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I am enclosing herewith my remittance of $ for which you are to send me the numbers of books In the SCIENCE FICTION SERIES which 1 have circled below, at the price of 10c each or Six Books for Fifty cents. No less than three books are sold. Send remittance in check, stamps or money order. The numbers of the books that I want are circled below. 13 14 15 16 17 18 HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE Name Address City Science Fiction Series State WS-934
CLIP HE increasing demand by our readers for new COUPON T titles to be added to the SCIENCE FICTION SERIES has now been met. Six new books have been AND published and are now ready. Many new authors have contributed excellent stories which you will en- MAIL joy reading. A short summary of the new titles will be found below. These new books, as usual, are printed on a good grade of paper, and contain brand new stories never published before in any magazine. Each book (size 6x8 inches) contains one or two stories by a well-known science fiction author.
The Titles Are IS—MEN FROM THE 16—IMMORTALS OF METEOR MERCURY by Panzie E. Black by Clark Ashton Smith In the unexplored heart of Australia Under the sun-parched surface of lay the bizarre and cruel civilization Mercury, we follow in this story, the of the meteormen. And into their experiences of a man, reminiscent of midst came the two men from Outside, Dante’s Inferno. Every force of to pit their puny strength against the grotesque nature, the bitter enmity of meteormen’s power. the Immortals track him down in his wild escape to the surface. 14—THE FLIGHT OF THE AEROFIX 17—THE SPECTRE BULLET by Maurice Renard by Thomas Mack and Renard is the H. G. Wells of France. c With sly humor and yet grim reality THE AVENGING NOTE 10 he describes the most unusual and by Alfred Sprissler startling flight made by man. An en- are two surprises for the lovers of tirely new type of transportation EACH scientific detective mysteries. Death dawns upon the world in this master- strikes suddenly in these stories ; clever ly story I OR scientific minds and cleverer detectives are pitted against each other in a duel 15—THE INVADING with Death. ASTEROID by Manly Wade Wellman 18—THE SHIP FROM 6 NOWHERE Into the vision of the Earth swam FOR the huge but innocent asteroid. Mars, by Sidney Patzer at death grips with the Earth, was far A trip to infinity is this unusual
away ; but the asteroid loomed story ; a mad chase across the infinite ominous, menacing. Two men were pmptiness, tracked always by the delegated avenging is c to solve the mystery ; and Marauder. Here a story 50 what they found is revealed in this that deals with millions of years and startling story. billions of billions of miles.
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Jr "THE ^ MAN FROM BEYOND"
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Vol. 6, No. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS September, 1934
WONDERS OF THE PLANETS, an editorial by Hugo Gemsback 389 THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER by Charles de Richter 390 (In Three Parts—Part One) 'THE MAN FROM BEYOND by John Beynon Harris 420 THE LIVING GALAXY by Laurence Manning 436 FORTHCOMING STORIES 444 SHELL UTILIZES ROTATION OF THE EARTH a news article 445 WHAT IS YOUR SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE? 445 THE WANDERER a poem by L. A. Eshbach 445 THE TREE OF EVIL by David H. Keller, MD 446 ENSLAVED BRAINS by Eando Binder 466 (In Three Parts—Conclusion) SCIENCE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS a monthly department 494 THE SCIENCE FICTION LEAGUE a monthly department 496 TIIE READER SPEAKS—Letters From Readers 499 THE SCIENCE FICTION SWAP COLUMN 506 BOOK REVIEWS 506 ON THE COVER this month we see Gratz stealing the space-ship, leaving his companions stranded on Venus. (From "The Man From Beyond” by John Beynon Harris.) Cover by Paul.
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WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 387 On Ml Dr. David H. Keller Newsstands edits newest magazine success
ERE you have for the first time a startlingly new publication popularizing medicine—written in a non-scientific manner. Every H article which appears in POPULAR MEDICINE is prepared by gome leading physician .... each article is authoritative, instructive and beneficial in more ways than one. It is written in a nmi -scientific manner. Illustrations in many cases accompany the articles. WHAT aiLS YOU *n - and baffle us. POPULAR MEDICINE sets you straight through its many articles and through its special departments; "The Diagnostician" and “Questions and Answers." The platform of POPULAR MEDICINE Is as follows: POPULAR MEDICINE is opposed to all methods of quackery, and will readily expose these exploitations; POPULAR MEDICINE is opposed to all forms of fake medioal appliances, and certain patent medicines which are more harmful than good; POPULAR MEDICINE is opposed to useless surgical operations of which many are per- formed and are usually unnecessary; POPULAR MEDICINE is edited by the well known Dr. David H. Keller, and all article* appearing in it are written exclusively by men in the medical profession.
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Is the Operation Really Necessary—That Banana Diet—Hew Is Yeur Heart—Nervous Breakdown— Doctors, too. Make Mistakes—What te Do Before the Doctor Comes—Medieal Science News—Phetoqraphing the Inside of Your Stomach—Questions and Answers—Medieal Book Review—and other features.
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VOLUME 6 SEPTEMBER 1Vow HmR No. 4 Stories 1934
. . . . Prophetic Fiction is the Mother of Scientific Fact . . . .
Hugo Gernsback, Editor-in-Chief CHARLES D. HORNIG, Managing Editor FRANK R. PAUL, Art Editor C. P. MASON, Associate Editor
WONDERS OF THE PLANETS
By HUGO GERNSBACK
m |HiE more -we learn about our sister ments in conjunction with photography, have planets, the more discouraging are the done much to encourage research work on the reports that science gives us as to the surface conditions of several of the planets, possibility of life existing on the va- but it also must be admitted that the work is rious planets. It has often been re- still made exceedingly difficult for us because ported that on the larger planets the planets themselves do not give off light of —=—SJ Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune their own. We see them only by reflected sun- —conditions are so unfavorable that it would light. The light which we view, and which we seem certain that life, such as we know it, can analyze in our spectroscopes, therefore, has to not possibly exist on them. In the first place, pass through—for example—the Martian at- they have not solidified sufficiently, with the ex- mosphere twice; once descending and once be- ception of one or two, where even a hard crust ing reflected upward from the surface. Then, would be possible. too, it has also to pass through our own at- And while the major planets seem to have mosphere. This complicates matters a great deal, an atmosphere, it would not do much good here and we cannot be too certain that the results due to the excessive cold. As to the inner planets, which science indicates today are final. A tre- we know that Mercury is entirely too hot to mendous amount of research work still must support life; we also know that it has no at- be done, as the years pass ; and, as has happened mosphere. As to Venus, the next on the list, so often, ever since the days of Galileo science recent researches show that its atmosphere does has had to change its mind over and over, from not contain oxygen but rather carbon dioxide, one theory to another. commonly known as “choke damp,” such as we With Venus, we have the additional trouble find in our own coal mines. that we have never been able to see the actual But it is possible that a form of life, different surface of the planet. The cloud or fog, or from what we know, may thrive on Venus and whatever it is, is so dense, that it covers the if so, it most assuredly would be of a totally entire planet with a veil which, so far, has different order; and most likely exceed even never been lifted. Whether we will be able to the most fantastic conceptions of our science- pierce it and look down «pon the surface of the fiction authors. planet, is something that cannot be predicted As to Mars, I have reported before that today. there seems to be little or no oxygen on this With Mars, we have the opposite condition: planet; and therefore, such life as we know the atmosphere is so thin and tenuous, that we it would find difficulty in thriving on Mars. have no trouble to see the surface, and here The rest of the planets do not seem to make science has made some progress, and that is good abodes for life and therefore are as far why, to the public mind, Mars, rightly or as science can ascertain today, lifeless. This wrongly, holds the center of the stage. leaves only Venus and Mars as homes for some But even with all this, we have not made form of life, the like of which it is almost much progress, and it may be many centuries impossible to imagine today. before actual knowledge of the planets’ secrets The spectrograph, and other scientific instru- is obtained. 389 mmmmm
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( Illustration by Paul) The next day the Grand Palais collapsed and the great statue of Marshal Paul Boncourt fell down.
390 —
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER
• Acting upon the requests of our read- By CHARLES it RICHTER ers, we are importing and translating the greatest foreign science-fiction sto- (Translated from the French by ries that are being written today. We Fletcher Pratt) recently gave you “Druso” by Friedrich Freksa and are now presenting this re- markable French novel. We pride our- PART ONE selves on being the only magazine to give our readers the greatest • The 22nd of April, 1987, will always science-fiction from all parts of the world. mark an important date not in the — Here we have a baffling mystery. Ter- history of any single nation, but in that rible things happen in the city of Paris of the whole world. It was on that date and the most reputable politicians and that appeared the first manifestation of scientists are lost when trying to solve it. After reading Part One, you will have the Menace—that Menace which lacked an entire month to work it out in your little destroying civilization and so of own mind. Rarely has there appeared changing the entire character of life on such absorbing mystery in science-fiction. this terrestrial globe. Before that date, certain epidemics, revolutions, wars, cataclysms of one kind or another, let loose upon the world, had government and some people connected threatened the existence of this country with the press—understood all too well or that race, but sentient humanity had what an explosion would take place if it never yet faced a danger that threatened were openly admitted that “the human first its control of nature and ultimately race is done; its superiority over nature its very existence. has ended.” To do this would be to make The curious thing about it is that so a public appeal to all the instincts of re- very few people, especially at the begin- volt which lie in the minds of the mob, ning, realized the seriousness of the situa- always whispering—very faintly, in nor- tion. From April 22, 1987 on, events mal times—that anarchy is the only pos- moved forward with a beat that was more sible system. There would have been a and more rapid, but men and nations con- revolution, born of the general despair, tinued for days and weeks more their beside which the wildest excesses of the ordinary mode of existence, in the com- Bolsheviks would have seemed mild. fortable certainty that their supremacy The last barriers of law and order over the world was some kind of divine would infallibly have fallen; and finding law and civilization as we know it was itself opposed by a humanity plunged in too perfect not to be eternal. self-destruction and anarchy, the Great Before the eyes of the skeptical and Menace would have triumphed. optimistic world could be opened, there Whereupon the kingdom of man would had to be a terrific accumulation of catas- be ended. trophes, so great that the most rigorous God be praised, the Invisible Menace censorship could not deny their reality (as the historians have agreed to call it) and a series of events such as had never failed in its task; and although it is still before been recorded in history. too soon to say that all danger of relapse Moreover, during the early days of is over, today we may relate the absolute the menace, those who knew about it and simple truth with regard to the events and by this I mean the members of the which little by little broke down the ;
392 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 morale of the nations, and particularly and Italy had labored as though the honor of the French nation, resulted in the of their nations depended upon their ef- abandonment of Paris, depopulated sev- forts and the three “Super-Vest-Pocket” eral cities of lesser class and surpassed, cruisers had been finished a few days in their accumulated horror, all the mel- apart, and were all ready to be launched ancholy catastrophes of preceding his- amid a tumult of newspaper articles and tory. recriminations. The events that take place daily and It had even been hoped to launch all with regard to which the papers inform three on the same day, but the wise ad- us every night and morning being the vice of the delegate of Manchukuo at first to efface themselves from our mem- Geneva had been heeded, and the three ories, the reader will pardon me for run- powers had agreed to launch their war- ning .over a few of them—a task which ships at different dates and with the he can reproduce himself in any library, patriotic ceremonies reduced to a strict but probably will not wish to undertake. minimum. Moreover, a certain resume of events And it was on April 22, 1987—the date seems necessary. The Menace made itself on which the launching of the German manifest on the date I have indicated, but cruiser was to take place—that the first those who realized it for what it was of those events happened, like the toll- were few indeed. At first, it was only a ing of the funeral bell of Humanity. collection of curious and inexplicable During the night of April 21, and events, and it was not until the sequel without any warning of the possibility of showed they were part of the same pic- such a catastrophe, the shores supporting ture that it became possible to connect the cruiser in her dry-dock broke down them up. the precious cruiser fell over on her side Everyone remembers certain things. and was so badly damaged that her com- For instance, they remember that the plete reconstruction was necessary. seventh International Disarmament Con- It is useless to go into the articles that ference had just recessed after having greeted this event. In Germany there was heard several admirable speeches—among a chorus of vituperation against the negli- others, that of the Delegate from the gence of the technical departments which Principality of Monaco—in which the had failed to take the necessary precau- idea of universal peace and arbitration tions. The conservative papers naturally of difficulties were referred to in the spoke of sabotage and the dangers of most affectionate terms. Unfortunately, Bolshevism, and the whole affair degener- the great powers had shown a certain ated into a quarrel between the Nazis and reluctance to translate these speeches into the Communists in which the latter had acts, and the newspapers were comment- the worst of it. ing bitterly on the lack of tact that Ger- The French press deplored the catas- many had displayed in not even waiting trophe in a tone of polite but not very for the- return of her delegates before sincere regret, and offered its condolences laying down a new “Super-Vest-Pocket” to the navy of the neighboring nation. cruiser which destroyed the effect of the Only a single journal, and that a religious limitations on naval tonnage. one, saw in the event the hand of God The French and Italian governments and a particular proof of his protection had recognized the cleverness of the Ger- for the country of Saint Genevieve. mans by imitating them, and everything The fuss over the affair had not yet indicated that the result of the disarma- died down in Germany when France, con- ment conference would be a new race in formably to the treaties and the wise armaments, or at least in the technical words of the delegate of Manchukuo, pre- perfection of existing arms. pared in her turn to launch into the water The shipyards of France, Germany, the cruiser built in the greatest secrecy —
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 393
under the direction of the Ministry of futility of their course, but the govern- Marine. ment itself took no pains to deny that it The ceremony was to take place at was responsible, contenting itself with a Brest on April 30 — but before it took few vague statements that seemed de- place all the papers were out with scream- signed to admit rather than disavow re- ing headlines. sponsibility. During the night of the 29th, at the Throughout Europe, the reaction was exact hour at which the catastrophe had vigorous. Members of the French Cham- taken place at Kiel—at the same minute bre, as well as of the Reichstag, demanded and second, it seemed—the shores of the that the ambassadors of the U. S. S. R. be new ship went to pieces, and in a single given their passports at once, a measure moment, the result of several years of re- which the French and German govern- search and long months of labor was de- ments hesitated to take. Meanwhile the stroyed. ' populace took out their fury on the Rus- sians wherever they could find them — • When a ship—whether it was German, particularly on the Russian dancers, who Turkish, or Japanese—crashed over on found they could obtain no more engage- its side in drydock, one could see the hand ments. of chance or God in the event. When such There remained the launching of the an unlikely event was repeated, it was im- Italian ship, and already II Duce II or III possible not to see in the event some trace —for nobody was absolutely certain of human machination. If the two cruisers which, and certain people even maintained
destined to make a new disarmament con- that it was still the original Mussolini ference necessary lay on their sides, had made his position in the matter clear broken to pieces, it was because someone to all the radio listeners of the world. had wished it to happen. But who in the “Catastrophes,” he said, “can still world was so powerful and so clever as strike at the navies of old nations stupe- to be able to twice evade all the safe- fied by politics and plunged in the ob- guards thrown around the construction of scurity of their daily routine. Nothing of a great warship and twice in succession to this kind can ever happen in Italy, where accomplish his desire? a race regenerated by effort and faith The newspapers of the whole world pursues a destiny which will some day asked their readers this question in vary- bring it to the leadership of a rejuvenated ing tones. world.” To imagine that either France or Ger- In spite of this discourse, the drydock many themselves were guilty was too stu- where the Benito First lay was watched pid an idea to be entertained for a mo- night and day; and this famous cruiser, ment, and only the yellow journals of thanks to chance, would give Italy an in- both countries entertained it. estimable advantage over the neighbor- Only one group of men seemed both ing nations. powerful and dangerous enough to have The seventh of May was the date fixed accomplished it—the Communists. And it for her launching, and there was hardly a was against them that the accumulated newspaper in the world that had not sent angers of the two accidents were directed. a special correspondent to Spezia to cable It must be admitted, in the interests of the progress of events there minute by truth, that the Soviet government, at this minute. time, acted in a manner that seemed to Would there be one more repetition of lend color to the suspicion that it had a the disasters that had struck the two hand in the matter. Not only did the offi- great European navies, or would events cial Soviet newspapers publish long arti- proceed in their regular course? cles on the “happy” events that had dem- In the first case, the theory of chance onstrated to the capitalistic nations the would certainly no longer be admissible, —
394 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
and one would be forced to admit that were able to convince themselves, by sim-
some human hand had caused the destruc- ply glancing at their timepieces, that it tion of the warships. But whose hand ? was exactly 8:22, the moment when the and what had been the means ? French and German cruisers had rolled
This is what the newspapers and all over on their sides. those who had admitted the possibility of Without exaggeration, it can be said communist sabotage asked themselves. So that there was hardly a radio-owner in the also did numerous insurance companies world who was not listening. which had taken risks on the Italian ves- But it was in vain that all the listeners sel, even in England and America. turned their dials this way and that; the On the evening before the launching, a voice, which had been expressing the na- tional pride only a moment before was si- radio speech from the Duce— I, II, or III; we are still uncertain—hurled into lent, and its silence could mean only one the face of the world the inextinguishable thing. determinates of the great Italian people to Once more the incredible had hap- make certain of its domination of the pened. Like the German cruiser and the Mediterranean sea. French cruiser before it, the Italian vessel had turned over and broken itself to
• A little later, an admirably organized pieces. radio news service permitted the radio Its shores had broken, and in its fall, listeners of the world to be present in the fifty men had been killed as they stood on dockyard and to admire the technical per- guard, double the number being injured. fection of the new cruiser, a marvellous The full facts did not come out till the weapon of war which would permit its in- evening papers, but when they did, the ventors to laugh at all limitation. The emotions stirred by the first two disasters broadcaster described in detail all the pre- reached their height. cautions taken in the shipyard and its sur- It was now no longer possible to close roundings, and complacently enumerated one’s eyes in the face of the facts. the number of marines on guard under Evidently there was a plot, and it was the command of two captains, as well as impossible to find the authors of it. the military and police forces which ren- And for that matter, there was nothing dered all sabotage, even all approach to to show that the thing was over, and all the vessel, impossible. the nations—with the exception of Rus- The broadcast was terminated by the sia, whose guilt appeared clear—lay in the recitation of an inflammatory ode from shadow of danger. the pen of F. T. Marinetti (junior), the Tomorrow the same force which had poet laureate of Fascism, and by the Ital- already struck in Germany, France, and ian anthem, rendered simultaneously on Italy might be directed toward England, 450 trombones. India, or the United States. In the morning hours of May 7, a A new danger, whose effects were quarter of an hour before the time when evident even though its causes remained twice already the disaster had taken place, altogether hidden, had risen before the the official Italian broadcaster began his nations of the world, and it had become description of the ceremony by naming important to discover its nature and the high personages present, which in- method promptly in order to limit its cluded His Holiness the Pope, His Maj- damages and to combat it on an even basis. esty the King, and—he had, of course, Doubtless, this would be one of the been mentioned first—the Duce, I, II, or most important tasks before the Eighth III. International Disarmament Conference, Suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, which had already been in session for ten the broadcast ended. weeks, and which in that time had heard Those who had watches with them several excellent reports and speeches. THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 395
But after ten more weeks of useless trail leaves off. A thousand to one you labor, the conference recessed without can’t guess it.” having been able to clarify the situation The editor-in-chief, who had been tap- in the slightest degree. ping his foot impatiently during this little As no further catastrophes had fol- speech, now pressed a button that put him lowed the fall of the three cruisers, the in touch with the city desk, ordered that public, with its usual carelessness, had the news that had just come in from turned to other things. The Russians were Tokio should be given a double head in still believed responsible, although sev- the first edition, threw a lever to cut the eral people who were supposed to be well- communication, and then turned toward informed whispered that the British In- his assistant. telligence Service could give a quite ac- The editor-in-chief could have been curate history of the matter if it really forty-five years old, was clean-shaven, wished to. had a strong, athletic figure, and in the The business, in fact, was over and newspaper world, was accounted an au- was already sliding down into forgetful- thority on international politics. A good ness. But in spite of that, the danger had many people were astonished that he had never been greater. For it was no one not gone into politics or diplomacy him- nation, neither France, nor Italy, nor Ger- self. But Jean Sorlin, which was the name many, that lay in its shadow; there was, that appeared at the masthead of the most as we have said, something much greater frequently read and heard newspaper in and much higher—the whole of civiliza- the whole of the French-speaking world, tion and the human race. shook his head to every offer, always stat- Three times the Invisible Menace had ing that nothing in the world could make life interesting materialized; now, unknown to all the him renounce a so and diverse as that of the editor of a modern world, and invisible to it, it continued to paper. make its approaches for the next blow. Throwing away the cigar he had been chewing, he chose a new one from his CHAPTER II case, sniffed it briefly, and then lit it. He The Condemned Man extended the case to his reporter, who positive motion of the head • The door of the editor-in-chief of gave a slight Nouvelles du Monde was suddenly and smiled. kicked open, and that worthy was inter- The latter could have been twenty-five rupted in his task of listening to the years old, and in spite of the strength of his slen- latest news from Tokio as communicated character which radiated from by his special correspondent there over der and vigorous figure and even more a private beam-radio. from his square jaw, there was something Without even bothering to turn his very young, almost boyish in his face. head to see who the newcomer was, he It was evident that he was one of indicated the armchair at his right by a those fortunate individuals who find all slight displacement of the cigar he was life a game, and that he was not yet ex- chewing. hausted by the curiousness of the facts “Good news ?” he inquired, spitting the with which he came in daily contact. extremity of the cigar through his teeth. For a moment, he returned the glance “No news! And what’s worse than of the editor-in-chief, then tossing his that, no trace, no trail of news,” replied cigar into the air, he caught, it with the the other. “Up to a certain point, it’s all expertness of a professional juggler and perfectly clear, and then, suddenly—good- it vanished into the pocket of his coat. bye! It’s like some trick of magic, as “Yes,” he went on, “a thousand to one though our man had been vaporized. The that you can’t guess it.” only curious thing is the place where the “Perhaps it would be a good idea to —
396 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 tell me what this is all about?” indicated That’s what the police are asking now, Jean Sorlin politely. and possibly what they will continue to Louis Berson, for this was the name ask forever. For the present, only two of the young reporter, shrugged his shoul- things are certain — the guards were ders. cuckoo and Melpomes free. You can “Perhaps. Since this is not a question imagine the explosion.” of high international politics, nor yet of “I should say so. And where do you ships that turn over on their sides in dry- come into it?” dock before they are launched, it is some- Louis Berson plunged both hands into thing that hardly comes within your usual his pockets, and throwing his feet up into orbit. Well then—you know that Marc the air like an acrobat, did a pirouette and Charpin, the lawyer, went to call on the then gave a whistle.
President of the Federated Republics of “I come into it a little ahead of the the French Language the day before yes- rest of the world. At least, a little ahead terday. He wanted to find out whether of the other reporters. For, as you know, there was any chance of a pardon for his there is a special god for faithful report- client, old Melpomes, condemned to the ers, and in the present case, this god electric guillotine, you remember, for that was simply the husband of my landlady, diverting series of Jack-the-Ripper mur- a man who is too puritanical to really ders. think highly of me, but who is not with- “Unnecessary to remark that Marc out a special value of his own—he is a Charpin, who is reasonably intelligent for guardian at the Sante prison." little a lawyer, had very hope for the “Then it was he, or rather his worthy success of his mission. But all the same, spouse, who let you into the secret?” the interview had to be carried through, “Precisely. And I didn’t lose any time as he was the animal’s official attorney, lying in bed and thinking things over. I — ’’ and had to go through all the motions of heard the news at half-past seven believing Melpomes innocent. “You get up early.” “All went for the best; the attorney “Not at all; I was getting home.” was turned there was nothing to do “My compliments.” down ; but wait for a couple of gentlemen to take “And at eight o’clock I was on the Melpomes down the alley to his electric spot.” guillotine, but when the lawyer went to “Where you found out what?” announce the result to his client—aston- “Very little, and yet perhaps a good ishment! No more Melpomes! He had deal.” disappeared, passed out of circulation presto chango, now you see him, now you • The editor-in-chief threw the cigar, don’t.” which he had hardly begun to smoke, “And the guards who usually watch into an ash tray, and posing his chin on outside the condemned cells, what had his joined hands, gave the reporter what happened to them?” was meant to be a glance of curiosity. “Oh, they were very much on the job. “Well, here it is,” the latter said. “I’ll Only, the things they said and did were skip over the details and stick to the main so incoherent, that they took them to the outlines. When I was running over the hospital. They had unquestionably been register of the prison in the concierge’s drugged.” lodge, where I entered with the name of “In their food?” my friend the guardian as an open “No. More likely with gas. Science is sesame, I glanced at the names of the wonderful—you know that it has been visitors who asked to see Melpomes yes- making great progress in the direction of terday. First there was his lawyer, Char- gas research. But how in the world did pin; nothing extraordinary about that, anyone make them take poisonous gases ? and it is difficult to point suspicion at such ”
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 397 a man. Then, a bum of the same type as “Useless to enlarge upon the fact that the murderer himself, whom they refused we found neither Melpomes, who has left to let in. Finally, a young girl who also for parts unknown, nor the guards, who was refused admission.” are at the hospital trying to get over “I don’t see anything in that to get their surprise at finding him gone. But I excited about.” did find something that seems not alto- “Just what I thought myself, and that’s gether without interest. Do you know where we were both wrong, for when I what this is?” went to talk with the concierge, I got a He had plunged his fingers into his vest piece of information that may be impor- pocket and brought them out to toss a tant.” little object on the table before his inter- ?” “And it was ... locutor. “That if no one else was able to come “Ground glass. And ground glass finer near old Melpomes, his guards could re- than I have ever seen before,” the latter ceive visitors and at least one of them said after a moment of inspection. did.” He gazed across the desk at the re- “Someone came to ask for him?” porter. The latter went on. “Yes, someone who had, it seems, an that kind of glass they use official document to present to him, some- “Just The in electric light bulbs.” one who was taken to the cell of the condemned man and who was left there “And the detectives on the job let you ?” in conversation with the guard he came get away with it without saying a word to see.” Louis Berson had the air of a man ?” “For a long time overwhelmed by his own remissness. “That’s just what they don’t know. “Oh, Lord—perhaps I acted a little too Nobody saw him come out.” hastily. The inspector was inspecting; it
“Ah ! The plot thickens. Do they know, is obviously his job to do that. He was at least, from what government depart- inspecting the bars at the window and ment the messenger came?” the lock on the door, as though someone “On that point they were quite cer- had had the queer idea to get into or out tain; I even saw his pass. It came from of the cell that way. So when my glance the Ministry of Justice.” fell on the floor, and I saw a little piece “Obviously.” of glass, I was unable to resist temptation.
“Not at all. It’s right at that point that I dropped my handkerchief, and picked it the plot gets thicker than ever. At the up again with the glass inside. Do you Ministry of Justice they absolutely deny suppose they’ll throw me into prison for having given a pass to anyone either yes- it?” terday or the day before.” Jean Sorlin did not answer this inno- “Well, someone forged or stole it.” cent question. “It looks very much like that.” "So the police don’t know you found “And is that all you’re taking up my anything at all, and the other reporters time with?” don’t know it either?” Once more the smile played across the “Well, it wasn’t—my job to tell the other smoothly-shaven face of Louis Berson. reporters about it “You are not complimentary to your “Good. And your opinion ?” star reporter today, Chief. I understand “Well, it isn’t certain, of course, but I perfectly that you’re firing me for loafing think this is the explanation of the on the job. No, my dear editor, I didn’t extraordinarily opportune sleep that fell stop with that. With the other reporters, upon the two guards, who are quite above who had shown up by that time, I went suspicion.” to have a look at the condemned cell, “A bulb of gas or some other chemical which was most deplorably empty. product. Is that what you are trying to 398 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 communicate? But how is it that Mel- result when I began to look up the girl. pomes didn’t suffer from the effects of I say, almost the same, for I obtained a the gas himself, and how did he get fairly good description of her that con- away ?” tained one curious detail. One of her “He might have been warned, and we ring-fingers was cut off at the first joint are altogether ignorant of how he made —and that’s something you won’t find in his get-away. Remember there is a con- every street. As regards the bearer of the cierge at the gate of the Sante, guards mysterious pass, I had a little more luck. along the walls, and patrols of guardians They were able to tell me what kind of a
it making the rounds all the time. Just the taxi was that brought him ; and as there same, there is the undeniable fact—no- are not too many taxis around the Sante, body saw him, heard him, or knew any- I found out soon enough where the taxi thing about it.” came from that brought him. It came “And naturally, the bulb of gas was from the Place Beauveau; that is, from brought in by the person who had the pass the Ministry of Justice.” from the Ministry of Justice?” “Very curious, and perhaps even in- “It seems beyond doubt.” dicative of something. Go on." “Unfortunately, that doesn’t get us “Not wishing to lose that trail, which much farther along. For, with the ele- was the only one that seemed to lead ments of the mystery we have here, I anywhere, I hurried to the Place Beau- don’t see exactly how we are putting over veau and tried to connect up the young anything important on the other papers. girl with the missing finger-joint with If we say nothing either of the bulb of our friend who had the mysterious pass. gas or the pass, we are on the same level The Minister was in conference, but I little they are ; if we do mention them, they will got through to his messenger, a old be as well informed as we.” man with a white beard and a face like a “Obviously, if that were all there is to rat’s whom you have certainly seen it. But I didn’t stop there.” around the place—Father Felicien. He “Ah! More! My dear Berson, please seemed much interested by what I told don’t think it’s necessary to waste my him, particularly about the young girl, time by producing the effect on me that and went with me through the list of you ought to save for the i*eaders. I as- people connected with the Ministry who sure you that there are matters in Europe have daughters of about that age. This and Asia, not to mention Australia, that paper, here before you, contains that list, are as important as the escape of Mel- and I wonder if that is not the key to the pomes. And even more important to some mystery.” people.” The guilty party acknowledged the re- • The reporter picked up the folded buke with an inclination of his head, and paper, and opening it with care, pre- drawing from his pocket a paper, he pared to read the names, when, suddenly, placed it on the table before him without a cry escaped from his mouth, while his unfolding it. face showed the most complete astonish-
“In that case, I’ll go straight to the ment. heart of the matter. I got busy as rapidly “But what’s the matter?” as possible, trying to find out who the Without a word he extended the paper two people were, the bum and the young to the editor-in-chief in a hand which girl, who were so oppressed by the neces- trembled a little. sity of visiting Melpomes in his con- The latter took it, then looked as sur- demned cell. prised as his reporter, his eyes gazing into “As far as the bum was concerned, I vacancy for a moment. could find out nothing at all. That's not There was no sign on it of the names surprising, and I had almost the same of which the reporter had spoken and in- :
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 399 stead there sprawled across the paper in He looked up, and before that youth and staggering capitals a series of words strength, before the anxious eyes of Louis which made all comment seem futile: Berson, he no longer hesitated. He nodded. IF YOU WANT TO STAY ALIVE, DROP THIS “Thanks, chief. In that case, the paper BUSINESS. IT IS A COMBAT BETWEEN TWO won’t print anything more than the others. OPPOSED PRINCIPLES AND YOU WILL BE embroider a little on the official re- CRUSHED BETWEEN THEM. ONE STEP MORE Just port that the police will send out. I’ll AND YOU WILL BE DONE. THE MENACE keep what I have already found out to WILL NOT PARDON. myself, and go to work to find more.” Jean Sorlin read the message aloud Louis Berson rubbed his hands together once more, and handed the paper back to nervously. his reporter. “I may be wrong, Chief, but I don’t “You say that the old messenger gave believe so. I have a sort of idea that our, you a paper with something altogether paper is going to have a scoop in a few different on it ?” days.” “I am absolutely certain.” The editor-in-chief had relit his second “Very well; somebody followed you cigar, and his face had taken on its and picked your pocket of the first paper, habitual expression. then replaced with this one. Can you im- “If it doesn’t have a funeral. But E agine when it happened?” hope not. Don’t forget your little note,; 1 Louis Berson shook his head. Berson.” “I took a taxi when I left the ministry, Mechanically, both men extended their and it brought me right here to the door.” hands toward the paper and then, as
“Very well, it happened before you got though both had been struck with sudden into the taxi, then. And how do you in- paralysis, both hands stopped at the same tend to answer this little warning from moment. someone who seems to value himself Beneath the text they had already read, rather highly?” and written in the same blue ink, was Louis Berson leaped to his feet. another line, which seemed to have ap- “If they imagine that they are going to peared only when the paper was exposed frighten me, they are up against the to the air, and which looked like the sig- wrong person. This is like a red rag, only nature of the message
it’s not waved in front of a train, but in “the WEAKNESS WHICH IS STRENGTH” front of a bull ! In any case, this warning proves one thing; whoever there is be- “At all events, your friends know all hind it—that I’m on the right track, and about chemical inks,” remarked the editor that I’m not too far away from the heart drily. of the matter. I don’t know who they are “Just one more point to help us in find" or what they can do, but I will tell you ing them,” retorted Louis Berson with a one thing—if you will give me your per- shrug of the shoulders, and made his way mission, I will go after this business and toward the door.
not leave it till they have me or I them. As he reached it, he made a little ges- Will you give me permission to go about ture in the direction of his chief. ?” it in my own way “So long, boss, and I’ll see you later! Jean Sorlin stood silent for a moment, with the news.” weighing the arguments for and against And it was thus that Louis Berson, a. the reporter’s audacious proposal. He reporter a little too clever and too self- wondered what kind of an adventure he confident for his own good, found himself was sending his reporter into, and the in the midst of the great conflict in which idea of exposing him to serious, and per- he had nothing to gain. haps deadly danger troubled the editor. As the warning had so truly said, h§ — —
400 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
was in “a combat between two principles” good will to men be a fact. An end of and would be crushed between them. armaments, an end of wars. Otherwise the He was yet to learn that the Menace rule of mankind over the earth is at an which did not pardon, which called itself end. This is a warning.” “the weakness which is strength” had a “Correct, word for word,” remarked third name. the secretary, who had been following the
That name, as history learned it, was text of the strange missive with his eyes. The Invisible Menace. “And in spite of all the inquiries that have been set on foot, there is still no CHAPTER III indication against what this warns us?” Etienne Gromier took a cigarette from A Man Disappears the box on the desk, lit it, and rising, • Etienne Gromier, who had been Min- began to pace back and forth in his office. ister of the Interior for the last six “The police have put their best detec- months, made a little movement of im- tives on the job, but up to now, without patience as he ran through the morning’s the slightest result. For that matter, what mail. result do you expect. Paper and envelope The envelope he held in his hand was are of the most ordinary quality, such of a familiar type. This made the eighth as can be bought anywhere. As to getting One of the kind he had received during anything out of the fingerprints, you the week, and he had not the slightest might as well look for a needle in a hay- doubt as to the general tendency of the stack; they are not on record, none of letter he would find inside it. them. And for that matter, the thing has Shrugging his shoulders, and playing passed through dozens of hands before nervously with his paper-knife, he held reaching this office.” it to the light of the half-opened window “Perhaps the postmark— ?” for a moment, then threw it back on the “Useless. Not one of the letters was desk. mailed at the same place as another one. The secretary, who had been watching See for yourself.” this bit of by-play, judged the moment The secretary bent over the desk to pick opportune to risk a question. up the envelope and examined it attentive- “A new one like all the rest ?” ly. Etienne Gromier, who had been medi- “True. This one was mailed at the Rue tating, his eyes fixed on vacancy, did not de Clignancourt, and yesterday’s at the answer; instead, he opened the missive. Rue de Rome, and I remember one of There fell out a piece of that kind of the others coming from the Gare de Lyon. paper one can find in every Cheap sta- But in any case, there is no doubt that tionery store, and which has been known they all come from one and the same per- for generations under the name of “school son.” paper.” He glanced at it, then held it out “Not the slightest, and that brings with to the secretary. it another little problem of its own. Either “Unnecessary to read it,” he remarked, we are dealing with a monomaniac, one “it’s always the same. Some kind of a of those imaginary apostles who take their monomaniac, I should say. The same dreams for realities and who think the words, the same sentences. I am begin- golden age will be easy to bring about ning to learn the thing by heart.” in which case the only thing to do is laugh
And as though he were a school-boy at the letters and wait till their writer has repeating a lesson, he began to recite, in trotted on to his place in the madhouse a voice devoid of all expression. or, they are really sent by some organized “Three times now the weakness which band or religious sect, and if that is the is strength has struck. Let Humanity case, the matter has an entirely different understand and repent. Let peace on earth, aspect.” THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 401
The secretary seemed to meditate for According to this legend, it did not an instant, but ended his meditations by matter who was about to tell him some- making a grimace. thing or what the order was that he was
"Your second possibility is not very to be given ; Papa Felicien—nobody knew probable. For after all, the police would whether the old man had any other name have found some trail of a band. And, —always guessed in advance what it moreover, what can you connect up these would be and messed the matter up before queer warnings with, which never go be- he was asked to do it. yond a generalization, and which seem to The old man, who was, according to promise us—one could hardly call it a the universal opinion around the govern- revolution, for the term is not strong ment offices, the most stupid employee enough—but the complete upset of human there, always occupied the same place in civilization? It’s a kind of mania that the ante-chamber of the ministry. Every could only have been born in the brain of morning, winter or summer, warm or a mystic or a madman." freezing, Papa Felicien arrived, clothed The minister, who had been standing in a suit whose sleeves and pants-legs with his back to the bookcase, did not were a little too short or too long, due to reply at once. A frown of uneasiness the garment having been bought from stood on his forehead, but this detail some second-hand peddler along the escaped the attention of the secretary, street. A long-haired felt hat, rendered who was picking up the mail he had shapeless by exposure to the weather, brought in. covered a mass of white hair that made “I don’t know,” the minister finally an unruly aureole around his head when said, slowly. “My dear Lurkin, you don’t it was set at liberty. To finish the portrait, want to forget that the bacillus of paci- an enormous pair of spectacles were fism at any price circulates in the veins of astride his nose, concealing his small eyes every country, and that since the inex- which seemed always watery and which plicable accidents which have befallen the were set deep under bushy brows. “Eyes three first navies of the world, the anti- like a crow’s” one of the visitors to the war people have been more active than ministry had described them one day, ever.” with the added assurance that Napoleon "But still it seems to me that there can had said that eyes like that were always hardly be any connection between this and an indication of treason. But it was a little the accidents at Kiel, Spezia, and Brest ?” difficult to imagine anything Papa Felicien the secretary exclaimed, with a laugh, could have betrayed. Add to all this a looking up at the minister as he did so. little thin voice, sharp and in a high reg- The latter contented himself with a ister, and one has a more or less accurate shrug of his shoulders, and having given idea of the man who watched the doors the necessary orders for answering the of the ministry during the time this story mail, seated himself at his desk, while the occupies. secretary left the office for the waiting The secretary wondered whether the room, where, with his official chain around old man was about to exercise the talent his neck and his rusty black coat, the of guessing what was coming which had messenger of the ministry sat. It was the already given the old man a certain celeb- same old man who had spoken to the re- rity, and with which several scientists porter on the previous day, old Papa from the Academy of Medicine and Psy- Felicien. chology had busied themselves from time Jean Lurkin, the secretary, was just to time, seeing in it an interesting case of about to say something to him, when he telepathy. He was quickly relieved of his remembered an anecdote the minister had doubts. told at a dinner a little while before, and “I agree with you completely, Mon- halted himself with an inward smile. sieur Lurkin,” proferred Papa Felicien. :
402 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
“It is the work of some madman, some and his hair was slightly grey around poor maniac, and nothing more. A couple the edges. This sign of age, however, was of evenings ago the boss was all stirred contradicted by the rest of his face, from up because he found one of those letters which radiated an extraordinary force in with his pile of newspapers, and that and youth, by the direct, keen glance of time, it hadn’t even been mailed at all, the eye behind his monocle, and by the but had been brought by hand. He in- energy of his movements. Etienne Grom- sisted that I should have seen who ier, in spite of his age, was famous in brought it and when. As though it were sport circles as an amateur boxer, and possible for me to watch everyone who when he wished to use the airplane at the comes in here and everything they do. service of the minister, he always piloted
And besides, why be worried over a thing it himself. like that? It’s some crazy lunatic, that’s There was nothing about him of the all, be sure of type of politician who is so familiar to Monsieur Lurkin ; you can that.” us in the caricatures of the period be- tween 1900 and 1940. He belonged defi- • The secretary, who was in a good mood nitely to the new age, the period that be- that day, was about to answer that gan about 1950, the school that knew so such was the opinion of the minister, well how to preserve its youth. when the ringing of the bell interrupted Opening a drawer in his big desk, he them. now drew forth a number of letters and "Ah! That’s for me,” remarked Papa spread them out on his work-table.
Felicien. “Excuse me ; I must answer.” They were the eight missives received He entered the minister’s office, leav- during the last week, and which all bore, ing the secretary to make his way to the written in the same trembling and stag- stenography office where he spent most gering hand, the same message of his time, and came out a moment later “Three times now the weakness which with his orders and the list of persons is strength has struck. Let Humanity whom His Excellency would see that understand and repent. Let peace on earth, morning. good will to men, be a fact. An end of Finding the secretary gone, he mur- armaments, an end of war. Otherwise the mured a few unintelligible words and re- rule of mankind over the earth is at an seated himself in his chair, and taking a end. This is a warning,” cloth from a drawer, began to polish the In a low voice, but accenting every insignia of office which hung at the end word, the better to bring out its signifi- of his chain, a pursuit which seemed to cance, the minister read them over, word interest him enormously. by word. Papa Felicien was a perfect example of "Three times !” he murmured to him- the old servant grown grey in harness. self. “Three times—yes, it has happened He was one of the great line of French three times already. I wonder if it’s .” departmental messengers, who have ex- possible . . . isted unchanged since the days of the He did not finish. Instead, he reached kings. out to pick up the wireless telephone that Within the offices where he was now lay on his desk and asked to be placed alone, the minister had gone back to his in communication with the Ministry of tasks, but something seemed to pre-oc- War. The news was as he expected. Like cupy him, and finally he threw down his himself, and for the eighth time in seven pen and leaned back in his chair to days, his colleague there had received the watch the curls of smoke from his ciga- same warning. And the reply was the rette as they ascended toward the ceiling. same at all the other ministries he called He might have been somewhere about on the phone. fifty-two years old, was clean-shaven, “Therefore, it is a well-organized plot,” :
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 403 he remarked to himself, replacing the ap- bowing to the minister, and at his invita- paratus. “And they are making certain tion, taking his seat in the chair in front that none of the members of the govern- of the latter’s desk. ment are left in ignorance. But why—and He had laid down his hat and gloves, what is the penalty?” when suddenly, he stopped, his gaze fixed He was at this point in his meditations, as though he had been hypnotized. and had picked up the little package of Etienne Gromier, who was looking at letters to put them back again, when the him with a glance as cold and hard as door that opened into a little private room steel, toying with his monocle, followed of his at the side was flung open to admit the direction of the stare and in his turn the secretary. was dumbfounded to see what had pro- Something seemed to have excited that voked this reaction. person, and he did not wait for the Min- It was the envelope received that morn- ister’s question. ing, and which the secretary had left on “I beg your pardon for having inter- the edge of the desk. rupted you, Monsieur the Minister,” he For a moment the two men said noth- began, “but the fact is that, going down ing, then inserting his monocle in its ac- the hall just now, I ran into one of my customed place, the minister lifted his old school-fellows, Louis Berson.” head and looked directly at the journalist. “The journalist?” Berson, his voice trembling slightly, “The same. It seems that he is on the like that of a man whose emotions are track of this Melpomes affair for his too strong for him, burst out, without paper, and certain indications, of which trying to conceal his emotion. he did not wish to give me the details, “Monsieur the Minister, excuse me for seem to indicate that the Ministry of this question, which, no doubt, will seem Justice, which is in your department, is indiscreet to you, but will you permit me very deep in the matter. He came to try to look more closely at the envelope I see to interview you with regard to it; I there on your desk?" think it would be a good idea to see him.” The minister acquiesced with a nod; The minister frowned at the last sen- Berson took the envelope and studied the tence and threw a quick glance at the writing on it with attention. onyx clock on his desk. The time for the The blue color of the ink, the forma- first of the morning’s appointments had tion of some of the letters were the things not quite come. He reflected that it would that had struck him at the first glance; be better to see the reporter, whose un- and now that he could see the envelope canny talent for getting at facts he knew. close up, there was no longer the slightest Moreover, Nouvelles du Monde was one doubt. of the papers that was most vigorously The envelope he held in his hand and supporting his party, and its editor held the warning he had found in his pocket a prominent place in the councils. on the preceding evening were written “Let him come in then, since you evi- by the same person. dently took it upon yourself to promise He lifted his head, and with a voice him you would get him the interview,” now vibrating with the delight of the he said. “But I’m in a hurry. Tell him hunter who is on the right track, a track I can’t give him more than five minutes.” he never hoped to discover, he asked
The secretary was already at the door, “Would it be asking too much, Mon- and stepping rapidly across the inner sieur the Minister, if I asked you who office, met his friend in the corridor. With wrote the letter that was contained in this a few words, he told him the state of envelope? I beg your pardon for taking — ’’ affairs, recommending that the interview the liberty, but be as brief as possible. The minister, who had not ceased to A moment later Louis Berson was look at him, cut him short 404 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
“Is this part of the interview you asked mier stood up, and as though he were for with regard to the escape of Mel- under the influence of some sudden com- pomes ?” pulsion, went to the safe that stood behind Louis Berson returned the stare firmly. a curtain at the side of the room. “Yes, Monsieur the Minister, and in “Monsieur Berson,” he said, "to prove a way whose importance you wilt, I am to you the importance I attach to what sure, appreciate. Look at this paper, you have just told me, and the value I which I found in the pocket of my coat set on year cooperation in this matter, I yesterday evening in place of a note I am going to show you something which had put there myself only a short time up to now has been a secret from every- before.” one but the President of the federated And he rapidly related the story which French Republics, the Minister of Na- we know already, and as he told it, he tional Defense, and myself.” could see that it produced on the min- He turned the combination, and with a ister an effect even more startling than click, the door of the safe swung open. it had on himself. Pulling out a drawer marked “Confi- Etienne Gromier’s whole face seemed dential, Affair X” he drew forth a note
to become petrified. His teeth set, his written on the same paper, and held it forehead wrinkled; he read and read out to the reporter. It contained these again the phrases which, under penalty words: of death, warned the young reporter not FOR WORLD-PEACE. THREE DAYS MORE to proceed with the Melpomes inquiry. AND THREE EXAMPLES WILL BE GIVEN. Opening his drawer, and pulling from it IF THE LESSON IS NOT UNDERSTOOD, GOOD the eight letters which he had just put BYE TO CIVILIZATION. TH £ there, he compared them with the report- MENACE. er’s note. No doubt was possible. The “And do you know when I received same ink, the same handwriting, the same that message?” demanded the minister. formation of the letters, everything cor- “Exactly three days before the Gerfnan responded. cruiser turned over on her side in the Kiel “You say,” he said, finally breaking dry-dock, an event which was followed the silence, “that this paper was pushed by similar accidents to the Italian and otrr into your pocket without your being able own ships.” to discover when, in place of a note which “You don’t mean that these are the
you had with you at the time?” three examples he’s talking about . . .
"Yes, Monsieur the Minister, during “I do. Everything seems to prove it,
the journey between the office of this and alas ! I fail to see any other explana- ministry and the office of Ncnivelles du. tion.”
Monde. And I made the trip in a taxi.” “But in that case . . . "Tell me the whole story,” said the “Wait a moment. After a conference minister. “The appointments can wait.” with the President and my colleague of
the National Defense department, it was • Tn precise ami careful words as though resolved not to make public a message he were giving a news broadcast, Louis which so clearly shows the premeditation
Berson went over the story of everything of the three accidents ; to do so would be that had happened on the preceding day, to alarm the public. An inquiry was tak-
as he had told it to his editor-in-chief. ing place ; we could count on an outburst Omitting none of the details, he described of super-heated patriotism, and our first bis researches at the Sante prison and duty was not to give it too much to feed finally those at the ministry itself. upon. But we were also determined to lay Not a word came from the lips of the the matter before the Cabinet if anything minister during this recital. But when new happened. Eight days ago, as you can Louis Berson had finished, Etienne Gro- cheek for yourself by means of these —
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 405 envelopes, the communications from the “In that case, go back to the job at Menace began again. And this time, in once. Take up the trail where you left order that every member of the Cabinet it. You will find me in this office every shall know about it, they all got copies day, and if anything urgent comes up, addressed to them personally. As you see, call me on the telephone at my home. And the handwriting on all of them is the now I must ask you to leave, for I have same. Now at a first glance, it is certainly to see a long procession of those infernal altogether impossible to see what connec- bores who imagine that the job of a Min- tion there can be between Melpomes, the ister of the Interior requires him to listen assassin of six poor women, and this to complaints about everything in the impassioned apostle of world peace! But country. Only don’t go out the main door. it is now beyond doubt that some such Unnecessary that any more people know connection exists. Your investigation yes- that you have been visiting me. You can terday annoyed someone. In other words, follow the way my secretary brought you you were on the trail. May I ask what in? Good.” effect this threat produced upon you? The minister closed the door behind and what your intentions are in the Louis Berson and went to ring for his matter ?” messenger, when he noticed that the safe Louis Berson, who had recovered, in in which he kept confidential documents appearance at least, his habitual gaiety had been left open. Picking up the letters of manner, smiled. from the table, he placed them inside
“Would you have let me into all these and closed the heavy door, giving the government secrets, Monsieur the Min- combination two or three turns. ister, if you had the slightest doubt as to Returning to his desk, he stopped by my reply to that question ?” the window to glance for one more time at the man in whom he had reposed so “True,” said the minister, smiling in much confidence. The court of the min- his turn. “I told you because I was cer- isterial building was empty and he calcu- tain that nothing would stop you, and lated that his visitor had not yet had time that this threat instead of persuading you to reach the ground floor and issue into to withdraw, would act like an excitant. it. He lit a cigarette and stood idly gazing Now, let me say something, speaking to out of the window for several minutes. As you as man to man ; there is not the slight- he waited, his fingers tapped a little tattoo est doubt in my mind that a grave danger, of impatience on the pane really that re- whose methods of striking cannot be fore- — porter was a long time in leaving. Several seen, but which disposes of powerful more minutes went by; still he did not means of offense, hangs over both of us. appear. The minister turned and pressed Do you wish to, will you forget for the the button that communicated with his time being that you are a reporter, and waiting room. continue this inquiry for your country?” Papa Felicien came in, inclining his Louis Berson did not even stop to think. head with the obedient gesture of the per- He had risen to his feet while the min- fect servant. ister leaned back in his chair, looking at “Someone was talking to me in here a him. Now he simply bowed. moment ago and went out by way of my “I accept, Monsieur the Minister,” he private entrance. I wanted to say some- answered with a quiet energy. “I don’t thing more to him. Will you catch him know whether I am really running into and bring him back ?” danger or not; perhaps all these threats Papa Felicien's crows’ eyes seemed to .” are so much . . . wobble, and with his fingers fumbling He was interrupted by the minister, as usual at his official chain, he went out who leaned across the desk to shake his to execute the order. hand. Three minutes later he was back. There :
406 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 was no one either in the corridor or on CHAPTER IV the stairway. The Invisible Menace “Did the concierge tell you that my friend had left?” inquired the minister. • The inexplicable disappearance of “The concierge, who is sitting in the Louis Berson would doubtless have entry-way, says that nobody at all has been one of those tremendous journalistic left the building for the last ten minutes, sensations that shake great cities, thanks Monsieur the Minister.” to the place he had disappeared and to his “It’s impossible.” position, if the minister himself had not “Monsieur the Minister, the concierge judged it more prudent to keep a complete is very reliable.” silence about the matter. “Certainly, but I tell you it’s impossible. Only one person was informed—the Go back down into the court, look around Prefect of Police. And he was warned to for yourself, and ask in the other offices.” pursue his inquiries carefully, and with- revealing the But although every office in the build- out the matter to news- ing was searched, and everyone in the papers. ministry was soon joined in the hunt, no Moreover, there might not have been sensation after all. it trace of Louis Berson could be found. any For was on disappearance A chauffeur who was waiting at the the morrow of the that doorway said that he had brought a young those events began, which, with a rhythm man there about an hour before in whose more and more rapid, were repeated under a dozen different circumstances for description it was easy to recognize the than arousing public journalist. He had told him to wait, but more a month, had not come out again. opinion to fever-heat and threatening ex- Noon and afternoon came, and the plosions of almost any kind. in view that mystery advanced no further than this Who, of the danger sud- point denly arose to menace the city of Paris, have thought of trying to find At a quarter to ten, Louis Berson, in a would a connection between it disappear- state of abounding health, had entered and the ance of a young reporter was trying the minister’s office, and from that mo- who find idea ment forth no one had seen the slightest to an escaped murderer? The trace of him. Between the time he had would never have occurred to any person in his right senses. But unfortunately, left the minister’s office and that neces- sequel it is not al- sary to reach the court, he had disap- the was to prove that the people in their right senses peared as completely as though he shad ways who disintegrated. are right. morning, is, “Is the Menace already passing from That that the morning two after the disappearance of Louis threats to acts ?” the minister asked him- days Berson, the Minister of the Interior, who self, as he went back to his work. And did partake of the of the he wondered whether he had not acted not optimism rest of the Cabinet as to the mysterious too rapidly in putting the young reporter letters, and who approached the opening on a task that had perhaps led him to his of morning’s mail with something like death. the apprehension, had not been in his office On the next day there was a brief ten minutes before he was trying to get a postscript to the ninth letter in the series radiophone call through to the President. of writings. He explained to him that something USELESS TO STRUGGLE, it Said, THE IN- new had occurred, and asked that an ur- FINITELY DESPICABLE IS THE STRONGEST. gent Cabinet meeting be summoned im- MEDITATE THE FATE OF THE MAN WHO mediately. VANISHED. The summons were sent out at once, Once more the Menace had won. and an hour later all the members of the THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 407
government were gathered around the morning mail a note like the one I re- long table where such conferences had ceived ?” been held ever since the Constitution of He extended his hand and laid on the 1952 had been adopted. table a sheet of that school-paper with Arriving ten minutes before the rest, its daily letter. the Prime Minister had held a brief There was a chorus of agreement, private talk with the President, and they while a good many of the members had agreed on the course to be followed. shrugged their shoulders disdainfully at The other members of the Cabinet the idea of a cabinet meeting to discuss came in, asking each other what was the these maniac letters. reason for this hasty meeting, which no “The crazy letter? Evidently everyone ?” outside fact seemed to justify, and most got them. And what now of them did not trouble to hide their ap- The Premier rapped on the table to prehension. Was there some unseen poli- reestablish silence in the buzz of talk tical current which would demand their that arose. resignation? It was in vain that they “I will not go back over the eight first sought an answer to these inward ques- letters,” continued the minister, “copies tions in the faces of the President and the of which all of us have received. You Minister of the Interior. doubtless know their contents more or One of the most uneasy, though he less by heart, and as for myself, I am not hid his disturbance fairly well, was the ashamed to say that I was altogether Minister of the Air and Communications, skeptical about the matter in the begin- M. Rouleau-Dugage. If the Premier him- ning. self and most of the other Cabinet officers “And if any of you continued to read were the incarnation of the modern and the letters which seemed too foolish to be youthful type of politician of our days, taken seriously, did you notice that there he was altogether the classical type of was a postscript to the ninth?” !” politician descended from the old days “Correct announced one of the under- before the Second World War. secretaries, who was anxious to prove his zeal in the service of the state, in the hope With his prominent belly, his little of obtaining a full ministry in the next pointed beard, his myopic eyes behind cabinet. “I have a good memory; I can glasses attached to his vest by a cord recall it quite well. It was ‘Useless to which had once been black, he was the struggle. The infinitely despicable is the delight of caricaturists. strongest. Meditate the fate of the man The pockets of his coat, always swollen who vanished.’ Only I at least, could not with papers, seemed the symbols of his understand what it was talking about.” mind. Nevertheless, he had considerable “That postscript,” continued the ability in the handling of the technical Premier, “was the souvenir of an event details of his ministry, and it was thus of which I happened to be the only wit- that his presence in a cabinet, otherwise ness. Day before yesterday, a young jour- intelligent, was justified. Aside from this nalist, Louis Berson, came to see me at technical ability, he represented an ele- the ministry. He disappeared as he left ment of civil war in the combination; it my office, never reached the court below. was no secret that he aspired to displace Since that time there is no news of him.” Etienne Gromier and himself become “What ?” burst out several voices. Premier. “That is exactly what happened the Finally, the Minister of the Interior day before yesterday in Paris, in broad rapped on the table for silence, and open- daylight. A man disappeared from the ing a file, rose in his place. Ministry of the Interior a few doors “I would like to know,” he inquired, away from here. But the thing is even
"if each of my colleagues found in his more serious than it appears on the sur- 408 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
face. The day before, that same man re- Etienne Gromier looked at him calmly. ceived a letter from the Menace, that “It is because, my dear colleague, I is, from the same maniac who wrote the ordered that all envelopes like this one, letters we all of us regarded as those of and addressed to no matter what min- a simple crank.” istry, be taken at once to the office of the “But why did he get one? Why was secret police to be inspected for finger- he kidnapped like that?” prints.” “Because the young journalist in ques- The Minister of the Air seemed to tion was busy with the problem which has explode. excited Paris for the last three days—the “And do you call that a proper respect escape of the murderer Melpomes.” for the secrecy of the mails and for “Pardon me,” interjected the Minister ministerial privileges? My word; this is of Finance, “but what connection is there going a bit too far ! Do you think you are between the escape and the crank letters ?” a despot?” The Premier shrugged slightly. “It is more important to defend the in- “As to that point, my dear sir, I am terests of the nation than to satisfy the as ignorant as you. Only, you can be cer- vanity of members of the Cabinet,” re- tain of one thing; whether we like it or torted the Premier, without being in the not, the connection exists. The hand that least stirred out of his calm. “You would traced those letters disposes of means of have done the same thing yourself, and offense which it does not hesitate to use.” will very likely do the same thing yourself By the attitude of the Premier and when you are in my place. Moreover, I the gravity of his tone, the Cabinet under- did it with the entire approval of the stood that they were arriving at the cru- President.” cial point of the meeting. “But,” interposed the Minister of No one spoke as the Premier opened Public Works, desirous of cutting short his portfolio and drew forth a yellow en- what looked like the beginning of a bore- velope from which he took a sheet of some argument, “why does this new crank that school-paper which everyone knew letter so change your opinion that you so well by this time. found it necessary to call this meeting? "Here,” he said simply, “is the note I If these letters are the work of some received this morning, and which seemed insane person, do his prophecies mean any to me so important that I asked the Presi- more than his threats? Don’t you think dent to summon this urgent meeting of it would be better to wait and see?” the cabinet. It is brief and to the point. The Premier smiled bitterly. I will read it: “There will be a confirmation of the prophecy, my friend, and rather sooner “on the tenth day, the infinitely than you think. For the man who threat- DESPICABLE WILL STRIKE. LET THE LESSON ened once through these letters had kept BE UNDERSTOOD: IF IT IS NOT, NOTHING his word, no matter how impossible it WILL SERVE TO STAY THE INEVITABLE. .” seems. That man . . . WHEN THE RADIO SPEAKS THIS MORNING, He hesitated, as though some counsel THE FIRST BELL WILL TOLL FOR THE END of prudence held him back, then took the OF HUMANITY.” plunge. • A voice cut across the dead silence “That man warned us, before the event, which greeted the reading of this Bible- of the accidents at Kiel, Spezia, and like prophecy. Brest.” It was that of the Minister of the Air, There was only a single voice from the who was astonished that, contrary to prec- Cabinet. edent, only the Minister of the Interior “The three cruisers!” had received a copy of this communica- “The same.” tion. The silence around the table was that THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 409 of stupefaction, of doubt, of a refusal to Certain people devoted to the idea of believe the possibility of such a thing. A peace we all of us have at heart, imagine couple of moments ticked by silently, as that there is only one thing which will though no one had sufficient courage to cure all the ills from which Humanity ask any further explanations. It was the suffers — universal disarmament, after
President himself who broke it. which we can all of us return to the "Monsieur the Premier,” he said, “if Golden Age and dance to the sound of you are willing, will lay the whole story pipes. About a hundred years ago these before you.” dreamers imagined that the millennium Silently, the Minister of the Interior would come with the liberation of the brought from his portfolio the warning, individual from all control—they were the first of the series, which we have seen then called anarchists. Today they love already, and which today can be found the whole world and peace at any price in the National Museum ; the warning he is their doctrine. Now instead of preach- had shown to Louis Berson two days be- ing it, they are trying to put it into prac- fore, and which so clearly demonstrated tice, and I think you will admit that their that there was nothing accidental in the first efforts have been rather a success.” triple disaster. And now it was Rouleau-Dugage who Wordlessly, he passed it to his neighbor gave a shrug. on the right, who, after glancing at it, “But that’s all foolishness. The engi- passed it in turn to his neighbor. neers who looked into the matter reported “And how many members of the Cab- that natural causes were responsible in the inet,” inquired the Minister of the Air, cases of the three cruisers.” controlling his evident irritation with an “Exactly. But my colleague of the de- effort, “did you take into your confidence partment of National Defense will not the first I have contradict me when I say that these con- with regard to this secret ; known a government to keep ?’ clusions were announced to calm public “The Minister of National Defense opinion. As a matter of fact, the business and His Excellency the President, who was white-washed. Come now, can any were altogether in agreement with me that man in his senses believe that the disin- to reveal this communication to the public tegration of the shores, which they attrib- might cause the gravest consequences.” uted to the action of the gas used to tem- “Curious fashion of showing confidence per the armor plate, took place to such a in the rest of the ministry, but never mind. degree that in all three cases it brought Then, according to you, the catastrophes about the fall of the cruiser at the same at Kiel, Brest, and Spezia had a common hour, the same minute and the same author, who lives in Paris, in view and in second ?” knowledge of the police and who is now “All right, admit that then. But what preparing a new stroke of some kind?” is this being, this superman, who is behind "You have expressed the sense of my all these things, looking for?” words.” “I can only offer suppositions, but it “And with what object is all this going seems to me that his object is very clear. on, my dear Premier?” Every time any improvement in the na- The Minister of the Interior did not tional defenses takes place, he wishes to take offense at the irony of words and destroy it and finally to produce disarma- tone. Instead he shrugged his shoulders. ment through fear.” “Mon Dieu, my dear colleague, I didn’t “It’s insanity.” think it was necessary to recall to you “Certainly; but it is an insanity which the pacifistic campaigns that have been is aided by a power of whose strength we going in Germany and Italy, and above are unfortunately ignorant, and which
all, in our own country, ever since the will very likely furnish us a new example building of the cruisers was announced. at no very distant date.” :
410 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
• While this unamiable discussion had as the tomb of Napoleon, fell down. As been going on, the Minister of the In- it was too early in the morning for visi- terior had been glancing frequently at tors, there were no injuires. the big and very horrible clock on the “The most striking bit of the day’s mantelpiece—that famous clock, which, news is that there was a third accident like all old things, is so very fashionable at exactly the same time. The airplane today. One would have said that he was factory at Le Bourget where pursuit waiting for something. planes were built, collapsed, destroying Finally the two gilded hands met at the work of several years of research. the hour of twelve, and as they did so, a There were several victims, but their exact muted bell rang somewhere at the back number is as yet uncertain. of the room. “Paris is very much excited over the It belonged to the radio instrument news. In spite of assurances to the con- which permitted the President to listen trary from official quarters, there is a to the latest news as communicated by the rumor that there is a connection between official speaker, four times a day— -at nine, this series of accidents and the recent noon, four o’clock, and ten in the eve- destruction of the three cruisers.” ning. The voice halted and suddenly the room In spite of himself, the Minister of the was filled with a heavy and pregnant Interior started at the sound, and it was silence—a silence like death, marked only easy to perceive that this was the signal by the breathing of men who were trying for which he had been waiting. What to convince themselves that they really would it bring?—the confirmation of his heard what they thought they had. fears—or a definite end of them ? It was the Minister of the Interior who Several members of the Cabinet re- broke it. membered the phrase which had closed “I believe,” he remarked coldly, placing the last message from the unknown, the his documents in his portfolio, “that our message they had all heard a few mo- opponent has made good his prediction ments before: that he would give us a proof of his power. He has begun the attack. God WHEN THE RADIO SPEAKS THIS MORN- alone knows what he will do tomorrow." ING THE FIRST BELL WILL TOLL FOR THE It was as though his words had re- END OF HUMANITY. leased a storm in the room. And the hour had come and the radio All the members of the Cabinet, as was about to speak. though released from an enchantment, At a sign from the President, his sec- spoke at once, questioned, interrupted retary had risen and crossed the room to one another. the instrument on which he turned a disc. It was Rouleau-Dugage whose voice Immediately, the voice of the official dominated the tumult. news announcer filled the room, loud and “And what does the government intend clear to do?” he demanded, banging his fist on “Hello! Hello! This morning, at eight the table. “What measures will be taken ? forty-two, Boulevard de Versailles, Paris, What orders do you expect to give?” a barrack being built to house the new The Premier, who had been saying recruits for the army coming from Hog- something to the President in a low voice, gar, collapsed without any visible reason. turned around.
There are forty-one injured and fifteen “First, it is necessary to know whom dead. we are dealing with. And at the present “At the same time, to the minute, and moment, that is just the detail on which by a strange coincidence, almost to the we have no information. I hardly doubt second, a portion of the building of the that tomorrow and the following days Invalides, famous throughout the world will bring us more exact information. For THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 411
the present, we can do nothing but wait.” some pre-planned band of terror—though “And do you call that governing the God alone knew what organization was
country?” cried the Minister of the Air behind it. angrily, fumbling nervously with the but- The rumors, contradictory as rumors tons of his coat. usually are, would have died down with “Yes, my dear colleague, wait!” flung the passage of time, however, if on the Etienne Gromier. “And meanwhile I am very next morning there had not been going back to my ministry, where there another series of three accidents.
is no unemployment.” This time it was the annex to the And with this parting shot, he pro- Ministry of War building (that annex ceeded toward the door, without paying where the espionage sendee had its head- the slightest attention to the chorus of quarters) ; the munitions store for the cries behind him. But at the door itself, entrance camp of Paris-Rouen; and the he thought of something further. building where the archives of the inven- “Do you know what you remind me of, tions division of the Ministry of National gentlemen ?” he inquired, ironically. “You Defense were housed that fell, and as on remind me of an ant-heap which has been the last occasion there were dead and in- kicked by some unknown enemy. Believe jured as well as purely material damage. me, it will be much better if we are all That evening all Paris was assembled calm. For, alas! this is probably not the around the loud-speakers of the daily last kick that our ant-hill will receive. papers, listening to the latest news and Good-bye, gentlemen.” theories as to the accidents, gesticulating, And without knowing it, the minister discussing, accusing this group or that, had used the one expression that really and sometimes even the government itself fitted the situation. as the guilty party. An ant-heap! An ant-heap menaced by One thing was evident at once, and an implacable enemy. the populace at large did not fail to
notice and, comment on it. None of these CHAPTER V catastrophes had touched any home or civil building of any kind. All of them The Mysterious Attackers had taken place in buildings and estab- • The official news speaker had not ex- lishments attached to the Ministry of aggerated the emotion of the people of National Defense. Paris, faced by the triple catastrophe of The fact was important. that morning. That same evening the Premier held a No matter how carefully official quar- conference with the President that lasted ters worked to diminish the effect of the for over an hour, and the result of this events and to give them the appearance interview was that at midnight a meeting of accident, there was a growing in- of all the newspaper publishers and direc- quietude abroad which nothing could ap- tors of radio stations took place in the pease. Place Beauveau. The affair of the three cruisers, al- Orders were given to both press and ready half-fallen into forgetfulness, radio, under pain of the severest pen- leaped suddenly to the fore again, with alties, to observe a complete silence in the all the doubts and problems that it pre- future as to repetitions of the accidents sented. that had taken place. A conspiracy of The three ships had met the same fate, silence was organized in the interest of and now three new accidents had come the public as a whole. When the publish- in the same fashion to throw half the ers asked what they should do, they were city into mourning. told to turn attention onto something else, It was too much to suppose coincidence something that would arouse wide public responsible. Evidently it was the work of interest. .
412 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
“Here," suggested Etienne Gromier, There would have been a wave of “you have the escape of this criminal public fear if the papers had not kept the Melpomes. Embroider a little on that sub- most complete silence with regard to the ject, gentlemen; keep people busy with it. whole business.
. “That will be the salvation of your And then it was that a rumor, begin- papers. With that toy to occupy their ning no one knew just where, began to go attention, the people of Paris will be calm the rounds, like a wave that rises when a and we will be at liberty to work in our stone is thrown into a pool. It was re- own way.” ceived at first with smiles and scepticism, It was one of those governmental re- then finally, with terror—and it said that quests which have the force of a demand. termites were responsible for the damage. The editors and radio-directors agreed, Beginning on June 14, 1987, the word with a somewhat bad grace, that the “termites” ran from one mouth to another escape of Melpomes was a subject that throughout the city and the country, with- would interest everyone in France. out the newspapers or radio once mention-
On the next morning when everybody ing it. And then, leaping the frontiers, crowded to the newspaper dealers to get it was picked up in foreign countries and the news of the latest accidents, they propagated to the most remote corners found themselves confronted with staring of the globe. Within a week, there was not headlines on the Melpomes affair. And a city, not a hamlet in the world that was for eight days long, that was the only not pronouncing the word which was to subject of the front page articles, while throw a thrill of terror into the heart of Heaven alone knows how the unhappy everyone who heard it for months to journalists managed to find something come—termites. new in the business to write about. At last, civilization found itself face to It was almost as bad as in the days of face with the most serious menace in its the old kings, when the governments in- history. vented assassinations to keep the public At first, the effect was not that which from knowing what was really going on. one would normally expect. And during all that time, known only Faithful to the spirit of scepticism to those who actually saw them, and then which through the centuries has been the quickly buried in the conspiracy of silence, source both of her weakness and her one accident followed another with mad- strength, France did not understand the dfening iteration. full meaning of the word, and repeated One after another there were struck it in the beginning only to amuse hersel f down the new building at the military In this she was aided by the quarrel school of St. Cyr, prepared especially for which opened at once and split the news- women who wished to become army offi- papers into two opposing camps, each
cers ; the barracks where the Indo-Chinese with its attendant train of radio stations. !” troops were quartered; the new torpedo “The Dreyfus case of the termites school at the naval port of Paris, that laughed one of the comic papers, and the school whose opening marked the deep- battle was opened with this reference to ening of the Seine that finally made Paris a celebrated case of the last century. a seaport; the mobilization office, and It really began with a long article in many other minor establishments. the Nowuelles du Monde which defied
Each time the procedure of destruction the ministry to penalize it for telling the was the same some subterranean tunnel- truth, listed the damage done by the col- ; ling was carried on for days and weeks lapse of buildings in Paris during the without any trace of it showing on the last three days, and announced that these surface; then, one day, without warning, curious white ants, unknown in Europe the ground caved in, and the building with up to that time, were the beings respon- it. sible. ; : —
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 413
The articles were a tremendous success • Thoroughly aroused by now, Nouvelles everybody was reading the paper and du Monde replied on the following day the Minister of the Interior, who was with an article which ended: about to suppress it, remembered that “And what if we do claim that, after newspaper readers are also voters and all, the disasters at Kiel, Spezia, and decided to do nothing. But, inspired by Brest, were due to the terrible termites? him, an opposition sheet, Les Temps It may surprise the honorable professor Revolus came out the next morning with to know that there are several similar in- a complete refutation of the termite stances of insects or disease germs ap- theory of Nouvelles du Monde, ridiculing pearing in places where they have hither- it from start to finish and declaring that to been unknown for ages. After all, to termites had never appeared in France claim that the destruction of the cruisers within the memory of man. The tempera- was due to the action of gases is to jump ture and the condition of the ground ren- from the frying pan into the fire. There dered it altogether impossible. is no proof whatever of this theory. No- Whereupon the battle of the facts be- body—except the government experts broke down. gan on all sides. has examined the shores that We demand that a public examination, of Without delay Nouvelles du- Monde them be permitted, and that there be a gave a radio talk in which official docu- public exhibition side by side, of pieces ments were quoted to show that in 1898 from them, and from the ruined buildings termites had appeared at Rochefort, and in Paris.” in 1936, 1944, and 1972 at other places Two days later, a sensational dodger on French territory. from Nouvelles du Monde was on the only served to stir up Les This blow street Temps Revolus and the other opposition ONE OF OUR CORRESPONDENTS GETS IN- journals. TO BREST ARSENAL AND SECURES EVI- “Imagine for a moment,” wrote a dis- DENCE. NO ERROR POSSIBLE. WRECK OF tinguished professor of the College of THREE CRUISERS DUE TO WORK OF TER- France, in a leading article, “the quantity MITES. of the termites necessary to produce the building-collapses of June 11. The num- On that day it seemed that everyone ber necessary for only one of these acci- in Paris was walking past the windows dents, to say nothing of all three, runs where the great daily was exhibiting frag- It was up into the millions. How can any man ments from the recent disasters. of sense maintain that such a number of impossible to deny the evidence, and the insects could be at work for the time France and the world had to accept necessary without some trace of their existence and destructiveness of the ter- the full operations being found? This is only an- mites as a fact. But even yet other example of the pseudo-science so extent and implications of the menace frequently met with in yellow journalism, were hidden from most and the revela- rather with spirit of whose object is merely to amuse. And if tion was received a amusement one of solemnity. it is claimed that the termites, which, we than repeat, cannot live in our climate, could Popular songs about termites were produce the disasters to all of these build- broadcast. Old gentlemen from, the col- ings, why not go one step further and onies were hunted out to give their ac- claim that termites also are responsible counts of the damage that termites had for the destruction of the three cruisers? wrought there. Maurice Maeterlinck, Genuine scientists will be calm, seeing in whose name had altogether been forgotten these events nothing but what really ap- by the new, athletic and active generation, pears in them—an as yet unexplained became popular again as though by magic. operation of chance.” All the publishers hastily brought out new 414 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
and illustrated editions of “The Life of government the day one of the papers the Termites”; newspapers published it openly printed this fact, and within an serially—and street-sellers appeared with hour, the Place de la Concorde began to new toys made in the form of a termite fill up with a mob heading toward the which ran around busily when they were Chamber of Deputies in the midst of a wound up. low growl of anger. The intervention of Finally, a ditch-digger found several the troops, accompanied by a battalion of living termites and became a kind of na- tanks, was necessary to quell the excite-
tional hero for at least three days. ment, and it lacked only a little of being What most of the people did not see transformed into a revolution. and what would have thrown a shadow That same day the Premier pronounced over their enjoyment of the situation if before the microphone a speech which they had seen it was the unseen hand was heard throughout all France. He an- that continued to write a “Mene, Tekel, nounced that the General Staff of the Uparshin” directed toward all humanity. army and the scientists of the Institute For the destructions continued, unfore- were cooperating in taking the most com- seeable, implacable. Not a single building plete measures possible to overcome the connected with the national defense menace and that at any moment the dan- seemed safe from attack. And neither ger would be over. measures of defence nor measures of pre- This acted like oil on the troubled caution were of the slightest value against waters, and within a day, the capital was the spread of the plague. Here was a force calm once more. against which all known means of combat Unfortunately, the next day there were were useless. Everything would have to be two new and particularly obvious dis- revised, improved, and unfortunately the asters; the Grand Palais collapsed and assailants were leaving no time for such the great statue of Marshal Paul Bon- revision and improvement. court, the hero of the super-war of 1947- The daily catastrophes, which could no 1952, fell down. longer be concealed by any means in the After these events, the Premier could power of the government, soon arrived at do nothing but tighten up the reins of the stage of thoroughly stirring public censorship again. He summoned the jour- opinion. nalists and radio directors. It became evident that the termites were “Not a word more about the termites, no longer a new game at which one could I implore you!” was the order. “The sci- laugh. And then suddenly, that mysterious entists are now at woj;k, and we can ex- mass fear which paralyzes every effort pect good results from them at almost of the best governments, began to raise its any moment. But for God’s sake, keep the head. ' people calm.” The newspapers became more excited The next day, a new measure was taken than they had for an age, and it was against foreign radio stations. These, re- necessary to go back to the black hours ceiving direct information from their of the war of 1914-1918 or to the still Paris correspondents by beam-radio- blacker days of the super-war of 1947- phones, were giving lists of the destroyed 1952 to find a parallel for the emotion buildings in every broadcast, and adding that breathed in every line of the papers. comments of their own, which by no Like a train of powder, the news ran means helped to restore confidence. through the city; Paris was undermined Thus the Edinburgh station, the prop- throughout by the termites, and its build- erty of the Presbyterian Church, broad- ings would one by one crumble into their cast a sermon against French depravity, galleries. No means of defence were pos- seeing in the repeated disasters the hand sible. of God turned against the modern There was a lively reaction against the Babylon. Meanwhile, a German station THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 415 was giving a heart-rending description of what form the ravages would take and Paris in the grip of terror, with the had even been warned how to avoid them. frightened inhabitants fleeing the ruins And now certain expressions that had of houses that every day crashed about seemed only part of the sybillic languages them in greater numbers. used by madmen seemed to leap up at him To prevent such tidings getting abroad, out of those notes, —becoming more and the new invention of a professor at the more comprehensible “the weakness that Francis Carco College was called into is strength,” “the infinitely despicable” play, thanks to which it was possible to which was “the strongest of all.”’ close the frontiers of the country to all Was it not infinitely little, the strength foreign radio emissions and surround of the adversaries with which civilization France with a veritable quarantine. was faced? And yet what strength they; But all these, unfortunately, were noth- had! Nothing could resist them, neither ing but expedients. -The brutal truth could the greatest warships produced by human not be concealed; the termites were con- genius, nor the ancient buildings that had tinuing their work of destruction uninter- withstood for centuries the ravages of ruptedly. time. But there was another thought that • The Premier hardly slept; he went haunted the Premier, filling his nights about his daily task with deep rings with terror. under his eyes and his heart agonized at In order that any man should be able to the fate of the city. And to this was added predict exactly what would happen, some another cause of anxiety, thanks to infor- weeks in advance of the event itself, mation which he and the rest of the could mean only one thing—that he was Cabinet alone possessed. Several of the in some obscure manner controlling the journalists and numerous other persons progress of the ravages. had shown astonishment that the hand of Well, then, who was the man who destruction had been visited only upon could command the work of the termites buildings connected with the national de- and make use of their labors to attain
fense. To this, the Premier, through the a desired result ? What naturalist oq mouths of the writers, had responded that super-man had so penetrated the secrets if the termites showed a preference for of the infinitely little as to be able to these buildings it was due to the fact that use them as a weapon? How did he con- most of them were comparatively new trol the insects, how communicate with and the materials used in their construc- them? In spite of himself, Etienne tion must contain some substance that Gromier was more than a little disturbed proved particularly attractive to the in- by this line of thought. It seemed such sects. madness, and yet it was indisputable and The Premier could say this sort of demonstrable fact. thing at a press conference, and when he And, furthermore, was not the master gave interviews over the radio; but he of the “infinitely little” whoever he was, was very far from deceiving himself. to be taken seriously when he spoke of It was only necessary for him to re- the end of human civilization? Decidedly; member the notes that lay in his safe. if he could control the ravages of the
They told the whole and only truth. And insects to this extent, it would be the it was these that caused him to wake in simplest thing in the world for- him to the middle of the night with perspiration bring down any building, any human con- on his forehead. struction in the world. Man is a creature If the attacks of the termites were di- of his own constructions. rected only against one class of buildings, Certainly no one but a madman would the real reason was that it was according do such a thing. But all the evidence at to plan. He had been told in advance hand seemed to show that the whole thing 416 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
was the work of a madman of such genius Since the last message announcing the as the world had never seen before. destructions, the enemy had given no sign And what would come next ? of life. Doubtless he was confidently In spite of himself, the Premier pre- awaiting the success of his enterprise in visioned a field of ruins from which the the surrender of the government. last stones of Notre Dame projected At this thought, a wave of anger took mournfully, the Arc de Triomphe in ruins possession of the Minister of the Interior. on the ground, the destruction of every- He would rather resign on the spot than thing that had made Paris the loveliest give in in such a fashion ! And moreover, city in the world .... what sort of a welcome would he have “And the traveller, sitting on a broken in the Cabinet if he proposed surrender stone, will seek to discover some trace and what would the Chamber say to the of the great city of Paris,” an author of idea of complete and immediate disarma- the last century had written. ment? He imagined himself giving out a And moreover, who could tell where public statement, “We must capitulate to the thing was going to stop ? Once Paris the pacifists.” were destroyed it would be the turn of Admitted that war was an atrocious the other cities of France, and then of thing, and there in France they knew it the other cities of the Continent—perhaps very well, for the war of 1914-1918 and even now the termites were layihg their later that of 1947-1952 had cost her more tunnels under Berlin, Rome, and Geneva. than ten million men, the flower of her There would be no stopping it unless it youth. But to dream of a pacifist utopia were stopped now. And what would be- was simple madness. of the come civilization that had domi- No, a thousand times no. The combat nated the it in globe and held slavery to must be continued at any cost. the human will? Would a new race of One evening after another these same beings against the attacks of which man thoughts assailed Etienne Gromier. Never had never dreamed of defending himself, before had he found the responsibility of thus dispossessing him, establish its own government, which he had sought all his supremacy and rule its ? the earth in turn life, so heavy and so charged with respon- Was mankind definitely at an end ? sibility.
Alone in the night, in the silence of his And in the midst of all this, with the little private office at home, Etienne Gro- newspapers baying against the govern- mier gave a shrug at this thought. It was ment, buildings crashing day by day, and too much like some nightmare—a comical the population growing more and more nightmare. excited and unreasonable, a piece of news He found himself wishing that his mes- • came in that changed the aspect of every- senger, old Papa Felicien, were at his thing. Louis Berson had been found door. He would have found a little dis- again. traction, a little gaiety perhaps, in the While Ernest La Folette, the poet, contemplation of that ridiculous person. whose death will be mourned and whose But he was all alone, and invincibly verses repeated for as long as the French Etienne Gromier’s thoughts returned to language lasts, was walking through that the subject of his preoccupation—what vague district where the Place de la Re- sort of a man could it be who considered publique stood in the old times, with his himself thus the master of the world? A big red dog by his side, he had stumbled pacifist fanatically devoted to his idea, across a body half-concealed in the tall so fanatically that he was willing to sacri- weeds. To his stupefaction, and in spite fice a whole city to it. But why did he not of an eight days’ growth of beard and a make himself known so that one could face thin with hunger, he recognized the discuss terms with him, perhaps convince young journalist, who was one of his him of the folly of his course ? warmest personal friends. ”
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 417
At first, La Folette thought him dead, centrated for several instants. Then, with but he quickly realized that Berson was a shrug, he gave up the effort. only asleep. “No, it’s impossible. There is nothing
it. every- He slept, in fact, with the deep uncon- to be done about I remember sciousness of one who has arrived at the thing that happened before my interview limits of his strength. with the minister and during it, but from Carrying his friend bodily like a child, the precise moment when I shook hands Ernest La Folette had taken him to the with him to say good-bye, a veil seems to bank of the Seine where a hydro-taxi descend on my memory—or rather, there quickly carried him off to the Lebrun is a granite wall at that point through Hospital. which I am unable to pierce.” For seven hours more, Louis Berson “Queer ! And you’re sure there’s noth- ?” slept uninterruptedly, but his awakening ing wrong with your head was hourly awaited. A blow on the skull would have ex- The Premier was overjoyed at the plained everything nicely. news. “No, nothing like that. I am like a man “At last!” he declared. “Now we will who has remained in a dark room for begin to get at the secret of this business.” several days, and who has come out again believe in And for the first time in many nights, into the daylight. Do you ?” Etienne Gromier went to bed and slept reincarnation
well himself. “Oh, I beg you ! We have enough mys- surely It seemed to him impossible that the teries of that sort around. You Louis Berson in whom he had reposed so aren’t going to tell me that someone much confidence should not have found reincarnated you? After all, remember the key to the problem on which depended you are living in an age which prides it- the safety of Paris. self on having definitely disposed of the supernatural.” CHAPTER VI Louis Berson contented himself with smiling and making a slight gesture with The Mon Who Came Bock his fingers. • “And you remember absolutely noth- “Don’t worry. I was only going to re- ing?” mind you what the theosophists and other Louis Berson, newly shaved and smok- sects like that claim. According to them, ing a cigarette with the enjoyment of a the immortal soul remembers all its suc- man who has been long separated from cessive lives whenever it can get rid for a his favorite pleasure, shook his head. moment of that hindrance called the body. He was seated in the office of the editor- I have an impression as though something in-chief of Nouvelles du Monde, his feet like that has happened to me. It seems braced up on the shelf of a bookcase, to me that I remember what I have seen while at the other side of the room, Jean and heard, but that I can’t bring myself
Sorlin, standing beside the radio appara- to talk about it, and that if I could only tus, was listening briefly to the communi- get free— cations from different parts of the world, “Yes, yes, it would be a good idea, but then turning them over to the proper aside from killing you, I don’t just see departments. editorial . . . . And we don’t know any reason “Try to remember!” he repeated after for this curious case of amnesia. You several moments of silence while he lis- are certain nobody gave you an injec- tened to the New Zealand correspondent. tion ?” “It seems impossible that you should have “A doctor at the Lebrun Hospital ex- been through anything that absolutely amined me this morning. He found me wiped out your memory.” in perfect physical health except for a Louis Berson closed his eyes and con- bad nervous strain. He reached the con- —
418 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
elusion that I was suffering from a mo- too, where the pen has been driven so mentary weakness of the brain due to hard that the paper is torn. It seems overwork. Of course, I told him anything stupid that with a handwriting so alto- that came into my head—which probably gether characteristic, the police, who explains his diagnosis. I also neglected to have on record the fingerprints and signa- show him the little note that was found tures of every citizen of the country, in my pocket when I came back. Our haven’t made any progress toward iden- friend, the author of the anonymous tification.” threats, does an awful lot of writing! At He stopped suddenly as though a new all events, this is the second time that he thought had come to him from nowhere. has honored me with specimens ef his “Berson, do you know what this hand- classic prose. Would you like to look it writing reminds me of? I may be mis- over ?” taken, but I would bet my head I have it Without changing his position, Louis —it’s the handwriting of a man suffering Berson slid his hand into his pocket, and from locomotor ataxia. Look at this word withdrawing a note folded in four, held here. While the hand is tracing letters
it toward the editor-in-chief. The latter that follow one after another and con-
spent no great time in examining it. nect up, everything goes nicely, but when
Ah ! Our friend, as you call him, is at we arrive at a line where the pen has to least a man of regular habits. The same be lifted crack! there is a jump.” paper, same blue ink, same queer hand- “Perhaps there is something in that
writing, in which there are incoherent idea. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get us letters where one expects them least. What much further along.” ?” do you think of it “Anyhow, that reduces the number of
Louis Berson made a little face. possibilities, and the labor is worth it. "Oh, very little. He is only warning For, according to what you have told me me that this was a first lesson, but that of your interview with Gromier, there is .” if I keep on in my course . . . no doubt but that there is some connection “Yes, that’s clear enough. And it is between the escape of Melpomes and the signed, as usual ‘The Menace will not man who has been threatening us all. He ” pardon.’ has made good his threats pretty well "For this time at least, he has not kept while you were away, too.” his I still alive. word, because am But “Evidently it doesn’t do to go to sleep this is doubtless the^ exception that con- for eight days in the times we are living firms the rule.” in.” Seating himself on the edge of his desk, “I should say not. A queer age, my dear Jean Sorlin continued to gaze at the paper Berson, and I fear that if you had re- the young reporter had handed him. There mained in no man’s land for eight days was a frown of preoccupation on his fore- more, you would have to ask the first head as he gazed at the writing. man you met where the people of Paris
"It’s queer,” he ended, "that although were, and perhaps even where the city I am no expert at handwriting — and itself was.” Heaven keep me from that deceptive pro- “Things no better today?” fession—there is something that looks de- “Not a bit. The seance keeps right on, cidedly out of the ordinary in the forma- as someone said back in the old times. tion of these letters. Look how some of Only, in the present case, the seance them are quite perfect, while in other keeps on to the profit of the attackers. cases, especially those where there is a Look, if you want to know for yourself.” line made with an upward movement, the Stepping to the radio apparatus which with the thing seems to jump. Look at that J and kept him in constant contact here at this capital G; one has the im- whole world as well as with the local pression of some nervousness. Look here, correspondents in different parts of the THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER 419 city, he manipulated the red dial marked to worse, and that we don’t know in what “Paris” and turned the pointer to the sec- direction we are headed. It’s very well to tion marked “Latest news.” A click an- speak about taking measures, but what nounced that the aluminum record on measures and against whom? Up to the which every communication was stored to present, everybody is arguing and nobody be heard later had fallen into its place in knows in what direction to turn. We the machine. He pressed a button and are dealing with a complete mystery. And immediately the voice of the speaker was I want you to notice that up to today, heard in the room. only the military establishments were at-
“Hello ! Hello ! For the first time since tacked. From today that distinction no the present series of disasters began, the longer exists. It’s like an oil-spot, spread- damage done by the termites, which up to ing in all directions. And where is it all the present have confined themselves to going to end ? I fear that we will find out military establishments, began to be noted altogether too soon. My dear Berson, no in civil buildings. We are informed that one has ever accused me of being a pes- in the quarter of Clignancourt disturb- simist, and I think I have as much cour- ances of the earth have been discovered age as anyone, but I admit to you frank- around the Grand Magasin department ly—I’m frightened.” store, pointing this place out as a new He stepped across the room and center of infection. The Prefect of Police stopped before the big window that is at the locality and all possible measures looked out on the boulevard, lifting the have been taken. This incident demon- curtain. strates that we are not in the presence “Look there,” he said, “at that crowd of a conspiracy against the government reading the latest despatches as they are as has been rumored. posted. Look at their anxious faces. They “Hello! Hello! At 10 a.m. today, the don’t exactly know what the danger is floor of the Palace of the Elysee, part of yet, nor its full extent, because the news the great reception room fell in. The Pres- we had given them has been edited for ident and his family were then in their their consumption ; we are keeping private apartments, and the damage was things from them for their own good. But material only. An inquest has been begun they are beginning to understand. Yester- by the department of public works. day I took the avibus from Concorde to
“Hello ! Hello ! The trains leaving Paris Orleans instead of using my private plane. have doubled the number of cars they I wanted to overhear what people were are drawing since yesterday. Special saying. I got my wish all right. Everyone police and volunteer deputies have been was talking to his neighbor as though he sworn in to keep order at the different had known him all his life and before railroad stations in the city. Three people five minutes were up, the whcrte bus was injured at the Gare Montparnasse. There chattering. Do you know, my dear Ber- are heavy crowds around all the ticket son, that’s a bad symptom? When man windows.” becomes a wholly social animal and for- gets the necessity of keeping things to • The hand of the editor-in-chief pressed himself, it’s because he scents danger. !” on the button of the machine and the And the danger is there, believe me melancholy recital came to an end. Louis Berson had risen and taken his “You see,” he remarked. “You under- place beside his chief, looking at the stand, I hope. And this is only a piece of crowd gathered on the boulevard. the morning’s news. The thing would keep It was the usual Parisian crowd, made on indefinitely if I let it. I can’t give you up of all the different grades of society the noon or evening reports yet, but there and professions. No children, and as would be nothing different in them. The many men as women. But Jean Sorlin truth is that everything is going from bad (Continued on page 491) 420 THE MAN FROM BEYOND
• Here is a brand new treatment of the By interplanetary theme. The writer at- tempts to bring out a side of human nature that few authors touch upon. JOHN BEYNON HARRIS Gratz hates mankind because of its evil greed and lust for power. He denounces his own kind to an alien intelligence. And • One of the greatest sights in Takon* then the tremendous truth is revealed to of these days was the exhibition dis- him .... coveries made in the Valley of Dur. In You will find this tale one success in the building erected especially to house our drive for distinctly new stories. them, Takonians and visitors from other cities crowded through the corri- dors, peering into the barred or glass- you are going to see is neither a museum fronted cages, observing the contents with nor a zoo, yet it is both.” according to awe, interest, or amusement His pupils only half attended. They was formed for their natures. The crowd were fidgeting to and fro, casting expect- who will the most part of those persons ant glances down the row of cage fronts, sight, providing it is flock to any unusual craning to see over one another’s backs, free or cheap their eyes dwelt upon the ; the more excitable among them occasion- exhibits their minds were ready to mar- ; ally rising on their hind legs for a better impressed, but vel and be superficially view. The passing Takonian citizens re- and they they had come to be amused garded their youthful enthusiasm with a faintly resented the efforts of the guides mild amusement. Magon smoothed back intelligent interest. One to stir them into the silver fur on his head with one hand studied the cases with or two, perhaps, and continued to talk. real appreciation. “The creatures you will see belong to But if the adults were superficial, the all ages of our world. Some are so old truthfully said of the same could not be that they roamed Venus long before our children. day teachers bring- Every saw race appeared. Others are later, contem- for practical demon- ing their classes a poraries of those ancestors of ours who in stration of the plant’s prehistoric condi- a terrible world were forever scuttling to tion. Even now, Magon, a biology teach- cover as fast as their six legs could carry er in one of Takon’s leading schools, was .” them . . . having difficulty in restraining his twenty "Six legs, sir?” asked a surprised voice. pupils for the arrival of a guide. He had Some of the youths in the group snig- marshaled them beside the entrance, and gered, but Magon explained consider- to keep them from straying, was talking ately. of the Valley of Dur. “Yes, Sadul, six legs. Did you not “The condition of the Valley was pure- know that our remote ancestors used all ly fortuitous and it is unique here upon six of their limbs to get them along? It Venus,” he said. “Nothing remotely re- took them many thousands of years to sembling it has been found, and it is the turn themselves into quadrupeds, but un- opinion of the experts that nothing like til they did that, no progress was possible. it exists anywhere else. This exhibition The fore limbs could not develop such sensitive hands as ours until they were •All Venusian terms are rendered in their cUsest English equivalents. carried clear of the ground." 421 ”
422 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
“Our ancestors were animals, sir?” served indefinitely. The result was to pro- “Well, er—something very much like duce a form of suspended animation. that.” Magon lowered his voice in order Everything that was in the Valley of Dur that the ears of passing citizens might not has remained as it was when the gas be offended. “But once they got their first broke out ; everything which has en- forelegs off the ground, released from the tered the Valley since has remained there necessity of carrying their weight, the imperishably. There is no apparent limit great change had begun; we were on the to the length of time that this preservation upward climb—and we’ve never stopped may continue. climbing.” “Among the ancients, the place was re- He looked around at the circle of garded with superstitious fear, and eager-eyed, silver-furred faces about him. though in more recent times many at-
His eyes dwelt a moment on the slender tempts have been made to explore it, tentacles which had developed from stub- none were successful until a year ago by toes on the fore-feet. There was some- when a mask which would withstand the thing magical in evolution, something gas was at last devised. It was then dis- glorious in the fact that he and his race covered that the animals and plants in the were the crown of progress. It was a very Valley were not petrified as had hitherto wonderful thing to have done, to have been believed, but could, by means of cer- changed from a shaggy, six-footed beast tain treatment, be revived. Such are the
to a creature who stood proudly upon specimens you are about to see : the flora four, the whole front part of its body and fauna of a million years ago—yet raised to the perpendicular to support a alive today.” head which looked out proudly and un- ashamed at the world. Admittedly, several • He paused opposite the first case. of his class appeared to have neglected "Here we have a glimpse of the car- their coats in a way which was scarcely a boniferous era—the tree ferns and giant credit to the race — the silver fur was mosses thriving in a specially prepared at- muddied and rumpled, but then, boys will mosphere, continuing the lives which be boys; no doubt they would trim better were suspended when Venus was very and brush better as they— grew older. young. We hope to be able to grow more “The Valley of Dur ” he began again, specimens from the spores of these. And but at that moment the guide arrived. here,” he passed to the next case, “we see “The party from the school, sir?” the beginning of one of Nature’s most “Yes.” graceful experiments—the earliest form “This way, please. Do they understand of flower.” about the Valley, sir?” he added. His audience stared in dutiful attention “Most of them,”—Magon admitted. “But at the large, white blossoms which con- it might be as well fronted them. They were not very inter- “Certainly.” esting ; fauna lias a far greater appeal to The guide broke into a high speed reci- the adolescent mind than does flora. A tation which he had evidently made many mighty roar caused the building to trem- times before. ble; eyes were switched from the mag- “The Valley of Dur may be called a nolia-like blossoms to glance up the pas- unique phenomenon. At some remote date sage in anticipatory excitement. Attention in the planet’s history, certain internal to the guide became even more perfunc- gases combined in a way yet imperfectly tory. Only Magon, to the exasperation of understood and issued forth through his pupils, thought it fit to ask a few ques- cracks in the crust at this place, and at tions. At last, however, the preliminary this place only. botanical cases were left. behind, and they “The mixture had two properties. It came to the first of the cages. not only anaesthetized, but it also pre- Behind the bars, a reptilian creature, ” —
THE MAN FROM BEYOND 423 which might have been described as a bi- that of the guide seldom coincided. The ped, had its tail not played so great a more majestic and terrifying reptiles he part in supporting it, was hurrying tire- dismissed with a curt: “These are of lit- lessly and without purpose to and fro, tle interest, being sterile branches of the glaring at as much of the world as it could main stem of evolution: Nature’s fail- from intense, small eyes. Every now and ures." then it would throw back its head and ut- They came at length to a small cage ter a kind of strangled shriek. It was an occupied by a solitary curious creature unattractive creature covered with a grey- which stood erect upon two legs though it green hide, very smooth; its contours appeared to be designed to use four. were almost stream-lined, but managed to “This,” said the guide, “is one of our appear clumsy. In it, as in so many of the most puzzling finds. We have not yet earlier forms, one seemed to feel that been able to classify it into any known Nature was getting her hand in for the category. There has been such a rush that real job. She had already learned to the specialists have not as yet had time to model after a crude fashion when she accord it the attention it deserves. Ob- made this running dinosaur, but her sense viously, it comes from an advanced date, of proportion was not good and she for it bears some fur, though this is lo- lacked the deftness necessary to produce calized in patches, notably on the head the finer bits of modeling which she later and face. It is particularly adept upon two achieved. She could not, one felt, even feet, which points to a long line of devel- had she wanted, have then produced fur opment. And yet, for all we know of it, or feathers to clothe the creature’s naked- the creature might have occurred fully ness. developed and without any evolution “This,” said the guide, waving a pro- though of course you will realize that prietorial hand, “is what we call Struthi- such a thing could not possibly happen. omimus, one of the running dinosaurs ca- Among the other odd facts which our pable of traveling at high speed, which it preliminary observation has revealed, is does for purposes of defense, not attack, that although its teeth are indisputably being a vegetarian.” those of a herbivore, it has carnivorous There was a slight pause while his tastes—altogether a most puzzling crea- listeners sorted out the involved sentence. ture. We hope to find others before the
“You mean that it runs away?” asked a examination of the Valley is ended.” voice. The creature raised its head and looked “Yes.” at them from sullen eyes. Its mouth They all looked a little disappointed, a opened, but instead of the expected bel- trifle contemptuous of the unfortunate, low, there came from it a stream of clat- unhappy Struthiomimus. They wanted tering gibberish which it accompanied stronger meat. They longed to see (be- with curious motions of its fore-limbs. hind bars) those ancient monsters which The interest of some of the class was at had been lords of the world, whose rum- last aroused. Here was a real mystery bling bellows had sent Struthiomimus and about which the experts could as yet claim the rest scuttling for cover. The guide to know little more than themselves. The continued in his own good time. young Sadul, for instance, was far more “The next is a fine specimen of Hes- intrigued by it than he had been by those perornis, the toothed bird. This creature, monsters with the polysyllabic names. He filling a place between the Archeopteryx drew closer to the bars, observing it in- and the modern bird is particularly in- tently. The creature’s eyes met his own — jabber issued teresting and held them ; more queer Blit the class did not agree. As they from its mouth. It advanced to the front filed slowly on past cage after cage, it was of the cage, coming quite near to him. noticeable that their own opinions and Sadul held his ground; it did not look 424 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 dangerous. With one foot it smoothed in the middle of the tablet, then it pointed the soil of the floor, and then squatted up. Sadul looked at the ceiling, but quite down to scrabble in the dirt. failed to see anything remarkable there.
“What’s it doing?” asked someone. The creature shook its head impatiently.
“Probably scratching for something to About the mark it drew a circle with a eat,” suggested another. small spot on the circumference; outside that another circle with a similar spot, and • Sadul continued to watch with interest. then a third. Still Sadul could see no When the guide moved the party on, meaning. he contrived to remain behind unnoticed. Beside the spot on the second circle He was untroubled by the presence of the creature drew a small sketch of a other spectators since most of them had Takonian; beside the spot on the third, a gravitated to watch the larger reptiles creature like itself. Sadul followed in- feed. After a while, the creature rose to tently. It was trying very hard to convey its feet again and extended one paw something, but for the life of him, Jre towards the ground. It had scrawled a could not see what it was. Again a paw series of queer lines in the dust. They pointed up at the light globe, then the made neither pattern nor picture; they fore-limbs were held wide apart. The did not seem to mean anything, yet there light .... an enormous light . . . . was something regular about them. Suddenly Sadul got it—the sun; the sun
Sadul looked blankly at them and then —and the planets ! He nearly choked with back to the face of the creature. It made excitement. Reaching between the bars, a quick movement towards the scrawls. he grabbed his tablet and ran off up the Sadul continued to stare blankly. It ad- corridor in search of his party. The man vanced, smoothed out the ground once in the cage watched him go, and as his more with its foot, and began to scrabble shouts diminished in the distance, he again. Sadul wondered whether or not he smiled his first smile for a very long should move on. He ought, he knew, to time. * * * have kept with the rest Magon might be ; nasty about it. Well, he’d stay just long • Goin, the lecturer in phonetics, wan- enough to see what the creature was do- dered into the study of his friend ing this time .... Dagul, the anthropologist in the Univer- It stood back and pointed again. Sadul sity of Takon. Dagul, who was getting on was amazed. In the dirt was a drawing of in years as the grizzling of his silver fur a Takonian such as himself. The creature testified, looked up with a frown of irri- was pointing first to himself and then tation at the interruption. It faded at the back to the drawing .... sight of Goin, and he welcomed him. Sadul grew excited. He had made a “Sorry,” he apologized. “I think I’m a discovery? What was this creature which bit overworked. This Dur business gives could draw ? He had never heard of such such masses of material that I can’t leave a thing. His first impulse was to run it alone.” ?” after the rest and tell them, but he hesi- “If you’re too busy— tated, and curiosity got the better of him. “No, no. Come along in. Glad to throw
Rather doubtfully, he opened the bag at it off for a time.” his side and drew out his writing tablet They crossed to a low divan where and stylus. The creature excitedly thrust they squatted, folding their four legs be- both paws through the bars for them, neath them. Dagul offered refreshment. and sat down scratching experimentally “Well, did you get this Earth crea- with the wrong end of the stylus. Sadul ture’s story?” he asked. corrected it, and then leaned close to the Goin produced a packet of thin tab- bars, watching over its shoulder. lets from a satchel. First the creature made a round mark “Yes, we got it—in the end. I’ve had ; : :
THE MAN FROM BEYOND 425 all my assistants and brightest students Goin let him have his say. Experience working on it, but it’s not been easy, told him that it was useless to attempt to even so. They seem to have been further stem the flood. At length, there came a advanced in physical science than we are. pause and he thrust forward his packet of
That made parts of it only roughly trans- tablets. latable, but I think you’ll be able to fol- “Here’s the story. I’m afraid it’ll en- low it. A pretty sort of villain this Gratz courage your pessimism. The man, Gratz, makes himself out to be—and he’s not is a self-confessed murderer, for one much ashamed of it.” thing.” “You can’t be a good villain if you are “Why should he confess ?” ashamed.” “It’s all there. Says he wants to warn “I suppose not, but it’s made me think. us against Earth.” Earth seems to have been a rotten planet.” Dagul smiled slightly. “Then you’ve “Worse than Venus ?” asked Dagul bit- not told him?” terly. “No, not yet.” Goin hesitated. “Yes, I think so, ac- Dagul reached for the topmost tablet, cording to his account — but probably and began to read that’s only because it was further de- veloped. We’re going the same way: CHAPTER II graft, vested interests, private traders The Earthman's Story without morals, politicians without con- sciences. I thought they only existed here • I, Morgan Gratz of the planet Earth, but they had them on Earth—the whole am writing this as a warning to the in- stinking circus. Maybe they had them on habitants of Venus. Have nothing to do Mars, too, if we only knew.” with Earth if you can help it—but if you “I wonder?” Dagul sat for some mo- must, be careful. Above all, I warn you ments in contemplation. “You mean that to have no dealings with the two greatest on Ear.th there was just an exaggerated companies of Earth. If you do, you will form of the mess we’re in ?” come to hate Earth and her people as I "Exactly. Makes you wonder if life do—you will come to think of her, as I isn’t a disease after all—a kind of corrup- do, as the plague spot of the universe. tion which attacks dying planets; grow- Sooner or later, emissaries will come. ing more and more vicious in the higher Representatives of either Metallic Indus-
forms. And as for intelligence . . . tries or International Chemicals will at- “Intelligence,” said Dagul, "is a com- tempt to open negotiations. Do not listen plete snare and delusion—I came to that to them. However honeyed their words conclusion long ago. Without it, you are or smooth their phrases, distrust them, wiped out; with it, you wipe out one for they will be liars and the servants of another, and eventually yourself.” liars. If you do trust them, you will live to
Goin grinned. Dagul’s hobby-horses regret it, and your children will regret it were much ridden steeds. and curse you. Read this and see how “The instinct of self-protection—” he they treated me, Morgan Gratz. began. My story is best started from the mo- “ — is another delusion, as far as the ment when I was shown into the Direc- race is concerned,” Dagul finished for tors’ Room in the huge building which him. “Individuals may protect themselves, houses the executive of Metallic Indus- but it is characteristic of an intelligent tries. The secretary closed the tall dou- race to try continually by bigger and bet- ble doors behind me and announced my ter methods to wipe itself out. Speaking name dispassionately, I should say that it’s a “Gratz, sir.” very good thing, too. Of all the waste- Nine men seated about a glass-topped .” ful, destructive, pointless . . . table turned their eyes upon me simul- a ” ”
426 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 taneously, but I kept my gaze on the listeners. Several leaned forward with in- chairman who topped the long table. creased interest.
“Good morning, Mr. Drakin,” I said. “Well,” demanded a thin, predatory- faced man on the chairman’s right, “what “Morning, Gratz. You have not met is it ?” our other directors, I think ?” “The intention of the company,” I said, I looked along the row of faces. Sev- “is to send their ship, which they call the eral I recognized from photographs in the Nuntia, to Venus.” illustrated papers others I was able to ; They stared at me. Save for Drakin to identify, for I had heard them described whom this was not news, they appeared and knew that they would be present. dumb-founded. The cadaverous-looking There is no mystery about the directors of man was the first to find his voice. Metallic Industries Incorporated. Among “Nonsense!” he cried. “Preposterous! them are several of the world’s richest Never heard of such a thing. What proof men, and to be mounted upon such pin- have you of this ridiculous statement ?” nacles of wealth means continual expos- I looked at him coldly. ure to the floodlights of publicity. Not “I have no proof. A spy rarely has. only was I familiar with their appear- You must take my word for it.” ances, but in common with most, I was “Absurd. Fantastic nonsense. You fairly conversant with their histories. I stand there and seriously expect us to made no comment, so the chairman con- believe on your own, unsupported state- tinued. ment that I. C. intends to send this ma- “I have received your reports, Gratz, chine to Venus? The moon would be un- and I am pleased to say that they are likely enough. Either they have been fool- model documents—clear and concise— ing you or you must be raving mad. I little too clear, I must own, for my peace never heard of such rubbish. Venus, in- of mind. In fact, I confess to apprehend deed!” and, in my opinion, the time has come for decisive measures. However, before I • I regarded the man. I liked neither his suggest the steps to be taken, I would like face nor his manners. you to repeat the gist of your reports for “Mr. Ball sees fit to challenge my re- the benefit of my fellow directors.” port,” I said. “This, gentlemen, will I had come prepared for this request scarcely surprise you, for you must know and was able to reply without hesitation. as well as I that Mr. Ball has been com-
“When it first became known to Mr. pletely impervious to all new ideas for the Drakin that International Chemicals pro- past forty years.” posed to build a ship for the navigation The emaciated Mr. Ball goggled while of space, he approached me and put for- several of the others hid smiles. It was ward certain propositions. I, as an em- rarely that his millions did not extract ployee of International Chemicals, and sycophancy, but I was in a strong posi- being concerned in the work in question, tion. was to keep him posted and to hand on as “Insolence,” he spluttered at last. much information, technical and other- “Damned insolence. —Mr. Chairman, I de- wise, as I could collect without arousing mand that this man suspicion. Moreover, I was to find out “Mr. Ball,” interrupted the other cold- the purpose for which International ly. “You will please to control yourself. Chemicals intended to use her. I have car- The fact that Gratz is here at all is a ried out the first part of my orders to the sign not only that I believe him, but that chairman’s satisfaction, but it is only in I consider his news to seriously concern the last week that I have been able to dis- us all.” cover her destination.” “Nonsense. If you are going to believe I paused. There was a stir among the every fairy story that a paid spy— THE MAN FROM BEYOND 427
“Mr. Ball, I must ask you to leave the Old John Ball’s voice rose again. conduct of this matter to me. You knew, “If this is not nonsense, why have we
as we all did, that I. C. were building let it go on ? Why has I. C. been allowed this ship, and you knew that it was in- to build this vessel without interference ? tended for space-travel.. Why should you What is the good of having a man there disbelieve the report of its destination? I who does nothing to hinder the work?” must insist that you control yourself.” He glared at me. Mr. Ball subsided, muttering indefinite “You niean?” inquired Drakin. threats. The chairman turned back to me. “I mean that this man has been excel- “And the purpose of this expedition?” lently placed to work sabotage. Why has I was only able to suggest that it was there been none? It should be simple to establish claims over territories as enough to cause an ‘accidental’ explo- sources of supplies. He nodded and sion.” turned to address the rest. “Very simple,” agreed Drakin. “So “You see, gentlemen, what this will simple that I. C. would juthp to it at once. mean ? It is scarcely necessary to remind Even if there were a genuine accident, you that I. C. are our greatest rivals, our they would suspect that we had a hand only considerable rivals. The overlapping in it. Then we should have our hands full of our interests is inevitable. Metals and with an expensive vendetta. Furthermore, chemicals obviously cannot be expected I. C. would recommence building with ad- to keep apart. They are interdependent. ditional precautions, and it is possible It cannot be anything but a fight for sur- that we might not have a man on the in- vival between the two companies. At side. I take it that we are all agreed that present, we are evenly balanced in the the Nuntia must fail—but it must not be matter of raw materials—and probably a suspicious failure. The Nuntia must shall be for years to come. But—and this sail ; it is up to us to see that she does not is the important point — if their ship return. makes this trip successfully, what will be “Gratz has been offered a position the results? aboard her, but has not as yet returned a “First, of course, they will annex the definite answer. My suggestion is that he richest territories on the planet with their should accept the offer with the object of raw materials, and later import these ma- seeing that the Nuntia is lost. The details terials to Earth. Mind you, this will not I can leave to him.” take place at once, but make no mistake, Drakin went to elaborate his plan. it will come as inevitably as tomorrow. on Metallic Once the trip has been successfully made, Directly the Nuntia had left, In- the inventors will not rest until they have dustries would begin work on a space- found a way of carrying freight between flyer of their own. As soon as possible, the two worlds at economic rates. It may she would follow to Venus. Meanwhile, I, having settled the Nuntia, would await take them ten years to do it, or it may unlikely of the take them a century, but, sooner or later, her arrival. In the event planet being found inhabited, I would get do it they will. “And that, gentlemen, will mean the on good terms with the natives and en- end of Metallic Industries.” deavor to influence them against I. There was a pause during which no When the second ship arrived, I was to one spoke. Drakin looked around to see be taken off and brought back to Earth the effect of his words. while a party of M. I. men remained to “Gratz has told me,” he continued, survey and annex territories. On my re- sufficiently “that I. C. is convinced that their ship is turn, I would be rewarded to capable of the journey. Is that not so?” make me rich for life. “It is,” I confirmed. “They have com- “You will be doing a great work for plete faith in her and so have I.” us,” he concluded, “and we do not forget .
428 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
our servants.” He looked me straight in CHAPTER III
the eyes as he said it. “Will you do it?” Murders in Space
. I hesitated. “I would like a day or so to think it • The Nuntia was two weeks into space, over.” but nobody was very happy about it. “Of course. That is only natural, but In those two weeks, the party of nine as there is not a great deal of time to on board had been reduced to seven, and spare, will you let me have your answer the reduction had not had a good effect by this time tomorrow? It will give us a upon our morale. As far as I could tell, chance to make other arrangements in there was no tangible suspicion afoot; case you refuse.” just a feeling that all was not well. “Yes, sir. That will do." Among the hands it was rumored that On that I left them. As to their fur- Hammer and Drafte had gone crazy be- ther deliberations, I can only guess. And fore they killed themselves. But why had my guesses are bitter. they gone crazy ? That was what worried Beyond an idea that it would appear the rest. Was it something to do with the better not to be too eager, I had no rea- conditions in space; some subtle, unsus- son for putting off my answer. Already pected emanations? Would we all go I had determined to go—and to wreck the crazy ? Nuntia. I had waited many years to get When you are cut off from your kind, fancies. in a blow at I. C., and now was my you get strange Imagination gets chance. Ever since the death of my overheated and you become too credulous. parents, I had set my mind on injuring That is what used to happen to sailors on them. Not only had they killed my father their long voyages in the old windjam- by their negligence in a matter of un- mers, and it began to happen to our crew shielded rays, but they had stolen his in- out in space. They started to attribute ventions and robbed him by prolonged the deaths to uncanny, malign influences litigation. Enough, you say, to make a in a way which would never have oc- man swear revenge. But it was not all. I curred to them on Earth. It gave me some had to see my mother die in poverty when amusement at the time. a few hundred dollars would have saved First there had been Dale Hammer, the her life—and all our dollars had gone in second navigator. Young, a bit wild at fighting I. C. home, perhaps, but brilliant at his job, he After that I changed my name, got a was proud and overjoyed that he had been job with I. C. and worked—hard. Mine chosen for this voyage. He had gone off was not going to be a paltry revenge; I duty in a cheerful frame of mind. A few was going to work up until I was in a re- hours later he had been found dead in sponsible position, one from which my his bunk with a bottle of tablets by his hits could really hurt them. I had allied side—one had to take something to insure myself with Metallic Industries because sleep out here. Everyone agreed that it this was their greatest rival, and now I was understandable, though tragic, that was given a chance to wreck the ship to he might take an overdose by mistake. . . which they had pinned such faith. I could It was after Ross Drafte’s disappear- have done that alone, but it would have ance that the superstitions had begun to meant exile for the rest of my life. Now cluster. He was an odd man with an ex- M. I. had smoothed the way by offering pression which was frequently taciturn me a passage home. and eyes in which burned feverish enthu-
Yes, I was going to do it. The Nuntia siasms. A failure might have driven him should make one trip and no more .... desperate, but under the circumstances, he But I’d like to know just what it was had everything to live for. He was the they decided in the Board Room after I designer of the Nuntia, and she, the had gone .... dream of his life, was endorsing his every ”
THE MAN FROM BEYOND 429 expectation. When we should return to The persistent scratching began to wor- make public the story of our voyage, his ry him. He glanced up in a puzzled would be the name to be glorified through fashion and held his head on one side, millions of radios, and his the face which listening. I went on scratching. He de- would stare from hundreds of news- cided to investigate and released the clips papers — the conqueror of gravitation. which held his weightless body to the And he had disappeared .... chair. Without bothering to put on the The air pressure graph showed a slight magnetic shoes, he pushed himself away dip at one point and Drafte was no from the wall and came floating towards more .... the ventilator. I let him get quite close I saw no trace of personal suspicion. before I fired. No one had even looked askance at me There was a clatter of running feet nor, so far as I knew, at anyone else. No mingling with cries of alarm. I dropped one had the least inkling that one man the pistol inside my shirt and jumped aboard the ship could tell them exactly around the corner, reaching the cabin how those two men had died. There was door just ahead of a pair who came from just the conviction that something queer the other direction. We flung it open and was afoot. I dashed in. Govern’s body under the im-
And now it was time for another. petus of the shot had floated back into the Ward Govern, the chief engineer, was middle of the room. It looked uncanny, in the chartroom talking with Captain lying asprawl in mid-air. !” Tanner. The rest were busy elsewhere. I “Quick,” I yelled, “fetch the Captain slipped into Govern’s cabin unobserved. His pistol I found in the drawer where • One of them pelted out of the door. I he always kept it, and I slipped it into managed to keep my body between the my pocket. Then I crossed to the other other and the corpse while I closed the wall and opened the ventilator which dead fingers around the pistol. A few communicated with the passage. Finally, seconds later everybody had collected after carefully assuring myself that no about the doorway and the Captain had one was in sight, I left, closing the door to push them aside to get in. He exam- behind me. ined the body. It was not a pleasant sight. I had not long to wait. In less than a The blood had not yet ceased to flow from quarter of an hour I heard the increasing the wound in the head, but it did not drip clatter of a pair of magnetic shoes on the as it would on Earth; instead, it had steel floor, and the engineer passed cheer- spurted forth to form into several red fully by on his way to turn in. The gen- spheres which floated freely close beside eral air of misgiving had had less effect the corpse. There was no doubt that the upon him than upon anyone else. I heard shot had been fired at close range. The the door slam behind him. I allowed him Captain looked at the outflung hand a few moments before I moved as quietly which gripped the automatic. to the ventilator as my magnetic soles "What happened ?” would allow. No one seemed to know. I could see him quite easily. He had “Who found him ?” removed his shoes and was sitting at a “I was here first, sir,” I said. “Just be- small wall desk, entering up the day’s fore the others.” events in his diary. I thrust the muzzle of “Anyone with you when you heard the the pistol just within the slot of the ven- shot ?” tilator, and with the other hand began to “No, sir. I was just walking along the make slight scratching noises. It was es- passage— sential that he should come close to me. “That’s right, sir. We met Gratz run- There must be a burn or at least powder ning ’round the corner,” somebody sup- marks. ported. 430 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
“You didn’t see anyone else about?’’ “So that’s the way it blows, is it? “No, sir.” Who’s paying you for this?” “And was it possible, do you think, for Willis and Trail remained uncompre- anybody to have gotten out of the room hending. unseen between the time of the shot and “You heard me,” he roared. “Who’s be- your arrival?” hind you ? Who’s out to wreck this trip ?” “Quite impossible, sir. He would have Willis shook his head. “Nobody’s be- been bound to walk straight into me or the hind us. We just want to get out of this others—even if there had been time for before we go crazy, too,” he repeated. him to get out of the room.” “Went crazy, eh?” said the Captain “Very well. Please help me with this.” with a sneer. “Well, maybe they did, and He turned to the other four who were then again, maybe they didn’t—and if still lingering in a group near the door. they didn’t, I’ve got a pretty good idea “You men get back to work, now.” what happened to them.” He paused. “So Two began to move off, but the other you think you’ll scare me into turning pair, Willis and Trail, both mechanics, back, do you? Well, by God you won’t, held their ground. you lousy rats. Now get back to your work I’ll deal “Didn’t you hear me ? Get along there.” ; with you later.” Still the two hesitated, then Willis • But neither Willis nor Trail stepped forward and the Captain’s unbe- had any intention of getting back. They came lieving ears heard his demand that the on. Trail was swinging a threatening Nuntia be turned back. spanner. I snatched the pistol from the “You don’t know what you’re saying, man !” corpse’s hand, and got him in the fore- head. It was a lucky shot. Willis checked “I do, sir, and so does Trail. There’s and tried to stop. I got him, too. something queer about it all. It’s not natu- The Captain turned and saw me han- ral for men to kill themselves like this. dling the pistol. The suddenness of the Perhaps we’ll be the next. When we thing had taken him by surprise. I could signed on, we knew we’d have dangers we see that he didn’t know whether to thank could see, but we didn’t reckon with me or to blame me for so summary an something that makes you go mad and execution of justice. There was no doubt kill yourself. We don’t like it—and we that the pair had mutinied, and that Trail, ain’t going on. Turn the ship back.” at least, had meant murder .... Strong “Don’t be a pair of fools. You ought to and Danver, the two men in the doorway, know that we can’t turn back. What do stared speechlessly. Nine men had sailed you think this is—a rowboat ? What’s the in the Nuntia; four now remained . . . matter with you ?” For a time, the Captain said nothing. The two faces in front of him were set We waited, looking at the two bodies still in lines of stolid determination. Willis swaying eerily, anchored to the floor by spoke again. their magnetic shoes. At last, the Cap- “We’ve had enough, and that’s flat. It tain broke the silence. was bad enough when two had gone, but “It’s going to be hard work for four now it’s three. Who’s going to be the men,” he said. “But if each of us pulls next? That’s what I want to know.” his weight, we may win through yet. To “That’s what we all want to know,” the the two of you, all the engine room work Captain said, meaningly. “Why are you will fall. Gratz, do you know anything of so anxious to have the ship turned back ?” three-dimensional navigation ?” “Because it’s wrong, unlucky. We don’t “Very little, sir.” want to go crazy even if you do. If you “Well, you’ll have to learn — and don’t turn her back, we damned well quickly.” will.” After the business of disposing the : J
THE MAN FROM BEYOND 431
bodies through the air-lock was finished, CHAPTER IV he led me to the navigation room. Half Stealing the Ship to himself, I heard him murmur
“I wonder which it was? Trail, I • Another fortnight passed before the should guess. He’s the type.” Nuntia at last dipped her nose into the “Beg your pardon, sir?” clouds which had always made the nature “I was wondering which of those two of Venus’ surface a matter for surmise. was the murderer.” By circling the planet several times, Cap- “Murderer, sir?” I said. tain Tanner had contrived to reduce our
“Murderer, Gratz. I said it, and I mean headlong hurtling to a manageable speed. it. Surely you didn’t think those deaths After I had taken a sample of the atmos- were natural.” phere (which proved almost identical “They seemed natural.” with that of Earth), I took my place close “They were well enough managed, but beside him, gaining a knowledge of how there was too much coincidence. Some- the ship must be handled in the air. When body was out to wreck this trip and kill the clouds closed in on our windows to us all.” obscure the universe, we were traveling “I don’t see—” at a little more than two hundred miles “Think, man, think,” he interrupted. an hour. Despite our extended wings, we “Suppose the secret of the Nuntia got required the additional support of vertical out in spite of all our care? There are rockets. plenty of people who would want her to The Captain dropped cautiously upon fail.” a long slant. This, he had told me, would I flatter myself that I managed my be the most nerve-racking part of the en- surprise rather well. tire trip. There was no telling how far “Metallic Industries, you mean ?” the undersides of the clouds were from “Yes, and others. No one knows what the planet’s surface. He could depend on may be the outcome of this voyage. There nothing but luck to keep the ship clear are a lot of people who find the world of mountains which might lurk unseen in very comfortable as it is and would like our path. He sat tensely at the control to keep it so. Suppose they had planted board, peering into the baffling mist, one of those men aboard?” ready at a moment’s notice to change his course, I shook my head doubtfully. although we both knew that the sight of an obstacle would mean that it “It wouldn’t do. It’d be suicide. One was too late. The few minutes we spent man couldn’t get this ship back to Earth.” in the clouds seemed interminable. My "Nevertheless, I’m convinced that senses drew so taut that it seemed they either Willis or Trail was planted here to must snap. And then, when I felt that stop us from succeeding.” I could not stand it a moment longer, the The idea that both the men were gen- vapors thinned, dropped behind and we uinely scared and wanted only to get back swept down at last upon a Venusian to Earth had never struck him. I saw no landscape. reason to let it. Only it was not a landscape, for in “Anyway,” he added, “we’ve settled every direction stretched the sea—a grey, with the murdering swine now at the — miserable waste. Even our relief could, cost of three good, honest men.” not make the scene anything but dreary He took some charts from a drawer. Heavy rain drove across the view in thick “Now, come along, Gratz. We must get rods, slashing at the windows and pitting to work on this navigation. Who knows the troubled water. Lead-grey clouds, but that all our lives may soon depend on heavy with unshed moisture seemed to you.” press down like great, gorged sponges* “Who, indeed, sir,” I agreed. which would wipe everything clean. No-t 432 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
where was there a darkling line to sug- climate not unlike that of our temperate gest land; the featureless horizon which regions — occasional clouds, occasional we saw dimly through the rain was a rain, warmth that is not too oppressive. watery circle. When I look around and observe your The Captain leveled out and continued planets and trees, I find it hard to be- straight ahead at a height of a few hun- lieve that they can exist on the same plan- dred feet above the surface. There was et with the queer jumble of growths we
nothing for it but to go on and hope that found on the island. I know nothing of we should strike land of some kind. For botany, so I can only tell you that I was hours we did, and for all the difference it struck by the quantities of ferns and made to the scene, we might have been palms, and the almost entire absence of stationary. It was just a matter of luck. hard-wooded trees. Unknowingly, we must have taken a line on which the open sea lay straight before • Two days were occupied in minor re- us for thousands of miles. The rain, the pairs and necessary adjustments, varied vastness of the ocean and reaction after by occasional explorations. These were our journey combined to drive us into not pleasure trips, for the rain fell with- depression. Was Venus, we began to ask out ceasing, but they served to give us ourselves, nothing but a sphere of water some much-needed exercise and to im- and clouds ? At last I caught a glimpse of prove our spirits. On the third day, the a dark speck away to starboard. With Captain proposed an expedition to the top visibility so low, I could not be certain of the central hill, and we agreed to ac- what it was. We had all but passed it be- company him. We were all to go armed, fore I drew the Captain’s attention. With- for though the only animals we had seen out hesitating, he swerved towards it, and were small, timid creatures which scuttled we both fixed our eyes on it and anxiously from our approach, there was no telling watched it grow. what we might not encounter in the As we drew closer, it proved to be a deeper forest which lay between the hill hill of no great size, rising from an and the beach where the Nuntia island of some five or six square miles. It rested. was not such a spot as one would have We assembled shortly after dawn, al- chosen for a first landing, but he decided most in a state of nudity. Since the heat to make it. were all thoroughly tired We rendered heavy waterproofs intolerable, of our cramped quarters a few days of ; we had decided that the less we wore, the rest and exercise in the open air would better. It would be hard enough work car- put new heart into us. rying heavy rifles and rucsacks of supplies It would be absurd for an Earthman in such a climate. The Captain shepherd- to describe Venus to Venusians, but there ed us out into the steady rain, pushed are differences between your district of the outer door to behind us and we began Takon and that island where we landed our tramp up the beach. We had all but which I find very puzzling. Moreover the crossed the foreshore scrub which bor- conditions which I found elsewhere also dered the forest proper when I stopped differ from those which abide here. I abruptly. know nothing about the latitude of these “Damnation,” I said with some irrita- places, but it seems that they must be tion. very far removed from here to be so un- it, the like. For instance, our island was perma- “What is do you think?” asked nently blanketed beneath thick clouds; Captain. one never saw the sun at all, but for all “Ammunition,” I told him. “I put it that, the heat was intense and the rain, aside ready to pack, and forgot to put it which seldom ceased, was warm. Here in in.” Takon, on the other hand, you have a “Are you sure ?" THE MAN FROM BEYOND 433
I hauled the rucsack off my back and CHAPTER V contents. There was looked through the The Mysterious Valley no sign of the packet of cartridges he had given me. In order to travel light, we had • After a few hours, I began to grow only a few rounds each. I could not ex- seriously worried. There must be other pect the others to share theirs with me in land on this planet, but I had seen none the circumstances. There was only one as yet. I began to have a nasty feeling thing to be done. that it would all end with the Nuntia dropping into the sea, condemning me to “I’ll go back for them. It’ll only take a eventual death by starvation should I sur- few seconds,” I said. vive the fall. She was not intended to be The Captain grudgingly consented. He run single-handed. In order to economize disliked inefficiency, but could not afford weight, many operations which could to weaken his party by taking a member easily have been made automatic had been of it unarmed into possible dangers. I left to manual control with the assump- hurried back to the ship, stumbling along tion that there would always be one or through the sand and shingle. As I pulled more men on engine room duty. The fuel open the air-lock door, I glanced back, pressure gauge was dangerously low now, see, reached i The three, I could dimly had but the controls required constant atten- the edge of the forest and were standing tion, preventing me from getting aft to under such shelter as they could find, start the pressure pumps. I toyed with watching me. the idea of fixing the controls while I I jumped inside and threw down my made a dash to the engine room and back, clatter. First I rifle and rucsack with a but since it was impossible to find a satis- rushed for the engines and turned on the factory method of holding them, the fuel taps, then I made forward to the project had to be abandoned. The only I set the con- navigation room. Hurriedly thing I could do was to hold on and hope pulled over trols as I had been shown, and land would show up before it was too late. ignition switch. With my fingers the In the nick of time, it did—a rock- above the first bunch of firing keys, I bound, inhospitable-looking coast, but one windows. looked once more out of the which for all its ruggedness was fringed The Captain was pounding across the to the very edges of the harsh cliffs with beach, followed at a little distance by the a close-pressed growth of jungle. There others. How he had guessed that there was no shore such as we had used for a was anything wrong I cannot say; per- landing ground on the island. The water haps his glasses had enabled him to see swirled and frothed about the cliff-foot that I was in the control room. Anyway, as the great breakers dashed themselves he meant business .... with a kind of ponderous futility against He passed out of my line of sight, and the mighty retaining wall. No landing a moment later I pressed the firing keys. there. Above, the jungle stretched back to The Nuntia trembled, lurched and began the horizon, an undulating, unbroken to slither forward across the sand. I saw plain of tree tops. Somewhere there I the other two wave despairing arms. It would have to land, but where? was impossible to tell whether the Cap- A few miles in from the coast, the tain had managed to scramble aboard or Nuntia settled it for me. The engines not. I turned the rising ship towards the stopped with a splutter. I did not attempt sea. Again I looked back, just in time to to land her. I jumped for one of the see the others running towards a form spring acceleration hammocks, and trust-
which lay huddled on the sand. Close be- ed that it would stand the shock.
side it they stopped and looked up. They I came out of that rather well. When I shook wild, impotent fists in the direction examined the wrecked Nuntia, her wings of my retreating Nuntia. torn off, her nose crumpled like tinfoil, —
434 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
her smooth body now gaping in many in my mind’s eye falling through space
places from the force of the impact, I towards me then it was time for my sig- ; marveled that anyone could sustain only a nal. I had arranged the main searchlight
few bruises (acquired when the hammock so that it would point vertically upwards mountings had weakened to breaking to stab its beam into the low clouds, and
point) as I did. There was one thing cer- now I began to switch it on every night tain in a very problematical future—the as soon as the darkness came, leaving it Nuntia’s flying days were done. I had car- glaring until near dawn. For the first few ried out Metallic Industries’ instructions nights, I scarcely slept, so certain was I to the full, and the telescopes of I. C. that the ship must be cruising close by in would nightly be searching the skies for a search of me. I used to lie awake watch- ship which would never return. ing the dismal sky for the flash of her Despite my predicament (or perhaps rockets and straining my ears for their because I had not fully appreciated it as thunder. But this stage did not last long. yet) I was full of a savage joy. I had I consoled myself very reasonably that it struck the first of my revengeful blows might take much searching to find me. at the men who had caused my family But all day, too, I was alert, with smoke such misery .... The only shadow rockets ready to be fired the moment I across my satisfaction was that they could should hear her .... not know that it was I, and not Fate, who was against them. • After four months more, my batteries It would be tedious to tell in detail of gave out. It is surprising that they last- my activities during the next few weeks. ed so long. As the voltage dropped, so did There is nothing surprising about them. my hopes. The jungle seemed to creep My efforts to make the Nuntia habitable, closer, making ominous bulges in my my defenses against the larger animals, barrier of detachment. For a number of my cautious hunting expeditions, my nights after the filaments had glowed search for edible greenstuffs, were such their last, I sat up through the hours of as any other man would have made. They darkness, firing occasional distress were makeshift and temporary. I did only rockets in forlorn faith. It was when they enough to assure myself of moderate were finished that I saw what had oc- comfort until the Metallic Industries ship curred. Why I did not think of it before, should arrive to take me off. So for six I cannot tell. But the truth came to me
months—by the Nuntia’s chronometers in a flash : Metallic Industries had duped I idled and loafed, and though it may me just as International Chemicals had sometimes have crossed my mind that duped my father .... Venus was not altogether a desirable They had not built—had never intend- piece of real estate, yet it was in a de- ed to build—a space-ship. Why should tached, impersonal way that I regarded they, once I. C. had lost theirs? That, I my surroundings. It would make a won- grew convinced, was the decision which derful topic of conversation when I got had been taken in the Board Room after home. That “when I got home” colored my withdrawal. They had never intended all my thoughts; it was the constant bar- that I should return .... I could see rier which stood between me and the life now that they would have found it not only expensive, but dangerous. There about me ; this planet might surround me, but it could not touch me as long as the would be not only my reward to be paid, barrier remained in place. but I might blackmail them. In every way At the end of six months, I began to it would be more convenient that I should feel that m.y time of exile was nearly up. do my work and disappear. And what
The M. I. ship would be finished by now, better method of disappearance could and ready to follow the Nuntia’s lead. I there be than loss upon another planet? waited almost a month longer, seeing her The swine .... —
THE MAN FROM BEYOND 435
Those are the methods of Earth—that nothing unusual. Then I had a nasty is the honor of great companies, as you shock. Some way farther on, an enormous will know to your cost should you have head, reared above the trees, was looking dealings with them. They’ll use you, and directly at me. It was not like anything then break you .... I had ever seen before, but thoughts of I must have been nearly crazy for some the giant reptiles jumped to my mind. days after that realization. My fury with Tyrannosaur must have had a head not my betrayers, my disgust with my own unlike that. I was puzzled as well as gullibility, the appalling sense of loneli- scared. Venus could not be still in the age ness, and, above all, the eternal drumming of the giant reptiles .... I could not of that almost ceaseless rain combined to have lived here all this time without see- drive me into a frenzy which stopped ing something of them before this .... only on the brink of suicide.- The head did not move; there was po But in the end, the adaptability of my sound. As my first flood of panic abated, race began to assert itself. I began to hunt it was clear that the animal had not seen and live off the land about me. I struggled me. I took cover and started to move cau- through two bouts of fever and success- tiously closer. The valley seemed utterly fully sustained a period of semi-starvation silent, for I had grown so used to the when my food was finished and game was sounds of rain that my ears scarcely reg- short. For company I had only a pair of istered them. At two hundred yards, I six-legged, silver-furred creatures which came within sight of the great head again I had trained. I had found them one day, and decided to risk a shot. I aimed at the deserted in a kind of large nest and cry- right eye and fired. hunger. Taking them ing weakly with Nothing happened—the echoes thun- with the Nuniia, I fed them back me to dered from side to side; nothing else found them friendly little things. As and moved. It was uncanny, unnerving. I they grew larger, they began to display snatched my glasses. Yes, I had scored a intelligence. Later I remarkable bull, right in the creature’s eye, but .... christened them Mickey and Minnie Queer. I decided that I didn’t like the val- (after certain classic film stars at home) ley a bit, but I made myself go on. There and they soon got to know their names. was a curious odor in the air, not un- And now I come to the last and most pleasant, yet a little sickly. Quite close to curious episode which I confess I do not the monster I stopped. He had not budged yet understand. It occurred several years an inch. Suddenly, behind him, I caught a after the Nuntia’s landing. A foraging glimpse of another reptile—smaller, more expedition upon which Mickey and Min- lizard like, but with teeth and claws that nie accompanied me, as usual, had taken made me sweat. I dropped on one knee us into country completely unknown to and raised the rifle. I had begun to feel me. scarcity of game and a determina- A an odd swimming sensation inside my tion not to return empty-handed had head. The world seemed to be tilting caused me to push on farther than usual. about me. My rifle barrel wavered . . . . At last, at the entrance to a valley, I could not see clearly. I felt myself be- Mickey and Minnie stopped. Nothing I gin to fall—I seemed to be falling a long, could do would induce them to go on. long way .... Moreover, they tried to hold me back, When I awoke, it was to see the bars with their fore-paws. clutching at my legs of a cage The valley looked a likely place for game, The Revelation and I shook them off impatiently. They watched me as I went, making little whin- • Dagul stopped reading. He knew the ing noises of protest, but they did not rest. attempt to follow. “How long ago, do you think?” he For the first quarter of a mile, I saw asked. (Continued on page 492) (Illustration by Sooty)
The ten planets shrank almost a tenth of -their weight at each blast- shrank in one second!
436 THE LIVING GALAXY
• Everyone has an imagination—some By have more powerful ones than others, and it is well-known that science-fiction LAURENCE MANNING fans have the most vivid of all. In the present story, our famous author lets his have full reign—wander unlim- FOREWORD ited throughout the Cosmos. You are sure to appreciate this story, and the greater • It is impossible for me, as author, your imagination, the more you will like to write this story so that it is complete it. reader, We come across light years, universes, in itself ; I must ask you, as to galaxies, and curved space as we never lend a hand to the work. This is what have before. must be done: Close your eyes and pic- Here is an utterly different story, truly ture to yourself a classroom of children a tale at the limit of fantasy. about six years of age. You are one of these children. You have a book open in front of you and, as you read it, a lec- turer says the words of it out loud, so the young face of the lecturer with awe, that the subject matter is impressed for his eyes are the most astonishingly through ear as well as eye. The date is intelligent things you have ever seen and very far in the future—more than 500,- they stare out from the youthful head 000,000 years, and the sun, Earth, Mars, with all the contrast and force of a Venus, and other ancient things have scream coming out of the dark night. His long since died and become as forgotten name is History Zeta Nine and you have and legendary as the Garden of Eden. been told by one of your playmates that You, at the age of six, have played with he is more than 100,000,(XX) years old. strange toys—toys that would puzzle a You did not believe it until he entered skilled engineer today. You look forward the room. Now you rather wonder if he to a whole century of study, research, can be as young as that ! All through the sport, amusement, and philosophy. This reading, your eyes wander from the page first century is your childhood and it will every few minutes to steal a glance at end when you go to the great hospital to this ancient man—just a glance, for you be operated upon and made bodily young dread lest those burning eyes might meet once more. After that you are grown up yours. and set about doing your work in the Now, if you are ready, we will com- world—in whatever world you please, as mence the history lesson: a matter of fact, for there are billions of planets to choose from. You expect • As human beings, history must start to live in this way forever, except for for us upon a planet circling a small the risk of accidents. There is no hurry sun that has long since died. This sun was about learning or doing anything—but at not located in our present universe, but six you are curious and ill-informed and very far away from here in a large cluster this is the very first time you have been of stars known by courtesy as the “First given any insight into the history of the Universe.” In the Chart of Space it is human race, its habitations and its phys- known as Nebula X23G79 and is medium ical limits. sized, slightly smaller than the one in So you look around the room, with which our sun and planets happen to be its bare green tinted walls, and gaze at located. It will be the object of this first 437 438 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 introduction to history to paint a brief thousands of explorers who settled down picture of the progress of the race on the five remaining planets of the through space and to give some hints original solar system. These were not as to its final limits and their possible habitable without artificial air and heat, nature. When you have understood this but the two great inventions mentioned general picture, we shall be in a position above had solved all difficulties. One to go into more detail, but this is reserved planet called “Mercury” was so near the for future lessons. sun of that system that it called for cool- The planet on which the race first ing and not until millions of years later developed was called “Earth” and it pos- was this perfected. The ability to reduce sessed by nature a climate and an atmos- the heat of a body in isolated space is phere suitable to human existence with- nowadays a mere technical commonplace out any artificial aids. In all of Space, —yet it involves transforming heat into counting millions upon millions of Uni- energy and energy into matter. verses, such a condition has been noted We have, then, a human race existing only seventy-two times so that it may be on the planets of one star. The life of a considered extra-ordinary. Eight other man lasted little more than one century. planets circled the same sun and two of For this reason, exploration of other stars these called “Mars” and “Venus” (all came slowly, for a whole lifetime was ancient heavenly bodies were named in- used up in the mere trip. Had it not been stead of numbered) were colonized with for the third great invention, the human great difficulty. This would have been the race might still have lived and died in one total distribution of humanity but for tiny corner of one universe. This inven- three pre-historic inventions that occurred tion was the rejuvenating operation which among the ancients who inhabited the we all undergo every hundred years “Earth” planet. Let us examine these. today. It came slowly and was not per- First came the release of atomic power, fected without accident and many deaths. the first freeing of humanity from the In principle, it is simple—being the fa- necessity of using its man-power. The miliar law of biology that hybridizing re- early engines and motors were, presum- news the youth of two aged parent races. ably, crude dangerous but the result The difficulty lay in its practice, for to and _ of the invention was, nevertheless, to hybridize the thousands of different cell enable power to be used to the limit of types in the human body called for skill the raw material available in the planets. and technique then unknown. The result, It rendered trips from one planet to an- historically, was to permit the long trips other possible on a practical scale, instead of exploration and colonization which in of being gigantic adventures that could a few million years spread mankind over be afforded only once a century. the planets of the “First Universe” and, Second, arising out of the first, was subsequently, throughout all the universes atomic synthesis. This was observed as a and galaxies in space. phenomenon in the exhaust tubes of Of late, this steady, peaceful expansion atomic rocket motors and it was found has slowed down. The reason is that few that the product could be controlled if new planets remain. In every direction the exhausts were surrounded by heavy we have spread to the very edge of matter induction magnets turned on and off with and have come to a stop. For “space” as very high frequency. The “Earth” was we know it is finite and its “curvature” now freed of its last need for labor. Food, that ancient men so brilliantly argued has metals, fabrics could be produced at will been actually found and studied by us. by atomic power using any handy raw As the very outermost planets grow more material—rock and water being, of thickly populated and as further studies course, most common. and observations are reported, we shall, Now the “Earth” was deserted by perhaps, know more than now. What ! a
THE LIVING GALAXY 439
actually constitutes this end of matter is center, great rocket tubes flared out to still a mystery. The action of light and the surface—fifty miles away—and the electricity is warped and bent there and entire planet was in a few centuries made so far, the only data available is due to into a rocket ship. A mile below the sur- the work of Bzonn, the chief actor in face they made themselves living quarters this lesson. His trip beyond space occu- and were ready to start. The voyage pied a period of fifteen million years and they planned was, in those days, incred- since one of the results was to prevent ible. So much fuel would be needed that the destruction of the human race before only a ship of planetary dimensions could it had spread outside of the stars of the have contained it and it would have been “First Universe,” he may be called the absurd to construct such a vehicle. The most important character in history. whole planet was set under motion by Just at the time when the human race earth-shaking blasts from the great rocket was engrossed in possibilities of new ex- chamber and the voyage commenced. Its ploration in distant galaxies and uni- purpose was no less than to explore the verses, with thousands of huge rocket- edge of space and investigate the force ships under construction, astronomers re- that was driving the stars apart. Consider ported in alarm a violent “shift to the this at a time when the longest flight had red” in one area of the sky. As all of been less than a thousand years! After you have had toy spectroscopes, you the fashion of those days of naming know what this means. Over an area ten everything, the planet-ship was named degrees of arc across, the star background the Humanity. seemed to be flying apart at terrific speed —hundreds of times faster than anything • These twelve immortals and their ever observed. As the centuries passed, it leader, Bzonn, had wasted no time was seen that a void was being created upon preparations. As soon as the blast where once stars had been. A great black chambers had been excavated by atomic empty area thrust its way down toward motors in the core of the Humanity, they the First Universe which then contained set off. For what remained to be done all the human race. It was like a vast cone, there would be ample time during the
point down, and in it there appeared to voyage. After continuous firing for thirty be nothing—absolutely nothing. Beyond hours, they were travelling at the speed it the blank space extended to infinity and of 100,000 miles a second. The bulk of not even the most powerful telescopes their ship had been reduced by one:
showed any trace of distant stars. quarter, in spite of the well-known effi- As the years passed, it was seen that ciency of atomic power. For two hundred the cone’s point would at its present rate years they tore through the First Uni- touch the First Universe in a few more verse at this speed, often averting colli- millions of years. Yet what action could sions by furious application of rocket be taken? Most scientists were resigned power at the last second. During this to the role of mere observers. Not so time, the tiny planet-ship had been con- Bzonn verted into the most enormous power- He gathered together a dozen scientists plant known to mankind. Its surface was —twelve men and women whose names gleaming with a silver tracery of beams are now unknown. They settled upon an and girders housing every known appli- uninhabited planetoid circling a small sun ance for the use of power in attack and —a tiny planet not quite one hundred defence. It is said that a tenth of the miles in diameter—and busied themselves weight of the Humanity could be con- in secret preparations. Atomic motors of verted into energy in one second— huge size were constructed and the entire greater outpouring of force than pos- core of the planet scooped out and its sessed by many of our stars. stone transformed into metal. From the When the grey stretches of inter-galac- 440 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
tic space were reached, a course was set improved machines and equipment were to avoid all stars and the pace was set up, the name and purpose in each speeded up to 150,000 miles a second, case being transferred to the new planet- relative to its starting speed, in its orbit ship, and the old one left with the cur- which was, of course, unknown in the rent quota of colonists in the quickly de- absolute. Four million years were to serted universe that then held them. elapse in this monotonous journey and, All dimensions, no matter how giganticj there being four females among the dozen have a definite end and the time came at scientists, a few hundred new humans last when, search as they might, no light were bred and educated during the 'first of any sort could be seen beyond the two or three centuries and the Humanity edges of the last universe they had
turned into a research laboratory in visited. Always before, though it might physics and related subjects. Several im- be a million years to the next star, the portant inventions were given to the sky had shown dusty gray with distant human race as a result, which you will pin-points. This sky now showed blankly learn about -later in more technical black—dead black—the unseeable dark- courses. The only one I shall mention is ness where light simply does not exist in the theory of gravitation diseases—that any form, color, hue, or strength. They inexplicable effect upon stars and planets had arrived at the end of Matter and, by of Bzonn’s “delayed” or static vortex. We theory, also at the end of space itself. now know that this effect on a minute But of this latter point they were not yet scale is responsible for our atomic power. certain, for though they saw this blank
When applied to a sun, the result, after area, they had not yet reached it. At full a delay of a century or two, is sudden speed they proceeded in its direction guid- expansion and deterioration until nothing ed by the near stars. But before they remains but a vast cloud of bright gas. passed these, fresh stars swung into view Since suns are rarely found outside of from the left or the right and seemed to thickly starred systems, the net result is move into the space ahead. This, Bzonn that several dozen suns are destroyed decided, must be caused by the curvature before the reaction is complete. The send- of space which seemed to be greatly mag- ing apparatus is extremely complicated rtified at its edges. To overcome this de- and the power required to set up such a ceptive effect was impossible by physical vortex is enormous. means, for light waves and even motion It must not he thought that the oppor- itself were all equally distorted. A thou- tunity for charting the galaxies was ne- sand years were spent in study and a cor- glected. A small mountain of photographs rective curve drawn painstakingly from was prepared during the four million empiric tests. For its solution it was nec- years. Progress was made in every phase essary to solve the problem of three of art and science. It is regrettable that forces—three inpinging curves, each of the colonization idea was not thought of three dimensions, and this tedious math- until a million years had elapsed. This ematical task had to await the breeding consisted of breeding a hundred humans and educating of a thousand new humans and thoroughly educating them, stopping and the construction of countless elab- the Humanity in her course, entering a orate calculating machines. When at . galaxy and finding a planet, and then length it was finished and a course could'
leaving the hundred colonists on it to mul- be set, it seemed so startling and disv tiply and explore their new universe. This astrous in its implications that the work was done, Bzonn reports, more than one must needs be gone over again painstak- hundred and seventy times in the last ingly.
three million years of the voyage. Twice There was no mistake ; the course was during this period, the Humanity was de- correctly laid out. But it called for driv- serted for a new planet and fresh and ing at full speed on a course that curved !
THE LIVING GALAXY 441
more sharply as the last fringe of stars systems after the fashion of atoms. This were approached until at the last the theory is much supported by the ob- course twisted back upon itself and served fact that photographic projections would return them, seemingly, into the of its outline repeated at intervals of a very universe from which they sought hundred years showed clearly that the
to escape ! Seven hundred years were mass was in movement. For two million spent in completing the manoeuver and years it was studied with the most intense at the end, they were apparently driving interest and a series of miniature statues with full power straight back toward a were projected and photographed upon distant star. It was days before they sus- moving-picture film, one after the other, pected and months before they were cer- each in its proper attitude. It was found tain of the amazing fact that the faster that when the film was viewed rapidly,
they drove toward it, the farther away it the result was progressive movement.
became ! When it finally vanished as a far pin-prick of light, they searched with the • Let us be as explicit as we may: The telescopes and took sufficient observations shape of this mass was that of a to orient themselves, afterwards attempt- rounded cylinder, bulged out roughly ing to correct the photographs for light above the center line. From this projected curvature. For they had passed beyond a streamer which tapered almost to noth- the stars. ingness. The motion observed was, And now picture these intrepid ones, briefly, a wriggling of the streamer (pos- gazing on one hand out upon nothingness sibly a tentacle?) and a slow bending for- and on the other upon a far distant wall ward of the main body. of dusty light that was all that remained The next action of Bzonn upon estab- of Creation! This wall they imagined as lishing these facts was characteristic of a floor and across it they sped for a hun- the fearless and coldly scientific mind dred thousand years searching for any- which drove him continuously through- thing that might project above it—that out this extra-ordinary voyage. Straight might possibly explain the great shift to down toward the wriggling tip of the the red that had been the cause of their tentacle of star-matter he sped his ship adventure. And they found it. What they Humanity. The voyage lasted half a mil-
found is, of course, still debatable. Ahead lion years and as the last stars in the of them there loomed up a wall of dis- streamer came into view, it was noted that tant starlight at right angles to the great at its point commenced the enormous va- floor beneath their planet-ship. This they cancy in the universes—that conical approached not too closely, but skirted it emptiness formerly occupied by count- and in the course of a million years com- less stars that had first started them on pletely circled the mass of star-matter. It their quest rose about a million light years in height Here was (and still is) matter for the and half that in diameter. Photographs of gravest minds to consider! Those who its contour were taken and by superim- take the opposite view from Bzonn point posing the outlines, a tiny model was out that it is inconceivable that this mov- created—a weird little thing that stood ing cluster of star groups could have held on their laboratory table. This sculpture life. They argue by analogy that even if you have all seen copied in the museums stars and planets could be substituted for under the title of “The Living Galaxy.” atoms to make a scale of existence similar
This is, of course, a misnomer for up- to our own, yet the number of stars in- wards of fifty galaxies were noted in volved was too few (relatively) to have it. The title, however, clearly gives the created anything more than a very prim- idea of one theory of its origin, which is itive microscopic creature—much too that the protuberance was a creature of small to have fixed body parts such as life in some form which utilized solar tentacles. They also, by mathematics, seek !
442 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
to establish that there is so slight a resem- Each new planet was excavated for blast blance between atoms and solar systems chambers of gigantic size and covered as to preclude the very possibility. Such with huge engines for creating and re- reasons and arguments cannot be consid- leasing power. A hundred thousand years ered in an elementary treatise, but it must was spent in making these preparations, always be said that this occurred upon and upon an agreed day, the ten Human- the edge of space—that light rays travel ities set off through the star-strewn space only a short distance outside of space (as a hundred light-years apart, and as each was learned later and almost to their selected star was passed, it was subjected destruction) and that the rules and prop- to the terrific thrust of the disease-pro- erties of such an existence cannot be yet ducing vortex. The violence and fury of established. On the other hand, Bzonn this operation must be seen to be believed. undoubtedly leaped to conclusions. His Photographic reproductions are available next action can hardly be condoned upon at all museums and you are requested to a scientific basis—for even if it averted view them before the next term. The ten destruction from a few billion or trillion planets shrank almost a tenth of their humans, what is that ? Humans can weight at each blast—shrank in one sec- always be bred. And the phenomena he ond! You may well believe what terrific destroyed was one that, to date, has not earthquakes and storms racked them at since been observed and may conceivably that moment! The crew could not have never again occur. lived upon them and did not attempt to. Ours is not to judge. Here to Bzonn They set automatic controls an hour in seemed a clear issue. He had found a advance and took themselves to small gigantic creature rooting dangerously space-ships which they guided to a few with a tentacle among the stars that thousand miles distance and there they housed the human race. This he deter- waited until the shock had passed before
mined to stop if it lay in his power. It returning to their wrecked living quar- must be borne in mind that Bzonn felt no ters. In the two or three hundred years doubt that the star-mass composed a liv- which had then to elapse before the next
ing intelligent creature. At the top of the selected star approached, it was necessary rounded body must, he thought, lie some to rebuild the machinery over the entire sort of brain and toward this he drove surface of each of the ten Humanities. his mobile planetoid. Right up to the By the time the second blast was shot, “head” of the creature he came and into it was possible to see in the telescopes
it, observing no difference between the the first signs of the vortex disease in the stars which formed it and those back in first infected suns they had left behind. the more orderly portions of space. Pos- When four blasts had been delivered by sibly, he reported, the stars were more each of the ten planet-ships, the distant closely placed than might have been ex- stars were in violent disruption. On they pected—no more than that. They were sped, delivering in all, six blasts apiece, still more than two light years apart at the and came out through the other side of closest and often as much as ten. the “Living Galaxy” and hastened away The task of destruction which he now through the blackness beyond space, set himself was simple—all that was anxious to be well out of the way before necessary was to infect every tenth star that galaxy vanished in fiery vapor. On he passed with his newly invented “de- they continued until, with the naked eye, layed” vortex disease. There were by this they saw nothing but a distant hint of time several thousand humans upon the grey, and the telescopes showed only Humanity of the moment. These were faint images of far stars. And as they now divided into ten groups and each proceeded to get clear of the danger group established upon a suitable small zone, these faint images suddenly, inex- planet as they passed among the suns. plicably, and horrifyingly vanished THE LIVING GALAXY 443
Bzonn vividly recalls this scene in the vanished. One of them was less than a
following words: “Astronomy Gamma* thousand miles away ! Radio signals were first reported it to me and I did not be- tried in vain. Our gyroscope was set in lieve him. It was not an hour before that motion finally and I changed course at I had used the telescope myself. He went once, hoping to come close enough to the away and returned with Astronomy nearest planet-ship to get into com- Alpha* himself and upon this I went to munication. Possibly her commander had investigate and found it was even as I the same idea—I may never know—but had been told. Through our most power- I never saw him again. ful electric telescope nothing—literally “For a hundred thousand years, I nothing—could be seen save for the other searched through the black fog in the nine planets that formed our fleet. I sig- most complete and utter fruitlessness. nalled each of the nine in turn but not one Finally, despairing of ever finding them, reported any observation different from I gave the command for setting our ours. The command to apply rocket course back to our starting point. Of the power to bring our flight to a halt was other nine planets, eight had not set up a dangerous one—I dare not give it. How gyroscopes when the light failed and could we tell that direction might not be could only by the merest chance ever hope lost in the manoeuver? One thing I did to return to our familiar star universes. know and only one—if our rockets were Physics Beta, of course, had a guide for kept shut off, our inertia would continue his return and him I expected to find us in a straight line. Possibly large later on. As a matter of fact, he returned gyroscopes would hold direction and set to human civilization half a million years us upon a return course. I proceeded at before I did. once to try them. “For centuries we peered despairingly “By signal, I requested Physics Beta, out at the desolate wastes that lie there who commanded one of the planetoids, to so emptily and blackly, searching for the make the official tests, using the other nine •first distant hints that might indicate our ships to check direction. In a tenth of a approach to familiar space. We gave up year, he had completed his apparatus and hope a dozen times, fearing that the the test was made. He found that the gyroscope compass had failed, and a gyroscope retained its direction in spite dozen times we kept grimly on, for what of all manner of manoeuvers to which he else was there for us to do? Then came subjected his planetoid. The facts were the glorious moment when, with the signalled to all our consorts and I delayed naked eye, we all of us could make out the command to return on our course the far floor of light formed by all only long enough for Mechanics Delta created matter and toward it we rushed to finish a gyroscope on my own planet. until the separate light-points showed as This delay was fatal, as you shall see. stars in the telescopes. And where we entered space, there was a great rough “All this time, it must be remembered, our planet-ships were speeding outward lump of star-clusters projecting above the level in the blackness beyond space. Evidently, floor of stars and this we pho- light waves cease to function entirely tographed as we passed over and, laying silhouette when space completely ends. Also, evi- upon silhouette, built up a tiny replica of its dently we had reached about then an ab- outline in our laboratory. solutely blank condition which, near or It had the appearance of a long, rounded lying its with in space, only partially exists. What- body on side a tentacle motionless on the floor beside it.” ever the exact reason, the fact is that, of a sudden, the other planets in the fleet • grew faint and dim and quite casually The remainder of Bzonn’s narrative is an argument in favor of his theory that *A member of the crew. he had slain a super-beast—a living !
444 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 galaxy of stars. He warmly defended his read that you have lost your awe for action and insisted that a second beast this ancient man. Then his eyes sweep doubtless exists somewhere and can be over the class and meet yours—just for studied. He has made frequent expedi- an instant—and pass on to the door as tions to the edge of space in many direc- he walks out of the room. And then a tions but, so far, without success. At low babel of conversation breaks out present, he has been absent twenty million among your six-year-old contemporaries years and is feared lost. But space has and there is a general movement toward been conquered by many other explorers the door. You, reader, barely notice the and there remains almost no star not others. Your chin is on your hands and already in our catalogs and almost no your elbows on your desk. Your eyes planet without its human settlement. stare through walls and pass through The next problem facing the human space until, in imagination, you see the race is, is all this finite incurved group of warped and bulbous edge of space itself star clusters we know as “space” merely —see it as a fish sees the surface of water one unit in infinity ? Do there lie imbedded from beneath. How fine it would be, you in the dark nothingness beyond “space” think, to devote yourself forever to incalculable other such units? Can we searching for the lost companions of reach these other islands in chaos steer- Bzonn ! But to do that one must wait until ing through the lightless areas with gyro- one knows enough and .... there is scopes? Only time can tell. the book before you. You are one of those who cannot wait for the next day to bring AFTERWORD what it will—you must peer into the • When the voice of the teacher ceases, next chapter, driven by curiosity. For you look up, for the end of the chapter long hours you sit there over the book has been reached. You have been so ex- and I would give anything to know what cited by the substance of what has been you read there THE END
QUALITY and QUANTITY JWTORE and more readers are daily recognizing the superiority of WONDER STORIES over other science-fiction magazines. The Editors have studied the likes and dislikes of the fans for many years.
They have found out just the type of stories YOU want and those that you do NOT want . They peruse every submitted story carefully, reading every single word in every manuscript, not merely scanning the first few pages. They do not reject stories with a terse printed or mimeographed rejection slips, but offer a complete criticism to every author, telling him just how he can improve his work so that it will come up to the WONDER STORIES standard. Very few other Editors, if any, do this. These personal letters encourage the authors and they turn out better stories in the future. The editors believe in co-operation on all sides. It is the duty of the Editors to provide the Readers with the cream of the science-fiction crop and to encourage Authors to greater heights. It is the duty of the Authors to study the criticisms and suggestions that the Editors extend and to make each story better than their last. It is the duty of the Readers to purchase the magazine each month, recommend it to others, and offer their roses and brickbats through “The Reader Speaks” department. Here are a few of the stories that our new policy has brought forth, A-l master- tales, the like of which can be found in no other magazine: “THE CONTROL DRUG” by Benson Herbert “THE ROBOT ALIENS” by Eando Binder “VALLEY OF DREAMS” by Stanley G. Weinbaum “THE BRAIN OF ALI KAHN” by L. A. Eshbach “THE MOTH MESSAGE” by Laurence Manning “SLEEP SCOURGE” by Henry J. Kostkos —watch for these stories among others of equal quality in the next few issues. Quantity also!—WONDER STORIES contains more words per page than any other science-fiction mag- azine, which means that you receive thousands of words more of better fiction than is offered by our com- petitors! Don’t let the number of pages fool youl Wonder Stories — on ail newsstands BRITAIN TESTING SHELL AIDED BY EARTH’S MOTION
London, June 10 (U. P.).—The War Office was understood today to be interested in experiments with a new shell designed to utilize the rotation of the earth to drop a tremendous distance from where it was fired. The shell contains a number of rockets arranged to detonate in automatic succession. By this method, it is hoped, a perfected shell fired in London would be able to stay in the air long enough, while the earth rotated, to land in Paris, Berlin or any other designated spot.
WHAT IS YOUR SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE? Test Yourself by This Questionnoire
1. Why don’t termites thrive in France? (See Page 413) 2. Have termites ever been found in France? (See Page 413) 3. What is the effect of hybridizing? (See Page 438)
4. What is the effect of nicotine on the teeth ? (See Page 449) 5. Why did the ancient alchemists sometimes use symbols and cyphers? (See Page 456) 6. How can a tree be killed without cutting it off completely? (See Page 493) 7. Trace briefly the evolution of the horse. (See Page 494) 8. What is the “hoof” of a horse composed of? (See Page 494) 9. What animal, next to man, is the furthest evolved? (See Page 494) 10. Under what principle does the rocket work? (See Page 495)
UJJe Wanderer By L. A. ESHBACH
Through vaults of blackest night a flaming globe Sweeps by, majestic, like a star set free To wander on the endless, spacial sea, With golden lace its train, a kingly robe. The worlds it passes in its careless flight Glare after it in jealous rage, for they Can never leave their dull and weary way — The speeding comet vanishes from sight.
Long years by in space appears a glow — go ;
A sphere of light ; the wanderer comes back. And as it speeds upon its destined track, The circling planets smile, for now they know The comet is not free to wander far, ’Tis bound by cosmic laws like every star.
445 When the lady opened the top of the wire cage and the cat jumped out, the snake was ready for him.
446 THE TREE OF EVIL
• This favorite author returns with a By story of the most peculiar people in the world—not just odd or eccentric, but DAVID H. KELLER, M.D. utterly strange. The inhabitants of Glen- dale will arouse your interest and make you wonder. • “You were born in Glendale, Mr. Psychology and morals, like in much Harley?” of the author’s other work, play a large part in this different tale. Why did the “Yes.” people of Glendale consider morals an “Left there when a boy?” unnecessary weakness of humanity? “Yes.” Why had the Ten Commandments sud- “Never went back?” denly left the minds of every citizen "No.” leaving the town populated by uncouth, murderous, and unmoral creatures? “What kind of a place was it when you The famous Taine of San Francisco, were a boy?” the best-loved detective in science-fiction, "All t^his interests me, but at the same solves the problem in the way that only time, I cannot see that it is any of your Detective Taine can. Many of our read- ers have followed his adventures for business. You came here with good many years and will be glad to see him introductions to see enough presumably with us once again. me on business. I make an appointment Anyone who has ever read a Keller- with you and you start in asking me a lot yarn before will know, without further of personal questions. What is the idea, comment on our part, that the story will be thoroughly enjoyable and well worth Dr. Riorden?” the reading. “Simply this. I became interested in Glendale. Tell you why later. After a rather intensive search of ‘Who’s Who in America,’ I found that you are about there and their song was just about the the only person who ever left Glendale only thing that ever disturbed the quiet. and became wealthy. So I made it my Everybody had gardens and were proud business to come and see you.” of their lawns. People spoke to each other “What do you want? Free library? on the street, and when a gentleman met Drinking fountain? A new church? Uni- a lady, he held his hat in his hand when forms for the Higlr School football he spoke to her. If a boy went into a ?” team store to buy a jack-knife and the sales- “No. I wanted to know if you loved man was playing checkers, the game was the town you grew up in as a boy.” finished before the sale was made. The The rich man’s face softened. young people respected the aged. A man “It was a dear old town,” he replied. could borrow money on his note without “It was just as nice a town as a person collateral. It was just a nice, sweet, pros- could find in America after the Civil War. perous little town where everybody lived About eight hundred people lived there up to the Golden Rule and nothing ever and they were all clean, if you know what happened.” I mean. Two churches, but most everyone “But you never went back.” went to the Episcopal church. It was of “No. I wonder how many people do go stone covered with ivy. There was one back? I was fifteen when I left. I am wide street, and on each side, maple and fifty how. First I was too busy making oak trees furnished shade. Martins nested money. Later on it seemed that I did not 447 448 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 care. At times I said to myself that I will “I know. I talked to him. He laughed go back but there really never seemed to about it" be any appropriate time or any real rea- The rich man’s face hardened as he son. You see, my people there are all snarled. dead.” “I’ll smash him. I’ll tear the whole rot- “I wish you would go.” ten crowd to pieces.” “Why? Is that what you came for? “Certainly. You are mad now. But I Most peculiar!" want to ask you two questions. What has made the change in Glendale? “Perhaps, but I wanted your opinion.” And how are you going to help me save it?” “Of what?” “Why should it be saved?” “Of what has made the change. At the “Because it is sick, and the sickness present time Glendale is the meanest, is spreading to the surrounding country. dirtiest, worst town in that part of the I have charted the crimes committed in United States. Speaking in medical terms, that county, plotted what might be called and you will recall that I a physician, am a crime curve showing the increase year it is a literal cancer on the face of the by year. The thing that started in Glen- earth. The people there are just sick with dale is spreading like the little waves every imaginable form of vice. Taxes are spread when you drop a stone in the uncollectable, murders go unpunished, water. I cannot see an end to it. Glendale cruelty in every form is rampant, the might be neglected, ignored, isolated; but people are cunning, dirty, and just plain you cannot do that to a county or to a criminals. The good people in the county state. Glendale has to be saved to save our avoid the place like they would a dose of national life.” poison. There is as much difference be- “You take it too seriously, Doctor.” tween the town you knew as a boy and the “No. Let me show you the statistics, present town as there is between light and the charts.” darkness. I wanted you to know it. It For two hours, the two men talked and seemed that if you loved the place you studied the papers Dr. Riorden spread were born in, the town where your fam- on the desk. As a sociological study, the ily lived and died, that you might be data was well prepared and most inter- willing to do something.” esting. At last the medical man gathered Harley smiled. his charts together and put them back into “I suppose that something like that has the folder. He looked silently, question- happened to every small inland town. ingly at the rich man. Harley looked back Times have changed everything. People at him. Silence. are simply not living the way they used At last the banker spoke. to when I was a boy. Of course Glendale “It looks bad.” may be a little worse than other towns, “Certainly.” but folks are just about the same all over. “How much money do you want? after all, I not see I can ?” And do what What are your plans ? How can I help do about it. Even if I could, what dif- “Do you want to help?” ference it should I would make, and why “Yes. I loved my mother and I have be interested?” very fond memories of my boyhood “Suppose I tell you that every Sunday home.” a select crowd of Glendale citizens go to “This is my plan. We will secure the the graveyard and play poker on your services of a detective, the best we can mother’s tombstone? Suppose I told you find. The three of us will go to Glendale that the white marble is covered with in some disguise. We will try to make a filth?” diagnosis. After that the cure will be “I pay the sexton fifty a year to care easier. But first we must know what is for the family plot.” the matter with the town. There will be THE TREE OF EVIL 449
some expense, but the big thing I want detective bureau. Who are you and how you to give is your time.” are you ?” he asked the boy in rags. “It would be easier to give the money.” “All right,” was the reply, with a “You would not say that if you saw twisted smile. “Those officers were cer- your mother’s grave.” tainly rough. They nearly twisted my “I'll go. How much money do you want arms off. Your office is certainly well to start with ? How are you going to select protected, Mr. Harley. I suppose that is ?” the detective ? When do we start one of the privileges of the rich, to be “I’ll let you know in time. The impor- protected from the poor. My name is tant thing at present is to be sure you Taine, Taine of San Francisco. Here is are with me in all this.” my card.” “That is the least of your worries!” “There must be some mistake,” said cried Harley, and he meant it. Dr. Riorden slowly. “I asked the Bureau to send me the best detective they knew • Ten days later, the two men again of, regardless of cost.” met in Harley’s office. They were both “They did,” replied Taine quietly. “I uneasy and impatient. am willing to admit that they did. There “I wonder why he does not come!” was no mistake. That is why I am here. exclaimed Dr. Riorden. “The letter stated Now if you do not mind, I will send over very positively that he would be here at to the hotel for some clothes, and after two.” I am better dressed, I will talk over the Just then the Circle clock boomed the problem with you. I have no idea what hour. The door was flung open and in you want me for, but that does not make came two policemen dragging a strug- any difference. I judge you wanted some gling, squirming, squawking shrimp of a question answered and that is why I am bowery rat. here.” “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Harley,” Half an hour later, a well-dressed man, apologized one of the officers, “but this barely over five feet and weighing not dirty bum has been trying to get to your more than ninety pounds, sat perched on office for the last half-hour. He won’t a chair built for a two hundred pounder. tell his business, but he has been making Slowly, carefully, in great detail, for over some wise-cracks about you and we two hours, Dr. Riorden went into every thought you might want to identify him phase of the troubles of Glendale. At last before we took him to the cooler.” he turned to Taine with a question. “Never saw him,” stated the banker “What do you think about it?” tersely. “Just a new kind of panhandler. “Must be something wrong some- You take care of him.” where.” As they started to drag him, the half- “What are you going to do about it?” pint twisted one arm loose, reached in “Correct it. That is what you are en- his rags and, with a swift gesture, threw gaging me for.” a white carnation on the floor. “Your confidence is startling, Mr. “Wait a minute!” called Dr. Riorden. Taine,” commented the banker. “I know the man. You can leave him here. “It is based on the fact that I have It’s O.K.” never failed. When do we start?” “Are you sure?” asked Harley. “At once,” replied the Doctor. “And “Positive. You can go, officers, and now that we are through with the dis- thank you. I will see that the man is cussion, suppose we smoke. Have a ciga- cared for.” rette, Mr. Taine?” The policemen out of the room, the “Thanks, but I never smoke. I find Doctor turned to Harley and explained. that the nicotine is very injurious to the “The white carnation was the identi- enamel of the teeth, and once that is gone, fication mentioned in the letter from the decay soon follows. While you smoke, I 450 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
will indulge m a piece ©£ peppermint. It of the street two squares down. By the keeps the month clean and the mind dear. way, have you seen the papers lately? Suppose we make a few plans.” Couple of days ago a man took five thou- "How about your fee, Mr. Taine?” sand in gold from a bank about fifty questioned the banker. miles from here. Rather interesting. Thought perhaps you knew the man?” "My practice is to discuss that after “Perhaps I did,” said the new deposi- the case is settled. I always charge what tor, “and perhaps I didn’t, and did I or I think the service is worth. Personally didn’t I, what makes it so interesting? I have little use for money, but my wife Perhaps that is why I going to live is very much interested in a church in San am in Glendale for a while.” Francisco. She is President of the Ladies’ “It a good place to live in,” answered Aid Society, and it gives her pleasure to b the banker. “The law does not mean much give a trifle here and there. My income is here.” always increasing, but she is equal to it. I have heard; so I have heard,” In fact she is very capable in some direc- “So muttered the stranger as he walked out tions. Bat let us return to the problem of the bank. of Glendale. My idea is something like him through the this.” The banker looked at He explained his plan to them. window. “If he dies suddenly,” he thought, “it may be hard to find anyone to claim that • A week later, a rather stout man in a deposit” well-worn suit entered the Bank of The stranger went to the hotel and Glendale. It was a private bank with no secured a room. For a few days he was a outside affiliations. In fact it was a bank curiosity; later he became commonplace. in name only. The owner had no em- gossiped with the idle, played poker ployees and tended strictly to the entire He with sweet bunch of gamblers and lost business, which was to loan money to a a kit of money, flirted miklly with the those who needed it provided there was girls on street, once went to the a one hundred per cent chance to make at the and cemetery. least ten per cent per month on the in- vesting capital. The Strange People The visitor carried a shabby black leather bag. • The Episcopal Church was on Main "Can I open an account here?” he Street at one end of the town. It had asked. been placed there a hundred years before "I am always ready to take care of with the idea that the town would grow. money,” replied the banker with a twisted As a matter of fact, the town had never smile. reached it as far as buildings were con- of the "Then here is five thousand in gold; cerned, though a large per cent reached it at least once a week. At count it and give me a receipt.” people large cent used to reach it. The banker counted it. least, a per "Four thousand, nine hundred and At this time, the Rector was surprised eighty dollars,” he said. "Not five thou- if fifteen attended a. service; they were sand.” mostly old people who had established a "I spent twenty coming here.” habit of attending church, and the habit "Well, here is a receipt and some was not easily broken. checks. They are only good in Glendale. In back of the church was a wood. It This is not a regular bank. 1 just handle might have been a pleasant recreation local business.” center, but instead it was a neglected "That is O.K. with me. I am going to jungle of dying trees and parasitic vines. stay here for a while. Is there a hotel?” On one side, up on a hill, was the Rec- "Yes. Sort of a one. On the other side tory, an unpainted rotting wooden house. THE TREE OF EVIL 451
From it the land fell in a heavy slope thing was dirty, dishes unwashed, the ending in a deep, dank, dreary ravine, floor spotted, the stove rusty. almost a sink-hole. At one time, a trim, “You will have to pardon the way neat boardwalk had connected house and things are here,” said the Rector, with a church. This was now rotting with many twisted smile. “The church is poor, and missing planks. they have allowed their property to deteri- The church, being made of stone, en- orate. However, such hospitality as we dured the changes of time better than the have to offer is given to you freely. Sit it will house, but even the church looked shabby. down. No, not on that chair ; break. The stained glass window at the end The one in the corner is the only one that showed the Three Wise Men bringing is safe.” gifts to the Child in the manger, but one "A quaint old town,” remarked Rior- of the wise men had lost his head and den, more for something to say to take parts of the gifts were replaced by a the strain off the situation. “Must have piece of ordinary window-glass. But the been a real town in the olden days.” entire town looked the same way, so the “It is a good town now to live in for decay of church and rectory did not seem those that like to live in this kind of a out of place. town,” the Rector replied. “There are cer- Over the wooden walk towards twilight tain things about it; perhaps you have walked a man. He stepped gingerly over noticed ? But most of us who live here get a mud-hole and finally knocked at the along. Of course I was sent here; it was unpainted oaken door. The Rector opened my duty to come." it. was a Princeton graduate and could He Just then two children dashed in, the write, if he desired, three degrees after boy chasing the girl. Almost in the room his tall, white-haired, and name. He was the girl fell and the boy kicked her poorly shaven, with an ashy grey com- savagely. Instead of crying, she turned, plexion. There was something about him seized his ankle and bit it. The father to indicate that at one time that seemed took the boy by the collar, slapped him opened the he had been a gentleman. He across the mouth, dragged him to a win- door and looked at his visitor coolly. dow, opened it, and literally threw him “Well," he said. “Well?” out. He turned to the girl. “I am a Doctor,” the stranger said, “Dr. “Get out and stay out. Have you lost Riorden. I am thinking of starting a prac- your manners? I should think you could tice in this town. I have been told that behave yourself, seeing I have company.” this place needs a physician. So I have He dusted off his hands and turned to come to call on you to ask for advice. the Doctor. Naturally, you would know about Glen- dale and its problems. May I come in?” “Children will be children, and at times temper gets the best of me. Will you “A Doctor ?” asked the Princeton grad- my have some coffee? There should be some uate. “A Doctor? If you have any other cake somewhere.” place to go, you had better go there. I have buried a dozen people in the last “I do not want to trouble you.” year and all of them have been either “No trouble. Have some tobacco? I murders or suicides. We don’t need a smoke too much. It seems to help me to doctor here. Our people don’t get sick. forget. Now what was it we were to talk They just die. But come in.” about ?” Dr. Riorden followed the man through “The advisability of my practicing in the doorway into a long hall and through Glendale.”
that hall into a back room. It evidently “That was it. There is this to say. was a general purpose room, for there We have no physician here, so there is was a stove, a table, chairs, a sofa, some competition only from some of the neigh- pictures, and food on a sideboard. Every- boring towns, and we rarely see a Doctor. 452 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
You might do well here, if you were will- With the lights out and the brandy light- ing to do certain kinds of practice.” ed, things appear that are strange.” "Meaning ?” “He means that he looks like a fallen “You see, 1 am priest consequently angel,” added the wife. a ; I realize and admit the weakness of my “And you like Lileth. By the way, dear, congregation. They are to be congratu- the children are growing more and more lated on their vices. At times they consult brutal in their reactions. I am afraid that me professionally. The better educated some day Donald will seriously injure find my library charming. They claim it Eunice, and perhaps spoil her beauty. It helps them toward a better and more would be a serious financial blow to us. varied life of sin.” I wish you would reduce their allowance "The man must be insane!” thought of leaves. At their age, they are really Riorden. taking too many. Now in regard to Dr. A step was heard on the porch. Riorden’s idea of becoming a resident of “That must be Mrs. Sweetly,” whis- Glendale. Just why do you want to come pered the minister. “She comes and goes here, Doctor?” among my flock. She is a valuable influ- “Frankly because it is impossible to ence on our richest men. Ah! My dear. practice elsewhere. There are legal diffi- Allow me to introduce Dr. Riorden, who culties. I made a fortune by practices that is thinking of locating in Glendale.” were questioned not only by the medical societies but also by the law. So I brought • the here that’s all.” The Doctor acknowledged the intro- money ; duction. The woman startled him with “We will help you spend it,” sighed the her beauty and her dress. A snow-white Rector. “My dear wife has been most for- skin with dazzling red hair, a black velvet tunate in this kind of social service. And dress with extreme decollete, scarlet lips now I will escort you to the street with a and pendant crystal earrings. A million flashlight. It would not do for your neck dollar woman in a ten cent house. She to be broken, just yet, anyway.” dropped gracefully on the broken sofa. “You must come again soon,” added "Tired,” she said, “and soul-wearied. the social serviteer. “My husband is al- The life in this place fails to bring the ways out Tuesdays and Fridays from ultimate thrill.” seven to eleven.” "Even the banker ?” asked her husband. “And sometimes I do not return till "He is growing impossible. Is. there midnight, my dear. Well, Doctor, suppose anything to eat?” we go. I trust you will decide to stay with "I will make some coffee.” us. We need your services and your Smoking continuously, he started to money.” make the coffee, talking as he puttered. “There are so many worthy charities,” "Mrs. Sweetly has many social respon- murmured Mrs. Sweetly, casually light- sibilities. Card parties and intimate teas, ing a cigarette. “And charity with me be- at times with our masculine parishioners. gins at home. On your way back, my dear Someday I will be forced to kill some of Charles, stop and gather a few fresh them, but at present I simply smile and leaves. You know I prefer them young.” dream.” The two men started off through the "He has his diversions,” explained the dark, briar-grown wood. Without a light, wife, “and though most of them are the boardwalk would have been an im- blonde and immature, he cares for them possible snare. tenderly.” • “My wife is a wonderful woman,” “Lambs of my flock,” explained the murmured the Rector. Rector. “Let us cease our personalities “She seems to be,” agreed Dr. Riorden. and drink sdme coffee. We add a little "Without her help, we could not finance brandy, Doctor. Have you ever tried it? the Parish of St. James.” THE TREE OF EVIL 453
"I will be delighted to become a heavy able to do something. But we must be contributor,” insisted the medical man. careful of our own food. For all we know, Just then a shrill shriek pierced the they may serve it with the food. I have dank depression. the very idea. We can say we are diabetics “That must be my friend Swanson or gastric ulcer cases and just eat oranges beating his wife,” commented Sweetly. and bananas. Have you heard anything The cry was repeated. “They live on the of Taine?” other side of the wood, but her voice “No. But the weekly paper says a tramp carries on the night air. At times it dis- has been arrested and is working on the turbs me as I read. Now I will say good- village streets in bail and chain. That may night. From here on you can find your be Taine, or he may be the new waitress way back to the Hotel. I presume you in the restaurant at the other end of are staying there. The proprietor is a town. I have not heard anything about the friend of mine. Have you met his daugh- plant but I have seen enough of the place ter ? Charming girl, but has a bad habit of to believe anything you may say about it splitting her infinitives. But that is a de- The banker here is especially rotten. He fect that can be overlooked. After all, took my deposit but he is limiting my noblesse oblige. We cannot all be lingual withdrawals. I suppose he hopes I will be purists. And now goodnight. Come often killed before I spend too much. Perhaps to see us, on Tuesdays or Fridays or any I had better disappear for a day or so and other evenings that suit you. I have a come back with some more cash. That may library at your service.” make him defer the plans for my fun- eral.” • The next morning, Dr. Riorden met "You do that. In the meantime, I will the New York financeer in his hotel try and locate the plant. Mrs. Sweetly bedroom. may assist me. She likes the leaves young “Well?” questioned Harley. "What do and tender. This is going to be an inter- you think about it?” esting study. Do you suppose they all ?” “It is a mess. The whole community, are eating it as far as I can find out, is a stench in “I am not a Doctor,” replied Harley. the nostrils of the state. Everyone here, “But if eating it takes away from man, even the little children, are affected. I woman, and child every trait that makes called on the spiritual head of the church for refinement in our civilization, then last night. He is a Princeton man, a gen- they all are eating it. I never saw so much tleman of culture and education. His deliberate, cruel vice as I have seen going children are young barbarians, his wife a on openly in this town. In some way, I cannot say that it is worse sin it beautiful poison, and his home a pig-pen. than ; is
And they do not seem to worry about it. a mental cancer. Yesterday I saw a drunk- They have abandoned most of the house en man in the gutter and a woman went because the roof leaks so badly, and do up and kicked him in the face with her everything in the kitchen except sleep. pointed shoe. Everybody laughed. One ?” man hollered, for you, Have you had much to do with women ‘Good Mame ; kick “Not much.” him in the eye and make him see ” “Then stay away from the Rector’s straight.’ wife. However, I think I am on the trail “I wish Taine were here,” sighed Dr. of a diagnosis. They eat the leaves of Riorden. “He must be around somewhere. some kind of plant and it may be that Think he might be the new waitress? they become addicts; their moral sense Guess I will go down there and look her is twisted somewhat similar to that of the over. Queer chap, that man Taine.” opium-eater. If we can determine that “Suppose we go down to the restaurant everyone here is eating the leaves of that and see the giri,” suggested the New plant and find out what it is, we may be Yorker. “I guess there will be no com- :
454 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 ment if we are seen together. Both being live ones can fly away when you move the strangers about whom gossip is already plates. Whatcherwannado ? Drive my cus- saying the worst that can be said, it will tomers away, dern you!” And with one seem the natural thing for us to become blow in the mouth, he knocked her to the pals.” floor. She ran screaming to the kitchen. The restaurant, at the end of town, was “That will larn her, and come again. I dirty. In this characteristic it shared with will see that the flies are out the next the town, but the association of dirt with time.” food appeared peculiarly repugnant to the “At least we know where Taine is,” visitors. It was so foul that even the flies commented Harley later. seemed to be bored by the plethora of “I wonder what he has found out?” their surroundings. whispered Dr. Riorden. "At least he is Back of the smeared counter, the pro- afraid of the salad. I wonder if it had prietor lounged. those leaves in it?” “We crave food,” stated Riorden, For the next forty-eight hours, nothing dully. special happened. Harley saw little of “That is why we are in business, friend. Dr. Riorden, and neither of them saw or Susie Loo, get busy and feed these gen- heard from Taine. The New Yorker had tlemen. Do you all want a regular meal ?” invested in some local property, sold to “We want oranges and bananas,” re- him by the local banker, and thereby may plied Harley. have saved his life. Dr. Riorden called "Huh?” again at the home of the Sweetlys and “Oranges and bananas,” repeated Har- thereby nearly lost his life. It was after ley. midnight, the beginning of the third day, "Two of ham and eggs !” cried the man. when Dr. Riorden was aroused from a “Where do youse think you are? Palm light sleep by hearing the door of his bed-
Beach ? An’ Susie Loo ! Bring ’em some room open. He sat up in bed, automatic ?” of the salad.” in hand, and asked, “Who is it
Ten minutes later the slattern slid the “Don’t shoot. It’s just me, Taine. I order th table with of dish- on te two caps have been hurt enough without suffering water coffee. further from the hands of my loved ones. ?” "Anything else she asked, and slowly Where is Mr. Harley ? Can you get him ?” winked one eye. “He is two rooms down. I can have him "Nothin’ else,” said Dr. Riorden. “Say, here at once. Shall he dress? Not any this ham looks tainted.” trouble, is there?” “So am I,” she replied, as she slid a "No. I just wanted to talk to you. Did soiled piece of paper towards him, and you take my advice in regard to the left. salad?” Harley, who was the nearest to the "We did. Nothing but oranges and paper, picked it up casually and shaded it bananas. I found out about the leaves with his hand as he lighted a cigarette. soon after I arrived. Harley is a diabetic He read and I have something wrong with my Don’t eat the salad. T. stomach. We are both sick men and have They minced at the - meal and then to be careful with our diet.” sauntered over to the bar to pay the bill. Five minutes later die two men were "Fine meal,” commented Harley, “but conversing in whispers with a little soiled we did not eat the salad. It had some flies waitress. in it.” “The whole town is eating the plant,” "Susie Loo!” howled the man. “Come began Taine. “They are serving it in the out here. Didn’t I tell you to always pick restaurants. As far as I can determine, the dead flies out of the food before you there must be over a thousand people who served it ? The dead ones, you idiot ! The take some every day. If it were not for THE TREE OF EVIL 455 a rule of mine to be careful when I am partner, and Harley is going to buy some in character, I would have had it fed to real estate. Surely you gentlemen under- me the first day. The boss is rough with stand our position. Mr. Harley is quite me, knocks me down and all that sort a fool over Susie Loo. It was a case of of thing, but he thinks I am a woman, love at first sight.” and I guess you know how men are. He As he talked, Harley took the girl in thinks I am eating the leaves, because I his arms in a protecting attitude. The am acting differently, more common than officer smiled. I was. The next thing we have to do is “I’ll marry you and you can get the to find out what it is and where it comes license tomorrow. Did you say fifty or a from.” hundred would be my fee?” “I tried to find out part of that," an- “A hundred,” said Dr. Riorden. “I will swered Dr. Riorden. “The preacher’s pay that as a wedding present. Now in wife gave me some. I promised her I regard to that restaurant. Would twenty- would try them, but instead I sent them five hundred be enough for a half-share to a botanist. I received his answer today. in it?” tree He does not know what the plant or It ended up with everyone being de- is, but he is sure there is nothing like it in lighted. Susie Loo was married to Harley. America. I asked him to have a chemical The officer received a check for his fee. study made of it, but that will take time.” Arrangements were made for the neces- transactions the next “I think I know where it comes from,” sary business on interrupted Harley. “It grows in that deep day, and the three trouble-hunters left in ravine in back of the church. I have seen high glee. “ children back there picking the leaves by ‘And that,’ said the little boy, ‘is !’ ’’ the basketful.” that exclaimed Taine as he shut and is the second time Just then there came a pounding at the locked the door. “That door. in my life I have been married, and I hope wife will understand it when I tell her “What is it ?” demanded Riorden. my it Francisco. you “This is the constable. Open this door.” about in San Tomorrow can buy me some clothes and I can take • In walked the banker, the restaurant my proper position in Glendale society. keeper, and a man with a large badge I can even call on Mrs. Sweetly. But on his vest. there is one thing I want to do more than anything else and that is some re- “Just as I told you,” yelled the res- search work in the Carnegie library. tauranteer. “There is the dirty wench. There is another thing I must do after I seen her passing a note to these men. that and that is become acquainted with Made a date with them.” the Rector. He may tell me something if “I am surprised at you, Mr. Harley!” I am nice to him.” exclaimed the banker. Harley laughed. “It is the three of you for the hoose- “If anyone had told me, two months gow,” declared the law. ago, that I would be going through these “Come, come,” placated Dr. Riorden. experiences, I would have thought him “It is not at all what you think. The little insane. I am not sure yet but that I am. girl is going to marry my friend Harley. But I have some additional reasons now We were just wondering where we could for finding a cure for Glendale. What a find an officer to perform the ceremony. sweet bunch of rascals they all are. Well, Now if our friend is a Justice of the at least we can all be together now and Peace, there is fifty dollars in it for him. may be able to work faster.” We like this town and want to stay here. “There is one thing we have to do,” I would like to invest a few thousand in explained Taine. “These people must have the restaurant business, become a silent a definite idea of just what the eating of 456 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 these leaves does to their personalities. black eye and dirty feminine rags. “The They do not want anyone except addicts reason I have is because I have never to live in Glendale. So it seems that we failed. Some day I will write my had better act in such a way that they memoirs and then you will understand will think we have started the habit. To- why I trust myself. I am unique in some morrow Harley can go shopping with me respects, but I demand trust on the part and we will buy some real snappy femi- of my clients. And one thing, gentlemen, nine clothing. Then I am going after the you must remember. The moment I Rector and find out just what he really suspect that either of you are eating the knows.” leaves, or failing in the least to obey my “You mean that you are going to vamp orders, I leave this town and the case. him ?” asked Harley with a puzzled smile. Success depends on following my pro- “Just that!” gram. My life is very precious to me. “Do you really feel,” asked Dr. Rior- I am not ready to die. The entire task of den, “that there is something about this purifying Glendale is a dangerous one. that so far we have not suspected ? Some- So far we have lived because we have thing additional to the mere eating of money. The men of Glendale do not know some poisonous plant? What is the idea how much and they do not want us to die ?” of going to the library, Taine before they have it all. Now suppose you "The human mind is a peculiar one, go to sleep and I will start working on Doctor. You probably realize that better my face.” than I do. People know things and they “You look a mess with that face. Can are not satisfied till they see that knowl- I help you ?” asked the Doctor. edge in print. Sometimes the things they “That face,” replied Taine, “is largely know are so terrible that they cannot put make-up. Tomorrow I will look different it into print and then they use cyphers, as the wife of a wealthy man, supposed symbols, veil the idea in mysterious lan- to be a slick bank robber. I hate these guage, one example being the alchemists, feminine parts, but I am rather clever in or Pepys’ diary or the messages Lord them. Now we have a program. To- Bacon is supposed to have left in plays morrow I shop, vamp the preacher, and to show the future generations he wrote read books. Harley can buzz around Mrs. Shakespeare. Get the idea? Take the Sweetly, and I would advise him to be Jewish name for God. In a hundred careful because I hear that the woman manuscripts the authors talk about it with is unmoral rather than immoral. Dr. an idea that those who know the deeper Riorden can rent an office and start the mysteries will understand. Now I have an practice of medicine, and I guess that is idea that at some time, someone knew a sweet mess in this town. If we are something about this Glendale plant and alive, we will confer tonight. I suppose, put that knowledge in a book, and that for the appearance of things, I will have book is in the local library. I am going to to share Harley’s room. Goodnight, and look for it.” don’t eat any of those leaves!” “It may take you years!” cried the New York banker. Harley Weakens "At times you annoy me,” sighed Taine • The three investigators met at nine that of San Francisco. “You engage a man of night in the Harley suite. Keyholes international reputation, and then you were covered and lights shaded. seem to doubt his ability.” “Have you found out anything, Har- “You have confidence in yourself,” said ley ?” asked the detective. Dr. Riorden. It was partly a statement but “Not much. I spent the afternoon walk- there was a question mark in the back- ing with Mrs. Sweetly. She became com- ground. municative when I handed her a hundred "I have!” said the little man, with a dollars to go into the foreign mission field. THE TREE OF EVIL 457
She wants me to start eating the leaves, trance and prophesied. There was a hint says it will broaden my viewpoint of life, that a god was worshiped, but what the and contract my conscience. She feels that gpd was or where, was not known. That sin is just a name for expansive human was all of importance. It is a small emotions, or something like that. The library, poorly kept, and the custodian did plant grows in the ravine. It has no seeds, not trust me. cannot be transplanted, and the earth "My affair with the Rector was also where it grows becomes yellow. She of- interesting. It seems he is a lonely man fered to go with me and show me the whose wife does not understand him. He damned thing if I would promise to eat had heard of my being a waitress in the some with her. I judge she is wearied restaurant, of the forced marriage, and I of the banker and is anxious for new con- guess he was a little surprised at my tributors—to the foreign missionary fund. childish innocence; at least he seemed Of course I showed the necessary interest. willing to help me win future salvation She seemed to be thrilled over my mar- via his guidance. I did not want to accept riage; said it was just too romantic for his offer without adequate pay, and he words and wants to entertain us to a finally offered to show me something no meal. That is about all.” one else knew. There is a tunnel under "How about you, Dr. Riorden?” in- the church and that tunnel leads to a cave. terrogated Taine. He says that he has been down there once "Oh! The day passed. I signed the and will show me the real sights of the necessary papers, paid the money, and underworld of Glendale if I am nice to now am half-owner of the Broadway him. Think of it. I have been places and Restaurant, special tables for ladies, regu- seen things, but when he held me and lar meals served, with or without flies. talked to me about that cave I nearly We have engaged a new waitress to take screamed. I did shiver, and I think he was Susie Loo’s place. I have suggested some rather impressed with my feminine fears. paint with new dishes, and some snappy “There is one thing I am sure of. These pictures. My partner is really enthusiastic. leaves the people are eating are from a We are going to have weekly meal tickets tree. I think that the cave has something and a special supper for society every to do with the tree. Perhaps you have Saturday night. Perhaps we will have a noticed the cats. Everybody is raising cats. nigger orchestra and dancing. I have my Why? That is something to think of. office and have had one patient, a little Here is a town of over a thousand people baby a year old. The mother acknowl- and everybody has cats. edged giving it a tea made from the “Perhaps they just like cats,” suggested leaves, thought it would strengthen the Riorden. child, but, as far as I could tell, it is more “No. That is not it. The cats are a apt to kill it. And that was all for the part of the jigsaw puzzle, but just now day.” that part does not seem to fit anywhere.
"I found out something really worth- Suppose we call it a day.” while. At least I hope so,” murmured Taine, "for at times, clues that are • The following day seemed just mere thought to be worth-while peter out. I routine. The three men saw only a found an old county history in the library. little of each other. That evening Taine It had some Indian lore in the first chap- called on Dr. Riorden in his office, for ter, most of which seemed to be tradition regular office hours had been started by with little foundation. But there is evi- the medical part of the investigating trio. dence showing that the Indians knew “You look worried, Taine,” remarked about this plant and came here several the Doctor to the little woman in the times a year for a religious ceremony of flashy dress. “Things going wrong?” some kind. The medicine men went into a “Yes, How is your car working?” 458 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
“Correctly, as far as I could tell at sup- Dr. Riorden sat in a deep study. per-time. Why?” “She is a beautiful woman,” he said at “Have it filled with gas and oil and last with a sigh. put your things in it. I think that you are “I think that this is going to show that leaving town tonight.” she is a beautiful Devil. You be careful, “I am?” Doctor. First thing you know, you will be “Yes. It is Harley. He has started to sorry for her and then I will have to be eat the leaves. We cannot trust him a day a lone wolf in this fight. I was rather longer.” counting on you. You get things ready “Sure you are right?” and take supper with us at nine. Harley “Sure enough for all practical purposes. is throwing a party in our rooms and has My idea is to knock him cold, tie him, and asked the Rector and his wife. Mrs. take him to a hospital. Probably a few Sweetly is bringing a friend of hers to days will bring him to his senses. No one keep you company. I guess you know here will worry much about it. The bank- what kind of a lady a friend of a lady er will just confiscate his deposits. He like Mrs. Sweetly would be? That is a thinks they are stolen property, and, so rather complicated sentence but I guess long as no one knows it, what is the dif- you can work it out. Be there at nine. ference? You come back after you dis- After supper we are going to the church. pose of Harley. I will remain here in the Sweetly has promised to show me the role of a pretty, deserted wife, with un- entrance to the cave. Have some rope in known means. The two of us will finish your car—to tie Harley. Bye-bye.” the solution of the problem.” As a social occasion, the supper was a “But see here, Taine,” protested the great success. To the surprise of Dr. Doctor. “Harley is interested in this. He Riorden, the banker brought his wife, a is the one who is financing it. We can’t large woman with exopthalmic eyes and tie him up on suspicion. What do you an electric personality. That made eight know ?” in the supper party, and rather much of “Nothing much. Only he spent an hour a mixture as far as personalities were with me this afternoon trying to convince concerned. Mrs. Sweetly’s friend was a me that the investigation had better be dark brunette, black hair, black eyebrows, dropped. His argument was that what the heavy lashes, and apparently a rather people of Glendale did was their own dusky background. The supper, served business and that Mrs. Sweetly was a fine by the restaurant, which was very ap- woman who was not understood by her propriate considering that Dr. Riorden husband and that, as far as he was con- was a half-partner, was fair, the salad cerned, he wanted to help her all he could. covered with a heavy oil dressing of gen- Now when a man changes over night like erous portions. After supper someone that, something has happened to him. He suggested bridge for small stakes. Harley may have eaten the leaves or he may and Riorden lost heavily and after an have fallen in love, but in either case, he hour paid their debt like gallant gentlemen is worse than useless to us. He is not and the party broke up. The brunette, only useless, but dangerous. We are all who had evidently been annoyed at the going to the church tonight and at the Doctor’s lack of appreciation, kissed her first false move, I am going to blackjack dear Mrs. Sweetly goodnight and disap- him. You have the car handy and step on peared with the banker and his wife. The the gas. And you had better do as I tell remaining five accepted the pastor’s invita- you or you will be minus the services of tion to do a little archeological work in the best detective in America. I say that the church. He had thoughtfully provided because I have not met all of the secret flashlights for the party and Dr. Riorden service men in Europe and have to limit offered to drive everybody over in his my statement” machine. THE TREE OF EVIL 459
Sweetly had a little trouble opening the then realized that the New Yorker had side door of the chapel. But at last they come back to the car. were in and seated in a pew. "I am through with this persecution,” "All ready to listen to the sermon,” declared Harley. "Just makes that lovely giggled Mrs. Harley. little woman miserable. She is unhappy But Harley was sending messages to enough as it is, having to live with that Mrs. Sweetly via the hands. wretch of a husband. He must be insane "There is, after all, not much to tell,” to treat her as he does. I am going to take began Sweetly, in a dull but toneful her to New York. Why should she stay voice. “This church was built a hundred here? She is brilliant, can do anything. years ago. The architect seemed to be Why should she be tied down to an insane very generous in the matter of a base- man and two ugly brats ?” ment. But the plaster used was not of the He sat down on the front seat beside best and soon after I came here a part of Riorden who whispered to him. the wall caved in. I discovered it one day "You are dead right. After all, what and found that a tunnel had been walled business is it of ours? Here comes Taine in when the church was built. In odd times and the Rector. Say, you people were I explored that tunnel and found that it down there long enough to see a hundred led to a limestone cave. I found other caves. Sorry you have to leave us, Mr. things there, which to certain types of Sweetly. We have had a pleasant evening personality would seem interesting.” which I hope will not be our last. Do you Mrs. Sweetly yawned. mind taking the back seat, Mrs. Harley ?” "If you don’t mind, I am going to walk “I have had the most wonderful time,” home. I have heard the story of the mys- giggled the young flapper. "That man terious limestone cave so often that the knows the most things.” repetition bores me. Perhaps one of the “He must. Did you knock him cold?” gentlemen will act as my escort?” asked the Doctor. "If you will allow me to do so, I will,” "I did. He was eating out of my hand.” answered the New Yorker. "It would be a good thing if you could “Do you think your bride will excuse knock your husband cold,” sighed Dr. ?” you Riorden as he started the car down the "Don’t mind me,” gurgled Mrs. Harley. dark side street. "I will have to become used to my hubbie A minute later Harley slumped down leaving me; besides, I am very anxious beside the driver without even a moan. to see this tunnel and everything.” "Got him!” exclaimed Taine. "Fortu-
"If it is just a dark tunnel and a na- nately, he didn’t have his hat on. My tural cave, I think I will miss it this time blackjack worked to perfection. Let me and go up to the house with Mrs. Sweetly help you put him on the back seat. Better and Harley,” announced Dr. Riorden. give him some morphine at your first "Then Harley will have company on the opportunity. What is your plan?” way back.” "A friend of mine runs a private hos- "I don’t want company on the way pital about a hundred miles from here. back,” growled Harley. "If you haven’t I will enter him as a private patient and anything better to do, you can sit in your keep him under mild sedatives and elimi- automobile. I’ll meet you there.” nation for a week or so till we come back. In this way, the party was divided. Two I ought to be able to be back here in at went to the Rectory, one to the automo- least thirty-six hours.” bile, and the Rector and Mrs. Harley “I am not sure that I want you to come down into the basement. Dr. Riorden al- back. Suppose you give me the address of most fell asleep, roused with a start, the hospital and you stay there and take looked at his watch, saw that it was past care of Harley. If I need you, I will write one, wondered what he should do, and you full instructions. I learned a lot to- 460 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 night and I may be able to get along by with a wire cage and a pair of heavy myself." leather gloves that went above her elbows, “I don’t like the idea, Taine. You are “Give me that bag!” she ordered. so little and everyone knows you. Better Without hesitation she opened the bag, let me come back.” plunged a gloved arm in and after a few “No. Stop the car and let’s move Har- seconds pulled out a half-strangled blade ley. How peacefully he is sleeping. I hit cat. She held it up with the air of a con- him just hard enough, a very useful trick noisseur and then placed it in the wire to learn. Give me the address and be on cage. your way.” “I will give you a quarter for him,” The next morning Glendale gradually she said with an air of finality. "It is a recognized the fact that their three latest good cat but no cat is worth more than subjects of gossip had disappeared. They that to me.” had been there a few days and now they “An’ can I eat hyar ?” asked the nigger. were gone. But in leaving, they had left “I hain’t eat for a right smart while.” more than their memory. The banker, the “Coffee and dry bread. All we have. restaurant owner, the Justice of the Peace, Come in the kitchen. Herbert, pour this the Rector, and his better half had all nigger some coffee and give him some of profited greatly by their temporary visit. those stale crusts.” Their sorrow was not caused by the early nigger?" Rev. with disappearance of their guests but rather “A Sweetly asked uplifted brow. “Wait on nigger? by the fact that they had not left more a My dear, times I of their financial assets behind them. at fear you have lost your sense of proportion. In fact, darling, It might be said that Glendale returned my between one thing and another, I to normal. become slightly irritated. Why should I, a Prince- The Source of the Leaves ton graduate, a descendant of one of the Signers who can trace his ancestry back • Three days later, a small nigger boy to the Magna Charter, pour coffee for a knocked timidly at the back door of the nigger?" Rectory. Mrs. Sweetly opened the door “For reasons, dear Herbert. and looked with some amusement at her two my The first, perhaps is nonessential, but it visitor. He did not wait for any questions is merely because I have asked you. The concerning his business. second is that I have just purchased from “You all buy cats ?” he asked. “Cats?” him a black cat of the masculine gender. He is a large cat and just the kind of a “Yes, mam. In this hyar towsack I cat I have been looking for. The cats I have a right smart cat, and they done told have had for the last year are just cats. me you were right proud to buy cats.” ?” These town cats are deteriorating. This “What kind of a cat is it, Amos cat that the nigger brought is more than “Er tom cat, blacker as I be, with yaller a cat. will use him tonight and eyes, what shine in the dark, and since We pleasure in the using.” I draped him in this here towsack, he done little but spit and meow. That thar “That is different. Come in, my boy. cat be eddicated he’s an You may have been made in the image of ; er knowing tom, wilder en most cats.” a god, but if you were, that god was an “I’ll look at him.” ape. Will you have cream and sugar in “Yes, mam. But when I take er string your coffee or drink it black? And mar- off he’s gone, mam; he just air a wild malade on your bread? And a cigarette cat.” between drinks?” “He won’t get away from me,” the “You tend to him,” ordered the wife, woman laughed. “I know my cats.” “while I phone to the banker. Will you She went into the house and came back join us at midnight?” THE TREE Of EVIL 461
"I intended to spend a few hours with be mould or scum ? Can you read, nigger? one of the flock.” I have the finest library in this part of “Bring her along We will have a four- the state. Most of the books are written some.” around the frailty of man. If you cannot “No. She is too emotional. I am not read, you could look at the pictures. sure she is ready. There will be just the Lilith in every possible position whereby three of us, and I would be better pleased she can make this earthly paradise a Hell if you left the banker out of the picture. for man. You are young yet, nigger. Your I am fed up on him.” life is all ahead of you. Take my advice. “Jealous, Herbert ?” Go back to the jungles and climb a tree. “At times. In fact, when I have my Eat bananas, drink coconut milk, grope headaches, the future seems dark. There for ground nuts in the slime of the forest, was a time when hopes ran high. The climb into the sunshine and look blink- month before I met you, I could have ingly at the sun and wonder if you are gone to St. John’s in New York. And kinfolk to a god. Sing in the daytime and then we came here, and here we have howl shiveringly at night, but stay away stayed for twenty years. What are we? from the women of your race. If one What has happened to us? What does it comes near you and she wants you to eat all mean ? And how will it end ? The chil- an apple, or leaves from the Tree of Evil, dren ? Their future ?’ smash her skull in and hunt a new tree She laughed, low, rippling, musical to live in. Never let her start. Be a misog- laughter, beautiful to hear were it not ynist, be lonely, starve for love, but stay coming from the scarlet mouth of Hell. away from a woman bringing food.”
“I have heard it so often, and of late “Yesser,” answered the blinking nigger. right I it has become more maudlin. You did “This here cheese pie am tasty. not have to come here. You did not have could eat more pie like that, if youse has to stay. The trouble with you is that you more, an more coffee.” have not been eating enough of the leaves. Five minutes later he was walking down Six more a day with your regular number the decayed wooden path, an empty tow- will give me a different husband and give sack in his hand and a quarter in his you a higher vision, a loftier aim in life. pocket. As for our daughter? Why worry about her? She will marry the banker in two • The plan finally called for just three years. Now suppose we pause in’ our persons and the black cat. exhibitionism of family difficulties before It was midnight in the cave. this black idiot. You feed him and I will They had gone down through the base- call the banker. If he wants to bring ment of the church into the tunnel and Marianna, he can bring her. If you want through the tunnel into the cave. Tall to bring your latest lamb, you can bring candles, seven in number, had been lit and her. I will have the black cat. That will in their location formed a seven pointed be all I want for an hour or so. Your star. Sweetly and the banker sat on the other cats can look on.” floor near one of the candles. In front of “Just the three of us, my dear.” them was a large white china plate filled “Have k a trio if you like. At times with green leaves. As they waited, they you fret me. I wonder why I married occasionally selected a leaf and slowly you ?” chewed it. “And at times I wondered why I asked From the ceiling of the cave dropped thick. you. Go ahead and eat, nigger ! How about pendant a root of a tree over a foot a piece of cheese pie? There is mould on It dropped in a straight line to the floor it, but it is food none the less. Mould and there buried in the clay. The root was on a piece of pie. And we are scum on smooth as though polished by centuries the earth. If you could decide, would you of friction. On one side, coals burned in 462 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
a brazier. On the beaten day floor, on all mary desideratum in mental cases. So far sides of the tree, bones were piled in rot- no one is sure just what the poison is. ting, decaying fetor. Mainly little bones, They cannot identify if botanically, and they were, though here and there a larger I did not send enough leaves to permit one showed above the putrid mass. a thorough chemical study. We do know from our observations on Harley that • A little man walked into the office of even a little of it makes a man change his the Manswick Hospital. viewpoint on life; whether that can be “Is Dr. Riorden in ?” he asked. called insanity is a question.” “Yes. Your name and business?” “Insanity or not, they were very un- “Just tell him it’s Taine, Taine of San pleasant people,” interrupted Harley. “I Francisco. He will know what the busi- have thought it all over during the last ness is.” twenty-four hours and I am confident of There was an air of elegant fastidious- one thing and that is that they were un- ness about the little man. His clothes pleasant people. Their entire viewpoint on fitted perfectly, his necktie was a cravat life was unwholesome.” instead of so much silk, and there was a “It was more than that,” continued Dr. symphonic harmony of color in every- Riorden. “There was a brutal disregard thing he wore. walking-stick, A headed for all the things that lead men toward the ivory, with a knob of suggested a slightly stars. They seemed to have the accumu- foreign touch. The student nurse, des- lated evil of centuries. The Indians must ignated as a guide, was properly im- have known about the effects of the leaves pressed, even if she was a full head taller because the tribe that inhabited that part than the visitor. He was shown into a pri- of America was renowned for their vate room. in A man was bed and another cleverness in torturing their captives. You was in the rocking-chair his side. man by see, Taine, I have been making use of The man left the rocking-chair and my spare time here in doing some research gazed incredulously at the visitor. following up the clue you found in the “Taine!” at last he gasped. “Taine of Carnegie library in Glendale. It appears San Francisco. You surprise me. Upon they must have known about the prop- my word, you look like a million dollars. erties of the leaves and made good use of I have seen you in several disguises. Is them.” this one? Or is this your real self?” “But how was the secret lost for “A trifle ornate,” admitted the little years?” asked Harley. “I am sure that man, smiling. “And how is Mr. Harley? they were not eating the leaves when I I hope your headache did not bother was a boy.” you?" “How sure, Mr. Harley?” asked Taine. The New Yorker smiled as he replied. “Simply because the town changed.” “Rather harsh treatment, Mr. Taine, “How long did you live in the town?” but perhaps necessary. Dr. Riorden can “I was born there. I left when I was tell you about the finer medical points of fifteen.” the case. As I remember it, I was a rather “Did you know anything about the gos- sick man, but am feeling better now.” sip of the town? Was there an outcast “He was sick,” agreed the Doctor. “Of family there? A shiftless, no account, course, in a general way, we knew what despised family?” was the matter with him and what to do “No. Nothing like that. Wait a minute. for him. We gave him the works, and for I forgot the Teeters of Frog Run.” the last twenty-four hours he has been “The plot thickens,” commented Taine on the road to recovery. At least he has smiling. “Now what about the Teeters?” stopped cursing me for separating him “Not much that is good. They were from Mrs. Sweetly, and that shows the early settlers and no good. I never heard development of insight which is the pri- anything nice about a Teeter. Just poor THE TREE OF EVIL 463
•white trash, and not all white. Some el Riorden. “Don’t put on too much melo- them showed their Indian blood. They drama. We wifi accept some of your story were said to be badly mixed, white, In- hut not that about a snake. What did they dian, Portuguese, negro, everything. feed the thing?” There was even a rumor of a- Chinaman "Cats. But I know, as a matter of fact, living with one of the women back in the that he could eat bigger things than a thirties.” cat.” "That ail cheeks nicely,” said. Taine. "I "How do you blow that?” tell day after I “I saw him. Of course I was sure you am ready to yon now ; a landed m Glendale I sent a full descrip- would not believe me, but then you hired tion of the Reverend Herbert Sweetly and me to do a piece of work for you and you his wife to nay eastern office. The data should have faith, in me. I am just here I have received is not complete but is t© make my report and collect my fee. suggestive and fits in very well with the You told me t® clean Glendale up and I rest of the story. As a young theological did it. If you think you cannot believe me, student, Sweetly rescued a young girl go to Glendale and see for yourself. Of from her own sinful inclinations and as course the whole community is sick. They a reward, she married him and he finally are drug addicts who cannot get any more became the spiritual head of the Episcopal of the drug, but the State Department of Church at Glendale. In this way she be- Health is in there, working on them. came the social leader ©f the community Some will have to be committed as insane, she had hit as a girl.” hut the psychiatrists feel that most of “You mean she was born there?” asked them will recover. How long has it been the Doctor. since you brought Harley here?” "Certainly. She was Virginia Teeter. “Two weeks tomorrow.” When she was a little girl, she was “Then they have been without the drug thrown out of a store in Qendale and she for about eleven days. I had the Health determined to show the town that they Department on the job right away. Of could not do that to a Teeter and get course it was hard at first to convince away with it.” them that there was need of it. Even now "How do you know all this?” demand- they are working on the theory that it is ed Harley. an epidemic of typhoid of unusual viru- "She told me. Of course, she could not lency. I felt there was no need of giving come back to Glendale as a Teeter, so the sick people to© unpleasant newspaper she came back as the bride of the new notice.” Rector, and even then she couM not come back to the oM Glendale, not with any • Harley was silent. Dr. Riorden lit a satisfaction, so she poisoned the entire cigarette. Taine thoughtfully polished community. That is what made the change the head of his cane. At last Harley spoke.
ia the town. The leaves were there all “It all is hard to believe ; but tell me the time, only people were not eating this. I know there was a cave and a tunnel them.” and that the tunnel ended in the basement “But how did she know about the leaves of the Episcopal church. But that church and their property?” asked the Doctor. was built over a hundred years ago. The “Certainly she did not discover it by mouth of the tunnel was walled up. accident.” Sweetly told? us he discovered it after he
"No. She knew about it. It seems that located in Qendale. If there was a snake the Teeters ahvays knew about it. They there, how did it keep alive all that time ? probably were tokf about it by one of their After the church was built? It had to Indian ancestors. At least the Teeters eat.” kept on feeding the snake all these years.” “That was easy. The cave had another “Come, cornel Tame,” urged Dr. entrance, apparently a natural rock forma* 464 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
tion tunnel, and that tunnel opened out on deed, decided to build a wall over the a little stream that is still called Frog Run, mouth of the tunnel, he just took a lot of The Teeters used that tunnel after the the old scalps and used the hair.” church was built.” “Where did this happen?” demanded “But didn’t the people who built the Harley. “In Tartary or Africa or South church know about the other tunnel and America ?” the cave—and the snake?” “No,” said Taine. “Right here in the “You always are dragging in that United States. The trouble with you gen- snake, Mr. Harley,” sighed Taine. “I see tlemen is that you do not know what you doubt that part of the story. I was not really is happening all around you. Not there when the church was built, but the only a century ago, but this very moment. land on which it was built was owned by a That is why I am a detective. I like to Teeter. He probably homesteaded it, or know what is going on. And then my it may have been in the family before the wife gets ten per cent for her church Revolution. At any rate, he sold the land activities, and sometimes more than ten, to the new congregation for one hundred and the girls are going to college." dollars in gold, and the deed is recorded “And there was a snake?” demanded in the court house. I saw it. He also helped the New York banker. to lay the foundation walls of the church. “Certainly. I can convince you of that.” The old records show how many days he “Go on with the story,” urged Dr. worked and what he was paid for his Riorden. “If you do not tell us what time. My theory is that he walled up the happened, you will have us bursting with mouth of the tunnel and incorporated that curiosity.” wall with the foundation of the new “It is not much of a story,” began church. In that way they kept it a secret, Taine. “After you left, I felt that Mrs. I mean about the snake and the Tree of Harley had better fade out of the picture; Evil and the cats and all that sort of thing. so she did just that. I wanted to find out The reason I think this is the fact is that about the cats, so I went and sold one there are two kinds of masonry down to Mrs. Sweetly. It was a big, black tom- there. He probably walled up the tunnel, cat and she gave me a quarter for it. I waited till the wall got dirty and moss have the quarter in my pocket, if you grown, then sold the land to the church want to see it; it’s just an ordinary quar- and no one except himself and probably ter. I found out that she was going to use his family knew what he had done.” that cat at midnight, and it looked to me “You say there were two kinds of as though she was going to use it in the masonry?” asked Dr. Riorden. cave. You see, I was in there with the
“Yes. That is in my report. In the old Rector, and I suspected that was where days when they made the morter for stone the cats went, though at first I did not work or plastering, they mixed in hair include the snake in the picture. to serve as a binder—horse or cow hair. “Midnight came and the four of us I had no trouble in identifying that kind were in the cave. Of course they did not of mortar in the church basement. But in see me, not right away. The Reverend and the plaster around the opening, there was the banker came in first and lit the seven another kind, much longer and finer, candles. I guess I did not mention them which I have positively identified as hu- before. There were seven of them mak- man hair, probably from the heads of ing a seven-pointed star. Big, fat candles women, and that, with some of the bones, about four feet high. The center of the and the fact that the Teeters had Indians star was the trunk of the tree. Near it in the family makes me think that now was a brazier on a tripod with a fire burn- and then they scalped the ladies before ing in it. I don’t know all about it, but it giving them to the snake. Then when made an impression on me. The Rector Amos Teeter, that was the name in the and the. banker sat down on the ground THE TREE OF EVIL 465
and waited, and while they were waiting, over to the two men. The three of them they chewed the leaves, probably to get talked, and while I could not hear all they them in the proper frame of mind for the said, I could tell that they were not in services. sweet accord. At last the preacher stood “Then in came Mrs. Sweetly, and she up, stretched himself, and without any was all dolled up in a white Grecian warning, hit the banker on the head. Mrs. dress, and she carried a wire cage with Sweetly just laughed, a sweet, girlish
the black tomcat in it. I was waiting for laugh, and then she helped him to take developments by that time. You know the banker’s clothes off, and she person- what I mean ? Waiting to see what hap- ally scalped him, and made a good job
pened to the cat. She starts to sing a song, of it. Then they dragged his body over and all the time she is backed up against near the snake, and when he saw the the taproot and looking towards a bleeding head, he uncoiled most of him- specially dark corner of the cave. I heard self off the tree and wrapped around
the snake before I saw it, but of course the unconscious banker and started to I did not know what was making the squeeze him. When the right time noise, which was like the rustling of a came, he just swallowed him. Of course lady’s petticoat only much louder. Of it took a little time. It was a big snake, course, you gentlemen don’t recall what but then it was a big banker. That meal the rustle of a lady’s silk petticoat sounded seemed to satisfy him, because he went like. back into his hole to take a nap. “Then the snake came out and started “Mrs. Sweetly said she had to stay
to coil around the root of the tree. Mostly and take care of the snake till her daugh- he crawled behind the lady, but the last ter was old enough to be taught how. Ap- coil, just back of his head, he put around parently it was an hereditary position her. He was a big snake. I have his passed down from mother to daughter. measurements, and when you see the fig- “When she said that about their daugh- ures, you will know that he was fairly ter, he threatened to kill her, and she big, not a baby by any means. dared him to. Said he was too much of a coward, not enough of a man to kill a • “He was friendly with Mrs. Sweetly. Teeter. I didn’t want either of them to be No doubt she was a favorite with him. killed, but I was especially anxious not to
Even poor dumb animals know the hand be killed myself ; so I kept real quiet and that feeds them. He did not seem to pay close to the floor. Then he shot her. He much attention to the two men, just made must have been sure he had killed her or his head wave around the woman’s head was overcome with remorse at hurting and once in a while licked her lips with her, because he put the end of the revolver his tongue. She laughed at him and in his mouth and blew his brains out, or talked to him, and then she set the wire something. At least, when I went over, he cage down on the bed of fire. Of course was dead and she was bleeding to death.
that singed the poor tomcat and he started I tried to stop the hemorrhage, but it in to howl and that got the snake all must have been mostly internal. I took her excited, and when the lady opened the top in my arms and held her head and we of the wire cage and the cat jumped out, talked things over. As she knew she was the snake was ready for him; one gulp dying, she told me the truth about things and down the red lane poor pussy went. —how she had brought her husband back, I felt sorry for him, seeing I had sold started him to eat the leaves and finally him for a quarter to the lady in question. seduced the entire town. Then she died "Naturally I thought that was going and I felt rather alone in the world, just to be the end of the evening’s perform- me and the snake, and the snake was not ance. Mrs. Sweetly twisted her body out much company, being fast asleep. from under the coil of the snake and went (Continued on page 493) The peak glowed red, then white, then {ell away molten.
466 —
ENSLAVED BRAINS
• As this issue goes to press, we have al- By EANDO BINDER ready received scores of letters con- gratulating the magazine upon securing this thrilling, vivid, scientific noveL PART THREE After reading the story, you will reflect that not one illogical idea appears in it. Conclusion Everything, no matter how fantastic, is a plausible outcome of things as they are WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE: today. It is as though the author actually had a vision of the future and set it on • Hackworth, an explorer in Africa in 1973, paper. discovers his boyhood friend, Williams, who By now, Williams, M’bopo, Terry, and had been lost in the jungle for the past forty Hackworth have become figures to live years and become a leader of a band of natives. long in the realms of science-fiction. They Williams is brought back to civilization and is are fighting for the right of humanity astounded at the tremendous changes that have they are devoting their lives to saving taken place. There had been a terrific war short- civilization from a tyranny which is more ly after he left America, much greater than the degrading than barbarism. They are try- World War, after which a group of scientists ing to lift the veil from the eyes of the seized the governments of America and Europe people so that they may see the evils and set up Unitaria, a scientific organization perpetrated by the Unidum, the so-called which brought mankind to greater heights than “Utopia” of 1973. he had ever before attained. Herewith we present the conclusion of Hackworth learns that his daughter, who is the novel and trust that the suspense has in love with a young chemist named Terry not been too trying on our readers. Spath, is forced by the Unitaria to marry a scientist whom she had never seen before. She had rated so high in the government test that it was thought that her union with one of equal mentality would produce highly intelligent chil- which intends to overthrow the Unidum, and dren. Hackworth, Williams, and Terry are Williams finally destroys the Boston Brain- horrified at this, never expecting that she would control, but is being hunted by the authorities pass the test. Then Williams shows them a as part two ends. Now go on with the story. solution from an African plant that he had brought back with him. It was a drug that would CHAPTER XIV put any living thing into suspended animation for an indefinite length of time. They would The Mad Scientist only awaken when commanded to do so by a designated person. This drug is administered to • The guide led them directly to Agarth Lila, Hackworth's daughter, in order to stall who was looking over a sheaf of de- off the marriage until something further could coded messages which three men were be done. The scientists of Unitaria are puzzled constantly renewing from stacks of coded at Lila’s peculiar affliction and put her in a hospital. She was told, by hypnotic influence, missives. He arose to greet them warmly. while going under the drug, to awaken only “I had been wondering about you all when Terry commanded her to. day,” he confided. “When Stevenson Williams learns that machinery is controlled phoned—secret radio-phone, you under- by brains taken from the skulls of dead people. stand from San Francisco an hour ago Upon learning that his sister Helen’s brain is — controlling machines in Boston, he becomes in- that you were on the way here, I was furiated and attempts to destroy the brain and relieved. To tell the truth, I thought that deliver his sister into her rightful peace after luck had gone against you and that the death. He is imprisoned with Terry, who was Unidum had you in prison," with him, and sentenced to death, but M’bopo, the native he had brought with him from Africa, “It was close at that," returned Wil- aids them to escape. They join an organization liams. Thereupon he recounted the adven- 467 ! !
468 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 ures of the day. "But now tell us; how and growling at any attempt to call it has it all turned out in general ?” treason. This afternoon, praise be to God "Splendidly !” cried Agarth, eyes aglow. —we will thunder it to all Unitaria!” "Every brain-control in Unitaria except He was gone then and Terry and Wil- a possible three, is useless ! Reports from liams looked at each other in mutual ad- Europe came in immediately after the miration for the eloquent Professor zero hour, and have been coming in all Bromberg and his ideals. Unless unfore- day. And from all over America, our seen circumstances thwarted him, he agents have come back alive and success- would most surely take the threat of ful. Only three Brain-controls we know tyranny from Unitaria. He would become nothing about, for the operatives assigned the Martin Luther of 1973. to them have not arrived or ph«ned. Pos- From that time on, Terry and Williams sibly they failed and were captured; or felt themselves caught up in a whirlwind they might have been killed by guards in of events that resulted from the first escaping. However, we can call the whole move of the Brotherhood against the thing highly successful. Already the Unidum. Perhaps no one, least of all they, public news-casts have hinted that there knew what the immediate future was to is a gigantic revolution of some sort on bring. Bromberg and Hagen were almost hand. The Unidum as yet has made no stubbornly over-confident that the Uni- official move.” dum would stroke its collective chin and Agarth turned back to his work. “If proceed to abolish the cankerous Brain- you will excuse me, I am very busy. control Act and revise the Eugenics Law. Get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow will Agarth and other officers expected some see us all together for the open announce- days or weeks of procrastination in the ment of the Brotherhood.” government reform with probably an at- While waiting for the call to conference tendant political revolution. which was to take place in the afternoon, October 14th, 1973. Terry and Williams, in wandering around Williams took in the scene with spark- the next morning, met Bromberg in a ling interest. It was a large rock-bound corridor. Preoccupied and care-worn chamber far below the ground level, one though he looked, he recognized them in- used decades before for massing and stantly and stopped to greet them as instructing troops which were to sally warmly as Agarth had the night before. forth against the besieging enemy. Near "I heard about your safe arrival from one wall on a wooden dais were the two Major Agarth,” said Bromberg. “Quite Generals; Hagen was seated quietly in and a little adventure you. had ! But you did deep thought, Bromberg pacing up your duty, and we’re proud of you, as down with a short, rapid stride, nervous . we are of all the gallant operatives who hands clenched behind his back. On a yesterday initiated our first blow against table near him was a microphone, its red MoHer and his tyrannical tribe. Hah! signal dark. Grouped about the dais in a Two thousand brains know a peace that half-circle were all the officers of the has been denied them for five long years Brotherhood then in America, grim-faced, If we accomplish nothing else, at least we conversing in whispers. An air of tense- have done that. Yet we will accomplish ness overhung the assemblage.
much more; I feel it, I know it! Already After moving among the men with a the whispers of unrest and social heaving word or phrase here and there, Agarth have hissed throughout Unitaria. Quiet came to the side of Williams and Terry. citizens who have long hated the Enslave- “We’re waiting now for connection to ment of the Brains in their hearts, but the Universal Broadcast system,” he con- have never dared protest, are now fided. "It will carry Bromberg’s speech awakening in courage. The Unidum will to every corner of Unitaria. What better find the mob commending our first step way to announce the Brotherhood than to ” ? —
ENSLAVED BRAINS 469
present it to the citizens en masse Offi- has proven. United in common interests cial documents will go to the Unidum and privileges, Europe and America have after the broadcast.” tremendously advanced along the paths of ?” “Isn’t it rather dangerous doing that civilization. With petty national animosity asked Williams. “Suppose the Unidum wiped away like a deceiving fog; with a traces the wave and decides to crush the standard tongue replacing the confusion Brotherhood in one stroke! If these men” that was occasioned by dozens of lan- —he waved a hand about the room guages; with every state working hand “were taken from the organization, there in hand toward the common good, and would be nothing left!” with a central governing power both “But they can’t trace the wave,” in- strong and sagacious, Unitaria stands un- formed Agarth. “We have not gone ahead questionably the best and greatest com- blunderingly. From here Bromberg’s munity of human beings of all time. voice will be carried by wire to an am- “But a crisis is upon us! The citizens ateur ‘ham’s’ broadcasting antennae far must now decide between passive accept- to the east. From there it will connect ance of governmental mistakes, or active to some sub-station of the Universal resistance to them. Foremost among such Broadcast system. At any moment now, mistakes is the Brain-control act. I, Pro- one of our many Brothers who are radio fessor Bromberg, and my colleague, Doc- staff men will complete the connection.” tor Hagen—exiled three years ago by “Are these underground strongholds all the Unidum—declare to all the world unknown to the masses at large?” that the Brain-control Act is more hideous “In the main, yes. Most of these mili- and heinous than the Spanish Inquisition tary hide-outs are totally camouflaged of past history! Every unfortunate brain and located in places untilled and unused used to run machinery like a mechanized — barren spots. The original Japanese robot, although dead medically, lives an blue-prints and maps were destroyed long after-life of perpetual, agonizing hell! ago. The Unidum will find itself threat- Memories of life, sub-conscious impres- ened by forces invisible and practically sions of their slavery, and a desire for undetectable. It will not be able to ignore release, torture those brains every minute us because our very existence— means the of every day. The Unidum will deny it, seed of revolution. And but it is true. Agarth stopped as a sudden silence fell “The Undium will tell you that the over the room. The red signal light on the use of dead brains, which can do no good microphone was flashing brightly. Every rotting in underground coffins, will make eye turned to General Bromberg, who life for the living easier and pleasanter, ceased his nervous pacing and eagerly as the machines are gradually equipped took a position before the instrument. with Brain-controls. They will increase His aide stepped to the dais. “Silence, leisure time, shorten working hours, and officers of the Brotherhood, while General make life pleasant and free and happy. Bromberg speaks!” he cried. “Yes, but think once, citizens of Uni- A little man whose dark eyes gleamed taria! Think of a future in which Brain- brightly in a care-worn face, Bromberg controls run all machinery. Think of a rang out the words that were to change happy, care-free, leisurely life—and then history. think of a purgatory after that life in
“Citizens of Unitaria ! A crisis is upon which your enslaved brain, remembering us! Forty years ago our ultra-nation that previous heaven, labors second after came in existence, under the instigation second, hour after hour for years! You and leadership of a scientific government would then pray for death—and it would which came to be known as the Unidum. be denied you. What good to live a life of ‘Uni’ from unity, and ‘dum’ from duma ease and plenty when its price is a hor- or power—the power of unity! And so it rible nightmare from which there is no !! ;
470 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
release till the very nerves of your brain stirred them all more than ever before. burn out from torment? What good to Agarth, hardly breathing throughout live like a god when the death that comes the speech, exhaled deeply. eventually is merely a door to a more “My friends,” he said to Williams and dreadful Hell than even Dante could have Terry, “that speech will go down in his- described? Ask yourselves, each one of tory as one of the greatest pieces of you, if the accounts would be squared oratory of all times. By tonight, every
at such a price citizen of Unitaria will have heard it. No
“The answer can only be—NO ! Yet matter that the Unidum will try to sup- the Brain-control Act is an official statute. press it from repetition, both in print and
The Unidum, having once adopted it, has by radio; it will go by word of mouth defended it tenaciously even though its from those who have heard.” inhumanness has been demonstrated, “Do you mean to say that it will be despite the efforts of certain unselfish suppressed?” asked Williams.
men who have tried to fight it. Accord- “Certainly. It was only by a trick that
ingly, it was foreseen years ago that there it was broadcast today ; an elaborate trick must be organized opposition. Doctor in which our operatives opened the broad- Hagen and myself are the heads of an cast channels for those few minutes that organization that is pledged to end the Bromberg talked. It took much planning enslavement of the brains! We appeal to to accomplish it. From now on, however, you, the citizen masses, to uphold our the Unidum will see to it that no printed principles and bring the Unidum to realize copies of it are circulated, and they will its terrible mistake. guard the broadcast channels like a hawk. “We, the Brothers of Humanity, have But too late! All Unitaria has heard or already taken the first step. Yesterday, as will soon hear.” doubtless all Unitaria knows by now, our “You say that the Unidum will sup-
operatives poisoned every brain in every press it. You do not expect immediate Brain-control in our land. They are use- acquiescence then?” less, ruined. And they must never be used “Personally, I don’t,” said Agarth after again! That is the task we place before some hesitation and a quick look around. all of you. The Unidum must be made to “Bromberg expects mass opinion to carry realize, by petitions, notices, mass opin- the day, but I—I know the masses better. ions, that no longer can we tolerate such Some will hesitate; some will shrink at a potential doom of evil as the use of the thought of opposing government brains in machinery. It is up to you, citi- many will wait to see what others do. I zenry of Unitaria, to complete what we think the Unidum will not retract the have begun. Go And do not shirk or hesi- Brain-control Act till there is some sort !” tate in fear; remember that no govern- of conflict—some bloodshed ment, however powerful, can outface a And Agarth proved right. The next day massed public opinion. an official answer was given by the Uni- “That is the end of my message. I will dum to the document sent to it demand- not speak with the voice of our Brother- ing—by the authority of the Brothers hood again unless conditions require it. of Humanity backed by the Will of the Do not forget, however, that we are a People—repeal of the Brain-control Act. highly organised group and are absolutely The Unidum decree stated that Professor determined to end the enslavement of the Bromberg and Doctor Hagen, and their brains!” compatriots, names unknown, had spoken treason and were rebels, to be hunted • Perspiring and trembling, but obvious- down as such. ly elated, Bromberg turned from the It was the evening of the third day microphone to be greeted with a lusty after the broadcast that Agarth came upon cheer from the officers. His eloquence had Williams and Terry in their room. He ”;
ENSLAVED BRAINS 471 was in a fever of excitement. His glinting pletely equipped broadcast station set up eyes reflected inward uneasiness. and through it the mobilization of our "Everything has turned topsy-turvy," military forces will begin. But our first he said, nervously lighting a cigarette. move must be to take over the whole west- “Unitaria is in an uproar. The masses, in- ern coast as base territory. This will not be stead of uniting in their opinions, have hard, for already our plans are complete, begun a squabble, which has paralyzed and we will be striking ahead of the action. The Unidum has been pouring Unidum. The Pacific hyp-marine fleet poison into their ears now for three days. is ours now. The crews, instigated by our It has refuted our statements, distorted agents, of over half the fleet are ready the facts, called us anarchistic rebels seek- to renounce the Unidum. Our search for ing power, and has begun investigations secret underground strongholds in the that will soon be sending hundreds of men past year has revealed to us a long string to death without trial for treason. Great of them from Vancouver to Mexico. We Heavens! Who would have thought that will man them with troops as fast as we it could be? Even Bromberg is beginning can recruit men. The Federation of Asia to admit that Molier has done more cor- stands willing to supply us with arma- ruption and gained more dictatorial power ment any time we ask for it. than any of us thought. He has embedded “It will mean hard work, men—hard himself so solidly and gained so many work and bitterness and bloodshed. But adherents that nothing short of assassina- better a brief time of that than a dark tion or warlike revolution will shake him future of tyranny. We are not fighting loose. In war was the Unidum conceived the Unidum or its principles of peace and ?” must it die that way too co-operation ; we are pitting ourselves Agarth broke from a trance that had against Molier, the tyrant! Ostensibly, come over him. “Come, general meeting— we are enemies of the Unidum. But once of all officers. Tonight we must decide the power of Molier and his group is The great room with the dais was even broken, hostilities must cease. We are not more crowded than it had been the day seeking the complete disruption of Uni- of the broadcast. Practically every officer taria, which would result if we carried of the Brotherhood was there, many hav- our schemes too far. ing come from Europe at the signs of “Technically, our compaign will have brewing trouble. only the purpose of holding off disband- Bromberg was conversing with several ment of our Brotherhood till mass opinion higher officers. Finally he raised a hand rises to the point where the people, with for silence and addressed the assemblage. a thunderous voice, will demand repeal
“As you all know,” he began, “the of the Brain-control Act. That it eventu- Unidum has struck back viciously. Execu- ally shall, is inevitable, for our agents tive Molier, tyrant that he is, is playing will pour secret literature into the public for the highest stakes. We have been in- channels, which will reveal not only the formed by our spies that he has solidly terrible threat of Brain-enslavement, but organized the Scientists whom he has also the scheming of Molier. Once the baited with lust for power, and that group people see the connection between the holds the entire Unidum in its iron grasp. Eugenics Law and the Brain-control Act, With Jorgen as his first lieutenant, he is there is nothing that can prevent the organizing a war offensive against us. downfall of Molier’s group. “And, Brothers of Humanity, we must “But we must work fast—faster than defeat him. We will be fighting the dread Molier. That he realizes his predicament power of the whole Unidum with all its is evidenced by the swiftness with which will status rebels. resources ; but, on the other hand, we the Unidum declared our as soon have thousands flocking to our ban- There will be no sleep tonight. Each of ner. In a few days we will have a com- you officers must report to Major Agarth !
472 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 by midnight tonight and be assigned to the Rockies from the east and cruised definite work. You are excused till then. hyp-marine fleets on the coast. Couldn’t General Hagen and myself, with the they gradually squeeze us into defeat?” majors, go into immediate conference.” Terry shook his head vehemently. “You remember Bromberg saying Asia stands • Back in their room, Terry wiped a ready to supply us with armament. The
perspiring brow. “Whew ! This is get- Unidum fleets will meet fleets of our own. ting to be a big thing. War ! Revolution As for the hyp-marines, the Pacific fleet A month ago I suspected nothing of this, seems ready to join us. I presume that had not the slightest inkling that there the Brotherhood, knowing that it must could be a conflict. Of course, there were have protection from the coast if revolu- always rumors—rumors that the Unidum tion came, made particular efforts to in- was becoming tyrannical, that secret plots fluence those crews of the Pacific fleet. against the Brain-control Act were being No doubt the spy agencies will cripple the fomented, that trouble was brewing. But Unidum’s fighting forces day by day in the suddenness of the whole thing! The the same way.” utter secrecy with which the Brotherhood Williams thought a moment. “I only !” worked hope their plans work out.” “It had to be, Terry. With as powerful ‘Til pray for it,” said Terry fervently. and watchful a government as the Uni- Suddenly his eyes flashed. “Don’t you see, dum, they had to organize very carefully. Williams? If the revolution is successful, As a result, the first blow struck has had not only the Brain-control Act will go by a staggering effect on the Unidum. Just the board, but also the Eugenics Law! look how quickly they are retaliating, be- Lila will be saved for me. I will go back cause they know the Brotherhood is no when peace is restored and the decree idle threat. By the way, what armament nullified, a free man—and Lila a free !” does the Unidum possess ? Is 1973 arma- woman ment much different from that of 1933? Williams nodded. “No doubt about that, Those are things I know little about.” Terry. And if every Brother of Humanity Terry sat down and drew a chair close had the incentives you and I have, vic- to Williams. “The equipment of today is tory would surely be ours.” not much different from that used in the Terry knew that Williams’ incentive All-Nations War of 1936-38, because was to see the abolishment of the Brain- since then there have been no major wars. control Act. Sleeping at the older man’s Between the super-nations of today there side for so many nights, Terry had heard exists an armed peace. The Federation of him mumbling at times. And always he
Asia is perhaps better armed than Uni- had said : “Helen, I swear it ! Never an- other Brain-control, if I live to prevent taria but there can be no war ; the re- sources of Europe would thunder down it!” Whether he said it in his sleep or on Asia from the back. not, Terry did not know. He surmised “Unitaria has several fleets of armed that it was some sort of firm inner resolve hyp-marines that take the place of the that put itself into words at times when old-time battleships and dreadnoughts. his subconscious mind had the ascendency. She has also a sizeable fleet of bombing and fighting aircraft. Ground artillery is CHAPTER XV a thing of the past. Very little of it has Aboard the Sansruns been manufactured since the last war. All in all, the Unidum is little better pre- • A cold October wind chilled Williams pared for any sort of warfare than we as he stepped from the warm interior are.” of an auto and crossed a stretch of rocky “But suppose,” suggested Williams, ground that extended into dim distance, "that they swept their air fleets across at the heels of a silent guide. Revealed ENSLAVED BRAINS 473 in the moonlight were mountains far to "In a way, yes,” agreed Williams. "I the east. They traced on, zigzagging like to be in the right and to fight for it. around roehy barriers till there loomed And we certainly are in the right” before them an immense boulder with a "Let me congratulate you on that queer shape. Here at one side of it the Nevada coup, Marshal Williams. Where guide thumped the ground with his heavy did you ever conceive such a brilliant boot. It sounded hollow. move?” asked Agarth, admiration in his Suddenly and mysteriously, the boulder tones. rolled away as lightly as a feather to re- Williams sat down and lighted a cigar veal an opening in the ground from which before answering. "Africa taught me that, streamed a dim light. Williams smiled in major. When, a large force of Zulus once appreciation as he saw a lever-arm ex- threatened to break through my meager tending from the pit to the inside of the line of Bantu warriors, I figured my cardboard “boulder” ; decidedly it was chances and tried a simple trick, confident something original in the way of camou- that their ferocity would overcome their flaged underground entrances. judgment. At dawn, half my warriors “The password,” mumbled a face from sneaked by the Zulu encampment, pur- the pit below. posely careless. The enemy pursued with
"Liberty in life and death 1 Marshal a triumphant shout. But it changed to a Williams to see Major Agarth.” howl of alarm when the other half of my The guide stalked away to his sentry zealous Bantu plunged into their rear, duty. Williams clambered down the taking them by complete surprise. In th* wooden steps, thankful for the draft of Nevada skirmish, I did the same thing, warm air that met him. The man below substituting the Unidum ships for Zulus, saluted respectfully and pulled the lever and our own craft for Bantu warriors. handle that swung the imitation boulder Then the anti-aircraft guns at Desert into place. Point picked them off by the dozen, mak- “This way, sir. Major Agarth is ex- ing it easy.” pecting you.” "You speak lightly of it, yet I know Several short corridors and descending as well as any of us that if the Unidum inclines brought them to a door labeled fleet had broken through there, Base "Headquarters.” The guard opened the Number One would have been open to door and watched Williams with interest attack. General Bromberg made no wiser as he stepped: inside. He had become quite move than when he appointed you squad- well-known in the past two weeks for his ron commander of the Nevada fleet,” activities m the Nevada skirmishes. Williams flushed with pleasure and "How are you, Williams ?” cried waved a deprecating hand. “Thank you, Agarth, springing up from his map- major. Yet I have done no more than my strewn table. “You certainty look well, best, which is what every Brother of Hu- thinner though.” manity is doing.” "And tougher,” laughed Williams. “Yes, we are all doing our best,” said “Two weeks of flying and jumping Agarth, a bit haggardly. “But how littk around have put me in physical trim.” we have gained. So far, we have been on "You seem to be enjoying all this,” a desperate defensive. No loss is small said' Agarth wonderingty. It was hard gain, they say.” to understand a man of his none-too-few “Come, cheer up,” said Williams at the years taking to the rigors of military life despondent look which Agarth tried un- so complacently. He could not see the successfully to hide. “After all, the moral forty years of Africa in the man, nor victory is ours so far. The Unidum boast- could he understand the battle-joy that ed to crush the rebellion in one week. had sunk into his soul in a land of fierce Here it is two weeks and no fleet of theirs Zulus. has crossed the Rockies to stay. And then 474 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 the naval battle three days ago: the At- Agarth nodded. “Hold out two weeks lantic fleet of the Unidum retreating after —just two weeks!” He changed his tone. losing two ships.” “By the way, how is young Spath and that call “Only because the Unidum realized the black servant of yours ; what do you foolhardiness of pressing forward at great him—‘Umboko’ or ‘Mopoto’ ?” loss. The Federation of Asia, you know, Williams chuckled. “Well, as for young only too eagerly watches the internal Spath, he’s fine. Has a good head on him, strife of Unitaria. If the hyp-marine too. I knew that all the time, so when fleets were badly crippled, we could ex- General Bromberg gave me commander- pect attack from the Orient. In fact, our ship without mentioning Terry, thinking purchasing agents in Asia who buy the him too young for responsibility, I made aircraft and ammunition have been pes- him my chief aide. On board our ship in tered continually by the foreign diplomats the past two weeks, he has helped me who wish to help us in our revolution in make vital decisions. I left him in charge a more material way—you know, alliance. of the fleet when coming here. As for the But the Generals, knowing the ulterior black man—it’s M’bopo or Mobopo—he purpose of the Federation of Asia, refuse has come to be a perfect valet to me. Like to consider it. As Bromberg so clearly a shadow, he follows me around and an- puts it: ‘We are fighting Molier and his ticipates my slightest personal wish. I tyranny, not the Unidum.’ If Asia were saved his life in Africa once; he is my in this, she would immediately begin a voluntary slave. He’s outside in the car, poison gas campaign, which, thank God, as I thought it unnecessary to bring him will not be used in this revolution. Unless in for these few minutes.” —unless the fiend Molier, in his wrath, Agarth opened his mouth to speak when forgets what few better principles he has, a sharp buzz filled the air. He tripped the and— But no, he would not dare.” radio-phone lever. “What reports from our propaganda “Major Agarth speaking.” operatives?” asked Williams. “Hello, major,” came from the loud- “There we have more optimistic tid- speaker. “General Bromberg calling. Has ings,” returned Agarth brightening. “The Marshal Williams arrived there yet?” public, groomed by the literature which “Yes, he is right here now.” exposes Molier, Jorgen and their cohorts, “Ah, good. Then listen to me, both of is fast organizing under our agents’ you.” The voice became fraught with ex- leadership and preparing to present a citement. “Flash report from Operative weighty petition not only to cease the civil B-66 in New York : new offensive planned warfare, but to have a Unidum impeach- by the Unidum! Large fleets are prepar- ment. Europe especially is heaving and ing for attack at every point of the front muttering against Molier. I have heard —at dawn tomorrow!” that street-corner speakers even in the Agarth and Williams looked aghast at heart of New York are denouncing him one another. in no uncertain words. Williams, I believe “We must plan defences,” came the that if we hold out another two weeks, general’s voice again. “We must hold Molier will be a broken despot!” them or all is lost!” “Then hold out we shall,” said Williams For another half hour, they spoke, confidently. “If you hold your corner up desperately concerned in repelling the here in Oregon so that Canada is blocked, formidable threat of mass attack by the and I my niche, down in Nevada to block Unidum forces. * * * * of! a Mexican sally, the Unidum won’t find a crack to crawl through. Kessel, “Terry, it looks very bad,” said Wil- Brighton, and Walter have held the front liams as their plane, the flagship, led its along the Rockies without a sign of weak- fleet to a temporary re-fueling center in ening.” southern California. “That titanic mass ” ”
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attack two weeks ago by the Unidum on the Pacific! We are cut off from marked the turning point. Up till then we Asiatic ammunition and war-supplies 1” held them on the other side of the Rockies. "But our own hyp-marine fleet— Now Agarth has been pushed south; our “Can do nothing,” finished Williams. eastern front buckled inward and we have “The Unidum has concentrated almost its been shoved north from Mexico. If the entire hyp-marine forces in the Pacific. compressing and squeezing continues, our They far outnumber ours.” defeat is inevitable.” “The Federation of Asia will declare !” “But Williams, our string of under- war ground strongholds! They are impregna- “No, Terry. Molier has bought them ble from air attack. As long as we hold off!” * * them— * “To no avail, Terry. If we hide in In the largest chamber of the under- them, the enemy can cut us off from sup- ground stronghold near San Francisco plies and starve us out. The underground there was much turmoil and whispering. strongholds are admirable as infantry It was a night five weeks after the poison- bases, as they were used in the All-Na- ing of the brains and all the highest offi- tions War. But in this type of aerial war- cers of the Brotherhood were assembled fare that the Unidum has launched, they for emergency council. There was a gen- are white elephants. eral note of despair rampant in the atmos- “Holier evidently saw from the first phere. The Unidum had relentlessly that if he allowed the Brotherhood to driven the rebel forces inward from the recruit a large infantry, the civil war north, south, and east. Barely five hun- might be drawn out to great lengths, be- dred miles in each of those directions cause then the entire west coast could were the large fleets of the Unidum, at have been cut off from Unitaria. Accord- bay with the rebel fleets which had not ingly, he attacked swiftly with air forces, been reinforced from Asiatic channels knowing that aerial warfare is the quick- for a week. All general merchandise air est and most decisive way of deciding the traffic had been halted in that region; issue. It has only been a month since the supplies of all kinds, especially fuel for start of the revolution, and already the the war-craft, were increasingly hard to campaign is coming into its final stages.” obtain for the revolutionists. "But surely all hope isn’t lost for us ?” Throughout Unitaria feeling ran high “No. If the tide of public opinion against the Unidum and a growing mass sweeps high enough, the Unidum will be of people were demanding that the war- forced to cease hostilities and arbitrate. fare stop and the government accede to And any sort of arbitration is a victory the original demands of the Brotherhood. for the Brotherhood. Indications are that But Molier had refused to listen and already the Unidum—or more properly, had fortified the Capitol with anti-aircraft war-dictator Molier—is at odds with pub- guns and warcraft. This step bid fair to lic sentiment. His authority is near a disrupt Unitaria, for Europe was pre- break. That’s why he’s pressing us so pared to secede at a moment’s notice. ferociously; if he can defeat our forces Molier, maddened at the sudden bursting before the break, he will be doubly power- of his ambitions, cared nothing of what ful and will probably oust Executive happened. His one thought was to crush Ashley and become sole dictator.” the rebellion in America and take it over The radio-phone buzzed at his side under his control. His group of co-plotters and Williams picked up the receiver. in the Unidum, Scientists who fervently wished they had never listened to him • He listened, exchanged a few words, but who were too deeply involved to back and then turned a grave face to Terry. out, held control of authority and issued “The Unidum has completed its embargo the orders which daily drove the rebel* ”
476 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 backward. Yet the responses to military that will be ten times worse than this commands were not as prompt as they one we have gone through.” should have been; even the war-plane Williams mused for a moment. “Moiier crews, long trained to obey orders with- —tyranny. No Moiier—no tyranny.” out question, were sulky. For two days “What’s that you say ?” queried Agarth. there had been no move on either side. Williams eyed him a moment. “Moiier Everything hung by a hair .... is human. If he were assassinated, then— General Bromberg, a broken and hag- “Are you mad? The Capitol has been gard man, walked up and down the dais, fortified; Moiier has a bodyguard—has haranguing the nearby officers fitfully. had one since the beginning of the revolu- That he felt all was lost was evident in tion. You would have to be a magician to his face. Agarth was near him, apathetic kill him.” !” in dismay. Williams touched his arm. “Then I’ll be one cried Williams, eyes Agarth gave him a wan smile in greeting. glinting strangely. “Agarth, I want your authority “Blasted hopes are all we have left, and permission to leave base Williams,” he said. here. Give me ten fast ships and twenty men, and full tanks of fuel.” “There are some of us who still have Agarth stared speechlessly. It was at the spirit to fight,” said Williams with a the tip of his tongue to ask: “Are you tone of slight reproach. deserting?” but he thought better of it. Agarth replied wearily. “Fight? Fight Williams was not the kind of man to for what? Victory now would be bitter think of his own safety. He thought too irony. It is too late it should have come ; of referring the decision to Bromberg, sooner. Europe is ready to secede and is but one look at that distracted, nervous arming to fight the Unidum. Moiier has man decided him otherwise. After all, done irrevocable damage. He has embit- what difference would it make? The ten tered the very name Unidum to the ships and twenty men could not stay the people.” end, absent or present. “But if Moiier and his cohorts were Agarth nodded. “Go if you will.” out of the way, could not the Unidum Williams turned to go, hesitated, and regain its former prestige?” held out his hand to Agarth. ?” “Who knows returned Agarth blank- “We met under strange circumstances,” ly. thing “Personally, I think this has said Agarth. “Perhaps we part similarly." gone out of our hands. The entire stabil- “And perhaps not!” added Williams. ity Unitaria undermined. of has been “Of course, I am coming along,” said is rioting every in big cities. There day Terry who had stood by silently. The worst of it is, there is no unified ac- Williams looked into his eyes. “Of tion. The Brotherhood’s proclamations course,” he agreed, “and M’bopo too. Just and Moiier ’s propaganda have become like before, Terry—us three. This might in till confounded the mass mind they be our last great adventure together.” don’t know which is what.” “How will we get past the Unidum “But a once-again integral and uncor- lines?” asked Terry as they left the room rupt Unidum—would that not cure all with its hum of conversation. ?” evils “Fly over widely spread at our ceiling. “Certainly, man,” replied Agarth a bit I doubt that they’ll pursue if they do hap- sharply. “But here are we, doomed to pen to see or hear us. Might figure we’re certain defeat. And with us dies the deserters.” leadership that could have saved Unitaria A swift plane took them eastward till from Moiier and tyranny. With the they sighted the glare of sky-probing Brotherhood destroyed, Moiier will do searchlights. Landing, they were in the one of two things : despotize Unitaria or midst of what remained of a formerly plunge Europe and America into a war great fleet. It was Williams' own fleet, the ENSLAVED BRAINS 477 one he had commanded for four hectic Secondly, this is a strategic move; num- weeks of maneuvering against the enemy. bers will not help it along.” The word flew from tent to tent that Men began crowding forward now, see- the commander wanted to speak to his ing that only a few could get picked, each men on some mysterious matter. With an asking to be one of the chosen. Williams helplessly at choose, alacrity born of their respect for him, looked Terry ; how to they hastily dressed, for most had been under the circumstances ? sleeping at that late hour, and assembled "Take only those who are not married,” where one of the dimmed searchlights suggested Terry. had been turned to light the ground. Williams immediately shouted for all those married to return to their tents, as • Williams looked over the crowd with they were automatically eliminated. With a feeling of pride. These were the men some murmuring and hesitation, these with whom he had held the south Nevada men left. Williams looked over the thirty- frontier against the Unidum for many odd men searchingly. All were young and weeks. They had no uniforms; they were impatiently eager. The service they had dressed in civilian clothing, for there had seen, flying and gunning and occasional been no time after the declaration of mar- bombing of unguarded and temporary tial rebellion to design, buy and distribute bases, had only whetted their appetites for uniforms. But on the breast of each was adventure and danger. Williams reflected pinned a silver and blue enamel emblem that if he were to lead them across the which all members of the Brotherhood Pacific, they would storm Asia without wore. And in the face of each, disheart- a thought of backing down. And yet their ened though many were, showed an eager- blood was not all fire and steam ; they had ness and determination that would have joined the Brotherhood in sincere ad- caught the throat of even the most disin- herence to its aims and principles. The terested onlooker. motto "Liberty in Life and Death” meant "Men, I need some of you tonight,” as much to them as the thrill of fighting shouted Williams so that all could hear, for a cause. "on a mission of great danger. We are Not to waste any time, Williams per- ringed in by the enemy and it is only a sonally picked out his twenty. In another question of days, perhaps merely hours, half-hour, eleven ships, twin-motored and before the final battles. Back at the base all with full tanks, arose with a roar of our leaders are planning the last desperate helicopter screws. Under radio-phone defensive. But perhaps something can be command from Williams’ ship, they sepa- done. Daring may sometimes accomplish rated widely and bored swiftly eastward, what might and main cannot stop. I want climbing steadily. twenty men to come with me . ... to In their own plane, Terry was in the York!” New pilot seat while Williams sat before the A confused murmur arose among the radio instruments. M’bopo, as imperturb- ranks that quickly became cheers and able as ever, sat near his master against shouts of commendation. Then a bellow- the wall. ing voice roared from the men. “We won’t have to worry much about “Why can’t we all go along, command- searchlights,” said Williams as the enemy er, if you’re figuring on storming the lines drew near, “because it’s slightly Capitol ?” cloudy up here, enough to conceal us. But "No,” shouted Williams as an approv- a mechanical ear and high-flying scout- ing babel followed. "No. First of all, ten sentries could detect us.” ships have a chance to cross the enemy This was spoken to Terry; into the lines whereas the fleet would not without mouthpiece he barked: “Full speed over becoming engaged in a battle to the finish. the lines at ceiling. If pursued, maneuver 478 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 to escape. Report immediately if forced red points appeared in all directions. At to give battle.” Williams’ orders, the approaching ships Flying over land invisible in the gloom took up a flying V and stepladder forma- of night, Williams saw coming up the tion, with Iris ship at the apex. horizon the blue-white glare of search- The ten ships which Williams had lights whose beams could probe into the picked to accompany him on his mysteri- stratosphere itself. Where the beams were ous mission were Sansruns, second in absent in long stretches to north and speed only to scouts, equipped with two south, he knew that the uncanny “me- machine-gun nests in the open-air on chanical ears” were there, which could either side of the top of the cabin where detect under excellent conditions a single the wings joined to the body. Hung in a ship miles above. At their terrific speed, rack below the cabin, and worked by the enemy line swung directly below them. levers inside, were six small drop-bombs. Suddenly an aimless beam swung pur- Such ships were used for destroying posefully in their direction, probed fit- bases of the enemy or blowing up am- fully through wisps of cloud-mist, and munition dumps, being fast enough to then gave it up. escape all but armed scouts, and armed “One of those damned ears heard us, enough to have a good chance against all right,” muttered Williams. “They the better-armed combat ships. Their tried to lime-light us. Wonder if they’ll tank capacity was very great in that they do anything?” often had to forage long distances. In the After five minutes had passed, he knew revolution, that type of ship had been that they would not. No swift little scout little used—most of the battles had been had zoomed up from the ground, guided engagements between combat ships—and by radio directions from the operators of consequently were in excellent condition. the mechanical ears, to hang on their tail At their height, which was above the like an unshakeable bulldog, spotting them commercial lanes, no other ships were to back-line armed chasers. Now it was sighted as hour after hour they pierced too late; even the uncanny mechanical the night. In the monotony of the trip, not ears could no longer detect them as the one man was along but who wondered distance between ran into dozens of miles. to what they were going. That it was to A confused babel came from the radio- be some amazing feat of daring, they alt phone. Williams put his fingers to the sensed, heading into the very heart of selector dial and tuned in each of his men danger. Williams himself, the only man separately. They all reported safety and who had such knowledge, wondered how no pursuit. it would turn out. Williams snapped the multiple-wave switch, contacting all his men at once. CHAPTER XVI “We’re all through and no pursuit. The Sun-power Weapon Draw together now on the line between Base Number One and New York. Cabin • The miniature fleet approached New light on at full. Altitude three miles.” York from the south, having veered He snapped off the radio and raised from its direct course two hours before. his voice so that Terry could hear above Yet it did not turn in the great metrop- the engines’ drone. “Get on the line be- olis’ direction, but skimmed the clouds tween Base One and New York, Terry, east of it. As the first faint xanthic glows where we’ll group with the other ships. of dawn appeared, Williams contacted Altitude three miles.” He switched on the his men on the general wave and rapidly cabin lights full and bright. At either ran through a series of twice-repeated wing tip and at the tail of the ovoid cabin, commands. Then he spoke to Terry and bright crimson lights flashed on. In fifteen MT^opo. minutes, blurs of light triangulated with Looking at the beauty of dawn suf- ” ”
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fusing the eastern sky, heralding the com- Then it was all cut off by the contract- ing of a late autumn sun, Williams ing horizon as they plunged lower. noticed, a half-quadrant away, a spread- “We’re discovered already,” said Terry, ing fan of shimmering rays of light pointing to where a wheeling scout ship centered from a spot on the wide bed of with the Unidum emblem on its wings ocean. He looked at it wonderingly, think- swung in a great circle and sped away to- ing it to be an aurora borealis till it ward New York. “They could recognize occurred to him that it was south of the our ships immediately by their foreign sun. design as part of the rebel forces.” “What is that mysterious light?” he “No matter,” said Williams quietly. asked of Terry. “Once landed down there, we’re safe for “I’ve been noticing that,” replied the the time being.” young chemist. “It can only be the sun- Onto the deserted landing roof of the power experimental station which they Long Island Tide-station, the tiny fleet must have moved westward since we last landed. Williams told his men through the
saw it from tlie stratosphere ship that radio-phone to stay with their ships till time we crossed the Atlantic. You see, further orders. Then he motioned to the giant raft it’s set up on is powered Terry and M’bopo to follow him. to move just like any ship. I have heard At the door which led to the corridors the sun-power they produce there is used below, Joe Manners stood waiting, a mix- somehow to propel it; steam-power and ture of consternation and bewilderment water-screw, I suppose.” on his face. Greetings were terse. “But—that light! From the distance "I got your call during the night,” said and its visibility, I would say that it’s Manners. —“But for the life of me, I can’t billions of candle-power.” figure out “Billions of heat calories, too!” sup- “We’re here for a little grimmer pur- plied Terry. “I think I know the reason pose than that last time,” vouchsafed
for it. They produce an enormous amount Williams. “Before, it was just our lives of sun-power, and having no use for it we were concerned with ; now much more at present since they are concerned mere- is involved.” !” ly with improving the capacity till it will “But you’re not safe here cried Man- be commercially practicable, most of it ners nervously. “This whole region is is radiated away into the sky in the form patrolled by Unidum scout ships.— They’ll of light and heat. Each night, I suppose, see your ships here and attack they cast off the excess energy of the “Attack? They’ll think twice before day in that way.” they try it. How can they attack ships Williams’ eyes had widened thought- on a roof? And they won’t dare to try fully. A train of thought started in his any bombing.” mind that was abruptly terminated at "No, they won’t,” agreed Manners, Terry’s words: calming down. “I see the simpleness and !” "Here we go—down yet effectiveness of that part of your plan. The eleven planes, almost as one (for Strange that the Unidum, so concerned in the pilots had been forewarned), hummed protecting the Capitol, should leave the downward from the misty heights, like tide-station here open to attack.” phantoms in the ghostly light of grey “That’s just it,” said Williams. “They dawn. An immense fingered structure had no suspicion that this might happen. loomed up toward them, only partially It’s always the obvious that escapes illuminated as night lights were gradually notice. I banked on that. If there had been turned off. Before their altitude lessened armed opposition awaiting us as we de- by half, great New York was visible as a scended—well, I was prepared to sell my crown of light, beside it to the east the life dearly.” He shrugged. “What matter lime-whiteness of the Unidum Capitol. whether back at Base One waiting for a, ” —t
480 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 sure defeat, or here taking a long chance “But how, man?” asked Manners with at—” an inflection that intimated it was impos- “At what?" prompted Manners. Both sible. “The Capitol is fortified with anti- he and Terry showed their curiosity. aircraft guns, surrounded by watchful
“That I don’t know yet,” returned Wil- warcraft ; Molier is behind all that, body- liams much to their utter amazement. “I guarded, unreachable.” must know a few other things first, then “To get Molier,” repeated Williams some sort of workable plan will come quietly as though he had not heard. “As- out of it all. I came here just to be within sassination, impeachment, overthrow striking distance of Molier—the man who something !” must be put out of the way or stripped “Which is what the Brotherhood has of power and authority.” been trying for over a month!” There “Good God!” gasped Manners. “You was a note of scorn in his voice, as though mean that you came here without having he considered Williams a fool with mad definite reasons ?—without higher author- aspirations. "Everything has been tried ity? Of course, I know that you are a everything! Andrew Grant, myself, hun- marshal in the Brotherhood, and a com- dreds of others, under-cover operatives of mander in the air forces, but surely you the Brotherhood, have tried to incite the are —under orders from General Brom- people, the military men, the influential berg heads of industry, the Unidum itself Williams shook his head. “Strictly on What has happened? No one knows. All my own, except that Major Agarth sanc- motives, aims, and propaganda have be- tioned my leaving with ten ships. You come hopelessly gnarled. Europe will may as well know—I think Terry knows secede to escape the tangle in America. already—that I am a great believer in All we do know is that Molier still plots, inspirational effort. When there is trouble although only the Lord knows what, as to be remedied, I get as near the root of all Unitaria is cracking apart under the it as possible, worry a couple of plans stress.” till they crystallize, and then go to it.” “Hasn’t the exposure of Molier and his His eyes softened introspectively. group as evil-workers weakened his power “Aren’t all things like that—even life it- at all? Surely that should cause his im- self ? Great plans often go awry ; the cru- peachment.” sade against Brain-enslavement for in- “Not yet. Think once ; his accusers are stance has come to an impasse. It is the Bromberg and Hagen, outlaws by Uni- spur-of-the-moment things that often dum decree. They are rebels, about to be shape the future. Africa taught me that. defeated. Molier is legally and technically M’bopo has faith in that doctrine, too." innocent. Besides, he has somehow con- He shook himself as though to shake vinced the weak-willed Executive Ashley off a trance. “But to leave philosophical that the Brotherhood is a sheep in wolf’s discussion. I saw back there at Base One clothing. Accordingly, even the non- that little could be done to forestall the Scientific part of the Unidum follows his defeat of our military forces. According- dictates. It’s a most vicious circle of ly, I figured here something might be intrigue.” done. On that chance that I could take “A most vicious circle,” repeated Wil- over the tide-station and nestle down liams reflectively. comparatively secure for a few hours, I “And there’s nothing we can do,” main- came here. It was while talking to Agarth tained Manners despondently. that it came to me: no Molier — no “That I’m not sure about,” returned tyranny.” Williams stoutly. “First of all, a few “You mean—?” questions: this tide-station produces all “I mean that my sole aim now is to get the electrical current, not only of various Molier!" cities, but of the Capitol. Right?” At a ” ” —
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eating, nod from Manners, he went on : “And at grins and thanks. While they were the throw of a switch or two, you can grouped about him on the roof, Williams cut off that supply ?” spoke to them. "Yes, but—” “Men, we’re about as safe right here as “No buts at a time like this. There is we could be anywhere, probably safer no one to prevent such a move on our than if we were back at Base One. Those part, is there?” fellows up there”—he jerked a thumb in “No one. The station’s employees all the direction of circling Unidum ships work below in the generator and machine “won’t try any bombing, and they can’t rooms; they are not allowed up here in attack without danger of smashing to get the top section. I am king of the tide- in machine-gun range. What our next station. Of course”—he glanced appre- move will be depends on certain things. hensively through the doorway into the Till then, stay here with your ships.” sky where several— striped ships hovered As Terry and Williams entered the high in the air “there may be interfer- master control-room of the Tide-station ence from them!" where Manners awaited them, a clicking sound was heard. • Williams followed his glance and “The Unidum call-signal !” gasped shrugged. “If they should try any at- Manners paling. “The first thing they’ll tacking maneuvers, my men will know want to know is why rebel ships are !” what to do. And we have all the advan- here tage—stationary aim, massed— guns, high- Williams stood a moment in furious ly-experienced gunners thought. Then his voice rang clear and He turned. “You have a radio with commanding. “Manners, I’ll take the call. which you can contact the Capitol?” You get over to your switchboard and put “Yes, in the control room.” your hand on the switch that shuts the The cheerful brightness of early morn- current off that goes to the Capitol.”— ing had now overspread all the region. “Great Heavens ! What good On the blue blanket of endless ocean, an “Do it!” said Williams quietly, but occasional buff or silvery hyp-marine there was a wealth of command in his skimmed the waves. Williams’ eyes soft- voice. “This is the time for initiative and ened a moment. How serene and undis- action. What the result will be, I cannot turbed things looked! How peaceful. And say, but a chance is always worth taking.” yet, the affairs of men had come to a “But Williams,” protested Terry. “I crisis. There was a lurking Nemesis that think myself that it can lead to nothing.” the light of sun and the cheer of day “As your superior officer in the could not dispel like morning mists. Brotherhood, I command you both under “Now a very important question: Have the circumstances.” you any food ?” He smiled. “I can’t think Manners hesitated no longer but ran to or reason properly when I’m hungry.” the control-board where finger-flipped The well-stocked larders of the tide- switches could do magic with thousands station were made to yield breads and of kilowatts of electricity. cakes and cold meats. Probably the pantry Williams strode before the wall radio- keeper below, whose duty it was to fur- phone and tripped the loud-speaker lever. nish edibles for the many workers in the Immediately an authoritative voice rang depths of the tide-station, was surprised through the room. that the superintendent in the sanctum “Unidum Capitol calling Joe Manners, above should suddenly have the appetite superintendent of the Long Island Tide- of thirty men. But it was for him to obey, station. Eleven ships, apparently part of not to question. the rebel forces, are at present on the Williams and Terry passed the food landing roof. The Unidum demands an around to the men, who accepted it with explanation.” ” —; ”
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“And the Unidum will get an explana- cording to the charges of the -Brother- tion,” returned Williams with emphatic hood !” tones. “The tide-station is at present in First there was dead silence from the my hands, a marshal of the Brothers of Capitol, then a babel of voices and shouts. Humanity.” The listeners (apparently there had been “That much we surmised. The Unidum many) seemed engaged in some sort of accordingly demands that your rebel ships heated debate. Williams looked signifi- leave or there will be consequences.” cantly, almost exultantly, at his com- “Leave? Do you think we are playing panions. “That was like a bombshell ex- a game? We are here to stay. If you care ploding at their feet.” to attack, try it. But I would advise you not to. Only one or two of your ships • The confusion from the loudspeaker can maneuver over the roof at one time grew tumultuous. Snatches of words and my gunners are experts.” indicated that the Brotherhood had There was a confused murmur from friends in the heart of the Unidum. the phone for a moment as though several Finally a roaring voice was heard : “Fel- persons were discussing the matter in low Scientists ! This has gone far enough. whispers. Then again spoke an articulate The Brotherhood has demanded im- voice. peachment of Molier! The people have “The Unidum is prepared to make an cried for it! It should be— offer, due to the fact that the tide-station “Silence, you fool!” These words, a is .... ah, under our special considera- flurry of shouts, one unmistakable groan, tion. We offer to waive aside any charges then a click and silence from the loud- of treason against you, if you will quietly speaker. surrender yourselves to the Unidum. We Williams gripped the back of a chair will send over a sealed and signed exemp- tightly. Had his daring demand turned tion at but a word of your acceptance.” the tide of opinion in the Unidum? Had Williams laughed harshly. “You take the delicate balance of affairs been dis- us for traitors! The answer is no!” turbed or reversed? What was going on “Then we shall take steps— back of that cryptic silence from the “I think you had better listen to me,” Capitol? He sweated in agonized impa- interrupted Williams. “Unless a demand tience. of mine is granted, Joe Manners at my Suddenly the radio-phone clicked on command, will cut off the electrical again. A voice, deeper and more resonant current that normally goes to the Capitol! than the other had been, rang out, The result of that you can surmise—your vibrant with suppressed fury. heating equipment will cease to function “As for you fools at the tide-station, your elevators will not run; the inopera- now that affairs here have been settled, tion of the ventilating system will turn the there will be no answer to your childish air foul in every inner chamber ; a dozen demand. I will send a hundred ships to other little things will paralyze the in- rake you with bullets and destroy you, ternal workings of the Capitol. Even if it takes all day!” your radio-phone system will be useless. A click and silence. Furthermore, it is very easy to overload “That was Molier himself 1” spluttered the transformers at the Unidum Capitol Manners. from this tide-station, and ruin them. “And you heard what he said,” cried Would you care to suffer all those cal- Terry. “A hundred ships hammering at !” amities for several days before the dam- us—we’re doomed age could be repaired?” Williams looked from one to the other. Confusion again from the loudspeaker They shrank back at the sudden livid then the voice. “What is your demand ?” fury in his face. “Sarto je Bru! He has "Impeachment of Executive Molier ac- become a veritable monster!” Actual ”
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tears of rage and disappointment were in rebel ships left the tide-station and head- his eyes as he swung toward the super- ed east, apparently to seek a refuge in intendent. “Manners, burn out the Capitol Europe or Iceland.” The matter would !” transformers ; we will keep our promise end there, for they could never be ex- Manners would not have thought of pected to reach Europe. If they turned remonstrating after a look at the irate back, the three scout ships tailing them man with sun-tanned skin and flashing would report and they would get a warm blue eyes. He permitted himself only a welcome. Either way the rebels were sigh of reluctance as he threw certain doomed, as they could not land on water. switches. Then he fingered a numbered It was those same three scout ships that dial and turned it slowly. The needle of Williams eyed reflectively, hanging on an indicator began to climb its scale. Up their rear. For his present purposes, they and up it went, slowly, steadily. It passed were obnoxious. He called his ships on a red mark, went a few points beyond, general wave and tapped out a short mes- and then suddenly swung back to zero. sage in secret code. It called for maneu- “It’s done," said Manners chokingly. vers often successful in eliminating scouts “The Capitol .... transformers burnt if they were not too wary and clever. .” out .... fused . . . He stopped, A moment later his ships separated into swallowed painfully, and looked misera- two groups suddenly, one of them decel- ble. erating with dragging helicopters, the Williams looked at him curiously. other cutting upward. The scouts, their Understanding came to him. Manners had speed unchecked, careened past the first been superintendent of the tide-station for group, veered upward frantically to run twenty years. It had been his chiefest into a leaden hail from the other group pride to keep the gigantic power station whose men had clambered to the guns a running smoothly and efficiently. It must moment before. The wide bosom of the naturally be hard for him to deliberately ocean accepted three more humans to join spoil his long record of faithful service the many in her watery depths. and superintendence. “That’s that,” said Williams. “I’m sorry, Manners,” said Williams “Now tell me before I burst,” cried in a softened voice. “I know how you feel. Terry, “where we’re heading. We can’t But it had to be. All this is part of some- reach Europe on empty tanks.” thing bigger than our personal affairs.” “You remember, Terry—I do things on Then his voice became hard again. the spur of the moment. My present in- “Molier asked for it and got it. Let’s —go, spiration or madness, or whatever you Terry. We’re leaving. You, Manners choose to class it, is the desire to capture “I stay here,” said the superintendent and take over control of the sun-power firmly. “Whatever comes, I’ll take my station, which we will reach in an hour chances. Goodbye, Williams—for I think or so.” this time it is goodbye.” “And do what with it?” asked Terry Fervent handclasps and then they were astounded. gone. When they jumped into their ship, But Williams, instead of answering, Terry pointed silently westward where a snapped the radio-phone lever and ap- massed group of warcraft winged its way. praised his men of the same thing. He “Full gun, men!” barked Williams into spoke at some length, outlining their his radio-phone. “Follow this ship.” method. That there might be military With an answering roar, the eleven opposition, Williams knew. Again it ships arose and flew to the east, out into might be merely a matter of cowing the the stretches of ocean. The pursuing persons aboard into submission. craft, heavier and less speedy, fell to the The incredible stupendousness of the back and soon gave up the chase. Their sun-power station became apparent more report would be to headquarters : “Eleven and more as they drew near. It appeared ! — —
484 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
to be a hopeless jumble of skeleton towers drawing away, so that falling airplanes surmounted with glinting umbrellas of would not smash and ruin expensive ap- mirrored apparatus, immense areas of paratus.
curved surfaces, and large drums of Williams spoke into the phone : “Take what seemed broken glass—all scattered altitude ! No formation—pick out your about over the giant raft which supported antagonist and duel him—these will be everything- on the ocean’s surface. Small my only orders and in the name of God, it might be in comparison to the limitless do your best /” expanse of ocean, but certainly one of the Terry turned startled to see Williams largest of man-made things on earth’s clambering up. the short steel ladder to surface. the trap which opened to the top-side of Circling around at a convenient height, the plane and the machine-gun nests. WiHiams took in the affair as a whole and Then Terry turned back to his controls noticed the center of the raft, an area grimly; on him—on his handling of the of two or three acres, taken up with ship—as much as on the man above wooden structures which could only be would depend their immediate future. the living quarters of the denizens of this veritable artificial island. Several black CHAPTER XVII figures had already issued from the build- The Reckoning ing's and stood staring upward. Beside the buildings was a cleared space, obviously a • At a mile above the water’s surface, landing field, in which reposed several and well dear of the sun-power sta- aircraft. tion which had moved from underneath, “Damn!" muttered Williams as be the battle took place. The chiefest reliance noticed some of the craft were warships. of the rebels was their superior speed Then breathed easier there were only and flexibility and thdr advantage in he ; five fighting ships there below. numbers. But each of the Unidum ships
He turned to the radio-phone : ‘‘Ready had three grim gunners to train on an for battle, men?” enemy. Where the real advantage lay At his instructions, Terry dipped low could not be said before the engagement. over die buildings as though to drop a To Williams, inexperienced with a ma- bomb. There was much scurrying below chine-gun, it seemed like a scene from among the figures, and uniformed men bedlam. There was the ululating roar of ran toward the armed combat ships. They speed-shifting motors, the rat-a-tat of were accepting the challenge guns, the flare and sharp report of small- One by one, die Unidam ships arose to shells, the crazy gyration of the plane where the waiting rebels poised. Eleven to under him, the biting cold of rushing air, live. Yet it was not to be an unequal the feeling of helplessness in a strange, skirmish, for the Unidum ships had three open perch—all tended to unnerve him guns each, one throwing a small high- so that he winced when a striped ship powered shell, and were manned fully. warped near wkh spouting guns. Then, WiHiams cursed that he did not have the like a flash, it all cleared. There was rea- full complement of men, two gunners and son in Terry’s manipulations; there was
one pilot to each ship. a gun in his hand ; there was a flicker of Below, WiHiams noticed a strange target now and then. Bullets, timed right, thing. The structural conglomeration be- would .... neath was sliding away quite out of keep- His finger pulled; his arm vibrated; his ing with their motion. Then it dawned hand guided the handle, pointing the upon him that the people on the sun- muzzle at a striped ship that swung down- power station were simply moving away ward past them. He shouted aloud when from the scene of intended battle. With one of the gunners slumped into his cock- whatever titanic engines it had, it was pat. First blood? A flash from the big : "
ENSLAVED BRA! NS 485 gun, and something shrieked past his ear. liams. Then he breathed deeply and fas- Sarto! That was close! But now to buckle tened his attention to the approaching his station. down to earnest work ; he must keep sun-power eyes all over every second and swing the Terry landed the ship without hesita- gun without hesitation. And so it went tion and he and Williams stepped out on for what seemed hours, but were with pistols in hand, menacing the small minutes in reality. crowd already gathered before the ship. Williams’ appeal to his men had not To one side, a half-dozen men with blue been in vain; they fought their best, and capes waited expectantly. To these Sci- it was just a little better than the best of entists, Williams addressed himself. the Unidum airmen. Ship after ship spun “This sun-power station is now in the out of control and fluttered to the waiting hands of the Brotherhood, or the rebels, ocean, or caught fire to fall like a meteor. as we are called. Since your armed escort Two ships remained, both rebels; all the is gone, you have no choice but to recog- others were gone. nize my authority.” Williams descended to the cabin, cold “We realize that,” spoke one of the and disheveled. “We’ve won out, Terry. Scientists, glancing past and beyond Wil- But at .... a price.” He shook his head liams. “And furthermore, we are glad as though to clear his mind of gloom. of it!”
He called the other ship via phone : “De- “You mean — glad to be in rebel scend and follow. We take over the sun- hands?” queried Williams incredulously. power station immediately.” “Certainly. We would never have let The reply from the other ship was de- those five Unidum ships attack your layed for a while. Then a voice, gasping forces had we been able to prevent it. Let and pain-filled: “Yes, commander . . . . me explain—but first of all, will you we descend .... soon now .... gun- please order that man of yours away
ner killed .... wounded . . good- from the gun; he looks ready to open .” !” bye and .... good luck . . . fire any minute Williams saw from the window that Williams whirled and gasped—with the other ship was behaving erratically. joy. In one of the gun cock-pits, looking It bespoke the weakening hand of a dying very foolish, was M’bopo himself. With pilot. his hands on the gun, he looked indeed “But you’ve not died in vain,” said ready to spout flame and lead. Williams softly. “I swear it!” “Come down from there, you fool!”
Somehow the dying pilot heard it. His shouted Williams in Bantu dialect, when reply was pushed through tremulous lips shocked surprise was over. The black man “Thanks .... commander.” clambered from the gun cupola and leaped The other ship lurched drunkenly, to the landing floor. He straightened up, poised as though saluting the flagship, frozen but grinning, as his master heaped then plunged downward. imprecations on him to cover up his real “Well, Terry, it’s up to us.” Williams’ feelings of joy and relief that he was voice was husky. Then it changed alive. After a rapid exchange of native “Where’s M’bopo?” dialect, Williams strode back to the Sci- “Why, he followed you out! Didn’t entists. he—” To Terry he explained that M’bopo had
“Lord ! Then that was the end of him. followed him out on the cabin roof before Must have fallen; I didn’t see him.” the battle, had seen him work a machine Already numbed at the many deaths gun, and had thereby himself taken over that had been crowded into the past hour, the other gun. What effects his bullets the loss of the black man, although more had had, no one could say. personal, hardly did more than shake a Williams turned to the impatient Sci- few faltering Bantu phrases from Wil- entists. “Now, sirs, if you will explain— t
486 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
"Just this,” said the one who had acted The Scientist pursed his lips thought- as spokesman before, "we, of coarse, on fully. “Yes, with a little alteration in board this experimental sun-power sta- machinery, it could be simply done.” tion, have been in touch with national “Good!” cried Williams exultantly. events via radio news, and have from “Now, have you an all- wave transmitter?” the first favored the Brotherhood. We too "In the building there,” pointed the see the insidiousness of the Brain-control, Scientist. of brain-enslave- and the future threat “I must get in touch with General ment. Practically all our lives we six Sci- Bromberg,” shouted Williams by way of entists here have labored to produce excuse as he madly dashed to the building power from the sun, and our goal is near. pointed out. A man seated before the con- that Despairing indeed was the news the trol panel of an all-wave radio looked up tyrant Molier was making a bid for ab- quizzically. solute dictatorship. When the Brother- "Eighteen point two centimeters; full hood announced its opposition, and mili- power. And hurry!” barked Williams. tary revolution broke out, we hoped and "Ask for General Bromberg,” prayed Molier would be broken.— Appar- ently”—his voice became heavy "it can't • Terry stepped into the room just in be done.” time to begin coding a message that "And perhaps it can!” contradicted Williams wrote hastily. The Brother- Williams. continued eagerly at their He hood's code, which had never been worked looks. think, your help, blank “I with out by the baffled Unidum intelligence with pledges to give any and your me service, had a key word which changed ah aid, the tide may be turned yet 1” its vowels every ten hours by the clock. "In behalf of my colleagues and myself, Once the progressive system of change I give that pledge right now,” said the had been memorized, it was simplicity it- Scientist. His fellows nodded vigorously. self to code a message that would he safe “Would you even” — Williams paused from enemy understanding. and swept an eye around at the jungle The voice that answered from Base —of towered apparatus surrounding them One was that of' Agarth. "Who calls?” “willingly endanger all this—your life "Williams—Marshal Williams.” ?” work "Great guns! Is it possible? I had no The Scientist swallowed but answered hope of hearing your voice again. General quickly. “We Scientists of the sun-power Bromberg is ill in bed, Williams.” station here have more than once wished "Well, then listen, Agarth ! Take down in the past month that could save we this code; I’ll give it twice.” Unitaria from threatened evil, even at The message translated was: "You the price of .... of all this! So now, must hold out at Base One till dawn to- we stand by our unwritten agreement. morrow. Fight as you’ve never fought But in what way can the labors of science before if necessary ! But hold out The serve in the matter?” sun-power station is in my hands. It is Williams countered with a question: the most powerful and invincible war- soon can reach "How you New York with machine in the world! With it at dawn this motored raft?” tomorrow I will threaten to burn the The Scientists murmured in surprise. Capitol to a cinder if Molier is not ar- Finally the spokesman said: "Possibly rested and ousted from power. The vic- !” by dawn tomorrow.” tory is ovtrs, if all goes well "Now a very important question,” con- A cade came back that Terry worked tinued Williams. "Can yon swing those out. night ?” beams which throw off excess sun- “What is it ; what is it begged Wil- energy in any direction?” liams almost frantically. —
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Terry read: “Will hold out if Hell that he was, or had been, one of the two falls 1” * * * executive-heads of Unitaria. His blue The grey of dawn revealed a huge bulk cape betokened him a Scientist. He standing before the front faces of the straightened up to face a group of men Capitol of Unitaria. Like a sentient giant who gasped upon recognizing him. from another world, the sun-power sta- Standing at the head of the group was tion frowned majestically over the seat of a robust figure whose tanned face indi- government. Buzzing aircraft hovered like cated that he had known rigorous cli- flies, darting and spinning in curiosity. mates. The gaunt figure, wild-eyed, Suddenly a blinding beam of light shot poured out a flood of words. The tanned upward from the internal mazes of the man answered, pointing a stern finger as station, and two unlucky ships whiffed though in denunciation. The gaunt figure into flame. The beam swung awesomely again broke out in torrentous language, downward, frightening away hundreds of and the other man made a threatening move toward him. ships—down—down—down—till it just barely touched the peak of a dome on a Of a sudden there was a flurry of ac- Capitol building. The peak glowed red, tion. The gaunt man’s hand whipped into then white, then fell away molten. his robe and came out with a tiny tubular What internal revolution occurred in object. It pointed straight for the tanned the Capitol after the ultimatum was de- man and from it came a dull blue flash. livered, the watchers aboard the sun- But the killing charge of the lightning power station did not know. That the Uni- pistol did not find the mark for which it dum had finally and completely fallen had been aimed. A figure whose skin was away from Molier, they did know. That black had a second before leaped between the incubus of evil dissolved before the the two men. It was he who sagged to threat of extinction, they also knew. That the wooden landing lifeless. the Unidum was prepared to call off hos- For a moment every person in the tilities against the Brotherhood, and nego- tableau froze, as though time had stood tiate with its officials, was a third known still. Then with a shout, the tanned man fact. But what and why the incident of the leaped for the gaunt man, a quivering next hour resulted, was not to be known rage apparent in his manner of motion. till many days later. The figures came together, twisted, con- In the second hour after dawn, a ship torted. The gaunt man seemed to have an arose from a roof-landing of the Capitol, unnatural strength, like the strength of a engines beating frantically, as though to madman, so that even the other's steel escape were a matter of seconds. From muscles were matched. Suddenly the blue somewhere—no one knows just where flash again appeared. The gaunt man lay came the flash and report of an anti-air- stretched. craft gun. A part of the rising ship’s The tanned man looked at his van- wing crumpled and threw it out of bal- quished antagonist a moment, then turned ance. For a few seconds the ship gyrated to kneel beside the figure of the black madly downward. Then the pilot must man, reverently. have regained partial control, for the ship Thus died Molier, arch-tyrant of 1973. righted part way. Sagging in the air, about to plunge oeean-ward any moment, CHAPTER XVIII it miraculously kept an even keel and The Last Scientist finally coasted downward to land in the very center of the man-made island of • Earl Hackworth could hardly control sun-mirrors. his voice. “Tell me all about it, Dan
Hurrying figures approached it. From and Terry. Good Lord ! Don’t you realize the badly smashed cabin crawled a tall that I know very little of what really hap- and gaunt figure. His clothing indicated pened to you two after we separated at ” ” — —
488 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
the tide-station! How did you get away? “I’m sorry, sir,” said the white-clad — !” How did you meet Agarth ? How woman, “but she’s gone “AH in good time, Earl,” said Williams. "Gone? Gone! GONE!” The word !” "The thing now is—Lila seemed to echo and re-echo in thunders. "Oh, yes, yes,” agreed Hackworth, It was Terry shouting the word incredu- calming down. The excitement of seeing lously. Williams placed a restraining hand his two closest friends again after weeks on his shoulder. of separation—and eternities of events “You must be mistaken,” said Hack- had thrown him into a turmoil. “Let’s go worth confidently. “I saw her just yester- then to the hospital. I was there just day. She’s that ‘sleeping’ case, you know.” yesterday. She’s sleeping as peacefully as “I know, sir. But she is gone!” ever, Terry.” “Great Heavens, explain what you "What a relief,” breathed Terry, “that mean !” cried Terry. the drug held out through all those weeks. The woman attendant turned pale and !” Dear girl— His eyes softened with ten- cringed. “Oh,— I knew I shouldn’t have der thoughts and memories. let him do it ” She seemed about to be- "But Williams,” he turned to the other, come hysterical. But the fierce gleam in “Agarth called, don’t you remember? He Terry’s eye bolstered her spirit to de- will be here—and I guess some sort of fiance. “What else could I do ? Last night parade in your honor with him—to take Professor Jorgen came and took her you to the Capitol to witness the cere- away! He is superintendent of Unidum monies which take the Brain-control Act hospitals and has authority.” and the Eugenics from Law the statutes, “But last night—he had not a shred of and the formal announcement of Europe’s authority,” said Terry. “He is one of the agreement to veto secession.” group to be exiled—but I suppose you "Terry,” answered Williams slowly, people here in the hospital didn’t know "you’ve been with me through thick and that.” thin. You've stuck with me even when “No, sir. Furthermore, he had a pistol it seemed I had gone mad in my moves. in his hand, and the look in his eyes I’d feel like a deserter if I didn’t go horrible!” The woman attendant lowered along with you now.”— her voice. “He was stark mad—insane! "But Agarth will We didn’t dare try to stop him.” “Hang Agarth—at least for the time “But why should he come here and ?” being ! Come on ; I must see the awaken- take Lila away asked Hackworth ing of Lila.” tremulously. So they went. During the drive, no “In insanity,” spoke Williams, "some- word was spoken. Terry, face aglow with times just a little idea grows to mountain- an eager light, seemed lost in dreams. ous proportions. Perhaps the exasperation Williams, with something of brooding of being balked in marrying Lila for so melancholy in his eyes, seemed enervated, long, transmitted itself into his madness, depressed. For the first time that Hack- and has now become his sole lunatic aim. worth could remember, he began to show “Where did he take her?” he asked of that his years were not so few. Williams the woman. had not once mentioned the dramatic “I don’t know, sir. But he has a private events of the day before on board the summer home at Edgewood, in the Cats- sun-power station. But M’bopo was to be kill Mountains. And his plane, when it buried in state ; that much he had left here, went straight north.” specified. "Let’s go,” said Williams, once again Hackworth stopped his auto before the the leader. “That’s the first place to look Unidum Hospital. "Miss Lila Hackworth, for him.” Room 2024,” said Hackworth to the at- A half-hour later, Hackworth piloted tendant. his Sansrun away from New York to the !
ENSLAVED BRAINS 489 north. Terry sat pale and drawn. "Hurry, below. An unmistakable odor came to Hackworth !” he cried agonized when them—a chemical laboratory they had barely worked free of New York Williams threw caution to the winds air traffic. “That madman might kill her, and raced down the steps and into the or mutilate her if we don’t get there in door at the bottom, Terry not a step time.” behind. "Not that,” soothed Williams. “He “I’ve been waiting for you,” said a calm probably took her to his home, tried to voice, bringing them to a halt. “No, don’t wake her unsuccessfully by the usual shoot. I have this needle above the girl’s methods of waking sleepers, and by now heart!” some other fancy will be occupying his Professor Jorgen, heavy-browed and distorted brain.” thin-lipped, stood over the limp form of Not a mile east of Edgewood, in a quiet Lila on a couch, her hospital robe awry. setting of hills and forest, they found In his hand he had a large hypodermic, jorgen’s woodland retreat, after a land- poised over her breast. A downward ing and inquiry in town. Hackworth thrust would pierce her heart. brought his ship down in the landing space and they saw another ship there • In the utter silence as the three glared, that could only be Jorgen’s. Jorgen continued through lips drawn At the front door, Williams held up a in an expression half snarling, half smil- hand and whispered to the other two. ing. “I heard your plane land and sur- "Rather than ring the bell or knock, and mised it must be someone come for tlie thus let him know we are here, it would girl. This girl was to be my wife, but for be best to look in all the windows care- a strange malady. She’s mine, do you fully. Hearing us land, he may be way- hear?” His voice ended with a maniacal laying us with a gun.” shriek. Williams, with a lightning pistol in his “Just a minute, Professor Jorgen,” said hand, led the way. The low, rambling cot- Williams. “Perhaps—” tage had many w indows at each of which “Stop ! Nothing you can say will inter- he paused and looked in stealthily. None est me. You must listen to what I have to of them showed anything. They complete- say.” The unholy eyes gleamed with ly encircled the house. devils. "A strange malady has put this Williams looked puzzled. “Looks com- girl into a trance, as though a witch had pletely deserted, as though it’s been shut cast an evil spell upon her. But it is no down since summer and since undis- sorcery. No. Science can cure her. I am a !” turbed. Could it be that he isn’t here after Scientist His voice had a remnant of aH?” former pride in it. "Since last night I have
“But his ship there ! He must be here. been working with my chemicals. Hour Is there an attic or basement ?” suggested after hour I labored, knowing I must suc- Hackworth in careful whispers. ceed in awakening her before she died of Williams thought a moment. “Come on, under-nourishment.” we’ll try the door.” He squinted his eyes as though about It opened squeakily to reveal a dusty to reveal a great secret. “I succeeded but hallway. a few minutes ago. In this hypodermic is
"Look ! Tracks in the dust!” said Terry a fluid that will awaken her. Yes, yes! eagerly. It will! You can’t stop me, either. And Williams nodded and followed them. when she awakes, I will marry her, be-
He wondered that the madman had not cause she loves me ! Ha, you didn’t know, come to meet them. The tracks led to an that, did you ?” open door from which streamed artificial The voice had become taunting and light. There were steps leading down- Williams felt Terry straining forward. ward and a faint tinkling sound rose from He gripped his arm and breathed a word !
490 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 19S4 in his ear. “Wait !” He looked back at the flash leaped from Williams’ upraised pis- insanely gloating madman. That needle tol to the madman. Terry screamed and above her heart—if that hand would but dashed forward, for with tiger-like quick- draw away for a brief second .... ness, the maniac had plunged the needle “Professor Jorgen,” said Williams straight for Lila’s heart! Even in his loudly and quickly. “You mistake us. We death, he had taken her along do not come for the girl.” Terry slumped to his knees beside the “What do you say?” barked the insane couch and broke into dry sobs. To have Scientist suspiciously. all things lead to this hour of sorrow “I say we care nothing about the girl. was irony of the bitterest. We are here in behalf of the Unidum. “Lila! My love! Am I too late to call Due to your past services, you are to be you back to life ?” given your freedom. You are not to be Her pallid face looked like the face of exiled!” death itself and the heart-broken youth For a moment mad eyes bored at Wil- bowed his Mad in numbing sorrow. He liams with uncanny cunning. They seemed did not notice the two men behind him to be reading behind the words. Then the whisper excitedly; nor did he notice the expression changed. Slowly a look of per- fluttering of the girl’s eyelids. Dulled with plexity replaced the suspicion. Williams the mists of long sleep, the soft brown watched like a hawk—that hand .... eyes fastened to the grieving face beside The madman seemed pondering the her and cleared suddenly. words he had heard. “Not exiled,” he “Terry! Darling!” muttered softly. “Free. They won’t prose- A moment later Terry descended from cute me!” Indecision overspread his face. the clouds enough to wonder about that He looked at the girl’s face and quickly death-stroke that he had apparently seen back to the three men with a flash of pierce the girl’s heart. Hackworth pointed suspicion again. “This girl means nothing to Lila’s breast. The hypodermic, driven to you ? Do you all swear it ?” downward by a hand suddenly bereft of A few seconds stretched out into a life within, had merely tangled in the dozen eternities, while the lunatic blinked, gown without so much as scratching the alternately suspicious and incredulous, girl’s skin. and perplexed. Then his hand which had Williams, tears of happiness in his eyes, poised so long over the girl’s heart, drew turned to his cousin as the young couple slowly upward. Williams watched as inch again embraced with endearing words to by inch it raised, as the insane mind of each other. the Scientist gradually gave credence to “We can wait upstairs, I think, Earl,” the statement. he said. “I really feel quite unnecessary The moment had come. A dull blue down here now, don’t you ?” THE END
FOUR DEPARTMENTS
are presented to you. the readers of Wonorr Stories each month, in addition to several thrilling stories and a scientific editorial.
THE READER SPEAKS in which 1b reflected the wishes and comments of the fans. SCIENCE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS to solve non-technical scientific questions that are troubling you. THE SCIENCE FICTION LEAGUE for the advancement of science-fiction and correspondence between readers, authors, and editors. THE SCIENCE FICTION SWAP COLUMN for the buying, selling, and exchanging of fantasy fiction—a new service. :
WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 491
THE FALL OF THE EIFFEL TOWER By Charles de Richter (Continued from page 419)
had told no more than the truth; there private office. Good. Thank you; I’ll see was anxiety in all those faces, an anxiety you in five minutes then.” that drew the attention. Replacing the receiver and sitting down In its monotonous voice, the loud- again at his desk, Jean Sorlin looked at speaker was telling the news of the day, Berson with a smile. and the crowd was listening, motionless "My dear Berson, I don’t know and silent, or talking only in low voices. whether there is or is not something inter- Jean Sorlin drew the curtain into place. esting behind that granite wall you spoke "And if the people begin to really fly of as being present in your head. But I from the city, I wonder what will happen can tell you very certainly that before a to that crowd of people, so quiet out there quarter of an hour is over, I will have now, who aren’t able to leave. When I blown up that wall, and in spite of your- think that you have without the sligthest self, I will have found out what lies be- doubt, touched the heart of the whole hind it. And I have a little idea that I mystery, and that your brain simply re- will not be wasting my time.” .” fuses to function . . . Louis Berson, who had not moved He halted suddenly, and pivoting on his from his position by the window, turned heels, turned toward Louis Berson. toward the arm-chair in which he had "Berson, I think I have it!” been sitting, and fell into it again. In his eyes there was the little flame of He knew that if his chief had resolved light that spoke of success. not to tell him about it, it would be in He clapped his reporter on the shoul- vain to ask questions. der. Nevertheless, as he lit a cigarette, he "Berson,” he said again, and his voice did not resist the temptation to launch had a note of triumph in it, "I tell you I one question in an ironic tone have it. Do you know Sankar?” "Are you going to have me disincar- Without understanding the reason for nated? Because if you are, I would like this sudden explosion, Louis Berson shook to know about it in advance, so I can his head. make my will.” "No? Never mind. You are going to Jean Sorlin looked at him hard, and meet him in five minutes. He lives a few the reply was both brief and decisive. doors from here. Hand me that radio.” “Hypnotism, my boy! That’s all.” Picking up a blue-colored receiver "Not such a bad idea at that,” approved which lay among a dozen others on the Louis Berson. desk, Berson held it out to the editor-in- And settling himself in his armchair, chief. with his eyes closed, he began to smoke The latter dialled a number, waited a his cigarette, wondering what they would couple of moments, biting his lower lip, discover. and finally gave a sigh of satisfaction. Facing him, Jean Sorlin was again dic- "Hello. Is this you, Sankar? Good, I tating orders into the machines about him. was afraid you had gone out. Tell me, my (Is the terrible destruction really being friend, I need you, can you come over caused by termites ? 'Don’t miss next at once? Yes, right away. Here, in my month's instalment.) EVERY PHASE OF MODERN SCIENCE # w discussed in the pages of Evhryday Science and Mechanics—feature#, articles, and departments written is an interesting, and non-technical rein. Also plans for construction for the handy-man. 'Everyday Science and Mechanics NOW ON ALL NEWSSTANDS ”
492 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 THE MAN FROM BEYOND By John Beynon Harris
(Continued from page 435)
Goin shrugged his shoulders. nient later he turned back to the others Heaven knows. A very long time, with a slight smile. that’s all we can be sure of. The continual “There’s some mistake. This is our clouds .... And did you notice that he moon.” claims to have tamed two of our primitive “No. It is the Earth,” Goin assured ancestors ?—Millions of years." him. “And he warns us against Earth.” Gratz looked back at the scarred, pitted Dagul smiled. “It will be a shock for the surface of the planet. For a long time he poor devil. The last of his race—though gazed in silence. It was like the moon, and not, to judge by his own account, a very yet .... Despite the craters, despite worthy race. When are you going to tell the desolation, there was a familiar qual- him?" ity. A suggestion of the linked Americas “He’s bound to find out soon, so I stretching from pole to pole .... a thought I’d do it this evening. I’ve got bulge which might have been the West permission to take him up to the observa- African coast .... Gratz gazed in si- tory.” lence for a great while. At last he turned “Would you mind if I came too?" away. “Of course not.” “How long?” he asked. “Some millions of years.” • Gratz was stumbling among unfamil- “I don’t understand. It was only the iar syllables as the three climbed the other day— hill to the Observatory of Takon, doing Goin started to explain, but Gratz heard his best to drive home his warnings of the none of it. Like a man dreaming, he perfidy of Earth and the ways of great walked out of the building. He was see- companies. He was relieved when both ing again the Earth as she had been; a the Takonians assured him that no nego- place of beauty, beautiful in spite of all tiations were likely to take place. that man had made her suffer—and now “Why have we come here?" he asked she was dead, a celestial cinder. when they were in the building, and an Close by the edge of the cliff which held assistant in obedience to Goin’s orders the observatory high above Takon, he was adjusting the large telescope. paused. He looked out across an alien “We want to show you your planet,” city in an alien world towards a white said Dagul. point which glittered in the heavens. The There was some preliminary difficulty Earth which had borne him was dead .... due to differences between the Takonian Long and silently he gazed. Then, delib- and the human eye, but before long he erately, with a step which did not falter, was studying a huge, shining disc. A mo- he walked over the cliff’s edge .... THE
Join the International SCIENCE FICTION LEAGUE for the advancement of science-fiction. A monthly department appears in WONDER STORIES (See page 4W) which contains news of the latest happenings in the LEAGUE. Every lever of the fantastic should join. There are no dues or fees of any kind. Through this organization you can correspond with others who read science-fiction and join one of the local Chapters which are being formed. See page 365 for application blanks and information regarding the LEAGUE essentials. ;
WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 493
THE TREE OF EVIL By David H. Keller, M.D.
(Continued from page 465)
"Of course the case was working out her church work, and I really became rather well, better in a way than I had ex- rather homesick, only I had to go and see pected. But I still had the tree and the a dentist first.” snake to take care of. I knew about the “A dentist ?” asked Dr. Riorden. “What tree and had brought along a saw to cut has a dentist to do with your story ?” the root. I even had dynamite because I “I had to get a pair of forceps. I bought had decided to close up the mouth of the an old pair and went back to Frog Run tunnel. At that time, I did not know about and pulled six of the big teeth out of that the other entrance. You see, Mrs. Sweetly snake’s mouth. Then I went to Pittsburg told me about that. with the piece of taproot and had three “I did not want to come into personal canes made, one for each of us, and each conflict with that snake, and at the same cane has two teeth worked into the head. time, I was sure that Mr. Harley would I thought you would like one. Just alike, it in not want me to leave suffering the and here is mine. Some day you will hear cave with no way of getting out; so I of the name of Glendale, and you will fixed a fuse to a piece of dynamite and say, ‘Curious! Something happened at it tried threw in front of his nose and Glendale, but just what was it ?’ Then you to make a noise like a tomcat. He woke can look at the cane and you will remem- up and evidently thought it was dessert ber about the Tree of Evil and our lost time, because he swallowed the dynamite, forever friends in the cave. I have your and at the proper moment, his head was canes downstairs.” course, I did not blown off his body. Of Harley looked at the cane and the six- | because I not sure stay to see that, was inch fangs. how he would feel if he was just hurt a "You have the photographs and the little without being killed. measurements?” he asked. "After that I started to saw through “Yes, everything, with my written re- tree. I cut its taproot through in two the port, is in this brief case.” places about four feet apart. From what “I’ll take your word for it, and thank I know about trees, that will kill it. It you. How much do I owe you for your took me a long time to do that, because services ?” the root was hard. Then I carried that "Twenty-five thousand. I usually charge piece of root out through the old natural more, but this was such an interesting tunnel to Frog Run. I came back and got case that I can afford to shade my fee.” the snake’s head. I had to drag that out will write a check at once. I guess big as a bushel basket. Then I went back “I it is it. trouble is that no one and took some pictures. Thought you worth The will believe the story. Have you anything would feel better if you had some. And I measured the snake; I will give you the else to say, Mr. Taine?” measurements. The greatest circumfer- "Nothing. If they don’t believe you, ence was where the banker reposed. show them the cane. Oh ! There was one I came out into the beautiful sunshine, thing I did you may be interested in. I and after the episodes of the night, it skinned a piece of the snake and had a looked more beautiful than ever, and handbag made for the wife. I will put the when I reviewed the whole case, I was check in the bag and hand it to her when glad it was ended and I thought of I go home. She will be right pleased to my quiet home in San Francisco, and my have a bag like that, with a check and me daughters and my wife so interested in home again.” THE END o
Science Questions and Answers
HIS department is conducted for the benefit of readers who have pertinent queries on modern scientific T facts. As space is limited, we cannot undertake to answer more than three questions for each letter. The flood of correspondence received makes it impractical, also, to print answers as soon as we receive questions. However, questions of general interest will receive careful attention.
THB ASSOCIATE SCIENCE EDITORS OF WONDER STORIES in nationally -known educators, who pass upon the scientific principles of all stories.
ASTRONOMY Folia W. Pawlwnkl. ENTOMOLOGY M. E.E., M.S. Dr. Clyde PleMr. Ph.D. LL.D. A William M. Wheelor Department of Aeronautleal Englaeorlng. tor. The American liuaetu Doan, Bussey Institution for 1 OHn Unlreraity of lilohigaa. mil History. Appliad Biology. Harvard Unlrorflty. MATHEMATICS rr*mmt Will la* J. Luyteo. Ph. D. Profoaaor John E. Yooaior. Profoooor Tltomrth, University of II B.8., M.8.. Ph.0. Waldo A. S.M. Department Meohanloal Moginooring. Alfred University. University AtTROPMVSIOS of California. MEDIOINE Own N.m Mantel. Ph.D. BOTANY David H. Kallor, M.D. Bimrd College Otierretory. Profuror Ctmor a. OampMI PHYSIOS AND BASIS Transylvania College. Lao doForodt Ph.D. D.So. AVIATION Prafeeaar Margaret day F rgana, Ph.0. U.0d.W1Ule« A. Bevaa. B.S„ M.8., M.I. WeUeeley Collage. PHYSIOS w Air Corps Reeorre. Professor of Aeronan* Profoooor C. E. Owoao Profoooor A. L. Fltoh ' tloal ugineerlng, Iowa Suu College Oregon Agrtoaltoral OoUoge. Unlronlty of Maine. ' Pf.fw.or EU1 D. Hu. B.S., M.S.. M.C. PBYCNOLOSY - OHCMISTRY L Hoad Department lioohanloal and Indue Dr. Marjorie E. Bahoook trial Engineering and Profeeeor of Profeeeor Gerald Wondt Anting Director. Poyohologlaol Aaronautloe. University of Euuai. Mitor. Chemical Boriewi. Clinic, Unlronlty of HavralL Profeeeor floorgo J. H login*. B.8., Aero. Caa. ELEOTRIOITY ZOOLOGY Ajoooiate Profeuor of Aeronautteol En Profoooor F. C. Auetln Yoohloka “ * ' Dr. iuogli S. Ualvwaity of‘ Detroit. formerly of Dartmouth Oollego. Tale Unlronlty.
Evolution and Astronomy while the higher animals can use their individual minds for individual action. Insects, when out of their
Editor, Science Questions and Answers: environment, are entirely lost, while dogs, for instance* A question has bothered me for a long, long time. can adapt themselves to suit new conditions. planets Evolution goes along with all things. Will the lower Except for minor differences, all of the but animals some day be as intelligent as men, and more Pluto are In practically the same plane. However, the so, later? And another: Are all the planets, asteroid asteroids move in all directions, so it would be very belts, and meteor belts in a single plane? If they difficult to “zoom over them” in a space-ship*— are on the same plane with each other, could we EDITOR.) not avoid the asteroids by “zooming over them” in a space-ship? Stuart Ayers. Lewiston, Idaho. The Fourth Dimension Again Questions Answers: (Your question on evolution leaves room for endless Editor, Science and discussion and conjecture. We have seen the paths of I would like to know what is meant by the “fourth evolution in the past, with men and animals alike, dimension.” This is one question I could never fathom. and can only imagine what they will be like in the The mathematics master at our school seems rather future. Perhaps one of the most interesting animal hazy about it, so I thought maybe you could explain evolution studies is that of the horse. We can trace it more fully. it so far back, that we find originally a small, five- In your stories you talk of space-ships increasing toed creature. Later the animal became larger, but their speed while in space. How can this be so? had only three toes. Today it is even larger, and has We know that, the thinner the atmosphere gets, the but one toe, or “hoof*’ as we call it. The material of more difficult it is for an aeroplane to fly. because of the hoof is similar to that in finger- and toe-nails. the low air resistance. The same as when you hold toy boat out of water, its propeller races around That is why the horse feels no sensation when being a _ it drives the shod. . at twice its speed, whereas in the water We have seen articles showing future men with boat along, while its propeller revolves at a greatly large heads and frail bodies, as they are likely to reduced speed. evolve with civilization. Millions of years ago, man Then, getting back to the rocket, how can it reg- was supposed to have been classed with the ape. In ulate its speed out in space where there is no air that case, it is likely that millions of years from and no resistance ? I do not know much about science, now the ape will have evolved into man. But where seeing that I am only 15 years old, but I see a lot will man be in that day? He may be super-man, or of other readers asking questions, so I thought it he may be wiped off the surface of the earth long would be a golden opportunity to get mine answered before the ape has evolved into man, if the ape too. Willoughby Hamilton, is not wiped out before he has the opportunity I Victoria, Australia. The most intelligent animals, and those best adapted to progress, will most likely evolve into creatures as (We have discussed the fourth dimension many intelligent as man is today before the others. The times in these columns. It is only natural that your monkey family is naturally far above all others. Dogs, instructor should be hazy about it. No one can say cats, and mice are perhaps the next in line. While what it really is. It Is beyond our natural environ- ants, bees, and termites have wonderful social systems, ment and we can only theorize and conjecture. Some it is probably not the sort of intelligence we see in call it time, or duration. That is, an object to exist the higher animals. Insects work entirely by instinct. must have length, thickness, and width, the three well- 494 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 495 known dimensions, and duration, the fourth dimension. duration of such a fall and the maximum rate attained, That is, you can freeze water into, say a three-foot per second? cube of ice. The next day you can melt it. When you Is it considered probable that radio waves would describe the ice, you must also tell WHEN it existed. be seriously influenced at decreasing distance from When the fourth dimension is given this definition, the sun ? Due to magnetic storms and *etc. ? it is no longer fantastic or impossible. If you can give me information on these subjects, Rocket-ships do not require air to fly—in fact, I will be very much obliged to you. atmosphere is a serious obstacle to their operation. M. H. Asquith, Experiments prove that recoil, the action of rockets, Philadelphia, Pa. is independent of air or gravity. Rocket-ships are worked in an entirely different manner from aircraft (An object in space falling toward the sun, while which use propellers.—EDITOR.) it would move faster os it drew nearer, Would NOT double its velocity every second. Its velocity would increase, second by second; the rate, or “acceleration/* increasing as it neared the sun. The Eudiometer The temperature of an object on its way to the sun would reach that of the torrid regions of earth, Editor Science Questions and Answers: , depending on the material of which the object was Would you kindly explain just what the eudiometer constructed, on leaving our atmosphere. is, and its use, in your science department? The gravitational attraction of the sun on an object Victor MoCaffery, would be equal to that it would receive on the surface Germantown, Pa. of the earth, at a distance of 1,866,000 miles approxi- mately, from the surface of the sun. < Henry Cavendish invented the eudiometer during An object MIGHT be attracted into the sun if it the eighteenth century, as a result of his studies of were distracted from its course at a distance of 175,000 hydrogen, or “inflammable air,” as ho called it. This miles from the earth, depending on planetary posi- instrument is illustrated on this page. With it, Caven- tions. dish combined ordinary air With hydrogen, producing The duration of • fall from the earth to the sun, water. He prepared 195 volumes of oxygen and 370 according to Lewis, Would be about sixty days and volumes! of hydrogen in a beN-jar. He filled the pear- the maximum speed attained would be over 380 miles shaped jar [A] with this mixture and then closed the per second. tap IB]. A spark was sent through the terminals We do not know bow radio waves are affected near ICC] and the gases combined, as they do in the the sun. All of our observations up to the present ordinary electrolysis experiment. However, the water time have been confined to the surface of the earth, resulting from the hydrogen and oxygen was dis- under a heavy blanket of atmosphere. There are vari- tinctly acid. Nitric acid, due tei the unavoidable pres- ous theories of how radio waves are affected by the ence of nitrogen from ordinary air, caused impurity electrical energy constantly emanating from the sun.— in the water.—EDITOR.) EDITOR.)
Objects in Space
Editor, Science Questions and Answers: Arc you puzzled by some In reading one of your science-fiction tales, I learned that the acceleration of gravity of the sun scientific question? amounts to .070 feet per second, squared, at a distance of approximately 93,000,000 miles from its surface. —send it in to the Am I to infer from this, that the velocity of an object in space would double, its rate of speed in a fall toward the sun, during every second of flight? SCIENCE QUESTIONS At what distance from the sun would its tempera- ture be equivalent to that of the torrid regions of AND ANSWERS the earth? At what distance from the sun would its gravita- tional attraction be equal to that at the surface of Department the earth? Could an object at a distance, say, of 175,000 miles We will do oar best in answering all from the surface of the earth, if deflected on its non-technical queries. course, be in such a position that it might be attracted into the sun? Also, can you give mo an estimate concerning the y
The SCIENCE FICTION LEAGUE
—a department conducted tor member, of the international Science Fiction League in the interest of science-fiction and its promotion. We urge members to contribute an item of interest that they believe will be of value to the organisation. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS:
Forrest J. Ackerman Eando Binder Jack Darrow Edmond Hamilton David H. Keller, M. D. N our June department, we announced that David P. Schuyler Miller I H. Keller, M.D., the favorite author of thousands Clark Ashton Smith of science-fiction fans, would give ten of his original manuscripts to the first ten members of the R. F. Starzl Scibnch Fiction League, as the first act in the organ- Hugo Gernsback, ization. In the following issue, July, we announced the winners and printed the rules for securing the Executive Secretary manuscripts. Charles D. Hornic, To date, seven of the ten winners have written to Dr. Keller and secured the manuscripts. They were Assistant Secretary presented as follows: “The Ivy War" to Kenneth Sterling, Member Num- ber Four. “A Twentieth Century Homunculus" to George Forbes, Member Number Six. offer a 20% discount—one- fifth off—to all members “Euthenasia Limited" to John Theodore Wiese, of the Science Fiction League who wish to add these Member Number Two. valuable Pauls to their collections. All those interested “The Air Lines" to Stephen R. Tucker, Member are requested to write to Headquarters for prices. Number Eight. “The Steam Shovel" to Harry Boosel, Member Num- ber Ten. SCIENCE FICTION TALKS “The Rat Racket" to Jacob K. Taback. Member Number Seven. After the Chapters of the League are formed and “The Pent House" to George Gordon Clark, Mem- organized, various members will want to give speeches ber Number One. to the local members. These talks will not only con- Robert Hart, William H. Dellenback, and Frank cern authors and their abilities in certain lines, and Phillips, Jr., Members Number Three, Five, and Nine, other purely science-fiction topics, but also their respectively, have not as yet claimed this valuable gift. personal opinion on the probability of scienoe-Actfcm These three should write to Headquarters for Dr. themes and how they believe man will develop in the Keller's address immediately and follow the rules out- immediate and far future. lined in the July number before the offer is withdrawn. Professor Walter B. Pitkin of Columbia University, An autographed letter accompanies each manuscript. during a recent speech reviewed in the May 26th issue of the New York Times, described what he thinks it will be like to look back from the year 2084. Ho MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATES observes the past century (the future to us) through the “hyperzootic ooze controls of a time broadcaster,'* The certificates belonging to several members have In 1947, according to his predictions, all corporations been held up because of their failure to read the will combine into the Life. Liberty, and Happiness application very carefully. If you have sent in your Co., which will offer everything for a small monthly application but have not as yet received your cer- payment from each customer. He humorously states tificate, read over the page in this issue describing that all governments will die out and all politicians the essentials to see whether or not you have failed will be put in asylums. On July 4th, 1961. the last to do everything specified. No member can join a fly-a w-atter will be burned at the Chicago Exposition. Chapter until he has his certificate to prove that he War and sickness will be things of the past. By 196t is a member. we will have climate control. By 1999 men will work only ten hoars per week. He also declares that by AN APOLOGY the year 2084 there will be 6,000,000,000 people on the earth. In July issue, stated that letterhead our we “every Professor Pitkin gave reasons why he thinks these has the name of the member printed on it." This things will come about. By studying modern social statement was an error. the low price which At at and business trends, you can conjecture these things these letterheads are sold, find it impossible we to for yourself. print individual names. To do so would cost the mem- bers much more than the act would merit. An illus- tration of the letterhead and envelope, along with the FROM MEMBER NUMBER FIVE seal and button, appears on the page describing the essentials. Following is part of a recent letter from William H. Dellenback, showing the characteristic enthusiasm A DISCOUNT TO MEMBERS the members have for the organization: “I guess I might as well take opportunity to ex- We have several hundred of Paul's original inside press my views on the Lbagub. Of course, I'm for it, illustrations which have appeared in Wondhr Stories hook, line, and sinker, and many of his covers on hand. At one time we gave “But hurry up with that button, because thaFs our readers these originals upon request as special really one of the big things! Take my case: Here I courtesies. However, years ago we found the requests am, riding through Chicago's Loop twice every dag all too numerous, and, to the fairness of all. we have on the elevated train. And I have been doing that been forced to charge for them. For a long while for a year, BUT, never once have I seen anyone we have been receiving a cash price for them and the reading anything approximating a Wondhr or any supply might soon be exhausted, leaving for sale of the others. Why is this? Where are all these only those as they are used in the magazine. We now scientiftctionistsT Of the hundreds of faces I see 496 !
WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 497 every day. I've often wondered bow many are stfaaa. company—at least I haven't yet beard of a place Buh-leave me, when that button arrives, out H goes where scientifically and sociologically (but largely right on the old coat lapel, proudly too—and ever non-teohnical) imaginative people congregate period- and anon, the old eagle will glance up from the pages ically. There most be several thousand regular and of the atf manuscript it is perusing so avidly, to intermittent Wonder Stombs readers in the city, breasts and bosoms of and among the total number there must be dozen scan with burning orbs the _ a sundry fellow passengers, in hope of catching, im- or more men, women, boys, and girls, who would be planted thereon, the striking, gleaming colors of the highly pleased to create an informal Scienceer's Club. interplan—aw, why go on/' (I take exception to the spelling of Scienoeers; it In this paragraph, Mr. Dellenback brings out a seems to me that the word should connote Science point that we have failed to mention. The lapel but- Seers.) I shall be grateful if the editor will publish tons will identify the members, so that, when among this letter so that intellectually lonesome scieatific- strangers and feeling lonely, they may come upon tionists may learn of a focal point. It will perhaps other members accidentally and make new friends. be possible to organize in a small way a scientific- When one member sees the handsome button on tion writers' club for the purpose of group study another, he will know that he has found a lover of of our own and others’ stories, with better subject fantasy and will undoubtedly make many friends in matter and technique our aim. I by no means intend this manner. that only writers and would-be-writers get together
on this ; rather, I propose and encourage the creation CORRESPONDENTS of two closely related groups, one literary and the other mainly social, with scientifiction and human Here is the first list of members who would like welfare our common interests. (It may be worthy of to start an immediate correspondence with others. note that I consider Wonder Stobebs and the earlier Any member is free to enter his name upon the list, sister magazine, or cousin magazine, to be responsi- telling just who he would like to write to (ages and ble for my several years’ social consciousness, dating sex), where they should live, and perhaps what they from my sixteenth year. I am now twenty.) should be interested in. "My hotel room is not a highly recommendable George Gordon Clark, 8709 15th Ave., Brooklyn, gathering-place for more than about four persons, N. Y., Member Number One, wishes to correspond but in the absence of any other organizer. I am with other members, of both sexes, between the ages willing that anyone interested call on me or write, of eighteen and twenty. Location unlimited. and I shall try to act as a sort of clearing-house for
James Noel Mooney, 416 W. 118th St., New York suggestions. Stir yourselves, Angelenos 1 Let's make City. N. Y., Member Number 220, would like to something interesting and worth-while if we can receive mail and personal visits to discuss science- And girls ! I have never met a girl scientifiction fiction from anyone living in New York City, be- reader, by the way, and if there is such a rarity, it tween the ages of 14 and 18. makes her especially welcome to attend discussions William H. Dellenback, 1855 Rosedale Ave., Chi- or meetings that may arise." cago. 111., Member Number Five, wants to correspond Now Mr. Streman, who is not of course a member with members of both sexes, from 16 to 20 years of of the League at the present time (or he would not age, living in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Dur- have written this letter) will be exceedingly pleased, ing the month of August, address him at Tarry-A- we are sure, to learn that the Science Fiction Lbaqub While Cottage, Epworth Heights, Ludington, Mich. is going to give him just what he wants—an oppor- Stuart Ayers, 1411 10th Ave., Lewiston, Idaho, tunity for all science-fiction fans to meet and discuss Member Number Sixty, wishes to communicate with the subject. If he sends in his application for mem- members between the ages of 15 and 17 in the state bership immediately and declares that he would like of Idaho. to be Director of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Newby Crowell, 600 W. Franklin St., Monroe, N. C., League, we will publish his name in this department Member Number 291, would like to correspond with in our November issue, providing that no one else boys between the ages of 17 and 20 who are interested beats him to it in the city. In that case, he will still in science and amateur journalism. Location un- have the opportunity to join the Chapter, though limited. not as Director. Paul Freehafer, Box 12, Payette, Idaho, Member The following letter came to us as quitea pleasant Number 294, who is looking forward to the day surprise and we take great pleasure in printing part when the League has 120 million members, will be of it in these columns. It is from A. V. Bleiden of glad to strike up an acquaintance with members Shanghai, China. between the ages of sixteen and twenty living in "Reading carefully the rules and regulations in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. your May issue of Wonder Stories, I wish to con- Alfred Brotman, 2400 Presbury St., Baltimore, gratulate you for this fine idea of your Science Fic- Md., Member Number 88, wishes to write to other tion League. Being a reader of your magazine for members between the ages of sixteen and twenty. years, I certainly learned much through your pages. Location unlimited. Now I know a few men in Shanghai and we already Albert Casper, 199 Belmont Ave., Newark, N. J„ have what you may call a club, but which is Juat a Member Number 820, would like to correspond with close circle of a few interested in this sort of Stories. members between the ages of fifteen and eighteen There are ten of us, and no matter that we hkWU years, preferably those that live in Newark and three Russians, four Chinese, one German, one thereabouts. American, and one Englishman, we all speak English. Leo Rogers, 616 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo, N. Y„ "Now I'd like to have your permission to start the Member Number 190, wants to hear from men be- Shanghai Branch of the Science Fiction Lbaouh, and tween the ages of twenty-five and thirty in any part what I am proposing to do is: of the world. "1. To announce the establishment of the Chapter This correspondence list is for members of the in Shanghai. Science Fiction League and those entered are warned "2. To get some space for our Club where we could against questionable letters they may receive from meet regularly. others. If your entry does bring the results you not "8. To have meetings of members every week desire, your next one take in a wider field, make (where each member will bring his friend as a either in ages, locality, hobbies. entry will or No guest, which will help to get more members). appear two months in succession for the same mem- "4. See if it will be possible to broadcast short ber. By notifying Headquarters when the issue ap- stories of science-fiction through the radio. pears containing your name, you may have it re- peated the second month following, and by doing "Will the permission be granted? Will you kindly this every two months, have the entry six times per inform me on what condition shall we have Science year. However, you will probably not wish to do Fiction League badges and stationery, as you should this, for you are likely to secure all the correspondents understand it’s impossible to send for a badge directly you desire with the first insertion. to you for every member or new members. Kindly reply to your opinion on the idea." We have already replied to Mr. Bleiden's letter and CHAPTERS have sent him several applications for membership into the League. He already has enough members to Here we give you a paragraph from a recent letter form the Shanghai Chapter, considering the location. written by Waldo M. Streman, who is evidently All other members we may secure in or around ignorant of the existence of the Schence Fiction Shanghai in time to come are invited to write to League, or at least was at the time he wrote the A. V. Bleiden at 208 Avenue du Rol Albert. Shanghai, letter: China, or visit a meeting and join the Chapter. . When "Los Angeles, my present home, is so large and this Chapter is properly organized, we will announce impersonal a city that it is hard to find congenial it in this department. 498 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
J. R. Ayco, Member Number 286, -wishes to form hattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Detroit, Cleveland, Balti- a Chapter of the League in the Philippine Islands. more, Washington, Chicago, Buffalo, St. Louis. San "We would like our readers there, who have not Francisco, and Los Angeles in particular—and, of already joined the League, to do so, so that they may course, any other well-populated area. If we receive become a part of the Philippine Chapter of the more than one volunteer from any particular city or Science Fiction League. All interested members area, we will honor the first. If you have volunteered should write to J. R. Ayco at Bacolod, Neg. Occ., and your name does not appear in the next issue of Philippine Islands. Wonder Stories, but someone else’s in that district All Denver readers interested in forming a Denver instead, send your name immediately to him and Chapter of the Science Fiction League should get in join his Chapter. You wiil then be the first one con- touch with Olon F. Wiggins immediately, at 2418 sidered when a second Chapter in the city is needed Stout St., Denver, Colorado. or a new Director for the one you have joined. We Milton A. Rothman wishes to form the Philadelphia hope to receive many volunteers. This is the best Chapter. All members who would like to join write to way you can show your enthusiasm for the Leagub him at 2500 North 5th St. at the present time: Form a Chapter and make it When a reader would like to become a part of any something to be proud of—a credit to the League. Chapter, he must first join the parent body, then send in his name and address to the Director (the one who wishes to form the Chapter he wants to join). LEAGUE SUGGESTIONS Such persons should live in the district in which the Here are few advance suggestions Chapter is located so that they can attend meetings. a of how you can help the Science Fiction League: If you wish to form a Chapter, let us know, and (1) If you wish to form a local Chapter of the wiH publish the fact. When you have a number we League, get a newspaper to print a notice in the of names on your list of those who want to join the society or club section. They will do this free of K>eaJ Chapter (wait at least three weeks or a month charge and it will aid yon in securing many members. for these after the issue appears containing your (2) Send to Headquarters all the suggestions that name) send the list to us and, providing all the names you believe will improve the Science Fiction League are entered as members at Headquarters, the local and its activities. You may have some valuable ideas Chapter will be declared. Do not apply to start a that will greatly aid the cause of science-fiction. This Chapter in any city mentioned already in these lists. department will appear monthly in the magazine and One Chapter In each city (except Greater York) New will be used as the voice of the members and execu- will be enough to start with. Later on, more will be tives, so do not hesitate to use it freely. organized when demand warrants it. (3) If you are a student in high school or college, We will give your Chapter an official name and try to form a Chapter of the League in the building, number. From then on, the name and address of your with students as members. Most educational institu- Chapter will be printed in every issue of Wonder tions allow for clubs of all sorts and would be pleased Stories, so that those who become members of the to harbor one more, especially one with standards as Science Fiction League from time to time, who live high as the Science Fiction League- These school in your neighborhood, may join, increasing the size Chapters will be treated in Headquarters as any other of the Chapter. Dues or fees of any kind may be Chapter. In order to form a Chapter of the League, charged within local Chapters, in order to carry on send your name to us with those of all other members special activities, only upon the agreement of all who wish to form the Chapter and the name under the members. Those members who do not wish to which the Chapter will be known. We will send you contribute, will not be expelled from either the Chap- an officially signed certificate, confirming the existence ter or the League by not doing so. In other words, of the Chapter with its number. all contributions must be voluntary, though a specific (4) Try to write editorials propounding the merits amount may be decided upon. This will be done only of science-fiction in general and place them in your within local Chapters—there will be no dues or fees local newspapers. Stress the fact that science-fiction of any kind conducted by the League Headquarters. is educational and broadens the minds of the readers. Treasuries accumulated by this method may be used (6) Study science-fiction carefully^ and form a series to issue pamphlets, hire halls or lecture rooms, or of conclusions in your mind as to its merits and ac- any other reasonable thing that the Director and local complishments. Organize your ideas so that you can members see fit to use it for. This also includes out- talk freely and convincingly to potential followers on ings, parties, etc. The Director or his appointee will the subject. Be able to tell at a moment’s notice just be the presiding officer at each meeting. Assistant what it is and why you are an enthusiastic advocate. Director, Secretary, and Treasurer may also fee elected This, with Suggestion Two, is very important to the by the local members. However, accurate minutes purpose of the League. All members who are instru- must be kept, a duplicate of which will be sent to mental in securing any special attention to the League Headquarters within one week after the close of each will receive due acknowledgment and will find that it meeting. Important activities recorded in the minutes will be profitable to them to be so mentioned. will he discussed in this department, which will be Rome was not built in a day, we have often been the voice, of* the League and all its Chapters. Meetings told, and the same can be said for the Science Fiction may be held at any frequency, everything to be de- League. Organized only a few months ago, it has cided by the loeal members. All helpful suggestions not had time to develop as yet. Plans will materialize made by members during any meeting will, of course-, as we go along. The League has one prime pur- be recorded in the minutes and therefore prove of pose—to spread the worthy gospel of science-fiction. value to other Chapters. There is to be no competition That is the basis of the League, and its goal will not between Chapters—they are to co-operate, and pet-haps, be reached until everyone knows of science-fiction and after a while, we will have a grand convention some- respects it as the most powerful literary force in the where with delegates from the .various Chapters. Would world. We can hardly hope for this^ for a long time you like to be a Directpr of a local Chapter of the to come, but every scheme, plan, or idea that will aid League? There will be very little responsibility on us in reaching that goal is welcome. New ones will your part, and it is not hard to find a meeting place. be broached every month by the executives and mem- If you can’t start off with a lecture room or hall, bers—will you do your part? We do not expect every or one of the members’ homes, then you can meet in member to have an inexhaustible reservoir of ideas the nearest public park until the Chapter is larger but we will appreciate all suggestions offered. and can afford something better. If you have not as yet joined the Leagub and wish We would like to receive volunteers for Directors in to do so, you will find application blanks In another the following cities as soon as possible: Boston, Man- part of the magazine.
MORE WORDS PER ISSUE Now then one of our readers complains because WONDER STORIES only contains 128 pages while our chief competitor boasts of 160. However, an actual count shows that we have 750 words per page, while the competitor contains but 550. This gives WONDER STORIES 96,000 words per issue with 128 pages, and the competitor only 88,000 with 160 pages. Therefore, WONDER STORIES actually gives you more reading material each month. *, w..0 uvvwuvuv nc puDiish every montn old-fashioned brickbat. All are equally welcome. your opinions. After all, this is your magazine All of your letters, as much as space will allow, and it is edited for you. If we fall down on the will be published here for the benefit of all. Due choice of our stories, or if the editorial board slips to the large influx of mail, no communications up occasionally, it is up to you to voice your opinion. to this department are answered individually un- It makes no difference whether your letter is com- less 25c in stamps, to cover time and postage, is plimentary, critical, or whether it contains a good. remitted.
Mr. Ray Replies stops and goes—24 times per second—equals the height of the projection aperture. This is in fact the funda- movie making,** (The italics are his.) “There- Editor, Wonder Stories : ment of fore, with a standard sound recorder and a standard You are to be congratulated on the high type of projection machine, no moving pictures can be pro- reader-mind that is so well evidenced in the columns duced. The picture on the screen would be a badly of “The Reader Speaks.” Truly, your magazine must blurred line.” appeal to the more serious-thinking element of the Sorry, Mr. Lenard, but I can’t concede you that reading public. While I like, also, to class myself as a point. While I have been connected with motion pic- “veteran reader” of Gemsback Publications, I have tures for the past fifteen years in varied technical never written to these columns before, as I placed capacities, I have no wish to set myself up as an myself in the category of a student who could learn authority on the subject, so I refer you to H. H. Selden. more by observation than by participation. However, Professor of Physics, New York University, in his in your April issue, I noted a very masterly criticism article, “Taking 40,500 Photographs Per Second,” of my story, “Today’s Yesterday,” which appeared appearing in Science and Invention for June, 1931. in the January Wonder Stories. Mr. Andrew Lenard Professor Selden says : “The picture .... is one of has, indeed, presented his case well and with such those taken by the Japanese scientist, Baron Shiba, di- conclusiveness that I hesitate to take issue with him rector of engineering of the Aeronautical Research In- on several points. Nevertheless, an author is supposed stitute of Japan and was filmed at the astonishing rate to know whereof he speaks, so if I have been careless of 40,500 pictures per second .... Of course, it would in the delineation of some technical points in my story be absolutely impossible to take any such pictures which readers below the average of those of Wonder .... with anything that even resembles the usual Stories might overlook, I now offer my abject motion picture camera. .... To build a mechanism apologies for not including them in the story itself. to jerk the film into place 40,000 times per second In Mr. Lenard’s first objection, he practically an- would be hopeless. Even though we were to construct swers himself, for he says : “The picture must have it, the film would not stand the rough treatment. been formed in the light filament itself and, therefore, .... Exact details of the camera used have not as be of scarcely noticeable smallness. But even in this yet been given out by the Japanese scientist, but it case the picture in the filament must have a sound { is generally known that the film runs steadily over origin in the mike,” (not necessarily, as I shall show revolving drums and is not jerked repeatedly into presently) “as a microphone is only sensitive to sound place as in ordinary motion picture photography. and not to light. But remember the mike was discon- . . . . How are we to make our successive exposures? nected from the set and could not give any impressions. This is done by using a light source which, in itself, However, I must say that these speculations can be is light source and shutter as well an oscillatory overcome by saying that the huge coil itself picked — spark. The spark gap is made to form a part of a up Impulses which formed the image in the filament. tuned oscillatory circuit. The film is in place for an Nothing was said of this in the story. But if the exposure the spark flashes and goes out. While it author comes out with this explanation, I must yield.” — is off, the continuously running film reaches the posi- I disagree with Mr. Lenard on the point that a exposure. spark flashes and “picture in the filament must have sound origin in tion of the next Again the the next exposure is made.” the mike,” for, as a microphone merely transforms is no new, but sound waves into electrical impulses, the cable would This stroboscopic method by means various purposes time; carry these impulses to the filament, regardless of has been in use for for some analytical operation of whether they originated in the mike or in the huge for example, the study of the high speed mechanisms. Now, Mr. Leonard, if direct coil itself. I think Mr. Lenard will note that at no time were pictures recorded on the sound track unless the current were used for recording, you would be entirely correct your premise, but a 25-cycle alter- coil of the mine-set was energized by a connection, in when is the per accidental or intentional, with the electrified cables of nating current used, light impulses—25 second—so nearly coincide with the speed of a camera the recorder. Ref : Pages 610-613-614-617. exposures per second that a sound track be In the matter of the illustration, I am afraid that I —24 — may over standard projector with little difficulty. shall have to ask Mr. Lenard’s forbearance. I will have viewed a to admit that “the illustration shows the film occupy- It is true there is a steady progression of one frame per second that is, the exposed area of a sound track, ing the whole projection area,” whereas, in the story ; (page 615), “tremblingly he watched as the narrow under these conditions, is slightly shorter than the of aperture, which causes track appeared on the screen.” In America it is not the height the projection a usual custom for magazine editors to submit proofs to constant downward motion of the sound track on is slow, there is absolutely the author, so the latter rarely sees the illustration the screen ; but as this so indication blurring accustomed to prior to publication. In this case, it is unfortunate no of and anyone that Mr. Winter chose this particular scene to illus- viewing films under all conditions has no difficulty in observing details, to the tiniest scratches on trate, but since it is some three thousand miles from even the track. I trust this answers your question. New York to Hollywood, there is a possibility that so familiar to us in Mr. Winter has never seen a sound track. It is only The above phenomenon is the track on the screen in the studios that the sound track is ever projected studios, who have viewed sound on the screen and then only for the purpose of scan- hundreds of times, that I must plead guilty to having ning for scratches, imperfections, and other “bugs” been careless in not making this point clear in my readers will forgive remissness. that would mar the audibility, so I think this error story. I hope the my I in pictures is excusable. was greatly interested Mr. Lenard’s And now, we come to the vital point of the criticism. and, judging his abilities as a writer from his very To again quote Mr. Lenard: “The sound film runs interesting letter, I am sure we would all welcome through the recorder with equal speed. A moving a few science-fiction stories from his facile pen. picture can only be photographed if the film motion Rice Ray, is intermittent and the transporting height between Burbank. Calif. 499 ) !
500 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
(We are very pleased to publish this interesting 1 realize that Mr. Kaletsky is a fellow to be respected, and instructive letter from Mr. Rice Ray, our author, taking into consideration the fact that be is a veteran who seems to have quite a knowledge of the motion Wonder Stories fan. He gets my resnett .... I will picture business. Burbank and Hollywood are both not begrudge him that. His letters to “The Reader Suburbs of Los Angeles. We regret that the artist Speaks” show thought and intelligence and I read misinterpreted the author’s idea in drawing his il- them with keen delight. But when he refers to me lustration for the story. We watch them very care- as having “illogically” based my argument against fully and errors rarely leak in. If Mr. Lenard has him upon a “fallacy” .... that’s the “straw that anything more to say to Mr. Ray, we would like to broke the camel’s hump !” Firstly, I did not write receive his letter for an early issue.—EDITOR.) my letter as an argument, but as a letter from & reader of Wonder Stories and, therefore, a defender for it against all unjust critics. Mr. Kaletsky's let- ter, which appeared back in last year’s November S.W.S. Was Best issue—the letter which started all this—knocks the authors in general and the Editor in particular .... Editor, Wonder Storibb: just because a few scientific errors occurred in some Well, well. Wonder Stories is over five years old! of the stories. Science is a very ticklish subject and Time certainly slips by fast. It doesn't seem very long a few errors must get by occasionally. Mr. Kaletsky, since I bought my first copy, which happened to be who seems to know his science, always manages to the July, 1929, issue. Now that was a real magazine. detect some error or other. He writes to Wonder What authors it boasted!—Jack Williamson, Irving Stories and gives everybody connected with the maga- Lester and Fletcher Pratt, David H. Keller, and Harl zine a piece of his mind. It can easily be seen that Vincent. Every story was great, stories which sur- the authors and the Editor are not to blame. Authors pass present-day science* fiction as the sun outshines write all sorts of scientific stories .... they’re not the stars. This goes for practically the entire first year perfect, of course— neither are Mr. Kaletsky and my- of Scibncb Wonder Stories. You cannot say I think self, for that matter. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to this because it was the first science-fiction I had ever let Mr. Kaletsky edit the magazine for a few months read, for it was not. I had been reading this type .... I wonder how many complaints from observant of literature for over three years before Science Won- readers would come in ? Maybe none, but. on the der appeared. No arguments whatsoever can make me other hand, maybe a box car full of them. Secondly, believe that the Wonder Stories of today can even I did not base my argument upon a fallacy .... equal, let alone better, good ©1* S. W. S. Now I do the reasons are rather obvious. Whether or not 1 not mean that the science- fiction you are giving us have been illogical remains to be seen. That's enough now is poor. It is mostly good, and some of it is of that. very fine, but the stories of the first volume ore still Mr. Editor, I think that The Science Fiction better. League is the greatest thing that ever happened in But enough of that. I have just finished reading the the science-fiction field. You certainly can depend Jane issue. The best story was “The Doorbell” by upon me to do my darndest to see that its purposes Dr. Keller. "Into the Infinitesimal” was good. The are carried out accordingly. Believe me when I say other two short stories were only fair. I cannot com- that Wonder Stories is the best magazine on the mar- ment on “Druso” as I am waiting until I get all three ket. And now the obvious request .... information T. Snooks parts before I read it. y F. Phillips, on Epaminondas r© Ted H. Lutwin, Martins Ferry, Ohio. # Member 26 of S. F. L., (Somebody started something when he said that the Jersey City, N. J. old Science Wonder Stqries was better than the (Well, this Lutwin-Kaletsky controversy is starting present magazine. It seems as though he put an to show signs of a real argument. If you two fellows idea into the heads of many of our readers. We remain gentleman and keep the field clear of personal- still have many of the authors who wrote for us ities, well be glad to let you continue slinging mud five years ago. But, then, everyone has a right to at each other’s ideas [merely a metaphor] via Won- bis opinion—this is a free country. der Stories. Mr. Kaletsky, will you defend your first- We seldom put out an issue of Wonder Stories love, science? containing one of Dr. Keller’s stories, in which his Thank you, Mr. Lutwin, for your kind words about yarn is not acclaimed the best in the book. Readers Fiction will be glad to continue the adventures of the famous Wonder Stories and the Sciencr League— sincere beliefs. Taine of San Francisco, science-fiction's best-loved we know you are in your Mr. Snooks all bis detective, in “The Tree of Evil,” which appears in is well and wishes to be remembered to con- this issue.—EDITOR.) stituents.—EDITOR.
Lutwin vs. Kaletsky If He Were King
Editor, Wondes Stories : Editor, Wonder Stories: I’m writing this letter for two reasons, (1) to tell If 1 were the King of this world (which I can as- you why I read Wonder Stories and, (2) to let Mr. sure you that I am not—yet) there are several things Milton Kaletsky know how his last letter of criticism I would do to make it better, among which are: impressed me. I would shoot ah editors who tell readers that their I read Wonder Stories for a great many reasons suggestions towards betterment of the magazines are .... it's a new type of literature, it’s refreshing, inadvisable or impossible. stimulating, educational ; it makes you think, wonder, I would trim the ears of all readers who want the gasp, exclaim ; it is not dry, stale, wild, thoughtless ; edges trimmed. Then I would trim the editors’ ears it takes scientific imagination to comprehend its real for not trimming the edges. literary values ; in other words. Wonder Stories is I would make Wonder Stories come out with a great, unbeatable, and unapproachable by any other really wonderful cover every month, such as the one science-fiction magazine. One can buy a Wonder on the June issue. Stories* magazine for the infinitesimal sum of twenty- I would also make W. S. alter that cover in cer- five cents .... but when one buys the magazine, he tain ways. Namely : If you must have a strip at knows he is NOT getting trash, but is getting many the top, put your price and month up there, along times the price of the magazine. My newsdealer gets with the name of the editor. Then put the NRA twenty-five copies of Wonder Stories every month, emblem and the Gernsback emblem either in the title taking only fifteen copies of the other science-fiction box, or at the right-hand side of it, close together. magazines .... yet he sells Wonder Stories before Next, I would make you eliminate that strip al- the others. I, for one, greatly appreciate Wonder together along with everything in it. Stories. If a copy of Wonder Stories cost five dollars Then I would make you take the advertisements instead of twenty-five cents, you could depend upon off the back cover, and have you put a sort of rear me to buy it ... . and if 1 didn’t have the five dol- cover there, wherein it shows the scene just the lars, I’d make sure that my newsdealer held the maga- opposite from the front cover, i. e. : The front cover zine until I got the money. Which can all be boiled would portray a man facing you, while the back cover down to the fact that Wonder Stories is the best would show him with his back to you, that way giv- thing on the market and the readers, with a very few ing the reader the idea that you can see all around exceptions, realize this. him at the same time. Now it most certainly is not my intention to create I would make you change that messy contents an atmosphere of animosity between Mr. Kaletsky page to something more simple. Instead of arranging and myself, but his last letter “got my blood boiling#” the contents list in order of their appearance (so to )
WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 501
apeak) arrange them in groups. If you try to an- Next. Editorial. This is all right. It’s the way swer differently, I would make you read paragraph the contents should look. two again. Next. The story pages. The print you use is the I would banish all readers who pick stories to pieces, worst of all the magazines I have ever read. It is heckle other readers, etc., and then I would go along too heavily inked. It is too closely spaced. The whole with them, for that is my favorite delight. page is distinctly dirty looking. Again compare open Finally, I would write the editor of every magazine pages of the other two. You will find all three are every month, and if they didn’t print every letter different, but while the others are easy to read and of mine, I would banish them along with readers who inviting, those of Wonder Stories are a definite eye- got sick of seeing me “in print” so often. strain. Study the individual letters and you will see Bob Tucker, why. Each letter and word is smeared and blurred so as to be in not white Bloomington, 111. a gray background and a one. This is the underlying cause for all Wondbr’r P. S. : I also would shoot everybody who believes lack of appeal. The only thing I could suggest would what I say in this letter, for almost everything is be to dump all your type and buy a new set or if impossible! There ain’t no sech animal! that may -be wrong, get a new press. I don’t know anything about printing, so these suggestions are only is that we’re glad you’re not (About all we can say guesses. Take them and study the situation. It is King—if only because of the last sentence in your surely curable some way. if King, money third paragraph. Evidently, you were Next. The illustrations. Paul, Winter, Saaty. All wouldn’t mean thing, according to the radical a good artists. But their work is spoiled by the same changes in Wonder Stories. How- you would make thing that hurts your printing. In addition, Paul is ever, your “p.s.” settles everything. have our We’d falling down. He used to be an excellent artist all ears trimmed if we didn’t obey your commands and the time. Now he is only occasionally good. His be shot if we did.—EDITOR. pictures are black and hackneyed, (yes, pictures can be so as well as stories), to a distressing degree. Once in a while he makes a good picture, most of the time, Constructive (?) Criticism very dull ones. Next. The letter department. You need a magni- Editor, Wonder Stories: fying glass to read it. In addition to tiny type, the I have just finished reading the “Reader Speaks” usual blurring kills it. A fine example of what not of the June issue. Having been a reader of every to read. See if you can do something about it. Larger copy of Gemsback’s Science Fiction Publications since type will do the trick. stories the first one, I would like to add my opinion to the And finally let’s get down to the themselves. controversy that seems to be developing over com- Because of the faults enumerated above, I have found arisons of Science Wonder Stories to Wonder myself steadily discouraged after thumbing through TORIES. each new issue and definitely put out of mood to read In my opinion, the Science Wonders were better anything. I know it will mean eyestrain and annoy- than the issues that came after. There was some- ance. My heart sinks at the thought of tackling that thing about them that was different and superior. terrible type and nerve-racking blackness. So as a They were fresh and clean in appearance. The stories result, I doubt if I have read a complete issue in the on the whole were better, the illustrations were bet- last two years. I always do read something in it. I ter, the covers were better. It was not merely the can say that. But it has to be good before I will newness of the publication that creates that impres- risk it. I can say right here that I doubt if I will sion either. I did not form my opinion until a few ever read “Adrift in the Void” or “Druso” in the years after, when I investigated after noticing that latest issue just to make an example. And I wouldn’t except that I like W. S. was losing its interest. read “Into the Infinitesimal” either The chief trouble with Wonder Stories is its gen- micro-cosmic stories very much. I expect a reasonable All eral make-up. And that is something you should have chance of being let down after I have read at. been aware of a long time ago. Let’s start with the too many of your stories leave that impression. (It's itself cover and work through it, comparing all the way with the makeup as much as the story that help* the other science-fiction publications. cause that feeling). But don't think that you don't The cover is invariably by PauL Now Paul is an print some excellent ones too. Dr. Keller’s are always excellent artist, but he has definitely lost his skill good. And one or two of the others are really ex- in cover designs. The covers for the original stf. mag. cellent. But for the most part, they are punk. and the early Wonders by him were good. They were Look at the May issue. I have read “Xandulu.” It interesting and attractive. The modern covers have is patterned very perceptibly after the “Moon Pool” reversed that. They are so gaudily colored and so and not as enthralling by a long shot. On the whole, hackneyed in the picture they portray so as to def- it was good. And that is all I read. “Traders in initely repel the stf. fan. Red backgrounds, yellow Treasures”—I won't waste my eyesight on it. Why backgrounds. The same expressionless people com- couldn't you have printed a real story instead of bating monstrosities or fooling with regulation type wasting space like that? “Earthspot”—another to space-ships or doing sundry asinine things that every add to the collection of Second Deluge stories. “The reader has seen a dozen times. Take the June cover. Tone Machine”—another phony weapon. “The Great A row of people dressed in clothes worn on dozens Cloud of Space”—another story of destruction from of planets and times and dimensions as we have seen space and the Earth desolated. Why should I read time and again, walking up & platform under a ray any of them? I’ve read them all before under other machine that is as familiar as the bathroom sink. A names. row of buildings in the background that we know And now for “Druso." I didn’t read that and I well enough to find our way around in blind-fUded. never will. A story by a man living in a nation where The old red ball in the sky that hangs in the ‘sky they have denounced all things that have gone to of a myriad worlds. And to top it off, a brilliant build up civilization. Where they have followed a yellow background. Look at the other magazines. scheme of hatred, militarism, paganism, intolerance, Now, honestly, if you were an average reader, which anti-liberalism, mental slavery, and a false and dis- would you pick to buy if you had all three lying side carded theory of racial superiority. You ought to be by side? The one that hurts your eyes and offends proud of yourselves working to advance those causes your taste with its suggestion of sameness or the by patronizing their writers. “Interplanetary Bridges” ones that look clean and new? is an example of the close nationalistic view the Ger- Next. Open to the table of contents. Here is a mans have. mystery. Why is it that with the exact same size Now in closing, don’t take these criticisms as ill- sheet, with an even smaller print, the contents of meant. I assure you that they were not written in Wonder Stories is uninteresting, dark, hard to read, malice. They were written with the best of inten- and not in the least bit outstanding? That drawing tions after looking through the June issue. But I do above the date line is sickening. If those mopey faces mean them seriously. Please, for the love of science- are supposed to represent the average reader, then fiction, improve your publication ! It is the worst of we had all better lie down and die. Look at your its type. It is a disgrace to its field as well as to rivals. Large print, lots of space, easily read and Gernsback, the father of modern science-fiction. Make easy to look at. And with the terrifically long table of it better l Change your make-up 1 Do something! contents, what does it all boil down to? Wonder has But do it quick. I would like to read your magazine only five stories to its rivals’ six and seven. I would some day. So would hundreds of others. Where Is suggest you swallow your pride and imitate your Gernsback, asleep? What have you been doing, Mr. competitors. Take off that heading. Pull up the Hornig? You are a fan. Can’t you see the troubles? date line. Omit all the listing of the small fill-ins Make Wonder Stories worthy of the Science Fiction like “Heavy Water” and “Forthcoming Stories.” Give LbAGUS. DONALD A. WOI-.LHBIM, lots of space to the story headings. New Yerk City, N. Y. — !
502 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934
Editor, Wonder Stories: As a reader of long standing of your magazines (The fans that keep graphs of the improvement of <1 can remember as far back as "The Man on the Wondeb Stories had better start sawing holes in their Meteor” by Ray Cummings in old Science & Inven- roofs, as Mr. Kyle suggests, for we have many ex- tion), I would appreciate the printing of this in The cellent stories still in store and others coming in every Reader Speaks. day. I find that the policy of the present Managing In "Into the Infinitesimal,” the author’s idea was Editor is a great improvement over the preceding one. that the flame-creatures’ brains were of pure thought. Mr. Hornig seems to be able to select much better ma- Thought, we know, is nothing solid, and our brain . terial in an all-round manner. is only a container. It is possible that thought can I think the idea of the Science Fiction League is a exist without brain.—EDITOR.) good and worthwhile step forward. I am submitting my application, simultaneously with this letter, by the way. The rocket insignia will be useful to me in a A Survey of the Reprint Question way that is quite different from merely showing my connection with the League .... I am a member Editor, Wonder Stories: of the American Interplanetary Society! Since the old, oid question of reprint* has been In reading the replies to some of the letters printed brought to the fore once more, may an a5 initUs reader in the magazine, I see that you intend to publish an of Wonder Stories air his findings on the subject? Annual, or something to that effect. You state that I have made a sweeping survey of readers’ letters a* you will publish a number of stories that have seen published in several hundred science-fiction magazine* the light of day in older issues of Wonder Stories. If during the past seven years and have discovered some you do so, will you not print at least two new stories interesting facts concerning the reprint question. In for us who have all the old ones? You see, being a the first place, approximately 95% of all readers ex- Science Fiction Fan has its drawbacks, because if pressing an opinion on the subject are in favor of you placed only reprints from previous numbers on reprints—with reservations. Reprints of Poe, Verne, ; ; ; ; ; : ) —) WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 503 Wells, and the other ancients are positively not wanted. "Authors must eat” explains our second reason in Neither are reprints of stories that have already ap- three simple words. It would cost us much more to peared in the magazine. Now here is the striking fact reprint these novels, if we could, than it does to se- about the reprints that are wanted and wanted badly: cure modern novels by our present authors, who must practically all are stories which have appeared in the find sufficient markets for their material. We would “All Story" and "Argosy-All Story” between 1912 and like your letter and our answer here to settle the re- 1922. The following is a representative list of those print question, and hope that our readers can see our stories which are in the greatest demand: reasons.—EDITOR. A. Merritt, '"The Metal Monster” and “The Conquest of the Moon Pool” (sequel to the famous “Moon Pool”) ; the Atom” and Ray Cummings, "The Girl in Golden A Kind Word from Australia its sequel, "The People of the Golden Atom” Garrett Smith, "On the Brink of 2000” and "After Editor Wonder Stories: a Million Years” , Victor Rousseau, "Messiah of the Cylinder.” "The About nine months ago, I came across one of your Draft of Eternity,” "The Sea Demons,” and "The magazines in a book-shop in Brisbane and ever sinco Eye of Balamok” 1 have been on the look-out for your publications. George Allen England, "The Fatal Gift,” "The I have had the January issue and I am at present Golden Blight,” and the famous trilogy, "The After- looking forward to the February issue with that glow,” "Darkness and Dawn,” and "Into the Great "longer" new serial, "Exile of the Skies.” Just eta- Oblivion” joyed finishing "Evolution Satellite” which was also Homer Eon Flint, "The Planeteer,” "King of Con- a good serial. Get some more stories like: serve Island” "The Call of the Mech-men,” "Inquisition of 6061,” Austin Hall, "The Rebel Soul” and its sequel. "Into "The Revolt of the Scientists,” '“The Mystery of Planet Deep,” "The Visitors from Mlok,” "Moon Plague,” the Infinite” ; and the masterpiece written by the last two authors jointly, "The Blind Spot" "Men Without Shadows,” and the "Island of Un- reason.” J. U. Giesy, "Palos of the Dog-Star Pack.” "The Mouthpiece of Zitu,” and "Jason, Son of Jason,” a And as for Manning's "The Man Who Awoke,” it magnificent interstellar trilogy. shows what a very fertile mind Mr. Manning has, and I would like to hear more about his works in your, Now, Mr. Editor, if you are going to give us re- I should say "our” magazine. prints, why not give those stories which we. the or some of the older issues I picked up around the readers, want? The genuine science-fiction enthusiast In town, I was impressed stories like "The Isotope has been searching for the stories in the above list by Men” and "The Third Vibrator.” I wish you would for years and it is safe to say that of them have 99% nowadays. (Of been unsuccessful, since only one, to my knowledge, have more stories of this type printed opinion not be that of Cummings’ "Girl in the Golden Atom,” has appeared course, this is my and may thousands of others of your readers.) in book form and that is long out of print. These out stories are not old-fashioned, out of date. On the I got quite a shock when your 16c types came . (not that it any difference in price to us, but contrary, all are masterpieces of imaginative literature made also quality, "wow,” and deserve to be called the modern classics of science- the size, and I am afraid the well I sure glad copy again. fiction. They should be made available to the immense and was to get your 26c back rather ir- group of lovers of this type of literature which has Of course, your volumes come out here grown up since they were published. New readers as regularly but lately I have been able to get your num- well as the old-timers will enjoy these stories and bers every month. I wish it were every week. they should materially boost your circulation. This Say, can’t you start an air service between America ^covers one of your objections to reprints in your state- and Australia, so that we can be up-to-date with mment of a year or so ago. Your other objection, as Wonder Storirs instead of several months behind? to publishers and their fear of injury to book sales, As far as magazines and so forth are concerned, out does not apply since the only one to appear in book here we are very, very isolated. Or what about a form is out of print. All that remains is to secure "Rocket Service,” quicker still. the permission of the copyright owners, in this case, Several of my friends read the copies of Wonder the Frank A. Munsey Co. This should not be impos- Stories I get and are very interested, but these maga- sible since statements accompanying the stories giving zines are so hard to get here in Brisbane that they information as to the place of original publication lack the opportunity to buy them for themselves (this should boost the sales of the present Munsey Publica- probably applies in many places, so look at the circu- tions. Besides, in the early days of your old magazine you lation you are losing.) My only wiBh is that I had reprinted other stories from "All Story” and "Argosy- come upon Wonder Stories years earlier. I better nonsensical yappings All Story” (witness, "The Moon Pool” ; "The Face in I suppose had stop my the Abyss”; "The Treasures of Tantalus”; etc.) All now or you, poor Editor, who have to read this drivel, these stories proved great favorites with your read- will be bored to death. Thomas Mallett, ers and are still discussed in terms of the highest Brisbane. Australia. praise. What more assurance can you ask for? Please consider the points I have endeavored to bring out and to print letters from the antip- give us a definite answer on the reprint question. At (We are always glad respect your choice of favorite stories. least, let us know if you will do all in your power odes and is our staff authors to obtain reprint rights of these stories which have Laurence Manning one of and will of his in Sto- been in demand among science-fiction fans for years. you see much more work Wonder ries. I repeat that these stories are not personal preferences easily receive Stories regularly but a list of those which have been requested most You can Wonder frequently by readers desiring reprints. What do you every month, and at lower cost, by subscribing to the magazine your friends can do likewise. So you see, other readers sayT A. — Claude Dames. Jb.. you needn’t worry about it any more. You will find St. Louis, Mo. the subscription information on the contents page. EDITOR.) (We must admit that the novels you mention are really masterpieces of science-fiction and the best liked of all those of the old days. They will go down in Satisfied history and live as long as science-fiction itself. You He’s Perfectly do. in your letter, show that you have made an ex- Editor, Wonder Stories: haustive study of the subject and knock down a couple of our arguments. However, there are two points This is my first attempt to write to your excellent very enthusiastic, if rather that do remain and make it hardly possible for us to magazine. I have been a reprint these stories. The first, and most important, inconstant, reader for several years. is that, at the present time, the copyright owners of I have no criticisms to make and no suggestions the stories you name will not. sell second magazine to offer. I shall not pan the covers or the illustra- rights to those novels. It is possible to secure per- tions ; I never pay any attention to them anyway. mission to use shorter and less important stories, but The magazine would suit me just as well, but no bet- not the masterpieces you mention. They will not allow ter, if they were left out entirely. them to be republished in magazine form, although they Some of the stories I have liked and some I have could come out in book form. Perhaps you could con- not liked so well. However, I realize that you can’t vince some good book publisher to reprint them. We please everyone. So, if you will just keep at the would certainly like to see them come out in this way, same pace you have been going. I will not complain. if only to satisfy those fans who want them. When About three-fourths of the stories please me. and that there is sufficient demand, they will no doubt be printed is as much as any one person ought to expect. Don’t in this form, and you will undoubtedly get them some you think so? I don’t begrudge the time spent in time in the future. reading the other fourth. —; — 504 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 I have no definite predilection for any certain type Either this or no one will want to land in our time, of story. The qualities that make a good science story, which is less likely. The past cannot be changed, in my estimation, are ; first, accurate science, that though we have read passages in stories of the old it* accurate in the sense that it doe9 not violate any days of great rulers who declared that so-and-so “was known scientific laws ; second, realistic portrayal not and never had been” when they became peeved third, novelty of ideas ; fourth—I put three relatively at anyone. That the past can be changed is even unimportant qualities into one group here—adventure, more fantastic than time-travel itself, perhaps the romance, and plot. I am sure that a great many most wild-cat of science-fiction themes. people will take issue with on that attitude. But present biological stories whenever 6. me We we receive thatffe my story and I will stick to it. good ones. Really interesting and instructive ones are Here are some of the stories that I have liked. I indeed rare. Recently we gave you "The Land of rank them in approximately the order named: Mighty Insects,” an excellent tale about ants, con- taining much good science of myrmecology. 1. The Man Who Awoke—Manning. Evolution is directed by the intelligence 2. Revolt of the Scientists—Schachner. of Man, perhaps not always intentionally and not always for 3. Men of the Dark Comet—Pragnell. the best. Evolution is such slow process that 4. The Exile of the Skies—Vaughan. a no practical experiments The Isotope Men—Pragnell. can be carried out by scientists among the higher organisms, although much has been 6. The Mystery of Planet Deep—Dye. done with one-ceHed creatures. Dr. Keller’s very 7. The Third Vibrator—Harris. first story, "The Revolt of the Pedestrians,” published by 8. The Fatal Equation—Stangland. Mr. Gernsback over six years ago, is the best example I am not against time-travel stories. As I see it, of the future development of man, physically, caused there are two logical methods of time-travel. The _ by his machine age, that we can think of at the mo- first is physical travel into the future. In this case, ment. Dr. Keller's outlook, though pessimistic, is the there is no chance of return. Once we attain the most logical. In his tale, he shows us how the in- future, we are there to stay—physically, at least. The creased use of vehicles will provide insufficient exercise path into the future is a one-way street. Travel into for our lower members, so that they will gradually the past, however—which is the second logical method emaciate and the day will come when we cannot use of time-travel is altogether different. — We may go our legs when necessity arises. This theory is also into the past and return to the present at will; but advanced in "Twenty-five Centuries Late” by Philip it is only our perceptions that travel. Physically we J. Bartel, soon to be published.—EDITOR.) remain in the present. "But,” some one says, "we are doing that already. We travel each day twenty-four hours into the fu- ture ; and our memory goes into the past and re- About Covers turns at will.’* Editor, Sure—that's why I say those two methods are logical. Wonder Stories: There only remains to speed up in some way our rate This is the first in a series of letters about the faults of travel into the future, so that we may travel a of your magazine and their remedies. few thousand years while others travel a day or an Maybe you don't know it, but a cover that is natural hour ; and time-travel is an accomplished fact. It stands out much better than a loud one. Your covers might be that we could decelerate our rate of living, are terrible—not that it is Paul’s fault. But who ever which would accomplish the same end. Or it might heard of a red sky?—or a purple one for that mat- be possible to remove ourselves from the realm of ter? You think they attract people, do you? Well, space-time until such time as we wished to return. let me tell you they don’t. People notice them and 1 will leave the details to someone better equipped think, "Well, there’s one of those cheap mags look to handle them than I am. at that blurry cover.” As regards to travel into the past; our memory On the other hand: A cover that is natural—in only deals with such happenings as we, ourselves, natural colors—draws attention. The small size, with have experienced. What we desire is some means of a natural colored cover besides the other blurry ones observing events that took place at any point of time, would certainly show off the latter—would attract that is, past, and at any point in space. Who knows many more people. —some such means may be devised. Can’t you imagine a light bliffc sky—fleecy clouds, There is one field of possibilities for science-fiction green grass—the beauty is what counts—naturalness. that seems to "have been overlooked—biological stories. No, you can’t deny the facts. Try it at once and There are thousands of different forms of life, all see how your circulation jumps, j H Hennigar, evolved from a few forms, or possibly one original East Tawas, Mich. form of life. What strange and unheard-of forms mighty not be evolved in the future, if the path of (It is easy to see by your letter that you mean evolution were to be directed by the intelligence of everything for the good of the magazine, but at the man. This might be effected in a comparatively short same time have had no experience in publishing sci- time if some scientist should devise a means of creat- ence-fiction magazines, and we have had years of it. ing gene mutations at will. Anyway, I think the In the first place, we could not have natural covers idea contains wonderful possibilities for a story. If with green grass, fleecy clouds, blue sky, etc., because I had anything more than a common school educa- it would be misrepresenting the magazine. The maga- tion, I would be tempted to take a crack at it my- zine is not natural; the scenes are not natural—they self. Perhaps I will anyway, if I can collaborate with are alien and should be pictured as such. A magazine someone who does have the necessary education. devoted to natural, everyday subjects would probably I have all the 1933 issues of Wonder Stories except do very well with covers of the type you suggest— the November, also January, February, and April, they would be illustrating the nature of the contents. 1934, numbers. I also have every issue of Everyday Now, you contradict yourself when you say that a Science and Mechanics from March, 1933, to April, natural cover stands out better than a loud one. The 1934. interpretation of the word "loud” in the phrase means now, And Mr. Editor, I hope I haven't stayed too outstanding and showy—protruding above all others. long. If you will only print this, I promise you I Certainly, a person wearing loud clothes is noticed by won't bother you any more—for a long time, at least. everyone, and those dressed like all the rest cause More power to Wonder Stories. no special attention. Therefore, loud covers, by the George W. Greene, very term, stand out and attract attention. Mercedes, Texas. We know, from years of experience, just what type cover goes over the best—attracts the most newsstand (We are glad to see that you are so well satisfied scanners, and at the same time represents the maga«- with Wonder Stories and that three-quarters of the zine. They must have lurid backgrounds with alien, stories are to your liking. As you say, we can’t scenes of action. please everyone with all of our tales. What is your next fault and remedy? Perhaps you mind. Your estimation of the qualities that make good really have some helpful hints in We would science-fiction coincides with ours completely, except like to hear from you further.—EDITOR.) that! you put "adventure” and "plot” as unimportant ones—they are really two of the most important. You certainly do illustrate logical means of time- His Three Cents’ Worth travel, though, of course, time-travel in science-fiction must be in some way against the normal workings of Editor, Wonder Stories: nature, and not the two ways that we can't avoid. I have been a reader of Wonder Stories since the We can be rather sure that travel into the past will good old days of Science Wonder and I feel that it is never be accomplished, or there would be passages v about time I put my three cents’ worth into "our” in history recording the visits from men of the future. column. I WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 505 The April issue was the best you've published in a Adrift in the Void—Excellent. long time. Here’s how I rate the stories. Druso (both parts) —Excellent. 1. "Xandulu” by Jack Williamson. Williamson is Believe me, your June issue is the best I've read one of my favorite authors. in a long time and I have been reading W. 6. since 2. "The Menace from Space” by John Edwards. Nov. 1932, and since then have not missed a dingle Something new. copy. _ _ . 3. "The Land of Mighty Insects by A. C. Stim- But say, editor, why don't you reprint some of the son. Let’s have a sequel. swell stories that were in your mag years ago. One 4. "The Last Planet” by R. F. Starzl. Glad to see I would like to see reprinted is "The Final War.” (I him back to "our” mag. don’t know the author’s name, but you should.) I 5. "Moon Devils” by John B. Harris. His stones see, editor, that we both have the same first name. are always welcome. I bet your mother and father named you after me. ( 6. "The End of the Universe” by Miiton Kaletsky. am 13 years old.) 1 didn’t like this one because it was too short. Please Yours, until the sun grows cold. don’t print such short stories. Hugo Vhrdt. you said that your format In an answer to a letter Brooklyn, N. Y. was different from others. I agree with you. If a person was looking at a newsstand, be would see al- (We intend to reprint stories from the old issues of most all the magazines with smooth edges. One maga- Wonder Stories in the proposed annual, but stories zine would stand out. Wonder Stories with its as recent as 1932 will not appear in the first issues. crooked edges. Wonpw Stories was always different! Most of them will be from 1929 and 1930. Carl Spobr Where’s Francis Flagg? Is he still thing? Get him wrote "The Final War.”—EDITOR.) to write a story for us once in a while. I’m glad to see David H. Keller back. Now, Editor, I'm going v to make a request. In the May and June issues of Wonder Stories for 1931 there was a serial called Coblentz Best on Satire "Utopia Island.” This story was the best I have ever Stories : read in any magazine or book. I consider it better Editor, Wonder than some of H. G. Wells’ epics. The author of this After reading the July Wonder Storles my hopes story was Otfrid von Hanstein. 1 know that we’re were again revived. It seems that science fiction is going to get a serial by Friedrich Freksa, but I’ll still progressing. The standard is again raised. The never be satisfied until we get a story by Otfrid von last several issues were not very good. In the June Hanstein. Now that A. K. Barnes has returned to issue "The Doorbell” by Dr. Keller was good. I always our mag., I wish he'd write some more stories about enjoy a story by Dr. Keller. It was a rather expen- his scientific reporter, Darrel. sive form of murder, though very ingenious. ‘‘Druso” Congratulations to Wonder Stories as it begins its started out very good but ended up flat. There was sixth year. May it live a million more. hardly any interest at the last. "Enslaved Brains” Milton Shapiro. starts off very good and promises to be a classic. New York City, N. Y. “A Martian Odyssey” was by far the best story this month. I am waiting for that sequel. It would make (According to latest reports, Francis Flagg is still a good series of stories. That little short story "A mortal. He's been ill. though. have not received a We Hair Raising Taie” was good until the last when it stories in quite while. any from him a turned out to be a dream. Most stories like that are find that most of our readers like our short- We spoiled by some perfectly silly ending. We get all shorte. especially when they have Q. Henry endings. —EDITOR.) set for a good story and then the author has to let us down in such a manner. A perfectly good plot ruined. It was all right as a burlesque though the Another Rating satire was not very obvious. Stanton A. Coblentz is the only master of satiric science fiction. Editor, Wonder Stories: "The Reader Speaks” is the best part of the mag- stories. I was greatly surprised to see in "The Reader azine. I read this part before reading the Speaks’* of the May issue a graph of the same type The editorial "Wonders of Automatism” was very 1 had made myself. I am enclosing a copy of my well written and very thought-provoking. The insects graph so that you can compare it with Mr. Tor- may be fortunate in not having to learn how to rance’s. I hope you will forgive its crudeness, as it perform the various activities that they carry on but was hastily made. My method of rating is as follows: this does not Bhow that they have any intelligence. AA—Extraordinary Too many writers and scientists give the insect, par- A—Excellent ticularly the ant and the bee, credit for its intelligence. BB—Fine On the contrary, the insect has no special amount of B—Good intelligence and has no capacity for learning. There- CC—Fair fore while the insect may overrun us, it cannot take C—Poor our place. The insect has lived for millions of years After studying Mr. Torrance’s graph, I believe his and it has built up no great civilization. It lives by 2 rating equals my B rating, his 3 my BB, and his instinct, not intelligence. The rat has a good chance 4 my A. of evohiting into a thinking rational creature while There are nine gaps in the chart. This is caused the insect hasn’t. Still it is good fun thinking and by the fact that these issues have fallen prey to the reading about the future inhabitants of the earth, inevitable borrower and I have not yet reprocured be they insects or men. them. I have marked each issue according to Volume The cover for the July issue was well drawn in and Number. Roy p. Phillips, minutest detail. It was perhaps the best cover of the Martins Ferry, O. year. Why don’t you hold a poll every year in order to decide the best cover of the year? (Rather than reproduce your graph in these pages, application blank for the which cannot be complete with the gaps you mention, I am sending in my S.F.L. I think that your Science Fiction League in we will say a few things about it here. Mr. PhiHips If all the Wonder Stoiubb classes our very best issues as August, 1929, February, a most excellent idea. readers would join, science fiction would go over 1930, March, 1933, and March, 1934. He believes the other science fiction magazines poorest ones were dated March, 1930, October, 1981, with a bang. Will the or will it remain an and September-October, 1933. Average issues were have any say-so in the S.F.L. Stories feature? In case, I June, 1980, November and December, 1980, February, exclusive Wonder any it I all I can to help. June, July, and August, 1981, January, February, am sure will work and will do November, and December, 1933.—EDITOR.) Newby Crowell, Monroe, N. C. (The last few paragraphs in "Druso” had no direct On Our June Issue connection with the story at all and could easily have been ignored without detracting from the merits of Editor, Wonder Stories: the story. The epilogue was only an afterthought for I have just finished your June issue. On the whole, those readers who like to think about the story after the mag was swell. Below is what 1 think of the they have read it. We believe that it was a fitting stories. conclusion. Into the Infinitesimal—Very good. Thank you for your co-operation with the SciBNd The Doorbell—Another swell Keller yarn. Fiction League—EDITOR.) Cosmic Calamity—A short story with a surprise ending. (Continued on page 507) ! 506 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 THE SCIENCE FICTION BOOK REVIEWS SWAP COLUMN CREATION'S DOOM—by Desiderins Papp. 288 pages. A department for the buying, selling, and 37 illustrations. Stiff cloth cover. Size exchanging of fantastic literature. Only ads Publisher: D. Appleton-Century Company. $3.09. of this nature accepted. Rates 2c per word. Though not an actual science-fiction story, this book No discounts. Cash should accompany all or- would certainly be enjoyed by every lover of fantasy. ders. Advertisements to appear in the October It is a prophetic vision, or a group of prophesies, issue must be received not later than Aug. concerning the future of the earth and the ultimate 4th. Send all communications to WONDER and inescapable death of mankind, and finally, of the STORIES, SWAP EDITOR, 99 Hudson St., planet and the sun itself. New York City, N. Y. The book is in three parts: The Future, The Catastrophe, and The End. The opening chapter shows us how astronomers discover the death of a star (a FOR SALE nova) every once in a while, and while the occurrences are rare considering the number of suns in the uni- A COMPLETE set of Argosies from April 1904 to verse, it may well happen to our sun, which catas- July 1912, professionally bound into 24 volumes. Also trophe would promptly annihilate the earth with most copies from 1896 to 1898. Write if interested. Adessa, of the other planets. The rest of the first part deals 18710 Wyoming Ave., Hollis, N. Y. with the past life on earth and the future civilizations of man. The author showB how one race had to make DR. DAVID H. KELLER'S new story, “Rider by way for another, the ruling creatures of the planet Night”—never before published. Limited edition, ten growing, thriving, and dying. Finally man made his cents each. Rush order if you want your copy. FREE ascent and is, according to the author, approaching —With each copy we will give a copy of Clark Ash- the top of the scale. The most intelligent being ever ton Smith’s “Epiphany of Death”—also never before to exist on the earth, his civilization will rise to the published—limited time only. Don’t wait '.—Charles greatest heights, though, like all others, the creature D. Hornig, 187 W. Grand St., Elizabeth, N. J. man will some day meet extinction. The second part of the book deals with how the “WORLD BELOW,” “Purple Cloud.” excellent con- doom of mankind may come about—either by the su- dition, 76c each, postpaid. J. L. Burt, 204 South premacy of other animals, the action of natural forces Shelby, Greenville, Miss. upon the earth, or the destruction of the world. He deals mostly with the actions of the past, showing the CLARK ASHTON SMITH presents “The Double possibility of recurrence. He pictures Atlantis sinking Shadow and Other Fantasies”—a booklet containing below the waves, prophesying that the same may a half dozen imaginative tales. Price, 26c each, pre- occur to the continents we now inhabit. Huge comets paid. Clark Ashton Smith, Auburn, Calif. or meteorites may wipe out our cities and population. The earth may collide with another planet, or the “HOW TO WRITE a Science Fiction Story” and sun with a star. “Celebrities I’ve Met”—information on science-fiction The last part of the book considers the probable notables. Both for 10c. Charles D. Hornig. 137 W. successors to man, suggesting that ants will very likely race, well adopted and per- Grand St., Elizabeth, N. J. wipe out our being fectly organized. Then the ants and termites will have COLLECTORS !—Add one or more of my original a war to the extinction of one or the other. However, manuscripts to your collection. I am offering for sale man may remain supreme until the destruction of such stories as “The Human Termites,” “The Con- the earth itself, but in any case, he will surely meet querors,” “The Evening Star,” “The Menace.” ‘‘The his end some day. Metal Doom,” and others—all the bona fide typescripts. The book is written in a fatalist’s viewpoint rather All stories are full novel length. What am I offered? than a pessimist’s. Papp’s arguments are so logical David H. Keller, M.D., 55 Broad St., Stroudsburg, Pa. that we can’t get away from them or shake them off as impossible or fantastic. The author propounds many WONDER and Amazing Stories Magazines, monthly theories and prophecies which have been used in and quarterlies for sale cheap. Send for list. Louis science-fiction hundreds of times, proving that authors Leibovitz, 3885 Cambridge, Philadelphia, Penn. of fantasy usually write on the probable developments of the future. The book is composed in a non-technical ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS by the world-famous vein so that, in places, it reads just like any science- Paul, those reproduced in Wonder Stories. Inside fiction story, and we suggest that you get hold drawings, $6.00 each, cover paintings, $15.00 apiece. of this book if you like to speculate upon the changes Special 20% discount to all members of the S ience that will take place in the future. Fiction League. Send all orders to Wonder Stories in care of the Art Sales Division, 99 Hudson St., SEVEN FAMOUS NOVELS—by H. G. Wells. 800 New York City, N. Y. pages. Stiff cloth cover. Size 6"x8Ms". Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf. Price $2.75 net. “THE Kingdom of the Worm” by Clark Ashton Smith and “The Ancient Voice” by Eando Binder—never This is a collection of the seven best stories written before published. Limited edition, ten cents each. by H. G. Wells—“The Time Machine,” “The Island of Charles D. Hornig, 137 W. Grand St., Elizabeth, N. J. Dr. Moreau,” “The Invisible Man,” “The War of the Worlds,” “The First Men in the Moon,” “The Food WANTED of the Gods,” and “In the Days of the Comet.” For years, science-fiction fans have been asking for FOLLOWING Undamaged Wonder Magazines--July, reprints. They have deluged the magazines with let- ters pleading for the works of the famous masters Aug., 1929; June, July, Dec., 1930; March, May, price. John of the art, headed by H. G. Wells. Each story in this Sept., Dec., 1931 ; May, June, 1932. State book is easily worth the price of the entire volume. Turchik, 1547 W. 30th, Ashtabula, Ohio. The type, though very readable, is smaller than in WEIRD TALES for July 1925 and August 1926, also regular novels and is set in double column, making the covers of certain issues, also Amazing covers. the book about six times as large as an ordinary one "What do you want for them ? Charles D. Hornig, at a single price. 187 W. Grand St., Elizabeth, N. J. Most science-fiction readers class H. G. Wells as their favorite author, for though his best work was composed decades ago, it has not grown out of date, EXCHANGE like many fantastic tales written around the time, and is today just as thrilling and new as those printed magazine in exchange for Won- WILL SUPPLY any in the science-fiction magazines. His style never Weird Tales. Will also pay der Stories, Amazing, or grows tiresome and his stories are thoroughly en- if Zaby, 244 West 74th St., New cash necessary. joyable from the beginning to the end. Though we York City, N. Y. may read tales by hundreds of other authors, we always come back to Wells, to his distinctly different cents SWAP ADS bring results. Use them. Only two manner of composition which no one has succeeded per word. in imitating. WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 507 His stories never read like fairy-tales. They are human and psychological. He allows one scientific stories, and then shows us how NATOMICAL impossibility in his human beings would act .under the circumstances, whether we are visited by Martians or terrorized by of a comet. The social theories MANUAL •foe close approach propounded in “The Time Machine” are so logical M that the tale stands out more like a true vision of THE LIVING BODY the future than a vivid fantasy. “The Invisible Man” and “The Island of Dr. Moreau” are nearest the type of material we are Male and Female getting from other authors at the present time, though infinitely superior to most of them in science and general literary merit. In these tales, especially Hie Only Popular-Priced Anato- “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” the author dwells more on the scientific angle than the social aspects. mical Atlas Published We heartily recommend this volume, the best science- fiction book value in years, to all lovers of the fan- tastic. Here you can secure Wells's best novels au -00 under one cover, for the first time. Only *2 A UNIQUE NEW MANUAL OF 8ECTIONAL ANATOMICAL THE READER SPEAKS CHARTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS PREPARED BY MEDICAL EX- (Continued from page 605) PERTS. This new book shows the human Courtesy to All body with each aspect of its struc- ture in separate sections; the exact Editor, Wonder Stories : position of all organs, every bone, muscle, vein, artery, etc.* I am one of the hundreds of new readers who have discovered W.S. lately. I indeed consider myself lucky magazine. It hap- to have found such an interesting LIST Or PLATES months ago, when I hastily bought pened about eight Plats I. Nude Adult Female a magazine to enjoy on the train. I have not missed II. Node Adult Male an issue since, and not only that, I have introduced III. Nervous System ef Fe- this new and interesting form of stories to several male other readers. I 508 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 THE READER SPEAKS MAILING LISTS (Continued from page SOT) An Ardent Fan P»v« the wty to mote mIn with actual names and addresses of Live prospects* Editor, Wonder Stories : Get them from the original compilers Congratulations! A magazine that can keep up the of basic list information-tip to dam— good work that Wonder Stories has kept since it was seenrate—guaranteed. put on the market, deserves congratulating. Your stories are excellent; your authors superb! Tell us about your business; Well help you find the prospects. No ob* Those readers who complain about stories, “They're no good/' “Not scientific," etc. get on my nerves; they at least ought to appreciate a little change ia literature. Our mag would only print the best in ecience fiction. The Science Fiction League is a great achievement. But I still come back to say: Keep up the good work in all your branches of stories. “Druso" promises to become a great novel. Give us more of the German or any foreign science fiction. Tell me, what has become of the Quarterly? I'm missing it terribly. When are you going to put it Shows you how to get special lists by ter* out again? ritories and line of business* Auto lists of I ardent Science Fiction Fan! all kinds. remain, an Shows you how to use the mails to sell Charles Scholl, your products and services. Write today* North Bergen, N. J. (We are pleased to receive letters like yours, with- R* L* POLK & CO* out brick-bats, though, of course, we wouldn't feel Polk Bldg. Detroit, Mich. at peace with the world without our share of pan- — nings. Branchs* in Principal Citiet We do not know at the present time when or if Largest City Directory World’s Publishers the Quarterly will be revived. The law of supply Mailing List Compilers. Business 8tatis> and demand regulates the publication of science-fic- do. Producers of Direct Mail Advertising. tion.—EDITOR.) “Druso” a Masterpiece Editor, Wonder Stories : THE MAGAZINE OF SEX SCIENCE You have certainly found a real master in Friedrich Freksa, author of “Druso." If the remainder of the Edited DR. KELLER by DAVID H. story continues with the same force as the first SEXOLOGY, foremost educational sex magazine. It written chapters, you are going to have a masterpiece there. every member of the In simple language and can be read by unfolds in true literary style. The characters family. enlightening not a riBque book— The plot It is instructive, — beings. contains no jargon. Devoted to Science of Health Hygiene. are real, throbbing human A few more stories Contains 25 important articlea on Sex Science, 68 pages, on that order will soon put Wonder Stories in the with attractive two-color cover. Here are a few of the more spotlight. Important articlea. . _ . Editorial—“One Year of Sexology": Pregnant Virgins; “Green Cloud of Space" had real feeling. That is Multiple Births (illustrated); Mistakes about Birthmarks the kind of story that all magazines need today. (illustrated) Does (illustrated) ; Sex Education of Savages ; Yarns like that, with real, genuine human interest, Nudism Banish 8hame?; Illegal Abortion Raoket (II); The are what the public is crying for. No one is interested Syphilis of the Breast and Rectum; The Self-Love Danger; tells about Jones and Brown doing ‘^Indefinite” Pregnancy; 8ex and Warfare; Are Twins Due to in a story that Father or Mother, this and that and the other thing, unless the reader Get a copy of SEXOLOGY on any newsstand, or if your knows and feels the trials and tribulations that the dealer cannot supply you. send 25c in stamps for a copy of characters undergo, emotionally and spiritually. You the current Issue. have hit the idea in “Green Cloud of Space." SEXOLOGY 97 Hudson Street Naw To*, N. T. The other stories were all good yarns, with the last chapter of “Xandulu" winding up a really fine serial. “Earthspot” and “The Tone Machine’ were both fine, with real depth. But just a moment. Here's one where somebody must have gotten their wires crossed. “Traders m was not try- Treasures." ( ! ! ) Perhaps Mr. Snooks ing to be funny, but unless I’m very, very sadly SPECIAL/ mistaken, he either was giving vent to a .very per- verted sense of humor, or the printers were too or the anti- Not only can you secure out-of-print science-fiction lazy to print the beginning, the plot, climax. I read the (?) three times, and finding it books and magazines in the impossible to figure it out, went to bed with a bad headache. Jambs L. Busby, SCIENCE FICTION SWAP COLUMN Seward, Alaska. (We like what you say about “Druso" and agree but also fantasy stories that have never with you through most of your letter, until we come “Traders in Treasures has been published before to the last paragraph. a very deep and hidden meaning, but we think that most of it is cleared up in the blurb. If y°u read that along with the story once again, we think that SELL—EXCHANGE— it. Mr. —BUY— you will have no trouble in understanding Snooks was not trying to be funny at all when through this excellent service he wrote the story, oddly enough.—EDITOR. See Page 506 in this issue f ! WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 509 A Sequel to “Martha Odyssey” Editor, Wonder Stories : Wonder Stories w not my fayorite magazine, but 1 enjoy it because the stories are similar to those printed in all stf. magazines around 1928. For months now, 1 haw been bunting for a typical etory of this period, and I believe that "Martian Odyssey” has bit the spot. It » a story for the fiction and not for its. science. Please sake of the % give us a sequel. Weinbanm has a grand imagination. Please aFlow me to put in a kind word for The Brain-Eaters of Pluto.” Stories of this type #ccs* ssionaJly are a rebel from serious stuff. 1 am not a regular reader of any science fiction mag, but I get my hands on considerably more than half of the grand total, hut strange to say, 1 haven’t read a single one of Mr. Herbig’s fifteen best stories. But perhaps that's my fault. I never start at the first page and read through to the back, and seldom even read all the stories. The illustrations, I think, have a lot to do in determining which ones 1 read. At first I didn’t like Winter at all, due to kin "Moon Plague” illustration and mixing Paul's interpretations of moon people with Iris, but he’s improving. And now I have a suggestion that has probably At Last! Secrete of Sex already been carried out in part: There are two sides to everv dispute, and generally, only two, bo and here is my idea: Why not leave W. S. as it is and Marriage Revealed print a quarterly based entirely on the other side of the various readers’ disputes? It would contain From a Doctor's Private Oftied reprints only, cover by Winter, new sort of title page, plenty of time-travelers, etc. The answers to question* you would like to ask your own dostor Brickbat—despite your new policy: W. S. still ad DARE not. The BIGHT methods to follow for sane sex experi- isn’t progressive enough. Why not try thought- ences—ms rrlane that wilt remain a lasting honeymoon—« love life variants ? that will arm* more complete) with the years, unfettered by doubts Md fMTS. Pleading—don’t abandon the Martians altogether. 'THOUSANDS of books oo cecz and Bouquet—for the Science Fiction Lbagub. marriage have been written — but out stories Bke "The Last Shrine.” Cut hardly one more outspoken, sad yet Tbs Bare Trath Cover was good, but looks more like it was in- •till tenderly sincere, "Bex and Mar- Should tended for "Enslaved Brains.” riage." by a J. Lambert, M. D. —Just Everyone Your movie reviews are good, but please don’t published—wipes out all the dirty sen- review either books or pictures that you don’t con- timent and misinformation and reveals Know •ex and love tor wbat they REALLY sider really top-notch. attract are. This brand new book fearlessly —How to What’s happened to the rest of that series "Pass- tells you everything you should know the opposite sex. ing of the Planets?” Surely other planets besides about your desires. —Ia continsncsds- the moon and Venus have, or some day, will pass. Is Ignorance or false modesty robbing sirable! you of the of normal relation- Jack Speer, Joys sex —Mistakes the ship T Do you want the NAKED Comanche, Okla. TRUTH! Knowledge prevents and b r id a a room corrects missteps should avoid. (You will be pleased to learn that a sequel to "A repression Only a Doctor Can TeH All —Is of Martian Odyssey” was written before the original desiresharmful! Bore are answers to problems only published. of the sequel is etory was The name hinted at by others. "Sex and Mar- —Tho never fad- "Valley of Dreams” and will be published in a riage" contains true stories of lives ing secret of very early issue. We personally believe that the made wretched because they didn't sen magnetism. sequel is at least as good as the first story. know. Shows what happens when you —Should young disobey NstUTe’9 We are sorry that you think our stories the laws. Explains every discuss (inescapable perplexity from the people printed around 1928. consider them new, — awak- type We ening of the sex urge to life's harvest sex! tor the most part, and have our new policy for period. Thirty-two fascinating chapters —Why husbands this purpose. We have been the greatest influence, Each covering a different phase cf sax tiro of isivts. we think, in helping science-fiction to evolve into and marriage. Here are s few subjects —What the signs treated: Why Sexual Knowledge Should something better.—EDITOR.) excesses are. Be Told: Structure and Use of tha of Reproductive Organa; Is Ccntlnwice —Should offspring SFL Member No* 34 Harmful: True Love versus Sensual be limited Love; Mistakes of the Bridegroom; —What every Immorality in Marriage; Birth Con- young woman Editor, Wonder Stories : trol; Sterility and Frigidity; Self- should Abwas; Prostitution Venereal Diseases. know. Maybe I’m wrong ! In my last letter I said, ; 250 pages, vividly illustrated with —Sex health and "Yours ’till Ackerman, Darrow, and Kaletsky fail anatomical charts. You simply must prevention. to get a letter in ” *The Reader Speaks.’ Now, the the book! and many other very -next — month, Ackerman and Katetsky are miss- startling revela- ing. I notice that Ackerman has not had a letter in tions on sea and any science-fiction S magazine this month. Pm worried. Pries l®! marriage. The covers are getting better each month. I doubt if even C- A. Smith can describe my feelings when (16c extra for postage) N I Mil I open the package containing Wonder Stobies. TRUTH PUBLICATIONS WAR The cover for "Voice of Atlantis” fc beautiful, Palmolive Bldg., Suite S27, This Book Is ROT tu Minors gorgeous, superb, and all the other big words. Chicago, Ilk The patch of white in the corner gives an extra spe- cial effect. The illustration does net have much to r~ do with the story, TRUTH PUBLICATIONS. WB-'9 but who cares ? ] 34l The stories are superb. I wouldn’t even attempt I Palmoiiv. BM*.. Salt* 627. CkUm, III. to classify them as they are all super-excellent. I Sand "Sex and Marriage"—Doctor Lambert's amazing book. ’Druso” has a swell ending, although the appendix } I enclose $1.98. plus- 15. cents forI postage. If not { _ satisfied I may ! is way over my head. I think the story would have return book within 5 days and you will refund been just as good without it. "A Hair Raising Tale’’ is one of the best short-shorts you have had. "A Martian Odyssey” would have done credit to any of the old masters of science-fiction. "Voice of Atlantis” disappointed me somewhat. It was ex- cellently written, hot there was not enough action in it. "Enslaved Brains” is a masterpiece as most of the aerials are. OClty (Continued on page 510) — : 510 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 THE READER SPEAKS How You Can (Continued on page 609) I was going to call you down for not sending me my Science Fiction League certificate and pin. but I just got my certificate today, and as my pal Rey Mariella tells me that you explained to him about MAKE MONEY the delay, everything is all-x. I am very grieved at not being among the first ten, but I am pleased to see that I am at least Number 34. As you wish to know whom I want to correspond with, here is the data I would like to get in touch, personally if possible, with readers in my neighborhood who wish to form a chapter of the League. As for reprints, I would not advise printing stories that are available in book form. "The Face In the Abyss" can be obtained at the public library, so I see no reason why it should be reprinted. I would like to see "The Metal Emperor" as I have one part of it in Science and Invention. Speaking about old stories in Science and Invention, I have recently obtained the one with the second Dr. Hackensaw’a Inventions. I also have one part of "The Man On the Meteor." I have an Electrical Experimenter from 1919, but there are no stories in it. I am glad to see that a cartoon by Joe Shuster is coming. If he is the same one that does /he cartoons for Everyday Science & Mechanics, it ought to be swell. I, too, would like to see the return of Clark Ashton Smith. Just because of those two unfortunate stories you printed, he isn't as bad as some readers make him. Remember "Marooned in Andromeda,” the Sing- ing Flame stories, and those others. Some readers just don’t appreciate art. Yours till Wonder Stories is published on thought- machine records. Milton a. Rothman. Philadelphia, Pa. Substantially bound (Ackerman and Kaletsky are still writing letters, — 146 paqee of price - though we can not always get one in each issue. You less information . seem perfectly satisfied with most of the magazine, and that satisfies us. have put mention in th© Science Fiction If you are a victim (man or woman) of the recent economic We deprwaion—or a woman who wants to add to the family Income League Department of your desire to start a chapter or a man or woman beyond middle age and dependent upon of the League in Philadelphia and hope that all of others—or a recent college graduate not yet located—or a student our Philadelphia members will join. It is co-operation girl wondering how to earn your year’s tuition—or a boy or of this kind that will make the LeajGUB a success. desirous of turning your spare time into money—no matter who —EDITOR.) you are. if you have exhausted your resources and must earn money—this book wiH prove a sound and helpful guide to you. The 1.000 practical, money-making plans outlined in its pages were not created out of the imagination. They are true reports of what thousands of people are actually doing at the present In the “Wee Sma’ ” Hours time to earn extra money. The plans have been tried, and have been found practical, successful and profitable. Editor, Wonder Stories : It is 2.S0 in the morning, and aa I gaze from the Authentic Sources laboratory window into the blue vault of the heavens Says the author regarding this remarkable and timely work— where a million stars are sparkling like the cold firo "Exhaustive and painstaking research was necessary to obtain of so many far-off diamonds, my mind goes soaring book. the 1,000 money - making suggestions comprising this upward to join the wandering hosts of science-fiction Every available source was tapped. Special thanks and ac- adventurers as they flash through the void in their knowledgment is extended to the U. S. Department of Labor, the Bureau of Home Economics, the Children's Bureau, the speeding space-ships—as they face unknown perils Office of Education, the Department of Agriculture, the Depart- on uncharted and unexplored worlds, scattered ment of the Interior, the Congressional Library, and the Super- throughout the boundless realms of the universe. intendent of the United States Government Printing Office for supplying the writer with all available documents, bulletins To quote the Planet Prince: and publications." Written to fill an immediate and pressing need, this ex- "And my mind goes soaring upward. haustive compilation and description of over one thousand ways Far beyond our dreary ken. to turn spare time into money is now available to everyone To a desert, dying planet. needing it. No matter what your state or condition, age or sex. And a dying race of men.” it will offer at least one and probably many suggestions which priced you may be able to turn quickly into mooey. It has been Have just finished reading the July issue. It is be within the reach of all—$1.00 postpaid in the United so as to .very good. However, I hardly believe it is on par States and Canada to foreign countries. $1.25. Order today — issues. before the supply is exhausted. with the May and June The final installment of "Druso" was a smashing GRENPARK COMPANY conclusion to a wonderful story. This story places pinnacle far above the average $9 Hudson St., New York, N. Y. Mr. Freksa on a science-fiction writer. Hope we will be seeing some th Today Use e Coupon more of his work soon. ‘‘Voice of Atlantis” was fine. Grcnpark Company, Laurence Manning's Heretofore I have not been a time-traveling enthusi- 99 Hudson St., New Yark, N. Y., Dept. DA. has ast, but this story was different. Mr. Manning me a copy of 1.000 I enclose $1.00 for which please send presented us with a very conceivable means of accom- Making Ideas. I understand that my money will be Money plishing the most fantastic of the fanastical, time- refunded If the book does not prove entirely satisfactory. (En- I enjoy stories about the fabled Atlantis close $1.23 from countries other than U. S. and Canada.) travel. Tne much. In fact it was a story of this type, Name Sunken City," that started me reading science-fiction. Winter’s illustration of the Atlantean scene is good. Street Stanley Weinbaum's "A Martian Odyssey” is the tune. Town State . best interplanetary story I have read in a k>*ra differ- It is exceedingly well written and refreshingly — WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 511] ent. Wo are waiting lor the sequel, Mr. Editor. Paul’s illustration for this story was good, as usual. 'The Last Shrine” by Chester D. Cuthbert was fair. Juet a bit dull. Winter’s illustration for this story was not so good either. It is not my intention to »tart throwing Irish confetti, but this is about the worst piece of work I have seen by Winter. The new serial, "Enslaved Brains” by Eando Binder, has started nicely. Believe it will be as good our last three serials or Mr. Binder’s "Green Cloud of Space.” Am glad to know that we arc going to be able to tecure reprints. This has been a sore spot with me for a long time, though I never mentioned it before. I would like to obtain a reprint of "The Sunken City” that I mentioned in an earlier paragraph. I have forgotten what magazine this story appeared in. In closing let me propose a toast to science- fiction as a whole, but especially to Wonder Stories and our good old Ed. d. B. Welch, Austin, Tex. (Your first paragraph is very picturesquely written and shows that you have the real science-fiction spirit and that you know how to express it. Fantasy fans can look at the stars and see more than just points of light. We hope that you find Eando Binder’s "Enslaved Brains” at least as good as his "Green Cloud of Space.” We have several other of his stories in our hands for early publication. His next story, "The Thieves From Isot,” will probably appear in our October issue.—EDITOR.) See How Easy You Can Whereas It’s Still to Come Learn HYPNOTISM Editor, Wonder Stories : (ye Editor) Ladies and Gentlemen Mr. President ; TRY FREE 5 DAYS! f Stf. "fanland” .... Whereas, Wonder Stories in the past few months EE for yourself how easy it is to master Hypnotism- amazingly to quality of stories, has improved as how quickly learn to bend people to your will and S you can artistic work, and makeup, banish fear, worry and opposition—increase your earn- Stories has acquired a new Man- — Whereas, Wonder ings and force others to give you the recognition, power unprecedented ability, and — aging Editor of and admiration you deserve. Whereas, in the January 1931 issue of said mag- In just a few hours I'll teach you the hidden secrets of in comment to a letter in azine the Editor a "The Hypnotism—the methods used by the great operators Reader Speaks,” stated that only $1(M) stood between the amazing things you can accomplish once you under- smooth, and that the com- the rough edges and the stand this mighty power. Now required for the pany would gladly donate the $100 you can quit being just one of improvement of the magazine, and the crowd-—now you need not be Mysteries of Whereas, it ie the policy of Wonder Stories to im- unpopular, lonesome or unhappy Hypnotism Revealed possible, prove the magazine, whenever at the re- a minute longer. Through this How to Hypnotise si quest of the governing body (the readers), THERE- strange power you can learn how a Glance FORE. to stand out—dominate—to make Susceptible Subjects henceforth the edges of BE IT RESOLVED THAT your life what you want it to be! How to Hypnotize by the Wonder Stories shall be trimmed smooth as was In this startling NEW book, Telephone former nine by twelve size. "The Science of Hypnotism,” the How to Give an Ik>- As to the July issue, I might say that it would take world famous hypnotist—Prof. L. _E. textainment some magazine to equal it. It ie positively remarkable. Young — reveals the most carefully How to Make Others I never knew that such excellent stories could be guarded secrets of this fascinating sub- Obey You ject. lie not only explains the methods written. 1 had begun to lose a little of the attraction Overcoming Bad Hab- of noted hypnotists, step by step—but I for Stories, when, in 1931 and its bad Wondbr back tells clearly all about the nine stages '82 and early ’33 the stories seemed to be losing their of Hypnotism. The Hypnotic Mirror, How to do Dozens of .vitality and punch. During that time there were only Mental Telepathy, how to select your Hypnotic Feats a few outstanding narratives. Adversely, today they subjects, magnetic healing, methods of Use of Hypnotism in are ah outstanding. hypnotizing, how to wake the subject, Operations bow to make money out of hypnotism I The illustrations are much improved. You have the right idea in letting Lumen Winter do the figure work, and Paul the general illustrating. Paul Is excellent. There is no doubt about that. He is vividly PRICE $2 imaginative, but "variety is the spice of life.” and Winter and Schneeman can supply that variety. (plus lSc postage) However, just to be different, why not a cover by Winter? I know Paul has done all of them in the Money refunded past, and excellently too, but there gets to be a if not satisfied sameness that is undesirable. Let the two artists alternate. Truth Publications, Palmolive Bldg., Suite 926, Chicago, III. And for the praise—the ace story in this issue was "A Martian Odyssey.” Continue prevailing until get that sequel. wo There are innumerable questions TRUTH PUBLICATIONS, WS- 934 left to be answered. More from Mr. Weinbaum. Palmolive Bldg., Suite 926, Chicago, III. Also a couple of "hurrahs” for the enlarged readers’ columns, the swstp column, and the Movie Reviews. Please send me your amazing new book— "The Science of Hypnotism” Prof. And remember, we’re all satisfied except for those —by Young. I inclose $2.00 plus 15c postage. If I am not satisfied after 5 days' trial, I may return tbo book smooth edges ; but I’m still praying for the day when and you are to refund my money. I can see the ol’ Wonder nine by twelve. Lewis F. Torrance, Name Winfield, Kan. (There is very little comment we can make on your Street and No. . .. letter. You are satisfied with practically everything | and reflect the opinions of most of our readers. IBetti- State , (Continued on pope 512) ! THE GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION ever before have so many masterpieces Nof fantasy been published in one vol- ume. Never before has such literary Volume Ever Published value been issued for such a ridiculously / low cost. Never before have you had the opportunity to secure the seven best novels by the father of science fiction — all in one volume. SEVEN FAMOUS NOVELS By h. G. Wells Look at the table of contents: “The Time Machine” “The Island of Dr. Moreau” “The Invisible Man” “The War of the Worlds” “The First Men in the Moon” “The Food of the Gods” “In the Days of the Comet” Just think! — Seven priceless journeys away from the humdrum, work-a-day world! Seven trips into the fantastic realm of the incredible! Seven v acations in the land of the imagination! Here are stories that remain classics as long as the English language is spoken — and longer! Each fantastic tale is easily worth the price of the entire —book. You will re-read them many times - your interest and rapture will be no less on the tenth reading than on the first! If you have ever read a science-fiction story, you cannot deny \ ourself this volume. It is worth the sacrifice of many other pleasures, to read this book. These novels are more than stories — they are visions into the unknown, such as have come from the sgte pen of no other literary genius. You will forget that you are reading printed pages and revel in the ecstasy of Wells’ vivid word-pictures! Seven masterpieces, each with seven times the merit of ordinary science-fiction stories, at a sev- enth their value _ Order yours now bef°re they are al! DELAY! . DON T sold out. A special addition to this book is a preface by H. G. Wells which will prepare you to enjoy it to the fullest extent. Read the most masterful versions ever written of a voyage into the future, the first trip to the moon, a man who could make himself invisible but couldn’t “come fcack", hostile visitors from Mars, terror caused by the close approach of a comet, and other thrilling adventures. Words are inadequate to describe the mental enjoyment derived from this book. You must read it for yourself. You will cherish it as a priceless possession in the years to come. SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS Size of Book 97 W Hudson Street, New York, N. Y. 8'/2 " x 6” Gentlemen: Enclosed you will find my remittance of $2.75 for which send me. POSTAGE PREPAID, one cony of “SEVEN FAMOUS NOVELS by H. G. WELLS.” (Send remittance in check or money order. 860 .75 Register letter if it contains cash or unused U. S. Postage Stamps.) PAGES 2 A COPY Name Address SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS City State 97 W HUDSON STREET NEW YORK* J H 1 1 "ID) For hundreds of years men and women have talked with hushed voices about “STRANGE PEOPLE”—men who are not men—women who are not women. No one has ever dared to talk out in the open about it. Is it any won- der that the shocking, lurid facts of this great social evil are unknown to the great mass of men and women? Is it any wonder that strange nick-names are commonly used to describe these creatures. A DOCTOR CASTS THE LIGHT OF TRUTH ON THE STRANGE, EXOTIC WORLD OF TWILIGHT MEN AND WOMEN! Now a Doctor has dared to tear away the veil of mystery. In blunt, understandable words he describes the unbe- lievable facts. “STRANGE LOVES,” A Study in Sexual Abnormalities. .bG Dr. -’L;i ' Potter, noted authority, is a document' so weird, so startling, as to anlaze the civilized world. Wf. La Forest Potter, the author, is a late member of the New York County Medical Society,, Massachusetts, M«lical Society, Boston Gynecological Society, Associate Professor of Rhinolngy, Laryngology, ahd Otology, New York School «£ Clinical Medicine, and -the author of many well known works. THE TRUTH REVEALED! Can you distinguish these •mep and women of the Shadow World? Do you know that their number is constantly increasing? The strange power these men and women wield over normal people is almost unbelievable. Dr. Potter says, “NO MAN ON jew Jm m..i bhb EARTH HAS A CHANCE AGAINST A WOMAN ONCE SHE HAS SUCCUMBED TQ ANOTHER WOMAN.” Actual clinical cases reveal the abnor- , - mal ties and the unnatural desires and erotic f t 7 reactions. of these-- twilight men and women ! <4 / f There arejrecords that actually prove that men .S' j, t aeyr.' y-y, * ' aML.iiipir r rfi__MFB have been MADE INTO ABNORMALS. A \*/ . startling, provocative indictment against the yg * false modesty that has been responsible for the W • growth of th fantastic, strange amatory */f curiosities aor.i , savage 9 and .civilized races. STRANGE LOVE j Dr. Potter tells about the fiidden, secret passions that dominate these 'tvomen’s exotic fi \ if M woman. I Mr MM * lives. He talks about the tragic duality of the effeminate man—half man—half 1MJ JM]§ g H He delves deep into the ages—relates the bestialities and savageries practiced by the old // ^ ^ ul| n j ascribed I Egyptians, Hindoos, Greeks, Assyrians and Romans—the sensuality that was f 1 1. Hill even to the Greek Gods, to Zeus, Apollo, Herctiles and Jupiter—the growth through I j ^4f|| history from ancieqt fcountries to France—to Germany—to its tremendous spread j M M V | _ through the United pthlfes. I M M M MM Mg ''"ST THESE SUBJECTS BE CLOTHED IN SILENCE FOREVER? LJ^U V rlessly, openly, the meaning of many misunderstood subjects is brought under f § the searchlight of truth. Sadism-~Necrophilia—Phallic Worship—Sodomy—Peder- asty-^-Tribadism—Saphism—Uranism—-the normal man and woman will refuse to _ believe that such abnormalities exist and have beejn practiced through the ages. ASTONISHING DISCLOSUR ES ABOUT THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS MEN How many of the famous men of history were considered "odd"? Socrates, Plato, Caesar, Virgil. Oscar Wilde, Leonardo da Vinci, Lord Byron, Tchaikow- sky, the musician, Walt Whitman? the gentle, lovable poet. Napoleon—men and 1 fai/|ban women of all kinds in aU. stages*™ life. m ^ 5 FOR MATURE, SOPHISTICATED »«' *moi ud S .nst,.N.wYork.N.Y.** > I r L* READERS OF THIS MAGAZINE! o ^.r*^P^^^^^^i^’STR^LNOE LOv1c8^* - A “i | U * Abnorra*,, *y ' * harabr affirm t^at I «m This document in book form contains bewildering disclosures and discoveries an Adolt D«rBon.* of a subject that is if I seldom ever discussed, that most people know little or 5 [ ] am enclosing- remittance of IS 60 lend book all ebargea nothing about one —yet that deserves the most painstaking and thorough invest!- . , gation. A limited edition has been prepared for ADUI/TS ONLY, pages, 1 1 promise to par postman 12.60 plus pott- 256 | * onli'P'•mwi'. beautifuliy bound in doth, printed on fine paper—for the book lover and col- Nam lector of * rare, esoteric literature. Reserve a copy of this book—the most startling 5 Address’ * document of its kind—by mailing the coupon. * Town . state rtatrrei the right after tbi» •diticn GRENPARK COMPANY iJ'liZ to'roturn alYordara tj j-v Prepaid ordern receive preference and will ba 1 nl j n WTO TVT v a] tat v 5 Jf 101 Hudson Street Dept. WS New Yofk, N. Y. *bipp*d before C.O.D. orders.) (Canadian and Foreign or- |Y ^ a#r» ®»»1 ba accompanied by ramltUnca for *2.76.) m f > 4 512 WONDER STORIES FOR SEPTEMBER, 1934 THE READER SPEAKS (Continued from page 511) Smooth edges will come in good time, but we intend to keep Paul on the cover. Bis covers have char- $1,000 to $5,000 acterized Wonder Storibs since the very first issue and we fear the book would not be recognizable with- out this feature. Furthermore, we are sure that most of our readers would object to such a change.— CASH EDITOR.) For a Few Pennies a Day! 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