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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f099443 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #69158 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69158) diff --git a/old/69158-0.txt b/old/69158-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c2c38a6..0000000 --- a/old/69158-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1696 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Doomsday on Ajiat, by Neil R. Jones - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Doomsday on Ajiat - -Author: Neil R. Jones - -Release Date: October 14, 2022 [eBook #69158] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOOMSDAY ON AJIAT *** - - - - - - DOOMSDAY ON AJIAT - - By Neil R. Jones - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Astonishing Stories, October 1942. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - CHAPTER ONE - - The Professor's Experiment - - -Professor Jameson had looked for a means of preserving his body -forever--and he had found it. But it was not by the art of embalming, -for, after all, the mummies of the Egyptians proved to be only horrible -caricatures of their former likeness, and even these in the passing of -untold millions of years must have been destroyed by some planetary -stress had the picks of archeologists never unearthed them. The logic -of the professor was more or less axiomatic. He realized that he could -never employ one system of atomic structure, like embalming fluid, to -preserve another system of atomic structure, such as the human body, -when all atomic structure is universally subject to change, whether it -be amazingly swift or infinitely protracted. - -The problem absorbed much of his attention, and he considered various -ways and means until one day the answer flashed upon him--leaving his -mind a chaotic maelstrom of plans and possibilities. He would cast his -body into the depths of space where it would remain unaffected and -unchanged! Material of organic origin might exist indefinitely between -worlds. - -He built gradually from this theory, conceiving a space rocket for his -cosmic coffin, a rocket propelled from the Earth by powerful thrusts -of radium repulsion. Next came his plan to make the rocket another -satellite of the Earth somewhere between the Earth and the Moon. The -professor decided on sixty-five thousand miles from the earth, or a -little more than a quarter of the distance to the moon. - -He set about his plans at once, and having experimented with radium -all his life, it did not take him long to construct a rocket capable -of carrying his dead body into the depths of space. The rocket lay -pointed skyward at the foot of a leaning tower on the hill of the -Jameson estate, surrounded by four gleaming tracks and balanced by four -stabilizer fins. Everything was complete, and the aged professor knew -that he had not long to live. - -He died on a bleak December morning, swirling snowflakes blanketing the -earth which was to be cheated so dramatically of his dead body. - -The professor had retained no confidant, and no one knew why the -leaning tower projected from the center of the professor's laboratory, -nor could they have guessed that the rocket lay inside, ready for its -celestial journey. - -The professor's nephew, Douglas Jameson, found himself sworn to -secrecy in the instructions left him by his dead uncle. An immediate -funeral service, according to those instructions, must follow his -death. Relatives believed him to be in his dotage. Only nephew Douglas -realized the significance of this quick funeral and removal to the -vault. - -Through the blanket of snow which had fallen that morning, Douglas -Jameson stole quietly to the cemetery, unlocked the vault and removed -the body of the professor. For a venture so colossal and unprecedented, -the professor's corpse was given but small consideration. His nephew -carried him from the cemetery to the rocket in a canvas sack--yet such -had been the professor's instructions, obeyed to the letter by an -astonished and dutiful nephew. - -Douglas Jameson entered the leaning tower and found the rocket set -firmly on its supports, its bullet nose pointing up the circular center -of the shaft. Cylindrical, and tapering at its base, the rocket was -fifteen feet long and five feet in diameter. - -Opening a doorway in the hull, he peered inside at the luxurious -upholstering, his hand sinking to the wrist in the deep, plush lining. -The interior was just large enough to accommodate a human body, and he -carefully placed his uncle's body inside, fastening a strap beneath -his chin and more straps to his wrists and ankles. He closed the door -firmly. - -His eyes wandered to the lever at the base of the rocket near one -of the stabilizer fins. He must pull the lever and leave quickly. A -five-minute interval would elapse before the rocket took off. It was -dangerous to remain. He hesitated a moment--then pulled the lever. -He did not stay to watch its effect but ran up the stairs into the -laboratory and out into the winter night. - -The laboratory was isolated from the rest of the buildings. Clouds -scudded across the face of the moon which lay well away from that -quarter of the sky at which the rocket tower was aimed. This had been a -part of the professor's instructions. He wanted the moon's attraction -left out of his plans. - -Five minutes never seemed so long before. Douglas watched the lazy -second hand crawl its slow journey around the tiny dial four times, and -after that his eyes never left the tower looming darkly against the -night sky. - -With a low, crackling hiss, the rocket finally made its appearance, -breaking forth from the leaning tower, gaining rapid acceleration and -leaving in its wake a blue, phosphorescent glow tinged with violet. - -For a long time that night, Douglas Jameson stood and watched the -starlit heavens turning imperceptibly upon the axis of Polaris. It was -near dawn before he went to his bed in the silent and gloomy Jameson -mansion. - -Late the next day, the village fire volunteers of Grenville were called -to the Jameson estate where they found the laboratory a seething mass -of flames. The destruction of the tower and laboratory had been a part -of the instructions left Douglas Jameson by his eccentric uncle. - -As long as he lived, Douglas Jameson kept the secret. It was only after -his death that the facts became known, and for a long time, until the -discovery by the astronomer, Clement, in 1968, the story was doubted. -True, the grave vault was found empty, but even at this late date it -was reported as part of the hoax. It was Clement who established the -existence of the Jameson satellite. It circled the earth every nine -days. - - * * * * * - -The years passed. Changes moved slowly on the earth, while generation -after generation vanished into forgotten obscurity. - -Still the rocket satellite pursued its lonely way, a cosmic coffin. -Fiery, scintillating stars formed Professor Jameson's funeral cortege. -Millions of years went by. Mankind was replaced by other forms of life -which in turn knew their day only to disappear. Earth's atmosphere -became rare. - -Forty million years after the day when his rocket had been hurled off -the face of the earth, Professor Jameson's body still lay perfectly -preserved. - -Passing meteors were the only companions of the rocket satellite, and -these the professor had recognized as dangerous. For that reason he -had installed radium repulsion rays which were excited into automatic -action by the proximity of approaching meteors. - -Earth lay closer to the sun--which had cooled. Its rotation had ceased, -and one side, like the moon, forever faced the sun. The professor's -dream had been realized. He had remained unchanged for millions of -years. - -His ambitions, however, fell far short of the adventures which fate -held in store for him. A strange spaceship, from the planet of a -distant star, came exploring among the dead worlds of the solar system. -They passed the aging Earth and found the professor's rocket satellite. -Strange creatures of metal guided by organic brains, they stopped and -examined the professor's rocket. - -They were machine men from Zor. Once they had been organic creatures, -but they had transposed their brains to the coned, metal heads which -surmounted their cubed, mechanical bodies. The bodies were upheld -by four metal legs and were equipped with six metal tentacles. They -communicated by thought projection. - -What the professor had accomplished in death, they had accomplished in -life. They were undying just so long as no injury occurred to their -metal heads housing the all-important brain. Any metal parts, such as -legs, tentacles or body parts, were replaced when worn out. A complete -circle of mechanical eyes were fitted into the coned heads, and one eye -peered virtually from the apex. These were shuttered and could also be -replaced. - -The machine men took the professor's body from his rocket satellite and -recalled his brain to life in order to learn his story. They placed -the brain in one of the mechanical bodies. - -The professor's astonishment on his revival can be imagined better than -described. When he came to a full realization of what had actually -happened, he told them his story and of the past glories of the earth -up to the point when he had died. - -He found that his revival made him the last living creature of the -earth. With the machine men he visited the strangely changed surface of -his home planet. - -The Zoromes told him of their eternal adventures from world to world -and asked him to join them. There was nothing on the now-lifeless Earth -to keep him there--so he joined the machine men in their cosmic flight -from system to system, exploring new planets and strange creatures of -varying degrees of intelligence. - -He came to be known among the Zoromes as 21MM392, and after their -return to Zor he was given joint command with 744U-21 of a new -expedition into space. - -Since last leaving Zor, they had explored many curious worlds, and -their adventures had been strange ones, often perilous. - -They were now entering another system of worlds. Already, they had -passed several of the outer planets on their side of the sun. They were -barren and cold, too far from the sun to support life. - - - - - CHAPTER TWO - - Heralds of Doom - - -"A planet or planetoid just off our course, 41C-98 reports," said -744U-21 to the professor. "We are now heading that way to discover what -it may be. 41C-98 reports several peculiarities. For one thing, the -sunshine strikes very dull against it, and for its apparent bulk our -proximity detectors show a surprising lack of density." - -As they moved nearer the mysterious body, they discovered that it -was neither planet nor asteroid, nor did it move on an orbit. On the -contrary, it pursued a course directly at right angles to an orbit. It -was heading sunward. - -The character of the celestial wanderer and its strange lack of density -became understood when the spaceship of Zor approached close enough to -reveal it as a meteoric swarm consisting of dust and cosmic debris. -Many of the chunks were several miles in diameter. The professor's -quick estimate placed the diameter of the swarm at seven thousand miles. - -Rapid observations and computations were made. Growing suspicions of -the machine men were verified. The mass was heading into the sun at a -speed of several miles per second. - -"You know what that means," said the professor, turning to those about -him. - -"Yes--a nova--an exploding star!" - -"I never saw but one at close range during my entire existence as a -machine man," said 6W-438. - -"They are not unusual," 744U-21 observed. "Most every star, some -time or other, goes through this phase. We see them often from afar, -but they happen so quickly and without any warning that this is a -rare coincidence that we should enter a system and find conditions -preparatory to a nova. This meteoric mass will surely cause one when it -strikes the sun." - -"But I have understood that novas are not always caused by large bodies -or meteor swarms colliding with a star," said the professor. "Popular -theory supports a belief that often an internal solar disruption causes -a star to explode. - -"Such a cause as you mention generally promotes a greater disturbance, -especially if it originates deep within the solar body. Contact with a -meteoric swarm, as this case promises to be, rarely affects little more -than the surface gases of a sun." - -"Even so," observed 6W-438, "the cataclysm will be large enough to -wipe out life on every world of this system and change the planetary -surfaces. - -"A terrific wave of heat will spread outward from the sun with the -speed of the light which carries it. For the nearer planets, it will -mean but a matter of a few minutes. Possibly a day or so later, -tremendous waves of gases will sweep in the wake of the blinding, -searing heat. They will be sufficiently tangible to slow the speed -of the planets perceptibly upon their orbits. Terrific planetary -disruptions will follow in the form of earthquakes and volcanic -eruptions, and entire oceans will turn to steam and bury each world in -a dense cloud blanket. Temporarily, the nova will outshine every star -in its neighborhood and will loom visible countless light years distant. - -"It will mean doomsday for all life in this system even though the sun -returns once more to its normal condition within the next ten or twenty -years." - -"It will be well to check our figures," cautioned 6W-438. "We must plan -not to be such close observers that the nova will reach us." - -At the rate the meteoric mass was traveling sunward, Professor Jameson, -as was his usual habit, figured that nearly twenty-three of his earthly -days must elapse before the swarm of cosmic debris reached the sun. - -Their first step was to examine all the planets and find what, if any, -life they supported. They had already passed a few of the outer worlds -and had found them apparently lifeless. The spaceship now approached -another world, a planet so large that their proximity detectors -remained oblivious to all else even while they were still far off. - -"It is one of the larger worlds which we must avoid," Professor Jameson -stated. "The gravity there is so strong we could move around only with -difficulty and a superexpenditure of energy, and even if we landed -safely, our spaceship would find it hard to leave." - -"We shall make our observations entirely by telescope, then," answered -6W-438. - -Glasses were trained upon the colossal world as the spaceship sped -close to the giant world in a gradual curve to the sunward side. -From afar, they had recognized the fact that the planet possessed an -atmosphere. Observations confirmed the strange coloring of the planet -as vegetation. Where the machine men found vegetation, they invariably -found animal life as well. The topography of the huge world loomed -nearer, so much nearer that 744U-21 cautioned 20R-654 not to navigate -closer. - -"I am not," came the startling announcement. "I am trying to get clear -of the planet's grip. There is a slight drift of the spaceship, which I -am having trouble counteracting." - -The looming orb grew larger, swelling in diameter and obscuring a -greater portion of the sky beyond. The difficulties of 20R-654 were -becoming increased. Alarm spread among the machine men. The intense -gravitation held their ship and was threatening to draw it down with a -smashing blow. - -"We are starting to fall! The ship is accelerating its descent!" - -"Turn!" cried the professor. "Turn away and give it all the power we -have!" - -The course of the spaceship had been parallel to the planet's orbit. -20R-654 now turned the ship directly away from the looming world and -unleashed a tremendous burst of power. Instruments showed a slackening -of their descent, yet their fall continued. - -"Something is wrong with the resisters!" 20R-654 explained. "That is -why the ship came so much closer to the planet than I had intended!" - -"We are still falling but not so fast as before!" - -"At full repulsion, too!" - -"Yes--we are too close, and the gravity is so great! Without the -strength of the resisters we can only hope to come down as lightly as -possible!" - -The professor knew this latter statement to be nothing but hope. Their -fall was rapid enough to smash them all to bits of wreckage when the -spaceship crashed. And their precious brains would be scattered among -the ruins. - - * * * * * - -The great world swelled on their vision, its proportions so vast that -it filled the sky before them. Mountainous country reached giant -fingers to receive them. On the horizon, the topography was obscured by -cloud masses drifting in the great, dense sea of atmosphere. Already, -they were able to feel the mighty attraction of the planet's gravity -upon their metal bodies. - -"Keep the reverse charges going until the last minute--until we strike!" - -"The unusual density of the atmosphere may help slow our descent!" - -This, they knew, was a long chance. The density of the atmospheric -lower levels was commensurate with the planet's strong gravity. - -A sobbing wail arose from outside the ship, swelling into a roar -of many waterfalls. The spaceship throbbed and trembled, and every -machine man realized that they had penetrated into the atmosphere at a -tremendous speed. Anxiously, they consulted their instruments. Their -mad fall was checked but slightly, and they realized their doom, for in -the hundred miles or more left them, there was no possible chance of -braking their speed to a safe maximum even with the increasing density -of the atmosphere to help them. - -It was in the professor's mind that a few of them might survive the -crash--but to what purpose? What would there be left for a few machine -men on a giant world with an irreparably wrecked spaceship and dead -companions? Mechanically crippled, they would await the coming of the -nova with the end it would bring. Such an outlook was even more dismal -than direct annihilation. - -A few of the machine men stared down from the falling ship at the fast -approaching destruction, yet they were comparatively calm. Here was -none of the terrified hysteria characteristic of organic creatures. -Most of them had lived many lifetimes compared to their original -existence. - -Down they swept to inevitable doom, their reverse charges beating -helplessly against the awful drag of the planet's bulk. Professor -Jameson, engrossed in gloomy introspection, was suddenly swept off his -feet and crashed against 744U-21 and 6W-438, who fell with him against -the wall and into a corner. For a moment, they believed that the crash -had come, but those who had been looking down at the giant world knew -better. - -There remained but a few miles between the ship and the surface. -Machine men were sent tumbling in every direction. The gravity had -changed suddenly from the floor of the ship to one side. The ship had -turned over. Evidently 20R-654 had lost control. Their last hope, the -continued expulsion charges from the ship, was gone! - -Slowly, the gravity again changed to still another side of the ship, -rolling them along into tangled piles. Expecting it at any moment, to -the machine men it seemed that the crash was infinitely delayed. When -it came, Professor Jameson felt himself hurled with terrific force -against the opposite wall, and his consciousness left him in a bright -glare of inner light as his head struck the wall. - - * * * * * - -His first thought on regaining consciousness was surprise that he had -done so. Was he the only one left? There must have been others, a few -at least. Active thought waves probed his brain, and he knew that he -was not alone in having survived. - -A clattering and scraping of metal reached him as a machine man came -limping and stumbling over several quiet companions. It was 41C-98. -Above him, the professor could see a side wall of the spaceship. - -"Come, 21MM392, you do not seem badly damaged other than having bent a -leg. Arise." - -"How bad are things? How many of us are alive?" - -"More than we ever expected. I suffered only a few mechanical injuries. -There are many lying about still unconscious. I received calls from -others in different parts of the ship, who are helpless to move. Even -with a well-functioning body, it is hard to move against the strong -gravity of this world." - -The professor rose slowly to his feet and realized the truth of the -statement. With difficulty, he stepped from the tangle of metal bodies -surrounding him. It required several times more generated energy from -his mechanical body than he had ever been forced to use to walk on a -planet. - -He wondered how 744U-21, 6W-438 and others with him when the crash came -had fared. He probed their mental faculties and found them not dead but -only quiescent. Mental radiations reached him from other parts of the -ship, and with 41C-98 he went to investigate, proceeding with an effort. - -"We should be equipped with super-powered bodies for this world," the -professor told 41C-98. - -In other chambers of the ship, their surprise was succeeded by wonder. -Instead of twisted walls and warped wreckage, they found only signs of -a severe fall. As fast as they could move, the machine men, joined by -other bewildered Zoromes, went outside the ship and examined the hull. - -They had crashed through a deep tangle of vegetation. Several seams in -the hull gaped open and appeared to be the greatest damage done the -ship in its fall. At first, they were inclined to believe that the fall -through the vast tangle of vegetation had saved them, yet somehow this -explanation did not seem adequate. - -Not until 20R-654 came to his senses did they learn the truth. - -"I saw that we were going to crash and destroy both the spaceship and -ourselves in spite of the full reverse charges. So at the last moment, -while we were still several miles above the surface, I shut off the -reverse charges and let loose a side charge which turned us sideways to -the surface. - -"Then I released charges on our side facing the surface and once more -loosed our reverse charges, so that we fell on a long slant which used -up much of the speed of our fall. We were lucky to strike this great -mass of vegetation where so many giant creepers intertangle. Otherwise, -fewer of us would be left." - -More of the machine men returned to their senses. The others were -examined and found to be suffering from mental shock from which they -would eventually recover. The casualties were the first ones to occur -in a long time--and there were two. In a compartment next to the -ruptured hull were found 250Z-42 and 4F-686, their heads battered. - -"We are saved but temporarily from a fate such as theirs," said the -professor gravely, "for unless we can get the ship repaired within the -time left us before the meteoric mass strikes the sun, we shall be -annihilated with everything else on the face of this world when the -sun explodes and the nova spreads swiftly throughout this system of -planets." - -"How can we ever leave here--even if the necessary repairs are made in -time?" asked 119M-5. "We are unable to escape the power of this world's -gravitation from a distance, so how are we to get free now that we are -upon its surface?" - -"Our gravitational resisters were faulty and were overcome and broken -down by the mighty strain of this planet's pull," 20R-654 explained. -"They must be reconditioned, and, besides repairing the hull, new -parts must be made which will give us a greater lifting power when we -take off. Starting from a dead stop on this giant world will require -tremendous forces we have never previously required because we have -never visited planets of this size." - - - - - CHAPTER THREE - - Caught By the Giants - - -The machine men lost no time in exploring the region where they had -come down. Moving at great expense of energy, they radiated in a circle -from the great tangle of vegetation until one of them found a break in -the forest. - -A level expanse stretched away to mountains that loomed in the -background. Tiny specks flew high in the sky. These puzzled the machine -men until they saw one of them drop low above the forest and veer -toward the fallen spaceship in curiosity. - -It was an enormous bird with an animal-like snout. Four legs and the -wing tips ended in talons. - -"What monsters!" exclaimed 744U-21. "The bird is fully half as long as -our spaceship from one wing tip to the other!" - -"Forms of life would have a tendency to run to size here," Professor -Jameson remarked. "Creatures on this planet must of necessity be -uncommonly strong, too." - -They came to refer to the giant world as Ajiat, expressing the mental -thought of the spoken word they had known in their organic lifetimes -back on Zor. The word referred to anything huge or colossal. - -With specially designed apparatus they carried for just such -emergencies, the machine men quickly located and commenced mining the -various ores and minerals they required in repairing the ship. When -helium was discovered in large quantities, the professor was seized -with an inspiration. - -"Let us discover more about this world now that we are on it. From on -high, we can look over a great deal of the surrounding country." - -"But how shall we get up there?" - -"The helium," Professor Jameson voiced his hidden thought. "We can make -a balloon and rise on its lifting power." - -For observation purposes, a metal globe was quickly fashioned, the -basket of the balloon made of light metal framework and covered with -wood from the surrounding forest. Firmly anchored to the ground with -metal hawsers, the globe was filled with helium. The basket carried -four machine men with their equipment. With him, Professor Jameson took -6W-438, 12W-62 and 29G-75. - -"From what we know of the atmosphere, the amount of helium in the globe -should carry us four miles or higher." - -"The birds will probably attack you," warned 119M-5. - -"We expect as much. It is why we have three power guns installed." - -Once the hawsers were loosed, they shot off the ground like an arrow. -Not until their ascent became slowed did the professor and his -companions cast out the large stones they carried for ballast. - -One of the great birds dropped down to meet them and was blasted from -the sky. Another flew croaking from their path in alarm. They were -nearly six miles above the ground before the balloon stopped rising. - -With powerful glasses, they examined the terrain for several hundred -miles in every direction except towards the mountains. A pall of cloudy -mist hung among the peaks. In the opposite direction, their horizon was -far-flung due to the enormous size of the planet. - -With their scientific apparatus, they gathered data which they were -unable to obtain from the ground and had been too involved and -disinterested to notice during their perilous descent. - -A bevy of the huge birds came to investigate, interrupting their -observations to circle, growl and chatter at them. One of the winged -monstrosities made a purposeful lunge at the metal ball above their -heads, and they blew him to fragments with rapid and well-directed -fire. Another met the fate of the first, before the others winged away -in screaming anger and alarm in the direction of the mountains. - -"Do you think we could deal with them if they attacked us in large -numbers?" 12W-62 queried. - -"Not if they attacked us in a mass," the professor replied. "But we can -descend by freeing some of the helium if they become too numerous or -troublesome." - -A sudden gust of air swayed the basket. The breeze had freshened, and -they found that they had been drifting towards the mountains. - -Like stately spires, the mountain peaks loomed before and above them. -Those in the background were lost in a gray fog which had crept among -them since the machine men had risen in their balloon. - -Hundreds of the great birds could be seen darting and wheeling above -the mountainside. As the balloon was carried nearer by the rising wind, -they spread on the wing and flapped about the strange invader, voicing -their weird cries and veering menacingly about the metal globe and -basket. Several of them attacked and were destroyed. - -The others became a bit cautious, yet they never abandoned their -gliding vigil. They, too, finally swept down upon the balloon. More of -the birds came swarming to take their place, and the machine men soon -found themselves busy protecting their skycraft. - -"They probably have their nests in the mountains close by," said the -professor, "and they suspect us. That is why they have grown more -ferocious and daring since we neared the mountains." - -The wind was quickening. More of the great birds came to replace each -one killed. One came so close that a wing brushed the basket, knocking -the machine men off their feet. They were finding it difficult to -defend the balloon against so many of them. They were in danger of -being wrecked! - -Dark clouds had settled over the mountains--which were now so near that -the machine men could distinctly see objects such as trees and rocks. -The wind had risen to a gale, and they were being carried on it. - -"We are rising!" 6W-438 exclaimed. "The wind is carrying us above the -mountains and into that approaching storm area!" - -"Let out part of the helium!" - -"We cannot do that now," the professor told them. "The force of the -wind would dash us against the mountainside!" - - * * * * * - -A dull flush of pink lit the drifting depths of the cloud masses -momentarily, and the terrific roar which followed shook the balloon and -made the metal globe hum with strange music. - -With the advent of the storm, the birds gave up the attack and winged -off to their lofty retreats in screeching alarm. - -The wind continued to carry the balloon at a great speed, and soon -they were over the mountains and into the dense, angry masses of -clouds. Then they were buffeted by cross winds and freak air currents, -falling, to be lifted up once again and tossed around like a leaf. - -Roaring crashes of thunder threatened to split the sky apart, and great -blades of lightning stabbed through the clouds. The storm grew worse, -and the machine men entangled themselves in the hawsers holding the -metal ball to the basket, to keep from being tossed out by the storm's -fury. The basket was threatening to part from the metal globe that -supported it. - -The winds wrenched and tore at them, hurling gusts of rain like -spray--fine and hard. Lightning flashed dangerously near, and the -farther they were swept into the storm area, the blacker it grew. Had -it not been for the lightning which played almost constantly, it would -have seemed like night. - -The four machine men lost all sense of direction as they were whirled -and thrown viciously about. The basket finally broke away from the ball -of helium, leaving them clinging to the strong wire hawsers hanging -from the globe. - -Here they swung and clashed against each other and against the metal -ball, slowly gathering the slack in the hawsers about their metal -bodies and creeping closer to the globe which was whirled and tossed -more freely since it had lost its restraining basket. - -To the machine men, it seemed that the storm raged for hours. The first -intimation of its cessation came with a lessening of the gloom and -fewer shafts of lightning. - -"I am near a valve," 29G-75 reported. "Shall we release some of our -helium and come down?" - -"As soon as we see where we are." - -"We shall soon come down whether we choose or not," said 12W-62. "There -is a slow leak in the globe not far from me." - -When the clouds lifted, the machine men found themselves on the other -side of the mountain. More mountains loomed in the distance. Below -them stretched a level plain. They were descending slowly. As more -helium escaped, their descent became faster, yet they landed safely. - -"We must not get too far from the mountain," the professor said. "If -we cannot find some way of getting back over it, we must wait until -744U-21 sends us help." - -"We may stay and see the nova," said 6W-438 grimly. "It will be a -wonderful sight." - -"A better way to die than those who were killed when our spaceship -crashed. Doomsday on Ajiat will usher in a beautiful morning of flaming -brilliance." - -"Followed by a gloomy night of desolation and death." - -The machine men walked slowly back in the direction of the mountain. -Night fell. Still they kept on their way. - -Their progress was forced. They knew that their mechanical parts would -never stand the strain of climbing up the mountain. Their energies -would soon be exhausted by the strain, parts would wear out, and they -could neither be refueled nor repaired in the absence of the spaceship. -They could only remain in a conspicuous and advantageous position near -the mountain, waiting for the help they knew 744U-21 would send if they -could be found. - -Through the night, fire suddenly lit the sky ahead of them. There was -first a dull, soft glow. This grew to towering proportions in a single, -leaping flame. The fire was no farther than half a mile ahead of them, -and soon they were able to distinguish black, shadowy forms which -passed between them and the fire. - -The professor called a halt. Several times they saw large fire brands -carried. From the size of these, and the height at which they were -carried, and from what they were able to see of the black shadows, the -machine men knew the creatures to be veritable giants. - -"Quite in keeping with this world," Professor Jameson observed. "It -goes without saying that they are unusually strong. We shall do well to -remain undiscovered." - -With the coming of morning, the fears of the professor were justified. -From afar, the machine men could see more distinctly the lofty, bulking -figures which had been etched in silhouette against the campfires of -the night before. - -The creatures moved with large, easy bounds at several times the best -speed the machine men had been able to attain on worlds much smaller -than Ajiat. They covered the ground with such amazing swiftness -that the machine men were scarcely aware of their danger before -several colossal forms grew upon their vision and suddenly they found -themselves surrounded. - -The things towered fully fifty feet in the air. That was the -professor's first impression. His second one conveyed the fact that -they were of little intelligence. They stood on legs which resembled a -small forest of tree trunks suddenly grown up about the four Zoromes. -Two in number, these legs terminated in three long claws spread -equidistant on tough, layered pads. - -Jaws armed with long fangs featured the physiognomy of the things, -while most curious were the eyes which projected on short, thick -pedicles and were over-arched and protected by a rough, bony -protuberance. - -The professor was suddenly seized and lifted close to one of the -terrifying faces for an inquisitive inspection! - -The creature sniffed at him with flat, distended nostrils. Huge -fingers, seven in number, clutched him tightly. He saw that the thing -had two arms and that their hairless bodies were roughly criss-crossed -with deep lines. - -Another interesting feature next claimed his attention. A web of -elastic membrane extended halfway down each arm to the body. A -muttering gabble issued from these gargantuans of Ajiat as they -examined the machine men. - -"Do not act alive," the professor radiated, "and they may become -disinterested in us." - -Although subtracting from the interest of the great brutes, this plan -did not prevent their seizure. One of the things emitted a bellowing -roar, which the machine men found themselves at a loss to properly -interpret. The creature turned and dashed away in the direction from -which the machine men had come. - -Far off, the huge beast had seen the gleaming, metal ball which had -contained the helium. The others waited patiently, gently pulling at -the legs and tentacles of the strange, metal contraptions they had -found, until he returned with it. - -Then they all set out at whirlwind speed to join the main body, setting -up a cloud of dust behind them and passing by the black, smoking embers -of last night's fire. - -With the rest, they made their way to the mountain, climbing up to a -plateau. Cliffs loomed on two sides, and in tunnels and rocky defiles -splitting into the side of the mountain, these creatures made their -homes. - - - - - CHAPTER FOUR - - A Race With the Nova - - -The machine men were given over for inspection by hundreds of the great -creatures which they had automatically designated as Ajirs. Tiring of -the inspection, the brutes handed them back to their original owners. - -Professor Jameson was carried into a cavern and unceremoniously thrown -on a rocky ledge with a strange collection of objects which had -evidently caught the fancy of the Ajir. - -There were bright bits of fused metal, evidently of volcanic origin, -and odd-shaped bones littered the ledge. Most curious of all was an -entire skeleton about twice the professor's size. As soon as the -cavern's owner went out and left him alone, he fell to examining it. -The skeleton was entire, each bone loosely interlocking with another -so that it was impossible to remove one of them, except by force. The -skeleton had been that of a four-legged animal. - -The professor found that his companions had met with fates similar to -his own. They communicated with one another and decided that for the -present it was best to bide their time--never letting the Ajirs know -that they were living creatures--and watch for the first good chance to -escape. - -In the several days that followed, the machine men learned many things -about their captors and the world on which they lived. - -The Ajirs were partly vegetarians. They sometimes set traps for the -great birds which came down from the mountain heights. The Ajirs voiced -a syllable in reference to the birds which the machine men interpreted -as Quar, and from that time on they referred to the birds collectively -as Quari. - -The Ajirs possessed hardly any language at all, and their minds were so -simple and elementary that the machine men rarely took the trouble to -trace their thoughts. - -When they were left alone, the machine men looked out upon many things -scurrying back to their proper places when their owners approached the -caves. - -Once, the professor was not quick enough, and he lay still on the -floor. The Ajir picked him up and placed him on the ledge, thinking, as -the professor had expected he would, that the machine man had fallen -off the ledge. - -6W-438 was caught out on the plateau once. One of the Ajirs accused -another of theft, and a terrific battle ensued between the two. - -Meanwhile, the anxiety of the machine men grew. The days before the -nova was expected were becoming fewer, and still they found no means of -escape. 12W-62 argued that escape meant little unless they were found -and taken back to the spaceship. - -The Ajirs continued the routine of their simple yet turbulent lives, -blissfully ignorant of the impending doom to all life on Ajiat and the -sister worlds of the system. They had little time to live, but they -were living it ignorantly and happily. - -It was the hope of all four Zoromes that another helium ship would be -sent out by their companions and that the mental detectors would find -them. Unless they escaped in time, there would be a battle with the -Ajirs, but the machine men doubted the ability of the fearsome monsters -to survive a barrage of the power guns. - -More days passed, and still no help reached them as they remained -prisoners of the Ajirs. The machine men were now rarely handled by -their captors--the novelty having worn off. They watched everything -that went on, and they saw parties of the monsters come and go. Once -there was a battle with a raiding party from another village. - -At another time, the monotony was relieved by an unusually large bevy -of Quari that flew down from their mountain aeries, drawn by the meat -of the baited snares laid by the Ajirs. The monsters rushed out to beat -them to death with great clubs as several of them were trapped and -fought viciously to escape. - -The large numbers of the Quari stayed and fought loyally with their -snared brethren until the latter broke free or else fell exhausted by -their efforts and by the blows from the Ajirs. Several of the great -brutes were severely injured by the Quari, and bled deeply from gashes -inflicted by teeth and talons. One of them died as the price for the -four Quari which were taken. - -Out of this exciting episode, which all four machine men watched from -their various coverts, Professor Jameson conceived not only a plan of -escape but a possibility, as well, of returning near the neighborhood -of the spaceship. The machine men heard his plan and waited for night -to fall. - -"We must hide among the snares and attach ourselves to one of the Quari -when they come for the bait. We shall be carried up into the mountains -and perhaps part way down the other slope. As soon as darkness falls, -let us creep out and meet by the traps." - -"But suppose the bird is trapped?" - -"Then I shall free it with the heat ray in my fore tentacle," Professor -Jameson replied. "We can use the lines from the snares to fasten -ourselves to the bird's legs." - -"We may be shaken off or torn away." - -"Possibly, but we must run the risks involved. Time grows too short. We -must get back to the spaceship!" - - * * * * * - -During the night, after all was quiet, the machine men crept from their -caves and met on the plateau. There was a tendency for their metal feet -to create noise against the rock, and they found it necessary to move -slowly as well as cautiously. Their situation would be a precarious one -if the Ajirs awakened to find their metal possessions suddenly come to -life! - -On one side of the plateau, large hunks of meat loomed about the -machine men like boulders. The birds would come at dawn. - -The machine men waited as the stars swung across the sky and satellites -of Ajiat came and went. Dawn came. With the first, faint flush of light -upon the tallest peaks, the Quari commenced to circle and fly down -from their heights. - -Sounds of stirring and awakening Ajirs reached the machine men. They -were glad that the snares were away from the caves and near the -precipice. The bait was so large as to afford them easy concealment. - -With the coming of dawn and activity among the Ajirs, the professor -burnt several lines from the snares to be used in fastening their metal -bodies to one of the Quari. Previously, he had not dared risk the glare -of light produced in the darkness for fear a waking Ajir might see it. - -With mingled excitement and relief, the four machine men saw several -black specks from on high swoop lower. The birds circled above the -tempting morsels. The machine men remained quiet so as not to excite -their suspicions. They settled, and the voices of the Ajirs who had -also watched their coming were hushed. - -One great bird settled to rest by a chunk of bait which sheltered three -of the Zoromes. They were instantly joined by 12W-62, and all four -fastened themselves about the legs of the Quar. - -The bird jumped a bit in alarm but did not abandon the chunk of bait. -The machine men had freed this particular piece of bait, among others, -from the snares, and as the bird seized it, and was not caught, a -subdued cry of disappointment arose from the watching Ajirs. - -Other birds were caught and battled to get free. The one to which the -machine men clung, pecked at them ineffectually a few times, and seized -upon the bait once more as onrushing Ajirs came with clubs lifted. - -The bird flapped its wings, and with cries of surprise the Ajirs saw -and recognized the four metal things they had found. They stared at -them, entangled about the legs of the slowly rising bird. - -A swishing blow of the foremost brute just grazed a talon of the bird -and left the wind of its passage upon 29G-75. Up they rose, swifter, -as the broad wings of the Quar belabored the air. - -They soared higher, the plateau with its fighting Ajirs and Quari -dwindling away into obscurity. They were soon among the peaks and -flying above them. The machine men wondered when the bird would light. -It was like riding upon the landing gear of a mighty airplane. - -The bird was carrying the chunk of meat to its nest, and they were -glad for every mile that the bird was covering in the direction of the -opposite mountainside. Yet, they hoped that its nest was not on the -face of an inaccessible cliff. - -Soon, the other slope of the mountain loomed into view, and they -enthused at the familiar panorama beyond. Professor Jameson could see, -far off, the territory of forest into which the spaceship had crashed. - -Would the bird take them closer to that spot? It was too much to hope -for, he knew. Chance on choosing this particular Quar had taken them -far already in the right direction. Even as the professor turned these -thoughts over in his mind, the bird headed for a rocky crag. - -There was no single nest here, but a continuous series of pits and -hollows formed of branches lined with grasses and other materials. -There were young birds in many of these--while others were empty. A few -adults had already come back with food in the way of small animals and -smaller birds. - -The Quar headed for one of the empty hollows and swooped gently to -rest. That the bird had felt harassed in its flight over the mountain, -by the four machine men, was plainly evident as the bird set down -its piece of meat and bit viciously at them, sharp teeth grating and -sliding against their metal bodies. - -A tentacle of 12W-62 became wedged between two teeth, and the machine -man disentangled himself with difficulty. The professor and 6W-438 -were wrenched from their self-made bonds as the Quar screeched, in -rage. Talons freed the two more encumbrances from the bird's legs. - -Meanwhile, as the Quar continued in its efforts to bite the professor -and 12W-62, 29G-75 freed himself and made a discovery. - -"There are openings in the bottom of the nest where we can climb -through!" - -He was soon down out of reach of the Quar, and he waited for his -companions to get free. 6W-438 was first to join him. An application of -the professor's heat ray caused the screeching Quar to loose him and -12W-62 long enough for them to slide down through the tangle of tree -branches. - -The four machine men found themselves in a maze of dead branches -through which they threaded their way with difficulty, often finding -the way before them too impenetrable and closely woven for passage. - -The professor now and then had to use his heat ray. - -They struck the rock foundation of the continuous nest thirty feet -down, and they followed a devious route to the edge of the crag. They -found a long, steep descent, dangerous and treacherous. - -Luckily, none of the Quari returned to attack them until they were -safely at the bottom of the looming crag. - -"It is a long way down the mountain and then to the spaceship," said -the professor, "but we must try and make it in what little time we have -left." - -"If nothing detains us, it will be enough, I believe." - -From what they knew of Ajiat's rotation--they had all made separate -computations while prisoners of the Ajirs--they had come to the same -conclusion regarding the time left before the sun exploded. - -Now, there were only three of Ajiat's rotations left before the -meteoric mass struck the sun! - - * * * * * - -All that day, they kept moving down the mountain, and though they -were going downhill, they nevertheless felt the effects of the strong -gravity. They occasionally reached ledges or precipices which had to be -avoided. - -Once, 29G-75 fell over one of these ledges, and although the fall -was a relatively short one for a machine man to sustain--the mighty -attraction of Ajiat drew him down so forcefully that he bent a leg in -under him in his fall. - -All day long, at intervals, the Quari came to bother them, generally -desisting when they found that they were not edible. At night, although -they used their body lights, their progress slowed somewhat. - -Dawn came, and they increased their pace once more. Untiring, they knew -no cessation until a vital part wore out. This, the professor and his -companions constantly feared. - -Again, the sharp eyes of the Quari saw them from on high and came -to harass them again. Sometimes the professor managed to drive them -off with his heat ray. The machine men also struck them with lashing -tentacles, but they were so large that this had little effect on them. - -Shortly after noon, disaster stalked them. Earlier fears were realized. -The leg which 29G-75 had bent in his fall finally wore so bad at the -joint with his metal body that it became useless. This slowed their -descent of the mountain. Up to this point, the professor had figured -themselves well ahead of the impending, solar catastrophe. - -Night fell again. They kept on, assisting the slightly unbalanced -29G-75 over difficult stretches. - -Then, without warning, something went wrong with the inner workings -of 12W-62's metal cube so that he suffered lapses of control. He -kept on going when he should have stopped, and sometimes he stopped -entirely and seemed to have no ability to move again. These periods of -inactivity, brief at first, became prolonged. The machine men knew the -symptoms and were not surprised when the inevitable happened. - -The mechanism of 12W-62 went entirely dead! The excessive requirements -of Ajiat had exhausted his energy supply which could only be recharged -at the spaceship. There was only one thing to do, which they -accomplished with as little loss of time as possible. - -They removed the head of 12W-62 from his useless body and carried it -with them. 29G-75 was quickly outfitted with one of the metal legs, and -they carried the other three with them in case of emergency. - -The race against time tightened. Their slight advantage had been -lost. Professor Jameson kept the doubts in his mind hidden from his -companions. - -They were nearly to the foot of the mountain, and the distance from -there to the spaceship was well within a day's walk. They gained level -ground shortly before dawn. - -They had covered less than a mile of distance when 6W-438 fell over -suddenly and could not rise. More time was lost in removing his head. - -As dawn broke, Professor Jameson collapsed, and even as 29G-75 stooped -to help him and ascertain the extent of his trouble, he, too, lost his -ability to move! - -He stood quiet and useless on his four metal legs above the fallen body -of the professor. Each of the two machine men carried the head of a -companion. - -"This looks to be the end," said 6W-438. "We still have today. Shortly -after dark, if our calculations are not wrong, the nova will take -place." - -The sky above them grew brighter. Idle and impassive, they watched -the birds commencing to fly far up the side of the nearby mountain. -The sun, that dangerous furnace which was destined to explode before -another full rotation of Ajiat, crept over the horizon. Doom shone upon -the machine men. - -Somewhere not far from that flaming, incandescent mass, the vast -conglomeration of meteoric fragments sped like a racing powder train on -a grim errand to purge all the worlds of that system of life, spreading -an all-destroying heat wave to the outermost realms of the farthest -orbit with the speed of light. - -A small swarm of birds caught their attention. The Quari had evidently -sighted them and were descending to investigate. - -"This time they will find no resistance," said the professor. - -"Do you think they will carry us away?" - -"It is doubtful--when they find that we are not good to eat." - -The birds were acting strangely, as if they were fighting over -something among themselves. Their manner of descent was strange, too. -The machine men had never seen them come down so directly before. -Generally, they flew down in long, swinging loops. This time, their -turns were shorter and took less distance. - -Not until they were within a few hundred feet from the ground did the -machine men find the reason for their strange maneuvers. They saw a -gleaming ovoid of metal which had previously been hidden by the Quari -who were attacking it. - -The machine men now saw birds disappearing from time to time, and -burned fragments of them came floating down. The help for which they -had despaired had come at last! - -With a sudden barrage, which caused great havoc among the Quari and -sent the survivors winging away, the metal skycraft descended the -remaining distance. - -There was no attached basket, but a gondola of metal was built into the -bottom of the globe. Propellers and steering gear were also visible. -Out of the gondola raced 47X-09 and 22K-501. - -"You are found, finally!" cried 47X-09. "And none too soon, either!" - -"Shortly before dawn came, we saw your body lights shining near the -foot of the mountain," 22K-501 told them as they were gathered up and -taken aboard the gondola. "We were far off and high in the sky. We lost -track of you for a while when it grew light, and then we had to fight -off the birds. It was during their attack that we again located you -with the mind detectors." - -"Tell me about the spaceship," the professor implored. "Is it all right -and ready for flight?" - -"That we hope. It will call for a tremendous repulsion to free it of -Ajiat's powerful grip. 20R-654 and 744U-21 are not entirely satisfied -with the super-resisters which have been built, and so they have -enlisted another strong ally to help the ship on its start." - -"The helium!" - -"Yes, 21MM392," 47X-09 vindicated the professor's inspiration. "The -spaceship is not only filled to capacity with it, but several tanks -have been built around the ship and are filled, ready for our flight. -Of course, it will be useless after we once pass the atmosphere, but it -is only for initial momentum." - - - - - CHAPTER FIVE - - Thirteen Minutes - - -They were soon back to the spaceship, and the search was at an end. For -many days, two airships had searched both sides of the mountain and -beyond. Vegetation had been cleared all around the ship for a distance -of a hundred yards. - -The spaceship was entirely surrounded with a network of metal hawsers -which secured it to the ground against the mighty pull of the helium. - -Entrance was gained to the ship by means of a helium lock. - -With the return of the four machine men, no further time was lost. -They were to make one supreme effort. Success or failure hung in the -balance. Failure meant a flaming death when the nova struck Ajiat in -its swelling glare. - -"Every one of us must be securely fastened to a part of the ship," -744U-21 told them. "Our rise will be very sudden." - -The fateful moment arrived. Several machine men made a last minute -inspection of the hawsers holding the ship. By a specially arranged -device, they were to be cast off simultaneously. When all was ready, -the hawsers were loosed. - -Like a shot out of a gun, the spaceship darted skyward, accelerating -rapidly as the helium sought a natural level aided by the power -releases of the spaceship. The climb was so rapid as to leave the -machine men dizzy. - -Eight Zoromes sat securely fastened near the ship's controls, and the -first one who recovered his mental balance forced the super-resisters -into action. - -Night, with its flaming stars, replaced daylight, yet the noonday sun -still shone upon them. They had cleared the atmosphere and were in -space--but were far from being free of Ajiat. Their battle with the -planet's mighty attraction had just begun. - -They were forced to accept one discouraging fact with fatalism. They -were heading off Ajiat straight for the sun which was shortly to -explode! To have waited for Ajiat to rotate would have lost for them -more precious time. - -In space, they still maintained the speed of their initial rise, yet -they realized that their speed must be increased if they were to win -free of the giant world. - -In suspense, they watched the speed gauges and waited. 20R-654 gave -the ship every advantage he had learned in his long career of space -navigation. - -Their speed gradually increased, yet dangerously slow in acceleration -even though they were winning free. The nova would spread with the -speed of light and catch them in their battle against the strong -gravity of Ajiat! In free space, the flight of the spaceship exceeded -that of light several times over, but within the grip of Ajiat their -speed was appallingly small. They were gaining more speed and were now -sure of escaping Ajiat, but if the computations were correct they knew -they would not escape the nova. - -They were heading straight for the sun and dared not wheel in another -direction until they were free of Ajiat's attraction. - -The remaining hours fled. Minutes were left. - -The machine men knew that a respite of thirteen minutes would be -granted them from the time the explosion took place on the sun until -the bright, hot flare of light reached them. The flaming gases to -follow would reach Ajiat about a day and a half later. - -They kept onward until it was agreed that with the little time left -them they might turn at an angle of forty-five degrees from their -course, then gradually turn this angle into a curve away from both the -sun and the orbital course of Ajiat. They were speeding upon this curve -when Professor Jameson announced that the meteoric mass they had passed -in space before coming to Ajiat was probably, at that moment, hurling -its provocative bulk into the sun. - -"We shall not see the nova until it is upon us," he said, "for it -travels with the speed of light. That is what adds to the uncertainty -of our calculations, for there is just a possibility that a smaller -body in this system, of which we know so little, might have bent the -course or slowed the speed of the meteoric mass. Unless such a long -chance has occurred, we have only thirteen minutes before the nova -reaches us." - -In the estimated time left, they reached the end of their curve and -straightened out on a tangent from the sun and Ajiat. They were rapidly -approaching the speed of light and safety when the ship was suddenly -enveloped by a blinding glare. - -"The nova!" - -"It has overtaken us!" - -Nothing could be seen outside but that awful brilliance. The sides of -the ship grew hot. A terrific explosion rocked the ship in its flight -and threw the machine men staggering against each other. One of the -attached helium tanks had overheated and burst. Another report jarred -the ship and was followed by several more concussions. - -"Eject the helium from the ship!" 744U-21 directed. "We must have a -vacuum!" - -The order was quickly executed, and the helium spurted from the vents -opened for its release. The hull of the spaceship grew hotter. That -side facing the sun turned a lurid crimson. - -The speed of the ship picked up rapidly as the malign power of Ajiat -grew less. Soon, they were in free space, yet the hull of the ship -grew hotter, and the terrible light which had swallowed them, remained -intense. - -The speed of the ship crept up to the speed of light, then passed -and exceeded it. At that rate, the machine men hoped to outrace the -dazzling hell which had closed upon them. - -The sunward side of the ship waxed white hot, and metal plates were -rapidly fastened over this danger zone, the plates becoming red hot in -turn. - -There also existed a vague fear among many that they were not heading -directly out of the nova. The shock of the exploding helium tanks had -made the proximity detectors perform queer antics. Meanwhile, their -speed increased. - -The spaceship suddenly shot out of the nova and into the darkness of -space. - -"We have outsped the nova!" Professor Jameson exclaimed. "Its light has -not yet reached this far. We are looking at the sun and at Ajiat as -they were just before the nova took place." - -Nor did the machine men again see the nova until they were far beyond -the doomed system of planets and the estimated limits of the nova's -spread. - -Each planet, when overtaken, glowed brilliantly. The sun swelled and -grew so large that at that far distance they could not bear to look -upon it except with veiled lenses. - -"The nova is now reaching a point where it overtook us in the -spaceship," said the professor. - -They watched until they saw the nova reach its maximum proportions. A -hotter and more compact globe of gases was spreading gradually from -the sun, and the machine men lingered in the vicinity and closely -approached the outermost limits of the mammoth spectacle until they saw -the inner planets reached by the spreading gases. These, they knew, -were in the state of volcanic eruption, their oceans turning to dense, -vaporous envelopes. - -The light had ended all life in the system, and now the slower moving -gases were completing the destruction. They saw smaller satellites of -the planets explode into myriad fragments, their lesser bulk lacking -the resistance of larger companions. The spectacle was grand--yet -terrible. - -"Millions of light years away, this astronomic catastrophe will be -visible," Professor Jameson philosophized, "and millions of years from -now peoples on the planets which will witness it shall look upon a new -star swelling into sudden brilliance for a brief period, and they will -wonder." - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOOMSDAY ON AJIAT *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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Jones. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph1 { font-size: medium; margin: .67em auto; } - - </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Doomsday on Ajiat, by Neil R. Jones</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Doomsday on Ajiat</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Neil R. Jones</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October 14, 2022 [eBook #69158]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOOMSDAY ON AJIAT ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>DOOMSDAY ON AJIAT</h1> - -<h2>By Neil R. Jones</h2> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Astonishing Stories, October 1942.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">CHAPTER ONE</p> - -<p class="ph1">The Professor's Experiment</p> - - -<p>Professor Jameson had looked for a means of preserving his body -forever—and he had found it. But it was not by the art of embalming, -for, after all, the mummies of the Egyptians proved to be only horrible -caricatures of their former likeness, and even these in the passing of -untold millions of years must have been destroyed by some planetary -stress had the picks of archeologists never unearthed them. The logic -of the professor was more or less axiomatic. He realized that he could -never employ one system of atomic structure, like embalming fluid, to -preserve another system of atomic structure, such as the human body, -when all atomic structure is universally subject to change, whether it -be amazingly swift or infinitely protracted.</p> - -<p>The problem absorbed much of his attention, and he considered various -ways and means until one day the answer flashed upon him—leaving his -mind a chaotic maelstrom of plans and possibilities. He would cast his -body into the depths of space where it would remain unaffected and -unchanged! Material of organic origin might exist indefinitely between -worlds.</p> - -<p>He built gradually from this theory, conceiving a space rocket for his -cosmic coffin, a rocket propelled from the Earth by powerful thrusts -of radium repulsion. Next came his plan to make the rocket another -satellite of the Earth somewhere between the Earth and the Moon. The -professor decided on sixty-five thousand miles from the earth, or a -little more than a quarter of the distance to the moon.</p> - -<p>He set about his plans at once, and having experimented with radium -all his life, it did not take him long to construct a rocket capable -of carrying his dead body into the depths of space. The rocket lay -pointed skyward at the foot of a leaning tower on the hill of the -Jameson estate, surrounded by four gleaming tracks and balanced by four -stabilizer fins. Everything was complete, and the aged professor knew -that he had not long to live.</p> - -<p>He died on a bleak December morning, swirling snowflakes blanketing the -earth which was to be cheated so dramatically of his dead body.</p> - -<p>The professor had retained no confidant, and no one knew why the -leaning tower projected from the center of the professor's laboratory, -nor could they have guessed that the rocket lay inside, ready for its -celestial journey.</p> - -<p>The professor's nephew, Douglas Jameson, found himself sworn to -secrecy in the instructions left him by his dead uncle. An immediate -funeral service, according to those instructions, must follow his -death. Relatives believed him to be in his dotage. Only nephew Douglas -realized the significance of this quick funeral and removal to the -vault.</p> - -<p>Through the blanket of snow which had fallen that morning, Douglas -Jameson stole quietly to the cemetery, unlocked the vault and removed -the body of the professor. For a venture so colossal and unprecedented, -the professor's corpse was given but small consideration. His nephew -carried him from the cemetery to the rocket in a canvas sack—yet such -had been the professor's instructions, obeyed to the letter by an -astonished and dutiful nephew.</p> - -<p>Douglas Jameson entered the leaning tower and found the rocket set -firmly on its supports, its bullet nose pointing up the circular center -of the shaft. Cylindrical, and tapering at its base, the rocket was -fifteen feet long and five feet in diameter.</p> - -<p>Opening a doorway in the hull, he peered inside at the luxurious -upholstering, his hand sinking to the wrist in the deep, plush lining. -The interior was just large enough to accommodate a human body, and he -carefully placed his uncle's body inside, fastening a strap beneath -his chin and more straps to his wrists and ankles. He closed the door -firmly.</p> - -<p>His eyes wandered to the lever at the base of the rocket near one -of the stabilizer fins. He must pull the lever and leave quickly. A -five-minute interval would elapse before the rocket took off. It was -dangerous to remain. He hesitated a moment—then pulled the lever. -He did not stay to watch its effect but ran up the stairs into the -laboratory and out into the winter night.</p> - -<p>The laboratory was isolated from the rest of the buildings. Clouds -scudded across the face of the moon which lay well away from that -quarter of the sky at which the rocket tower was aimed. This had been a -part of the professor's instructions. He wanted the moon's attraction -left out of his plans.</p> - -<p>Five minutes never seemed so long before. Douglas watched the lazy -second hand crawl its slow journey around the tiny dial four times, and -after that his eyes never left the tower looming darkly against the -night sky.</p> - -<p>With a low, crackling hiss, the rocket finally made its appearance, -breaking forth from the leaning tower, gaining rapid acceleration and -leaving in its wake a blue, phosphorescent glow tinged with violet.</p> - -<p>For a long time that night, Douglas Jameson stood and watched the -starlit heavens turning imperceptibly upon the axis of Polaris. It was -near dawn before he went to his bed in the silent and gloomy Jameson -mansion.</p> - -<p>Late the next day, the village fire volunteers of Grenville were called -to the Jameson estate where they found the laboratory a seething mass -of flames. The destruction of the tower and laboratory had been a part -of the instructions left Douglas Jameson by his eccentric uncle.</p> - -<p>As long as he lived, Douglas Jameson kept the secret. It was only after -his death that the facts became known, and for a long time, until the -discovery by the astronomer, Clement, in 1968, the story was doubted. -True, the grave vault was found empty, but even at this late date it -was reported as part of the hoax. It was Clement who established the -existence of the Jameson satellite. It circled the earth every nine -days.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The years passed. Changes moved slowly on the earth, while generation -after generation vanished into forgotten obscurity.</p> - -<p>Still the rocket satellite pursued its lonely way, a cosmic coffin. -Fiery, scintillating stars formed Professor Jameson's funeral cortege. -Millions of years went by. Mankind was replaced by other forms of life -which in turn knew their day only to disappear. Earth's atmosphere -became rare.</p> - -<p>Forty million years after the day when his rocket had been hurled off -the face of the earth, Professor Jameson's body still lay perfectly -preserved.</p> - -<p>Passing meteors were the only companions of the rocket satellite, and -these the professor had recognized as dangerous. For that reason he -had installed radium repulsion rays which were excited into automatic -action by the proximity of approaching meteors.</p> - -<p>Earth lay closer to the sun—which had cooled. Its rotation had ceased, -and one side, like the moon, forever faced the sun. The professor's -dream had been realized. He had remained unchanged for millions of -years.</p> - -<p>His ambitions, however, fell far short of the adventures which fate -held in store for him. A strange spaceship, from the planet of a -distant star, came exploring among the dead worlds of the solar system. -They passed the aging Earth and found the professor's rocket satellite. -Strange creatures of metal guided by organic brains, they stopped and -examined the professor's rocket.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>They were machine men from Zor. Once they had been organic creatures, -but they had transposed their brains to the coned, metal heads which -surmounted their cubed, mechanical bodies. The bodies were upheld -by four metal legs and were equipped with six metal tentacles. They -communicated by thought projection.</p> - -<p>What the professor had accomplished in death, they had accomplished in -life. They were undying just so long as no injury occurred to their -metal heads housing the all-important brain. Any metal parts, such as -legs, tentacles or body parts, were replaced when worn out. A complete -circle of mechanical eyes were fitted into the coned heads, and one eye -peered virtually from the apex. These were shuttered and could also be -replaced.</p> - -<p>The machine men took the professor's body from his rocket satellite and -recalled his brain to life in order to learn his story. They placed -the brain in one of the mechanical bodies.</p> - -<p>The professor's astonishment on his revival can be imagined better than -described. When he came to a full realization of what had actually -happened, he told them his story and of the past glories of the earth -up to the point when he had died.</p> - -<p>He found that his revival made him the last living creature of the -earth. With the machine men he visited the strangely changed surface of -his home planet.</p> - -<p>The Zoromes told him of their eternal adventures from world to world -and asked him to join them. There was nothing on the now-lifeless Earth -to keep him there—so he joined the machine men in their cosmic flight -from system to system, exploring new planets and strange creatures of -varying degrees of intelligence.</p> - -<p>He came to be known among the Zoromes as 21MM392, and after their -return to Zor he was given joint command with 744U-21 of a new -expedition into space.</p> - -<p>Since last leaving Zor, they had explored many curious worlds, and -their adventures had been strange ones, often perilous.</p> - -<p>They were now entering another system of worlds. Already, they had -passed several of the outer planets on their side of the sun. They were -barren and cold, too far from the sun to support life.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">CHAPTER TWO</p> - -<p class="ph1">Heralds of Doom</p> - - -<p>"A planet or planetoid just off our course, 41C-98 reports," said -744U-21 to the professor. "We are now heading that way to discover what -it may be. 41C-98 reports several peculiarities. For one thing, the -sunshine strikes very dull against it, and for its apparent bulk our -proximity detectors show a surprising lack of density."</p> - -<p>As they moved nearer the mysterious body, they discovered that it -was neither planet nor asteroid, nor did it move on an orbit. On the -contrary, it pursued a course directly at right angles to an orbit. It -was heading sunward.</p> - -<p>The character of the celestial wanderer and its strange lack of density -became understood when the spaceship of Zor approached close enough to -reveal it as a meteoric swarm consisting of dust and cosmic debris. -Many of the chunks were several miles in diameter. The professor's -quick estimate placed the diameter of the swarm at seven thousand miles.</p> - -<p>Rapid observations and computations were made. Growing suspicions of -the machine men were verified. The mass was heading into the sun at a -speed of several miles per second.</p> - -<p>"You know what that means," said the professor, turning to those about -him.</p> - -<p>"Yes—a nova—an exploding star!"</p> - -<p>"I never saw but one at close range during my entire existence as a -machine man," said 6W-438.</p> - -<p>"They are not unusual," 744U-21 observed. "Most every star, some -time or other, goes through this phase. We see them often from afar, -but they happen so quickly and without any warning that this is a -rare coincidence that we should enter a system and find conditions -preparatory to a nova. This meteoric mass will surely cause one when it -strikes the sun."</p> - -<p>"But I have understood that novas are not always caused by large bodies -or meteor swarms colliding with a star," said the professor. "Popular -theory supports a belief that often an internal solar disruption causes -a star to explode.</p> - -<p>"Such a cause as you mention generally promotes a greater disturbance, -especially if it originates deep within the solar body. Contact with a -meteoric swarm, as this case promises to be, rarely affects little more -than the surface gases of a sun."</p> - -<p>"Even so," observed 6W-438, "the cataclysm will be large enough to -wipe out life on every world of this system and change the planetary -surfaces.</p> - -<p>"A terrific wave of heat will spread outward from the sun with the -speed of the light which carries it. For the nearer planets, it will -mean but a matter of a few minutes. Possibly a day or so later, -tremendous waves of gases will sweep in the wake of the blinding, -searing heat. They will be sufficiently tangible to slow the speed -of the planets perceptibly upon their orbits. Terrific planetary -disruptions will follow in the form of earthquakes and volcanic -eruptions, and entire oceans will turn to steam and bury each world in -a dense cloud blanket. Temporarily, the nova will outshine every star -in its neighborhood and will loom visible countless light years distant.</p> - -<p>"It will mean doomsday for all life in this system even though the sun -returns once more to its normal condition within the next ten or twenty -years."</p> - -<p>"It will be well to check our figures," cautioned 6W-438. "We must plan -not to be such close observers that the nova will reach us."</p> - -<p>At the rate the meteoric mass was traveling sunward, Professor Jameson, -as was his usual habit, figured that nearly twenty-three of his earthly -days must elapse before the swarm of cosmic debris reached the sun.</p> - -<p>Their first step was to examine all the planets and find what, if any, -life they supported. They had already passed a few of the outer worlds -and had found them apparently lifeless. The spaceship now approached -another world, a planet so large that their proximity detectors -remained oblivious to all else even while they were still far off.</p> - -<p>"It is one of the larger worlds which we must avoid," Professor Jameson -stated. "The gravity there is so strong we could move around only with -difficulty and a superexpenditure of energy, and even if we landed -safely, our spaceship would find it hard to leave."</p> - -<p>"We shall make our observations entirely by telescope, then," answered -6W-438.</p> - -<p>Glasses were trained upon the colossal world as the spaceship sped -close to the giant world in a gradual curve to the sunward side. -From afar, they had recognized the fact that the planet possessed an -atmosphere. Observations confirmed the strange coloring of the planet -as vegetation. Where the machine men found vegetation, they invariably -found animal life as well. The topography of the huge world loomed -nearer, so much nearer that 744U-21 cautioned 20R-654 not to navigate -closer.</p> - -<p>"I am not," came the startling announcement. "I am trying to get clear -of the planet's grip. There is a slight drift of the spaceship, which I -am having trouble counteracting."</p> - -<p>The looming orb grew larger, swelling in diameter and obscuring a -greater portion of the sky beyond. The difficulties of 20R-654 were -becoming increased. Alarm spread among the machine men. The intense -gravitation held their ship and was threatening to draw it down with a -smashing blow.</p> - -<p>"We are starting to fall! The ship is accelerating its descent!"</p> - -<p>"Turn!" cried the professor. "Turn away and give it all the power we -have!"</p> - -<p>The course of the spaceship had been parallel to the planet's orbit. -20R-654 now turned the ship directly away from the looming world and -unleashed a tremendous burst of power. Instruments showed a slackening -of their descent, yet their fall continued.</p> - -<p>"Something is wrong with the resisters!" 20R-654 explained. "That is -why the ship came so much closer to the planet than I had intended!"</p> - -<p>"We are still falling but not so fast as before!"</p> - -<p>"At full repulsion, too!"</p> - -<p>"Yes—we are too close, and the gravity is so great! Without the -strength of the resisters we can only hope to come down as lightly as -possible!"</p> - -<p>The professor knew this latter statement to be nothing but hope. Their -fall was rapid enough to smash them all to bits of wreckage when the -spaceship crashed. And their precious brains would be scattered among -the ruins.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The great world swelled on their vision, its proportions so vast that -it filled the sky before them. Mountainous country reached giant -fingers to receive them. On the horizon, the topography was obscured by -cloud masses drifting in the great, dense sea of atmosphere. Already, -they were able to feel the mighty attraction of the planet's gravity -upon their metal bodies.</p> - -<p>"Keep the reverse charges going until the last minute—until we strike!"</p> - -<p>"The unusual density of the atmosphere may help slow our descent!"</p> - -<p>This, they knew, was a long chance. The density of the atmospheric -lower levels was commensurate with the planet's strong gravity.</p> - -<p>A sobbing wail arose from outside the ship, swelling into a roar -of many waterfalls. The spaceship throbbed and trembled, and every -machine man realized that they had penetrated into the atmosphere at a -tremendous speed. Anxiously, they consulted their instruments. Their -mad fall was checked but slightly, and they realized their doom, for in -the hundred miles or more left them, there was no possible chance of -braking their speed to a safe maximum even with the increasing density -of the atmosphere to help them.</p> - -<p>It was in the professor's mind that a few of them might survive the -crash—but to what purpose? What would there be left for a few machine -men on a giant world with an irreparably wrecked spaceship and dead -companions? Mechanically crippled, they would await the coming of the -nova with the end it would bring. Such an outlook was even more dismal -than direct annihilation.</p> - -<p>A few of the machine men stared down from the falling ship at the fast -approaching destruction, yet they were comparatively calm. Here was -none of the terrified hysteria characteristic of organic creatures. -Most of them had lived many lifetimes compared to their original -existence.</p> - -<p>Down they swept to inevitable doom, their reverse charges beating -helplessly against the awful drag of the planet's bulk. Professor -Jameson, engrossed in gloomy introspection, was suddenly swept off his -feet and crashed against 744U-21 and 6W-438, who fell with him against -the wall and into a corner. For a moment, they believed that the crash -had come, but those who had been looking down at the giant world knew -better.</p> - -<p>There remained but a few miles between the ship and the surface. -Machine men were sent tumbling in every direction. The gravity had -changed suddenly from the floor of the ship to one side. The ship had -turned over. Evidently 20R-654 had lost control. Their last hope, the -continued expulsion charges from the ship, was gone!</p> - -<p>Slowly, the gravity again changed to still another side of the ship, -rolling them along into tangled piles. Expecting it at any moment, to -the machine men it seemed that the crash was infinitely delayed. When -it came, Professor Jameson felt himself hurled with terrific force -against the opposite wall, and his consciousness left him in a bright -glare of inner light as his head struck the wall.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>His first thought on regaining consciousness was surprise that he had -done so. Was he the only one left? There must have been others, a few -at least. Active thought waves probed his brain, and he knew that he -was not alone in having survived.</p> - -<p>A clattering and scraping of metal reached him as a machine man came -limping and stumbling over several quiet companions. It was 41C-98. -Above him, the professor could see a side wall of the spaceship.</p> - -<p>"Come, 21MM392, you do not seem badly damaged other than having bent a -leg. Arise."</p> - -<p>"How bad are things? How many of us are alive?"</p> - -<p>"More than we ever expected. I suffered only a few mechanical injuries. -There are many lying about still unconscious. I received calls from -others in different parts of the ship, who are helpless to move. Even -with a well-functioning body, it is hard to move against the strong -gravity of this world."</p> - -<p>The professor rose slowly to his feet and realized the truth of the -statement. With difficulty, he stepped from the tangle of metal bodies -surrounding him. It required several times more generated energy from -his mechanical body than he had ever been forced to use to walk on a -planet.</p> - -<p>He wondered how 744U-21, 6W-438 and others with him when the crash came -had fared. He probed their mental faculties and found them not dead but -only quiescent. Mental radiations reached him from other parts of the -ship, and with 41C-98 he went to investigate, proceeding with an effort.</p> - -<p>"We should be equipped with super-powered bodies for this world," the -professor told 41C-98.</p> - -<p>In other chambers of the ship, their surprise was succeeded by wonder. -Instead of twisted walls and warped wreckage, they found only signs of -a severe fall. As fast as they could move, the machine men, joined by -other bewildered Zoromes, went outside the ship and examined the hull.</p> - -<p>They had crashed through a deep tangle of vegetation. Several seams in -the hull gaped open and appeared to be the greatest damage done the -ship in its fall. At first, they were inclined to believe that the fall -through the vast tangle of vegetation had saved them, yet somehow this -explanation did not seem adequate.</p> - -<p>Not until 20R-654 came to his senses did they learn the truth.</p> - -<p>"I saw that we were going to crash and destroy both the spaceship and -ourselves in spite of the full reverse charges. So at the last moment, -while we were still several miles above the surface, I shut off the -reverse charges and let loose a side charge which turned us sideways to -the surface.</p> - -<p>"Then I released charges on our side facing the surface and once more -loosed our reverse charges, so that we fell on a long slant which used -up much of the speed of our fall. We were lucky to strike this great -mass of vegetation where so many giant creepers intertangle. Otherwise, -fewer of us would be left."</p> - -<p>More of the machine men returned to their senses. The others were -examined and found to be suffering from mental shock from which they -would eventually recover. The casualties were the first ones to occur -in a long time—and there were two. In a compartment next to the -ruptured hull were found 250Z-42 and 4F-686, their heads battered.</p> - -<p>"We are saved but temporarily from a fate such as theirs," said the -professor gravely, "for unless we can get the ship repaired within the -time left us before the meteoric mass strikes the sun, we shall be -annihilated with everything else on the face of this world when the -sun explodes and the nova spreads swiftly throughout this system of -planets."</p> - -<p>"How can we ever leave here—even if the necessary repairs are made in -time?" asked 119M-5. "We are unable to escape the power of this world's -gravitation from a distance, so how are we to get free now that we are -upon its surface?"</p> - -<p>"Our gravitational resisters were faulty and were overcome and broken -down by the mighty strain of this planet's pull," 20R-654 explained. -"They must be reconditioned, and, besides repairing the hull, new -parts must be made which will give us a greater lifting power when we -take off. Starting from a dead stop on this giant world will require -tremendous forces we have never previously required because we have -never visited planets of this size."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">CHAPTER THREE</p> - -<p class="ph1">Caught By the Giants</p> - - -<p>The machine men lost no time in exploring the region where they had -come down. Moving at great expense of energy, they radiated in a circle -from the great tangle of vegetation until one of them found a break in -the forest.</p> - -<p>A level expanse stretched away to mountains that loomed in the -background. Tiny specks flew high in the sky. These puzzled the machine -men until they saw one of them drop low above the forest and veer -toward the fallen spaceship in curiosity.</p> - -<p>It was an enormous bird with an animal-like snout. Four legs and the -wing tips ended in talons.</p> - -<p>"What monsters!" exclaimed 744U-21. "The bird is fully half as long as -our spaceship from one wing tip to the other!"</p> - -<p>"Forms of life would have a tendency to run to size here," Professor -Jameson remarked. "Creatures on this planet must of necessity be -uncommonly strong, too."</p> - -<p>They came to refer to the giant world as Ajiat, expressing the mental -thought of the spoken word they had known in their organic lifetimes -back on Zor. The word referred to anything huge or colossal.</p> - -<p>With specially designed apparatus they carried for just such -emergencies, the machine men quickly located and commenced mining the -various ores and minerals they required in repairing the ship. When -helium was discovered in large quantities, the professor was seized -with an inspiration.</p> - -<p>"Let us discover more about this world now that we are on it. From on -high, we can look over a great deal of the surrounding country."</p> - -<p>"But how shall we get up there?"</p> - -<p>"The helium," Professor Jameson voiced his hidden thought. "We can make -a balloon and rise on its lifting power."</p> - -<p>For observation purposes, a metal globe was quickly fashioned, the -basket of the balloon made of light metal framework and covered with -wood from the surrounding forest. Firmly anchored to the ground with -metal hawsers, the globe was filled with helium. The basket carried -four machine men with their equipment. With him, Professor Jameson took -6W-438, 12W-62 and 29G-75.</p> - -<p>"From what we know of the atmosphere, the amount of helium in the globe -should carry us four miles or higher."</p> - -<p>"The birds will probably attack you," warned 119M-5.</p> - -<p>"We expect as much. It is why we have three power guns installed."</p> - -<p>Once the hawsers were loosed, they shot off the ground like an arrow. -Not until their ascent became slowed did the professor and his -companions cast out the large stones they carried for ballast.</p> - -<p>One of the great birds dropped down to meet them and was blasted from -the sky. Another flew croaking from their path in alarm. They were -nearly six miles above the ground before the balloon stopped rising.</p> - -<p>With powerful glasses, they examined the terrain for several hundred -miles in every direction except towards the mountains. A pall of cloudy -mist hung among the peaks. In the opposite direction, their horizon was -far-flung due to the enormous size of the planet.</p> - -<p>With their scientific apparatus, they gathered data which they were -unable to obtain from the ground and had been too involved and -disinterested to notice during their perilous descent.</p> - -<p>A bevy of the huge birds came to investigate, interrupting their -observations to circle, growl and chatter at them. One of the winged -monstrosities made a purposeful lunge at the metal ball above their -heads, and they blew him to fragments with rapid and well-directed -fire. Another met the fate of the first, before the others winged away -in screaming anger and alarm in the direction of the mountains.</p> - -<p>"Do you think we could deal with them if they attacked us in large -numbers?" 12W-62 queried.</p> - -<p>"Not if they attacked us in a mass," the professor replied. "But we can -descend by freeing some of the helium if they become too numerous or -troublesome."</p> - -<p>A sudden gust of air swayed the basket. The breeze had freshened, and -they found that they had been drifting towards the mountains.</p> - -<p>Like stately spires, the mountain peaks loomed before and above them. -Those in the background were lost in a gray fog which had crept among -them since the machine men had risen in their balloon.</p> - -<p>Hundreds of the great birds could be seen darting and wheeling above -the mountainside. As the balloon was carried nearer by the rising wind, -they spread on the wing and flapped about the strange invader, voicing -their weird cries and veering menacingly about the metal globe and -basket. Several of them attacked and were destroyed.</p> - -<p>The others became a bit cautious, yet they never abandoned their -gliding vigil. They, too, finally swept down upon the balloon. More of -the birds came swarming to take their place, and the machine men soon -found themselves busy protecting their skycraft.</p> - -<p>"They probably have their nests in the mountains close by," said the -professor, "and they suspect us. That is why they have grown more -ferocious and daring since we neared the mountains."</p> - -<p>The wind was quickening. More of the great birds came to replace each -one killed. One came so close that a wing brushed the basket, knocking -the machine men off their feet. They were finding it difficult to -defend the balloon against so many of them. They were in danger of -being wrecked!</p> - -<p>Dark clouds had settled over the mountains—which were now so near that -the machine men could distinctly see objects such as trees and rocks. -The wind had risen to a gale, and they were being carried on it.</p> - -<p>"We are rising!" 6W-438 exclaimed. "The wind is carrying us above the -mountains and into that approaching storm area!"</p> - -<p>"Let out part of the helium!"</p> - -<p>"We cannot do that now," the professor told them. "The force of the -wind would dash us against the mountainside!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A dull flush of pink lit the drifting depths of the cloud masses -momentarily, and the terrific roar which followed shook the balloon and -made the metal globe hum with strange music.</p> - -<p>With the advent of the storm, the birds gave up the attack and winged -off to their lofty retreats in screeching alarm.</p> - -<p>The wind continued to carry the balloon at a great speed, and soon -they were over the mountains and into the dense, angry masses of -clouds. Then they were buffeted by cross winds and freak air currents, -falling, to be lifted up once again and tossed around like a leaf.</p> - -<p>Roaring crashes of thunder threatened to split the sky apart, and great -blades of lightning stabbed through the clouds. The storm grew worse, -and the machine men entangled themselves in the hawsers holding the -metal ball to the basket, to keep from being tossed out by the storm's -fury. The basket was threatening to part from the metal globe that -supported it.</p> - -<p>The winds wrenched and tore at them, hurling gusts of rain like -spray—fine and hard. Lightning flashed dangerously near, and the -farther they were swept into the storm area, the blacker it grew. Had -it not been for the lightning which played almost constantly, it would -have seemed like night.</p> - -<p>The four machine men lost all sense of direction as they were whirled -and thrown viciously about. The basket finally broke away from the ball -of helium, leaving them clinging to the strong wire hawsers hanging -from the globe.</p> - -<p>Here they swung and clashed against each other and against the metal -ball, slowly gathering the slack in the hawsers about their metal -bodies and creeping closer to the globe which was whirled and tossed -more freely since it had lost its restraining basket.</p> - -<p>To the machine men, it seemed that the storm raged for hours. The first -intimation of its cessation came with a lessening of the gloom and -fewer shafts of lightning.</p> - -<p>"I am near a valve," 29G-75 reported. "Shall we release some of our -helium and come down?"</p> - -<p>"As soon as we see where we are."</p> - -<p>"We shall soon come down whether we choose or not," said 12W-62. "There -is a slow leak in the globe not far from me."</p> - -<p>When the clouds lifted, the machine men found themselves on the other -side of the mountain. More mountains loomed in the distance. Below -them stretched a level plain. They were descending slowly. As more -helium escaped, their descent became faster, yet they landed safely.</p> - -<p>"We must not get too far from the mountain," the professor said. "If -we cannot find some way of getting back over it, we must wait until -744U-21 sends us help."</p> - -<p>"We may stay and see the nova," said 6W-438 grimly. "It will be a -wonderful sight."</p> - -<p>"A better way to die than those who were killed when our spaceship -crashed. Doomsday on Ajiat will usher in a beautiful morning of flaming -brilliance."</p> - -<p>"Followed by a gloomy night of desolation and death."</p> - -<p>The machine men walked slowly back in the direction of the mountain. -Night fell. Still they kept on their way.</p> - -<p>Their progress was forced. They knew that their mechanical parts would -never stand the strain of climbing up the mountain. Their energies -would soon be exhausted by the strain, parts would wear out, and they -could neither be refueled nor repaired in the absence of the spaceship. -They could only remain in a conspicuous and advantageous position near -the mountain, waiting for the help they knew 744U-21 would send if they -could be found.</p> - -<p>Through the night, fire suddenly lit the sky ahead of them. There was -first a dull, soft glow. This grew to towering proportions in a single, -leaping flame. The fire was no farther than half a mile ahead of them, -and soon they were able to distinguish black, shadowy forms which -passed between them and the fire.</p> - -<p>The professor called a halt. Several times they saw large fire brands -carried. From the size of these, and the height at which they were -carried, and from what they were able to see of the black shadows, the -machine men knew the creatures to be veritable giants.</p> - -<p>"Quite in keeping with this world," Professor Jameson observed. "It -goes without saying that they are unusually strong. We shall do well to -remain undiscovered."</p> - -<p>With the coming of morning, the fears of the professor were justified. -From afar, the machine men could see more distinctly the lofty, bulking -figures which had been etched in silhouette against the campfires of -the night before.</p> - -<p>The creatures moved with large, easy bounds at several times the best -speed the machine men had been able to attain on worlds much smaller -than Ajiat. They covered the ground with such amazing swiftness -that the machine men were scarcely aware of their danger before -several colossal forms grew upon their vision and suddenly they found -themselves surrounded.</p> - -<p>The things towered fully fifty feet in the air. That was the -professor's first impression. His second one conveyed the fact that -they were of little intelligence. They stood on legs which resembled a -small forest of tree trunks suddenly grown up about the four Zoromes. -Two in number, these legs terminated in three long claws spread -equidistant on tough, layered pads.</p> - -<p>Jaws armed with long fangs featured the physiognomy of the things, -while most curious were the eyes which projected on short, thick -pedicles and were over-arched and protected by a rough, bony -protuberance.</p> - -<p>The professor was suddenly seized and lifted close to one of the -terrifying faces for an inquisitive inspection!</p> - -<p>The creature sniffed at him with flat, distended nostrils. Huge -fingers, seven in number, clutched him tightly. He saw that the thing -had two arms and that their hairless bodies were roughly criss-crossed -with deep lines.</p> - -<p>Another interesting feature next claimed his attention. A web of -elastic membrane extended halfway down each arm to the body. A -muttering gabble issued from these gargantuans of Ajiat as they -examined the machine men.</p> - -<p>"Do not act alive," the professor radiated, "and they may become -disinterested in us."</p> - -<p>Although subtracting from the interest of the great brutes, this plan -did not prevent their seizure. One of the things emitted a bellowing -roar, which the machine men found themselves at a loss to properly -interpret. The creature turned and dashed away in the direction from -which the machine men had come.</p> - -<p>Far off, the huge beast had seen the gleaming, metal ball which had -contained the helium. The others waited patiently, gently pulling at -the legs and tentacles of the strange, metal contraptions they had -found, until he returned with it.</p> - -<p>Then they all set out at whirlwind speed to join the main body, setting -up a cloud of dust behind them and passing by the black, smoking embers -of last night's fire.</p> - -<p>With the rest, they made their way to the mountain, climbing up to a -plateau. Cliffs loomed on two sides, and in tunnels and rocky defiles -splitting into the side of the mountain, these creatures made their -homes.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">CHAPTER FOUR</p> - -<p class="ph1">A Race With the Nova</p> - - -<p>The machine men were given over for inspection by hundreds of the great -creatures which they had automatically designated as Ajirs. Tiring of -the inspection, the brutes handed them back to their original owners.</p> - -<p>Professor Jameson was carried into a cavern and unceremoniously thrown -on a rocky ledge with a strange collection of objects which had -evidently caught the fancy of the Ajir.</p> - -<p>There were bright bits of fused metal, evidently of volcanic origin, -and odd-shaped bones littered the ledge. Most curious of all was an -entire skeleton about twice the professor's size. As soon as the -cavern's owner went out and left him alone, he fell to examining it. -The skeleton was entire, each bone loosely interlocking with another -so that it was impossible to remove one of them, except by force. The -skeleton had been that of a four-legged animal.</p> - -<p>The professor found that his companions had met with fates similar to -his own. They communicated with one another and decided that for the -present it was best to bide their time—never letting the Ajirs know -that they were living creatures—and watch for the first good chance to -escape.</p> - -<p>In the several days that followed, the machine men learned many things -about their captors and the world on which they lived.</p> - -<p>The Ajirs were partly vegetarians. They sometimes set traps for the -great birds which came down from the mountain heights. The Ajirs voiced -a syllable in reference to the birds which the machine men interpreted -as Quar, and from that time on they referred to the birds collectively -as Quari.</p> - -<p>The Ajirs possessed hardly any language at all, and their minds were so -simple and elementary that the machine men rarely took the trouble to -trace their thoughts.</p> - -<p>When they were left alone, the machine men looked out upon many things -scurrying back to their proper places when their owners approached the -caves.</p> - -<p>Once, the professor was not quick enough, and he lay still on the -floor. The Ajir picked him up and placed him on the ledge, thinking, as -the professor had expected he would, that the machine man had fallen -off the ledge.</p> - -<p>6W-438 was caught out on the plateau once. One of the Ajirs accused -another of theft, and a terrific battle ensued between the two.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the anxiety of the machine men grew. The days before the -nova was expected were becoming fewer, and still they found no means of -escape. 12W-62 argued that escape meant little unless they were found -and taken back to the spaceship.</p> - -<p>The Ajirs continued the routine of their simple yet turbulent lives, -blissfully ignorant of the impending doom to all life on Ajiat and the -sister worlds of the system. They had little time to live, but they -were living it ignorantly and happily.</p> - -<p>It was the hope of all four Zoromes that another helium ship would be -sent out by their companions and that the mental detectors would find -them. Unless they escaped in time, there would be a battle with the -Ajirs, but the machine men doubted the ability of the fearsome monsters -to survive a barrage of the power guns.</p> - -<p>More days passed, and still no help reached them as they remained -prisoners of the Ajirs. The machine men were now rarely handled by -their captors—the novelty having worn off. They watched everything -that went on, and they saw parties of the monsters come and go. Once -there was a battle with a raiding party from another village.</p> - -<p>At another time, the monotony was relieved by an unusually large bevy -of Quari that flew down from their mountain aeries, drawn by the meat -of the baited snares laid by the Ajirs. The monsters rushed out to beat -them to death with great clubs as several of them were trapped and -fought viciously to escape.</p> - -<p>The large numbers of the Quari stayed and fought loyally with their -snared brethren until the latter broke free or else fell exhausted by -their efforts and by the blows from the Ajirs. Several of the great -brutes were severely injured by the Quari, and bled deeply from gashes -inflicted by teeth and talons. One of them died as the price for the -four Quari which were taken.</p> - -<p>Out of this exciting episode, which all four machine men watched from -their various coverts, Professor Jameson conceived not only a plan of -escape but a possibility, as well, of returning near the neighborhood -of the spaceship. The machine men heard his plan and waited for night -to fall.</p> - -<p>"We must hide among the snares and attach ourselves to one of the Quari -when they come for the bait. We shall be carried up into the mountains -and perhaps part way down the other slope. As soon as darkness falls, -let us creep out and meet by the traps."</p> - -<p>"But suppose the bird is trapped?"</p> - -<p>"Then I shall free it with the heat ray in my fore tentacle," Professor -Jameson replied. "We can use the lines from the snares to fasten -ourselves to the bird's legs."</p> - -<p>"We may be shaken off or torn away."</p> - -<p>"Possibly, but we must run the risks involved. Time grows too short. We -must get back to the spaceship!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>During the night, after all was quiet, the machine men crept from their -caves and met on the plateau. There was a tendency for their metal feet -to create noise against the rock, and they found it necessary to move -slowly as well as cautiously. Their situation would be a precarious one -if the Ajirs awakened to find their metal possessions suddenly come to -life!</p> - -<p>On one side of the plateau, large hunks of meat loomed about the -machine men like boulders. The birds would come at dawn.</p> - -<p>The machine men waited as the stars swung across the sky and satellites -of Ajiat came and went. Dawn came. With the first, faint flush of light -upon the tallest peaks, the Quari commenced to circle and fly down -from their heights.</p> - -<p>Sounds of stirring and awakening Ajirs reached the machine men. They -were glad that the snares were away from the caves and near the -precipice. The bait was so large as to afford them easy concealment.</p> - -<p>With the coming of dawn and activity among the Ajirs, the professor -burnt several lines from the snares to be used in fastening their metal -bodies to one of the Quari. Previously, he had not dared risk the glare -of light produced in the darkness for fear a waking Ajir might see it.</p> - -<p>With mingled excitement and relief, the four machine men saw several -black specks from on high swoop lower. The birds circled above the -tempting morsels. The machine men remained quiet so as not to excite -their suspicions. They settled, and the voices of the Ajirs who had -also watched their coming were hushed.</p> - -<p>One great bird settled to rest by a chunk of bait which sheltered three -of the Zoromes. They were instantly joined by 12W-62, and all four -fastened themselves about the legs of the Quar.</p> - -<p>The bird jumped a bit in alarm but did not abandon the chunk of bait. -The machine men had freed this particular piece of bait, among others, -from the snares, and as the bird seized it, and was not caught, a -subdued cry of disappointment arose from the watching Ajirs.</p> - -<p>Other birds were caught and battled to get free. The one to which the -machine men clung, pecked at them ineffectually a few times, and seized -upon the bait once more as onrushing Ajirs came with clubs lifted.</p> - -<p>The bird flapped its wings, and with cries of surprise the Ajirs saw -and recognized the four metal things they had found. They stared at -them, entangled about the legs of the slowly rising bird.</p> - -<p>A swishing blow of the foremost brute just grazed a talon of the bird -and left the wind of its passage upon 29G-75. Up they rose, swifter, -as the broad wings of the Quar belabored the air.</p> - -<p>They soared higher, the plateau with its fighting Ajirs and Quari -dwindling away into obscurity. They were soon among the peaks and -flying above them. The machine men wondered when the bird would light. -It was like riding upon the landing gear of a mighty airplane.</p> - -<p>The bird was carrying the chunk of meat to its nest, and they were -glad for every mile that the bird was covering in the direction of the -opposite mountainside. Yet, they hoped that its nest was not on the -face of an inaccessible cliff.</p> - -<p>Soon, the other slope of the mountain loomed into view, and they -enthused at the familiar panorama beyond. Professor Jameson could see, -far off, the territory of forest into which the spaceship had crashed.</p> - -<p>Would the bird take them closer to that spot? It was too much to hope -for, he knew. Chance on choosing this particular Quar had taken them -far already in the right direction. Even as the professor turned these -thoughts over in his mind, the bird headed for a rocky crag.</p> - -<p>There was no single nest here, but a continuous series of pits and -hollows formed of branches lined with grasses and other materials. -There were young birds in many of these—while others were empty. A few -adults had already come back with food in the way of small animals and -smaller birds.</p> - -<p>The Quar headed for one of the empty hollows and swooped gently to -rest. That the bird had felt harassed in its flight over the mountain, -by the four machine men, was plainly evident as the bird set down -its piece of meat and bit viciously at them, sharp teeth grating and -sliding against their metal bodies.</p> - -<p>A tentacle of 12W-62 became wedged between two teeth, and the machine -man disentangled himself with difficulty. The professor and 6W-438 -were wrenched from their self-made bonds as the Quar screeched, in -rage. Talons freed the two more encumbrances from the bird's legs.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, as the Quar continued in its efforts to bite the professor -and 12W-62, 29G-75 freed himself and made a discovery.</p> - -<p>"There are openings in the bottom of the nest where we can climb -through!"</p> - -<p>He was soon down out of reach of the Quar, and he waited for his -companions to get free. 6W-438 was first to join him. An application of -the professor's heat ray caused the screeching Quar to loose him and -12W-62 long enough for them to slide down through the tangle of tree -branches.</p> - -<p>The four machine men found themselves in a maze of dead branches -through which they threaded their way with difficulty, often finding -the way before them too impenetrable and closely woven for passage.</p> - -<p>The professor now and then had to use his heat ray.</p> - -<p>They struck the rock foundation of the continuous nest thirty feet -down, and they followed a devious route to the edge of the crag. They -found a long, steep descent, dangerous and treacherous.</p> - -<p>Luckily, none of the Quari returned to attack them until they were -safely at the bottom of the looming crag.</p> - -<p>"It is a long way down the mountain and then to the spaceship," said -the professor, "but we must try and make it in what little time we have -left."</p> - -<p>"If nothing detains us, it will be enough, I believe."</p> - -<p>From what they knew of Ajiat's rotation—they had all made separate -computations while prisoners of the Ajirs—they had come to the same -conclusion regarding the time left before the sun exploded.</p> - -<p>Now, there were only three of Ajiat's rotations left before the -meteoric mass struck the sun!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>All that day, they kept moving down the mountain, and though they -were going downhill, they nevertheless felt the effects of the strong -gravity. They occasionally reached ledges or precipices which had to be -avoided.</p> - -<p>Once, 29G-75 fell over one of these ledges, and although the fall -was a relatively short one for a machine man to sustain—the mighty -attraction of Ajiat drew him down so forcefully that he bent a leg in -under him in his fall.</p> - -<p>All day long, at intervals, the Quari came to bother them, generally -desisting when they found that they were not edible. At night, although -they used their body lights, their progress slowed somewhat.</p> - -<p>Dawn came, and they increased their pace once more. Untiring, they knew -no cessation until a vital part wore out. This, the professor and his -companions constantly feared.</p> - -<p>Again, the sharp eyes of the Quari saw them from on high and came -to harass them again. Sometimes the professor managed to drive them -off with his heat ray. The machine men also struck them with lashing -tentacles, but they were so large that this had little effect on them.</p> - -<p>Shortly after noon, disaster stalked them. Earlier fears were realized. -The leg which 29G-75 had bent in his fall finally wore so bad at the -joint with his metal body that it became useless. This slowed their -descent of the mountain. Up to this point, the professor had figured -themselves well ahead of the impending, solar catastrophe.</p> - -<p>Night fell again. They kept on, assisting the slightly unbalanced -29G-75 over difficult stretches.</p> - -<p>Then, without warning, something went wrong with the inner workings -of 12W-62's metal cube so that he suffered lapses of control. He -kept on going when he should have stopped, and sometimes he stopped -entirely and seemed to have no ability to move again. These periods of -inactivity, brief at first, became prolonged. The machine men knew the -symptoms and were not surprised when the inevitable happened.</p> - -<p>The mechanism of 12W-62 went entirely dead! The excessive requirements -of Ajiat had exhausted his energy supply which could only be recharged -at the spaceship. There was only one thing to do, which they -accomplished with as little loss of time as possible.</p> - -<p>They removed the head of 12W-62 from his useless body and carried it -with them. 29G-75 was quickly outfitted with one of the metal legs, and -they carried the other three with them in case of emergency.</p> - -<p>The race against time tightened. Their slight advantage had been -lost. Professor Jameson kept the doubts in his mind hidden from his -companions.</p> - -<p>They were nearly to the foot of the mountain, and the distance from -there to the spaceship was well within a day's walk. They gained level -ground shortly before dawn.</p> - -<p>They had covered less than a mile of distance when 6W-438 fell over -suddenly and could not rise. More time was lost in removing his head.</p> - -<p>As dawn broke, Professor Jameson collapsed, and even as 29G-75 stooped -to help him and ascertain the extent of his trouble, he, too, lost his -ability to move!</p> - -<p>He stood quiet and useless on his four metal legs above the fallen body -of the professor. Each of the two machine men carried the head of a -companion.</p> - -<p>"This looks to be the end," said 6W-438. "We still have today. Shortly -after dark, if our calculations are not wrong, the nova will take -place."</p> - -<p>The sky above them grew brighter. Idle and impassive, they watched -the birds commencing to fly far up the side of the nearby mountain. -The sun, that dangerous furnace which was destined to explode before -another full rotation of Ajiat, crept over the horizon. Doom shone upon -the machine men.</p> - -<p>Somewhere not far from that flaming, incandescent mass, the vast -conglomeration of meteoric fragments sped like a racing powder train on -a grim errand to purge all the worlds of that system of life, spreading -an all-destroying heat wave to the outermost realms of the farthest -orbit with the speed of light.</p> - -<p>A small swarm of birds caught their attention. The Quari had evidently -sighted them and were descending to investigate.</p> - -<p>"This time they will find no resistance," said the professor.</p> - -<p>"Do you think they will carry us away?"</p> - -<p>"It is doubtful—when they find that we are not good to eat."</p> - -<p>The birds were acting strangely, as if they were fighting over -something among themselves. Their manner of descent was strange, too. -The machine men had never seen them come down so directly before. -Generally, they flew down in long, swinging loops. This time, their -turns were shorter and took less distance.</p> - -<p>Not until they were within a few hundred feet from the ground did the -machine men find the reason for their strange maneuvers. They saw a -gleaming ovoid of metal which had previously been hidden by the Quari -who were attacking it.</p> - -<p>The machine men now saw birds disappearing from time to time, and -burned fragments of them came floating down. The help for which they -had despaired had come at last!</p> - -<p>With a sudden barrage, which caused great havoc among the Quari and -sent the survivors winging away, the metal skycraft descended the -remaining distance.</p> - -<p>There was no attached basket, but a gondola of metal was built into the -bottom of the globe. Propellers and steering gear were also visible. -Out of the gondola raced 47X-09 and 22K-501.</p> - -<p>"You are found, finally!" cried 47X-09. "And none too soon, either!"</p> - -<p>"Shortly before dawn came, we saw your body lights shining near the -foot of the mountain," 22K-501 told them as they were gathered up and -taken aboard the gondola. "We were far off and high in the sky. We lost -track of you for a while when it grew light, and then we had to fight -off the birds. It was during their attack that we again located you -with the mind detectors."</p> - -<p>"Tell me about the spaceship," the professor implored. "Is it all right -and ready for flight?"</p> - -<p>"That we hope. It will call for a tremendous repulsion to free it of -Ajiat's powerful grip. 20R-654 and 744U-21 are not entirely satisfied -with the super-resisters which have been built, and so they have -enlisted another strong ally to help the ship on its start."</p> - -<p>"The helium!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, 21MM392," 47X-09 vindicated the professor's inspiration. "The -spaceship is not only filled to capacity with it, but several tanks -have been built around the ship and are filled, ready for our flight. -Of course, it will be useless after we once pass the atmosphere, but it -is only for initial momentum."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">CHAPTER FIVE</p> - -<p class="ph1">Thirteen Minutes</p> - - -<p>They were soon back to the spaceship, and the search was at an end. For -many days, two airships had searched both sides of the mountain and -beyond. Vegetation had been cleared all around the ship for a distance -of a hundred yards.</p> - -<p>The spaceship was entirely surrounded with a network of metal hawsers -which secured it to the ground against the mighty pull of the helium.</p> - -<p>Entrance was gained to the ship by means of a helium lock.</p> - -<p>With the return of the four machine men, no further time was lost. -They were to make one supreme effort. Success or failure hung in the -balance. Failure meant a flaming death when the nova struck Ajiat in -its swelling glare.</p> - -<p>"Every one of us must be securely fastened to a part of the ship," -744U-21 told them. "Our rise will be very sudden."</p> - -<p>The fateful moment arrived. Several machine men made a last minute -inspection of the hawsers holding the ship. By a specially arranged -device, they were to be cast off simultaneously. When all was ready, -the hawsers were loosed.</p> - -<p>Like a shot out of a gun, the spaceship darted skyward, accelerating -rapidly as the helium sought a natural level aided by the power -releases of the spaceship. The climb was so rapid as to leave the -machine men dizzy.</p> - -<p>Eight Zoromes sat securely fastened near the ship's controls, and the -first one who recovered his mental balance forced the super-resisters -into action.</p> - -<p>Night, with its flaming stars, replaced daylight, yet the noonday sun -still shone upon them. They had cleared the atmosphere and were in -space—but were far from being free of Ajiat. Their battle with the -planet's mighty attraction had just begun.</p> - -<p>They were forced to accept one discouraging fact with fatalism. They -were heading off Ajiat straight for the sun which was shortly to -explode! To have waited for Ajiat to rotate would have lost for them -more precious time.</p> - -<p>In space, they still maintained the speed of their initial rise, yet -they realized that their speed must be increased if they were to win -free of the giant world.</p> - -<p>In suspense, they watched the speed gauges and waited. 20R-654 gave -the ship every advantage he had learned in his long career of space -navigation.</p> - -<p>Their speed gradually increased, yet dangerously slow in acceleration -even though they were winning free. The nova would spread with the -speed of light and catch them in their battle against the strong -gravity of Ajiat! In free space, the flight of the spaceship exceeded -that of light several times over, but within the grip of Ajiat their -speed was appallingly small. They were gaining more speed and were now -sure of escaping Ajiat, but if the computations were correct they knew -they would not escape the nova.</p> - -<p>They were heading straight for the sun and dared not wheel in another -direction until they were free of Ajiat's attraction.</p> - -<p>The remaining hours fled. Minutes were left.</p> - -<p>The machine men knew that a respite of thirteen minutes would be -granted them from the time the explosion took place on the sun until -the bright, hot flare of light reached them. The flaming gases to -follow would reach Ajiat about a day and a half later.</p> - -<p>They kept onward until it was agreed that with the little time left -them they might turn at an angle of forty-five degrees from their -course, then gradually turn this angle into a curve away from both the -sun and the orbital course of Ajiat. They were speeding upon this curve -when Professor Jameson announced that the meteoric mass they had passed -in space before coming to Ajiat was probably, at that moment, hurling -its provocative bulk into the sun.</p> - -<p>"We shall not see the nova until it is upon us," he said, "for it -travels with the speed of light. That is what adds to the uncertainty -of our calculations, for there is just a possibility that a smaller -body in this system, of which we know so little, might have bent the -course or slowed the speed of the meteoric mass. Unless such a long -chance has occurred, we have only thirteen minutes before the nova -reaches us."</p> - -<p>In the estimated time left, they reached the end of their curve and -straightened out on a tangent from the sun and Ajiat. They were rapidly -approaching the speed of light and safety when the ship was suddenly -enveloped by a blinding glare.</p> - -<p>"The nova!"</p> - -<p>"It has overtaken us!"</p> - -<p>Nothing could be seen outside but that awful brilliance. The sides of -the ship grew hot. A terrific explosion rocked the ship in its flight -and threw the machine men staggering against each other. One of the -attached helium tanks had overheated and burst. Another report jarred -the ship and was followed by several more concussions.</p> - -<p>"Eject the helium from the ship!" 744U-21 directed. "We must have a -vacuum!"</p> - -<p>The order was quickly executed, and the helium spurted from the vents -opened for its release. The hull of the spaceship grew hotter. That -side facing the sun turned a lurid crimson.</p> - -<p>The speed of the ship picked up rapidly as the malign power of Ajiat -grew less. Soon, they were in free space, yet the hull of the ship -grew hotter, and the terrible light which had swallowed them, remained -intense.</p> - -<p>The speed of the ship crept up to the speed of light, then passed -and exceeded it. At that rate, the machine men hoped to outrace the -dazzling hell which had closed upon them.</p> - -<p>The sunward side of the ship waxed white hot, and metal plates were -rapidly fastened over this danger zone, the plates becoming red hot in -turn.</p> - -<p>There also existed a vague fear among many that they were not heading -directly out of the nova. The shock of the exploding helium tanks had -made the proximity detectors perform queer antics. Meanwhile, their -speed increased.</p> - -<p>The spaceship suddenly shot out of the nova and into the darkness of -space.</p> - -<p>"We have outsped the nova!" Professor Jameson exclaimed. "Its light has -not yet reached this far. We are looking at the sun and at Ajiat as -they were just before the nova took place."</p> - -<p>Nor did the machine men again see the nova until they were far beyond -the doomed system of planets and the estimated limits of the nova's -spread.</p> - -<p>Each planet, when overtaken, glowed brilliantly. The sun swelled and -grew so large that at that far distance they could not bear to look -upon it except with veiled lenses.</p> - -<p>"The nova is now reaching a point where it overtook us in the -spaceship," said the professor.</p> - -<p>They watched until they saw the nova reach its maximum proportions. A -hotter and more compact globe of gases was spreading gradually from -the sun, and the machine men lingered in the vicinity and closely -approached the outermost limits of the mammoth spectacle until they saw -the inner planets reached by the spreading gases. These, they knew, -were in the state of volcanic eruption, their oceans turning to dense, -vaporous envelopes.</p> - -<p>The light had ended all life in the system, and now the slower moving -gases were completing the destruction. They saw smaller satellites of -the planets explode into myriad fragments, their lesser bulk lacking -the resistance of larger companions. The spectacle was grand—yet -terrible.</p> - -<p>"Millions of light years away, this astronomic catastrophe will be -visible," Professor Jameson philosophized, "and millions of years from -now peoples on the planets which will witness it shall look upon a new -star swelling into sudden brilliance for a brief period, and they will -wonder."</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOOMSDAY ON AJIAT ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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