octopus of a size to make them disbelieve +their eyes. The submarine had +moved up to within a few feet of them, +and the light from it played full on the +ball. The submarine maneuvered in +the vicinity, keeping the ball full in +the beam of its light, and then drew +back. As it did so, the floodlights on +the cliff died out and the beam of the +submarine’s light was directed away +from them. Dr. Bird jumped to the +telephone.</p> +<p>“Head straight out to sea and full +speed ahead!” he shouted. “Don’t try +to pull us in; tow us!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> ball swayed as the <i>Minneconsin’s</i> +mighty engines responded to +his orders and the cliff wall disappeared.</p> +<p>“As long as they know we’re here, we +might as well announce our presence +in good style,” said the doctor grimly +as he closed a switch and threw all of +the sphere’s huge lights into action. +He had turned on the lights just in +time, for even as he did so a mighty +tentacle shot out of the darkness and +wrapped itself around the ball. For a +moment it clung there and then was +withdrawn.</p> +<p>“The thing can’t stand light,” remarked +the doctor as he threw off the +switch. “That sub was herding it like +a cow by the use of a light beam. As +long as we are lighted up we are safe +from attack.”</p> +<p>“Then for God’s sake turn on the +lights!” cried Carnes.</p> +<p>“I want it to attack us,” replied the +doctor calmly. “We have no offensive +weapons and only by meeting an attack +can we harm the thing.”</p> +<p>As he spoke there came a soft whisper +of sound from the vitrilene walls +and they were thrown from their feet +by a sudden jerk. Dr. Bird stumbled +to the switch and closed it, and the ball +was flooded with light. Two arms were +now on them but they were slowly +withdrawn as the lights glared forth. +The huge outlines of the beast could be +seen as it followed them toward the +surface. Its great eyes glared at them +hungrily. The submarine was visible +only as a speck of light in the distance.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> <i>Minneconsin’s</i> speed was picking +up under the urge of her huge +steam turbines, and the ball was nearing +the surface. The sea was light +enough now that they could see for +quite a distance. The telephone bell +jangled and Dr. Bird picked the receiver +from its hook.</p> +<p>“Hello,” he said. “What’s that? You +can? By all means, fire. Yes, indeed, +we’re well out of danger; we must be +thirty or forty feet down. Watch the +fun now,” he went on to Carnes as +he replaced the receiver. “The beast is +showing above the surface and they’re +going to shell it.”</p> +<p>They watched the surface and suddenly +there came a flash of light followed +by a dull boom of sound. The +huge octopus suddenly sank below +them, thrashing its arms about wildly.</p> +<p>“A hit!” shouted Dr. Bird into the +telephone. “Get it again if it shows +up. I want it to get good and mad.”</p> +<p>He turned off the lights in the ball +and the octopus attacked again. The +shell had taught it caution and it kept +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_352' name='page_352'></a>352</span> +well down, but three huge arms came +up from the depths of the sea and +wrapped themselves about the ball. The +forward motion stopped for a moment, +and then came a jerk that threw them +down. The ball started to sink.</p> +<p>“Our cable has parted!” cried the +doctor. “Turn on the lights!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Carnes</span> closed the switch. The +ball was so covered with the huge +tentacles that they could see nothing, +but the light had its usual effect and +they were released. The ball sank toward +the bottom and they could see the +huge cephalopod lying below watching +them. Blood was flowing from a wound +near one of its eyes where the <i>Minneconsin’s</i> +shell had found its mark.</p> +<p>Toward the huge monster they sank +until they lay on the bottom of the +ocean and a few yards from it. In an +instant the sea became opaque and they +could see nothing.</p> +<p>“He has shot his ink!” cried the doctor. +“Here comes the real attack. Strap +yourself to the wall where you can +reach one of the motor switches.”</p> +<p>Through the darkness huge arms +came out and wrapped themselves +around the ball. The heavy vitrilene +groaned under the enormous pressure +which was applied, but it held. The +ink was clearing slightly and they +could see that the sphere was covered +by the arms. The mass moved and the +huge maw opened before them. The +pipes projecting from the sides of the +ball were buried in the creature’s flesh.</p> +<p>“Good Lord, he’s going to swallow +us!” gasped the doctor. “Quick, Carnes, +the motor switch.”</p> +<p>He closed one of them as he spoke, +and the powerful little electric motors +began to hum, forcing forward the piston +attached to the tank connected to +the hollow rods. Steadily the little +motors hummed, and the tank emptied +through the rods into the body of the +giant cephalopod.</p> +<p>“I hope the stuff works fast,” +groaned the doctor as they approached +closer to the giant maw. “I never tried +giving an octopus a hypodermic injection +of prussic acid before, but it ought +to do the business. There’s enough +acid there to kill half New York City.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Carnes</span> blanched as the ball approached +the mouth. One by one +the arms unwound until only one was +holding them and the jaws opened +wider. They were almost in them when +the motion stopped. They could feel a +shudder run through the arm which +held them. For a moment the arm +alternately expanded and contracted, +almost releasing them only to clutch +them again. Another arm came from +the depths and whipped about the ball, +and again the vitrilene groaned at the +pressure which was applied. The arms +were suddenly withdrawn and the ball +started to sink.</p> +<p>“Drop the lead, Carnes!” cried the +doctor. With the aid of the detective +he operated the electric catches which +held the huge mass of lead to the bottom, +and the sphere shot up through +the water like a rocket. It leaped clear +of the water and fell back with a +splash. A half mile away the <i>Minneconsin</i> +was swinging in a wide circle +to head back toward them. They turned +their gaze toward the shore.</p> +<p>As they looked a giant arm shot a +hundred yards up into the air, twisting +and writhing frantically. It disappeared, +and another, and then half a +dozen flashed into the air. The arms +dipped below the surface. A huge +black body reared its bulk free from +the water for a moment, and the sea +boiled as though in a violent storm. +The body sank and again the arms were +thrown up, twisting and turning like a +half dozen huge snakes. The whole +creature sank below the waves and the +ball tossed back and forth, often buried +under tons of water and once tossed +thirty feet into the air by the huge +waves.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A momentary</span> lull came in the +waves. Carnes gave a cry of +astonishment and pointed toward the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_353' name='page_353'></a>353</span> +shore. With an effort, Dr. Bird twisted +himself in his lashing and looked in +that direction. The huge body had +again come to the surface, and three of +the arms were towering into the air. +Grasped in them was a long, black, +cigar-shaped object. As they watched +the object was torn into two parts and +the fragments crushed by the enormous +power of the octopus. Again the arms +writhed in torment, and then they stiffened +out. For a moment they towered +in the air and then slowly sank below +the surface of the sea.</p> +<p>“The cyanide has worked,” cried the +doctor, “and in its last agonies the creature +has turned on its creator and destroyed +him. It is a shame, for Saranoff +was a brilliant although perverted +genius, and besides, I would have liked +to have learned his method. However, +I may find something when we open the +land end and raid the cave; and really, +he was too brilliant a man to hang for +murder. Once we open the cave and I +get any data that is there, my connection +with the case will end. Trailing +down the gold and recovering it is a +routine matter for Bolton, and one in +which he won’t need my help.”</p> +<p>“What about that creature we saw in +the cave, Doctor? Won’t it hatch into +another terror of the sea like the thing +that destroyed the ship?”</p> +<p>“The trochosphere? No, I’m not worried +there. It won’t try to leave the +cave for some days yet, and by that +time we’ll have the land end opened +and the floodlights turned on. They +will keep it there and it will starve to +death. We could send down a sub to +feed it a torpedo, but there’s no need. +Nature will dispose of it. Meanwhile, +I hope the <i>Minneconsin</i> rigs up a jury +tackle pretty soon and takes us on +board. I’m getting seasick.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div class="adbox"> +<p class='ad1'><i>IN THE NEXT ISSUE</i></p> +<p>THE FIFTH-DIMENSION CATAPULT</p> +<p><i>A Novelette of an Extraordinary Interdimensional Rescue</i><br /> +<i>By</i> Murray Leinster</p> +<hr class='mini' /> +<p>THE GATE TO XORAN</p> +<p><i>A Thrilling Story of a Metal Man’s Visit to Earth</i><br /> +<i>By</i> Hal K. Wells</p> +<hr class='mini' /> +<p>THE EYE OF ALLAH</p> +<p><i>A Story of the Tracking Down of a Mysterious Scientific Killer</i><br /> +<i>By</i> C. D. Willard</p> +<hr class='mini' /> +<p>THE PIRATE PLANET</p> +<p><i>Part Three of the Outstanding Current Novel</i><br /> +<i>By</i> Charles W. Diffin</p> +<hr class='mini' /> +<p>——<i>AND OTHERS</i>!</p> +</div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_354' name='page_354'></a>354</span> +<a name='GRAY_DENIM_BY_HARL_VINCENT' id='GRAY_DENIM_BY_HARL_VINCENT'></a> +<h2>Gray Denim</h2> +<p><i>By Harl Vincent</i></p> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/354.jpg' alt='' title='' width='479' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +<i>There came a stabbing pencil of light from over Karl’s shoulder.</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Beneath</span> the huge central arch +in Cooper Square a meeting +was in progress—a gathering +of the gray-clad workers of the +lower levels of New York. Less than +two hundred of their number were in +evidence, and these huddled in dejected +groups +around the pedestal +from which a +fiery-tongued orator +was addressing +them. Lounging negligently at the +edge of the small crowd were a dozen +of the red police.</p> +<p class='sidebarright'>The blood of the Van Dorn’s ran in Karl’s +veins. He rode the skies like an avenging +god.</p> +<p>“I tell you, comrades,” the speaker +was shouting, “the time has come when +we must revolt. We must battle to the +death with the wearers of the purple. +Why work out +our lives down +here so they can +live in the lap of +luxury over our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_355' name='page_355'></a>355</span> +heads? Why labor day after day at +the oxygen generators to give them the +fresh air they breathe?”</p> +<p>The speaker paused uncertainly as a +chorus of raucous laughter came to his +ears. He glared belligerently at a +group of newcomers who stood aloof +from his own gathering. Seven or +eight of them there were, and they +wore the gray with obvious discomfort. +Slummers! Well, they’d hear something +they could carry back with them +when they returned to their homes!</p> +<p>“Why,” he continued in rising tones, +“do we sit at the controls of the pneumatic +tubes which carry thousands of +our fellows to tasks equally irksome, +while they of the purple ride their air +yachts to the pleasure cities of the sky +lanes? Never in the history of mankind +have the poor been poorer and the +rich richer!”</p> +<p>“Yah!” shouted a disrespectful voice +from among the newcomers. “You’re +full o’ bunk! Nothing but bunk!”</p> +<p>An ominous murmur swelled from +the crowd and the red police roused +from their lethargy. The mounting +scream of a siren echoed in the vaulted +recesses above and re-echoed from the +surrounding columns—the call for +reserves.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>All</span> was confusion in the Square. +The little group of newcomers +immediately became the center of a +mêlée of dangerous proportions. Some +of the more timid of the wearers of the +gray struggled to get out of the crowd +and away. Others, not in sympathy +with the speaker, rushed to the support +of the besieged visitors. The police +were, for the moment, overwhelmed.</p> +<p>The orator, mad with resentment and +injured pride, hurled himself into the +group. A knife flashed in his hand; +rose and fell. A scream of agony +shrilled piercingly above the din of +the fighting.</p> +<p>Then came the reserves, and the +wielder of the knife turned to escape. +He broke away from the milling combatants +and made speedily for the +shadows that lay beyond the great pillars +of the Square. But he never +reached them, for one of the red guards +raised his riot pistol and fired. There +was a dull <i>plop</i>, and a rubbery something +struck the fleeing man and +wrapped powerful tentacles around his +body, binding him hand and foot in +their swift embrace. He fell crashing +to the pavement.</p> +<p>A lieutenant of the red police was +shouting his orders and the din in the +Square was deafening. With their +numbers greatly augmented, the guards +were now in control of the situation +and their maces struck left and right. +Groans and curses came from the gray-clad +workers, who now fought desperately +to escape.</p> +<p>Then, with startling suddenness, the +artificial sunlight of the cavernous +Square was gone, leaving the battle to +continue in utter darkness.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Cooper Square</span>, in the year +2108, was the one gathering place +in New York City where the wearers +of the gray denim were permitted to +assemble and discuss their grievances +publicly. Deep in the maze of lower-level +ways seldom visited by wearers +of the purple, the grottolike enclosure +bore the name of a philanthropist of +the late nineteenth century and still +carried a musty air of certain of the +traditions of that period.</p> +<p>In Astor Way, on the lowest level of +all, there was a tiny book shop. +Nestled between two of the great columns +that provided foundation support +for the eighty levels above, it was +safely hidden from the gaze of curious +passersby in the Square. Slumming +parties from afar, their purple temporarily +discarded for the gray, occasionally +passed within a stone’s throw of +the little shop, never suspecting the +existence of such a retreat amidst the +dark shadows of the pillars. But to +the initiated few amongst the wearers +of the gray, and to certain of the red +police, it was well known.</p> +<p>Rudolph Krassin, proprietor of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_356' name='page_356'></a>356</span> +establishment, was a bent and withered +ancient. His jacket of gray denim +hung loosely from his spare frame and +his hollow cough bespoke a deep-seated +ailment. Looking out from behind +thick lenses set in his square-rimmed +spectacles, the watery eyes seemed vacant; +uncomprehending. But old Rudolph +was a scholar—keen-witted—and +a gentleman besides. To his many +friends of the gray-clad multitude he +was an anomaly; they could not understand +his devotion to his well-thumbed +volumes. But they listened +to his words of wisdom and, more frequently +than they could afford, parted +with precious labor tickets in exchange +for reading matter that was usually of +the lighter variety.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>When</span> the fighting started in the +Square, Rudolph was watching +and listening from a point of vantage +in the shadows near his shop. This +fellow Leontardo, who was the speaker, +was an agitator of the worst sort. His +arguments always were calculated to +arouse the passions of his hearers; to +inflame them against the wearers of the +purple. He had nothing constructive +to offer. Always he spoke of destruction; +war; bloodshed. Rudolph marveled +at the patience of the red police. +To-day, these newcomers, obviously a +slumming party of youngsters bent on +whatever mischief they could find, were +interfering with the speaker. The old +man chuckled at the first interruption. +But at signs of real trouble he scurried +into the shadows and vanished in the +blackness of first-level passages known +only to himself. He knew where to +find the automatic sub-station of the +Power Syndicate.</p> +<p>Returning to the darkness he had +created in the Square, he was relieved +to find that the sounds of the fighting +had subsided. Apparently most of the +wearers of the gray had escaped. He +skirted the avenue of pillars along Astor +Way, feeling his way from one to +another as he progressed toward his +little shop. Peering into the blackness +of the square he saw the feeble beams +of several flash-lamps in the hands of +the police. They were searching for +survivors of the fracas, maces and riot +pistols held ready for use. A sobbing +gasp from close by set his pulses throbbing. +He crept stealthily in the direction +from which the sound had come.</p> +<p>“Steady now,” came a whispered +voice. “My uncle’s shop is close by. +He’ll take you in. Here—let me lift +you.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>There</span> was a shuffling on the opposite +side of the pillar at which +Rudolph had halted; another grunt of +pain.</p> +<p>“Karl!” hissed the old man. It was +his nephew.</p> +<p>“Uncle Rudolph?” came the guarded +response.</p> +<p>“Yes. Can I help you?”</p> +<p>“Quick—yes—he’s fainted.”</p> +<p>The old man was around the huge +base of the column in an instant. He +groped in the darkness and his hands +encountered human bodies.</p> +<p>“Who is it?” he breathed.</p> +<p>“One of the hecklers, Uncle. A +young lad; and of the purple I think. +He’s been knifed.”</p> +<p>Together they dragged the inert +form into the shelter of the long line +of pillars. There was a trampling of +many men in the square. That would +be a second detachment of reserves. A +ray of light filtered through and dancing +shadows of the giant columns made +grotesque outlines against the walls of +the Way. A portable searchlight had +been brought to the scene. They must +hurry.</p> +<p>Impeded by the dead weight of their +burden, they made sorry progress and +several times found it necessary to halt +in the shadow of a pillar while the red +police passed by in their search of the +Square. It was with a sigh of relief +that Rudolph opened the door of his +shop and with still greater satisfaction +closed and bolted it securely. His +nephew shouldered the limp form of +the unconscious youth and carried it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_357' name='page_357'></a>357</span> +to his own bed in one of the rear rooms.</p> +<p>“Ugh!” exclaimed old Rudolph as he +ripped open the young man’s shirt, “it’s +a nasty cut. Warm water, Karl.”</p> +<p>The gaping wound was washed and +bound tightly. Rudolph’s experienced +fingers told him the knife had not +reached a vital spot. The youth would +recover.</p> +<p>“But Karl,” he objected, “he wears +the purple. Under the gray. See! It’ll +get us in trouble if we keep him.”</p> +<p>He was stripping the young man of +his clothing to prepare him for bed. +Suddenly there was revealed on the +white skin a triangular mark. Bright +scarlet it was and just over the right +hip. He made a hasty attempt to hide +it from the watching eyes of Karl.</p> +<p>“Uncle!” snapped his nephew, “—the +mark you call cursed! He has it, too!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> tall young man in gray was on +his knees, tearing the hands of the +old man away. He saw the mark clearly +now. There was no further use of +attempting to conceal it. Rudolph rose +and faced his angered nephew, his +watery eyes inscrutable.</p> +<p>“You told me, Rudolph, that it was +a brand that cursed me. I have seen +it on him, too. You have lied to me.”</p> +<p>The old man’s eyes wavered. He +trembled violently.</p> +<p>“Why did you lie?” demanded Karl. +“Am I not your nephew? Am I not +really cursed as you’ve maintained? +Tell me—tell me!”</p> +<p>He had the old man by the shoulders, +shaking him cruelly.</p> +<p>“Karl—Karl,” begged the helpless +ancient, “it was for your good. I swear +it. You were born to the purple. That’s +what that mark means—not that you’re +degraded to the gray, as I said. But +there’s a reason. Let me explain.”</p> +<p>“Bah! A reason! You’ve kept me +in this misery and squalor for a reason! +Who’s my father?”</p> +<p>He flung Rudolph to the floor, where +the old man crouched in apprehensive +misery.</p> +<p>“Please Karl—don’t! I can explain. +Just give me time. It’s a long story.”</p> +<p>“Time! Time! For twenty-odd +years you’ve lied to me; cheated me. +My birthright—where is it?”</p> +<p>He menaced his supposed uncle; was +about to strike him. Then suddenly +he was ashamed. He turned on his +heel.</p> +<p>“I’m leaving,” he said shortly.</p> +<p>“Karl—my boy,” begged Rudolph +Krassin, struggling to his feet. “You +can’t! That lad in there—he—”</p> +<p>But Karl was too angry to reason.</p> +<p>“To hell with him!” he raged, “and +to hell with you! I’m through!”</p> +<p>He stamped from the room and out +into the eery shadows of the Way. +Karl was done with his old life. He’d +go to the upper levels and claim his +rights. Some day, too, he’d punish the +man who’d stolen them away. God! +Born to the purple! To think he’d +missed it all! Probably was kidnaped +by the old rascal he’d been calling uncle. +But he’d find out. Rudolph didn’t +have to explain. Fingerprint records +would clear his name; establish his +rightful station in life. He dived into +a passage that would lead him to one +of the express lifts. He’d soon be +overhead.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A sergeant</span> of the red police +looked up startled from his desk +as a tall youth in the gray denim of +forty levels below appeared before him.</p> +<p>“Well?” he growled. The stalwart +young worker had stared belligerently +and insolently, he thought.</p> +<p>“I want to check my fingerprint record, +Sergeant.”</p> +<p>“Hm. Pretty cocky, aren’t you? +The records for such as you are down +below, where you belong.”</p> +<p>“Not mine, I think.”</p> +<p>“So? And who the devil are you?”</p> +<p>“That’s what I’m here to find out. +I’ve got a triangle branded on my right +hip.”</p> +<p>“A what?”</p> +<p>“Triangle. Here—look!”</p> +<p>The amazing youngster had raised +his jacket and was pulling at his shirt. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_358' name='page_358'></a>358</span> +The sergeant stared at what was revealed, +his eyes bulging as he looked.</p> +<p>“Lord!” he gasped, “a Van Dorn—in +the gray!”</p> +<p>Quickly he turned to the radiovision +and made rapid connection with several +persons in turn—important ones, +by the appearance of the features of +each in the brilliant disc of the instrument.</p> +<p>Karl was confused by the sudden +turn of things. The sergeant talked +so rapidly he could not catch the sense +of his words. And that name, Van +Dorn, eluded him. He knew he had +heard it before, in the little shop down +there in Astor Way. But he could not +place it. He wished fervently that he +had paid more attention to the desires +of old Rudolph; had studied more and +read the books the old man had begged +him to read. His new surroundings +confused him, too, and he knew that +he was the center of some great new +excitement.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Then</span> they were in the room; two +individuals, one in the red uniform +of a captain of police, the other a +pompous, whiskered man in purple. +Others followed and it seemed to Karl +that the room was filled with them, +strangers all, and they stared at him +and chattered incessantly. He experienced +an overwhelming impulse to run, +but mastered it and faced them boldly.</p> +<p>A square of plate glass was placed +under his outstretched fingers. It was +smeared with something sticky and he +watched the whiskered man as he held +it up to the light and studied the impressions. +Then there was more confusion. +Everyone talked at once and the +pompous one in purple made use of +the radiovision, holding the square of +glass near its disc for observation by +the person he had called. The identification +number was repeated aloud, a +string of figures and letters that were +a meaningless jumble to Karl. The +room became quiet while the police +captain thumbed the pages of a huge +book he had taken from among many +similar ones that filled a rack behind +the desk.</p> +<p>Karl’s blood froze in his veins at the +rumbling swish of a car speeding +through the pneumatic tube beneath +their feet. His nerves were on edge. +Then the captain of police looked up +from the book and there was a peculiar +glint in his eyes as he spoke.</p> +<p>“Peter Van Dorn. Missing since +2085. Wanted by Continental Government. +Ha!”</p> +<p>The words came to Karl’s ears +through a growing sensation of unreality. +It seemed that the speaker was +miles away and that his voice and features +were those of a radiovision likeness. +Wanted by the great power +across the Atlantic! It was unthinkable. +Why, he had been but an infant +in 2085! What possible crime could he +have committed? But the red police +captain was speaking again, this time +in a chill voice. And the room of the +police, thick with the smoke of a dozen +cigars, became suddenly stifling.</p> +<p>“Where have you been these twenty-three +years, Peter Van Dorn?” asked +the captain. “Who have you lived +with, I mean?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Something</span> warned him to protect +old Rudolph. And somehow +he wished he had not treated the old +fellow as he did when he left. His +self-possession returned. A wave of +hot resentment swept over him.</p> +<p>“That’s my affair,” he said defiantly.</p> +<p>The captain shrugged his shoulders. +“Oh, well,” he said, “you needn’t answer—now. +We’ll find out when it’s +necessary. In the meanwhile we’ll +have to turn you over to the Continental +Ambassador.”</p> +<p>Two of the red police advanced toward +him and the rest drew back.</p> +<p>“You mean I’m under arrest?” asked +Karl incredulously.</p> +<p>“Certainly. Of course you’re not to +be harmed.”</p> +<p>One of the guards had him by the +arm and he saw the glint of handcuffs. +They couldn’t do this! If it had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_359' name='page_359'></a>359</span> +for rioting in the Square it would be +different. But this! It meant he was +a prisoner of a foreign government, +for what reason he could not guess. +He lost his head completely.</p> +<p>The captain cried out in amazement +as one of his huskiest guards went +sprawling under a well-planted punch. +This youngster must be as crazy as +was his father before him. But he was +a whirlwind. Before he could be +stopped he had tackled the other guard +and with a mighty heave flung him +halfway across the room where he fell +with a thud that left him dazed and +gasping. The pompous little man in +the purple crawled under the desk as +the sergeant leveled a slender tube at +the young giant in gray.</p> +<p>Karl ducked instinctively at sight of +the weapon, but the spiteful crackle of +its mechanism was too quick for him. +A faintly luminous ray struck him full +in the breast and stopped him in his +tracks. A thrill of intense cold chased +up his spine and a thunderbolt crashed +in his brain. The captain caught his +stiffened body as he fell.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Karl</span>—refusing to think of himself +as Peter Van Dorn—came to +his senses as from a troubled sleep. +His head ached miserably and he +turned it slowly to view his surroundings. +Then, in a flash, he remembered. +The paralyzing ray of the red police! +They never used it in the lower levels; +but overhead—why, the swine! He sat +suddenly erect and glared into a pair +of green eyes that regarded him +curiously.</p> +<p>A quick glance showed him that he +was in a small padded compartment +like that of the pneumatic tube cars. +At one end there was an amazing array +of machinery with glittering levers +and handwheels—a control board on +which numberless tiny lights blinked +and flickered in rapid succession. At +these controls squatted the twisted figure +of a dwarf. A second of the creatures +sat at his side and stared with +those horrible green eyes.</p> +<p>“Lord!” he muttered. “Am I still +asleep?”</p> +<p>“No,” smiled the dwarf, “you’re +awake, Peter Van Dorn.” The misshapen +creature did not seem unfriendly.</p> +<p>“Then where am I, and who are +you?”</p> +<p>“You’re in one of the Zar’s rocket +cars, speeding toward Dorn. We are +but two of the Zar’s servants—Moon +men.”</p> +<p>“Rocket car? Moon men?” Karl was +aghast. He wanted to pinch himself. +But a hollow roar to the rear told him +he was in a rapidly moving vessel of +some sort. Certainly, too, these dwarfs +were not figments of his imagination.</p> +<p>“You’ve been kept completely ignorant?” +asked the dwarf.</p> +<p>“It—it seems so.” Karl was bewildered. +“You mean we are out in the +open—traveling in space—to the Moon +perhaps?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> dwarf laughed. “No, I wish +we were,” he replied. “But we are +about halfway to the capital of the +Continental Empire, greatest of world +powers. We’ll be there in an hour.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t understand.”</p> +<p>“Stupid. Didn’t you ever hear of the +rocket ships that cross the ocean like +a projectile, mounting a thousand miles +from the surface and making the trip +in two hours?”</p> +<p>“No!” Karl was aghast. “Are we +really in such a contraption?” he faltered.</p> +<p>“Say! Are you kidding me?” The +dwarf was incredulous. “Do you mean +to tell me you know so little of your +world as that? Have you never read +anything? The news broadcasts, the +thought exchangers—don’t you follow +them at all?”</p> +<p>Karl shook his head in growing wonder. +Truly Rudolph had kept him in +ignorance. Or was it his own fault? +He had refused to dig into the volumes +old Krassin had begged him to read. +The broadcasts and the thought machines—well, +only those of the purple +had access to those.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_360' name='page_360'></a>360</span></div> +<p>“Hey, Laro!” called the dwarf to his +companion, “this mole is as dumb as +can be. Doesn’t know he’s alive hardly. +And a Van Dorn!”</p> +<p>The two laughed uproariously and +Karl raged inwardly. Mole! So that’s +what they called wearers of the gray! +He clenched his fists and rose unsteadily +to his feet.</p> +<p>“Sorry,” apologized his tormentor. +“Mustn’t get sore now. It seems so +funny to us though. And listen, kid, +you’ll never have another chance to +hear it all. So, if you’ll sit down and +calm yourself a bit I’ll give you an +earful.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Mollified</span>, Karl listened. A +marvelous tale it was, of a disgruntled +scientist of the Eastern Hemisphere +who had conquered that portion +of the world with the aid of the inhabitants +he had found on the outer +side of the Moon; of the scientist who +still ruled the East—Zar of the Continental +Empire. A horrible war—in +2085, the year of his own birth—depopulated +the countries of Asia, Europe +and Africa and reduced them to +subjection. There was no combatting +the destructive rays and chemical warfare +of the Moon men. The United +Americas, still weakened from a civil +war of their own, remained aloof and, +for some strange reason, the Zar left +them in peace, contenting himself with +his conquest of practically all of the +rest of the world. Now, it seemed, the +two major powers were as separate as +if on different planets, there being no +traffic between them save by governmental +sanction; and that was rarely +given.</p> +<p>It grew uncomfortably warm in the +compartment as the rocket car entered +the lower atmosphere but Karl listened +spellbound to the astounding revelations +of the Moon man. There came +a pause in the discourse of the dwarf +as a number of relays clicked furiously +on the control board and the vessel +slackened its speed perceptibly.</p> +<p>“But,” said Karl, thinking aloud +rather than meaning to interrupt, +“what has all this to do with me? Why +does the government of this Zar want +me?”</p> +<p>The dwarf bent close and eyed him +cautiously. “Poor kid!” he whispered, +“it doesn’t seem right that you should +suffer for something that happened +when you were born; something you +know nothing about. But the Zar +knows best. You—”</p> +<p>There came a stabbing pencil of +light from over Karl’s shoulder and +the green eyes of the dwarf went wide +with horrified surprise. He clutched +at his breast where the flame had contacted, +then slowly collapsed in a pitiful, +distorted heap. Karl recoiled from +the odor of putrefaction that immediately +filled the compartment. He +whirled to face the new danger but saw +nothing but the padded walls.</p> +<p>Then they were in darkness save for +the blinking lights of the control board. +He was thrown forward violently and +the piercing screech of compressed air +rushing past the vessel told him they +had entered the receiving tube at their +destination and were being retarded +in speed for the landing. This much +he had gathered from the explanations +of the now silenced dwarf.</p> +<p>Laro, the other Moon man, remained +mute at the controls. His companion +evidently had talked too much.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> vessel had stopped and a section +of the padded rear wall of the +compartment moved back to reveal a +second chamber. There were three +other occupants of the ship and Karl +knew now at whose hands the talkative +Moon man had met his death. One of +the three—all wearers of the purple—still +held the generator of the dazzling +ray in his hands. He decided wisely +that resistance was useless and followed +meekly when he was led from +the ship.</p> +<p>Endlessly they rode upward in a +high-speed lift, dismounting finally at +a pneumatic tube entrance. A special +car whisked them roaring into the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_361' name='page_361'></a>361</span> +blackness. Then they were shot forth +into the open and Karl saw the light of +the sun for the first time in many years. +They were on the upper surface of a +great city, Dorn, the capital of the Continental +Empire.</p> +<p>The air was filled with darting ships +of all sorts and sizes, most of them being +pleasure craft of the wearers of the +purple. To Karl it was the sudden +realization of his dreams. He was one +of them. He, too, should be wearing +the purple. Then his heart sank as +one of his guards prodded him into +action. His dream already was shattered +for they stood at the entrance to +a great crystal pyramid that rose from +the flat expanse of the roofs of Dorn. +It was the palace of the Zar.</p> +<p>It seemed then that fairyland had +opened its gates to the young man in +gray denim. He immediately fell under +its influence when they traversed +a long lane between rows of brightly +colored growing things which filled +the air with sweet odors. Feathered +creatures fluttered about and twittered +and caroled in the sheer joy of being +alive. It was sweeter music than he +had ever believed possible or even +imagined as existing. Again he forgot +the menace of the imperial edict which +had brought him from the other side +of the world.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Then</span> rudely, he was brought back +to earth. He was in the presence of +the mighty Zar and his three escorts +were bowing themselves from the huge +room in which the wizened monarch +sat enthroned. They had finished their +duties.</p> +<p>A shriveled face; beady eyes; trembling +hands with abnormally large +knuckles; a cruel and determined +mouth—these were the features that +most impressed Karl as he stared wordlessly +at this Zar of the Eastern Hemisphere. +The magnificence of the royal +robe was lost on the young wearer of +the gray.</p> +<p>“Well, well, so this is Peter Van +Dorn, my beloved nephew.” The Zar +was speaking and the chilly sarcasm +in which the words were uttered belied +the friendliness they otherwise might +have implied.</p> +<p>“That’s what I’m told,” replied Karl, +“though I didn’t know I’m supposed +to be the nephew of so great a figure +as yourself.”</p> +<p>Not bad that, for an humble wearer +of the gray.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, yes, indeed. Why else +should I have sent for you?”</p> +<p>“I have wondered why—and still +wonder.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you wonder, eh?” The Zar inspected +him carefully and then broke +into a cackle of horrible laughter. “A +Van Dorn in gray denim!” he chortled. +“A mole of the Americas! And to +think that even the Zar has been unable +to find him in all these years!”</p> +<p>“Stop!” bellowed Karl. “I’ll not +have your ridicule. Come to the point +now and have it over with. Kill me +if you will, but tell me the story!” He +had seen the slender tube in the Zar’s +hand.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>An</span> expression of surprise, almost of +admiration, flickered in the beady +eyes of the Zar and was gone. He +spoke coldly.</p> +<p>“Very well, I shall explain. You, +Peter, are actually my nephew. Your +father, Derek Van Dorn, was my brother; +he a king of Belravia and I a poor +but experienced scientist. He scorned +me and he paid, for I learned of the +ancient race of the other side of the +Moon, the side we can not see from +the earth. I went to them and enlisted +their aid in warring upon my brother. +When we returned to carry on this +war I learned that I had a son. So, too, +did Derek. But my son was born in +obscurity and Derek’s son—you, Peter—in +the lap of luxury. The war was +short and, to me, sweet. Belravia was +first to fall, and I had your father removed +from this life by the vibrating +death.”</p> +<p>“You monster!” cried Karl. But the +slender rod menaced him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_362' name='page_362'></a>362</span></div> +<p>“A moment, my hot-headed nephew. +I vowed I’d have your life, Peter, but +your father had a few friends and one +of these spirited you away. So temporarily +you escaped. But now I have +you where I can keep that vow. You, +too, shall die. By the vibration. But +first—ha! ha!—I’ll give you a taste of +the purple. Just so the going will be +harder.”</p> +<p>Karl kept his temper as best he could. +He thought, conscience-stricken, of old +Rudolph, that good friend of his father. +Then he thought of that youth he had +taken from the Square.</p> +<p>“Your son?” he asked gently. “Has +he the triangular brand?”</p> +<p>The Zar was taken aback. “He has, +yes. Why?” he asked.</p> +<p>“I have seen him in the Americas. +He now lies wounded and in peril of +his life. What do you think of that?”</p> +<p>Karl was triumphant as the Zar +paled.</p> +<p>“You lie, Peter Van Dorn!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> the beady eyes saw that the +young man was truthful. Sudden +fury assailed the monarch of the East. +A bell pealed its mellow summons and +three Moon men entered the Presence.</p> +<p>“Quick, Taru—the radiovision! Our +ambassador in the Americas!” The +Zar was on his feet, his hard features +terrible in fear and anger. “By God!” +he vowed, “I’ll lay waste the Americas +if harm has come to my son. And +you”—turning to Karl—“I’ll reserve +for you an even more terrible fate than +the vibrating death!”</p> +<p>The radiovision was wheeled in and +in operation. A frightened face appeared +in its disc: the Zar’s ambassador +across the sea.</p> +<p>“Moreau—my son!” snapped the Zar. +“Where is he?”</p> +<p>“Majesty! Have mercy!” gasped +Moreau. “Paul has eluded us. He was +skylarking—in the lower levels of New +York. But our secret agents are combing +the passages. We’ll have him in +twenty-four hours. I promise!”</p> +<p>The rage of the Zar was terrible to +see. Karl expected momentarily that +the white flame would lay him low, for +the anger of the mad ruler was directed +first at Moreau, then at himself. But a +quick, evil calm succeeded the storm.</p> +<p>“You, Peter,” he stated, in tones suddenly +silky, “shall have that twenty-four +hours—no more. If Moreau has +not produced my son in that time you +shall be dismembered slowly. A finger; +an ear; your tongue; a hand—until you +reveal the whereabouts of the heir to +my throne!”</p> +<p>“Never! You scum!” Karl was on +the dais in a single bound. He had the +Zar by the throat, his fingers twisting +in the flabby flesh. Might as well have +it over at once. “Fratricide—murderer +of my father, I’ll take you with me!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> it was not to be. The throne +room was filled with retainers of +the mad emperor. Strong hands tore +him away and he was borne, struggling +and fighting, to the floor. A sharp pain +in his forearm. A deadening of the +muscles. He was powerless, save for +the painful ability to crawl to his +knees, swaying drunkenly. A delicious +languor overcame him. Nothing mattered +now. He saw that a tall man in +the purple had withdrawn the needle +of the hypodermic and was replacing +the instrument in its case. Ever so +slowly, it seemed.</p> +<p>The Zar was laughing. That horrible +cackle. But Karl didn’t care. +They’d have their sport with him. Let +’em! Then it’d be over. Lord! If +only he had been a little quicker. He’d +have torn the old Zar’s windpipe from +its place!</p> +<p>“My word,” laughed the Zar. “The +sacred word of a Van Dorn. I gave +it. He’ll wear the purple for a day. +Take him from my sight!”</p> +<p>Karl was walking, quite willingly +now. The effects of the drug were +altering. His muscular strength returned +but his mental state underwent +a complete change. Always he’d wanted +a taste of the purple. For years he’d +listened to the orators of the Square, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_363' name='page_363'></a>363</span> +to the conflicting statements of old +Krassin. But now he’d see. He’d know +the joys of the upper levels; the pleasure +cities, perhaps. For one day. But +what did it matter? He found himself +laughing and joking with his companion, +a heavy-set wearer of the purple. +They were in a luxurious apartment. +Servants! Moon men all of +them, but so efficient. They stripped +him of his gray denim; discarded it +contemptuously. Karl kicked the heap +into a corner and laughed delightedly. +His bath was waiting.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Much</span> can happen in a day. +Clothed in the purple, Karl—Peter +Van Dorn, he was, now—expanded. +Turgid emotions surged through +his new being. He was a new man. In +his rightful place. He was delighted +with the companionship of his new +friend of the purple, Leon Lemaire. +An euphonious name! A fine fellow! +Fool that the Zar must be, to leave +him in the care of so amiable a man. +Why, Leon couldn’t hold him! None +of them could. He’d escape them all—if +he wished. Twenty-four hours, +indeed!</p> +<p>They were in the midst of a gay +company. Wine flowed freely, and +Leon had attached to their party a pair +of beautiful damsels, young, and easy +to know. There was music and dancing. +Lights of marvelous color played +over the assemblage in the huge hall, +swaying their senses at the will of some +expert manipulator. Peter was a different +person now. He was exhilarated +to the point of intoxication, but not by +the wine. Somehow he couldn’t bear +the taste of the amber fluid the others +were imbibing with such gusto. The +effects of the drug had left a coppery +taste in his mouth. But no matter! +Rhoda, his lovely companion at the table +leaned close. Her breath was hot +at his throat. He swept her into his +arms. Leon and the other girl laughed +approvingly.</p> +<p>There were many such places in the +upper levels of Dorn and they traveled +from one to another. Now their +party was larger, it having been augmented +by the appearance of other of +Leon’s friends. Fine companions, these +men of the purple, and the women +were incomparable. Especially Rhoda. +They understood one another perfectly +now. It was all as he had pictured it.</p> +<p>Someone proposed that they visit the +intermediate levels. It would be such +a lark to watch the mechanicals. They +made the drop in a lift. A laughing, +riotous party. And Peter was one of +them! He felt that he had known them +for years. Rhoda clung to his arm, and +the languorous glances from under her +long lashes set the blood racing madly +in his veins.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> the levels of the mechanicals they +romped boisterously. To them the +strange robots—creatures of steel and +glass and copper—were objects of ridicule. +Poor, senseless mechanisms that +performed the tasks that made the +wearers of the purple independent of +labor. Here they saw the preparation +of their synthetic food, untouched by +human hands. In one chamber a group +of mechanicals, soulless and brainless, +engaged in the delicate chemical compounding +of raw materials that went +into the making of their clothing. +Here was a nursery, where tiny tots +born to the purple were reared to +adolescence by unfeeling but efficient +mechanical nurses. The mothers of +the purple could not be bothered with +their offspring until they had reached +the age of reason. The whirring machinery +of a huge power plant provided +much amusement for the feminine +members of the party. It was all so +massive; throbbing with energy. But +dirty! Ugh! Lucky the attendants +could be mechanicals.</p> +<p>“We have visited the lower levels,” +whispered Rhoda in his ear, “but not +often. It isn’t pleasant. Ignorant +fools in the gray denim—too many of +them. I don’t know why we permit +their existence. Fools who will not +learn. Education made us as we are, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_364' name='page_364'></a>364</span> +and they won’t take it. Sullen looks +and evil leers are all that they have +for us. Hope nobody suggests going +down there now.”</p> +<p>“Me, too,” said Peter. He had forgotten +that once he was Karl Krassin, +a wearer of the despised gray.</p> +<p>Someone in the party was becoming +restless. They must move on.</p> +<p>“Where to?” asked Peter.</p> +<p>“Sans Dolor, sweet boy. A pleasure +city within a hundred kilometers of +Dorn. You’ll love it, Peter.”</p> +<p>A pleasure city! Fondest dream of +the wearers of the gray! In the dim +past, when he was Karl, he had dreamed +it often. Now he was to visit one!</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> were atop the city now and +the crystal palace of the Zar shimmered +in the sunlight off there across +the flat upper surface of Dorn. But it +seemed so far away that Peter did not +give it a second thought. He was living +in the present.</p> +<p>A swift aero took them into the skies +and they roared out above the wilderness +that was everywhere between the +great cities of earth. Funny nobody +thought of leaving the cities and exploring +the jungles of the outside. +But, of course, it wasn’t necessary. +They had everything they needed within +the cities. All of their wants were +supplied by the mechanicals and by the +few toilers in the gray who still persisted +in ignorance and in some perverse +ideas that they must work in +order to live. Besides, the jungle was +dangerous.</p> +<p>Sans Dolor loomed into view, a great +island floating in the air a thousand +meters above the tossing waters of the +ocean. Peter gave not a thought to the +forces that kept it suspended. Dimly +he recalled certain words of old Rudolph, +words regarding the artificial +emanations that had been discovered as +capable of counteracting the force of +gravity. But his mind was intent on +the pleasures to come.</p> +<p>They were over the city. Carefully +tended foliage lined its streets and a +smooth lagoon glistened in its center. +Its towers and spires were decorated +with gay colors. The streets were filled +with wearers of the purple and the +nude bodies of bathers in the lagoon +gleamed white in the strong sunlight.</p> +<p>He sensed anew the nearness of +Rhoda. Her soft warm hand nestled +in his and she responded instantly to +his sudden embrace.</p> +<p>There came a shock and the party +was stilled in dismay. The aero careened +violently and the pilot struggled +with controls that were dead. +Sans Dolor dropped rapidly away beneath +them. They were shooting skyward, +drawn by some inexplicable and +invisible energy from above.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Rhoda</span> screamed and held him +close, trembling violently. All of +the women screamed and the men +cursed. Leon arose to his feet and +stared at Peter. The friendliness was +gone from his features and he spat +forth an accusation. A glistening mechanism +appeared in his hand as if by +magic. A ray generator! He had been +appointed by the Zar to guard this upstart +and, whatever happened, he’d not +let him escape with his life. The girl +shuddered at sight of the weapon and +extricated herself from his arms. Her +affection too had been a pose.</p> +<p>Peter’s mind was clearing from the +effects of the drug. He had not the +slightest idea of what might have +caused the quick change in the situation +but he resolved he would die fighting, +if die he must. Leon fumbled +with the catch of the generator. It refused +to operate. The force that was +drawing them upward had paralyzed +all mechanisms aboard the little aero. +Flinging it from him in disgust he +sprang for Peter.</p> +<p>Their minds befuddled, the rest of +the men watched dully. The women +huddled together in a corner, whimpering. +They were a sorry lot after all, +thought Karl. He was no longer Peter +Van Dorn, and he thrilled to the joy of +battle.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_365' name='page_365'></a>365</span></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Leon Lemaire</span> was no mean antagonist. +His flailing arms were +everywhere and a huge fist caught Karl +on the side of his head and sent him +reeling. But this only served to clear +his mind further and to fill him with a +cold rage. He bored in unmercifully +and Lemaire soon was on the defensive. +A blow to his midsection had him +puffing and Karl hammered in rights +and lefts to the now sinister face that +rocked his opponent to his heels. But +the minion of the Zar was crafty. He +slid to the floor as if groggy, then with +catlike agility, dove for Karl’s knees, +bringing him down with a crash.</p> +<p>The air whistled by them as the ship +was drawn upward with ever-increasing +speed. The other passengers +cowered in fright as the two men rolled +over and over on the floor, banging at +each other indiscriminately. Both +were hurt. Karl’s lip was split, and +bleeding profusely. One eye was closing. +But now he was on top and he +pummeled his opponent to a pulp. +Long after he ceased resisting them, +the blows continued until the features +of Leon Lemaire were unrecognizable. +The infuriated Karl did not see that +one of the members of the party was +creeping up on him from behind. +Neither was he aware that the upward +motion of the aero had ceased and that +they now hung motionless in space. A +terrific blow at the base of his skull +sent him sprawling. Must have been +struck by a rocket, one of those funny +ships that crossed the ocean so quickly. +A million lights danced before his aching +eyeballs.</p> +<p>Lying prone across the inert body +of his foe, dimly conscious and fingers +clutching weakly, he knew that the +cabin was filled with people. Alien +voices bellowed commands. There was +the screaming of women; the sound of +blows; curses ... then all was silence +and darkness.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was a far cry to the little book +shop off Cooper Square, but Karl +was calling for Rudolph when he next +awoke to the realization that he was +still in the land of the living. His +head was bandaged and his tongue +furry. A terrible hangover. Then he +heard voices and they were discussing +Peter Van Dorn. He opened one eye +as an experiment. The other refused +to open. But it might have been worse. +At least he was alive; he could see well +enough with the one good optic.</p> +<p>“Sh-h!” whispered one of the voices. +“He’s recovering!”</p> +<p>He looked solemnly into the eyes of +an old man; a pair of wise and gentle +eyes that reminded him somehow of +Rudolph’s.</p> +<p>“Quiet now, Peter,” said the old man. +“You’ll be all right in a few minutes. +Banged up a bit, you are, but nothing +serious.”</p> +<p>“Don’t call me Peter,” objected Karl. +He loathed the sound of the name; +loathed himself for his recent thoughts +and actions. “I am Karl Krassin,” he +continued, “and as such will remain +until I die.”</p> +<p>There were others in the room and +he saw glances of satisfaction pass between +them. This was a strange situation. +These men were not of the purple. +Neither were they of the gray. +Their garments shone with the whiteness +of pure silver. And that’s what +they were; of finely woven metallic +cloth. Was he in another world?</p> +<p>“Very well, Karl.” The kind old +man was speaking once more. “I +merely want you to know that you are +among friends—your father’s friends.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Surprised</span> into complete wakefulness, +Karl struggled to a seated +position and surveyed the group that +faced him. They were a fine looking +lot, mostly older men, but there was a +refreshing wholesomeness about them.</p> +<p>“My father?” he faltered. “He’s not +alive.”</p> +<p>“No, my poor boy. Derek Van Dorn +left this life at the hands of your uncle, +Zar Boris. But we, his friends, are +here to avenge him and to restore to +you his throne.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_366' name='page_366'></a>366</span></div> +<p>“But—but—I still do not understand.”</p> +<p>“Of course not, because we’ve kept +ourselves hidden from the world for +more than twenty-two years, waiting +for this very moment. There are forty-one +of us, including Rudolph, my +brother. We have lived in the jungle +since Boris conquered the Eastern +Hemisphere. But amongst our numbers +were several scientists, two greater +than was Boris, even in his heyday. +They have done wonderful things and +we are now prepared to take back what +was taken from Derek—and more. His +life we can not restore—Heaven rest +him—but his kingdom we can. And to +his son it shall be returned.</p> +<p>“You were given into Rudolph’s care +when little more than a babe in arms +and he has cared for you well. We’ve +watched, you know, in the detectoscopes—long +range radiovision mechanisms +that can penetrate solid walls, +the earth itself, to bring to us the images +and voices of persons who may be +on the other side of the world. We’ve +followed your every move, my boy, and +the first time we feared for you was +yesterday when the drug of the Zar’s +physician stole away your sense of +right and wrong. But we were in time +to save you, and now we are ready to +kneel at your feet and proclaim you +our king. First there is the Zar to be +dealt with and then we shall set up the +new regime. Are you with us?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Karl</span> gazed at the speaker in wonder. +He a king? Always to live +amongst the wearers of the purple? To +be responsible for the welfare of half +the world? It was unthinkable! But +Zar Boris, the murderer of his own +father—he must be punished, and at +the hands of the son!</p> +<p>“I’ll do it,” he said simply. “That +is, I’ll do whatever you have planned +in the way of exterminating the Zar. +Then we’ll talk of the new empire. But +how is the Zar to be overcome? I +thought he was invincible, with his +Moon men and terrible weapons.”</p> +<p>“Ah! That, my boy, is where our +scientists have triumphed. True, his +rays were terrible. They could not be +combatted when he first returned. The +strange chemicals and gases of the +Moon men defied analysis or duplication. +His citadel atop the city of Dorn +is proof against them all; proof against +explosives and rays of all kinds known +to him. The disintegration and decomposition +rays have no effect on the +crystal of its walls. It is hermetically +sealed from the outer air so can not be +gassed. The vibration impulses have +no effect upon its reinforced structure. +But there is a ray, a powerful destructive +agent, against which it is not +proof. And our scientists have developed +this agency. You shall have +the privilege of pressing the release of +the energy that destroys the arch-fiend +in his lair. His dominance over, the +empire will fall. We shall take it—for +you.”</p> +<p>A strange exaltation shone from the +faces of those in the room, and Karl +found that it was contagious. His +bosom swelled and he itched to handle +the controls of this wonderful ray.</p> +<p>“This ray,” continued the brother of +old Rudolph, “carries the longest vibrations +ever measured, the vibrations of +infra-red, the heat-ray. We have succeeded +in concentrating a terrific +amount of power in its production, and +with it are able to produce temperatures +in excess of that of the interior +of the earth, where all substances are +molten or gaseous. The Zar’s crystal +palace cannot withstand it for a second. +He cannot escape!”</p> +<p>“How’ll you know he’s there at the +time?” Karl was greatly excited, but +he was curious too.</p> +<p>“Come with me, my boy. I’ll show +you.” The old man led him from the +room and the others followed respectfully.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> stopped at a circular port +and Karl saw that they were +high above the earth in a vessel that +hovered motionless, quivering with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_367' name='page_367'></a>367</span> +what seemed like human eagerness to +be off.</p> +<p>“This vessel?” he asked.</p> +<p>“It’s a huge sphere; the base of our +operations. To it we drew the aero on +which you were fighting. A magnetic +force discovered by our scientists and +differing only slightly from that used +in counteracting gravity. We let the +rest of them go; foolishly I think. But +it’s done now and we have no fear. +From this larger vessel we shall send +forth smaller ones, armed with the +heat-ray. The flagship of the fleet is +to be yours and you’ll lead the attack +on Dorn. Here—I’ll show you the +Zar.”</p> +<p>They had reached the room of the +detectoscopes—a mass of mechanisms +that reminded Karl of nothing so much +as the vitals of the intermediate levels +which he had visited with Leon—and +Rhoda. He knew that he flushed when +he thought of her. What a fool he had +been!</p> +<p>A disc glowed as one of the silver-robed +strangers manipulated the controls. +The upper surface of Dorn +swung into view. Rapidly the image +drew nearer and they were looking at +the crystal pyramid that was the Zar’s +palace. Down, down to its very tip +they passed. Karl recoiled from the +image as it seemed they were falling to +its glistening sides. The sensation +passed. They were through, penetrating +solid crystal, masonry, steel and +duralumin girders. Room after room +was opened to their view. It was magic—the +magic of the upper levels.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Now</span> they were in the throne room. +A group of purple-clad men and +women stood before the dais. Leon, +Rhoda—all of his wild companions +were there, facing the dais. The Zar +was raging and the words of his speech +came raucously to their ears through +the sound-producing mechanism.</p> +<p>“You’ve failed miserably, all of you,” +he screamed. “He’s gotten away and +you know the penalty. Taru—the +vibrating ray!”</p> +<p>The Moon man already was fussing +with a gleaming machine, a machine +with bristling appendages having metallic +spheres on their ends, a machine +in which dozens of vacuum tubes +glowed suddenly.</p> +<p>Rhoda screamed. It was a familiar +sound to Karl. He noted with satisfaction +that Leon could hardly stand +on his feet and that his face was covered +with plasters. Then, startled, he +saw that Leon was shivering as with +the ague. His outline on the screen +grew dim and indistinct as the rate of +vibration increased. Then the body +bloated and became misty. He could +see through it. The vibrating death! +His father had gone the same way!</p> +<p>Karl groaned at the thought. The +whine of the distant machine rose in +pitch until it passed the limit of audibility. +Tiny pin-points of incandescence +glowed here and there from the +Zar’s victims as periods of vibration +were reached that coincided with the +natural periods of certain of the molecules +of their structure. They were no +longer recognizable as human beings. +Shimmering auras surrounded them. +Suddenly they were torches of cold +fire, weaving, oscillating with inconceivable +rapidity. Then they were +gone; vanished utterly.</p> +<p>The Zar laughed—that horrible +cackle again.</p> +<p>“Great God!” exclaimed Karl, “let’s +go! The fiend must not live a moment +longer than necessary. Are you +ready?”</p> +<p>Rudolph’s brother smiled. “We’re +ready Karl,” he said.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> great vessel hummed with activity. +The five torpedo-shaped +aeros of the battle fleet were ready to +take off from the cavities in the hull. +In the flagship Karl was stationed at +the control of the heat-ray. His instructions +in its operation had been +simple. A telescopic sight with crosshairs +for the centering of the object to +be attacked; a small lever. That was +all. He burned with impatience.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_368' name='page_368'></a>368</span></div> +<p>Then they were dropping; falling +clear of the mother ship. The pilot +pressed a button and the electronic motors +started. A burst of roaring energy +streamed from the tapered stern of +their vessel and the earth lurched violently +to meet them. Down, down they +dived until the rocking surface of +Dorn was just beneath them. Then they +flattened out and circled the vast upper +surface. From the corner of his eye +Karl saw that the other four vessels of +his fleet were just behind. There was +a flurry among the wasplike clouds of +pleasure craft over the city. They +scurried for cover. Something was +amiss!</p> +<p>“Hurry!” shouted Karl. “The warning +is out! There is no time to lose!”</p> +<p>He pressed his face to the eye-piece +of his sight, his finger on the release +lever of the ray. The crystal pyramid +crossed his view and was gone. Again +it crossed, more slowly this time. And +now his sight was dead on it, the +gleaming wall rushing toward him. +Pressure on the tiny button. They’d +crash into the palace in another second! +But no, a brilliant flash obscured +his vision, a blinding light that made +the sun seem dark by comparison. +They roared on and upward. He took +his eye from the telescope and stared +ahead, down. The city was dropping +away, and, where the crystal palace had +stood, there was a spreading blob of +molten material from which searing +vapors were drifting. The roofs of the +city were sagging all around and great +streams of the sparkling, sputtering +liquid dripped into the openings that +suddenly appeared. Derek Van Dorn +was avenged.</p> +<p>“Destroy! Destroy!” yelled Karl +madly. A microphone hung before him +and his words rang through every vessel +of his convoy.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> lust of battle was upon him. +A fleet of the Zar’s aeros had risen +from below; twenty of them at least. +These would be manned by Moon creatures, +he knew, and would carry all of +the dreadful weapons which had originated +on that strange body. But he did +not know that his own ships were insulated +against most of the rays used +by the Zar’s forces. He knew only that +he must fight; fight and kill; exterminate +every last one of the Zar’s adherents +or be exterminated in the attempt.</p> +<p>Kill! Kill! The madness was contagious. +His pilot was a marvel and +drove his ship straight for the massed +ships of the foe. The air was vivid +with light-streamers. A ray from an +enemy vessel struck the thick glass of +the port through which he looked and +the outer surface was shattered and +pock-marked. But a cloud of vapor +and a dripping stream of fiery liquid +told him his own ray had taken effect +on a vessel of the enemy. One! They +wheeled about and spiraled, coming up +under another of the Zar’s aeros. It +vanished in a puff of steam and they +narrowly missed being covered by +the falling remnants of incandescent +liquid. Two! Karl’s aim was good and +he gloated in the fact. Three! They +climbed and turned over, dropping +again into the fray. Four!</p> +<p>The air grew stifling, for the expended +energy of the enemies’ rays +must needs be absorbed. It could not +disintegrate them nor decompose their +bodies, but the contacts were many and +the liberation of heat enormous. They +were suffocating! But Karl would not +desist. They drove on, now beneath, +now above an enemy ship. He lost +count.</p> +<p>One of his own vessels was in trouble. +The report came to him from the +little speaker at his ear. He looked +around in alarm. A glowing object +reeled uncertainly over there between +two of the aeros of the Zar. The concentration +of beams of vibrations was +too much for the sturdy craft. It was +red hot and its occupants burned alive +where they sat. Suddenly it slipped +into a spin and went slithering down +into the city, leaving a gaping opening +where it fell. This sobered him somewhat, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_369' name='page_369'></a>369</span> +but he went into the battle with +renewed fury.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>How</span> many had they brought +down? Fifteen? Sixteen? He +tore his purple jacket from his body. +The perspiration rolled from his pores. +His own ship would be next. But what +did it matter? Kill! Kill! He shouted +once more into the microphone, then +dived into battle. Another and another! +In Heaven’s name, how many +were there? It was maddening. If +only he could breathe. His lungs were +seared; his eyes smarting from the +heat. And then it was over.</p> +<p>Three of the Zar’s aeros remained, +and these turned tail to run for it. No! +They were falling, nose down, under +full power; diving into the city from +which they had come. Suicide? Yes. +They couldn’t face the recriminations +that must come to them. And anything +was better than facing that burning +death from the strange little fighters +which had come from out the skies. +Dorn was a mass of wreckage.</p> +<p>Karl tore at the fastenings of the +ports, searing his fingers on the heated +metal. His pilot had collapsed, the +little aero heading madly skyward with +no guiding hand. Air! They must +have air! He loosened the pilot’s +jacket; slapped frantically at his wrists +in the effort to bring him to consciousness. +Then he was at the controls of +the vessel, tugging on first one, then +the other. The aero circled and spun, +executing the most dangerous of sideslips +and dives. A little voice was +speaking to him—the voice of the radio—instructing +him. In a daze he followed +instructions as best he could. +The whirlings of the earth stabilized +after a time and he found he was flying +the vessel; climbing rapidly.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A sense</span> of power came to him as +the little voice of the radio continued +to instruct. Here were the controls +of the electronic motor; there the +gravity-energy. He was proceeding in +the wrong direction. But what did it +matter? He learned the meaning of the +tiny figures of the altimeter; the difference +between the points of the compass. +Still he drove on.</p> +<p>“East! Turn East!” begged the little +voice from the radio. “You’re heading +west. Your speed—a thousand +kilometers an hour—it’s too fast. Turn +back, Zar Peter!”</p> +<p>He tore the loud speaker of the radio +from its fastenings. West! He wanted +to go west! On and on he sped, becoming +more and more familiar with +the workings of the little vessel as he +progressed. A cooling breeze whistled +from the opened ports, a breeze that +smelled of the sea. His heart sang with +the wonder of it all. He could fly. +And fly he did. Zar Peter? Never! +He knew now where he belonged; knew +what he wanted. He’d find the coast of +North America. Follow it until he located +New York. A landing would be +easy, for had not the voice instructed +him in the use of the gravity-energy? +He’d make his way to the lower levels, +to the little book shop of Rudolph +Krassin. A suit of gray denim awaited +him there and he’d never discard it.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Onward</span> he sped into the night, +which was falling fast. He held +to his westward course like a veteran +of the air lanes. The pilot had ceased +to breathe and Karl was sorry. Game +little devil, that pilot. Have to shove +his body overboard. Too bad.</p> +<p>Rudolph’s brother would understand. +He’d be watching in the detectoscope. +And the others—those who had wished +to seat him on a throne—they’d understand, +too. They’d have to!</p> +<p>Rudolph would forgive him, he +knew. Paul Van Dorn—his own cousin—the +secret agents of the Zar would +never locate him! Too many friends +of Rudolph’s were of the red police.</p> +<p>He gave himself over to happy +thoughts as the little aero sped on in +the darkness. Home! He was going +home! Back to the gray denim, where +he belonged and where now he would +remain content.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_370' name='page_370'></a>370</span> +<a name='THE_APEMEN_OF_XLOTLI_BY_DAVID_R_SPARKS' id='THE_APEMEN_OF_XLOTLI_BY_DAVID_R_SPARKS'></a> +<h2>The Ape-Men of Xlotli</h2> +<p><i>By David R. Sparks</i></p> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_7' id='linki_7'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/370.jpg' alt='' title='' width='451' height='500' /><br /> +</div> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> did not know what +mountains they were. He did +know that the Mannlicher +bullets of eleven bad Mexicans +were whining +over his head +and whizzing +past the hoofs of +his galloping, +stolen horse. The +shots were mingled with yelps which +pretty well curdled his spine. In the +circumstances, the unknown range of +snow mountains towering blue and +white beyond the arid, windy plateau, +offering he could not tell what dangers, +seemed a +paradise. Looking +at them, Kirby +laughed harshly +to himself.</p> +<p class='sidebarright'>A beautiful face in the depths of a +geyser—and Kirby plunges into a desperate +mid-Earth conflict with the dreadful +Feathered Serpent.</p> +<p>As he dug the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_371' name='page_371'></a>371</span> +heels of his aviator’s boots into the +stallion’s flanks, the animal galloped +even faster than before, and Kirby +took hope. Then more bullets and +more yelps made him think that his +advantage might prove only temporary. +Nevertheless, he laughed again, and as +he became accustomed to the feel of a +stallion under him, he even essayed a +few pistol shots back at the pack of +frantic, swarthy devils he had fooled.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_8' id='linki_8'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/371.jpg' alt='' title='' width='363' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +<i>His head wavered back and forth and his hiss filled the night.</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Three hours ago he had been eating +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_372' name='page_372'></a>372</span> +a peaceful breakfast with his friend +and commandant, Colonel Miguel de +Castanar, in the sunlit patio of the +commandant’s hacienda. Castanar, +chief of the air patrol for the district, +had waxed enthusiastic over the suppression +of last spring’s revolutionists +and the cowed state of up-country bandits. +Captain Freddie Kirby, American +instructor of flying to Mexican +pilots in the making, had agreed with +him and asked for one of the Wasps +and three days’ leave with which to +go visiting in Laredo. The simple matter +of a broken fuel line, a forced landing +two hundred kilometres from nowhere, +and the unlucky proximity of +the not-so-cowed horsemen, were the +things which had changed the day +from what it had been to what it was.</p> +<p>The one piece of good fortune which +had befallen him since the bandits had +surrounded the wrecked Wasp, looted +it, and taken its lone pilot prisoner, +was the break he was getting now. +During the squadron’s first halt to feed, +he had knocked down his guards and +made a bolt for the grazing stallion. +So far, the attempt was proving worth +while.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>On</span> and on the stallion lunged toward +the white mountains. Kirby’s +eyes became red rimmed now from +fatigue and the glare of the sun and +the dust of the pitilessly bare plateau. +A negligible scalp wound under his +mop of straw-colored hair, slight as it +was, did not add to his comfort. But +still he would not give up, for the +horse, as if it sensed what its rider +needed most, was making directly for +a narrow ravine which debouched on +the plateau from the nearest mountain +flank.</p> +<p>It was the promise of cover afforded +by the jagged rocks and jungle growth +of that ravine which kept hope alive +in Kirby’s throbbing brain.</p> +<p>The stallion was blown and staggering. +Foam from the heavily bitted +mouth flashed back in great yellow +flakes against Kirby’s dust-caked aviator’s +tunic. But just the same, the five +mile gallop had carried both horse and +rider beyond range of any but the most +expert rifle shot. And Kirby knew +that if his own splendid mount was almost +ready to crash, the horses of his +pursuers must be in worse shape still. +So for the third time since the fight +had begun, he laughed. This time there +was no harshness, but only relief, in +the sound which came from his dry +lips.</p> +<p>Ten minutes later, he flung himself +out of his saddle. Like the caress of +a vast, soothing hand, the shadowed +coolness of the ravine lay upon him. +As his feet struck ground, they +splashed in the water overflowing from +a spring at the base of an immense +rock. At once Kirby dropped the reins +on the stallion’s neck, giving him his +freedom, and as the horse lowered his +head to drink, Kirby stooped also.</p> +<p>There was cover everywhere. Kirby’s +first move after pulling both himself +and the horse away from the spring, +was to glance up the long, deeply +shaded canyon which he had entered—a +gash hacked into the breast of the +steep mountain as by a titanic ax. +Then, reassured as to the possibilities +for a defensive retreat, he glanced back +toward the dazzling, bare plateau.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was what he saw taking place +amongst the sombreroed bandits +out there which made the grin of satisfaction +fade from his broad mouth. +His last glance backward, before bolting +into the canyon mouth, had showed +him a ragged squadron of men left far +behind, yet galloping after him still. +But now—</p> +<p>Presently a puzzled frown made +wrinkles in Freddie Kirby’s wide sunburned +forehead. He relaxed his grip +upon the heavy Luger, which, in his +big hands, looked like a cap pistol, and +rubbed his eyes.</p> +<p>But he was not mistaken. The horsemen +had halted! Out there on the glaring, +alkali-arid plateau, they were +standing as still as so many statues. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_373' name='page_373'></a>373</span> +Looking toward the canyon mouth +which had swallowed their quarry, +they certainly were, but they were +halted as completely as men struck +dead.</p> +<p>“Huh,” Kirby grunted, and scratched +behind his ear.</p> +<p>The next second he swung around +to look at his horse, uncertain what he +was going to do next, but aware of the +fact that right now, with a lot of unknown +country between himself and +Castanar’s sunlit patio, the stallion was +going to be a friend in need.</p> +<p>As he turned, however, prepared to +take up the loose reins, something else +happened. The stallion let out a neigh +as shrill as a trumpet blast. As Kirby +jumped, grabbed for the bridle, his fingers +found empty air. Like a crazy +animal the stallion leaped past him, +barely missing him. Out toward the +plain the horse jumped, out and away +from the shaded canyon mouth, out +toward the spot where other horses +waited. And despite the animal’s blown +condition, the speed he put into his +retreat left Kirby dazed.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>After</span> a helpless, profanity-filled +second, Kirby scratched behind +his ear again. As certain as the fact +that almost his sole hope of getting +back to civilization depended upon the +stallion, was the fact that the brute +did not intend to stop running until +he dropped.</p> +<p>“Now what in the hell ever got into +his crazy head?” Kirby muttered +grimly.</p> +<p>Then he turned around to glance up +the shadow-filled slash of a canyon, +and sniffed.</p> +<p>“Huh!”</p> +<p>Faintly in the air had risen an odor +the like of which he had never encountered +in his life. A combination, it +was, of the unforgetable stench which +hangs over a battlefield when the dead +are long unburied, and of a fragrance +more rare, more heady, more poignantly +sweet than any essence ever concocted +by Parisian perfumer.</p> +<p>With the drifting scent came a +sound. Faint, carrying from a distance, +the rumble which Kirby heard +was almost certainly that of a geyser.</p> +<p>There was no telling what had +brought the troop of horsemen to a +halt, but after a time Kirby knew that +the cause of his horse’s sudden departure +must have been a whiff of the +strange perfume.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>For</span> a long time he stood still, +watching the crazy stallion dwindle +in size, watching the line of unexpectedly +timid bandits. Then, when it +became apparent that the horsemen +were going to stay put either until he +came out, or showed that he never was +coming out, he shrugged, and swung +on his heel so that he faced up the +canyon.</p> +<p>The odor was dying away now, and +the geyser rumble was gone. In Kirby’s +heart came a mingled feeling of +tense uneasiness and fascinated curiosity. +Momentarily he was almost glad +that his horse <i>had</i> bolted, and that his +pursuers <i>were</i> blocking any lane of retreat +except that offered by the canyon. +If things had been different, the queer +behavior of the Mexicans, the unaccountable +actions of his horse and the +equally strange growth of his own uneasiness +might have made him uncertain +whether he would go up the canyon +or not. Now it was the only thing +to do, and Kirby was glad because, fear +or no fear, he wanted to go on.</p> +<p>“I wonder,” he said out loud as he +started, “just what the denizens of +First Street in Kansas would say to a +layout like this!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> the end of an hour he was still +wondering.</p> +<p>At midday the canyon was chill and +dank, lit only by a half light which at +times dwindled to a deep dusk as the +rock walls beetled together hundreds +of feet above his head. Always when +he stumbled through one of the darkest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_374' name='page_374'></a>374</span> +passages, he heard and half saw +immense gray bats flapping above him. +In the half-lit reaches, he hardly took +a step without seeing great rats with +gray coats, yellow teeth, and evil pink +eyes. But rats and bats combined were +not as bad as the snakes. They were +almost white, and nowhere had he seen +rattlers of such size. If his caution +relaxed for a second, they struck at +him with fangs as long and sharp as +needles.</p> +<p>The tortured, twisted cedars, the +paloverdi, occatilla, cholla, opunti, +through which he edged his laborious +way, all offered an almost animate, +armed hostility.</p> +<p>Altogether this journey was the least +sweet he had taken anywhere. Yet he +went on.</p> +<p>Why had eleven Mexican bandits refused +to advance even to within decent +rifle range of the canyon’s mouth? +What was there about the putrid yet +gorgeous perfume that had made the +stallion go off his nut, so to speak?</p> +<p>After a time, Kirby veered away +from a fourteen-foot rattler which +flashed in a loathsome coil on his left +hand. Hungry, weakened by all he had +been through since breakfast time, he +plodded doggedly on.</p> +<p>But a moment later he stumbled past +a twisted cedar, and then stopped, forgetting +even the snakes.</p> +<p>At his feet lay the bleached skeleton +of a man.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Beside</span> the right hand, in a position +which indicated that only +the final relaxation of death had loosened +his grip upon a precious object, +lay a cylinder, carefully carved, of rich, +yellow gold.</p> +<p>Of the science of anthropology +Kirby knew enough to make him sure +that the dolicocephalic skull and characteristically +shaped pelvic and thigh +bones of the skeleton had belonged to +a white man.</p> +<p>As for the cylinder—But he was +not so sure what that was.</p> +<p>Regardless of the dry swish of a rattler’s +body on the rocks behind him, +he lifted the object from the spot in +which it had lain for no man knew +how long. Of much the size and shape +of an old-time cylindrical wax phonograph +record, the softly gleaming +thing weighed, he judged, almost two +pounds.</p> +<p>Two pounds of soft, virgin gold of +a quality as fine as any he had seen +amongst all the treasures brought out +of Mexico, Yucatan, and Peru combined!</p> +<p>But the gold was not the only thing. +If Kirby was human enough to think +in terms of treasure, he was also +enough of an amateur anthropologist +to hold his breath over the carvings on +the yellow surface.</p> +<p>First he recognized the ancient symbols +of Sun and Moon. And then a +representation, semi-realistic, semi-conventionalized, +of Quetzalcoatl, the +Feathered Serpent, known in all the +annals of primitive Mexican religions.</p> +<p>Good enough.</p> +<p>But the mere symbols by no means +told the whole story of the cylinder. +The workmanship was archaic, older +than any Aztec art Kirby knew, older +than Toltec, older far, he ventured to +guess, than even earliest archaic Mayan +carvings.</p> +<p>God, what a find!</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>For</span> a moment it seemed almost +impossible that he, Freddie Kirby, +native of Kansas, unromantic aviator, +should have been the one to discover +this relic of an unknown, lost race. +Yet the cylinder of gold was there, in +his hand.</p> +<p>After a long minute Kirby looked +around him, then listened.</p> +<p>From up the canyon came the provocative +rumble of the geyser. It was +closer now, and Kirby, glancing at his +watch which had been spared to him +in the Wasp’s crash, noted that just +forty-four minutes had passed since +the last eruption. There was nothing +to be done about the bleached skeleton. +So, tucking the precious cylinder into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_375' name='page_375'></a>375</span> +his tunic, Kirby headed on up the gash +of a canyon.</p> +<p>Far away indeed seemed the neat, +maple-shaded asphalt street, the rows +of parked cars and farm wagons, the +telephone office and drug store and +bank, of the Kansas town where he had +grown up.</p> +<p>Time passed until again he heard the +geyser, and again was dizzied by the +perfume. As the fragrance—close and +powerful now—died away, he flailed +with one arm at a two-foot bat which +flapped close to his head.</p> +<p>And then he trudged his dogged way +around a deeply shadowed bend, and +found the chasm not only almost +wholly dark, but narrower than it had +been at any previous point.</p> +<p>“Holy mackerel,” Kirby groaned. +“Phew! If this keeps up, I—”</p> +<p>He stopped. His jaw dropped.</p> +<p>“Oh, hell!”</p> +<p>The beetling walls narrowed in until +the gash was scarcely fifteen feet +wide. Further progress was barred by +a smooth wall which rose sheer in +front of him.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> did not know how many +seconds passed before he made +out through the gloom that the wall was +man-made and carved with the same +symbols of Sun, Moon, and Feathered +Serpent, which ornamented the cylinder +of gold. But when he did realize +at last, the shout with which he expressed +his feeling was anything but +a groan.</p> +<p>It simply meant that the skeleton +which once had been a man, had almost +surely found the golden cylinder beyond +the wall and not in the canyon. +And if the dead man had passed that +smooth, carved barrier, another man +could do it!</p> +<p>Kirby jumped forward, began to +search in the darkness for some hidden +entrance.</p> +<p>Minute after minute passed. He +gave another cry. He saw a long, upright +crack in the stone surface, and +a quick push of his hands made the +stones in front of him give almost an +inch.</p> +<p>All at once his shoulder was planted, +and behind that square shoulder +was straining all the muscle of his +two hundred pound body. The result +was all that he desired. When he +ceased pushing, a slab of rock gaped +wide before him, giving entrance to a +pitch dark tunnel.</p> +<p>For a moment he held the portal +back, then, releasing his pressure, he +stepped into the dark passage. By the +time a ponderous grating of rocks assured +him that the door had swung +shut of its own weight, he had produced +matches and struck a light.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> puny flame showed him a +curving passage hewn smoothly +through the heart of bedrock. Before +the flare died he walked twenty feet, +and as another match burned to his fingers, +he found the right hand curve +of the passage giving way to a left +hand twist. After that he dared use +no more of his precious matches. But +just when the darkness was beginning +to wear badly on his nerves, he uttered +a low cry.</p> +<p>As he increased his rapid walk to a +run, the faint light he had suddenly +seen ahead of him grew until it became +a circular flare of daylight which +marked the tunnel’s end.</p> +<p>Out of the passage Kirby strode with +shoulders square and head up, his cool, +level, practical blue eyes wide with +wonder. Out of the tunnel he strode +into the valley of the perfumed geyser.</p> +<p>“God above!”</p> +<p>The words were vibrant with hoarse +reverence. He saw the sunlight of a +cliff-surrounded diminutive Garden of +Eden. He saw a vale of flowering +grass, of palms and live oaks, saw +patches of lilies so huge as to transcend +belief, and dizzying clumps of +tree cactus almost as tall as the palms +themselves.</p> +<p>What was more, he saw in the center +of this upland, cliff-guarded valley, a +gaping black orifice which every faculty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_376' name='page_376'></a>376</span> +of judgment told him was the +mouth of the geyser of perfume. And +beside it, outstretched on a smooth +sheet of rock which glistened as though +coated with a layer of clear, sparkling +glass, he saw—</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> blinked his eyes rapidly, +hardly believing what he saw.</p> +<p>On the glistening rock lay the perfectly +preserved figure of a Spanish +Conquistadore in full armor. Morion +and breast-plate were in place, and +glistened as though they had been burnished +this morning. And the Spaniard’s +dark, handsome, bearded face! +Kirby saw instantly that no decay had +touched it, that even the hairs of the +beard were perfect. The whole armor-clad +corpse gleamed softly with a covering +of the same glassy substance +which covered the rock.</p> +<p>Kirby glanced at his watch, saw that +twelve minutes must elapse before the +geyser spouted again. Then his eyes +narrowed. He remained standing where +he was, hard by the mouth of the tunnel, +knowing that a wise man would +conduct cautiously his exploration of +this valley of wonders.</p> +<p>Arsenic! Silicon!</p> +<p>The two words stood out sharply in +his thought. In Africa existed plenty +of springs whose waters contained +enough arsenic to bring death to those +who drank. Might not the Spaniard’s +presence here be explained, then, by +assuming that the geyser water was +charged with a strong arsenic content, +and, in addition, with some sort of silicon +solution which, left to dry in the +air, hardened to glass?</p> +<p>Lord, what a discovery to take back +with him to Kansas! Almost it made +the discovery of the golden cylinder +pale by comparison. Why, the commercial +uses to which this silicon water +might be put were almost without +limit, and the owner of the concession +might confidently expect to make millions!</p> +<p>It was while Kirby stood there, +breathless and jubilant, waiting for +the geyser to spout, that he began to +feel that <i>he was being watched</i>.</p> +<p>Suddenly, with a start, he shot a +sweeping glance over the whole grove. +But that did no good. He saw nothing +save sunlight and waving green leaves.</p> +<p>Eleven days were to pass before he +discovered all that was to be involved +in that sensation of being gazed at by +unseen eyes.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> the beginning of the eleventh +morning in the valley, Kirby had +again posted himself close to the mouth +of the black tunnel, and again felt that +hidden eyes were observing him.</p> +<p>But this morning differed from the +first morning, because now, for the first +time, he was ready to do something +about the watcher or watchers. Exploration +of the whole valley had not +helped. Therefore, there lay at his feet +a considerable coil of rope, the manufacture +of which from plaited strands +of the tough grass in his Eden had +taken him whole days. With what patience +he could find, he was waiting for +the gigantic spout of milky-colored, +perfumed water which would mean that +the geyser had gone off and would +erupt no more for exactly forty-four +minutes.</p> +<p>Eleven days in the valley!</p> +<p>While he waited, Kirby considered +them. Who had made the beautiful +footprints beside him, when he had +slept at last after his arrival here? +Why had so many of the queer, fuzzy +topped shrubs with immense yam-shaped +roots, which grew here been +taken away during that first sleep, and +during all his other periods of sleep? +Who had taken them? Early in his +stay, he had learned that the tuberlike +roots were good to eat and would sustain +life, and he supposed that the unseen +people of the valley took them for +food. But who were these people of +the valley?</p> +<p>Who had laid beside him during his +first sleep the immense lily with perfume +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_377' name='page_377'></a>377</span> +like that which came with the +milky geyser spray—that spray of +death and delight mingled? Why had +someone scratched a line in the earth +from him directly to the distant orifice +of the geyser? Was this, as he +believed, a signal to come not only to +the edge of the orifice, <i>but to lower +himself down into its depths</i>? And if +the line were intended as a signal, did +the persons who came to the valley +while he slept, always eluding him, +wish him well or mean to do him harm?</p> +<p>Last question of all: had the beautiful +girl’s face he believed he had seen +just once, been real or an hallucination? +It had been while he was kneeling +at the very edge of the geyser cone, +staring down its many colored throat, +that the vision had appeared. Misty +white amidst the green gloom, the face +had been turned up to him, smiling, its +lips forming a kiss, and its great eyes +beckoning. Had the face been real +or a dream?</p> +<p>Eleven days in the valley! Now, +with his braided rope ready at last, he +was going to do something which +might help to answer his questions.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> reached out and began to +run his grass rope, yard by yard, +through his hands, searching carefully +for any flaw. A canyon wren made the +air sweet above him, while the morning +sun began to wink and blink +against the shadows which still lay +against the face of the guardian cliffs. +Kirby glanced at his watch and got up.</p> +<p>Crossing beyond the mouth of the +geyser, he grinned good morning at +his friend the Conquistadore, and +marched on into the shade of the live +oak which grew nearest the geyser. +Here he made one end of his rope fast +to the gnarled trunk, inspected his pistol, +patted his tunic to make sure that +the cylinder of gold was safe, then +stood by to await the geyser.</p> +<p>With the passing of three minutes +there came from the still empty orifice +a sonorous rumbling. Kirby grinned.</p> +<p>From deep in the earth issued a +sound of fizzing and bubbling, and +then, to the accompaniment of subterranean +thunder, burst loose the milky, +upward column which had never ceased +to awe the man who watched so eagerly +this morning. As the titanic jet leaped +skyward now, the slanting rays of the +sun caught it, and turned the water, +fanning out, into a fire opal, into a +sheet of living color.</p> +<p>Kirby, hard headed to the last, drew +from the supply in one pocket of his +tunic, a strip of one of the tuberlike +roots, and munched it.</p> +<p>The thunder ceased. The waters receded.</p> +<p>After that Kirby hesitated not a second. +Promptly he moved forward, +flung his coil of line down into the +geyser tunnel, and swung on to the +line. By the time he had swallowed +the last bite of his breakfast, the world +he knew had been left behind, and he +was climbing down to a new.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> became at once apparent that the +gorgeously colored, glassy-smooth +throat glowed with tints which were +unfamiliar to him. He could perceive +these new shades of color, yet had no +name for them.</p> +<p>As he stopped after fifty feet to +breathe, the color phenomenon made +him wonder if the tuber roots he had +been eating had affected his vision; +then decided they had not. In addition +to food value, the roots had some +power to stimulate courage and a slight +mental exhilaration. But the drug had +proved non-habit forming, and Kirby +knew that his powers of perception +were not now, and never had been, affected.</p> +<p>He swung down further.</p> +<p>Just a moment after he began that +progress was when things began to +happen to him. First he heard what +seemed to be the low titter of a human +voice laughing sweetly. Next +came a far off, unutterably lovely +strumming of music. And then he +realized that, at a depth of about a +hundred feet, he was hanging level +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_378' name='page_378'></a>378</span> +with a hole which marked the mouth +of another tunnel.</p> +<p>This new tunnel sloped down into +the earth on his right hand. The floor +and walls were glassy smooth, and the +angle of descent was steep, but by no +means as steep as the drop of the vertical +geyser shaft in which he now +hung.</p> +<p>Laughter, music, the new tunnel suddenly +aroused an excitement which +made him quiver.</p> +<p>“When I saw <i>her</i>,” he gasped, “she +was standing here, in the mouth of this +tunnel, looking up at me!”</p> +<p>Violently, Freddie Kirby forgot the +maple-shaded street of his Kansas +town, forgot everything but desire to +reach the mouth of the new tunnel, +where the girl of the exquisite face +and beckoning lips had stood. Tightening +his grip on the rope, he began to +swing himself back and forth like a +pendulum.</p> +<p>It seemed probable that when the +geyser water shot up past the horizontal +tunnel, its force was so great +that no water at all entered. He redoubled +his efforts to widen his swing.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Then</span> his feet scraped on the floor, +and in a second he had alighted +there. He still hung stoutly to his line, +however, for the tunnel sloped down +sharply enough, and was slippery +enough, to prohibit the maintenance of +footing unaided.</p> +<p>The music which issued from the +depths of that stunningly mysterious +passage swelled to a crescendo—and +stopped. Kirby clung there to his +precarious perch, his feet slipping on +the glass under them with every move +he made, and feelings stirred in his +heart which had never been there before.</p> +<p>Then, as silence reigned where the +music had been, something prompted +him to look up. The next instant he +stifled a cry.</p> +<p>With widening eyes he saw the flash +of a white arm and the gleam of a +knife hovering over the spot where his +taut rope passed out of the geyser +opening into the sunshine of the outer +world. Again he stifled a cry. For +crying out would do no good. While +the suppressed sound was still on his +lips, the knife flickered.</p> +<p>Then Kirby was shooting downward, +the severed line whipping out after +him. The first plunge flung him off +his feet. A long swoop which he took +on his back dizzied him. But as the +fall continued, he was able to slow it a +little by bracing arms and legs against +the tunnel walls.</p> +<p>“Holy Jeehosophat!” he gurgled.</p> +<p>But there seemed to be no particular +danger. The slide was as smooth as +most of the chutes he had ever encountered +at summer swimming pools. +If ever the confounded spiral passage +came to an end, he might find that he +was still all right. As seconds passed +and he fell and fell, it seemed that he +was bound for the center of the earth. +It seemed that—</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> swished around a multiple bend, +and eyes which had been accustomed +to darkness were blinded by +light.</p> +<p>It was light which radiated in all +colors—blue, yellow, browns, purples, +reds, pinks, and then all the new colors +for which he had no name. Somehow +Kirby knew that he had shot out of +the tunnel, which emerged high up in +the face of a cliff, and that he was dropping +through perfumed, brilliant air +resonant with the sound of birds and +insects and human cries. The funny +thing was that the pull of gravity was +not right, somehow, and he was dropping +fairly slowly. From far below, +a body of what looked like water was +sweeping up to meet him. Kirby +closed his eyes.</p> +<p>When he opened them again, his +whole body was stinging with the slap +of his impact, and he found that it was +water which he had struck. The proof +of it lay in the fact that he was swimming, +and was approaching a shore.</p> +<p>But such water! It was milky white +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_379' name='page_379'></a>379</span> +and perfumed as the geyser flow had +been, and it seemed luminous as with +a radium fire. Had he not realized +presently that the fluid probably contained +enough arsenic to finish a thousand +like him, he would have thought +of himself as bathing in the waters of +Paradise.</p> +<p>But then he began to forget about +the poison which might already be at +work upon him.</p> +<p>Ahead of him, stretched out in the +gorgeous, colored light, ran a beach +which was backed by heavy jungle. +And on the beach stood the lovely +creatures, all clad in shimmering, glistening +garments, whose flutelike cries +had come to him as he fell.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> looked, and became almost +powerless to continue his swim. +The beauty of those frail women was +like the reputed beauty of bright +angels. That paralyzing effect of wonder, +however, did not last long.</p> +<p>The girls moved forward to the water’s +edge, and, laughing amongst +themselves, beckoned to him with +lovely slender hands whose every motion +was a caress.</p> +<p>“Be not afraid,” called one in a curious +patois dialect, about five-sixths of +which seemed made up of Spanish +words, distorted but recognizable.</p> +<p>“The water would kill you,” called +another, “as it killed the Spaniard in +armor. But we are here to save you. +I will give you a draught to drink +which will defeat the poison. Come on +to us!”</p> +<p>Kirby’s heart was almost literally in +his mouth now, because the girl who +promised him salvation was she whose +lips had formed a kiss at him from the +green-gloomy throat of the geyser.</p> +<p>His feet struck a shale bottom. Panting, +he stood up and was conscious of +the fact that despite his forlornly dripping +and dishevelled condition, he was +tall and straight and big, and that for +some reason all of the girls on the +gleaming sand, and one girl in particular, +were anxious to receive him here.</p> +<p>The one girl had drawn a small, +gleaming flask of gold from the misty +bodice of her gown, and was holding +it out while she laughed with red lips +and great, dazzling dark eyes.</p> +<p>“<i>Pronto!</i>” she called in pure Spanish, +and other girls echoed the word. “Oh,” +went on the bright owner of the flask, +“we thought you would <i>never</i> have +done with your work on the rope. It +took you so long!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> left the smooth lake behind +him and stood dripping on the +sand. The moment the air touched his +clothes, he felt that they were stiffening +slightly. Yet the sensation brought +no terror. He could not feel terror as +he faced the girls.</p> +<p>“Give him the flask, Naida!” someone +exclaimed.</p> +<p>“Ah, but the Gods <i>have</i> been kind to +us!” echoed another.</p> +<p>The girl with the flask made a gesture +for silence.</p> +<p>“Is it Naida you are called?” Kirby +put in quickly, and as he spoke the +Spanish words, the roll of them on his +tongue did much to make him know +that he was sane and awake, and not +dreaming, that this was still the +Twentieth Century, and that he was +Freddie Kirby.</p> +<p>Answering his question, Naida nodded, +and gave him the flask.</p> +<p>“A single draught will act as antidote +to the poison,” she said.</p> +<p>“I drink,” said Kirby as he raised the +flask, “to the many of you who have +been so gracious as to save me!”</p> +<p>A flashing smile, a blush was his answer. +And then he had wetted his lips +with, and was swallowing, a limpid +liquid which tasted of some drug.</p> +<p>“Enough!” Naida ordered in a +second.</p> +<p>As she reached for the flask, her +companions closed in as though a ceremony +of some sort had been completed.</p> +<p>“Is it time to tell him yet, Naida?” +piped one of the girls, younger than +the rest, whom someone had called +Elana.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_380' name='page_380'></a>380</span></div> +<p>“Oh, <i>do</i> begin, Naida,” chorused two +more. “We can’t wait <i>much</i> longer to +find out if he is going to help us!”</p> +<p>Kirby turned to Naida, while a +soothing sensation crept through him +from the draught he had taken.</p> +<p>“Pray tell me what it is that I am to +be permitted to do for you. I can +promise you that the whole of my life +and strength, and such intelligence as +I possess, is yours to command.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Excited</span> small cries and a clapping +of hands answered him. As +for Naida, her face lighted with glowing +joy.</p> +<p>“Oh, one who could say that, <i>must</i> +be the friend and protector of whom +we have stood in such bitter need!”</p> +<p>“What,” asked Kirby, “is this need +which made one of you cut my rope, +so that I should come here?”</p> +<p>A momentary silence was broken +only by the hum of insects in the perfumed +air, and by the golden thrilling +of a bird back in the jungle. Then +Kirby beheld Naida bowing to him.</p> +<p>“So be it,” she said in a voice low +and flutelike. “I will speak now since +you request it. Already you have seen +that you are here in our world because +we conspired amongst ourselves to +bring you here. Our reason—”</p> +<p>She paused, looked deep into his +eyes.</p> +<p>“Amigo,” she continued slowly, “we +whom you see here are the People of +the Temple. For more centuries than +even our sages can tell, our progenitors +have dwelt here, where you find us, +knowing always of your outer world, +but remaining always unknown by it. +But now the time has come when those +of us who are left amongst our race +need the help of one from the outer +races we have shunned. Dangers of +various orders confront us who have +waited here for your coming. When we +first discovered you in the Valley of +the Geyser, the idea came to me that +we must make you understand our +troubles, and ask of you—”</p> +<p>But then she stopped.</p> +<p>As Kirby stared at her, the gentleness +of her expression was replaced by +a swift strength which made her majestic.</p> +<p>The next moment bedlam reigned +upon the beach.</p> +<p>“<i>They are after us!</i>” gasped one of +the girls in terror. “Quick, Naida! +Quick! Quick!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Whatever</span> it was that threatened, +Naida did not need to be +told that the need for action was +pressing. She shouted at her companions +some order which Kirby did +not understand. From a pouch at her +side, she snatched out a greyish, spherical +vegetable substance which looked +almost like a tennis ball. Then she +braced herself as if to withstand an assault.</p> +<p>“Stand back!” she cried to Kirby.</p> +<p>He had long ago ceased to wonder +at anything that might happen here. +Disappointed that Naida’s story had +been interrupted, wondering what was +wrong, he obeyed Naida’s order to keep +clear.</p> +<p>As he fell back and stood motionless, +there came from behind a dense screen +of shrubs which would have resembled +aloe and prickly pear bushes, save that +they were as big as oak trees, a ghastly +howling. The next second, hopped and +hurtled across the beach toward the +girls, a group of hair-covered, shaggy +creatures which were neither apes nor +men. The faces, contorted with lust, +were hideously leathery and brown, the +foreheads small and beetling, and the +mouths enormous, with immense yellow +teeth.</p> +<p>Helpless, Kirby realized that Naida +and all the others had clapped over +their faces curious masks which seemed +to be made of some crystalline substance, +and that now others had armed +themselves with the tennis balls. And +that was the last observation he made +before the battle opened furiously.</p> +<p>With a cry muffled behind her mask, +Naida leaped out in front of her +squadron and cut loose her queer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_381' name='page_381'></a>381</span> +vegetable ball with whizzing aim and +force.</p> +<p>Full into the snarling face of one of +the ape-men the thing smashed, filling +the air all about the creature with a +yellow, mistlike powder. Kirby was +half deafened by the yells of rage and +terror which went up from the entire +attacking band. The creature who had +been hit fell to his knees the while he +made agonized tearing movements at +his face and uttered shrill, jabbering +yelps.</p> +<p>Other balls flashed instantly from +Naida’s ranks, and each brought about +the same ghastly result as the first. But +then Kirby saw that the whole jungle +seethed with the hairy, awful men.</p> +<p>“Keep back!” Naida shrieked at him +through her mask. “We have no mask +for you. If the powder from our fungi +touches you, it will be the end!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>With</span> gaps in the advancing line +filled as soon as each screeching +ape went down, the attackers leaped on +until Kirby knew they would be upon +the girls in a matter of seconds. A +sweat broke out on his neck.</p> +<p>But then an idea gripped him, and +suddenly, without even a last glance at +Naida, he leaped away even as she had +commanded.</p> +<p>A great boulder lay on the shore fifty +yards away. Toward it Kirby streaked +as though he had become coward. But +he had not turned coward.</p> +<p>By the time he reached the shelter +which would protect him from the +fungus mist, a turning point had come +in the battle. The ape-men had closed +in on the girls, were swarming about +them, and the mist balls had almost +ceased to fly. But the thing which +gave Kirby hope was that the apes +were not attempting to harm the girls. +They seemed victors, but they were not +committing atrocities.</p> +<p>It was the sharp intuition that something +like this might happen which had +sent Kirby fleeing from the fight. He +believed he might yet prove useful.</p> +<p>The thickest group of attackers were +jostling about Naida. As the screams +and sobs of the girls quivered out, +mingled with the guttural roaring of +the men, Naida was shut off by a solid +wall of aggressors.</p> +<p>Then Kirby saw her again. But now +two of the most powerful of the ape-men +had caught her up and was carrying +her. Her kicking and writhing and +biting accomplished nothing. The apes +were headed directly back to the +jungle.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Now</span>, however, most of the yellow +mist had disappeared, and that +was all Kirby had been waiting for. +With a growling shout, he tore out +from behind his boulder, his Luger +ready. Naida’s captors were in full retreat, +and other pairs of men were +snatching up other girls and hopping +after them. Toward Naida Kirby ran +madly but not blindly.</p> +<p>“Naida! Naida!” he bellowed.</p> +<p>He got in two strides for every one +the apes made.</p> +<p>“Naida!” he shouted, and at last saw +her look at him.</p> +<p>Her face was pallid with loathing and +terror. As her glimmering dark eyes +met his, they flashed a plea which made +his heart thrash against his lungs.</p> +<p>With a final roar of encouragement +Kirby closed in on the hair-covered +men, and fired instantly a shot which +caught one full in the heart. The +creature wavered on its legs, looked at +the unexpected enemy with dismayed, +swinish little red eyes, and relaxing his +hold upon Naida, dropped without making +a sound.</p> +<p>After that—</p> +<p>But suddenly Kirby found himself +unable to comprehend fully the other +terrific results of his intervention. Before +the echoes of his shot died, there +came to him the rumble of what seemed +to be tons of falling rock. In the bright +air a slight mist was precipitated. To +all of which was added the effect upon +the ape-men of fear of a weapon and a +type of fighter utterly new to them.</p> +<p>Kirby had fired believing that he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_382' name='page_382'></a>382</span> +would have to fight other ape-men when +the first fell. But not so. Instead of +that—</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> blinked rapidly as he took in +the scene.</p> +<p>Naida had been released. Lying +on the sand beside the dead ape-man, +she was looking up at him in stupefied +wonder. And her other captor, instead +of remaining to fight, had clapped +shaggy hands over his ears, and was +leaping headlong for the protection of +the jungle!</p> +<p>Moreover, the soprano cries of the +girls and the deep howls of the men +were rising everywhere, and everywhere +the ape-men were dropping their +captives and plunging away after their +leader.</p> +<p>“Huh,” Kirby muttered aloud, and +wondered what the citizens of Kansas +would have to say about <i>this</i>.</p> +<p>Naida looked at the dead and bleeding +ape-man and shuddered, and then +at the score or so of others brought +down by the puff balls. Then she +looked up at Kirby, raised her arms for +his support, and smiled up into his +brown face.</p> +<p>Kirby forgot Kansas, lifted her, +warm and alive, radiantly beautiful, in +his arms.</p> +<p>“Our friends the enemies,” she whispered +as she remained for a second in +his embrace and then drew away, “will +attack no more this day—thanks to +you.”</p> +<p>There was no possible need for another +shot, Kirby saw. In terrified +silence, the first of the apes had already +floundered behind the prickly pear and +aloe bushes, and the last stragglers +were using all the power in their legs +to catch up. On the beach, Naida’s +followers were picking themselves up, +and already a few of them had burst +into ringing laughter.</p> +<p>“Come on, all of you,” Naida said to +them, and, including Kirby in her +glance, added, “We may as well go to +the caciques now, and have it over +with.”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was with Naida at his side and +the other girls grouped about them, +that they started their journey to the +“caciques,” whoever they might be, “to +have it over with,” whatever that might +mean. As they strode along in silence, +Kirby did what he could to straighten +out in his mind the many curious things +which had happened since he sat testing +his rope in the upper world this +morning.</p> +<p>In final analysis, it seemed to him +that, extraordinary as his experience +had been, there was nothing so much +out of the way about it, after all. The +only unusual thing was the existence +of this inhabited pocket in the earth. +For the rest, the strange colors to +which he could not put a name, were +simply some manifestation of infra-reds +and ultra-violets. And then the +startling effect of his single shot at +the ape-men—that was simply the old +story of savage creatures running from +a new weapon and a new enemy; naturally +the shot had sounded loud in this +enclosed cavern. Lastly, the pull of +gravity down here seemed upset somehow. +But why should it not seem so, +at this distance within the earth? The +American was no scientist; the conclusions +he reached seemed very reasonable +to him.</p> +<p>All told, the last thing Kirby found +he needed to do was pinch himself to +see if he was awake.</p> +<p>A place of indefinite extent, the +cavern seemed to be exactly what he +had already judged it—a giant pocket +within the earth. The ceiling, or the +sky, was of some kind of natural glass—no +doubt the same kind which was +crackling on his clothes now—and +from it emanated the brilliant, many +colored glow which lighted the cavern. +Radium? Perhaps it was that. Perhaps +the rays were cast off from some +other element even less understood +than mysterious radium. As for the +plant and animal life with which the +cavern teemed, it was amazing.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_383' name='page_383'></a>383</span></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> Kirby did not give himself up +to silent observation any longer.</p> +<p>“Will you finish telling me,” he asked +of Naida, “about the task I am to perform +for you here?”</p> +<p>Naida, walking with lithe strides +along a path jungle-hemmed on both +sides, smiled at him.</p> +<p>“You are to be our leader.”</p> +<p>“Yes?”</p> +<p>Now both Naida and the other girls +became sober.</p> +<p>“You will lead us in a revolt.”</p> +<p>“Ah!” Kirby whistled softly.</p> +<p>“In a revolt against the caciques—the +wise men—whose kind have governed +the People of the Temple since +the beginning.”</p> +<p>Her statement was received with acclaim +by the whole troop, who crowded +close around, the while they smiled at +Kirby.</p> +<p>“You mean I am to lead a revolt,” he +asked, “against these same caciques +whom we are going now to face?”</p> +<p>Naida nodded emphatically.</p> +<p>“Yes, if revolt proves necessary. And +it probably will.”</p> +<p>“Hum.” Kirby scratched behind his +ear. “You’d better tell me what you +can about it.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Then</span>, as they hurried on, Naida +spoke rapidly.</p> +<p>The situation before the People of +the Temple was that for a long time +now, the only children to be born had +been girls. Worse still, not even a girl +had been born during a period equal to +sixteen upper-world years. The only +remaining members of a race which had +flourished in this underground land for +countless thousands of years, consisted +of the caciques, a handful of aged people, +and the thirty-four girls, including +Naida, who accompanied Kirby now.</p> +<p>On one hand was promised extinction +through lack of reproduction. On +the other, even swifter and more terrible +extinction at the hands of the +ape-men, whom Naida called the Worshippers +of Xlotli, the Rabbit God, the +God of all bestiality and drunkenness.</p> +<p>It was the menace of the ape-men, +rather than the less appalling one of +lack of reproduction, which was making +the most trouble now. Ages ago, +when the People of the Temple had +flourished as a race, they had been untroubled +by the Worshippers of Xlotli. +But now the ape-men were by far the +stronger; and they desired the girls +who had been born as the last generation +of an ancient race. The battle of +this morning had been only one of +many.</p> +<p>Dissension between the caciques, who +ruled the People of the Temple, and +their girl subjects, had arisen on the +subject of the best way of dealing with +the ape-man menace.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Some</span> time ago, Naida, heading a +council of all the girls, had proposed +to the caciques that support be +sought amongst the people of the upper +world. This would be done judiciously, +by bringing to the lower realm +a few men who were wise and strong, +men who would make good husbands, +and who could fight the ape-men.</p> +<p>This proposal the priests had +promptly quashed. They would never +receive, they said, any members of the +teeming outer races from whom the +People of the Temple had so long been +hidden. Those few who had blundered +into the Valley of the Geyser during +the centuries, and who had never escaped, +were enough. Better, said the +caciques, that a compromise be arranged +with the subjects of the Rabbit +God.</p> +<p>Flatly then, the priests had proposed +that some of the girls, the number to +be specified later, should be given to +the ape-men, and peace won. During +the time of reprieve which would thus +be afforded, prayers and sacrifices +could be offered the Lords of the Sun +and Moon, and to Quetzalcoatl, the +Feathered Serpent. In answer to these +prayers, the Gods would surely send +the aged people who alone were left as +prospective parents, a generation of +sons.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_384' name='page_384'></a>384</span></div> +<p>Once the priests’ program of giving +up some of the girls to the ape-men had +been made definite, it had not taken +Naida and the others long to decide +that they would never submit. And +then, while matters were at an acute +stage, a tall, blond white man had come +to the Valley of the Geyser—Kirby.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>As</span> Naida had finished her story, +Kirby mustered a smile despite +the soberness which had come upon +him.</p> +<p>“So the white man came,” he repeated +after her, “and all of you decided +forthwith to stage your revolt.”</p> +<p>“Why not?” Naida answered. “We +observed you until we were sure you +possessed the qualities of leadership we +wanted. After that, we did what we +could to coax you to come here.”</p> +<p>Kirby grinned at that.</p> +<p>“Now,” Naida ended simply, “we will +go to the caciques. If they accept you, +and grant our requests to them, there +will be peace. If they rage, it will be +war.”</p> +<p>Suddenly she drew closer to Kirby as +they swung along, and slipped her hand +into his, looking up at him in silent entreaty.</p> +<p>“How much farther,” he asked in +a voice which became sharp, “until +we reach the headquarters of these +caciques?”</p> +<p>“They live in a castle which our +ancestors built ages ago on a protected +plateau,” Naida answered tensely. “It +is a good distance still, but we will +cover it soon enough.”</p> +<p>They crossed now one edge of a +shadow-filled forest composed principally +of immense, pallid palmlike trees. +Farther on, the path wound through a +belt of swampy land covered by gigantic +reeds which rustled above their +heads with a glassy sound, and by +things which looked like the cat-tails +of the upper world, but were a hundred +times larger. Everywhere hovered +odd little creatures like birds, but with +teeth in their long snouts and small +frondlike growths on each side of their +tails. About some swamp plants with +very large blooms resembling passion +flowers, flitted dragon flies of jeweled +hues and enormous size, and under the +flowers hopped strange toadlike creatures +equipped with two pair of gauzy +wings.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Finally</span>, through a tunnel composed +of ferns a hundred feet +high, they emerged to a still densely +overgrown but higher country which +Naida said was a part of the Rorroh +forest.</p> +<p>In the forest, Kirby gained a hazy +impression of bronzy, immense cycads +and what appeared to be tree chrysophilums +with gorgeous blossoms. +Then he received a much clearer impression +of other trees with blossoms +of bright orange yellow and very thick +petals, each tipped with a glassy sharp +point. The disconcerting thing about +the tree was that, as they approached, +the scaly limbs began to tremble and +wave, and suddenly lashed out as +though making a human effort to snatch +at the bright travelers.</p> +<p>Naida and all the others hurried +along without offering comment, and +Kirby asked no questions.</p> +<p>Once he thought he saw a group of +gorilla creatures parallelling their +course back amongst the forest growth, +but if Naida observed the animals, she +paid no attention. The one thing which +had any effect upon the company was +the appearance, presently, of two vast, +birdlike creatures. As these things approached, +Naida signaled to all to +crouch beneath the shelter of a tall +rock beside the path.</p> +<p>Enormous, the birds had bat wings, +and carried with them, as they approached, +the stink of putrid flesh. The +long beaks were overfull of sharp teeth. +The heads, set upon bodies of glistening +white-grey, were black. Reddish +grey eyes searched the jungle as the +creatures flapped along. But, the +Pterodactyls—if they were that—passed +above Naida’s band without offering +attack, and presently Naida +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_385' name='page_385'></a>385</span> +gave the command to advance again.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> time, they came to a chasmlike +gorge across which was suspended +a slender long thread of a bridge. Not +far above the bridge, a considerable +river emptied itself into the gorge in +a mirrorlike ribbon. Kirby could not +hear the torrent fall—or rather could +not hear it strike any solid bottom. +But from somewhere in the unlighted, +unfathomed depths of the abyss rose +strange bubbling and whistling sounds.</p> +<p>At the bridge, Naida paused and +pointed to the land across the river. +And as Kirby looked in the direction +indicated, he beheld a rocky eminence +rising for several hundred feet straight +up from the expanse of a level, tree and +grass covered plain. Atop of the +plateau, glimmered the complex towers +and turrets, the crenellated walls of a +castle which, in its grey antiquity, +seemed as old as the race of men.</p> +<p>“It is behind those walls that the +caciques dwell,” Naida said quickly. +“It is behind the castle, in a series of +separate houses, that the older members +of the race dwell. We shall go +and look upon them presently. But +first we will force an interview with +the caciques.”</p> +<p>In silence Kirby took her hand, and, +with the others following, they moved +out upon the swaying, perilous causeway +which hung above the chasm. +After that, the trip across the plain to +the foot of the plateau cliffs was +quickly accomplished.</p> +<p>Here, however, Kirby thought they +must face trouble, for he found that the +great walls, of a sparkling, almost +glassy smoothness, shot up to a height +of at least three hundred feet, and that +no path of any sort was visible.</p> +<p>“We’re here,” he said, “but how can +we get up?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> understanding began to dawn +as Naida laughed, and produced +from the pouch at the side of her gauzy +dress four pliable discs of a substance +which resembled rubber.</p> +<p>“You are very strong, are you not?” +she asked.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Then you will have no trouble in +following us up the cliff. Our Serpent +God, Quetzalcoatl, taught us how to +climb long ago.”</p> +<p>With that she handed Kirby the set +of vacuum discs, and producing another +for herself, moistened them in a +pool of water close at hand. Then, as +all of the girls followed her action, she +strapped them to her hands and feet, +and in a moment they had begun the +ascent.</p> +<p>“Why,” Kirby said presently, “with +these things you could hang by your +feet and walk on a smooth ceiling!”</p> +<p>Naida laughed, and they worked +their way upward.</p> +<p>When the climb was accomplished +and the discs were put away, Kirby +found himself standing on the outer +edge of a mediaeval paradise, of a +magnificent plateau partly fortified by +nature, partly by the hand of man.</p> +<p>“Ah!” he cried in deep admiration, +then followed Naida.</p> +<p>The building—the castle—in the near +distance, resembled a castle of Spain, +save that there was greater beauty and +subtlety of architecture. Turreted on +all four corners, constructed of material +which looked like blocks of +natural glass, the fairylike structure +was crowned by a gigantic tower of +something which resembled obsidian. +Up and up this tower soared until its +gleaming black tip seemed almost to +touch the glassy-radiant sky of the +cavern.</p> +<p>No people showed themselves, and +Kirby saw that the bronze-studded +portals set in the front of the castle +were closed.</p> +<p>Admiringly, he glanced at the surrounding +land laid out in checkerboard +patches of gardens and orchards where +grew a bewildering variety of unknown +fruits and blooms. Butterflies drifted +past, and the air was freighted with +the scent of flowers. Inside a walled +enclosure, Kirby saw a good-sized plot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_386' name='page_386'></a>386</span> +heavily grown with the plant on which +he had been subsisting. As they passed +this ground, each of the girls, Naida +leading, made a strange little bowing, +gliding genuflection, and Kirby wondered.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Now</span>, however, new sights distracted +him as they crossed a +port drawbridge above a deep moat +which was a fairyland of aquatic +plants. Although not a sound had +come from the castle, the great entrance +doors were swinging back.</p> +<p>“Be ready,” Naida whispered, “for +almost anything. The doors are being +opened by some of the palace guard. I +have little doubt that word was long +ago rushed to the caciques that we are +come to them with an upper-world +man!”</p> +<p>Kirby answered with a nod. Then +they passed the outer doors, passed inside, +and Kirby blinked at what he +saw.</p> +<p>In a long hall decorated bewilderingly +with a carven frieze in which appeared +all of the symbols common to +early Mexican religions, and many new +ones, stood a row of bright suits of +armor of the Sixteenth Century. From +each suit peered the glassy face and +shovel beard of a dead Conquistadore.</p> +<p>So this was what happened to intruders +from the upper world! The +Conquistadore who kept his long watch +beside the geyser was not the only one! +Kirby felt an involuntary chill prickle +up his back. But he was not given long +to think before Naida, ignoring the +gruesome array, clasped his arm.</p> +<p>“Look! Behold!”</p> +<p>And Kirby saw that with almost +magical silence the whole wall at the +end of the corridor was sliding back +to reveal an enormous amphitheatre in +the center of which stood a vast circular +table. Ranged in a semicircle about +that table, stood fifteen incredibly +ancient men clad in long, glistening +grey robes. Blanched beards trailed +down the front of the garments until +they all but touched the floor.</p> +<p>The caciques!</p> +<p>Kirby, on the threshold of the amphitheatre, +squared his shoulders and held +his head high. Then with Naida on his +right, his own eyes boring unyieldingly +into the smouldering, narrowed +eyes which stared at him, he advanced.</p> +<p>But in front of him the priests +moved suddenly. From Naida burst a +shriek. In the radiant glare of the +council room flashed the long, thin, +cruel blade of a sacrificial knife.</p> +<p>The cacique who had whipped it +from his robe flew at Kirby with a +condor swoop, talon-hands outstretched, +his wrinkled, bearded face contorted +with fury.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Before</span> Kirby was more than half +set to fight, the priest was clawing +at his throat, and a gnarled old fist +was poised to drive the knife in a death +stroke.</p> +<p>Kirby did the only thing he could do +quickly—sprang to one side. The move +saved him. The knife whipped past his +shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell. +But it had been a close enough squeak +for all that.</p> +<p>Nor was it over. After Kirby the +priest sprang with unexpected agility, +and before Kirby could snatch at his +pistol the talon-hands were lunging at +his throat once more.</p> +<p>With the gasps of the girls ringing +in his ears, Kirby bunched himself for +another side leap only to find the +cacique all over him like an octopus. +Momentarily the knife hung above his +chest, and Kirby, dismayed at the +powers of his opponent, almost felt that +the thing must plunge before he could +break the octopus hold.</p> +<p>But he had no intention of being defeated, +and now he was getting used to +the fight. The priest’s left arm swiftly +clenched about his neck and shoulders, +and the right arm, with the knife, attempted +a drive through to the heart. +Suddenly, however, Kirby lurched +sideways and backward, and as the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_387' name='page_387'></a>387</span> +octopus grip slackened for a flash, he +himself got a wrestler’s grip that left +him ready to do business. As the priest +broke free, he slid around in an attempt +to fasten himself on Kirby’s +back. Quickly, tensely Kirby doubled, +and knew that he had done enough. +The cacique shot over his shoulders, +described a somersault in midair, and +landed with a sharp crack of head and +shoulders against unyielding stone.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>From</span> the semicircle of other +priests went up a gasp. From +Naida came a strangled cry of joy. +Kirby made one leap for the knife +which had fallen from the cacique’s +hand as he slumped into unconsciousness, +and then he straightened up +with the weapon safe in his possession.</p> +<p>“There, you old billygoat,” he +croaked in English, “maybe you won’t +try any more fast ones for awhile.”</p> +<p>A second later he stepped over the +sprawled body to stand beside Naida.</p> +<p>Upon the wrinkled countenances of +the remaining caciques was stamped a +look of dismay and hatred which +boded no good. It was plain to Kirby +that in battering up the man detailed +to kill him, he had committed a +desecration of first order.</p> +<p>“Is there anyone else who cares to +fight?” he flung at them in Spanish, +showing a contempt as great as their +rage.</p> +<p>The response he got was instant. +From one old gullet, then from others, +came choking, snarling sounds which +presently became words. By those +words Kirby heard himself cursed with +a vituperation which made him, even in +his temporary triumph, feel grave.</p> +<p>But he did not let that soberness +trouble him long. For the main point +now was that no one made a move to +fight further, which was what he had +expected. He had flung them the challenge, +knowing that he was possessed +of their knife, and suspecting that it +was their only weapon. The belief that +no one would care to try a barehanded +conflict, no matter what insult was +waiting to be avenged, seemed justified +as none of the caciques advanced, and +as even the cursing presently ceased.</p> +<p>“No?” Kirby asked. “There is to be +no more fighting?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>One</span> of the caciques now came forward +a few steps.</p> +<p>“No,” he answered with a lameness +which was not to be denied. “But you, +a criminal interloper in our realm, have +been marked as a victim for sacrifice, +and from this there is no power in the +universe which can save you.”</p> +<p>Kirby, after a reassuring glance at +Naida, looked at the floored priest who +was sitting up now, looking stupidly +about, and feeling himself all over, and +Kirby suppressed a grin.</p> +<p>“Ah, I am to be sacrificed, eh? But +what happens until that time comes? +Listen my Wise Ones—”</p> +<p>He stabbed a finger at them, and his +eyes flashed.</p> +<p>“Listen! What you mean to say is +that I have defeated you, and you must +lay off me until you can launch another +attack. But I have a few things to say +to that. One is that I am not going to +permit myself to <i>be</i> sacrificed. Another +is that I demand, right here and now, +that you begin to discuss with me certain +agreements which are going to +regulate the future conduct of affairs +in this world to which I have come.”</p> +<p>A low exclamation answered that, but +it came from no priest. They remained +sullen and staggered. It was Naida +who murmured, and there was excitement +and pleasure in her voice. Suddenly +she placed her lips against +Kirby’s ear.</p> +<p>“You must not treat with them,” she +said. “Tell them you want to see the +Duca, and will destroy them all unless +he comes!”</p> +<p>Understanding burst over Kirby. The +Duca! Then these men were only the +representatives of a High Priest, the +Duca!</p> +<p>“Yes,” he repeated resolutely to the +assembled greybeards, “a meeting is +going to be held in this chamber of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_388' name='page_388'></a>388</span> +council at once. But I will not deal +with you! Do you understand me? I +must see the Duca. I leave it to you +to decide whether you will summon +him, or force me to fight my way +through to wherever he is staying.”</p> +<p>“The Duca!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> words burst in dismay from +the gimlet-eyed cacique who had +said there would be no more fighting. +He looked at Naida, well aware of the +fact that it was her interference which +had made Kirby extend his demand. +And his look was black.</p> +<p>Kirby slid between Naida and the +cacique.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he spat out, “the Duca! Will +you summon him, or—”</p> +<p>He did not repeat what he would do +as an alternative. A second passed in +silence. It seemed as if the cacique +who had been speaking was ready to +burst.</p> +<p>“Answer me!” Kirby thundered.</p> +<p>And then the priest obeyed.</p> +<p>“Very well,” he growled in a voice +which quaked with rage. “I obey. But +you will wish you had never made the +demand!”</p> +<p>The next second he swung on his +heel, and leaving his company behind +as a guard, headed toward a stair which +led upward from one side of the amphitheatre, +and which was protected by a +door of heavy, grilled metal work. The +stairway seemed to be spiral, and was +all enclosed. Kirby realized that it +must lead into the tall and beautiful +tower of obsidion which he had seen +outside.</p> +<p>“Oh,” Naida whispered as looks and +smiles of approval came from all of +the girls, “you have been magnificent! +Mark now, what we must do. You must +be the one to state our terms, because +you have already won a victory for us. +Tell the Duca that we will not submit +to any compromise with the ape-men, +and least of all will we let any of our +number go to the ape-men.”</p> +<p>A deep flush crept into Kirby’s cheeks +at thought of what he would like to do +to the man who had proposed that sacrifice.</p> +<p>“Then tell him,” Naida continued, +“that we want men brought to our +world from the world above. And +finally tell him we will live under his +dictatorship no longer, and hereafter +demand a voice in all councils affecting +temporal affairs.”</p> +<p>“All right,” Kirby spoke grimly. +“I’ll tell him. Naida, is this high priest +we’re waiting for, the one who proposed +sacrifice of some of you to the +apes?”</p> +<p>Naida nodded.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Next</span> moment, she, Kirby, and all +the others, including the row of +glowering caciques, became silent. At +sounds from above, all looked toward +the grilled doorway to the tower. Then +Kirby realized that all of the girls, as +well as the caciques, were dropping to +their knees.</p> +<p>“No!” he commanded quickly. “Get +up! You must not abase—”</p> +<p>He had not finished, and Naida had +scarcely risen, when the heavy door +swung on noiseless hinges.</p> +<p>The light in the amphitheatre seemed +to become more intense. Then, against +the great glow, Kirby beheld majesty, +beheld one who represented the apotheosis +of priestly rank and power.</p> +<p>Clad in robes of filmy material which +glimmered white beside the gray robes +of his underlings, the Duca wore about +his waist the living flame of a girdle +composed of alternate cut diamonds +and blood red rubies each larger than +a golf ball. And Kirby, searching for +comparisons, realized that the Duca’s +face, upheld to others, would be as remarkable +as his jewels must be when +compared to ordinary gems. It was a +chiseled face, seamed by a thousand +wrinkles, which a god might have +carved from ivory before endowing it +with the flush and glow of life. A +mane of snow white hair cascaded back +from a tremendous forehead to fall +about thin but square shoulders and +mingle with the downward sweep of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_389' name='page_389'></a>389</span> +pure white beard. The eyes, black as +polished jet, flamed now with the glare +of baleful fires.</p> +<p>As Naida, stealing close to Kirby, +trembled, and even the abased caciques +trembled, Kirby himself felt as if icy +water was trickling over him.</p> +<p>He fought the sensation off. For suddenly +he knew that in spite of first impressions +which made the man seem a +living god, the old Duca was human. +And what was more, he was in the +wrong. All of which being true, the +thing to do was keep a level head and +fight.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>All</span> at once Kirby spoke across the +silence in the great room.</p> +<p>“I have sent for you,” he said, weighing +words carefully.</p> +<p>“And I,”—the Duca’s voice was mellow +and deep—“have come. But I am +not here because you summoned me.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” Kirby let sarcasm edge his +words. “Well, I won’t quibble about +your motives for coming. Did my +messenger tell you why we are here +and demand your presence?”</p> +<p>“Your messenger,” the old man said +calmly, “told me.”</p> +<p>“Very well. Do you consent to listen +to Naida’s and my terms? If you <i>will</i> +listen—”</p> +<p>“But wait a moment,” the Duca interrupted, +still calmly, but with a look +in his eyes which Kirby did not like. +“Are you asking <i>me</i>, to my face, +whether I will listen to terms which +you offer as self-styled victor of a battle +with my caciques?”</p> +<p>Kirby nodded. His apprehension increased.</p> +<p>“Ah,” said the Duca softly. And +then, amazingly, a smile deepened +every wrinkle of his parchment face. +“But do you not remember that I said +I had <i>not</i> come here because you summoned +me?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” Kirby said solidly. “I remember +very well.”</p> +<p>“The thing which brought me here +was the failure of my followers to accomplish +an assignment which I had +given them—namely, that of ending +your life.”</p> +<p>“Hum.” Kirby scratched behind his +ear. “You are <i>not</i> interested in arranging +terms of peace, then.”</p> +<p>“I am here,”—suddenly the Duca’s +voice filled the room—“to do that +which my priests were unable to do. +And the moment has come when the +Gods will no longer trifle with you. +You dog! You thieving intruder! +You—”</p> +<p>Swiftly the Duca plunged one withered +but still powerful hand into the +folds of his robe above the flaming +girdle. Then his hand flashed out, and +in it he held—</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> Kirby did not get to see.</p> +<p>A strangled cry of terror smote +his ears. Naida leaped toward him +from one side, while Elana, the lovely +youngest girl, sprang from another +direction, hurled Naida aside, and +stopped in front of Kirby.</p> +<p>Through the glaring room flickered +a tiny red serpentine creature which +the Duca hurled from a crystalline +tube in his hand. As the minute snake +struck Elana’s breast, she gave a +choked cough, and then, as she half +turned to smile at both Naida and +Kirby over her shoulder, her eyes went +blank, and she collapsed gently to the +polished stones of the floor—dead.</p> +<p>A second later came squirming out +from under her the ghastly, glimmering +little snake which had struck.</p> +<p>Slowly, while every mortal in the +room stood paralyzed, Kirby stepped +forward and set his heel upon the +writhing thing. When he raised his +boot, the snake was only a blotch on +the floor.</p> +<p>The Duca was standing as still as +girls and caciques. The laughter with +which he had started to greet what he +had thought would be Kirby’s extermination +had faded to a look of wonder—and +fear. He was an easy mark.</p> +<p>Up to him Kirby rolled, and with +all the force of soul and muscular body, +drove his fist into the Duca’s face.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_390' name='page_390'></a>390</span></div> +<p>“By God,” he roared, “you want war, +and you shall have it!”</p> +<p>The Duca was simply out—not dead. +Since Kirby did not want him dead, +he did not strike again, but swung back +from the sprawled body, faced Naida, +and pointed to the tower door.</p> +<p>“Up there!” he snapped. “Seize the +tower. I have a reason!”</p> +<p>At the Duca’s crashing downfall, +had come to the caciques a tension +which made Kirby know they would +not be dummy figures much longer. +His eyes never left them.</p> +<p>“Quick, Naida!” he snapped again. +“We must hold the tower!”</p> +<p>Naida, all of the girls, were staring +dazedly at Elana, dead.</p> +<p>“The tower!” she choked. “But we +cannot go there. It is the Duca’s!”</p> +<p>“Because it is the Duca’s,” Kirby +said firmly, “is exactly why we must +hold it. Come, Naida, please—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>And</span> then he saw comprehension +begin to dawn at last.</p> +<p>He also saw two of the caciques +glide from the wooden line, and slink +toward him past the unconscious Duca, +stealthily.</p> +<p>As Naida suddenly cried out to her +companions, pushed at two of them, +and then darted like a rainbow nymph +toward the silent and forbidding upward +spiral of steps, Kirby faced the +gliding caciques.</p> +<p>One he clutched with viselike hands, +and lifted him. As the other shrieked +and sprang, he was mowed down by +the hurtling body of his fellow priest +which Kirby flung forward mightily.</p> +<p>The rest of the caciques were howling. +While Naida waited beside the +tower door, the other girls flashed up +the steps. The Duca still lay where +he had fallen, a thread of blood oozing +from his mouth. Kirby, after his last +look over all, solemnly stooped and +gathered in his arms the limp, radiant +little body of the girl who had given +her life that her friends might be left +with a leader.</p> +<p>A moment later, he was standing on +the steps. Naida, unopposed by the +still stupefied caciques, swung shut the +tower door and shot a double bolt.</p> +<p>“Naida—” Kirby whispered as he +held Elana closer to him, “oh, I am so +sorry that we could have won only at +such a price.”</p> +<p>As Naida stooped to kiss the pale +little forehead with its halo of golden +hair, sobs came. But then she raised +her eyes, and they were, for Kirby, +alight with the message that she could +and would accept Elana’s sacrifice, because +she would gladly have made it +herself.</p> +<p>“We will not forget,” she whispered. +“Carry her tenderly, and come.”</p> +<p>For better, for worse, the Duca’s +tower was theirs.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> the end of an hour, Kirby was +taking a turn of guard duty at +the foot of the steps, while the others +remained with Elana in a chamber +above. To Kirby, with things thus far +along, it seemed that the seizure of the +tower had proved a shrewd stroke.</p> +<p>It seemed that the tower was to the +Duca what hair was to Sampson. From +Naida had come the information that +the Duca lived hidden within the great +shaft of obsidion, and appeared but seldom +even before his caciques. Apparently +a large part of his hold upon his +subjects was maintained by the mystery +with which he kept himself surrounded. +And now his retreat was lost +to him! Such had been the moral +effect of the loss upon both Duca and +caciques, that his whole first hour had +gone by without their doing anything.</p> +<p>Kirby, standing just around the first +turn of the winding stairway, presently +cocked his ears to listen to the +conclave being held in the amphitheatre.</p> +<p>“Why not starve them out, O Holy +One?” he heard one of the caciques ask +of the Duca, only to be answered by a +growl of negation.</p> +<p>The Duca, Kirby had gathered before +this, wanted to fight.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_391' name='page_391'></a>391</span></div> +<p>“But there is no food in the tower, +is there?” the cacique still pressed on, +and this time he was supported by +other voices.</p> +<p>“No,” the Duca rumbled back. “But +am I to be deprived of my retreat, +left here like a common dog amongst +other dogs, while these accursed fiends +starve slowly to death? No! I tell +you, you must fight for me!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> he had told them so several +times before and nothing had +happened. Kirby grinned at the +thought of the caste the Duca was losing +by being driven to this belittling +parley.</p> +<p>“Holy One,” exclaimed a new priest +in answer to the urge to fight, “what +can we do against the golden haired +fiend? The stairs are so narrow that +he could defend them alone. And then +there are the gates of bronze. If we +could shatter the first, at the foot of +the steps, we should only encounter +others. The Duca must remember that +his tower was built to withstand +attack.”</p> +<p>“Even so,” the Duca snapped back, +“it must be attacked! I—”</p> +<p>But then he fell silent, having been +made so by the sounds of dissension +which arose amongst his caciques. +Kirby, laughing to himself, turned +away from his listening post, and tip-toed +up the steps.</p> +<p>After he had closed and bolted behind +him three of the bronze portals +so feared by the caciques, he turned +to the entrance of the chamber in +which he had left Naida and the others. +Here all was silent, and he found his +friends grouped about a couch on +which lay Elana. Feeling the solemnity +of the moment, he would have +taken his place quietly amongst the +mourners.</p> +<p>Naida, however, came to him at once, +and in a low voice asked for news from +the amphitheatre, and when Kirby answered +that the caciques were unanimously +in favor of leaving them alone +until they starved, she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Oh, then it is good news!”</p> +<p>After that, however, a shadow of +doubt flickered in her great eyes.</p> +<p>“And yet, is it? It means temporary +immunity, of coarse. But—starvation!”</p> +<p>Kirby assured her with a grin.</p> +<p>“If we had to starve we might worry. +But there is more food here than the +Duca thinks. Look!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>From</span> a bulging pocket of his +tunic he fished a strip of the roots +on which he had subsisted so comfortably. +Naida’s eyes widened, and +several of the girls gave low cries.</p> +<p>“Yes,” Naida exclaimed, “but such +food! Why—why, do you know what +you are offering us? Why, this is the +sacred Peyote! Only the Duca eats it, +and, at rare intervals, his priests.”</p> +<p>Kirby was really startled now.</p> +<p>“But surely you and the others have +taken quantities of the stuff away from +the Valley of the Geyser. Do you +mean—”</p> +<p>“Because we gathered the Peyote +does not mean that we have ever tasted +it. We gather it for the Duca. To +taste would be complete, utter sacrilege. +Have <i>you</i> been eating it?”</p> +<p>Inwardly Kirby was chuckling at +this added proof of the buncumbe with +which the Duca—and other Ducas—had +fooled all.</p> +<p>“Of course I’ve been eating the +Peyote.”</p> +<p>“And—and nothing has happened to +you?” Naida asked.</p> +<p>“Hardly. I certainly haven’t been +blasted by the Lords of the Sun and +Moon, or the Serpent either!”</p> +<p>Naida and all the others were silent. +The conflict between their reverence +for the food and their clear desire to +eat it, now that it was become the food +of their leader, was pathetic.</p> +<p>Kirby put one of the strips in Naida’s +hand.</p> +<p>“Why not?” he asked. “We have +bested the Duca in fair fight. We have +seized his tower. Why not eat his +food?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_392' name='page_392'></a>392</span></div> +<p>As he had hoped it would, the suggestion +at last settled the matter. A +moment later, as Naida nibbled her +first bite, she smiled.</p> +<p>“Why, it—it’s good!”</p> +<p>With the question of provisions settled +at least for a time, Kirby’s next +thought was of the tower. The present +lull of peace seemed made for exploration.</p> +<p>“Come along,” he said to Naida, +“we’ve plenty to do,” and then, when he +explained, they set out, accompanied +by Nini, a cousin of Naida’s, and Ivana, +a younger sister.</p> +<p>All of the others remained with little +Elana.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>While</span> they climbed spiral +stairs, Naida explained that the +chamber they had just left was used +by the Duca as a place in which he +prayed before and after contacts with +caciques or subjects. A sort of halfway +station between earth and heaven, +as it were, where the Duca might +be purged of any sullying influence +gained from human relationships.</p> +<p>At thought of the rank, egotistical +hypocrisy implied by the story, Kirby +smiled grimly. Then they came to a +new door, heavier than that which barricaded +the prayer chamber. Unlocked, +the thing swung ponderously at Kirby’s +push, and with the three girls pressing +close beside him, he entered—and +stopped.</p> +<p>“Naida!” he gasped.</p> +<p>“Oh, <i>oh</i>!” she cried, and while Nini +and Ivana gasped, she clapped her +hands in an instinctive, feminine reaction +of joy. “But there are things +here which I believe none but the Ducas +of our race have ever seen! Oh! +Why, the sacred girdle is as nothing +compared to this display!”</p> +<p>By “display” she meant a treasure +which took Kirby’s breath away, which +made his heart act queerly.</p> +<p>The walls of the chamber were fashioned +of polished blocks of obsidion +on which stood out in heavy bas-relief +a maze of decorative figures fashioned +of pure, beaten gold—the same kind of +gold which had gone into the making +of the cylinder of gold. With his first +glance at the gorgeously wrought motifs +of Feathered Serpent and Sun and +Moon symbols, Kirby knew to a certainty +whence the golden cylinder had +come originally.</p> +<p>But even the gold—literally tons of +it there must have been—was nothing +compared to the gems.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> were spread out in blinding +array upon a great table in the +center of the room. There were pearls +as big as turkey eggs and whiter, softer +than the light of a June morning growing +in the East. There were rubies. +One amongst the many was the size of +a baseball and glowed like the heart +of a red star. The least of the two or +three hundred gems would have outclassed +the greatest treasures of the +Crown jewels of England and Russia +combined.</p> +<p>Most overwhelming of all, however, +was the jewel which rested against a +square of black cloth all its own in the +center of the table. While his heart +still acted queerly, while Naida, Nini, +and Ivana hung back, delighted, but +still too bewildered to move, Kirby +advanced and took gingerly in his +hands a single white diamond about +eighteen inches long, and almost as +wide and deep as it was long.</p> +<p>The thing was carved with exquisite +cunning to a likeness of the living +head of Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered +Serpent.</p> +<p>Kirby dared not guess how many +pounds the carven hunk of flashing, +blue-white carbon weighed. He knew +only that like it there was no other +diamond in the world, and that the +thing was real. Naida and the two +girls were silent now, and suddenly +Kirby realized that to their awe of the +gem was added awe of deepest religious +nature. Slowly he put the diamond +head of the Serpent back upon +its square of cloth.</p> +<p>“We—we had heard that this thing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_393' name='page_393'></a>393</span> +existed,” Naida said presently, voice +hushed, “but no one except the holy +men of our race has ever beheld it.”</p> +<p>“But, what is it?” Kirby asked. +“Whence came it?”</p> +<p>However, when Naida would have +answered, he interrupted.</p> +<p>“But wait! Tell me as we go. We +could stay here for the rest of our +lives without much trouble, but we’ve +got to cover the rest of the tower and +get back to the others.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was after they had closed the +door to the treasure room that +Naida told him the story.</p> +<p>“There is not so much to tell,” she +began. “The diamond itself is so gorgeous +that it is hard to talk about. +But here is the story. A great many +ages ago one of the Ducas of our race +found the diamond, decided to carve +it into a perfect likeness of the head +of the Serpent God. All of the craftsmen +of the race helped him and when +they were done, they took their image +to Quetzalcoatl himself, and showed +him what they had done.</p> +<p>“Quetzalcoatl was pleased. So +pleased, that he promised all of the +wise men that he would cease to prey +upon them as he had in the past, and +henceforward would take his toll of +sacrifice from the ape-men alone. Them +he hated and would continue to hate +because they worshipped not him but +Xlotli.</p> +<p>“And so it came about,” Naida went +on slowly, looking up at Kirby as they +still mounted wide steps to the upper +reaches of the tower, “that our people +gained immunity from a God which +had always before harmed and destroyed +them. Our race presently began +to build this castle here on the +high plateau, and Quetzalcoatl kept his +compact with them. He still comes out +of his chasm at intervals and preys +upon the ape-men, but no one of our +race has seen him for thousands of +years, and he has always let us alone. +And there is the whole myth and explanation +of why the great diamond is +revered among us as a holy of holies.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>They</span> had mounted to a new door +which Kirby guessed might give +entrance to the Duca’s living quarters. +But he was in no mood to open it at +once.</p> +<p>“Wait a minute,” he said as they all +paused. “You say that, although none +of your race has seen Quetzalcoatl +since the diamond head was carved, he +still comes out of his chasm and makes +trouble for the ape-men. Just what +does that mean?”</p> +<p>“Why—” Naida looked at him wonderingly. +“I mean what I have said. +The Serpent comes out of his chasm +and—”</p> +<p>“What chasm?” Kirby asked sharply.</p> +<p>“Why, the one we crossed this morning. +It extends to the far reaches of +our country, beyond the Rorroh forest, +where the ape-men dwell but which +our people never visit. It is in that distant +part of the chasm that the Serpent +dwells.”</p> +<p>“But—but—Oh, good Lord!” Kirby +whistled softly. “Naida, do you mean +to tell me that Quetzalcoatl was not +simply a mythical monster, but an +actual, living serpent which is alive +<i>now</i>?”</p> +<p>Naida and the others shrugged.</p> +<p>“Why not?” she answered. “Sometimes +we have captured a few ape-men, +and they tell us stories of how Quetzalcoatl +kills them. <i>They</i> say he is very +much alive.”</p> +<p>“But,” Kirby mumbled in increasing +wonder, “is this living creature the +same which your ancestors worshipped +first as long ago, perhaps, as a million +years?”</p> +<p>“That,” Naida answered unhesitatingly, +“I’m not sure of. Our caciques +believe that the Serpent, although it +lives longer than any other sentient +thing, finally dies and is succeeded by +a new Serpent which is reproduced by +itself, within its own body.”</p> +<p>So overwhelming did Kirby find this +unexpected sequel to their discovery +of the great diamond head, so staggered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_394' name='page_394'></a>394</span> +was he by the fact that Quetzalcoatl, +of Aztecan myth, might exist as +a sentient creature here in this cavern +world, that he had little heart left for +exploring other wonders.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Nevertheless</span>, he presently +pushed open the new door before +which they had paused, and behind +it found, as he had expected, the +Duca’s living quarters.</p> +<p>These were as severe as the jewel +chamber had been gorgeous. A thin +pallet spread upon a frame of wood +formed the bed, and beside it stood a +single stiff chair. That was all. The +walls of glistening obsidion were bare.</p> +<p>There was, however, a door in one +circular wall, and as Kirby flung this +open, his previous disappointment +changed to delight. For shelves along +the walls of the small chamber held +roll after roll of parchment covered +with script. And in one corner lay six +undamaged, almost new Mannlichers +and several hundred rounds of ammunition!</p> +<p>“Naida,” he exclaimed, “do you know +what those are?”</p> +<p>“I suppose that they are weapons of +the sort you used against the ape-men +this morning?”</p> +<p>Kirby grinned.</p> +<p>“They are the same kind I used, and +then some. With these weapons we +can do what we never could with the +smaller one. How did they get here?”</p> +<p>“They came when I was much +younger,” Naida answered with a shade +of sadness in her voice. “The men who +had them penetrated the Valley of the +Geyser, coming by a different route +from the one you followed. When +the Duca learned they were there, he +sent such men of the race as were still +able to fight to kill them. That order +of the Duca’s was one of the first +things to turn me against him. The +men were not harming us, and they +should have been permitted to go away. +But the Duca insisted that they be +killed, and in the fight were lost eight +of our youngest and strongest men.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> stooped to inspect the +rifles.</p> +<p>“Has no one learned to use these +weapons?”</p> +<p>“No,” Naida answered. “The Duca +kept them for himself.”</p> +<p>“We think,” put in Ivana, “that he +hoped to learn to use them, and was +afraid for us to have the knowledge.”</p> +<p>Kirby filled one of the magazines, +and felt the heft of the gun with pleasure.</p> +<p>“Very well,” he said. “It looks to +me as though your time to learn the +art of shooting has come at last. Come, +I think we had better be getting back +downstairs.”</p> +<p>Kirby took three guns himself, and +with the others lugging the rest, they +started back. The parchment rolls, he +decided, must be left for examination +later on.</p> +<p>They were all elated when they rejoined +the girls in the prayer chamber, +and high spirits were still further increased +by the report, promptly given, +that all had remained quiet in the +amphitheatre. Save only for the presence +of Elana, radiant and calm in +death, the give and take of questions +would have been accompanied by actual +gaiety.</p> +<p>But the time of peace did not last +much longer. While Naida was in the +midst of answering incessant questions +about the wonders of the jewel chamber, +Kirby heard a sound from below, +and suddenly went over to the downward-winding +steps.</p> +<p>“Listen,” he called sharply back to +the others.</p> +<p>He had not been mistaken. Many +footsteps echoed from the amphitheatre, +and he made out that the +caciques were coming toward the bolted +gate at the foot of the steps. While he +listened, and Naida came eagerly to +his side, silence fell.</p> +<p>But then clear words came up to +them.</p> +<p>“Let the upper-world man come to +the foot of the steps,” called the Duca. +“I have an offer to make him!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_395' name='page_395'></a>395</span></div> +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>To</span> himself Kirby chuckled. Such +real entreaty filled the Duca’s +voice that there seemed no danger of +further treachery from him at the moment.</p> +<p>With a grin, Kirby took Naida’s +hand and led her down the steps, unbolting +each bronze gate but the last.</p> +<p>“What do you want?” he asked in a +cool voice a moment later, when he +stopped on the final step and faced the +Duca from behind the protection of the +final gate.</p> +<p>Clearly the parley was going to be +a blunt one.</p> +<p>“I want you to leave our world,” the +Duca rumbled promptly.</p> +<p>He was drawn up in a posture intended +to display dignity. But his left +cheek, where Kirby had hammered +him, was pulpy and discolored, and +somehow he seemed to Kirby more +than ever merely human.</p> +<p>“Under what conditions am I to +leave?”</p> +<p>“If you will vacate my tower at +once,” the Duca said with a flush of +eagerness which he could not conceal, +“I will permit Naida and one of my +caciques to escort you back to the Valley +of the Geyser. I will also give you +directions by which you may travel in +safety from there to the outer world.”</p> +<p>Kirby, wanting more details, made +himself seem thoughtful.</p> +<p>“And what will happen to me, and +to the girls, if I decline?”</p> +<p>Encouraged, the Duca made an impressive +gesture.</p> +<p>“You will be left in the tower to die +of starvation. Mine is not a complicated +offer. It should require no complicated +decision. What is your answer?”</p> +<p>Kirby dropped his carefully assumed +mask of thought.</p> +<p>“My answer is this,” he lashed out. +“I will not leave! The tower is ours, +and we will hold it until you have accepted +Naida’s peace terms on your +priestly oath!”</p> +<p>“But if you stay in the tower you will +starve!” thundered the Duca.</p> +<p>“No, we won’t starve! We won’t +starve because we eat the food of Ducas!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> silence, Kirby took from his +pocket a strip of the sacred Peyote +and bit off one end of it. Suddenly +the hush in the amphitheatre became +complete. As he watched Kirby chewing, +the Duca gasped and choked.</p> +<p>“Moreover,” Kirby announced with +slow emphasis, “I have taken possession +of the weapons which you took from +men of the upper world, and which +have already sent men of your race to +their death. I have no wish to kill +either you or your caciques, but if you +do not presently discuss peace with me, +you will certainly find yourself embroiled +in a struggle more bitter than +the mild one of this morning.”</p> +<p>With that said, he swung on his +heel, and taking Naida’s hand again, +started with her up the steps.</p> +<p>“I have nothing more to say,” he +called over his shoulder to a Duca +whose white haired majesty had been +stripped from him.</p> +<p>“We’re getting on,” he whispered to +Naida a moment later. “The best thing +for us is just to sit still now, and wait.”</p> +<p>With the questions he wanted to ask +Naida about her world becoming insistent, +he found himself, as a matter +of fact, glad for the prospect of further +respite. As both of them rejoined +the girls in the Duca’s prayer chamber, +the first thing he did was to take from +his tunic the cylinder of gold which +he had found in the canyon.</p> +<p>“What is this, Naida?” he asked, +hoping to start talk that would make +all of them forget the Duca and politics, +and at the same time help him to +learn much that he wished to know.</p> +<p>But a queer thing happened. Naida’s +reaction to the carven gold was as unexpected +as it was marked.</p> +<p>“<i>Oh!</i>” she cried in a voice which +suddenly trembled with surprise, with +blank dismay. Somehow, the cylinder +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_396' name='page_396'></a>396</span> +of gold brought to her face things +which not even the Serpent’s head of +the diamond had evoked.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> prospect of a long session of +talk began to fade out in Kirby’s +mind.</p> +<p>“But Naida, whatever is there about +this fragment of gold to startle you as +it does?”</p> +<p>By this time all of the thirty-odd +other girls had come flocking about +them, and all were staring at the cylinder +as fascinatedly as Naida.</p> +<p>“Do you see what he has there?” +Naida finally asked, ignoring Kirby in +her continued excitement.</p> +<p>“Do we <i>see</i>?” answered the girl she +had addressed. “Naida, surely it is the +carving which was lost!”</p> +<p>Naida was quivering with feeling +now.</p> +<p>“Do you realize what it means to our +cause that it should have been returned +to us in this way?”</p> +<p>The girl to whom she had spoken, +and the others, simply looked at her, +but in one face after another presently +dawned awe and joy.</p> +<p>Kirby stood still, puzzled and interested, +until at last Naida was recovered +enough to speak to him.</p> +<p>“Where did you get this thing which +you call ‘a fragment of gold’?” she +asked in a hushed voice.</p> +<p>“I found it,” Kirby answered, “lying +beside the skeleton of an upper-world +man, while I was ascending the +canyon which brought me to the Valley +of the Geyser.”</p> +<p>“And you do not know what the cylinder +is? But no, of course you could +not.”</p> +<p>“<i>What</i> is it, Naida?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Naida</span> glanced at her friends, +then laid her hand on Kirby’s.</p> +<p>“Next to the great diamond, it is the +most cherished possession of our race. +In some respects it is even more holy +than the Serpent’s head. The cylinder +happens to be the first work in gold +which was ever produced by our people. +It was made when the race was +new. It was because our first wise men +had found they could create things of +beauty like this cylinder, that they decided +to attempt the creation of the +Serpent’s head, which is supposed to +have brought all of our blessings upon +us.”</p> +<p>Kirby thought he was beginning to +understand the excitement which his +introduction of the cylinder had created. +He also thought he could see +what Naida had meant by implying +that the cylinder could be made to aid +their cause.</p> +<p>“Tell me,” he asked in a mood approaching +reverence, “how the cylinder +came to be lying beside a dead +man’s bones.”</p> +<p>“It was stolen,” Naida answered in +the breathless silence which the others +were keeping. “When I was very +young, an upper-world man found his +way here, and the Duca captured and +meant to sacrifice him. But while they +were leading him to the temple where +such special ceremonies are held—the +building stands on another plateau, beyond +this—the man broke away. Some +of the priests in the procession were +carrying the cylinder, for it was an +occasion of great importance. The +prisoner knocked them down, got the +cylinder away from them, and finally +escaped by the same route over which +you came.”</p> +<p>“And he escaped,” said Kirby wonderingly, +“only to be killed by a rattlesnake +before he ever reached the civilized +world. But do you mean that you +never knew your sacred cylinder was +so close to you all these years?”</p> +<p>Naida shook her head.</p> +<p>“We never got to the canyon of +which you speak, for a special reason +which I shall explain some day. And +besides that, I think the Duca was +afraid of this man who fought so +bravely. So he counted the cylinder +as lost. And that is one of the reasons +why he killed the men with the rifles, +who appeared in the Valley a few years +later.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_397' name='page_397'></a>397</span></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> looked at her thoughtfully. +The mood for discussing all the +wonders of this lower world, which +had made him bring out the cylinder +originally, had quite vanished.</p> +<p>“I suppose,” he said, “that anyone +who was responsible for the return of +the cylinder to its rightful owners, +would be held in some respect?”</p> +<p>Naida nodded vigorously, while little +lightnings of excitement flickered +in her eyes.</p> +<p>“He might be held in more than respect.”</p> +<p>“What, then, do you suggest that we +do next?”</p> +<p>Again the small lightnings darted, +and Naida reached for the cylinder.</p> +<p>“Do you mind if I take it for a moment?”</p> +<p>“Of course not.”</p> +<p>Promptly then she faced around.</p> +<p>“Wait here, everyone,” she ordered.</p> +<p>And with that she waved the cylinder +in a flashing little arc before their +eyes, and darted to the door.</p> +<p>It was all so unexpected that she +was gone before Kirby could speak. +Slowly, with all of the suddenly gay +company of girls following after him, +he went to the doorway, and stood on +the steps leading to the amphitheatre.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A minute</span> passed. He heard +voices downstairs. He heard Naida’s +voice ringing clearly, though he +could not distinguish her words. He +heard a great cry from a score of male +throats. More minutes passed. Words +that were low and tense poured out in +a rumbling volume. Above the rumble, +Naida’s voice presently sounded +again, clear and sweet, but incisive. +Then, when no more than five or six +minutes had gone, Kirby heard the +clang of the bronze gate at the foot +of the steps, heard light, swift footsteps +ascending.</p> +<p>“Naida!” he called softly.</p> +<p>She flashed upward toward him +around the last curve in the stairway. +Straight to his outstretched arms she +went.</p> +<p>“It is done! It is done!” she whispered.</p> +<p>“Tell us!” cried first one girl and +then others.</p> +<p>Naida drew away from Kirby at last.</p> +<p>“I told the Duca,” she said to all of +them, “that our leader would keep the +cylinder for a period of time equal to +one upper-world year. If the Duca +grants all the terms of peace which +we will ask of him, and if he accepts +the upper-world man as our temporal +ruler, and all goes well for a year, then +we will consider replacing the cylinder +where it belongs.”</p> +<p>“And what,” Kirby asked exultantly, +“does the Duca say?”</p> +<p>Suddenly, without warning, Naida +dropped before him on one knee, and +from that position gazed up at him +laughing.</p> +<p>“He says he will make you our King, +to govern all temporal affairs within +our realm! He is waiting for you to +come and hold a conclave now.”</p> +<p>“<i>What?</i>”</p> +<p>Still kneeling half in fun, half in +sincere reverence, Naida held out the +precious, potent cylinder of gold.</p> +<p>“Guard it carefully!” she exclaimed. +“So long as you keep it away from the +Duca, making him hope to win it back, +he will consent to almost anything. +Yes, he is waiting with the caciques +in the amphitheatre now; waiting to +draw up terms of peace.”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>To</span> be King amongst these people! +A queer sensation tugged at Kirby’s +heart as he descended the steps +with Naida at his right, and all of her—and +his—dainty and gracious friends +following after. Yet, intense as his +emotion was, never for a second was +he able to doubt the evidence of his +senses which told him that all of this +was real. As they descended the black +steps of the tower, Naida’s sweetness, +her grace, the warm humanity of her, +made him humble with gratitude for +the extraordinary fortune which had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_398' name='page_398'></a>398</span> +come to him, an unromantic aviator +born in Kansas.</p> +<p>Then they were standing in the brilliant +light of the amphitheatre, and +the Duca, surrounded by his caciques, +was advancing to meet them.</p> +<p>It was not a long conference which +followed. Kirby saw from the start +that the Duca was indeed ready to +come to terms. So treasured an object, +it seemed, was the cylinder of gold, +that the mere fact that Kirby possessed +it made the Duca respect the possessor, +whether he would or no. With this +initial advantage, it did not take long +to make demands and win acceptance.</p> +<p>It was agreed that some systematic +campaign of extermination should be +planned and carried out against the +ape-men. Further, the project for +eventually bringing other upper-world +men to the realm was accepted. Most +notable of all, it was agreed that while +the Duca should retain a voice in the +regulation of temporal affairs, Kirby +should possess an absolute veto over +his word.</p> +<p>Naida said there must be some formal +ceremony to celebrate Kirby’s +ascendency to power. To this the Duca +consented, and established the date as +a fortnight hence, and the place as the +temple on the plateau beyond the plateau +of the castle, where the Ducas had +been invested with their robes of state +from time immemorial. At the end, it +was decided that little Elana should +be left in the prayer chamber until a +burial ceremony could be held on the +morrow.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> less than an hour, Kirby, Naida, +and the others withdrew from the +amphitheatre to return to the regular +dwelling places of the girls. Deep in +his mind, Kirby did not know how sincere +the Duca was, and fear lingered, +somehow, but he put it aside for the +present.</p> +<p>As they came out of the castle, proceeding +in a gay procession across the +drawbridge above the moat of beautiful +aquatic plants, Kirby saw that the +light from the glass sky was fading +to a glow like that of spring twilight +in the upper world. Naida answered +his question about the phenomenon by +saying that day and night in the cavern +corresponded to the same period +above. What quality of the glass sky +gave out light, she did not know, but it +seemed definite that the element was +sensitive to the presence of light in +the upper world, and when the sun +sank there, the glow faded here.</p> +<p>A flower embroidered path led them +around the castle to a group of little +crystalline houses all overgrown with +bougainvillea vines and honeysuckle. +In front of the first, Naida paused, and +while the others went on to the other +houses, she looked at Kirby.</p> +<p>“It is Elana’s dwelling,” she said +simply, “and it will be vacant now. +Elana would want you to take it. Will +you, please?”</p> +<p>The twilight was deepening swiftly. +Kirby nodded reverently, then drew +close to Naida.</p> +<p>“Naida?”</p> +<p>“Yes?”</p> +<p>He took her hand.</p> +<p>“I can stay here, I can consent to +become, after a fashion, a King, only +if you will reign with me as Queen. +Will you, Naida? Will you love me +as I have learned to love you during +this single day in Paradise?”</p> +<p>She did not answer. But presently +Kirby’s mind went blank for sheer joy. +For then Naida raised her face, and he +kissed her lips.</p> +<p>It made no difference then that, despite +the day’s victory, Kirby could see +trouble ahead, and feared, rather than +rejoiced at, the Duca’s too easy acceptance +of terms. The future could take +care of itself. This moment in the +dusk belonged to him and Naida.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> two weeks which passed for +Kirby after that particular twilight +sped quickly. During the first +morning, all attended the ceremony +which was held for Elana’s burial in +the plot of gardened ground where lay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_399' name='page_399'></a>399</span> +her ancestors. Ensuing mornings were +devoted to conferences in the amphitheatre +with Duca and caciques.</p> +<p>After the fourth day Kirby, at Naida’s +insistence, moved into splendid +quarters in the castle—a suite of chambers +across the amphitheatre from those +in which the caciques dwelt. In practically +forcing the move on Kirby, +Naida won his consent finally by agreeing +to have their wedding ceremony +performed on the day of his coronation; +then she would come to the castle +with him.</p> +<p>The afternoons of that first fortnight +before the wedding and coronation +were spent in hunting and fishing. +Also Kirby and Naida visited often the +aged people of the race, who dwelt in +crystalline, vine covered houses like +those of the girls, but removed from +them. Naida’s relatives were dead, but +she had relatives there, and to all these +aged ones, who sat living in the past, +she did what she could to explain present +developments in the affairs of the +younger generation.</p> +<p>Last but not least, Kirby set aside +certain hours each afternoon which he +devoted to the formation of a rifle +squad amongst the girls. Six rifles he +had, and in turn he trained each of the +girls in their use, having set up a range +at the foot of the plateau cliffs. The +results he gained made him feel that +the day would come soon enough when +he would dare launch an offensive +against the ape-people; and especially +pleasing was the sense of power over +the Duca which he gained. The Duca +showed no sign of treachery. Yet +Kirby did not trust him. Never did he +quite forget the misgivings which had +lingered in his mind after the first conclave.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>As</span> for his relationship with Naida, +that grew with every moment +they could steal to spend with each +other. And side by side with their +growing knowledge of each other grew, +for Kirby, an increasing store of +knowledge of the realm.</p> +<p>He learned, amongst other things, +what seemed the origin of the worship +of the Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, amongst +primitive Mexican races. The time had +been when the People of the Temple +had mingled freely with the races +above them; and, that they might have +ready means of egress to the world, +they had built the tunnel through +which Kirby had entered the Valley +of the Geyser. Thus, going and coming +as they did, they had spread their +cult of the worship of Quetzalcoatl; +and when, eventually, strife arose between +the peoples of upper world and +lower, and the People of the Temple +withdrew to their realm, they left behind +them the Serpent myth which was +to live through countless centuries.</p> +<p>The tunnel, Naida said, had been +abandoned when her people left the +upper world once and for all, and its +use for any reason prohibited. This, +Naida gave as the reason why none of +them went near the tunnel now, and +why the cylinder of gold had lain in +the canyon undiscovered. It was the +explanation she had promised on the +day in the tower, when first she saw +the cylinder.</p> +<p>So the days passed, until the day set +aside for wedding and coronation +dawned. On that morning, Kirby, having +concluded a long conference with +the Duca, was walking with Naida in +the gardens outside the castle.</p> +<p>“Tell me,” he said to her: “do you +yourself believe that this Serpent has +the powers of a God?”</p> +<p>Naida looked at him quickly, a sudden +fright in her eyes.</p> +<p>“I believe the Serpent exists to-day, +somewhere in the distant reaches of +the chasm, beyond the Rorroh forest.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but do you believe the Serpent +is God?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Actually</span> frightened now, she +looked swiftly about. But when +she saw that they were alone, confidence +returned.</p> +<p>“No!” she exclaimed. “I do not believe +Quetzalcoatl is a god. I believe +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_400' name='page_400'></a>400</span> +he is the most terrible creature anywhere +in our realm, and that men first +worshipped him through fear. I believe +our race would be better a hundred +times if they had never made him +their God.”</p> +<p>Kirby whistled.</p> +<p>“Then you do <i>not</i> believe that the +Ducas of past ages talked with him. +You do not believe it was Quetzalcoatl’s +pleasure over the great diamond +which made him cease preying on your +people?”</p> +<p>“No! Long habit makes me show +respect for these myths, and adhere to +the customs of our cult, but I do not +believe. I think our race gained immunity +for the Serpent’s ravages, not +through a compact with Quetzalcoatl, +but because our builders were intelligent +enough to erect the castle up here +on the plateau, where Quetzalcoatl +could not reach them. To tell the +truth, I think the whole cult is false +and wrong, and I wish Quetzalcoatl +were dead and gone from the world!”</p> +<p>Kirby smiled. In spite of Naida’s +reverence for certain features of the +cult, he had long suspected that her +true feelings were those she had just +expressed. And he was glad for this +new bond of understanding between +them. He glanced at her with understanding +and perfect trust.</p> +<p>“Naida, since we have talked so +frankly, there is one more thing which +I must bring out.”</p> +<p>She looked up at him.</p> +<p>“What is it?”</p> +<p>“The Duca.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>She</span> drew closer, her perfumed body +brushing his, her great eyes caressing +him.</p> +<p>“Naida, I am afraid of the man.”</p> +<p>“And so am I!” she confessed suddenly.</p> +<p>“It has all been too easy,” Kirby said +in a slow voice. “There is no doubt +whatever that our possession of the +cylinder of gold has had great influence +on the Duca, and yet—”</p> +<p>He paused, taking her hand.</p> +<p>“And yet,” she went on for him, +“you do not believe he would have conceded +what he has, unless he intends to +make trouble?”</p> +<p>Kirby nodded twice, emphatically.</p> +<p>“Well, you have trained all of us to +use the rifles.”</p> +<p>He smiled gravely at her understanding.</p> +<p>“Yes, I have. And your skill, and +that of the others, with the rifles, will +always help us. Yet even so—”</p> +<p>Closer still she drew now, and there +was sadness in her eyes.</p> +<p>“I think I see,” she said in a voice +which choked. “When do you think +he will make a move to start trouble?”</p> +<p>Kirby hesitated, then drew a long +breath.</p> +<p>“To-day!”</p> +<p>“On—on the day of our union?” +Naida echoed in dismay. “Can you +tell where or how he will strike at us?”</p> +<p>Kirby shook his head.</p> +<p>“There are a hundred things he +could do. Naida, I—I—Well, somehow +I am afraid of the ceremony this +afternoon—the wedding ceremony!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> felt a little shiver go through +her, and would have taken her +in his arms, save that a gay cry rang +in the garden then.</p> +<p>“Naida, Naida!” It was her cousin, +Nini, a bronze-haired youngster as elfin +and Pucklike as her name. “I thought +we should never find you! Do you +realize this is your <i>wedding</i> day, and +that you’re acting as if there was nothing +to be done?”</p> +<p>Nini darted a mocking glance at +Kirby, who grinned.</p> +<p>“Do come, Naida!” cried another girl. +“Your gown is ready, and we want you +to ourselves for awhile.”</p> +<p>Other girls joined them, some singing +and some carrying an obligato on +the sweet, flutelike instruments which +Kirby had first heard as he hung in +the throat of the geyser. In front of +them all, Kirby laughed and kissed +Naida on the forehead. But as he took +leave of her thus, he whispered:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_401' name='page_401'></a>401</span></div> +<p>“We must not let our guard relax +for a second this afternoon. And I +think there is a more definite precaution +which I will take, besides.”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Some</span> hours later, Kirby smiled +with tight-lipped satisfaction at +thought of that precaution which he +had taken. What it was only he, Nini, +Ivana, and three other girls knew, +which secrecy pleased him as much as +the precautionary measure itself.</p> +<p>Seated alone in a dimly-lighted, +thick-walled cell of the ancient temple +in which the dual ceremony of wedding +and coronation would take place, +he was waiting for the moment when +the festivities would begin. Thus far +the Duca had done nothing. Yet Kirby’s +uneasiness would not leave him, +and he continued to be thankful that, +if trouble should start, the Duca might +not find as many trumps in his hand as +he expected.</p> +<p>A couple of hours after Kirby had +left Naida and the other girls in the +garden, all had begun the two-mile +journey from the castle to the small +plateau on which stood this temple, +where the ceremony would be held. +Now, while Kirby waited alone, the +Duca and his caciques had gone to another +wing of the temple. Naida, attended +by her bridesmaids, had been +assigned to a cell of their own, and the +rest of the girls were waiting in the +nave of the temple. Unable to attend +the walk from their plateau to +this, the old people of the race had remained +in their crystal houses.</p> +<p>With ten minutes more to wait, +Kirby rose from a bench on which he +had been seated, and began to pace his +cell. It was this archaic pile of stone, +he finally decided, which was causing +his depression. Unlike the bright and +cheerful castle, this place, older than +any other building in the realm, was +squat, thick-walled, and gloomy. Here, +in the dusky cells which lined labyrinthine +corridors, the early generations +of the race had found protection from +outside dangers. All of which was all +right, Kirby thought, but just the same +he wished he had insisted upon being +wedded in the brilliant and cheerful +amphitheatre.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> presently he stopped pacing +and faced the door of his cell. +Then he breathed a sigh of relief.</p> +<p>From down the twisting corridors +which wound out to the central nave, +stole the high sweetness of soprano +voices, the whisper of flutes, and the +mellow resonance of little gongs of +jade and gold. It was the signal for +which he had waited.</p> +<p>It had been the Duca’s instructions +that he should come out into the temple +when the music began, and meet +Naida there. Both would advance to +the altar, and when they were in place, +the Duca would come to them. Kirby, +therefore, after a glance at the blue +trousers and tunic of tanager scarlet +which the girls had made for him, +opened the door of his cell, and stepped +out.</p> +<p>In a moment he traversed the windings +of the corridor, and halted under +a flat arch at one side of the temple +nave.</p> +<p>As he paused so, to await the appearance +of Naida and her bridesmaids under +a similar arch directly across the +temple, he held his breath. Not even +nymphs could be as graceful as were +the twenty-six girls who were performing +the dance of Life Immortal, +which tradition decreed should be +given before the ceremony by which, +in this realm, two souls were wedded. +The flash of rainbow gowns was like +the swirling of light in a sky at dawning. +The music of voices, flutes, and +the little gongs of jade, would have +stirred the souls of the dead.</p> +<p>If only the confounded sense of approaching +disaster would leave him, +Kirby thought grimly, this would be +a magnificent moment. As it was, he +turned his eyes away from the girls, +and began to examine the temple.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_402' name='page_402'></a>402</span></div> +<p>Just as Naida had told him the case +would be, he found both sides of the +nave surrounded by arches similar to +the one under which he was standing. +Everywhere, dim and tortuous corridors +led to cells like the one he had +just left. Then, in one end of the nave, +loomed a closed door from behind +which the Duca and caciques would +appear when the couple to be wedded +were in place, before the altar.</p> +<p>The altar itself, a rectangular mass +of some jadelike stone, stood at a distance +of perhaps twenty paces in front +of the closed door. On top of the +greenish stones, resting on a cushion +of some crimson material, flashed the +crown which would be used at the coronation. +Kirby’s eyes widened as he +beheld a single rose-cut diamond two +inches in diameter, mounted in an exquisitely +simple bandeau of wrought +gold. But, a moment later, even the +crown which would be his—if nothing +happened—seemed only a bauble compared +to the other prize which he had +won in this world beneath the world.</p> +<p>Naida!</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>He</span> realized that the dance was +ended, the music stilled, and that +the rainbow garbed girls had formed +a double line in the center of the temple. +Suddenly his heart beat fast, and +for just a moment, as he dared look +full and deeply at Naida, and she +smiled back at him across the distance, +he even forgot to be depressed.</p> +<p>But even as he advanced to meet her, +his uneasiness returned.</p> +<p>Now the girls were singing again, +their voices raised in a triumphant +chorale as beautiful as Naida’s face +with its warm red lips and smiling +eyes, as beautiful as her wedding gown +that might have been woven, in its +filminess, of mist from the sea. The +bridesmaids, silent, their lovely faces +alight, paused. But Naida came on.</p> +<p>From her floated to Kirby a fragrance +more overwhelming than even +the perfume of the geyser. Presently +he felt her hand on his arm, and at last +they stood side by side. Now again, +his premonition of evil left him for a +flash; but again it returned.</p> +<p>“I love you,” he whispered.</p> +<p>“I love <i>you</i>.”</p> +<p>“But I am still afraid.”</p> +<p>Naida’s smile faded.</p> +<p>“And I too. Oh, I’ve been terribly +afraid! We will keep our guard!”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> front of them, on the altar, the +crown diamond winked and shimmered +in a dim light. The swelling +chorus of triumph, in which the bridesmaids +had joined now, made the whole +temple ring. Slowly, while Naida +moved easily beside him, Kirby began +to march to the altar.</p> +<p>Then it was done, and they were +halted. After both of them had given +a lingering glance at the crown whose +diamond shimmered now within their +reach, they raised their eyes to the +closed door behind the altar.</p> +<p>The thing was swinging open. An +inch it moved, two inches.</p> +<p>Kirby waited, never taking his eyes +away from the widening crack. With +a crashing final volume of sound, the +chorus swept magnificently to its climax. +Then the door was flung wide.</p> +<p>Still Kirby stood stiffly before the +altar, with Naida drawn up splendidly +beside him. After two seconds, however, +he moved.</p> +<p>Duca and caciques were not standing +in the corridor.</p> +<p>In the semi-darkness, the only figures +visible there were squatting, grotesque +things whose bodies were covered +with whitish hair and whose leathery +faces were disfigured by gashes of +mouths filled with enormous teeth.</p> +<p>A feeling of standing face to face +with final disaster, turned Kirby sick. +As he jerked back from the altar, +sweeping a paralyzed Naida with him, +the ape-men let out gibbering howls, +half-human. With gigantic, hopping +strides, the foremost rank of the creatures +swung forward, straight into the +temple.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_403' name='page_403'></a>403</span></div> +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span>, already falling back toward +the other girls, caught +Naida up in his arms, and ran.</p> +<p>“Nini!” he bellowed. “Ivana! Get +the rifles!”</p> +<p>While the two whom he had ordered +sprang to a corridor, and four others +followed, Kirby fell in with the others +and dropped Naida on her feet. Sick +as he was, there was still a ray of hope, +because the hard-headed precaution he +had taken against treachery this morning +was to have Nini and Ivana bring +the rifles here and hide them.</p> +<p>The first of the ape-men, snarling, +laughing, had hopped beyond the altar, +and the yellow foam of madness was +slavering from his jaws. Over his +shoulder he howled some jargon which +made his hairy legion struggle to catch +up with him.</p> +<p>“Have you got any puff balls?” +Kirby snapped at Naida.</p> +<p>She shook her head numbly, just as +Nini and Ivana swung forward with +the Mannlichers.</p> +<p>“No. But you had sense enough to +bring the rifles! Oh, what does it +mean?”</p> +<p>“The Duca has sold himself out to +the ape-man! He was helpless against +us, and has brought them to destroy +us for him. Here, Ivana, give me a +rifle! Everyone for herself!”</p> +<p>The next moment he had a Mannlicher +at his shoulder.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>As</span> the thing kicked, an ape who +would have reached him in two +more jumps crashed over with his heart +torn out, the temple echoed with sound +which threatened to rip its solid walls +apart, and bright flashes at Kirby’s +right and left told him that other rifles +were getting under way.</p> +<p>He fired again, twice more, slaughtering +an ape with each shot. The five +other rifles were creating havoc.</p> +<p>Blocked by a dozen torn and bleeding +bodies on the floor, the reenforcements +which still poured from the corridor, +began to mill around amongst +themselves, and the forward charge +slowed down. All the panic which had +sent the ape-men scuttling from the +beach at their first experience of gunfire, +seemed ready to break loose again +now.</p> +<p>Kirby felt it was good enough for +the work of a minute.</p> +<p>“Get into line as I showed you how!” +he shouted. “Rifles in the front rank, +the others behind them. We’re all right +now! Keep firing!”</p> +<p>“Keep behind me!” he ordered +Naida, still unarmed.</p> +<p>Then he placed a shell in the chest +of one brute who was broader and +heavier than the others—a leader—and +saw that he had increased the demoralization; +and from the hastily-formed +front rank a volley leaped hot and +jagged.</p> +<p>Then the rout which had threatened +broke loose. As eight ape-men slumped +into blubbering, bleeding heaps, the +milling remainder of the horde turned, +and in a fighting, scrambling frenzy +attempted to get back to the corridor.</p> +<p>Kirby let his triumph take the form +of thoughts about what he would do +to the Duca when that personage could +be rounded up.</p> +<p>“Follow after them!” he ordered. +“Don’t stop until we have located the +Duca. He is the one we must settle—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p>But he never finished.</p> +<p>As he himself, holding fire for +a second, prepared to follow up the retreat, +he found himself confronted by +the utterly unexpected.</p> +<p>A voice unquestionably the Duca’s +began to shout orders at the ape-men +from somewhere down the corridor! +And, riot or no riot, the tones of that +voice seemed to inspire the creatures +with more fear than the rifle fire.</p> +<p>So suddenly the change came, that +by the time Kirby flung his rifle again +to his shoulder, the crazy retreat had +been halted, and as he fired again, the +ape-men swung in their tracks and began +to charge!</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_404' name='page_404'></a>404</span></div> +<p>There was no time to guess by what +power the Duca had turned the tables. +There was not even time for orders. +Kirby fired twice, knowing that the +ape-men had been infused with some +spirit which would bring them on in +spite of rifle fire.</p> +<p>Naida, unarmed, cried out behind +him, and he shoved his gun at her.</p> +<p>“Take it!”</p> +<p>He had just inserted a new clip. He +handed her others.</p> +<p>“Fire for your lives!” he shouted to +the girls.</p> +<p>“But you!” Naida gasped. “You are +unarmed!”</p> +<p>“I’ll be all right.”</p> +<p>On the floor lay a jagged, hand-chipped +knife of obsidion which had +fallen as some ape died. Kirby +grabbed it.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>In</span> another second the flood of ape-men +had burst in all its fury over +him. Crashing, thundering shots were +dinning in his ears, animal death +screams and the Valkyrie battle cries +of the girls filled the temple. He could +not tell how many of the apes were +fighting him. As a cave-man’s club +whizzed past his head, he drove his +knife once, and yanked it dripping +from hairy, yielding flesh to plunge it +again. A sudden side-step carried him +away from another assailant. He +dropped the knife to snatch the gigantic +club of one of the creatures he had +killed.</p> +<p>Quicker in every movement than the +ape-men, he laid on, right and left, +with such power that blood spurted in +a dozen places, and heads were split +open on every side. And because of +his speed, the frantic, clumsy blows +and knife thrusts which were directed +at him proved harmless.</p> +<p>A terrific drive which smashed a +snarling face into pulp, left Kirby free +for a second, and he emerged from the +first round of battle ready to cut in +and help the girls. But then he saw +that he had gotten separated from the +main body.</p> +<p>“Naida!” he called. “Naida!”</p> +<p>A series of shots answered him, and +as several apes fell, a gap was opened +through which he saw her conducting +a well ordered retreat of all the girls +toward the dark corridors surrounding +the temple. Again Kirby fell to with +his club, swinging, hacking, fighting +with his whole strength to catch up. +He made headway, and hope began to +come again. The ape-men would not +kill, or even harm, the girls. What +they wanted was to carry them off. If +he and Naida together could get their +party rounded up in the corridors, the +chances were good.</p> +<p>“Naida!” he shouted again. “Coming!”</p> +<p>Battering down an ape in front of +him, he jumped up on the corpse, and +saw that already the vanguard of girls +had reached the first sheltering corridor. +Naida had been cut off from the +others by eight or ten apes. But even +so her fire made her mistress of the situation, +and she seemed all right.</p> +<p>It was just as Kirby started to jump +down from the corpse that he saw +something which put another complexion +on the matter, and left him +frozen where he was.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Behind</span> Naida, directly in the +path in which her slavering aggressors +were slowly forcing her, a +huge stone slab in the temple floor had +begun to tilt up as if it were a trapdoor +raised by an invisible hand. +Within the yawning opening, Kirby +caught a glimpse of stone steps winding +down into blackness.</p> +<p>In a flash he saw that it was Naida, +and her alone, that the ape-men were +after. The Duca’s determination was +to capture her, and it was the presence +of this trapdoor, making capture possible, +which had brought on the second +charge of the apes.</p> +<p>A scream, high and wild, from Naida +released Kirby from his trance of horror. +He leaped off the corpse, and +smashed a suddenly presented skull +like an egg shell. Momentarily he saw +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_405' name='page_405'></a>405</span> +Naida, too terrified to fire, staring at +the open trapdoor. Kirby felled two +apes and felt their blood on his arms.</p> +<p>“Ivana!” he yelled. “Help Naida, +for God’s sake!”</p> +<p>An answering shout, not from Ivana +alone but from many girls, encouraged +him, and he swung his club with a +speed and force which would let nothing +stand before him. But then another +scream from Naida rang in his +ears.</p> +<p>“Naida!” he shouted. “It’s all right! +We’re coming!”</p> +<p>He knew, though, that it <i>wasn’t</i> all +right. Fighting like a maniac, he +opened another lane down which he +glimpsed her. Fighting still, in a last +terrific effort to force his way down +the lane to her side, he saw the black +opening gape at her feet; and, as Naida +screamed again, a dozen hairy arms +reached it at once, twisted the empty +rifle out of her hands, and lifted her +shining body as if it had been a +feather.</p> +<p>Shouts and murderous fire were coming +from the other girls, and Kirby +swung his club as never before. But +even as he fell upon the last two or +three apes which kept him away from +Naida, those who had snatched her, +bolted down the steps.</p> +<p>Kirby was left with the memory of +Naida’s great eyes fixed upon his, fear-filled, +beseeching his protection. In a +second, the ponderous trapdoor crashed +into place, and she was gone.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Dazed</span> and grief-stricken, Kirby +stood in the bloody, corpse-filled +nave of the temple, surrounded by +thirty-two girls whose faces were +blanched and most of whose eyes were +tear-bright. The fight was over, and +they were assembled to decide what +must be done, but for a time no one +spoke.</p> +<p>Gaining the trapdoor just as it was +pinioned from beneath, Kirby had torn +at it with bare hands. But that had +been hopeless. Then he had begun to +fight again. But that had been hopeless +also. With howls and screams they +started to retreat, and it had not taken +Kirby long to find out that every part +of their raid had been carefully +planned, even to this retreat under fire. +Straight into the damp black tunnel +which led away from the corridor behind +the altar, the ape-men had leaped. +And Kirby, in hot pursuit, had heard +the Duca’s voice driving them on. Too +much the soldier to follow in that +darkness where the Duca knew every +foot of the way, and he knew nothing, +Kirby had seen that he must go back +to the girls and take stock.</p> +<p>Now he looked at the strewn ape +corpses, smelled the corrosive reek of +burned powder, and tried to put aside +his grief.</p> +<p>“The Duca,” he said at last, “must +have been planning this with the apes +ever since the first morning in the +castle.”</p> +<p>Ivana, Naida’s sister, nodded.</p> +<p>“The Duca brought the ape-people +here, kept them in the tunnel, and then +herded them back when their work was +done. I suppose it was one of the +caciques who opened the door when the +time was right.”</p> +<p>“Does anyone think we ought to try +the tunnels now?” Kirby asked.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Several</span> girls shook their heads. +He knew that already they felt he +had been wise in giving up the pursuit. +Ivana spoke.</p> +<p>“If the Duca and his horde stay underground, +we shouldn’t have a chance +against them. And if they don’t, we’re +better here.”</p> +<p>Kirby shot a searching glance at her, +somehow sure that her thoughts were +running parallel with his.</p> +<p>“You don’t think they’re going to +stay here, do you?”</p> +<p>“No, and you don’t either,” Ivana answered.</p> +<p>“It seems to me that they will retreat +into the Rorroh as fast as they can,” +Kirby then observed.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_406' name='page_406'></a>406</span></div> +<p>“And do you think the Duca and all +the caciques will go with the apes?” +This time it was Nini who spoke, and +with the council so well launched, +Kirby began to feel better.</p> +<p>“I think,” he answered Nini, “that +the Duca has gone over to Xlotli altogether. +We fooled him to-day. Instead +of killing or capturing us all, he—he +only got Naida. But he won’t give +up. I think he is taking the apes off +to some place from which he can launch +a new attack. And we’ve got to stop +him before he is ready to deliver another +blow.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” Ivana now +asked.</p> +<p>“Do you know where the villages of +the ape-people are?”</p> +<p>“Yes. None of us has been very far +into the Rorroh, but I could guess +where some of the villages may stand.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Silence</span> fell after that, but Kirby +knew from the glint in Ivana’s +eyes, and the quick breaths which other +girls drew, that they understood.</p> +<p>“Ivana,” he said suddenly, “will you +go with me into the Rorroh jungle, and +stay with me, facing down every +danger it may conceal, until we have +found Naida and brought her back?”</p> +<p>A flush of life crept into Ivana’s +pallid cheeks.</p> +<p>“Yes!”</p> +<p>Kirby faced the other girls, all of +them keyed up now.</p> +<p>“Nini, will you go?”</p> +<p>Nini, bronze-haired, dainty nymph of +a girl, who had yet the stamina of a +man, looked at him with brave eyes. +Then her hands tightened on her rifle, +and she stepped forward.</p> +<p>“When will you have us start?” Ivana +asked in a low voice.</p> +<p>“Now!” Kirby answered, and, taking +up the rifle which lay beside him—the +same with which Naida had fought—he +looked at the other girls.</p> +<p>“There is not one of you,” he said +slowly, “who would not go willingly +on this quest. But the pursuit party +must be small and mobile. And there +is another duty. To all of you I leave +the care of the castle and the plateau. +Take the three rifles I shall leave behind, +do what you can to reassure the +old people, and hold the plateau safe +until we return.”</p> +<p>A murmur of girls’ voices sounded in +the temple. Kirby motioned to Nini +and Ivana, and followed by a low +cheer, they moved off together.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> night was on them, where +they crouched in a cave above a +swiftly flowing river. Kirby, rifle +across his knees, sat peering out across +the black, invisible stretches of the +forest. His nostrils quivered to this +mingled smells of fresh growth and +fetid decay of the grotesque land. In +his ears shrilled the creaking and +scraping of insects, the flap of unseen +wings, the distant bellowing grunt of +some unseen, unknown animal.</p> +<p>“I cannot sleep,” Ivana said presently, +from back in the cave.</p> +<p>“Hush,” he whispered, “you will +wake Nini.”</p> +<p>“But I am already awake!” came her +answer. “I—I cannot forget the white +snakes which slid from that tree when +you tried to cut firewood.”</p> +<p>“Hush,” Kirby murmured again. +“Presently the moon will rise on the +earth above, and light will come here. +Even if the jungle is terrible, were you +not born with courage? Go to sleep +now, both of you, because you must +relieve me soon.”</p> +<p>As silence fell again, he knew that +the real thing behind their nervousness +was their ghastly doubt about what the +night was bringing to Naida. But none +of them spoke of Naida. So sickening +were the possibilities that Kirby would +not permit conjecture to occupy even +his mind when, at length, the sound of +even breathing told him that Nini and +Ivana slept.</p> +<p>After dreary passing of an hour, a +faint light grew over the jungle, silver +and clear, and Kirby let his mind run +back to the two deserted ape-men communities +which they had found and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_407' name='page_407'></a>407</span> +searched before dusk sent them to the +cave. From the signs of hasty departure, +it looked as though a far-reaching +order had taken the brutes +away from their dwellings, and sent +them—somewhere.</p> +<p>That somewhere seemed likely to be +the great central community which +Ivana said was rumored to exist in the +far reaches of the Rorroh. The problem +was how to locate the community +through the hideous country. But +Kirby presently drove the question +from his head. To-morrow’s evils could +best be faced when morrow dawned.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Enough</span> light had grown now so +that the swirling bosom of the +river, and a strip of sand directly below +the cliff in which their cave was +set, were visible. As Kirby let his eyes +wander to the lush growth beyond the +sand, he heard something which made +him stir uneasily. Some creature which +suggested power and hugeness immeasurable +was moving there.</p> +<p>The brush parted, and he saw plainly +an animal with the bulk of a two-story +house. On two feet the nightmare thing +stood, as lightly as a cat, and then came +down on all four feet as it ambled out +on the sand and extended into the lapping +river a tremendous beak studded +with teeth. A smell of crushed weeds +and the musty odor like that of a lion +house filled the night. The tyranosaur—it +was more like a tyranosaur than +anything else—breathed heavily and +guzzled in great mouthfuls of water.</p> +<p>Kirby sat perfectly still. He hoped +the thing would go away. But the +tyranosaur did not go away. All at +once it hissed loudly and stood up, its +eyes glowing green and baleful, and +Kirby leaned forward.</p> +<p>From the water was slithering another +creature with a gigantic, quivering, +jelly body. Kirby saw to his horror +that, in addition to four short legs +with webbed, claw-tipped feet, there +sprouted from the body a number of +octopus tentacles. From the scabrous +mottle of the head, cruel, unintelligent, +bestial eyes glared at the rearing +tyranosaur.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>One</span> of the serpentine tentacles +whipped out, slapped against the +tyranosaur’s fore-shoulder to call forth +a hiss and a short bellow. Then other +tentacles waved in the moonlight, and +in a flash the tyranosaur was enmeshed +as by a score of slimy cables. He was +not altogether helpless. Suddenly the +steam shovel of a beak buried itself in +the jelly body of the water animal, and +there spurted out a flood of inky liquid. +The water animal emitted a sickening +gurgle. But the tyranosaur’s advantage +was only temporary. Closer and closer +drew the ugly, scabrous tentacles. The +tyranosaur never had a chance. Its +green eyes flared, the shovel beak +plunged and slashed, but never for a +second did the tentacles relax. As +Kirby stared, he saw the water animal +begin to back up, dragging its gigantic +enemy with it. For a second the whole +night was hideous with the sound of +hisses, gurgles, dashing water. Then +the river boiled once and for all, and +both animals sank in its depths.</p> +<p>Kirby chafed cold hands together and +shivered a little, then turned to see if +Nini and Ivana had heard the struggle.</p> +<p>Fortunately, however, they still slept. +And as if this peace which was upon +them were an omen of good, the jungle +continued quiet for the next hour. +Kirby wakened them at last, and after +a snatched nap, was in turn awakened.</p> +<p>The three of them started again when +the first glimmerings of dawn came to +the forest. Of food there was plenty—fruits +which grew in profusion, and +some roots which Nini grubbed out of +the earth. Having started along the +first trail which they encountered beside +the river bank, they ate as they +walked.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> judged they had kept their +steady gait for more than two +hours before a slight widening of the +trail roused him from the preoccupation +into which he had fallen.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_408' name='page_408'></a>408</span></div> +<p>“See there,” he exclaimed to both +girls, and pointed at a grove of trees +with fanlike leaves which towered up +to the right of the trail. “What are +those big bundles fastened to the lower +limbs?”</p> +<p>Ivana glanced at Nini, who nodded as +if in answer to a question.</p> +<p>“This must be one of the places +where the ape-people leave their dead,” +Nini answered. “The bundles—But +come over to them.”</p> +<p>Kirby forced his way ahead until he +stood beneath a huge, unsavory bundle +wrapped in roughly woven brown fibre, +and wedged in a fork between two +limbs. Judging from the ugly odor +which overhung the grove, there could +be no question about what the bundle +contained. Nini and Ivana, glancing at +the scores of similar bundles which +burdened the trees of the whole grove, +made wry faces. Kirby slung his rifle +in the crook of his arm, and nodded +toward the trail.</p> +<p>“There must be a village somewhere +near,” he said.</p> +<p>A mile farther on they found what +they were seeking, a colony of seventy +or eighty conical dwellings of mud and +thatch, which were ranged in a double +circle about a central common of bare, +well-trodden earth. It took no long +reconnaissance to discover that the +town was deserted completely of all +inhabitants.</p> +<p>Ivana beckoned and darted to one of +the nearest huts, and Kirby, following +her, found lying on the uneven earth +floor within, a half-skinned animal +which resembled a small antelope. An +obsidion knife beside the carcass, the +disordered condition of a couch of +grass, the sour odor of recent animal +occupancy, all told their story.</p> +<p>“The owner left in a hurry,” Kirby +observed aloud.</p> +<p>Nini, who had gone beyond, to a +larger hut which might have belonged +to a king ape, called out excitedly to +them.</p> +<p>“A great number of apes have eaten +a hurried meal here!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> entered the shadowed, foul-smelling +interior of the central +hut to find her statement true. Broken +meats, some raw, some cooked, lay on +the dirt floor, and scattered bits of fruit +were mingled with them. The ashes of +a burned out fire at the hut entrance +were cold, but had not been for long.</p> +<p>“Do you think—” Ivana began.</p> +<p>“I think the whole of the Duca’s +horde came this way, fed, and went on, +taking everyone with them,” Kirby +finished.</p> +<p>“But which direction did they take?” +asked Nini, who was standing at the +door of the big hut and had already begun +to examine the crowding, green, +inscrutable walls of jungle which +foamed up to the clearing on all sides.</p> +<p>No less than seven trails wound away +into the dark country beyond, and +Kirby saw that the question would not +be an easy one.</p> +<p>Having hastily circled the clearing +and peered down one trail after another +without finding a clue, he knew that it +was the Duca’s intelligence which had +made the ape-people depart without +leaving even tracks behind them. He +did not like the situation.</p> +<p>“Well,” he rumbled to his companions, +“we may as well take our +choice. One chance in seven of coming +out right!”</p> +<p>But the words were hardly out of his +mouth before he pulled himself up +with a jerk, and cursed himself for having +given in.</p> +<p>“Ivana! Nini!” Sharpness, a sudden +ring of hope edged his voice. “Am +I seeing things, or is that—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>As</span> he pointed to a huge aloe bush +down one of the trails to their +left, they started to run. Then Kirby +knew that he was not seeing things. +What his first inspection of the trails +had failed to show, he saw plainly +now.</p> +<p>Tied loosely to one branch of the aloe +bush, almost concealed amidst the deep +green of foliage, was a bit of white +cloth! In a second Kirby was holding +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_409' name='page_409'></a>409</span> +out to his companions a tiny strip of +Naida’s wedding gown.</p> +<p>“She knew we would come!” He +stared down the trail with narrowed, +keen eyes.</p> +<p>How Naida had contrived to leave +her signal was more than they knew. +The fact that she <i>had</i> done so, sent +all three of them down the trail at driving +speed.</p> +<p>An hour passed, then another, and +the morning which had been barely +born when they first took the trail, +wore on to the sultriness and vast, +colored light of a tropical noon. Twice +the main trail forked, and twice they +found an unobtrusive bit of cloth to +guide them beyond the works. When +the hands of Kirby’s still useful watch +pointed to twelve, they paused to eat +and rest. Then they pushed on.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the country through +which they passed left Kirby with a +clear understanding of why Naida and +her people had shunned the Rorroh +forest down the centuries of time.</p> +<p>Just one thing which stuck in his +head was the sight of a small creature +like a marmoset, sticking an inquisitive +nose into the heart of a sickly-sweet +plant which resembled a terrestrial +nepenthe. No sooner had the little pink +snout touched the green and maroon +splotched petals, than the plant +writhed, closed its leaves, and swallowed +the monkey whole. Little +squeaks of agony and terror sounded +for a moment, and ceased.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> midafternoon they paused in a +spot where a forest of trees with +whorled tops were slowly being +strangled to death by immense orchids +of every conceivable shape and color, +and by a kind of creeping mistletoe +which grew almost as they watched. +Here also, the ground was covered with +fluffy, grey-green moss which seethed +constantly as if it were a carpet of +maggots. Both Ivana and Nini warned +Kirby on his life not to touch or go +near the moss, and a moment later he +knew why.</p> +<p>From the forest came the flash of a +small, five-toed horse being pursued by +some animal with a hyena head that +barked. At the edge of the mossy +glade the hyena swerved aside, but the +terrified horse plunged straight out on +the carpet of moss. Instantly the air +was filled with the sound of animal +screams, and a series of tiny, muffled +explosions. A cloud of greenish-red +mist swirled about the horse. Quivering, +still screaming, the animal went +down on its knees, and as the reddish +green smoke fell on him and settled, +it became a mass of growing moss +spores.</p> +<p>Before Kirby’s eyes, the pitiful animal +was covered by a shroud of green +that spread over him and cloaked him, +licking over all with tiny sounds like +far off muffled drums as fresh spore +cases developed and burst. The screams +died. Even as Kirby drew the girls to +him and they passed on, the horse’s +nostrils, eyes, mouth were filled with +choking green moss; and he lay still.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>On</span> and on, deeper into the jungle +Kirby pushed, and never for a +moment did his companions falter. But +the way was not so easy now, for nerves +were jaded, muscles sore, and no human +will could have been powerful +enough to cast aside the growing fear +for Naida.</p> +<p>Fear came finally to a head when, toward +dusk, Kirby sighted a fork ahead +of them, approached it confidently to +look for Naida’s sign, and found +nothing.</p> +<p>“Oh Lord!” he muttered, and realized +that it was the first time any of them +had spoken for long.</p> +<p>“There must be something to guide +us!” Ivana exclaimed as she searched +with questing eyes through the swiftly +deepening gloom of evening.</p> +<p>Nini, making an effort to keep up +hope in spite of the paleness which +came to her lovely face, darted down +both paths, glancing as she went at +every bush and shrub. But she returned +in a moment, and as she shook +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_410' name='page_410'></a>410</span> +her head, her great eyes were somber.</p> +<p>Kirby grunted, scratched behind his +ear. Then, however, he stifled an exclamation, +and clutched at the hands of +both girls.</p> +<p>On one of the two trails appeared +suddenly in the dusk an ape-creature. +Kirby saw at once that the thing was +small—a female undoubtedly—and that +it had spied them and was moving toward +them with all speed. And borne +in upon him most certainly was the +fact that the ape-woman was making +signals of peace. In her outstretched +hand flickered through the gloom a +strip of cloth that was gauzy and white.</p> +<p>Again—a strip of Naida’s gown.</p> +<p>“If you know any words of her +tongue, call to her,” Kirby said sharply.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Ivana</span> obeyed. All three of them +started forward. The ape-woman, +after returning the hail in creaking +gutturals, came up to them, and with an +unexpected look of pathos and entreaty +in her face, began to address the girls +with a flood of talk.</p> +<p>Word after creaking word she poured +out while Nini and Ivana listened in +silence. Finally Kirby could stand the +suspense no longer.</p> +<p>“What is it, Ivana? What does she +say? Your eyes are lighting up with +hope! Tell me—”</p> +<p>Ivana smiled and turned toward him, +while the ape-woman still looked her +entreaty.</p> +<p>“She says,” Ivana announced bluntly, +“that she and the other women amongst +their people, do not want any of the +girls of our race to be taken by their +males. Already the men are quarreling +about Naida. They will not look at +their own women. Naida told this +woman that we would be following, +and sent her to lead us to the place +where the ape-people are assembling!”</p> +<p>Kirby felt his lips tightening in a +grim smile at the thought that jealousy +was not unknown even to the semi-human +creatures of this neither world. +He looked at Nini and Ivana during a +stretched out second. Then he moved.</p> +<p>“Good,” he snapped. “We go on at +once.”</p> +<p>That was his only recognition of +what was surely one of the important +happenings of a lifetime. But for all +that, his tired brain, which so lately +had felt the chill of black depression, +was suddenly set on fire with triumph +and thanksgiving.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>As</span> they marched rapidly, the ape-woman, +who called herself Gori, +succeeded in making them understand +that most of the ape-tribes, commanded +by the Duca and his caciques, were assembled +in the central community toward +which they were heading, that +grave danger of some sort threatened +Naida, and that the need for haste was +great. But what the danger was, the +two girls could not understand.</p> +<p>“We can’t make out what is going +to happen—what they plan to do to-night,” +Ivana whispered at last to +Kirby. “All Gori says is that we must +rescue Naida and take her away, and +must take the Duca away so that he +cannot influence the men any more. +And she keeps repeating that we must +hurry.”</p> +<p>“And you can’t find out what we +must rescue Naida <i>from</i>?”</p> +<p>Ivana shook her head.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid we’re facing something +of an appalling nature, as dangerous to +ourselves as to Naida. But I know +nothing more.”</p> +<p>By the time the silver glow which +corresponded to moonlight flooded the +jungle, Gori had left the open trail, +and was leading them across country +which humans could not have negotiated +without the guidance she offered. +Advancing cautiously always, she stopped +for long seconds at a time to +reconnoitre, shifting her huge ears +about and changing their shape, twitching +her nostrils, and glancing hither +and thither with bright little eyes. +Sometimes they passed immense spike-tipped +flowers ten feet in diameter, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_411' name='page_411'></a>411</span> +with fleshy yellow leaves which gave +out a nauseating stench. Vines with +long, recurved thorns and blossoms of +deep scarlet, laced the undergrowth together +and made passing dangerous. +Fire-flies drifted past, and all above and +about them flapped moths as big as +bats.</p> +<p>Kirby, his clothes almost torn from +his body, sweat pouring from every +pore, heard the labored breathing of +the girls, and wondered how they could +hang on. But they did, and after a +long time, Gori, halting in the midst +of a slight clearing, held up a warning +hand.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A queer</span> sensation came over +Kirby. As he stared and listened, +he realized that the twinkles he saw +far ahead were not fire-flies, as he +had thought, but lights. In the frosted +moon glow, Nini and Ivana drew close, +and Kirby clasped their hands and +pressed them for a second. Too tired +to exult further he was, even though +they seemed close to their goal of +goals.</p> +<p>Gori swung her hairy arm in a +signal, and with rifles clasped carefully, +they began to advance. When, five +minutes later, they stood in the heart +of a rank glade beyond which they +could see nothing, Gori spoke to the +two girls in her creaking whisper, and +Nini laid a restraining hand on Kirby’s.</p> +<p>“We have gone as far as Gori dares! +She says we must climb a tree here, +and watch what will go on in a clearing +just beyond this thicket.”</p> +<p>“And we still don’t know what we’re +getting into,” Kirby muttered.</p> +<p>But at any rate they had reached the +end of their march.</p> +<p>Exultation did come to Kirby now, +but still he was too completely fagged, +as were both girls, to give much sign. +Gori pointed to a tree some fifty feet +away, which shot up to a great, foliage-crowned +height. They moved toward +it, and in a moment were climbing, +Gori first, the girls after her, and Kirby +last.</p> +<p>“Here we are,” Ivana presently whispered, +at the same time drawing herself +out on a limb just beneath one on +which Gori and Nini had crawled.</p> +<p>Kirby found himself hedged in by +tasselated leaves through which he +could not see. The foliage thinned, +however, and soon Ivana halted, +perched herself in a comfortable position. +Kirby, making himself at ease +beside her, and seeing that Nini and +Gori were in place, turned his eyes +slowly, expectantly downward.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> first, all that he saw from his +bird’s-eye perch, was a circular +clearing two hundred yards across, +which was surrounded on all sides by +lowering jungle. In the exact center +of the circle, like a splotch of ink on +gray paper, there gaped a deep hole +which might have measured six feet +in diameter. Around this hole, eight +poles as tall and stout as telephone +poles stood up in bristling array. The +moonlight showed that the whitish +earth of the clearing was tamped +smooth as though thousands of creatures +had danced or walked about there +for centuries. But not a living form +was visible.</p> +<p>A grunt of disappointment escaped +Kirby after that one look. When he +looked beyond the clearing, however, +a change came to his feelings.</p> +<p>A quarter of a mile away, lights were +twinkling—the same ones which had +been visible on the last stretch of the +journey. And the moonlight touched +the little conical roofs of fully two +hundred huts of the ape-people. No +sound was audible save the soughing +of night wind in the trees, the shrilling +of insects. Nevertheless, there stole +over Kirby all at once a feeling that +the great ape-village was crowded to +overflowing. What was more, he felt +himself touched by an eery sensation—familiar +these days—of evil to come.</p> +<p>Ivana, seated with her rifle across her +knees, stirred on the limb beside him.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she whispered suddenly, “I +am afraid of this place!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_412' name='page_412'></a>412</span></div> +<p>Kirby took her hand.</p> +<p>“I know. Maybe it is the sensation +of all the legions of the apes herded +together so silently in their village. I +wish we knew what to expect from +them. I wish—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> he broke off, and called softly +to Nini on the limb above. She +looked down with a drawn expression +about her mouth.</p> +<p>“Are you all right?” Kirby whispered.</p> +<p>“Yes. But—Well, are both of <i>you</i> +all right? Gori says we have reached +here in time, but I—” A gasp of uneasiness +escaped her, and Kirby heard +Ivana echo it. “There is something +about that black, silent hole out there +in the clearing, and about those poles +sticking up like fangs, that makes me +terribly, terribly afraid. Oh, what are +they planning? Where is Naida? +What are they going to do to her?”</p> +<p>Kirby whistled in a low key. He +had not thought about the black hole +in the clearing.</p> +<p>“Hum,” he muttered, “that’s interesting. +Ivana, Nini, what do you suppose—”</p> +<p>But he got no answer. Gori’s twitching +lips grimaced them to silence.</p> +<p>The next instant, the stillness of the +night was hurled aside by a howling, +gurgling shout from a hundred, a thousand +hysterically distended ape throats. +With the sickening sound came from +the village the sullen roaring of drums.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Ten</span> minutes later, a Kirby who +was cold with apprehension and +wonder looked down from his leaf-crowned +height at such a spectacle as +he knew human eyes had never before +seen. The shouting had died away, the +drums were silenced. Crammed into +the clearing, their foul, hairy bodies +packed close together, the silver light +glinting against rolling red eyes and +grinning white teeth, stood fully a +thousand apes!</p> +<p>Once the first tumult of shouting in +the village had died, they had come on +in silence, and in orderly procession. +Those who bore the drums—huge +gourds with heads of stretched skin—had +formed a line entirely around the +outer diameter of the circular clearing. +Then others, lugging vats of a dark, +heady-smelling liquor, had deposited +their burden beside the drums, and +formed a second circle. The balance +of the thousand had crowded itself together +as best it might, leaving bare +the center of the clearing with its +black hole and fangs of poles. Kirby, +looking down at these legions, did not wonder +that cold sweat wetted his back.</p> +<p>Capable of thinking about only one +thing—Naida—he was trying with all +his strength not to think. Ivana, her +face blanched in the light which filtered +their camouflage of leaves, sat +rigid, her hands locked about her cold +rifle. On the branch above, Nini and +Gori were as still as mummies. No one +had spoken since the vanguard of apes +had appeared.</p> +<p>But at last Nini leaned close to +Kirby.</p> +<p>“Have you any idea of what all this +means?”</p> +<p>A draught of hot night air carried +up a stench of drunkenness, and the +goaty odor of massed animal bodies.</p> +<p>“No,” Kirby whispered. “I suppose, +from Gori’s having brought us here, +that Naida is going to appear somehow. +We’ve simply got to trust that +Gori knows what she is about.”</p> +<p>“But listen—” Ivana suppressed a +shudder. “Suppose they should bring +Naida here presently to force her to +take part in some ceremony at which +we can only guess. Gori, who thinks +we can work miracles, supposes we can +rescue Naida. But I—I’m not so certain. +Is there <i>anything</i> we can do?”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was exactly that question which +had made Kirby fight to keep himself +from thinking. His face turned +gray before he answered. But answer +he did, finally.</p> +<p>“Yes, there is one thing we can do, +Ivana. We’ve got to be frank with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_413' name='page_413'></a>413</span> +each other, and so far, this is the <i>only</i> +thing I’ve been able to figure out. If +Naida is brought here, and they make +any move to harm her or torture her, +we can, and we will, shoot her quickly, +before harm or pain comes.”</p> +<p>A grim silence settled once more. +During the last miles of march in the +jungle, there had persisted in Kirby’s +heart the hope that there would be at +least <i>something</i> favorable in whatever +situation they might encounter. His +spirits were so low now that he dared +not speak again.</p> +<p>Amongst the noiseless sea of ape-men +below them came, every now and +again, a little ripple of motion as some +anthropoid shadow fell out of his place, +approached the liquor vats, and swilled +down the black brew, a quart at a gulp. +But mostly there was little commotion. +Ivana drew a sibilant breath and +said that she wished something would +happen.</p> +<p>“I wish,” Kirby answered tensely, +“that we knew <i>what</i> is going to happen.”</p> +<p>But the nightmare waiting was not +to go on forever. Kirby leaned forward +and pointed.</p> +<p>It was only instinct that had made +him know action must come. For a second, +no change in the expression of +the ape-men, no movement in their +crammed ranks, was visible. Then, +however, a queer, subdued grunting +rumbled deep down in many throats, +and those who had faced the hundred-foot +space in the center of the clearing +squatted down on their hams.</p> +<p>In the back of the crowd necks were +craned. The stronger shoved the +weaker in an effort to get a better view +of the cleared stage, and a few ape-men +who had been drinking hurried +on unsteady legs to their places.</p> +<p>“The drums!” Kirby whispered then.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>With</span> almost military precision, +the scores of leather-faced creatures +who had led the procession into +the clearing, clasped the skin-headed +gourds to their shaggy bellies, and +stood with free arm raised as though +awaiting a signal. Nini moved in her +position, and Kirby felt Ivana shiver +and edge close to him.</p> +<p>From the front rank of the crowd, +there sprang up a great male creature +with the face of a gargoyle and the +body of a jungle giant. Just once he +reeled on his feet, as though black alcohol +had befuddled him, then he steadied +himself, flung both arms above his +head, and rolled out a command which +burst upon Kirby’s ears like thunder.</p> +<p>It was as if the whole cavern of the +lower world, and the whole of the +round earth itself, had been rocked +uneasily, dreadfully by the bellowing, +crashing explosion of the drums. Maddened +by the turmoil he had let loose, +the gargoyle-faced giant ape-man +leered about him with blood-shot, +drunken eyes, and beat on his cicatrized +chest with massive fists. Suddenly +he let out a bellow. Straight +up into the air he sprang in a wild +leap. When he came down, he was +dancing, and the portentious, the sickeningly +mysterious ceremony for which +such solemn preparation had been +made, was begun.</p> +<p>Kirby drew a rasping breath. Knowing +that there must be some definite +reason for the dance having begun just +when and as it had, he looked beyond +the solitary dancing giant, on beyond +the crowded legions of the apes, toward +the village. There, where the +main trail from the community approached +the clearing, he saw precisely +the thing which he had both hoped +desperately and dreaded terribly to +find.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Headed</span> directly toward the +clearing, moving down the trail +with slow, majestic pace, came a procession +headed by a bodyguard of ape-men +and augmented by other men +whose nakedness was covered by unmistakable, +unforgetable priestly robes +of gray.</p> +<p>All at once the ape-people in the +clearing began to scuffle apart, opening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_414' name='page_414'></a>414</span> +a lane down which the procession +might pass to the central stage with +its dancer, its ink spot orifice, and its +fangs of tall poles. Kirby, watching +the congregation, watching the majestic +approach of gray robes through the +night, wiped away from his forehead +a sweat of fear.</p> +<p>“I think,” Nini called in a voice +pitched high to outsound the drums, +“that the—the Duca is with them!”</p> +<p>“Yes.” Kirby pointed jerkily. “In +the middle of the procession, there, +surrounded by his caciques!”</p> +<p>The Duca!</p> +<p>Yet his approach did not hold Kirby. +Directly behind the priests were +emerging now from the jungle a new +company of ape-men. Squinting his +eyes, Kirby saw that two of them were +lugging on a pole across their shoulders +a curious burden—a sort of monstrous +bird cage of barked withes. +Crouched on the floor of the cage in a +little motionless, white heap—</p> +<p>But Kirby closed his eyes. Ivana, +cowering against him, gulped as +though she were going to be sick. Nini +leaned down from above and looked +at them with dilated eyes. Although +none of them spoke, all knew that they +had found Naida at last.</p> +<p>Kirby was the first to pull himself +up. Opening his eyes, he stared long +at the white gowned, motionless shape +within the cage. Next summing up +the whole situation—the cage surrounded +by an armed band, the clearing +crammed with a thousand ape-men—he +shook his head. Afterward, he +made a quick movement with his hands.</p> +<p>Ivana, seeing that movement, seeing +the expression on his face, started out +of her daze.</p> +<p>“No! No! Oh, there must be some +other way out for her! There must—”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Her</span> cry, half a shriek, did not +change Kirby’s look. What he +had done with his hands was to throw +a shell into the chamber of his rifle. +Now he held the rifle grimly, ready to +carry it to his shoulder.</p> +<p>The procession with the bodyguard +of ape-men at its head, the renegade +Duca and his caciques following next, +and the cage bringing up the rear, advanced +relentlessly down the lane to +the central stage. The gargoyle-faced +ape-man who held the stage alone +danced with increasing wildness, +writhing, twisting, with weird suppleness. +Upon the dancing giant the procession +bore down, and before him it +finally halted.</p> +<p>The halt left the Duca and the king +ape facing each other, and the ape +ended his dance. After each had given +a salute made by raising their arms, +both Duca and the king ape turned to +face the creatures who were standing +with the cage slung across their shoulders. +Whereupon the bearers of the +cage advanced with it until they stood +between two of the tall poles. There, +facing the ominous hole in the center +of the clearing, with a pole on either +side of them, the ape-men lowered the +cage to the ground.</p> +<p>Kirby felt his last hope and courage +ebbing. Now he noticed that each pole +was equipped with a rope which passed +through a hole near its top, like a +thread through the eye of a needle. +And while he stared at the dangling +ropes, the ape-men made one end of +each fast to a ring in the top of the +cage. The next instant they leaped +back, and began to heave at the other +end of the lines.</p> +<p>From the drums came a quicker +pounding, a more head-splitting volume +of thunder. Over all the ape-people +who watched the show, passed +a shiver of what seemed to be whole-souled, +ecstatic satisfaction. Slowly, +as the two ape-men heaved hard, the +cage swung off the ground, and slowly +rose higher and higher into the moonlit +air.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>When</span> finally the thing hung +high above the heads of the +multitude, swaying midway between +its tall supports, the ape-men who had +done the hoisting fastened their lines +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_415' name='page_415'></a>415</span> +to cleats on the poles. Then they +turned to the Duca and the giant king +who stood behind them, executed a +queer, lumbering bow, and fell back to +the rear.</p> +<p>The next moment it seemed as +though every creature in the clearing—men +and those who were only half +men—had gone crazy. The king flung +himself into the air as if he were a +mass of bounding rubber. Following +his lead, the whole assembly let out +howls that drowned even the drums, +and then began to sway, to squirm, to +leap, even as their king was doing before +them.</p> +<p>The caciques and the Duca joined +in the madness of foul dancing as +heartily as any there. Their eyes were +flaming, their long robes flapping, their +beards streaming.</p> +<p>On his perch in the tree Kirby muttered +an oath which was lost, swept +away like a breath, in the shrieking +turmoil of sound. Then he turned to +Ivana.</p> +<p>“They’ve brought Naida here to sacrifice +her.”</p> +<p>“But <i>why</i>?” Ivana’s sweet face was +frozen in lines of horror. “I’ve been +able to guess what was going to happen +to her. But—<i>sacrifice</i>. Why will it +be that?”</p> +<p>“Don’t you see?” Looking up to include +Nini, Kirby found his hands +quivering against his rifle. “It is easy +to understand. In the temple yesterday, +what the Duca hoped to do was +to kidnap most, or all, of the girls for +the ape-people. But he was able to get +only Naida. The first result was that +the ape-men started to quarrel over the +one girl. From what Gori says, trouble +started on all sides at once. It became +inadvisable to let Naida live. So the +Duca, in his shrewdness, planned a sacrifice. +By sacrificing Naida, he rids +himself of a source of contention +amongst the ape-men. He also hopes +his act will win favor from his Gods, +and make them help him when he is +ready to launch a new attempt to capture +<i>all</i> the girls.”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Ivana</span> and Nini looked at each +other, then at Kirby, and horror +was etched deeper into their faces.</p> +<p>“I think,” gulped Ivana, “that you—are +right. I—begin to understand.”</p> +<p>Nini leaned close to them.</p> +<p>“Tell us, then, <i>how</i> this sacrifice is +to be made.”</p> +<p>Silent at that, Kirby presently made +a heavy gesture toward the maelstrom +of howling, leaping animals below +them.</p> +<p>“I couldn’t guess at first. Now I +think I can. They have placed her in +that cage and swung it high above the +black hole you were afraid of. What +can that mean except that she is to be +offered to—to—”</p> +<p>It was a monstrous theory which had +stunned his hope and courage, and to +voice the thing in words was too gruesome.</p> +<p>His bare suggestion, however, made +Ivana pass a hand limply over her forehead +and look at him with blank, +stricken eyes. Nini tottered so uncertainly +that Gori, who had remained +motionless and silent throughout, had +to steady her with muscular arms. If +it was impossible for Kirby to utter +his fears aloud, he had no need to speak +to make them understood.</p> +<p>“And—and we can do nothing?” +Nini choked at last.</p> +<p>“You can see for yourself how she +is surrounded. If we had been able to +get here sooner, we might have done +something. Now—”</p> +<p>Kirby’s voice trailed off, and he gave +an agonized look at his rifle.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> terrific dance in the clearing +was going forward with madness +which increased second by second. It +had been a general debauch at first, +with the whole thousand of the apes +bellowing and squirming. Now a +change was becoming apparent. Red +eyes which had caught the glare of +ultimate madness, focused upon the +caciques, the Duca, and the great king, +all of whom were swaying together +on the central stage. As they looked, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_416' name='page_416'></a>416</span> +the horde of ape-men broke loose with +a heightened frenzy of noise and movement +too overwhelming for Kirby to +follow. He leaned forward, making an +effort to see what actions of Duca and +king could be so influencing the congregation. +And then he saw.</p> +<p>Both of those central figures, the +one with hair-covered giant’s body and +evilly grimacing face, the other with +white robes and whipping silver hair, +were definitely emulating the motions +of a serpent!</p> +<p>It was as if the angles and joints +had disappeared from their bodies. +They were become gliding lengths of +muscle as swift, as loathsome in their +supple dartings and coilings as any +snake lashing across the expanses of +primeval jungle. Lost in what they +did, unconscious of the nightmare, +demoniac legion before which they +danced, they had eyes only for the +empty, ominous hole beneath Naida’s +cage. As they circled the hole, drawing +ever and ever closer to it, they +opened and closed their arms with the +motion of great serpent jaws biting +and striking.</p> +<p>“God in Heaven!” Kirby cried in a +voice which shrilled with horror and +then broke.</p> +<p>It was not alone the Duca’s dance +which had wrung the shout from him. +As Nina and Ivana shrieked and cowered, +as Gori twitched, gasped, buried +her head in trembling arms, Kirby +knew that Naida was fully aware of +what was going on—had been, perhaps, +from the beginning.</p> +<p>Slowly, numbly she raised herself +from her huddled position, rose to her +knees, and clutching with despairing +hands at the sides of her cage, looked +out from between the bars.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> king and Duca edged closer +to the hole until they were dancing +upon its very brink. From that +position, they stared down into the +depths, their faces tense and strained. +And then their look became radiant, +exalted, joyous. Suddenly the Duca +leaped back. He shrieked something +at the gargoyle ape, and they flung +their arms high in a commanding, +mighty signal which was directed +across the nightmare legion of ape-men, +to the drums.</p> +<p>As Kirby winced in expectancy, the +drums ceased to roar. Over the night +smashed a hideous concussion of silence, +deafening, absolute. And the +ape-men—all of them—and the Duca, +his caciques, and the king, ceased to +dance. As if a whirlwind had hurled +them, the caciques scattered in all directions. +The Duca, having already +leaped back from the gaping orifice, +suddenly turned and ran with blurred +speed over to the slobbering, deadly +still front rank of the congregation. +An instant later the king crouched +down beside him, and the whole stage +was left bare and deserted.</p> +<p>Kirby gave one look at Naida, found +her staring down, deeper and deeper +down, into the hole which yawned beneath +her so blackly. Then Kirby lowered +his eyes until he, too, stared at +the opening.</p> +<p>Amidst the pressing silence there +stole from the earth an uneasy sound +as of some immense thing waking and +stirring. Came a hissing note as of +escaping steam. The tribes of the ape-men +waited in silent rapture. Kirby +saw Naida still looking down, and felt +Ivana crouch against him, fainting. +He held his rifle tighter, and continued +to stare.</p> +<p>Something red, like two small flames, +licked up above the edge of the pit. +Then Kirby gasped and all but went +limp. Up and out into the moonlight +slid a glistening white lump that +moved from side to side and licked at +the night with flickering black and red +tipped forked tongue.</p> +<p>The glistening white lump was the +head of Quetzalcoatl, buried God of +the People of the Temple. It was +wider and bigger than an elephant’s, +and the round snake body could not +have been encircled by a man’s two +arms. Kirby guessed at the probable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_417' name='page_417'></a>417</span> +length of the Serpent in terms of hundreds +of feet.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Sick</span>, numb, he glanced at Naida, +who was still staring silently, and +hitched his rifle half up to his shoulder. +But he did not look down the +sights yet. Although it was time, and +more than time, that he fired, he would +not do it until the last possible second, +when nothing else remained.</p> +<p>Slowly from the hole slid a fifteen +or twenty-foot column of the body, +and Quetzalcoatl, thus reared, looked +about him with a pair of eyes immense +and not like snake’s eyes, but heavily +lidded and lashed; eyes that stared in +a wise, evil way; eyes glittering and +round and black as ink. After a time +the mouth opened in a silent snarl, +showing great white fangs and recurved +simitars of teeth. The head was +snow white, leperous in its scabby, +scaly roughness, with here and there +a patch of what looked like greenish +fungus. From the rounded body trailed +a short, unnatural, sickening growth +of—feathers. Old and evil and very +wise the Feathered Serpent seemed as +his forked tongue flickered in and out +and he stared at the ape horde, who +stared back silently.</p> +<p>He seemed in no hurry to devote his +attention to the cage set forth for his +delectation. The black eyes rolled beneath +their lashes, staring now at the +Duca in his robes, and again at the +huddled ape-people. But after ghastly +seconds, Quetzalcoatl at last had seen +enough.</p> +<p>Again the moonlight glinted against +simitar teeth as the great, white, puffy +mouth yawned in its silent snarl. +Quetzalcoatl reared his head a little +higher, slid further from his hole, and +then looked up at the dangling cage +of barked withes.</p> +<p>In Kirby’s mind stirred cloudily a +remembrance of moments in the past: +the feel of Naida’s first kiss, her look +as they advanced to the altar in the +temple. Then he saw things as they +were now, with Naida surrounded by +all the tribes of the apes, and with +Quetzalcoatl staring from beneath +heavily lidded lashes at the whiteness +of her.</p> +<p>Suddenly Kirby stirred to free his +shoulder of Ivana’s supine weight +against it, and he made himself look +down his rifle. He let the breath half +out of his lungs, and nursed the trigger.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> he did not fire.</p> +<p>All at once he started so violently +that he almost hurtled from the +tree. Suddenly, trembling, he lowered +his rifle.</p> +<p>“Oh, thank God!” he yelped in the +silence of the night.</p> +<p>The idea which had transformed him +was perhaps the conception of a lunatic. +But it was still an idea, and offered +a chance.</p> +<p>Again Kirby peered down his rifle. +But he no longer aimed at Naida. As +Quetzalcoatl lifted white fangs, Kirby +aimed deliberately at him, and turned +loose his fire.</p> +<p>With the first shot, the Serpent +lurched back from the cage, snapped +his jaws, and closed evil, black eyes. +From one lidded socket squirted dark +blood. As a second and third shot +crashed into the cavernous fanged +mouth, and others ripped into the flat +skull, Quetzalcoatl seemed dazed. His +head wavered back and forth and his +hiss filled the night, but he did nothing.</p> +<p>But all at once Kirby felt that he +was <i>going</i> to do something in a second, +and a great calm came upon him. +He quickly jammed home a fresh clip +of shells.</p> +<p>“Nini! Ivana! Fire at the Serpent. +Give him everything you’ve got! Do +you understand? Fire! He thinks that +the ape-people have hurt him, and he +will be after them in a second. If we +have any luck, he will do to them what +we never could have done, and maybe +destroy himself at the same time! Me, +I’m going down there and get Naida +now!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_418' name='page_418'></a>418</span></div> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII</h3> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>No</span> sooner did Kirby see comprehension +in the girls’ faces than +he swung around and let go of his +perch. As he crashed, caught the next +limb below him, and let go to crash +to another, he had all he could do to +suppress a yelp of joy. For all at once +every voice in the ape congregation +was raised in howls and screams of +devastated terror.</p> +<p>He did not care how he got down +from the tree. Seconds and half seconds +were what counted. From the +last limb above the ground he swung +into space, and a split second later +staggered to his feet, clutched his rifle, +and started for the clearing. His lungs +seemed collapsed and both ankles shattered. +He did not care. Not when the +ape screams were growing louder with +every step he took. Not when he heard +Nini and Ivana pouring down from +their tree a continuation of the scorching +fire he had started.</p> +<p>Panting, his breath only half regained, +but steeled to make the fight +of his life, he tore from the jungle +into the clearing just in time to see a +twisting, pain-convulsed seventy-foot +coil of white muscle lash up and strike +Naida’s cage a blow which knocked it +like a ball in the air. Naida screamed +and hung to the bars.</p> +<p>But she was all right. It was not +against her that Quetzalcoatl was venting +his wrath: the blow had been blind +accident. As Kirby stood at the clearing’s +edge, he knew to a certainty that +Quetzalcoatl’s reaction to sudden pain +had been all he had dared hope.</p> +<p>In front of him forty or fifty ape-bodies +lay in a crushed heap. While +yard after yard of the Serpent’s +bleached length streamed out of the +hole, the hundreds of feet of coils already +in the clearing suddenly whipped +about a whole squadron of ape-men, +and with a few constrictions annihilated +them as if they had been ants. +Across the clearing, the leperous head +reared up as high as the trees and +swooped down, fangs gleaming. The +howls of the ape-men trying to flee, +the screams of those who had been +caught, rose until they became all one +scream.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> Kirby had not left the safety +of the tree merely to get a ringside +view of carnage. He faced his +next, his final task unhesitatingly. +Straight out he leaped from the shadows +of the jungle into the clearing, +out into the presence of the beleagured, +screaming ape-men. Well enough +he knew that those creatures, despite +their frenzy, might sight him and fall +upon him at any second; well enough +he knew that a single flick of the white +coils all over the clearing could crush +him instantly. But the time to worry +about those hazards would be when +they beset him. With a yell as piercing +as any in the whole bedlam, Kirby +rushed forward.</p> +<p>High up in the moonlit vault of the +night, swaying between the two poles +which supported it, hung the white +cage which was Naida’s prison. By +the time Kirby had sprinted fifty +yards, he knew that his yells had +reached Naida. For she staggered to +her knees and looked straight at him. +A second later, though, he realized that +the almost inevitable recognition of +him by ape-men had come to pass.</p> +<p>Eight or ten of the creatures, left +unmolested for a second by the Serpent, +halted in the mad run they were +making for the sheltering jungle, and +while one pointed with hairy arm, the +others let out shrieks. Kirby gritted +his teeth in something like despair. +Then he realized that the worst danger—Quetzalcoatl’s +blurred coils—was not +threatening him so far. And he went +on, straight toward the ape-men.</p> +<p>He did not look where, how, or at +whom he struck. All he knew was that +his rifle blazed, and as he clubbed at +soft flesh with the butt, blood spurted, +and new screams filled the night. He +felt and half saw big, stinking bodies +going down, and clawed his way forward, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_419' name='page_419'></a>419</span> +around them, over them. Then +he felt no more bodies, and knew that +he was through. A little farther he +ran over the trampled earth, and +stopped and looked up.</p> +<p>The howls of the living, the shrieks +of the dying deafened him. Renewed +shots from the rifles in the tree, made +the Serpent lash about in a dazzling +white blur, smashing trees, apes, everything +in its path. But Kirby, finding +himself still safe, scarcely heard or +saw. His eyes, turned upward, saw +one thing only.</p> +<p>“Naida!”</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>She</span> had snapped two of the withes +of the cage and was leaning forward +through the opening. Her face +was livid with horror and exhaustion, +but she was able to look at him with +eyes that glowed.</p> +<p>“You—you came!” she gasped. “You +came to me!”</p> +<p>In a flash Kirby jumped over to the +poles and began to cast off one of the +lines which held the cage aloft.</p> +<p>“Get ready for a bump!” he shouted, +as he lowered away, arms straining.</p> +<p>Paying out the one line left the cage +suspended from the second, but let it +sweep from its position between the +poles, down toward one pole. As the +thing struck the tall support, Kirby +bounded over to stand beneath it, only +too sharply aware of the death waiting +for him on every side, but ignoring +it. Naida still hung suspended a +good twenty feet above him, but there +was no time to let go the other line. +He braced himself and held up his +arms.</p> +<p>“Jump!” he yelled.</p> +<p>Then he saw the white gown sweeping +down toward him, felt the crash of +a soft body against his, and staggered +back. Recovered in a tenth of a second, +he drew a deep breath, and looked +at Naida beside him, tall and brave, +unhurt.</p> +<p>“Are you able to run?” he snapped, +and then, the moment she nodded, motioned +toward the jungle.</p> +<p>Behind them, in front, on all sides, +rose screams so horrible that he wondered +even then if he would ever forget. +As he started to run, he realized +that when Naida had finally landed in +his arms, the nearest squirming loop +of the Serpent had been no more than +four yards away, and that, right now, +if their luck failed, a single unfortunate +twist of the incredible hundreds +of feet of white muscle could still end +things for them.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>But</span> luck was not going to fail. +Somehow Kirby knew it as they +sprinted side by side, and the sheltering +jungle loomed closer every second. +And a moment later, something +beside his own inner faith made him +know it, too.</p> +<p>“Look, Naida! Look!” he screeched +all at once.</p> +<p>At the upper end of the clearing, +where an unthinkable slaughter was +going on, there leaped out from +amongst a surging mass of apes, leaped +out from almost directly beneath a +downward smashing blur of white +snake folds, a figure which Kirby had +not seen or thought about for many +seconds.</p> +<p>The Duca’s robe hung in tatters from +his body. Blood had smeared his white +hair. His eyes were those of a man +gone mad from fear. And as he escaped +the tons of muscle which so nearly had +engulfed him, he began to run even as +Kirby felt himself running.</p> +<p>Straight toward him and Naida, +Kirby saw the man spurt, but whether +the mad eyes recognized them or not, +he could not tell, nor did he care. All +at once his feeling that they would +escape the clearing, became conviction.</p> +<p>For suddenly the same single twitch +of Quetzalcoatl’s vast folds which +might have finished them, if luck had +not held, put an end to the Duca’s retreat. +At one moment the man’s path +was clear. The next—</p> +<p>Kirby, running for dear life, gasped, +and heard Naida cry out beside him.</p> +<p>The great loops flashed, twisted, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_420' name='page_420'></a>420</span> +where had been an open way for the +Duca, loomed a wall of scaly white +flesh. The living wall twitched, closed +in; and as the Duca dodged and leaped +to no avail, a cry shrilled across the +night—a cry that cut like a knife.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> saw no more. But it was +likely that most, if not all, of the +caciques had gone with the Duca.</p> +<p>Somehow, anyhow, in but a few seconds +more, Kirby dove into the spot +from which he had left the jungle to +enter the clearing. As Naida pressed +against him, winded but still strong, +he found his best hopes for immediate +retreat realized, for Gori, Nini, and +Ivana, down from their tree, ran toward +them.</p> +<p>“She is all right,” he said with a gesture +which cut short the outbursts +ready to come. “But we’ve got to keep +going. Ivana, tell Gori that her people +are gone, wiped out, but that if she +will cast her lot with us, we will not +forget what she has done. Come on!”</p> +<p>With Gori leading them they ran, +stumbling, recovering themselves, +stumbling again. To breathe became +an agony. But not until many minutes +later, when they plowed into the cover +of a fern belt whose blackness not even +the moonlight had pierced, did Kirby +call a halt.</p> +<p>Here he swept a final glance behind +him, listened long for sounds of pursuit, +and relaxed a little only when +none came to disturb the night stillness. +However, that relaxation, now +that he permitted it at last, meant +something.</p> +<p>The complete silence gave him final +conviction that what he had said about +the whole ape-people being destroyed +was true. As for the Serpent—well, +perhaps he was destroyed even as they +were. Perhaps not. In any case the +grip which Quetzalcoatl held upon the +imagination of the People of the Temple +had been destroyed by this night’s +work, and that was what counted most. +The Serpent would be worshipped no +longer.</p> +<hr class='invis' /> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Kirby</span> reached out in the darkness +and found Naida’s hand.</p> +<p>“Come along,” he said to all of the +party. “I think the past is—the past. +And with Gori to guide us out of the +jungle, and our own brains to guide +us through the jungle of self-government +after that, I think the future +ought to be bright enough.”</p> +<p>Ivana and Nini both chuckled as +they moved again, and Gori, hearing +her name spoken in a kindly voice, +twitched her ears appreciatively. Naida +drew very close to Kirby.</p> +<p>“What are you thinking about?” she +asked presently.</p> +<p>“The—temple,” he answered.</p> +<p>“About the crown which probably is +still lying on the altar there?”</p> +<p>Kirby looked up in surprise.</p> +<p>“Why, I had forgotten about that!”</p> +<p>“What was it, then?”</p> +<p>“But what could I have been thinking +about except how you looked when +we came together in that gloomy place, +and walked forward, side by side? +<i>Now</i> have I told you enough?”</p> +<p>Naida laughed.</p> +<p>“There is so much to be done!” +Kirby exclaimed then. “As soon as +possible, we must climb to the Valley +of the Geyser, go on into the outer +world, and there seek carefully for +men who are willing, and fit, to come +here. And that is only one task. +Others come crowding to me every second. +But first—”</p> +<p>“What?” Naida asked softly.</p> +<p>“The temple. Naida, we will reach +the plateau sometime to-morrow. All +of the girls who kept watch there will +be waiting for us, and it will be a time +of happiness. May we not, then, go to +the temple? There will be no priests. +But we will make our pledges without +them. Tell me, may I hope that it will +be so—to-morrow?”</p> +<p>Naida did not answer at once. She +did not even nod. But presently her +shoulder, still fragrant with faint perfume, +brushed his. She clasped his +hand then, and as they walked on in +silence, Kirby knew.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_421' name='page_421'></a>421</span> +<a name='THE_READERS_CORNER' id='THE_READERS_CORNER'></a> +<h2>The Reader’s Corner</h2> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_9' id='linki_9'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/421.jpg' alt='' title="The Readers' Corner. A Meeting Place for Readers of Astounding Stories" width='547' height='500' /><br /> +</div> +<h3>“<i>Literature</i>”</h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>After comparison with various other magazines +which specialize in the publication of +Science Fiction, we—The Scientific Fiction +Library Ass’n, of 1457 First Ave., New York +City—have found that your magazine, +Amazing Stories, publishes stories to +which the term “literature” may be applied +in its real sense. A fine example of this is +the story “Murder Madness,” by Murray +Leinster. Others of the finer novels are: +“The Beetle Horde,” by Victor Rousseau, +and, up to the present installment, “Earth, +the Marauder,” by Arthur J. Burks. “Brigands +of the Moon,” by Ray Cummings, was +interesting and well-written, but it was not +literature (not a story which you will remember +and read over again). Of the shorter stories, +the novelettes, the best are: “Spawn of +the Stars,” by Charles W. Diffin, “Monsters +of Moyen,” by Arthur J. Burks, and “The +Atom Smasher,” by Victor Rousseau.</p> +<p>Since the magazine started, there are only +three stories that did not belong in the magazine, +and were not even interesting. These +are: “The Corpse on the Grating,” by Hugh +B. Cave; “The Stolen Mind,” by M. Staley, +and the last (I wonder that the editors who +used such good sense in picking the other +finer stories, let it pass), “Vampires of Venus,” +by Anthony Pelcher. May you keep +up the high standard of fiction you are publishing +at present.—Nathan Greenfeld, 873 +Whitlock Ave., New York City.</p> +<h3><i>You See—It Didn’t!</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>Firstly, let me say that I am sending a +year’s subscription to Astounding Stories, +which will tell you that they are good.</p> +<p>On the average, the stories are of good +literary merit and plot. However, there is +one thing that seems to be getting rather +pushed into the background and that is the +second part of your title, “Super-Science.” +If this is to be a Science Fiction magazine +let us have it so. I am kicking against stories +like “Murder Madness” and the like. They +are really excellent in every way but just +need that tincture of a little scientific background +to make them super-excellent. “Brigands +of the Moon” and “The Moon Master” +seem to me more the type of story “our +mag” should publish, from its name.</p> +<p>No doubt this criticism will leave you cold +and this effusion find its way into the nearest +waste paper basket, but I find that a number +of your readers in Australia think somewhat +the same as I do.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_422' name='page_422'></a>422</span></div> +<p>More brickbats—I hope not! and more +bouquets—I hope so! the next time I write.—N.W. +Alcock, 5 Gaza Rd., Naremburn, N.S.W., +Australia.</p> +<h3><i>Not in de Head!!</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>I shall be glad to take advantage of your +cordial invitation to come over to “The +Readers’ Corner.” In the first place, I find +your magazine the best of its kind on the +market, and you are to be congratulated on +having such excellent authors as Ray Cummings, +Murray Leinster and Captain S. P. +Meek. Nevertheless, there are so many +things to be criticized that I hardly know +where to begin.</p> +<p>Let’s start of with stories of future warfare. +Although this class is potentially one +of the most interesting, it is at the same time +one of the most abused. Ray Cummings can +write classics in this field, but the efforts of +most the others are atrocities. I’ll wager +that their favorite childhood sport was mowing +down whole regiments of lead soldiers +with oxy-acetylene torches. It shows in their +writings. Why can’t they think of something +original? Why can’t they make their stories +logical? The merits of a story are not dependent +on the number of people wiped out +by one blast of a death ray! But they all +stick to the same old plot. A merciless but +well-meaning scientist, or hordes from a +foreign planet, wipe out thousands of American +citizens at one blow. Hundreds of airplanes +are disintegrated before they discover +that the enemy is invulnerable. An ultimatum +in domineering tones gives the terror-stricken +populace forty-eight hours in which to surrender. +But, all unknown to the dastardly +villains, an obscure young scientist labors to +save his country and the girl he loves. Fifteen +minutes before the time set in the ultimatum +he perfects a new weapon that soon +sends the invaders to their well merited fate.</p> +<p>Surely you realize how ridiculous the whole +affair is. It is only slightly less nauseating +than the plot used in the stories of advanced +civilizations where the hero is conducted on +a sight-seeing tour by the individual in whose +path he popped upon entering this new world. +I can’t believe that more than a handful of +my fellow beings are of such low intelligence +that they can find enjoyment in such trash. +You will notice that although every reader +has a different list of favorite authors, Ray +Cummings has his name in practically every +list. He is easily your favorite author. Ray +Cummings does not wipe out whole cities at +one time. His heroes do not save the world +by inventing a new weapon at a moment’s +notice. His wars are not of forty-eight hours’ +duration. His conquerors do not attempt to +win the war by one great attack on New +York City. Do try to have your authors +write logical stories.</p> +<p>I would now like to criticize the love element +in your stories. I do not claim that +there should be none whatever from cover to +cover of your magazine, but I do claim that +there should be none unless it really helps +the plot. Most of your authors seem to think +that a girl is necessary in every plot and so +they bring her in, disregarding the fact that +they do not know how to handle such material. +The way it stands now, the heroine is +introduced in a lame, routine fashion; is +rescued once or twice; and accepts the hero +as a husband in an altogether lame fashion.</p> +<p>There are many other points but they can +wait. Logical war stories, no Utopias or +sight-seeing tours, sensible love element, plus +your present policy will make a corking +magazine.—Philip Waite, 3400 Wayne Ave., +New York, N.Y.</p> +<h3><i>No Present Plans</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>Thanks for the new color cover. It certainly +is a big improvement. The picture on +the front of “our” magazine was just as +astounding as the story by R. F. Starzl from +which it was drawn. Let’s have more stories +from the pen of Mr. Starzl.</p> +<p>In my opinion “Beyond the Heaviside +Layer” is the best story I have read in +Astounding Stories to date. I am very +pleased that you intend to print a sequel to +it.</p> +<p>Now I would like to ask you a question. +Do you intend to print an Annual or Quarterly, +or do think you will ever enlarge the +size of this magazine? I don’t care so much +whether you enlarge the magazine or not, but +I certainly would like to read an Annual or +Quarterly.</p> +<p>Even though this letter meets the fate of +thousands of other such letters and sees the +inside of your wastebasket, I will at least +have had the pleasure of writing to you and +wishing “our” magazine success to the nth +degree.—Forrest J. Ackerman, +236½ +N. New +Hampshire, Los Angeles, Calif.</p> +<h3><i>“Excellent” to “So-So”</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>I notice a large number of subscribers are +giving their opinions of Astounding Stories. +I hate to be with the crowd, but I have to +side with the majority in this case and say +it’s just about right.</p> +<p>My favorite writers are R. F. Starzl (that +“Planet of Dread” was a peach). Chas. W. +Diffin, A. Merritt, Ralph Milne Farley, Murray +Leinster and Ray Cummings.</p> +<p>Now as to the August issue, here is how I +rate them:</p> +<p>“Planet of Dread”—more than 20c. worth +at the first crack. A real story.</p> +<p>“Lord of Space”—excellent. I meant to +include Victor Rousseau in my list of favorites +above.</p> +<p>“The Second Satellite”—so-so.</p> +<p>“Silver Dome”—so.</p> +<p>“Earth the Marauder”—too deep for me. +And that Beryl stuff is sheer bunk.</p> +<p>“Murder Madness”—a real story. Get more +like this.</p> +<p>“The Flying City”—too much explanation +and description and not enough action.</p> +<p>Perhaps it looks like I’m sort of critical +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_423' name='page_423'></a>423</span> +after all, but I didn’t mean it just that way. +What I’m driving at is that Astounding +Stories is by far superior to its competitors, +and I’m telling you so because it might make +you feel better to know it. If you want to +print this testimonial, go to it. To tell the +truth, I’ll be looking for it.—Leslie P. Mann, +1227 Ogden Ave., Chicago, Illinois.</p> +<h3>“<i>Too Many Serials</i>”</h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>I have just finished the August issue, and +I would like to tell you my opinion of it and +the magazine as a whole.</p> +<p>The stories in order of merit were:</p> +<p>1—“The Second Satellite”; 2—“The Flying +City”; 3—“Silver Dome”; 4—“The Lord of +Space”; 5—“The Planet of Dread.”</p> +<p>I won’t pass judgment upon the serials, as +I have not read all the parts.</p> +<p>In “The Flying City” there are a number +of points I am hazy about. How could Cor +speak English? However, this could be +cleared up by saying that Cor sent out men +to get the language, etc.</p> +<p>As a whole, Astounding Stories is a good +magazine. There are too many serials, however, +but since other readers like them I +won’t complain.</p> +<p>You have a fine array of Science Fiction +authors. With such writers as Vincent, Meek, +Hamilton, Starzl and Ernst, your magazine +can’t be anything but a success.</p> +<p>The September layouts look good to me. +I hope it is.—E. Anderson, 1765 Southern +Blvd., New York, N.Y.</p> +<h3><i>Thanks, Mr. Glasser</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>Somewhat belatedly I am writing to commend +you most heartily on the August issue +of Astounding Stories, which I consider by +far the finest number since the inception of +the magazine last January. The authors +whose work appeared in this issue are among +the greatest modern writers of fantasy and +scientific fiction. Leinster, Burks, Hamilton, +Rousseau—what a brilliant galaxy! And +Starzl, Vincent, Rich; all writers of note. If +ever a magazine merited the designation “all-star +number,” your August issue filled the +bill.</p> +<p>However, I am confident that even this +superb achievement will be surpassed by +some future edition of Astounding Stories, +for each succeeding number to date has improved +on the one before. And with a new +Cummings novel in the offing, it seems the +August issue, despite its excellence, will +speedily be eclipsed.—Allen Glasser, 1510 +University Ave., New York, N.Y.</p> +<h3><i>Are Our Covers Too “Gaudy”?</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>This is the first time that I have ventured +to air my views to any magazine, but as yours +interests me greatly I hereby shed my reticence.</p> +<p>I believe, of all magazine of your type, you +have come nearest perfection. But there are +just a few things that bother me, and, no +doubt, others like me. In the first place, must +you make your covers as lurid and as contradictory +to good design as they are? +Really, I blush when my newsdealer hands +me the gaudy thing. People interested in +science do not usually succumb to circus +poster advertising.</p> +<p>Then there are the stories. I realize that +you must cater to all tastes, but some of +them are very childish, slightly camouflaged +fairy tales. Science Fiction can be written +very convincingly, as is testified by the stories +of H. G. Wells, Ray Cummings, Jules Verne, +and others. These writers attain their effects +by the proper use of the English language, +without silly and obviously tacked-on romance, +the use of known scientific facts elaborated +sensibly and by not trying to make a +novel out of a short story.</p> +<p>The stimulation of the imagination from +Science Fiction is most enjoyable and I shall +continue to read your magazine even though +my fault finding is not considered, for, as I +said before, you certainly have come nearer +my ideal than any of the others.—Hector D. +Spear, 867 W. 181st St., The Tri-Sigma +Fraternity, New York City.</p> +<h3><i>Nossir—Our Astronomy Is O. K.</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>I am taking advantage of your invitation to +write to you. Since Astounding Stories is +available you have given me a lot of pleasure, +and I hope you may get a little pleasure out +of reading this.</p> +<p>First, I want to say that you’re hitting the +ball as far as I’m concerned. I could hardly +suggest an improvement.</p> +<p>In the August issue I liked “Planet of +Dread,” by R. F. Starzl, best. When that +thing in the “pipe” grabbed me, I mean +Gunga, wow! And it gave me a lot of satisfaction +to see the Master in “Murder Madness,” +by Murray Leinster, get it in the neck. +“Lord of Space” was good, too. In fact all +the stories were good. I have only read two +or three I really did not like since you started.</p> +<p>Say, I never heard of a planet named Inra. +Don’t you think your author ought to brush +up on his astronomy? I also noticed some +other authors are a little weak on astronomy; +not that I’m complaining. The stories are +O. K. with me.—Harry Johnson, 237 E. 128th +St., New York City.</p> +<h3><i>Mr. Yetter Checks Up on Us</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>As I am a constant reader of Astounding +Stories I wish to say that though S. P. Meek +is one of my favorite authors his story, “Cold +Light,” was a little wrong when he called the +“Silver Range” by the name of “Stillwater +Range.” I also think it would have been better +if he had had a car take Dr. Bird and +Carnes out to the hills, became even in Fallon +a burro is a strange sight.</p> +<p>But Meek, Cummings, Burks and all the +rest of our famous authors’ stories should be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_424' name='page_424'></a>424</span> +in the magazine often. If Verrill, Wells, +Nathenson and Hamilton would also write, +the magazine would be perfect.</p> +<p>I like all the stories, though some seem to +be copies, and others lack science.</p> +<p>Here is for a long life for Astounding +Stories!—Frank Yetter, 369 Railroad Ave., +Fallon, Nevada.</p> +<h3>“<i>Charm All Its Own</i>”</h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>Let me congratulate you. I have just read +“The Planet of Dread,” by R. F. Starzl, in +your August issue of Astounding Stories.</p> +<p>Real science, you know, is pretty rigidly +limited, but super-science of the kind you +seem to run has a freshness and charm all +its own.</p> +<p>I came upon your magazine quite by accident, +and from now on no doubt will look +for it as I stand before the racks of magazines, +trying to decide upon something to +read—Anton J. Sartori, 1330 W. 6th St., Los +Angeles, Calif.</p> +<h3><i>Inra <em>Could</em> Exist</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>You will have to excuse this old telegraph +office typewriter. It is all I have to express +my appreciation to you for the tremendously +interesting magazine you put out. I have +only read the last three issues, but those are +enough to convince me that Astounding Stories +fills a long-felt want. I read all the +others too, but from now on I’m going to +look over their offerings at the stand before +I buy. They have to go some to come up +to the standard set by you, especially in the +August copy.</p> +<p>That story, “The Planet of Dread,” was the +most weird, exciting, thrilling, satisfying—in +short, the most “astounding” story I have +ever read. Nothing has seemed so real since +I first read Wells’ stories. I liked the characters. +Poor Gunga. I could just see him, +trying to sacrifice the man he obviously worshipped +to stop that horrible noise. The picture +of Gunga on the cover was just exactly +what I would expect the Martian to look +like. You have a good artist. I liked Mark +Forepaugh, too. He didn’t lose his nerve for +one minute—not Mark. Who says civilization +is going down, when the future holds men +like that?</p> +<p>Next to “The Planet of Dread” I liked +“The Lord of Space.” That was a vivid and +well-drawn story, too. Those two, I think, +were the outstanding stories for August. But +I must not forget “Murder Madness,” the +serial; it was thrilling and convincing. That’s +the only kick I have: so many stories sound +thin. I don’t believe them when I read them. +I also want to mention “The Forgotten +Planet” and “From An Amber Block.” Good, +exciting, and you can believe them without +too much strain.</p> +<p>Oh, by the way, the author of “The Planet +of Dread” made a mistake when he chose +a mythical planet for his terrific adventures. +Why not Venus or Mercury? If they have +water the conditions on them would be similar +to what he described for Inra. There +ain’t no such planet. But why expect +perfection! I’m satisfied.</p> +<p>I wish you success. That’s a late wish. +You’re a success already.—Tom P. Fitzgerald, +Newcastle, Nebraska.</p> +<h3><i>Thus Ended the Quest</i></h3> +<p>Dear Editor:</p> +<p>This is my first letter to your magazine, +and right away I’m asking for a pair of +sequels. One of these is to “The Moon Master,” +by Charles W. Diffin. These sad endings +depress me greatly, but if I looked at +the ending first to see whether or not it was +sad it would ruin the story; and besides sad +endings usually have good stories in front of +them. The other sequel I want is to “From +The Ocean’s Depths,” by Sewell P. Wright, +and its sequel “Into The Ocean’s Depths.”</p> +<p>In looking over my back copies of the magazine +I find that I have not disliked a single +story. Thus endeth my quest for a brickbat.</p> +<p>Are you going to put out a quarterly? +Both the other Science Fiction magazines +that I get do so, and I observe that it gives +opportunity for a story of full novel length +all in one piece. Not that I object to serials, +but I like once in a while to sit down to a +long story without having to dig out three +or four magazines. However, please continue +the long serials, for what is life without the +element of suspense?—Hugh M. Gilmore, 920 +N. Vista St., Hollywood, Cal.</p> +<h3>“<i>The Readers’ Corner</i>”</h3> +<p>All Readers are extended a sincere +and cordial invitation to “come over +in ‘The Readers’ Corner’” and join in +our monthly discussion of stories, +authors, scientific principles and possibilities—everything +that’s of common +interest in connection with our +Astounding Stories.</p> +<p>Although from time to time the Editor +may make a comment or so, this is +a department primarily for <i>Readers</i>, +and we want you to make full use of +it. Likes, dislikes, criticisms, explanations, +roses, brickbats, suggestions—everything’s +welcome here; so “come +over in ‘The Readers’ Corner’” and discuss +it with all of us!</p> +<p class='ralign'><i>The Editor.</i></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class="trnote"> +<p><b>Transcriber Notes</b></p> +<p>Typographical and hyphenation inconsistencies have been standardized.</p> +<p>Otherwise, archaic and variable spelling is preserved, including ‘obsidion’ and ‘tyranosaur’.</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 3.14k --> +<!-- timestamp: Wed Dec 16 20:18:44 -0500 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Astounding Stories of Super-Science, +December 1930, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASTOUNDING STORIES, DEC. 1930 *** + +***** This file should be named 30691-h.htm or 30691-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/6/9/30691/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30691-h/images/295.jpg b/30691-h/images/295.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ca2b44 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/295.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/310.jpg b/30691-h/images/310.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..74a89b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/310.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/311.jpg b/30691-h/images/311.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..209beb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/311.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/336.jpg b/30691-h/images/336.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0505d56 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/336.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/354.jpg b/30691-h/images/354.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..85f13f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/354.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/370.jpg b/30691-h/images/370.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af1222e --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/370.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/371.jpg b/30691-h/images/371.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14e0997 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/371.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/421.jpg b/30691-h/images/421.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ef8999 --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/421.jpg diff --git a/30691-h/images/cover.jpg b/30691-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..35b8e7f --- /dev/null +++ b/30691-h/images/cover.jpg |
